Disclaimer: Canon Harry Potter is not mine, just having fun writing about the characters.
A/N: Thanks as always to my beta reader Lydia-Carol who is always an immense help! Hope you all enjoy this chapter. I apologize for not posting it sooner, I had a devil of a time writing it for some reason, but anyway, enjoy!
Okay, so this is my third version for the day. I've been have trouble with how far to go with the forgiveness for Ron and Ginny. I hope this chapter is a little better. Ron was Harry and Hermione's best friend, so I didn't want them to tear him apart, but I suppose I was making them too forgiving, especially Hermione. Hopefully this is a little truer to the situation.
Chapter 6 - For Every Action…A Consequence
Hermione wearily walked up the stairs to her room, pausing for a moment to slide off her high heels before continuing up the last few steps. The whole night had left her feeling betrayed and confused. Not long after talking to Harry she had taken off, faking illness and asking Ron to take her home. It had not taken much acting to get Ron to believe her, as she was she was sure that she looked like a wreck. He had insisted on making sure she got to the door safely, much to her exasperation. It was a nice gesture, but because of what she knew, being around him was too painful.
Even now with Ron safely gone, she wasn't sure how she had kept from losing it on him, taking out all the hurt she'd felt over the past two years that she shouldn't have had to feel. But something had made her hold back. Maybe it was simply the fact that she hadn't needed any more of a strain on her emotions for the night. As betrayed and infuriated as she was because of what Ron and his sister had done, she knew that confronting him would probably lead not only to the end of their relationship but also their friendship.
She sat down on her bed heavily and let the shoes and her handbag, which she still held in one hand fall to the floor with a noisy thump. Feeling completely drained, she slumped backwards onto her bed, and let out a loud sigh. The effects of drinking more alcohol than she was accustomed to were already hitting her, and she was dreading how she was going to feel in the morning. Crookshanks, sensing her gloomy mood, meowed and jumped off the bed, quickly leaving the room to sleep elsewhere. Sitting up, she slipped her dress off over head after undoing the zipper. She stared at it for a moment, looking down at what she had chose to wear for what had ended up being a horrible night with one bright spot. She pressed the silky fabric to her face, swearing for a moment that she could smell something of Harry clinging to it.
Her heart jumped against her ribcage and she smiled. She slowly rolled over on her side and then sat up, reaching on the ground for her purse. Digging through its contents she found was she was looking for, Harry's note. She smoothed it and felt a tear slid down her check. Knowing that he loved her, made her indescribably happy, despite the pain the deception of her friends had caused. Getting up from the bed, she carefully put the note in the jewelry box that had belonged to her grandma, a beautiful old one that played music and locked with a tiny key. In it were her most important possessions; it was the perfect place for Harry's note.
She pulled out a rather fancy, somewhat skimpy nightgown, nicer than what she usually wore, which Mrs. Weasley had given her last Christmas. It has embarrassed her completely, especially as she had had to open the present in front of the whole Weasley family. She normally refused to wear it unless there was nothing else clean. She'd never let Ron see her in it, despite his argument that if she never wore it, it would hurt his mum's feelings. She crawled into bed, hoping for a sleep free of nightmares. Sleep took a long time to come though, as her racing mind still didn't want to give her a moment's peace.
***
Hermione woke up the next morning to the sound of someone knocking rather loudly on her door. Groaning she turned over and looked at her clock. It was only six in the morning and her head was aching as though she'd been clubbed over the head by a mountain troll the night before. It hadn't been all that long ago that she'd finally fallen asleep, as her thoughts had been torturing her. She pulled the pillow over her heard, trying to ignore the persistent noise for a moment. If it was Ron, she'd kill him. Whoever was there, clearly wasn't giving up … ever. Slowly, she sat up and swung her feel over the side of the bed. The floor was cold against her bare feet. She looked down at what she was wearing and groaned. A frantic search turned up nothing, so she decided on draping a blanket around her shoulders. Grabbing her wand, she headed downstairs. Her hair was a complete mess. As she passed the mirror in the hall, she realized she looked rather eccentric, but whoever was bothering her at this hour of the morning would just have to deal with it. She decided that as skimpy as the nightgown was, it was better to leave the blanket behind, she was so tired that in her half-awake state she was bound to trip all over it as she walked. She threw it to the floor. This had better be an emergency, or whoever is at the door is going to become an emergency, she thought.
Slowly she unlocked the door and opened it a crack, peering out to see who it was interrupting her sleep. She made a little noise of surprise when she saw Harry standing there. He smiled apologetically when he saw her. He looked as though he'd gotten even less sleep than she had. Traces of scars were stills visible on his face and purplish circles underneath his eyes.
"Hermione, I am really sorry for waking you up. I just had to see you and talk about what's going on. I just couldn't sleep, and I know this is rude, but I had to see you," he told her apologetically. Hermione sighed and opened the door the rest of the way, gesturing for him to come in. He smiled weakly and came inside. His eyes widened as he got a better look at her, his face flushing instantly. Hermione felt her own face get red and turned to shut the door; at least Harry didn't seem to mind what he saw. When she turned around, she noticed that Harry looked a little more distressed than he had when he had first arrived.
"Is Ron still here?" he asked uncomfortably, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other. She frowned, her expression darkening.
"No, Harry. Of course he's not here. I know you may have seen him go home with me from the wedding, but that was only because he insisted on making sure I got home safely. He doesn't know yet. I couldn't deal with any more emotional confrontations, last night so I didn't say anything. However, I am sure Ginny told him when he got home after dropping me off." She crossed her arms across her chest, her expression unreadable. She was a little hurt that Harry had implied that she would be so quick to forgive Ron.
"I didn't mean to imply anything to upset you. I was just under the impression that Ron lived here with you," Harry explained quickly. "I know what you mean though, about not wanting to deal with it last night. I said nothing to Ginny, although she has to know that you would tell me right away. I didn't want to cause a scene at the wedding anyway," he added. Hermione nodded. If she wasn't mistaken, he had looked very jealous as he talked about Ron and her living together. She felt her face color again.
She felt a little foolish for not guessing that Harry would think that she lived with Ron. After all, the day he had come back, Ron had been over, and she and Ron must have seemed like a fairly close couple. Poor Harry had most likely figured that they had been together since not long after he'd left. What she was wearing probably was probably helping Harry's imagination along as well. Harry probably figured it was a gift from Ron that she wore to be when she was with him at night.
"No, no. We definitely weren't living together at any point. Call me old fashioned, but I'd probably like to be engaged before I move in with someone," she said uncomfortably. "We haven't been together all that long either," she added. Harry looked very relieved. She managed a weak smile.
"Well Harry, now that we have that cleared up, shouldn't we talk about what's bothering us both and what led you to come knock on my door so early in the morning? Um, let's sit down."
Harry followed her to the living room. Hermione quickly scooped an armload of books from the couch. He smiled as he watched her, grabbing a few to help her out.
"Sorry about that," she said, taking the remaining books from him.
"Hey, my place looks like a crowd of Hogwarts students went trampling through," he said. She laughed and they both took a seat.
"So, how are we going to handle this?" she asked bluntly. Harry shifted uncomfortably next to her.
"I don't really know, Hermione. This whole thing is such a mess. Ron was our best friend, after all. I don't see how things could stay the same between us after this. What he and Ginny did was terrible. I can't even stand thinking about how things would have gone if Ginny hadn't admitted it all to you."
"We should go over there and talk about it, the four of us. It's the only way. It will be uncomfortable and horribly taxing emotionally, but it's got to be done," Hermione said decidedly. He nodded in agreement, his expression solemn.
"Let, me just get ready and have some coffee. Feel free to fix yourself something while I get dressed and things. I don't have much at the moment. There might be some bread for toast or something though," she told him, getting up from the couch.
"Thanks, but I don't feel that hungry. I'll fix the coffee for you." He smiled. "Besides, what's wrong with what you're wearing now?" he added cheekily. She rolled her eyes and took off upstairs.
As she set about getting ready, she felt more and more nervous. Being with Harry, now that she wasn't furious with him, felt so much like the old days. Things still felt so up in the air with him though. He had loved her two years ago, and she was sure that he still did, but did he know how much she loved him? Now maybe wasn't the time to say something, but she had to clear things up soon.
***
A few hours later Harry and Hermione both Apparated to a point near to the Burrow. Ron and Ginny were still living at home. Their other siblings were long gone and the two didn't mind the free food.
"I hope Mrs. Weasley isn't the one who answers the door. That would be so awkward. I mean what are you supposed to say to, `Hello, dear. How are you and Ron doing?', when the answer is, `Oh, fine. He and his sister have just been lying to me the past two years about Harry leaving. But, other than that everything's just lovely'," Hermione said, voicing her worries aloud quite animatedly. Harry cracked a smile at her spot-on impersonation of Mrs. Weasley, even though it clearly wasn't a good time for laughter.
"Yes, it will be completely awkward, but at least we have nothing to feel guilty about," Harry reminded her. Hermione nodded, chewing her lip nervously.
They stopped at the familiar entrance of the Weasley family's home, a place where they usually felt welcome and at ease. At the moment, they were on edge. Hermione rang what appeared to be a doorbell. It looked the work of Mr.Weasley who must have gotten the idea to install one from seeing such a thing on a Muggle home.
The door swung open a few moments later to reveal Ginny. She was very pale and looked as if she had been crying not long ago; however, she seemed far from surprised to see them. And if she was taken aback, she was hiding it well. She cast her eyes to the ground, clearly uncomfortable, but gestured for them to come in.
"Thank you," Hermione mumbled reflexively. She forced her mouth to twist into a polite smile. Harry stood quietly at her side.
They could hear Ron going on about something in the next room, clearly still talking to Ginny who had left to go answer the door.
"Ginny, where did you - ?" Ron was saying as he walked into the room, halfway through a question for his sister, when he spotted Harry and Hermione standing there.
"I was answering the door," Ginny said her voice strained. "Oh," Ron replied stupidly, clearly much more caught off guard by the presence of his two best friends, or at least not succeeding in hiding the surprise he was feeling. He glanced tensely back and forth between Harry and Hermione for a moment, and they guessed by the culpable look on his face that Ginny had filled him in on what his best friends now knew about his hand in all of this.
"Um, let's go sit outside for a little bit. I'll bring out some water for us," Ginny suggested after a few agonizing moments of uncomfortable silence. Ginny took off quickly for the kitchen and Harry and Hermione followed Ron out back (though they certainly would have known where to go on their own). Hermione looked around and noted that Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to be home. She was relieved in way, as she really didn't want any more members of the Weasley family to get mixed up in this.
Harry took a seat next to her outside. She fidgeted anxiously in her chair, looking down at her folded hands in her lap, anything to avoid Ron's face. Unfortunately for her nerves, he decided to sit across from her. Ginny came outside to join them shortly. There was a tray of water-filled tumblers magically hovering ahead of her.
"So, are we going to dodge around this whole thing for another hour, or should we just deal with it?" Hermione said, trying to keep her tone even as she addressed the uncomfortable group.
"Hermione, Harry, I just want to let you know how terribly sorry I am," Ginny burst out before anyone else could speak. Her expression was replete with genuine anguish. She clearly wasn't putting on show of false contrition.
"Really, I know I didn't seem it last night, Hermione, but I feel so wretched about what Ron and I did. It was wrong, but I was hurt that Harry had left no note saying goodbye to me, and that for all those years I had been clinging to the idea that Harry belonged with me. When I saw it in writing, it just made it painfully clear that, as I'd guessed, he really loved you, Hermione. Ron figured you loved Harry in return, and like me, he didn't want you to be with Harry, so I told him we should hide it, burn it. But I didn't have the heart to destroy it." Tears were now running down her pale face, leaving a red trail. She took a quivering breath before continuing. "I am so sorry. I thought maybe if Harry had a reason to forget about you, he'd realize he loved me. When he came back, and I saw how hurt he was after fighting with you, I knew that my little plan was falling apart. I know I no right to expect to you to forgive, but I just wanted you to know, and you too Harry, that I really wish I'd never read that note and kept it from Hermione."
Ginny buried her face in her hands, sobs wracking her body. Hermione blinked, rather astonished by the depth of Ginny's remorse. Last night she had seen Ginny as a conniving, unforgivable young woman, but now she could not help but feel sorry for her. It hurt to not have the person you love, love you back, but it didn't erase the pain she'd caused herself and Harry. Ron looked rather strange, his face a combination of guilt and pain. His pallor was rather greenish, as well.
"Yes, but you still did it Ginny, and Ronald. No matter how sorry the two of you are now. What you did was low and cruel. You both played with people's lives and emotions. What if I'd found all this out too late, it could have destroyed my friendship with Harry forever, and I'd be stuck in a relationship with a back-stabbing liar! I bet you would have even let me go as far as marrying you, Ron, and never said a word to me!" Hermione raged, her face reddening as she spoke. Ginny looked away.
For the first time since they'd arrived, Harry spoke. Today he was the composed one, despite his characteristic quick temper. His voice was tight, as though he was holding back the urge to yell as Hermione had just done. "Ginny, I am sorry if I somehow led you on concerning us. I never loved you as more than a sister; I realized that after the short time we were together in school. What you and Ron did still hurts like hell though. You two were our friends - we felt we could trust you, and you betrayed us," Harry said sadly, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Harry, I can't say it as well as my sister, but I really am sorry as well. I know I can be jealous, especially of you, and well … I felt like Hermione was just something else, well someone else, that you'd have that I didn't. But it was more than that. I was sure that I was in love with her, and when Ginny suggested the plan, it sounded so perfect. It doesn't excuse what I did, but as bloody foolish as it was, it was out of love for Hermione," Ron explained remorsefully. Hermione made herself meet his eyes as he spoke, despite the two siblings apology she still felt a simmering anger.
"I was furious with you both last night, still am really, and even though I understand your twisted reasoning, I am still so hurt that you could let me believe what I did about Harry. Especially you Ronald; he is your best friend! I just don't know how to set things right between the four of us again, ever," Hermione cried. Ron grimaced, looking away. Harry reached over and tenderly squeezed Hermione's hand.
"I realize you can't really trust us anymore, and for good reason, but I don't want this to tear the three of you apart. I often envied how close the three of you were at Hogwarts, and I feel more to blame than Ron for all of this. I don't care if you don't forgive me, but I don't want this to ruin the three of you," Ginny said firmly, holding back tears as she spoke.
The three best friends looked around at each other uncomfortably. Harry's hands were tightly clenched into fists, his mouth pursed in anger.
"I just don't know about that. Maybe after some time has past, we could get together or something. Get to know each other again because what you did makes you seem more like strangers to me. I really don't want to see either of you anytime soon," Harry told them, his expression cold. Ron and Ginny looked crestfallen.
"So, you might forgive us then, at some point?" Ron asked hopefully, trying to find something good in the situation.
Hermione frowned, "What you both did hurt me so much, and of course Harry, and I can safely say that I will forgive you both at some point, but not today. You just can't expect instant forgiveness, what happened was terrible, but even with Voldemort gone, things are still so uncertain. I realize your apologies were sincere but they don't buy you instant forgiveness. I don't want to carry this grudge to the grave, but it will take time to trust you both again."
Harry looked uncomfortable and Hermione felt her heart stop for a moment at the thought of how much danger Harry was probably still in. Though Voldemort was indeed dead the world was still full of dark magic, and it had become news recently that Voldemort's followers were not going to give up the fight.
"I feel the same as Hermione," Harry said firmly. "What you two did, was nearly unforgivable."
Ron and Ginny exchanged nervous looks and nodded solemnly. Hermione sighed, feeling exhausted and angry. At least things had worked out better than she'd expected, though she still felt a knot of resentment in the bit of her stomach. Things between two old friends were destroyed forever. She still felt unsure of what was going on as far as Harry was concerned. Did he still love her? Oh well, that could wait until tomorrow at least.
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