Hermione couldn’t believe that tomorrow was the day that she would finally become Mrs. Ronald Weasley. It seemed like this day was never going to occur. After Ron was hurt during the final battle, she was afraid that this day would never come. It had taken him almost two years to get his strength back.
Hermione had used the time to become an Unspeakable in the Intelligence Chamber. The workings of the wizarding brain truly fascinated her and the others that worked with her. She found her job fulfilling and challenging.
Hermione lived at the Burrow so that she could take care of Ron. He was totally delirious the first few months after his injuries. No one knew what spells or curses had been used against him, so it made treating his injuries harder to do. He lay in St. Mungo’s with daily visits from Hermione, Harry, and the surviving Weasley’s. George, Percy and Charlie had died during the last battle. Molly couldn’t stand the fact that there might be one more casualty if Ron couldn’t be cured. Healer Corby Burr had been the one that was finally able to wake him up.
Ginny and Harry had a small family wedding a few months after Ginny graduated from Hogwarts. Ginny worked at St. Mungo’s and Harry worked at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, though Harry wasn’t technically an Auror. Harry often went to Hogwarts to help teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, because Remus Lupin and Nyphadora Tonks Lupin taught there jointly. They loved having him as a special teacher on occasion. Ginny and Harry were expecting a child in a few months, and the Lupin’s already had a baby girl named Emma.
Hermione was getting ready to go to the rehearsal for her wedding. She finished straightening her dress and went down to the kitchen. She would be spending the night at her parent’s house in London. The ceremony would be taking place by the lake at Hogwarts. That was where the love that Ron and Hermione shared had started to blossom and it was where Ron had first kissed her. The kiss came as they were getting ready to leave Hogwarts with Harry after Professor Dumbledore’s funeral to track down the horcruxes that would allow them to defeat Voldemort. It was summertime, so Headmistress McGonagall had granted them permission to have the wedding at Hogwarts.
“You look wonderful! I can’t wait to see how you look tomorrow,” greeted Ron coming up to give her a kiss.
“Flatterer! Lets get going or we are going to be late. Ready to apparate to the gates? Let’s go.” Hermione went out into the woods around the Burrow and apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.
Ron appeared beside her, and they walked up to the lake. It seemed that they were the last ones to arrive. Molly came up and fussed over them. Ginny’s smile as she took her place as Matron of Honor was answered by a bigger one on Hermione’s face. Ron took his place beside Harry and Fred. Luna dreamily walked up beside Ginny. That made the wedding party complete. Hermione’s parents had been guided here by Arthur Weasley. Arthur had to almost force them through the Anti-Muggle protections. They stood looking around the castle grounds in awe.
The official that was performing the ceremony stepped to the front of everyone. He had salt and pepper hair and laughing green eyes. Ginny had suggested having him lead the ceremony. Declan Hurst worked in the Department of Mysteries behind the locked door. He was the one that convinced Ginny that only by keeping up her good spirits and sending her love to Harry would they be able to survive the war.
Declan had a smile on that was totally infectious to everyone that was around him. He showed everyone what he wanted them to do and went through the basics of the ceremony so they knew what was expected of them in the morning. After that they all went to the Great Hall where there was a rehearsal feast specially prepared by Dobby and Winky.
Hermione found it weird waking up in her childhood bed. Excitement filled her up to the brim. Today her dreams came true. It was the first day of her lifetime with Ron, and she really couldn’t wait for the moment when they said “I do!” She knew that it was early, but she was too wound up to sleep any longer. Going into the bathroom, she filled the bathtub and slipped into its warm depths. When the water was getting on the chilly side, she climbed out and dressed in a button-down blouse.
Her father was sitting in the kitchen drinking some coffee and eating a donut. Hermione poured herself some coffee and made a bowl of oatmeal.
“I thought that donuts were bad for your teeth,” she teased her dad.
“They are, but my age is creeping up on me. I sometimes forget to eat only the stuff that is good for me,” he told her with a grin.
“You couldn’t sleep anymore either, could you?” Hermione smiled at her father.
“My baby is going to get married today. I have been waiting for this day to come since you were born, but I’m afraid that I will fall into your past.” He studied the insides of the mug in his hands.
“Daddy, you will never be in my past! I will keep coming here every week, like I always have. Now you can look forward to having grandchildren and a son too!” Hermione sat next to her dad, and made him look her in the eye. “You know that Ron and I are getting a flat of our own just outside Diagon Alley. We are getting it outside it so that mom and you can visit us anytime you want!”
“I know baby, but you have moved into a world that your mother and I will never totally understand. I’m happy for you, because you have become an intelligent, independent and professional woman. You are joining a wonderful family. They have totally made your mother and I feel as if we are members also. Ron will truly make you happy. I’m sure he will still be bullheaded and drive you crazy, but he loves you more then any other man ever could.” Mr. Granger pulled his daughter close in a hug.
“Thanks Dad! Is mom about ready? Luna will be here any minute and we have to get to Hogwarts if we don’t want to chance running into Ron.” Hermione saw her dad nod as she ran upstairs to grab her dress.
The doorbell rang as she was running back down the stairs. “Come on, we need to go!”
Hermione stood in front of a great mirror in one of the classrooms. Her mother had tears running down her face and kept saying how beautiful she was. Ginny had helped her do her hair, and it had never looked better. Ringlets framed her face which just added to the glow of happiness covering her entire face.
Declan stopped by to see how everyone was doing. “I don’t think I have ever seen a bride more beautiful. The love in your heart shows through your eyes, and shines out on all those around you. I’m glad to be the one performing this ceremony.” His green eyes sparkled and his smile made the room shine even brighter, which was saying something.
Hermione laughed as she took his hand. “Thank you so much. Every bride should be surrounded by such family and friends as I have. I have waited and prayed for this day. Shouldn’t we be heading towards the lake?”
Everyone else laughed at her eagerness to start the ceremony. Ginny moved over and wrapped her arm around Hermione’s shoulder. “Come on, I have been waiting for you to be my sister for years. I’m so excited this day has finally come!”
Luna dreamily took Hermione’s other side. “I’m glad to be a part of your big day. We haven’t gotten to spend enough time together since you left Hogwarts.”
Hermione gave both girls a hug and they giggled as they met her father at the castle door. Declan had walked ahead of them to the lake and was standing in front of the crowd of chairs. Hermione saw Ron, Harry, and Fred take their places to Declan’s left side. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Ron.
Mr. Granger took her arm as the girls walked down through the break in the crowd. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the check as he guided her to her husband to be. Ron had a look of awe on his face as she glided up to his side. Together they turned to Declan, squeezing each other’s hands tightly.
“We are here to join Hermione Jane Granger and Ronald Bilius Weasley as husband and wife.” Declan went through and talked about the sanctity of marriage and how love can get families through anything.
Hermione only caught segments of what he said. She was too aware of Ron standing anxiously beside her.
“Do you Hermione Jane Granger accept Ronald Bilius Weasley as your husband in sickness, health, and whatever the future brings?” Declan asked Hermione with the first serious expression she had ever seen on his face.
“I do!” Hermione said with all the love in her heart.
“Do you Ronald Bilius Weasley accept Hermione Jane Granger as your wife in sickness, health, and whatever the future brings?” Declan asked Ron, still looking serious.
“I do,” Ron choked out with many different feelings in his voice.
Finally Declan asked them to hold their clasped hands out in front of them. He tied a pink and blue string around the hands that wound halfway up their arms. Declan turned to Harry and asked for the rings. Ron slipped a diamond ring onto left hand. Hermione slipped a plain gold band onto his. The rings were Hermione’s idea. Wizards didn’t always where them, but her family always had.
Declan had them turn and face the crowd in front of them. Molly and Arthur along with the Grangers joined them and put their hands over the tied hands.
Declan smiled as he said, “Do those present accept the joining of these two families?”
Everyone present shouted a hardy, “YES!”
“Then by the power granted to me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” With a sly look at Ron he added, “you may kiss your bride.”
Everyone let out a great big shout of joy as all the couples in the crowd glowed pink. There was even a field that surrounded Ginny and Harry, even though they weren’t side by side. Declan himself glowed a bright green that embraced everyone present. A silence full of awe filled the clearing as the colors merged into a luminescent turquoise.
Ron leaned over and tipped Hermione back into a great big kiss.
Hermione and Ron escaped for a moment off to the side of the festivities. Hermione kept her pace to Ron’s limping one. His left leg healed crooked and none of the Healers had been able to get it to straighten up. The newlyweds found that they were standing in front of Dumbledore’s tomb. Together they stood there studying it for a minute.
“I felt him there today, didn’t you?” Ron asked.
“Yeah, I did. I felt all of those we lost in the war there.” Hermione pulled Ron close for a quick kiss.
“We should get back to the dancing. Everyone will be looking for us, though it has been great getting a few minutes alone with you.” Ron smiled at Hermione.
“We have the entire week to be alone!” Then with a sly grin she added, “Are you going to tell me where we are going for the Honeymoon?”
“You’ll see tonight! Here comes Harry and Ginny, we better get back.” Ron guided Hermione back to the party.
Hermione smiled up at Harry as they danced around the dance floor. They smiled at each other as they circled around and around.
“You are absolutely glowing tonight! I am so glad that this day finally came. There were a few months that I was worried Ron wouldn’t make it to this day. I was proud to stand by his side as his best man. You have been like a sister to me since we first started Hogwarts.” Harry smiled down at her.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better brother! Now I have a whole family of brothers, and a great sister. Thank you for standing by my side for all these years,” Hermione smiled back.
“May I break in to steal my husband back?” Ginny tapped Hermione on the shoulder.
“Not a problem, sis!” Hermione giggled as she walked to the side of the dance floor.
It was great seeing everyone have such a good time. Things had been so bleak for a long time. It was fun seeing Luna and Neville dance as old friends. Fred and Angelina looked like they might be getting married soon too. Healer Corby danced with his wife, Faylinn. It was so good having everyone look so happy. There were lots of faces that should have been here, Sirius, Dumbledore, Hagrid, George, Percy and Charlie, just to name a few. It was good to see that so many people were moving on with their lives. Lots of grief had come of the war, but it was evident that people were healing and life was moving on.
Ron came up and wrapped his arms around her. “Ready to see where we are spending the next week?”
“Yes. I was just taking in all the happy faces. Life is moving on, and I’m so glad that we are here to see it.” Hermione smiled as she followed Ron towards the gate.
“I am happier then I could ever express that you waited for me. I’m glad that we are here today as husband and wife. We will disagree and bicker, but I know that we will always be happy together.” Ron grabbed Hermione’s hand and pulled her into an embrace. They disappeared together to face a joint future.
