The Way We Were
'Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time. '
('Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)', Green Day.)
A huge thank you to LadyBlueStar/ LadyStarlight for the beta and wonderful suggestions.
Chapter 04: Make-believe
1 Month Later
Sunday, December 16th, 2018
The Burrow
The dinning room
"Ah, I can't wait to see the children," Mrs. Weasley declared to no one in particular as she served Mr.
Weasley with some potatoes. Like every Sunday at the Weasley house, the whole family was reunited around the table: Mr.
and Mrs. Weasley; Harry, Ginny, and Lily; Teddy Lupin; Bill, Fleur, and Victorie; Ron, Hermione, and Hugo; and finally,
George and his eternal girlfriend Angelina.
"Friday, I'll be picking up Rose at the Platform, Molly," Hermione told the Weasley matriarch.
"I already told you to call me mum, Hermione," Mrs. Weasley chided.
"And I told you, Molly, I can only call my own mother 'mum'." Hermione had a polite smile on her
face.
"This is such nonsense, dear!"
Hermione shifted on her seat, her muscles going slightly tense. She truly liked her mother-in-law, but sometimes the
woman was just way too much. Soon after Hermione and Ron got married, Molly Weasley had insisted that Hermione should
call her 'mum'. At first, Hermione was especially flattered by the request, but she politely replied that she
could not do that. And she did try to explain her reasons. Hermione already had a mother; a mother, with whom she was
having problems since the end of the war.
Soon after the final battle, Hermione had gone to Australia to lift off the Memory Charm from her parents and, by
extension, tell them everything what had happened. Their reaction wasn't how she had expected. If, for one side,
her father had been quite understandable (he didn't have liked what she had done, but he knew it was necessary),
the same could not be said about Margaret Granger.
Mrs. Granger saw in Hermione's action some sort of betrayal. She wished her daughter had trusted her own parents. Hermione's mother also didn't seem too keen about Hermione's relationship with Ronald Weasley. She had nothing against the redhead wizard; however, she didn't like the way he treated her daughter and, principally, she despised the fact that Hermione seemed sometimes to sell herself short when she was with him. He could be a good friend, but only that.
When Hermione announced the wedding, Margaret Granger's reply was short and simple: "You're making a mistake, Hermione Jean."
'You're making a mistake, Hermione Jean.'
Hermione shook her head slightly as her mother's words came to her mind. How true were they?
"…Aunt Hermione?"
Hermione snapped as she heard Teddy's voice. She blinked twice, and then turned her head towards the young man, giving him an apologize smile. "Sorry, Teddy? What did you say?"
Teddy grinned lopsidedly. "I was just asking how your new project is going, Aunt." His eyes sparked
mischievously under a veil of false innocence.
Hermione gazed at him and let a slight smirk cracked on the corner of her lips, nodding almost imperceptibly at
him.
Thank you, Teddy.
Teddy Lupin had inquired the intelligence and mischievous behavior of his parents. Hermione wasn't quite sure when he had started to developed that sort of ability to identify when something was wrong or about to get nasty. He had never tried to pry about the internal affairs in the Weasley family, but Hermione had no doubt he knew that not everything was perfection and happiness as it seemed to be. "Slow, Teddy," Hermione finally answered his question, "but I knew it would be this way."
"The Wizengamot still is, unfortunately, guided by old fashioned preconceptions and traditions, Hermione," Mr. Weasley commented in a kind voice, "but, I'm very proud of you are trying to do, my dear."
Hermione beamed at Mr. Weasley's words, a wave of pride washing over her in that moment. "Thank you, Arthur, I-"
"What are you talking about?" Fleur Weasley asked curiosity. After more than twenty years living in Britain, the French accent in Fleur's voice was almost imperceptible. "Are you trying to pass a new law, 'Ermione?"
"Not exactly," Hermione replied in a professional mode, trying to ignore the not so subtle snort coming from Ginny's direction. Her sister-in-law looked bored. "I'm just trying to change an old law."
"Our Hermione here is about to make a big change in the Wizardry society."
"I'm curious, Hermione." Harry smiled, his green eyes shining brightly. One month had been passed since that remarkable meeting in that Muggle Café and their friendship was starting to be rebuilt. It wasn't like it was in the past, but it could be said it began an improvement.
"I'm trying to change few things in the law about divorce."
As soon as she spoke those words, the table went quiet.
"Divorce, you said?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a tone Hermione couldn't exactly figure out what.
"You see, I think is unfair and a tremendously sight of machismo and ignorance that in the Wizard world only the man can ask for a divorce, and if he did the spouse is obligated to agree, without receiving any kind of allowance."
"My dear, you have to understand that-"
"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione cut her in-law fiercely, purposively not calling her by her first name or mum, "but I've always believed that everyone should be treated in the same way. We had a war because of it."
"The war was a completely different matter, dear." Molly Weasley shook her head in disapproval. "I understand that the Muggle world has a different view about morality, but our world is different. Family and Marriage are very important things."
Hermione sighed, frustrated. She didn't want to start an argument, but she simply couldn't stay quiet and say nothing. "I never said family and marriage aren't important. I just think that the power of being able to call a divorce shouldn't be only in the hands of the husband." She paused, looking briefly at her own husband, who hadn't said a single word. "I do believe marriages should last forever, but what if the woman is suffering some sort of abuse or her husband is cheating on her-" She shrugged. "Or even if she doesn't love him anymore. Shouldn't she also have the right to say she wants to get divorced?"
There was a contemplative silence after. Mrs. Weasley looked at her with a wonder expression, as if she was trying to assimilate Hermione's words.
"Merlin, Hermione!" Ginny snorted loudly. "After so many years we would think you already know how our world works! You need to stop being so...Muggleborn."
Hermione's head snapped at her sister-in-law and her body stiffened, her eyes narrowing in dreadful disbelieve and annoyance. She pursed her lips, urging herself to not stand up, take her son and leave that house. Diverting her gaze towards Harry, she saw that he was staring at his wife with a sad expression. She looked at the others at the table and, while they seemed somewhat taken aback by Ginny's words no one said a word.
No one, except...Ron.
"You should watch how you speak with Hermione, Ginevra," he spat at his sister, causing all the stares to turn on him. "I thought it was already proved Hermione is a witch and that doesn't matter if she is Muggle-born or not."
Hermione's eyes watered, her chest squeezed. She couldn't actually remember when it had been the last Ron had spoken on her behalf.
"And I also have to say," he continued, "I'm supporting Hermione one hundred per cent." He reached up out his hands, under the table, and took hers into his, squeezing it gently. "People shouldn't stay together if their marriages are killing them inside. They should have the chance to, at least, stay friends."
They stared at each other, a poignant smile on their faces. They were friends-and could remain that way.
***
The rest of the lunch went by eventually without any further conversation.
Ron stood up at the kitchen's doorway, silently observing his family in the backyard. Everything-and everyone- seemed perfect and happy. He heaved a sigh, shaking his head briefly. Ron would never have thought he would ever feel this way, but he was feeling alone. Closing his eyes, he dropped his head into his hands, shaking it, unconsciously wishing that everything was different. He opened his eyes again, and turned to enter the house.
He knew they were expecting him to meet them in backyard; to see him laugh and play Quidditch with Hugo. Ron loved his son with all his heart. Actually, he would never thought he would be able to love someone so unconditionally like he loved his children. However, every man had his breaking point, and Ron didn't know for how long he would be able to continue playing 'happy family'.
Ron turned around on his tracks and walked inside the house. He was just about to head out of the kitchen towards the living room when he heard the unmistakable voices of Harry and Ginny. He didn't want to disturb them, and was about to turn around. However, something made him act differently.
"I can't believe she talked like that to my mum!" he heard his sister hissing.
Silently and unnoticed, stopped in the doorway, whirling his head in a position he was able to see Harry and Ginny talking in the room, near the stairs.
They were speaking in hushed tones. Ginny looked irritated, and Harry- helpless but also, annoyed.
"Molly should know by now that Hermione doesn't want to call her 'mum'. Why is so difficult to understand it, for god's sake?!" Harry ran a hand through his dark hair. "I don't call Molly 'mum' too and it has never been a problem."
Ginny huffed, and even if he couldn't see it, Ron was sure she had rolled her eyes.
"It's completely different, love," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"And why it would be different?" Harry's voice was low and strained, filled with implication.
"Ah, luv, you know."
"No, I don't, Ginevra." Ginny tried to reach his face, but Harry shoved her hand away. "Because if I do know or if I might think that I know what you are implying, I'll get very angry."
"Harry-"
"No, Ginevra!" he spat at his wife. "I didn't say anything at lunch because I'm an idiot who didn't want to start an argument in front of the kids, but you need to think better next time you decided to make some sort of another nasty comment to or about Hermione."
"I can't believe you are fighting with me because of her!" Ginny cried crossly. "She doesn't need you, Harry Bloody Potter! She already has Ron for this job!" And in an angry movement, Ginny rushed upstairs.
"Ginny!" Harry called, but she didn't turn back.
"What are you going to do now, Harry?" Ron chose this moment to make himself present. "Are you going to beg for my sister's good heart and forgiveness?"
Harry's head snapped at the sound of Ron's words. He turned around quickly, his green eyes narrowing at his friend. "What is that supposed to mean, Ron?"
Ron gave a dry laugh. "Come on, Harry. We all know you look like a lost puppy when it comes to my sister." He shook his head dismissively. "It's your choice, I suppose. You have your own family. Maybe old friends aren't that important anymore."
Ron knew he was being too harsh and that those words weren't exactly true. Harry wasn't the only to be blame for the fall down of their friendship. Not even Ginny. He had his own set of blame, but at that moment, he was too tired and frustrated to care.
"I don't know what's going with you, Ron," Harry said, sighing. "I agree that we aren't as
close as we used to be, but you have no right to say that my friends aren't important to me! You know very well I
could do anything for you and Hermione!"
"I don't need you to save me from Dark Wizards, Harry!" Ron cried frustrated. "I need a friend." His voice was now barely a whisper. "I need my best friend, Harry."
"Ron-" Harry looked at his friend, unsure of what to say or to do.
"My life is falling apart, Harry."
***
Upstairs, in her old bedroom, Ginny laid curled up in a ball in her bed, holding herself tightly. Her hands were trembling and tears were rolling down her face. She wished everything was different; that she was different. Ginny hated herself for the words she had said about Hermione, for her disdain towards Hermione's work and personality. She knew her words weren't true. She knew that Hermione would do a great good for Wizard Society she indeed managed to modify the divorce law. She understood why the brown-haired witch wasn't comfortable to call her mother 'mum'. She hated when people would think less of someone just because their background. Then, why she had acted that way?
Ginny was afraid-afraid of what Hermione represented to Harry's life. She had never meant to break their
friendship. No, she had once viewed that all of them could be very good friends.
However, Harry never saw her as his best friend. Hermione was his best friend.
Ginny Weasley-Potter closed her eyes tightly. She just wanted to continue to live her own fairy tale.
TBC