A/N - All characters belong to the wonderful JK Rowling. I just borrowed them for a bit to play with them. I promise to put them back soon!
THE APOLOGIES
Ron did as she asked, and after many pauses and many deep breaths, he finished his side of the story and sat down in the nearest chair. He avoided everyone's stares by looking down at his shoes.
"Wow, little brother, when you decide to mess up, no one can top you," said Fred shaking his head. He looked at Hermione then. "I'll be the first in our family to apologize for our behavior, Hermione. I'm sorry for believing what the paper said and not asking questions."
Hermione nodded at him, at a loss of words since she was not sure what to say. It wasn't like she was ready to be in speaking terms with all of them as if nothing had happened.
"He's right, Hermione. Ron's a prat. I'm sorry, too." said George.
"I'm so disappointed in you, son," Mr. Weasley said not even looking at Ron. "Hermione, please accept the deepest apologies from Molly and I, dear. We should have known better and I'm sorry this happened."
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley,' Hermione said smiling a little at him. She couldn't very well ignore his sincerity. She wasn't that rude!
"Oh, Ronald, how could you lie like that?" asked Luna with tears in her eyes. She got up and left the room at a run.
Ron looked up and followed her with his eyes. He seemed shaken by her reaction and wanted to go after her but he knew it would be no use. He would have to deal with her later.
"I always believed in you, Mione," was all Neville said shyly, surprising everyone in the room. "That's why I never stopped talking to you."
Ginny swirled around so fast it was a miracle she did not snap her neck. "What do you mean you never stopped talking to her?" she asked accusingly.
"Just what I said, Ginny," he said, and his voice was strong and sure and it surprised the others who had always perceived him as shy and insecure. His voice left no room for arguments and professor McGonagall smiled proudly at him. "I never once doubted her. Hermione is not the kind of person that cheats and lies and I thought all of you would know better than that! So, no, I never let what happened get in the way of our friendship and professional association."
To everyone's surprise, Ginny did not say another word to him. She actually seemed proud that he had stood up to her for the first time. She nodded and lowered her head.
"And since we're all being honest," Neville continued with his newfound strength, "I'll also tell you that I am fully cooperating with her on the book she is writing and if you don't like it, we're going to have a problem."
Ginny looked at Hermione then. "You're writing a book? About what?" she asked with interest forgetting why they were there to begin with.
"It's about potions and their curative powers in rare diseases and curses," Hermione responded shyly.
"And Neville is helping you?" she asked even more surprised.
"I would not be able to do it without his help and expertise. I have never met anyone that knew so much about plants and their curative powers as he does. Your boyfriend is a lot smarter than a lot of people give him credit for, Ginny," Hermione explained smiling at Neville, who was now blushing furiously.
Ginny finally turned back to look at Neville and smiled at him. "I'm so proud of you, honey!" She turned back and faced Hermione. She was back to being serious and she looked guilty as well. "I will apologize as my brothers did, Hermione, for doubting you after so many years of true friendship. We all wronged you. I guessed we chose to believe Ron since he is family. But we were obviously wrong and I hope you can forgive us all."
"Thank you, Ginny."
"I don't even know if it's possible, and maybe at first things will be awkward, but I hope we can be friends again," Ginny said looking at Hermione and then at Harry.
"I'm sure time will heal all wounds, Ginny."
Molly looked at professor McGonagall, who was still to comment. "Did you know about this, Minerva?"
"I've known from the very beginning what happened that night. I've been Hermione's confidant for years."
"And why didn't you say anything?" Molly asked surprised.
"It was not my place to do so. I advised Hermione many times to tell one of you the truth, but she was hurt and stubborn. Nevertheless, I agree with Neville when he says she is not the type to cheat or lie. She's proven in more than one occasion the strength of her character and her loyalty to her friends. I am very disappointed at how quickly she was judged and found guilty."
They all looked miserable and well chastised by her words. Hermione looked at her and mouthed her thanks. Minerva nodded and smiled at her.
Ron had not said a word since the truth had come out. But his mother was not about to let him off the hook as easily. "Ronald Weasley, you disappoint me. We taught you better than that! How could you lie for so long and go on with your life as if nothing had happened? You let us all believe the worst of Hermione when she was innocent all along. And to think she went to Bulgaria to show you her support! You should be ashamed of yourself," she finished heatedly.
By the time she was done, Ron had shrunk as much as he could on his chair and his ears were bright red. He was twisting his hands together and he was afraid to look up. He wanted to disappear, but what good would that do? He had a feeling that he was going to be the outcast from that point on.
Hermione could not stand it anymore. She looked up at Harry. "I'd like to go home, Harry," she said quietly.
"Hermione," Mr. Weasley interrupted. "Ron hasn't apologized yet, and I would rather he did before you leave."
Ron finally looked up at his father, but immediately looked down again when he saw the deep disappointment in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, but I'm not ready to accept his apology yet. What he did hurt me deeply. It is one thing to accept you apology and your families, but he is the one that caused all of this and I am not sure I can forgive him. His actions robbed me of a year of my friend's lives. I have also had to live with the mean looks people gave me on the street, or the comments they made as they passed me by. While he went on with his life, I had to seclude myself. So I am sorry if I sound unreasonable to you, but I am being honest," Hermione finished with feeling.
Mrs. Weasley smiled sadly at her and patted her husband's hand. "We understand, dear."
Hermione got up from the chair. Harry smiled at her and grabbed her hand once again. Everyone's eyes flew once again to their entwined hands. He decided to address that problem head on as well.
"Before we go, there is one more thing. I do not want you to hear this from anyone else but me, so there will be no more misunderstandings. Hermione and I are seeing each other now and I plan on making her happy for as long as she'll let me."
Hermione looked around and saw surprise in their faces. Even Ron looked up and stared openmouthed at Harry, who returned his look as if daring him to say something. No one had seen that one coming either. She had to smile inwardly. Harry was sure full of news that day and she had a feeling that after they left, they would be the topic of conversation for a long while. Professor McGonagall was the first to react.
"Congratulations to you both. I wish you the best!" she said sincerely.
"Thank you, professor, we appreciate the well wishes," Harry told her smiling. "I think I'm going to take Hermione home now. It's been quite an evening."
"Hermione," Ginny said when they had turned and were walking away.
Hermione turned her head back to look at her. "Yes, Ginny?"
"Can Neville and I come over to see you tomorrow evening?" she asked shyly and unsure of herself.
"That would be fine, Ginny." She did it for Neville more than anything else, but she figured at some point they had to start sharing their lives again.
"We'll see you then, Hermione," Neville said smiling gratefully at her.
Hermione nodded and walked away with Harry.
Once outside, Harry wasted no time apparating them to her place. They walked into her living room and he hugged her tightly when she started shaking.
"It's okay, love, it's over now," he said soothingly as he ran his hands up and down her back. Her pulled her over to the couch and sat with her on his lap. She burrowed closer to him and held her while murmuring sweet nothings in her ear. After a while, she looked at him and smiled a little.
"I have to admit that I'm glad this is over and the truth is finally out. Thank you," she told him sincerely.
"And as you can see, everyone is on your side, Mione. Now Ron will have to deal with the consequences of his actions."
"Let's forget about this for a while, okay? I promised to feed and I made all of your favorites, even dessert! All of a sudden I'm starving!"
"Then say no more and let's go eat! I'm pretty hungry, too. I skipped lunch since I was a bit nervous about tonight," he admitted smiling.
"Well, since tonight went well for us, we should open a bottle of wine to celebrate," she suggested.
"I would love that!" And I love you, he thought.
Ron wanted to disappear, but he knew his parents would not let that happen, so he sat in his chair and waited for the screaming to begin. After lying to everyone for so long, he was glad in a small way that it was out in the open and he would be able to move one. There would be no more lies.
"I think it is best if I left," professor McGonagall said. "From this point on this is a family matter."
"I'll walk you to the door, Minerva," Mr. Weasley offered. He got up and escorted her to the door. After she was gone, he came back and sat next to Molly.
"Explain yourself, Ron," he told his son.
"I already explained what happened, dad, don't make me repeat it again, please," Ron said still looking down at his shoes.
"I want to know why you did it. What ever possessed you to do such a thing? You could have damaged her sterling reputation!"
"Ron, I can't believe you did this to her! You were after her for the longest time, and when she finally gives you a chance, you screw it up royally!" Ginny said.
"Ron's a git," continued George.
"Look Ron, George and I were never big fans of Hermione in school, especially when she was made prefect and tried to ruin our business. However, that does not mean she deserved what you did. When she let her guard down, she was pretty cool to hand around with," Fred said.
Ron was sick of hearing everyone berate him, so he got up and looked at them furiously.
"Look, I'm not going to sit here and take this, all right? I messed up, I admitted as much. I should have said something sooner, but I didn't. Then I started going out with Luna and I didn't want to mess that up! So I'm sorry I lied and Hermione was hurt in the process. It was cowardly of me to take the easy way out when everyone assumed the wrong thing. I just went along with what you all thought since it was easier than admitting I was an idiot. Right now my only worry is not losing Luna, so back off and leave me alone!" he finished loudly and stormed out of the room.
"Yeah, good luck, little brother," George said to no one in particular. His mother shot him an annoyed look. "What?" he asked lifting his hands.
"Arthur, I think it's time we went home as well. There will be no reasoning with Ron for a while anyhow. I'll just pay a visit to Hermione later on in the week and see how she's doing," Mrs. Weasley said.
"I think you are right, dear, we better leave the boy alone."
"We should leave too," Fred said looking at George. "We have a hot date with the Patil twins tonight!"
Before anyone could comment on that, they disappeared.
"We're not staying here either," Ginny said. "I don't want to stay and help Ron in case Luna decides to hex him good!" she said smiling.
"Now, Ginny, don't say that!" her mother said shaking her head and looking up the stairs worriedly.
"Well, mother, it would serve him right if she did!"
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