Chapter 3

The weekend after Hermione gets back from Australia she meets up with Ginny at their favorite lunch spot - Hermione is extra curious about seeing her old friend, especially since Ginny says she has some exciting news to share.

As Hermione sits down at their usual table by the window, she can't help but have a smile on her face, wondering if she's ever been this happy before. It's been almost a year since Ginny sent out those embarrassing love letters, but as Hermione sits there and thinks back on everything the last year has brought her, she really does feel grateful for Ginny's rash behavior.

Just as Hermione is thinking about the vibrant red-head she sees her coming towards their table - with a very similar smile. As soon as they lock eyes Ginny throws up her right hand, showing off a stunning diamond engagement ring.

"You're joking!" Hermione quickly exclaims as she stands up hugging an overjoyed Ginny.

"Can't believe it, can you!?" Ginny bursts. "It happened right before you got back from Australia, and we wanted to wait until we could tell you in person…Harry is sore that he couldn't be at lunch today - but he might also be avoiding the glare he gets when he didn't tell you it was happening beforehand," she adds with a small grimace.

Hermione silently curses Harry's name but puts on a façade for Ginny, "Hmm…Harry. Yes well, I'll deal with him later, but let me look at that ring! Oh I'm so happy for you two! When is the wedding?"

"That's the kicker, we both really want a summer wedding - so…in two months!?" Ginny squeals out. At the look on Hermione's face she adds, "we're absolutely crazy aren't we?"

"No, no! Not at all, it will be perfect. Everyone knows you two are absolutely meant for each other and I can help." Hermione assures her. "Now tell me all about how he asked."

"Well, the invisibility cloak was involved, of course."

"Oh, of course."

"And he, for some deranged reason, sought out the help of George and Ron and what looked like all the products of Weasley Wizard Wheezes." At this, Ginny and Hermione chuckle at the insanity of it all. "Seriously, Hermione, mass chaos. Ron had accidentally set off the fireworks before Harry had even got down on one knee!" Hermione is clutching the side of her stomach where a stitch is forming from laughing so hard, she can just imagine it all in her head, and wishes she had been there to witness the momentous occasion.

As Ginny wipes a small tear from her eye, she asks Hermione, "Well enough about me and my ridiculous proposal, how are things with you and the ferret?"

Hermione takes a sip of her tea to cover the light blush creeping up her cheeks. "We're really, really good." Ginny's left eyebrow raises imperceptibly, and a smugness that can't be beat is etched upon her face.

"Really, really good, huh? Tell me more..."

Hermione swallows her irritation at her friends gloating. "Yes, we're actually looking to move in together soon. While I was in Australia he found a place he thinks we'll both like, and we're going to look at it in a few days."

"Oh that's wonderful Hermione, I'm so happy for you! And…" she pauses slightly, "and, well I know Ron would be too." At that, Hermione shifts uncomfortably. Ginny ignores it and continues, "look, I know things have still been a little rife between you and Ron, you say you've moved on from it all but you ignore him when we're all out together and refuse to answer his owls." Ginny now has a sheepish look on her face, knowing bringing up the R word is usually regrettable. "It's just, it's been almost a year, maybe it's time you really do forgive him."

"Yeah…maybe…" Hermione replies, but her mind is already gone - replaying that dreadful morning at the Burrow when the news broke about her and Malfoy…

Hermione had just found out that Ginny was the one to send out her love letters,
and although she was still fuming at the complete lack of privacy,
she couldn't help but wonder where her life would be right now if she hadn't intervened so personally.
Would she and Draco have found another way to be together? Would she be this happy?

As she walked down the stairs behind the youngest Weasley,
she started to feel slight dread at facing the rest of the Weasley family and their reactions to her latest beau.
Thankfully, she knew Ginny was on her side, as was Harry…but Ron…well he
was sure to be here this morning and you just never knew where his head was at…

Hermione entered the kitchen and it was instantly clear that everyone knew.
You could have cut the tension in the room with an old rusty knife.
The culprit being the tall, heavily freckled man in the corner glaring daggers right at her.
To his right stood Harry, with a mixture of annoyance and sympathy on his face -
clearly from trying to diffuse the situation before it even started.

Hermione took a deep breath and that was Ron's queue to stay silent no
more, "so, it's official then, you and.." he then spat the last word with all the venom in the world, "Malfoy."

Hermione used all of her strength not to physically reel back from him, trying to show a strong front.
"Oh come off it Ron, you already brought this up a few weeks ago, this really shouldn't come as that big of a shock."

"HE'S A DEATH EATER HERMIONE! TRIED TO KILL HARRY
AND ACTUALLY, ALL OF US IF I RECALL!" Ron has one volume and one volume only: loud.

Harry reflexively shot out his arm to hold Ron back from involuntarily lunging at Hermione in his wrath.
At the sudden movement from Harry, Ron realized his misstep and turned away from everyone to cool down.

Hermione wished she could shout back just as loud, but she just didn't have the fight left in her
as she responded in just above a whisper, "He's changed Ron."

After a few moments of silence, Ron responded, in a slightly unnerving voice,
"It was supposed to be me and you, Hermione, till the end, just like your letter said."

Hermione once again cursed those damn letters, funny how her feelings on that changed in a matter of moments.
But the realization hit her that she needed to put this to an end.

"Ron, that letter was written the last and final time we broke up a few years ago, it was me letting go, letting go of the idea of us."

Ron slowly turned back around to face her, she looked him in the eyes and he sheepishly looked away again.

"Please understand, I've moved on, and it's time you did too."

There was a long, ear ringing pause after Hemiones confrontation,
wherein George decided to diffuse the uncomfortable situation with a joke -
"Alright everyone, back to your knitting…"

She looked around the room, and realized that this very personal conversation
was just had in front of the entire Weasley family.

'Perfect. Just perfect.' she mumbled to herself as she briskly walked out of the house.