DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling owns most of the characters and settings here—I own the rest.
For new folks, please, be aware that the awesome Joe Manganiello (from True Blood, One Tree Hill and the Magic Mike films) is my fancast for Walden Macnair-*not* the guy from the HP films.
This chapter's title is from "Our House" by Madness.
And...an extra big Thank You to all readers and reviewers-as always. Feel free to leave a further review in the box at the end of the chapter...on with the show!
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
Chapter 24 - There's Always Something Happening And It's Usually Quite Loud
The weeks leading up to Ron's wedding were relatively peaceful for the residents of Macnair Lodge, although not particularly quiet. Evan loved his room with the dragon his Mum had painted on the wall. He also loved his Dad, and everything about Scotland-even the rainy and cold weather was a novelty to him, and he looked forward to a snowy Christmas. Heather began her apprenticeship under Garrick Ollivander, who was very much looking forward to retirement, while Melissa began looking into employment options in the British Isles, as well as a possible Hogsmeade residence.
However, Hermione's mental state was anything but peaceful. Although she was happy that The Ron Situation was finally going to be resolved, she spent hours internally debating the status of her position at the Ministry...especially after she abruptly decided, one morning after she and Walden spent a lovely relaxing morning in bed, to let her London flat go. Later that same day, after Melissa, Heather and Evan returned from their weekend at the castle, Melissa and Hermione Disapparated to London and packed up her flat, before heading over for an impromptu Gryffindor alumni drinks party at Harry and Ginny's.
She knew that if she applied to the Floo Regulation Panel for a connection from the lodge to the Ministry, that word would get around quickly...and of course, given Walden's past associations, she wasn't even sure that it would be permitted.
Thus, she spent a rather long time during the week prior to Christmas in the trophy room sitting on her relocated couch, drinking countless cups of tea, and pondering her options. The day she went to sign the lease-breakage agreement, she gave her telly and cellular phone away to the aspiring actor who lived in the flat down the hall from her. He'd been extremely surprised, but very grateful, and had also been curious about where exactly in Scotland she was moving-so much so that she'd briefly flirted with just telling him the whole story and then Obliviating him after. But she was loath to do that after the issue with the charm on her parents, so she muttered something about first going abroad to do charity work, then, in case he was tempted to follow her, took the Tube to Charing Cross and used the Leaky Cauldron's Floo to get to Hogsmeade.
With the release of those two items of electronica, she felt her connection to the Muggle world, which had been tenuous ever since she passed through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4, lessen even further. This was not necessarily a bad thing, as it assisted her in essentially grieving the loss of her parents (although she held out hope that perhaps, one day, they might change their opinions).
There was little time to be alone during Christmas Day and Boxing Day, though, as they were spent at the castle with the extended Macnair family, as well as a host of Macfarlane cousins who were in the midst of wedding preparations. It seemed that having a wedding right after Hogmanay was being viewed as an excuse to make the already overblown New Year's celebrations even more raucous.
The family gift exchange was held in the library; the tree was decorated half in green and silver and half in red and gold. Hermione gifted Walden with a beautiful obsidian raven sculpture that she'd found at the Tate Gallery gift shop, while he gave her a piece of heirloom jewelry-a large gold knotwork necklace. Quidditch jerseys for their favorite team, Puddlemere United, were welcomed with enthusiasm by Melissa and Heather, and Gavin and Elspeth were appreciative of the boxed selection of Australian wines that everyone had chipped in on. Finally, Hermione had also located a small replica of the Gryffindor sword at a new souvenir shop in Diagon Alley, and Evan was thrilled with his present-as was Gavin.
"I hope this means ye'll be wearin' the red and gold when ye get to Hogwarts, Evan!" Gavin loudly declaimed, over his fifth mug of hot spiked butterbeer. Elspeth and Walden glanced at each other and rolled their eyes, while Hermione beamed.
"Yes, Grandpa, I want to be in Gryffindor like Hermione and Auntie Melissa!" Evan said. "And Neville, and Harry, and Ron!" The previous week, Evan had gotten to meet the latter three wizards at Ron's hastily-planned engagement party at the Burrow, which Walden had not attended. It turned out that Evan and Mrs. Weasley got along just fine-so much so that he was sporting a hand-made maroon sweater with a dragon on the front, which had arrived that morning by owl post. Hermione had given Ron a perfunctory hug and wished him well; Ron seemed as if he were a million miles away, but was nominally polite.
"Och, son, what's wrong with Slytherin?" Walden said. "I was there, and your Sissy, and Grandma, and your Uncle Lucius, too."
"I want to use the sword if I need to, to protect us from bad wizards!" Evan said, as he brandished the replica sword over his head.
"There ye have it, son," Gavin said. "I knew everything would turn out all right," he added, turning to Walden and asking him, quietly "Is the Sassenach comin' to the weddin'?"
"I didna see any way out of invitin' him," Walden said, with a frown.
"Ye know why I hold a grudge, but he was helpful with gettin' Heather and Evan away safely. I suppose I can be gracious for a day. But ye'll make sure he's dressed proper, then? He can wear the Black Watch."
"Aye, that's what I was gonna tell him," Walden said, as he sipped at his single-malt and stared into the library fireplace. Life, at that very moment, was good.
Ron's wedding day dawned bright, if crisp and cold as per usual in the Highlands. The wedding planners had anticipated this, though. The marquee was heated and a covered walkway led from the front of the castle, as well as from the Apparition point at the edge of the grounds.
Walden, Hermione, Heather, Melissa and Evan had opted to stay at the lodge the night before the ceremony, as none of them were in the wedding party. Hermione was up first and assisted Evan in putting on his kilt, which he predictably thought was "super cool." Walden explained to him that since this was a modern wedding, his replica Gryffindor sword was not appropriate to wear as an accessory. He then pouted a bit until Walden presented him with a family heirloom skean dubh to wear in his kilt hose.
Hermione wore a long maroon dress with a Macfarlane sash, and Walden pinned a clan badge on her, his hand shaking almost imperceptibly as he did so, and he kissed her briefly, as Heather and Melissa had just walked in, resplendent in Bonnie Prince Charlie jackets and kilts. Walden had retrieved his (undamaged and spotlessly cleaned) plaid from Lucius, and was wearing a great kilt with a 18th century style jacket.
Just when the group was preparing to Apparate, Lucius fire-called; he had figured it would be best if the Malfoys and Macnairs arrived together, and so that was how Hermione found herself between Walden and Lucius yet again, as their party, accompanied by not only Narcissa, but Draco, arrived at the castle. Both Draco and Lucius were properly dressed in Black Watch kilts and Sheriffmuir doublets.
Hermione had a brief moment of indecision as the usher (a gangly Macfarlane cousin, whose kilt was a bit too short) asked her on what side she'd like to sit for the proceedings, but Walden glared at him and led her down the aisle to a block of seats in the midst of the bride's side. She nodded and waved to the multitude of Hogwarts friends and Weasleys on the groom's side before she sat down between Walden and Evan.
The wedding ceremony and the bride were both beautiful, but Ron looked an awful lot as if he'd been given a surfeit of Calming Draught and put under the Imperius Curse besides. His kilt was also just a bit too short, which revealed the fact that he had knobby knees. (Hermione had to fake a cough to cover up her giggling.) Molly Weasley was teary-eyed; her annoyance at Ron's behavior had clearly been trumped by the imminent arrival of another Weasley grandchild. There was a round of applause as the bride and groom kissed, as well as one anonymous wag stage-whispering that "she doesn't look a bit up the duff!"
As everyone stood, the chairs were magically whisked away; Hermione was reminded, abruptly, of Bill and Fleur's wedding and wondered if either Walden or Lucius had been among the Death Eater raiding party who'd Apparated into those festivities; figuring that was a topic of conversation best left alone for the present, she took Walden's arm when he proffered it and allowed herself to be led to their table.
The Macnair and Malfoy group took up nearly an entire table; the extra chairs were filled with Ron's former co-workers, Aurors Proudfoot and Corner, neither of whom looked overly pleased with the seating arrangements. Hermione took a couple of glasses of champagne from a roving house-elf server, but Walden opted for single-malt; he was clearly quite uncomfortable at their table location, which was forcing him to sit with his back to a large portion of the crowd. When nobody was looking, Hermione slipped him a Calming Draught from her beaded bag (which she'd returned to its non-extended state for the occasion).
Draco was exceedingly polite, yet distant. After the light luncheon was served, he made his excuses and headed off into the crowd to mingle (and most likely network). Narcissa was cordial, and true to Walden's prediction, she stuck by Lucius, giving everyone who was not aware of the truth the impression that they were still a happily married couple.
After the luncheon was over and the cake and tea was served, Hermione expected there would be dancing, but instead, toasts to the bride and groom began. Molly Weasley came to the table and whisked Evan away-apparently, there would be some children's activities to stave off boredom and/or acting out.
Harry, as best man, made a light, humorous speech, referencing many of the Trio's exploits during their school days. Arthur Weasley spoke, then the Macfarlane clan chief, then Fiona's mum, then some of her friends...and Hermione was really attempting to pay attention, but all the excitement of the past few months had started to catch up with her. She'd also not eaten a lot of her lunch and left half her cake behind, and had drank numerous glasses of champagne, too many to even recall the number. Thus she found herself staring, glassy-eyed, at the flower and candle arrangement at the center of the table, wishing that she'd gone off with Evan to see what the children's activities were...or, at the very least, that there was some strong coffee being served, rather than tea.
After the last speaker (Fiona's great-aunt) thankfully finished her speech, for some reason, bagpipes started playing, and there was a lot of murmuring...and she wasn't sure why, until Lucius reached over and tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, "Miss Granger?" She looked at him-he gave her a very small smile and a nod.
She hadn't even noticed that Walden had vacated the chair next to her, but he was kneeling at her side, and the Macfarlane clan chief, as well as Gavin and Elspeth were standing behind him. The pipers stood at a short distance behind them, playing a tune that sounded vaguely familiar, and after they finished, Walden was speaking to her, saying that he'd been inspired by all the good feelings and love that he'd seen at the wedding today, and that he was even more heartened that former adversaries were socializing, and that the wizarding world was healing, and that he would be extremely honored if she would become his wife. He was holding up a ring in a small box.
Hermione took one look at the ring and promptly fainted.