"Honourary, Ginny!"

"So? I really don't see it, I'm sorry."

It was later that evening and Ginny was brushing her hair out over her shoulders while Hermione sat on her bed and bit her nails into oblivion.

"Honourary! Not, 'it means you're a Weasley', but 'it means you're an honourary Weasley!' He's going to break up with me!"

Ginny turned to her and folded her arms. "Trust me, you're wrong."

"Oh? Explain."

"My brother isn't that fickle."

"Not fickle!" Hermione tugged at her hair. "First year Hogwarts, I go from worst enemy to best friend. Third Year, doesn't talk to me for weeks because of my cat. Fourth Year, he didn't speak to me or Harry for nearly a term because of the Twiwizard Tournament. Sixth Year-"

"'Kay, so he may change his mind a lot about some things. But not about you. Never about you."

Hermione frowned. "What do you mean, never?"

Ginny exhaled. "Why do you think he was so angry about you going to the Yule Ball with Krum?"

"Because he hated Viktor!"

Ginny shook her head.

"No? Then why?"

"Ask him."

So Hermione apparated to the boy's room. It was past one o'clock by now (Ginny just spent a long time getting ready for bed) and both were both fast asleep. She cast Muffliato over Harry and went over to Ron.

"Ron!"

He woke up. "'Mione, is this my wake up call?"

"Why did you not like me going to the Yule Ball with Viktor?"

"Why…what?"

"Answer me!"

Ron rubbed his eyes and stretched. "Why d'you think? 'Cause I liked you, that's why. But why are you asking me-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence because she had already apparated back to her room, where Ginny was looking triumphant.

"That doesn't prove anything." said Hermione,

"Yeah. What about Lavender? Why'd he go out with her?"

"'Cause you told him that he was a miserable excuse for a life form and he should crawl into a whole and die."

Ginny shook her head gleefully. "Nope."

Hermione apparated back upstairs. "Ron!" she said.

"What is it this time? Do you want a Sleeping Draught?"

"Why did you go out with Lavender?"

"Where's all this coming from?"

"Just answer the question."

"Because…because…I guess because you went out with Krum?"

Hermione looked at him. "Really?"

"Yeah, but-"

She had disapparated again.

"Ginny, I think he just hates Krum."

Ginny sighed. "I really didn't want to do this, but…"

"But what?"

"Ask what really happened when he tried to stab that locket."

"He said nothing happened…"

"Ask him!"

So with a pop she was back in the little attic bedroom.

"Honestly, 'Mione, it's not that hard a potion to make, if you have bad insomnia."

"Ron what happened when you tried to destroy the horcrux? What really happened?"

"What?" he said, his eyes widening. "Who told you-"

"Just tell me!"

So he told her, with much awkwardness. And when he finished, Hermione, who at some point in the retelling had fallen to her knees beside the bed, stood up and threw her arms round him.

"Oh, Ron! You know it's not true, don't you? You know I could never prefer Harry?"

Ron pushed her away and said six words that could certainly be counted among the world's greatest, most eloquent and heart rending speeches on love ever.

"I should bloody well hope not!"