Hermione stood in her long white bathrobe. She had just had a shower and was now drying her hair with her mother’s hair dryer. Hermione eyed her dress as she dried her fringe. The dress was hung up on a hanger. She couldn’t wait to get in it. She looked back to the mirror and brushed her hair. It was dry enough, she convinced herself. Hermione shed the robe and put some underwear on. She then took the dress and with a huge smile she pulled it on. Hermione walked over to the full length mirror and turned around.

Hermione grinned as she eyed the beautiful dress up and down. It had no back to it but the dress came down to mid thigh. It was incredibly beautiful with the huge white bow at her waist. It wasn’t something Hermione would usually wear. It was quite revealing but she loved it. Hermione quickly found some white high heels and slipped them on. She put some lipstick and mascara on to make herself look presentable although the dress did wonders. She glanced at the clock and was shocked to realise that it was almost six. The engagement starts at seven, she should be there before hand. Hermione grabbed a small purse, putting essentials into it, like her makeup and her wand. She then locked her front door and apparated to the burrow.

 Hermione could hear the music playing as soon as her feet landed on the ground. She saw the huge tent raised up and a few people were outside the tent, holding drinks and chatting amongst themselves. Hermione assumed Harry and Ginny would be getting ready inside. She took  deep breath and thinking of Fred, knowing he would be inside the tent, knowing he would give her a look that would set her butterflies crazy... Hermione went inside the tent.

‘Whoa, Hermione, is that you?’ a voice said and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as it was only Neville, ‘you look bloody brilliant!’

‘Oh, Neville, you’re embarrassing her!’ Luna came into view too and she waved at Hermione, ‘but, yes, you are correct. You look beautiful, Hermione. I guess the nargles didn’t ruin your look today.’

Hermione didn’t know whether to laugh at Luna’s words or to be offended so she just hugged Luna and Neville and thanked them. She was overly pleased to see them holding hands and was so happy that they were a couple. They seemed so right for each other and so happy together.

‘How is Ginny feeling?’ asked Hermione and then looked at Neville, ‘and Harry? I bet he’s nervous.’

‘Ginny is going crazy with worry. I think you better see her,’ chuckled Luna and Neville added, ‘Harry just keeps pacing around the room.’

‘I’ll go see Harry first and then Ginny,’ muttered Hermione.

She left the couple and walked awkwardly, due to her high heels and the uneven terrain, towards the house. Mrs Weasley saw her and stopped for a second to say how pretty Hermione looked and then she was off again. Hermione chuckled and climbed the stairs. She knocked on Ron’s door, where she assumed Harry would be. The door opened and Ron came into view. His eyes went down to Hermione’s feet and back up. Hermione turned bright red as Ron’s mouth fell open in shock.

‘You look... wow...’ Ron managed to say.

‘Thanks for the dress, Ronald,’ Hermione squeezed his hand and walked past him into the room.

Harry was pacing up and down, looking at the floor. Hermione smiled and stopped him by holding onto his arm. Harry looked up and opened his mouth, probably to snap at who he thought was Ron, but he realised it was Hermione, he shut his mouth. Hermione hugged him.

‘You look amazing, Hermione,’ said Harry as she pulled back.

‘Thanks, you look nervous,’ Hermione chuckled and Harry shrugged, ‘if you’re this nervous, I wonder how Ginny is.’

‘She’s probably going insane with worry,’ Harry muttered and started to bite his nails.

‘I’ll make sure she is fine. Stop worrying. You look great and everything is going to be fine,’ Hermione assured him, ‘you and Ginny are meant to be.’

‘Thanks, Mione,’ Harry looked behind her to Ron and then he hugged Hermione. He whispered as low as he could in her ear so that Ron couldn’t hear him, ‘Fred’s not here yet.’

Hermione pulled back with a frown and looked behind her to Ron who was staring at her dress in thought. She looked back to Harry and shrugged as if to say not-my-problem. Harry gave a look back but Hermione turned around.

‘I’ll go and see Ginny,’ she muttered and left the room quickly.

Hermione walked quickly down the hall way until she got to Ginny’s room. She knocked and then walked in. Ginny was sitting on the bed as Luna, who must’ve followed Hermione up, was fixing her hair. As soon as Ginny looked to Hermione she scowled.

‘Hermione, one of my brothers aren’t here,’ stated Ginny, knowing that Hermione would understand, ‘Why isn’t he here yet?!’

‘He might just be on his way. Calm down, Ginny. Everything will be fine!’ Hermione said and sat next to Ginny, ‘I promise you this engagement will be perfect.'

‘I’ve already lost one brother. I need Fred to be here. Go and get him. You know he isn’t going to come because you’re here! You know that!’ Ginny shrieked and Hermione willed for her not to cry and ruin her makeup. It hurt that Ginny thought Fred wasn’t here because of Hermione. It also hurt to get all the blame.

‘I’ll go and see where he is,’ Hermione said to Ginny and then she looked at Luna, ‘keep her calm.’

‘Yes, I will,’ Luna said and nodded.

Hermione left the room and walked down the hallway. She entered Ron’s room and Harry looked up at her. Ron was standing next to Harry and he looked at her too. Hermione wished Ron wasn’t there so that she could talk to Harry in private.

‘I need to go home and get some... uh... some make up I forgot for Ginny,’ Hermione looked straight to Harry who nodded understanding her.

‘Bring it back before the engagement starts,’ Harry said and he nodded, looking deadly serious.

‘Wait, Hermione, I’ll come too,’ Ron said, grabbing his wand

‘No!’ Hermione yelled, feeling her heart sink. Ron couldn’t come with her! Once again Hermione felt horrible for lying but now she had to lie for Ginny, ‘you can’t come!'

‘Why not?’ asked Ron, frowning at her.

‘You need to stay here with me, mate,’ said Harry after Hermione gave him a look, ‘I need someone to stay. I’m sure Hermione can handle getting makeup on her own.’

‘Yeah, I’ll see you when I get back,’ said Hermione and she left the room without another word.

Hermione climbed down the stairs and walked out of the house. She ignored eyes contact with anyone as she didn’t want people to start talking to her. Hermione stopped and closed her eyes thinking about Fred’s apartment. She disapparated and when she opened her eyes she was pleased to see Fred’s door right in front of her. Hermione nervously rung the bell. She could hear the door bell from inside the house but it seemed to echo outside too. Hermione waited, biting on her lips and wringing her hands together. She heard the lock click and Hermione quickly shook her hands to stop them from shaking. The door opened.

‘What are you doing here, Hermione?’ the voice made her recoil. Surely this couldn’t be Fred but of course it was. His voice was too harsh and his eyes were too dull. They didn’t hold the brightness in them anymore and Hermione wondered if he had been drinking. He looked sober enough, she concluded, she wondered why he was talking to her this way, ‘are you going to speak or just stand there?’

‘Can I come inside?’ Hermione asked, ignoring the hostility and edge to his voice.

‘Come inside?’ Fred looked behind him and then back to her, he blocked the sight from her, ‘and do what? Play games with my heart? Tell you what, you go wear something less revealing and then I’ll let you inside. Maybe then I'll be able to control my feeling for you, Mione. You see, you just look so bloody hot-’

‘Fred!’ Hermione said, not taking his words as a compliment. His tone was too harsh to be able to take his comment as praise. Especially when he said hot. Hermione didn’t appreciate being called hot especially from Fred in that tone of voice.

‘What, Hermione? I am just being honest but I suppose Ron’s already told you how good you look, right? I suppose you didn’t even think of me when you were talking to Ron? I suppose Ginny told you to come here to get me... you would never care if Ginny hadn’t told you,’ Fred leaned in closer and Hermione felt sick to her stomach at his next words, ‘how much to take your dress off?’

‘Fred, stop this stupidity,’ Hermione tried to shout but her voice came out weak and lifeless.

‘Stupidity? It wasn’t stupid when you were begging me to-’

Hermione did the one thing she never thought she would ever do. She slapped Fred right across his face. Anger boiled through her as Fred chuckled gravelly back at her. He turned his head to look at her and started to laugh with a scowl on his face. Hermione felt anger surge through her. How dare he!

‘Doesn’t hurt as much as you playing with my heart every day. Playing in my thoughts. Rejecting me and going with Ron instead. The physical pain is nothing compared to the emotional pain. Slap me again, maybe this time it’ll hurt more,’ Fred said.

‘Fred, your sister needs you at her engagement. Ginny needs you more than she needs me. You better go to that engagement, if not for yourself then go for Ginny,’ Hermione said and shook her head, ‘I’m going to go home and possibly burn this stupid dress!’

‘No no... you have to go to that engagement too. People will talk if you aren’t there and I am. Or if I’m not there. Go to the engagement and tell Ginny I’ll be there in five minutes. I don’t care what you do after the engagement,’ said Fred chuckling darkly.

‘I’m sure you won’t care if I die,’ Hermione said as Fred was about to close the door on her.

The door opened again and Fred glared at her, ‘don’t say that.’

Hermione glared at him, too far gone to care about his feeling anymore. She held up five fingers and said, ‘you have five minutes. Hurry up and...’

Hermione paused as she noticed something behind Fred. She frowned as she saw the familiar face. The girl from the hospital... What was her name? Alana. It clicked into Hermione’s mind at the same time as Fred realised she had spotted Alana. Hermione glared up at Fred who looked behind him angrily.

‘You are disgusting!’ yelled Hermione and she barely stopped her hand from going to her stomach. She only thought of how this would affect the child. Her child. Their child. If she couldn’t be with Fred, if Fred didn’t love her... then she couldn’t keep the child, ‘how many other girls? Huh, Fred? How many?!’

‘Don’t over react,’ pleaded Fred, clutching his head as if he had a headache.

‘You are the most... Oh Merlin! Fred...’ suddenly Hermione paused and then took  deep breath, composing herself, she said, ‘actually... it is your choice. If you want to sleep with her or any other girl then I have no right to stop you. Get to Ginny’s.’

Hermione closed her eyes and disapparated as Fred opened his mouth to speak. Hermione felt her stomach twist as she saw the familiar burrow again. She walked inside the house and didn’t care to keep her emotion off of her face. She felt like curling up in bed and crying all day. She felt betrayed. She felt anger. She felt frustration. She spotted Ginny and then, only then, did she compose herself. Hermione went behind Ginny and whispered in  her ear.

‘He’s on his way. Five minutes,’ muttered Hermione and Ginny turned to face her with a concerned look. Hermione realised her voice sound as though she may burst out crying any second ‘I’ll be fine, Ginny, just... he’s coming soon.’

Hermione walked away as she heard Ginny tell Mrs Weasley that they will start in ten minutes. Hermione sat on the stairs first step as she couldn’t walk any further. She buried her face in her hands and tried not to cry. She jumped as someone sat next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders. She realised it was Neville.

‘Don’t cry,’ he muttered, ‘you’ll ruin your makeup.’

‘Neville, please,’ Hermione said and stood up, ‘I have to see Harry... I need to see if he... if he’s okay.’

‘How about you make sure you are okay first,’ Neville said, watching as she climbed the stairs.

‘Thank you, Neville but I am fine,’ Hermione said and she realised her voice sounded better now, well as better as it could get.

She had to get through this day and then she could cry all she wanted. Hermione knocked on Ron’s door and let herself in. She spotted Harry by the window, he was staring outside as Ron was standing near his mirror, fixing his robes. Harry quickly turned around as Hermione came in.

‘I... uh... got the makeup for Ginny...’ Hermione said awkwardly, trying to tell him that Fred was coming.

Harry nodded, understanding perfectly. He began to pace up and down the room nervously, wringing his hands together. Ron looked at Hermione but she avoided his gaze.

‘I should go and help them,’ Hermione said just as Ron was about to say something.

She turned around, walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. Hermione knew there were lots of people outside. She also knew that she had to act happy for Harry and Ginny. She didn’t want to cause a scene. Hermione watched as Mr Weasley climbed up the stairs, followed by Mrs Weasley.

‘Hermione, dear! Take your seat outside! It’s about to start!’ Mrs Weasley said right before she disappeared into Harry’s room.

Hermione went down the stairs, past the kitchen and outside. She entered the tent and saw that all the people had taken their seats. Hermione was ushered to her seat by a woman passing by. She seemed very excited. The woman, who she assumed was an Aunt of Ginny’s, told her to sit anywhere in the second row. Hermione nodded, barely hearing her over everyone’s babble. She looked to the second row and saw Neville and Luna, sitting side by side and holding hands, Percy who seemed to be disconnected to everyone, Bill and Fleur, looking loved up and happy. Hermione took a seat next to Luna, who smiled at her. After returning the smile, Hermione nervously looked back to the front of the tent. She wasn’t looking for Ginny or Ron. She was looking for Fred. If he doesn’t show up, Ginny will be devastated.

‘I’m sure Ron will come down soon,’ Luna said as she watched Hermione look around nervously every two seconds.

‘Yeah...’ Hermione said unable to explain that she wasn’t looking for Ron instead she was looking for the man who had broke her heart, made her pregnant and hurt her emotionally but still she couldn’t seem to get him out of her mind. Fred Weasley.

Hermione watched as Mr and Mrs Weasley came into the tent closely followed by Ron. Mrs Weasley took a seat at the front and Ron was pulled by one of his cousins to sit next to him. Mr Weasley started to talk to the priest and Hermione looked around to Ron but he was immersed in a conversation with his cousin.

Hermione’s heart jumped as she spotted someone enter the tent. She felt relieved as she saw Fred come in although his tie hung loose around his long neck. His eyes roamed over everyone and finally stopped as he saw Hermione. Hermione turned around, hoping he wouldn’t sit next to her. That wouldn’t be good. She turned around as he walked over to her. Her heart filled with dread as he sat right next to Hermione.

‘Hello Luna, Neville,’ he greeted them with a dazzling smile.

‘You git,’ Bill said in way of greeting, leaning over to talk to Fred, ‘Ginny would’ve killed you if you had walked in during the engagement.’

‘I’m here now,’ Fred replied, shrugging.

Bill went back to talking to Fleur and Luna started to day dream. Hermione glanced down at Fred’s tie, with a scowl. She was irritated that he was sitting next to her. Couldn’t he see that Ron was sitting in eye distance of them?

‘Do you want me to take my shirt off so you can stare properly?’ Fred grinned at her. Hermione was confused and annoyed that he had the cheek to flirt with her.

‘Tie your tie,’ Hermione stated, wondering why he was joking with her after their argument.

‘Don’t be moody. It’s supposed to be a joyous occasion,’ Fred said as he tried to tie his blue tie.

‘Did you forget the argument we had at your apartment or are we just going to over look that?’ Hermione said coldly, smoothing down her dress after thinking of the things he said to her about the dress.

‘I was angry. You were angry. You look beautiful as you always do and-’ Fred shrugged.

‘You slept with Alana?’ Hermione interrupted, looking behind her to make sure Ron didn’t see them sitting together.

‘I thought that didn’t matter to you?’ Fred smirked and Hermione glared at him, ‘talk to me in private after the engagement.’

‘Fred, you shouldn’t sit here,’ Hermione stated, looking behind her to Ron, ‘if someone see’s you and I-’

‘You mean if Ron see’s us together... why are you so afraid of admitting that you have feelings for me? You don’t know yet but we are meant to be. I’ll win in the end,’ Fred said, losing all his smirks and smiles, ‘I love you, Mia.’

‘Shh...’ Hermione said uneasily, glancing at Luna who was, thankfully, laughing at something Neville had said, ‘someone will hear you...’

‘I don’t care,’ Fred said, shrugging and stretching his long legs out. He took one of Hermione’s hands, ‘I want people to know that I love you.’

‘Fred, this isn’t the time,’ Hermione scowled taking her hand out of his.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley!’ Mr Weasley shouted and everyone turned their heads to look to the opening of the tent, which was beautifully decorated with white and blue flowers.

Hermione turned around to see Ginny, looking beautiful in her royal blue dress, and Harry, with a matching royal blue tie, walking down the aisle. They reached the stage and stood facing each other. Everyone clapped and Hermione forget her troubles as she watched Harry slip the ring onto Ginny’s finger and Ginny do the same. At the end Ginny turned bright red as Harry kissed her. Everyone stood up and clapped as they kissed each other. Hermione noticed Ron coming to stand beside her, gently moving Fred out of the way. Ron placed an arm around Hermione’s waist and ignored Fred. Hermione stopped clapping as Fred narrowed his eyes at Ron. Hermione caught Fred’s eyes and pleaded with him silently. Fred ignored her and turned to watch Harry and Ginny being hugged by Mr and Mrs Weasley.

‘I’m going up to them,’ Ron said and squeezed Hermione’s hand before he left.

‘Fred-’ Hermione said, about to take Fred’s arm to turn him around but he walked away to some guys who were standing around having a drink.

Hermione smoothed out her dress as she looked over to Ron. He looked occupied as he took cards and presents from people coming to congratulate Harry and Ginny. Hermione turned to look at Fred. He seemed to be downing rinks as though it was water. Hermione hoped he would be sober by the time she got a chance to talk to him.