Snapshots of a Wedding

SNAPSHOTS OF A WEDDING: EPILOGUE

"If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee."

--Anne Bradstreet

[...When I Said I Do...]

Harry stood at the front of next to the priest, Ron and Neville, and gazed out into the tent. It was decorated similarly to how it was during lunch except with a few elegant touches Molly and Lily had added earlier that evening. There were now tall, transparent vases at every corner of the tent filled with a wide array of flowers - long-stemmed white Roses surrounded with perfumed Lily-of-the-Vallies and blue Hyacinths mixed with small white Tulips - and white Calla Lilies spread along the grounds around the vases. There was also now a tall, curved entrance that was covered in satin and more white Calla Lilies. It was a vision of beauty.

The clock chimed 11:00 P.M. and at that precise moment, the floating glasses filled with fairies and fireflies seemed to glow brighter in the moonlight, illuminating the tent. The band situated in one corner of the tent struck up a soft musical ballad and everyone in the tent went quiet.

Molly and Arthur Weasley appeared at the entrance and made their way down the aisle. Just as they took their seat at the front of the tent, Lily and James Potter emerged and followed the same path to their seat in the front as well.

A shy Teddy Lupin quickly followed, accompanied by his mother, Nymphadora Lupin, who he refused to let out of his sight. Right behind them was Victoire who was enjoying her moment in the spotlight by taking her time to drop the flowers that were in her basket onto the runner and smiling at everyone as she did so.

A mere five seconds passed before Luna appeared at the entrance, holding her bouquet of Lilies and Tulips tightly in her hand. She walked up the aisle slowly and on beat with the soft music playing in the background. Neville had done the same, coming from the front of the tent, and therefore met her halfway down the aisle. They bowed to each other and as Luna switched the bouquet to her left hand, she placed her right hand onto Neville's left and the two continued up the aisle, walking in harmony with the music.

Just as Luna took her last step and Neville had returned to his spot behind Harry, Hermione began to walk down the aisle, imitating Luna's movements and stopping in the middle of the aisle to met Ron. Ron was staring at Hermione with a look of desire in his eyes but Hermione still avoided his gaze, meeting it only for half a second before they continued down the aisle, separating when they had reached the front of the tent. Just as they separated, the music stopped gracefully and picked back up again only when Ginny had emerged at the entrance.

Harry's heartbeat escalated and he drew in a breath. Ginny looked absolutely gorgeous in her satin and organza gown. She was also wearing that smile that Harry loved to see and that smile that made him beam as well. Her movements seemed to go in slow motion and everyone else in the tent seemed to vanish as Ginny made her way towards Harry. She was the vision of an angel dressed in her white gown and she seemed to be floating, how light and fluid her steps were.

As Ginny stepped in front of Harry and turned to face him, she also saw that he was slightly shaking from nerves and reached out to take hold of his hand. The sound of the preacher's voice broke their concentration and Harry and Ginny turned to face him.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of two souls: Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Weasley. These two, as I myself have witnessed, have gone through a tremendous amount of testing through which they have managed to make it through."

At that moment, Ginny looked over at her mother and saw that she crying silent tears. Lily Potter was also crying into her handkerchief and grasping tightly onto James' hand. Molly smiled at her daughter and Ginny nodded, reassuring her that all was forgiven.

"It is their strength and their belief," the priest continued, "that have brought them here to make their lives as one." He paused and then looked out into the crowd before continuing, "Knowing how much you care about someone is all you need in order to make the union possible and these two young people have proven that love is indeed enough. It -"

"If love is enough then I want to acknowledge it."

Neville's interruption silenced the priest and he looked at Neville in confusion. In fact, everyone did. Harry had turned to look at him and Ginny had titled her head slightly to the right in order to see behind Harry.

"I'm sorry," the priest said, "but what did you say?"

Neville looked at the priest and replied, "I want to acknowledge my love."

"I'm sorry young man but this is no time for-"

But Neville interrupted him once again by stepping out of line and walking past Ginny and Harry to the spot where Hermione and Luna were standing. He slowly reached out his hand and pulled Luna towards him.

"Luna," he started, "I have been struggling with this for as long as I can remember and hearing what the priest said just now-" He paused and looked up at the priest who was now smiling at him with his palms together. Then he continued, "I want to make our union possible by acknowledging my feelings for you." He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes before blurting out, "I love you, Luna."

Luna smiled and said softly, "I love you too, Neville."

Neville's eyes flew open. "You do?"

Luna nodded and grazed his cheek with her hand. "I have for a very long time but I suspected that nargles might have been behind the delay."

Neville grinned at her and then took her face in his hands before kissing her with a soft, gentle kiss that drew an array of, "oh, how sweet" and, "awww, so cute" from the audience. When he pulled away, Neville looked back at Harry and Ginny.

"I'm happy for you and all Neville but er-"

"Do you think we can get back to our wedding?"

Neville smiled at them and said, "Right, sorry."

He kissed Luna's hand before retreating back to his spot. The priest, after making sure that everything was settled, loosened his hands and turned back to Harry and Ginny.

"May I have the rings, please?"

Teddy, who was standing near Hermione, walked forward and handed the rings to the priest before jetting back to his spot. The priest smiled and then took the rings in his hand.

"I bless these rings which represent the never-ending union that these two will share for the remainder of their lives. I now ask that they each place one on the respective finger of the other as a sign of their love and fidelity to one another."

Harry and Ginny both took a ring and, one after the other, slipped it onto the other's finger. Ginny slipped the ring onto Harry's finger with ease and beamed at him as he took hold of her ring to place on her finger. He was shaking slightly from nerves and it wasn't until Ron held him still by holding onto his shoulders did Harry manage to slip the ring fully onto Ginny's finger.

"OK, I did it," Harry said, exhaling deeply and wearing a huge grin.

The priest chuckled, "It's about time, too." Then he continued his speech saying, "As I said before, love is a very splendid thing and here we witness how far love can bring you. Harry and Ginevra-" He paused and took their joined hands in his. "You two have come far and it is from this moment that you will go further in life. With a gracious home, children and love, you will build a solid life together." He released their hands and then looked out into the crowd. "It is with -"

"Wait!" a voice shouted.

The priest looked around for the source. "Who said -?"

"I did," Ron confessed, raising his hand. "I said it."

"Ron, what's the problem?" Ginny asked a little impatiently. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to get married here."

"I know but I can't let this go." He turned to look at Hermione. "Hermione, I can't jus let you go. I love you, alright. I really do. And no matter what you say, a relationship between us will not ruin our friendship; it will only make it that much better."

"Ron, I already told you that we can't." Hermione gave Luna her bouquet and then stepped down to where Ron was standing. "There's no way -"

"Do you love me?" Ron asked suddenly.

"What?"

"You heard me, Hermione. Do you love me?" he repeated.

Hermione remained quiet. Everyone's eyes were on her and she knew it. Ron was looking at her and she loved that fact. His eyes were piercing and she loved that about him. She loved his red hair and the way it felt. She loved the things he did. She loved the things he said and how he said them. In truth, she loved him.

"Er, guys," Harry said, waving his hand at them.

"Come on, Hermione," Ron said urgently. "Why else what we have done what we did if you didn't? Why else would you be having my baby?"

"You're what?" Molly Weasley stood up and surprisingly, she was wearing a smile. "Hermione's pregnant?"

Ron spun to look at his mother and nodded. "Yes, she is."

"Well it's about time," Molly said, clapping her hands as everyone laughed.

Ron looked back at Hermione with a hopeful smile. "And I'm hoping she'll have the baby with me instead of without me." As he said this, he took Hermione's hand in his. "Hermione, I want you to tell me the truth. Tell me how you -"

"I love you, Ron," Hermione blurted. "I do, with all my heart."

It took a Ron a moment to register what she had said but once he did, he took her in his arms and drew her into a kiss, a deep, passionate one. He was savoring the moment; it was the moment he had finally won Hermione's heart; it was the moment he had finally let everyone know the truth; it was the moment he had been anticipating for weeks now. The moment seemed to last forever until an impatient voice broke through and drew the two apart.

"OI!!" Harry shouted, releasing Ginny's hand to face Ron completely.

"Oh, right sorry, Harry." Ron apologized, still holding Hermione close to him. "Just one more thing."

"Hurry up at least," Harry said, gesturing with his hand to speed things along.

"Right, right, right, right." Ron kept repeating this one word as he rummaged through his pockets. "Aha!" he exclaimed as he pulled a tiny box out of his pocket. "Hermione, I have been waiting to do this for so long now, ever since I found out that we were going to have a baby together. And now I finally have the chance to do it. Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?"

Hermione drew a breath as Ron opened the box. Inside was a diamond engagement ring. The band was made of white gold and in the center were fifteen single cut diamonds that seemed to shimmer in the modest lighting within the tent. Hermione continued to look at the ring and covered her mouth as she became overwhelmed by all of what was happening.

"Oi," Ginny shouted from behind them, "enough with the dramatics and answer already."

Hermione laughed and then replied, "Yes. I will marry you, Ronald Bilius Weasley."

"Did you have to say my middle name?" Ron asked, slipping the ring on Hermione's finger with a broad grin.

"You said mine," Hermione pointed out, linking her fingers with Ron's.

"Well that's standard but you didn't have to imitate -"

"Are you two done??"

Ron and Hermione spun to look at Harry and Ginny. They were now both standing back by the priest and, although they had small smiles on their faces, there was no hiding their impatience so Ron and Hermione quickly nodded and slipped back into their spots.

"Now," the priest started, "before we have any more interruptions. Let me just say this." He stopped and then smiled down at Harry and Ginny. "You may kiss your wife, Mr. Potter."

Harry grinned and without hesitation pulled Ginny into a tight lip-lock that he was undoubtedly eager to do from the start of the ceremony.

At that precise moment, a clock that had been placed in front of the tent chimed 12:00 A.M. Fred and George ran out of the tent and began setting off a few of their Wizard Wheezes, equivalent to firecrackers.

They illuminated the night sky brilliantly and everyone exited the tent after Harry and Ginny to watch. There was one in particular that seemed to imitate the moment Harry kissed Ginny; it remained in the sky the longest as more of the wheezes zoomed and cracked around it, creating an carnival of lights and booms.

The celebration and memories of that day were captured in hundreds of photographs and it wasn't until later that evening did the festivities die down and Harry and Ginny were finally able to rest before leaving for their honeymoon.

----------

Late that night, Ginny sat in the bed flipping through the photographs as Harry sat behind her, massaging her shoulders and her back.

"Yesterday was wonderful wasn't it?" Ginny asked, turning over a photo of Fred and George setting off more Wizard Wheezes devices.

"It was good, except for all those mishaps."

Ginny laughed. "Yeah, but I guess they make for good memories." She picked up the last photograph. "Oh no, this one's ruined."

Ginny held up the picture. It was one of the bridal shots. She and Harry were standing in the middle with Harry's arm around her waist. Teddy and Victoire were standing in the front of them, grinning up at the camera. Neville and Luna were standing to the right of them, their hands interlocked and Ron and Hermione were standing to the left, Ron's hand on Hermione's stomach and Hermione with her arm around his waist. It would be a quaint, lovely photo if it wasn't for the fact that when the picture had been taken, one of Fred and George's wheezes came zooming towards them, scattering them about. This caused the picture to show the bridal party standing smiling at the camera and then spreading out as a large phoenix burst through.

Harry laughed at it. "I think it's perfect."

"You can't be serious," Ginny said. "This is the final shot of the day and it's not even a good one."

"Of course it is," Harry said. "It shows us the mayhem of the day and will help us remember how interesting our wedding day was."

"Like we'll ever forget," Ginny said cynically, still looking at the photo. "I guess you're right, though."

"Good." Harry took the photo out of her hand. "Now that's that settled, how about we get a heard start on our life together?"

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked as Harry placed all the photos on the bedside table and then moved from behind her.

"Oh, I think you know," he said.

"How about you tell me?"

Harry nibbled at her bare shoulder and then moved to her neck.

"Why, Mr. Potter," she giggled, "are you trying to have your way with me?"

"I certainly am, Mrs. Potter," Harry replied, pulling down the thin strap of Ginny's pajamas.

"I like the sound of that," Ginny said as Harry pushed her down onto the bed.

"I thought you would."

Ginny giggled as Harry kissed her lips and she started to run her hand along his bare back and up into his naturally untidy hair.

That night, the two spent their time consummating their marriage, the snapshot glowing next to them on the side-table to remind them of the commitment they had made and the undoubtedly interesting life that lay ahead.

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A/N: I just want to take the time to thank all my readers for reading and reviewing this story. This is my first completed Harry Potter fan fiction and I am proud of it. I hope you fully enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I apologize, once again, for taking so long to update these last two parts but there here now and like I said, I hope you enjoyed the story. God Bless!