CHAPTER FIVE:
Hermione's POV:
Alice and I spun around, gracefully, Alice leaning her head against me. It was like a scene from a fairy tale, the moon, the stars, the flowers, the satin...
"Amazing job, Alice!" Ginny was suddenly in front of us, beaming. "You absolutely have to help me with my wedding!" Alice looks like if she could blush she could. Harry looks slightly nervous, at Ginny's side.
"Magnifique!" Fleur announces, sweeping over. By her side, Bill looks uncomfortable, his nostrils flaring. Werewolves and vampires are natural enemies; I can understand his discomfort.
Alice is basking in the praise, and it makes me smile. My smile fades, somewhat, however, as the Denalis make their way over, and my grip on Alice's hand tightens.
"Um, Harry! Let's go get some cake!" Ginny announces, following my gaze.
"Zat eez a good idea," Fleur agreed, folding her arm in Bill's, and tugging him after the retreating Ginny.
"Some Gryffindors they are." I grumble, under my breath, before fixing a neutral expression on my face as the Denalis stop in front of us.
"You must be Hermione," the tall, strawberry blonde one said, with a smile. "And you must be Tanya." I reply, my voice short. Her smile wavers.
"We would deeply like to apologize for our actions, when you were facing the army." This is the older looking female, with a hint of olive to her chalky complexion, and dark hair.
"I think a better description would be your complete and utter lack of action," I snap, and Alice squeezes my hand gently.
"Hermione," she says softly, but I shake my head.
"You don't just abandon family," I hiss between clenched teeth, then pause and take a deep breath. "I can't be here." I mutter, letting go and striding over to the table containing rows and rows of flutes of champagne and fancy finger-foods. I grab a champagne, downing it in one long sip, then pick up a pastry thing to nibble on.
"Not a fan of the in-laws?" A voice speaks up from beside me, and I spin around to face Leah. She's looking amused, and I scowl at her.
"They sodding abandoned us when we needed them most! A few pretty words isn't going to make up for that!"
During the War, all of us, we fought fiercely for each other, casting aside petty grudges and differences- and none of us were hundreds of years old like these vampires, who were certainly old enough to know better. They'd sentenced the Cullens to death, because of one vampire they'd known for what, a year? And this was after decades- centuries, even- of friendship.
Family, they called themselves.
Liars.
Leah raises her hands up in a surrender gesture, easily reading the expressions on my face.
"Hey, I agree with you! No need to bite my head off!" I sigh, and resist the urge to slouch against the table, worried that if I do I'll end up knocking it, and sending champagne spilling everywhere.
"Having fun?" I ask. She pulls a face.
"It stinks."
"Thought you'd be used to the smell by now." I comment.
"Believe me, it's not something you get used to in a hurry." She mutters. "Any word on Jacob?" I ask, and her mouth quirks into a slight smile. "He arrived a few minutes ago. He's dancing with Bella now."
"Really?" I ask, surprised, turning and peering around the garden, looking for a white dress- the easiest way to spot Bella- Edward is twirling Rosalie around, in the middle of the dance floor, but I can't see Bella anywhere, or her dance partner.
"Over there," Leah motions to a cluster of cedars, and I start heading over in that direction. Leah easily keeps pace with me. "What's the plan?" she asked.
"Spy on them," I answer, promptly. I finally spot them, hidden in the shadows, and I wait, watching them dance. Jacob's positioned her hands over his heart, and they're swaying together. Bella's face is radiant.
I stand there, watching. They seem happy, chatting away, until suddenly Leah stiffens beside me, and I watch Jacob's expression bulge in a kind of confused horror. "Shit," Leah mutters, beside me.
"What is it?" I demand, hurrying forwards.
"Ow, Jake! Let go!" I hear Bella say, and my vision flashes red as I see him shake her.
"Jacob's not happy about her banging Mr. Fang while her heart's still beating," Leah explains, easily keeping pace with me. Edward suddenly appears beside them, and his voice is sharp as a razor.
"Take your hands off her!" I can hear snarling, and I duck down, hitching up my dress and pulling out my wand.
"Jacob, you're losing it!" Leah snapped, "You're hurting her! Let go!" Jacob is frozen in place, and I point my wand at him.
"Protego!" A shimmering shield is conjured between the two, pushing him away from Bella, throwing him to the ground. Instantly, Edward lifts Bella, moving her several yards away, tensing in front of her. Jacob stumbles back to his feet, his eyes flashing dangerously at Edward.
"I'll kill you!" his voice his so choked with rage that it was a low whisper. "I'll kill you myself! I'll do it now!" I acted quickly, slashing my wand through the air.
"Stupefy!" A jet of red light hits the trembling shape-shifter, and he slumps to the ground, unconscious. Two enormous wolves emerged from the shadows, eyeing me warily. I kept my wand out in case they reacted violently, but they didn't, merely bracing themselves between the unconscious Jacob and Edward, not aggressive, just protective.
Alice is beside me, I didn't even notice her arrive, and her arm is wrapped around my waist like an iron vice, her eyes narrowed dangerously at the wolves.
"I'll get him out of here," Leah states, and despite the gravity of the situation, I have to hold back a laugh at the comical sight of Leah hauling Jacob up over her shoulder, her supernatural strength at work. "See you later, Hermione, Alice... Bella, Edward."
She waves, with her free hand, her only genuine smile aimed at me. I smile back, and watch as she disappears into the darkness, the other wolves following. The brown wolf paused for a moment, turning to face Edward and Bella, eyes hostile. "I'm sorry," Bella whispered, her face drawn and pale. Edward gave a sharp, cold nod, and the wolf melted away into the shadows.
Bella turns, clinging to Edward, and he rubs her back. "All right, let's get back." He coaxes. Bella shakes her head, wildly.
"Just Jake-"
"Sam and Leah have him in hand. He's gone."
"Edward, I'm so sorry! I was stupid-" Bella wails. "You did nothing wrong-"
"I have such a big mouth!" She continues, ignoring him, "why would I... I shouldn't have let him get to me like that. What was I thinking?"
"Don't worry," Edward reiterates, touching her face. "We need to get back to the reception, love, before someone notices our absence." Bella shook her head, wildly.
"Two seconds," she pleaded, "give me two seconds." I crossed over, closing the short distance between us, and wrapped my arms around her.
"Bella-" I begin, but she interrupts me, shaking her head. "I'm an idiot, Hermione."
"Don't be daft! You are not that thick, Bella." I growl, "he's the bloody moron!" She gives a shaky smile.
"It sounds so strange when you go all British on me."
"'ello governor!" I say, in the thickest, most obnoxious English accent I can manage. This time she manages a watery laugh, and I give her hand a quick squeeze. "It's your wedding, Bells. Enjoy it." I tell her, sternly, before backing off, to give her and Edward some time to talk, before they go back out to meet the throng.
Alice walks beside me, her expression downcast. "I can't believe that just happened!" she lamented.
"Don't worry, sweetheart, the wedding's still wonderful." I assure her, correctly guessing where her misery is stemming from.
"I spent so long making this perfect, and then that mutt just came and ruined everything!" she wailed, and I laughed, pulling her into my arms, and planting my lips on hers.
"He ruined nothing," I say, pulling back. She reaches up, grabbing the back of my neck, and tugging my mouth back down to hers.
-
We danced together and ate cake- well, I ate cake, until it was time for Alice to drag Bella upstairs to get changed. I waited with everyone else at the bottom of the staircase, knowing that Renée would be upstairs to help Bella change, and not wanting to see her. I'd managed to avoid her most of the wedding, and I didn't plan on that changing any time soon.
Bella looked beautiful as she just about floated down the stairs. Her hair was loose and wavy, and she was wearing a beautiful blue dress. I watched Edward lead her through the crowd, and followed her, as they made their way to Charlie.
He was leaning awkwardly against the wall, behind everyone else- the reason why was abundantly clear, from the red rims around his eyes. "Oh, Dad!" Bella burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms. He patted her back awkwardly.
"There, there," he mumbled.
"I love you forever, Dad," Bella blubbered "don't forget that!"
"You, too, Bells," Charlie replied. "Always have, always will." He kissed her cheeks, then gave her a stern look. "Call me."
"Soon," Bella promised.
"Go on then," he said, gruffly, "don't want to be late." The guests cleared, making a path for the happy couple, and Edward shielded Bella, rushing her to the car as the rice storm began. I leaned against the wall next to Charlie, pretending that my eyes weren't damp.
"Bella married... weird." I said. He gave a strained laugh, and wrapped an arm around me. "Like you wouldn't believe, kiddo."
The car was decorated with flowers and streamers and ribbons and half a dozen brand new designer shoes. Bella stuck her hand out the window and called out, "I love you!" to the porch, waving enthusiastically. My eyes met hers and I smiled, waving back, before the car disappeared up the driveway.
The official story was that they were driving to the airport, but in actuality, the car would be parking a couple of miles up the road, where I'd set up a Portkey to take them to their destination- an island that Carlisle had gifted Esme. Isle Esme, it was called.
"Have an amazing time," I murmured under my breath.
"They will." Alice assured me, appearing beside me. Charlie jumped slightly, startled by her sudden appearance, but other then that, he took it in his stride. I lifted my spare arm, the one not hugging Charlie, to wrap around her shoulders, pulling her close.
In this moment, I felt loved. On top of the world. Like nothing could go wrong.