Only Time

Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows?
Only time...

Hermione stood in front of the mirror, gazing at her reflection. She could hardly believe that this was the day. She was finally ready; nothing could go wrong. When she stepped out this door, she would be walking towards the man she would spend the rest of her life with. Her mother flitted around, tucking in bits of hair that would insist on falling out of place. She also busied herself with making sure that the dress looked perfect. But Hermione was hardly aware of it.

"Soon. Soon I will be Mrs. Ronald Weasley! This is the happiest day of my life...Isn't it..."

And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose?
Only time...

Ron took his place at the front of the church. Hermione was in the back preparing for the ceremony. He could just imagine Hermione fussing over every last detail in preparation... and any thought of his Hermione made him smile. This was the first day of their life together, a most important beginning. He knew she would not rest until it was perfect.

His gaze traveled down the pews until he found his family. Percy and his wife Penelope, both of them wearing suits and looking very proper and business-like. Mum with a handkerchief already positioned under her eyes to catch the tears. His dad with the largest grin the family had seen since, well, the last Weasley wedding. Fred and George had not settled down yet, but both had respectfully scrounged up dates for the big event. Charlie couldn't be there because the dragons had been feeling ill and no one could help them feel better like Charlie could, and Bill was on an assignment in Russia for the next couple of months. Ginny sat a little way away from their parents, next to a blonde haired boy Ron didn't know but guessed must be her date. Next to her was an empty seat, and it was no big guess who was supposed to sit there

The empty seat belonged to Harry. And, as painful as it was for both of them, the seat would not be filled this afternoon. This was probably for the best, Ron admitted sadly. It was no secret how Harry felt about the bride-to-be. He had spoken to Ron just a few days ago, confirming any suspicions Ron might have had regarding how Harry felt about the wedding. While he was happy that his best friends would be getting married that day, he felt that his being there might cause to much pain on this joyous day. And Ron, although sadly, agreed that this was probably the best thing to do. The invitation for Harry to come still hung in the air, though they both knew he would not be there.

Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies?
Only time...

And who can say why your heart cries,
When your love dies?
Only time...

His smile brightened when the music swelled. Hermione emerged from the hallway, preceded by several flower girls and ring bearer. She was stunning... like nothing he had ever seen before. Her dress was perfect, her hair was perfect, and the way she walked was perfect. Everything was perfect, until he saw the sorrow in her eyes. His once joyous smile faded as she removed her veil. "I'm sorry," she muttered, her eyes heavy with uncried tears. "I...I can't do this. It's not right. For either of us." She turned to run away.

Ron placed his hand upon her shoulder. "Hermione?" he whispered, fearing what she was about to say.

Her gaze moved up to meet his, and he could see the tears in her eyes. "Ron," she whispered, "I can't marry you."

"I love you, Hermione. More than anything. Isn't this what you always wanted?"

"I thought that it was." A single tear finally stained her cheek. "I can't marry you" Hermione held her words for a slight pause so that the next words would be clear, as they were so important. "Because I love Harry."

Who can say when the roads meet,
That love might be,
In your heart.

And who can say when the day sleeps,
If the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart...

It was finally said, and Hermione could do nothing but watch as four little words tore her best friend's heart and world apart. After what seemed like forever, time started once more, and Ron... dear Ron... he finally nodded an acknowledgement of her declaration. "You do what you have to do," he said, his volume quiet and his tone dead. She wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed the back of the hand that still rested on her shoulder.

"I have to go, Ron." She lifted the hand and placed it by Ron's side. She turned to leave the chapel, whispering 'I'm sorry' to his family and to the gathered guests as she nearly ran down the aisle. Hermione opened the large, bulky chapel doors in the search for some fresh air. "Oh Harry," she mumbled, still leaning against the door. "I wish you were here right now."

Sure enough, Harry was. She looked up to find him leaning against his godfather's motorcycle across the street. She smiled and threw herself into his arms, then climbed onto the back of the bike behind the man she loved. In an instant they were riding down the road into the night, out of sight of the church. She closed her eyes tightly and kissed his back. She knew that she had made the right choice no matter how much pain it caused. It would've caused more pain for the marriage to fall apart.

And who can say when the day sleeps,
If the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart...

Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose?
Only time...

Ron could only stare as Hermione left the building. He called out to her, to the woman he loved then regained his strength and ran after her. He burst through the church doors just in time to see the bike rise into the air and out of sight. He saw the look of happiness on her face and knew he had lost her for good. Even when the church was empty, the wedding guests long since gone home, he stood there. He watched the sky and cried, hoping against hope that she might come back. But it never happened.

And who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows?
Only time...

Who knows?
Only time...

Hermione stood in her yard, looking up at the sky, waiting for the now familiar brown owl to come into sight. She had been getting regular letters from Ron and a few visits when he was in town, but he was still not on speaking terms with her husband. Not that she could really blame him.

She stood there for a few more minutes before retreating into the house. She opened a window so the owl could come in once it showed up. She walked to one of the upstairs rooms and peered inside. There he was... her Harry... sprawled out on the bed, one arm covering his face and the other hanging over the side of their bed. Her concentration was broken by a tiny cry from down the hall. Moving silently down the corridor, she scooped up the small bundle from its crib. Her daughter stopped crying the moment she was in her mother's arms, and began to drift back into sleep. Hermione smiled and looked around the room. It was decorated with many silly pictures of clowns and things, and quite a few shelves filled with toys. Just the things you would expect to be in a babies room.

She rocked the baby carefully in her arms and walked through the house. There were pictures everywhere, some put up haphazardly by Harry, and others in perfectly organized rows that she had put up. She stepped in front of the pictures of their wedding. There were many of the dinner guests moving around and waving. A picture of her and Harrys first kiss as husband and wife, the two of them in the picture still kissing with smiles so big Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Then another caught her eye, a muggle photograph taken by her mother. It showed her and Harry, with their arms around each others waist and smiling brightly. Behind them was Sirius and Remus, who had only managed to make it to the ceremony as it was the day after the full moon and Remus was not in the best condition. But the one person that caught her eye was Ron. He stood next to her, but slightly separated from the group. He was looking at her instead of the camera. His smile, although small, looked genuine. She stared at him in the photograph and remembered the conversation they had had just before it had been taken.

"Are you sure you love him 'Mione?"

"Positive."

"Do you think it will work out with you two"

"I don't know...only time"