Well, it has been a while again.
I'm going to finish this story before I go on holiday, which is next week. I hope you'll enjoy the last chapters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 13 Reunion
"Ron, try to be reasonable, please", Harry said. "You owe Hermione an apology for what you did to her. She still loves you, you know. It's not her fault that you lost control of your temper."
"But it is, Harry. You still don't get it, do you? When I'm around her, I lose control of myself. I really can't go back to her when I can hit her any minute. I'm dangerous when I'm around her. Why don't you understand...?" Ron fell silent.
Harry understood perfectly, but he had to get Ron and Hermione back together, otherwise they'd both regret it for the rest of their lives. They could not live without each other. If only Harry had realised how blind he had been ...
*****
Hermione was packing her bags. She and Ginny would go shopping to cheer Hermione up. She had been silent and sad since she told Harry what Ron had done. All the questions that were asked her, could count on a one-syllable answer. So Ginny persuaded Hermione to go shopping in London.
The doorbell rang. Hermione looked up from her trunk. There were little clothes in there. Hermione sighed, it'd have to do. She walked over to the door and opened it. As Hermione expected, Ginny stood there with three large bags.
"Come on, Hermione, give me a hand, will you. These bags are really heavy", Ginny smiled while she walked in, carrying two of the bags inside.
Hermione forced a smile. "Why don't you just use magic?"
"Because I didn't bring my wand", Ginny answered. She had planned to make Hermione use magic, since she hadn't done so since she had come home.
Hermione took the last bag and dragged it to the living room. "Why don't you sit down", she said to Ginny. "I'll be back in a minute."
Ginny seated herself on the sofa while she waited. Hermione slowly walked back to her bedroom, where her trunk was still barely filled with anything useful. It was indeed necessary to buy some new clothes, she said to herself. Only she wasn't in the mood to care about anything at all. After a few minutes she found the energy to go back to the living room with her trunk.
"Ah, there you finally are", Ginny said. "Let's go then." She took Hermione's arm and pulled her towards the door. "I can't wait until we're in London."
"Wow, relax, Ginny", Hermione said. "There's no need to rush. We've got lots of time, so please let go of my arm. I'm perfectly capable of walking myself."
Ginny immediately dropped Hermione's arm. She stared at Hermione like she had committed the worst crime in the last century. "I thought you were just as excited as I am to go to London."
Hermione understood she made a mistake. She needed to show more enthusiasm for Ginny's plan. "I am", she said, lifting up the corners of her mouth. "Let's get going." Hermione took her trunk and walked out of the door. Ginny followed her with eager eyes.
*****
Ron and Harry sat in a café. Ron didn't look Harry in his eyes while Harry asked him all the questions that had been troubling Ron since he hit Hermione. "Why did you do it, Ron? Don't you love Hermione anymore? If you weren't my best friend, I'd challenge you for a duel right away!" and that's how it went on for minutes and minutes.
"Harry, I'm sorry, I just can't go back to Hermione and tell her I'm sorry. She hates me for what I did to her, so let's just leave it this way", Ron finally said with anger in his voice.
Harry shook his head. "I've been trying to tell you, Ron. Hermione still loves you, I'm sure she does. She's just a little uncertain about your relationship right now. You need to go to her and tell you how you feel. She'll forgive you!" Harry stood up and grabbed Ron's arm.
"What –", Ron started, but he couldn't finish his question, because everything turned black in front of his eyes. Harry and Ron disapperated.
*****
Hermione stood in the middle of the dress-store when Ron and Harry suddenly apperated. In her hand she held a red dress she was about to buy. But now she dropped it and ran out of the store.
"No, I don't wan't you to be here. Go away", Hermione shouted. Tears filled her eyes. She was really angry and stressed at the same time. When she came in one of London's many parks, Hermione stopped running at last. The grass was wet, but she sat down nevertheless with her arms around her knees next to a small pond.
Why is he here, she thought. I'm not ready for this yet. How can I spend the rest of my life with Ron, while my heart belongs to someone else? It's not fair to Ron. I'd have to lie to him. Hermione stared at the water. In her head she saw a familiar face, her mother's face. Her mother smiled to her. "Remember why you made this decision", her mother's voice echoed in her head.
With no further ado Hermione rose. She walked around the pond and left the park. Her friends were all she had left. And to keep them, she'd have to be with Ron. It was worth the sacrifice she had to make. Perhaps, one day, she'd be able to tell what happened, how her life turned into something miserable. But for now, all that she could do was go to him.
With every step Hermione became more certain of her choice. She imagined her future with Ron. They'd be happy together. Of course she still loved Ron, she said to herself. No one is more important to me. But that was the biggest lie she'd ever told herself. Draco was most important to her, but he had turned is back to her. Hermione could not go back to him. So she had to try to be happy, not only for herself, but also for him.
So this is why she ran into Ron's arms the moment she saw him. There was nothing else she could think about besides the two words echoing in her head "be happy".