A/N: I am happy to see the site returned to normal. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I was not motivated because I only got 2 reviews. :( and summer brings those lazy days. i still haven't done my homeowrk for next year. But I couldn't let down the people who read and review. So HERE I am! Also for anyone who reads and would like me 2 e-mail them when I've updated put ur e-mail in your review ok. Here's the story. (oh btw everyone's heard of the title of the six book right and Half Blood Prince doesn't refer to Harry or Voldy. Well I wonder who?)
Ch 13 Reconciliation
Hermione pulled Ginny aside to ask her something.
"Um...Gin? What were you guys talking about?"
"I could ask you the same thing." She retorted.
"What? I was just...talk-"
"No need to explain. It's ok Harry told me all about it." She said with a laugh and walked to the table.
'What does that mean?'
Hermione pondered this on her way to the table and then at the table. She didn't sit she looked at Harry nervously then went back to her thoughts. Harry and Ginny glanced at her wondering why she wouldn't sit down.
"Hermione...Hermione... HERMIONE!" Harry said louder with every mention of her name. She snapped out of it. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah sorry just zoned out for a minute." She chuckled slightly and sat. She said her grace and started to eat. "Mrs. Weasley is Ron coming down?"
"Oh I thought I woke that boy up. I'll be right back. You lot go on eating." She said with a cheery smile and walked upstairs. She arrived at his door and stopped.
"Ron! RON! Get Up! If you don't want to starve." She boomed pounding on the door. Ron woke up reluctantly. She heard stirring but wasn't convinced he was up and banged the door again. "Ronald Weasley are you up? It's time for lunch C'mon down."
"UH... I'm coming. I'm awake. I'm awake." He said groggily.
"Good now come down for your lunch."
"OK." And with that she went back downstairs. Ron sat up and stretched wondering why he was sleeping at mid-day. Then he groaned as he remembered the day's previous events.
'Oh man! What a mess everything is. Maybe I can skip lunch and eat when they're not there. (His stomach growled.) No I can't miss a meal for the life of me. Urg!!! No I've got to fix this. Man! I've pissed off my mother and Harry, and hurt Hermione and Ginny. She'll probably be the most angry still.'
He got up combed his hair and sighed deeply trying to gain some nerve and get the sleep out of his face.
"Well Ron here we go." He said walking out of his bedroom door.
He took his time going down the corridor and the stairs. He could hear their cheery conversation and had a glimpse of hope and forgiveness. But as soon as he got to the dining table everyone abandoned their talk and stared at him. In their hearts they had forgiven him, but the words and feelings of the bitter confrontation came back and showed on their faces. He stared back at them watching their faces. Uneasy silence settling.
"Well aren't you going to sit down or eat standing up. It's your decision." Mrs. Weasley said sternly. He moved over to a chair near Hermione with one chair in between them. He sat there with a guilty frown and his head lowered. Hermione side-glanced him with that disappointed face he knew too well. Ginny wouldn't even look at him. This was a bad situation.
Everyone ate in silence. But their glances inhibited Ron.
'Man this is bad. They all look like they want to tear me limb from limb. Hermione looks really pretty though. What? Ron keep your head straight. I should apologize now and get rid of this tension.'
Ron threw down his utensil, getting everyone's attention and arose.
"Look everyone. This tension is unbearable for me especially since I'm the cause of it. I need to say this." He said with a sigh trying to muster some courage. "I'm very... very sorry for what I've said and done today to make you angry. And I'm really sorry for what I said to you Ginny. I know I've hurt you the most. You all know I tend to lose myself when I get mad and my mouth just goes off. I didn't mean anything I said and you didn't deserve them. But I deserve everything you said for being a big prat. So I'm sorry again for my behavior. I hope you can forgive me." He looked back at everyone and lastly Hermione before he left. He went out the back door, walked past the garden, and sat on a bench in the clearing.
Back at the house, everyone looked back at each other. Then Harry spoke.
"Well I forgive him. I'm going to go tell him." And Harry got up and left after Ron.
"Well I'm not going to." Said Ginny crossing her arms and pouting.
"Oh come on Gin with an apology like that. You know Ron. I told you. He's really truly sorry." Said Hermione. Ginny looked at Hermione and knew she was right.
"Yes dear I don't know what happened, but I would forgive after he apologized. It's not good to hold grudges; I've always told you," said Mrs. Weasley. Ginny snorted the sighed.
"Ok. Ok I forgive him."
"Good! Now if you don't mind I have to go send some owls. If you need me afterwards I'll be reading my magazines."
"Ok Mrs. Weasley we'll clean up."
"Thank you Hermione." Mrs. Weasley said with a smile and went up stairs.
"Don't you feel better." Hermione said taking her plate to the sink.
"Oh well what about you. Have you forgiven loverboy?" Ginny teased assisting her with the clean up.
"Well he said he was sorry and I told you in your room I wasn't angry with him anymore."
"You also told me you love him too. What are you going to do about that?" said Ginny with a teasing laugh.
"Very funny Gin." She said sarcastically.
"C'mon Herm. Are you going to tell him?"
"I already told you I need some proof. I need to hear it from him."
"Well what do you want a full-blown confession of undying love and devotion?" Ginny said raising her voice.
"Well yes That would be nice but less exaggerated."
"So what are you going to do then?"
"For now I have to be his friend...just his friend." Hermione said solemnly and doubtful. "I have to resist temptation no matter how much I want to tell him. I must!" She said determined.
"Well if you need to do this-"
"Things are complicated with me and him Gin; I need to." She said desperately.
"Ok Herm. The question is can you do it?" Hermione looked at her uncertain.
"I'll just have to try." She said turning to the window.
"Well I can't believe Ron passed up a meal." Said Ginny picking up his plate.
"Just leave it. I'll take it to him. He and I need to have a chat." She said tuning around.
"Hmm Why?"
"Well he told Harry about that night we..."
"I know and-"
"And it seems he knows that I love Ron. I'm worried he told him."
"Oh don't worry he won't," said Ginny absentmindedly.
"What?" said Hermione. Ginny cursed under her breath.
"Don't worry about what I said."
"I heard you. What did you and Harry talk about?"
"Nothing. Nothing," said Ginny trying to cover up.
"No tell me!" said Hermione insisting.
"Well we talked about stuff he was being nice and trying to make me feel better. That's all."
"That's all?"
"Well... and I know now that I won't get over him." Ginny said in reverie.
"UH! Ginny!" Exclaimed Hermione in disbelief.
"Well, he was very understanding and sensitive and really sweet."
"Uh!"
"I tried, but I can't get rid of the feelings." Ginny said defensively.
"Fine! You can pine over him all you want."
"I don't wanna pine I want to do something." Hermione put on a mischievous smile.
"Ok wait for tomorrow."
"What are we going to do tomorrow?" asked Ginny interested.
"You'll see," said Hermione walking off.
"Herm! Herm!" she called after her. "What do you mean? Come back here!"
Meanwhile, Harry found Ron. He was sitting on the bench staring into the wide distance at acres of rich green grass; the sun was beating down on him. He seemed to be in deep thought.
"Hey! Ron!" Harry said. He got his attention and Harry walked over to him.
"Hey." Ron said in a down tone. "Look I'm sorry I should have never brought up Cho and-"
"It's ok. I'm not mad anymore forget about it. But the girls are though."
"Yeah I know, and I lost my chances with Hermione too." He said hopelessly.
"Well not completely."
"Huh?" Ron asked confused.
"Well all I can say is that Hermione's a forgiving person, and if you close your mouth and do some serious kissing up-"
"I would love to do that." said Ron smiling.
"Ron that's not what I meant." said Harry laughing. "I meant if you get on her good side and stay there you'll still be in the running."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. But do you know anything at all about how she feels about me?" Ron said pleadingly. Harry wanted to tell him right then and there but he knew nothing good could come from that and it would get Ginny in trouble with Hermione.
"Well Ron all I can say is that you'll find the answer to that when you tell her the truth. But I think she feels the same way." Ron nodded and looked back at the clearing. Harry heard the trees rustling behind him where a redheaded girl appeared. "Well brace yourself because Ginny's coming."
"Yeah that's going to be fun." He said sarcastically.
"Well I'm going."
Harry walked past Ginny and smiled. She seemed too steamed to notice it and stalked on with her fist clenched. She stopped right in front of him looking daggers at him. Ron looked up at her slowly with his face full of guilt and fear.
"You know you can be a big prat right!"
"Yes, I know." He said softly.
"And that you have the biggest mouth!"
"Yes...I know." He said distressed bowing his head.
"AND...that you totally humiliated me." She said louder.
"Yes and I'm truly sorry for that."
"AND!...." She said growing louder. Ron contorted his face in apprehension. Ginny paused, smiled, and softened her gaze. " I forgive you." Ron swiftly looked at her.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Thanks Ginny." He said getting up and giving her a staggering hug.
"Ok. Ok Ron, too much love." She said jokingly, and they both sat down. "I just wanna know why you freaked out like that?"
"Well," he sighed. "I saw the way Harry was looking at you and you looked... older... more womanly..." he said awkwardly. "And I only saw you as my little sister you know, and then I got a bit carried away." He saw the look on Ginny's face. "Ok a lot carried away and over-protective. Thinking guys will be looking at my little sister that way." He said trailing off. "I know how guys think. Trust me."
"Well that's all good Ron, but I can handle myself with guys. I've had a boyfriend before. You know you're wrong about me. I'm not a little girl anymore. But I'll still be your sister." She said with a sympathetic smile.
"I know but-"
"Ron I'm ok. Nothing happened I just put on some clothes."
"Yeah," he said dully. "That's what makes me feel guilty and bad about what I said." Ginny laughed. "Are you still gonna wear the clo-"
"I'm still going to wear them." She finished and answered for him.
"Ah! Thought as much." He said worried. Ginny laughed again and patted him on the back. Then silence settled as they soaked in the quick and only breeze that came.
"Hey I'm sorry about the Harry thing and Cho."
"It's ok. I think he knew. And anyway I know a little more about Cho than you do." Ginny said staring into the distance with a satisfied grin. Ron looked at her confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"Let's just say-" She snapped out of her thoughts realizing who she was talking to.
"What?"
"I'm not telling you and have it come up in another one of your shouting matches."
"You're not going to tell me anything ever ag-"
"Not a chance." She said briskly.
"Ah! Due to the certain circumstances... that's reasonable." He said with a smile. Ginny chuckled.
"But I forgive you though. Well it's Hermione who helped with that." Ron seemed more attentive at the mention of her name. "If not I would've strangled you." She giggled.
"Hermione?" He questioned.
"Yeah. She's really great."
"I know." He said dreamily. Ginny looked at his face, smiled, and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah and I found out some stuff."
"Stuff?" He questioned again intrigued.
"Let's say I know what you did last summer..." She teased. Ron furrowed his eyebrows pondering his supposed clue. "I know what happened." She looked at Ron's still blank face and rolled her eyes at how clueless he was. "Oh my gosh you are so clueless. I know that Hermione kissed you last year during... the...uh... incident." She said reluctantly. Ron's eyes bugged out.
"She told you?" He said in disbelief
"Oh don't be so shocked like you didn't tell Harry."
"True. Wait. How do you know that?"
"Uh never mind that."
"Did she uh... tell you anything else?" He said implyingly
"Yeah but I told her I wouldn't say anything. Sorry Ron," said Ginny. Ron looked crestfallen.
"Oh C'mon Gin can't you at least give me a hint?"
"Ok. Well she doesn't hate you. In fact, far from it." She said interpreting with her hands. Ron put on a blank look. Ginny threw up her hands hopelessly and got up. "I'm going in. It's too hot out here for me." She said wiping sweat off her forehead.
"Ok." He said with the air of someone whose attention is divided. Ginny looked at him sympathetically wishing she could tell him.
"Ron. The sooner you tell her how you feel, this will all come out in the open, and you won't feel burdened or hurt." She said rubbing a sisterly hand on his shoulder.
He looked up at her and smiled patting her hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks Gin." He said with a forced smile. She smiled and walked away.
"Gin!" He called to her. She turned around and looked at him. "You looked really good in those clothes. I think you should watch out for Harry though." He said with a wink.
"Isn't that what I want?" She said with a smile and walked away. Ron turned back around almost smiling at the thought of his best friend and sister together. Then began to worry if that was such a good pairing. In the middle of his thoughts his stomach growled.
"Man! I wish I got some food in before I left." He said rubbing his abdomen.
"Well it's your turn buddy." Ginny said patting Hermione's shoulder still smiling.
"Yeah I know. What are you so cheery about?"
"Well it's Ron. He just makes me laugh sometimes. I mean he can be a big hot-tempered prat or moron sometimes, but despite that he's still the same funny, good-natured caring brother that I've always known." She said smiling more as Hermione joined her.
"Yeah. I know." She stated dreamily.
"Yeah and right now my caring brother is deeply distressed over a certain someone." Ginny said grinning and nudging Hermione in the shoulder with her shoulder a few times. Hermione put on a crooked frown.
"I know so am I. But how am I supposed to face him with my new-found realization?"
"You tell him about it." Said a voice belonging to their tousle haired male friend coming from the living room. Hermione directed her attention to him. Ginny looked back and forth from both of them. Hermione noticed and tried to reassure her.
"It's ok Ginny. We talked, he knows." Hermione said dully rolling her eyes.
"You don't sound ok with this." Ginny said skeptically.
"Well that's because one... " She began counting the reasons off on her fingers. "I didn't like the way he tried to find out how I felt. He kept badgering me and making me try to confess by a slip-up." She said flashing an irritated look his way. His expression was guilty.
"I didn't like it either." Said Harry in his defense.
"Secondly, he wouldn't tell me what I want to know due to the fact that Ron swore him to secrecy, and thirdly, me being oblivious to the fact that if everyone else knew, I should've known he of all people would know the truth."
"Oh ok." Ginny said nodding her head comprehensively.
"Yeah I am sorry about the first 2." Harry said.
"It's ok Harry." Hermione said smirking.
"Well you better go talk to him you're the one he wants to mend things with more than anything."
"Yeah but that's all." She said getting up and frowning. Harry was seated now and shifted in his chair to talk to Ginny.
"So you know about her absurd 'just friends' plan too." said Harry. Hermione eyes flashed dangerously at him with her arms crossed. He ignored it.
"Unfortunately yes, and I can't talk her out of it," said Ginny
"Me too. The best way for her to approach this is to be up-front and assertive. That's usually her approach with things nowadays."
"I agree up-front and assertive." Ginny said. Hermione looked between both of them amazed and annoyed.
"Well, since you two insist on talking about me like I'm not even in the room maybe I should leave." She said with her head raised haughtily. "And Harry not every situation can be viewed as if it were a Qudditch match." She spat.
"I'm going to let that slide ok. But I just don't see why you have to take the hard road for something so easy. You should just go up to him and say, 'Ron I love you and I want to know if you feel the same way?' See very easy you get a straight forward answer." Hermione looked like her top was going to blow off and with that last word from Harry it did.
"It's because I don't want to be the one who puts out first. I don't want to be the one who is optimistic and expectant of something good when that's never warranted! I don't want to be vulnerable! I don't want to get my heart broken taking a chance on an unsure thing!!!" She said her voice increasing with every statement, her cheeks rosy from released anger and the energy it took. Ginny and Harry were hesitant to speak afraid she will go off again. Harry got up and approached her tentatively although he had a feeling
"Is that what you're worried about?" He asked softly. She gazed at him hard at first but softened up.
"Yes," she said sorrowful.
"Hermione everyone has doubts, insecurities but-"
"But not me. I can't have them. I have to be sure about everything. That's just me. That's how I handle things. If I do I think of something to get rid of them. It's my own way. You guys should know this about me by now. Things are already weird with Ron and I. " She said in her still melancholy tone. Harry looked at Ginny over Hermione's shoulder for some assistance. She nodded in agreement with her. She knew how important this was to Harry, but she couldn't lie. Harry gave up and sat back down.
"Ok I understand."
"You understand that I have to do it this way for my sake no matter how absurd it sounds to you?"
"Yes."
"And you won't interfere either." She said looking at Ginny then at Harry.
"Yes." They said dully in unison.
"Good." She said smiling slightly at the hopeless expressions on her friends' faces. "I'm going to go talk with him." She said grabbing Ron's plate of food and two drinks and walked through the door.
"They are both so stubborn. They really do deserve each other." Harry said angrily. Ginny smirked in agreement and watched Hermione until she was out of sight.
A/N: Well that's that. Ok here it goes. Will Hermione and Ron reconcile? Will Harry and Ginny really give up in their attempt to help? Will Ron and Hermione every tell each other the truth? Find out on the next chapter of my fanfic!!! PLZ R/R. :D