My Best Friends' Wedding

Tiffr

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 09/04/2004
Last Updated: 09/07/2004
Status: completed

"I'm in love with her, damnit!" Harry screamed, wringing his hair in frustration. "What about Ron?" Ginny asked quietly, yet as Harry sighed, she knew what he was going to do. "I just gotta get her back," Harry whispered. "No matter what it takes." COMPLETE.

Chapters

1. Dinner

2. Fight, part I

3. Fight, pt 2

4. Tradition

5. Truth

6. Escape

7. Home, Part I

8. Home, Part II

9. My Best Friends Wedding

1. Dinner

A/N: Hey you guys! This is sort of based on Julia Robert's movie "My Best Friend's Wedding," but only a few lines, plot twists and situations. Like the karaoke scene--remember that one? Look forward to reading about one, if you're like me and absolutely loved it. I hope that this isn't in conflict with any of the other stories slightly based on this movie, and if it is, my deepest apologies, I have yet to read any of them. Anyways, the PoVs will change at every ~-~-~-~ thing. I won't be posting who's pov it is, hopefully y'all will be able to tell, but if it gets too confusing I will.

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summary: Harry is in love with Hermione, and everyone knows about it--everyone but Ron and Hermione. Who conveniently are now engaged, just as Harry was about to reveal his feelings. What's a poor bloke to do?

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My Best Friends' Wedding

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Chapter One: Dinner

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"Um...wow, Hermione," I muttered, my eyes going wide as I took in the sight before me.

"I told you he would start drooling," Ginny noted, giggling as I quickly closed my mouth. Hermione blushed, fidgeting nervously in her dress.

"Do I look good, then?" she asked me, and I shook my head, wondering how she couldn't see how ravishingly beautiful she was at that particular moment. How she was always beautiful, some type of Greek Goddess that Aphrodite couldn't even compare to. How she-- "Harry?"

"Of course, Hermione. You look beautiful." As always. Hermione blushed again, stepping down from the last stair carefully and waving her wand in search of her coat.

"You guys ready?" Ginny asked, raking her fingers through her fiery red hair.

"It's just dinner, Gin," I replied, pocketing my own wand. "What's there to get ready for?"

"You'll see," she said, and there was something oddly familiar about her smile. It was more of a sneer, really. "What about Ron, Hermione?"

"Oh, he's going to meet us there." Of course. Hermione's....boyfriend. They had been on and off for the past few years, casually dating here and there. I thought nothing of it. At least, I hoped it wasn't anything I should worry about.

"Ready to go?" I asked, plastering on my the-boy-who-saved-us-all smile and opening the door.

~-~-~-~-~-~

"Hey, Weasel." Whipping around I glared at the speaker, his grey eyes peering haughtily at me. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Too bad you had to go ruin it," I growled, frowning.

"Oh, trust me, it wasn't my choice to meet you. But as we'll be related soon-"

"R-related?! What the bloody hell does-"

"I don't want to be related to you either, Ronniekins, but that Weaslet of yours, she's just such a sex goddess, and-"

"Don't you talk about my sister that way!"

"Well, okay, she's just so spunky in bed, and-"

"Telling all of our secret exploits now are we, Ferret?" a humored voice asked, and I noticed Ginny walking towards us, a smirk on her face.

"Ginny."

"Draco."

"You're late."

"All Hermione's fault."

"Remind me why I'm doing this again?"

"I'm a sex goddess, remember?"

"Only from experience with a sex god."

Ginny looked over at me, and noticing the slight green tinge adorning my face did she stop the relentless, rather disgusting flirting with her....boyfriend. I still can't believe it, to tell you the truth. I mean, Ginny and Ferretboy?! You can imagine my distress. And the fact that I completely loathed it. Well, at least I can take comfort in the fact that it won't amount to anything. Malfoy isn't the type of guy to settle down. And Ginny isn't stupid, she knows better than to--

"C'mon you guys, Hermione and Harry are waiting inside." Draco took Ginny's hand and lightly gave it a kiss, smiling at her. She smiled back, and it was those types of moments that made me realize that maybe, maybe Draco had feelings.

Maybe.

But that still didn't make it allright for him to date my sister.

~-~-~-~-~-~

"I'm nervous." I looked over at her, looking stunningly beautiful, and noticed her biting her lip nervously, what she would do during the NEWTs every time I looked over at her. Not that I was cheating, mind you.

"Why?"

"Oh, I don't know...just a...premonition, I suppose."

"I thought you didn't believe in divination."

"I don't...it's just an instinct, or something. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, don't you Harry?" How in could she look at me with those beautiful, soft brown eyes and expect me to disagree?

"Oh, yeah, of course."

"But yeah, I feel like something's going to happen tonight...”

You don't know how much I love you, Hermione.

"Something that, I don't know, just something. There are books, you know, that say although divination is false, animalistic instincts should be followed."

You don't know how much I want to tell you.

"You wouldn't happen to feel anything, would you, Harry?"

But with you and Ron, and that, and I'm sure the two of you have shagged, which I hate, absolutely hate, but I still can't tell you, for Merlin's sake I've tried, but--

"Harry?"

"Hermione, I have to tell you something,"I blurted out, and it was when I saw her eyes go slightly wide in surprise did I register exactly what I had just said.

"Oh? What is it?"

"Well..that is, um...you know, we...uh...actually, it's more of a...well, I think...no, I know...for a few years now, I've, um..." I glanced up at her, which was my mistake. Definitely my mistake. Suddenly, I couldn't not say it. "Hermione, I'm in lo--"

"I found them!" Ginny exclaimed, sliding into the seat next to me. Ron plopped down next to Hermione, giving her a kiss on the cheek and sliding his arm around her. Smiling, she gave me a look that said, "We'll talk later" and took a sip from her water glass. "Anyway...before we begin, Draco and I have something to tell you." Elbowing him, he rolled his eyes before saying, "Yeah, big news."

"Well what is it?" Hermione asked after there was a brief silence. Grinning, Ginny looked over at Draco before saying,"We're getting married."

"You're getting what?!" Ron nearly screamed, and I could see his ears quickly turning red. "Wi--with him?! Are you bleeding out of your mind?!"

"Ron--"

"No, this is insanity! You must be bloody mad! You--"

"Weasley, we don't give a damn about what you think, you can go hex yourself and we wouldn't--"

"See! This is what you're marrying! A..a Malfoy!"

"I'm not marrying him because he is a Malfoy, Ronald--I'm marrying him because--"

"Because why! Because you love him?!"

"Well, yes! Because I love him!" Ron snorted, sitting back in his chair and glaring at Draco.

"Well, I doubt Draco loves you," he said, and Hermione gasped, hitting him in the arm. Ron didn't flinch, didn't take his eyes of Draco, while Ginny frowned, wondering how she ever got such a prat as a brother.

"As a matter of fact, Weasel, I don't love her." Turning to face her, he smiled, saying, "I'm just doing this to piss you off and to have the right to shag this woman. But the fact that I'm in love with her has nothing to do with that, whatsoever." I heard Ron snort again.

"Well, congratulations," she said, and Draco looked at her in surprise. Nodding, he muttered, "Thanks, Granger," and Hermione smiled, winking at Ginny.

"You're okay with this?!" Ron exclaimed, staring at Hermione.

"Of course I'm okay with it, Ron! They're obviously in love, and I want Ginny to be happy, and the only reason you're not okay with it is because of some stupid, childish, old feud between the two of you back in school." Ron scowled, crossing his arms and looking at Hermione.

"So you're really okay with it."

"Yes!" She replied, almost exasperately. "Love transcends anything. Even superficial images, Ron."

"Well, a lot of things are superficial," Ron said, grinning slightly as he reached into his pocket for something. "Like the marking of an engaged woman. Where's the ring, Ginny?" "In my pocket. Didn't want to spread the word without saying it first." Reaching into her pocket, she slipped it in, examining it in the light with a smile. Ron, finally grabbing whatever that was in his pocket, said, "Speaking of rings...I've got a bit of news, too." Looking at Hermione in a way I didn't like at all, he scooted his chair over. Kneeling down, he put the object in his hand and opened it for her to see.

"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" he asked.

No. Bloody. Way.

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Reviewing is good for the soul...

2. Fight, part I

A/N: Thanks to bluefairy, spaz141, Katakali, Emily (jinglez), sweetkiki456, lex, Hilary, claddagh ring, michou, KypDurron, HnH4EvA19, and other anonymous reviewers for your input!

For the easier reading, I’ve decided to put in parentheses who’s point of view it is after each scene change. I hope it helps! (If there isn’t one, it means that the PoV has remained the same from the previous scene.)

And just to clarify, whenever something’s in italics, it’s just the character thinking about something that happened before, OR it’s his or her personal thoughts directed at another character, not to you, the readers. I know that probably seems confusing, but it’s all pretty simple.

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summary: Harry is in love with Hermione, and everyone knows about it--everyone but Ron and Hermione. Who conveniently are now engaged, just as Harry was about to reveal his feelings. What's a poor bloke to do?

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My Best Friend’s Wedding

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Chapter Two: Fight, part I

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(Harry)

I was frozen in my seat. No bloody way did Ron just ask that. I must be imagining it, some type of weird mental reaction to stress. Yeah, that has to be it. I mean...

“Yes! Yes, of course!”

No...

“R-really?”

Please...let this just be...not real....

“Yes, really!”

“Oh Merlin, Harry! Harry, Hermione’s going to marry me!” My eyes snapped back to reality, peering at the face of my best mate. He was smiling, his cheeks flushed and his blue eyes alight with a fire I hadn’t seen for...years.

“She said yes, Harry!” His hair was slightly ruffled in the back, where he had continuously raked his fingers from pure jitteriness.

“Harry?” I had it decided right then and there.

I smiled, laughing and clapping Ron in the back. “What did you expect her to say, you prat!” Hermione smiled, blushing as Ron gave her another one of those looks.

The ones that screamed, “I love you.”

The looks that she should have been thrown from me.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ginny)

I saw the entire thing.

The ring, the proposal, the smiles and laughter shared by the newly made fiances.

Harry’s eyes.

Everyone knows that he’s desperately head over heels for Hermione. How Hermione Granger, the smartest witch in the history of Hogwarts, was able to skim over that fact I do not know. Ron is one thing, he’s the most oblivious bloke in the England. But Hermione?

And here Harry is, sitting through all this, smiling and laughing, clapping Ron on the back and congratulating the two of them.

With his fists clenched by his sides.

“I’m really sorry you guys, but I must get going,” I interrupted, giving them a smile and rising from my chair. Draco raised his eyebrows at me, his eyes questioning. I gave him a smile, and from the way he frowned and sighed, I knew he understood.

“Yeah, we’ve got...plans.” Draco added, raising from the table as well.

“Harry, you wouldn’t be able to come with us, would u?” I asked, ignoring his look of surprise.

“What for?”

“Don’t you remember?” After Harry shook his head, utterly confused, I laughed and merely grabbed his arm. “Come on Harry, you promised.”

“Uh...allright,” Harry whispered, getting up and nodding at Ron and Hermione. “I’ll talk to the two of you later.”

“Okay,” Hermione replied, getting up as well. Giving Harry a hug, she pecked his cheek, and I saw Harry flinch involuntarily.

Once we were outside, Draco began to laugh. His head swooped backwards, hands on his belly, tears of laughter almost leaking out of his eyes.

“What’s so damn funny,” I heard Harry demand. Draco merely wiped his tears away, grabbing me by the waist and proceeding to walk down the sidewalk.

“Harry,” I began, but Harry shook his head at me.

“Don’t you start, Ginny.”

“Start what, exactly?”

“I know what you’re going to say.”

“Oh, do you?”

“Yeah, in fact I do.”

“Please do entertain me, then.”

“You were going to go on about how I should just accept that Ron and Hermione are together, and that as their best mate it’s in my best interest.” I began to tense up. “Which is, of course, assuming that I’m in love with Hermione in the first place. Which I am not, and I hoped that you of all people didn’t read those stupid newspaper articles and tabloids. I mean really Ginny, I’m happy for–“

“We don’t figure out about you and Granger from some stupid articles,” Draco interrupted.

“What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean, Malfoy?”

“What, you haven’t gotten any smarter since you graduated from Hogwarts?”

“Don’t you even start with me, you–”

“Don’t start with you? Please. You’re a pathetic excuse of a man.”

“What?!”

“Do you need new ears too, Potter? It’s beginning to become too expensive to keep you updated now, isn’t it? Maybe some things really are better in the trash.”

“Why you–”

“That’s enough,” I said, stopping to glare at Draco. He shrugged at me, placing his hands in his pockets as he gave Harry a side glance.

“But I do have to say, Potter,” Draco began. “I never thought that Granger would ever be more intimidating than the Dark Lord.”

“What?”

“You could defeat Voldermort, but here you are, stumbling over pathetic excuses and pretending that you aren’t in love with a woman, who just happens to be marrying your best mate because of your ignorance.”

“My ignorance has nothing to do with them getting married, Malfoy. They’re in love, happily blissful, and–”

“You don’t understand, Potter,” Draco muttered, his stormy eyes narrowing. “When you find her, you go after her. I would think that you, of all people, know how important it is to fucking fight.”

Harry gaped, his green eyes blazing. Finally sighing, he rested his hands in his pockets and his shoulders slumped, suddenly exhausted.

“Trust me, Potter. Fight.” Draco walked towards me, cupping my chin and leaning in for a sweet peck. “I can’t guarantee that you’ll win it, but would you rather watch Granger and Weasley live happily after, knowing that there was a chance you weren’t the one who had to be ‘Uncle Harry’?”

Harry stared at him for a bit, before giving a nod and walking ahead of us, disappearing into the darkness.

“Now...where were we?” Draco whispered huskily into my ear.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

Imagine, Draco Malfoy giving me love advice. I guess it makes sense, as he caught the unmatchable woman: Virginia Weasley. How they got together is quite the interesting story, I’ll have to retell it some other time. It’s bloody interesting. Probably the best–”

“–man.”

“What?” I asked, snapping out of my stupor.

“Best man,” Ron repeated, still smiling cheekily from yesturday’s events. “You have to be my best man.”

“Oh, Ron...” What the bloody fucking hell? There is no way I am going to stand next to you and just watch you marry Hermione. Or carry the rings. Or whatever the best man does.

“Don’t act so surprised, Harry! Who else was I going to ask?”

“One of your brothers? I’m sure they’d love to, I mean–”

“Fred and George would probably make it their biggest prank,” Ron interrupted. “They’d plant a stripper in the cake, or transfigure the rings into portkeys. As for Percy? No way. Do I even have to elaborate on that? Charlie and Percy can’t make it...come on Harry, you know you’re the only man for the job.”

“You could always ask Draco.” Ron snorted.

“Are you that desperate to get out of standing next to me in the most important day of my life?” Ron asked. I looked at him, startled, to catch his pleading eyes.

“Harry, I’ll stand next to you at that final battle, we’ll fight side by side,” Ron whispered, although I could hear the fear trembling in his voice. “Most important day of your life. You’ll...” I saw him gulp, but he tried to smile. “I’ll see you after all this is over,” he promised. “After you k-kill V-V-Voldemort.”

“No, Ron, never,” I whispered. “Just...yeah, sure, of course I’ll be the best man.” Ron smiled like nothing was wrong in the world. As if it was all meant to be.

And maybe it was.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

“Do you really love him, Hermione?” Ginny asked me, her brown eyes gazing up at me.

“Ginny!”

“It’s just a question.”

“Do I really have to answer that?”

“Of course.”

“But you already know the answer.”

“No, I don’t.”

“What?” Ginny gave me a glare, and I sighed. “Fine...of course I love your brother.”

“You can imagine yourself growing old with him, and all that?” Ginny whispered, fiddling with her red hair.

“Yes...” I answered slowly, narrowing my eyes at her. “Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m feeling like you’re against Ron and me.”

“No, not at all,” Ginny answered breezily, getting up from the table to rummage around the kitchen. “I’m just curious.”

“Whatever do you mean?” I asked, laughing. “Curious about what?”

“Like whatever happened to Harry.” I froze, my eyes going wide as I looked up at Ginny. She gave me a knowing look, and I glanced away quickly, blushing.

“What about Harry.”

“Oh don’t you go there, Hermione.”

“What? We were never like that.”

“I remember a time when you wished the two of you were.” I blushed even more profusely, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

“Well that was back in school, when I was still...infatuated...with the boy-who-lived.”

“But it was so much more than that,” Ginny answered, sitting back down to face me. “So much more. You weren’t in love with the boy-who-lived, Herm. You were in love with Harry Potter.”

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it love,” I replied, nibbling my lip nervously.

“That’s not the point anyway,” Ginny said, running her fingers through her hair. “So you’re over him now?”

“What do you take me for, a smitten kitten? I got over him years ago.”

“I just don’t want you to make a mistake, Hermione,” Ginny finally said. “Because knowing you, no matter what decision you make you’re going to stick with it. I just want you to be sure that you’re making the best decision. Not just a good one.” I didn’t reply. “Draco...everyone thought I was out of my mind.” Ginny gave a small laugh, her eyes slightly glossy as she began reminiscing. “I was crazy about a Malfoy, it was worse than my Potter obsession. But...somehow it worked out.”

“Weren’t you ever scared though, Gin?”

“Of course. It’s Draco Malfoy. There was always this nagging voice in the back of my mind, urging me to realize that he was just doing this to get back at Ron, or maybe to bring the Weasley’s down for Voldemort, or something like that. But...I lost common sense when I was around him. I really did.”

“What do you mean?”

“I knew that I wasn’t supposed to like a guy like Draco. Fall for a Malfoy? I never thought that would happen. But...when I was with him...he made me feel like I was the most beautiful woman in the world. That I was perfect. And every girl deserves that.”

“Ron does make me feel beautiful. And perfect.”

“I know, Hermione. But I always believed that we weren’t meant for one person, and one person only. There’s many possibilities in the world. The thing is finding the best person for you, not that one. Can you honestly say that Ron is the best person for you?”

“Yes, of course,” was my immediate answer. “I love Ron...”

“He doesn’t love you, Hermione. Get over it. Get. Over. It. Harry’s too good for you, anyway.”

“Of course...”

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reviewing’s good for the soul...

3. Fight, pt 2

A/N: Estaria, I’m also a fan of R/Hr...don’t you hate it in a H/Hr when Ron is portrayed as this asshole that Hermione would never consider dating? I hate that, Ron’s my favorite character out of all the books! So just a note, if any of y’all enjoy those fanfics where Ron is the obvious bad guy and Harry “deserves” to be with Hermione, this isn’t the fic for you.

Spaz141, where did Draco kiss Harry? I was so sure I had him kissing Ginny...

Traydr vic, I’m glad you like. But I can’t just have Harry tell, I mean he’s a good guy and cares about Ron as much as he cares about Hermione! He can’t just do that to his best mate...*sniff* poor dear.

Linkinchick89, I absolutely love “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” It’s a great chick flick, and I hope you do get to watch it sometime soon!

Rainbow star, yeah, sry for the angst...lol.

Aw ridzwan, KypDurron, show some mercy!

Danielerin, thanks for the comment about my writing style! I tried having it be Ginny first but it didn’t work out as nicely as I hoped it would...glad you liked!

Katakali, I soo don’t want Ron to suffer, but we all know he will, the poor dear. And oh gosh don’t we all love Drackie?

Thanks to Hermione’s Phoenix, Goodygirl, usha88, sweetkiwi456, SilverMoonlight, Draco’s Gurl, and star22 for your reviews!

Thanks to all you anonymous reviewers too!

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My Best Friends’ Wedding

chapter three: Fight, pt 2

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(Harry)

I stood outside her flat, debating with myself on whether or not I should go on. Swallowing, I raked my hands through my hair, a layer of sweat enveloping my skin.

“Harry?” I twirled around, my green eyes wide.

“H-hey Hermione,” I stuttered, trying to smile. “I’m, uh, just...um...” Hermione smiled at me giddily, her eyes slightly glazed over. “Hermione...you’re not drunk...are you?”

“Why would you *hic* think I was, Harry dear?”

“Then what are you doing, walking home? Don’t you usually apparate?”

“Oh, Harry, you think too much. It’s just such a bootiful night, that’s all...” I frowned, my hands coming to rest themselves on Hermione’s shoulders as I walked her up to her flat.

“I’m going to make you a sobering potion, Hermione.”

“Oh Harry,” she giggled, swatting at my hands. I shook my head, wondering exactly how stupid Ron was to get Hermione drunk. We both knew she couldn’t hold her liquor very well. Stupid git.

“Haaarry,” Hermione was singing, laughing. “Harry bo berry fo fii...fi fi...fo...flurry! Haha! Flurry! Fairy!”

“Merlin, Hermione,” I said, smiling against my own will.

“Look, look Harry, my ring!” I froze, swallowing as Hermione wiggled her ring finger in my face. “My ring! I’m...I’m a marked woman!”

“Yeah, Hermione.”

“Why you didn’t ever propose to me, Harry?”

“Wh-what?”

“It’s a simple queshion,” Hermione whispered, giggling madly. “You didn’t never propose to me!”

“Well, um, Hermione–”

“I woulda said yesh, yesh yesh yesh yesh...yesh...” And all of a sudden, Hermione fell backwards, falling asleep into my chest. I staggered backwards, surprised, trying to keep Hermione from falling flat on her face.

It was then that I noticed Hermione’s engagement ring about to fall off her finger. As her hand dangled a bit more, it fell off completely, clinking against the floor as it rolled.

“Damnit Ron,” I whispered, trying to bend over to pick it up. “Don’t even know her ring size...” Unfortunately, Hermione’s weight didn’t agree to the angle I was moving to. She fell on top of me, in a very...comfortable position.

“Damnit.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

Finally I got inside Hermione’s flat, and as I lay Hermione on her sofa, I walked to her kitchen in search of the necessary ingredients for a sobering potion. Opening the cabinet, the first thing I saw was that all the ingredients had been re-alphabetized and rearranged since the last time I had visited her in her flat. Figures.

“Oh Hermione, what are we going to do with you,” I said, grinning as I took out the ingredients I needed. “You’ve got way too much time on your hands.”

After a quick five minutes I had the potion simmering on the kitchen table, and as I turned to leave, I noticed I still had her engagement ring in my hand. Raising it to the light I scrutinized it, frowning. Glancing at Hermione’s sleeping figure I sighed, walking towards her. Taking out my wand, I hesitated, yet cast a shrinking charm so that the wedding ring would fit perfectly on her finger. Smiling, I slipped it on, a sense of unwanted satisfaction bubbling within me. Then setting her hand down, I wiped a few tendrils of hair away from her face, smiling involuntarily at her innocent beauty.

I saw her lips twitch upwards, then, as she sighed, her eyes slid open.

“Harry?” she whispered, her eyes widening inquisitively. “Wha–”

But it was then that I could no longer control my desire to feel her soft lips against mine. I leaned in instinctively, capturing her lips with mine.

And I was falling.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

I felt a presence beside me, warm fingers sliding over my skin as a ring was set on my finger. The same warm fingers brushing the hair out of my face, and I could sense more than feel the hesitancy in that movement. Opening my eyes I saw Harry’s green orbs staring into mine, something in his eyes I had never seen before.

Raw love.

“Harry?” I asked inquisitively, my brown eyes widening. “Wha–”

But it was then that he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss. My eyes closed shut of their own accord as we tested waters, this feeling so good, so...right...

Harry... My eyes snapped open as I hurriedly pushed Harry away from me, my mouth wide in alarm. “Ron,” I whispered, and Harry frowned, a deep hurt etched in his eyes as he turned away from me.

“Harry,” I said louder, reaching for him. “I–”

“I’m sorry, Hermione,” Harry whispered, his voice cracking. Turning around to look at me, my heart reached for him as I saw the anguish masked in his face. Sighing, he turned back away from him and walked away from me, opening the door and walking out.

I sat up, frozen in my spot on the sofa, raising my fingers to touch my lips gently.

I wanted to run after him.

But it would mean running away from Ron.

Something I couldn’t do now. Not with the ring weighing heavily on my hand.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ginny)

I sat on my couch, reading the Daily Prophet as I hummed along to a song on my muggle radio. Placing a wild strand of hair behind my ear I turned the page, deeply engrossed in an article about the formation of a new Quidditch Team in Ireland. Rain pounded on the windows of my flat, a soft lullaby making me smile.

A sudden pop made me raise my head in alarm. There, in the middle of my living room, was Harry Potter, soaked from head to toe.

“Ginny,” he whispered. I blinked, then setting the Daily Prophet down, took my wand out of my pocket and cast a drying charm in Harry’s direction. Suddenly dry, I could see the tear staining his face.

“Oh, Harry...”

“No,” he replied, trying to smile. “I’m okay, really.”

“What happened?” I asked, getting up from the sofa and walking to him.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “I just...I don’t know why I’m here, really. I was trying to apparate home.”

“Did something happen with Hermione?” I asked, stepping in front of him. Seeing his eyes flicker, I knew it had to be about Hermione. Knew it had to be about her the moment he apparated into my living room. “What happened, Harry?”

“I kissed her, Ginny.” My eyebrows raised of their own accord. “I kissed Ron’s fiancé. And...I don’t regret it.” He turned towards me, and I could see the pain etched in his face. “She doesn’t love me.”

“Harry, I–”

“Because she pulled away from me and the first thing she said was his name.”

“I don’t think–”

“But I love her, damnit!” Harry screamed in anguish, his jaw clenching. “I’m in love with her...” I sighed, running my hands through my hair as I tried to figure out what to say. Harry, instead, sat down on the sofa and buried his face in his hands. I walked to him, setting my hands on the sides of his face and raising them up to meet mine.

“Harry,” I began. “You can’t just give up.” Harry snorted, his red rimmed eyes glaring at me through his glasses.

“You don’t understand, Gin. Hermione...she makes Ron happy. Who am I to take her away from him? To do anything to make him see that I love her? To be a barrier in their happiness? I was just being selfish.”

“Sometimes, being selfish is what you have to do.”

“No...” Harry whispered, sighing. “Ron and Hermione have given up so much for me. It’s about time I repaid them.”

“By ignoring your feelings?!”

“By staying out of it.” I could hear the despair in his voice, and I knew he had made up his mind. He pulled me to him then, burying his face in my shoulder as he trembled.

I tried to comfort him, but I knew I could do no such thing.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Draco)

I was walking in Diagon Alley, searching for a gift for Ginny, when I saw Granger staring wistfully at the sky while sitting on a chair in front of the Three Broomsticks. Instinctively I wanted to walk past her; she wouldn’t notice me. But I knew what I had to do.

Sighing I walked to her, my expensive shoes clicking on the ground with every step.

“Granger,” I said, snapping her out of her stupor.

“D-Draco,” she stuttered, looking at me. “What a surprise?”

“Yes,” I drawled, sitting down next to her. “What a surprise.”

“What are you doing here?” She asked, petting her hair nervously.

“Shopping,” I said, my brow furrowing. What the hell was Granger doing?

“Oh, well, of course, that’s what one does when one comes to Diagon Alley,” she replied, laughing nervously. Swallowing, she looked around wildly, her hands trembling. I grabbed them in my own hands, trying to stop her nervousness.

“Granger,” I said, looking into her eyes. “You okay?”

“O-of course,” she stuttered, trying to smile. “You can let go of my hands, Draco.”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.” She stared at me then, her mouth agape as she tried to process what I had just said.

“Wh...whatever do you mean, Draco? Nothing’s wrong, I’m–”

“Is it about Pothead?” She flinched, and I knew it was about him. “And Weasley, right?”

“Well–”

“He’s in love with you, you know,” I said, letting go of her hands. Hermione swallowed nervously until I said, “Weasley, you know.”

“Oh, well, of course he does, um..” I smiled evilly then, enjoying my little game. What a cruel, cruel little ferret I was.

“Potter does too, of course.” Hermione didn’t reply; she instead twirled a lock of hair around her finger as she nibbled on her lip nervously.

“You know, Granger, I’m surprised at you.”

“Why’s that?”

“You’re supposedly the smartest witch Hogwarts has ever seen, maybe with the exception of Rowena Ravenclaw.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say–”

“But you’re so bloody blind when it comes to love.”

“What–”

“Just think about it,” I said, smirking, as I got up from my chair. “Don’t settle for the next best thing. You deserve better.”

Ah, the wonders of the world. How I ever ended up complimenting Granger I’ll never know. But truth be told, she did deserve the best. Obviously, that had to be the next best thing as well, as Granger could never have me. My sweet self was saved only for the most vixen of women. The Ginny Weasley.

I smirked. I was whipped and proud.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

I sat there, in my chair, minutes after Draco had walked away from me. I twirled my engagement ring around my finger; or tried to. It would no longer do no such thing. Looking down, I noticed that my ring now fit perfectly against my finger

~-~-~-~-~-~

reviewing’s good for the soul...

4. Tradition

A/N: Sara Malfoy: Thanks for the comments. It’s sort of modeled after the movie, but not really. I just used the (very) basic storyline, and a few scenes here and there.

Spaz141, glad that it makes sense now! Well, in the books the only one remains in Hogsmeade, but I figured that during a battle it got destroyed and Madame Rosmerta decided to open one up in Diagon Alley while Hogsmeade was getting remade, and just stayed there. I was going to explain it later, but here we go!

Silverfoot, Creepy Susie, Draco’s Gurl, I’m glad you like Draco. I love that little arrogant ferret...he won’t ever change, I agree!

Ridxwan, HnH4EvA19, if you look closely at the previous chapter it mentions Harry picking up Hermione’s too-big ring and magically shrinking it to fit her finger, then slipping it on while she was dozing on the couch.

DaNnY, I’ll see what I can do! I loved that scene in the movie as well...

Pokey (love the username), you’ll see that dumbass Ron soon. I think, anyway.

Nice analogy KypDurron!

Star22, I also wanted Julia to get together with the best friend, but *sigh* didn’t happen! Stupid Cameron Diaz!

Thanks to fenriswolf, danilerin, Estaria, Jenna Kathleen, Khermione85626, SilverMoonlight, goodygirl, sweetkiwi456, and Katakali for your supporting comments!

Thanks to all you anonymous reviewers too!

~-~-~-~-~-~

My Best Friends’ Wedding

Chapter Four: Tradition

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

I was walking to Hermione’s house the next night, trying to absorb everything that had happened. I had decided the night before that I was going to give up my childish and selfish desires, and that I would stand by the newly found couple, happy and proud. I had my chance...I did what I did. But Hermione’s reaction was the one thing that finally convinced me to give it up. Hermione deserved this, after all. So did Ron. Ron most importantly. It’s the sacrifices I had to make back when fighting Voldemort, and it’s the sacrifices that I had to continue making now.

I stopped in my tracks, sighing. Looking up to the sky I stared wistfully at the stars, the night breeze cool against my cheek. “Sirius,” I whispered, grinning. “What the hell do I do now, hm?” I shook my head, smiling with my eyes closed as I continued to walk.

With every step echoing against the empty streets I knew I was closing onto a dead end. Did I really think that I could forget all my feelings for Hermione? Bloody hell no. I had been trying since my sixth year to do that, and obviously, those many attempts have failed.

What I knew I could do was be there for my friends in their happiness.

And if Ron ever did a damn thing to bloody up her life, I would feed him to blast ended skrewts and not feel a single remorse.

Looking around me, I recognized where I was. I had arrived at the foot of Hermione’s apartment building without knowing it, a place I was dreading yet walking to. Looking up I saw a light on in her room, and taking a deep breathe, I walked in.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

Why the bloody hell had Harry kissed me like that? Like me meant it...like he loved me? I wouldn’t have a clue. Draco’s words echoed in my head, and it amazed me how similar his words of advice had been to Ginny’s.

But the fact of the matter was, no matter how easy they thought it would be, I knew I could never leave Ron. It wasn’t Harry’s ring on my finger. It wasn’t Harry who cooed me and told me how much he loved me. It wasn’t Harry who held me close, who stroked my hair and led me away to dance under the night sky while singing the corniest love songs anyone could find. The love songs he had found out I loved.

No matter how much I wished it was Harry, it was Ron.

I gave up on Harry so many years ago, and Ron was now the solid love in my life. The feelings I held with Ron were different from the feelings I held with Harry. Harry had been the sweating palms, the complete nervousness and mad thumping of the heart. With Ron, it was smiles and kisses and the feeling that everything was right in the world.

I was sitting on my bed, contemplating these things, when I heard the doorbell ring. Rising, I wrapped a bathrobe around my flimsy nightgown and walked to my door. Peering through the hole I saw the one person I didn’t have the heart to talk to.

“Hey, Harry,” I said as I opened the door. He smiled nervously at me, raking his hand through his hair. I felt my heart start to race.

“Hey, Hermione.” We stood there for a bit, me leaning against the door as he fiddled with his hair in the hallway. “Can I, um, come in?”

“O-oh, of course,” I stuttered, opening the door wide enough for him to step in. He walked in, pacing a bit before stepping in front of me, taking my hands and peering into my eyes with such intensity I felt my knees start to buckle. “Harry, I–”

“Let me say something first,” he muttered, his gaze unwavering. I swallowed, nodding. “I didn’t mean for last night to happen. It just...did. If I could take it back, I...” He swallowed then, and looking away from me finished, “I would.”

“Oh,” was all I could say to this. You bitch! A voice in my head screamed. You’re actually upset that Harry didn’t mean it?! You should be rejoicing!

“I hope that we can just forget this and, uh, just go back to the way things were before...” Harry peered at me intently then, biting his lip nervously.

Oh he looked so cute when he did that. Stop it!

“Of course, Harry,” I said, smiling. “I wouldn’t give up our friendship for anything.” His shoulders relaxed then, and he brought me in close for a hug, his arms wrapped around my waist.

Why the bloody hell did I feel so fucking upset?

“You free tomorrow night?” he said as we backed off from each other. “I want a night out, the three of us.”

“Sure, of course,” I whispered, trying to control my accelerating pulse. Harry grinned, one of those heart melting grins that used to take my breathe away back in Hogwarts.

That still does.

“We’re going karaoke singing.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

“A...karaoke bar?” Ron whispered, appalled.

“Yeah, isn’t it great?” Hermione said, grinning excitingly. “Oh I haven’t been to one of these in such a long time!”

“Yeah...great...” Ron sent a glare my way, but I just shrugged. I had warned him, after all.

“Come on Harry, we have to do our song,” Hermione said nervously, trying not to feel the tension between us. I smiled back, relieved that our tradition would come over her singing with Ron any day.

Selfish, I know.

“Woah, you two have a song?” Ron said, looking slightly envious and suspicious. “How come we don’t have a song yet?” He demanded.

“Oh Ron, me and Harry just come karaoke singing together, it’s perfectly harmless.”

Harmless. Ouch.

We sat down at one of the tables as some guy was up at the platform singing, “Like a Virgin,” laughing his way through. His friends, I presumed, were cat calling and whistling at his brilliant performance from the table next to ours.

Soon, his song was over and everyone applauded, enjoying this brief form of entertainment. The mic was passed to me then, and I grinned evilly, shoving it in Ron’s hand.

“Go up there!” I said, laughing at Ron’s paling face.

“N-no bloody way,” he stuttered, trying to give the mic back to me. “I can’t sing!”

“Sure you can, Ron!” Hermione laughed, pushing him out of his chair. He stumbled to the platform, sweat forming on his brow as he glared at us.

“Pick a song,” I yelled, and he nodded, whispering to the employee controlling the karaoke box. The familiar song of “Lean on Me” started to breeze out of the stereos, and Hermione and I clapped.

Now, how did Ron know muggle songs? Simple. Hermione, regardless of her witchery, still loved muggle things. She had dragged us to countless movies, amusement parks, the works. And, of course, forced us to listen to muggle music.

Ron had never come with us to karaoke bars. He had always made up some lame excuse or pretended that he had to do something else. I had always assumed that he was just embarrassed of singing.

Now I knew he had something to be embarrassed of.

“Sometimes, in our lives...we all have pain...we all have sorrow,” he croaked out, completely out of tune. “But if we are wise...we know that there’s always tomorrow..”

“Lean on me!” he sang, off pitch. I cringed, and I could hear Hermione trying to stifle a giggle. “When you’re not strong and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on...For, it won’t be long, ‘til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on...”

Ron threw a dirty glare our way, his ears red with embarrassment. But to my surprise, and apparently Hermione’s, the crowd began to applause. Probably loving his bravery. Who knows.

“Please swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow..for no one can fill those of your needs that you won’t let show...” Hermione and I looked at each other and began laughing, making an unspoken agreement to never bring Ron to karaoke bars again.

She turned her attention back to Ron’s attempt at singing, but I continued to watch her. She was smiling, her eyes bright and her hair completely untamed. She was wearing a simple blue shirt, jeans and her favorite black sneakers.

She looked beautiful. I forced myself to turn my gaze away from Hermione and back on Ron, who was starting to enjoy himself up there on the stage.

I knew I was doing the right thing.

All for Ron.

As the song drifted to an end, Hermione got up from her chair to kiss Ron. I forced a smile at that image.

Hermione walked up to the platform, motioning for me to go up there. I grinned, making my way up there.

“Brilliant, Ron,” I said to him as we passed.

“Oh shut it,” he replied, grinning as he clapped my back. Hermione had already told the employee what song we were going to sing and as I made my way up there, I heard the familiar tune easing out of the speakers.

“Now I’ve had the time of my life,” I sang, smiling as I looked over at Hermione. “No, I never felt like this before. Yes, I swear it’s the truth...and I owe it all to you.”

“‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life,” Hermione sang, smiling back at me. “And I owe it all to you...”

“I’ve been waiting for so long, now I’ve finally found someone to stand by me.”

“We saw the writing on the wall as we felt this magical fantasy!”

“Now with passion in our eyes there’s no way we could disguise it secretly...” we sang together. “So we take each other’s hands cause we seem to undersatnd the urgency!”

“Just remember!” I interrupted, smiling as Ron whooped from our table.

“You’re the one thing..”

“...I can’t get enough of...”

“So I’ll tell you something...”

“This could be love!” We belted out together, our mics centimeters apart. “Because...I’ve had the time of my life! No I never felt this way before...Yes I swear...it’s the truth! And I owe it all you!” We continued, closing our eyes and swaying to the music as a few couples walked to the dance floor, immersing themselves in the music.

“Now I...had the time of my life...No I never felt this way before...This I swear...it’s true...and I owe it all to you!” I finally sang, my eyes on Hermione the entire time. She smiled at me, and I lost myself in her eyes, forgetting everything else. Before long the song was over and everyone was clapping. Smiling and giggling, Hermione took my hand and walked off the platform, her breathing ragged.

“Harry, that was wonderful!” she shrieked as we hugged, laughing.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ron)

Now, I’m no singer. Obviously. Embarrassed much when I had to sing “Lean on Me” completely out of tune in front of a bunch of bloody strangers? Duh. But it was all worth it seeing Hermione and Harry up there on the stage, singing together.

After Voldemort, seeing Harry truly happy was a rare thing. Sure, he smiled, he laughed, he was still ol’ Harry. But the moments at Hogwarts when he was completely at ease, loving life? Rare. Bloody rare.

And that was what I was looking at up there on stage as he closed his eyes and sang, completely in sync with Hermione.

“Just remember!” Harry belted out and I whooped, laughing as he sent a grin my way. I smiled throughout the entire song, loving every bloody moment. Hermione really enjoyed karaoke singing; she had always dragged Harry and me to those muggle places every time she had a free moment. But I flaked every time. I’m no singer, as I said before.

“Now I...had the time of my life...No I never felt this way before...This I swear...it’s true...and I owe it all to you!” Harry finally sang to her, near the end of the song. It was probably the one part of the song where Harry sang directly to Hermione. He kept eye contact, his eyes blazing with happiness as he smiled at her. Hermione, who was laughing, smiled even more broader and returned his looks of pure bliss. He continued to look at her, looking like he would give up anything for these last few moments with her.

And that’s when it hit me.

My smile began to falter as I heard the ending of the song. At the end, everyone around us broke into applause, and Harry and Hermione hugged, smiling and laughing and giggling. Oblivious to everything around them.

Harry fucking loved Hermione.

~-~-~-~-~-~

reviewing’s good for the soul...

A/N: “Lean on Me” is by Bill Withers, and “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” is by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack. Damn I love that movie, lol.

5. Truth

A/N: Pokey, I’m really fighting with myself over the dumbass Ron. I guess I want this to be more of a moral fight than just a “oh, he’s a bastard let’s move on to the better–look there’s Harry!” sort of deal, like I’ve read a lot. I just can’t see Ron being that type of dumbass bastard. I dunno. Hope you aren’t terribly disappointed.

Rodsqueak, it’s absolutely killing me to do this to Ron! My heart goes out for him in this chapter though. Glad you loved his singing (or lack of)!

Eliza, sorry about the cliffies. I love them!

Khermione85626, it’s no prob. I love getting reviews, but it’s pointless if I don’t read them and answer questions now isn’t it?

Usha88, that certainly IS a brilliant movie.

Goodygirl, you’re question about Ginny’s loyalty will be answered in this chapter. I absolutely loved what I did with her, and if you guys don’t it’s totally understandable. It’s quite bitchy what she does. But I can so see Ginny doing something of this sort...

Harryloveshermione2003, haha yes, men and their madness..

KypDurron, let’s hope I answer those questions soon!

Thanks to spaz141, Draco’s Gurl, Katakali, LiZz, Creepy Susie, luvfordanielandtom, Jenna Kathleen, Muirin, LuckyStar, and sweetkiki456 for all your supporting comments.

Thanks to all you anonymous reviewers as well!

As a side note, I just have to say this...but God are you guys vicious towards Ron! I find it absolutely hilarious, but still, the poor bloke...

~-~-~-~-~-~

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Chapter Five: Truth

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

Harry and I returned to our table among applaud and cheers, a feeling of self satisfaction coursing through my veins.

“Did you see?!” I nearly screamed to Ron. He smiled back at me, but I noticed that it didn’t reach his eyes. His eyes pierced through my soul; they were cold, bitter, and as hard as granite. My smile faltered and I swallowed, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding.

“Yeah,” he said, his eyes staring into mine. “Brilliant.” Harry laughed, catching my eye and smiling. I smiled back, but kept my attention on Ron.

Something had happened.

Ron got up from the table, downing the last of his drink and saluting to Harry.

“I, uh, have things to do. Just...came up. Sorry. You two have...fun.” With that he turned around, grabbing his jacket and shrugging it across one shoulder as he lugged out of the karaoke bar.

Harry stared at his retreating back, his eyebrows raised. I grabbed his arm and pleaded with him, biting my lip nervously as I waited for his answer.

“Go ahead,” he said, and for once, he didn’t seem remotely jealous that I was about to chase after Ron. He looked as if he wanted to run after him as well.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ron)

I whisked out of that place, needing time to collect my thoughts. As I turned a corner I heard footsteps behind me, and I instantly regretted not apparating.

“Ron!” Hermione screamed after me. I stopped, remaining where I was until she caught up with me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I snapped. I refused to look her in the eye. As she reached out a hand to cup my cheek I turned my head stubbornly, and I felt rather than heard her whimper.

“Ron,” she begged, withdrawing her hand and letting it fall uselessly to her side. I shook my head, my eyes trained on the ground as I thought of what to say.

“He loves you,” I finally croaked out, and I saw Hermione tense up. She stared at me with her wide eyes, her mouth agape. “Harry.” I swallowed then, risking it all by raising my eyes to look into hers. “But you knew that.”

“I..” She fished around for words, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to do just that.

“I just have a question,” I interrupted, continuing to look into her eyes. “There’s a reason you’re marrying me, right? Or am I just some second best trophy for you to set on a dusty shelf ‘cause you couldn’t win the blue.” I waited patiently for her answer, the blood pounding in my ears.

“I...” Hermione began, her eyes watering up with tears. As I saw her wipe them away tenderly my heart broke, that bubble of hope I had in me deflating.

“It’s fine, Hermione,” I muttered, raising my wand to apparate.

“No, Ron!” she yelled, latching onto my wand hand as she quickly pulled it down. I looked at her sadly, my mouth suddenly dry as I realized that Hermione had always loved Harry.

“Ron, I love you,” she whispered, looking at me. I felt her hand tremble on mine and I sighed, dropping my wand as I nervously scratched the back of my neck. Hermione hesitantly bent over to grab my wand, holding it tenderly in her fingers as she nervously looked at me.

“You didn’t answer my question, Hermione.” She shook her head, her eyes trained on the ground as she bit her lip nervously.

“I...I know. I’m just...trying to find the right words.”

I sighed then, swallowing. I always had to be fucking optimistic. Harry had every right to want to be with this glorious, wonderful woman. To love such a girl. But I couldn’t help feel like...like she belonged to me. When Harry was frustrated and pissed off and ignored us all, who was the one who comforted her? Who was the one who held her close and wiped away the tears? It had been bloody me.

I knew I was being stupid. Selfish. But I was a man in love with a woman, and I held that love too importantly to my heart to just let go of it in an instant. Yes, if Hermione truly, deeply loved him, I would do it. Not because it wasn’t important, not because I felt that Harry should be with her. I would do it for her, because I loved her that deeply that I would do anything to make her smile. Even give her up to another man.

But then it hit me. We had gotten together in the time when Harry had ignored us, when we held onto each other because we had lost a link in the trio.

Maybe...maybe she had been with me because he hadn’t been there.

And now, now he was here.

“Ron?” she asked timidly and I raised my head. My eyes, I knew, were red rimmed. Tears had escaped as I contemplated these thoughts, the idea that everything I loved, that the two people who I held closest to my heart, were about to betray me. I knew it wasn’t their fault. Love is something that one can’t control, and I knew that Harry, nor Hermione, could control something as powerful as that. But all the same...

“Yeah?”

“I-I love you,” she croaked out, taking a step closer. “But–”

“But you love Harry more,” I finished for her, lowering my eyes to the ground again as tears splattered the ground. Hermione looked down at my fallen tears, clenching her eyes shut as more tears shimmered past her lashes.

“I honestly don’t know.” I raised my eyes to hers again as she opened her eyes to look at me.

“You...don’t know.”

“I love you, Ron. I really do. You make me feel loved, you ignite a feeling of happiness I haven’t felt since childhood. But Harry...he...”

“I don’t have to know,” I quickly said, not wanting to hear the effects Harry had on Hermione. She bit her lip again, turning away as I swallowed. “So...what do we do now.”

“Does Harry know you know?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“This is between me and you.”

“But it involves him, Ron.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Yes, actually, it does.”

“I don’t fucking care what he feels about you, Hermione! What he feels about this!” I nearly yelled, sadness creeping up my throat as I tried to contain my tears. “I don’t give a damn about him right now! What I care about most is what you feel about me! Have you...have you always loved him? Is that it? That you just thought you were over him and turned to me, but now...you...” I turned away from her then, clenching my fists as I rested them against the brick wall behind me.

“Ron, I–”

“No, let me finish.” I turned around then, sighing as I whispered, “If you love me, Hermione, I want to marry you. I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone...and if you ch-choose Harry, then...” I looked up at the night sky, a tear trickling down my cheek as I finished, “then the two of you deserve your happiness.” I looked at her then, smiling as I whispered, “Don’t worry about me, Hermione. I’ll be fine. You just...choose, allright? By yourself. I don’t want you to marry me because I’m crying.”

Hermione nodded, handing my wand back to me as I nodded back and raised my wand, apparating home.

The last image I saw before my feet touched the familiar soft carpet was Hermione’s tear stained face twisted in sorrow.

And the only thought I could think was how god damn beautiful she was at that particular moment.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ginny)

“Hermione?”

“I did something awful, Ginny,” Hermione whispered, her tear stained face looking into mine. “I lied.”

“Oh? Well, a little white lie isn’t really–”

“This isn’t some stupid thing, like me telling you that you look good in a dress that you look absolutely horrible in. Or telling Harry that his soup did indeed taste absolutely brilliant, when it really tasted like my mum’s burnt shoes.”

“What did you lie about, Hermione?”

She swallowed, clenching her jaw before turning back to me and whispering, “I lied to you about Ron and Harry.”

“Oh...that.”

“But you knew that.”

“Of course. I’m not that stupid, you know.”

“Yes. Not like I am.”

“Hermione...”

“No, I really blew it this time. I convinced myself that I love Ron. And you know what? I know that I do. I love him, and if he had been the only one in my life, I would’ve been blissfully happy. But...”

“But he’s not the only man in your life.” Hermione sighed and rubbed her arms, trying to bring the warmth that evaporated the moment she saw Ron’s eyes.

He didn’t deserve this. He deserved someone who loved him unconditionally, who would give everything to see his smiling face and passionate eyes. Can you do that, Hermione?

“The thing is, Harry is just a fantasy. I don’t know why I’ve kept up this escapade. The moment Harry kissed me...I can admit, I felt things I never thought I could feel. Everything I had kept locked away for him, from him...they just burst out of me. But the second I said his name I knew I had done something wrong. You know why? Because it was Harry’s name that escaped my lips, not Ron’s.”

“Should it be Ron’s?”

“It should. But was it? No. And Harry...why now, of all the bloody times this could’ve happened to me?!”

“Hermione, do me a favor.” Hermione looked at me then, her eyes wide as she suddenly realized that there was another person in the room. Looking at me sheepishly she nodded, and I took in a deep breath before I said the one thing I knew could hurt her most. “Do what’s best for you. But also take into account...that I will not allow you to marry my brother if I know that you could turn to Harry at any moment after swearing your life to him.” Hermione stared at me, obviously speechless. “Haven’t you ever wondered why I pushed Harry to kiss you? Why I’ve been wanting this entire thing to happen?” Hermione shook her head, apparently too surprised to speak. “Well, I love Ron. I love all of you, but Ron’s my brother. He’s my flesh and blood. And I probably know more than anyone what he deserves in life. He deserves the best. And you, Hermione, you’re the best to him. He deserves to have you in his life and to love you undeniably. But what he doesn’t deserve is to have a scheming, backstabbing woman who’ll screw around with his best friend behind his back while he believes everything is perfect.”

“Ginny, I wouldn’t ever–”

“Don’t you tell me that,” I replied, reaching for a book as I turned my attention away from Hermione. “Because you’re the one who kissed his best friend behind his back.”

“Th-that wasn’t my fault! You even said so yourself, Ginny, you told him–”

“Me telling him has nothing to do with you giving into Harry’s ministrations,” was my reply. Hermione glared at me then, probably thinking of the worst cuss words known to the wizarding community.

I did what I had to.

“Look, I want you to be happy,” I said, crossing my arms. “I really do. But if you’re going to convince yourself that you’re going to be with Ron just because he was the one who got to you first, don’t go there. Because I know as well as you do that your feelings for Harry, if you do do that, won’t go away. And you will be the scheming, backstabbing bitch that I said you could become. So don’t make this decision based on the thought that you pity my brother.” I turned back to my book then, smiling slightly as I saw Hermione close her mouth and process what I had just said. “Because if there is anyone in the world who doesn’t need pity, it’s Ronald Weasley.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ron)

When I apparated home, I bloody forgot who I bloody share a bloody flat with.

“Ron? What’re you...what’s wrong, mate?” Harry had just noticed my red rimmed eyes, I figured. Snorting, I shrugged off my jacket and walked to the kitchen, ready to get myself a drink. “Ron?”

“What,” I said wearily, exhausted from the events that had happened today.

“What happened?”

“Nothing, Harry,” I replied as I poured Firewhiskey into a glass. “Allergies.” Harry’s eyes narrowed.

“Ron, you can’t really expect me to believe that shit, do you?” I shrugged. “Really, what is it?” I sighed then, giving up. Harry might as well know.

“Me and Hermione are reconsidering our marriage,” I muttered as I let myself sit in one of the leather chairs, the seat magically expanding to fit my long legs.

“Y-you are?” He asked, and I couldn’t help but hear the sliver of hope embedded in his voice.

“Yeah.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

“Oh...what for?” I asked, frowning. Bloody hell, they might not get married!

“Well...” Ron’s eyes closed as he leaned back, obviously exhausted. “I love her more than anything, you know that.”

“Yeah, I do.” We both love her.

“But...she might not love me.”

“She...what?”

“She might love some other bloke.”

“A...what?!” Hermione loved someone else?!

“Yeah.” Ron raked his fingers through his hair then, and it was with this final movement that I scrutinized his face. Tear stains. Misery. Exhaustion. Almost...almost ready to give up. Who was the bloody bastard who did this to him?

“Who the bloody hell?” Ron looked at me then, and it hit me. I choked on the gulp of water I had taken waiting for his answer. All of a sudden all the noises of the city was blocked out, all my sense drowned in that moment; all I could hear, smell, feel, was Ron’s eyes driving into mine as I realized who had turned my best friend’s life upside down.

I was that bloody bastard.

~-~-~-~-~-~

reviewing’s good for the soul...

6. Escape

A/N: I’ve gotten feedback that this chapter is horribly OoC. If any of you guys find Hermione OoC, that’s understandable. She does something in this chapter that a lot of my friends don’t think she would ever do, but I’ve always been under the impression that every person has a breaking point of stress. As for Draco, I have a plan in mind–he feels in debt to Hermione because of something she did for him earlier, before this story. It’ll be mentioned in passing in later chapters, see if you can find it. And Ginny, she’s just being a loyal friend who knows what Hermione is going through. D/G, there HAS to have been some difficulty establishing that ship previously. I guess that Draco and Ginny feel a sense of loyalty to helping out Harry and Hermione, cause they see themselves in that situation a wee bit. Maybe. Hinthint. (Hint for what? I dunno...)

You know, originally, this story was supposed to only be five chapters long...*sigh* guess that isn’t happening, lol.

Sara, thanks about the comments on Ron. I agree about it, I’ve been posting it on fanfiction.net but it hasn’t gotten nearly as much feedback as portkey.

Silverfoot, glad I was able to distort your health like that! Hehe.

Andain, during Hogwarts days Ron’s always been consumed by jealousy for Harry. But after the war and all the Voldemort business, I think he’s finally seen the light about Harry and his life. I really don’t think this is another “Harry has something I want” deal...he truly loves her, and would do anything to make her happy. I dunno, you’re probably right (the reader always is!) but I think he knows this is ultimately her decision, and nothing he can do will change it.

Ridxwan, that wasn’t my intention to make Harry the villain. In a sense, everyone is the villain in the story to everyone else–I hope everyone can see that.

Thanks to harryloveshermione2003, cfluter, Creepy Susie, spaz141, Pokey, KypDurron, HnH4EvA19, **Fairy Princess**, danielerin, pottergranny, sweetkiwi456, Gemma, pottergranny, khermione85626, Katakali, Rodsqueak, readinggirl, Eliza, dizzi01, goodygirl, swimchick, Estaria, LiZz, Alphamatrix, Usha88, heather, Parvati_Patil, Harry85, Draco’s Gurl, LuckyStar, star_dance_herm, faesecrets, Estaria, and J.C. Rose for all your supporting comments.

Thanks to all you anonymous reviewers as well!

Wow, the previous chapter was the chapter with the most reviews out of the entire story–maybe y’all can top it with the reviews for this chapter!

~-~-~-~-~-~

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Chapter 6: Escape

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

The silence in the room pounded in my ears alongside my rushing heart beat. Our eyes were locked, his furious blue ones driving into my startled green ones. As he sighed and closed his eyes, sinking into his armchair, I knew that he recognized that I had realized who he was talking about.

“Look, Harry,” he began, rubbing his temples. “I don’t hate you, mate.” I couldn’t find the voice to respond. “I might hate the bloody world, but I don’t hate you.”

“How,” I finally croaked out. “How don’t you?” He snorted, a depressed laugh escaping his mouth.

“I could never hate you, Harry,” Ron finally said, taking a drink of his firewhiskey. “It’s not your bloody fault, anyway. Not like you asked for it.” Ron then drained his glass, and that faithful silence pounded in my ears again.

What the bloody fucking thing had I done.

“I just have a question,” Ron whispered, avoiding eye contact. “Did you...do anything? With her? While I was with her?” Exactly what I hadn’t wanted him to ask.

“Ron, I...”

“Because I want to know,” he said, louder. “I deserve to know.”

“I know you do.”

“Then fucking tell me.” I raised my head and our eyes locked again, and I saw the dimmed fire bursting in his eyes.

“I kissed her.”

“You...kissed her.”

“Yeah.”

“For the blood of–”

“It was an accident, okay?”

“Oh, I’m sure it was!” Ron got up then, his hand clenching around his glass so hard I was afraid it might shatter in his grasp. “You fell and her lips just happened to soften your fall!” I stayed silent. “No, you know, what, you...” Ron took a deep breath then, a shattering breath I could tell was his attempt to hold in his tears. I couldn’t stand to look at Ron anymore. Not knowing I was the one who did it to him. “I’m going to bed,” he whispered, nearly throwing the glass in the sink. I nodded and he turned around, swiftly marching into his room and nearly slamming the door.

I had to talk to Hermione.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Draco)

“What’s this?” I said, rubbing my hair with a towel as I exited the steamy bathroom. Hermione stared at me, her red eyes widening as she realized that I was shirtless.

“Draco!” Ginny said, a grin creeping on her face. “Put a bloody shirt on!”

“I do believe I look much more ravishing this way,” I replied, smirking. “Right, Granger?”

“No,” she said quickly, her chin rising in the air defiantly. Typical.

Rolling my eyes I walked my way into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and grabbing a carton of milk. Opening it I chugged it down; after a few seconds I wiped my mouth with my towel, returning the milk carton into its rightful place.

“You know, that’s utterly disgusting,” Granger muttered, rolling her eyes at me.

“Oh please. Don’t be so condescending, you can’t even stand a male specimen shirtless. Turning you on too much, Granger?”

“Draco!” Ginny finally yelled, laughing.

“Ron and Harry both beat you in that department, Malfoy,” Granger finally retaliated. I snorted.

“I’m sure you’d know,” I muttered, walking back to the bathroom to retrieve a shirt.

“Excuse me?”

“They don’t count as men anyway,” I said breezily, avoiding the question. I caught Ginny’s eyes and grinned. She looked torn; loving the humor, hating the tension. Such fickle Weasleys.

“You’re not fit to spit on their shoes, Malfoy, you–”

“Oh, I am so torn!” I said, clutching at my heart in fake distress. “I’m lower than Pothead and Weasel!”

“Of course you are,” Granger reciprocated. I just smirked.

“Ginny...why don’t you whip down to the corner market and get me some chocolate milk,” I said to her, grabbing a banana and peeling it open.

“Why?” she replied, still engrossed in her magazine.

“We’re out,” I said simply, taking a bite out of the fruit in my hand.

“You’re problem.”

“Ginny.”

“Malfoy.”

“Weasley.”

“Draco.”

“Virginia...you owe me.” Ginny raised her head at me then, one eyebrow cocked.

“Whatever for?”

“You look dead sexy when you do that.”

“Everything I do is sexy, Draco.” She sighed, grabbing her wand and glaring at me. “You owe me.”

“My greatest fantasy.” Ginny grinned and apparated out of the apartment, the pop ringing in my ears as the silence followed. Granger looked absolutely lost without Ginny’s presence, suddenly becoming nervous and fiddling with the edge of her shirt.

“I guess I better go, then,” she whispered, but as she raised her hand to apparate I cast some wandless magic and her wand disappeared out of her hand. She stared at me as I grinned, her wand now wiggling in my hand.

“Now, Granger, before you leave, I do need to speak to you,” I said, pocketing her wand and walking towards her. “About some very important matters.”

“Oh really? Well I don’t have the time, Malfoy, if you’d just–”

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with Ginny.”

“Resorting to eaves dropping, are we?”

“Make that choice, Granger.”

“I think we’ve already gone through this, Malfoy.”

“Well obviously it isn’t getting through your deranged, thick head!”

“Who the bloody hell are you to insult–”

“You’re just going to hurt the Weasel more if you hold it out.” Granger stared at me then, her brown eyes wide and slightly fearful.

“What makes you think I would choose Harry,” she whispered timidly, her voice breaking.

“Just because the two of you are bloody blind about your feelings doesn’t mean the rest of the world is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Open your eyes, Granger!” Bloody Merlin did this woman need help. “You love him! He loves you! Just admit it!”

“I can’t,” she said quietly, her eyes staring into mine as she began to tremble helplessly. “I love Ron...”

“No, you don’t,” I said just as quietly. “You just think you do.”

“How would you know,” she said, raising her voice. “You don’t know me, Malfoy.” I shrugged.

“I know love when I see it.”

“Love differs from person to person. You can’t just...just think you know everything about it because you–”

“Take a vacation.” I snapped my fingers and a portkey and ticket evaporated into my hand.

“Take a...what?”

“You need to get away from all this and just...breathe.” She snorted, her eyes disbelieving.

“Malfoy, you–”

“Just...take it. Take the bloody vacation, Granger. You owe it to yourself to take a few days to seriously think about it without any outside pressure.”

“What...why...where?”

“My private summer beach home on an unchartable island near Greece. You can take a day and visit there, Ginny’s told me you love Greece.”

“I–”

“Don’t worry, the closets and everything are supplied for whoever stays there. You don’t have to bring anything except this ticket and your wand. And you won’t be all alone, it’s about a quarter mile away from wizarding civilization. Small little village, huge tourist area, but still enough privacy to enjoy. Breathtakingly beautiful. Trust me, Granger, I bought it after all; I have good taste.”

She stared at the portkey in my hand, nibbling her lip. Stepping towards her, I handed her wand back to her and she held it limply in her hand, frowning slightly.

“Just take it. You come back when you feel ready.”

“It feels like running away,” she muttered.

“It’s not. Because you’re coming back, with your decision.” She looked up at me, smiling slightly.

“How do you know so much about all this.” It was more of a statement than a question really, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“A Malfoy always knows what he’s talking about.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

I apparated to her flat, but no one answered my frantic knocking. I apparated to the library and the bookstore and her favorite café and finally as my last resort I apparated to Ginny and Malfoy’s home.

“Ginny! Where...Malfoy?”

“Granger’ll be back in a few days,” he said breezily, reading a book while laying on the sofa delicately.

“She’ll be...what?”

“She’ll be back in a few days,” he reiterated slowly, as if talking to a toddler.

“Where is she? I need to talk to her, Malfoy, you don’t understand, I–”

“She’s on vacation, sorting out her feelings.” Glancing at me above his book he added, “And she doesn’t need the likes of you upsetting her peace.”

“Where the bloody hell is she!”

“Like I said, Pothead, she–”

“Tell me where the bloody hell she is! What did you do to her! Hermione isn’t one to run away, she just...she wouldn’t! What did you do to her!”

“Nothing.” Malfoy, that bloody piss-ant, just smirked at me from over his bloody book.

I could feel my blood boil...

“Harry,” Ginny said, stepping into the room. She threw a glare at Draco, who only smirked even more. Annoying bloody bastard. “She’s near Greece, she’ll be back in a few days. Just give her the space she needs right now, she–”

“I have to talk to her! We have to talk to her! We have to sort this out together, we–”

“No, no you don’t!” Ginny stomped up to me then, her brown eyes furiously brimming with light. “‘We’ don’t have to! You know you love her! Ron knows he loves her! She has no, fucking, idea, what the bloody hell she feels! Harry Potter, if you go talk to her now I swear you will never be able to bear children!”

I gulped. No way Ginny would ever do that, I had to talk to Hermione, I needed to–

“She’ll do it too,” Draco drawled. “And she’ll leave no evidence behind.”

I sighed, not believing what I was hearing.

“So you’re telling me to not chase after her. To not admit my feelings, to not tell her that I love her.”

“Yes.”

“That I can’t even tell her no matter what her decision, she’ll still be the love of my life and I couldn’t possibly love anyone else the way I love her?”

“Yes.”

“That Ron deserves her as much as I do, and–”

“Just fucking go home, Potter, we don’t need to hear this mush. You aren’t going to see Granger until she’s ready, so just deal with that idea. Too much to process, Potter?”

“Malfoy, you shut the bloody hell up.”

“Stop being so fucking selfish, Potter!”

“Oh, that’s rich, coming from you!”

“Harry! Draco! For Merlin’s sake, you pieces of children ass!” Ginny glared at her fiancé, and I saw him flinch involuntarily. Ginny has that affect on people, when she wants. Then she redirected her glare at me and I felt myself cringe unconsciously. Damn.

“Go home, Harry,” she said quietly. Her eyes pleaded with her, begging for me to understand. “Please.”

“I can’t do that, Gin,” I said just as quietly. Malfoy sighed, getting up and walking towards me.

“She loves you, Potter, there’s no doubt about that.” Looking at me in the eye he muttered, “but let her find that out on her own.”

“Malfoy, how can you be so bloody sure.” That prick just grinned, really grinned at me.

“Comes from experience, Potter.” My eyes widened as he smirked, glancing at Ginny who smiled back. “I had to find out for myself, too.”

So what was I supposed to do, but wait it out.

7. Home, Part I

Draco’s Gurl, I’m glad you like Draco! I hate it too when they mess him up...means worlds to me that you think he’s great!

Davaca, I can see your point on Ron being too soft. And I agree, to a certain point. But like I said earlier...he realizes that Harry loves Hermione, and that he really isn’t taking her away from him, that it’s just really bad timing and that fate is a bitch. I think it was okay for him to freak out over Harry kissing her though, cause although he knows that it’s not his fault for loving Hermione and her for loving him, it crosses the line if he kisses her while Ron’s going out with her. But that’s just my interpretation...I think Ron’s matured over the years, with everything that happened and the War and Voldemort and etc. But yeah, do tell me if the softness level you think is getting too extreme...I’d love to know!

Sylphiad, you’re right, this story is very, very different from the movie. It was mainly just inspired from the movie, and I named it the name it has because I was too unintelligent and lacking the creativity to make a decent title.

Thanks to swimchick1614, harryloveshermione2003, spaz141, RogueBHS, Pokey, KypDurron, Parvati_Patil, Harry85, danielerin, Silverfoot (I love Friends! So sad it’s over...), hermioniegranger, **Fairy Princess**, Creepy Susie, akjennymay9, LizZ, Katakali, rainbow star, MicahsGurl, lylac14, tonks26 (glad to see another R/Hr around here!), luvfordanielandtom, and lirannutian for your supporting comments.

Thanks to you anonymous reviewers as well!

~-~-~-~-~-~

My Best Friends’ Wedding

Chapter Seven: Home, Part I

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

I walked out of the bedroom into the balcony, closing my eyes as I breathed in the fresh, salty air and the distinctly calmer breeze. The sun reflected on the midnight blue water like a dazzling smile, the waves lightly splashing upon the rocks underneath me. I smiled; thank Merlin for Draco Malfoy.

Walking back inside I went immediately to the huge mirror adorning the center of the bedroom. Walking up to it I noticed that it wasn’t a mirror at all; it was a sliding door. Opening it and walking in I noticed that I had walked into a mini dressing room comprised of only glass mirrors...slightly unnerving. As the door slid closed behind me a dreamy voice asked, “What’s the look today, miss?”

“Uh” I stammered, glancing around nervously.

“Might I make a suggestion?” she asked, and I nodded. A slight pop rang in my ears and I looked at the mirror, surprised to see what I was wearing.

A simple summer’s dress, the light green and golden yellow enhancing my eyes. It stopped slightly below my knees, billowing out slightly. Thick straps held it up against my petite body. It fit against my curves excruciatingly well.

“O-okay,” I said, fumbling behind me for the door.

“Visit me any time,” she drawled again, sounding slightly bored. Walking out I went to the adjoining room, happy to see that it was the kitchen. A large bay window allowed sunlight to stream in, giving it a cozy and happy setting. I had always imagined Malfoy to be the cold, dark dungeons and whips sort of guy. Who would imagine him to be–

“Hungry, miss?” a deep booming voice asked. I looked around nervously; even after all this time, I’m still not comfortable with everything magic.

“No, I actually just ate.”

“Well if you need anything–”

“I’ll be sure to let you know,” I finished for him. Her. Whatever it was.

Now, where was a purse I could–

With a sudden poof one appeared in the chair next to me, a large beach purse that matched my outfit surprisingly well.

‘Magic,’ I thought while rolling my eyes. How overrated...

Walking out I whistled out a tune, any random tune. Today was my day. Just to relax, to be Hermione Granger. Not the-woman-who-can’t-make-up-her-bloody-mind-and-is-just-ruining-both-of-her-best-friend’s-lives-along-with-her-own-because-of-it.

Walking onto a trail I smiled, enjoying the breeze and sunlight and freedom of it all.

I should really listen to Malfoy more often.

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Harry)

I apparated back home, wishing to Merlin I could do something but knowing that I can’t. Ron was still in his room, sleeping or not, and I had no wish to dream more about Hermione. When had my life become so utterly pathetic? I walked to the fridge and popped out a Butterbeer, chugging it and slamming it on the counter with a sigh. Glancing at the calender attached to the refrigerator I noticed with a pang that it was Ron’s birthday tomorrow. Er, today. I had already cracked midnight.

What a way to spend a birthday.

Familiar guilt washed over me, making me slightly sick. Hadn’t I already done enough to Ron? To Hermione? Why did I have to force them into more pain, more suffering, on my behalf. When was all of this going to end...

I drank some more butterbeer, the warm liquid trailing down my chin and running down my chest. It’s stickiness provided a temporary relief; it brought me back to reality, for a bit.

I walked to the fireplace in the living room, lightly tapping the brick wall with my foot as my eyes glanced around. My gaze fell upon a certain picture, a picture that brought a smile to my face even with everything that had happened.

It was the three of us on our graduation night. There was me, in the middle, waving a butterbeer and laughing. I looked...happy. Ron, sitting to my left, gave me a nudge and waved his butterbeer with me, and the two of us broke into song.

“I have a beer!”

“A beer!”

“A beer!”

“And his name is Buck.”

“Oh dear friend Buck!”

“And when he comes,”

“Comes to my house...”

Hermione is to my right, smiling and shaking her head at us. Smiling wickedly she gets up, grabbing her butterbeer as she tips it and it washes over both Ron and me. We get up, playfully roaring and we chase her around the courtyard, laughing hysterically. We finally fall into a bundle, a fierce 3-man-dog-pile.

“Harry?” a sleepy voice wavered. I whipped around to see Ron in the doorway to his bedroom, his hair ruffled worse than Pig’s feathers and his eyes red rimmed in the glow of the hallway light.

“Hey,” I said slowly, swallowing.

“Whatchu doin’, mate?” he asked tentatively, almost as if he was scared to talk to me.

“Nothing.” I turned back around to the row of pictures, the corners of my lips curving up slightly as I looked at them.

“Looking at pictures?” He walked towards me, bathrobe billowing out behind him. “You know, Hermione...she...”

“Let’s not talk about her,” I said quickly, not bothering to turn around.

“Wasn’t going to. I was just going to say that she spent the last summer making all these photo albums and scrapbooks...you wouldn’t want to, I don’t know, look through them?” I turned around to look at him, and noticing my face he quickly stammered, “I promised her I would go through them, but never got around to it. It’s been weighing my conscience down...not keeping a promise...” He shuffled his feet, looking at the ground sadly. “Just thought I should get it over with.”

I sighed, calculating the pros and cons swiftly. But hell, this was Ron...

“Sure, Ron.” He looked up, relieved to see me smile. “I promised her the same thing, too.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

“Hello, sweet.” I looked up to the bartender, smiling to see his jolly face and twinkling eyes. “What can I get fer you, today?”

“Surprise me. Nothing strong though, mind you.”

“I’ve got just the thing.” He seemed oddly familiar...who did he remind me of? “What’re ya doin’ here? You don’t seem to be the regular touristy type.”

“Oh, just here to clear my mind. You know. Figure out things...”

“I gotcha.” He plopped a drink down in front of me, winking. “I know just whatchu need.”

“And what’s that?”

“You’ve got boy troubles, don’tcha?” Noticing my blush he grinned. “Came ter get ‘em outta yer hair? Makes sense, makes sense. Boys are some o’ the most awful creatures known ter infest everythin’. Cockroaches, they are.” I giggled. “It’s all nice and good ter come here, ter think things out. But mark my words, you won’t be able ter make up yer mind without familiarity.”

“Familiarity?”

“Familiarity.” He gave me another wink. As I turned to my purse to pay him he stopped me, whispering, “On the house.”

“What do you mean, familiarity?”

“Well, think ‘bout it! If you had ter escape, these problems are obviously pretty big. Maybe it’s just meh, but whenever I need peace o’ mind, I go where I feel me best.”

“That’s pretty deep.”

“I’ve been known to be wise. Now get off that stool and fix yer problems.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ron)

“Heh, look, that’s the night you got drunk!”

“Don’t remind me.”

“Merlin Harry, didn’t know you could dance.”

“I can’t. It was all the firewhiskey.” Laughing we turned the page, enjoying the moment.

“Hermione’s first date.”

“Why are all the pictures of plants?”

“I was trying to keep hidden.”

“Why exactly did she keep these?”

“She said they reminded her of my ‘witty and charming’ side. I was almost insulted.” Harry laughed, eyeing my fabulous pictures.

“Hey, you can sorta see a bit of her skirt in this one.”

“And I got a bloody brilliant catch of her shoe in this one.”

“You’d make one hell of a photographer,” Harry stated, laughing.

“I was so infatuated with her back then,” I said airily, laughing along with him.

“We both were.” I had edged away from this conversation for a long time, hoping to never encounter it. But now that we were flirting with it...it didn’t feel wrong at all. I think maybe that’s one of the things that kept Harry and me strong. Sure, everything we went through, the fact that we shared everything. But I think that was it. We had shared Hermione, too.

“Still am,” I said, hesitantly.

“Same here.” There was a brief moment of silence then. We eyed each other, almost cautiously, seeing exactly how far we could jump.

“Remember when we both got wickedly jealous when she went out with Seamus?”

“You threatened to run him over with your Ford Angelica if he hurt her.”

“You threatened to sick Deatheaters and Voldemort on him if he made her cry!” We both laughed, remembering.

“Then when Dean asked her to the Graduation Ball?” I said, grinning.

“And when she cried afterwards?”

“I might have overreacted...just a wee bit.”

“I’ll say. You made him belch slugs all night long!” Harry said, laughing.

“It was long overdue.” We both laughed hysterically then, the photo albums momentarily forgotten as we remembered by ourselves.

“I miss Hogwarts,” Harry said later, wiping tears of mirth away.

“Same here.”

“You know, Hermione went away.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I was just over at Ginny’s, trying to find her. Apparently, she took a short vacation...to think things over.”

“Ah.” I messed with a few frays on my sleeve, trying to find the right words. “It...it’s not like you’re stealing her away from me.” I looked up to see Harry staring at me, his eyes disbelieving. “We...we both love her...you deserve her, too.” I looked away, and unsurprisingly my eyes fell upon the door to Hermione’s library that we built just for her. “Sorry about making a scene, I–”

“No, you have every right.” He coughed then, running his hands through his hair. “It’s not fair, Ron, to do this to you after you proposed. You were the one who was going out with her, not me.”

“That doesn’t really mean anything.” I turned to him, catching his eye as I said, “I’m a selfish, arrogant bastard when I want to. I do want Hermione to be with me. But...I won’t hold a grudge if she chooses you.” I shrugged, giving him a grin as I said, “Besides, he would be the bloody boy-who-lived. Who am I to disagree?”

He slowly smiled at me, his green eyes twinkling happily. I grinned back.

Deep down? I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. If Hermione did choose Harry...I don’t know honestly what I would truly do. But at least I could make Harry feel more comfortable now. He was my best mate, after all.

“By the way...Happy Birthday, Ron. Sorry it isn’t the–”

“I’m with my best mate, laughing over all our wicked mistakes and there isn’t a bloody thing I would change.” Grabbing a firewhiskey from the table next to me I raised it up to the ceiling. “Cheers.”

Harry clinked his bottle with mine, a relieved expression on his face as he looked at me.

“Cheers.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

I stepped onto school grounds, looking around happily. It really had been too long. The Whomping Willow, Hagrid’s Hut...everything. It was the same, yet different with age. Hard to explain exactly what I was feeling...everything around me was painfully familiar, yet it was as if I had trespassed onto something that didn’t belong to me anymore.

Regardless, this was where I belonged.

This was my home.

~-~-~-~-~-~

reviewing’s good for the soul...

8. Home, Part II

A/N: In this chapter, Hermione experiences a bunch of memories. This chapter is supposed to explain why exactly Hermione never got together with Harry in the first place...sure, you can say that this and chapter 7 was one, huge filler chapter. Think what you like, I love writing memories.

By the way, if anyone who reads this also enjoys my other fic “To Bring You Back,” I’m sorry that I haven’t been updating it. I just haven’t written a chapter I like enough...god, I hate it when this happens!

Thanks to Kitters, swimchick1614, beautiful disazter, Draco’s Gurl, pottergranny, Aundielen, Parvati_Patil, Darcie, LiZz, Peggy_Babcock (I think I saw this name on VH1, maybe on Best Week Ever?...hmmm...), harrynmione, bloodloss, davaca, bluehorse, star22, Harry85, KypDurron, Mochi-Mochie, lirannutian, Usha88, Jenna Kathleen, akjennymay9, belgarath, jenn7747 (I always sucked at scrapbooks...I’ve always liked them, but when it comes for me to sit down and actually work on one, I can’t do it! Very short attention span, which should be noticeable considering my lack of updates...lol), and lylac14 for your supporting comments!

Thanks to the anonymous reviewers as well!

Also, I see that a lot of you believed that bartender to be either Dumbledore or Hagrid...well, I’ve gotta be honest–I hadn’t really thought of either one of them to be the advice-giver. It was supposed to be a rather anonymous character...I usually get my best advice from total strangers (figures.). But I do believe I got inspiration for his character from both Dumbledore and Hagrid...so I guess they sort of are the bartender? Sort of? Yeah, I’m confusing myself too.

~-~-~-~-~-~

My Best Friends’ Wedding

Chapter 8: Home, Part II

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Hermione)

So I was here. Now...what was I supposed to do now?

A thrashing and a tweet of a bird’s shriek disturbed me from my thoughts and I looked over to my left to see the Whomping Willow, branches flailing and slicing through the air. Sighing I cast my wand and magically threw a rock across the lawn, the stone driving the knot on the bark in and stopping the tree’s movements. Bloody tree.

The March air was surprisingly humid, and I tried to fan myself despite the heat. Needing some shade, I walked underneath the tree’s frozen branches and made myself comfortable as I found a nestle of roots.

Taking in a deep breath I closed my eyes. What memories I had here...

Third year, with Sirius...Ron made me laugh, explaining to me that he was going to die because his leg was useless. Something about a fact of life that Weasleys had to have all limbs intact, or they were cursed for the rest of their lives. What humorous idiocy.

...Sirius...

This was where I found Harry, too, crouched in the darkness against the tree, silent tears trailing down his cheeks.

Ron was the one who had seen him here. But bumbling Ron got caught as he tried to come out to comfort his friend, and he sent me along my way, as McGonagall had cast a placement charm on him. Poor boy.

“Tell him that we’re all here for him, okay?” Ron said quietly, peering out the window. “And that we all...yeah.”

“I will.”

Hidden under Harry’s invisibility cloak I got out to the Whomping Willow. Squinting my eyes I could see a shadow next to the Whomping Willow, who was once again thrashing her branches. It seemed almost as if...as if the tree was trying to protect Harry.

I raised my wand and a stone raced across the grounds, striking the knot on its bark and its movements stopped.

“Who’s there?” a raspy voice asked, glasses reflecting light. It looked as if two large, pale eyes were looking at me from the shadows. “H-Hermione?”

“Harry,” I answered, walking towards him. He didn’t move, didn’t do anything as I sat down next to him. “What’re you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“I brought you your invisibility cloak.”

“Kind of you.”

“Ron wanted to be here, tried to sneak out, too, but then while he was hiding in a suit of armor Snape came by and he sneezed and oh it was hilarious, Harry!”

“I’m sure.”

The conversation breached then, me trying to fumble for wards, Harry crouched in the darkness.

“What are you really doing out here?”

“I already answered that question.”

“No, you just avoided it.”

“What’s the difference? It’s an answer. That should suffice.”

“Harry–”

“It doesn’t matter, anyway.” And there was something in his voice that made me stop my interrogation.

“O-okay.”

We stayed that way for nearly ten minutes, sitting there silently in the darkness.

“What’re you doing, out here?” He asked me, startling me as I jumped.

“What?”

“I mean...why’re you here?”

“Because you are.”

“So?”

“So what, Harry? I promised I’d be here for you. What type of friend would I be if I just left you out here?”

“I don’t know,” he said, sighing.

“You know, we all care about you.”

“I know that. Everyone’s been saying that ever since Sirius di...ever since then.”

“Then what’re you doing? For Merlin’s sake Harry, what do you think you’re accomplishing?”

“Nothing. I don’t plan on it, either. I just wanted to be alone.”

“But you don’t have to push us all out of your life. You don’t know what this is doing to Ron. He’s miserable Harry, he–”

“Well Ron doesn’t know the meaning of miserable. He’s got everything, he–”

“Needs you! I need you!”

“No one needs me. The only reason I’m around is to save the world, even if it kills me. No one cares, either, if it does. As long as I take Voldemort down with me, everyone will be okay with it.”

“You really think that?” I stood up, enraged, my hands curling into fists. “You think that’s the only reason you...just bloody look around, Potter!” Even in the darkness I could see his surprise. Maybe it was because I was yelling. Maybe my choice of...words. I didn’t know. “For bloody sake, you stupid, idiotic, ignorant...” I stopped, biting my tongue quite forcefully. This wouldn’t help the situation. “Yes, I will admit, the public might love you because of that. Because you could rid them of an evil that only you could, Harry. But that’s not why I love you. Why I need you.”

He stared up at me, and for once, I saw him for what he truly was right then. A scared little boy, lost and innocent.

“You shouldn’t,” he whispered, maintaining eye contact. “You know, you really shouldn’t.”

“But I do,” I replied gently, kneeling down to rest in front of him. “There’s just so many things to love, Harry. Both Ron and I know that.”

“You shouldn’t,” he muttered again, looking down at the ground. “Really shouldn’t.”

“I know. Don’t you think I of all people would know that?” I tried to joke with him, but he wouldn’t look up. It was as if he didn’t want to look at me, anymore.

“You and Ron have each other,” he finally said to me. “So go make him happy.”

“Harry! You–”

“He loves you, you know.” He looked up at me then, those green eyes blazing at me even in the darkness. “He’d do anything for you.”

“What makes you think...” I bit my tongue again, but Harry had already heard.

“What makes me think what?” I bid my time, weighing my choices. Do I ask him? “What makes me think what, Hermione?”

“What makes you think you won’t?”

“Won’t what?”

“Do anything...for me.” I looked down at the ground; I couldn’t look at Harry. “Because, well...I’d do anything...for...um...you...” No! Hermione! You stupid girl! You just almost maybe possibly just told Harry that you might have feelings for him!

He stared up at me, his eyes darting around my face. Finally, after gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Because I wouldn’t.”

I ran. Ran away from him, but he didn’t stop me. Didn’t even move. I even left the invisibility cloak there; when he said that, all reason left me.

Before I knew it, I bumped into something. Looking up, startled, I knew I began blubbering excuses through my sobs, begging to Merlin that I wouldn’t have to explain what I was doing, I knew I couldn’t do it, I just–

“Hermione?” Blinking I recognized the person standing in front of me. Ron was cradling my face in his hands, his eyes wandering around my face. “What happened?”

“He...oh, Ron!” I dove at his chest, clinging onto his robes and crying my heart out. Ron made shushing noises into my ear as he picked me up, holding me gently and walking up the stairs. After a few minutes I felt myself being laid onto my bed, my comfortable, warm, wonderful bed...he pulled the sheets out from underneath me and pulled it up, tucking it in under my chin and stroking my hair for a few seconds. He knew this was what I needed, somehow. My image of Ron changed that very moment.

“Sleep tight, ‘Mione,” he whispered, kissing my cheek and wiping away my tears with his thumbs. As he got up and made his way to the door, I whispered, “Ron?”

“Yeah?”

“...thanks.” In the darkness I couldn’t see anything but a shadowy figure, yet I knew he was smiling...

That was when I began to go out with Ron. Ron had a bone to pick with Harry, and near 2 a.m. Ron’s shouting wafted up to my dorm. I didn’t hear Harry’s reply, but whenever Ron was quiet, I assumed Harry was talking. After he was done, Ron would begin yelling again, and I could see him in my mind’s eye, pacing up and down the common room.

Harry and I didn’t talk for two weeks.

But then suddenly, suddenly it returned to normal. A morning came and we just fell back into our familiar, comfortable routine...and all was normal. Except now that Ron and I were an item, Harry and I hung out less. But that was fine by me.

I finally understood what Harry did that night...he thought he was protecting me, and in my stupidity and girlish antics, I couldn’t see past it and instead flew into Ron’s arms. What would have happened if I hadn’t...if I had somehow stuck to my instinct, bent down and kissed Harry? Would we be together now?

But then everything I had with Ron, every memory...gone. As much as part of me wanted Harry now, as much as I was stuck between the two of them...I wouldn’t give Ron up for the world.

Maybe this was meant to be, Ron and I, then. Maybe.

I had talked about destiny with Harry two nights before our graduation. I had gone up to the astronomy tower to get a breath of air, but found him instead.

“Harry?” I whispered, noticing him sitting with his legs dangling off a broken part of the tower. “Get away from there!” He laughed at me, turning his head to look at my horrified expression.

“C’mon Hermione, you know you want to join me.”

“I don’t do well with heights.”

“That would explain the fear of flying.”

“Sod off,” I muttered, but I could see the grin on his face. Patting the spot behind him he said, “You can sit here, rest your back against mine.” Looking around the tower I noticed that there wasn’t anywhere else to sit; why had I come here in the first place?

After a battle at Hogwarts, most of the towers had been destroyed. Particularly the astronomy tower. Gryffindor Tower also had its scars–most of the students had to be moved to other houses temporarily while it was repaired. Thankfully, the head girl and head boy rooms hadn’t been touched–Draco had proved to be...helpful. He actually saved me from a deatheater while I was trying to protect an unconcious Ron...I knew he’d hold it over my head for years to come, if not forever.

I stepped in and took my seat, resting my back against Harry’s. A slight chill went up my spine but I ignored it, just welcoming body warmth against my cold shivers.

“Cold?” he asked me, and I could just see that grin.

“Not at all.” I wrapped my arms around my legs, trying not to lose any warmth.

“I sort of like the cold,” he said, staring into the darkness.

“You do?”

“Yeah...it numbs everything.” Normally, any person would agree that you lost all feeling to your limbs and fingers. But I knew better...I knew what he was referring to.

“I know what you mean. But for me, I always just preferred to sit in places that I was comfortable in, you know? Places that felt...” I stopped, fishing around for words.

“A little bit like home?” he finished for me, and I nodded, smiling.

“Yeah.”

“You know, if we lie down on our backs, we can look up at everything.” Looking up myself I noticed he was right–nearly 3/4 of the ceiling was gone.

“I don’t know, the stone floor is cold.”

“That a problem?” he asked, grinning at me. I smiled back; it had been too long since I had been with Harry.

We both crawled into positions, lying down and staring up at the sky. Harry had his hands behind his head, a small grin flirting with his lips. My hands rested on my stomach, my hair creating a soft pillow for my head. I really had too much hair...

“Hermione?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you...do you believe in fate?”

“Absolutely not.”

“No? Why not?”

“Well because...that would mean that no matter what I do, I’m not in control of my future. And I don’t like that...it makes me feel like I’m just some pawn, that living my life to my fullest would be the same as me deciding to sit on a couch all day, eating chips and getting fat. It means that things have to happen for me...and I’ve lived my life believing that life is about going out and making things happen.” Harry remained silent after my speech, staring up at the sky.

“I think I know where you’re coming from,” he whispered, blinking. “But sometimes it feels like...like no matter what I do, these things just...keep happening...”

“Well,” I started, nibbling on my lip as I once again tried to fish for words. “Decisions, what we choose to do...it all accounts for something. But I guess we were all put here to accomplish something...but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we will. You know?”

“Yeah.”

“Just...don’t worry, Harry.” He looked over at me, his green eyes clouded. He looked so frightened, so lost... “It’ll be okay.”

“How can you be so bloody sure, Hermione? Surely this doesn’t calculate correctly, Voldemort up against Harry Potter and a bunch of puny Orders–”

“I’m sure I’ve said this before,” I said, almost joking. “Harry, I may not believe in fate...but I do believe in you. You’re meant to do great things, and I know that although lots of people have told you, you don’t believe them. But...” I smiled at him slightly, finishing, “but the least you could do is believe in me. In yourself.”

He stared at me unblinkingly for a few moments that I was scared he had forgotten exactly how to blink. Before I was going to ask him if he was allright he had rolled over onto me, his face buried in the crook of my shoulder.

“Harry! I–”

“I just don’t know,” he whispered, trembling. I felt tears slide into my hair. “Sometimes I just want to run away...but then...”

I shushed him, holding the trembling man close to me as he cried silently into my shoulder. I knew what he meant, what he was trying to say. He didn’t have to voice it. Sometimes...things just couldn’t be put into words.

I think my heart reopened for Harry Potter that night as he cried in my arms.

Although...me and Ron hadn’t been together continuously since sixth year. We had broken up and gotten back together...we believed for a period of time that we were better friends than anything, at least in Hogwarts. But then on Graduation Night...he came up to me, kissing me tenderly and while holding me had said that he loved me.

I wanted a guy like that. Someone who wasn’t embarrassed to be all corny and lovey-dovey. Someone who would give up anything for me.

That was Ron...

...wasn’t it?

“Happy Birthday, Hermione.”

“Oh, Ron, you shouldn’t have...”

“Are you kidding me? Of course I should’ve.” I smiled, fingering the wrapping paper. I could tell immediately it was a book.

“What is it?”

“Well, open it and find out!” Biting my lip I carefully peeled the muggle tape off, making sure I didn’t tear a thing. I heard Ron chuckle at my antics; I was very conservative.

“Oh, Ron,” I moaned when I saw it. A beautiful leather bound book with golden engraving on the cover. Opening it I found that it was the diary of Rowena Ravenclaw, the one I had been searching for to add to my collection ever since I knew it existed, back in my sixth year. “How–”

“I knew how much you wanted it and you know, I just saw it in passing...” He grinned at me, rubbing his hair nervously. “If you don’t like it I could just give it back...”

“What did you give for this, Ron?” He stared at me, his mouth slightly open. I smirked. “I’m not that stupid, you know...” There was a woman known throughout the wizarding world who could give you anything you wanted, as long as you paid the appropriate price. There was only one existing authentic Rowena Ravenclaw diary...how else could he have gotten it?

“Nothing too important.”

“Ron...”

“Well, it’s nothing, ‘Mione, all that matters is–”

“Ron!”

“It was just my Chudley Cannon robe, okay?”

“Your...your sacred robe?” He shrugged, fumbling with the edge of his shirt.

“It wasn’t that big of a deal...”

“Oh, Ron...I don’t know what to say...”

“At least say you like it,” he whispered, grinning at me. “Or else I gave up that bloody robe for nothing.”

“Of course I do. I love it.”

“Good.”

Ah that diary was amazing. Filled with the founding of Hogwarts and all of Ravenclaw’s findings...I loved every second of it. Ron would beam whenever he saw me curled in my armchair reading it, and a small part of me read it just to see that smile.

Peering down at my hand I noticed my ring, which now fit perfectly against my finger. Ron always overdid himself with the big things, embellishing birthdays and planning Christmas presents the second the New Year came around. But when it came to small things like knowing my ring size...the poor bloke was clueless.

Harry, Harry was a man of small things. Excuse the pun. I wouldn’t know about that...

But that’s off topic. He was always about the small, significant things in life. Understandable, considering the things he had to go through. He appreciated a light, comforting conversation more than he did an extravagant present.

Both Harry and Ron were perfect.

And imagine, frustrated that I had two beautiful, perfect men wanting me! When had my life turned so horribly upside down?

“It’s so weird, Hermione,” Ginny whispered, twirling the ring around her finger. “The moment he asked me...the very, exact moment he asked me, I knew. Absolutely knew.”

“Why would you think you wouldn’t?”

“It just seems so surreal, me and Draco. Too...fairy-tale. Normally, shouldn’t I have taken a day to think things through, to wonder if we would be compatible and happy together? But I didn’t...because I don’t think we would be compatible, happy...we’d be perfect. That’s more than enough for me.”

“And you worry about that?”

“Well...yes. I’m just...nervous, I guess...that I’m falling into a trap. Nothing could be this perfect.”

“Well, I’m thinking love just might be.”

What had happened, when Ron asked me that night? I couldn’t quite remember, somehow...had I had any doubts?

...Ron, Harry...why was I stuck on both of them? Was it that I truly was in love with both of them?

No, it couldn’t be.

Then what exactly was it?

...Throughout the past few days, I’ve been telling myself that they’re both perfect men. They would be perfect...

...For me? Or just...ideal...

I stood up, gaping as it hit me. It was as if a sudden realization had washed over me, igniting the very blood in my veins as it coursed through my body. Suddenly, I knew what to do.

I had to get back home.

~-~-~-~-~-~

reviewing’s good for the soul...

(Sorry for that horrible, utterly horrible cliffy y’all, but I had to write a chapter about how she got her decision, not that she GOT her decision...hoped you liked it, and sorry about how long it took! It still isn’t to my standard of satisfaction, but I can live with it...if you didn’t like it, PLEASE TELL! Don’t try to be nice–it’ll help me more if it’s constructive!)

9. My Best Friends Wedding

Davaca, lol about the Matrix. I actually didn’t like those last two movies...the first one’s the only one I really liked.

Thanks to Creepy Susie, ChocolateFrogsForBreakfast, PrincessJane, fence4life21 (a.k.a. Paula), Harry&Hermione4ever, green_eyes, pottergranny, KypDurron, XxBandGeekxX, Sherm, spaz141, danielerin, mcgaughy1661, ridxwan, LiZz, Katakali, swimchick1614, michelle26123, hermionestar14, worSTNitMr, Larissa, HnH4EvA19, menanieblack (god I hate grammar! Hehe), slyphiad, Accio Pumpkins! (Love the username, btw!), J.C. Rose, lillbrowneyedangel, Jenna Kathleen, Parvati Patil, Harry85, harrynmione, usha88, and all you anonymous reviewers for your supporting comments!

Well, here we go. The last chapter. At first, I wrote this chapter to be, you know, where Hermione goes and tells whoever she chooses blah blah fluffiness ensues blahblah...but unfortunately for those who were looking forward to that, it didn’t end up that way! I’m soo sorry...you’ll see what I mean when you guys read this, lol. I know a lot of you hate Ron...but he’s my favorite character. Hopefully you guys will like it without the fluffiness, lol...any flames will be appreciated–I feel bad about the lack of fluffiness!

Also, I’m aware that I jump waaay ahead with this ending...I was expecting at least three more chapters, but I surprised myself when I wrote this. Somehow, I like this ending better than what I had planned out. It just fits, somehow. I might make an epilogue...but that’s in the works. For now, let’s just say that this fic is completed!

Well, who cares about what I think! Get on with it! Read!!!

~-~-~-~-~-~

My Best Friends' Wedding

Chapter Nine: My Best Friends’ Wedding

~-~-~-~-~-~

(Ron)

I can still hear her voice. In my dreams, nightmares...it haunts me wherever I go. I see her and Harry together, and it clenches my heart in the most painful way possible.

But I smile.

I can still remember that night vividly in my mind. I've recounted it in my mind so many times I've lost count...it used to be I just dwelled on it when lying in bed at night, tossing and turning. Now I think about it almost every second I'm awake.

"I'm sorry," she had whispered into my ear, her eyes pleading.

I wonder, sometimes, whether things would have been different if I had pleaded for her to take me. If I had held her close and begged her to think again, reconsider. If I had demanded Harry fight for her.

But I know what I did solidified her love for me. Not necessarily in the way I wanted...but it was enough.

That was, at least, what I convinced myself.

"Do you, Hermione Granger, take Harry Potter to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until his last whisper of life?"

But I knew it wasn't enough. I was still desperately in love with Hermione...

"I do," she said, smiling up at Harry.

And God damnit all, how the bloody hell did I end up being the Best Man.

"And do you, Harry Potter, take Hermione Granger to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until her last whisper of life?"

I held back a laugh. Ironic, isn't it, how everything was. Harry was the one marrying Hermione, not me. I was the best man, not him. This was their wedding...not ours.

"I do."

"The rings, please,"

The rings felt heavy in my hand as I lightly weighed them. It was only momentary, me holding those promises, but yet...it felt like eternity.

Stupid, I know.

When had I become so God damn sentimental?

But as I looked at them, at their gleaming silver and gold crossings, at the words etched on the inside...I felt those tears prickling the corners of my eyes, the tight feeling in my throat as it constricted, the slight pain in my knees as I locked my legs.

I felt Harry’s gaze upon me and I handed them over, smiling at him the best I could.

In all his happiness, he didn’t notice my uneasiness, and instead smiled back. Gingerly taking the rings from me he and Hermione exchanged rings, beaming at each other.

How did I think I could do this. It had been a couple of months since that night, yet the pain felt fresh and tore at my heart every time I thought about it. And now, here, in this god damn place full of lace and doves and white and napkins and that fancy silverware and unnecessary music...

I wanted it all.

“I now pronounce you Husband and Wife,” the preacher said, smiling at Harry and Hermione. “You may now kiss the bride.”

I wanted it with Hermione.

As they leaned in to one another to finish their vows, I turned away.

I was happy for them. I really was.

They turned around and completely ignoring everything around them raced down the aisle, Hermione almost tripping on that dress and Harry grabbing her arm in the nick of time.

That’s always how it was, isn’t it? Hermione, tripping...Harry, grabbing her arm...

Yet as I thought about it, it was always the other way around. It was Harry who was tripping. She would grab his arm, saving him from the fall...

And where was I in this metaphor?

I was that preacher. From the beginning, I always thought that I was the middle of our friendships with each other. Many would argue that it was Harry who kept us all together–who was the one who had the meaningless spats with each other? Wasn’t it Harry who was the peacemaker?

But the three of us knew better. I was Harry’s best mate. I was Hermione’s pillar of support while she aided Harry. We both held him up in the ways only the two of us could...but we depended on each other to do that.

I didn’t think anyone could understand but the three of us.

“Ron?” I looked over to see Ginny peering up at me, a small smile on her face. “Come on. You can walk me up the aisle.”

“All right,” I said, smiling back at my baby sister.

It was for the better, after all.

As Ginny looped her arm in mine we walked down together, smiling at all the happy faces we saw. All ideas of how this was supposed to be my wedding, how she was supposed to be my bride, washed away when I saw Harry and Hermione at the end.

I could do this for them.

I could be happy for Harry in the happiest moment of his life. Ever since that night when he woke me up to see that Mirror of Erised, I knew what he wanted most in life. A family. One of his own; the Weasleys weren’t enough to sustain him. And I could be there for him as he finally got what he had wanted all his life. I would baby sit those awful tykes I knew the two of them would make, I would be “Uncle Ron.”

And I could do this for Hermione.

I could do this to see her smile. To see her face like this, to see her become flustered and in bliss and happy...

I would do this for her.

~-~-~-~-~-~

“Congratulations, mate!” I said, walking into Harry’s dressing room and smiling at the look on his face. “You finally did it.”

“Yeah,” he said, peering back into the mirror. “You think I look any different?”

“No. You were always whipped,” I replied, grinning as he turned around to laugh at me.

But isn’t that the truth? He had always been the one for Hermione...

“Ron,” Harry said seriously, walking away from the mirror and nervously readjusting his tux. “I...um...”

I knew what was coming. He was going to say thanks, promise to me that he was going to take care of Hermione...

“I know,” I said, saving him the trouble. He looked up at me, his gaze uncertain. “I’m...I’m happy for you, Harry.”

Was I really?

Harry leaned in and gave me a hug. In all my manly glory I had rarely hugged a guy before...the only times I could think of giving out hugs, beside in my childhood, was when I hugged my father before he went into Battle that night before my birthday.

It only lasted a second before Harry leaped back, looking as serious as I’d ever seen him.

But the look in his eyes...

...I knew that I was doing the right thing.

Was I really happy for him?

Yes.

~-~-~-~-~-~

“Weasel.”

“Ferret.”

Malfoy raised one eyebrow at me, not really sneering...but really, what else can a Malfoy do?

“You know, Ron, are you going to call me ‘Malfoy’ too?” Ginny said, looking amused.

“Oh, Merlin, don’t provoke me, Gin!” I begged, laughing.

“You know, Weasley,” Malfoy said, leaning back in his chair. “I’m...sorry.”

My ears must be full of wax. Really. I think I just heard the bloody ferret say “sorry.”

“I’m sorry, Weasley,” Malfoy repeated, taking a look at my face.

“For what,” I said slowly, wondering what he and the twins had done.

“For you know,” Malfoy replied, a small smirk on his face. “This whole wedding.”

Ginny nervously glanced from me to Malfoy, biting her lip. I shook my head.

“So am I,” I whispered, a sad smile on my face.

“You know, Virginia and I pushed Granger and Pothead together,” he said, his face serious as he looked at me. “And we’re not sorry for it.” I raised my head. “But for all it’s worth...we’re sick of seeing you like this. For bloody sake, Weasley, I can’t properly insult you when you look like a sodding baby. This is your bleeding best friends’ wedding!” Shaking his blonde head he added, “Life isn’t over, no matter how much you believe it is. Granger was Potter’s girl, Weasley. You’ll find your own in good time.”

It should have been an insult. I should have stalked away from that table, forbid Malfoy from ever entering my family and curse him into oblivions.

But I smiled at him. For once, I knew his sodding mouth wasn’t full of shit.

“Thanks, Malfoy,” I said, and he looked almost surprised.

“You’re welcome, Weasley.”

~-~-~-~-~-~

Harry and Hermione were in the middle of the room, her squeals of happiness and his chuckles heard throughout the room as they shared their first true dance as a married couple.

I smiled as Harry stumbled. The bloke just can’t dance.

I glanced down at my plate, sighing deeply. It felt surreal, somehow....

...suddenly, I was reminded too painfully of that night.

“What’chu watching?” Harry asked as he entered the kitchen, his head a shriveled mess, his eyes laden with sleep.

“Dirty Dancing,” I said, my mouth full of Hermione’s favorite ice cream. She had left a tub in the freezer and Merlin be damned if I wasn’t going to do her a favor and finish it for her. “Nothing on the Telly, and this just came up. Some muggle movie.”

“Dirty Dancing?” he said, his eyes wide. “You aren’t...serious.”

“Yeah,” I said thickly as I swallowed the chocolate chips and cookie dough. “Why?”

“Nothin’” he said, shaking his head.

I was missing something.

“No, really, what?” I asked, turning around on the couch.

“It’s nothing,” he said, looking up at me. “It’s nothing, it’s just that movie’s...”

I saw him hesitating.

“It’s what?”

“It’s our movie,” he finally said, licking his lips nervously.

I knew exactly who he meant by “our.”

“Ah,” I said, my throat suddenly tight. Harry and I had just patched things up, and here we were, the tension crackling in the air. It was mocking us. Grinning, I motioned to the other seat with my spoon and said, “Well c’mon, watch it then.”

“Watch...what?”

“Disgrace to Hermione’s name if you don’t do it,” I replied, giving him another grin.

Mmm. This better meant I had a sure ticket to Heaven.

Sighing, relieved it seemed like, Harry walked over from the kitchen and plopped down on the armchair.

“Thanks,” he muttered. I nodded back. “Any way I could get you to share the–”

“Don’t push me, Potter,” I said, completely joking. “Hermione is one thing. Food is another.”

“Well, I would hope I’m more important,” a feminine voice said from behind us. Before I even turned my head I knew who it was.

“Hermione,” Harry said, and I saw him swallow.

“Hi,” she breathed, and the two of them stared at each other. Seeing the look on her face, my throat constricted and my palms were increasingly getting sweatier.

“Don’t think that,” I told myself. “She hasn’t said anything yet. Don’t assume she’s chosen Harry...don’t.”

“Hermione,” I said, getting up from the couch. Her gaze shifted and she looked at me, the pain evident in her eyes.

Damnit. Bloody Hell. Merlin, please, just...

“Welcome home,” I finally said, walking over to her and giving her a hug. She held me tightly, her hands fisting in my shirt.

“I, um...I made my choice, Ron,” she whispered, her gaze on me. I saw her glance at Harry and I nodded, running my hands through my hair. “Harry? Could I talk to Ron? For a minute?”

“Sure,” he said, getting up. His gaze shifted from me to Hermione while he walked backwards to his room, his glasses askew. As his door closed Hermione’s eyes returned to me, her hand raising to smooth out my bangs like she always did.

“I made my choice,” she said, purposely ignoring my eyes. “I just...” She engulfed me in her arms again, her hands re-clutching my shirt. “I’m sorry,” she whispered into my ears, her eyes pleading.

My heart broke.

I never really understood that muggle term until now...it was ripping into pieces, shattering against my chest. But how was that possible, when it was beating so fiercely?

“Ron?”

She chose Harry.

“Ron, I...”

“No,” I muttered, and I could feel the tears coming. “You...you don’t sorry. I mean...” I knew what I was saying didn’t make any sense. “Don’t be. You chose Harry, after all, and you shouldn’t be...be...”

Sorry. Please, please be sorry. Tell me you changed your mind. Tell me you love me.

“I love you, Ron,” Hermione whispered as she cried. “I do. Don’t ever think any different...I just...”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I mumbled, taking in a shattering breath. “Don’t tell me.”

“I have to,” she said, her hands coming up to cup my face. “I love you. I will never, ever regret what I had with you...I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Yes, even for Harry,” she added as she saw the look on my face. “But what I figured out today was that more than I wanted to continue having it with you...I wanted to share it with Harry. Please understand...”

I knew I did. I knew I could.

But she chose Harry...

“I’ll try,” I managed to say.

“I love you,” she said again, her bottom lip trembling.

I couldn’t say it back. Not now.

I caught her chin in-between my thumb and forefinger and lifted her face up to mine. Pressing gently on her lips I gave her a small peck, backing away before I did anything else I would regret.

“I’ll get Harry for you,” I said in a hollow voice.

I knew she had more to say, but in all honesty...I don’t think I could have taken it.

“Harry,” I muttered, opening the door. Harry tumbled out, his ear having been pressed against the door.

“Yeah?” he said, getting up quickly. He glanced at Hermione before looking back at me, swallowing again.

“You’re up, mate,” I said, trying to smile at him.

His green gaze caught my expression and he quickly frowned, swallowing again before saying, “Ron, I–”

“Don’t leave her waiting,” I interrupted, stepping into his room and closing the door.

I leaned against the back, forcing myself to breath.

She had chosen Harry.

Everything we had...it all amounted to nothing.

That ring on her finger? Nothing.

The promises we made...

...nothing.

My head lightly banged against the wood as I closed my eyes, willing the tears to remain on bay. I would not cry. I wouldn’t...

Opening my eyes, I wondered what Hermione was saying to Harry. Glancing around the room I noticed Harry’s wand sitting on the bedside table, calling to me.

What can I say. Can’t deny a wand what it wants.

Casting the eavesdropper’s favorite hex I furled it towards the door. Suddenly I could hear Hermione and Harry’s voices as if they were standing right next to me.

“You’ve...chosen?”

“Yes.”

Bracing myself I clenched Harry’s wand tightly in my fist, my knuckles turning white.

I wonder how he would kill me if I broke his wand...

“So...you...”

“I love Ron, you know...”

“I...yeah, of course...”

“But...”

“Yeah?”

“But I told him that, well...that you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

“Why’d you tell him that?” I could feel Hermione smiling.

“Harry, I–”

“No, I need to tell you something.” I heard Harry take a step closer to Hermione. “I love you...but Ron’s like my brother. I can’t...do this to him...you have to understand...”

What the bloody fuck?

“...I’ve thought about this for a long time...and our friendship, the three of us? It’s what I hold as the most important...I lost sight of that. But now...”

“Don’t give me that shit,” Hermione quietly demanded. “Our friendship’s important to me, too. But Harry...you cannot tell me that you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with me.”

I heard him swallow.

“I know it hurts Ron...it hurts me, too, knowing that I’m doing this to him. But I...”

My legs gave out. I slid to the floor, my back still against the door. ‘But I’ what, Hermione?

“I love you...”

She said that with a tenderness I had never heard in her voice before.

“I l-love you too.”

“Then marry me.”

“You...what?”

“Marry me, Harry. Stay with me forever...”

No...

“I don’t know, Hermione...”

“Don’t think that this was a sudden decision,” Hermione whispered. “I think that ever since I saw you battle that Troll in the loo...I’ve always loved you...”

I choked on a sob. My eyes clenched shut as I gripped that wand even tighter. Her voice echoed in my mind, and that was all I could concentrate on.

“I’ve always loved you...ever since I saw you battle that Troll in the loo...loved you...”

“I...” There was a two minute breach in the conversation. Tears were streaming down my face by now. I took another shattering breath in, trying to gain control of my body. “Of course, Hermione. I love you...I’ll marry you.”

I let go of Harry’s wand, watching it as it fell to the carpeted floor.

“Speech! Speech!” everyone was yelling, and I was broken out of my memory as I glanced around. Harry and Hermione were sitting at the top table, holding hands and smiling at each other.

Taking in a deep breath I stood up, clinking my spoon against the glass.

“I’d like to give a toast to the wonderful Mr. and Mrs...”

Ginny looked up at me, a worried expression her face.

“Potter,” I finished, smiling at everyone. “It takes a little getting used to. Although, it almost seems as if the two of them were always Mr. and Mrs. Potter since we were eleven years old.” I heard almost everyone around me chuckle. The others...well, they exchanged worried glances. “This is a real special day. The day that my best mate married his...” I looked at her then, that smile playing with her lips, those eyes that told me she loved me like she would no other. “...our Hermione.”

I took a good look at Harry then. He didn’t even notice my gaze. He was staring at Hermione, a look on his face I hadn’t seen since Sirius died. It seems that burden had finally lifted.

“I’ve watched these two mature and grow over the years. Sure, we had our spats and arguments...and our validated peace makers...but ultimately, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I smiled at the two of them. “I love them both very deeply...Harry’s just another Weasley to me. And Hermione...” I trailed off, swallowing.

She’s the love of my life.

“She’s everything I hope to see in myself before my dying day. Let’s give a toast...to Hermione and Harry on their wedding day.” Taking a sip, I smiled at her. “Let’s wish them everything they already have. Love and happiness.”

“To Harry and Hermione,” everyone said.

Sitting back down I gently placed my champagne glass back on the table.

“Ron?” Ginny asked, her fingers tugging on my sleeve.

“Yeah?”

“I love you,” she said, smiling at me. “I’ve never been prouder of you.”

“Thanks, Gin.” The look on her eyes was one I hadn’t seen for a long time. The most recent I could remember was when she had dragged me off the battle field, praying to Merlin that I was alive.

I sneaked a glance at the top table. Harry and Hermione were feeding each other, giggling as bits of cake stuck to skin here and there.

Hermione, feeling my glance, looked over at me. For a moment our eyes locked...

...she didn’t have to say it. In that moment, nobody had to say it. I finally knew...it had taken months and my best friends’ wedding, but I knew.

I would be okay.

~-~-~-~-~-~

“Hermione?” I said, grabbing her arm gently in my hand as she left the hall.

“Ron!” she exclaimed, her face flushed. “I was so scared I wouldn’t get to talk to you before we left!”

“I wouldn’t have let that happen,” I said, smiling at her.

She looked beautiful.

“I just wanted to say that I love you.” At her worried glance, I hurried on. “That night...you told me you loved me, and I never said it back. I just...I just wanted to say it to your face, even though I’m sure you already know. You know, that I love you.” Smiling sadly, I whispered, “Like you love me.”

“Oh, Ron...”

“And I know I’ll be okay,” I hurried on. “No one will ever replace you, but...but I’ll be okay. You and Harry make one bloody brilliant couple.” She smiled at me, those brown eyes of her twinkling.

I couldn’t help but think that Hermione had never loved me more.

“Ron?” Harry asked, walking towards us. “Nice speech, mate. I...I really appreciated it.”

“All of it was bloody true.” I began to back away as the photographer came.

“Shall I take a picture?” the photographer said, waving his camera at us.

“Yes,” she said, smiling at me before taking my hand in hers. “Don’t be silly, Ron.” Turning back to the photographer, she added, “A girl and her two best mates.”

Hermione stood in the middle, looking glorious, smiling right at the camera. Harry stood to her left, their fingers entwined as he looked down at her.

Me?

I stood to her right, raising her hand to my lips as I kissed her knuckles. The photographer took the shot then, smiling from behind his camera.

That picture was our favorite from the wedding.

It rests on a wall in Harry and Hermione’s home, framed and set in the middle of the living room, her favorite room. She loves to stare at the picture, smiling at the way her two best mates are looking at her while she smiles at the camera.

I often look at it too, when I visit. It never ceases to make me smile.

And the picture underneath it? It’s in a smaller frame, the photo black and white. It’s the way Hermione preferred it, and I decided to keep it that way.

A picture at my own wedding.

I’m standing in the middle, smiling. I never thought I could find love after Hermione...

...and of course, as usual, I was wrong.

I’m standing in the middle, smiling at the camera. My left arm’s around Harry, who is grinning at me and messing my hair with his right hand, laughing heartily.

Hermione’s to my right, grinning cheekily at me as she fixes my bow tie. Every now and then she reaches up to cup my cheek, smiling.

You can see my wife in the background, shaking her head and smiling at the three of us.

Nothing ever felt this right in the world.

The three of us, together.

The four of us.

The end.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~

reviewing’s good for the soul...

Aah the end! I know that almost everyone reading this will be very, very disappointed at the lack of H/Hr fluffiness. I’m sorry! I tried writing it that way, I really did!...sorry, sorry sorry! I don’t think there’ll be an epilogue, I’m thinking about it (be happy, my little sister is bugging me about an epilogue and it’s because of her I’m even considering it!) but if there’s enough pleading I might consider it more, hehe. Thanks for reading!!

Also, as I’m sure questions will arise about who Ron’s wife is...I don’t really find that really important to the plot, so I didn’t add it in. She’s only in like two sentences anyway, lol. But in the case of an epilogue...I guess we’ll have to figure out who it is, right? Hehe. So in your review, if you want an epilogue, please do tell me who you think Ron would’ve married. And do me a favor and don’t say Luna...because it won’t happen, sorry! It’s the only pairing I’m against on this site!