A/N: Thanks again to those reviewing! Thus far, I've replied to every one and I hope to continue that.
Here's the big meeting! I hope it feeds those hungry for commotion! Two or three more chapters until the big day!
***
"Earth to Hermione! Come in, Hermione," I hear Harry call.
"Wha?" I ask, coming out of my thoughts.
"Where were you just now?" he asks, putting the pancakes on my plate.
"I was just thinking. Is tonight a bad idea?"
He takes the seat across from me. "Well, even if it is, it's way too late to change. No one will let us back out now."
"Sure."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Harry, you've heard the stories of how this wedding turns people into frantic nutcases. And that's just Em and Molly. Now we're going to toss Daddy, Arthur and Sirius into the mix!"
"Do you really think it'll be that bad?" he asks.
"I don't honestly know. I love them all dearly, but lately, this wedding has made them crazy."
"They're just so happy to see such a beautiful girl marry someone so handsome!" Harry teases. "Think of the attractive children!"
I stick my tongue out at him.
"Seriously, Mione. Who wouldn't be excited to be a part of this wedding?"
"Because it's the great Potter wedding?"
"No, because you're going to be in it," he says as if that should have been the easy answer.
"Harry, come on," I say.
"What? It's the truth! I can already picture how beautiful you're going to look. Like a princess in white … white, right?"
"Of course! I mean, how many people did I date before you?"
"Well, there was Krum …had a bit of an infatuation with Lockhart … Ron had that crush on you."
Ok, wrong thing to say, listing those people. I stand up to make my point. "Yeah, Harry. I was intimate with all those guys, who by the way, I never really dated! The pompous Bulgarian Quidditch star, the guy over twice my age and the redheaded friend that still lives to annoy me. Good work, Sherlock," I snip, slamming my hands on the table.
"Hermione! Calm down! I was just teasing you."
"Well don't. My nerves just can't take it!"
Harry rushes over to me and pulls me into a hug.
"Stop worrying. This is going to be a beautiful wedding and not just because it's the famous "Potter wedding." It'll be beautiful because you are there." He tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. "I mean it. You are the most beautiful woman in the world and I am luckier than I deserve to have you in my life."
"Harry, don't say that -"
He puts his finger on my lips.
"I wasn't finished. Hermione, it's not just your outer beauty that I love, it's everything in your heart. You've got such tenderness in that heart of yours. You care for so much. You believe in so much. From house-elves to your family, everyone matters to you. And from the moment I met you, I knew there was something about you. Something that I needed to know more about."
"Is that why you saved me from the mad troll?"
"Pretty much. How could I let such beauty get smushed? I couldn't stand the thought of you in there alone. Even at 11."
"How do you always know how to make me feel better?" I ask, tears ready to flow from my eyes.
"It's a gift. A gift I will gladly keep using for the rest of my life. Providing you can put up with me," he adds with a laugh.
"I think I'll keep you."
"Good. Because I think we're the only ones that can put up with each other."
"That's for sure! We're a match made in Heaven!" I say, rolling my eyes.
"I couldn't agree more. So, are you ready to face the firing squad?"
"Got a blindfold and a cigarette?"
"Hermione, there's no time for that! We have to go to the Burrow!" he says with a wicked grin.
"Harry James! That is not what I meant!"
"I'm sorry, Mione. But I couldn't pass that one up. And dinner won't be so bad. We'll talk about some things and then leave."
He has no idea what he's in for.
*
After arriving at the Burrow, I have only one thought …
I can't believe the entire family is here. This is an impossibly full house. Molly had forgotten that she had a big family dinner planned on the night we were going to have the wedding meeting, so she figured the more the merrier.
So, at the moment, in the Burrow's dining room, is Harry and myself, Emily and my dad, Sirius, Molly and Arthur, Bill and his wife Fleur and their little twins Julienne and Joseph, Charlie and his very pregnant wife Sarah, Percy and a barely pregnant Penelope (they've finally been included back into the family), Fred and George and their girlfriends Angelina and Alicia, Ron, Luna and Ginny. Twenty-two people are crammed into this room. I know the Burrow is enchanted to accommodate, but I think we are stretching the boundaries big time.
Of course, the big topic is the wedding, but we're not actually making plans, just chatting. Even this is getting nerve-wracking, though.
Once dinner is finished, Molly makes the announcement: "Everyone is welcome to stay, but if you have nothing to contribute to the wedding plans, out of the room!"
Of course Ginny and Ron stay, but the twins stay put as well.
"Do you have something to do with the wedding?" Molly asks, annoyed.
"No. But this we have to see!" George states.
"Out!" Molly barks.
And the twins fly out of the kitchen, knowing that tone all too well.
All that remains now is Molly and Arthur, Sirius, Emily and my father, Harry and I. Even this seems too full.
Out of nowhere, everyone begins speaking. I carefully excuse myself for a minute and bolt from the room. I run outside, not caring about how this looks.
I find myself under a tree, trying not to hyperventilate. That scene in there was my worst nightmare!
I see someone approaching and I don't even have to wonder who it is. Harry finally reaches me and kneels beside me.
"Problem back there?" he kids.
"No, I though it was wonderful. I love the roar of 5 adults all sharing their views, none of which are likely to match ours."
"Sweetheart, it's not that bad. They just need someone to shut them up. At the moment, Sirius is talking everyone down."
"He did say that he thrives on chaos. Well, he's getting a large dose," I say with a forced laugh.
"Mione, it'll be ok. Let's just go back in there. Tell everyone what we want, hear what they want and make decisions from there. Ok?"
"That's fair," I admit.
"Good, so let's go face the wedding demons," Harry says as he offers a hand to help me up.
I accept it and we walk into the bedlam together.
"There's the couple of the hour!" Sirius announces. And almost as if he threatened everyone in the room, it's silent when we enter. Funny how even a convicted killer who has been proven innocent can still command so much compliance. "Hermione, I believe you have the floor."
"Ok, so, Harry and I have some ideas and we'd love to share them with you. Um, first is about flowers -"
"Oh, I know just the place!" Molly interrupts. "There's a very nice -"
"Molly! Let the girl finish!" Arthur chastises.
Molly visibly blushes and lets me continue.
"Um, right. Ok, so Harry and I are thinking lilies for the flowers. I had always thought roses, but we felt it would be a great tribute to his mum since her name was Lily."
A very noticeable "Awwww" rings out.
"That's very nice of you," Sirius says. "I know she'd love it."
"Thanks. Now, what I want for my bouquet -"
"Oh! I found a picture of one that I knew you would love," Emily cries out.
"So did I! Oh, where did I put that picture?" Molly joins in.
My father and Arthur are sharing a look that says, "You've been dealing with this too?"
"Yes, well… I don't need a picture, I know what I want," I say, but it's not nearly loud enough to get over the din of these two. "Hello!"
"Yes, dear?" Emily asks.
"I know what I want! I don't need pictures, or diagrams or anything! I just want a simple cascade bouquet made of lilies. That's it! Nothing magical that will play music or glow, just a bouquet. And the bridesmaids bouquets will just be a few lilies tied together."
"Yes, but just look at this one …" Molly offers.
"Molly! She knows what she wants," Harry snaps a bit.
She looks a little taken aback, but she quiets down.
I feel bad that Harry did that, so I try to smooth things over. "So you know a good florist, Molly? We should probably stick to all magic vendors so we can avoid anyone finding out just what kind of a wedding this is."
"Yes, my dear! I know a fabulous one! I'll contact them Monday … if that's ok," she replies.
"That would be wonderful," I tell her and then move on, happy that one crisis has been averted. "Ok, this is the big one: location. I'm willing to hear everyone's suggestions."
I shouldn't have said that.
Now everyone from Molly to my father to Ginny is speaking.
Ok, I should have said one at a time.
"Wait, wait, wait! Let's go around the table, starting with Ron," I interject, hoping this may be a little easier.
"Well, I was just going to suggest Hogwarts. I mean, every big moment in our lives has taken place there. Kind of symbolic," Ron says.
I'm shocked by his reasonable answer. I was expecting to hear the stadium that the Cannons play in.
"Thanks, Ron. That's a great suggestion," Harry tells his best friend. "Ginny?"
"Ron stole my answer!"
"Oh I did not!"
"Yes you did!"
"I did not!"
Harry interrupts them before that gets worse. "Ok! So, Ginny apparently votes for Hogwarts as well. Molly!"
"Well, I thought of right here at the Burrow. I mean, it's peaceful and large. And this is where Bill and Charlie got married."
"Ok, we'll take that into consideration. Arthur?"
"I'm not about to suggest. I'm no good at things like this," he admits. "Let's just move on."
"I appreciate your honesty! Sirius?" I call on.
"Well, I mean, just to add a bit of tradition into the mix, I vote for Hogwarts as well. Harry, that is where your parents were married."
I can only stare at Harry. I think he must have known that, but never shared.
"I know," he says softly. "I recognized it in the pictures."
I feel so sorry for him right now. I guess I never thought to how getting married would bring these kinds of subjects up.
"Are you ok?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think we have a winner, though. Hogwarts it is," he states.
Molly looks a bit rejected, but she knows better than to pipe up.
Emily opens her mouth, but seems reluctant to do so. I guess I don't blame her with Sirius and Harry on the rampage.
"Yes, Em?" I say to her.
"Well, I think Hogwarts is a wonderful idea. But, I just have to ask, what about the Muggles? I don't think certain relatives should really know about all of this."
"Well, we can get some hefty magic for that day, right?" I ask, though I don't even know whom I'm asking.
"That should be possible. I mean, between Harry and Dumbledore, plus the other witches and wizards that are helping to set up, I'm sure we can get enough power to set up some big charms," Sirius says. "We can make the Muggles think they're anywhere else, hearing something else, stuff like that."
"We really don't have to mask the castle too much. We could always use the excuse that we're getting married at our school. That's not a lie. Just certain aspects should be enchanted. Does that seem like it would work?" I inquire.
Sirius nods. "That's pretty much what we did for Lily and James. With Lily's family being all Muggle, we set up some heavy wards to make the guests think they weren't at a magic school. I think the Great Hall looked like a chapel and then everyone left, walked outside, came back and never thought twice that the same room was now a reception hall."
"I almost feel bad tricking my family," I admit.
"Well, we could always do two ceremonies," Harry offers.
"No, I can barely stand planning one! It's just a handful of relatives and as long as my family can see a beautiful ceremony and a fun reception, then it's fine with me."
"Ok, good. So, we've got it planned at Hogwarts for the ceremony and the reception, correct?" Harry asks the group. Everyone nodded, whether they liked it or not. "Good. Now, can we count on Dumbledore to perform the ceremony? I can only imagine that he's qualified to perform wizarding weddings."
"He is," Arthur informs. "And I guarantee that he'll be honored to do so."
"The honor is all ours," I add, knowing that Harry agrees. Dumbledore has done a lot to anger Harry, but he's always been a grandfather figure for him as well.
"Ok, now, we have picked a date. So, we can start making reservations and such. We've decided on Valentine's day," Harry says.
Another collective "Awwww."
"Well, you know, it's a special day and it's right between our birthdays," he explains.
"I think it's perfect!" Emily exclaims.
"And just think, you can go with a red theme for Gryffindor and for Valentine's Day," Ginny adds.
"I never thought of colors," I note. "I'd like red. And we can trim in gold as well."
"And if Gryffindor keeps its lead in the house points, we can leave those decorations up!" Harry says, his partiality shining through.
"Careful, Professor Potter. People may think you're biased!" I tease.
"Hey, I'm no Snape! I can award points to other houses … if they deserve it!" Harry defends.
"Ok, so before a fight breaks out and this wedding gets called off, let's move on, shall we?" Sirius yells.
Harry and I blush and quiet down.
"Well, I think we're all wondering who the bridal party is going to be," Emily says.
"Well, that one is easy. Ron, if he accepts will be my best man," Harry begins.
"Bloody hell, of course I will!" Ron replies. (Like we thought he'd say no.)
"And I'd like Neville to be a groomsman."
"And I'd like Ginny to be my maid-of-honor," I say, followed by a squeal from Ginny. "And Luna, would you be a bridesmaid?"
"It would be a pleasure!" Luna exclaims.
"Is that it?" Molly asks, obviously not used to such a small wedding.
"Well, yeah. We wanted the 4 other people who joined us into the Department of Mysteries. These people were with us during some really hard times. They were essential to the defeat of Voldemort. They're all we really need," I explain.
"But, but -" Molly begins only to be cut off by Harry.
"Molly! Look, I know everyone here is very excited about the wedding. And if you're this excited, just imagine how Hermione and I are. But this is our wedding and we're going to do it how we want it! Now, if we only want those people in our bridal party, then that's it. We're going to have those 4 people and a flower girl and a ring bearer. Em, that's our decision too," he says after she opens her mouth to suggest kids.
I'm getting pretty excited at the way he's speaking. It's powerful, it's strong, it's very "Boy-Who-Lived." I can't wait to be married to this man.
Everyone is sitting with their jaws hanging. Harry never goes off unless he feels he has to. Apparently, he felt he had to.
"Any questions?" he finishes.
"No, my boy, I think you covered everything," Sirius says. "So, about that flower girl and ring bearer?"
"Right, well, we were hoping that Bill and Fleur would let us use Julienne and Joseph. I know they're a bit young, but those two are so well behaved and I think she'd look adorable in a little gown and he'd be so handsome in little robes," I suggest.
"I'm sure they'd be thrilled to have their children in your wedding," Arthur says.
I can only smile. In spite of the insanity, this is so amazing. I am actually making decisions about my wedding.
"Ok, so we've got the dress, the bridal party, the flowers, the location and the date. What's left?" Harry asks.
"Well, you're going to need food and entertainment at the reception," Ron suggests.
Leave it to Ron to think of these things.
"Well, I'm sure the house-elves would be happy to cook," Harry says. I glare at him. "I mean, the ones that are free that day and only if they want to and hopefully for some pay?" he adds very quickly.
I smile my approval and agree that any house-elves willing to accept those terms would be ok to cook.
"I'd love it if I could bake your wedding cake," Molly tells us.
"Oh, that would be lovely!" I say. "You're one of the best bakers I know!"
Molly blushes.
"And for the entertainment, do you want a DJ or band?" my father asks. I had forgotten that he had a voice.
"Um, that may be difficult either way. I mean, bands may be hard to get to Hogwarts and DJ equipment may not work in Hogwarts," I note.
"What about Seamus?" Ron throws in.
I give Ron a confused look. "Seamus? What about him?"
"Oh that's right! He's some sort of DJ for the Wizarding Wireless. Isn't he like a music guru now?" Harry remembers.
"Yeah! Exactly! He's probably got equipment that could work in the school. If not, I'm sure Dumbledore could work something out," says Ron.
"Well, we'll certainly have to owl him and see if he can do it," I say.
"Very true. So, I think we've covered a lot today. There's still a few things to figure out, but I'm sure that we can get that taken care of," Harry tells the group.
"Yes, we really want to thank all of you for coming out and helping us with that. I know that it hasn't been easy, but we really do appreciate everything you guys are doing," I add, since I have been a bit cranky with everyone.
Emily smiles. "Anything to help you two."
"I can't believe my baby girl is getting married," my father says to me, coming over to me and giving me a hug.
"Believe it, Daddy. But at least you like the groom."
"I never said that! Frankly, I can't stand him!" my dad jokes.
"Daddy!" I chastise.
"I'm kidding! You know I love Harry!"
"You'll have to forgive her, Robert. Nothing is funny to her anymore," Harry says.
I don't appreciate being ganged up on by the two most important men in my life!
"Ok, well, if you two are finished picking on me, I think we're done here," I snap and walk over towards Molly, Emily, Luna and Ginny. I know the guys have congregated and now are talking about us. And I don't care.
"Why are men so dumb?" I whine.
"They can't help it, honey. It's in their genes," Emily says, putting an arm around me.
"And you're going to stick with one of them for the rest of your life," Ginny teases.
"Yeah, well, at least mine isn't soooo bad. I'd rather stick with one of the lesser of the evils," I retort.
"How are you holding up?" Luna asks.
"I'm ok. I just can't wait until Valentine's Day. I want this wedding to be worth all the work that went into it." I pause. "Oh my God, did that sound as bad as I think?"
"It's understandable," Molly says. "There's a lot of pressure on you for this. And I know that we haven't been much help in that department. And for that, I'm very sorry," she apologizes.
"I know. You guys are just excited. So am I! I just wish all this stuff would take care of itself," I say.
"Well, before you know, the big day will be here and you'll be wishing for all this back again," Emily says with a tear in her eye.
"You know, I think you may be right. I love knowing that all of this planning will lead to marrying Harry. So it's worth it," I say as I glance over to Harry and the guys. He gives me a quick wink and mouths, "I love you." I mouth it back and turn back to the women around me who are due to become frantic again. I know there'll be times like this when they let enthusiasm take over and maybe now I can begin to enjoy it. If I can't learn to enjoy planning my wedding, then what can I enjoy?
***
A/N: Go here to see Hermione's idea for her bouquet.