Ron has got engaged to Lavender while Hermione is with her parents, having got them back from Australia. Harry is in Grimmauld (Fred, Ted and Dumbledore (Dumbledore are still alive as Snape put him in a coma, he's awake now), all the others are still dead though). There will be Ginny and Dumbledore bashing (and possibly Molly bashing) so if you don't like that then don't read.
Harry stared gloomily out the window, sighing as Ginny's owl shot through the window and dropped a letter before zooming back out. It was the fifth letter in 3 days. Another letter to burn, he supposed. He still contacted Ron, but that was about it. He had read her letters, but they all had the same boring theme:/p
Dear Harry,
I miss you so much! When will you come to the Burrow, I want to make things official again, like before the war? Everyone will be so happy to see you.
Love Ginny
Dear Harry,
You didn't reply to my last letter. Did you get it? Still miss and love you! Did you hear, Ron and Lavender are engaged! Her ring is beautiful, can't wait till you get me one.
Love Ginny
Dear Harry,
Why aren't you replying? You must be getting my letters. When are you coming round? You still haven't set a date. Can you come soon; I need a bit of a pick me up after the war. Anyway, I can't wait for you to ask me to be your girlfriend again. Being with you was the best time in my life.
Love Ginny
Harry sighed, running his hand through his hair. She was so pushy. He thought he had made it clear when he broke up with her at the end of sixth year, that they weren't getting together again. Even if he said it was because he probably wouldn't still be alive. He had missed her, but soon he realised he missed the idea of her. He had never had many people still here who loved him, Ron and Hermione and maybe the Weasleys, but never a girlfriend. The idea of having one was desirable just because… he couldn't explain why. But Ginny, she wasn't right for him. And saying he couldn't date her because it would put her in danger was his way of letting her down gently. Apparently, she hadn't got the message.
Suddenly the sound of footsteps thumping on the floor caused Harry to jump up, wand in hand, only to see a bush of curly hair flung in his face as Hermione lunged at him, throwing her arms around him and almost strangling him. "Hermione," he wheezed, "Can't breathe."
"Oh, sorry Harry!" she cried, stopping hugging him but keeping her arms loosely and hands clasped around his neck. "I haven't heard from you for weeks! I've been so worried. I've missed you," she said, the last bit softly, her eyes dropping, breaking eye contact.
Harry smiled gently. "It's okay Hermione. Just… haven't felt like writing. Did you hear Ron and Lav got engaged?" he said, abruptly changing the subject.
Hermione accepted the change of subject and nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "I'm so excited! Lav asked me to be bridesmaid along with Parvati! She's wearing white and wanted us to wear white dresses with embellishments of pastel blue, pink and yellow and we will hold a bouquet of roses each. What about you?" Hermione asked curiously, not wanting to ask if he was best man in case Ron chose one of his brothers over him.
"I'm to be his best man," Harry said with a grin. "He said it would always have been me but if he had to consider a brother than he wouldn't have one as he wouldn't want to choose one of the twins over the other."
"Awwwww," Hermione said, then turned and saw an unopened letter from Ginny. She didn't even need to look at Harry. "Into the fire?" she said, burning it.
Harry looked at her into surprise. "How –"
"We've spent so much time together and after living with you in a tent I know you well. She still thinks you're dating," Hermione said, watching the ash fall to the floor, ignoring the slight twinge of smugness that Harry didn't actually want to be with Ginny.
"Hermione?" Harry asked softly, seeing her staring at the ash, frozen. Her burnished brunette curls tumbled down her shoulders, her chocolate brown eyes unfocused. Her lips had formed a small, delicate pout as her fair skin was soft and smooth to touch. He stepped forward, placing a hand on her arm, causing her to snap back.
Hermione spun around, only to see Harry's face only inches away. Her breathing quickened as she looked at his soft-looking lips, his sharp jawline prominent. His jade green eyes seemed to glow as she looked at him. She caressed his cheek softly and then gave into the urge and leant forward, her lips touching his, and she kissed him gently.
After what seemed like hours, but was barely a minute, they pulled apart, staring into each other's eyes. They were closer now, Hermione's body leaning against Harry's as she looked into his eyes. He licked his lips and then leant down. Their lips met.
"How will we tell anyone?" Hermione asked anxiously, "Especially the Weasleys."
"Start with Ron," Harry said confidently, "He's our best mate. He deserves to know. Then the twins? They'll take the mickey out of us, but I doubt there'll be any hard feelings."
Hermione nodded, leaning against her boyfriend, the one she had longed for since third year. 4 years of waiting, and it was completely worth it. Worth watching him go out with Cho and then Ginny. Why had she fallen apart at Ron dating Lavender? The fact that she was worried about losing Harry with all the love potions and now Ron was pulling away. It wasn't like she had any other good friends. But the war had changed that. She had reconciled with Lavender and Parvati and now had two friends to fall back on, not that she would ever fall out with Harry and Ron again.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, bringing her back to the present.
"Yes?" she replied, smiling at her boyfriend. Her boyfriend. The words sounded so good.
"To Ron's house?"
"Coming," she said, grabbing a pinch of floo powder. "Sunridge Cottage!" she cried, before feeling the normal spinning sensation before she stumbled out of the fireplace, swiftly followed by Harry.
Ron and Lavender were sitting at the table and both looked up at the arrival. "Hey, mate, good to see you!" Ron cried.
"Omg, congrats!" Lavender cried, causing her fiancée to look at her in confusion and she rolled her eyes, pointing at the happy couple. "They're holding hands," she said bluntly, rolling her eyes at him as his mouth fell open.
"Oh. Well, nice job mate, you'll be great together, bet you can't wait for Hermione to lecture you every day about something you've done wrong,"
"Ronald!" Hermione cried, slapping him on the back of the head, causing Harry to roar with laughter and Lavender started to giggle.
"So, mate, how's the joke shop going?" Ron asked curiously, the only person apart from the twins that knew he owned a third of it.
"Going good, the twins have a real flair for it, they're going to be very rich I predict," Harry said, grinning, sitting down at the table, Hermione next to him.
"That's good," Ron said, watching Lavender take Hermione up to her bedroom to show some pictures that only her and her bridesmaids could see apparently. "Heard from Ginny lately?"
The annoyed look that crossed Harry's face when he said that gave him his answer. "Look, you just gonna have to say it, straight out to her. She's just not getting the message otherwise. Just say you don't love her in the way she loves you, and you're dating someone else now who you're very happy with. The she'll just leave you be. We're going for lunch at mum's in a minute, you could do it then. I'll be with you so don't worry."
Harry gave a nod, "Shall I mention it's Hermione or not?"
"I know my sister and if she knows your dating Hermione she'll blow. Just say you're dating someone but don't say who okay?"
Harry then started to laugh. "I can't believe, of all things, Ron Weasley is giving me dating advice."
Ron then joined in the laughter, only to see Hermione and Lavender arrive back down. "We're heading off to mum's now, you coming?"
Both nodded and they flooed to the Burrow, were greeted by Mrs Weasley and her suffocating hugs and a pile of food. Harry was laughing and joking when a redhead appeared. Ginny.
She wore a stunning black dress that barely reached her knees. It hugged her figure tightly and had a low chest line, so her feminine parts were more exposed. "Baby!" she cried, running towards Harry and kissing him full on the lips before anyone had time to react. Hermione then sprang from her chair and wrenched Ginny off Harry, who looked shellshocked.
"Let go of me!" Ginny cried, clawing at Hermione and Ron gestured to let her go, which she did. Ginny was unceremoniously dumped onto the floor in a heap. After giving Hermione a scowl she turned to Harry. "Baby –"
"No," he said bluntly, causing her to stare at her in shock. "I'm not your boyfriend, and I haven't been since the end of sixth year. I don't know where you got this idea that we are still dating from, but we're not and never will be. I don't love you Ginny, not in the way you love me. I love someone else dearly, and have a relationship with them. You are not that girl, and I'm sorry to hurt you, but if I need to tell you I'm dating someone else for you to get your claws out of me, then I will."
"You're, you're dating someone else," Ginny stuttered. "I don't understand."
"It's quite simple actually," Hermione said scornfully, irritated at the way she just threw herself at Harry, "He doesn't love you like that and is now dating someone else that he does love."
"But I love him!" Ginny cried, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"But I don't love you back –" Harry started.
"I'm sure you're just confused dear," Mrs Weasley said, walking in, "You've been on the run for months in a war and your now trying to fit back in to the normal world which you're not used to and we completely understand how hard it is, but don't you remember how happy you were with Ginny. Just give it a bit more time if needed before asking her out again. You just need a bit of time to adjust."
Harry, Ron, Lavender and Hermione stared open mouthed at Mrs Weasley before Ron broke the silence. "He's not confused. He's not yet settled into the wizarding world after the war but that's because he was anxious about Hermione finding her parents –"
"So you're saying he won't get back with me because of that bitch!" Ginny screamed, pointing her wand at Hermione.
Harry immediately jumped in front of her. "Put your wand down," he growled.
"You're dating Hermione!" Mrs Weasley cried, staring at them.
The four 18 year olds paled, how did she know?
Then Hermione stepped forward, deciding to be brave. "Yes, yes he is. And we are very happy together. Ginny, I'm sorry but I can't help what I feel. I was trying to help you but when Harry expressed he didn't like you in that way anymore there was nothing I could do. Then he kissed me and…" her voice trailed off. "I liked him back so we got together."
Ginny rose to her feet, her face turning an ugly fiery red that clashed with her hair. "You gave him a love potion!" she screamed.
"What!? No!" Hermione cried, "I wouldn't do such a thing!"
"Liar! He wouldn't stop liking me randomly! He loves me! Not you! You were jealous and gave him a love potion to take what is mine!" she screamed, her voice getting louder and louder with each word.
"Ginny!" Harry yelled, causing her to stop yelling and turn to him, her brown eyes softening instantly. "Yes love?"
He glared at her and then grabbed Hermione and gave her a whopping kiss on the lips to which she eagerly responded. A bang came which made them eventually pull apart, breathless, to see Mrs Weasley and Ginny staring at them in shock and fury.
"Bombarda!" Ginny then yelled, her wand suddenly pointing at Hermione who ducked, the spell smashing into a cabinet which exploded. Harry, seeing red, grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her to the floo and flooed to Ron's house, Ron and Lavender swiftly following and the minute they got through Lavender blocked access between their floo and the Burrow.
"Sorry," Ron apologised, "I didn't think it would be… like that."
"It's okay," Harry said, but his tense, pale face told a different story.
"If you don't mind I'll think we'll head off now," Hermione said softly, tugging Harry over to the floo. Ron and Lavender nodded and they said goodbye before flooing back to Grimmauld place.
"Harry?" she asked tentatively, once they were back at Grimmauld. Harry was standing in the hallway, still as a statue. "Harry?"
She started to get a bit frightened when he still didn't move and tapped him lightly on the shoulder, causing him to jump in the air. He turned his head slightly to her then back to the stairs and muttered "I'll be in my room," before almost fleeing from her up the stairs. Tears formed in Hermione's eyes. When Ginny fired the spell at her, he got mad. Understandable. But this wasn't a 'mad' she had ever seen before. Something was wrong, she knew it. Something had made Harry act oddly and Hermione knew it was down to Ginny casting that spell at her. But what was that something Ginny did that triggered him to behave like this?
Hermione then heard a creak from upstairs and remembered when Harry didn't come down for days back in fifth year after hearing what Mad eye had said and she had immediately gone to the library to – why hadn't she though of that before? The library would surely be able to help her.