Chapter 5: The Wedding Committee
Hermione never made it to the destination of her bedroom as she was met halfway there by Ginny who grabbed her arm and steered her out the door to her waiting car.
"We're a bit behind schedule but that's alright we have all day to shop. We can cancel our lunch reservations and just have a café meal instead." Ginny babbled on as she and Hermione made their way to the car. Hermione yawned and tried to focus on what Ginny was telling her as they rode to Ginny's apartment in the near city. It was difficult for Hermione to really comprehend any of what Ginny was saying with her mind reverting back to Harry every other word. `He's so complex.' She thought pressing a hand to her forehead.
"We're here!" Ginny sang out as she pulled into the car park. Hermione hadn't really noticed until now that this was the first time since meeting Harry that she'd ridden up front in a car. She pushed open her door and smiled slightly also noting that she hadn't done that in a while either. `And I thought I'd never get used to this stuff.' Hermione thought as she stepped out of the car and followed Ginny inside and into the elevator.
"Ooo this is going to be so much fun. They're going to love you and it'll be excellent." Ginny squealed.
Hermione glanced at Ginny out of the corner of her eye and knew she was in for a headache. She liked Ginny of course but the wedding seemed to have turned her into a red haired tornado and Hermione feared meeting more overly excited women she barely knew. Everyone had been lovely of course but she really just wished she could revert back to her simple close relations wedding she'd thought she'd have. The lift stopped and Ginny pressed her wand tip to a key pad on the elevator panel.
"Ensures that no one can get into my apartment without me." Ginny informed her as the doors slid open revealing a magnificent living room. Immediately after stepping out of the lift they were on plush white carpet. The whole room was decorated with a modern art feel. Hermione had a definite feeling Ginny didn't exactly see children in her future because the whole house screamed do not touch. The black leather couches looked as though they'd never been touched and they surrounded a glass table which sat on an expensive looking modern rug. In all it looked as posh as Ginny, Hermione for once, wasn't surprised. The young woman was after all a high powered fashion designer. Her whole world revolved around appearances.
"Come, come." Ginny tittered as she ushered Hermione through the living room and turned immediately right which lead into a post kitchen a mix of black and white marble and stainless steel. The utilities were separated from the dining area by an island which housed a bar on one side and stools with posh expensive looking women perched on them. Hermione froze on the divide between the carpet and marble. She felt as if another step would lead her into the moving cover of a Gladrags magazine and she'd be horribly out of place looking like an average joe. `I have got to learn how they all do that.' She was very aware that she wasn't inferior to these women but they sure did have a way of making you feel like it without even trying. All they had to do was lift the corner of those perfect glossed lips in a half smile and you felt as though there was more a chance of hell freezing over than you had fitting in.
Hermione was trying to think of the quickest means of escape when Ginny latched onto her arm, grinning like a mad woman and dragged Hermione to the edge of the circle of women who looked as if they had been strategically placed around the kitchen.
"Hermione I want to introduce to you the most amazing women you'll ever meet: the vivacious Lavender Brown, tantalizing Pavarti Patil, elegant Cho Chang, darling Luna Lovegood, and the talented three, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnett, and Katie Bell. Ladies, Hermione Granger."
Hermione attempted a smile trying her hardest not to cringe under the scrutiny of these beautiful people. It wouldn't be hard remembering their names as they appeared regularly in the news and in popular magazines. It blew her mind that she was actually meeting the people her friends used to only ever dream about meeting their entire lives, gossiping over whatever hit the papers about these socialites.
"We're going to have so much fun. It's going to be so wonderful having you here." Lavender gushed, springing out of her chair to envelope Hermione in a brief hug and pull her deeper into the room.
"Hmm, yes her aura is so peaceful, an honest innocence about her." Luna commented, misty eyes traveling over Hermione.
"Right, whatever exactly that means, I agree with Luna and Lav. This is going to be super fab having you here." Pavarti proclaimed.
"You'll love it here." Angelina grinned. "You'll have absolutely no problem fitting in, I can tell."
"Are you a sporty girl? Play quidditch perhaps?" Cho asked.
"We can teach you if you don't" Alicia and Katie put in.
"Er, eh, no actually. More the books and cleverness girl. I don't tempt gravity unless it's necessary. Though I might try my hand at tennis again." Hermione stuttered, completely overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. For looking so unreal, they were so . . . what was the word? She really didn't have one to describe these people.
"Thank goodness, no offense guys but it's so tough being out numbered by all you quidditch buffs. To be honest Lavender and I enjoy looking at the players more than the actual sport." Pavarti giggled. "Angelina, Katie, and Alicia play on the same team as Harry. They've played together since we were in school. Quite an unbeatable pairing I suppose. Though Cho does give Harry quite the run for his money when their teams meet."
"I have yet to beat that man but I'll get him one day." Cho grinned.
"Air certainly is his element, isn't it?" Luna agreed.
"But today we are not to dwell on the men folk. It time for some serious female bonding. We should go out and have some fun. After all, there's lots to do." Ginny grinned, sweeping up her purse and linking arms with Hermione. "Shall we ladies?"
Hermione plastered on another sugary grin and nodded though inside she was beginning to truly wonder what she'd gotten herself into.
* * *
Harry leaned against a wall in his kitchen, muttering irritably to himself. How was it that woman always provoked him to say something rash. Now she was probably off somewhere thinking he was the worst person alive. The part that bothered him, was that he actually cared. Were it any other person he could care less what they thought about him but she was increasingly on his mind and her opinion was becoming valuable. When that had happened he really didn't know but it pissed him the hell off that it did. She was changing things, changing him and he wasn't at all appreciative of it.
Suddenly, he found himself wanting a family, wanting her around, wanting her to be happy. It was becoming increasingly noticeable that she dropped into his life and was determined to leave her mark with or without trying. He refused to believe in love that was a bunch of sappy crap used to sell books and cheesy movies however, he would admit that he was lacking in a long-term female companion. She was definitely going to be a long-term companion. He didn't mind his ever growing lust for her. When the time came she'd open up to him and he'd sort all this mess out. Tell her to take this damn spell off him.
He gave a curt nod to himself, deciding on this plan of action and proceeded to snatch up the plate of snacks that had long since been sitting on the counter waiting for him. Balancing several plates and the food tray in his arms, he levitated the cups and beverages behind him to return to his study. It took everything he had to hold back his laughter at the state of his closest friends inspecting his daughter as though they'd never seen a child before. It probably wasn't that they hadn't but that they were all confirmed bachelors and it just blew their minds that Harry had a child. That Harry was settling down. That they might be called upon to baby-sit and hadn't a clue what to do with a little girl:
"So what exactly does it do?" Dean asked, watching Lily closely as she sat on the floor by the coffee table, coloring.
"I dunno, she's pretty darn cute, maybe she just sits around looking all sweet and innocent, like most women." Seamus shrugged.
"Then she must be a little devil underneath if she's like any of the women we know." Fred and George exchanged grins.
"No, she has to have a purpose and I don't think they're as devious when they're little as when they get all grown up. I'm pretty sure she talks a little genius if her step-mother's anything to go off of. She's and adept walker too, like she's been doing it for years. I've never actually been around a little kid before so I'm not really sure how she does it." Ron said.
"You idiots, of course she talks and walks. I've seen her walk and Harry told us she could read. Do any of you know how to take care of it though?" Draco snapped.
"It's another species. Of course we don't know how to take care of it. It's a girl!" Seamus replied.
"He's got a point!" Dean replied.
"Buy her something shiny that seems to work with most women." Draco decided.
"Maybe she could help us play pranks on people?" Fred suggested.
"Yeah, no one would expect her to be in on the pranks and you can't hex her for it." George replied. "She's just a kid after all."
"You aren't going to do any such thing to her." Bill shouted.
"Because if Harry doesn't kill you for it his fiancée probably will." Charlie added.
"For once I am stumped. I don't know how she functions so I can't explain how to take care of her!" Percy grimaced. "Girls are just too complex, even for me."
"Why do you keep talking like I'm not here?" Lily finally inquired, in a very Hermione like manner. The room was in an instant uproar as the bewildered men moved away from their now talking specimen. Lily giggled at their antics. "What are you doing? Is this a game? Can I play too?"
"How can she hear us?" Ron hissed across the room.
"She isn't deaf you git!" Draco glared.
"She sounds so smart for someone so young." Percy gasped.
"You, prat, I told you she was plotting against us!" Bill grumbled.
"Do any of you speak little girl?" Ron asked.
"Do any of us look like girls?" Dean snapped.
"Let's try simple communication!" Charlie suggested.
"Right, um . . . Seamus first!" Dean said pushing Seamus from behind the chairs.
"Erm . . . uh . . . Hi, I'm Seamus and I'm a friend of your dad. Do you understand?" Seamus asked speaking really slow and clear.
"Why wouldn't I understand?" Lily asked, face creasing in confusion. "I don't like this game. Where'd my daddy go? I want to show him my picture."
She held up the paper she'd been coloring on, grinning broadly. "Do you like it?"
"Well, Harry's not dead, and she is just a little kid, I mean, she can't be too dangerous." Ron declared.
"Hold your dragons mate, I don't know much about little kids but I do know, they're like exploding snaps. They look harmless but the slightest thing can set them off. They scream and shout and it's scary!" George responded.
"Maybe we shouldn't go near her then?" Seamus responded.
"Honestly, Harry plays with her all the time so she can't be that bad." Draco grumbled before getting up and going over to Lily. "Are you some form of little disaster waiting to happen or not because I'm not spoiling you rotten if you're a bleedin' nightmare?"
"But I don't want to be rotten." Lily whimpered. "I've been a good girl."
"Oh now you've done it. Look her lips quivering. Any minute now it's going to start. You've set her off." George scowled.
"Er, chocolate, we need chocolate. Kids like chocolate." Ron announced.
"Then someone find some chocolate." Charlie shouted.
Harry decided now was his time to make an entrance and slipped in silently to stand beside Dean. He slipped a chocolate frog wordlessly into Dean's hand wondering what exactly it was they planned to do once they found some chocolate. Dean hadn't seemed to register just who gave him the chocolate at he held it up triumphantly and shoved it into Ron's hands.
"What are you giving it to me for?" Ron cried.
"You're the one who gave us the tip about chocolate. You try it." Dean snapped.
"Cowards." Ron muttered under his breath as he inched closer to the sniffling girl. He plastered on an overly bright smile as he dropped to one knee holding out the chocolate to her.
"We come in peace." Ron declared offering her the treat.
Harry burst into laughter, unable to contain himself any longer at his friends' antics. `I hang out with nutters.' He decided and he clutched his sides in laughter, having put down the tray of refreshments minutes ago.
"I wish I had, had a camera because that would have been priceless. You lot can be so stupid. You're all supposed to be big tough guys and you were afraid of a little girl." Harry laughed.
"Shut up Harry. You never know with females. They're weird they have those mood swing things." Ron muttered getting off his knees.
"Yeah!" The others grumbled trying to reclaim their dignity.
Harry just continued to laugh at them, shaking his head and wiping his eyes.
* * *
Hermione couldn't believe how incredibly fat she was suddenly feeling. She'd absolutely despised all those weight obsessed girls in her school days but it was near impossible to not feel as though it was time to hit the gym when you were in the only four in a world of zeros. The other girls didn't seem to care what size she was, they were simply interested in dressing her up but the manager insisted on being the personal shopper to his favorite customers was making it increasingly clear that four simply wasn't done. He hadn't said much beyond his first comment upon learning her size. `I don't believe anyone around here carries anything that large.' Ginny had shot him a glare so fierce he'd been mostly silent where Hermione was concerned unless he was muttering under his breath about trying to find something in size four.
"Oh Hermione just ignore him, he spends his life chasing after male models. He's just jealous that Harry isn't gay and will find any reason to complain about you because you're the woman Harry's about to marry." Cho whispered in her ear as she held up a shirt to Hermione for her to try on.
"He better get over it fast or he won't be the first to boast Ginny's newest line." Lavender smirked.
"Or maybe we should just cancel the shopping trip and I'll go into town later. I can't even begin to imagine the price of these clothes when that belt over there is over three thousand dollars." Hermione suggested. The tinkling of Ginny's laughter told her she was about to have another budget what budget moment.
"Hermione stop worrying so much about cost and just enjoy it. Harry'll take care of everything else later. He wasn't kidding when he said it's probably impossible to break the man's bank account." Ginny informed her.
"But I don't want to break his bank account; I don't want to even dent it." Hermione interjected.
"Trust me with the way you shop, you don't have to worry." Pavarti tossed over her shoulder as she passed by with a shop assistant informing him that Hermione would have the skirt she was currently modeling in every color because it looked absolutely smashing on her. Hermione's eyes went wide as she watched him move to the shelves and begin pulling down skirts.
"I can't afford all those." Hermione whispered.
"Hermione does it comfort you at all that those are Virginia originals and I promise I won't be ripping my sister in law off." Ginny pleaded. "Just relax and enjoy this. For once just go shopping and don't think about the clothing's worth. Just fall in love with the fabrics, the colors, the accessories. Let's play dress up, as though we were little girls."
Hermione looked around at the pleading faces around her as she stood on the cat walk that led from the dress rooms. With a sigh, she dropped her shoulders closing her eyes asking herself what harm it could do to play along for a while. After all, what woman hadn't dreamt of at least one all expense paid shopping trip in her life.
"I suppose, if I'm going to be Mrs. Potter, I might as well look the part, right?" She sighed. The women around her nodded eagerly seeing as they'd won her over. "Then you'll have to help me because I haven't a clue what I'm doing."
Ginny emitted a short ecstatic squeal as she waved over a handful of attendants arms with clothing items and accessories. "We're going to make you a posh Italian diva!"
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