Come Back: Part Two

Chapter Fourteen

Letters and Sweets

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The next few days passed by in a blur for the four of them. Hermione and Ginny were still upset with Ron and Harry over the bachelors' party, Hermione more so than Ginny because Ron is already married. Hermione felt that Ron should have stopped the whole night from happening and the fact that he didn't come home made him "irresponsible."

Of course Harry and Ron found the whole thing quite funny and would mock Hermione and Ginny behind their backs. Personally, Harry didn't know why they were so bent out of shape over it, it was harmless fun, and nobody got hurt. Well, expect for Ron who got smacked with a rolling pen when he came home the next morning but that doesn't really count.

Hermione and Ginny had spent most of the past few days with Mrs. Weasley, working on getting the Burrow ready for the wedding while Harry continued on his mad dash to help as much as he could. The wedding was now only a week away and a lot still needed to be done. Ron who up until now wanted nothing to do with the planning of this finally gave in just to get away from Hermione for a bit. Ron was now sitting in Madam Milkin's robe shop fussing with the dress robes he had just put on.

Harry was standing on a platform while Madam Milkin pinned up his pants. "What do you think Ron, will Ginny like them?"

"Smashing Harry, hey…did you get a ring yet?" Ron asked as he watched Harry from behind.

"Yeah, it's in my jacket pocket over there." Harry pointed to his jacket that was draped over a chair.

Ron reached into the pocket and pulled out a blue ring box but to his surprise out with it came a letter to Harry that fell onto the floor. Curious, Ron picked the letter up and examined it. He turned it over and realized it hadn't been open. He looked up to make sure Harry wasn't watching him and slid his finger under the seal slowly to quite the ripping sound. Just as he was about to completely open the seal, Madam Milkin stood up and startled Ron. He hastily stuck the letter under his leg so that Harry wouldn't see him reading his mail.

Madam Milkin walked away to get more pins which gave Harry a chance to turn around and face Ron. "So, do you like it?"

"Like what?" Ron asked.

"The ring…" Harry said.

"Oh, yeah its great Harry, Ginny will love it." Ron lied as he opened the box and looked at the ring for the first time. To Ron's delight, he wasn't wrong. It was a beautiful gold, diamond ring with two small emeralds on either side of the massive diamond. It was perfect for Ginny.

"Good, I'm glad you like it. Hermione helped me pick it out." Harry said happily as he turned back around to face the mirror because Madam Milkin had returned.

"Alright boys, just a few more pins and I'll be ready to sew these up. Ron why don't you go take yours off." Madam Milkin said and Ron obeyed.

But when Ron stood up he forgot that Harry's letter was under his leg and it flying onto the floor once more. Ron walked to the back of the shop to take his robes off and get dressed as Harry was finishing up with Madam Milkin. Once both men were back in their normal clothes and Madam Milkin was in the back sewing up the robes they took a moment to sit down.

Ron had found a chair, sat down and started to tie his shoes. Just as Harry was about to join him he noticed something on the floor, a letter. He walked over, bent down and picked it up. He gave Ron a quick glance then looked back at the letter, he turned it over and seen that it was half open.

"Did you open my letter?" Harry asked with anger in his voice.

Ron swallowed hard then looked back at Harry, his cheeks red. "Sorry mate, I didn't read it however…I never got it open."

Harry tossed him another angry look and put the letter back in his pocket. "Don't go through my mail okay." Ron just nodded his head and looked away from Harry.

"You're not going to open it?" Ron asked bewildered.

Harry sat down on the floor and started to do his laces, "No, I don't know who it's from and Ginny asked me not to open it."

"Then why is it in your pocket?"

Harry frowned at Ron, "I don't know, I guess I'm curious too but I'm afraid to open it."

"You? Afraid? I don't believe it, Harry Potter has never been afraid." Ron said in a mocking tone.

"Shut it, I don't want Ginny mad at me." Harry said. "I don't like fighting with her."

"Oh go on…open it." Ron said eagerly. "I'll be here to protect you if something goes wrong."

Harry smiled at him, "How about you open it and I'll protect you."

"Alright, hand it here then." Ron said putting out his hand.

Harry pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it to Ron slowly. "Now remember you opened it, if Ginny asks…you opened it."

"Oh clam down Harry." Ron said.

Ron turned the envelope over and stared at it for a moment. Harry got up and stood behind Ron just in case he needed to act quickly. Ron slowly put his finger back under the seal and moved it along the edge of the paper. With one swift movement he broke the seal and flipped open the top of the envelope, nothing happened. Ron took that as a good sign and pulled the letter out. He handed the letter to Harry who shook his head violently and pushed Ron's hand away.

"You open it all the way." Harry said eagerly.

"You're such a baby." Ron said as he started to unfold the paper. The moment the top fold was open he regretted his actions. A lurid, acid smell came from the inside of the paper. The more he opened it the more the overwhelming stench surrounded the room. Ron couldn't take it anymore and dropped the letter on the ground to put his hands over his nose.

In a muffled manner Ron said, "What is that smell?"

Harry who was also coving his nose stopped for a moment. "I know that smell…I have smelled it before. I can't think of what it…oh wait! I know what that is…its dragon dung."

"Who would send you a letter covered in dragon dung?" Ron asked.

"I don't know." Harry said as he bent over and picked up the letter with one hand and covered his nose with the other. He read the letter out loud to Ron who's eyes were starting to water.

Harry,

It's been too long boy. I read about yer up coming wedding in the Prophet. I'll be along after the ceremony to greet ya in person.

Cheers.

Harry quickly folded the letter up and shoved it back into the envelope, the smell faded almost instantly. Grateful for some fresh air, Ron uncovered his nose and looked up at Harry with a smile on his face. "You don't suppose that's…"

"Hagrid…yeah it has to be doesn't it." Harry said with a rather large grin as he shoved the letter back into his pocket.

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"Hermione will you give it a rest. He's a grown man who was having fun with his friends. He is safe, he didn't cheat on you and it made Harry happy. If I hear you complain about that damn party one more time…" Ginny said angrily to Hermione.

Hermione and Ginny were sitting at their kitchen table putting together party favors for the wedding. Hermione had been complaining about Ron for the past hour and Ginny couldn't take it anymore. Ginny was hoping that Hermione was just on edge because of the pregnancy but she couldn't tell. She was currently sitting watching the clock on the wondering when Harry was going to be home.

"You don't have to yell at me Ginny…I'm disappointed in Ron." Hermione said quietly.

"Well don't be, he was just being a man doing what men do at a bachelor party." Ginny said still looking at the clock on the wall. "What is taken them so long?"

"Why, what were they doing today?" Hermione asked as she tied a little bow on a bag of candy.

"Getting their dress robes I think." Ginny said.

At that very moment two loud cracking sounds came from the other side of the room. Harry and Ron appeared, holding two large garment boxes and looking rather happy about something. They each deposited their bags in their rooms and walked back out to join the girls at the table.

Ginny looked and smiled as Harry sat down beside her. "And what are you two so happy about?"

"Because we had a good day." Ron replied looking sweetly at his wife, who didn't return the smile.

"Oh yeah, what happened?" Ginny wondered. "Did you get your dress robes?"

"Yeah we got our robes but that's not why were happy. We found out that Hagrid is coming to the wedding." Harry said happily as he pulled up a bag of candy and some ribbon to help with the tying.

Ginny looked overly excited at this news. "He is! That's wonderful; I know it will be good for you to see him Harry. How did you find out?"

Ron, without thinking opened up his big mouth and said with a smile, "Because we opened up that letter that Harry had."

If Ron hadn't been sitting on the other side of the table Harry would have punched him for saying it. He slowly looked over at Ginny whose face was getting red. "Ginny, I can explain…you see…"

"How dare you open that up when I told you not to? What if something would have happened to you? What if you would have been hurt? Don't you remember the last time we got a strange letter? It was at this very table and came with a dagger and stabbed Hermione, or did you forget?" Ginny said in one long breath.

"I didn't forget…I was sitting here when that happened you know. It was Ron's fault, he opened it." Harry said as she shot Ron and angry look.

"You what? Ronald Weasley, how could you do something so dumb? Your about to be a father you know!" Hermione said huffily.

Ron looked back over to Harry, "He was the one who had it in his pocket to start with. And besides, nothing did happen, were safe."

Ginny stood up and handed a large box of party favors to Ron and handed another box to Harry. "Here, I'm not in the mood anymore. You two can finish them."

Ginny stomped away in a huff, walked into her room and slammed the door loudly. Moments later Hermione stood up, picked up the rolling pin from off the kitchen counter and whacked Ron in the arm then stomped into her own room, leaving Harry and Ron alone to finish tying pretty pink bows onto little purple bags of sweets.