The the reviewer Averyscaredboy.
First off, thanks for reading.
Second, though Drinny is my OTP, this particular story follows the canon storyline, meaning that Drinny will not happen. So you have nothing to worry about lol.
Also sorry these chapters are getting to not be updated as quick as they used to be. Life is getting in the way.
Oh, and Great Aunt Agnes (Aggie) Weasley is made up. I needed an aunt for Shell Cottage and the book nor movie never mentioned a name.
This chapter will have dialogue from my fic Twelve Kisses, as well as The Seventh Year.
On with the fic. I'm so excited to be at this chapter!
Chapter 194: The Wedding
I woke up to the sounds of heavy knocks at my door. I looked over at my watch. 7:00? Hell no. I turned back over and tried to go back to sleep.
Thirty seconds later I felt a thud and pain on my legs.
"GET THE FUCK OFF!" I yelled as Bill bounced up and down on my leg that he had just apparated onto. I really needed to learn how to put wards up in my room.
"Time waits for no man, Ronnie." laughed Bill as hell got his heavy ass off of my leg. I could hear Harry joining in on the laughter. Traitorous git.
"Come on dolly dreamer, time to get up. You realize that I am getting married today," said Bill, rubbing the spot where he had landed on my leg.
"Yeah, you're the one tying to knot, not me. I don't see why I have to be up at the crack of dawn."
Bill turned to Harry and asked for him to step out of the room for a second. Harry nodded and continued to laugh as he walked out of my door with a change of clothes.
I got out of my bed and stretched. I was cross with Bill. I was seconds away from taking Hermione's knickers off.
Bill turned to me, his face a bit more serious. I decided not to scold him from interrupting my wonderful dream. He looked like he had something heavy to say.
"Look, I'm sorry I woke you up this early, but I needed to talk to you, and I knew with all the going on of today I wouldn't have been able to properly do it later." began Bill.
I sat back down on my bed. I rubbed the small krick that was in my neck as Bill took something out of his pocket and sat down beside me. He passed me what he had taken out. It was a picture of what looked to be a house that was about half the size of the Burrow.
"You wouldn't remember this place, Shell Cottage, but Great Aunt Aggie owned it and Mum and Dad used to take us there in the summers sometimes to play. I believe you were just a few months when we were last there."explained Bill.
I simply nodded. I knew nothing of this great aunt nor this place.
"Great Aunt Aggie passed the place down to Mum, who passed it to me, and this is to be my wedding present to Fleur."
"Brilliant," I said, looking closer at the picture. The building was gray with what looked like shells plastered on various spots of the structure. It's roof, which was black and shingled, was slanted and looked as if you could slide right off of it. The path in front of it was sandy as well as rocky, which led me to believe that it had to be close to a beach.
"She's going to love it I hope. Although I feel like she would go for something more aristocratic," I said looking back at Bill.
"Im showing this to you because I have a feeling that you and the others will be leaving after the wedding," said Bill, looking right into my eyes.
His gaze made me feel unsure. I couldn't sit there and lie to him, he was smart enough to know when I was lying.
"It's alright, I won't tell Mum and Dad." he reassured, as if he had read my mind. "This place is under the Fidelius Charm, and I'm the secret keeper. I wanted you to see it so just in case you and the others needed somewhere to hide, you lot could go there. It's far away from any You Know Who involvement, and Mum and Dad would never think to look there for you. Just...keep your wits about you out there, yeah?"
I felt like my heart was going to shatter. My brother had so much worry in his eyes. Something that I had never seen in him before. I always looked at Bill as the tough one. The one that had no fear of anyone or anything (besides My of course). And here he was. Worried about me. Looking scared over me.
"Got a good visual? I'll need that picture back." said Bill. I nodded, not really knowing what to say as I handed him back the picture.
Bill patted me on the back as hell stuck the picture back in his pocket. "You'll be alright, little brother. You'll be alright. You just make sure the three of you make it home."
Three o'clock found Harry, Fred, George and I standing outside the great white marquee in the orchard, awaiting the arrival of the wedding guests. Harry had taken a large dose of Polyjuice Potion and was now the double of a redheaded Muggle boy from the village, from whom Fred had stolen hairs using a Summoning Charm. The plan was to introduce Harry as "Cousin Barny" and trust to the great number of Weasley relatives to camouflage him. Seeing as there were to be a lot of us redheads in attendance, I was sure the plan would work out flawlessly.
The four of us had seating plans, so that we could help show people to the right seats. A host of white-robed waiters had arrived an hour earlier, along with a golden jacketed band, and all of these wizards were currently sitting a short distance away under a tree. The entrance to the marquee revealed rows and rows of golden chairs set on either side of a long purple carpet. The supporting poles were entwined with white and gold flowers. Fred and George had fastened an enormous bunch of golden balloons over the exact point where Bill and Fleur would shortly become husband and wife. Outside, butterflies and bees were hovering lazily over the grass and hedge row.
It all looked way too flashy for my taste, however, this was all Fleur's vision, and I gathered that women loved flamboyant weddings.
Made me wonder how Hermione would plan a wedding.
"When I get married," said Fred, tugging at the collar of his own robes, "I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You can all wear what you like, and I'll put a full Body Bird Curse on Mum until it's all over."
"She wasn't too bad this morning, considering," said George. "Cried a bit about Percy not being here, but who wants him. Oh blimey, brace yourselves, here they come, look."
Brightly colored figures were appearing, one by one out of nowhere at the distant boundary of the yard. Within minutes a procession had formed, which began to snake its way up through the garden toward the marquee. Exotic flowers and unnecessary bewitched birds fluttered on the witches' hats, while precious gems glittered from many of the wizards cravats; a hum of excited chatter grew louder and louder, drowning the sound of the beesas the crowd approached the tent. There were also some silver haired ladies approaching, giggling as they looked about the area.
I actually found myself not even a bit attracted to them. I was proud of myself. I wouldn't be acting too much of a fool tonight.
"Excellent, I think I see a few veela cousins," said George, craning his neck for a better look. "They'll need help understanding our English customs, I'll look after them…."
"Not so fast, Your Holeyness," said Fred, "Here – permettez moi to assistervous," to a pair of pretty French girls, who giggled and allowed him to escort them was left to deal with the middle-aged witches and I took charge of Dad's old Ministry-colleague Perkins. I quickly left him to his seat and headed back to the entrance. He talked too much for my liking.
After directing a few other witches and wizards, I ended up face-to-face with a wizard straight out of a fairy tale. Slightly cross-eyed, with shoulder-length white hair the texture of that Muggle candy floss shit that Hermione had me try when we were at the shopping mall summers ago, he wore a cap whose tassel dangled in front of his nose and robes of yellow that reminded me of sunny side up eggs. An odd symbol, rather like a triangular eye, glistened from a golden chain around his neck.
"Xenophilius Lovegood," he said, extending a hand to Harry, "my daughter and I live just over the hill, so kind of the good Weasleys to invite us. But I think you know my Luna?" he added to me.
"Yes," I said. "Isn't she with you?"
"She lingered in that charming little garden to say hello to the gnomes, such a glorious infestation! How few wizards realize just how much we can learn from the wise little gnomes – or, to give them their correct name, the Gernumbli gardensi."
The man was bloody mental. I could see where Luna got some of her oddity from.
"Ours do know a lot of excellent swear words, but I think Fred and George taught them those." I said.
Thankfully a party of warlocks showed up and I quickly led them into the marquee, as to avoid any more talking of gnomes.
Upon returning, I let out a groan. The man was still there, however, he had been joined by Luna, who even though had on the same color robes as her father, she looked very nice. At least she could pull her fashion together.
"Daddy, look – one of the gnomes actually bit me." I overheard her say as she stuck out her finger to show her dad.
"How wonderful! Gnome saliva is enormously beneficial." said Mr. Lovegood, seizing Luna's outstretched fingers. "Luna,my love, if you should feel any burgeoning talent today – perhaps an unexpected urge to sing opera or to declaims in Mermish – do not repress it! You may have been gifted by the Gernumblies!"
I couldn't help but snort as I passed by them. Gernumblies. Who came up with such a word?
Aunt Muriel was next in like to be directed. I put on my fakest of smiles and walked up to her.
"Hello, Auntie Muriel, you're looking proper." I said.
Aunt Muriel scrunched up her nose. "Still as scrawny as a bean, does Molly not feed you enough?"
"You only saw me two weeks ago."I said as I loopes arma with her and led her over to the tent.
"You're a growing boy, you need nourishment." she harped. "And your hair's much too long, Ronald, for a moment I thought you were Ginevra. Merlin's beard, what is Xenophilius Lovegood wearing? He looks like an omelet."
We stopped at Harry who looked a mix of nervous and amused. "And who are you?" asked my aunt.
"Oh yeah, Auntie Muriel, this is our cousin Barny." I said quickly.
"Another Weasley? You breed like gnomes. Isn't Harry Potter here? I was hoping to meet him. I thought he was a friend of yours, Ronald, or have you merely been boasting?"
"No," I said feeling slightly offended." he couldn't come –"
"Hmm. Made an excuse, did he? Not as gormless as he looks in press photographs, then. I've just been instructing the bride on how best to wear my tiara," she shouted at 'Barny'. "Goblin-made, you know, and been in my family for centuries. She's a good-looking girl, but still – French. Well, well, find me a good seat, Ronald, I am a hundred and seven and I ought not to be on my feet too long."
I gave Harry a save me look as I passed by. I had to endure Aunt Muriel's criticism of everything and everyone in the room for a good ten minutes longer before I escaped back to the entrance.
"Nightmare, Muriel is," I said, wiping my forehead on my sleeve. "She used to come for Christmas every year, then, thank God, she took offense because Fred and George set off a Dungbomb under her chair at diner. Dad always says she'll have written them out of her will – like they care, they're going to end up richer than anyone in the family, rate they're going…"
My words trailed off as I stared at the angel that was approaching me. I felt like I couldn't even breathe as I watched Hermione approaching Harry and I. She was wearing a floaty, lilac-colored dress with matching high heels; her hair was sleek and shiny. Though I terribly missed her curls, I felt it looked much better than at the Yule Ball.
"Wow," I pushed out, blinking rather rapidly as Hermione stopped in front of us "You look great!"
"Always the tone of surprise," said Hermione, though she smiled.. "Your Great-Aunt Muriel doesn't agree, I just met her upstairs while she was giving Fleur the tiara. She said, 'Oh dear, is this the Muggle-born?' and then, 'Bad posture and skinny ankles.'"
"Don't take it personally, she's rude to everyone," I said, not even aware that I had held out my arm until Hermione looped hers around it.
"Talking about Muriel?" inquired George, re emerging from the marquee with Fred. "Yeah, she's just told me my ears are lopsided. Old bat. I wish old Uncle Bilius was still with us, though; he was a right laugh at weddings."
"Wasn't he the one who saw a Grim and died twenty-four hours later?" asked Hermione.
"Well, yeah, he went a bit odd toward the end," said George.
"But before he went loopy he was the life and soul of the party," said Fred. "He used to down an entire bottle of firewhisky, then run onto the dance floor, hoist up his robes, and start pulling bunches of flowers out of his-"
"Yes, he sounds a real charmer," said Hermione, cutting him off , while Harry and I roared with laughter.
"Never married, for some reason," I said catching my breath.
"You amaze me," said Hermione.
We continued to laugh until a latecomer showed up, and killed the entire vibe. Who in the bloody fuck invited this asshole?
"You look vunderful." said fucking Krum to Hermione, eyes practically taking her clothes off.
"Viktor!" she shrieked, and dropped her small beaded bag, which made a loud thump quite disproportionate to its size. As she scrambled, blushing, to pick it up, she said "I didn't know you were – goodness – it's lovely to see – how are you?"
i felt the heat rising on my face to my ears.I looked down at the invite that he handed to me, hoping it was as fake as he was.
"How come you're here?" I asked, not giving a damn how angry I sounded.
"Fleur invited me," said Krum, eyebrows raised.
Harry shook hands with the git and offered to show him his seat. Good. I was two seconds away from heading home into another part of the country.
Hermione scoffed beside me, however, she looped her arm back through mine. "Oh Ronald, you're being obnoxious."
I didn't say anything back. As much as I wanted to complain about him being here, I did not want to think what could potentially be a good night for Hermione and I. She was MY date, not Krum's. And I was determined to keep it that way.
We hurried down the aisle with my brothers towards Harry. "Time to sit down or we're going to get run over by the bride." said Fred.
Harry, Hermione, and I took our seats in the second row behind Fred and George. Hermione looked as if she was blushing, but her eyes stayed glued to the front.
"Did you see he's grown a stupid little beard?" I whispered to Harry.
Harry shrugged and gave a noncommittal grunt. He clearly did not want to hear my complaining.
"Shh" whispered Hermione in my ear, her breath tickling the side of my neck. "It's about to start."
A few minutes later, Mum and Dad strolled up the aisle, smiling and waving at relatives; Mum was wearing a brand-new set of purple robes with a matching hat.
A moment later Bill and Charlie stood up at the front of the marquee, both wearing dress robes, with larger white roses in their buttonholes; Fred wolf-whistled and there was an outbreak of giggling from the veela cousins. Then the crowd fell silent as music swelled from what seemed to be the golden balloons.
"Ooooh!" said Hermione, swiveling around in her seat to look at the entrance.
Monsieur Delacour and Fleur came walking up the aisle, Fleur gliding, Monsieur Delacour bouncing and beaming. Fleur was wearing a very simple white dress and seemed to be emitting a strong, silvery glow. She looked beautiful and happy. Ginny and Gabrielle, both wearing golden dresses came down afterwards. Ginny looked very pretty, as if this was her wedding and not Fleur's.
I looked over at Bill. His eyes were big and he looked as if he wanted nothing more than to take Fleur into his arms and kiss her. He looked as if she was the only thing that mattered in his world.
I wondered if that's how I looked when I would stare at Hermione.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said the small, tufty-hired wizard who had presided at Dumbledore's funeral, "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls…"
"Yes, my tiara set off the whole thing nicely," said Auntie Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. "But I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low cut."
"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle…?"
My mind drifted as I felt Hermione's fingers interlock with mine. I stiffened slightly, but relaxed quickly as I looked over and seen tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Not upset, are you?" I whispered.
"It's just so beautiful."she whispered back. I smiled and handed her a clean handkerchief from my pocket. She dabbed under her eyes, trying not to smudge the subtle makeup that she had on.
In the front row, Mum and Madame Delacour were both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace. Trumpet like sounds from the back of the marquee told everyone that Hagrid had taken out one of his own tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs.
I watched as Bill and Fleur exchanged rings. As a Weasley, I had been to my fair share of weddings over the years, however, seeing my oldest brother getting married, seeing how happy he was to be bonding his life to another person. I couldn't help but agree with Hermione. It really was beautiful.
"…then I declare you bonded for life."
The tufty-haired wizard waved his hand high over the heads of Bill and Fleur and a shower of silver stars fell upon them, spiraling around their now entwined figures. As Fred and George led a round of applause, the golden balloons overhead burst. Birds of paradise and tiny golden bells flew and floated out of them, adding their songs and chimes to the din.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" called the tufty-haired wizard. "If you would please stand up!"
The scars on which we had been sitting rose gracefully into the air as the canvas walls of the marquee vanished, so that we stood beneath a canopy supported by golden poles, with a glorious view of the sunlit orchard and surrounding countryside. Next, a pool of molten gold spread from the center of the tent to form a gleaming dance floor; the hovering chairs grouped themselves around small, white-clothed tables, which all floated gracefully back to earth round it, and the golden-jacketed hand trooped toward a podium.
"Smooth," I said, admiring everything, as the waiters popped up on all sides, some hearing silver trays of pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and firewhiskey, others tottering piles of tarts and sandwiches.
"We should go and congratulate them!" said Hermione, standing on tiptoe to see the place where Bill and Fleur had vanished amid a crowd of well-wishers.
"We'll have time later," I said, snatching three butterbeers from a passing tray and handing one to Harry.
"Hermione, come on, let's grab a table…. Not there!Nowhere near Muriel –"
I led the way across the empty dance floor, glancing left and right as I went. I wanted to make sure Krum was nowhere to be seen near me. I didn't want him to get any funny ideas. I had seen the way he looked at Hermione, as if he was going to attempt another chance.
By the time they had reached the other side of the marquee, most of the tables were occupied: The emptiest was the one where Luna sat alone.
"All right if we join you?" I asked.
"Oh yes," she said happily. "Daddy's just gone to give Bill and Fleur our present."
"What is it, a lifetime's supply of Gurdyroots?"
Suddenly Harry winced as if he had been hit by some invisible force. I looked over and Hermione was rolling her eyes. I chuckled. She must have tried to kick me and missed.
The band had begun to play, Bill and Fleur took to the dance floor first, to great applause; after a while, Dad led Madame Delacour onto the floor, followed by Mum and Fleur's father.
"I like this song," said Luna, swaying in time to the waltz like tune, and a few seconds later she stood up and glided onto the dance floor, where she revolved on the spot, quite alone, eyes closed and waving her arms.
"She's great isn't she?" I said, admiringly. "Always good value."
My smile disappeared as quickly as it had came when Viktor Krum dropped into Luna's vacant seat. Hermione looked like she was blushing again, something that greatly annoyed me. I thought she was done with the great tosser.
"Who is that man in the yellow?" he asked.
"That's Xenophilius Lovegood, he's the father of a friend of ours," I said.
I looked over at Hermione. I wasn't going to take any chances.
"Come and dance," I said, getting up and extending my hand to her. She looked taken aback, but pleased too, and got up. I took Hermione by the hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor. A slow song had began to play. I placed my hands on Hermione's waist as she put her hands on my shoulders. I could feel a bit of tension.
"Don't be nervous," I said. "One thing I do know how to do well is dance. As many weddings I have been to in my short lifetime, I had better know."
Hermione smiled as she moved her hands from my shoulder's to the back of my neck. I pulled Hermione in a bit closer to me as I moved my hands to the small of her back.
We swayed to the rhythm of the music, our eyes locked on each others.
"This was such a beautiful wedding," said Hermione," Much nicer than anh Muggle wedding I've ever attended."
"Are muggle weddings really different from wizard weddings?" I questioned. "Besides the magic of course."
"Tradition wise, no." explained Hermione. "Vows and rings are exchanged just like Bill and Fleur did. Sometimes the parents light candles, in some weddings they jump brooms. My aunt on my Mum's side did that with her husband shorty after their kiss."
"Do they have parties like this afterwards? With dancing and everything?" I asked.
"Yes, just like this one. Some are more traditional and they waltz, but most are like this. Relaxed."
"Did you dance with any other blokes at these weddings?" I asked her, mentally face palming myself.
Thankfully, she laughed. "Are you jealous of the guy I shared a dance with when I was nine years old, Ron?"
"Maybe," I chuckled.
I spun Hermione out and then back into me again, causing her to giggle.
"So the Weasley King really can dance? I must say I am impressed." said Hermione grinning.
"Skilled in the air as well as on the ground." I laughed.
"Well this is very nice." said Hermione, lightly stroking my hair. The sensation sent a delightful feeling down to my groin, and I prayed silently that she didn't feel it.
"It is. I'm kind of glad that I asked you before Vicky did." I said, instantly wanting to take the words back.
Hermione stopped moving and glared up at me. "Are you serious? You just asked me to dance so VIKTOR couldn't? Oh you are so insufferable Ronald Weasley!" she shouted, turning and walking away angrily towards the opening of the tent.
"Shit." I mumbled following after her.
What an idiot I was. To actually bring up fucking Krum and ruin the moment we were having? Was I really that threatened over him?
I followed Hermione out to a tree in front of our lake. "Mione please don't be like this." I said when I had caught up with her.
"You should tell yourself that! Why did you just ruin a perfectly good moment with your jealousy? Here I am thinking that you wanted to dance with me because it meant something to you, when really you just didn't want Viktor around me!"
"Hermione Granger that's not true! It did mean something to me. It does. But you're right. I didn't want him around you. You still don't seem to get it do you?"
"Get what Ronald?!" yelled Hermione "That you are blindly jealous of someone that you need not be jealous of?!"
"No! That I just want you to myself!" I yelled. "You should know this by now. Krum likes you, and he is better than me, and I don't want to be that best friend that just gets caught in the bloody friend zone when that git is around. I don't want to lose you to him. I don't want to lose you to anyone. I care too much about you!"
I put my arms around Hermione and crushed her into me. I was embarrassed. I couldn't believe that I had poured out so much of my feelings to her, and I didn't want her to laugh in my face. I didn't want her to look at me.
Instead of laughter, Hermione lifted her arms and put them around me, hugging me back.
"Why do we always do this to each other?" asked Hermione., turning her head so that her cheek was pushing into my chest.
I grinned and put my chin on top of Hermione's head. "Would we be us if we didn't make shit complicated?"
"Language...and probably not. I wonder why it is. I don't argue like this with anyone but you." said Hermione, lifting her head up to face me.
"Same here. But I like to argue with you. I'd rather argue with you than not go for months speaking to you." I said, taking Hermione by the chin.
I kissed her forehead tenderly and sweetly. I kept my lips on her forehead as we slowly swayed to the music that we could faintly hear in the background.
I opened his eyes to look deep into Hermione's big brown ones. I could feel the words hanging on my tongue, begging to be said. However, I couldn't bring myself to say them. Not yet.
"Shall we have another go?" I asked, nodding my head towards the tent.
Hermione smiled and nodded as she took my hand and allowed me to lead her back into the tent.
When we got back in, the music changed to something more upbeat. We danced non stop through three more songs.
I felt as if the room was still spinning as Hermione and I took a few minutes break from dancing. As Hermione was chatting with Ginny and one of my cousins, I leaned against the juice bar and sipped the yummy fruity tasting red stuff that I didn't know about that was in my glass as I watched Hermione from afar.
I found himself mesmerized by the way she smiled at Ginny as they conversed, her dangling curls moving slightly in the small breeze that had made its way into the tent. I had to have told her at least five times that she looked beautiful tonight, but standing back and taking her in while no one else was around had me comparing her to angels.
"Oh baby brother, you got it bad." said a voice from the side of me. I didn't even notice that Fred was standing there.
"Got what bad? What are you talking about?"
"I see the way you're staring at our young bookworm over there. Don't blame you. She is quite lovely tonight."
I felt the blush creep up on my cheeks. "She's lovely all the time" I said absentmindedly.
"As I said." smirked Fred. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Huh?" I said stupidly."Do about what?"
"Hermione of course. You can't just keep drooling over her, you've been doing that since you met her."
"I have not." I said defensively.
"Really? Mum used to tell us how all your letters to her and Dad in first year used to include her, you spit up slugs for the girl in second, was miserable as hell when you weren't talking to her in third, wanted to kick Krum's ass over her in 4th, and was practically glued to her in 5th. And we all know about the Ron, Lavender, and Hermione love triangle of your sixth. Face it Ronniekins, you have loved that girl since day one."
My face and ears felt like they on fire.
"So what are you going to do?" asked Fred refilling my glass.
"I don't know what I should do." I sighed. "All this shit with Voldemort, and then us having to help Harry. There isn't any time for us. Is there?"
"You make the time then, baby brother." said Fred. "Make her feel special everyday. Be it telling her she's pretty or doing something nice for her. You've been reading that book we gave you correct?"
"I've read some chapters." I said, not wanting to confess that I had read the entire book at least five times.
"Well then you better read some more and do right by it. And also figure some stuff out on your own. Hermione is a great girl. She takes care of you, puts up with your shit, and sticks by you despite it all. A girl like that is rare. You would do well to hold onto her don't you think?"
I nodded. It still felt weird that any of the twins were giving me seriously love advice. His words however. had motivated me.
I decided that hang the hunt. I was going to tell Hermione that we should be together. Harry would understand. We wouldn't let our relationship interfere with the job we had to do. But I couldn't go on any longer with only being here friend.
I had lost sight of her while talking to Fred, so I went off to look for her.
Suddenly, something large and silver came falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx landed lightly in the middle of a group of dancers. Heads turned, as those nearest it froze absurdly in mid-dance. Then the Patronus's mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."