and to this day, when everything breaks, you are the anchor that holds me

[cleverness]

As the sun began to deep from its early afternoon high, birds chirped as they flew through the woods, lingering around the Nook and watching curiously as people gathered from around the city. Flowers bloomed from the branches, uncharacteristically bright and large for the season, aided by a touch of magic. Not far from the house, a small babbling brook snaked through the fields, giving pets and wildlife alike the chance to run around and splash in a bit of water. The wedding decor had been designed to blend into the countryside, tables held up by tree trunks, and shade overhead provided by the stretch of vines and blossoms. The scent in the air was subtle and sweet, light floral mingling with the smell of baked goods wafting from the buffet table. At the end of the table stood a large cake, with white frosting and decorated with orange blossoms and clementines. If one looked closely enough, they would notice that one of the fruits was different than the rest, painted a subtle gold, and occasionally flying around the cake with a rapid beating of delicate wings.

The wedding was a small and intimate affair, meant to be more of a celebration than a formal occasion, and guests mingled with wine and cheer before the time came for the ceremony to begin.


Ron had felt as if he was going to lose his breakfast for most of the day. The truth was, he'd barely eaten at all that morning, anxious about the late afternoon ceremony. In some ways, it reminded him of ages ago, of his first Quidditch match as Keeper back at Hogwarts, his stomach was in knots, he felt peaky, and without realizing it that morning, he'd been so distracted by his own thoughts that he'd idly managed to cast a spell that left a small raincloud lingering over his head for nearly an hour before he managed to rid himself of it.

He knew that he was mental for it, for being worried about any of this. He and Hermione had been together ages now. They loved each other, and this was the next thing. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with that bloody amazing woman, but there was still the slightest bit of worry that she'd think better of it— of him— and tell him to sod off. He hadn't had thoughts like that, when it came to Hermione, in ages, but somehow it'd all come flooding back in the hours before the wedding.

Even standing there, waiting for her to walk down the aisle, he tried to push those thoughts away, tried not to look too nervous, like his stomach didn't feel like a crumpled bit of parchment. At least, if it all went sour, he only really knew a handful of people who'd turned up today. And Charlie wasn't George or Ginny, so he wouldn't give him too hard a time about it.

But the thing Ron didn't expect, standing there feeling like he might pass out, what he hadn't prepared himself for, was how she looked when he finally saw her. Because once he finally saw Hermione in her dress, walking toward him, this bloody amazing woman who'd chosen him when she could have had anyone, all the worry melted away. The parchment uncrumpled itself, and he was left grinning so hard he couldn't imagine ever being this happy again in his life.


All throughout the morning, Hermione's heart fluttered in her chest. Even as she listened to the guests mingling in the distance, there was something about the day that didn't feel quite real, even as she worked on zipping her dress and arranging her hair just so. While she had asked a guest or two for help on occasion, Hermione spent most of the morning preparing on her own, letting the enormity of everything that had led her and Ron to this point sink in. She had known, practically since their first year at Hogwarts, that Ron was a person whom Hermione would spend the rest of her years standing alongside. But the depth of what they felt for one another, the deepening of those emotions as they bloomed into something deeper and intangible, was something she never could have anticipated all of those years ago.

Now, she couldn't imagine wanting a single day away from him. As Hermione gazed in the mirror, she noticed how it softened her appearance. Her cheeks, dusted pink even without the help of blush. Quietly, she stole a moment to peek through the window, where Ron and Charlie were speaking in the distance. Everything about the day felt right. Everything was coming together, the final missing pieces of the puzzle.

By the time she made her way to the aisle, Hermione was already beaming, fingers trembling as they held onto her bouquet. Petals of light pink and orange lined the path she took, guests turned their heads to rest upon the bride, and sweet woodwind music played in the distance — but in the moment, Hermione only had eyes for Ron. As she came to a stop across from him, she reached a hand out to lace with his own, and silently murmured, I love you.


Ron had spent hours the day before trying to put the right words together, even though he knew that he was rubbish at that sort of thing. Reports, papers… mostly he just tried to get out of doing them, but this wasn't something Ron wanted to skive off. It was more important than almost anything.

In the end, he'd come up with something, and he'd written it out on a bit of parchment that he'd folded up and put in the pocket of his jacket, but he'd begun to think he wouldn't need it after all.

"Hermione, you've been my best friend, my teacher, my soul mate. You've managed to put up with me for over a decade now, and if you were going to think better of it, I s'pose you would've done it by now. Sometimes— right now, especially— I can't believe I've gotten this lucky. I love you, Hermione. You've been making me a better person since we first met, all those years ago as kids. And I promise that— that I'll keep working at it for as long as we're together, which is the rest of our lives, I hope. I promise we'll keep learning from each other, and that I'll always be there.

"A long time ago, I got lost, and it took a little ball of light to bring me back to you, to bring me home again. But I promise to never leave again. You're my home now, and you always will be."


As Hermione listened to Ron speak, she felt her chest grow tight and her eyes mist over, but she did her best to take the whole moment in, committing every detail to memory. The bright blue of Ron's eyes, as clear as the sky above. The way his hair caught the sunlight. The gentle brush of the wind as he spoke, grass waving merrily in the distance. She ducked her head for only a moment, smiling to herself, knowing that she could never forget the way that her heart felt right then, full to burst.

"As a child, I had always been somewhat of a precocious little thing. I knew how to consume books as though I was breathing air, and I kept my nose buried in them, day after day, like they were my entire world. But from the moment that you entered my life, Ron, you showed me that there was so much more to the world than what I could learn in the shelves of a library. You taught me the value of friendship, you showed me what true bravery meant. And what you taught me, above all else, is about love. What it's like to grow together, and what it's like to feel as though there's another person in the world who completes you. Who makes your world whole. Who shows you, every day, how life can be lived to its fullest.

"You say that you feel like you're lucky, but I feel like I've been the fortunate one to have found my soulmate so early in life. And I can't wait to spend the rest of that life with you."

Trembling hands relaxed as Hermione watched Ron slide the ring onto her finger, and she glanced up with a soft laugh. His warm arms wrapped around her, and Hermione pushed herself onto her toes, hand curling against his chest as she pressed her lips to his.


[ gathering for ronmione wedding! let us know if you're requesting ron, hermione, or both! tag in and be merry. ♥ ]

Comments

[survivesitall]

Elena has Clayton on her arm, looking grumpy but still there. In part she'd lured him out with the dress she had on, knowing that he would sit at home and grumble even more with her out there dressed like that than he would at the wedding. She's promised him a conversation too, about their future and children.

The ceremony was beautiful, and she's happy for them. They're surrounded by people, so she hangs back, sipping at a drink and waiting for a time to say hello.

[dragonsandquidditch]

Charlie's favorite part about the decor is the way it blends into the outdoors; it's clever and lovely both, enhancing the intimacy of the ceremony while also illuminating the grandness of the day itself. Also, the Snitch on the cake is quite possibly the best thing Charlie's ever seen on any dessert. He spends his time before the ceremony itself chatting with guests, his gaze always falling back on the Snitch with a large smile.

When the ceremony itself starts, Charlie can't stop smiling. Ron is clearly nervous, but the look on his face when he first glances Hermione coming down the aisle, well.

It's enough to make Charlie pull out his handkerchief and blow into it. His youngest brother, the baby of the boys in the family, is grown up and marrying the woman who already feels like an extension of the Weasleys. He can hardly believe it as they exchange their vows.

Bloody hell, he's actually blubbering. George would mock him endlessly, if he could see him now. But it's Ron, and it's Hermione, and they so obviously poured themselves into their vows.

It's a magic beyond wands and potions, and while Charlie isn't looking for it himself, he finds himself amazed by it in those he cares deeply for.

"I can't even believe it," he says when the ceremony finishes, walking up to Ron and throwing an arm around his shoulder. "The runt of the litter is all grown and and married. So when can I expect my next niece or nephew?" Yet, though he kids, he pulls first Ron, then Hermione, into a deep embrace.

"No, but seriously, congratulations to you both," he sniffs again. "Blimey, you both gave me a good cry! I hope your happy with yourselves."

OOC: Ron and Hermione please. :3

[thelocalpsychopath]

After the wedding and dealing with being surrounded by a bunch of people, Clayton had needed a drink and so he had gone in search of one though he wouldn't stay from Elena's side for long. It wasn't just that she was stunning in the dress she had chosen, it was that she was a calming presence for him in a situation he otherwise avoided.

That and he wanted to talk about the kids they were supposed to have.

So he made his way back to her side after getting himself a strong drink to steady himself a bit. Sliding an arm around her waist when he got to her, he glanced around with a bit of a grumble. "When are they going to bring out the food again?"

[survivesitall]

"Give them long enough to say hello to everyone first," she says as she leans back against him. His touch is always welcome, and she knows that she's better at events like this than he is. It comes from having grown up human, or maybe from having spent so long putting on a brave face as she went from home to home. In their own way they've both had to learn how to fit in. "And you can't eat it all."

[teaandsympathy]

The young witch Molly met had tried to explain things to her, but it was a lot to take in all at once and after the night Molly had just had, she was caught somewhere between suspecting it was some strange spell she'd never heard of and simply not thinking of it for a time.

Most surprising, though, was where Aggie had been going when she found Molly. Even now, as she watched through a sheen of tears as Ron and Hermione exchanged their vows, it was hard to believe. She'd arrived only just in time to linger at the edge of the gathering during the ceremony, nothing more than a quick flick of her wand to set her robes to rights, and another to freshen her curls and be as presentable as she could be.

Molly hadn't been able to stop the silent flow of tears, or the one sob she muffled with a handkerchief still damp with her earlier tears of grief. But she gathered herself as best she could when the ceremony was over, the only thing keeping her from rushing to sweep Ron and Hermione - and Charlie - into crushing hugs, was the way she still felt a bit shaky after it all. Grief, joy, and befuddlement all jumbled together.

[deluminate]

The truth was, Ron still wasn't completely sure it had actually happened. He scarcely wanted to let go of Hermione's hand, for fear that it'd somehow turn out that he'd dreamed today, after all. It was bloody amazing, it was. And maybe they were still stuck where they were, trapped in Darrow until someone figured out how to right everything, but this was about as good as it got for now.

In the back of his mind all day, though, had been how much he wishes more of their families could have been there. It was brilliant that Charlie had turned up, but he'd always thought that Harry would be be there whenever this happened, and that all four of his and Hermione's parents would be watching on, as well.

That was why Ron thought that he might have been losing it, when he caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd, one he and Hermione hadn't invited out to the Nook today, only because they hadn't thought she was in Darrow. Something pinched tight in his chest for a moment, and he let his wife's hand go to head over.

"Mum?" he said, questioning and hopeful, but remembering that not too long ago, people in Darrow saw friends and family from home only for it to be some ruddy trick. He didn't think he could manage it if this was that, again.

[dragonsandquidditch]

Charlie still finds himself tearing up, even after the ceremony. Considering, last time he'd been back in England, Ron and Hermione were but teenagers, he finds himself overwhelmed by the reality of their new ages and their new togetherness as a couple. His youngest brother, here in the city, now only a couple of years younger than himself, is married. It's a strange, yet wonderful, thought to preoccupy him as he mingles and introduces himself to some of his brother's friends in Darrow.

He's just going to grab another goblet of punch for himself when he finds himself facing a very familiar sight at the edge of the ceremony.

"Mum? Bloody hell, is that you?" He can't keep himself from talking excitedly, nor from hurrying over to see if it's really her.

[thelocalpsychopath]

Parties had never been Clayton's thing, not even when Jeremy was trying to get him used to being social or even when he was in school. He tries though for Elena and sometimes the others back home. Tonight he even went so far as getting dressed up in something he figures Elena will like.

"I wasn't going to." He offers a somewhat wolfish smile. "I was only going to eat about half."

[teaandsympathy]

Reaching out to pull Ron into her motherly embrace was automatic, simple proximity enough to break through the weakness that had held Molly back till then. If she held on a smidge tighter than usual, well, she was his mother. After a long moment, she pulled back, hands still on his shoulders, as she looked up at him more carefully, but all too soon she was hugging him again.

"Married. My little Ronnie. You're too young, the both of you," she muttered, although a small voice in the back of her head said they didn't look all that young. "I'm happy, of course. Thrilled. I always knew you and Hermione could make a go of things, but..."

[teaandsympathy]

There was a part of Molly almost instinctively wanted to chide Charlie on his language, grown or not, but just then she was so happy to see him here nothing else really mattered.

"Charlie!" She closed the remaining distance between them, arms thrown wide to wrap around him in welcome and relief.

[everyonetakes]

It's really cool, watching someone else get married, especially two someones she knew pretty well on the island, even if they don't remember it, and Kate finds herself smiling all through the ceremony. She's definitely not crying, because weddings are generally disasters, except this one is really sort of nice and maybe she's taking mental notes, because she has her own wedding to think about.

Plus, any excuse to get dressed up is a good one, as far as Kate is concerned. And she's been looking for a reason to buy the awesome star dress that she'd been checking out at work for ages. This is the perfect excuse.

[cleverness]

Hermione can't seem to stop smiling throughout the ceremony, cheeks warm and flushed as she makes her rounds, wanting to thank everyone individually for making it to the wedding. The reception is small, intimate, with plenty of opportunity to everyone to meet one another — and Hermione couldn't be happier for it. Most of the party consists of familiar faces, almost everyone looks like they're having a decent time, and when Hermione makes her way over to Elena, her cheeks practically ache from how perfect everything is.

"Elena," she greets, already having abandoned her heels in favor of bare feet on the grass. "Elena, I'm so glad that you made it to the wedding, thank you so much for coming. I hope you're having a good time."

[cleverness]

Even though Hermione had reminded herself time and time again to greet all of the guests immediately during the reception, she couldn't help but stay by Ron's side for those first few minutes, completely elated with their new status as a married couple. But as soon as it struck her that the sun was quickly starting to dip in the sky, Hermione pulled Ron along to make sure that she thanked everyone for sharing their special day.

She looks first for Charlie, easily spotting him by his red hair and rushing over as quickly as her dress will allow.

"Charlie!" she exclaims, stepping forward for the embrace. Her eyes are still misty from the day's events, kissing Charlie quickly on the cheek. "Charlie, can you believe it? The both of us are married now. And, please — we've only just checked that off the list. We need to at least get through the reception before bringing up the topic of children, don't you think?"

[cleverness]

When Ron was the first to pull away from Hermione's side, she assumed that he had spotted Charlie somewhere in the party, and wanted some time alone between his brother and himself. Hermione had every intention of making her way to some of her other friends while Ron was occupied, but she wanted to make sure she knew where he was going, so she glanced in his direction.

And felt her heart practically stop.

Molly Weasley was immediately recognizable in the distance, with her fiery auburn hair and emotions written on her features. But the shock of having Molly show up at the wedding had Hermione standing still, and she couldn't deny the moment of doubt which passed through her mind. The city had only just recovered from seeing imitations of their loved ones in the streets.

Maybe it was a trick.

But Ron quickly made it to his mother's side, and seeing Molly wrap her arms around her son was enough. Hermione rushed over, already feeling tears trail down her cheeks as her hands gathered her skirts a little higher to prevent herself from tripping. "Mrs. Weasley," she gasped once she made it to their side. "Is it really...?"

[cleverness]

There's nothing that Hermione's wanted more for this day than to be surrounded with friends and watch everyone share smiles and laughter. Having worked hard to keep the feel of the wedding natural and casual, Hermione begins to breathe more easily once the reception is well under way. Nothing's blown up, the food hasn't run out, and the music continues to play in the distance, soft and fitting for the occasion.

She's abandoned her shoes long ago in favor of more comfort as she goes around to greet her friends. Kate's dress immediately stands out in the crowd, and Hermione makes her way there with a smile. "Kate," she says, smile wide as she makes her way over. "Oh, Kate, you look gorgeous. Thank you so much for coming today."

[spirit_of_vitriol]

Back home, Flavia would've had everything at her disposal to make Miss Granger--Mrs. Weasley, now, she corrected herself--the most wonderful of wedding presents. She'd been reading up on the science of pyrotechnics before her untimely departure from Buckshaw, thanks to Tar's extensive scientific archive.

As it was, she had an envelope in the pocket of her dress, enclosing a certificate written in Flavia's best handwriting and promising the bearer a Rocket of Honour in the colors of their choosing (within chemical reason). It might take a while to get the supplies here in Darrow, but she hoped Hermione would understand.

She laid the envelope on the gift table--trying to ignore how measly and meager it looked among the other beautifully-wrapped presents--before turning to rejoin the festivities. There was going to be cake, after all.

[ghost_holder]

In Blithe Hollow, Aggie had attended a few weddings but they had been rather somber affairs compared to the joyful one she's watched today. She can see now why modern weddings are such celebrated occasions, even without the trappings. The way that Hermione looks at her new husband makes Aggie truly wonder what it might be like to fall in love. If it's anything like those two, she thinks she'd be lucky.

It's rather lucky too, Aggie thinks, that she seems to have brought a nice wedding gift in escorting the mother of the groom.

Sitting primly in her dress for a moment, Aggie just smiles bashfully.

[ghost_holder]

"You came on just the right day," Aggie says, smiling at Molly's side. It had been a properly serendipitous meeting and she hopes that the bride and groom will be happy to see her.

"Hermione helps me with some of my magic too."

[everyonetakes]

"Hey," she says with a bright smile, turning to wrap her arms around Hermione in a quick hug. Newt has disappeared somewhere -- probably to find the cake -- and she glances around for him for a second before giving up and figuring Hermione will have to meet him a little later. "That was so nice. I was totally taking notes, so don't be mad if I steal like, everything."

She's teasing, mostly because she doesn't think this is quite what she or Newt would want, but its's beautiful all the same. It has her thinking, though, about the vows and the things they're supposed to say. Kate usually doesn't have much of a problem speaking, but when it comes to the more meaningful things in life, she knows she isn't very good at them. It makes her a little nervous.

[deluminate]

Ron hadn't been sure right away. After what he'd heard from Hermione and Charlie about people in the city seeing people who weren't really there, he hadn't been sure. At least, not until his Mum pulled him into a hug, just like she always had back home. He'd been too shocked to really register it at first, but by the time she'd finally let him go, he couldn't manage to anything but grin widely.

"It's her, Hermione," Ron said, and even after the way Darrow had tricked people recently, he was absolutely sure.

[deluminate]

"Yeah, maybe give it a minute," Ron said, though there was a bit of a laugh at the end of his sentence, despite his brother's teasing. He reckoned Charlie had a lot to make up for, since Ron was getting out of being on the other side of it from George and Ginny and likely Harry as well.

He'd been trying his best not to think about the people who weren't there today, instead focusing on the ones who were. They were lucky, really. Lucky today had turned out as well as it had.

[beyondtheblonde]

Elle's wiping away tears before the vows are even finished, and she's not the least bit ashamed of it. There's little as beautiful as a wedding and nothing more important than love, and the air around the Nook is suffused with that today. It's easily the most intimate wedding she's ever attended. Back home in Malibu, she went to a lot of very grand affairs, and they were lovely, of course, and she had a great time, but it was nothing like this. She very nearly feels as if she's intruding here, spying on such heartfelt vows, her own heart full as she reaches for Emmett's hand, trying to hide her sniffling.

It's only after the fact that she feels a little sheepish, fingers curling in the lacy skirt of the dusty pink dress she chose for the occasion (she's hardly about to disregard her signature color, but she doesn't want to be loud about it. Something more muted seemed appropriate, the better for Hermione to shine in her gorgeous white gown). Sweeping a finger under her eye, she smiles, bashful, and shrugs at the person standing near her at the refreshment table. "I just love weddings."

[Both please! She's eager to meet the groom. And any others, of course.]

[teaandsympathy]

"Of course it's me. I'm here now," Molly assured them both, wondering a bit why they weren't sure at first, when they were the ones who'd changed, the more she let herself see. As well as she could through the fresh shimmer of tears at least.

"And just in time too. You look lovely, Hermione."

[teaandsympathy]

"And I have you to thank for it," Molly said, a quick spell drying her handkerchief to better dry the tears of joy that hadn't quite stopped yet. "For getting me here to the wedding, that is. If I'd been in the city and still missed it... oh, I never would have forgiven myself."

Shaking aside the idea of having missed the occasion, or simply not knowing two of her children - and one by marriage now - were here, Molly smiled, fondly. "She has always been a gifted witch. I sometimes wonder if Ron would have done quite so well at Hogwarts without her help." Then leaning down to whisper conspiratorially, "But don't tell him I said that."

[dragonsandquidditch]

Charlie hugs his mother tight, for once not even teasing about needing to breathe. He didn't realize how much he missed her until she showed up; considering how, from the point in time he's arrived from, the Battle of Hogwarts had only happened a month prior, he still feels keenly for his mother and the pain she must still endure at the loss of one of their family.

"It's so good to see you," he tells her. "Can you believe our Ron is all married and grown up?"