Hermione Weasley stepped onto her doorstep and was quite startled when a lovely dark haired woman stepped out of the shadows.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to bother you, but I'm desperate and you might be the only person who can help me." Said the woman.
"Do I know you?" asked Hermione.
"My name is Isolde, and your husband knows me. He paid me to do something a bit underhanded a few months ago and now I'm in a bit of a jam."
Hermione registered the name as the woman Draco had gotten pregnant. When Isolde mentioned Ron being involved knew immediately that she wasn't going to like what she was about to hear. She sunk into the swing on the porch and sighed. "Tell me."
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Ron looked up from his desk to see Hermione and Harry standing in the doorway. "Hullo, love. You're a bit later than I though you'd be. Harry? What are you doing out this time of night? And where is Grange, Hermione?"
"Grange is spending the night at your mum's, Ron. I asked her to take him. Harry is here because I asked him. We have something to talk about and I'm hoping that if I can't do it, Harry can convince you to do the right thing." Hermione said, stepping into the room and sitting down on the couch.
Ron walked over to the couch and sat down beside Hermione. "I don't understand. What is going on?"
"Ron, Isolde came to see me tonight. She told me what you two did to Draco. I was furious at first. I have to tell you, I almost left you for good. Grange and I went to see Harry and he convinced me that while your actions may have been atrocious, your heart was probably in the right place. You can thank him for keeping your marriage in tact if this reaches some satisfactory conclusion tonight." Hermione said matter of factly.
Ron had bristled at the mention of Isolde's name. He knew exactly what had happened. The bint had gone and told Hermione about their deal. "Listen, you don't understand. I HAD to do something. I couldn't let Ginny marry that prat."
"You're wrong, Ron." Said Harry, seating himself in the chair directly across from the couch. "We do understand. I do especially. I felt the same way for a long time. But I was wrong, and so are you."
"Harry, how can you say that? You know what he's like. He tormented you as much as he did me in school. Maybe more." Ron exclaimed.
"That Ron is ancient history. He also saved our lives. Yours and mine too. That day in battle, he didn't have to follow us. But he did. And he stood beside you and took down people he once considered friends. Could you imagine having to kill one of our friends because they were on the wrong side? Seamus or Dean? Could you do it? He did. And then he saved your life, and mine with it, because if those dementors had gotten you, they'd have gotten me too. And he stood against his own father Ron. He pretty much told us how to win that battle. If he hadn't been there to tell us what he knew his father would do, we'd have been taken by surprise and quite possibly lost." Harry said, leaning forward.
Ron started to disagree with what Harry had said, but Hermione interrupted. "And that's not all Ron. Draco has defended me to those who would call me mudblood and look down their noses at me. When you were in the field, and I was working at the ministry, he physically removed Blaise Zabini, before he could hex me when I insulted him after he called me a mudblood. And that isn't the only time Draco has set someone back on their heels for calling me names or questioning my parentage. Although we bicker quite often, he's been steadfastly loyal as my friend. And he is your son's godfather. And it's not as if he shirks the job either, despite your animosity towards him. You know he's here constantly to see Grange, or take Grange somewhere. Grange adores him too. Would you care for your son to know what an awful thing you did to his Uncle Draco? How would you feel then?"
Ron opened his mouth to protest but Harry jumped back in before he could speak. "And lets talk about how good he is or isn't for Ginny, since I know that's what your about to say. Ron, even a blind wizard could see that Draco has been completely devoted to Ginny since day one. He's stood up to you, me, all your brothers, Arthur, and his father too. Not to mention the crap he must have taken off the Slytherins about her. And never once did he waver. That's about as steadfast as you can get if you ask me. He made her happy Ron. You have to admit it. She's never been so happy. I realize it galls you a bit to loose the all encompassing admiration Gin had for you as her older brother to another man, but Ron, its time. She didn't complain when you finally wised up and admitted you loved Hermione. Don't you think it felt at least a little the same? Your entire family has recognized that Draco, for all the faults he may have, loves Ginny. You are the only one who refuses to see that. Now both of them are miserable Ron, and that's your fault. Is that what you really wanted?"
"Ginny's not miserable. She's happy. She and Seamus are getting married." Ron declared.
"Ron, I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but I think you need to know exactly the sort of mess you've made with your little plan." Said Hermione. "Seamus told me a couple of weeks back that Ginny is pregnant. But that's not all. It's not his baby. It's Draco's. She didn't want to tell him because she didn't want to complicate his life even more. Ginny doesn't love Seamus. She still loves Draco, but she's going to marry a man she doesn't love and keep Draco's child a secret from him. All because of what you and Isolde did."
Ron looked defeated. "I swear I didn't know Hermione."
"I know that Ron. But what you have to do is learn to let people live their own lives. Ginny didn't need your help. Now she's stuck in a situation she can't fix. What are you going to do about it?"
"What can I do? I can't take it all back. Ginny's engaged to Seamus now. At least Draco found out about Isolde before he married her." Said Ron.
"Yes, thank the gods for that." Hermione said, "But Ron, you have to fix this. You can't let Draco go through life not knowing he has a child. A child that will be here in just a couple of months."
"A couple of months? Is it that close? I had no idea. How could I not know my own sister was pregnant?" Ron exclaimed.
"She's hidden it from everyone." Said Harry. "She only told Seamus. The only reason I knew about it was because she ran into Draco in the midwitch's office with Isolde and seemed shaken by it and needed to talk. I didn't understand why at the time. Now I do."
"Why didn't she just tell him?" Ron wondered.
"She still thinks Draco slept with Isolde. She knows the baby isn't his, but she's lied now. She has to stick to it. Or so she thinks." Said Hermione.
"I have to see Ginny." Ron said, grabbing his cloak and hurrying out the door.