"Guys can we speak to you up stairs please" Ron knew that when Ginny said things in that way the out come was generally not pretty. Grudgingly he returned to his room. As the door once again closed Ginny spoke, "I know that Harry spoke with you guys before he spoke to me but I want to know how long you have known that our feelings were mutual? Ron why do you insist on protecting me when it is I that can do the best bogie bat hex at Hogwarts? I'm not a child anymore I am of age and I can take care of myself in love and war. Harry has asked me to be his wife and I have said yes but it is under one condition. Ron I want your permission, I don't care about mum and dad's permission but I do care about yours. Your my big brother I have always listened to you even if I didn't fallow through with your advice."
There was silence in the room for quite awhile as things set in. Ginny is going to marry Harry my best mate. What else could I want in life Harry and I will be brothers. What will mum think? "Ron?" Ginny screamed. He was pulled back to the real world.
Slowly he heard himself, say "Ginny you know I would give you my blessing to marry Harry I can't argue with that. The real question is how are you going to convince mum?" With that the room filled with happy cheering and laughter. There was going to be a wedding in the near future.
Hermione was already starting with the questions "when are you going to marry? Where will it be held? Who is invited? Who are your bridesmaids?" If Ron listened to all the questions she was popping out he knew that he would go insane.
All he could do was tell Harry "congratulations mate." They stayed up late into the night knowing that tomorrow the whole family would know. Ron couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Harry, so many times he had wished that he could ask Hermione the same question but how could he knowing that they had just asked her to be his girlfriend. How could he ever hope that she could be more to him then that?
Finally around 2 o'clock Ron and Hermione slipped out leaving Harry and Ginny to themselves. As they walked hand in hand down to the common room Hermione spoke "Ron why did it take you so long to ask me out?"
"To be honest I was a git, I was so worried you'd say no." Hermione just smiled a soft smile of reassurance and suddenly Ron knew that nothing could come between them.
"Ron why are you so protective of me?"
Ron was a little embaressed and yet he knew the importance of being honest with her. "Hermione this past summer when we were hunting down the hexocruxes I was so afarid that you would get hurt. Then when we found one in the orphanage near your house, and you were nearly killed I vowed that if it was with in my power I would never let anything happen to you."
Hermione sighed deeply "this past summer changed us all, it made us all mature more then we even thought possible. I do wish things had happened differently but I am glad that we have grown closer together." They talked for a few more hours but found themselves too tired to carry on. The next thing they knew they were waking up the next morning. Ron was the first to wake, realizing that he had never gone to bed last night, looking at his side he realized Hermione hadn't either. How long have we been sleeping like this my arm around her? I like this! She started to stir and turned to look at him.
"Good morning sunshine what time is it?"
"No idea Hermione." was all Ron could bring himself to say with out wishing she would go back to sleep so he could watch her once again. How many nights have I wished to look at her face as she slept? How many nights have I wanted to hold her in my arms? I finally got that wish.
Finally Hermione rose and said, "We better go check on Ginny and Harry."
"Yeah your right lets go." Slowly they ascended the stairs not really in any hurry to disturb the happy couple. Had Harry stayed all night? Slowly they openedthe door to Ron's room and much to their surprise they found Ginny and Harry much like they had been down stairs. They stood at the doorway smiling and once again returned down stairs not wanting to intrude.
Some time later Ginny came down stairs smiling. "He had to leave, had something to do for the Order ya know." Ron and Hermione smiled as they looked at her. She was so happy that nothing seemed to bother her.
"So sis have you sent an owl to mum yet?" Ron asked.
"Actually I was hoping that you guys would read it before I send it. Make sure things are how they should be ya know." Slowly she handed over the parchment smiling weekly.
Dear mum and dad,
These past few nights have changed my life again! Before you start worrying nothing dangerous happened. Mum I have finally given in to my feelings. I realize that I love Harry and that nothing can change that no matter what happened. I know that this is not the best time to give in to my feelings but the fact is last night Harry came to visit me. He has asked me to be his wife. I have agreed.
Before you get all bent out of shape Mum we have known each other since, well it seems like forever so we are NOT rushing into this, as you like to claim people do lately. We are not doing this because of you-know-who. We are doing this because we love each other.
I will be finishing school, Harry feels that even though I am of age that I should do all I can to learn things that I might one day need. I will not be in any more danger then I am now by marrying him. I am hoping that you support me and I want to let you know that even if you don't I am going to marry Harry because I love him, and he loves me.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Ginny
Hermione and Ron looked shocked. Had Ginny actually just written this letter? "Ginny, mum's going to send you a howler you know."
"Probably but she can just deal. I am doing this because I love Harry, I am old enough to make decisions for my self and she knows that." She simply smiled and asked "Ron can I barrow Pig? For a short trip to the Burrow?"
"Yeah go for it." With that she zipped out the portrait hole, heading to the owlery.
Sure enough not to long after the three of them had reached the great hall for breakfast pig came flying through the window. Not with a red envelope that Ron had predicted but a pink roll of parchment. Pig landed gracefully in front of Ginny and bent his leg toward her so that she could untie the parchment from around it. "I didn't think mum would reply so quickly." Slowly she unrolled the parchment. She looked like tears were near the exit but why? What had mum said?
Slowly Ginny handed the parchment to Ron and Hermione.
Ginny,
Your father and I received your owl this morning, I do understand that you are old enough to make the decision on your own but please do not rush into anything. As you know a life with Harry would not be an easy one but I am sure one you are willing to try. I know better then to try and persuade you out of this. I haven't been able to do that since you were five but please do what you feel best.
I know you feel you don't need your father's and my permission for this, Bill didn't ask but it would mean a lot to your father if Harry asked him before you do anything drastic. Let me know what you decide and if you have decided on a date yet. We need to go to Diagon alley soon, to look at white dress robes. Anyways please know that what ever you decide I will support you and that I will be here for you. I think of Harry as another son so I cannot argue with the person you want to marry.
Owl me when you decide.
Mum
Ron was shocked. How could mum be so optimistic about this when she had been so set against Bill and Phelm? True she had known Harry longer but honestly her arguments had been there rushing into it. Why had she not been upholding the argument with Ginny? Ron felt horrible that he was thinking this way but he knew that secretly he wanted Mum to yell at her and forbid her to marry for at least another year. He had wanted to be the next one married but how could he be such a prat when she was marring his best mate?
A week passed without another mention of Ginny, the wedding, Harry, or the assignment that Ron and Hermione had been given until one day Hermione and Ron were resting on the couch in the common room. The students were not coming back until the next day so the common room was still empty, Hermione bent over and asked Ron "Hey have you been thinking about the hexocruxes?"
"Yeah I have actually. I wonder if Dumbledore was completely right when he said there were five hexocruxes." Hermione was totally shocked had she just heard what she thought she had? "Hear me out before you jump to any conclusions Hermione. Okay if you take the word Hexocruxes what is your first thought?"
"Voldermort and dark magic." Ron rolled his eyes this was obviously not what he had wanted for an answer.
"Well my first thought is hex which means six sided. So what if Voldermort himself was another hexocrux? Or what if he had planted his sixth hexocrux? I know it's a horrible thought but just what if. I mean Dumbledore also said that Voldermort when slicing himself left it with something of magical value and no one has ever survived a death curse, except Harry. Harry stripped Voldermort of his powers what if, just what if he had accidentally made an additional hexocrux out of Harry unknown to either of them?" Hermione was so shocked yet she knew Ron had a point what if.
"Ron I think you need to talk to McGonigal."
"But I don't want to its just a what if."
"Well Harry's "just a what if" turned out to be right last year when it came to Malfoy did it not?" Ron knew Hermione was right but he didn't want to give in. He wanted to be the right one for once but he knew that this was not the time so he agreed to tell McGonigal.
When Ron had finished telling McGonigal the look upon her face was pure shock. Have I said something that I shouldn't of? Finally she spoke "Mr. Weasley do you realize what you are saying?"
"Not really professor."
"Well I like you have been worried about the number of hexocruxes. But you are also thinking that the connection between He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and Mr. Potter is more then a transfer of powers."
Yes professor but do you know what the prophecy that Voldermort wanted said?" She shivered involuntarily as he said this name.
"No Mr. Weasley since I am not parts of that prophesy I do not know what it said."
"Well Dumbledore is the one that heard it to begin with and he told Harry what it said. Harry in turn confided in us, it says that one may not live while the other is still alive. Don't you see Voldermort went to kill Harry to stop the prophesy from being fulfilled and in turn lost his powers that night is it not possible that he could have lost a piece of himself and not know it as well?"
"I suppose you are right Mr. Weasley. I shall see what I can find out and let you know one way or the other. Thank you for your time. "
Ron and Hermione left professor McGonigal office hand in hand wishing they knew more then they did at that moment in time. They thought that they should know more then possibilities, unfortunately that's all they did know. Is this how Harry felt last year not really knowing if Malfoy was a death eater or were he went only knowing that he was doing something and up to no good?
"Ron do you really think that its possible for Voldermort to have, you know transferred part of himself into Harry?"
"I don't really know, I mean I wouldn't think so but no one really knows what happened that night. It's the best guess that I have. " The rest of their walk was in quiet and Ron secretly hoped that he could think of something to say. Finally they reached the common room, and Ron spoke "Hermione, I'm worried about Harry. I'm afraid that things will turn out for the worst, I don't want Ginny or anyone else to get hurt."
"I know what you mean. Ginny deserves the best, I like you don't want her or anyone else to get hurt." She looked longingly into his eyes "Ron I don't know what I would do without you, I don't want you get hurt either." They embraced not wanting anything to separate them.
"Hermione I know how you feel." Ron bent his head down and gently kissed her forehead.