Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's note: I apologize for making you all wait so long for an update. I am really sorry but I was on a much-needed two week vacation---to England, no less! I had a great time and I think it helped bring my muse back. Hopefully you will like this chapter. You will get to see Eva & Sirius and Ron "meets" someone new. And there might *wink, wink* be a cliffie…come on, you had to expect it J

This chapter is dedicated to Ash---Happy Birthday & Happy Graduation!

Also, please take the time to check out two yahoo groups that I happen to be a member of---you can read some of my stories as well as read work from some very talented authors.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quills_and_parchment/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BrainstormQuill/

Please read and review!

Chapter 22

Everything's Not Lost

When I counted up my demons
saw there was one for every day
With the good ones on my shoulders
I drove the other ones away

'cos if you ever feel neglected
If you think that all is lost

(Everything's Not Lost, Coldplay)

"You know you really didn't have to help me pack," Hermione said as she put some books into a large box. She was cleaning out her office at the Ministry and to Hermione's surprise Lavender had heartily volunteered to help. Usually, Lavender detested any sort of manual labor. In fact, Hermione had half expected Lavender to spout out the merits of packing with magic as opposed to doing it the Muggle way.

"I wanted to help," Lavender said grinning at her friend. "And to check out that hot bloke who works in your department."

"Finnigan?" Hermione asked.

"Is that his name?" Lavender asked innocently.

"You know very well it is," Hermione said laughing.

"Well, he did volunteer to help us take the boxes back," Lavender said. "And I just thought he was being really friendly and you know if he and I get to know each other in the process, well that's..."

"Icing on the cake?"

Lavender smiled. "Yes, icing on the cake."

"Well whatever your motives, I appreciate you doing this," Hermione said.

"No problem," Lavender said, as she took some more books off the shelves. These particular tomes were rather dusty and she cringed when some of the dust fell on her shirt. "How many bloody books do you own anyway?"

"A fair few," Hermione said absently.

"They're going to need to give you a whole new room at Hogwarts just to store your own books," Lavender joked.

"Ha-ha," Hermione said sarcastically.

"Speaking of which," Lavender said grinning mischievously at her friend. "Are you and Harry going to be staying in the same quarters at Hogwarts?"

Hermione frowned. "I haven't really given it much thought, actually. I've been so busy with packing and tying up loose ends here. I think I remember reading something somewhere about how they looked down upon unmarried professors' cohabitating or something like that."

"Cohabitating?" Lavender asked trying to hide her smile. "You make it sound so romantic."

"It's a school," Hermione said looking at Lavender. "It's not supposed to be romantic."

"Says the girl who will probably get caught snogging her fiancé in the broom closet," Lavender shot back.

Hermione blushed.

"You and Harry over the Christmas holidays," Lavender pointed out. "It's a technicality really. I think the headmaster should let the two of you live together..."

"I'll tell him you thought so," Hermione said laughing.

Lavender packed some more books into a box. "Well, are the two of you going to live at Hogwarts after you get married? Or are you going to get your own place away from the castle? Oooh, you should get a cottage, Hermione! They're so romantic!"

A dreamy expression came over Lavender's face. "But you know, living apart in the castle could be romantic, too. I can just see it now. The two star-crossed lovers sneaking in and out of each other's rooms. Defying the rules so they can steal a few precious moments together and bask in their love..."

Hermione looked bemusedly at Lavender. "You have been reading way too many romance novels."

"Maybe so," Lavender said. "But you can't expect me to believe that you and Harry will be the model of decorum. You two can barely keep your hands off of each other. Face it, Hermione Granger, rules were made to be broken. And that decorum you're so fond of will fly right out the window when you're walking down the hall and good old Green Eyes grabs you by the arm and whisks you away for a kiss or two..."

Hermione blushed and tried to busy herself with clearing her desk.

"A-ha!" Lavender exclaimed. "I knew it! Miss Goody Two Shoes is going to break the rules so she can get-"

"Lavender!"

Lavender scoffed. "Oh, please! You know I'm right."

"You might be right," Hermione said. "But Harry and I are going to be mature and discreet. And I wouldn't say we were going to be breaking the rules. We'll just be bending them a little. That's all."

"Uh-huh."

"It is," Hermione said. "And need I remind you that we are in the Ministry, Lav."

"You don't," Lavender teased. "But you shouldn't act all innocent, Clever Clogs. I imagine you and Harry have probably done it in this very office."

"Lavender Brown!"

"You have!" Lavender said clapping her hands together. "Oh my!"

"We have not!"

"Have too!"

"Have not!"

They were so busy teasing each other they didn't notice Ginny Weasley standing in the doorway watching them bemusedly.

"You two sure are having fun," she finally said causing the two girls to turn around. The smile on Hermione's face fell as she looked at her friend.

"Ginny," Hermione said turning three different shades of red as she wondered how much of their conversation Ginny could have heard.

"I heard this was your last day..." Ginny said giving Hermione a shy smile.

Lavender looked between the two girls and decided that perhaps now would be a good time to make a hasty retreat.

"I'll just go and say hello to Seamus then, shall I?" Lavender asked, shooting Hermione a sympathetic look before breezing past Ginny and out of the office.

"Wow," Ginny said looking around the office which was now cluttered with boxes.

"I know I could have taken care of all this with one swish and flick of a wand, but I've always sort of liked packing," Hermione said nervously. "But I'll use levitation charms to get it back to the flat, of course."

Ginny nodded and looked around, her gaze falling on Hermione's left hand-more specifically the ring on Hermione's left hand.

An awkward silence followed and Hermione wondered what on earth she could possibly say. She had come to know Ginny very well over the past few months and considered the younger witch to be one of her best friends. In light of what had happened, though, Hermione wouldn't blame Ginny if she never wanted to speak to her again.

"So I guess Rita Skeeter finally got one right, eh?"

The news about her relationship with Harry broke a few days ago in the Daily Prophet. Apparently that awful Skeeter woman had followed them around and snapped their photograph as they were coming out of Flourish & Blotts. It had been quite a surprise to Hermione as she and Harry hadn't engaged in any public displays of affection. As far as anyone knew they were just friends, but the newspaper article that followed the next day told everything. How they'd met, their plans to work together at Hogwarts, the engagement. Rita Skeeter somehow had figured everything out about their relationship and then some. As she'd read the articles, she'd made a silent vow to find out exactly how Rita Skeeter managed to learn all this information.

But at the moment, her schedule was full. She would be leaving this evening to join Harry at Isla Solarte. He'd left this morning to help with the wedding preparations. Hermione had a feeling it had more to do with the stag party, but she'd kept quiet about that. The less she knew about that, the happier she'd probably be.

"Some of it," Hermione said quietly. "I mean, not everything, of course." Suddenly, Hermione felt like such a coward for not telling Ginny about all this the moment she'd returned from the islands. Instead, Ginny had to find out about it in the newspaper and probably from Ron as well.

Ginny was silent and Hermione knew she was waiting for Hermione to tell her the truth about everything, but she just couldn't seem to find the words.

"I can explain, Ginny."

"You don't need to explain. I know..."

"But you don't, not really," Hermione interjected. "The papers accused me of setting out to seduce Harry and trade up from Ron, but that wasn't how it happened at all."

"Hermione," Ginny said laughing. "I think I know you well enough by now to know that isn't your style."

"You mean-"

"Ron's my big brother," Ginny said quietly. "He's always looked out for me. And when I met you, I thought how happy you'd make him. How you might be the one person who would make him grow up. And that you and Ron would someday get married, and we'd be this one, big, happy Weasley family."

Hermione nodded.

"And I don't blame you for that," Ginny continued. "Not at all. Especially after I found about Ron and those other girls. If anything, I should be apologizing to you."

"No, Ginny-"

"It's okay," Ginny interjected. "I'm happy for you and Harry. Really. And who can blame you, really? He is pretty hot."

Hermione laughed as she and Ginny hugged.

"I remember Fred and George teasing you about that valentine you sent to him one year," Hermione said relived that Ginny didn't hate her.

Ginny groaned. "I was 11 years old at the time. I thought it sounded very romantic..."

"How did it go again? Something about his eyes and a pickled toad?"

"Yes, yes," Ginny said laughing. "I reiterate that I was 11 years old at the time and thought the sun rose and set where he walked. Give me a break."

"We all do stupid things when we were kids," Hermione said. "I once wrote a fan letter to Gilderoy Lockhart."

Ginny looked at her friend in disbelief. "But he was a fake, Hermione!"

"I know," Hermione said blushing. "But I didn't know that at the time, did I? And he did win Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile five times in a row..."

Ginny laughed. "Yes, well if you bring up that pickled toad rubbish again; I'm going straight to Harry with that."

Hermione extended her pinky to her friend. "It's a deal-pinky swear."

"Pinky swear," Ginny agreed and then linked pinkies, giggling as they did so.

Hermione then looked as if she wanted to say something to Ginny, but didn't quite no how to say it. The two of them had been friends long enough where Ginny could tell there was something else on Hermione's mind.

"Spit it out, Granger."

Hermione gave a half-hearted smile. "Do you...do you think Ron will ever come around?"

"I honestly hope so," Ginny said, explaining to her friend how Fred and George went around to Ron's flat with their mother a few days ago hoping to help their brother.

"Fred and George said he was acting like his old self," Ginny explained. "He and Harry have been through a lot. They've always managed to come through it though. Just give him some time, Hermione."

Hermione nodded. "You're right. I just-I can tell that Harry misses him."

"The feeling's mutual," Ginny said. "They just need some time and space. This can't be easy for either one of them. And no matter what happens, you and I will always be friends, Hermione. I hope you know that. Even if you move miles away and I only see you on holidays."

Hermione hugged her friend once more, tears welling up in her eyes. Maybe Ginny was right. Maybe with time and space, Harry and Ron could be friends again. And though neither Ron nor Harry would admit it, she knew that was what they both wanted-deep down.

*********** ************* ********************

Later that evening, Ron slowly trudged up the walkway to the Burrow. He could already smell his mother's cooking and he instantly felt comforted at the thought of Shepherd's Pie, boiled potatoes, fresh bread, and treacle pudding. Although the family was spread out all over the world these days, Molly made a point to cook for the entire family at least once a week. Everyone tried to attend when they could and Ron was looking forward to catching up with Charlie and Bill, who he hadn't seen in quite some time.

He heard the muffled sounds of talking and laughter as he stepped closer to the house. Just being here always made him feel better. When he was a kid, he never really appreciated this old place. He was always thinking about how his family barely eked out a living. How he never had anything new. Everything was always a hand-me-down from one of his brothers or how his books and school supplies were always second-hand. But comparing his own childhood to someone like Draco Malfoy and Ron felt as if he had the better end of the deal. Whereas Draco had the top of the line in books, clothes and brooms, he didn't come from a family that loved him unconditionally. And though Ron's brothers and sister could get on his nerves to no end, he wouldn't trade them for anything in this world.

Throughout all that had happened with Hermione and Harry, his family had stood by him. He knew they were disappointed in him and his actions, but they'd still let him know that he was still a Weasley and that they'd be there for him. As he made his way into the house, he made a silent vow never to take his family for granted ever again. When it really came down to it, they were all that he had.

"Ronald, is that you?" Ron heard his mother call out.

"Aye," Ron called back. "Dinner smells delicious."

Molly came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. She enveloped her youngest son in a big bear hug. "I'm happy to see you."

Ron smiled and hugged her back. "It's good to see you too, Mum." He looked around the house and could see a few of his nieces and nephews playing in the sitting room. "Full house tonight?"

Molly nodded. "More than usual. Ginny brought a guest."

Ron followed his mother into the kitchen. "Not Dean, is it? I swear the two of them are on and off all the time..."

He stopped talking when he walked into the kitchen and saw a beautiful blonde sitting at the kitchen table talking animatedly to Ginny. Her long hair was styled in ringlet curls that seemed to cascade down her back. She wore a pale blue shirt and blue jeans and Ron couldn't help but stare at her. There was something strangely familiar about this girl, but he couldn't put his finger on what.

As his sister had her back to him, it was the blonde who noticed him first.

"Hello," she said softly giving him a warm smile.

"Uh-"

She giggled as did Ginny.

"That's my brother," Ginny said shaking her head. "He's a smooth talker, isn't he?"

Ron glared at her as he regained his composure. "Funny, Gin. Where's Dean?"

"Working late," Ginny replied getting to her feet. She hugged her brother. "You look good since you decided to shave. You really don't look good with a goatee, brother of mine."

Ron blushed wondering why his sister was taking the mickey out of him in front of her guest.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" the blonde asked Mrs. Weasley.

Molly smiled. "No, child. Why don't you go and relax in the sitting room. You're a guest and guests shouldn't be put to work."

"I don't mind-"

Molly shook her head. "Go ahead and relax. You can even switch on the Wireless on if you'd like..."

"Okay," the blonde said, smiling at Molly before walking out of the kitchen.

Ron stared after her for a moment, but quickly turned his attention back to the basket of fresh bread rolls on the table. He reached for one, but Molly slapped his hand away. "Those are for dinner, Ronald!"

"I was just going to take one," Ron said defensively. "You know since I don't live here anymore, technically I'm a guest. You should be as hospitable to me as you are to-" He trailed off as he realized he didn't know who that girl was. What he couldn't understand was why neither his mother nor his sister saw fit to introduce him to her.

"What's the matter, Ron?" Ginny asked gleefully.

"To our guests," Ron finished smirking at her. "To our guests, of course."

"There's only one," Ginny pointed out. "One guest."

Ron could tell his sister was enjoying the fact that she knew something he didn't. Well, he wasn't about to give her the satisfaction. "So where's everyone?"

"Fred, George, Bill and Charlie are out playing Quidditch," Molly replied. "Your father's not home from work yet. Fleur's coming along later and Percy and Penelope are taking a walk before dinner."

Ron nodded and sat down at the table. Molly looked at her son. "Are you feeling okay, Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron said with a shrug. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well usually when you hear there's a pickup game in the backyard, you're out of here so fast my head spins," Molly said walking over to him and putting her hand on his forehead. "You're a little warm..."

Ron swatted her arm away. "I'm okay, Mum. And I'm warm because it's hot in this kitchen..."

"You know what they say," Ginny teased. "If you can't take the heat..."

"Shut up, Gin," Ron muttered, trying to get another roll, but Molly was too quick for him as she pulled the basket away from him grasp.

"So," Ron said nonchalantly. "Who is our guest?"

Ginny smirked. "Just an old friend."

"An old friend?" Ron asked.

"An old friend," Ginny said turning away so Ron wouldn't see the grin on her face. She was playing with fire, she knew, but something told her that her old friend was just what Ron needed.

"Mum?"

Molly smiled. "It's just like Ginny said; she's an old friend of the family..."

"But I've never met her..."

Ginny giggled and that was the last straw as far as Ron was concerned. He pushed back from his chair and decided to go outside for some fresh air. He could see his brothers and some of his nephews flying high in the air. For a brief moment, he contemplated joining them. But, he really didn't much feel like it. He sat down at the picnic table and looked up, content to just watch the game for now.

"Are you okay?"

Ron turned to see the blonde woman staring at him with concern etched across her pretty features. He gave her a slight smile. "Yes, just a little knackered."

She smiled. "Mind if I join you?"

He shook his head and motioned for her to sit down.

"I'm Ron Weasley by the way," he said as she sat down. "My sister didn't introduce us..."

The girl laughed, but shook his hand. "Well, she didn't really need to introduce us, did she? We've known each other since we were kids..."

Ron stared at her. "We have?" he couldn't help asking. He was sure that if he'd known this beautiful creature, he'd have remembered every little thing about her.

She laughed again. "Yes, we have, but in your defense, you haven't seen me in quite some time. I've been off traveling. I just returned home a few days ago. I ran into Ginny in Diagon Alley today and she asked if I wanted to come for dinner..."

"We, um...," he searched his brain for some way to ask this girl how exactly he knew her without offending her. He honestly didn't remember her. "Did we go to school together? Did you go to Hogwarts, I mean?"

She smiled. "Yes, I did."

Great, he thought to himself. This girl was going to be as forthcoming with the answers as Ginny was.

"You weren't a Gryffindor?"

She shook her head.

"Certainly not a Slytherin..."

Again, she shook her head.

"You're much too pretty to be a Hufflepuff..."

"What if I told you I was in Hufflepuff?" she asked flirtatiously.

"Were you?" he asked, cursing himself for asking that.

She shook her head. "No, but you should see the look on your face..."

He turned red. "Well, I guess by power of elimination, you were a Ravenclaw."

"You got it," she said, grinning at him.

"Okay," he said enjoying her company, despite the fact that he felt like a complete idiot. There was something nice, sweet and calming about this girl. "You were a Ravenclaw. Were you in my year?"

"No, Ginny's."

He thought about some of the girls Ginny used to hang out with when they were in school. Most of her friends were Gryffindors, but Ginny also had a few friends in some of the other houses.

Seeming to take pity on his plight the girl reached across the table and put her hand on his arm. "How about a hint?"

"A hint would be perfection," he said with a relieved sigh. A hint would be perfection? Where am I getting this stuff?

She laughed. "Okay, well...let's see. When we were in school, I'm not so sure you knew what to make of me. But, you weren't alone there...not too many people knew what to make of me. My dad likes to call me a free spirit..."

Ron listened to her, but he still didn't know who she was.

"You used to always make me laugh," she continued, a dreamy expression coming over her face. "I thought you were quite witty and charming...even at a young age."

"Were?" he asked.

She smiled demurely. "Well, I don't know you now, do I? But I suppose you're still charming..."

He laughed. "So I made you laugh..."

"Yes," she said. "And I suppose I made you laugh too, but not on purpose. You probably found my radish earrings funny or that lion hat I used to wear to Quidditch games..."

It suddenly dawned on Ron who this girl was. There was no mistaking those silvery grey eyes and that slightly dreamy expression on her face. And as he listened to her talk, he recognized her voice.

"Loony?" he asked interrupting her.

Luna frowned. "No one's called me that in years, Ronald."

Ron looked horrified at her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I just..."

"You remember me then?"

"Yes," he said, frowning. "Merlin, Luna I'm sorry..."

"Yes, well if you insist on calling me Loony," she said softly. "I just might have to break out a chorus or two of 'Weasley is our King'-the bad version."

Ron smiled. "So can we start over?"

Luna pretended to mull this over. "I think we already have."

****************** ********************** *************** ********************************

"I honestly wouldn't mind if you went out with Remus and Harry," Eva said, grinning at her fiancée. "In a couple of days, you will no longer be a bachelor. Don't you want to take advantage of your last days of freedom?"

Sirius leaned back in his seat and shook his head. He and Eva were enjoying a late dinner at the beach house. Harry had arrived earlier that day and they'd gone out fishing, but Sirius had begged off a stag party saying he wanted to spend his evening with the love of his life. There was more to it than that, but Sirius really did want to spent time with Eva. He still couldn't believe that this wonderful woman was going to be his wife in a couple of days.

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Sirius asked teasingly, taking her hand and pulling her into his lap. "Do you and Maureen have some big hen night planned? Admit it, love. You want to go to some bar and stuff money in some oiled up bloke's g-string?"

Eva scrunched up her nose. "Heavens no."

Sirius smiled. "You know, we're not even married and we're already an old, boring couple..."

Eva scoffed. "We may be old, but we're not boring. Things with you, Sirius Black, are never boring."

Sirius leaned in and kissed her.

"Out with it, Black," she said stroking his cheek. "Why aren't you out with your godson and best friend? I know you were looking forward to it..."

Sirius sighed. He knew he could never put anything past her. "Remus wanted to talk to Harry about something."

"Oh," Eva said, leaning against him. "Well, I guess you're stuck with me for the night..."

Sirius smiled, thinking that sounded like a perfect evening. "I guess so..."

"You know what we could do?" Eva asked, grinning mischievously at him. She patted his chest playfully. "You could get out your old g-string...we could play some disco music and you could dance for me..."

Sirius stared at her. "Eva, I hate to break it to you, but I don't own a g-string..."

"You do now," Eva said getting to her feet.

"Oh no you don't!" he protested standing up and looking around for a way to make a hasty retreat. He started to back away from her. "I'm not wearing one of those, Eva."

"Not for long anyway," Eva said winking at him before walking over to where she'd dropped her bag by the door.

Sirius yawned dramatically. "Boy, am I tired!"

"You're not tired," she called out over her shoulder. "But you will be..." She turned around ready to tell her fiancé that it was a joke, but he was nowhere to be found. "Sirius? Sirius Black?"

She put her hands on her hips. "You are such a coward!"

"I'm not wearing it!" Eva heard him call from upstairs.

Eva laughed. "I was kidding!"

"Kidding?" he called back. "That is not funny, Eva!"

"You're a big baby, Sirius Black. I thought you were supposed to be big and brave. Where's that bravado now?"

"I am big and brave, but even I have to draw the line at some things. And this is most certainly a deal breaker, Eva."

He came back downstairs and looked at her. "You really don't have one of those things?"

She shook her head. "I was just having a go at you. Honestly."

"Okay," he said with a relieved sigh. "Thank God."

"Still friends?" she asked, holding her hand out.

"Friends," he said, pulling her to him. He kissed her soundly and when they pulled away, they were both quite breathless. "Now, if you wanted to wear something skimpy for me, I wouldn't have a problem with that."

"Sirius," she purred.

"Yes?"

"Don't press your luck."

************ *************** *****************

Harry handed Remus a bottle of beer. "Nice night, eh?"

Lupin nodded. "Some stag party, eh? Without the groom-to-be, no less."

Harry laughed. "Well, he's getting too old for things like that..."

Lupin looked affronted. "Hey, he and I are the same age..."

"Exactly," Harry said cheekily. He and Lupin were sitting out on the deck of the guest house, enjoying the warm, late summer air. All evening long, he'd thought that his friend had something to tell him, but didn't know how to do it. "Something on your mind?"

Lupin leaned back in his chair. "You could say that."

"Is it about Hermione?"

Lupin nodded. "It's about Hermione. It's about you. And it's about Ron."

"Ron?"

"Yeah," Lupin said, setting his beer down on the table. "You and Ron, really."

"What about him?"

"You miss him," Lupin said getting right to the point.

Harry opened his mouth to say that he didn't, but the words didn't come out. He'd never been able to lie to Lupin. Despite everything that had happened, Harry did miss his best friend. He hadn't admitted it to anyone until now.

"I suspected as much," Lupin said quietly. "Sirius and I didn't think about the consequences of our little matchmaking..."

"Your little matchmaking isn't what ultimately brought Hermione and I together, Remus," Harry interjected. "You might have given us a push, but it wasn't down to the two of you in the end, was it?"

"No, but I should have known better," Lupin said. "I've been in the same sort of position as Ron before. It's never easy to watch your best friend take off with the girl of your dreams..."

"You and Sirius fell for the same woman?" Harry asked, wondering why Sirius had never mentioned this before.

Lupin shook his head. "No, it wasn't Sirius. It was James. James and I were in love with the same girl."

"Before my dad fell for my mum, you mean?"

Again, Lupin shook his head. "No, Harry. The girl was your mum."

*************** ***************** *********************