A breeze blew through the trees and blew Hermione’s mess of brown curls in her face, blew her beautiful new dress robes against her legs, blew the bundle of flowers she held in her hands to lean just slightly against her left hand. The flowers that she was not ready let go of. The flowers that, in some silly, inexplicable way, filled her with hope.

Hermione had caught Fleur’s bouquet, and quite by accident. She had rather been hoping that Ginny would catch it, as the poor girl needed some sign that everything would be all right between her and Harry. But the flowers landed in her hands, almost as if Fleur had thrown them directly to her.

Les fleurs de Fleur, Hermione thought, loving her word games. Fleur Delacour . . . Fleurs de mon coeur. She was in a romantically ethereal mood, and she loved the serendipity of the name and her feelings about the bouquet sounding so much alike.

The reception was beginning, and it was the time of day when the moon was up and the sun was beginning to go down. Not quite dusk, but not quite daylight either. The setting sun made red, pink and orange streaks across the softly moonlit sky, and it was the time of day when the Burrow was most beautiful.

There’s a full moon up and rising, and there's a whisper of a breeze
Blowing through the tangled silver hanging from the cypress trees.

Hermione spotted Ron across the lawn, talking to Harry. Both were dressed in their finest robes, and Hermione felt a deep surge of affection flow through her. He was so beautiful . . . so lovely. So wonderfully, perfectly Ron. Regardless of all his past and future mistakes, she knew she loved him, thoroughly and unconditionally. She had known, really, since his birthday, when he’d been poisoned. At the thought of Ron being harmed, she’d forgotten about all their rows. They didn’t matter. All that had mattered was that Ron was safe, that he would fully recover and be able to just be her Ron again.

She saw Harry steal a glance at her while talking to Ron.

Are they talking about me? she wondered. Or is Harry trying to get my attention?

She turned around shyly towards the Burrow’s pond. It was getting darker quickly, and after admiring the aquatic view for a moment, she tucked her bouquet into a sash on her robes and decided to cross the lawn to meet with the boys.

There’s a river made of moonlight flowing clear across the lake,
And there’s a million stars just waiting to fall for any wish we make.

An old jukebox had been enchanted to play various love songs for the reception (having first been checked with the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, of course), and it was now playing an upbeat, modern song to which various young couples were dancing energetically. Hermione noticed Harry watching as Ginny twirled about the lawn like a child, having a ball with her twin brothers.

“So . . . how’s being a brother-in-law treating you?� Hermione asked Ron warmly as she approached.

She noticed Ron’s ears turn a slight pink.

“Good so far,� he replied. “Wow, Hermione, you look . . .�

“Yes?�

Oh no, she thought, have I got butterbeer on my robes? Has my hair puffed out too badly?

“Bloody fantastic!�

Hermione blushed furiously and muttered, “Thanks. So do you, you know.�

Ron looked at his feet as he felt the blood rush up his face. “Thanks,� he mumbled.

Harry cleared his throat. “Erm, I’m going to see what Gin’s up to. See you.�

“See you, Harry,� his best friends responded more or less together.

Darlin’, tonight I am reminded how much these two hearts need romance.
You know it isn’t all that often we get this kind of chance.

The song changed just then to a slow tune, an old one Hermione remembered hearing on the radio once in a while when she was a girl.

It’s now or never, she told herself.

Just as Hermione was about to ask Ron to dance, he snuck his arm around her and placed his hand on her waist in half a hug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was a careful, tentative touch, but so loving that it simply felt right. Hermione stayed silent, but her heart leapt for joy as she snuggled into his chest, putting her own arm around his back.

“Hermione?�

“Mmm?�

Why don’t we get caught in this moment? Be victims of sweet circumstance?
Tonight I feel like all creation is asking us to dance.

“Would you like to dance?�

Hermione smiled. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me since fourth year.�

“Yeah, well,� he said, taking her free hand in his gently, “let’s just say I’ve been a git since fourth year.�

She chuckled as they began swaying to the beat. “We’ve both been stupid, really. We let jealousy get the best of us.�

“I’m so sorry, Hermione. About Lavender, I mean. I just – I didn’t think – I didn’t think you could possibly . . .�

“Be interested in you?�

“Well, yeah. I mean, compared with Viktor Kr—�

Hermione put her finger to Ron’s lips. “Don’t ever think,� she whispered, “that you’re not good enough for me, Ronald.�

Ron swallowed. When Hermione resorted to Ronald, she meant business. “Yes, ma’am,� he replied cheekily.

“Good,� she said, “because it’s not true, Ron. Sometimes I think – I was sure for a while – that, well, that I’m not good enough for you.�

“What!� Ron’s jaw fell. “Hermione, that’s rubbish!�

“I know, Ron. But you know, I was waiting for you to ask me to the ball, and you didn’t. I asked you to go to Slughorn’s party with me, and you ran off with Lavender. What was I supposed to think?�

“I’m so sorry,� he said again, pulling Hermione closer to him and smoothing her hair.

“I’m sorry too,� she said. “I should have said something, instead of just waiting. And McLaggen was quite an immature attempt to make you jealous.�

He shook his head. “I should’ve said something, Hermione. And what do you think Lavender was?�

“Well. . . . We’ve both been stupid then, haven’t we?�

He nodded and buried his face in her hair.

“Ron?� she ventured.

There’ll be time enough tomorrow to get back to our daily bread.
But there’s somethin’ ’bout this evening that’s put this notion in my head. . . .

“Hm?�

Hermione hesitated. Was it the right time? Was it too soon? For the second time that night, she pushed herself on. It’s now or never, Hermione.

“I love you, Ron,� she whispered. “I always have.�

He looked down at her, his eyes soft and compassionate. “’Mione . . . I love you too. I always have.� He paused, unsure about whether to continue with his confession, and decided to persevere. “And I always will.�

“Oh Ron, we’re so stupid!�

He shook his head. “Not anymore we’re not,� he whispered, and he leaned down to put his lips on hers – softly, gently, with the utmost care.

Hermione responded in kind. She had imagined snogging Ron before, but the reality of their first kiss was much more simple, chaste, and affectionate than she had expected.

“I love you,� she whispered again, into his mouth.

“I love you,� he responded, and this time Hermione initiated the kiss, which grew much more passionate than the first.

Heaven and the earth are meeting tonight upon this very spot.
And all the things on earth worth having are things that we’ve already got.

Ron and Hermione finally broke apart to the sounds of cheering and cat-calls. The whole Weasley clan, plus all the other remaining guests, had been watching them. Hermione blushed a bright pink, and Ron, mortified, turned a deep shade of red.

“Oi, this is supposed to be my day, you prat!� Bill shouted, grinning.

“Oh, zey are so lovely togezzer,� Fleur swooned. “Eesn’t eet wonderful what ze wedding does for ze family?�

Fred gave a phoney sniff. “Our ickle Ronniekins—�

“—finally a man,� George said, pretending to wipe away tears.

Ron shifted his feet uncomfortably. “We just kissed,� he murmured.

“Oh, Ron,� Mrs. Weasley gushed as she approached, clearly straining herself by not hugging anybody. “Don’t pay any attention to those mongrels. I’m so happy for you two! Oh, I can see Harry grinning at you lot, no doubt he’d fancy a chat, eh? You know, maybe you’ll rub off on him a bit.� Mrs. Weasley looked at the young couple pointedly, and they knew she was alluding to her daughter.

“Thanks, Mum,� Ron said with an embarrassed smile. Whether he meant thanks for not smothering him too much, for not being upset, or for encouraging them away from the twins, Hermione wasn’t sure, but they took her advice and made their way toward Harry. He was across the lawn, standing awkwardly next to Ginny with a bottle of butterbeer in his hand, and he was indeed grinning at his two best friends.

“It’s about time,� he said to them.

“Yeah well,� Ron said, “we’ve decided to stop being thick.�

Ginny ran to Hermione and enveloped her in a bear hug. “I’m so happy for you!� she cried. “You daft, ridiculous people!� She then gave her brother a bear hug as well.

“Er . . . thanks?� he replied with an awkward pat on the back.

“Brilliant timing, just as the party’s over, eh?� Harry said, watching Tonks’s brilliant pink hair rise in the sky as she flew away.

“Yeah, you know,� Ron replied, “save the best for last and all.� He leaned over and kissed Hermione on the cheek.

“Eurghh,� Harry teased, but he couldn’t help smiling.

The four friends continued chatting idly for a while, and eventually a beautiful, smiling blonde came over to the group. “Eet ees now time for us to leave,� Fleur told them. “We are going to Spain now for our ’oneymoon, and your muzzer wishes zat you all greet your bruzzer and I good-bye.�

The rest of the immediate family was gathered in a bunch around a white, Greek-style pedestal, on which stood a beautiful porcelain dove, painted with Bill’s and Fleur’s names and the date. Mrs. Weasley’s cheeks were wet as she hugged Bill tightly.

“You be safe, dear, and have fun.� Charlie, George and Fred wiggled their eyebrows deviously at Bill when she said this, but Mrs. Weasley chose to ignore them. “Send me an owl every day, so I know you’re safe. If I don’t hear from you, we’ll send Aurors.�

“It’s only a week, Mum,� Bill said. “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.�

“Oh, come here, dear,� Mrs. Weasley said to Fleur. “It’s time for a group hug.�

Before the bride knew what was happening, the family leaped upon the newlyweds with an energetic warmth, and Harry and Hermione were sucked into the hug as if it were a black hole. Hermione grinned. This was why she loved being at the Burrow. She looked at Harry and could tell he was thinking the same.

When everyone felt sufficiently hugged, their release slowly let up to reveal Bill alongside a somewhat dishevelled and stunned-looking Fleur.

Fleur cleared her throat. “Well, zis ees goodbye zen. We shall see you next week. Au revoir!� She looked at her husband to make sure he was ready. “Un, deux, trois!�

They touched the dove, and with a swoosh, they were gone.

“Well,� Mrs. Weasley said, “I suppose it’s time to tidy up. Ginny, do you mind making sure the kitchen is in order? Harry, why don’t you go help her? And you too – boys, Arthur. Let’s the rest of us tidy up out here.� She started aiming spells at the litter on the lawn, and with the help of Charlie, Ron and Hermione, it soon started to look normal.

“Poor Gin and Harry,� Ron said to Hermione. “Fred and George must be taking the mickey out of them for not being able to clean with magic.�

Hermione laughed sympathetically. Really, sometimes Fred and George were just a bit too much to handle. Good thing Mr. Weasley was there to keep them in order.

Charlie bid them all goodnight and headed inside, and about to follow suit, Mrs. Weasley aimed her wand at the jukebox.

“Mum, wait!� Ron called. “Could you, erm, could you keep it on for a bit?�

She looked confused for a second, and then smiled. “Sure, love. Just remember to turn it off before you come in.�

“I will.�

Darlin’, tonight I am reminded how much these two hearts need romance.
You know it isn’t very often we get this kind of chance.

Mrs. Weasley went inside the house, and Ron and Hermione was left alone, another slow, sweet love song coming out of the jukebox.

“There,� Ron said. “Now we can dance without anybody bothering us.�

Hermione smiled and put her arms around his waist. The sound of crickets chirping and the display of fireflies blinking seemed to fall in perfect time with the music. Ron put one hand on Hermione’s waist and one on her shoulder blade and pulled her in tight.

Why don’t we get caught in this moment? Be victims of sweet circumstance?

“I never want to let you go, Hermione,� he whispered.

“Then don’t.�

He paused for a long time, simply enjoying everything his senses were providing him. When the time seemed right again, he whispered his promise to her.

“I won’t. Not ever.�

He kissed the top of her head softly, and they danced with the crickets, fireflies and flowers until sunrise.

Tonight I feel like all creation is asking us to dance.