The Seventh Year Soap Opera

RECAP OF CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR--Rehearsal: It's Hermione's wedding day, and she's having doubts about marrying Viktor and feels guilty about Ron. The Weasleys are reluctant to attend the wedding, we have two special H/G moments, a conversation between Hermione and her mum, the girls get ready for the wedding, we learn about Ron being a drinker, and their limo pulls up in front of the church.

WHERE WE LEFT OFF:

"It's fine," Hermione repeated shortly, feeling ready to burst into tears herself. She had caused Ron all that pain. It killed her inside. She was happy on her wedding day, and he was probably downing bottles of alcohol by the second, slipping slowly away from life.

It wasn't fair. She didn't have the right to be happy.

But you aren't happy, are you Hermione? said a nasty voice in her head, and she turned to the window, telling herself not to cry.

The ride was silent and Hermione took a deep breath and clenched her pretty wedding dress in her hands as the limo pulled up in front of the church. The church where she would be pledging her life to one man for the rest of her life.

Chapter Twenty Five-Wedding

The church was one of those old churches, built in the late eighteen hundreds. It was glorious looking, even though it was small, and Hermione remembered reading about how the town had renovated it a couple of years ago. She smiled nervously and took her face away from the window.

"Wow," said Ginny. "And Muggles built this without magic?"

Hermione nodded. "Where's the other limo?" asked Parvati, patting her hair.

"It drove to the back," said Hermione. "There...open the door." Ginny climbed out of the car and shielded her eyes from the sun. Parvati and Lavender got out as well, and Hermione followed, all of nerves returning. Ron was erased from her mind momentarily.

"You're getting married!" shrieked Parvati, looking excited, but Ginny gave Hermione a knowing look. Hermione opened her mouth to speak to her, but Ginny turned away, looking thoughtful. Lavender rushed ahead of the group to open the door to the Church, and they all stepped inside.

"Hermione, dear, your mother told me to take you to the back room." Mrs. Weasley bustled over to them, wearing long purple robes.

Hermione nodded, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she might hurl, and she did not want to do that on her wedding day. Mrs. Weasley grabbed hold of her arm and walked her to a small room a little ways down the long hallway. "When it is time, I'll give you a signal, and you'll come out of this room and walk into the sanctuary." Hermione nodded again, and took a deep breath as Mrs. Weasley walked out of the room.

"Herm, we forgot the tiara!" said Parvati suddenly.

"Oh no!" added Lavender.

Hermione's stomach dropped and she nodded at Ginny to convey her thoughts, so she would be spared from opening her mouth. She was hot all over inside her dress and she thought she'd suffocate from the heat. Great, she thought. This is what I need, to be sweaty. "We can live without the tiara," said Ginny. "Mind you, it was beautiful..."

"I can't believe you girls forgot the tiara!" shrieked a voice, and Hermione saw her mother walk into the room, with a look of disbelief on her face. She was holding the tiara. "You left it at Harry's house! The dear boy just had Appirite, or whatever, to get it. Thank him after the wedding," she said to Hermione, placing the tiara tenderly on her head. Connected to the tiara was the veil.

She left and Hermione stared in the mirror at her reflection again. I'm getting married. I'm getting married. I am getting married! Maybe this isn't a good idea, perhaps Viktor was under the influence or something when he proposed. No, he doesn't drink...why does he want to marry me? Why does he love me? I don't love him, do I? Yes, I do! Hermione Granger, you are marrying him, of course you love him! How could you think...I need a tranquilizer. They need to drug me or something...Am I supposed to be this nervous, or is it only because I'm so guilty about Ron? Why isn't he here? He's supposed to be my best friend! But then, I did run him off...oh God, why did I ever sleep with him in the first place?!

"Hermione, my mum just gave the signal," said Ginny, and her voice was hollow. Hermione stared at her, and Parvati, and Lavender.

"You look great," she choked. Indeed they did. Parvati and Lavender wore matching blue silk, v-neck dresses, and Ginny wore the same thing, but hers was decorated with small white flowers and a white sash was tied around her waist. "I look great. Viktor probably looks great..." She could feel tears in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" asked Lavender.

"Yes, I-I'm fine, let's go." She gestured at Parvati and she walked out, followed by Lavender, and then Ginny. Hermione walked out too, but her legs felt like lead. She had never felt this nervous before; not even when taking her N.E.W.Ts.

They rounded a corner, and suddenly, the girls were right in front of the sanctuary. Hermione felt her father's arm link with hers, but she barely noticed it. There was a ringing in her ears, and she heard the Wedding March playing in the background. Neville and Dean opened the doors... Parvati started to walk down the aisle, and Hermione looked straight ahead. In the front of the room, on her right, stood Harry and the other groomsmen. Then, she saw the best man, and then she saw Viktor.

Standing tall and proud, he looked more handsome than ever in his black suit, with a scarlet tie. He was smiling at her happily, and Hermione grinned at him, feeling ready to melt. Parvati had reached the front of the room and had lined up with Harry on the left side. Lavender squeezed Hermione's hand, and then she too, walked down the aisle.

Hermione could feel her father pat her arm comfortingly and she stared at him. "I love you daddy," she said.

He looked down at her and smiled, tears in his eyes. Hermione was startled; she had never seen her father cry before. "I love you too, Mione'." She felt tears in her eyes, but she didn't wipe them away. Ginny started down the aisle, and Hermione tried to pick out her brothers in the crowd to gauge their reactions.

All of the Weasleys were on her left, as guests of the Bride, and they sat in the two rows behind her mother and her Aunt Sylvia, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Pat. Bill still saw Ginny as an eleven-year-old; his mouth was in an 'o'. Charlie shook his head, and tried to focus his eyes again. Percy's demeanor didn't change at all, but his wife Penelope had tears in her eyes. Fred and George wore identical expressions of amusement and shock, then began to make fake crying noises (very loudly, mind you). If Ron was here he'd probably be thinking, Bloody hell, Hermione thought fondly. Ginny winked at her brothers, laughed, and stared at Harry as she lined up with the best man.

It's my turn now, Hermione thought, as she and her father took a step into the room, the whole room turned to look at her. Hermione couldn't bring herself to look at the Weasleys any longer; it was her fault Ron left. But she knew they would be as shocked as Ron would be. As she walked past her Neville, Dean, Seamus, and her Uncle Ryan, who were holding the doors open, she smiled weakly, and her heart began to pound very hard against her chest. She took a deep breath and she and her father walked some more. There wasn't that much to go...

Every eye in the room was focused on her, and Hermione's stomach twisted and turned in such a way it was painful. Butterflies surged mercilessly through her stomach and Hermione could feel the room spinning. Soon, she had reached Viktor at the front of the room. Her father pulled her veil back, and kissed her on the cheek. He left her side, and Hermione walked up three green carpeted steps, towards Viktor.

He held out his hand and she took it, her nerves still stirring horribly inside her. Hermione didn't know what to feel when the minister began to speak, so she felt nothing. It was as though she was a member of the audience, watching in on the ceremony, just staring. Staring. "Is there anyone in the audience who believes these two should not be wed?" asked the minister. Ron, thought Hermione briefly, staring at the minister with an expression of dislike. He looked like Peter Pettigrew.

She and Viktor both scanned the crowd. A lot of people were dabbing their eyes, but all of the Weasleys, and Harry held grim expressions, as though they wanted to object to the wedding for Ron's sake, but had decided against it. Hermione looked toward the door of the sanctuary, and saw her Uncle Ryan, giving her the thumbs up. Hermione smiled briefly as she remembered summers as a little girl, dressed in corduroy and having messy ponytails, licking ice cream and riding horses at Uncle Ryan's stable. How she wished she could just be a little girl again...

But then, a flash of red hair sauntering outside of the sanctuary caught her attention. Her heart stopped. He couldn't be here, could he? Her breath caught in the middle of her chest, and she bent slightly, choking... "Herm-own-ninny, are you okay?" asked Viktor softly, but Hermione could hardly hear him. She was wheezing, clutching her hand to her chest. The bouquet of lilies in her hand dropped to the floor and she felt Viktor's hand on her back. The tiara fell out of place.

People began to whisper worriedly. Hermione looked toward the door; Ron was standing there. He was here, at her wedding! Ronald Weasley...at her wedding! She couldn't breathe anymore.

She fell to the floor in a dead faint.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

When she came to, Hermione opened her eyes. She was lying on the floor, still at the altar. People were whispering anxiously around her. I fainted, she thought despairingly, I fainted. Her eyes sought out her mother and father, and they spotted their daughter conscious, and began to walk fast paced to her.

Ginny noticed at the same time and abandoned Harry's side, running to Hermione. "Hermione, are you okay?" she said.

"Out of the way, you silly girl!" Hermione heard her mother say harshly to Ginny, shoving her out of the way. Ginny tumbled backwards, but before she could fall down the steps, Harry caught her in his arms, glaring at the Grangers.

"Hermione, darling, what happened out there?" her mother said, smiling falsely, and Hermione was aware that she was slapping her face gently.

"Hermione, I don't believe you!" said her father, his face in a deep frown.

"I'm sorry, daddy...I..."

"Hermy-own, darling, are you feeling okay?" Viktor was now kneeling to her far right, unable to come closer because her parents were in the way. Hermione reached out her hand and grabbed his, then squeezed it softly.

"Quick, dear, get her some headache pills and some water!" ordered Ted Granger to his wife, and she rushed off quickly. "Honestly, Hermione," he added in a low tone, "what the hell were you thinking?"

Hermione's head was whirling. First off, she did not have a headache, she did not need any water either, god damn it! Secondly, was her father accusing her of fainting on purpose? Of waking up this morning and thinking to herself, "Hmm, I think I'll faint at my own wedding today...yep, sounds good...now, where is that coffee?"

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, she saw red hair. Her heartbeat sped up, but then plummeted as she realized Fred and George were inches from her face. "Hermione, did you eat a Fainting Fancy?" inquired Fred. "Because you know they really aren't healthy...don't you?"

"No...you did it for dramatic effect, didn't you? Didn't you? You sly old dog!" added George.

"Get...away from her, you...freaks!" her father bellowed at George and Fred, his face a shade of magenta.

George and Fred looked at each other, while Mrs. Weasley began to yell at Ted Granger, her husband trying to restrain her. Fred and George reached for their wands at the same time... "Don't you dare!" shrieked Hermione, now sitting up, her cheeks red with rage at everyone. Her head was now beginning to pound and she was grateful her mum was on the way with pills and water.

"Everyone just calm down, a moment, shall we?" said Viktor nervously. His Bulgarian best man looked very very out of place, as did the Minister.

Hermione's mum was back with the water. She handed it to Ted, and he said, "Open." Hermione obeyed, utterly humiliated and feeling like a toddler as her father placed the pills in her mouth. He lifted the water to her mouth, and Hermione swallowed, but something went wrong. The water splurted out of her mouth and into her father's face.

"Oh Ted," Mrs. Granger sighed, now concentrating on wiping the muck from her husband's face.

"Here, let me!" cried Lavender, and she rushed forward, and pulled out a small twig from her bra. Only, it wasn't a twig, it was her wand, which she had shrunk before the wedding. She enlarged it and pointed it at Ted's face. "Evanesco!" she said, and the water vanished.

"Lav, the Muggles!" yelled Parvati.

"Oh brother," said Lavender, and she and Parvati began to perform the proper memory spells, along with Dean and Seamus, as Hermione's relatives cowered in fear.

No one noticed up till this point that Hermione was choking on her headache pills, except her soon to be husband and the Minister. She was blue in the face, not able to breathe...she wished everyone would stop the chaos and pay attention! She was going to die and no one would notice. "I can handle this," said the Minister, ready to pop those pills out the Muggle way, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"No, no, no!" Ginny cried, and she said, "Accio wand!" Next moment, Dean's wand had zipped from his hand and into her own, giving Hermione's Aunt Pat the opportunity to punch him squarely on the jaw and say, "How's that for an old lady, you little twit!" He fell to the floor.

Hermione's cousin Sally was sobbing loudly into Harry's tuxedo now, and Harry was patting her back awkwardly.

"Accio pills!" Ginny bellowed, her red hair now out of its twist, fury and determination in her eyes. Hermione felt the pills being ripped from her throat, and she gulped a lung full of air, and collapsed to her knees, panting.

"Hey, Gin, can we keep those as souvenirs?" Fred and George asked their sister, as they spotted the pills in her hand. "We could use them to come up with a product!"

"Hermy-own-ninny, are you okay?" said Viktor softly, gathering his bride in his arms as she wept softly.

"I'm so sorry, Viktor," she cried, "I've ruined our wedding."

"It has been...er...interesting...I will surely never forget it."

"I really don't know what came over me," Hermione lied. "Let's continue, please." She looked up into his face and he smiled, then helped her off the floor. She straightened her tiara and gathered the lilies while Viktor tried to gain silence. He was becoming frustrated.

"SHUT UP! HERMIONE AND VIKTOR WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THE WEDDING, SO IF EVERYONE COULD JUST CLOSE THEIR DAMN MOUTHS AND TAKE THEIR SEATS, THAT WOULD BE NICE!" Everyone turned to see a man with grey hair and kind eyes standing in the back of the church, standing impatiently. Uncle Ryan, thought Hermione with a smile.

Everyone raced to their seats; they didn't need to be told twice. The Pettigrew lookalike (also known as the Minister) looked especially scandalized at hearing the word 'damn' in the house of the Lord, and even more so when Parvati hurried to pick up the Bible at his feet, hand it to him, and then say, "Here you go, sweets. Carry on."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Five minutes later, she was sitting in a limosoiune with Viktor, alone, and they were on their way to the reception, which was to be held at the Burrow. They held hands the whole way, but not one word was said. They were lost in their thoughts. "I love you Herm-own-ninny," Viktor said when they were only seconds away from the Burrow.

Hermione focused her attention on him, and said, "I love you too."

"Do you really?"

"Would I marry you if I didn't?"

Their conversation was cut short after that, because Dean opened the limo door. He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her out of the car. "Ready to party?"

"After I change out of this dress," she muttered.

"Why would you want to do that?" asked Parvati.

"It's 90 degrees outside, and I'm hot. I'm sure Viktor will understand." He was walking in the yard with the best man. "Where's Charlie?"

"He's asleep upstairs in Percy's old room. Sally is in there with him."

"Er, okay, I'm going to go check on him and I'll be down in a minute." Hermione walked through the burrow, and it was painful to visit so many happy memories. "Sally?" she called.

"I'm up here!" came her cousin's voice and Hermione dashed up the stairs. Sally was sitting on Percy's bed, reading a book, while Charlie was fast asleep. "You look pretty, Auntie," said Sally, tossing her brown hair. Hermione would probably never understand why Sally called her 'Auntie' when she wasn't anything of the sort.

"Thanks," said Hermione. "Do you know where Ginny is?"

"I'm here," said Ginny, stepping into the room, wearing a pair of jeans. "It's too hot for that dress," she explained. "Did you want to change?"

"Yes," said Hermione.

"I'll find you something of mine, okay? I don't know if anything I have will fit you, because I'm shorter and thinner than you are, but I'll see..." She left the room again, and came back with a white shirt and jeans. "This is the largest size I have," she said.

"Okay," said Hermione, and Ginny helped her take off her dress and put on the clothes. "Yeah, Gin, I don't think these fit..." The jeans were way too short and the shirt was too tight.

Ginny frowned while Sally laughed. "It's not funny!" said Ginny, though she was smiling. She sighed. "Let me check the attic for something before everyone throws a fit."

"Yeah, she's missing her own reception," giggled Sally as Ginny left the room.

"What book are you reading?" asked Hermione.

"Hogwarts, A History. Even though I'm not a witch, it sounds fascinating," said Sally. From the look on Sally's face, she looked as though she would very much be a witch. "What does Apparate mean?" Hermione smiled and sat next to her, touching the pages of the beloved book lovingly.

Ten minutes of lecturing and teaching later, Ginny came back in the room. She sighed. "Okay, Hermione, we have a shirt and we have pants. They're probably too big, but that's better than too small, isn't it?"

She handed Hermione the clothes. Hermione put on the worn out pants and reached for the shirt. Her heart stopped. It was orange, and had 'Chudley Cannons' on the front and her stomach plummeted as she realized whom it belonged to. "Uh, Ginny, I don't--I can't--" She couldn't wear Ron's clothes!

Ginny gave her a sympathetic glance. "That's all I could find," she said. Hermione stared at the shirt, and guilt overwhelmed her again. I can do this, it's only a bloody shirt! She thought, and she pulled it on over head. God, it even smells like him, she thought mournfully as she walked down the stairs and into the backyard. All the Weasleys, Harry, and Viktor gave her funny looks when they saw her wearing Ron's clothes. Please stop staring at me.

She walked over to Harry. "Hello newlywed," he said, and she gave him a small smile, but her eyes were on Viktor. He looked hurt.

"Thanks for bringing the tiara," said Hermione, her mother's words coming back to her. Harry saw her looking at Viktor, and nodded in understanding.

Hermione left Harry's side and went to Viktor. "It was all I could find," she told him, but he said nothing. "What's wrong? Is this about Ron, because if it is, I don't--"

"I am fine, Herm-own-ninny," he said, giving her a smile. "Vould you like to dance vith me?" She nodded, and went to the center of the yard. Her uncle Ryan struck up a slow tune, and they danced to it. She rested her head on Viktor's shoulder, and lost herself in his scent, Ron's scent, and the rhythm of the music.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny watched Hermione and Viktor dance with a smile on her face, but doubt in her heart. It wouldn't last, because Hermione loved Ron, but she was too naïve to realize it. She sipped on her Pepsi, which Hermione's uncle had brought, and just watched them. "Having fun?" a voice whispered in her ear.

Ginny turned to see Harry standing next to her with a grin on his face. "She and Ron will be together soon," he said, giving Ginny a hug.

"I was thinking the same thing," said Ginny, giving him a kiss. "Have you heard from him lately? Ron?"

"No," said Harry.

"GINNY, HARRY, PLEASE COME IN HERE AND HELP ME WITH THESE APPLE PIES!" Ginny laughed, even though her mouth was full of Pepsi, and it spurted onto Harry's suit. "Oh, I'm sorry Harry..." she said, giggling, "It's just that Fred and George and their Apple Poppers, or whatever..."

"Don't be, just spew Pepsi all over me any time you want," he said, and they went into the kitchen, to see Mrs. Weasley looking frantic.

"The whole lot of them just went off again!" she was raging. "Could you two go to the Muggle market just down the street? Oh, I am going to kill those two, I really am..."

"Sure mum," said Ginny, leading Harry out of the kitchen, through the front door. She bumped straight into someone, and looked up in amazement. "Ron?" she said. "W-What are you doing here? How are you? What have you been doing?" She gave him a hug and stepped back to look at him closely. Harry was staring at him with his mouth open.

Ron was more handsome than he had been a year and a half ago, that was for sure. He was a little taller, and built. His blue eyes were shining, but pain was hidden behind them. His red hair was tousled, and he seemed a lot more serious than he had been at Hogwarts. "Hello," he said hoarsely. He pointed to his throat. "El and I got in an argument. We were yelling...that's why I sound like this. Is mum home?"

He spoke as though he had never left. "Ron, you know that Hermione and Viktor are having their wedding reception in the backyard?" said Ginny. Ron looked at her dumbfounded and turned to Harry.

"W-What? In my house...what the hell...you can't be serious, Gin." He stopped at the look on her face. "So they--they're out there, right now?" His voice seemed more hoarse, and he looked hurt beyond words.

"Why are you here Ron?" said Harry.

"To get my stuff...in my backyard...really...they're having their bloody wedding reception in the house I grew up in as a boy? Are they nutters? Are you nutters?" He wasn't bothering to keep his voice down.

"Shush! You'll ruin everything!" said Ginny, crossing her arms. "And what do you mean, you're here to get your stuff? You took it all!"

"Not my clothes, the ones I've grown out of."

"Why do you need them?"

"What's it to you? What, I'm not welcome in my own house anymore?"

"You just show up here Ron, after a year and a half of being gone, and we're just supposed to say, 'Oh how nice it is to see you again, let's have tea'? You didn't write, or anything!" Harry put an arm on Ginny's shoulder.

"Ginny," said Ron calmly. "I suggest you keep your voice down, so as not to disturb the reception. They'd probably faint if they saw me here, and what would that do to the honeymoon?" Ginny scowled at the irony of those words; Ron was speaking as though amused, and Ginny did not like the brother standing in front of her. This wasn't the Ron she used to know. "I'm here because I need to get my clothes...El's sister just dumped her son on our doorstep, okay? He's thirteen, and he doesn't have any except what he was wearing at the time."

"Why couldn't you just buy some more?" Ginny snapped coldly. Harry tightened his grip on her.

Ron lowered his voice. "I wanted to ask mum some things about raising kids so I used the clothes as an excuse to come over here. El and I disagreed about that, hence our row. I didn't imagine that they'd be having the bloody reception to their bloody wedding, here." His tone was bitter. "Where's my stuff?"

"It was in the attic, but mum gave it all away to the kids at St. Mungo's. She held onto that pair of pants you never took off when you were sixteen, and the Chudley Cannons shirt, but you can't have them," she said quickly.

"Why not?"

"Hermione's wearing them because she wanted to change out of her wedding dress, and in this weather, who can blame her? There was nothing else in the house!" she added as Ron gave her a disgusted look.

"Let me get this straight. She has my son, turns down my love, marries that Bulgarian prat, has the damn reception in my house, and wears my clothes? What the hell are her plans for life? Is she seriously out to get me or something? I don't understand her, where the hell is she?"

"No, Ron, you can't see her!" Harry exclaimed. "She probably will faint, and no, she's not out to get you. She's been hurting too, ever since you left."

"I left because of her!" Ron said loudly, and his throat rasped. "I swear, I'm going to die because of my bloody throat...if I can't see her, can I at least see my son?" Harry and Ginny exchanged a look. "Just for a second, I won't kidnap him or anything! I thought you'd want me to see him, but I guess I was wrong..."

"Ron, he's sleeping..." A cry sounded from the house, and Ron turned to Harry, hurt.

"Sleeping, is he?" he rasped.

"Well, he was," said Ginny, feeling exasperated. Why had he even bothered to come back? Ron walked straight into the house. Mrs. Weasley gasped when she saw him, but he just looked around for Charlie, and Harry and Ginny dashed after him. He stopped at the kitchen window, dead still.

Charlie had been taken outside. Sally was handing him to Hermione, who was dressed in Ron's clothes, and Viktor was smiling and patting the top of Charlie's head. Ginny couldn't read his thoughts, but he seemed to be in pain. He was frozen to the window and didn't seem able to look away. Ginny walked over to him and tried to pull him away. "He's beautiful," Ron muttered, not moving. Hermione laughed from outside and kissed Viktor, looking happier than Ginny had seen her in weeks, and Ginny didn't want Ron to ruin that.

"Come on Ron, before Hermione sees you."

But it was too late. She had been laughing and turned her head toward the kitchen. Ginny knew she saw Ron, and her face went whiter than Ginny had ever seen. "Vat is it Herm-own-ninny?" they heard Viktor ask, but then he saw Ron too. Hermione started walking toward the kitchen, and Ron looked horrified. He turned to Ginny and Harry and swallowed hard

"Er, I'm sorry..." he whispered, and with a look of pain that Ginny couldn't imagine, tears welled in his eyes, and he Apparated.

Hermione ran into the kitchen. "He--he left?" Viktor came in behind her. Harry nodded grimly, and he and Viktor exchanged a look. "Why?" said Hermione, also looking full of pain. But it was clear she knew the answer. Charlie started to cough and she swiped his red hair from his face and handed him to Ginny. Hermione then turned to Viktor. "I can't be here--in this place. Just...Viktor...let's go...Would you mind keeping Charlie for the night?" she added to Harry.

"Me? Uh, yeah sure...okay." Ginny grinned a bit. Harry was so adorable when he was nervous.

Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasley and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks so much for everything," she said and Mrs. Weasley nodded, looking pale. "Viktor..." She Apparated and Viktor followed suit.

"What was Ron here for?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"He wanted to pick up that pair of clothes Hermione was wearing because Eloise's sister, I think, just left a kid on their doorstep and he had no clothes. He said he needed tips on how to bring up children."

"Ron and Eloise plan on raising a child by themselves?" asked Mrs. Weasley. "I can't let them do that! They're too young!"

"Well, mum, it's not like we can just Apparate over there. Ron hasn't told anyone where he lives."

Mrs. Weasley heaved a sigh and she looked older than ever. She waved a dishrag at Ginny and Harry and took Charlie out of Ginny's arms. "Please go get me those apples," she said finally, wiping a wisp of grey hair from her face. Her voice even sounded old.

Ginny's heart broke for her mother. "Yes mum," she said in a small voice, and she and Harry walked out of the Burrow.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"So, Hamilton, did my sister say anything about where she was going?" asked Eloise, setting down a sandwich in front of her nephew.

"No," Hamilton said grumpily, taking a bite of the sandwich. "This is good," he added.

Eloise stood up and smiled. "Cooking is something I'm good at, yes."

"Why were you and that guy arguing?" asked Hamilton. It took Eloise a minute to figure out what he meant and then she remembered the argument that she had had with Ron.

"You have no clothes Hamilton?"

"No. Only these."

"El, I have some clothes at the Burrow. I could just whip over there..."

"Are you mad? They haven't seen you in a year! You can't just expect to waltz right in there!"

"The boy has no clothes El!"

"So we take him shopping! Ron, if you go over there now, I'm telling you, you're just going to cause more pain and humiliation and you're going to stir up trouble."

"You see me as a troublemaker, El?"

"No, and you can stop it right now with the self-pity stuff because it doesn't work with me! Yes, I know you've been through a lot Ron, but so have Hermione and Harry, your family...and me. You can't just go over there...not now anyway."

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, I'M GOING OVER THERE! I WANT--I WANT TO SEE MY MUM AGAIN! I won't stay long. I'll just get the clothes, ask mum a few things, and then I'll be back, okay? Don't pout like that at me."

"FINE RON, GO! Ruin everything!"

"I will not RUIN a bloody thing!"

"Spat between friends," Eloise smiled, checking the calendar. "I have a date tonight."

"With who?" Hamilton asked curiously.

"You sure ask lots of questions, don't you?" said Eloise. "His name is Pete...he's a bartender."

"You be careful, now. Bartenders...I don't like them. He'll probably get drunk and try to rape you or something." Hamilton took another bite of sandwich.

Eloise was shocked. Never had she heard anything like that come out of the mouth of a thirteen-year-old boy. "Where on earth did you hear that? Have you been watching too much of the telly?"

"No, it's just--that's how I was born."

"What?" said Eloise. "But Renee never told me..."

"She didn't tell anybody. He was a Muggle."

Eloise could hardly control her anger. Out of all of her sisters (she had five) she had thought Renee was the sensible one. That's the way things were supposed to be! Margaret was the dumb one, Brenda was the wild one, Trisha was the snobby one, Kathleen was the tomboy, and Renee was the sensible one. "I don't believe it!" she said, pounding her fist on the table. Hamilton jumped. "Er, sorry, Hamilton...can I call you something other than Hamilton? It's too long."

"Milton, I guess." He shrugged.

The door to their little cottage slammed suddenly, followed by a string of curse words. "Damn, damn, why did I...why the hell...damn!"

"Oh look, Milton, Ron's home!" Eloise said brightly.

Ron came into the kitchen, tugging at his hair. He glared at Eloise, but then his face softened as he sunk into the tattered and torn up couch in the living room. "You were right, El, I shouldn't have gone." His voice was extremely hoarse and raspy, and he was rubbing his throat.

"Hamilton, why don't you go take a bath?" Eloise suggested, and Hamilton, although he looked curious, obeyed and walked out of the room. She went over to the couch and put an arm around Ron's shoulders. "Do tell, what happened?"

"I went and found out that they were holding the bloody reception at the Burrow, and the outfit that I wanted for Hamilton, she...she--well, she was wearing it." He buried his head in his hands and sighed.

"Hermione?" said Eloise, hating the girl. She had the audacity to wear Ron's clothing?

"Yeah, she wanted to change out of the wedding dress..." He let out a yell as he stood abruptly from the couch and walked over to the refrigerator.

"Ron, don't..." said Eloise, knowing what was going to happen. He opened the refrigerator and pulled a bottle of Firewhisky and tried to pry the cap off with his hands. Eloise stood up and narrowed her brown eyes, placing her hands on her hips. "Ron!"

"Yes, El?" said Ron, ripping the cap off and taking a long drink of the alcohol.

"Look," said Eloise irritably, rolling her eyes, and running her fingers through her thin hair, "Give me the bottle."

"No."

"Ron, alcohol isn't going to solve your problems!" She reached up and grabbed the bottle from his hands. She walked over to the sink and began to pour it out.

"El, I paid a lot of money for that!" said Ron angrily, his blue eyes blazing.

"And what a waste of money it was." She threw the bottle as hard as she could across the room; it landed into the bin and shattered loudly. Ron winced. "Happens every time," said Eloise lightly, facing Ron defiantly, but he had a grin on his face.

"Perhaps if you didn't throw it..."

"Oh shut up, you," said Eloise. "It's going to be just you and Hamilton tonight, I've got a date."

"You always do," said Ron. "If these men keep asking you out, I'm going to do something drastic."

"Like what?"

"Curse you with pimples."

Eloise let out a tiny shriek. In her youth, she had been covered in pimples. Now, she was a beautiful woman, thinner and prettier... "Ron, if you do anything of the sort..."

"It was a joke, El, just a joke. Do you have any cigarettes?"

"Why?"

"If I can't drink, then I need a smoke!"

"My bedroom, third dresser drawer," said Eloise promptly, wandering to the bathroom to check on Hamilton. "Milton, how are you doing?"

"Fine, Aunt El, just fine," came his reply.

Eloise nodded and felt pangs of pain. One for Ron, one for Hamilton, and one for her sister. She shook her head, and walked into her small bedroom. Ron was sitting on the edge of her bed, smoking a cigarette and looking thoughtful. "What is it?" she said.

"I was thinking about something," he said, letting out a small puff of smoke.

"What?" said Eloise, concerned.

Ron turned to look at her then, and shivers went up and down her spine. She knew that look; it was the one that her father had worn when he said he was going out and never came back. It was the look that she was sure Renee had worn when leaving Hamilton, and it was the look that Ron had worn right before he left Hermione. "You're going to leave," she said plainly.

Ron didn't say anything, just merely turned away and sighed. "I can't stay here," he said. "No matter how far I go, it never seems to be far enough."

"That won't change, Ron. You're not going to be able to rid yourself of the pain." She patted his back softly.

"I have to try," he croaked, sounding like he was going to cry.

"Oh Ron," sniffed Eloise, feeling tears prickle in her eyes as she embraced him in a hug. He began to cry into her shoulder and she felt her shirt become damp. "You'll be okay," she whispered, tears flowing freely, full of hurt for her friend. She lifted her head and kissed his cheek gently, and he pulled her closer, their pain mounding together.

The door suddenly burst open and they sprang apart. Hamilton was standing in the doorway, a white towel wrapped around his waist, his hair dripping, and a look of horror was on his face. "I...er, I didn't mean to...er, ruin the moment..."

Eloise laughed and wiped her tears from her eyes. "We'll talk later," she said to Ron, throwing him and apologetic look, sniffing, and leading Hamilton out of the room. "You're to share a room with Ron," she told him, as they walked into Ron's room. "It'll be just yours, I think. Ron's going to move out, I think." She sniffed some more as she opened a drawer and pulled out a shirt of Ron's and a pair of boxers. "Sorry, Milton, but that's all we have. I'll buy you something after my date with Pete, okay?"

"Are you okay, Aunt El?"

"Of course I am! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get ready for my date!" She bustled out of the room and closed the door, then jumped when she felt Ron right behind her. "Don't do that!" she said, clutching her chest.

"Sorry," Ron said sheepishly, his face still red. "So, you're going with Pete? El, it seems like you fall in love with a different person every other day." He ran his hands through his hair.

"While you've managed to love one person for eight years," said Eloise. Ron's face hardened, but Eloise knew she hadn't offended him. "Ron, I know you love Hermione, but...she doesn't deserve you. You've been moping around here for the last year and...it's not healthy, mate. Don't laugh because this is serious, and when I'm serious, I mean what I say. You have a lot to offer Ron, and if Hermione can't see that after all this time...then, well, you--and Ron, don't hate me for saying this, but you--you need to move on."

Ron stared down at her for a very long time. "Move on," he whispered, and then he did something totally unexpected; he swooped down and kissed her on the lips. Eloise stared up at him in horror when he lifted his head. "Er, I didn't mean me, Ron..."

"Did you feel anything? Sparks?" said Ron.

"Hell no, you're my friend and only my friend...you know that--why the hell did you do that?"

Ron smiled. "Wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I hear some pretty disturbing things about you, El."

"I don't believe you! I'm trying to talk about something serious and you just make fun of me!" Eloise said, quite angry.

"Well, you won't have to deal with me for long, El. I'll be gone in a week."

"A week? Ron, this is so sudden! Don't you think you should think this through first or something? I mean--"

"Made my decision. I'll go to America, and do exactly what you suggested--move on. And don't give me that look, you know I act on my instincts. I just--just...I can't live here." He shook his head wildly and sighed. At her shocked look, he grinned and grabbed her hand. Eloise, feeling taken aback, allowed Ron to lead her back to her bedroom. They walked in and he went over to her closet, fumbling through her clothes.

"Ron, you're acting daft, what in the ruddy hell d'you think you're doing?" Eloise said, as he pulled out a pair of red robes. He looked at her and at the robes, then wrinkled his nose in disgust, and then removed a pair of light blue robes.

"There you are," he said, tossing her the robes, which she caught. "Pete'll love that." He flashed her a smile and then walked out of the room. "Have fun," he added, closing the door. Eloise just stared at the door for what seemed an eternity, then looked at the robes, amazed at how Ron could know that she had planned on wearing these exact ones. She smiled, and dressed in them, doing her make up.

After ten minutes or so, she stepped out of the room, with eyeshadow and lipstick on. Her hair was piled on the top of her head, and the robes hung loosely from her body, which, she was happy to say, free of pimples. When she walked into the kitchen, the smell of stew reached her nostrils, and both Ron and Hamilton looked at her in awe. Ron was wearing an apron and he was stirring stew. Hamilton had been the given the job of slicing the onions, one that, by the looks of it, he seriously regretted. "Now, what time do you plan on being home, young lady?" asked Ron.

"That would be none of your business," said Eloise, and at this, Hamilton's face darkened. "I'll be fine," she said softly to him, remembering their conversation from earlier that day. Ron kissed her cheek, wished her good luck, and she Apparated to the bar where she and Pete were to meet.

It was nearly empty, except for a couple of regulars and a group of witches who were giggling and laughing. Eloise waited anxiously for Pete; he was a man that her sister Brenda knew from work, and Brenda assured her that Pete was a man to die for.

Eloise settled herself at the counter of the bar and ordered a drink just as a man walked in. He was tall, dark and handsome. His hair was curly and dark brown and his eyes were also dark brown, and mysterious. The man looked directly at her and smiled, his white teeth looking perfect. Feeling weak in the knees, Eloise stood up and said, "I'm Eloise."

The man took her hand, kissed it, and said, "I'm Pete."

She could have died on the spot.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Herm-own-ninny, are you feeling all right?" asked Viktor softly, wrapping his arms around her waist. Hermione stiffened slightly as his lips caressed her neck. They were in the bedroom of a hotel for their honeymoon; the room was beautiful. It was a baby blue and had a large bed in the middle that was covered with bright white silk sheets. There was a tiny mini bar in the corner as well and a beautiful painting of Hogsmeade hung on the wall.

But even though it was her honeymoon, Hermione was not happy. She felt nothing but pain, pain that seemed to seep through her bones and come together to strike her heart in a way that made her want to just die. She felt guilt beyond words every time Viktor's lips kissed her neck, and had to remind herself that there was no reason to feel guilty for anything; she had done nothing wrong.

"I'm fine," she said, forcing a smile. Viktor raised his head from her neck and his lips found hers. His hands roamed up and down her body, and he pressed her closer to him. He moaned against her, and suddenly...they were on the bed. Viktor was on top of her and his lips were kissing her mouth, her cheeks, her throat. Together, both she and Viktor removed her shirt and Viktor's lips found newly exposed skin to kiss. Viktor kissed her stomach and then her chest, then her stomach again.

And Hermione felt a tear escape her eye, but she wiped it away. Her eyes wandered around the room as Viktor continued to kiss her, and they fell on the Chudley Cannons shirt that she and Viktor had just removed. Hermione felt her heart sink and a loud sob escaped her throat and the tears came down. Viktor looked up and pulled Hermione into a sitting position. She continued to cry and she lifted her bra strap to rest on her shoulder again. "Herm-own-ninny?" asked Viktor, rubbing her shoulders softly, looking very worried.

"It's too soon," Hermione said. "It's too soon to do--this...I'm sorry Viktor, it's just too soon, I--I can't." She sniffed and looked up at Viktor who was wringing his hands.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "It's me," she choked. "I-I'm not ready yet...but I will be," she added quickly. "I just need time...can you understand that?"

"Yes...ve vill vait until you are ready. Vould you, er, like for me to sleep on the floor or something?"

Hermione's eyes shined brightly and she was struck again at the thought of how wonderful Viktor truly was. "Thank you," she said quietly, sniffing again, and she kissed him softly on the cheek. She gave Viktor a small, apologetic smile as he laid an extra blanket on the floor, and laid down on it. He clapped his hands and the lamps went out.

Hermione pulled the covers tightly against her and sniffled. She grabbed the Chudley Cannons shirt in her hands and brought it to her nose, thinking about Ron and how she had seen him at the Burrow; his eyes full of hurt and pain. She thought about how she had driven him to drink and the look on his face when he saw her, and Charlie, and Viktor...A bitter taste formed in her mouth along with a huge knot in her stomach. She turned in her bed, trying not to cry.