A/N Well here's the next one, this is a lot easier to write than the last one! Sorry for the delay, like happened I'm afraid.

I am borrowing the Blood Bonding ceremony from the Story 'Harry Crow' by Robst. I haven't been able to contact him by PM to ask permission, although I have in a review. I hope he doesn't mind.

Previously

Watching them leave, Hermione looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow, "Girlfriend?"

Harry smiled at her. "If you'll have me," he replied.

Hermione just smiled and hugged him.

…

The newly minted couple made their way back to the Gryffindor common room, talking as they went. With their arms around each other's waists, they slowly made their way along the corridors.

"Harry, we have to help Lavender."

Harry sighed, "I know, we helped trash her reputation by allowing the details to be published. We have to help fix it. That's aside from how she must feel about what happened to her and what she saved you from."

"I know, in our defence, we didn't know about the potions, but I still feel awful for her."

"I told her I was in her debt and I meant it. I will do whatever I can to help. Not just because I am in her debt, it's also the right thing to do." With that comment, they had arrived at the common room and Hermione turned and hugged Harry before giving him a peck on the lips. "And that is one of the many reasons I love you." She said smiling up at him.

With that, they entered the common room. Not seeing Lavender, Hermione asked Pavarti where she was. "She came in looking upset a little while ago and went up to our dorm I think." She replied, a little surprised that Hermione wanted to talk to Lavender.

"Thanks." Said Hermione as she headed upstairs.

She arrived in the dorm to find Lavender on the bed, she had obviously been crying. Looking up, she said "Her-Hermione, I'm so sorry, I couldn't find you in time."

"Hermione grabbed her in a hug and said, "you have nothing to apologise for. I should be thanking and apologising to you! You found Harry and he got me to the infirmary before anything happened."

"That's ok, I just wish I could have found you before you ate the chocolates."

Hermione blushed, "I must admit, so do I. The way I behaved around Harry before I got the purging potion was VERY embarrassing."

Lavender giggled at that, "I can imagine!" she then stopped and looked at quizacally at Hermione, "but wasn't the potion keyed to Ron."

Hermione looked down with a small smile on her face. "Have you ever heard of True Love?"

Lavender gasped, "No!" Her eyes going wide. "Really" she squeaked.

Hermione looked up smiling and nodded. "Madam Pomfrey said it was the only possible reason the Love component of the potion didn't affect me. Harry and I are now together."

Lavender hugged her. "You're a lucky girl."

"I know" smiled Hermione. "Now back to more serious topics for a bit. I must apologise on Harry's and my behalf. After I caught you and Ron, we caused your reputation to be destroyed. What can we do to fix it? We will do everything we can."

Lavender's face fell a bit at this and she thought for a while. "Let me talk to my father. I would like you to tell the school the truth, but I need to speak to him first. He and mum will be at the school later today. The Headmistress has contacted them."

Meanwhile, Ginny had come into the common room and seeing Harry, she came over, obviously distressed. Harry looked at her and she had obviously been crying. "Harry, where are Hermione and Lavender? Are they OK? I'm so sorry!" With that she burst into tears again and Harry held her to comfort her while raising a privacy charm.

After a minute or so, she recovered and Harry asked "How did you hear?"

Ginny replied, "Mum and Dad are in the Headmistresses' office, they would like to see Lavender, Hermione and youbefore they go to the ministry to see Ron. I.. I think dad is going to kick him out of the family."

Harry looked at her in shock. "Really?"

"Dad said he has no choice, I'm not sure what he means."

"We can ask him in a while. You better go up to the girl's dorm, I think Hermione and Lavender are up there."

Once the four arrived at the Headmistresses' office, with a deep breath to calm their nerves, they all entered. Once they were inside, Molly took one look at Lavender and Hermione and burst into tears. Getting up she rushed over to them and pulled them both into a hug. "I'm so sorry my dears!" she sobbed. Lavender and Hermione both comforted her. "Mrs Weasley, it's not your fault" said Lavender "You didn't teach him to behave like this."

"But he's my son, I raised him!"

Ginny frowned. "Mum, I hate to ask this, but I feel the others need to know the answer. Didn't you once say you used a love potion on dad?"

Molly looked horrified. "Nothing like this! We were already in love, but your father was too nervous to ask me to marry him." Molly blushed, "I couldn't wait any longer, so I gave him a very mild love potion with a calming draught. It only lasted an hour, but he did ask me. I told him about it immediately, he said he had been trying to summon the courage to ask me for weeks. If I hadn't already been sure of his feelings, I never would have used it!"

Molly looked stricken, "you don't think he took that to mean love and lust potions are okay do you?" She burst into tears again. This time Arthur rose and comforted Molly, "No pet, I'm afraid our child has always been jealous and lazy. Always taken the easy way." Slowly Molly calmed and sat down.

Arthur remained standing turned to the teens. "Miss Granger, Miss Brown, House Weasley apologises for the behaviour of its soon-to-be former member. I will meet with you and your families to discuss whatever compensation you deem appropriate."

Ginny gasped, "former member?"

Arthur looked down, "Ginny, as head of house, I have decided to cast Ron out. If I do not, people may believe that the rest of the family approve of his actions. I will not have that further shame brought upon members of the house who have done nothing wrong. People will still talk, I will not make it worse by keeping Ron in the family."

Arthur then looked at Lavender with compassion and regret in his eyes. "Miss Brown will have to live with what Ron did for the rest of her life. I hope she can move past it. House Weasley will do whatever we can to help. Know that we do not think any less of you for what you were forced to endure."

Lavender, her eyes glistening with unshed tears thanked Arthur. "Thank you Mr Weasley, your words mean a lot to me."

Arthur then turned to Hermione. "Miss Gra_"

"Please Mr Weasley, I know you are in Head of House mode, but it's still Hermione" she interrupted.

"Hermione, we are so sorry."

"It's Ok, Mr Weasley," here she glanced up at Harry and smiled. "Aside from a little embarrassment at my behaviour around Harry, no harm was done. He was a complete gentleman and quickly got me to Madam Pomfrey who gave me a purging potion. If you feel you need it, I forgive you and the rest of the Weasley family."

"Heir Potter" said Arthur formally "Once again, House Weasley stands in your debt."

Harry had winced slightly at the word heir, he hadn't wanted to think about that until he left Hogwarts next year. He hadn't felt worthy previously, although since his discussion with Luna and Fawkes that was changing.

"Mr Weasley, there are no debts between friends. I still call your family friends, I hope you can forgive the actions I was forced to take against R-… your son."

Arthur smiled with relief, "You acted in defence of your friend, there is nothing to forgive."

Harry smiled, "girlfriend now."

Arthur congratulated them and even Molly smiled. She had once hoped that Hermione and Ron would marry, but after what had happened was happy that notion was sunk. A thought occurred to her.

"Hermione, I don't want to raise a painful subject, but why would your behaviour toward Harry embarrass you if the potion was keyed to Ron?"

Hermione and Harry smiled at each other and she replied "The love potion part didn't affect me."

Molly, having received an Outstanding Newt in potions immediately understood. "So it's not a myth!" she said, jumping up and hugging Hermione then Harry. "Congratulations you too, I don't believe it! It's been a thousand years!"

Harry frowned. Hermione saw this and asked if there was something wrong.

Harry didn't really want to discuss this with others present. But, having been asked, replied anyway. "Hermione, you know what Dumbledore did to me, I'm still not certain I can trust my feelings. How can we be certain what I feel for you is True Love? I don't want to hurt you."

Ginny gasped and smiled at this point, not having realised what was being discussed. She was happy for her friends.

Hermione hugged him and said, "don't worry, there must be a way, we will find it."

At this point Harry paled, kumped back and looked around wildly at everyone. "I'm not eating any chocolates Ron prepared!" he blurted out.

Although they tried valiantly to hold it in, everyone burst out laughing at that. "Mr Potter, I do not believe your girlfriend was suggesting that," the headmistress said with a wry smile after she stopped laughing.

Harry flushed pink with embarrassment, but calmed down. "We'll discuss it later" said Hermione.

Arthur and Molly stood up, not looking happy about their next destination. They hugged Ginny and left through the floo. As everyone else walked down the corridor outside the Headmistresses' office, Harry looked melancholy. "Ron always wanted to be more like me and he now has his wish. He gets to find out what life is like with no family."

Hermione, sensing he was thinking about his parents, just hugged him as they walked.

At the ministry, Ron sat in an DMLE holding cell, not really understanding why he was there. He had been interviewed under Veritaserum, and he couldn't really remember what he had been asked about. The Aurors had just walked in to the Gryffindor common room, said he was under arrest and dragged him out. He wasn't too worried, he was certain it was a misunderstanding, he was a hero of the war after all.

At that point, the door to his cell opened and a guard looked in. "You've got visitors sunshine."

The guard put magic suppressing cuffs on him and, grabbing his arm, brought him to a visiting room. There waiting for him were his parents. "Mum! Dad! Thank Merlin you're here. There's been some kind of mistake, I've been arrested….." Ron stopped, he was confused by the stony expressions on their faces.

"We know." Said his father flatly.

"Ronald Billius Weasley, did you give those girls potions?" said his mother in a grim voice.

Ron knew that the one thing the Weasley children would never do was lie to Molly Weasley. The consequences were always worse after she caught you out.

"It was only a bit of fun mum_"

"A BIT OF FUN! WERE YOU INTIMATE WITH LAVENDER BROWN?"

Ron started to realise he may be in trouble. "We didn't have sex."

Ron's evasions just made Molly even angrier. "DID YOU GET HER TO DO THINGS SHORT OF THAT?"

Ron gulped and said in a small voice, "yes."

SMACK! Molly slapped him hard on the cheek, leaving a red handprint as Ron's head snapped to the side for about the tenth time that day.

"HOW COULD YOU!" Molly raged. "YOU WERE RAISED TO TREAT GIRLS WITH RESPECT! WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF SOMEONE DID THAT TO GINNY! GIVING A LOVE/LUST POTION TO HERMIONE WAS DESPICABLE! " she yelled before bursting into tears. She turned into Arthurs chest and sobbed, Arthur comforted her while Ron just hung his head and looked at the floor. He was stunned by the ferocity of his mother's actions, she had not struck him since she last paddled his behind when he was 8. He didn't realise his day was about to get much worse.

Once Molly had calmed down, she looked up at Arthur and gave a slight nod. She then turned to Ron and, with a look of loathing on her face, said in a flat voice, "you are no son of mine." With that she turned and left the room.

Arthur looked at a stunned Ron who couldn't believe what his normally supportive mother had said and done.

When Ron finally turned his attention to his father, he saw a look of absolute fury on his face. "You have bought shame to the family, but no more!" with that pronouncement, his face changed to a formal expressionless mien.

"Ronald Billius Weasley, as Head of the Ancient House of Weasley, I cast you out for the shame and dishonour you have bought to the family. So mote it be!" with that, Arthur turned and left the room without another word.

Ron's eyes filled with horror and his mouth gaped. He was too stunned to say anything as his legs gave way under him. He sat on the floor, completely numb as he felt his world come crashing down around him.

The guard, who had been in the room the whole time, jerked him to his feet and took him back to his cell. "Not so much fun now, is it?" he snarled, disgusted by what he had heard. Ron sat on his cot and contemplated his future, or rather his lack of one.

Back at Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione retreated to the Room of Requirement. They sat on a couch snuggling together as Harry explained about talking to Luna and how much she had helped. Hermione just gasped when Harry got to the part about Fawkes visiting and helping to heal him.

At the end of the explanation Harry sighed. "Even with Fawkes tears helping to heal my mind, I still don't know if what I feel for you is completely real. Magic changes everything," he sighed.

Hermione suddenly froze. "That's it! Magic!"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry

Hermione sat up and twisted around to look at Harry. "We need a way of telling if your feelings are genuine, one that's not influenced by mind magics. There is an old ceremony that can be performed, it used to be used to tell if a couple who were bonding were suited to each other. It fell out of favour when marriages started to be used for political alliances. It can't be fooled by any mind magics, that's to prevent use of the Imperius curse or potions. Oh, I wish I could remember all the details! I can't even remember the name of the book!"

With that, a book suddenly appeared on the table in front of them. Hermione smiled, the Room of Requirement was amazing! She gabbed the book and started reading, flicking through it, she found the appropriate page and started to read the apropriate bits to Harry.

"Here we go, the Blood Bonding ceremony is a marriage_"

"Marriage!" exclaimed Harry.

"Oh! No, no! it's only a marriage ceremony if the couple….consummate it" said Hermione blushing. "If they aren't suited they can just walk away and it means nothing."

"How do you tell if they are suited?"

Hermione started reading again, "well, we have to each cut our palm, clasp hands and recite the vow. If the cuts heals, we are suited. If it doesn't we are not. There should also be a silver glow from our hands…. OK depending on how well suited we are, the glow will extend up our arms. Anything above the wrist is considered good. To the shoulder is amazing and any further is practically unheard of."

Hermione looked up at Harry, "do you want to try?"

Harry was still a little uncertain "I don't know Hermione, what if it shows nothing?"

"Then Harry," she said softly, "at least we will know. But I doubt very much that will happen. Harry, this will be Magic telling us if we are suited."

'I suppose it will mean I can stop trying to second guess myself and agonising about it,' thought Harry

"OK." He smiled at her. "When?"

Hermione froze, panicking slightly at the thought of actually going ahead with something so big.

"Umm, when do you want to?

"Now?" Harry replied suddenly eager to see what would happen and end his doubts.

"O-OK" gulped Hermione.

Harry frowned, "we don't have to."

"No, no, now is fine. It's just that it's a big decision, but I must admit, I want to know too," she said giving a slightly nervous smile.

"What do we do?"

"We each use our knives to cut our palm open and clasp hands. Then we say, 'you are mine and I am yours'."

They both had goblin made ritual knives that were presented to them by Ragnok, the head of the goblins, as a mark of respect after the defeat of Voldemort. Trembling slightly from nerves, they both pulled the razor sharp knives and used them to slice their right palm open. Blood immediately began to drip to the floor. Solidly they joined hands bloody palm to bloody palm. With a look of love on his face, Harry said the words

"You are mine, and I am yours."

With happy tears in her eyes, that the pain in her hand had nothing to do with, Hermione gave the required response.

"You are mine, and I am yours."

Hermione started to worry as a couple of seconds passed and nothing happened. She then felt a small tingle in her palm and the pain went away as their cuts healed. A silver glow suffused their hands and after a few seconds started to travel up both their arms. Hermione watched in amazement as the glow reached their shoulders and kept going, it covered their heads and then went down their bodies. As it passed their hearts, the colour changed to a rich golden glow. They both gasped in awe as it reached their feet and they were both lifted a foot into the air as the glow started to coalesce into a blizzard of tiny glowing points of light which swirled around them. Gradually, the points of light were drawn into their bodies and then a golden wave rushed over their bodies back towards their palms where it flashed brightly and faded out. With that, they were slowly lowered toward the ground.

Both were filled with a deep sense of love, serenity and joy. Facing each other, they smiled and leaned forward touching foreheads and looked into each other's eyes.

"I guess we're are suited then." Said Harry softly.

"I guess we are" replied Hermione.

With that they kissed gently and sat back down.

"What was the gold colour about?" asked Harry.

"I'm not sure, but I don't think it's bad."

Snuggling up, Harry felt a deep sense of contentment and attachment to Hermione that he hadn't felt before. Having her in his arms just felt right.

"I want to stay like this forever."

"Suits me" sighed Hermione contentedly. She giggled with a thought, "But what if some dastardly villain tries to steal me away from you."

"I will always come for you."

"How can you be so sure?"

"This is True Love... you think this happens every day?" said Harry smiling.

A/N Yes I am a Princess Bride fan, in case you haven't guessed.

Anyone care to guess the significance of the Golden glow? No it's not a trick question.