The Cost of Friendship

Chapter Nine

Time Alone

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Hermione and Ron left for their honeymoon the day after the wedding. Harry and Ginny helped them get ready then waved them goodbye as they vanished in the Weasley's fireplace. They had refused to tell anyone where they were going because they didn't want to run the risk of anyone contacting them. Harry had a funny feeling they were going to France, considering that Hermione had mentioned her desire to return there for the past ten years, but Harry didn't say anything to spoil their fun.

However because of Hermione and Ron's hasty exit the following morning, Harry and Ginny were left to clean up from the night before. Thankfully Mrs. Weasley had done a lot of work before turning in for the night; most of what was left could be done with magic. The furniture needed to be set right, bags of trash needed to be dealt with and a few broken items mended. Harry got to work, waving his wand around and bringing the living room furniture back downstairs while Ginny mended a broken lamp.

Harry and Ginny didn't make it back to their own flat until mid-day. Completely exhausted from the night's events and the morning's cleaning escapade, they sat down on the couch and didn't move for several hours. Eventually Ginny couldn't hold herself up anymore and she fell over, put her head on Harry's lap and fell asleep. It was these types of moments that Harry enjoyed the most. Just having Ginny near him, trusting him to protect her made him love her more with each passing second.

Harry gently stroked her hair as she slept, a feeling of unease creeping up on him as he did so. She looked so amazing last night, Harry thought weakly. But why doesn't she want to talk about marriage? She always avoids the subject.He was starting to wonder if she really loved him like he did her. They had been together for over a year now and known each other for most of their lives, if she didn't love him he needed to know now before he wasted too much time with her.

"Ginny, wake up." Harry said softly as he rubbed her arm. "I want to talk to you."

Ginny moaned and squirmed, "Can't it wait Harry?" She said sleepily. "I'm tired."

"No, I need to ask you something." Harry said louder this time.

"Alright." Ginny sat up, rubbed her eyes then leaned her head on Harry's shoulder. "What's up Harry?"

"Well, I was just wondering…do you love me?" Harry said shyly.

"What a stupid question, of course I do!" Ginny said as she sat up and looked at Harry with a hurt expression. "I tell you that I do all the time."

"Well, that's the thing, you don't. I have never actually heard you say it."

Ginny stopped and looked at Harry intently, she had a screwed up expression on her face as she quickly thought about the past year and the time they spent together. A dawning comprehension spread across her face.

"Oh my god Harry, your right, I have never actually told you that, have I? People always ask me how I feel about you and of course I tell them I love you but I have never said it to you directly. No wonder you have been so upset with me lately!"

Harry suddenly felt embarrassed, he felt so silly for being upset over this. After all he knew in his heart how she felt for some reason he needed to hear it. "It's okay Ginny."

"No it is not!" Ginny said as she sat up very strait, took a hold of Harry's hand and looked him directly in the eyes. "Harry James Potter, I love you." Ginny then leaned forward and kissed Harry sweetly on the cheek.

Harry smiled back at her, "I love you too."

Ginny didn't seem to have anything else to say so she lay back down and put her head on Harry's lap again. Harry was now feeling quite content with himself, he still felt silly for needing to hear her say it, but at the same time it made him feel better about what was intending to do soon. Harry made a quick check to see if Ginny had fallen asleep again then reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small black box and opened it slowly. He smiled as he looked at the shining silver and diamond ring that rested on a small black cushion.

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"My, you're so strong!" Hermione giggled like a little school girl as Ron lifted her up and carried her over the threshold of their hotel room in France.

Hermione had taken care of arranging the Honeymoon and she couldn't be more pleased with herself. They were staying in a small hotel in the heart of Paris. The Eiffel Tower in one window and the Arc de triumph in another. It was the perfect room, a large canopy covered bed rested in the center of a very large bedroom. A large balcony with glass doors came off of this room. Down a small hallway was a large bathroom with a large tub andlight blue titles that lined the wall. There was a small living area with a kitchen, breakfast bar, couch and television. Even though this was a muggle hotel room it was by far the greatest place that either of them had ever stayed in.

Ron placed Hermione on the bed and went back outside to pull the luggage into the room. When he came back in Hermione was opening the balcony door to step outside. He sat the luggage onto a rack at the foot of the bed and joined her. He wrapped his arm around her from behind and looked out to enjoy the view. He just couldn't believe his luck; here he was standing in the most beautiful city with his new wife and long time best friend. Things just couldn't be more perfect. He was so ashamed of the way he was acting before the wedding yesterday, how foolish he had been.

"So what do you want to do first? Go up the Eiffel Tower? Visit the Louvre?" Ron asked sweetly.

"I have a much better idea." Hermione said with a wicked grin as she pulled Ron's hand, heading towards the bed. Ron smiled as he quickly understood what she was getting at. They both undressed at top speed and jumped onto the bed.

In fact, they didn't leave their beautiful room the entire first day of their honeymoon. They were both completely exhausted but that didn't stop them from going at it like rabbits over and over again. It wasn't until late that night did they finally get out of bed. They took a quick shower and got dressed up to hit the streets of Paris at night.

The lights twinkled in every direction as they walked down the street, hand-in-hand. They walkedpast endless coffee shops and bakeries, most of them closed at this late hour. They smiled every time they went past another couple holding hands. It was if love and affection could be felt in the air and tasted with each breath.

"Ron…" Hermione started sweetly as they walked past another coffee house. "I have never been this happy in all my life."

Ron leaned down and kissed the top of her head, "I feel the same way. Want to get a cup of coffee?"

"Sure…I'll get a seat you get the drinks." Hermione said as she headed for a small table on the sidewalk.

Ron reluctantly let go of Hermione's hand and went into the shop. Being that it was one of the few places still open it was quite busy. Many muggles were sitting at tables reading or clicking away happily on their laptops. The building was small and cramped but the smell of gourmet coffee filled the air along with a hint of fresh baked cookies. Ron was really bad with muggle money, and being that they were in a foreign country he was terribly confused. He pulled out a piece of paper from his wallet and handed it to person at the register.

"I'd like two coffees and two cookies." Ron said.

The young lady behind the counter looked over to her co-worker then back to Ron. "Qu'avez-vous dit?" She said.

It hit Ron that he didn't know any French; he was just about to go get Hermione when the person waiting in line behind him stepped forward. She was a beautiful woman with long flowing dark hair and big green eyes. She was in a very tight blue dress that looked to small for her. She smiled sweetly at Ron then turned to the woman at the counter.

"Je voudrais deux cafés et deux biscuits." She said.

Ron smiled at her, "Thank you, I forgot that I don't speak French!"

"Don't worry about it, it's my pleasure." Said the beautiful woman in a French accent as she stuck her hand out, "I'm Cloie."

"Thanks, I'm Ron…I'm here on my honeymoon." Ron said.

"Voici que vous allez Monsieur." Said the lady behind the counter as she took Ron's money and handed him his drinks and a small bag with the cookies. Ron nodded and smiled at her, picked up his change and stepped aside for Cloie to place her order. However Ron was intrigued by her for some reason, he didn't want to leave just yet.

"So, what do you do Cloie…you must speak English for a reason." Ron asked.

"Oh, I do. I work for a tourist company, giving tours of the city; we get a lot of English people on our tours." Cloie said.

"Really! That would be perfect, my wife and I would love to take a tour!" Ron said excitedly.

Cloie reached into her pocketbook and pulled out a piece of paper and a business card. "Call this number in the morning and find out if there are any seats left on the bus, it leaves at eight in the morning."

"Thank you very much." Ron said then he turned around and headed back outside.

Hermione was sitting, facing the street and looking up to the sparkling Eiffel Tower in the distance as Ron walked up to her table and sat down the drinks. Hermione turned and looked up at Ron with a smile. Ron sat down and pulled the cookies out of that bag and handed one to Hermione.

Hermione took a sip of her coffee and said, "I wonder what Harry and Ginny are doing. I feel sorta strange without them."

"Yeah, me too actually, I got so use to seeing them everyday. Oh, guess what, we are going to take a tour of Paris tomorrow I met a woman in there that runs a touring company." Ron said happily.

"We have only been in Paris for a day and your already flirting with the girls." Hermione said with a smile.

"I wasn't flirting, she helped me order the drinks because I can't speak French!" Ron said quickly, the last thing he needed was for Hermione to get mad at him.

"Oh Ron I was just kidding, French women are hairy I know you wouldn't flirt, and besides a tour of Paris sounds wonderful Ron. It's going to be such a wonderful week." Hermione said happily as she took a bite out of her cookie.

Ron smiled, "Yes it is Hermione because I get to be with you."

Hermione blushed slightly and looked back up at the Eiffel Tower, "I love you Ron."

"I love you too." Ron said sweetly.

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Meanwhile, many miles away, Harry and Ginny were wrapped in each other's arms Ginny was sleeping soundly in Harry's bed. Harry on the other hand was still playing with a little black box and its contents. The question that had been haunting him for months now was swimming in his mind non stop. Should he ask her? What will she say? True, she did feel the same for him as he her but was he really ready for marriage, was she?

Suddenly before Harry had a chance to stash the black box back into his dresser drawer Ginny awoke and looked up at Harry and what he was holding. Harry suddenly panicked and wrapped his hand tightly around the box in hopes she wouldn't see it. To his displeasure she seen it before he could hide it.

Ginny's eyes grew wide as sleep left her and she started to figure out what she had seen, "Harry, what is that?" Ginny asked with a slightly shaky voice.

"It's nothing." Harry said as he rolled over and tried to shove in his bedside dresser. But Ginny was to fast for him, she flung herself forward and grabbed the box, she quickly pulled it out of Harry's way and moved to the other side of the bed. She opened the box and gapped at the silver ring. She looked over at Harry who was blushing several shades but was watching Ginny closely.

"Harry…" Ginny started. "What is this?"

"Um well, this wasn't how I wanted to do this Ginny…"

To be continued…