Sorry for the late update! Been busy with exam block and stuff :) xxx Enjoy!
Forgiveness
The two of them went about their chores in utter silence. It was making Hermione feel extremely uncomfortable. She wanted him to yell at her, to say something at least. This silence was worse than anything he could have said to her. It was as though he was ignoring her. After a while of not saying anything, Hermione finally plucked up the courage.
"Er... Ron?" said Hermione, timidly.
"What?" he hissed back, making Hermione recoil.
"You're still pretty mad at me, aren't you?" she said, defeated. Ron's expressionless eyes looked up at her and he sighed.
"No, Hermione," he said slowly, "I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at Ginny."
"Don't be mad at her Ron. She doesn't understand what happened..."
"Exactly!" Ron bellowed, slamming the cutlery down on table and throwing his hands in the air. "She has no bloody idea what the hell was going on. She just thinks the worst of me all the time!"
Hermione grimaced. "Ron, please don't shout."
Ron ignored her and rolled his eyes. "I'm allowed to shout! I'm pissed off! My own sister is carrying on as if she was there and knew exactly what happened. I'm sick of being degraded by my entire family! First Percy, perfect Prefect Percy, and then George and..." Ron choked, as if it was impossible to say Fred's name. "And now Ginny! Seriously, I've had enough of it!"
Hermione leaned across the table and took Ron's hand in hers. Squeezing it tightly, she smiled sadly up at him.
"Ginny had no right to say to you what she did. She was out of line, I know. But she needs to understand what happened. You have to talk to her about it, okay."
Ron just huffed, but rubbed his thumb over the skin of Hermione's soft hand.
"You still haven't forgiven me properly have you?"
Hermione pulled her hand out of his and looked away from him. "No, I have, Ron. I just don't know if I can trust you anymore."
Ron nodded slowly. "That's okay. I can handle that. And I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you Hermione."
He was standing next to her now, his arm curving around her waist and pulling her into his side.
"As long as you don't hate me," he whispered in her ear.
"I don't hate you, she whispered back, turning her head so their noses were touching. Hermione could count every ginger freckle that was splattered across his nose and cheeks. She had never noticed how fair his eyelashes were until she was standing this close to him. The light pale blue of his eyes captured her and she moved closer, willing their lips to touch. She could feel his hot breath on her lips and saw that he was moving closer too. She smiled as their lips finally met, developing into a sweet kiss.
When they pulled back, Hermione giggled.
"Are you trying to suck up to me, Ronald Weasley?" she sniggered.
"I dunno," said Ron, smirking at her. "Is it working?"
Hermione smacked him playfully on the arm and rolled her eyes. "Maybe, but it's not going to get you far."
Mrs Weasley announced that dinner was ready and the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione sat down at the table and feasted their hungry eyes upon the mountain of food in front of them. Despite the short notice, Mrs Weasley had managed to serve up a magnificent feast. There were chicken legs all piled into a large serving bowl, a tray of lasagne, a roast pork with three sauces of gravy and a large bowl of green salad. Hermione heard her stomach grumble and she licked her lips, eagerly eying off the lasagne.
"Ah, c'est magnifique!" exclaimed Fleur throatily, smiling at Mrs Weasley with perfect white teeth.
"Thank you my dear," Mrs Weasley beamed at her, looking thoroughly chuffed. "Well, tuck in everybody!"
Hermione wasted no time in serving herself a large helping of lasagne. Around the table, everyone was doing the same. The only sound that could be heard was the clanging of knives and forks on the plates and the contented moans of satisfied stomachs. Once dinner was finished, Bill and Fleur decided to head home, as Fleur was feeling very tired. Everyone said goodbye to them and Hermione and Harry helped Mrs Weasley clear the table. Ron was about to help when Hermione shook her head at him.
"No, Ron. Harry and I will do it. You need to figure things out with Ginny. The sooner you all forgive each other, the better."
Ron made a face at her and sighed, but headed out the door to find Ginny.
"They'll forgive each other," said Harry. "Both of them are hot heads but they love each other. Probably the closest pair, except for Fred and George."
Hermione nodded in agreement. Her mind was thinking back to her conversation with Ron about going to Australia to find her parents.
"Hey, Harry," she said as she wiped a tiny speck off an almost clean plate.
"Yeah?" he said, looking at her.
"Ron and I were talking, and I want to go to Australia to find my parents, and Ron doesn't want to leave me all alone. We were wondering if you and Ginny wanted to come with us."
Harry's face lit up at the idea. "That's wonderful, Hermione! Of course I'll come with you. I'll bring Ginny too; I don't want to leave her by herself. When are we leaving?"
Hermione thought for a moment. It had just entered the first few days of August and she knew that she would have to go back to Hogwarts on September 1st. If she left at the end of the week that would give her a month to find her parents and come back to the Burrow to pack for Hogwarts. She verbalised her thoughts to Harry. Harry agreed with her.
"If we leave the day after tomorrow that will give us enough time to pack and let Mrs Weasley know. Then we can just Apparate there!"
"Oh," said Hermione, "I don't think it will be wise to Apparate. I mean, it is such a long distance, and I don't want Ron to get splinched again! I was thinking that would could travel by muggle aeroplanes."
"Well, you are the brainy one," shrugged Harry, "I trust you. Besides I really wouldn't have a clue."
"Okay, then that's settled! We will leave for Australia the day after tomorrow. I will book the aeroplane tickets immediately!"
Beaming at her plan, Hermione finished the dishes in a happy mood and skipped upstairs to her bedroom. Of course, the logical part of her mind was whispering in the back of her head, telling her that she had no idea where her parents were, and it could take years to find them. But Hermione was too happy to listen to it.
Ginny was sitting on her bed, playing with a lock of her hair. She looked glum and Hermione immediately asked her what was wrong.
"Oh, nothing," she said, miserably.
"Snap out of it, Ginny," said Hermione firmly. "There's something the matter. What is it?"
Ginny looked up at her, her brown eyes swimming with guilt. "I'm a terrible sister."
Hermione sat down on the bed next to her and patted her hand. "No you're not, Ginny."
"Yes I am," she insisted, sniffing and wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "I yelled at Ron, I insulted him and I didn't even know what I was talking about. Good sisters don't do that to their brothers."
"You were just angry because you look up to him so much. He knows that. But families always fight with each other. It's what makes them stronger. And Ron doesn't and never will hate you, Ginny."
Ginny rested her head on Hermione's shoulder, choking back tears.
"I love having you around, Hermione," she said after a while. "It's like having a sister. You always know what to say. I look up to you so much, you know."
"Aw thanks, Ginny," said Hermione, squeezed her shoulder affectionately.
"I hope Ron never breaks up with you. And even if he does, I still want you around. By the way, I'm really happy for you guys. It's about time you figured it out."
Hermione laughed. "Yes, we were a bit stupid about that."
"A bit?" cried Ginny incredulously, sitting up. Hermione was relieved to see her back to her normal bubbly self. "It's been darn obvious since first year. I mean, I guess Ron might not have picked up the signs; he's not exactly the brightest crayon in the pack. But you, Hermione! You're so smart and even you didn't click!"
"I guess so," Hermione laughed. "I'm not that smart when it comes to that kind of stuff."
"Rubbish," Ginny scoffed. "You were the one who gave me that advice about Harry. You do so know your stuff Hermione!"
"Well, maybe with other people but not with myself."
The girls got ready for bed, Hermione snuggling into the warm, soft blankets. Even though it wasn't winter, Hermione still liked to sleep with blankets. It made her feel safer. While in bed, Hermione thought back to all the drama that had occurred. So many fights, it was amazing no one had gotten injured. Hermione was just glad that Ginny and Ron had sorted things out. The less fighting there was in the house, the better everyone would sleep.
"Hey, Ginny? Are you awake?" Hermione whispered.
"Am now. What do you want?"
"The day after tomorrow, Harry, Ron and I are going to Australia to find my parents. Do you want to come with us?"
"Of course," whispered Ginny. "Now can we got back to sleep?
"Yes, sorry. Good night!"
