Chapter 13 – The Confrontation

The foursome was quiet as they headed back to the guest quarters. Hermione didn't know what to say even though she had a lot on her mind. She wondered if she'd get the chance to have it out with Molly once and for all. Molly didn't glance her way once, keeping her eyes straight ahead.

Finally when they had safely returned to their guest room, Ron spoke.

"Dad, what's going to happen to Ginny? Are you going to report her to the Ministry for performing underage magic outside of the school?"

Arthur shook his head, looking resigned. "Well, Ginny is turning seventeen next month, so I think we should keep it within the family and the school. We will need to talk to Professor McGonagall about appropriate action as well. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey is filling her in as we speak."

"Do you think she'll be expelled?" Molly asked, worriedly. "I'm so disappointed; first the twins leave school without finishing their NEWTS, Ron drops out and now Ginny…from our sons being head boys and prefects, to this? Arthur - where did we go wrong?"

Hermione felt herself explode. "Where did you go wrong?" She yelled.

"Where do I start? I can't believe that whether or not your children are going to graduate from Hogwarts is your biggest priority right now. Didn't you listen to what Ginny said in there? She nearly got Harry killed! No, she did get Harry killed. And in doing so, she might have released part of Voldemort's soul! If I hadn't shown up there and saved his life, Harry would be dead and gone!"

Ron, Arthur and Molly were staring at Hermione, speechless. She continued. "And Mrs. Weasley, it's because of you and that stupid spell book that Ginny thought she could get Harry to love her!"

Arthur looked at his wife questioningly, his voice rising. "Molly, what is she talking about? Did you give Ginny that book? She said you helped her with a love potion!"

Molly had turned beet red. "Arthur, please calm down. It was a harmless birthday present - a silly book of spells, just good fun."

"If the book was so silly, why did you snatch it away from me before like it was something dangerous?" Hermione asked, her eyes blazing.

"I did not snatch it away - I just wanted it for safekeeping. Why are you twisting everything Hermione? It's your fault Ginny had to go the lengths she did to keep Harry interested in her."

Oh no, she can't get away with this!

"How is it my fault?"

"You ruined everything by turning down Ron's marriage proposal. He was supposed to marry you – a Muggle born, to strengthen our bloodline. You then broke his heart, and to add insult to injury, you two timed him with his best friend. Ginny knew you were after Harry, and she needed those potions to keep him from falling for you. Harry was our last chance to strengthen the family, and she was going to do everything to keep you from ruining it!" Molly folded her arms in front of her, looking satisfied.

It was now Ron's turn to explode. "Mum, you've got it all wrong! Hermione did not break my heart or two time me with Harry! We realized that we were better off as friends and broke up last summer. We pretended to be a couple for the family and Harry's sake – we thought that's what everyone wanted. But Hermione fell for Harry and we decided to have a public break-up. There never was a proposal, it was all a ruse!"

"So Hermione used you so she could be free to pursue Harry?" Molly yelled, her mouth gaping in surprise.

"She didn't use me, Mum! It was my idea. Did it ever occur to you that I might want to be free to pursue someone else?"

"Like who? That Lovegood girl? Ron, you could do better than that." Molly huffed.

"Luna's a great girl and I like her." Ron asserted. "And I'm pretty sure she likes me back."

Hermione was taken aback by Ron's admission, but she was also proud of him. He had never been that straightforward before about his feelings for someone of the opposite sex. She reached over and patted him on the back.

"So you both willingly lied to your friends and family for months, and you are trying to make me into the villain?" Mrs. Weasley said, looking hurt.

"Mum, you're not a villain. I just think you didn't think about the consequences of what you were doing by putting pressure on me and Ginny about this whole bloodline thing. And Ginny took it way too far by becoming obsessed with Harry and that book."

Molly shook her head, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean for Harry to get hurt. You know I love him like a son."

"I know you do, Molly." Arthur said, sitting beside his wife and taking her hand. "But Harry's not our son, and I think it's time that you stop wishing he were. We have seven of our own children who need us, especially our youngest."

Molly cried into her husband's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I thought I was doing the right thing for the family. When I was ill, I thought I wasn't going to live and I must've gone a bit mad with worry over what was going to become of the Weasley legacy."

Hermione felt a bit guilty at the way she had laid into Molly. "Mrs. Weasley, I'm sorry I attacked you the way I did. It's just that I love Harry, and I almost lost him today. I needed to blame someone and I blamed you."

Mrs. Weasley looked up at Hermione, the anger in her eyes gone. "Well, at least we know we have at least one thing in common. We both love Harry and think we know what's best for him. But it's now clear to me that he wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you, and I'm grateful to you Hermione, for bringing him back."

Touced by Molly's overture, Hermione held out her hand. "Truce?" Molly responded by giving Hermione's hand a squeeze. "Truce."

Awwwwww

Shut up!

"Speaking of Harry," Ron interjected. "Isn't it about time we get back to him? He's probably wondering what happened to us."

Hermione turned to Ron, suddenly filled with giddy anticipation of seeing Harry again. "Yes, I suppose we should be getting back."

"Well, give him our love." Arthur said. "We'd like to see him again soon, but only when he's ready. I imagine he's not too keen on Ginny right now."

Or her mother.

"I'll let him know." Hermione assured Arthur before giving him a hug good-bye. She also gave Molly a quick hug as well, relieved that things were less tense between them.

Ron hugged his parents and told them that he would come back the next day to see Ginny.

He then took Hermione's hand and disapparated to the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. It was now dark outside, so they lit some lanterns to brighten the place.

They collapsed on the living room couch. "That was pretty intense, wasn't it?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, it was." Hermione agreed. "Was I too hard on your mum?"

"You were." Ron concurred. "But I think she needed to hear it from someone who wasn't going to sugar coat." He paused. "So….speaking of not sugarcoating things, are you going to go upstairs and get it on with Harry now?"

"Ron!" Hermione felt her face grow hot and smacked him with a cushion.

"Well aren't you? Don't worry about me, I'll be sleeping so I won't hear your screams of passion…oh yes, right there, that's good…oh Harry…" He said in a high pitched, breathless girly voice.

"You are so vile!" She tried to sound stern, but failed miserably. "If you must know, I'm not going up there to do that with him….."

Yet

"Well my advice to you is don't wait too long, Harry might be the boy who lived (yet again), but he's also a seventeen year old bloke with needs."

"Speaking of needs, I liked your little speech about Luna. When are you going to see her again?" Hermione asked, cleverly deflecting the spotlight.

"Maybe tomorrow? When I'm at Hogwarts tomorrow to see Ginny, I might invite Luna to join me for the visit."

Hermione nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me. Ron, I do hope things work out with Luna. I think she could be really good for you."

"You mean in the way you are good for Harry?" Ron asked.

She smiled at him. "I think so. Goodnight Ron."

Hermione left the living room and headed up to see Harry.

A/N: yes, I'm evil. We'll get some alone time soon ;)