And so the penultimate chapter arrives! That's right, the next time I update will be the lastchapterin this fic. I've started writing it but I want it to be spot on, so it might be a while before I put it up. I'm sure you understand.
Anyway...let me know what you think of this one. Please ;)
Step XxXxX ;)
Chapter 41
'He…he kissed you?'
Hermione and Ron were sat in a café in Diagon Alley, having decided to go there for lunch. Hermione had finished telling Ron about what had happened on Friday night and was awaiting his response. So far things were a little calmer than she had expected.
'Yes he did,' she replied quietly.
'What…er…what did you do…when he did?'
'Erm…well I didn't do anything at first, I told you I was thinking about you and when I opened my eyes I realised it wasn't you and then totally freaked out. I shouted at him, then he tried to explain and then I apparated home,' she replied in a rush.
'So you didn't kiss him back?'
'No! Of course I didn't. As soon as I'd gone home and changed out of my dress robes I apparated straight to the hospital to tell you what had happened. Obviously I didn't know if you could hear me, but I had to tell you. I was so upset, I pleaded with you to wake up there and then, I know now of course that no matter how much pleading and hoping I did you weren't ever going to wake up without the counter spells Malfoy told us, but still, that's beside the point, I had to tell you what had happened.'
'I still can't believe I owe him…well, my life,' Ron said quietly.
Hermione is slightly taken aback by the change in subject, 'I know, it's strange how things work out. Look Ron, I'll understand if you're angry with me but you have to know I feel nothing for Cairo; I've never thought of him as anything other than a friend. I swear. You're the one I want to spend my life with.'
She shut her eyes when she realised what she had just said. Good one Hermione, she thought, great time to bring that up and scare him! She opened her eyes and looked into Ron's, trying to read what he was thinking, but she failed, she had no idea.
'Please say something,' she pleaded.
Ron leaned forward across the table and took Hermione's hands in his.
'Hermione, I…I believe you. Of course I believe you. Mum told me what you did for me when I was in St. Mungo's, although she seems to have missed a few details out, like you visiting me every lunchtime and evening, but what matters is, I know how you feel about me. As much as I wouldn't mind jinxing Cairo for thinking he can kiss my girlfriend, I feel sorry for him…a little bit anyway.'
'Why?' asked Hermione, confused.
'Because I know how I'd feel if I saw you everyday and knew I couldn't be with you, that's why.'
'Oh…ok,' Hermione replied, not sure how to take the apparent compliment. 'Are you…are you sure you're ok with this? I mean, if I'm honest, I thought you'd be a bit more upset about the whole thing.'
'Well, if I didn't know how you felt about me then I probably would have flown off the handle a bit, but I do know, so I'm all right, really I am.'
'Wow…well, that was easier than expected.'
Ron smiled, 'We're you worried?'
'Yeah I was, I didn't want to spoil anything, especially when everything is going right for once. But I had to be honest with you. I can't stand lying or deception of any kind, and we both know-'
'Are you ready to order?' the waitress asked cheerily, interrupting Hermione.
They turned towards her and then looked at the two unopened menus on the table.
'Er…no we're not, we'll be a few more minutes,' Ron replied.
The waitress's smile faltered but she hitched it up fast enough and smiled at Ron.
'Well, when you're ready I'll be over there,' she walked away from the table, 'waiting on the edge of my seat,' she muttered quietly, but loud enough for Hermione and Ron to hear.
Ron started chuckling whereas Hermione's mouth dropped.
'How rude!' she said louder than was necessary.
'To be fair Hermione, we've been sat here ten minutes and haven't even looked at the menu yet! I'd be annoyed if I was her!'
'It's her job! What happened to the customer is always right?'
'She probably not being paid enough to care. Now what do you want to eat?' he asked, handing her an open menu. 'Order anything, I feel the need to indulge!'
'Well, as long as you can indulge quickly; I only have an hour, or as it is now, fifty minutes.'
Ron raised his eyebrows at her. Hermione laughed.
'Point taken,' she said with a grin on her face.
'Are your eyes closed?' Hermione asked Ron.
She had Side-Along-Apparated him home so he could see the house for the first time. He sighed impatiently.
'Yes Hermione, they're closed. Can I open them yet?'
'No.'
'What? Why? We've already apparated so we must be there!'
Hermione laughed, 'I was only joking, you can open your eyes!'
Ron opened his eyes and looked around.
'Well? What do you think?' Hermione asked.
'About what?'
'The house of course, what else would I be asking you about?'
'Hermione, I've seen all of three metres of the hallway! But it has to be said as hallways go it is very nice. I can see you've got Harry well trained when it comes to keeping his shoes nice and tidy.'
'Did you expect anything else?'
'No!'
Hermione showed Ron around the rest of the house whilst Harry and Ginny sat and watched telly in the lounge.
'So, do you like it?'
'I do. It's very muggle-y'
'Well we thought it would be good to have the best of both worlds, your dad loves it!'
Ron smiled, 'I bet he does.'
'Do you still want to move in then?'
'Hermione, why do you think I wouldn't want to move in?'
'I don't know, I just don't want you to feel like you have to. It's quite a big step, for us I mean, living together. I don't want you to feel pressured in any way.'
'Well, the way I see it is we've practically been living together since we started school, we saw each other every day, we spent nearly every waking moment in each other's company. I know we fought and bickered and we still do a little bit, but I think we know each other's annoying habits well enough by now, there's not going to be any surprises there…is there?'
Hermione smiled, 'no, I haven't developed any annoying habits…I don't think.'
'Well there you are then, I know it seems like a big thing, us officially living together, and it is, but I think we're ready for this. Don't you?'
Hermione looked at him, 'Yeah I do,' she replied quietly.
'That's settled then. I'll move my stuff in tomorrow!'
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny were sat in the lounge. Harry was about to explain what had happened to him at the Ministry. Hermione had wanted to hear his news as soon as they both arrived home but after Harry's insistence that things went as well as could be expected she agreed to wait until after Ron had arrived.
'Well Harry, what happened?' Hermione asked.
'Well…I went to see Kingsley and explained to him what had happened over the weekend, I trust him and knew he wouldn't run and tell Scrimgeour every detail. So him, Arthur and me decided what to tell the Minister. We thought saying Malfoy had contacted us through the coin, which had arrived via owl a few days ago, was the best thing to do, and we thought it would be best to say we had just met him the once.'
'Can I just ask something before you carry on Harry?' Ron asked.
'Go for it mate.'
'I know he helped you wake me up, but how can you be sure that he's changed. It's Malfoy for Merlin's sake. Do you remember what he did to us at school and the part he played in Dumbledore's death?'
'Believe me Ron, I remember. But I can't ignore the fact that he put himself in danger to try and help us help you, and I've tried to ignore the obvious changes in his manner and character, but after a while you just can't ignore major changes like that. I was as sceptical as anyone could be when Hermione came home and told us what he'd said, but he's started to prove he can be trusted. He kept his word, so the least I can do is keep mine.'
'Hmm, ok then. I still don't like him though.'
'Neither do I mate, neither do I. Anyway, after we'd decided what I was going to say, Kingsley asked the Minister if he would see me and he said he would. So I went in to his office and relayed everything we'd gone over previously. I have to say you'd have been proud of my acting skills, which must have worked because he said of course he understood the situation we'd been in and understood that we couldn't possibly have told the Ministry without endangering Ron's long term health. Hence the reason why when I mentioned the possibility of the Ministry bringing charges against Hermione and me, he waved them off in about two seconds flat.
'Good to know,' Hermione said with a sigh.
'Did you mention me in any of this?' Ginny asked.
'No, why?'
'Well I was involved too! I was the one who healed him after he'd managed to get caught by that Auror!'
'I know you were Ginny, and we're grateful, but there was no point in bringing you into it, I didn't want you to get into trouble.'
'One day you will have to stop trying to protect me you know!' Ginny said, slightly annoyed.
'I know, but until then I will try and protect you from everything. As much as it annoys you I can't not do it…so you'll just have to get used to it,' he replied with a grin.
Ginny tried to scowl but failed when she looked at Harry's cheeky grin. She leant forwards and kissed Harry.
'Oi!' Ron said, 'you know the rules, not in front of me thank you!'
'Oh sod off!' Ginny replied before kissing Harry again.
Ron went to protest but Hermione put her hand on his chin ad turned his face towards her. She raised an eyebrow and leaned in to kiss him. After a few seconds they still hadn't pulled apart.
'All right, point taken!' Ginny said, looking slightly put out.
Ron and Hermione broke apart and grinned at each other.
'Anyway…back to the Ministry,' Harry said, getting back on point. 'In a nutshell I explained what information Malfoy said he'd give the Ministry in exchange for his freedom. I also reminded the Minister in a very subtle way that Karkaroff had been released from Azkaban in exchange for a few names, and that was much less than what Malfoy was offering. He said he'd discuss the matter with various people, I don't know who, and he'd let me know if I was needed to contact Malfoy again.'
'Was that it? He didn't demand you hand the coin in?' Hermione asked, slightly shocked.
'No, actually. He didn't. I think he knows he has to play this one very carefully to get the information that Malfoy's offering. I think he realises that Malfoy knows how much the information is worth to the Ministry, and he know it too. So he's being very careful about not scaring Malfoy away.'
'So that's it?' Ron asked.
'That's it,' Harry replied, 'well until they want to see Malfoy that is.'
'Wow, I can't quite believe this is nearly over, mind you it's only been going on since Friday. Still, seems ages ago that I first talked to him,' Hermione said.
'Yeah it does,' agreed Ginny, 'Oh! I almost forgot!' She released herself from Harry's hold and walked quickly into the kitchen. When she returned she was carrying a bottle of Firewhisky and four glasses. 'Present from dad, to the four of us. He thought we would like something to celebrate the four of us starting to live somewhat normal lives with.'
'Fantastic!' Ron said smiling, 'good old dad!'
Ginny put the glasses and the bottle on the table and poured each of them a generous measure out. They all stood up and took their glasses from Ginny.
'I'd like to propose a toast' the younger witch said, 'but before that I'd like to waffle on for a few minutes.'
Harry, Hermione and Ron smiled.
'The tenth of July was a day that none of us will ever forget, and that date will remain engraved in our minds forever. It was, on one hand the most…horrendous day we will ever know, but on the other hand, it was a day when a huge weight was lifted from our shoulders. We lost people we knew well, people who we had met only once, and countless others who lost their lives fighting for what they believed in. But in the end, we won. However, like every aspect of life, things weren't as good as they could be. Someone we loved dearly was taken from us, not in the total sense, and for that we were grateful. But I lost my brother, possibly the brother I fight with most, but that's probably because he's the one I'm closest to. Hermione lost the person she had fallen in love with, and Harry lost his best friend.
'But yesterday he was brought back to us, and finally the four of us can start to live life like it was supposed to be lived. To the fullest, with a lot of laughter to keep us all sane. So if you would please raise your glasses, I'd like to propose a toast.
Harry, Hermione and Ron copied Ginny's movement and raised their glasses so they were all close to touching.
'To living life to the fullest,' Ginny said, ending her speech.
'To living life to the fullest,' the other three replied.
The four of them touched their glasses together.
'In one after three?' Ron asked.
'In one after three,' the rest chorused together before knocking their drinks back in one go.
Hermione managed to stifle the cough that was trying to escape her throat. Downing shots of Firewhisky was not her speciality but if the occasion warranted it, then she wouldn't hold back.
'I don't think I'll ever get used to this stuff,' she whispered, not having quite found her voice.
'Me neither!' Harry said, at the same volume.
Ron looked at Ginny and rolled his eyes, tutting loudly as he did so, 'we'll have to teach them better Ginny. They're letting the side down!'
'Aren't they just, very disappointing it has to be said.'
'Oh well we are sorry aren't we Harry? We will try and do better next time! But in the mean time shall we watch some telly, there's an absolute classic muggle film on that's always worth watching!'
'Hang on Hermione, there's something we need to talk about first.'
'There is?' she asked, turning to look at Ron as she did so, 'what is it?'
'Well I do believe in six days time, something is happening which should involve a huge party, lots of present giving and you drinking too much!'
Harry and Ginny laughed before landing back on the sofa. Hermione smiled, all recent thoughts of her birthday had been buffeted out of her head by those of Ron and Malfoy, but now she could actually think about the day she stopped being a teenager and became twenty years old.
'So, my darling Hermione, how exactly would you like to celebrate your birthday? And what would you like for a birthday present?'
'To be honest, I haven't really thought about it. What with everything that's been going on, I haven't had time to think about it. And to be fair, I got my present yesterday. There's nothing more I wanted than to have you with me when I celebrated my birthday, and now I've got that. So really I don't mind what we do, as long as you're stood right beside me, we can do anything.'
'Well I think I can manage that, but that was really unhelpful! I suppose I'll just have to think of a present all by myself won't I?'
'Yes you will! And you can hardly talk, you're a nightmare for not knowing what you want for your birthday!'
'I'm not that bad! Anyway, you don't mind if I organise something for your birthday night then?'
'No not at all, just remember I have to be in work the next day, not 'til eleven, but still.'
'Don't worry, I'll remember.'
'And don't feel you have to go to too much effort-'
'Hermione, I'll go to as much effort as I want, you're my girlfriend and it's your birthday, let me spoil you.'
'But-'
'No arguments!'
'Fine! Just-'
'Ah!'
'Ro-'
'Ah ah!'
Hermione was about to continue to try and protest but Ron kissed her before she had the chance. She pulled back.
'What was that for?' she asked.
'It was the easiest way to stopping you arguing!'
'But Ron-'
He kissed her again and she felt him smile against her mouth. She did the same, but let herself be kissed. Oh sod it! She thought, if he wants to spoil me then who am I to stop him. After all, as Ginny had said, it was their time to live life to the fullest.
