Chapter VIII - The Wedding

Harry woke up the next morning to Ginny shaking him awake. He sat up and Ginny handed him his glasses. "Gin, what are you doing in here? Why can't I sleep?" He yawned.

Ginny smiled and cuddled onto his lap to give him a kiss. "Mum told me to wake you up, my next stop is Ron. It's after ten, the wedding starts at two. Up you go." She kissed him again and then hurried out of the room.

Harry yawned and stood up to stretch. Then he remembered that he was supposed to do fifty push-ups and fifty sit-ups every morning. The thought didn't sound very good to him at the moment, but he went down to the floor and began his training. He always remembered to do the fifty push-ups and sit-ups in the morning and the fifty before he went to bed. Kingsley said that it would help him and anything to help him to defeat Voldemort sounded good to him. After the push-ups he stretched lazily and began to do sit-ups as well, fifty of those. Once he was done he stretched again and then decided he might as well go shower.

He grabbed his bath things and headed down the hall into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Once he had showered, he changed into jeans and a t-shirt and then he headed downstairs, hoping for some breakfast. Ron was sitting at the table eating toast, and yawning, his hair sticking up in every direction. "Morning Harry, was that you in the shower?"

Harry nodded and sat down. "Yeah, it's all yours if that was what you were waiting for." He helped himself to some toast and jam and grinned at Hermione as she came down the stairs."Morning Hermione."

"Hello. Have you guys seen Ginny?"

Harry shook his head. "I haven't seen her since she woke me up."

Hermione nodded and headed back up the stairs just as Ginny came into the kitchen from outside. "Oh good, you two are finally up. Mum wants you guys to go help finish with the last minute set up then she says to go get dressed for the wedding." She walked over and kissed Harry softly before heading upstairs.

Ron yawned again, and once they were done their breakfast they headed outside. The yard had been transformed into the most beautiful place that Harry had ever seen. Flowers were everywhere and there was an arbour at the front draped in roses. He saw Mrs. Weasley standing over by the house and they wandered over.

"Hey Mrs. Weasley, what would you like Ron and me to do?" Harry asked.

Mrs. Weasley smiled when she saw them. "Oh good, I'm glad that you boys are here. I have to go help Fleur get ready and I must get ready myself too. I need you two to set up all the chairs for the wedding and make sure that this red carpet goes down the centre aisle to the arbour. It's going to be so beautiful. Then I need you to set up all the rest of the tables, the long one going across the front over by all those roses, away from the ceremony area of course."

Ron nodded. "Sure Mum, no problem. Harry and I will take care of everything."

By quarter to two, everything was set up and Harry and Ron were dressed in their robes, ready for the wedding. Harry's were emerald green and brand new, while Ron's to his disgust, were still maroon. They went downstairs and outside to go sit down in the chairs. Ron was a little ahead of him when Harry was grabbed by Fred and pulled back.

"Harry, Ginny told us about the plan to get Ron and Hermione together. Well, the idea she told us, we actually formed the plan. Anyway, Dad asked Ginny to dance the first dance with him, so can you ask Hermione."

"You want me to ask Hermione to dance?" Harry asked. "Sure, but what about Ron?"

Fred laughed. "Yeah right, just ask Hermione to dance, and make sure that she does and don't tell Ron that we're planning anything, okay?" He hurried off and Harry went and sat down next to Ron.

"What did Fred want?" Ron asked.

"Nothing, he just told me to make sure that we were in the right seats." Harry lied as guests piled in around them. Hermione appeared next to them, looking beautiful. Her normally bushy brown hair was curled and pinned up in a complicated sort of knot on the top of her head. Her gown was lavender and cut a little low at the bodice before flowing down to her ankles in pale silk.

Harry watched Ron's eyes practically pop right out of his head. Thinking about what Fred said he stood up and took her hand to bring her around to sit between them. "Hermione, you look beautiful, will you honour me with the first dance?"

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "What about Ginny?"

Harry grinned. "Her dad has claimed her, what do you say?"

Hermione glanced at Ron who was staring dumbstruck at Harry and then she nodded. "Yes Harry, I'd love too."

Harry nodded as the music began. He turned around to watch for Ginny who was a bridesmaid along with Fleur's little sister Gabrielle. Gabrielle walked down the aisle first in a pale gold dress. Her silvery blonde hair was pinned up on her head, and Harry couldn't believe how much she had grown up. She would be thirteen now, he realized. Then he saw Ginny. The pale gold dress clung to her body, showing every curve beneath it. It left her back bare and cut low, showing more of her gorgeous creamy skin. Her hair was curled and she wore it in ringlets down her back, with a white flower next to her right ear. Harry gulped as he felt his stomach do back-flips. She looked amazing. Ginny stared right into his eyes at that moment and the punch of desire made him smile at her before he turned to look at Fleur as she began to make her way down the aisle.

Fleur looked incredible. Her dress was white silk and lace and the headband piece of the veil she wore was shining with pearls. She smiled up at Bill as she walked up the aisle. Harry listened to the ceremony with half an ear. He couldn't take his eyes off of Ginny. She was so beautiful, and oh how his fingers itched to be in that silky fire that surrounded her chocolate brown eyes. He sighed as he watched the wedding. When Bill and Fleur exchanged rings and kissed, applause broke out and they walked hand in hand down the aisle and back around for pictures. Harry was surprised when he was dragged into the family pictures, though Mr. Weasley did take a nice one of him and Ginny together. Once all the pictures were done, Harry pulled Ginny aside and kissed her passionately.

"God Gin, you look amazing. I've never seen anyone so beautiful in my entire life. I believe you even out-shined the bride." Harry replied, still staring down at her in amazement.

Ginny grinned and stood on her toes to kiss him softly. "Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself, Mr. Potter. Now come on, dinner will be served soon."

"Wait," Harry said. "I was talking to Fred, I don't know the plan but he told me that for the first dance that you're dancing with your dad, well I already asked Hermione to dance because they told me too, Ron didn't say anything, he just looked… dumbfounded."

Ginny laughed. "Don't worry, Harry, Fred and George know what they're doing." She kissed him again, and then led him over to the tables for dinner.

After Bill and Fleur had their first dance, Harry led Hermione out onto the dance floor. He smiled at her. "You really do look incredible today, Hermione."

Hermione blushed. "Thanks Harry. Ron looks angry; do you think maybe he was going to ask me to dance?"

Harry didn't miss the hint of hope that came into her voice. "Hermione, Ron's real thick, I doubt it." He spun her around and when she laughed, he grinned. "Besides, you can have fun with me, can't you?"

"Since when did you become such a good dancer?"

"I don't know; must be since I started dating Ginny, she tends to bring out all of my best talents." Harry replied, as he spun her around again, making her laugh. "Listen, I know that you and Ron are… well, he'll come to his senses."

Hermione stared at Harry, hope glistening in her eyes. "Do you think so? Because I love him so much, Harry, and sometimes I think that the feelings I have are completely one sided, and other times, I just know that he feels the same way. At the funeral we… he was so… then nothing."

Harry smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Trust me. He's thick, but he's not stupid. He's not going to let someone as amazing as you slip away from him." Harry spun her around again just before the song ended and he brought her back to the table where Ron, Fred, and George were sitting.

"Hermione, you look gorgeous today, will you dance with me?" George asked, ignoring the angry look that he got from Ron.

Hermione looked surprised that George would ask her such a thing. "Sure, I'd love too."

Harry took a seat next to Fred who was looking at Ron. Ginny was dancing with Bill now. He turned to Fred, curious as to how this was going to upset Ron.

Fred just winked at him before he spoke. "Ron, mate, Hermione looks hot tonight! In fact, George and I can't believe how gorgeous she is, and how come we never really noticed before." Ron's ears were turning red but he wasn't talking. Fred winked at Harry before continuing. "George is thinking about asking her out. The poor bloke hasn't got a good lay in a while; I think he's a little down. Hermione seems like just the girl! Of course, she is a little too smart and bossy, but I bet she'd be a pistol in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. Besides, she and George really do have a lot in common, and she did date Viktor Krum so age is hardly a factor and it's not like she's seeing anyone right now. Do you think she'd give George a chance?"

Ron glanced over at Hermione and George; Hermione was laughing as George spun her around and kissed her cheek. He didn't say anything, but his ears turned even redder, which Harry knew was a sure sign of his anger. Harry answered, understanding where Fred was going with his so-called 'plan'.

"You know, Fred, I think George and Hermione would make a pretty good couple and after all, you're right, Hermione's not seeing anyone right now."

Fred grinned at Harry. "Exactly! Besides, you two do have to admit, she's got a very nice back side."

"Enough!" Ron exclaimed, before getting up, stomping across the dance floor and pulling Hermione out of George's grasp and over near a tree.

Fred grinned at Harry. "I hope he comes to his senses, mate."

"Ron, what are you doing? I was dancing with George! How dare you just pull me off the dance floor like that?" Hermione fumed as she glared at Ron.

"I was saving your life!" he exclaimed. "You should have heard the things that George wanted to do to you. You're lucky I got you out of there in time!"

God she was beautiful, he thought, especially when she was angry at him. He loved her the most when she was angry. Her eyes would fire up and shine at him and she would just glow, which is why he picked so many fights with her half the time. Tonight she looked amazing. Harry had said it perfectly. She was beautiful.

"What are you on about, Ronald?"

"George was just trying to get you in bed, so I was saving you the embarrassment of… of trying to fight him off!" Ron said.

Hermione's eyes flared. "Who said that I would have fought him off?"

Ron's mouth opened in shock, then in three quick strides he was in front of her and his mouth was on hers. He sank into her mouth, that gorgeous mouth that he had been dreaming about for longer than he could even remember. As his lips met hers, her hands fisted into his hair and he let out a groan as she responded to him with such a feverish pitch that he put his hands on her hips to keep his balance. Then he pulled back and looked deep into her eyes, figuring after what he just done that if he didn't tell her how he felt now, he'd never forgive himself, and he doubted that she would forgive him either.

"Hermione, I love you."

Tears poured down Hermione's face as she threw herself back into Ron's arms. "Oh Ron, I love you too."

Her lips met his again as they held each other close, finally being where they both wanted to be.

"Ha!" Fred exclaimed, "I knew he had it in him!"

Harry glanced over to where Ron and Hermione were kissing under the tree and he grinned. "About time too." He felt Ginny sit down in his lap and he smiled up at her. "Good idea, Gin."

She laughed and then leaned close to whisper in his ear. "Which one? Ron and Hermione or me in your lap?"

Harry grinned and kissed her softly. "Both. Want to dance?"

She smiled. "I'd love to."

Harry led Ginny out on to the dance floor and took her into his arms, holding her close, his hands resting on her hips. "You look beautiful."

Ginny smiled. "I never get tired of compliments." She wrapped her arms around his neck as they swayed to the music. "Your birthday is in a couple of days, are you excited to finally be of age?"

Harry grinned, "Yeah, I think I am. I hadn't really thought about it, other than getting to leave the Dursleys for good, but yeah I am kind of excited."

"What do you want for your birthday?"

Harry leaned down and kissed her softly. "A kiss from you."

Ginny laughed and then grew serious. "Harry, I know that you decided to go back to Hogwarts, but are you still going to go see your parents' graves."

He nodded. "Yeah, I think I'm going to go right after your birthday. I want to be here for your birthday but then I'll head out. I'll probably be gone the rest of the summer, meet up with you at Hogwarts."

Ginny nodded. "Alright. I'd go with you if I could."

He smiled and kissed her softly. "I know, but I'd feel better if you were here."

"Harry, once I turn seventeen, there's no stopping me from being by your side, you know that, right?" Ginny asked.

Harry grinned, thinking back to what his parents had said: "When the time comes, let her stand by you, it will make all the difference in the world." Lily Potter had replied before James had said: "Well, actually, if this Ginny is anything like your mother, if you don't let her stand by you, she'll just hex you and do it anyway."

He turned to Ginny and smiled. "I know, my parents told me to let you stand by me, they said it would make a difference."

"You're parents?" Ginny asked.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, they have portraits at Potter Manor, and I had a nice long chat with them. It felt good being able to talk to them, even if it was just a portrait. I met my grandparents too."

Ginny smiled at Harry, seeing the happiness in his eyes. "That's something I don't see very often." "What?" Harry asked. "You being happy."

Harry smiled. "You make me happy, Ginny, the happiest that I've ever felt in my entire life. I… I think I love you."

"You think, Mr. Potter? Oh, I think you better do more than think." She replied, teasing him lightly.

Harry grinned and kissed her softly. "You're right, I know. I love you, Ginevra Weasley."

Ginny smiled up at him. "I love you too, Harry Potter."