I don't own Harry Potter...
The next morning I bounced downstairs to the familiar smell of my mother's cooking. I sat down and eagerly began to fill my plate.
"Did you have a chance to take a look at the books last night?" My dad inquired.
"Don't tell me you gave them those books you kept up. I told you it was ridiculous. Ron is home and ready to move on with his life not reflect on the past. He's my little war hero after all and deserves a nice young lady to spend the rest of his life with."
Mum was stroking my hair and I looked up at her like she was crazy, "what are you talking about?"
"I just mean now that you've closed the book on Hermione you can go on with your life. I understand that Lavender is still single. I admit I've kept in touch with her. She is such a nice young lady, nothing like what your sister describes."
"Mum, I'm not interested in Lavender and what do you mean by closing a book on Hermione?"
"Well, I'm sure you read what went on without you around. I wouldn't want you involved with someone with such a horrible reputation. Now your father," she said pointedly looking at my dad, "always defended her but they never could disprove those dark magic allegations."
"They couldn't prove them either dear." Dad said tossing down the paper that had a picture of Harry and I on the front page. "Plus she works for the Department of Mysteries so of course she's going to have an aura about her."
"Mum, we didn't leave because of Hermione but to protect her."
"Well, it turns out you didn't need her anyway."
"If it wasn't for her research that I stole before we left we'd still be fighting this war."
"You should tell the Ministry that son." My dad said. "It might help smooth things over a bit."
"Why should he give her any credit, they were the ones who fought him."
"And she did her part with the Order. Hermione and Ginny both went on many dangerous missions. I'll never understand why you let those rumors get to you."
"It wasn't a rumor when I caught her on the couch kissing that boy. I knew Ron was in love with her and she brought a date here." Mum turned to me, "After that I just couldn't trust her, I had to ask her to leave the Burrow. I didn't think that Ginny would go with her."
"You kicked her out?" I asked.
"Yes." She replied as if it was the most logical thing in the world.
"Molly, they were only kissing and nothing more. I was with you and you overreacted. If she shakes a man's hand you and that Rita woman turn it into a torrid affair." Mum and dad now began to bicker heatedly between themselves.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Mum had kicked Hermione out of the Burrow. I'll admit it hurts to think she was kissing someone else but that seemed a little extreme. I heard Harry enter the room and he sat down across from and looked at me questioningly. My parents hadn't stop arguing to notice he entered the room. Once Harry coughed my mum turned to him.
"Oh, Harry dear, eat up you are skin and bones." She turned and went to the stove and came back with fresh eggs. "I'm planning your party for tomorrow night. I thought we'd have the family, Lavender and your other close friends."
Harry looked confused at mum's comment on the guest list. "Mum, you don't need to invite Lavender."
"Of course I do, she has been in contact constantly since learning that you were coming home soon. She's anxious to see you." She gave me a little wink and I rolled my eyes.
"You'll invite Hermione too." My dad said with an air of authority.
Mum looked defiant but answered, "fine."
When breakfast was over I filled Harry in on what my mum was going on about. He couldn't help but laugh at the Lavender situation. "Your sixth year mistake is destined to haunt you for the rest of your life."
Harry and I decided we needed to get away from the Burrow and apparated over to Lupin and Tonk's.
"REMUS!!!" Tonks yelled as she opened the door. "I can't believe you're both here. I'm so happy to see you two." She gave us both big hugs with some difficulty seeing that she was very pregnant.
When Remus came to his entryway he broke down and shed a few tears. He grabbed Harry and wouldn't let go. "I see you both made it through in one piece."
"Yes." Said Harry.
We went into their living area and began to recount our adventures starting with the night we took off.
"You're lucky your mum didn't skin you alive Ron when you came back. She was spitting fire when she found out you ran off." Informed Tonks before she waddled up the stairs to comfort a crying child.
"Our son Sirius is three. He played with a friend this morning and came home dead on his feet so Dora made him take a nap."
"Dora?" Harry laughed.
"My pet name for her." He said and then in a whisper, "she hates it." Then wiggled his eyebrows giving us all a good laugh.
"Were you talking about me?" Tonks asked when she reentered the room and we had all become silent.
"No." We all said at the same time.
She plopped down on the sofa giving us all a reproachful look. "So, have you guys seen anyone yet besides your folks?"
"We went to Ginny and Hermione's last night." Said Harry.
Tonks and Remus looks sympathetically at Harry. "Sorry about Ginny Harry." Said Tonks, "Chris is a really nice guy, he'll do right by her." She then turned to me. "So Ron, what did you think of Hermione?"
I didn't exactly know how to answer, "I was a bit surprised."
"Don't let her tough and bitter exterior fool you; the old Hermione's still buried deep down in there. She tends to let her guard down around us." She squeezed her husband's hand and continued, "She comes around here a lot and she's Sirius's favorite babysitter." She took a bite of the apple she had brought back with her. "She's just been a little lost since you guys left. You two really destroyed her."
"The way the Daily Prophet treated her, we're lucky she didn't move to America!" Exclaimed Remus.
"Too right my dear. I don't know if you know but she was the subject of many cruel articles concerning your leaving."
"I know," I said, "dad kept a scrapbook."
"I'm sure your mum loved that. She's not exactly Hermione's biggest fan. When she left the Burrow she stayed here until they found a flat. Poor thing would just cry her eyes out."
I felt another wave of guilt wash over me as I sat there and listened to Tonks talk about Hermione and her experiences over the years. I was wondering if I should be the one to move to America. As I sat there lost in thought, Remus received an owl inviting them to a welcome home party for me and Harry.
"We are cordially invited to your welcome home party hosted by the Minister of Magic and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley, and co-hosted by Lavender Brown."
"You're kidding!" I jumped up and grabbed the letter out of his hand. "This has to be some kind of joke. What is my mum's obsession with Lavender?"
"Oh, Lavender made herself out to be the poor suffering soul mate of one Mr. Ron Weasley. After your mum essentially shunned Hermione, Lavender swooped in and became quite chummy with her. I'm sure they have already planned your wedding." Tonks gave me an enormously fake smile then began to laugh at my predicament.
When we arrived back at the Burrow I was immediately attacked by a blond headed banshee. "Oh Ron, I was so worried about you. I've missed you so much," Lavender said and gave me a kiss on the lips which caused me to recoil immediately and back away. Harry sprinted up the steps not wanting to see the ugly encounter.
"Don't be rude Ron. I invited Lavender over to plan your party." My mum scolded.
"You don't have to pretend anymore, I know you broke up with me to protect me the way Harry did with Ginny." When she saw mum had left the room, "unlike your sister I remained loyal to you."
"I'm sure." I answered sarcastically and broke loose once again from her grip.
"I was surprised to hear that you went to see Hermione last night and not me. I hope you put her in her place once and for all."
"What? You and my mum are crazy. Hermione never did anything wrong. I left to protect her, not you. Need I remind you that you broke up with me? Besides, I avoided you half the time because I couldn't stand being around you and didn't have the guts to break up. I'd appreciate if you'd leave and not keep filling my mum's head with ideas that we are a couple or something. I'm going upstairs."
As I walked up the steps I heard my mum comforting a sniffling Lavender. "He's just exhausted dear. He's lashing out at everyone."
"I know it's going to take him some time for us to get back to where we were. I just wish that tramp would leave him alone."
"I know, but Ron doesn't really know everything about her so if I were you I'd watch what you say about her. He seems a little defensive."
I almost wish I was back in hiding than be here in this alternate universe. One thing was for sure, I needed to get out of the Burrow fast before my mum knocked me over the head and I woke up married to Lavender. There was a flat available in Ginny and Hermione's building; maybe that would be a good option. Harry and I had to at least try to reestablish our friendship with Hermione. I knocked on his door and he tentatively answered making sure I was sans Lavender. Once inside, we began to strategize a way to bring back the old Hermione and reform the golden trio.
