Chapter 21

Forgive Me Not

Closest to the redhead, Ginny stands, pulling her wand out of her pocket. Fast.

"Ron, leave!" shouts Ginny, wand raised.

"Wait I-" Ron tries, staying in his spot, hands raised in surrender.

"Ron, I really think you ought to leave," Harry says, wand at his side, standing besides Ginny to keep her from jumping on the older Weasley.

"Can I just have five minutes to explain?" Ron implores, a desperate tone in his voice, eyes darting from Harry to Neville to Luna.

"Bloody hell Weasel!" Draco yells, the most incensed by the redhead's appearance "Go away! Clearly we don't want to talk to you right now, and how did you even get here!"

Glancing over at Hermione, still seated on the couch, he sees her calm face, but her wide eyes show her thoughts that are, once again, racing faster than she can process them.

"He's here?" Hermione thinks, looking calmly at the redhead from behind the crowd of tense bodies with wands crackling, "How is he here? How did he find me? Why is he here? Is he going to apologize?"

"Okay. I'm sorry, I'll go." Ron says, turning back towards the fireplace.

"Ron, wait!" Hermione says before she can even register the thought.

Much to Draco's surprise, she pushes past him and walks closer to Ron. The crowd watches in shock as Hermione slowly walks up to the ginger, wand held tight and eyes blazing behind her calm face.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Hermione groans to herself, "But I don't want to be as rude and unforgiving as he was. That's how the whole thing started in the first place."

"I'll give you five minutes. That's it. Understand?" Hermione says.

With a nod, Ron lowers his hands and stuffs them into his pockets.

"Mione, are you sure about this?" Draco asks, keeping his eyes on the ginger, but lowering his wand.

"Yes," Hermione says with a small smile, "Gin, Harry, everyone, take a seat. Thanks for being concerned, but I don't think he'd try anything."

Turning a hard gaze to Ron once again, she arches an eyebrow.

"Right, Ron?"

Ron once again nods, following her order to sit in a nearby plush chair facing the large couch with all of his old friends and enemies staring him down.

"Lot like a trial if you ask me," Ron thinks to himself, nervously.

Shaking the thoughts away, he sighs.

"Alright look." he begins, "First off, I want to say sorry. To all of you. Harry, for putting you in such an awful position between me and Hermione. Honestly mate, you were smart to choose her; I was a right git."

At Harry's stiff nod, Ron continues.

"Ginny, basically the same for you, except worse, because you're my sister. I know you probably want to kill me right now, and I probably would if I were you! But I am really sorry; Mione's like your best friend."

Hermione at this point was sitting straight next to the more relaxed form of Draco on the couch. Draco, holding Hermione's hand, kept his steely gaze on Ron during the whole apology.

"Um, Neville and Luna, I'm not really sure what you have to do with anything, but I'm sorry. I know you are good friends with Hermione too, and you probably want me to disappear just as much as anyone else."

Luna, in her dreamy way releases a furious Blaise's hand to look right into Ron's eyes.

"I believe you,"she says, "I can tell you're really sorry, so I forgive you. But I don't think it's my forgiveness you should be looking for the most."

At that, Ron's gaze snaps to the hard gaze of Draco and then to the burning ones of Blaise.

"Bugger," Ron thinks, rubbing his eyes closed with his hands.

With a sigh, Ron looks up once more.

"Malfoy and Zabini. I think you deserve my apologies the most," Ron begins, "Malfoy especially. I'm sorry for calling you all of those evil things. I can see clearly that you're a decent guy now; otherwise Hermione wouldn't have a thing to do with you. I'm sorry for attacking you, I honestly don't know what was going through my head, I was just so angry and- ugh. Sorry."

Taking a breath to calm down, Ron studies Draco's face for a response. The only change was the tightening of his grip on Hermione's hand.

"If you really think that I'd forgive you just because-" Draco starts.

"Mate, hear him out, okay?" Blaise says, hearing the sincerity in the redhead's nervous voice.

Draco just grunts, sinking further into the couch besides Hermione, who leans into his side more. The scent of Hermione's fruity shampoo helps calm his frayed nerves a bit.

"Zabini," Ron says, watching the tan Italian's almost casual face, "I'm sorry. I know I didn't directly say it to you, but I always thought you were just as bad as I thought Malfoy was. But I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Blaise sits back in his seat, a small grin on his face. Seeing his nod, Ron turns finally to Hermione, whose knuckles are white from holding onto Draco's hand so hard.

"And Hermione." Ron says, practically choking at the brunette's eyes, full of anger and disappointment, "I can deal with making you mad; we argue all the time, and I get why; I'm a hotheaded royal git. I did an awful thing. But what I think I regret the most is disappointing you. I never wanted to do that, but I did. For that, I honestly don't expect forgiveness, but I am so so sorry. I mean it. I know you probably never want to talk to me again, but just know that I'm sorry."

With that, Ron stands from his chair, puts his hands back in his pockets, and shuffles back towards the fireplace across the room behind him.

None of the group on the couch says a word out loud, but inside, everyone is buzzing. As soon as the rush of the green flames signal Ron's exit, everyone exhales, looking over at Hermione.

"So, that was interesting, hm?" Blaise prompts, shattering the silence.

At this, Luna grins, which makes Ginny grin and start laughing. Before anyone knows it, the whole group is cracking up except for Draco.

"What on earth is so funny!" Draco says in exasperated confusion.

At this, everyone simply laughs harder. After about ten minutes however, the group returns to normal, wiping their tears from laughing.

"So, who wants to play a game?" Hermione asks, much to Draco's surprise.

"Sure!" Ginny says.

Everyone chimes in with a 'yes!' or a groan of acceptance, leading to Hermione standing up with a grin.

"Alright, so here's my idea," Hermione says, "Do you guys know what tag is?"

Harry laughs, "Really Hermione? Tag?"

Putting her hands on her hips, Hermione answers, "Yes Harry, tag. Is that alright with you?"

At that, Blaise and Draco let out low mocking whistles, laughing at the pale Harry.

"Sorry; that sounds fantastic." Harry says.

Grinning once more, Hermione continues on, "Alright, well tag is a game where one person is 'it' and they have to chase everyone else until they tag another person. Then that person is 'it'. Doesn't sound like much fun, I know, but what if we play it on brooms? Completely different, yeah?"

Jumping up to ease the tension, Ginny says, "Yeah sounds fun! Harry, you in?"

With a roll of the eyes at Hermione, Harry stands, "Yeah okay, that sounds cool I guess."

Looking at Blaise, Hermione is surprised to find a skeptical look.

"What?" Hermione says.

"You know what? It sounds absolutely ridiculous but I'll go for it," Blaise responds with a laugh, "Luna, you in?"

"Sure, but I'm no good at flying!"

"That's alright, I'll help you out," Blaise winks.

Neville and Emma were next in line to join in, happy that Hermione was smiling once again.

Finally came Draco.

"Want to play Draco?" Hermione asks.

"Sure, I suppose." Draco sighs dramatically.

Laughing, Hermione says, "Alright, let's go!"

Suddenly a low boom resounds outside, along with a flash of white.

"Really? It has to rain NOW?" Hermione pouts.

"That's too bad..." Draco mumbles, glad to be out of it.

A quick glare from Hermione however perks him up, prompting him to stand and walk over to Hermione.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, "Here's an idea love; why don't we play inside?"

A/N: Hey everyone, hopefully that was enough of a resolution for now with Ron. I don't think I'll have too many chapters left; maybe 5 or 6, so just a heads up!

Thanks to my FANTASTIC reviewers-laaiqa, ANEwrites (better details this chapter?), Soccerisawesome19, CrimsonDream11325, and NyxSparks, thanks for taking time to review, it means a lot! :D

For everyone who favorited/followed/just liked the story- thanks! Feel free to shoot me a review, anything is great; tell me about your day, what you thought, ANYTHING! Even just a hi is fine.

Love ya crazies!
xx
Jess