Thanks for your patience! I had a bit of an issue with my muse for this last part, but here it is! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed!
"We have to tell Ron."
"What?" Harry cried. "No we don't. We don't have to tell him anything. Besides, he already knows some of it. Most of it."
Coward. "Except the fact that we lied to our best friend." Hermione stared at him pointedly.
Harry held up his hands. "I am not risking the wrath of Ron over something like this. He already knows what he needs to know."
"How are we going to explain to him the reason behind our marriage if you've already packed and I've had a 'miscarriage'?" She ignored his raised eyebrow. "Why would our previous reasons convince Ron we should still conceivably be married?"
"Hermione, Mrs. Potter, please."
She scowled. "You will tell him, Harry. Just like you had to tell Ginny. You got us into this."
"Speaking of Ginny-"
"I will not have this subject changed until you agree to speak with Ron and tell him the truth."
"The truth?"
"Yes. Tell him the pregnancy was a scam and that once you actually thought about it, you realized how much in love we were with each other, from the beginning."
"He has to know about the miscarriage?"
"Yes."
Harry sighed. "Fine. I'll do it."
"Oh, Harry, thank you!" She threw her arms around him, enveloping him in a big hug. "Now, what's this about Ginny?" she asked as she pulled away.
"Well, I was actually just trying to change the subject." He gave her a winning smile. It went unappreciated.
"I was curious, though. What are you going to do with that monstrosity of a ring?"
"We could burn it."
Hermione glared at him. "We could sell it."
"Fine, we could sell it. But we have to make sure they reset it, so Ginny can't try to buy it and claim it as hers still. Or we can sell it to a Muggle jeweler."
She shrugged. "It's your ring."
He smiled. "So, that means I could burn it."
She just looked at him.
*~*
"She's gone. You can come out now."
Harry crawled out from under the table, grinning sheepishly. "Thanks, mate."
Ron shook his head. "Where's all this bravery again?"
"Honestly, Ron, you sound just like Hermione."
"You mean, your wife?"
Harry sighed. "Right. About that-"
Ron looked at him abruptly. "What now?"
"Well, it's like this. See-"
"Let me guess," he said. "You're calling off the marriage because you're too blind to see what's in front of you." He moved around the table to stand in front of Harry. "I heard you both, loud and clear. Your answer was much like hers. You both can't fool me. As much as I hate to admit it, you two have been half in love with each other for a long time. I suggest, before you call anything off, you think long and hard about it. Don't screw it up," he finished, emphasizing each word with a finger poked at Harry's chest.
Harry just stared at his best friend. He slowly brought a hand up and ran it through his hair. "Ron, I appreciate your, er, concern, but it's not exactly necessary. We've, well, we've decided to stay together, after thinking and talked to each other."
"Oh." Ron had the grace to blush. "Then what is it you needed to talk about?"
Harry sighed. "A confession of sorts."
The eyebrow again. "And this is why you didn't want Ginny around?"
Harry nodded guiltily. He looked around the room before talking a deep breath. His next words came in a rush. "We lied to you. There was no affair, no baby. It was all a scam because I was too weak to tell your sister the truth. It was my idea." He looked at the floor.
To his surprise, Ron started laughing. "I knew it!" he cried, thrusting a fist in the air.
"Wh-what?"
"Oh, Ginny will be so pissed off at you when she finds out. She always suspected, you know. I could tell. Maybe that's why she held on like she did." Ron was smiling.
"Okay," Harry said slowly. "You knew it?"
He nodded, smiling again. "You two didn't change much, after your supposed affair. You weren't awkward, you didn't avoid each other, yet you weren't overly eager to be around each other to do it again." Harry blushed. "And see, that, right there. You blush too often for it to be the truth." Ron shrugged. "I'm just glad you're staying together. Ginny knows, I take it?"
"The truth, you mean?"
"Yes, about the two of you."
Harry looked away. "I told her, before I told Hermione, that I couldn't love or marry her because I loved and am married to Hermione."
Ron nodded. "Good."
*~*
The truth, Harry mused, can be a lot easier to tell than a lie. He walked around his own mostly empty flat, concentrating on nothing but his conversation with Ron. It had been surprisingly easy, especially after what Ron had said to him.
He finally walked through his bedroom, packing the rest of his clothes, making the bed and cleaning what little needed to be cleaned. He sighed heavily, looking once more about the room and prepared to leave.
*~*
Ginny walked alone on Diagon Alley, pausing to admire her reflection in the shop windows. A few strands were out of place, so she stood long enough to fix the problem, flip her hair over her shoulder and prance off.
As she reached the corner towards Gladrag's, she carefully sidestepped a muddy puddle, only to stop suddenly on the other side. She had a vague look of panic upon her perfect face as she tried to move forward, but it was if a bubble had enclosed her, keeping her trapped on the pavement. The few passersby took no notice of the pretty witch, their eyes glazing over as they looked directly at her, hurrying from shop to shop.
Suddenly, inexplicably, the bubble released, and Ginny found herself falling backward. She had started to lean against the back of the bubble to rest after her exertions and was now drenched in the puddle, dripping mud from head to foot. Her beautiful glossy red mane was now an ordinary lanky brown that when she tried to flip over her shoulder only slapped her face with a loud smack. Her robes were ruined and now hung from her frame like an old bag lady begging for sickles. Ginny slowly started to turn red, fuming in her spot until she disappeared with a loud crack, leaving no faeries or glitter in her wake.
A young woman with long bushy brown hair stepped out of the shadows, pulling her cloak tighter and laughing hysterically.
*~*
Hermione sat in her chair in front of the fireplace, book in hand. She wasn't reading, though. Instead she was staring at the fireplace, willing it to flare up and bring Harry to her.
When he finally did floo, she hastily pulled the book closer, to look like she had been reading all along and not waiting anxiously for him to appear.
It was awkward. She put down the book and looked up at Harry. He was standing in the middle of the room, just looking at her, his arms full of bags and boxes.
"Hi," she said shyly, a slight smile on her face as she took a box from him.
"Hi," he returned, still looking at her with an unreadable expression.
He dropped the boxes, crossed to her and, cupping her face with both of his hands, kissed her. It was sweet and light and left her breathless as he pulled away.
"I've wanted to do that for a while," he admitted.
She nodded and gestured down the hall in a daze. She walked in front of him, still carrying the box she had taken from him. They arrived in her room shortly, where she emptied her hands and sat on her bed. He entered the room behind her, shutting the door softly.
"Hermione?"
She shook her head. "It's all too real."
He sat next to her on the bed, facing her. "How exactly?"
"We're married."
"And? I thought you agreed about this, that you love me." He couldn't keep the panic from his voice.
She put her hand over his. "That's not it." She gestured between them, and to the bed. "This, us. I love you, Harry, but I'm not sure where to go from here."
He grinned and ran a hand up her arm reassuringly. "I love you too. We can take it slow, as slow as we need to for the next two weeks. But then?"
"Right." She looked at him. "I'm nervous."
"Me too," he said softly, reaching a hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "But this, between us, is right and good and-" He kissed her, deciding that, in this case, actions could speak louder than words.
She squeaked a little, at first, but was then drawn into the kiss, throwing her arms around Harry's neck and bringing him closer.
Minutes passed and finally they broke apart for air, their faces flushed as they looked at each other. Hermione smiled shyly. He smiled back and cupped her cheek with his hand, pulled her closer until their lips met again.
This kiss had an air of finality, at least for that moment, and when they separated, Harry stood and began to unpack. Hermione watched him, content, until she finally stood and helped him with a few spells.
They finished quickly, silently. He came to her, took her hand, and they walked to the kitchen, shoulders bumping every so often as to make sure the other was still actually there.
*~*
"I'll cook," he said as they entered the kitchen.
She began to set the table, transfiguring a few cups to glasses, and poured wine from her wand. She handed Harry a glass with a smile, and sat at the table to watch him.
Part of me can't believe this is real, but the rest of me knows it's right and real and Merlin so help me if he kisses me like that again. She took a sip of her wine, pushing that train of thought aside.
He could feel her watching him. It made him nervous, like he was a first year in Snape's class, making potions for the first time for an unfair and unfeeling professor who didn't care that he had never seen a cauldron before. He smiled to himself at that image, and finished preparing their meal.
He joined her at the table, raising his glass to hers and they began to eat.
*~*
She was light-headed, slightly tipsy when she asked him into her room. Their room, she corrected. He's already unpacked. She thought she would play it smooth, asking him for help with something, but her words didn't come out right and she not only stumbled over them, but over her own feet halfway to her bed.
She landed in his arms, her chin lifted and her lips at the right angle to be kissed. Harry looked down at her, noticing how heavy her eyelids had become and just how rosy her lips were. He smiled, knowing his advantage, and tilted his head just so in order to capture her lips with his.
They kissed and she stumbled again, falling gracefully backward and landing on her bed. Harry came with her, having enough sense to break his impact on her with his arms outstretched. Their lips did not part and now, horizontal, they kissed hungrily, as if his delicious meal had been just an appetizer of a meal they had been forced to wait hours for.
Hermione laughed, her lips breaking the kiss as they formed a smile. I'm really quite ridiculous. Harry looked down at her, confused.
"Nothing," she murmured against his jaw, kissing her way lightly to his ear. She brought her hands up, tickling his sides along the way as she clasped her hands around his back. She bent her head and kissed him soundly, pulling him closer.
"Hermione," he groaned as he collapsed on her. "I love you," he whispered, kissing her lightly
after each word.
They continued to kiss, slowly removing articles of clothing until they were naked and panting. A question was in each of their eyes and they answered each other with their lips, a silent affirmation to their relationship and marriage.
*~*
Morning dawned and Hermione was snuggled under Harry's arm, pressed completely against him. Even while sleeping she smiled as she felt every inch of him on her back. She wriggled and stretched slightly, like a cat following a hand petting it. She stilled, her eyes still closed, and listened to him breathe.
She jumped when she heard a crash, followed by a shout. Another crash and the bedroom door flew open, revealing a very flushed and angry redhead staring at her pressed against Harry.
He sat up, allowing the duvet to drop, exposing enough skin to let the intruder know exactly what had happened that night.
"Ginny!" Ron shouted, coming into the room behind her. "Have you no decency?"
She turned to him, her eyes narrowed and hair shiny. "Not. Now."
Hermione shared a glance with Harry, and pulled the sheet up to cover her breasts. She glared back at the younger girl. "Can I help you?"
Ginny stomped closer to the bed and reached back to slap Hermione. A hand grabbed her wrist moments from impact.
"Touch my wife like that and I will end you."
Ron snorted.
Ginny huffed and turned to him, all sugar and smiles. "Why Harry," she drawled. "What are you doing in bed with this wench? Why don't you come back home with me, to our bed?"
"You are delusional."
She smiled prettily. "Now, honey, don't be like that. You love me, remember?" She tried to caress his face, but he brushed her hand away.
Ron stepped in. "Ginny. Gin. Stop it." She ignored him. "Really, you must stop this. He's not going to marry you. He's married to and loves Hermione, very much." He eyed the couple in the bed. "I take it they've committed the marriage as well."
Harry smiled gratefully at Ron. He stood from the bed, wrapping the duvet around his waist. Hermione squeaked and pulled the sheet closer. "Now, why don't you go home with your brother. We've both told the truth. Your mother even knows and accepts it. Why can't you?" He tried to push her towards the door, gesturing for Ron to help him.
She spun from him, thrusting her wand out behind him, pointing it directly at Hermione. "You will listen to me. You will end this false relationship and you will come home right now!" She stomped her foot on the last two words to emphasize her very important point.
As she glared at Harry, Ron disarmed her. Harry stepped in front of her, turned to Hermione and kissed her, cupping her face gently in his hands.
Ginny scoffed and turned away in disgust. "If this is how it's going to be, then fine. Just don't expect me to take you back next week, next month, or next year." She stalked out of the room and the three breathed a sigh of relief.
Harry and Hermione continued to kiss, his hands roaming down her bare shoulders and under the sheet.
"I'll just, er, leave you two alone now. Goodbye."
Harry blindly reached for his wand and slammed the door behind Ron, bending Hermione back to the bed as he kissed her again.
THE END.