Thank you to;
echizenochi,
dirty-little,
SaruDM,
LeeArt,
Weasley-Is-Our-King26,
NickelRamaMetalHydride,
For reviewing the last chapter!

I hope you'll enjoyed reading it, because I had a lot of fun writing it.

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CHAPTER 33.

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HERMIONE'S POV :

Ginny and I being the maid of honour's, were in our place and Harry was across from us where Ron was standing.

I gave Ginny a look of disdain and she just smirked! The nerve of that woman!

It was time. We were all waiting for Luna to walk the aisle.

Ron looked fidgety and Harry was mumbling something into his ear.

I could not get myself to believe that Ron was nervous about getting married today. Sure, marriage meant commitment and responsibility, and these two words for someone who once had an emotional range of teaspoon, could be quite heavy and daunting.

But it had been a long time since school, a long time since we had dated and decided that it was just not right, and a long time since Luna had entered his life!

She simplified his life in the aspects he made difficult and added gravity to those parts of his life that he took too lightly. She never imposed, on him or on anyone.

She was just being herself, being Luna. Being with her had done Ron so much good and he loved her to death. I could see it. And I was so insanely happy for 2 of my best friends.

So yeah, the worry I saw in Ron's eyes were not last minute cold feet. They were from wondering if the ceremony would go all right, if Luna would like his effort on planning their honeymoon, if he could be half a good husband to her as she would be to him.

My heart swelled in pride towards my best friend of 11 years.

He had grown so much from the confused, non empathic, glutton that he used to be.

I had no doubt that he and Luna would be very happy together.

Oh dear! The ceremony has not even begun and I have tears in my eyes already.

I hope Ginny doesn't notice. She'll throw a fit about my eye makeup.

I was notoriously known for crying at weddings. I just couldn't help it.

Seeing the happy faces of the bride and groom being united by love and law, jerked my tear glands in a way I could not stop it.
I was not the type of girl who dreamed of getting married since I was child. No. That wasn't me. That was Ginny. And luckily, she had exactly the type of wedding and marriage she had dreamed about, with a man she had loved for more than half her life!

I didn't romanticize weddings or my life for that matter, nor did I ever imagine myself in the bride's place.

I had always been an independent woman, raised to fare well academically and focus on a career! And besides being raised for the initial part of my life in a muggle environment, the idea of getting married at 17, when one came of age in the wizarding world, or even 21 for that matter, seemed preposterous to me!

But in the wizarding world, love was all that was required to get married! I don't think I'd ever grasp that.

However much I may not want to be married now or at an early age, I did want to, at some later date. I wanted to have a family. I wanted a domestic life. But just not right now.

I sighed, and tried to sneakily wipe the tears that were threatening to spill from the corner of my eyes.

Then I noticed, Luna had started coming closer with her arm in her father's arm.

She looked resplendent as always. Happiness does that to you.

I could see Ron trying hard not to drool.

She had serenity on her face that paled in comparison to the one she usually had on an everyday basis.

And although I know she could not wait to be Mrs. Ronald Weasley, she still walked at the required pace, but I could see childlike anticipation in her lovely grey-blue eyes with every step she came forward.

Mr. Lovegood looked both proud and sad at the same time. An emotion that only parents of the bride could feel, I guess. It's always hard to give your daughter away even though it's a happy occasion.

Looking at her walk with her father, I realised with a jolt, I would never get to walk with my father.

He would never get to give me away.

My parents would not be here to see their only daughter get married.

It's strange. I had been to so many weddings before, but never had I thought of my father giving me away at any of them.

I felt a larger, familiar hand quietly squeeze mine and suddenly my eyes fluttered open.

I looked at my hand that was covered in a tender embrace by another hand and looked up to meet the eyes of the owner of the hand.

Fred had silently sneaked behind me and held my hand.

I don't know how he knew what I was thinking or even if he did. But what mattered was that he was there.

What had happened earlier, Estelle, the other Fred, everything vanished instantly. Even though I knew there was no truth to anything that had transpired, I may have momentarily become blinded by jealousy.

But that at least showed me just how deep I felt for this wonderful man who not only made me laugh, but stood by me when I cried even when it was something silly.

There was no big display, no declaration.

Just a silent squeeze was comforting and I found myself happy again and concentrating on the beautiful bride that had reached the altar by now.

I squeezed his hand in return telling him that I was fine now and he took his original place with the rest of the Weasley brothers, a little at an angle but I could see him clearly.

He was still standing next to Estelle, but I couldn't care anymore.

His eyes were on me and I'm sure they had always been on me since the beginning of the wedding. Considering he had come to me in when I may have needed him the most, he must be watching me like a hawk.

All during the ceremony his eyes never left me. A beautiful Veela by his side and yet he kept looking at me.

A realisation hit me! Hard as a bludger!

Fred had acted completely normal around Estelle, sure he may have been charming towards her, but that was only because he was polite and maybe to get me riled up a bit.

But it was next to impossible to not be enamoured by a Veela's presence! Unless...

Unless...

My breath got stuck in my throat.

Unless, one was completely in love with someone else or was truly the said Veela's mate.

I knew the latter was next to impossible.

That meant... Fred Weasley was in love with me!

The minister of magic had already started his speech by now but I barely heard it.

My eyes were focussed on those of the man whose gaze never left mine throughout.

How stupid of me. I didn't need a Veela to tell me that he loved me. His face was a clear indication. And even though he hadn't told me yet, I knew it.

And I knew my answer too. In the background of my head, I could hear Ron and Luna exchange their vows and their rings.

Granted, we had started dating after confessing our feelings to each other a mere 5 days ago, but the bond we had developed stretched strong, and love needed no time brackets.

And although normally, I would argue whether my feelings were based on logic or I was getting carried away in the setting of a wedding, today, at this point I knew that there was no refuting it.

I loved Fred Weasley.
With all my heart and then some.
And for once, I wasn't scared.

"You may now kiss the bride," the minister said.

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Hey I hope the first person POV was okay!

I felt that this chapter was imperative to be done in Hermione's voice.

I know it's not an action packed chapter but it was important to let you guys know how she felt at this stage.

Also, I'm aware that I sidelined the wedding and concentrated on Hermione's thoughts, but that's only because her thoughts had to be parallel to the events of the wedding, and secretly, I think I'd be rubbish at describing a complete wedding scene, vows et al.

so yeah!

Pls do review and let me know if I did this first person realisation well!

And I've put up a poll on my profile!

Pls do check it out and vote!

Thanks for reading!

Much love!

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