I'll Always Be There for You...

I'll always be there for you...

I'll always be there for you...

Hermione Granger woke up on Friday July 1st. It was almost the big day!

Well, not her big day, but a big day nonetheless. She got up and stretched and then dangled her feet over the bed.

Next week was Harry and Ginny's wedding and she was immensely excited for them. Out of all the people she knew, she believed that they deserved all the happiness in the world.

Thinking about the wedding made her smile. After everything that had happened over the last few years, Hermione was glad that they could celebrate.

Two years ago, when Harry, Ron and Hermione were in seventh year, Harry finally beat Voldemort, but with a cost. Many people's lives were lost. Several whom they did not know and many who were near to their hearts: Mr. Weasley had died alongside Fred and George. Many old professors like Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had sacrificed themselves in the war as well.

After the war, Harry had given Ginny a promise ring, telling her that he would marry her in a few years. Hermione knew how upset Ginny was, thinking that he was leaving her, but she had explained to her how everyone had to work hard to rebuild the magical world that Voldemort had destroyed.

It took two years, and a lot of hard work, but finally their world was back to normal and at peace.

Yawning, Hermione looked over at the other bed at Ginny, who was sleeping soundly. After her brothers and her father's death, Ginny had worked harder than anyone to help Harry fix everything while putting her grief behind her. And now, she truly deserved to be happy and to marry Harry.

Over the last few weeks wedding preparations had taken full control and Hermione had been asked to stay at the Weasleys' to help out. She hadn't minded, because it reminded her of all the summers they had spent at the Burrow. Just like everything else in the war, the Burrow had changed as well, but for the better.

When Amos Diggory had become Minister for Magic, after Rufus Scrigemour's death, the Ministry had given the Weasley family a large sum of money which Mrs. Weasley had used to upgrade the house and of course, for the wedding.

Hermione loved the new Burrow, which was just as cozy as the old one, but with more space. She loved staying with the Weasleys because of the noise and all the people. The fact that she got to see Ron all the time had nothing to do with it.

In seventh year, when Ron and Hermione were Head Boy and Head Girl, they had gotten to spend lots of time with one another and had found out how crazy they were about each other. They had started dating, but with the war and all the lives being lost, they had forgotten all about their relationship.

Now though, they had started to date again and were more serious than ever. Mrs. Weasley kept asking them when their wedding bells would ring and Ron would just blush.

Even though they were in the house together, they didn't get to spend much time with each other. First of all the house was always full with people doing various things and Ron would usually be out helping Harry with the preparations as well. Some days they would spend without seeing each other as they ran about doing what Mrs. Weasley told them to do, missing each other by a few minutes.

Suddenly there was a soft knock on the door. Hermione had no idea who it was, but just as she got up to open it, she saw note being slipped through the door.

Curious as to whom it was, Hermione picked up the note and smiled when she recognized the familiar scrawl.

'I knew you would be awake!' said the note. 'And if you're not awake, then I'm sorry for waking you up. Now that you're awake, meet me in the garden in ten minutes. I haven't seen you in days. Love, Ron.'

Hermione felt giddy as she folded up the note. She then realized that she was a mature nineteen-year-old Auror who had caught many Death Eaters and she was feeling giddy over a note from her boyfriend. But the grin on her face did not lessen.

While she was getting ready, she thought about Ron. Ron hadn't really changed after the war, and nor had she, he had informed her. He was still the same hot tempered, sometimes thick, but always sweet guy he had been when they had first met eight years ago. While Harry and Hermione had become Aurors, Ron had gone to the Ministry and now managed his dad's office.

Being Arthur Weasley's son, many people recognized and respected Ron and slowly, he came to love his work in a way that would have made his father proud.

Even though Voldemort was gone, they were still many Death Eaters lurking about, trying to keep his name going strong. It was Hermione and Harry's job to catch them.

After her brothers' deaths, Ginny had taken over the joke shop with Charlie, who had said that he had gotten tired of dragons for a while.

Brushing her hair, Hermione glanced down at Ginny's open wallet. There was a picture in there of the trio. Hermione took it out of her wallet, knowing Ginny wouldn't mind.

The picture had been taken three summers ago, when they had been sixteen. It had been developed in a special potion, so they were moving. Ron was looking uncomfortably over his shoulder where Hermione's arm lay and Harry was trying to mess Ron's newly gelled hair. Ron kept complaining about something or other, while Hermione was telling them to sit still and to shut up.

Appearance wise, they had all changed a bit. Harry's hair finally tamed itself and was usually falling over one eye. Ron had finally stopped growing and had started growing a little bit of stubble, which Hermione loathed and was always urging him to shave off.

As for herself, Hermione had changed as well. Her hair was still dark brown, but had gotten wavy over the years with a bit of bushiness.

While Harry and Ron had reached six feet (6"2 in Ron's case), Hermione had barely grown and was only 5"2. She didn't mind being short, but Harry and Ron always made fun of her.

Harry was still a little bit somber over everything that had happened, but he had opened up and was now back to normal, in excitement of his wedding.

For two months, Ron had remained silent, refusing to talk to anyone, including his mother and Harry, but he was now ok.

As for Hermione, she was still bossy because it was her way of caring. Emotionally she had changed though, because she during the war, she acted more like a bossy mother to Harry and Ron more than ever. It was because she didn't want to lose them. But other than that, she was the same as ever and was making a name for herself as one of the best Aurors.

Putting the picture down, Hermione walked out of the room and softly shut the door behind her.

She walked outside to the garden, while the early sun shone from over the trees. Ron was nowhere in sight, so Hermione just sat down on one of the benches and admired the beauty of the gardens. There were no more gnomes, but it was still littered with several broomsticks and pots and pans that the boys had bewitched to fly.

"Boo!" came a voice from behind her.

Hermione nearly screamed and then covered her mouth before she did, as it was early morning and no one would appreciate it if she woke them up.

Laughing, Ron came and sat down beside her while Hermione clutched her heart.

"Ronald!" she said, shoving him away from her. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! What were you thinking?"

He just laughed. "You should've seen the look on your face."

Hermione just scowled at him. "First you wake me up at six o'clock in the morning and now you scare me."

He laughed again. "Put a sock in it, Hermione. You and I both know it's seven and you were awake anyways."

She couldn't help but smile at how well Ron knew her. "All right, maybe I was awake and maybe it is seven. But do you know how tired I

am? I've..."

But Ron out a finger over her lips and said, "Shhh."

She gave him a look and he said, "Don't talk. I've been listening to you talk for the last two weeks."

"Ron!" said Hermione, but his finger was still over her lips.

"Your hair's getting really nice now," he said, running his fingers through her silky hair.

"Is that what you called me outside to talk about?" she asked, loving the way his fingers ran through her hair and touched her neck.

Grinning, he said, "No. I didn't want to talk." Then his lips were on hers and he was kissing her. Hermione kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

The kiss was sweet and soft, just like their relationship. They didn't have snog sessions like other couples; well there was that one where... But Hermione always wanted more passion in their relationship. She didn't want to go all out and do it, but she did wish they spent >more time kissing. All Ron had said that since they were always near other people, he didn't want to get too physical, but he couldn't wait to be alone with her. That was why they usually met early in the morning when no one was awake.

Suddenly there was a scream from inside.

Ron and Hermione broke apart. Hermione inwardly groaned, but put a smile on her face and said, "Well it's time to work. I guess I'll see you later."

He nodded, looking just as she felt, annoyed and a bit mad. He kissed her again. Just as they were getting into it again, someone screamed again and they broke apart again.

Hermione smiled apologetically at him and then ran into the house to start her every day chore.

She ran upstairs to the sound of the screaming and found Ron's sister in-law standing outside her bedroom door with her two and a half-year-old daughter.

"'ermione!" said Fleur when she saw her. Fleur look exactly the same as when Hermione had first seen her in fourth year, except that her blondish white hair was a little unkempt and since she was expecting her second child, her stomach stuck out a bit out of her silk, white nightgown. "Alaina just woke up and she will not let her fazzer sleep. She 'as been up all night, making so much noise. Will you take her for a leetle while?"

Hermione smiled. "Sure, Fleur."

"Oh merci!" said Fleur, scooping her daughter into arms and handing her over to Hermione. "You must stay weeth Aunt 'Ermione and no more noise. Ozerwise Daddy will be tres upset."

Alaina had stopped screaming when she saw Hermione and was now smiling. Alaina had bright blue eyes like her mother and strawberry blond hair, with hints of red, like her father.

"She'll be a good girl, won't you, Alaina?" said Hermione, taking the young girl with her.

She went upstairs and into the bedroom she shared with Ginny. Ginny was awake and was sitting in her bed so Hermione walked in.

"I knew that had to be Alaina," said Ginny, taking her niece into her arms.

Alaina sat down in her aunt's lap while Hermione said, "Yup, Fleur wants me to take care of her for a bit."

"The curse of Phlegm strikes again," grumbled Ginny.

Hermione laughed and said, "Oh come on, Ginny. She's not that bad. At least not as much as before. Remember her at Hogwarts?"

Nodding, Ginny said, "Still, she's bad enough. Her and Mum are exactly the same. They're always scolding us about something or other. It's like having two mums. I remember when they hated each other, in the beginning and now they're like best friends, always talking about God knows what."

Hermione laughed. "You should try and sympathize with them, Gin. Your mum has so much to deal with right now, with the wedding and Fleur's pregnant, so they need someone who understands them."

Playing with her niece's hair, Ginny shook her head. "You are too nice, Hermione. You're always sticking up for everyone and coming to their defense. You never stick up for yourself. You just let people walk all over you and you don't say anything bad about anyone."

"Yes I do!" said Hermione. "When I called the man at the hotel to book it, he hung up without saying goodbye!"

Ginny laughed, falling on her bed. "See what I mean!"

Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"What were you doing up so early anyways?" asked Ginny, as she put Alaina on Hermione's bed and started making hers.

"Oh, nothing," said Hermione, ignoring Ginny's gaze.

"Don't 'nothing' me, Hermione," she said grinning. "I know you inside and out. You were meeting with Ron."

"So what?" said Hermione. "I don't see him for days and the morning is the only time I can see him without people interrupting us, but this morning someone started screaming." She turned to look at Alaina with a mock frown on her face. Alaina just started laughing.

Ginny sat down on her now made bed and said, "Mum keeps telling Ron to propose to you. But all he does is mumble something stupid and blush like a girl."

Grinning, Hermione said, "I'm not sure we're that serious though. He's never mentioned it, but it would be nice."

Before Ginny could say another word, Mrs. Weasley screamed, "Ginny! Hermione! I need you down here, now!"

Ginny groaned and took Alaina by the hand and the two girls made their way downstairs.

Mrs. Weasley was frantically trying to make breakfast when they stepped into the kitchens.

There was a dark headed girl helping Mrs. Weasley with breakfast. She smiled when she saw Ginny and Hermione.

"Good morning girls," said Anca. Anca was Charlie's wife, whom he had eloped with a year ago.

"Good morning," said Ginny, as she set Alaina down on a chair.

"I need your help, girls," said Mrs. Weasley. "Before she gets..."

"Mum!" came a voice behind them. It was Fleur. "You are adding too much beure to zos toasts."

Mrs. Weasley dropped the toast like a frightened cat. "Really, Fleur, I think I can manage."

"No, no," she said, picking up another toast. "You are going to make us all tres fat, when some people need to be watching zeer weight." She looked at Ginny, who was eating a sausage.

Hermione and Anca shared an amused glance. This was the way every morning started off. Fleur and Mrs. Weasley would fight about something or other, with Fleur complaining. Later on in the day, they would be talking quite normally and laughing.

Anca stifled a giggle and then turned her attention to the dishes she was magically washing in the sink. Hermione liked Anca a lot, mostly because she was the opposite of Fleur. Anca had long and straight black hair that was usually tied back into a ponytail. She had hazel eyes and her lightly tanned face was sprinkled with small freckles. She was just a bit taller than Hermione, being closer to Charlie's height.

When they had first gotten married, Mrs. Weasley had been most upset with Charlie, but later she found out that Anca was a really nice person. While Fleur made a big fuss about doing the chores, saying 'it would harm zee child', Anca volunteered to help Mrs. Weasley out constantly.

That was what made Anca a more agreeable person to talk to.

Suddenly Mrs. Weasley whirled on Ginny and said, "She's right, Ginny. You have gained a little bit of weight lately, you won't be able to fit into your gown."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Mum. Like Harry cares if I'm two pounds bigger."

"Ginevra!" said Fleur and Mrs. Weasley at the same time. "That's no way to talk."

Hermione and Anca burst into loud giggles and Mrs. Weasley cast them a dark look.

After finishing breakfast, Hermione went off to do her day's work, which was decorating the house.

Since Hermione had great organizational skills, she was put in charge of making sure of how many people were attending and all the arrangements for food and the hotel. This task kept her busy through the whole week.