�For eight years, I have thought about you non-stop. I have suffered seeing you date around, and have felt wrong whenever I was with someone else. This has just seemed. . .right. For a long time. Hermione, you captivated me from the first second I saw you. Now, the time has come for you to give me an answer. Hermione. . .� Ron�s voice broke at this moment, and he could not finish for several seconds. �Hermione. . .will you marry me?�
Hermione was silent for several seconds. She had thought that this day would never come. Suddenly, without warning, her life flashed by her eyes. She saw the first time that she met Ron, the day they had become friends, the day that they graduated from Hogwarts. She realized that her life had no meaning before she had met Ron, and she couldn�t go on without him.
�Yes,� came Hermione�s soft utterance. �I will marry you.�
Ron�s mouth then found Hermione�s, and they kissed for a very long time. He managed to find Hermione�s left hand and slipped the ring on her fourth finger. It was official. They were engaged.
* * *
Harry returned a few days later, completely unsurprised that Ron and Hermione were engaged. Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that Ron had told Harry what was going to happen. She then bustled around, making wedding arrangements and still working every day at the Daily Prophet. The most interesting moment had come when she told her parents that she was getting married. Their reaction was less than thrilled, which she had expected. They point-blank refused to assist with the arrangements, but had consented to come to the wedding so that Hermione�s father could give her away.
Since Hermione�s parent�s support was not enough, she turned to Mrs. Weasley for help with the wedding. Mrs. Weasley was more than happy to help, and immediately took measurements for Hermione�s wedding dress, which she was determined to make. There were so many arrangements, which kept Hermione up late in the night. Ron�s work usually left him time in the mornings, which was when he did the arrangements for the groom�s half of the wedding. Finally, the time came when Ron and Hermione had to pick their groomsmen and bridesmaids.
Ron had picked Harry for his best man, but Hermione was unsure of who to choose for her maid of honor. Ron was all up for her putting names into a hat and choosing that way, but Hermione said that that was tacky and she couldn�t do it that way.
�Honestly, Herm, can�t you just pick somebody?�
�No, I can�t just pick somebody!�
�Well, who all are you thinking of?�
�Well, Parvati, Lavender, and Ginny.�
�Well, you know them equally well, so just pick one!�
�I can�t just pick one!�
�Well, then don�t bring it up until you decide.�
Hermione puzzled for a few days, realizing that the date that her and Ron had picked, October 31st, was drawing steadily near. She had to pick someone, so that her maid of honor could get fitted for her bridesmaid dress. But the overwhelming question was: Who?