Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling and her publishers. I get nothing from this (except derisive laughter). Don't sue me, please.

Ron opened the door to the flat. Hermione was lying on the floor, engrossed in a book.

"Hi, Hermione," Ron said.

She looked at him, got up, and disappeared into Harry's room.

Perfect, thought Ron.

"Hello Ron," a voice said. Harry had entered the flat. "Is the old Ron back? Is the Ron who is my and Hermione's best friend back?"

"I think so Harry, but I don't know if Hermione's interested in my friendship anymore."

"Well, Ron, I am. Maybe time will heal the wounds with Hermione. You hurt her really bad."

"She told you? Does the muggle pin thing you made work?"

"No, Ron, we have not been able to make the PEN work. But it's Hermione, I know her. I can tell when she's upset. You used to be able to tell too."

"But that was before she was a …"

"She's Hermione. You got to get that through your thick head!" Harry paused for a breath. "Anyway Ron, it's good to have you back. I did miss you. Fancy a game of chess?"

The next few weeks went by with Ron reconnecting with Harry. Ron remained undefeated against Harry at Wizard's Chess, and Harry won most of the Exploding Snap games. They went out to the country for broom flights and Quidditch. It was almost like being back at Hogwarts.

- - - -

Hermione was another matter. She always avoided being in the same room as Ron.

Ron decided that a peace offering was needed. After work one day he went to Flourish and Blotts, and purchased a copy of a book on Harry's list for Hermione, Transfiguration for Advanced Users. He wrote a simple note.

Hermione,

I have been a prat. I'm sorry. Please forgive me.

Ron

He placed it in the book and put the book in on top of Hermione's others. He then retired to his room for the night.

Ron ate a quiet breakfast with Harry before he left to meet Ginny at Hogsmeade for the day. Ron noticed that the book he bought was out and that, although she was still ignoring him, she did not leave the room when he entered.

Ron got the bells Harry used to communicate with Hermione. "You're still angry with me, aren't you?"

For a while Ron though Hermione was going to ignore him. But eventually she ran the "yes" bell.

"I deserve all that and more. I don't even deserve to have that question answered. But I'm going to ask for what I don't deserve. I'm going to ask for the chance to be your friend again. Will you let me try?"

There was another long pause. Ron looked into the otter's deep brown eyes and saw the same look he saw in the picture from Bill and Fleur's wedding. He could see Hermione in them.

Of course you can, you idiot, he thought, she was always there but you were too blind to see.

Still he waited for a response. After what seemed like days, Hermione rang the "yes" bell.

Ron had to fight to hold back the tears when he said, "Thank you."

- - - - -

Ron had a new routine that he preferred to the pub crawling of earlier that year. He would come home and spend the evening with Harry and Hermione. When Harry started going out to meet other school friends or to make contacts for the charity he started to help survivors of victims and Voldemort and his Death Eaters, Ron remained home with Hermione. This evening, Harry was out, and Ron had a surprise

"Close your eyes Hermione," Ron said. "No peaking. Wait. Wait. OK, open your eyes."

Ron had unveiled what looked like a dollhouse version of Gryffindor Tower.

"It's for you. I think you'll like it better than the box that Harry had made up for you. Dad helped me. I think you'll find the sleeping quarters more comfortable. There's a private bathing pool for you, and a miniature library."

Hermione's otter eyes looked amazed. She dashed in the house.

Ron sat on the sofa and awaited her return.

"Do you like?" he asked when she emerged.

She let out a squeak and jumped next to him on the sofa. He scratched her ears and she didn't pull away. Maybe I am on the way back to being her friend, Ron thought.

- - - - -

"I tell you Hermione, this job can be crazy. I never knew there were so many ways to cheat with a bludger. The only thing there is more of is the number of forms I have to fill out anytime someone accuses someone of it."

Hermione gave a bemused sort of tilt to her head, as she did every time Ron ranted about his work.

"And they always threaten to send an enchanted bludger at me if I don't see it there way. I'm just a junior department member. It's not like I have the final decision or anything."

Hermione just laid her head on his leg and continued to listen to him.

"Maybe I should try to be an Auror. It might be safer. Dark wizards we've dealt with. Crazed coaches and fans, they scare me."

Hermione rolled over as if laughing.

"So you think my pain is funny, do you?" Ron feigned offence. "Well have it your way. I'm going to bed." Ron retired to his room and Hermione to her miniature Gryffindor Tower.

- - - - -

June came and Ginny left Hogwarts for good. Ron and Hermione were enjoying there normal routine when Harry and Ginny returned from a dinner date.

"Umm," Harry stuttered, "I, er, we have something to tell you. I asked Ginny to marry me tonight, and she accepted."

Ron looked at Ginny's hand. He had never seen a diamond so big, but he really hadn't seen many diamonds.

"Oh Hermione," Ginny squeaked, "Have you every seen a ring so beautiful?"

Hermione did not seem to make any comment, but looked politely at the ring as Ginny placed it before her. Ginny sat down with Hermione and began to talk about all her wedding plans, and Ron sat in the kitchen with Harry.

"So I guess you're going to be my brother in law, too," Ron said.

"Yes, mate. Is that OK with you?"

"I learned a long time ago that I don't have any say over Ginny's love life. It was a painful lesson. I know you'll be good to her. There is no one I'd rather her be with. Congratulations, you've made it through everything."

- - - - -

This time Harry was too distracted to notice it, but Ron saw that Hermione was withdrawing again. She avoided Harry and Ron, and spent most of her time in the Gryffindor Tower he had made.

"Hermione, please come out," Ron called out most every evening. The best he ever got was a peek out of the window at him.

Ron was ready to despair again. He had come so far, but all of the sudden it had evaporated. Did he do something, or was Harry and Ginny's nuptials affecting her. Did she secretly fancy Harry? No that couldn't be, he was like her brother.

Ron returned home one evening and found a scrap of paper in the waste. There was one word on it. It was barely legible. Hermione must have written it with Harry's Muggle pen set up. Ron was thrilled; she had not managed to make that work before. His happiness was short lived. Ron read the word.

The single word on the paper was "alone."