A/N: And I'm back! within about 24hours (ish) with the next chapter! What lucky readers you are! Sadly, this is my last chapter, I may continue it but I wudn't be on the lookout as I probably won't. I've put the epilogue in and it's separate so u can tell lol! I tried not to make the ending to... sickly sweet, i re-wrote it like 5 times before i got that and I still think it's totally rubbish but I'm happy my first multichapter fic is finished! Now i shall concentrate on my other ones, ooo I was also thinking of doing a HHr sonfic to Iris by the goo goo dolls? Please tell me what you think and enjoy this final chapter! sniff sniff hehe
Disclaimer: I don't own, sadly! Ahh the things I could do with the harry potter world if I did...
Honourary Redhead.
Chapter 4.
Hermione and Fred were waiting in the living room, holding hands and staring at the fireplace waiting for Ron's return. He'd been out since breakfast and it was now rolling onto 11:37pm. Hermione was starting to worry that something might have happened to him.
Finally, they heard someone apparating into the hallway. The two looked at each other and Fred asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
"No, I think it's better it comes from me and on my own. Otherwise he may think we are ganging up on him and I don't want you two to start fighting." Then Hermione released a stressed sigh.
"Ok, I'll get out of your way now. Find me when you've finished, ok?"
She nodded and then stood with him and watched as he walked out of the room, smiling when he turned back at the door and sent her a 'good luck' wink, before leaving the room.
Outside, Ron had apparated into the hallway and had a desperate urge to talk to Hermione and apologise for his behaviour. Looking up, he saw Fred come out of the living room and glance at him briefly before swiftly moving to the stairs.
"Wait a sec Fred. Did you calm her down?" Ron questioned with a hopeful expression.
"Hey! You knew it was me! And er…yeah. She still wants to talk to you though. She's through there." he replied, indicating the room he'd just vacated.
"Alright, cheers mate." And Ron headed into the living room.
Hermione was stood, with her back to the door, wringing her hands in anticipation. She was trying to think through the right words to use, to explain what had happened without hurting Ron's feelings too much. These situations required a lot of delicacy.
When she heard Ron enter the room, she took in his dishevelled appearance and immediately started fretting, as she always had.
"Ron? Are you alright? You haven't been drinking have you?" she interrogated, looking Ron over.
"No, I'm fine. Um… Hermione, please can we sit down a minute?" Ron was now fidgeting also.
"Of course." and the two swiftly sat down. Ron took Hermione's hands in his, and didn't notice her discomfort at this.
"Hermione, I want to apologise for my behaviour lately. You haven't deserved it, and I am really sorry." He said quickly, not raising his eyes from their hands.
"Ron –" Hermione started.
"No. Please, let me finish or I'll never get it out." He said with a hand to silence her protests.
After a silent nod from Hermione, he continued, "I also want to say sorry for the way I've treated you throughout our whole relationship, we've been best friends for a long time and I hope we can still be that after this."
Hermione now looked very confused. "Ron I really need to –"
"Please Hermione! You can say something afterwards I just need to tell you!" Ron pleaded looking in her eyes now.
Hermione was shocked to see the start of tears.
"All of today, I've been with Lavender," he ignored Hermione's gasp, staring at his feet. "And I've realised something. I don't think I want to marry you. I'm sorry it's turned out like this, but I think we should break it off and we were only really meant to be friends. Best friends. I think we were to close to start off with for this to have actually worked. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I can't sit back and be unhappy, because I think you would become unhappy further down the line. Please don't be angry?" he begged with a pained expression.
You can imagine his shock when Hermione burst out laughing once more. "Hermione?"
"I'm... sorry!" she managed through fits of laughter.
"Are you okay?"
All she could do was laugh harder. Ron started to look very worried now, so when Fred burst in asking what was up with Hermione, he just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know! I just broke up with her and she started laughing! Do you think she's having a nervous breakdown?" Ron worried.
Fred turned from his kneeling position in front of Hermione, who was currently trying to smother her laughter with a cushion, to his younger brother. "You broke up with her? Not the other way round?" Fred asked incredulously.
"Yes! And as I said, she started laughing!" Ron exclaimed. "Do you think we should take her to St. Mungo's?"
"No… I'm fine now." Hermione managed to gasp out, chuckling occasionally.
"So, what happened?" Fred enquired curiously.
"Ron broke up with me! Isn't that great?" Hermione said with the biggest grin on her face.
Fred mirrored her grin with his own and Ron was left standing, rather dazed and confused. Ploughing on while his ex-girlfriend was in such a good mood, he continued. "I've also asked out Lavender, we're going to live together. I know you'll all think it's quick, but it feels right. More than we ever did." Ron said gesturing between himself and the grinning brunette.
"Really?" Hermione cried out. "Oh Ron! I am so happy for you!" and rushed off the sofa to give him a big bear hug.
Ron patted Hermione's back awkwardly, "Er… Thanks?"
Hermione pulled back and started to look guilty and nervous once more. "Ron… there's something I have to tell you to." Glancing at his face she continued, "I wanted to break up with you too. That's why I was so happy!" she explained. "Now I know I won't be hurting your feelings."
"Oh! Oh that's great Hermione. I'm actually really relieved, you had me worried for a minute there!" Ron said smiling.
She chuckled uneasily, "There's more."
"Ok."
Moving backwards, she grabbed onto Fred's hand for support and for indication. "Fred, and me we're kind of going out." she chewed her lip, awaiting his response.
There was silence and then, "I KNEW IT!" Ron shouted clapping his hands.
"Er… Ron?"
Ron was laughing now and dancing. When he'd finished, he explained to their curious looks, "I thought something was going on with Fred, and I worked out that you were much better suited to him anyway. When you started working with him, I saw you two had a spark we never had, it upset me a bit, which I think is what pushed me to Lavender. So how long has it been going on?" he said looking only slightly hurt.
"Since about ten this morning?" Fred offered.
"Seriously? Aw you guys! You really didn't do anything about it?"
"Well, we only really sort of discovered our feelings as it were a few days ago and then talked about it today. Are you sure you're ok with this?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, in fact, this is the best way it could have happened. It is really funny, to think we were both in love with someone else but didn't want to hurt the other's feelings." Ron laughed.
And thus, everyone was rather happy with the break-up. Apart from Molly Weasley, who cried hysterically but soon calmed down when she found out that she still might get two weddings to plan and that Hermione was still going to be in the family.
Epilogue.One Year Later
Hermione and Fred danced around the crowded back garden that had been arranged for a wedding. Then the song finished, So Fred and Hermione decided to mingle with the rest of the guests.
"It's a great wedding Hermione!" Ginny grinned.
"Thanks, I wasn't to sure about the flowers, but Lavender and Mrs. Weasley liked them, so they stayed."
"The couple look so happy, don't you think?" someone commented to Molly Weasley, as they watched the brunette woman and the Redheaded man make their way through their guests, thanking them for coming to their wedding.
"Yes, it came about it a rather strange way, but it seems to have worked out." she smiled back.
Then Ron announced speeches were going to be made, so Fred and Hermione made their way back down to the head table. Once everyone was sat, Fred stood and tapped his glass to get everyone's attention. "I know, I'm not the best man, so technically I'm not supposed to start the speeches, but I just wanted to tell everyone, thank you for coming, and making this day such an enjoyable one." Turning to Ron, who was a little further down the table watching Fred make his toast and sat next to Lavender. "I want to say Congratulations to Ron, the best little brother around!"
"Hey!" George shouted.
"George, you're the older twin! You were born first remember?" Fred explained.
"Oh yeah, carry on then!" Slurred George slightly.
Fred laughed. "As I was saying, if it wasn't for Ron, I would never have met Hermione here," indicating the blushing brunette by his side. "So for that I am eternally grateful. And to finish off, I have a little announcement to make! Hermione, you're going to kill me but…" Fred hesitated slightly.
"Fred, what are you doing?" she whispered harshly, glancing around nervously at all the guests. Her parents were around somewhere and she could do without being embarrassed.
"I wanted to ask, as we are at a wedding, it seems like the right place and time…" then bending down and pulling a box out of his pocket, "Will you marry me?" Opening the box to reveal a golden ring with three small blue and white stones set into a twist on the ring.
Hermione gasped and reached out her hand, Fred placed the ring on her finger and awaited an answer as Hermione gazed at the ring. Finally she looked towards his gaze and said, "Yes." she managed to choke out. Emotion didn't seem to make it to her face and stayed, clogging up her throat.
Fred grinned and kissed Hermione, filling it with all the love he felt at that moment.
Soon everyone was cheering and the couple pulled out of their kiss, looking rather embarrassed. The loudest cheer was from the newly married couple, sat just a few seats away from Fred and Hermione. Lavender rushed down the backs of the seats and pulled Hermione into a huge hug.
"Oh my god! I'm so happy for you! Now we'll get to plan your wedding!" she grinned enthusiastically.
Hermione laughed and grinned as well, "Let's get yours over with first! When your back from your honeymoon, then we can start planning mine!"
And for the rest of the evening, everyone danced and congratulated the two happy couples and once the party was over, which was well into the early hours of the morning, Hermione punched Fred on the arm.
"Ow! What was that for? I thought I asked you not to hit me anymore?" he said with a pout.
"That was for embarrassing me in front of everyone today!" she said sternly. "And this," she said kissing where she'd just punched him and continued to rub the sore spot, "Is for making me a very happy Honourary Redhead!" grinning, the couple used their wands to help tidy up. Hermione and Fred said goodbye to their parents and soon-to-be in-laws, then made their way back to their own apartment, Hermione was slightly drunk, so she sang all the way.
A/N: Yey! How did you guys like the twist? I was feeling especially mean and worked out that I wanted you all to think, firstly that Ron was gonna go bonkers, and then that it was Fred and Hermione's wedding, but again it didn't seem to work? Although that could be because i wrote it so I knew it would happen... ahh well! Review pretty please! Then make me grin:D