Through Her Eyes

Chapter 26: The Wedding

Hermione held her face with a hand as she fell onto the trunk at the end of her bed, a few more tears seeping through her fingers as a hand came to rest on her shoulder and squeezed lightly,

"I don' know much about all this. But if I were ye, I would continue on like Albus never died. I mean, ole snake face is already half gone, ain't he? Surely he can feel that. He ain't at his full power no more,"

Hermione blinked and nodded, realizing in her own stupidity that Horcruxes were pieces of the soul. Even in her own time, destroying them all significantly weakened him. Of course, Voldemort still had an army of Death Eaters and other creatures. But he himself was no longer a 'spring chicken',

"Right. I'm rather stupid aren't I?"

Laughing weakly, Hermione brushed some hair from her face, "thank you, for that. I feel much better now,"

"It's no problem," Aberforth stated, "but aren't ye supposed to be gettin' ready for a weddin?"

"That I am. Thanks for reminding me,"

Smiling as Aberforth chuckled and left the room, Hermione turned to Fawkes,

"You'll stay here? Disappear if anything happens,"

The Bird of Paradise nodded as Hermione sighed slightly and walked to the nearby closet, changing into a simple yet appropriate yellow sundress and flats. Yanking her auburn curls out of her ponytail, they fell in lush cylinders which bounced around her shoulders. Soon after, Hermione grabbed her bottomless bag before heading downstairs to use the floo,
'I wish I could just Apparate,' Hermione mentally complained, stepping into the hearth as she smiled one last time at Aberforth,

"Ottery, St. Catchpole!"

And in a flash of green flame she was gone, landing with a slight jostle in what looked to be a small post office. Shaking soot off herself, Hermione squeaked as a human body was practically thrown on her,

"Mione! I thought you weren't going to make it!"

"Lily...breathe...I need to breathe,"

The energetic redhead girl let go quickly as Hermione gasped and turned to give her a proper hug,
"Sorry I'm late. I needed a little pick-me-up from Abe before I got here,"

"Well you're here and that's enough," Lily insisted, fixing a loose auburn girl behind Hermione's ear. Her green eyes were sparkling with concern as a small frown reached the future Potters lips, 
"You're holding up alright?"

"Fine as I can," Hermione insisted with a small shrug, "is everyone else here?"

"Pfft, unfortunately. Sirius will surely eat the poor Weasley's out of house and home,"

Chuckling, Hermione let herself follow Lily from the small office and into the Summer light. Ottery, St. Catchpole wasn't huge, with small shops lining each side of the street. In the distance on the null of a vibrant golden hill, a little white church sat. The bells were ringing happily, and a long tent had been set up to accommodate the wedding party. Hauling up the hill at a comfortable pace, Hermione couldn't help but remember the last wedding she attended. Again, it was a Weasley wedding,

•"erm...uhm..." Ron seemed flustered, standing awkwardly in the doorway of the Burrow. His old t-shirt was stained slightly with sweat from preparations, and his long, unkempt red hair was slightly sweaty. Hermione felt the blush crawl onto her cheeks as she pulled awkwardly at the red dress she wore,

"D-does it look ok?" She asked nervously, pulling at the skirt as Ron approached and smiled at her,

"Brilliant," he said, surprisingly calm compared to a minute ago as he brushed a caramel curl from Hermione's face, "you look brilliant,"

"I am brilliant," Hermione mumbled slightly, leaning up to give Ron a peck on the cheek, "go get changed, don't let Fluer see you dressed like that," •

Blinking the tears out of her eyes, Hermione sniffled and cleared her throat,

"S-sorry, I was thinking of something," she mumbled out of habit, "hopefully Molly isn't worrying herself into oblivion,"

"Only slightly. Look, there are the boys now! James! James!"

Hermione shook completely out of her daze as the group of three boys appeared, hanging around just under the tent. Sirius and James had their ties lopsided, and Remus wasn't even in a suit. But he smiled brilliantly anyway, meeting Hermione half way in a long kiss. Pulling away, she lifted an eyebrow,

"Miss me?"

"Of course," Remus insisted, "my life is boring without you in it. How are you?"

As if to accentuate his point, Remus wiped a stray tear from Hermione's eye with a thumb as she sighed heavily,

"I'm alright I suppose. But I have to talk to all of you after the Wedding about something important-"

"What's important?" Sirius asked, approaching the couple, "open,"

Groaning, Hermione rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to show her cousin the leaf. Nodding, Sirius patted her shoulder with a beaming grin,

"That's my girl," he said, "you'll be an Anamagi in no time,"

"Not like I had much of a choice," Hermione grumbled, "now come on. I want to say hi to Arthur,"

Nodding, the group of four moved into the tent. It was beautiful, strung up with fairy lights. Every table was wrapped in a crisp tablecloth, and the wooden chairs were wrapped with pink ribbons. The grass sprouted with white flowers, and there were several chairs set up on either side of a white aisle. Hermione couldn't help but smile at young Arthur Weasley, jittery in his black pan suit, slightly fraying in places. Walking to him, Hermione smiled brilliantly at him,

"Nervous?" She asked, patting his shoulder as Remus wrapped an arm around her waist. Arthur smiled and nodded his head,

"Terrified,"

"No worries. Molly is a good, strong woman. She'll be just fine,"

"Of course. Thanks for coming, I'm glad you made it,"

Hermione nodded and walked with Remus to pick some seats, sitting down as soft music began to play,

"You seem nervous," Remus mumbled in her ear, "is everything alright?"

Hermione sighed deeply and shook her head,

"No. But I'll talk to you about it later,"

Remus hesitated to let it go, but did and merely pulled his girlfriend closer. They would enjoy this moment. Just this moment.