****Updated 18TH May****
"I don't want to talk to them Hermione, not yet. Please tell them to leave."Ron yelled from his bedroom he shared with Hermione in their small flat. Hermione turned to face Harry and Ginny, who were standing in the kitchen with Hermione, all holding a cup of tea. She had invited them over after Ginny had sent the letter, desperate to get Ron to stop his silly feud with the couple. She knew Ron had more to say on his distaste for the engagement than he was letting on, she knew it was deeper than just being uncomfortable with his sister getting married so young. She was determined to see a stop to it.
"Ronald! They've come all the way here to speak to you, so come into the kitchen and we can talk." Hermione retaliated. Harry and Ginny heard Ron huff loudly.
"NO! They shouldn't have gotten engaged in front of me. I don't want to talk to them!"Hermione turned red at her boyfriend's immature tantrum that could rival that of a 4 year old's.
"RON! For Merlin's sake. Get in here, NOW." Shuffling feet were heard and a few seconds later Ron came into the kitchen with a deadly scowl on his face.
"Drop the face Ron. I am not going to do this if you keep that face." Ginny said while leaning into Harry. Ron grimaced at the couple but managed to raise his eyebrows slightly so they didn't scrunch into his eyes.
"What do you have to say then?" Ron muttered. Ginny took a deep breath, Harry and her had agreed they would calmly talk to Ron and try to persuade him to come round.
"Harry and I just want to ask why you don't like the idea of"-
"Of my little sister with a massive rock on her finger." Ron incorrectly finished Ginny's sentence while pointing to Ginny's left hand that was holding her mug. Hermione abruptly shrieked.
"Merlin Ginny it is gorgeous! Oh Harry did you pick it?"
"Oh er no, it was actually my mum's engagement ring, you know what my dad gave her, so I thought it was pretty perfect for Ginny."Hermione lent comfortably into Ron's arm and the obvious tension that was in the room had somewhat calmed. Ron welcomed Hermione into his arm and rested it on her petit shoulder. He looked at the ground and then started shaking his head. Harry did not see this as a good sign but he quickly realised Ron was laughing.
"Merlin, now Hermione's going to want one, you're setting the standard too high." Ron joked. Joked.
Harry laughed uncomfortably while Ginny turned to face Harry with a look of clear disbelief.
"Don't worry Ron, I'll tell you when you need to propose." Ginny smiled facing Ron and winked as she said it. Ron smiled back clearly more comfortable with the situation. Hermione had further imbedded herself under Ron's arm with her head resting on his shoulder in a relaxed state.
Harry didn't want to ruin the warm friendly atmosphere however it needed to be said. "So Ron you don't mind, you know I mean you're not going to try and kill me, again." Ron glanced at Harry with a clear look of internal struggle, after a minute or two he spoke.
"Look I know I over reacted but it's you and Ginny... and she's younger than you, she's only 18 and I don't like the idea of you living together. But I can't say that because I live with Hermione and I... I don't know." He rubbed his temples with his free hand as Hermione was holding his other. She then gently went to speak in Ron's ear and in reaction to what she said Ron's head slumped, his eyes focused on the floor. Hermione lovingly stroked his arm and detached herself from him.
"Come on Ginny, we've painted the living room and it looks much better than having that putrid green wallpaper."Hermione ushered Ginny out of the kitchen and into the newly decorated living room, leaving the boys alone.
"I'm surprised Ginny didn't make up a fuss." Harry said with a hit of laughter trying to keep the inevitable conversation at bay. Keeping the conversation light and fun helped him handle the soon coming shouting match. Ron kept his solemn face, much to Harry's dismay.
"Harry... he he would have wanted. He, I mean he would have." Ron stopped to turn his face to Harry's. Ron's eyes were glassy and his cheeks slightly redder than normal.
"Fred"- Ron's voice cracked and his eyes returned to their previous position starring at the floor. "He and Ginny were really close, I mean me and Ginny are but Fred and Ginny were closer." He took a deep breath. "People always thought that the twins were identical in everything, but they weren't. Fred would have hexed you for what happened on your birthday. Forget Bill, Fred would have been worse. George doesn't like to think about people moving on without him there but we have to, right? So I've been thinking and I dunno why I did it, I just felt like l should, you know? It's stupid thinking that just because he isn't here I should treat you differently. I shouldn't." His eyes finally reached Harry's and he continued.
"Also I was as jealous as hell. You and Ginny are always treated differently to me and Hermione; it's one of the reasons why we moved in together. We wanted to be taken seriously, like an actual real couple."
"People do take you seriously Ron. It's you and Hermione." Harry felt nothing else needed saying.
"That's not what I mean, it's hard to explain if you don't know what i'm talking about. Anyway you changed the subject. I was trying to tell you that I am happy for you and Ginny, more than happy. You're going to marry my sister and that's amazing. You're my best friend and I know you won't hurt her, plus you are the loyalist person I've met." Ron smiled at Harry and Harry didn't have the heart to hold a grudge.
"Thanks mate." Harry said. "Just never hex me again and consequently crack my head open, it's not pleasant." Both young men fell into laughter, grateful that the conflict was over.
"And hey Ron, even if you are a bit doubtful about us getting married you'll have plenty of time to get used to it. We're not planning on getting married till the December after this." Ron curiously looked at Harry.
"So you've already set a date?" He asked.
"What? No but we want to get married in December and it's too soon to do it this year, although I'm sure your mum could manage."
"Yeah she could, though it might give her a heart attack." Ron joked.
"About that, how mad slash-crazy-will the rest of your family get?" Harry asked nervously. Ron's reply was said in-between bursts of laughter.
"Mate they'll go mental, but you've got Ginny, me and Hermione on your side so it won't be that bad. I think mum will just be shocked and in the end she, dad and probably Fleur will be really happy for you. George should be okay as long as he was distracted from thinking about Fred. And Bill will um well... I don't really know. It could be bad depending on how good Fleur is at containing him and whether Vic's there." Harry just nodded his head not really sure what to say. Ron's cough was the only thing that held the silence at bay until Harry asked whether they should join the girls in the living room.
Once they were comfortably sitting down on the sofas with their other halves the two young couples enjoyed each other's company. They shared a laugh, a bottle of wine and had an expertly made meal. With things mended between Ron, Harry and Ginny they were all able to catch up, chat and prepare for the soon impending Sunday that would involve Harry and Ginny telling the rest of their family about their engagement. But during that weekday evening they decided to just have fun like normal couples, young and in love.
i know this chapter was really short i just couldnt think of anything else to put in it
i didnt want to jump to the Burrow in this chapter as i planned it out for the next one
anyway i hope you enjoyed this short chapter
i really love reviews so please keep them coming
Messr Rhia
