A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I've gotten pretty involved in my new Artemis Fowl fic and I was having trouble getting ideas for this next chapter. So, here goes. It's a little short and predictable, but it's full of drama!
I spent the next week working and sneaking about with Harry after work. He came over to my apartment for dinner if we weren't visiting Professor Dumbledore, who was still mysteriously very sick. There wasn't a lot for any of us to do; even Madame Pomfrey was stumped by the illness. I was just an interior designer. True, I was relentless at research, but I wouldn't even know where to start in this particular case. As for Harry, well, he still hadn't told me about the three years that he seemed to have fallen off the face of the Earth. I didn't ask.
"We really need Hermione… she would know what to do," Harry mused as we strolled hand in hand down the corridor past the Great Hall. The Hall was empty and the students were in bed, causing Hogwarts to feel deserted. I sighed softly, looking at the sleeping portraits on the wall. "What?" he whispered, pulling me to a stop beside Gad the Great's portrait. I sighed again and said, "Harry, Hermione isn't the same person she used to be. I don't talk to her often, but when I do see her, she seems to be on the verge of crying or going nutters." Harry shook his head and said, "She sold me out when I needed her, but I never thought she would lose her backbone." I shrugged. I was almost over my hate for Hermione. Now, I just felt sorry for her.
Opening the main doors, we stepped out into the inky night. It was darker than I had seen it in a long time, and I even heard a faint rumble of distant thunder. Harry brought his arm around my waist as we slowly walked, savoring our remaining time together. I could tell something was bothering him, but you know how men are… if you ask them, you're nagging, but if you ignore it, they think you don't care. So, I simply snuggled in closer to him and squeezed his hand. Looking down at me, he said, "Gin, I want to talk to you about something… about this engagement thing—" but he stopped abruptly when he heard a twig snap. We both yanked our wands out of our robes and whispered, "Lumos." And there, right in front of me, stood Ron, his face as red as a tomato. "Shit," I cursed under my breath.
The pregnant pause that followed allowed me to identify the other four people that were with him: Neville, Hermione, Fred, and George. And all of the sudden, I had the upper hand. I suppressed a smile as I allowed my glare to meet Ron's. "I thought I told you never to see him again. He doesn't love you," Ron said, stepping forward and grabbing my arms tightly. Calmly, I squeezed his wrists with my fingertips until he let go, (something I had learned in DA my fifth year,) and then dropped them. "Besides, Ginny, you're engaged," Ron said, practically spitting the words at Harry, who looked ready for a fight. After one last glance at Neville's blank expression and empty eyes, I took a deep breath and pulled the ring off my finger.
Hermione's eyes were wide and fearful as tears poured down her cheeks. I held the ring up so that the starlight caught the stone and I then said, "Not anymore," and chucked the ring straight into the lake. It landed with a plunk and sank immediately. Everyone stared at me as thought I had gone completely starkers, but I smiled, my eyes meeting Hermione's. The remaining anger I had toward her melted away as I opened my mouth and said the four words that would change everything. "You shouldn't be either." Hermione gasped loudly and covered her mouth as Ron gaped at me. Slowly, he turned his glare to Hermione, who began to sob uncontrollably. Neville continued to stare blankly and Fred looked utterly confused. Only George remained motionless, his eyes boring straight into mine. Hermione's sobs almost drowned out the words, but I caught the whisper. "Thank you," George had whispered, and he meant it. I nodded to imply that we would talk later, and then slid my arm around Harry's waist, his arm resting on my shoulders as we walked to the gates of the Hogwarts grounds, leaving the other four to settle all of the problems.
To be continued!!!