AN: Thanks again for the support and comments. I really appreciate the feedback.
ANDTORR: I'm thinking of writing a much darker version of this to post elsewhere. It would be NC-17. I'm going to finish the younger-folks friendly version first though. But there are some things I would have done differently if I were posting this on a different site.
Coolone007: I think you'll be pleased. They're not just going to hop in the sack without weighing the psychological implications of their very rushed relationship.
Quis of Camelot: Someone else has pointed out Mum/Mom to me, which is why Ron says Mum. But I didn't think it worthwhile enough of an issue to go back and change every time Hermione addressed her mother. I'm sorry about the cheesy trip to the USA, but you have to write what you know. I can write about Atlantic City and Vermont. I can't write a believable vacation in Europe
Athena Hermione Riddle: I can't believe you stayed up for 5 hours to read this. That is so cool. Hee hee.
Well, here's the obligatory breaking-the-news-to-Ron chapter. It delays where I'm trying to get to, but I did not want to just push it aside with a "Ron's just fine with this" either.
"We really need to talk to Ron," Harry said to Hermione. "He's already feeling a little left out because we're dating." Harry considered it. They had barely even had real dates. He wanted to take her out for dinner and go to a movie the way Muggle kids did. They had completely fast forwarded through courtship.
"I'll send him in to see you. You can talk here while I call a meeting to discuss everything with those who need to know." Dumbledore exited with Hermione's parents who looked back at both of them with love and concern.
"Do you think he'll be okay with it?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged. "I'm not sure we're okay with it," he answered truthfully. "Don't get me wrong, you know I love you, but this is moving so fast. We became a couple about 3 weeks ago. Now we're engaged and we'll be married in a few days if I understand Dumbledore correctly."
"Yeah," she agreed. "I know what you mean. I thought we'd have a few years before we got married."
"Are you regretting it?" he asked tentatively. "You can change your mind--"
"No," she took his hand. "I'm a little scared, but I know it's right."
Harry nodded. "Me too. I'm scared of what we're getting into and how fast we're doing it, but I know that we would spend the rest of our lives together no matter what."
Ron knocked on the door as he opened it, "Hiya. Dumbledore said you wanted to talk to me." He could tell from the expressions on their face that things were serious. "What's going on?"
"Oh, Ron," Hermione said. "You're not going to believe this!" She turned to Harry, asking him to be the one to break the news to Ron.
"Are you really okay with Hermione and me being a couple?" Harry asked. First things first, they had to let Ron know that he was still their best friend.
"Yes," Ron told them decisively. "I knew you two would get together eventually. I can not imagine either of you with anyone else." He looked down, "No one could compete with what you have with each other."
"You don't see it that, way, do you? As a competition?" Harry asked him. "I mean, I don't want us to fight over Hermione."
"But you would fight me for her if you had to," Ron grinned. That was one battle he did not want to face.
Harry returned the grin, "Yeah. And I would win," he added playfully.
"Excuse me. I am in the room," Hermione huffed. "I can't believe the two of you!" She was astounded that the two boys she'd been best friends with since they were all eleven were talking about fighting over her. Her! "You're talking about me like I was a, a," she stammered, "a bloody door prize."
"Well, I would fight anyone I had to for you, Hermione." Harry gave her emerald green puppy dog eyes and she melted. It was sweet that someone wanted her that much. "You're forgetting that in order to have to fight someone over me, I'd have to be interested in the other person, and I'm not interested in anyone that way but you." She quickly looked to Ron, "No offense, Ron. I'm sure if I was going to be interested in someone other than Harry, it would be you," she said apologetically.
"What girl would want me when they could have the rich and famous Harry Potter?" Ron shrugged, not realizing how badly he had just hurt Harry's feelings or how badly he had just insulted Hermione.
"Why do you think I fell for Hermione?" Harry asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "She doesn't see me as the rich and famous Harry Potter, unlike my other supposed to be best friend. My god, Ron, do you want the money and the fame? You do realize I have money because my parents are dead and I inherited it? You do remember the reason I'm famous is that Voldemort killed them and has been trying to kill me ever since? You can have my bloody scar and my Gringotts vault, but keep in mind they come with Voldemort and the Dursleys." He had not felt this angry in weeks.
Hermione chimed in now, thoroughly riled at how much Ron had hurt Harry. "You're such a jealous prat, Ron! Harry would give anything to have a mom or a dad or just a godfather. You complain that you get hand me downs, but forget that there's someone there to hand things down to you. You don't appreciate that you've always had people who loved you and took care of you!" she scolded. "And do you really think that I fell for Harry because of his name or his bank account? Maybe you never caught on, Ron, but my family is not poor by any means. I fell for Harry because I had the chance to know him, more than anyone else ever has. That's why I love him. I know who Harry is, how brave and generous and loyal and noble he is, and I could care less about the legend of Harry Potter. The real thing is even more spectacular!" Hermione's eyes were shining with love and pride as she talked about Harry. It hurt her that he was looking away from them and hurt so deeply by what Ron had said.
Stunned, Ron stood with his mouth gaping open while his best friends waylayed him. When Hermione finished, he stammered, "It was a joke."
"Well, it wasn't a very good one," Hermione snapped. Harry would not look at either one of them. He stared at the corner where the ceiling met the wall behind Dumbledore's desk instead. He had thought, he had hoped, that Ron's jealousy had diminished some in the past couple of years.
"I'm sorry," Ron said, seriously. "I don't know what to say. I was just trying to make a joke to lighten things up. I didn't expect both of you to go off on me like that." He leaned against the desk, looking almost defeated.
Both Harry and Hermione were quiet and Harry refused to face him. Ron knew that Harry was doing so because he was hurt, which had not been his intention.
"Harry, I know Hermione loves you because of you. I did not mean to suggest that she didn't. It's one reason I know she's perfect for you. There isn't another girl alive who will see through Harry Potter to find just Harry. I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes I don't see through Harry Potter to find just Harry either." He felt a little better when Harry faced him again. "I wouldn't trade my family for all the money in the world and Hermione is right. I was being a stupid, jealous prat. Besides, I know you would share everything with my family if we would let you. I know you financed Fred and George and that you made them buy me decent robes. I'm sorry I'm so stupid sometimes." It hit him hard just how stupid he was being when Harry faced him again. There he was, without parents, without a godfather, and recovering from the abuse inflicted upon him by the people who were supposed to take care of him. Yes, Harry was rich and he was famous, but he was also under constant threat, whether at home or school.
"It's okay," Harry said softly. "We both have our moments of complete stupidity."
Hermione softened toward him as well, "You know, there was a reason we wanted to talk to you."
"Oh," Ron started, "Yeah, I suppose there was. So, what's up?"
"I'm not sure we want to go through this again, but are you really okay with us as a couple?" Harry asked, skeptically.
"Yes. You have my blessing." Ron answered, leaving no room for interpretation.
"We don't want you to feel left out," Hermione told him.
"I won't. Besides, maybe we can do some double-dating this year."
"Really?" Harry brightened considerably. "Who do you like? Luna? I'm sure she likes you."
Ron sputtered, his face turning as red as his hair. "I didn't say I liked anyone. I just said maybe."
"Well, good. I'm glad you like Luna. You can invite her to the wedding," Harry told him.
"Okay, I will." Ron answered. His face suddenly looked like a blank slate. "What wedding?"
"We have to get married," Harry told him, deciding to not waste time with a buildup.
Ron's eyes bulged. "You... you two? Have to get married?" His jaw dropped. "Are you pregnant?"
"No!" They both answered in union, very forcefully.
"I wish it were that simple," Harry said wistfully. "No, Ron, I either have to loose my virginity or Voldemort is going to offer me as a bloody sacrifice in his search for immortality."
"Have sex or die?" Ron almost snickered. It would have been funny if it wasn't a real threat.
"Pretty much," Harry shrugged. "I guess it's more 'have sex and ruin the premise of his ritual, therefore even if you do get murdered, he won't be immortal.'"
"So why are you getting married instead of just having a go?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly, you're a pureblood and you have to ask?"
"Come on, Hermione, there are almost as many who've given up on that as there are who still believe in it."
"Ron, it boils down to this, if Voldemort knows I'm married, then he'll know I've 'had a go' as you put it and months of planning and research have gone down the drain."
"What a moron!" Ron exclaimed. A half an hour prior, he never would have believed he would call Voldemort a moron. But, really, what great mind rests his plans on the virginity of a 16 year old boy?
"Are you okay with this? With us being married?" Harry asked. "We don't want you to feel left out. We're still a Trio. But things are going to change more than we imagined. Hermione and I will be living together at Hogwarts."
"I'm fine. I think my feelings are the last of your worries," Ron shrugged it off. "You've got a maniac out to kill you. I'm glad you have someone to marry. Of course, if Hermione wasn't head over heels in love with you, I bet Ginny would still be willing," he laughed at the expense of his little sister.
"Then you should know," Hermione began, ignoring his comment about Ginny and thinking that Ron was too stupid to realize how mean it was to say that about his sister, "There are going to be two weddings. We're going to get secretly married, then we're going to plan a wedding and let it slip to Voldemort that it's happening."
"Why?"
"It's a trap," Harry explained. "Dumbledore is sure he'll try to stop the wedding and we'll be waiting for him." He looked to Hermione, "But we'll already be married just in case he does manage to take me."
"This sucks," Ron said bluntly. He saw the glum expressions on his friends' faces. It was not fair that they were planning their wedding as a trap for an evil wizard. It should have been a time of real celebration. "Congratulations, though," he said shyly, unsure that it was appropriate.
Harry and Hermione looked to Ron and then to each other and burst with laughter. "This is insane," Harry said, running his fingers through his messy hair. "Well, come on Best Man and The Future Mrs. Potter. Let's go see what other bombshells Dumbledore plans to drop today."