Chapter 4: The Wedding
Harry was standing at the bottom of the stairs as he fiddled with his tie that he had to wear for the wedding. Hermione refused to let him out of wearing one and he decided to go along with it, just to keep her happy. Beside, he was excited that Luna was coming up to the wedding.
Harry turned when he heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see Hermione standing at the top of the stairs. Harry felt his jaw drop slightly in amazement when he saw her.
"Oh, wow Hermione, you look great," Harry told her as he watched her come down the stairs in her dark red dress. It complimented her complexion beautifully.
The dress had thin straps and it fell to the ground with a small train at the back of the dress. It was low at the chest area, not enough to show but enough to hint. The back was crisscrossed and her hair was pulled up with strands framing her hair.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione told him, blushing slightly at his praise before she slipped her arm through his arm and they both were about to move out when a female cough interrupted them.
They turned to see Ginny standing there in her gold bridesmaid dress and she struck a pose, trying to get a reaction out of Harry.
"What do you think?" Ginny asked with a sultry tone. Harry nodded, not feeling anything.
"You look great Gin," Harry told her before he continued to lead Hermione out of the house, leaving a disappointed Ginny behind.
"Harry," Hermione scolded and Harry looked at her innocently. "She was trying to get you back." Harry sighed before shaking his head.
"We're not gonna get back together Hermione - I can't. Too much has changed for me to go back to that path again - beside, I need to focus on defeating Voldemort," Harry reminded and Hermione sighed.
"When are we leaving?" Hermione asked but Harry shook his head.
"No thinking about that," Harry told her, causing her to look at him, startled. "We are at a wedding - only happy thoughts are allowed here." Hermione grinned before she nodded in agreement.
"You're right - but I don't think the other women will see it that way," she grinned at Harry's puzzled look. "Fleur is a veela, remember - men will be attracted to her thus their female partner won't be happy," Hermione explained and understanding dawned on Harry's face before he winced.
"I suppose I should be very grateful that I can't fall under her spell," Harry told her and Hermione frowned, puzzled at that statement.
"Why do you think you can't fall under it?" Hermione asked and Harry shrugged.
"I'm guessing it's like the imperious curse and I threw it off pretty easily - remember, no one can use it on me," Harry reminded her and Hermione nodded - not completely accepting the answer. She had a feeling that there was more to it than he was being told
They headed outside and Harry noticed Luna heading toward him. She was wearing a bright purple and pink dress that made her stand out from the crowd. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a clasp and her wand was stuck in her hair, holding it up while dark red radish earrings hung from her ears.
Harry couldn't help the smile that crossed his face when he saw her. He knew what he was getting himself into but he was amused by Luna's lack of interest in what other people thought of her.
"Luna, I'm glad you made it," Harry told her as he gently pulled away from Hermione and kissed Luna softly on the lips before looking at her.
"You look…very bright," Hermione told her and Luna grinned.
"Thank you, and you look beautiful Hermione, red really suits you - right Harry?" Luna asked as she gently nudged Harry. She was interested in Harry's reaction - she had a feeling that Harry asked her out because he was jealous of Ron and Hermione, but now it was revealed that they were never together, Luna couldn't help but wonder how Harry would react to them breaking up.
"Yeah, she looks great," Harry agreed. "I'd better watch out for all the men who would want to steal her away." Hermione rolled her eyes before pushing Harry slightly, obviously pleased with his reaction.
Luna nodded to herself. It was definitely time to break up with Harry so he could follow his path to his true love and hers to her true love.
"Harry, why don't you sit with Hermione during the wedding - I have a feeling that Fleur would like to me to try and gain some sort of control over Ron," Luna suggested and Harry looked down at his girlfriend. He wondered what she was up to but nodded.
"Sure, meet me at the reception?" he asked and she grinned.
"Wouldn't miss it," she told him before kissing his cheek and walking off. Harry lifted his arm and held it out to Hermione, who took it.
"Well, that was fresh," Hermione stated to Harry and he looked at her, puzzled. "She didn't think that we were interested in each other." Harry laughed.
"Yeah - I was wondering what I was missing there," Harry told her and she laughed as well as they moved over to the seats and sat down with the rest of the family as they waited for the wedding to start.
The wedding was beautiful. Bill looked dashing in his suit while Fleur was gorgeous in her white wedding dress. She was accompanied by her father while her mother and sister walked up behind the couple with their wands hidden discreetly.
Harry couldn't help the soft smile that spread across his face when he saw more than one female hit her partner back to reality. Fleur's happiness was contagious, causing her veela side to be more attractive.
"Seems like the men will be in a dog house tonight," Hermione whispered as she leaned into Harry, who found himself grinning at the thought.
"Yeah, I gotta agree with you there," Harry told her as they shared a smile and turned back to the front.
Luna watched from her seat with a soft serene smile - her thoughts were correct and she had decided that she and Harry needed to have a talk - she only hoped that it wouldn't take too long.
Soon, the wedding was over and the reception was in full swing. Nearly everyone was on the dance floor, dancing to beat that was coming through the radio - Harry was just grateful that Arthur had set up a muggle radio - no offence to the wizarding world, but their music just lacked a dancing beat to it for some reason.
Harry found himself sitting on a chair as he watched the party in full swing. Ron was standing over at the buffet table, trying to fill his plate with as much food as he could, much to Harry's amusement.
Hermione was currently off to the side, talking to Krum and Harry frowned when an unfamiliar pang shot through his heart before he shook it off, brushing it to the side when a female voice cut into his thoughts.
"Harry?" Luna asked from where she was sitting next to him. Harry turned slightly glazed eyes to her before they cleared up.
"Yeah Luna?" he asked.
"Why are we dating each other?" she asked, for once serious. Harry looked startled as he regarded his girlfriend seriously before he sighed.
"Because I was a stupid idiot who believed what his eyes told him, again," Harry admitted and Luna smiled softly.
"But you're a cute idiot," Luna reprimanded him and Harry laughed.
"Ron fancies you," Harry told her and Luna sighed.
"I used to hope that he would see me," Luna admitted to Harry. "When I saw him and Hermione at the funeral, I thought I lost my chance."
"You and me both," Harry muttered and Luna leaned out and cupped Harry's cheek.
"Maybe we both should finally do what our hearts are telling us to do," she suggested with a soft tilt of her head and Harry leaned over and rested his forehead on hers.
"Break up?" he asked and she giggled slightly. "That's the smartest thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth." Luna couldn't help the laughter coming out and Harry laughed too. Luna tilted her head and gave Harry one last kiss that they would ever share and for the first time, they understood what the feeling really was.
"I'm so glad you asked me out," Luna told him as she pulled away, breaking the kiss. "You helped me more than you realised." Harry smiled.
"And you helped me more than you realised. I'm glad that I asked you - it made me understand what my heart really wanted," Harry told her.
Harry stood up before he lifted his hand and Luna placed her small one into his as Harry helped her up. They both stood and stared at each other before Harry leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you," Luna whispered and Harry nodded as he let her go and she made her way over to Ron, who was standing next to the buffet table.
"Harry?" a soft female voice asked and he turned to see Hermione standing next to him, looking worried. "What happened?" she asked. Harry smiled as he held up his hand.
"Dance with me and I'll tell you," he told her. She looked at him, concerned, before she placed her hand into hers and let herself be led out onto the dance floor as a soft slow song came on.
Harry placed his right hand on Hermione's waist while Hermione placed her left hand on Harry's shoulder, wondering what was going on inside that head of his.
"Harry?" she asked, once more.
"Luna and I realised that we should follow our hearts. We've broken up," Harry told her. Hermione's face was a mixture of emotions.
Hermione finally settled on, "I'm sorry," and Harry shook his head.
"Don't be. Being with Luna - I could never describe it but we both knew that our hearts weren't really in the relationship. We both love each other but we're not in love, you know?" Harry asked and Hermione nodded.
"So, are you going to follow your heart?" Hermione asked, curious. Harry regarded her, seriously, for a short moment before the soft lop-sided smile graced his face, taking Hermione breath away.
"I'll let you know when I figure it out," he teased her and she mocked punch him on the shoulder.
"Tease," she shot back and Harry laughed.
"Don't worry, when I do decide to follow my heart, you'll be the first to know," he promised her and she nodded, satisfied with the promise for now.
Hermione leaned in and rested her head on Harry's chest and closed her eyes, allowing herself to swept away with the soft music surrounding them and the soft scent of Harry to envelope her senses. For the first time in ages, she never felt more at peace or protected.
Luna watched from her spot next to the table and she watched with the scene with a soft serene smile on her face.
"Luna?" Ron asked and Luna turned to face him and she smiled.
"Harry and I have broken up," she told him and watched as his eyes widen. "And Harry told me something interesting about you."
"Really?" Ron croaked out as his eyes flickered over to where his best mate was dancing with their female friend in his arms. "What interesting tale would that be?"
"That you like a certain female," Luna drew out and watched in fond amusement as Ron's face coloured slightly. She reached over and placed a hand on his elbow before winking. "Don't worry, I won't tell," she teased before she turned her back on Ron, leaving him confused at what Harry had told her.
Harry couldn't help grin as he spun Hermione out before pulling her back into his embrace. Hermione let out a laugh as Harry did this. She couldn't remember the last time she enjoyed herself so much as they moved to the fast paced music.
Before, Harry would have never gotten on the dance floor to this type of music with a girl before but it was Hermione and Harry couldn't help but want to dance with her.
Soon the music came to a stop and Hermione pulled Harry off the dance floor.
"Come on, let's get a drink," Hermione told him and Harry nodded, allowing himself to be dragged along to where ever Hermione was leading him to.
They reached the drink table and Hermione poured out two cups of pumpkin juice for the both of them before they turned to watch the dance floor. Harry found himself choking on his drink as he tried to drink and laugh at the same time when he saw Ron dancing with Luna on the dance floor, and Ron looked like he was having fun.
Hermione rubbed Harry's back as she tried to fight back her laughter. Ron's limbs were failing everywhere but it didn't seem to faze Luna, only making her laugh. Hermione couldn't help the delighted smile that appeared on her face.
She knew that she and Ron would've never had a lasting relationship even if they were to try - the two of them were too stubborn in their own way. The only way that they would've gotten together was for one of them to change, and she didn't want Ron to change.
Hermione was glad that Ron had finally started looking past looks and was seeing personality - it was one of the reasons she approved of Luna. The other fact was that Luna would place Ron first and in her eyes, Ron was a hero - that was the type of person Ron needed, not Hermione.
"Merlin, I can't remember the last time I laughed so much," Harry admitted to Hermione once his coughing fit was back under control and Hermione laughed in agreement.
"I have to agree with you there - it's nice to see Ron having fun though," Hermione told him and Harry nodded as he wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist, allowing her to rest her chin on his shoulder.
Harry brushed his lips across her forehead as they both relaxed into the embrace. Ginny watched from a distance before frowning - she was okay about Harry and Luna because she knew it wouldn't last - but Harry and Hermione - it always gave her doubts about any relationship with Harry.
Everyone knew - Cho and Krum, personally, that Harry and Hermione were each other's main focus. Hermione would always come first in Harry's life and Harry would always come first in Hermione's life - no matter what.
Ginny watched as Hermione smiled at something Harry had told her before she lifted her head and was looking up at Harry. Harry leaned down and his lips brushed against hers. Ginny looked away with a sad, hurt look on her face - she needed to get Harry back before their relationship had a chance to develop.
Soon, a terrified scream pierced the air, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and look in the same direction of where the scream came from and their hearts stopped as the situation dawned on them.
Death Eaters were heading straight toward them, Bellatrix at the front with a cold twisted smile on her face.
TBC