Harry and Hermione are going to wed, but will they prevail over the numerous nightmares that ensue in the planning?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author Note: This is my first fic on Portkey and I'm pretty nervous - please leave any suggestions or comments you have. Thanks!
Why me?
Chapter 1.
Ring. Ring. The loud jangling of the telephone penetrated into the couples' sleep. Hermione Granger wriggled under the duvet in an attempt to avoid the irritating noise and prodded her companion in the ribs, he mumbled grouchily.
"Harry..." she whined. More muffled grumbling, then his hand swung out from the bed and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" He groaned into the phone.
"Eeeeeeeeee!" A high pitched shriek greeted him, and he promptly dropped the phone. Massaging his ringing ear, he gingerly picked up the phone and threw it at the lump under the covers next to him. "It's for you," he yawned falling back onto the mattress. Hermione's head popped out from under the covers, her curly hair unruly and tousled. She scowled at Harry then lifted the phone to her ear.
"- eeeeeep!" The shriek obviously hadn't ended. Hermione rolled her eyes,
"Ginny? GINNY! Alright Gin - get a grip," she shouted. Harry snorted with laughter into his pillow.
"Yes, yes it's true." Hermione was saying into the mouthpiece in an exasperated voice, "Well he only asked me last night Ginny - when was I meant to? .... Alright, alright. Yes. Yes, okay... I'll see you then. Bye,"
She plopped the phone back into its cradle and groaned.
"That was Ginny." She announced unnecessarily. Harry chuckled and sat up, the sheets pooling around his bare midriff.
"She heard then?" He asked, Hermione nodded,
"Ron."
"Prat." Harry supplied idly causing Hermione to laugh. Then she leant over and pushed a few strands of jet black hair out of Harry's eyes. Harry caught her hand and ran his thumb over the new band circling her fourth finger. The ring was white gold, a single sparkling diamond set into it and engraved around the inside, one of her favourite phrases; In dreams, with you I walk. A smile spread across her face and she kissed him sweetly on the lips.
"It's beautiful," she said quietly.
"You're beautiful," he replied making her smile. They lay in silence for a few more peaceful minutes until the jangling phone made them both jump.
"Remind me to take that off the hook on our honeymoon," Harry joked plucking the handset up and grimacing.
"Hello? Oh, Roger..." Harry threw Hermione a look and she kissed his cheek lightly and hopped out of bed.
Roger Jinks, Harry's second boss. He had had two jobs ever since he left Hogwarts those six years ago. Ultimately his Auror work came first, but with the defeat of Voldemort, work was light and allowed for him to be employed part-time. So he had taken on the invitation to play for the Chudley Cannons Quidditch team and the England team in addition. It had its props; being one of his life loves, working with Ron Weasley, his best friend, and travel to exotic locations for matches were among them. Unfortunately add International Quidditch Star to Harry's already blooming list of claims to fame - The-Boy-Who-Lived gig, his work with the Order to defeat Voldemort, and his respect as an accomplished Auror within the Ministry of the Magic meant that he had been propelled into celebrity status, dragging long term girlfriend and more recently fiancé, Hermione Granger with him.
"So we'll need you at Leicester this afternoon... Oh and Harry: congratulations to you and Hermione." Harry opened his mouth to reply but heard the buzz of the dead line and sighing set down the phone. He had six important matches coming in the run up to the wedding in a month, these were interspersed with rigorous training sessions and press calls. At that moment Hermione re-entered the bedroom, wrapped in a fluffy white robe, her hair wet from the shower, she was carrying a laden breakfast tray. She set in onto the bed and snuggled up next to Harry.
"So, what did Roger want?" She asked, selecting a piece of buttered toast and beginning to munch through it. Harry made a face,
"He wants me to go up to Leicester to prep for the matches," he sighed, taking a gulp of coffee. Hermione's face fell slightly.
"Oh, so when will you be back?" she asked, Harry frowned.
"Not until the 29th, I've got to stay in the apartment." He said ruefully,
"What? But we get married the next day? What's Roger playing at?" Hermione exclaimed, Harry shrugged unhappily.
"I know, I'm sorry 'Mione." He said leaning across to kiss her. She shook her head,
"It's not your fault," she said sadly, "I'm just going to miss you, plus I've got the whole wedding to plan - without you!" she added sounding slightly hysterical.
"I'm sure you'll do an amazing job." He reassured her, "Casey gave you the month off right?" He added referring to Hermione's boss. She nodded.
"Yes. When do you leave?" she asked, Harry pulled another face,
"This afternoon," Hermione scowled, and then pouted playfully at him.
"Well, we better make the most of our time together then," she said, moving the tray onto the floor. Harry raised his eyebrows.
"I agree... any ideas on how to utilise it?"
"Oh a few," she replied grinning and shedding her robe she pulled him back under the duvet.
- - - - - - -
"Do you have to go?" Hermione asked, smoothing the front of Harry's shirt as they stood in their kitchen in the copious house they shared in the outskirts of London.
"Mmm," Harry murmured sighing heavily, he glanced at his watch, "And now, or I'll be even later than I already am," he added. Hermione widened her eyes innocently,
"I hardly think I was wholly to blame for that," she said lightly,
"No, I suppose I played my part." Harry grinned, he cupped her face in his hand. "I'll miss you,"
"I'll miss you," Hermione repeated, and leant in to kiss him. A moment into the kiss a loud crack followed by a squeal made them break apart.
"CONGRATULATIONS!" Yelled a petite young woman with a long mane of shining red hair, she crossed the kitchen and captured Harry and Hermione in a bone crunching hug.
"Thanks Gin," Hermione said, smirking at the stricken look on Harry's face. Ginny beamed at them, then eyed Harry's suit and briefcase.
"Where are you off to?" She asked,
"Leicester. Roger wants me to stay in the apartment, prep for the matches... you know..." Harry said dully, Ginny nodded in comprehension.
"Oh - yeah. Ron left this morning." She said. Hermione shot Harry a sly look and he masked a grin.
"I better go then before it gets any later - Gin look after my wife-to-be won't you?" He asked. Ginny nodded,
"Of course, they don't call me Maid of Honour for nothing you know!" she said puffing herself out proudly, Hermione rolled her eyes at her, then turned to Harry.
"Have fun,"
"I won't,"
"Be good,"
"Always,"
Hermione snickered and brushed her lips to his.
"Bye, and say hello to Ron for me and err - thank - him for letting certain people know the news so soon." She said sardonically, Harry chuckled.
"Will do. Love you."
"Love you."
With a loud crack, he and his suitcase disappeared. Hermione stared at the empty space and felt a slight wave of panic, barely a month and a wedding to plan - her wedding - all alone. Ginny seemed to read her mind because she threw an arm around Hermione's shoulders and led her to the sofa.
"Well - have we got a wedding to plan!" She exclaimed grinning. Hermione pretended to faint.
"Gin - where do we start?" She sighed hopelessly, her head on Ginny's lap.
"Venue." Ginny replied promptly. Hermione sat up and eyed her with some respect. One of Ginny's best assets was her fantastic organization teemed with unflinching determination and un-bashfulness meant that tasks she undertook were nearly always successful.
"Uh - I don't know. My mum and dad got married abroad, but I don't think it's mine and Harry's thing..." she shrugged, Ginny smiled.
"Well, I have the perfect place. It's big, grand, set in stunning sprawling English countryside grounds, enough room for everything - ceremony, reception, catering." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds perfect..." she said suspiciously. "Where?"
"Malfoy Manor," Ginny said glancing at her nails.
"What?" Hermione snapped.
"Oh come on, it would be perfect you said yourself. I asked Draco and he'd love to -,"
"You asked him already!" Hermione exclaimed furiously. Ginny nodded.
"Yes. I don't see the problem. It's the ultimate solution, everything can be done in the one place," Hermione opened her mouth to argue but Ginny overrode her, "There aren't any issues with Draco any more - him and Harry are practically friends. Anyway it's practically my house now." At this Hermione had to grin at Ginny's confidence. She considered for a moment. Malfoy Manor, a beautiful colonial mansion in Wiltshire. She could already picture a gorgeous outside ceremony and reception under a marquee, moonlight dances -
"Alright." She said. A wide smile almost spilt Ginny's face.
"You won't regret this 'Mione, trust me. It'll be beautiful. And speaking of, I won't let Draco cause any trouble." Ginny said solemnly, Hermione chuckled and nodded.
"Next?" she queried.
"Invites." Ginny replied, she scooted across the room and drew out a sheet of paper from a kitchen drawer. "Got a quill?" she called over her shoulder to Hermione.
"Nah - biro." Hermione said plucking a pen out of a pot on the table next to her. "Here," she said handing it to Ginny, who wrinkled her nose at it, then tested it gingerly.
"Alright," Ginny said, scribbling a heading then underlining it with a flourish. "Let's do family first." Hermione nodded.
"Well, for Harry, that's the Dursley's I guess." She said with a lopsided smile, Ginny sniggered.
"Great haven't seen that pig boy in a while," she said noting their names down.
"And Hagrid - he's like family to us both." Hermione said, Ginny nodded, adding his name.
"Okay - and your side?"
"My parents obviously, and I guess I'd better invite my Uncle Johnny." A pained expression flitted across Hermione's face, "He's Scottish and practically an alcoholic," she exclaimed, grinning.
"Can't wait to meet him!" Ginny said brightly, and Hermione shook her head,
"Anyway he'll bring his wife and two children. Oh, my cousin Cassandra will want to come - she's American." Ginny scribbled on the notepad.
"Okay - anyone else?" she asked,
"Um... Auntie and Uncle Brown, all my cousins, my Gran... and I'm sure my mum will remind me if I forgot anyone else," Hermione said. Ginny's eyes twinkled.
"Alright, friends!"
- - - - - - - -
"Ohh this was such a sweet idea 'Mione," Ginny cooed, softly stroking one of the near hundred doves that were perched all over the living room. In a spark of genius they had decided to send the invites with white doves instead of owls. Hermione finished tying the last piece of parchment to a dove's ankle with a piece of gold thread. She surveyed the covering of white birds.
"Looks like winter came early," she giggled. "Okay - shall we let them go?" Ginny nodded and edged to the window careful not to tread on any feathered tails. She threw it open and the doves flew through it one by one.
Hermione and Ginny leant on the window sill and watched the cloud of birds soar out of sight. Then they flopped back onto the sofa. Hermione yawned and glanced at her watch.
"I'm so tired, do you mind if we call it a day?" she asked.
"Yeah, that's okay." Ginny said, patting her arm, "Tomorrow - dresses. I'll call Luna and Lavender and book us all an appointment at Feathers."
"Feathers?" Hermione repeated vaguely.
"Yes, Feathers - the wedding boutique we saw in London ages ago that you loved... remember?" Ginny prompted.
"Oh, yeah! Gorgeous window display." Hermione said nodding. Ginny stood up and grabbed her coat.
"Alright, get a good nights sleep, and apparate over to Diagon Alley for eleven?" she said, planting a kiss on Hermione's cheek.
"Okay. See you then, and thanks Gin." Hermione added gratefully. Ginny waved her hands modestly and with a crack, disappeared.