CHAPTER SIX

Ron could tell Hermione was still crying, but it was much more subdued and controlled than when she was at the pub. Her voice wavered and hesitated as he heard her tell Ginny "I think we should break up, I'm… I'm… I'm just not good enough for Ron, he deserves someone worthy of him and it's not me! He is so wonderful and cares so much for his friends and takes such good care of me and all I do is put him down and take him for granted. He'd.. he'd, oh, oh, he'd be better off with someone else."

All Ron heard now was Ginny making soothing noises as Ron imagined Hermione had buried her face into Ginny. His heart was breaking hearing how distraught Hermione was and he was tempted to run in there and tell her all was forgiven, but that wouldn't fix the real problem. No, this was something that needed more than just "kiss and makeup," this needed more.

After listening to Ginny give Hermione some encouraging words, and hearing Hermione settle down, Ron opened the kitchen door and walked into the lounge.

Ron saw that Hermione was sitting next to Ginny on the couch and had her eyes closed with her head on Ginny's shoulder. Ginny's eyes went wide open when she saw Ron, but she stifled her response when she saw Ron put his finger to his lips. Ron mouthed the words, "quiet, please," and sat down next to Hermione. He leaned over and whispered into Hermione's ear, "Hermione, we need to talk."

Hermione's eyes flew open and she exclaimed, "Ron!" and then turned to him wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry!"

"I know, Hermione, I heard you when you were that ridiculous blonde in the pub."

Ginny and Harry both looked shocked at these words and Ron just looked at them and said softly, "Another story for another time. Right now I need to take her home so we can get this sorted. It may take some time, so don't expect to see us this weekend. Give mom my excuses because I don't think we'll be at The Burrow for Sunday brunch."

With that said, Ron stood and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "Ok if I apparate us home?"

Hermione just nodded and then Ron pulled his wand and they disappeared from Harry & Ginny's home.

Harry looked at Ginny and asked, "after talking with her, do you think they're going to be all right? Do you think they'll split up?"

Ginny looked pensive for a moment and then said softly, "I think they'll be ok, but it may not be easy. Hermione knows that she was way out of line, but I can tell she's a bit in denial about why she reacted as she did. I hope Ron will be patient with her, because it may take some time for her to sort herself out."

Ron landed softly in the middle of his and Hermione's lounge. He gently pushed her away toward the couch.

"Here sit, Hermione, and I'll make us some tea," Ron said firmly as he walked into their kitchen. Hermione sat down still speechless and somewhat in shock. She shook her head to clear it and then called out "Ron? Is George OK? I'm really sorry about what I said last night."

Ron frowned to himself and remained silent as he prepared their tea. He made hers exactly as she liked it as he routinely made both her tea and coffee. He stayed silent, hoping to convey how angry and hurt he was after she had berated him the last time he was in this room.

He handed her the cup and said softly as he sat down next to her. "I made your tea just as you like it, just like I always do, just like I do every day. Not bad for someone who's useless, hmm?

"Oh Ron, I so wish I hadn't said that I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it, I know you're not useless, you take such loving care of me, I'm so sorry."

Ron's frown remained in place as he sipped his tea. "But yet you said what you did. You called me useless not once but three times, surely you must have meant it, and you also know how hurtful it would be to call me that, and you still did. I'm not sure I can be with someone who treats me like that. I've tried awfully hard to be supportive of you and your campaigns at the Ministry and I've been really patient these last couple months but it's like you don't even notice. I know I'm not useless, Hermione, bloody hell I brought in Yaxley today and I kept George from ending his life, and I started the day by making sure you had coffee and breakfast this morning. Hell, I even convinced those two old fuckers to support your proposals. I know I'm not useless, and I know that lots of other people also know it too, but do you Hermione? Do you really think I'm useless? Do you?"

Ron finished speaking and put his cup down, then leaned away from Hermione crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her.

Hermione hung her head and with shaking hands put her cup down on the table. She folded her hands in her lap and continued to look down as fresh tears started to flow silently down her cheeks.

Hermione started to speak but found she couldn't find her voice, so she took a short sip of her tea. Putting the cup down again she looked at Ron and stammered out softly, "no Ron, I don't think you're useless, and you're right, you deserve someone who does appreciate you. I'm ashamed of myself and I realize that you're right I have been taking you for granted. You can find someone else who is worthy of the amazing caring man that you are. I'm so sorry, Ron, I'm so sorry. "

Hermione then hung her head again and let out a soft sob as the tears really started to flow. Ron conjured up a handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Here," he said. "You know that taking care of you is one of my favorite things in the world, and I'm not ready to quit quite yet. In fact I had other plans. Before that, I need to know why you were that ridiculous blonde back at the Leaky."

Hermione sniffed, "I thought that if you saw me there you would just walk out. I was only going to stay disguised until I could talk to you, but then you started to talk to your partner so I sat back down."

"Did you hear everything I said? Even to those two girls?"

Hermione hung her head again and whispered "yes."

"So you heard me tell everyone that I still loved you and was going to propose?"

Again she whispered "yes."

"Did you see that I had a ring?"

For the third time she answered in the affirmative.

"Just so you know I still plan to do that, but the time frame has now changed. We have to deal with some stuff before we get to that point. It's stuff that we would have needed to deal with anyway."

Hermione sobbed out, "oh Ron," and wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest and continued to sob quietly. "Oh Ron, I love you, I don't deserve you, but I love you so much."

Ron hesitantly put his arms around her and held her while she cried.

After several minutes Hermione pulled away and wiped her eyes with Ron's handkerchief. She looked at Ron with a watery smile, but Ron's face remained stoic.

"I'm glad you say you still love me Hermione, but it would be hard to prove it given how you've treated me the last two months. Ever since you started working on this new proposal you've been completely focused on it and ignoring me and our friends. You've been so wrapped up in your work it has consumed you and nothing else matters. I've been supportive up till now, but I'm not going to tolerate being treated like this anymore. Somethings are going to have to change."

"I know Ron, but I'm not sure how or what to do."

Ron still had his hands on her arms as he looked at her with the most serious expression she'd ever seen. It was a bit frightening she thought.

"Ok then," Ron started. "Are you ready to fix this? Are you ready for some hard work? I have to warn you, Hermione, this will be difficult and it won't be fun, but if you start you have to finish and you have to be willing to change. Can you do that?"

"I can do that for you, Ron. I can do it for us."

"Ok Hermione, buckle up. It may be a rough ride."