Every Time I Close My Eyes

Chapter 8

Wedding Day

It was here. The big day was finally here and Hermione was a nervous wreck. Rachel had been right about Ron liking Hermione being Rachel's maid of honor. He was so surprised that he almost cried. He said that he'd thought that the two of them hated each other. At this Rachel and Hermione had passed guilty glances but told Ron that he'd only been imagining things.

All the things were prepared. The caterers were wonderful, the cake was beautiful, and the gazebo in the park that they'd chosen to perform the ceremony and hold the reception at was clean and ready to hold all the guests.

Hermione looked nervously at her reflection. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail at the top of her head, held tight by a sparkling barrette. Her hair was sleek and curled to perfection, a few strands falling from the ponytail to gently frame her face. The dress looked marvelous and she in it. It was definitely her color. Yet... Something was missing. Hermione looked around her room when something caught her eye.

It was a tiny white case sitting on her dresser. Hermione carefully picked it up and looked at the tiny silver rose necklace inside. Gingerly she extracted it and hung it about her neck. Looking at her reflection she though, much better.

It goes needless to say that Hermione was nervous. Actually, she was beyond nervous. Tonight would be the first time she'd seen Harry since he had run out into the rainy street. Harry was supposed to come to rehearsal but he'd sent an owl to Ron saying he couldn't make it. She had no doubt that he'd be there tonight, though. Ron was still his best friend and Hermione knew that he wouldn't miss that for the world. Hermione took a steadying breath and raised her wand and apparated to the park.

_-_-_

"Remember to smile big, ok sweetie?" Ginny Malfoy reminded her daughter Bella. Bella nodded, sending her flower wreath atop her fiery head askew. Bella walked slowly down the white silk that lead up to the gazebo where the minister and Ron were waiting, dropping rose petals behind her as she went.

Next went the bridesmaids, Ginny and two of Rachel's cousins. Ginny got to walk down the aisle with her husband, Draco (who was only a groomsmen because he was Ron's brother-in-law), the other two cousins had to walk down the aisle with Fred and George Weasley, both of whom were wearing big pink flowers that squirted anyone who smelled them with water.

Now it was time for the Maid of Honor and the Best Man to head to the front.

There he was. Hermione didn't see him so much as she felt him. She'd known he was there the whole time she'd been in the park, she could sort of sense him there.

Hermione's heartbeat doubled as she looked at him. He looked very handsome in his tux but he also looked very tired. He wasn't smiling as he approached her and he wouldn't look her in the face. Hermione's heart fell as she looped her arm with as they proceeded to the front.

Last came Rachel. She looked stunning, even though her face was shrouded with a veil as her father led her down the aisle. The congregation rose traditionally and faced her as she made her way to the front.

The ceremony was much like all other weddings. Hermione didn't pay much attention because she knew she would cry if she did. Hermione looked over at Harry and found to her surprise that he was looking at her too. His eyes flickered back to Ron and Rachel so fast, though, that she almost thought that she'd imagined it.

Hermione looked at Ron. He too was looking very handsome in his tux. He never took his eyes off Rachel. As she watched him she felt herself growing sad. She was loosing another best friend. She had messed things up with Harry so bad and now her Ron was getting married.

Hermione was so focused on Ron and the ceremony that she didn't notice the tears running down her face, although Harry did. If she had only looked over she would have seen the emotion that flashed behind his eyes. As the couple said their 'I do's and sealed their marriage with a kiss, Hermione resolved to tell Harry what she had to tell him, no matter what. She wouldn't let herself loose both her best friends.

_-_-_

People milled about for a long time after the ceremony was over. They talked and watched as Rachel and Ron smashed cake into each other's faces. Hermione sat silently at the head table with all the other bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the newlyweds. She glanced two seats down the table at Harry, who hadn't even touched his dinner.

"Now, could we please have the happy couple for their first dance as man and wife?"

A voice sounded (through a sonorus charm). Hermione looked up as Ron and Rachel made their way to the dance floor and, well, danced. Hermione watched them, awed by the love in Ron's eyes.

For a moment Hermione closed her eyes and let her mind take her back in time. Back to when Hermione and Ron had been going strong. He had never looked at her the way he looked at Rachel in that moment. The sadness in her heart intensified.

Hermione felt someone placed their hand over hers and give it a squeeze. Her eyes snapped open she looked up to see who it was. It was Ginny.

Hermione's heart fell. She'd thought it was Harry. Ginny smiled at her.

"Honey, do you want something else to drink?"

Hermione looked at her glass and realized with a start that it was empty. She hadn't remembered ever even picking it up. She nodded distractedly and Ginny took her glass away.

"Now if we could have all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen on the floor with our happy couple for a dance," said the dj.

Hermione felt her heartbeat quicken and she looked over at Harry as he stood up. He was walking toward her. A flush crept onto her face.

"Ginny, may I have this dance?"

Hermione's hopes plummeted. Hermione wheeled around to look at the two of them.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I already promised Draco this dance. Besides, you're the best man. You're supposed to dance with the maid of honor," Ginny said, dropping a wink at Hermione. Hermione stood up.

"Harry."

But he didn't look at her: he turned and went to walk away. Hermione knew that he was going to leave but she had to stop him. She rushed forward and grabbed his arm. He almost looked down and then stopped himself.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice cold and distant.

"I want you to dance with me, for old time's sake."

He appeared to be thinking about it; then she said,

"Please, Harry..."

"Just one dance, then I'm leaving. For good."

Hermione smiled. One dance was all she needed.

"When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed
To get to have you in my life
When I think back on these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me"

Harry was holding Hermione in a very odd way. He was holding her almost at arms length so that you could almost fit another person in between them. Hermione looked up and saw that Harry was looking at the ground, determined not to look her in the face.

"In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you, for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you'll be
And everywhere I am there you'll be"

"Harry," Hermione said. He didn't look up, didn't make a sound. Hermione tightened the grip she had on his arm and said a little more firmly, "Harry."

He still refused to look at her. She sighed with exasperation. She couldn't give up yet.

"Well, you showed me how it feels
To have the sky within my reach
And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me
Your love made me make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me"

"Harry, I know you don't want to look at me, but you're going to have to listen to me. About that night Harry," Hermione started.

"Don't."

Hermione looked at him, surprised that he had chosen to speak suddenly.

"What?"

"Don't talk about that night."

"In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you, for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you'll be"

"I need to talk about that night, Harry. I need you to know something."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You don't have a choice!" Hermione said, more loudly than she'd meant to.

"Harry, I went to Wimbledon, but I didn't tell Ron what I went there to tell him,"

"I know."

"What?! How could you know?"
"You're so dumb, didn't you know that I'd follow you?!" Harry snapped. Hermione stared at him in shock.

"In fact it was while I was watching you two hugging that I realized I couldn't do this anymore so I went away to forget about you!"

Hermione's voice was soft and quiet as she asked, "Did you?"

"Cause I always saw in you my life, my strength
And I want to thank you now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
Always"

"Of course I couldn't forget about you. I love you! I just needed to get away for a while."

"Harry, you're so stupid!" Hermione exclaimed. "I LOVE YOU!!!"

She found to her wonderment that sometime during their argument she'd found herself in his arms up against him. She looked up into his face and kissed him hard.

"In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you, for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you'll be
And everywhere I am there you'll be
There you'll be..."

The two of them stood there on the dance floor, no longer dancing which was good because the music had stopped, but just standing there kissing. His arms wrapped around her and her fingers tangled up in his hair.

When they finally broke apart the crowd went into wild applause. Hermione blushed as she heard Ron give a cheer of approval. Hermione turned to Harry, who'd gone scarlet as well. Hermione smiled as Harry kissed her again.

From that night on Harry and Hermione have been together and are supposed to be married in August. Since then Harry has replaced Ron in her dreams and every time she closed her eyes Harry was there. He never left her side. As they say in fairy tales, they all lived happily ever after...

The End