August 1st 1997
Molly had outdone herself Hermione thought as she walked out the backdoor of the Burrow and made her way to the large tent. Sure she had helped her set up and today had been quite stressful, but seeing it come together in the end was beyond worth it.
Above the horizon the sunset made the sky glisten in a soft purple light that matched Hermione’s lilac dress robes. The entrance to the tent is adorned with a flower arch and accompanied by all sorts of fairy lights. Soft music blasted on the inside and echoed into the warm evening air making the lights look like fireflies dancing to the rhythm of the songs. The world seemed to stay still for just a moment and Hermione stopped in place to take it all in. The air smelled of summer and home, she thought and bit back the tears that involuntarily formed in her eyes. Home. How she wishes she could go home just one more time.
Hermione took a deep breath and stretched out the soft fabric of her dress, finding the courage to join the festivities and enjoy the evening. As beautiful as it looked and as happy as she was for Bill and Fleur she couldn’t quite push down the thought of what was to come for them. The lingering fear of uncertainties of what the next year had in store for Ron, Harry and her kept her up at night and busy during the day. She had spent weeks making a plan, packing their things ready to leave whenever they had to.
“Miss Granger, I’m afraid we are not allowed to have you be outside for too long,” one of the many Aurors positioned around the Weasley property spoke to her. His voice was soft and he smiled, “So if you would please make your way inside we would appreciate it.”
“Oh,” she stammered, “of course. I’m sorry.”
“No worries, Miss,” he nods as she passes him into the tent, “enjoy the evening.”
“Thanks,” she nods back.
The crowd was bustling and Hermione glanced at the many people around her. She spots Bill and Fleur dancing closely together on the dance floor and she smiles. Fleur had admittedly grown on her once she realised she wasn’t too different from herself. The eldest daughter, who just tries to make everyone around her happy and feel accepted. Sure Fleur could be judgemental and a little rude, but she had a good heart and Hermione was delighted for her and Bill. Their love for each other was noticeable even from afar and Hermione was glad they could have at least a little bit of celebration in these times.
Next to the couple, Hermione spotted Luna and her dad spinning around in circles and George and Ginny attempting a dramatic reenactment of the former two.
Other guests, made up of several ministry employees, old friends of Bill and Fleurs and Weasley family members she had heard of before, were talking and Hermione made an effort to participate in any conversations people included her in. Putting on a fake smile and laughing at awful jokes that she didn’t really care to understand.
On the other side of the tent, Arthur and Molly seemed to be having a lively discussion. Hermione noticed how happy they both look. She had known them for years and lived with them for a few weeks now and she knows how worried Molly could get about everything and everyone, but whenever Arthur was around she seemed to calm down and let loose. Hermione hoped she would have that kind of marriage someday.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Leaning against one of the tables, drink in hand he spotted her as soon as she entered the tent and had trouble keeping his jaw from dropping. She looked so effortlessly beautiful in the dressing gown that hugged her body perfectly. It was almost like she was made for that dress.
Ron watched as she slowly made her way around the crowd, talking politely to everyone she knew. He knew she was being polite because anyone who knew her just a little bit would see right through the smiley facade she put on. And Ron Weasley knew Hermione Granger not just a little bit.
When she glanced away from one of the conversations she caught herself in and met his eyes time suddenly stilled. She smiled at him in a way she only smiles at him and no one else and Ron has to steady his feet in order not to faint.
He still has a hard time admitting to himself how strong his feelings for Hermione are, but seeing her smile at him the way she does, her eyes meeting his longer than normal for just friends he has to be honest with himself. He is head over heels in love with her.
Hermione holds his gaze and he swears he could stand here looking at her for the rest of his life and die a happy bloke.
Their unconventional staring contest is interrupted by her first when someone taps on her shoulder and forces her to look away from him. Rude.
Ron sighs before following Hermione’s eyes to whoever interrupted their moment and has to stop himself from letting out a snort. Viktor Krum was standing tall in front of her and Ron suddenly felt 14 all over again, only this time he had no interest in them to be ending the night the way they did back at the Yule Ball. Gryffindor courage took over him and he swallowed his drink in one sip before strutting straight towards the two.
“Hey Hermione,” he smiles at her, “do you want to dance with me?” He didn’t even know how to dance.
“Sure,” she replies.
“I vos just asking her,” Viktor chimes in.
“Too bad,” Ron whispers back at him already pulling Hermione onto the dance floor, “maybe next time.”
“He was just being polite,” Hermione scolds quietly, “you didn’t have to be so rude about it.”
“I wasn’t rude. I just wanted to dance with you.”
“Ron,” she starts.
“Hermione, please. Would you just do me the honour of having one dance with me?”
She snorts, “You hate dancing.”
“Not with you.”
Her face softens, “Well, in that case, it would be my greatest honour to dance with you.”
“Good, because we are standing in the middle of the dancefloor not moving and it’s getting a bit awkward.”
Ron stretches out his hand and she takes his in hers and lets him pull her close. They clumsily move around the dance floor for a while, feet getting in the way of one another until they eventually find their own rhythm.
The music shifts to a slower melody and Ron meets her eyes again, but before he could even ask if she wanted to stop dancing she shook her head and her left hand moves up his arm coming to rest on his shoulder. Ron’s right hand met his other behind the small of her back drawing small circles into the soft fabric of her dress. Hermione’s head rests against his heart and Ron’s on top of her head.
“It was enchanting to meet you tonight, ‘Mione,” he whispers.
“You’ve known me for years, Ron.”
“Every day feels as exciting as meeting you for the first time.”
“You hated me when we met,” she snorts.
“Semantics.”
Hermione moved her head to look up at him, eyes moving in between his eyes and lips. Ron bit his lips and lowered his head as she rose up to her tippy toes. Their faces closer together than ever before, lips almost touching.
But then their world begins to crumble and hell breaks loose and they both knew this thing between them has to wait.
Both sure this thing is worth waiting for and yet they both lay awake at night hoping and praying they are strong enough to survive the waiting.
May 18th 2001
“Mate, I need you to calm down,” Ron laughs at Harry who is pacing up and down the aisle of his own wedding.
“I’ll calm down once I’m married.”
“Take this from someone who has lived with her for the majority of his life. Ginny and calm do not go together.”
Harry stopped in place and grimaced, “Thanks you’re so helpful.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Harry glared at him before picking up his pacing again, nervously playing with his hands.
“Seriously, Harry. Stop stressing. It’s gonna be fine.”
Ron chuckled at the lack of response and left his best friend alone to welcome some of the guests arriving at the Burrow. Ginny and Harry didn’t really plan on getting married young, but they both had learned that time was precious and they just didn’t want to waste it anymore. When they announced it Molly was immediately keen to host it at the Burrow.
So that’s how Ron found himself at yet another wedding hosted in a tent in the garden of his childhood home. Things were a little different this time around; there was no war approaching, and instead of watching out for Death Eaters they had to manage the press.
Harry, however, has been more on edge about today than he was nearly three years ago. Ron had been on best man duty all day, though he liked to refer to it as unpaid babysitting.
He had helped set up chairs, flowers and lights at the crack of dawn. He swore his mother made sure that no one was even allowed to take one breath without doing at least something. Ginny had not been any better, but instead of bossing him around she just kept Hermione from him.
“She has to help me get ready, you prat,” she told him standing in front of his twin bed, arms crossed in front of her chest and hair resembling a bird’s nest.
“Ginny it is not even 6 am. You don’t get married until like 3 pm,” he groaned, eyes still closed and arms wrapped around Hermione’s body.
“You are unbelievable,” Ginny turned around and marched towards the door, “if Hermione isn’t in my room in 10 minutes I’ll hex you.”
A loud bang filled his room and Ron flinched before sinking back into the mattress, “Did she just slam the door?”
“Yup,” Hermione giggled.
“Is she 5?”
“No, Ron. She is just nervous about getting married.”
“That’s not my fault?”
She laughed moved to slip out of his embrace only for him to hold her closer, “Nuh-uh, you’re not leaving me.”
“Ron please,” she sighed smiling, “you heard what Ginny said.”
“Yes I did and I don’t care. I’m not afraid of her.”
“Sure.”
“Okay maybe a little,” Ron loosened his grip so Hermione could slip out of his arms.
“I’ll see you later, love,” she kissed his temple, leaving Ron behind and he almost fell asleep again but Molly had different plans when she yelled up the stairs calling for pre-wedding duties.
He hadn’t seen his girlfriend since and he was annoyed about it. Realistically he knew he was ridiculous and that this day wasn’t about him, but he still felt like he was allowed to miss Hermione. It’s not like he hasn’t fulfilled his best-man tasks to the best of his ability. He had even finished his speech before Harry had to get ready and managed to calm his nerves for the majority of the day, so really he has been doing a great job.
When it was time for the ceremony Harry looked like he was going to pass out. Ron watched him stare at all the friends and family in the room nervously tapping his left foot, then his right foot and his left foot again.
“Hey mate,” he whispered, “you’re gonna be fine. Just relax.”
“Don’t tell me to relax when there is nothing to be relaxed about,” he whispered back.
“It’s just Ginny. She has been in love with you for like a decade, it’s gonna be alright. Just trust me.”
Before Harry could snap at him the music started.
The ceremony was kept short and Ron found himself tearing up a little, though he would never admit it.
Afterwards, they transformed the tent to have a bar and dance floor and Ginny made sure to announce that the real celebration was now beginning. Harry was far from nervous now and Ron wasn’t quite sure if it was the fact that he was married or drunk.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
Hermione sat at one of the family’s tables talking to Fleur and Angelina, little Victoire entertaining the three of them.
“She’s growing up so fast,” Angelina smiles.
“Oh, don’t get me started,” Fleur whines, “I swear she was just born yesterday, but I liked it better when she couldn’t walk.”
“She’s an angel though,” Hermione laughs.
“Around you guys maybe,” Fleur snorts, “she’s a real actress.”
“Excuse me,” Ron suddenly speaks from behind her, “you wanna dance?”
Hermione smiles at him, “Are you asking me?”
“No, I was asking Angelina.”
“Oh Ron, I would be honoured,” Angelina squeaks overly excited.
“No offense, Angie, love you and all but of course I was asking Hermione.”
“Bummer,” she sighs, “I guess I gotta find your brother then. She stands up and walks over to the bar where George is standing.
“Hey Angie, Percy is over there,” Ron shouts at her.
“You’re so funny,” she raises both her middle fingers at him and keeps walking towards the bar.
Ron turns back to his girlfriend, “Soo, have we two met before?”
Hermione grins at him, “I’m not sure, but it feels like we have.”
“Well either way I would like to dance with you if you don’t mind.”
“It would be my pleasure,” she takes the hand Ron offered and follows him onto the dance floor.
It was crowded, but they manage to find a place and started swaying to the music. Ron twirls her around a few times before the music changed to a slow song and their arms found their way closely around each other.
“This feels a little surreal,” he whispers, foreheads touching.
“Tell me about it,” she responds, “sometimes I don’t even believe you are real.”
“If I wasn’t that would be really awkward for you right now.”
“Well, let’s just hope you are real then.”
Ron pulls her even closer to him, running his thumbs up and down her back. Closing their eyes they keep dancing until the music slowly started to get faster again.
When they pull apart, smiling Ron twirls her around one more time.
“I was enchanted to meet you tonight.”
“Likewise,” she whispers.
He jokingly bows, "I'm glad," and pulls her close again and leans in close to her, “Can I kiss you?”
“You don’t have to ask,” she whispers closing her eyes and rising onto her toes.
Ron slid his hands behind her neck and into her hair, “I’m a gentleman, you know.”
Hermione huffed slightly, “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
They close their eyes and lean in, lips almost touching
“Oh my god, ew, get a room,” Ginny shouts running through the two pulling them apart.
“What the fuck?”
“You can kiss later,” Ginny argued, “Now you have to dance with your little sister.” She grabs him by his hands and pulls him into the centre of the dance floor. Ron groaned, but Hermione watches as he follows Ginny regardless.
“Welp,” Harry appears beside her, “care to join them?”
She laughs, “Sure, let’s go.”
Hermione should be annoyed at the interruption but she knows Ron and her will get their moment eventually and after everything they have been through she knows it will be worth it.
June 19th 2003
If you had told 15-year-old Ron that at 23 he would be marrying Hermione Granger he would have called you crazy secretly hoping you weren’t lying.
After the war, nothing was ever really easy for Ron. Losing friends, Fred and learning how to live a normal life that didn’t require him to be on edge the entire time, looking out for danger lurking around. The first few months were the hardest and Ron knew he wouldn’t have made it without her, so the least he could do was try to make her happy for the rest of their life.
He swears that will be his top priority because, without Hermione in his life, there was no point in living it anyways. She is his best friend, lover and partner in (legal) crime. He mentioned all of that in his vow, which the couple decided to not share at their ceremony but in letters instead. Their deepest feelings were only to be seen by each other, the person they are meant for.
After they got engaged they were hesitant to have the wedding at the Burrow, but ultimately Molly didn’t really give them a choice. “It’s tradition,” she had argued, “I promise I will make sure everything will be perfect.”
And Molly kept that promise. The tent looked nothing like Ron had ever seen before. They had hosted their ceremony in the orchard, where they had shared their second kiss a few days after the battle. It was an intimate affair with only Hermione’s parents and Ron’s immediate family.
Following the ceremony was the reception with a lot more people that they wanted to share this day with. The tent transformed into something Hermione would describe as fairytale-like. There are roses in all kinds of colours everywhere, pastel purple balloons adorn the ceiling and shiny white cloths cover the old tables that had been used at these types of events for years. The mid-June sun kept them warm enough to not need coats and the lack of clouds made the light shimmer into the tent, creating little rainbows on the ground.
She looks beautiful in the white dress that hugged her waist just right. Ron could not take his eyes off of her as she roamed around the room talking to friends and family. He could see the happiness radiating from her face and it almost looks like she was floating effortlessly around the tent.
“You’re staring,” Harry speaks up behind him.
“So what? I’m finally married to her I’m allowed to stare.”
“Touché,” Harry snorts, “she looks happy.”
“I know,” Ron sighs still looking at Hermione, “Isn’t she the most beautiful?”
Harry smiles, “You two deserve all of this, you know that right?”
“Yes, I know she does.”
“I said you two, as in Hermione and you. ”
“Yeah okay.”
“I mean it, Ron,” Harry places a firm hand on his shoulder which makes Ron look at him.
“You also deserve this day. Don’t think I don’t know that you’d do anything for her, hell I was there for a lot of it, but she would do the same for you.”
“She doesn’t have to though.”
“That’s exactly the point, isn’t it? Not having to do it but wanting to.”
Ron huffs, “When did you become so wise?”
“What can I say? I’ve been proudly married for two years,” Harry grins, “But it’s mainly having been your third wheel for over a decade. I know how deeply you care for each other and how disgustingly in love you two are. It makes me sick, really.”
“Okay okay,” Ron laughs, “I get it.”
“Good.”
“Thanks for being here today, Harry.”
“I’m your best man, mate. I didn’t really have a choice.”
“Very funny.”
“I’m joking, of course. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
The two men fall into each other's arms, patting each other on the back.
Ron has realised a lot of things in the past years since Voldemort's death. He realised that the world is anything but fair because it would not have taken Fred from them if it was. He accepted that healing took time and that you were allowed to not be okay. But most importantly he understood that he was loved by a lot of people. Ron had never felt special before he met Harry and Hermione. They showed him what it was like to be someone’s first choice and for that, he will always be grateful.
“Quit it you two or I’ll start crying again,” Hermione whines approaching the two.
“What’s one more time,” Harry snorts.
“Not funny. I’ve fixed my makeup about 50 times today.”
“You? Or Ginny?”
“Shut it, Potter,” she glares at him before laughing.
“Congrats again you two, you know how much you mean to me and I’m glad I got to watch you two from the sidelines.”
A sniffle appears to his left.
“Great, now she is crying again,” Ron laughs putting an arm around his wife and pulling her close.
“It’s okay,” Hermione laughs using her fingers to wipe away the tears under her eyes.
“Yo Potter,” Ginny shouts walking up to them and taking his hand, “I heard you’re dancing with me.”
“From who?” Ron could not hear Ginny’s answer as she was too far away already, dragging Harry behind her.
Hermione slips her arms around Ron’s torso and hugs him tight, “I’m tired.”
“It’s been a long day,” he responds moving his hands up her back and drawing small circles just below her neck.
She looks up at him, “A wonderful day.”
“That too,” Ron kisses the top of her hair, “I love you.”
Her face softens and Ron could see tears form in her eyes (again), “I love you more.”
“Impossible.”
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
The couple stood there for a short while before another guest approached and congratulated them.
Weddings truly are social events, Hermione thought as she smiled through all the conversations Ron had led her through for the majority of the day. Hermione had always been the more introverted one in their relationship.
Sure, she could talk about things forever, but only to those she trusted. Ron had helped her come out of that shell a lot in these last few years and made sure he was always listening to her no matter what.
It took some work for both of them to know and understand what the other appreciated and needed. While Hermione needed someone to listen to her, even if she did not want advice, Ron needed to be heard. Two very different things, she had learned.
Leading up to their wedding, Hermione was scared that they would fight about meaningless stuff a lot more than they did. Apparently old habits can die, when you are with the right person and realise that all the arguments you had in school were really just a result of mutual pining and sexual tension.
Sure, they had their disagreements, but to everyone’s surprise, Ron and Hermione were on the same page for most of the decisions made around their wedding day. Their cake would have two flavours, chocolate and vanilla, and the decoration would be simple but beautiful. The wedding guests consisted of close friends and family only and Ron had suggested keeping it as close to a muggle wedding as possible so her parents would feel comfortable, while Hermione insisted on not leaving the magic out completely because it belongs to them and her parents would understand.
They compromised on a magic-less ceremony and magic-filled reception. Funny how things work out when you learn to listen and hear each other out.
One more thing the couple agreed on was having a last dance between just the two of them. Ron had suggested it and Hermione did not need to think twice about it and had been looking forward to it ever since.
So as the two of them are saying goodbye to the last of their guests, the clock being way past midnight, Hermione feels nervous, not scared-nervous, but content-nervous. She had just spent the most magical day with the most magical people and now she can end it with the one person that deserved all of it.
She almost shoves him as she pushes Ron onto the dance floor. He laughs but lets it happen anyways.
Once they reach the middle of the tent they waste no time wrapping their arms around each other. Hermione whispers something under her breath and shortly after soft music starts to play.
They don’t say anything for a while, lost in each other's embraces and enjoying the closeness of it all. They twirl around and share soft kisses, carefree of anything else in the world.
“It’s funny,” Ron speaks as he turns Hermione again, “I feel like we have been here before.”
“That’s because your family loves hosting weddings here,” Hermione laughs settling back into his arms.
“This is the best one yet though.”
“Oh, nothing will come close to it ever again,” Hermione insists laughing again.
Hermione doesn’t know how long they spent dancing with each other. It could have been seconds, minutes or hours because time never truly works right when she is with Ron. Magic doesn’t work the same so as the music slowly fades into the night they come to still, holding each other close as if they are the only two people left in the world.
Hermione was the first to pull away slightly, but only to lock eyes with him and rise to her toes so she can be closer to his face.
“Well Ron,” she speaks, “I was enchanted to meet you tonight.”
“That’s my line,” Ron stares at her, a lop-sided smile painted on his face.
Hermione moves her head, “What’s mine is yours,” she whispers into his ear softly brushing the far outside of his jaw with her lips.
Ron doesn’t take long to grab her face and crash his lips onto hers. Hermione holds onto his shoulders so she doesn’t fall back as she kissed him back opening her mouth and allowing his tongue to enter.
The kiss feels different than all the other kisses they had shared before.
This kiss is a thank you for the past and a promise for the future. Their future.