Pre-AN: Rachel this is the chapter for you! All I have to say is Ron, Ron, Ron.

Chapter Twenty-Two-THE MINISTRY'S BIG MISTAKE

A little under a month later, October fifteenths Daily Prophet: HARRY POTTER WAS INNOCENT! THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC ADMITS! IT SAYS THE EVIDENCE TO CONVICT The Savior of the Wizarding World was slim and pushed through just to get a scapegoat for the murder of the former Auror Chief Thomas A. Jackson. The Ministry of Magic's Auror Division has arraigned a man who says under Veritiserum that he killed Jackson, he also admitted numerous other crimes...

Further down the page. "The Minister of Magic is deeply sorry for the pain this has caused the friends of Harry J. Potter, also the documents regarding his escape from the Fortress of Azkaban and assumed death will be made public to his named heir, Hermione J. Granger. Mister Potter has no remaining magical relatives...

Harry read the paper in shock, 'What am I to do, now? I'm innocent... and they've admitted it! What do I do now?'

He looked to Hermione, "What do I do, now?" He asked her.

"I don't know."

Harry made his decision, "Let's go on that vacation still... but till then..." He switched from his normal voice... to the Patrick voice, "Hermione, I think we need to break up."

Her eyebrows sprang together, puzzled, "Really," then it hit her, the reason why, "Well, yes I agree, it's for the best."

He was feverishly writing something down on a napkin, then went up to pack a few things.

Harry came back down, not five minutes later, handed her the napkin, kissed her and apparated away.

She opened the napkin and read:

Hermione,

The vacation stands. I will meet you there November 1st. Lets be Jane and James Granger... or something. Then you can still put it under you. I'm going to miss you.

Love Harry.

'Well, I may as well make this look good,' she thought as she went to the ice box (? I say freezer, but that didn't seem proper here) and took out the carton of ice cream, grabbed a spoon and today's paper and she sat on the couch. Awaiting the arrival of Ron... who at that moment apparated in... right on cue and she made the tears start to flow.

"HERMIONE! DID YOU SEE THE PAPER! HARRY WAS INNOCENT." He shouted at her joyfully, before seeing the distraught look on her face and the tub of ice cream... "Hermione, what's the matter?"

"Patrick and I broke up."

"Why?"

"It's for the best, Ron, don't worry it was mutual."

"But why? You seemed so great together and in love?"

"He got a job offer in Lithuania. I encouraged him to leave, it's for the better... it's better he goes rather then stay here."

"Why is that... you did seem really happy, when I saw you together. Why is it better you broke up?"

"Because... I don't think I'm ready to settle down."

"Then what's the problem? Why are you sitting here... moping on Harry's couch, when your happy you've broken up? Damn, I don't understand you."

"I'm going to miss him though."

"Patrick?"

"Sure."

"Patrick or Harry?"

"Both." 'Because they are one and the same,' she mused.

"Hermione... I have a rather personal question... you don't have to answer if you don't want to..."

"I'll answer, what is it, Ron?"

"WuzthereanythingbetweenyouandArrybeforehewenttoazkban?" Ron asked incomprehensibly.

"Can you slow that down, Ron. I couldn't understand a word you said."

"Sorry... Was thee anything between you and Harry before he was sent to Azkaban?"

"No, of course not!"

"If he had escaped... if Harry had survived... would you have told me? It's hypothetical... but would you have?"

"I'm sorry Ron, I can't answer that."

"And why the bloody hell not?" Then it dawned on him, his eyes practically bulged out of his skull, "He's Harry. Oh my gosh! How have I missed the signs? Luna was nudging me toward since August, when she met him, but she wouldn't tell me. Patrick is Harry, isn't he... why didn't you tell me? He's my best friend, too."

Hermione stared at him in shock, the ice cream forgotten. melting upon the floor.

"He made me sware, Ron, I couldn't tell you, I couldn't break his promise!"

"And why not?" She stayed silent and it dawned on him, "Your in love with him, aren't you?"

"Wha... what?"

"And if the way he was acting as Patrick is any indication. He's in love with you."

"Wha.. what?"

"Where is he? Where is he hiding? WHERE?"

"He's gone, Ron, I don't know where he went."

Ron picked up the napkin next to the papers and read it.

"He was here! Harry was here and your going on vacation with him... when will you be back? So I can kick his arse."

"You will not!"

"Your right, I won't. I'll yell at him instead. For not realizing sooner!"

"What?"

"You should have been together after Hogwarts, not now. Almost seven years later. The two of you are so dumb."

"What... why?"

"Because you didn't realize till now!"

"Oh... but Ron, there were too many complications!"

"I don't care if you were a werewolf and he was going to Auror training.. I don't care if you were on the moon! Just one request."

"What?"

"You don't tell him anything that happened here today and I won't tell my family, deal?"

"Yeah, sure," she was still in a daze.

He hugged her, "I'm so happy for you guys! YES! Have a great vacation, alone, together."

"Uh... okay.."

"Bye, mate..." He beamed at her, "Good bye."

And he walked to the doorway and apparated away.

Leaving Hermione to comprehend what just happen and think... 'What was he talking about.. we're not together... at least I don't think so...'

Well, once again, she was interrupted. Remus Lupin apparated in, "Hermione, can you believe it? Twice now at least, they've thrown innocents into Azkaban! First Sirius, now Harry. I'm glad at least his name is cleared, aren't you?"

"Yeah," she answered detached.

"What's the matter, Hermione?" He asked sitting next to her... and noticing the ice cream carton and puddle surrounding it on the floor... "Ah.. so you've been dumped?"

"Well, no... it was mutual... Ron just now before you came, really gave me something to think about, that's all."

"What?"

"Some... something about Harry."

"What?"

"I can't tell you."

"What? That he was obviously head over heels for you?"

Her eyes widened, "You too?"

"He was so much happier with you here, then the Azkaban thing happened.. and now my best friend's son is dead... well he has been... but it just hadn't hit me yet... with the excitement over the cure." He teared up.

"I'm sorry, don't mind me."

"Remus, I think things will get better, I have a feeling... maybe this year... maybe next.. things will start to look up... you just wait."

"What do you know, Miss Granger?" He went into Professor mode.

"You'll find out eventually, Remus, just wait and see."

He looked at her oddly, "Alright, but I'm holding you to that."

"Fine. And I suggest you go see Tonks."

"Why?"

"You've been gone since July, I'm betting she misses you."

"I miss her, see you, Hermione."

"Indeed, have fun, Moony," she grinned.

AN: There's chapter 22.. next up is Chapter 23 Part 1-Vacation... it was much too long to keep as one... So I split it in too, both sections have some excellent parts, let me tell you.. Part 1 has a few big shocks... let me tell you!

Review... PLEASE I'M DESPERATE!

Typed: February 25, 2005