Chapter Text
“Come on!” Harry tugged Ron’s shirt, who was busy giving Hermione one last kiss before heading to his stag do. Harry, being the best man, had of course organised a night for Ron with the company of the Weasley brothers before the wedding tomorrow. Who would have ever thought that the boy Hermione Granger had once accused of having the emotional range of a teaspoon would become a man with the biggest heart and devotion to his bride-to-be?
“Oi!” Yelled George, “Shall we wait until the grass grows? Bloody prat isn’t married yet and he can’t even bring himself to leave for a night.”
“Hermione, we need to get going with our own festivities!” Ginny shot her a reproachful look. With everyone pressing them to say good-bye, Ron and Hermione let go of each other’s hands.
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Ron, shooting one last longing look at his fiancé before Ginny promptly slammed the door on him. Ron walked in step with Harry to join his brothers, who were all gathered at the Burrow’s garden entrance.
“You know, for someone who’s about to be having a stag do, you’d think we were dragging you to Azkaban!” smirked Bill.
“Shut up,” retorted Ron, his ears flaring. He knew he would have fun tonight, but his stomach was in knots because he didn’t want Hermione to think he was thinking of it as his last night of freedom. It was far from that – in fact, the opposite. He could not wait to be husband and wife, joined for the rest of their lives. The first year after the war had been spent discovering how the line they had danced around for six years had only needed a nudge. That nudge ended up being the last battle where he was not sure if there would come an after. But once the threshold had been crossed, it was easy. They were best friends and knew everything about the other, the only thing that had been missing was their openness for their romantic feelings. It had been frustrating that they had finally confessed and yet, had never spent so much time apart, with Hermione being at Hogwarts for her N.E.W.T.s and Ron starting his Auror training. The separation had only delayed what he had known for years: that he would not be able to live without her and he wanted to be her husband. Now, at twenty, they were finally about to get married. Blood hell I was a prat for not doing this sooner, Ron thought to himself. He had wanted to propose as soon as she’d graduated but wanted to save up so they could get their own place and move out from Grimmauld place with Harry.
“Ron!” shouted Harry, irritated, as Ron shook off his thoughts.
“What?” asked Ron.
“We’ve asked Madam Rosmerta to keep the Three Broomsticks to ourselves for ten thirty. But first, George wants to take us to a muggle pub” said Harry.
“Oh er, okay, but why?” asked Ron, ogling George suspiciously.
“Don’t worry, little brother” said George, “all in good time!”
“Are we ever gonna get going?” said Charlie, eager to begin the festivities.
“Yeah! I know the place we need to apparate to. I already told Percy to meet us there when he finishes work. Hold on to me,” instructed George, extending his arm out. Ron, Harry, Bill and Charlie grabbed George and felt the familiar lurch as the Burrow faded out of eyesight and they were suddenly standing in a quiet cobbled street which glistened with the remnants of an evening’s shower.
“This way!” George led the group from the black alley and onto the high street. Despite the shops being dark and empty, the air trickled with excitement as people laughed and chatted merrily. The atmosphere tinged with alcohol and the bustle of blokes and girls heading to pubs and bars disregarding the lingering cool brought about by the earlier rain. Ron looked around certain he had never been here before. He glanced at the others who looked to share his thought.
“Aha! Here it is,” beamed George, holding out the door to a pub whose sign read Lady Luck and ushering them in. Ron followed in last with Harry and spun his head around to get a good look at the walls painted a violent red with chalkboards showing drink menus. They had to squirm past people to make their way through, looking for the bobbing redheads up ahead.
“They’re records,” explained Harry, noticing Ron staring at the black round circles mounted on the walls, “they are used to play music. Well not so much anymore. They were played on record players.”
“Whoa, music comes out of that?” said Ron amazed.
“Over here!” called George. Next to him and the Weasleys were Neville, Dean and Seamus. They were standing over at a large booth that ran around the corner towards the back of the room. They all sat down except for Bill and Charlie who went to the bar to order some drinks.
Ron’s eyes widened. He hadn’t seen his fellow Gryffindors for well over a year. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world!” exclaimed Neville.
“You and Granger, eh? Took you long enough!” laughed Seamus, shaking his head grinning.
“Ron getting married and doing karaoke!” joined in Dean, also laughing.
“Kara-what?” asked Ron, confused.
“Well, that was the surprise!” said George, “that’s why I brought you to this muggle pub, they have karaoke nights and we’ll be participating! After a few rounds, of course.” He winked at Ron with a mischievous grin. Ron turned to Harry, who shrugged his shoulders and gave him a look that said I-thought-it-would-be-fun. Ron was not sure what their intentions for him were. He knew that if it was even remotely embarrassing, he would not do it unless he was fully inebriated. In that moment, Bill and Charlie arrived with two trays full of glasses in different sizes and colours having anticipated Ron’s hesitation. Bill carried drinks resembling butterbeer, while Charlie had an assortment of potion-looking ones, but the alcohol tinge stemmed from each one. Ron could almost feel the burn in his nostrils reach the back of his throat. Although the party comprised only of eight of them, there were at least two dozen drinks. Bill distributed a pint to each, and Charlie passed around the shot glasses.
“Will you explain what the bloody hell this car-oh-key nonsense is?” asked Ron.
“Karaoke. It’s a muggle thing so people go up to the stage and singalong to songs, the lyrics are on a screen and you just follow the beat,” explained Harry, “I haven’t ever done it, and I know this would not be something you’d be up for but –”
“I convinced Harry and the others to give it a try!” interrupted George, “once Ronniekins is plastered out of his mind, we know it would be a good laugh!”
Ron’s face fell. No way, he was not going up to sing. He had never sung! He was just about to retort and say they should just go to the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer when Bill, reading Ron’s face, stepped in.
“Listen,” said Bill, “Apparently had the circumstances been different, this would have been my stag do as well.” He looked at George and nudged him to explain further.