Author's Note: This is the final chapter of this story, which is the longest thing I have ever written to date, 20 pages. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. A final thanks to emmelinevance713 for being my beta, and a good friend. Please enjoy and review!

Ron Weasley didn't know it was possible to feel both extreme happiness and extreme loss. Until tonight, that is. He smiled and cheered as Harry and Ginny kissed, standing alongside the other guests. Kingsley waved his wand, and the altar pooled out as if made of ice, leaving Harry and Ginny standing on a circular dance floor the color of fresh snow. The chairs, now free of occupants, spun around to create ten tables.

Ron followed his chair to a table nearest the dance floor, and was both pleased and dismayed to find his seat right next to Hermione's. She looked beautiful, seeming to sparkle in the glimmering lights, but he refused to look at her. The lights dimmed until only the dance floor was illuminated, and Harry and Ginny began their first dance. The waltzed slowly, lost in each other's eyes, to some muggle song. Take my hand, take my whole life too… crooned an unseen voice as Harry lifted Ginny, rotating slowly. He pulled her close to his chest, and kissed her lightly on the head until they just swayed, hands intertwined. For I can't help falling in love with you…

Suddenly tears burned in Ron's eyes, and he looked down as everyone clapped. He could feel Hermione shaking with silent sobs beside him in the dark, and it was torture to ignore her. Ginny and Harry's dance was followed by Mr. Weasley dancing with Ginny, and Harry dancing with an emotional and clumsy Hagrid. The lights brightened again, and Ron quickly rubbed his eyes as platters of food appeared before him. There was a golden roast turkey at every table, as well as steaming mashed potatoes, vibrant sprouts, puffy golden buns, and various ladles of rich sauce. The smell was inebriating, and Ron found himself forgetting about everything for a moment as he cut into his tender slice of meat. He tried valiantly to avoid Hermione's eyes, congratulating Harry and Ginny as they passed his table. At one point Hermione brushed his arm while reaching for the sprouts, and they both jumped as if being shocked.

Soon, couples took to the dance floor, shaking and twirling to Muggle and Wizard songs alike. Ron downed another glass of champagne as the lights turned rosy. A slow song filled the air, and Ron was slightly surprised at the sorrow in the singer's voice. See the stone set in your eyes, see the thorn twist in your side… Without warning, Hermione tapped Ron's arm, and Ron stared at the remains of his meal, unblinking.

"Ron," Hermione hissed, "Ron please listen to me!" He ignored her, and the burning sensation in his throat.

And I wait, without you…

"Ron I love you," Hermione's voice broke, "And I know you hate me, and I know I was terrible, and I know you'll never forgive me…"

With or without you…

Ron spun to face Hermione, his breath catching as he looked her full in the face.

"You were embarrassed by me, Hermione," he whispered fiercely, surprised that his voice didn't catch "You didn't love me."

"Oh Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, "You brought out a side in me I never knew I had. You made me happy, you accepted me. I... I need you."

And you give yourself away…

"What about what I need?" Ron said, his voice rising, and people nearby turned to look at them. "I need someone who wouldn't be ashamed of my faults. Who would never shove me in a broom closet!"

I can't live… With or without you…

"You love me for accepting you, when you can't accept me!" Ron yelled, everyone's eyes now on the fighting pair.

With or without you…

Hermione's face took on a blazing look all too similar to Ginny's, and Ron half expected her to punch him. Instead, she stood up on the chair and faced the room defiantly.

Hermione Granger was not one to break rules, nor was she one to stand on a chair in a bridesmaid's gown at her best friend's wedding. But Hermione was beginning to realize that she needed to break rules to get anywhere in life.

"I am in love with Ronald Weasley," she said to the room, her voice clear and strong.

"He is kind, and loving, and gentle," Hermione continued, addressing the dumbfounded crowd "But he is also brilliant. He is intelligent, and understanding, and more supportive than anyone else in the world."

"Ron would do anything for his friends, for those he loves. Because Ron can accept people for all of their flaws. He can accept people when others wouldn't. And he deserves that in return."

"I was wrong." Hermione spoke to the silent room "I was selfish, and misguided, and distracted by my own lack of humility."

"Without him, I am too weak to lead, too tired to think. Ron is the reason I am the way I am before you."

"The problem is with me. And if he ever forgives me, I will spend the rest of my life supporting him-" her voice broke, and her eyes shone with tears "Because I love him."

She stepped down off her chair, and the room was completely silent as Hermione faced Ron. The music had stopped, and the world held its breath. Ron opened his mouth to speak, his eyes full of pain and love.

"I love you too."

Simultaneously they ran to each other, closing the two feet between them. Ron picked Hermione up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, kissing him. He spun her around and the room erupted into cheers. Hermione pulled her head back, laughing as tears streamed down her cheeks. Carefully, Ron wiped away her tears, and smiled at her. Both were overwhelmed by the love and joy erupting in their chests. Looking into Ron's eyes, full of warmth and love, Hermione knew that this was it. This was where she fit, no matter what happened. This was home.

She kissed him again, dropping from his hold so they were toe to toe. His lips parted slightly, and she ran her hands through his hair. He tasted like champagne and safety, like nights of laying in his bed in the dark. Like a whole future sprawling out before them. Their lips mashed together, most people beginning to chat or dance again, the music starting up. George wolf whistled, then seemed a bit surprised by himself. Hermione bit lightly on Ron's bottom lip and he pulled away.

"We're surrounded by people," he whispered, laughing, and Hermione whispered in his ear.

"But we won't be tonight."

Ron laughed again, then sat down, scooching his chair closer to Hermione's. Hermione sat down too, intertwining her fingers with his, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Did I tell you you look beautiful?" Ron asked, stroking Hermione's hair with his free hand.

"Now you have," she responded, giggling in spite of herself. She let out a contented sigh, and watched the couples in front of them dance to a new song.

Ginny Weasley never realized it was so hard to lose some one. Of course, she knew it hurt, and that it was difficult. But nothing had prepared her for the soul crushing, can't-breath feeling of losing her brother. Leaving Ron and Hermione kissing at their table, and Harry talking to a large group of people, Ginny slipped into the black night outside the tent. Immediately goosebumps rose on her exposed arms as the warming charm evaporated. Using her wand and a carefully muttered spell, Ginny began clearing the snow in front of her, leaving the glowing tent behind. She walked to the edge of the hill, and looked out at the forest below.

The snow glowed in the moonlight, and illuminated her surroundings. She could see better than night, but not as good as day. It was a parallel time, and Ginny found solace in its uniqueness. Taking a deep breath, she relished the way it cleared her chest. For the first time in a long while, the heavy stone of grief in her chest was gone, washed away by the torrent of joy that her wedding had brought. The snow had stopped and the sky cleared, and when Ginny looked up her breath caught in her throat, and a soft "Oh!" escaped her lips.

Swaths and swaths of stars filled the sky, like layers of velvet black ribbon speckled with diamonds. In the air, Ginny could smell pine and snow that starkly contrasted the warm food and slight sweat of inside, and she felt free. It was like drinking ice water after running around for an hour. There was no sound out here, only the distant music and cheering from the venue. Looking up at the sky, Ginny felt dizzy, as though she could just float into the giant expanse of infinite, glittering gemstones.

"Fred?" Ginny whispered, then repeated it again, her voice stronger "Fred…" She took a deep breath.

"So I'm married now, which I'm sure you would find amusing," Ginny began, speaking into the snowy forest and sparkling sky "I'm sure you would've had a lot of jokes about how I'm so old." Ginny tightened her hands into fists.

"I miss you Fred," she continued, her voice wavering, "And so do Mom, Dad, Ron, Percy, Charlie, and Bill. But especially George. He misses you most."

"I hope you're happy now, wherever you are. I hope you can joke and play, and you can laugh at us down below for still needing to deal with stupid stuff." She wiped a stray tear from her cheek with an icy hand, oblivious to the cold.

"We all love and miss you so much. There was a seat for you at the wedding, you know. I don't know about the guests, but I enjoyed it." Ginny laughed, and took a deep breath.

"So yeah, wherever you are…" Ginny looked up at the sparkling sky, and the snow covered pines, and the glittery party behind her.

"I hope you're happy."

With that, Ginny turned around, hiking her skirt up slightly, and headed back to the party. Every step she took made her feel a tiny bit better, a tiny bit more at peace. She had finally done what she should've done since the beginning. Accepted it.

Harry Potter was, for quite possibly the first time in his life, completely and utterly happy. Hermione and Ron sat, grinning and laughing, hand in hand. Ginny had returned from her short disappearance, slightly cold, but happy, and was now sitting beside him. McGonagall was laughing with Hagrid, both slightly inebriated. Fleur was chatting animatedly with Mrs. Weasley, her bare feet resting on Bill's willing lap. George and Charlie were trying to surprise Kingsley with a joke spider in his potatoes while Luna looked on, bemused.

Oliver was reenacting some particularly impressive Quidditch saves to an audience of Katie, Angelina, and an incredibly distracted Teddy. Percy, along with his girlfriend Audrey, was describing the importance of getting a wand maker's license to a table full of Hogwarts teachers. The Patil twins were talking to Dean and Seamus and, to Harry's amusement, seemed to be getting VERY friendly. Various friends and family danced to upbeat music from the Weird Sisters' new album.

Everything was perfect, and Harry couldn't believe his good fortune. Of course, he knew that come tomorrow he and Ginny would be busily unpacking their new house, dusting and sweeping and cleaning. Then there would be paperwork to finish, late nights to fill, and vigorous physical work for both. There was a whole future of chores and work and sickness and stress ahead of them. But there was also a whole future of laughter and passion and children and family. So Harry was content to just sit in that one perfect moment, arm around Ginny's shoulder, surrounded by loved ones, basking under the shimmering lights.