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Hermione knew it wasn't the standard way, but it felt right. When she was younger and imagined her future wedding (sue her, she'd always been a secret romantic), she always thought the man leading her down the aisle would be her father. She always thought they would share a father-daughter dance. Things have changed since. War happened, and she obliviated her parents. Of course, she tracked them down to reverse the spell, but when she did... Well, she hadn't known things would change so drastically. Her mother forgave her – they were always close, but she had been closer to her dad, and her father... had not forgiven her. Her impulsive action (it might have been planned, but she hadn't... she hadn't planned for everything) had led to some unforeseen consequences, especially since her spell made her parents abandon everything and leave it all behind. Some family relationships and friendships were broken by that action, and that's not even talking about her parents' savings being drained during their trip to Australia.
All of this to say that her father was not present. The man walking her down the aisle was no one other than Harry, and Hermione smiled shakily as her bridesmaids made sure everything was ready.
Harry was like the brother she never had, so it made sense that she would ask him to give her away to Ron. As he was also the best man, it was, perhaps, not traditional, but, honestly? Hermione couldn't see it any other way? It had been done before and, honestly? She wouldn't care even if it hadn't. Harry was going to give her away (she would cherish the burst of tears that told her exactly how honoured Harry felt when she asked him). Harry had, after all, been there with both Ron and Hermione every step of the way during the wedding preparations. He never faltered. She knew that it put his mind at ease, thinking about something other than his work project.
The ceremony was brilliant (apart from that one time a bouquet almost caught on fire, but what can you do? Seamus had been invited, after all). As planned and rehearsed, Harry had walked her down the aisle and gave her away to the groom before taking a few steps to stand near00 him, grinning at the twins who were the closest. Somehow, Fred ended up getting the bride's bouquet – to everyone's surprise, seeing as it had been a mad dash to get it and Fred wasn't even paying attention when Hermione threw it.
“Well, well, well,” Fred said, grinning. “Should I take that as a sign?”
He was looking at his plus one, Miles, who appeared both amused and fondly annoyed.
“I don't know. Should you?”
Hermione hadn't seen it coming. Mainly, perhaps, because she didn't know any Slytherins, and those she usually interacted with were a bunch of assholes. Harry had carefully interacted with his Slytherin friends when no one was looking during his entire schooling, meaning neither Hermione nor Ron had found out until they had already graduated. She had been a bit upset that Harry had, seemingly, not trusted them enough to let them know of his other friendships, but she also understood that she hadn't been the most open-minded person as a teenager.
Still, Fred and Miles got to know each other because of Harry, and somehow, they had been dating for almost a year, and it seemed to be going strong.
“Hey.”
Hermione didn't jump, but it was a close thing. Harry always somehow managed to appear out of nowhere.
“I swear someday I'm going to put a collar with a bell on you.”
Then, seeing Harry smirk and open his mouth, she raised her index finger in his direction:
“Do not!”
He spent way too much time around the twins. The sass and snark certainly didn't come from Ron or her.
“How are you feeling?”
Hermione shrugged. She felt so full of happiness and excitement, she wasn't sure what to say.
“Good. Really good,” she eventually replied with a giddy smile.
Harry smiled back.
“I'm glad. You're ready?”
She looked down at herself: she was still wearing her wedding dress and was in no hurry to change. She had gotten rid of her veil and her bridal stole, but she might just forgo the evening dress she had planned to wear and keep her wedding dress on instead. She didn't want to take it off yet. It's something you only (usually) wear once, after all.
“Yeah, I think so.”
She laughed when Harry offered his arm, like a gentleman from a time long gone. She put her arm in the crook of his elbow and, together, they left the changing room to join the others in the Banquet Hall.
They joined the hall to the loud music of the DJ (a Wix who had established his life in the Muggle World, but occasionally worked with or for other magic users). She relaxed immediately upon hearing the melody of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm yours)” and moved to the rhythm of the music as she and Harry led the way to the dance floor. Harry grinned when Ron and Seamus cheered loudly.
The music came to a stop, a new one started, and the duo walked to the dance floor, grinning. The upbeat melody made her want to break into dance moves, but Harry's hold forced her to remain still.
Harry chuckled.
“I'm really, really happy for you, Mione.”
Hermione twitched, even as her brother in all but blood put his right hand below her shoulder-blade. He knew she still didn't like that nickname. When she had gone to her mother for advice, she told them that, with the music they had chosen, they should try a rumba, so that's what they did. She could tell Harry was nervous, behind the layers of false ease he radiated.
“You've never been relaxed when it comes to dancing. Remember our 4th year? The Yule Ball?”
“Harry groaned even as they moved, small steps by small steps.
“I was stressed, Mione,” he said, almost pouting, “and I'm still stressed because if I mess up, we'll both end up on our butts in front of the whole room.”
She laughed.
“Oh, I think they will witness worse by the end of the night,” she told him, laughing when he twirled her.
“Yeah, but by that point, most of them will be tipsy at best and wasted at worst. They might not even remember everything.”
He was grinning too. She couldn't tell if he was joking or not.
“Come on,” he said. “I can feel Ron squirming.”
“Ron hates dancing,” Hermione said, but she didn't protest when they stopped dancing and Harry started leading her towards the groom.
“Not for his wedding night, he won't.”
She was smiling so hard it was starting to hurt her cheeks and jaw.
“Yes, yes. Now, go to Seamus. He looks like he's about to combust.”
She didn't want the Banquet Hall to end up in flames because Finnigan couldn't control his lust. No, thanks.
Harry only chuckled.
“I'll do that,” he told her before pulling her hand from the crook of his elbow and gently giving it to Ron. “Take care of her, mate. I trust you.”
For a moment, Ron looked strangely solemn, as the boys stared at each other.
“I will.”
It came to Hermione that Harry might not have given a shovel talk to Ron, and that it was his way of ensuring that Ron knew Harry wouldn't hesitate to hunt him down if he hurt Hermione. Warmth spread through her. Harry had warned her at the very beginning of her relationship with Ron that should she hurt Ron, he wouldn't forgive so easily. And now, he was doing something similar with Ron.
And, just like that, Hermione changed arms and followed Ron back on the dance floor as Soul music reverberated through the room.
Harry, meanwhile, walked to Seamus, smiling softly when the Irishman wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his cheek.
“They look so happy,” he whispered as he watched his two best friends glide on the dance floor.
“They do,” Seamus confirmed softly. “You do too,” he added. “You're glowing.”
The green-eyed wizard tried to hide his giggles behind his hand, but he wasn't very successful. He leaned back against his partner, sighing in contentment when Seamus hugged him from behind and kissed his temple.
“I wanna dance with you,” he whined into Harry's ear, earning another giggle from his boyfriend.
“Have some patience, baby. I'll be all yours as soon as the First Dance is done.”
Wouldn't want to steal Ronmione's thunder (that's what Lavender and Dean had taken to call Hermione and Ron's couple) because Seamus couldn't wait to show off his dancing skills.
Plus, they looked so damn happy like this. Harry wanted to watch them a little bit more.
The room burst into applause as the music came to a stop.
“Ron hasn't stepped once on her toes,” Harry remarked quietly, both in awe and incredulous.
Look, he had been there, watching Ron practice. He had never managed not to stop on his partner's toes before.
Seamus grinned.
“Oh yeah. I'm afraid I have to claim credit for this.”
Harry blinked.
“I know you're an excellent dancer and a good teacher, but I didn't think... I mean, if even McGonagall gave up, how did you -”
“Oh, no. I couldn't manage where McGo failed, no. I used a spell.”
Harry opened his mouth, paused, closed it, and stared at Ron. Back on the dance floor, Ron and Hermione were still standing in front of each other, looking ecstatic and giddy. A couple of people joined the pair on the floor, and Harry turned around to raise a brow at his partner.
“Nothing too elaborate or risky, don't worry. It's used to elevate a person's coordination. It doesn't last long, though, so I had to cast it just before Ron led Hermione to the dance floor.
“... Does Ron know?”
At this, Seamus went suspiciously quiet and tried to appear innocent.
Harry drew back with a gasp.
“Seamus!” he hissed, trying and failing not to snicker. “That's bad.”
“Hey! I was just looking out for Hermione's toes.”
“Oh my god! Shut up. I can't believe you! Let's go dancing.”
With that, he grabbed Seamus' arm and dragged him to the dance floor, which was already half filled by guests ready to celebrate a happy union.
Seamus laughed as he followed his lover.