Hollywood remake – How did we not Know

As done by Billybob csagun36 a task begun on 03-26-2017

Published with the permission of the original author, as granted on 04-03-2017

Rated M so as not to offend all those morality 'prigs' out there (go ahead I dare you … look it it up) There is also adult level humor (in this tale) which will upset those that insist that all HP fan fiction be written for readers that are no more than twelve years of age.

Alternate universe (AU): for obvious reasons

Chapter two: Aftermath

88**88

The Pensive memories then ended abruptly, leaving six Weasley and one Potter standing in a semi-daze in Ronnie's old bed-room.

"Harry, could you come and help set the table?" Molly called out from the bottom of the stairway. Sneaking a glance at the others, Harry began walked out of the room with Ginny holding on to him with a death grip - giving the others a perfect opportunity to talk among them-selves (but they didn't … the gits).

"There was a lot more to it, wasn't there?"- Ginny asked softly. "The stuff that caused Ron's nightmares,"

"Yes, but that torment wasn't done by his family", Harry replied

"And your private nickname for Hermione was _ little mother_?" Ginny said on a far lighter note.

"Yeah … she has a tendency to mother me … a-lot", Harry said, "just as Ron's private nickname for her is …"

"… MIONE" _all the other siblings said at the same time, as they descended the stairs.

"Not as much a secret as Ron had hoped", Harry said with a warm chuckle.

"What do I do to make it up to him?"- Ginny bemoaned. – "I was the one that told him about Granger and Krum, giving lie to the: 'just a pen-pal crap' … that Hermione told him",

"Told_ us _Ginny-luv, she lied to me too." Harry said sadly.

"Did you ever tell Hermione about…" _Fred asked.

"No", was Harry's quick reply.

"Did Ronnie do what he said … about only coming back to drop-off supplies", George asked.

"I was real close to changing his mind (about leaving again)", Harry admitted. - "But when we got back to the tent, Hermione_ 'kind-a' _blew up on him … she actually attacked him physically … before repeating (and almost verbatim) what the locket said … - about us not wanting him there" - (minus the sex …that-bit, never happened).

"It had better not … otherwise I'll hex off you're …"Ginny snarled.

"The first time Ron left us … We danced … We snogged … (a-bit)," Harry admitted his voice thick with indescribable shame. "But when I touched her (on-top of her jumper) … my blood ran cold as ice. - I gave into temptation (I admit it) and it was a horrible betrayal of you. – Cho was a wet Kisser – but my lips on Hermione, was like kissing a corps. - The next morning when I awoke … filled with regret, I looked at his empty bunk and remembered … Ron was gone.

"But Ronnie found you again … didn't he?" - Charlie asked excitedly, as he and his siblings caught-up with Harry and Ginny as the pair continued down the stairs toward the kitchen hand in hand.

"Every month or so - like clockwork_ and his ability to do that (at all) drove Hermione absolutely crazy".

"And when he showed up again and Hermione caught him"; Charlie said. – "I bet she tore into him again …good and proper".

"No … she never actually caught him dropping off supplies"; Harry said, with a tiny sad smile. – "He always came while we were sleeping and silently left the bags of supplies in front the tent, without disturbing us. - - Hermione never got a chance to express any of her regrets … (if she had any) as for my-self … I felt terrible. – Ron proved to be far more loyal to me, than I was to him. - He also; was too ruddy clever, about assuring abundant quality time alone. Far more time than I ever thought him capable of giving us. - - He came undetected – a total of five times; until the snatchers got us all, (in late March) on the same day… as a matter of fact".

"I… I never knew any of this." Bill gasped out. "Ronnie went back to his apprenticeship while he hunted for you two - I didn't really come into the picture until a bunch of Malfoy manor escapees, showed up at Shell Cottage in the early morning hours. - It was Mum and dad that first told Fleur and me; (at our wedding reception … no less) that Ronnie felt unrequited love for Hermione and that information proved to be … spot on. - - I saw it play-out with my own eyes, when the first person Granger asked for, when she opened her eyes …"

"… was me", Harry interjected sadly.

"Yeah, Ronnie was crushed by that; I could tell", Bill said. "That boy had carried her across the beach, stayed at her side while she was unconscious … and yet … her first thought was for..."

"… Ungrateful bitch" Ginny snarled in interruption. - "Mark my words … I going to get her … I'll make her pay for all the pain she has caused him.

"Join the club." Percy and Charlie muttered in surprising agreement.

"Do you think? …" - Percy began

" … Mum and Dad"- Charlie finished.

"Did they know … that it was all one sided?"- The Twins said in unison as they shook their heads in the affirmative – "Yeah … they knew, but there was no talking sense to Ronnie on that issue … Merlin knows we tried. Think-on-it … had our parents actually known about how badly Granger miss-treated Ronnie over the years at Hogwarts; do you really think she would be here now?

"We realized early-on that ickle Ronniekins was chasing an unattainable," Fred said. And it was loads of fun (especially after fourth year) watching his pathetic attempts to get her attention".

"We did him wrong with the spider thingy", George continued, "no doubt about it. We really had no idea that he would be so traumatized by a relatively harmless prank".

"Harmless my arse" Harry growled. "He was paranoid about of the ruddy things – Remind me sometime to tell the story of how your spider 'mucked-up' brother (in spite of his fears) faced down an army of Giant spiders for Hermione's sake.

"When was this?" Charlie asked eagerly.

"I'll tell the lot-of-you, all about it … I promise. - - Once Ron gives me permission", Harry said to a group-sigh of disappointment.

"Look we get it … alright; Ronnie loves Granger … a super brilliant (anti-male) feminist cow, a witch that didn't know our littlest brother existed for six bloody years", Charlie said.

"Oh no; she knew he existed all right, she found him to be - both dimwitted and infuriating", Harry said with a tiny smirk.

"We just don't understand Ron attraction for someone like her, that's all … she doesn't have any social skills ... meaning; she had a total of one female friend the whole time she was in your little trio (Ginny) - we accept that he has it bad for her, we accept that she went out with other guys, but no one can explain to us ... the attraction. - - We even acknowledge that Ronnie's romantic self-confidence (when dealing with girls) has suffered greatly, because of her fixation on you"

"God's Truth … on both points; however, according to Hermione; that- 'old' -reality took a sharp turn at Shell cottage," Harry declared with a big smile. – Oddly enough_ "Little mother _ actually fought against this change in her world-view (stunning revelation) she denied it for the longest time … but three years ago (for reasons she never properly explained to me) - Hermione rather abruptly, gave into the irrefutable. Since then, she has become surprisingly receptive to the idea of hooking-up with Ron".

"Ok … stop teasing_ and tell us what happened at Shell Cottage" George said, now reduced to begging. – "If we had known she would eventually go all proactive on the lovable git, we wouldn't have done so much to block the relationship? - We verbally teased him about Granger without end, pranked the witch on occasion (just for fun) to discourage any feelings from developing on her part for a mere Weasley - (and succeeded for the most part) … Feorge and I even encourage the Krum thingy to make you jealous - (failed) and then pointed her in the direction of Cormac (failed again) - - bottom line is … we had no idea she was rubbish with boys"

"For we believe our underlining goal (as twins) was in Ronnie overall benefit", Fred said. "Meaning – to get 'miss brilliant' to dump ickle Ronnie_ permanent like _to make him open to the possibilities of a normal; family orientated, Ravenclaw witch, which we had already picked-out for him.

"Another prank?", Harry asked in a worried tone.

"No … we swear … We just happen to think, that icky Ronnie, with the right witch at his side (that actually likes being a girl) would make a far better Daddy, than either of us". George said with obvious sincerity.

"But not with Hermione?" Harry asked pressing the matter.

"… We openly concede that 'miss brilliant' has a pretty face", Fred began.

"But my broom has more curves", George finished.

"Secondarily; we have only seen her wear a dress twice". Fred continued, "And we have repeatedly heard her mock her dorm mates for 'wasting' revision time with silly dating. - We don't even think that she likes being female".

"In the face of these facts", George started, "the conclusion (for us) was obvious. –

"We have never hidden our feeling that _ ickle Ronniekins _ can do way better than either - slutty Lavender Brown (one extreme) – or – your asexual _ little mother (on the other)" - Fred finished with a chuckle from using the Harry inspired 'nickname' for the first time?"

"And exactly how many brilliant birds (for that is clearly the Ronnie type) have you set him up with since the war, while Granger was away in Australia or back at Hogwarts", Bill asked harshly.

"Well; Brother Billy … we've been rather busy – with our shop … and all" George said.

"The answer is zero, Bill", Ginny said.

"Too little … too late, I tell you. It would be a waste of time to try to hook Ron up with anyone else … not now. I have no idea why Hermione is dragging this out, but any second thoughts are strictly hers - not his …" Harry began, only to stop speaking and become very thoughtful.

"Ok … maybe we might have to do something - three years without movement in the status quo … is a long time", Harry said aloud, sounding more and more depressed. – "It took me less than six months, after Ginny was forced out of the _ Harpies … for us to become engaged. - It is just possible that Hermione simply refuses to settle for what she regards as second best. – Maybe … she doesn't want more from Ron than the on the rare occasion (kissing) close friend".

"That makes sense, in my experience; most hard core feminists are traditionally anti-male", Bill said sourly.

"I don't think there is anything traditional about Hermione's thinking", Harry countered. – "Did I ever tell you … that Ron had already been tortured by the time Hermione and I arrived at Malfoy manor? - - When Bella insisted on torturing Hermione next, hearing this; Ron … lost it - volunteering to take her place. - He went nuts every time she screamed out in agony … another tid-bit that no one in the family knows about"

"Why not?," - Bill growled.

"Don't ask me … it was Ron's idea", Harry said thinking back to that fateful night. "She had gone thru hell during our capture _and Ron willingness to take her places - shocked her badly … I could tell. – Then he had the gall to stay by her side … the entire time she was in a coma (at shell cottage) how dare anyone love her that much", Harry said sarcastically - - "I couldn't be bothered as usual, I was in a foul funk over the death of Dobby. My thoughts, when she was so close to death, were exclusively on a house-elf _and that stupid prophecy"- Harry confessed, sounding embarrassed.

"Unrequited romantic feelings; Granger's for you or Ronnie's … isn't the core problem here", Bill harshly insisted. "Being rejected by a girl happens all the time to boys as they grow-up. - - No – the issue for us Weasley's; is Ronnie's self-worth issues_ and that started years before he began to fancy his unattainable".

"I was at the cottage"; Harry said in a deeply reflective tone, as if Bill had not spoken. "It was the morning after the Manor fiasco … I was sitting downstairs in the kitchen, having a cuppa with Luna and Dean, when Ron came up to me and said in a lifeless tone: 'your girlfriend is awake and calling for you'. - I can't begin to describe how furious that off-hand remark made me feel. - - I'm telling all of you here and now, that I flew up those stairs to give that pain in the arse – my ungrateful bookworm an ear full. - I told Hermione that the only reason she was still alive was Ron. - The only thing I didn't expect out of that conversation; was for her to agree with me".

"She … what", they all exclaimed as one.

"She said I was right about absolutely everything … she said that during her torture by Bella; the only thing that anchored her mind to sanity was Ron's voice … screaming her name. - - She went on to say that during her Cruciatus curse induced coma, when she wanted to give in to the darkness … she again heard Ron … talking to her, reading aloud from her favorite book … confessing his love for her … begging her to come back to him. - - Hermione said that during- 'all that time' -from capture to full recovery; she hadn't thought of me … the 'Chosen-One' more than once. The few times she managed to open her eyes (even a little) as she fought her way out of the abyss - it was Ron she saw, holding her hand, shedding tears over her".

"So she finally bought herself a clue … about time" Charlie said.

"Bought her-self _'Part' _of a clue, this abrupt revelation (romantic epiphany) must have scared her good and proper … for awhile anyway" Harry said. "Ginny luv, help me out here … since the battle, how often have you seen Hermione nagging me about anything or smothering me like a_ little mother _would". - - Ginny had to pause and think on this, a-bit _ and much to her surprise, she couldn't think of a single instance where Hermione had gone over the top in giving advice to Harry.

"This might be just a clever gambit" … Ginny said

"True enough, but we are engaged now, match over … you've won my heart. The important thing is Hermione has stopped nagging me … She has clearly given-up on me – which is a good thing. I have also noticed that her discussions (not shouting matches) with Ron are no longer over the top. - Her approach to Ron especially during the last three years has been surprisingly flirtatious and yet not encouraging enough to make Ron feel comfortable about making a move on her (and that worries me) – as Ron's not the type to force himself onto anyone. - What is her end-game in all of this ... I wonder", Harry said sounding confused. - "It's really hard for me to accept that even a partial feminist; would turn on a dime concerning any male … especially Ron_ and pull off such a carefully crafted (long-term) seduction".

"Granger a seductress … you're putting us on? - Have you seen the way she dresses?", Charlie said in astonishment

"You are spot-on; Hermione has always dressed like a thirteen year old boy … and despises the thought of using her sexuality to curry favor with a anyone …" Harry insisted.

"She's not the least bit sexy … doesn't want to learn how to be_ and Ronnie still fancies her? - What a nutter" Charlie said in disgust.

"For Hermione your brother would go thru hell, so he is definitely mental. – But after being ignored for so long … Hermione abruptly acting all slutty wouldn't be believable either. – So here's my guess … Hermione is known for making; carefully thought out, long term plans", Harry explained while holding Ginny extra close. - "Whenever she finally figures out what she wants, she then concocts a clever scheme to obtain it. - Being her target for several years … I know how hard it is for her to give up one of her long term goals. – Obviously … after choosing me over him … she couldn't just jump in Ron's arms - snog him senseless_ and confess her newly realized love for him … because such behavior would be grossly out of character for a bossy know it all and Ron would instantly suspect that she was deceiving him again … like fourth year, with Krum".

"The pen-pal lie", Ginny interjected.

"Exactly"

"So If Granger has finally decided on Ronnie, what do we all do to help this along? - - she has more effect on him than the rest of us combined. - I too have seen that Ronnie has been noticeably more self confidant these last few years_ and that's Grangers doing without doubt." Ginny said. - It was moments like this that really showed her brothers why she had been chosen to be leader of a teenager's gang (the DA at Hogwarts) and for a-while, lead the resistance against Snape and his master.

"We let Hermione win him over … her way", Harry said firmly as he reached his decision. "I don't understand (at all) her romantic tactics … at this rate they will still be just friends with – limited kissing privileges - when they turn ninety years old. – Overall; her behavior has been puzzling; she's clearly hesitating and I don't know why".

"He is the least successful of …" Percy began

"Think twice before you finish that sentence". - Harry warned with a threat. "Or is a mere shop owner beneath you too."

"Yeah … how about that" … Fred and Gorge answered hotly (being shop-owners them-selves)

"I mean he has the least gold in his vault … that's all"

"Gold cannot buy real happiness", Bill interjected.

"It can rent it" Fred and Gorge chimed as one.

"Shut-it you two" Ginny commanded

"He is comfortable in his own skin"; Harry said (which is more than I can say about myself) – I'm a somewhat successful Auror now, while his shop is somewhat profitable. - Neither of us is rolling in Dosh, but nor are we penniless. I've saved enough in the last few years to be ready for marriage_ and I believe he is ready too".

"You know …I still hear them arguing (its instinctive with them … I suppose)" - Harry continued. - "But it happens far less often now. - She helps him with his temper, helps with his chess shop on the weekend and spends long hours keeping him company. - She has her career at the Ministry and he has his tiny shop. After the shop closes they often go out to dinner to talk some more. - They have spent loads of time_ 'talking' _in his flat over his shop … sometimes overnight."

"Just talk?" Charlie asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ron flat isn't very big, just two bedrooms, just like his twin brothers flat above their shop", Harry said sounding very reasonable. "Popular with the witches twin's, who are just as free as their younger brother is, to entertain erotically cooperative young witches".

"So you're saying …"

"Oh; hell-no, I'm guessing from the nightmare memories, that Ron wanted to remove … he is_ still _ too mucked-up over his _ 'Hermione choosing me and his war trauma issues', to make an overt sexual move on the love of his life – and I bet Hermione knows all this".

"Sweet Merlin on a bike … we neutered the little bugger", the twins said simultaneously

"Now that we know some of the damage we've done to him … We need to talk to Ronnie and I mean ... Tonight", Bill said firmly as he stood up and went to help his mum with the mid-day meal.

The Luncheon was (as expected) an awkward and silent affair, devoid of the usual humor. Hermione; seeing that most of Ron's siblings couldn't stop staring at him and not knowing what was wrong … and fearing the worse, she sat extra close to Ron – holding his hand tightly throughout the meal. - After dinner (with Hermione glued to his hip) Ron took Harry aside and asked him bluntly – what his siblings had seen in the pensive.

Harry; glanced nervously at a very worried Hermione before saying: _ "the locket" _ and suddenly Ron's face totally drained of all color ... he then took a moment to take it all in before saying with forced calm: - "Harry I'm very disappointed in you; I thought you had my back on that issue. - You know better than most that some things shouldn't be revealed to a pack of world class pranksters like my siblings. – Those git's will exploit my childhood foolishness until the end of time". - -

"Oh never mind," Ron continued after a few more moments of deep thought. "Anything for a laugh at my expense … I imagine."

Harry reacted as if slapped

"What's going on here?" - Hermione asked both boys, now very-very worried, as Ginny tried to pull her friend away from Ron; while whispering: ... "we really need to talk".

"You-too Ginerva", Ron said sadly adapting to the situation by using a famous Shakespeare quote. - He frowned – looking between his sister and Hermione –

"Hey, Ron", Charlie said as he poked her head into the kitchen (a few minutes later) where Ron was helping his Mum with the wash-up. Ginny was nowhere to be seen and that worried Ron a lot. "We're gonna-play a game of pick-up Quidditch, are you in?"

"Huh? Oh, no-thanks oh great Captain. I just remembered some inventory I need to sort-out at the shop so I better get to it", Ron said as he finished wiping dry, the last dish. He turned and kissed Hermione on the cheek (who was still very worried and standing extra close) before saying; "I'll see you later luv … I hope. – Mum; thanks for the meal … please tell dad I was sorry I missed him (Arthur was working late … as usual)" before turning on the spot and disappearing.

88**88

88**88 – (Twenty minutes later)

Abruptly coming down the stairs in a rush, a furious looking Hermione, marched right up to very guilty looking Harry and began poking him repeatedly (with one finger) in the chest, while saying – "How could you_ NOT _tell me something this important".

"Ron demanded that I nor tell you - for one thing. … Secondarily – at the time you wanted to kill him", Harry said.

"Well … at the time he had abandoned me …"

"He walked away from_ the both of us … and if you've given this any thought at all, then you've realized that_ WE _were the ones that drove him away", Harry said defensively. "He was wounded and you were all over me like a second skin. - - It took him years to figure it out … but in that ruddy tent the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place for him. - - I really had no idea where to look next, our Horcrux hunt was a colossal failure and without Ginny being there … while seeking any kind of comfort for that failure … I mistakenly turned to you. - - Ron saw all that in the tent, how we were growing closer".

"The locket … it was the locket and Ron said in the pensive that it poisoned his mind", Hermione growled.

"The locket didn't help matters; that's true enough … but my despair and your fixation on me was the real cause for his departure. - He watched us overlook him; push him aside as his siblings had done for years. - It didn't take much more evidence than what he saw, to convince himself that we were becoming lovers … right in front of his eyes. - Lord knows we acted like lovers after he left.

"Our affair … such as it was; didn't last one entire day", Hermione bemoaned.

"I was feeling isolated and defeated – but even as vulnerable as I felt, I knew deep-down that what we were doing was wrong. - I was cheating on Ginny, for Merlin's sake – even though we were officially no longer a couple".

"It was a last ditch effort on my part … and a foolish one, I admit … seeing how quickly you hooked up with Ginny after the war", Hermione countered.

"The bottom line is, he was jealous of the most eligible bachelor (four years in a row in Witch-Weekly magazine) … meaning_ ME. - For he must have finally realized what I knew all along …that you went out with Krum to make_ me (not Ron) jealous enough to claim you as a girlfriend … I should have realized that loads sooner ... Krum was a seeker like me, (I mean, duh) apparently ... asking first wouldn't have helped Ron at all.

"You knew?" she asked horrified.

"Not back then, but eventually I figured it out", Harry snorted. "I was hogging the glory (again) in the tent – I let you be extra close … unconsciously encouraging him into thinking that you finally had me as a boyfriend. – Think on it _Besides that nutter Brown, name even one witch; that gave him a second glance at school. … Every single girl at Hogwarts fancied me_ and didn't you (your-self) say that his jealousy over my fame; (during fourth year) … proved to be for Ron, one time too many"

"He left us during the hunt; because you had no clear plan for finding the remaining Horcruxes", Hermione argued, although not really believing it.

"Ron left because you chose me … over him", Harry said.

"I didn't … oh God … I did?"

"Like you said", Harry continued as he fully calmed down. – "Ron repeatedly took in stride … the terrible way we treated him (for years) … he felt the distain; the subtle put downs, the pranks_ and he hid these hits to his self-worth as best he could … bottling up his resentment; until (recently) when they became nightmares so strong, that to just make it through the night … he felt the need to remove them from his mind. That locket still torments him".

"I hate it when you start thinking like an Auror", Hermione said

"Looking for criminal motivation is what I do now, it's almost instinctive", Harry said. "But as good as I am - you know; the best analytical thinker I know of is also a Wizarding Chess player. Three years and you won't let him do more than kiss you. Ron's not stupid … your behavior must have him convinced that you're playing him … that he'll never be worthy of you… and you are stalling until something better comes along. - - Krum maybe - so naturally he doesn't make any aggressive move on you. He most likely expects to be turned down flat … again".

"Again?" - Hermione said, sounding horrified.

"Did you ever explain (to him) why you chose me over him in the tent", Harry asked and from the guilt on Hermione's face; he got his answer, "no of course not. Ron thinks he let you down, with the slug-club dance thingy. - At Malfoy manor, he feels he should have done more to take your place when Bella tortured you. Asking for me first ... at Shell Cottage tore him up. - The kiss before the Hogwarts battle – he thinks has more to do with House-elves safety and civil rights … than any kind of genuine affection for him.

"Well … I did primarily kiss him, because of his newly discovered concern for elf welfare … but that wasn't - the only reason".

"But you did tell him on the steps (didn't you?) - That you gave up on me and now fancied him …" Harry asked sounding worried.

"… Honestly … No, but I never was any good at expressing my feelings - Not back then; anyway. I have tried during the last few years to change that and several erroneous impressions he has about me", Hermione said weakly in her own defense. "And you most likely know why I can't be more pro-active".

"You're afraid of the love he has for you … such passion scares you to death. You clear haven't tried hard enough to sort things-out; or you would be way beyond the_ only occasional _Kiss", stage after years of effort", Harry snarled back. "No next level movement in three years; Hermione, THREE YEARS. - Is it because he's just a shopkeeper and you don't think he's your social equal? - - Is it 'still' the intellectual difference … or do you object as a feminist would … to any male having any importance in your life … what's your end game here … my friend?" Harry harshly demanded to know.

"He's not the problem … I am". - Hermione admitted as she began to tear-up. – "Right from the off; I am_ NOT _ and never have been … a man hating feminist. - I'm a modern witch that supports gender equality in pay; which doesn't necessarily translate to being anti-male. _ _ Second: women and magical creatures in the Wizarding society are oppressed_ and I intend to do something about it _ _ Third: I want children. _ _ and finally; my experiences (so far) with men _ and with people generally; have usually ended in a total disaster. That's why I'm the problem – I really don't know how to function properly in a romantic relationship with a guy suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)"

"Three years … on hold", Harry asked amazed.

"Baby-steps … Harry … baby steps for both of us", Hermione replied. - "I admit that Malfoy manor was a major game changer for me. - For that was when I realized that you and I would never work (among other revelations) - Intellectual compatibility is grossly overrated; brilliance can be found at … work. - While the ability to find someone willing to help raise offspring and keep the bed warm on cold winter nights … cannot be underestimated".

88**88

All through this – heart to heart chat neither of the National hero's … which were so engrossed in expressing their_ 'feelings' _like a villains monolog at the cinema … they both completely overlooking the fact, that all the other Wesley's were eavesdropping very intently … on every word being said – (even Molly was listening in from the kitchen). None of them knew, that Ron hadn't left the Burrow directly, instead he had apparated up to the pensive, drained his memories into a test-tube shaped container (pocketed his memories) and then apparated away to the solitude of his heavily-warded sanctuary … to consider his next move.

88**88

To be continued.