"WHAT? Who?" Hermione and Ron asked in unison.

"HARRY!" Ginny sobbed, letting go of Ron, and now clinging to Hermione.

"When did he leave?" Hermione asked.

Ginny brandished the parchment at her. Hermione took it nervously.

Dear Mr. Potter,
There has been a problem with the Ministry. It seems that someone is out to revive the Dark Lord. We need to send you, our best Auror, out to find this deadly crazed human being, please apparate to the Minister's office IMEDDIATELY. Thank you, bid your good byes quickly. I cannot tell you when you may be able to return home. We would normally summon Nymphadora Tonks but as the prophecy must still be fullfilled, you are our only hope.

Yours Apologetically and Sincerely,
Mr. Hanniblem,
Order of Merlin, Second Class, Auror Management

Hermione drew in her breath. "NO!" She cried, and she gripped Ron's arm painfully tight. "What if we never see him again? What if he gets killed?"

"He won't," Ron gasped, his voice shaking.

Three months later, Ron and Ginny left to do some birthday shopping for Mrs. Weasley, and Hermione stayed behind, unable to go she was so frazzled. She sat on the couch, staring at the Daily Prophet she was attempting to read. "Oh, Harry, please come back," She whispered. She couldn't go through this again. Could she?

DING DONG!

Hermione leapt to her feet, and rushed over to the peephole. Through the hole, she saw a mess of black hair and brilliant green eyes.

"HARRY!"

Flinging the door open, she dragged in a startled Harry Potter and threw her arms around him. "You're back! You're back! You're back! Oh, Harry! I was so WORRIED!" Hermione screamed into his ear as Harry tried desperately to escape.

"Alright, goodness, Hermione, where's Ginny?"

"Out with Ron, birthday shopping for Molly. I didn't go, I was too worried about you to go, besides, I already have her present, a book that tells how to keep garden gnomes away...permanently." Hermione got another good look at her best friend as she released him, and her breath caught in her chest. "Harry, what happened?" His appearance frightened her greatly. He had a nasty cut on his arm and a burn on his cheek. He also looked extraordinarily tired.

"Malfoy. I attacked him when he called you a mudblood and Ron a muggle-lover, and he got the best of me. I was too exhausted."

"Oh, you poor thing, oh Harry, I was so worried, you mean the world to me, you and Ron and Ginny, and I didn't want another estrangement. Oh, what am I saying, just give me another hug."

And Harry pulled her into a hug. Hermione lenaed against him and felt him shaking. It brought tears to her eyes again, and they slowly rolled down her cheeks. She was so lucky to have him for a best friend. He'd do anything for her, Ginny, or Ron.

"HARRY!" A joyful shout sent Hermione out of Harry's arms, startled. She whirled to see who it was and was relieved that it was Ginny and Ron.

"Oh, Ginny-" Harry looked lost for words. It had been only three months since his disappearance, but they all knew that to Ginny it had been three decades. Harry shook his head, unable to speak. His bright green eyes were even brighter than usual, and he opened his arms to Ginny, beaming, and she collapsed into them, sobbing with joy. Ron and Hermione blushed, both feeling like they didn't need to be here, now. The others needed time alone.

Ginny had her arms wrapped around Harry's neck and she was still crying, her sparkling blue eyes shining. She kissed him over and over on the cheeks, and then eventually on the lips. "I thought you were dead. I thought you were dead," she repeated again and again.

"What happened to you?" Ron asked Harry, observing the injuries. Ginny slowly calmed down, but she still stayed where she was, and Harry still held on to her tightly.

"Malfoy." And Harry repeated the story back to Ron, telling him what he'd just told Hermione.

"He called her a mudblood AGAIN?" thundered Ron, furious.

"Really, Ron, it's just a word-" Hermione began, pink in the cheeks. She was also lucky to have a boyfriend who loved her so much, but sometimes, when it came to Malfoy insulting her, he was extraordinarily stupid.

"No it isn't! It's insulting, it's ridiculous-"

"RON!" Hermione shouted, and he fell silent, but only for a second. "I'M the one he CALLED a mudblood. Why does it make YOU so angry?"

"Because he's a jerk, a filthy madman. I'm going to go kill him now. Right NOW." Ron's breathing was uneven, his nostrils flared. "And nobody's going to stop me."

"NO!" Hermione screamed, feeling sickened. She threw herself at Ron, clinging to him desperately. "Don't go anywhere! How COULD you think of leaving again, after all I've been through, you inconsiderate prat-"

"Maybe I should leave if you're calling me a prat!" Ron bellowed, trying to shake out of her grip. Hermione wouldn't let go of his hands, but he twisted around until she had to let go, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Ginny winced, and, looking as though it were against her better judgement, spoke. "Really, you two, must you fight over such little things-"

"Shut up, Ginny!" Ron hollered. "I'm leaving. I'll kill Malfoy for you, Hermione, because I LOVE you, okay? But you don't have to love me back. That's fine. Just... just fine."

And Ron fell silent.

"But Ron, I do love you," Hermione whispered, stunned.

He shook his head, and he too looked like he might cry.

Hermione ran from the room with tears cascading down her cheeks.

Well, a few days later, Hermione heard a knock on the door when she was in her room. “Come in." Ron threw the door open and sat down next his girlfriend. "Hermione?"

"What?" Hermione spat. She still hadn't forgiven him. Yet.

"Can you...forget about it?" Was Ron offering an apology?

"Forget about what?"

"What I called you?"

Hermione drew a shaking breath. "You...you think that I can just forget, Ron? Well, you know what? I CAN'T! I can't just forget. It doesn't work that way. I don't care about what you think. Not after everything that's happened. You say you love me, but you're going to go risk your NECK to kill somebody because they called me a mudblood? That's ridiculous!" And with that she ran out of the room, down the stairs, and up to the pond, where she fell to the ground, put her arms around her legs, her head on knees, and sobbed.

Ron sat where he was, stunned.

About three days they were still in an 'extreme disagreement,' as Hermione put it. The four were cleaning up the kitchen as a favor for Mrs. Weasley. Hermione and Ginny were doing dishes, Harry and Ron were having fun pulling disgusting things out of the cabinet and showing each other gross, fuzzy, moldy things. Unable to stand the tense silence, Hermione flicked on her radio. A song began, as the commentator said happily, "And now, our muggle American song, Standing Still, by Jewel!" The words penetrated Hermione's anger enough to send a chill down her spine.

Coming through the darkest night in my two headlights,
Trying keep it clear,
but I am loosing it here to the twilight.
There's a dead end to my left,
there's a burning bush, to my right.
You aren't in sight.
Oh, you aren't in sight.

Hermione glared at the back of Ron's head, tears, once again, in her eyes. Ginny occasionally threw a glance at her friend, worried.

Do you love me
Like I love you?
Or am I standing still
Beneath the darkened skies?
Or am I standing still
with the scenery flying by?
Or am I standing still?
Out of the corner of my eye, was that you? Passing me by?

Hermione dropped the plate she was drying, her hands were shaking with suppressed anger and hurt. It shattered on the floor. She turned to Ron. Ginny, meanwhile, whipped out her wand and muttered, “Raparo!”

“Ron?”

“Hermione?” Ron wiggled his eyebrows at her as if inviting her to a challenge. Reminded sickeningly of Malfoy, Ginny opened her mouth to speak, decided that this wasn't her place to intervene, and stared at the ceiling determindly. When she glanced at Harry, she saw that he was doing the same.

"Can you forgive me?"

"No." Ron honestly had no idea why he was doing this to her but she didn't seem to deserve forgiveness yet. He knew that his dad teased him about being as stubborn as Ginny (and that was saying something) but he didn't care. All she did was throw a pity party when he turned up and said he'd married somebody else. So maybe he had. Big deal. But he'd still helped bring the most evil wizard of all time to his death. Didn't that count for something?

Hermione burst into tears and ran to her room, Ginny following, screaming colorful threats at her "idiot scum of a brother."

Harry was left alone in the kitchen, holding a bowl of fruit, stunned into silence.

When Harry awoke a two in the morning, he found himself still fretting over Ron and Hermione's cruel exchange of words. He climbed out of bed and headed for Ginny's room to talk to Hermione. He stumbled over something in the darkness.

"OOF!" The something shouted. Ron Weasley was sitting, his knees drawn to his chest, his hands gripping his hair, outside the girls' room on the floor. When he was able to make out who Harry was in the darkness, he sighed heavily.

"I am so thick."

"Yeah." Harry dropped next to his friend. "She won't let you in?"

Ron shook his head. "Nope."

"Write her a note or something."

"That's an idea!" Ron sprinted back to his room, and came back with his wand. With it he conjured a gorgeous boquet. Red roses and blue forget-me-nots were clustered together, tied with a silk white ribbon. Harry remembered how the first time he'd conjured the spell was to put a smaller bouquet in Hermione's music box.

Harry grinned. "You've fallen hard."

Ron just beamed at him. He conjured a little notecard and pulled a quill from his jacket pocket, pulled over his pyjamas. He scribbled, and in the tiny crack of light coming from under the girls' door, Harry read the note as Ron wrote.

Hermione,

When it hurts to look back and
you are scared to look ahead,
look beside you and I will be there.

I love you.

~Ron

"Wow," Harry hissed. "Did you write that?"

Ron chuckled softly. "Nah. Mum has this big old book of quotes and sayings-"

"Oh, she gave that to Hermione while you were gone," Harry whispered.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she read it all the time." Harry had a sudden flashback of peeking in on Hermione in her room at her parents' house, before Mrs. Weasley forced both Harry and Hermione to move to the Burrow, and seeing her curled on her bed, her hair messy, tears on her cheeks as she read aloud softly from the book. He looked away from Ron. So many painful memories were connected with Ron's disappearance. Harry thought that if Ron could see the pain he caused the girl he loved more than anything in the world, he would have never left. Then he smiled. That was basically the foundation of the argument the pair was currently dealing with.

Ron was opening the door with alohamora, but just barely. He slipped the flowers in, and they peeked under the crack as Hermione's hands swept them off of the floor.

Then they heard Ginny give a small gasp, and Hermione burst into tears.

Harry's heart sank, feeling terrible for Ron. She hated them.

But then...

"OH RON!" Hermione gave a breathy sob, threw the door open, dragged Ron to his feet, and embraced him, crying onto his shoulder. "I love you so much."

Ron flushed to the tips of his ears, and mumbled into her shoulder, "Not as much as I love you."

Ginny stepped over to Harry and laid her head on his shoulder. Harry's arm wound around her waist, and she hugged him tightly. "I love you," Ginny said to Harry, grinning.

He grinned at her in the shadowed lighting, and turned his attention back to their friends, who were still holding each other tightly.

"I'm so so sorry," sobbed Hermione. "I was so wrong. You could've gone if you'd wanted to,"

"I would've gotten to the drive, turned 'round, and come back inside," said Ron with a breathless laugh. "Because I wouldn't be able to leave you."

Ginny rolled her eyes in disgust, but Hermione clearly thought that Ron was wonderful, for she planted a kiss on his lips that made Harry and Ginny look away, blushing.

Hermione nervously twirled around in front of Ginny. “You look great, Hermione!” Hermione just mumbled something under her breath. She had to admit she did look pretty good in this dress. It was a deep, dark red and flowed down past her feet, and the bell sleeves each had a piece of material attach so it looked like Hermione had wings. Her hair was drawn up in an elegant bun, which let the earrings and necklace she was wearing glitter in the sunlight. “Ron is going to have trouble breathing when he sees you. I know it.”

Hermione smiled nervously.

"You are going to a play," said Ginny, exasperated. "What could go wrong?"

Hermione smiled one last time. “It’s time to go, Ginny. Wish me luck.”

Ginny was the one who smiled this time. “Hermione, you don’t need it. You have all the luck in the world.”

Ron was had been sitting on his bed, gazing into his hands, when Harry walked into his room. “Hi Ron. What…is that a ring?” Ron nodded. Harry took a deep breath. “Ohhhhhhh, Ron.”

Ron gave him a look. “Don’t 'Ohhhhhhh, Ron' me. I’m going to propose tonight but I don’t know when. Or how. Or what she’ll say. Or what I’ll say. Or how I’ll react. Or how she will react. Or…”

“Ron, shut it. Please. You’re more nervous than I was, and I didn't think that was possible.”

Ron shrugged. “I bet she will probably say no. I won’t be surprised if she does. I don’t deserve her.”

“Oh, whatever. Ron, she adores you so much that it blows my mind."

"Really?"

"Yes," said Harry, exasperated. "You should've seen her while you were gone. She cried every single day, Ron Weasley. Trust me, she loves you. And you definately deserve her."

Ron snorted. "Yeah, after I dissappeared, married some Death Eater, broke her heart, came back, and tried to leave again. I don't deserve her. She's too wonderful-"

"-And I thought that about Ginny, but she has a ring around her finger now, Ron. The only thing that could stop you from giving her that ring would be if you didn't love her."

Ron grinned again. “No, I’m proposing because she has hazel eyes. Duh, I love her. And I am not losing her again. Or even almost losing her. Wish me luck, will you?”

Harry got up to leave. Before he did, he turned to Ron. “You don’t need it. You have all the luck in the world.”

Ron's jaw dropped as Hermione walked down the stairs. She always had been gorgeous to him, but man, she was above and beyond now. She smiled shyly, and took his hand. As they walked to the front door, the rest of the Weasleys, who were sitting in the family room, all gaped as they walked by. "Have a lovely time, dears."

And with that, they apparated. Harry settled down in an armchair, and sighed, rubbing his forehead. Ginny looked over at him. "Gin, I'm okay. A little shocked, but okay."

Ginny drew back from him. "Nobody has died, have they?"

Harry laughed. "Oh, no. Ron's proposing tonight."

Mrs.Weasley dropped onto the sofa, looking faint.

"Did I just say that?"

As  Hermione and Ron came out of the theater, laughing about one of the actor who happened to have a horrible case of the dropseys, Ron turned to look at Hermione. She was beautiful. Every fiber of her was beautiful. He gazed at her, with a deer-and-the-headlights look on his face.

“Oh, Ron? That expression isn’t the most becoming.”

Ron jerked, knowing he was turning the color of her dress.

“Uh, Hermione? Why don’t we go to the apple orchard instead of straight back to the house?” Hermione gave him a funny look, but agreed. As they apparated, Ron’s mind whirled. Here goes nothing.

Hermione nervously looked at Ron as they apparated to the apple orchard. What is going on? The little voice popped up in her head. I know. Another voice answered. I bet he is going to say that he doesn’t love me or something. Don’t be stupid. I know you know what’s happening. I don’t. Don’t be so dumb. You do tooooo!

“Hermione, why don’t we climb this tree?”

Hermione laughed. “Me? In this? Are you crazy?” She said, indicating her gown.

Ron grinned. “I’ll help you. Come on. Live a little.” He playfully tugged at one of her sleeves and she came forward. “Up she goes!” He picked her up and set her in the tree. Then he came up, carefully, as to not rip his dress robes. “There we go.” He smiled. “Never thought you would be in an apple tree in a ball gown, did you?”

Hermione laughed. “Actually, yes. Knowing you, anyway!”

After that they just sat in silence. Hermione looked all around her, at the moon, and pond, and at Ron. He was biting his lip. Uh, oh. Don’t uh, oh. You know he what he is about to do...

“Ron?” Hermione had to say something. Her thoughts were driving her crazy. He turned his head. “Did you love Dana?” Bad question, Hermione!

He turned to her. “No, I don’t think I did.” He paused. “But I love you more than anything in the world, Hermione Granger.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. Hermione gasped. It was beautiful, with two diamonds and a small sapphire.  “'Mione, I…”

Hermione placed a finger over his mouth. “Yes.”

He grinned. “Yes?”

“Yes.”

"Wait. Look here." Her turned the ring so the sapphire was pointing towards the ground. By the moonlight, Hermione could barely make out the words:

It is you I have loved all along-R.W.-

Hermione kissed him. He grinned, and as Hermione laid her head back onto his shoulder, as she slipped the ring on, as they embraced each other, not in arms, but in souls, the time was forgotten, and it was dawn before they returned to the Burrow.

Now, in the middle of all this hubbub, everyone almost forgot about Harry and Ginny’s wedding. Almost. It was the middle of May, and the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful on the day of the wedding, which was to be held by the pond, near the Burrow. As Ginny turned in front of the mirror, she let out a small sigh. “Ginny, you are perfect.” And she was. Her dress was a sleeveless extravaganza. The skirt and front were very pretty, with seed pearls sewn on to look like flowers, but it was the back that was really something. Five one-inch thick pieces of ribbon went across her back, each ending in the middle with a small bow. Her hair was down, and a small tiara of pink roses and baby’s breath attached her veil to her head. She was indeed a wonderful sight. Hermione rushed forward with a handkerchief as a tear ran down Ginny’s cheek.

"Oh, Hermione, I can't believe this is really happening. My dream since I was eleven is finally coming true," Ginny said with a watery smile.

“Oh, I know. But just don’t cry, Gin.” Ginny nodded and redid her mascara, as Hermione handed Tania Garrett a tube of lipstick.

“Thank you, Miss Hermione.” Tania was an older woman, not Mrs. Weasley’s age, but older than every one else. She had a soft, rolling Spanish accent, and was so kind Hermione found it amazing she had a daughter like Fiona.

"Does anyone have a bobby pin?" Luna Lovegood wandered over, holding her long blonde hair to her head in a knot. Ginny had become good friends with the distanced girl in their fifth year.

"You don't need a bobby pin," said Lavender Brown, who was also one of the bridesmaids. "Here. Finite Incantem."

"Hey!" Luna exclaimed, looking attentive for a split second. "I worked hard-"

But Lavender muttered a soft spell under her breath and the hair was up for good, soft tendrills curling at Luna's ears.

 As Tania got up, her long skirt snagged on the chair. “Oh, no!” Mrs. Weasley ran over, and quickly sewed up the skirt. Tania nodded in appreciation. Hermione wasn’t surprised the dress had snagged. It was made of silk, with a black skirt and jacket, and a pearly white blouse underneath. In effect, a woman’s tuxedo.

When asked about the dresses, Ginny simply answered, “Every muggle man ever born looks good in a tux, and so does every woman, if she gets a chance.” And that was the end of that.

Hermione looked rather frazzled now, for she had been so busy that she'd forgotten to get ready herself. It was a group effort to prepare her make-up while Lavender stood hurriedly doing her hair.

Finally they were ready.

“Okay, Ginny, it’s time to go downstairs. Where’s Emma and Fiona?”

Suddenly the door opened. “Here I yam!” Emma walked into the room, along with Fiona, both dressed in smaller bridesmaid dresses. Emma was carrying her basket of petals proudly, while Fiona, who was six years old, pouted.

“I wanted to be flowergirl, Miss Ginny, " Miss Ginny was a name that was adopted long ago by Fiona. Ginny thought giddily that now she would be Mrs. Potter, not Miss Weasley. "Why does Emma always get to be flowergirl?” Tania immediately bent over her daughter and scolded her.

"Emma does not 'always get to be flowergirl.' Now take these-" she shoved a bouqet of flowers into her daughters hands, "-and give them to Miss Ginny."

"Thank you, Tania and Fiona," Ginny said smilingly, and added the flowers to the bouquet.

The music slowly started. As Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring went on, Lavender went up with Dean Thomas, Luna went up with Colin, Tania went up with Seamus, then Hermione and Ron, arms linked and positively glowing, as maid of honor and best man, went up, right before Fiona and Emma walked up, and then came Ginny, arm in arm with her father, positively beaming.

Harry stood there, shifting nervously from side to side. Though he looked a bit terrified, Hermione had never seen him look so happy.

As Ginny reached Harry, Dumbledore started the ceremony. Hermione loved the wizarding flairs, like when Ginny and Harry crossed their wands and kissed. But right at that moment, there was a loud BANG and a puff of smoke, reminding Hermione of a cheap muggle magic trick she had once gotten when she was younger. As the smoke cleared, she could see a person. It was Malfoy.

“THEY’RE GONE! ALL OF THEM! GONE! FOREVER!” He took a deep breath, but before he could say anything else, Ginny flicked her wand. “Stupefy!”

Malfoy fell over. Hermione ran to him, and smelled liquor five feet away from him. “Ugh!” She plugged her noise and gently levitated him over to the Weasley house, where some of the Aurors were keeping watch on the front of the house. They hadn’t seen him.

 Everyone had frozen in place. Hermione bent, picked up her bouquet, which she had dropped in surprise, and stood in her place. Still, no one moved. “Well, then. Carry on, shall we?” Ron’s voice made everyone realize what they were doing. A soft, startled chuckle bounced through the audience, and Dumbledore cleared his throat. The wedding finished, and then it was time for the party.

The reception was being held in a ballroom at the ministry of magic, for Harry's job there as an Auror permitted them to use it. These days it was a quiet job, where Harry worked at home a lot, for there weren't many bad wizards around to catch. And if there were, he wasn't the first to know.

The wedding  procession cheered the bride and groom into the building, where dinner was served, and then the cake.

Harry and Ginny had much fun forcing the delicious wedding cake down each others throats. After they were cleaned up, ("Scorgify!") Hermione and Ron stood to present their well-wishing speeches as the maid of honor and best man. Ron took center stage first.

"Um," he said as soon as he'd magically magnified his voice. "Wow. Harry and Ginny, I have known you two for ages, Ginny all her life of course, and Harry since the train ride to Hogwarts, first year. And I've liked you both from the second I met you." A soft chuckle rippled through the guests. "But, honestly, I wasn't expecting you to be married. Ginny had this silly crush on Harry since she was eleven. I'll never forget the number of times you squeaked, put your elbow in the butter dish, or blew up the teapot." Everyone laughed again. "And Harry, mate, you were cool about it. If Hermione had treated me like that, I never would have fallen in love with her." The attention shifted to the blushing maid of honor for a second, then flicked back to Ron as he continued. "But after Harry's godfather was killed, everything was different." Ron took on a much more serious tone. "Harry lost... a lot. He didn't want to try out for the Quidditch team after he was thrown off of it by that Umbridge woman. He didn't want to do anything that reminded him of Sirius. So Ginny walked into our compartment on the way to Hogwarts, our sixth year, her fifth, and said, 'I'm resigning from the team as seeker. AND I am going to force you to try out. But don't worry, I'll still be chaser.'" The audience chuckled again. "And that was the end of that. I tell you, my little sister can be extraordinarily persuasive. As the train pulled to a stop, Harry took Ginny out into the corridor where he promptly asked her to eat dinner with us. And that was the begining of this." Ron grinned at the pair of them, his eyes sparkling. "So there's the story of their romance. I hope it lasts until the day you die. I love you both very much and wish you the best."

Ginny stood up from her seat and pulled Harry up with her. She embraced her older brother warmly, and then Harry and Ron shook hands and then clapped each other on the back. Ginny rolled her eyes as she sat back down, but her exasperation didn't hide her tears of joy.

Hermione grinned and flicked her wand at her throat. "Ginny and Harry, you two are two of the sweetest, kindest, most enjoyable people I know. And to see you get married means so much. Ginny, I'll never forget those nights in the Burrow, laying there gazing at the ceiling, fantaszing with you about Harry and Ron. You never teased me about liking your brother, not once, and I completely understood why you liked my best friend. Harry, I'll never forget the time we tried to save Sirius Black." Hermione gave a shaky laugh. "I know, I know, why am I bringing this up at your wedding? But seriously, Harry, you were so brave. You didn't hesitate for a second because one of the people you loved most was in terrible danger." Harry shot her a look. "Well, we had convincing evidence to believe he was in danger, if you want me to say that. But anway, I rest assured that you would do anything to save the life and/or soul of the girl beside you, and I know that the two of you will live out long, healthy, happy lives together. And, if the time comes that you ever need us, for a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, Ron and I will be there every step of the way. Good luck to you both."

The audience cheered esthusiatically at her speech. Then the DJ took the stage. "Thank you, Hermione... Ron. Excellent. Now, we need the happy couple out here! Come, come!"

Ginny and Harry stood and began to dance slowly. A soft melody filled the room as the song began to play.

There's a song that's inside of my soul,
it's the one that I've tried,
To write over and over again.

I'm awake in the infinite cold,
But you sing to me over and over and over again.

So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours I pray,
To be only yours
I know now,
You're my only hope.

Ginny and Harry danced together, whispering to one another and smiling. Hermione fought back tears as she watched the pair of them, the music's sweet melody washing over her. She sighed happily, and Luna Lovegood, who was sitting next to her, beamed at her. Hermione had never seen Luna cry, but there were large tears rolling down her cheeks.

Sing to me the song of the stars
of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that you have
for me over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope

Ginny laughed softly as Harry twirled her out away from him. She looked over at Hermione and Ron, who were both watching them happily. "I love you so much," Ginny said to Harry once again. He grinned at her and pulled her back to him, where he rested his cheek on her forehead.

Ginny let out a contented sigh. This was what life was about.

I give You my destiny
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now You're my only hope

All in all, it was the perfect wedding if one forgot about how Malfoy had made an appearance. Ginny and Harry left for their honeymoon in Paris, and Ron and Hermione returned home to the quiet Burrow.

Two weeks later…

You know those dull Sunday afternoons, where there is nothing to do? That’s what it was like on this particular Sunday, until Ginny brought up the idea of having a picnic. Everyone agreed, and Mrs.Weasley kindly packed some food into an old basket, along with a blanket, and some dog treats (for Sugar). They went to the apple orchard down the lane, and as they plopped down on to the blanket Ginny had spread on the ground, and Hermione opened the picnic basket at which Sugar sniffed hopefully.

Ron turned to face Hermione while trying to keep Emma within his reach. "Uh, 'Mione? Where's Crookshanks?"

Harry, Emma, Ginny, and Hermione all began to chuckle, though Emmahad no idea what everybody was laughing at.

"What's so funny?"

They started to laugh even more. Ron just shook his head.

"S-s-sorry." said Hermione. She stopped laughing at turned to face him. "Well, this last January I went to America with one of my friends, Alexandra. Well, she had an old friend who moved there and we went to visit her and her gran, and well, to make a long story short, her gran fell in love with Crookshanks and he is now being dressed up in little ballroom dresses and..." They all cracked up again.

When they had stopped laughing enough to talk, Ginny put in, “And cheerleading outfits.”

Then Ron put in, “And princess costumes.”

They kept going, but when Harry said, “And a hot pink bikini,” it was too much. Everyone collapsed with laughter. When they looked back on it, it wasn't all that funny. But it was Harry and Ginny's first day back from Paris, and they were all a bit giddy to see each other again.

 As soon as everyone had calmed down, they dug into the chicken, salad, bread, and cheese that Mrs.Weasley had packed, chatting while they ate, and once they were done they just sat back and relaxed. Since the happy couple was a bit “busy”, and Emma had fallen asleep, Hermione and Ron started to talk about what had happened in the past seven years..

“So, when was Emma born?”

Ron turned scarlet. “Actually, she was born on your birthday.”

“Do you speak in jest, good sir?” Hermione asked almost teasingly.

Ron shook his head. As he stroked Emma’s hair, she rolled over and gave a little sigh. Hermione suddenly thought of something. “Ron, does Emma understand, or even know for that matter, that she is going to have a new mum?”

Ron shook his head. “She has no idea.”

Hermione sighed under her breath.

“It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, she knows about you. I told here about you, and Harry, and everyone else.”

Hermione grinned. “Good. Let’s take her out to dinner, and we can tell her, ‘kay?”

Ron hugged her. “Whatever you say, ‘Mione.”

Harry and Ginny weren’t so busy right now, so Hermione reached into the basket and pulled out a pie and a tub of whip cream, along with plates, a spoon, and some forks. Hermione suddenly had a brilliant idea. She whispered something to Emma, who was waking up form her nap, her eyes bleary. Emma grinned, now suddenly much more alert, and nodded.

“Ron, do you like cherry pie?” Hermione asked in a horribly honeyed voice. Ron was distictly reminded of Proffessor Umbridge.

“Yeah.”

Hermione and Emma both picked up the pie. “Good.” Ron never saw it coming. SPLAT! Cherry pie went dripping down his face as he pulled off the crust. Hermione and Emma both howled with laughter. Ron didn’t laugh, or yell. He very simply reached over, grabbed the spoon and the whip cream, and dumped every last bit of it one Hermione and Emma. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were the ones laughing now.

“Hermione, here’s something for you. He who laughs last, laughs best.”

As they all walked back to the Burrow, Emma insisted Hermione carry her. As soon as she picked her up, Emma sank on to her shoulder and fell asleep again. You know, this marriage is the best thing that has ever been thought of. You got that right, sister.

Of course, now everyone had just finished worrying about Harry and Ginny's wedding, now they were worrying about Ron and Hermione's. They didn't know about the engagement until a week later, when Ron and Hermione had planned most of it out. When Ginny found out she was to be matron of honor, she began to cry.

"I never thought this would happen," she sobbed into Ron's shoulder, "I thought you were dead and Hermione and Harry were going to be in shock the rest of their lives. I never dreamed you'd really come back, but you did! You did! And now you're getting married!"

Harry smiled at Hermione and plopped onto the couch next to her as Ron comforted Ginny, and Hermione smiled back, her eyes sparkling. "Well, it happened how I was praying it would ever since fifth year," Hermione whispered to him.

"What?" Harry asked. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Ron is going to be my husband and I am going to be your sister! And Ginny's sister! I couldn't have imagined we would all end up this way-"

"Yeah, I know, I love you guys a lot," Harry replied softly.

Tears were welling in Hermione's eyes.

Harry reached over and wrapped an arm around her. "Hermione? What is it? What's wrong?"

She shook her head. Her eyes were squeezed shut but an occasional tear still leaked out of them.

"Hey, it's alright." Harry had no idea how to comfort her if she would tell him what was up.

Then Ron turned from Ginny and noticed Hermione sitting on the couch, crying silently with Harry sitting next to her, looking helpless. Something was terribly wrong. "Hermione?" Ron walked over, sitting down next to Harry and leaning around him to look at his fiancé. "What is it?"

"I don't know," she gasped. Her mascara, the only make-up she ever wore, was all down her face, and she would have looked laughably funny if the situation weren’t so serious. "I guess I am just stressed."

"It’s more than that," Ginny whispered, seating herself on Harry's lap. Harry glanced at her, but didn't smile, he was busy trying to worm the truth out of Hermione.

"Fine," Hermione sobbed. "I'll tell you." She shook back her brown hair and looked into her three friends' trusting, concerned eyes and drew a shaky breath. "Hang on. I will be right back." With that, she left the living room and brought back a letter. She thrust it at Harry, who took it cautiously and opened it.

Dear Hermione, it began in a lovely scrawl,

I hate to be the one to tell you, but I must. I am crying as I write this, you will not be alone in your grief.

When Harry got that far reading aloud, he stopped and glanced at Hermione, who was still crying silently into Ginny's shoulder and offered no explanation.

Victor, my brother, is dead. We were the ones who found him, my husband and I. The kidnapping was, of course, wildly impossible to prevent. He was only training for Quidditch when his instructor was Stunned and he was taken.

If you'd like to come to his funeral, it will be June 18th, I hope you shall be able to make it.

Sending Love Your Way,
Escribillia Krum
 

Ron was gaping at Hermione. "But- but that's-"

"Our wedding day. I know," Hermione choked. "The reason I am so upset is not because I loved him, I never did," She added, managing to glare convincingly at Ron through her tears. "That's my problem. He loved me, Ron, the whole time you were gone, but I could only think of you. Victor was angry, but never gave up. He wrote to me one last time, and his last paragraph was 'Quidditch practice in half and hour. My dark detectors are telling me not to go, Hermione, I sense there is to be a murder tonight, but my own paranoid thoughts shall not stand in my way. If I am killed, remember me, and please, come to my funeral.'" She looked at her stunned friends. "He died imagining I hated him! I never wrote back! I thought he was doing it for an excuse for me to come to Bulgaria and visit him!"

"Why haven't we heard about this?" Harry asked slowly.

"Because they covered it up, and are going to tell the people next week or somthing stupid like that," Hermione replied miserably. Then she looked down at the letter, which had fallen into her procession again and whispered, "He wants me to come. I cannot miss the funeral, but I cannot reschedule the wedding."

She looked at Ron. "What should I do?"

It struck Harry amusing that Hermione was asking Ron for advise, but he didn't smile. Hermione was clearly in a rut, and she was depending on the other three to pull her out.

"I know," said Ron, forcing a grin. "Owl Esciba or whatever-"

Even when Hermione was in tears, she was still able to correct him. "Escribillia, Ron."

"Escribillia. Weird. Anyway, don't go to the funeral. Or send the writing-girl an owl."

Harry and Ginny began to talk at the same time, though Harry's words were lighter than his wife’s. "Writing-girl?" Harry said, puzzled. "Oh, I get it! Scribe. Escribillia."

"-say such a thing?" Ginny was shouting over Harry. "Really! Ron Weasley, If she wants to go to the funeral, we'll have to reschedule the wedding."

"Hermione?" Harry spoke up. Everyone fell silent.

"What?"

"I think you shouldn't reschedule the wedding or miss the funeral, use the Time Turner."

Hermione sat bolt upright (she was slumped in a miserable ball) and squealed happily. "I completely forgot about that thing! Yes, that's what I'll do!"

Ron, however, had an objection. "No! I don't want to marry half of you! And besides, didn't you hand it in?"

"No, I lied, I couldn't tell you I had it."

Harry was surprised. "But I'd used it for crying out loud! And Ron knew we used it that night to save Sirius!"

"I am SORRY, both of you," Hermione exclaimed indignantly. "Ron, the wedding and funeral are at two different times. If I maybe apparated, I could make it without the Time Turner. That's what I should do, really."

"Good," Harry, Ginny, and Ron said all at once.

"Thank the Good Lord," Hermione added. Then she smiled, and, one at a time, gave each of her friends an enormous hug. "Thank the three best friends anyone could ever have, too."

"Okay, let's go eat some lunch," Ginny said lightly, still blinking back tears of sympathy. Then she smiled wickedly at Ron. "How about a picnic?"

Ron glared at his 'baby sister' and both Harry and Hermione laughed.

The day of the wedding came, and Hermione was nervous. She stood in the empty bride's room, while six bridesmaids and a flower girl and a matron of honor hovered over her, pinning things and brushing her hair, and commenting on how beautiful she was and telling her to relax, because, "After all, it is just Ron Weasley," as Parvati Patil had said. Ginny was the matron of honor, Parvati and Lavender were bridesmaids, along with Victor Krum's married sister, Escribillia, who helped Hermione quickly get ready and out of her black funeral dress, and a couple of other girls. Emma made an adorable Flower Girl, but didn't seem to quite have mastered the complex idea of dropping petals on the floor.

"Daddy never lets me throw things on the floor," She said, her face a picture of confusion.

"That's okay," said Ginny, smoothing her dress and smiling down at Emma. "This time Daddy wants you to, okay, sweetie?"

"Sweetie? Daddy always calls me Sugar Will."

"Sugar Will?" Lavender asked, frowning.

"Sugar Quill," Hermione interjected as Lacey Miflae, her muggle friend, put muggle make up on her, frightened to use the flashing wizard colors.

"Oh." Lavender frowned, then smiled and picked up Emma. "Your mummy is real pretty, isn't she?" she twirled the little girl around the room to Hermione.

Hermione smiled and stroked Emma's flaming hair. "Sugar Quill. Can Mummy call you that too?"

"Mummy can't call me anything. She's in heaven," Emma whispered, pointing at the ceiling.

Torn between sympathy for Emma and exasperation that Emma could grasp the concept of death but not the concept of throwing flower petals on the floor, Hermione snapped her tongue on the roof of her mouth sympathetically. "Oh, Sugar Quill, I am sorry, but I am your, uh, new mummy."

"Oh!" Emma exclaimed eagerly. "Corking!"

At that the whole female side of the wedding procession burst out laughing. 'Corking' was a Weasley word that mainly Fred, George, and occasionally Ron used. Emma had picked it up, as it seemed to have been used frequently with her.

"There," Parvati announced, charming Hermione's hair to stay put (which was much more efficient than Muggle hair spray.) "You could be in the King of England's wedding dressed like this."

Hermione admired herself in the mirror, surprised. "Wow," she choked. "I look good!" And she did, too. Her dress was, of course, the dream gown she'd sketched the night Ron had come home, and now her dream was a reality.

"Knock knock!" A voice called from the door.

Mrs. Weasley, who wasn't in the wedding but was still preparing Hermione, called, "Who is it?"

“Harry!" The voice called back. "Can I come in? I am allowed to see her, right?"

"Yes, come in, Harry, I am ready," Hermione called back.

The heavy oak door creaked open. Harry gasped. "Wow," he exclaimed. "You look as pretty as Ginny did, if not more." He winked as Ginny slugged him. "Well," Harry said, "I came as a messenger boy." He handed Hermione a slip of wrinkled parchment. "From Ron. He wants me to wait while you respond. I wonder what he thinks I am, an owl?"

Hermione laughed and read the note.

My dearest Hermione,

How is Emma? Does she get the petal thing?

I can't wait to see you. I love you so much.

~Ron

Hermione scrawled back an answer.

Ron,

Yes, everything's fine here. Can't wait to see you either.

Emma is great. She finally gets it.

Love from Hermione

And, receiving a good-luck hug from Harry, she showed her best friend out. "The wedding is about to begin. So shoo."

"I think, dears, it's time to be seated," Hermione's mother said from the corner, where she was now giving Emma a piece of candy. (She was also helping prepare her daughter.)

So they all prepared. Hermione almost got sick, running to the bathroom but forcing it down, scuttled to her place, hidden behind the door of a large cloak closet. The wedding procession came down the aisle, after everyone was seated, first Harry and Ginny, then Alexandra and Fred, then Lavender and Seamus Finnegean, who were now husband and wife, then Parvati and George, then Alexandra and a man named Jacob, Penny and Percy, and finally, Lacy and Ron's muggle friend, William. Then the music began. The onlookers stood, and Hermione and her father headed down the aisle.

Ron's jaw dropped. She was beautiful. He shifted nervously from side to side, Hermione noticed this and grinned at him, he grinned back, and all nerves left the two of them.

"And now, by the law of London, England, I pronounce you husband and wife." The ceremony ended, and Hermione and Ron left, beaming. They waited for all the audience to crowd outside, and then proceeded, and rose petals and birdseed were flung joyfully at them. Right before they stepped into their rented, muggle horse-drawn carriage, Ginny cried, "Say 'every-flavor beans!'" The newly weds eagerly obeyed, and Ginny snapped a shot of the two of them, hand in hand, grinning, laughing, and completely thrilled.

The reception was magnificent.

"Well, I want to tell Ron and Hermione good luck, great ceremony first," Harry began, his voice magically magnified. "And second, I have a story to tell all of you.”
"Hermione Granger didn't give Ron and I a wonderful first impression, that September first. Ron volunteered to turn his rat yellow. I, of course, was eager to see. We were already friends, it was an instant friendship, and as Ron lifted his wand and cleared his throat, a girl our age stalked into the compartment."
Here, Harry stopped and grinned at Hermione. "She looked around our compartment as if searching for something, sighed, and said, I remember her exact words: 'Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one.' Ron said, 'No,' while I shook my head. Then this interesting girl noticed Ron's wand still poised. 'Oh,' she said, in a terribly snotty tone, 'Are you doing magic? Let's see, then.'"
During Harry's speech, Hermione's face was buried in her hands, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment.

Ron nudged her. "What's up?"

"I am so embarrassed." Ron shrugged and squeezed her hand, then turned his attention back to Harry.

"-So then she was sorted into our house, but we saved her life from the troll, the insufferable snob got us out of trouble, and we became best of friends." Harry suddenly frowned. "But on our graduation night, Ron Weasley vanished, and, in effect, so did Hermione Granger.
I'd never seen anything like it. The witty, charming, attractive, know-it-all wandered around like she'd received a Dementor's Kiss. We didn't give up searching, but she was so lost, I started searching myself, as she was more hassle then help. When Ron came back, he had a daughter, Emma, our lovely Flower Girl, and I thought she would never forgive him. But I guess she'd gone soft those nine long years, and look where they are today."

Everyone applauded. Ginny stood, and said, "Wow, I dunno how I follow a speech like that...”

Hermione woke to the sound of Nicholas crying. “Hey, baby boy, what’s wrong?” He looked up at her and let out a wail again. “Somebody smells.” Nicholas let out a small laugh. “I don’t think that’s funny. No I don’t.” As she finished changing him, she carefully sat down in the rocking chair, whispering:

Free…
 the dream within
The stars are crying
A tear... a sigh
Escapes from Heaven
...And worlds end.
Breathe…
 the dream within…

His tiny body slowly relaxed as she went on. Footsteps startled her, and Ron walked into the room, holding a sleeping Emma. As he put his hand on her shoulder, and they gazed down on their sleeping children, Hermione whispered what he was thinking. “You know Ron, Emma was right. This is the way it should have been, all awong.”