Ron
Shell Cottage held some bad memories for Ron. The first time he was here, it was at a particularly low point in his life, something Bill, Fleur, Harry and Hermione had kept to themselves.
He was staring at the cute little girl, who was now taking a nap on the couch. The first Weasley Grandchild, Victorie Weasley.
"When you have one of those, you're going to cherish the quiet moments." Ron turned around to see Bill looking at him, a grin on his face.
Ron nodded.
"Fleur told me you were here. What's going on Ron?" Bill asked him.
Ron always felt like he could talk to Bill. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that at the lowest point of his life, he'd been the one brother who'd shown some understanding, and cared for him, despite being unhappy with some of the decisions Ron had made.
"You're going to think this is ridiculous." He said to Bill, who gestured for him to sit.
"Firewhiskey?" Bill asked him. Ron raised his eyebrows.
"It's six in the evening." Ron said to him.
"Well I've had a long day, Ron."
"I guess I could use some firewhiskey."
"Good." Bill said, before waving his wand. A bottle of Firewhiskey floated towards them, along with a couple of glasses. Ron watched as the bottle poured itself into the glasses.
"Double right?" Bill asked him. Ron nodded.
They sat, sipping on their firewhiskey. Finally, Ron spoke up.
"It's about Hermione."
Bill had a look of understanding on his face. "Fleur suspected it was about that." He told Ron. "Actually, she was willing to bet on it."
"Don't tell me you guys are betting on my love life now." Ron said, groaning.
Bill chuckled. "Well, not me. Fleur is very good at betting. I think she has an inner gambler ready to surface, you know." He told Ron. "I can't say the same for the others."
Ron wasn't dumb. He knew how the others looked at him. Sometimes, he despised their eyes full of pity for him. Even now, having accomplished so much, being a successful Auror, he still felt like he was that insecure child who'd boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Charlie, who was away most of the year sent him letters, asking him to hang in there and find a way to quench his thirst. Ron shuddered thinking about those letters, wondering if Charlie was preaching what he practiced.
Percy and Audrey made a bit more of an effort, but they often failed at being subtle at all when trying to set him up.
George straight up told him to look for a quick shag, and when Ron turned to Angelina to punish George for what he said, he was shocked to find that she only agreed with him.
"I know they keep trying to set me up. Ginny and George are the worst about it."
Bill laughed. "Ron, you shouldn't feel bad about that. You do realize they love you right?"
"I do." Ron said. "It just, feels bad, you know, not having your life together."
Bill sipped his firewhiskey, asking him to go on.
"You ever have any second thoughts about Fleur?" Ron asked him.
Bill shook his head. "I didn't even have to think about it with her, if I'm honest." He told Ron. "We fell in love and there was no question of whether I was doing the wrong thing. It always felt- right."
"You have no idea how jealous that makes me Bill."
"Did you think you had that with Hermione?" Bill asked him.
"I did, for the longest time. But, you know, she's marrying Krum." Ron said bitterly.
"He seems like a bit of a wanker." Bill told him. Ron looked toward Victorie. He could have sworn she twitched a little.
"Hey." Bill continued. "With Dominique and Victorie, I never get to swear anymore, quit judging me for it."
"It's going to be hard seeing her commit to some other man for the rest of her life." Ron told him.
"You always do have the choice of not going to the wedding, Ron." Bill told him. "Before you say anything about keeping up appearances, hear me out."
"You've been helping out the family a lot." Bill told him. "When you came back to Shell Cottage all those years ago, I was disappointed in you. We're Weasleys Ron, we're nothing if not loyal and true to our word, and it felt like you just spit all over our name."
"But you grew so much. After the war, you were the anchor. You kept everyone from sinking. Mum still tells me how much it meant to her that you were there for her, and George. Everyone noticed how much you've grown, and what a great man you turned out to be."
Ron turned a little pink. He wasn't used to compliments. Even today.
"You don't owe anyone anything. If you don't feel up for it, you shouldn't have to go. I don't think Hermione will be disappointed, and I don't think anyone else will either."
Ron stayed silent, thinking about what Bill said.
Ginny
Ginny stared at Hermione and Harry with an annoyed expression on her face.
She missed alcohol.
"You're going to be in so much trouble Potter." She told Harry acidly. Harry was about to take another shot of Firewhiskey.
"Gin." Harry whined. "This is Hermione, drinking. Hermione. Drinking. Hermione..."
"Yes, I get the point." Ginny interrupted Harry.
"I mean who the hell does he think he is?" Hermione said, to no one in particular.
"Do you reckon we could get kicked out of the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked Ginny, stumbling over his words.
"I'm not talking to you." Ginny said to him. "Also, Hannah knew what was going to happen, she gave us this private booth in preparation of this."
"Since when are you and Hannah close?" Harry asked her. Ginny just turned away.
She wasn't furious at him, not talking to him would be a nice, non-alcoholic way of her having fun.
"Gin…" Harry whined again. She looked at the father of her child. He might be stoic and proper on the outside, only she got to see this side of him. Well, her and whoever happened to be in the bar drinking with him. It always made her melt.
"I'm not mad at you Harry, now will you shut up and let me listen to what Hermione is grumbling about?" Ginny asked him. Harry nodded and promptly shut up.
"He thinks he is sooo special." Hermione continued. "Do you know what he said to me Gin?" Hermione asked her. "Do you know what he had the nerve to say to me?"
Merlin, all her friends became especially pathetic when they drank. Hermione was no exception.
"I feel like you're going to tell us anyway, Hermione." Ginny told her.
"He told me he couldn't be at my wedding. Can you fucking believe it?"
Ginny and Harry's mouths fell open.
"Hermione, did you just swear?" Harry asked her, his hands on his chin. He looked like a kid listening to a fairytale.
"Yes." Hermione said. "I. Said. A bad word."
"I'm not perfect, okay?" Hermione told them. "That's what he said to me when we broke up."
"You mean when you dumped him?" Harry asked her innocently. It was nice to know that Harry liked getting in trouble with all the women in his life when he was drunk.
"Oh, is that what that bastard told you?" Hermione asked him. She sounded extremely offended.
"Maybe I should see Hannah about getting us home, yeah?" Ginny asked Harry. She wasn't sure whether they should hear intimate details about her brother's relationship.
"Sit down." Hermione said, imperiously. "You're not going anywhere."
"Still as bossy as ever." Harry cheered. Did Harry always behave like a child when he was drunk? Ginny reckoned she had a lifetime with him to find out.
"It didn't go that way." Hermione told them. "Yes, it started with me, but Ron finished it. He told me that I was perfect, that being with me wasn't good for him mentally, because he always thought he wasn't good enough."
"Er..maybe we should get more drinks." Harry said to Ginny. He was drunk, but he seemed to recognize that the conversation was headed in a serious direction.
"He was the only one who mattered." Hermione said, sobbing. Ginny moved toward her and put her arms around Hermione.
"Thank you." Hermione said, wiping her nose on Ginny's T-shirt.
"Sure." Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Magic will clean that right up, you can use my t-shirt to wipe your nose."
"Thank you." Hermione mumbled.
"I don't even want to marry Victor." Hermione said, slowly. "I love him, but, it's always been Ron."
"I don't think that's true Hermione." Harry spoke up. He seemed to have sobered up over the last minute. He looked alert, like he was on a mission.
"You two were miserable together. Ginny heard all about your fights with him, and I heard all about them too." Harry said. "Your moods improved the minute you broke up with each other."
As much as she hated to admit it, Harry had a point. They were unhappy for a while when they broke up, but they were unhappy for longer when they were together.
"How are you guys doing?"
Ginny looked at Hannah Abbot, who was now standing with Ron in tow. His eyes looked red. He was staggering. He looked like he'd had a bit too much to drink.
"I found him outside." Hannah said sheepishly. "He'd been to our place, looking for you, and Neville told him that you were here, so."
"Oh, this just got interesting." Harry said to no one in particular.
No one said anything, and Ginny took a chance to look at everyone in the room. Hannah looked like she wanted to be anywhere else. She'd gotten rather close with Hermione and Ginny, and she was aware of how awkward the situation was. Ron looked furious. Her brother had mellowed out over the last few years, she rarely ever saw him with genuine anger in his eyes. Harry just looked like he was having fun. Hermione looked as furious as Ron, glaring daggers at him.
"Yes, so I'm going to leave. Let me know when you guys are done okay?" Hannah said as she made her exit. Ginny swore Hannah wasn't even looking at them when she said that.
"You're at a bar." Ron said to Ginny as he sat down beside Harry. "You shouldn't be drinking."
"Don't remind me of that." Ginny said to him. "Also, I'm not. I've been watching them drink." She pointed at Hermione and Ron.
"I've been drinking too." Ron told her.
"What a shocker!"
"You have some nerve." Hermione said, slowly.
"Oh boy." Harry piped in. Ginny chose to stay quiet.
"You have some nerve coming here." Hermione said to him.
"Some nerve? I'm here because of the response you sent to me." Ron told her, raising his voice.
"I only called you an arse for being selfish, I think it was appropriate." Hermione said, matching the level of his voice.
This was the beginning of a classic Ron and Hermione argument. As uncomfortable as Ginny felt now, she missed this a little.
"Maybe we should calm down." Ginny said. Harry was just sniggering. Prat. "You're not helping Harry." Ginny said sharply. Harry shut up.
"You're right. Not here." Hermione said to him.
"My place or yours?" Ron asked Hermione.
"What is happening right now?" Ginny asked no one in particular.
"Not your place, it's still a dump." Hermione said to Ron. "Do you ever clean up?"
"Not your place either then." Ron told her. "Isn't darling Viktor home?"
"Why don't you find out?" Hermione said, standing up and walking out of the bar.
Ron followed her. Before Ginny could stand up, she heard two cracks.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked Ginny.
Ginny just stared at him.
Hermione
There were no arguments when they got home. The first thing they did as soon as they got home was kiss each other.
Hermione felt herself melting into his arms as they kissed. She'd missed this more than anything else in the world.
Just as she was beginning to enjoy just how good he felt, and tasted, the kissing stopped.
"This is a mistake." Ron told her.
Hermione wanted to tell Ron it wasn't a mistake. She wanted him to tell her that he missed this as much as she did.
"I'm going to go now." Ron said to her, as he walked out of the door.
Hermione just stared at the door.
She heard some cracks. Ginny had followed them home.
"For the love of Merlin, what did you guys do?" Ginny asked her. Hermione just stared at Ginny, and a very drunk looking Harry. She wanted to stay strong, but she could feel herself tearing up again.
Harry
Harry woke up with a headache that was about as terrible as when his scar used to hurt.
"Have a good night, Harry?" Harry looked at Ginny, who was glaring at him.
At first, Harry wasn't sure why Ginny was glaring at him, and then it came back to him in a flash.
"Oh God." He said, bring his palms to his face.
"It wasn't a very nice thing, that happened yesterday." Ginny told Harry.
Harry closed his eyes, trying to picture the flood of memories coming back to him. He vaguely remembered Ron, being as drunk as he was, if not more, he remembered Ginny, trying to shush him.
"I am so sorry Ginny." Harry told her. "I should have watched myself."
It was hard for Ginny to stay mad at Harry, but she wasn't going to tell him that.
"Do you remember anything else about what happened yesterday?" She asked him instead.
Harry thought about it, and a look of realization dawned in his eyes.
"They went home together." He said, finally. Ginny nodded.
"We followed them." Harry continued.
"Ron wasn't there. He'd already gone, and Hermione was crying." Ginny told him. "She refused to talk about it and sent us on our way."
Harry felt bad for Ginny. As someone who'd known Ron and Hermione for the around thirteen years now, he was already used to the drama the two would bring with them. Ginny hadn't really seen it all that much, and clearly wasn't taking it very well.
"Was it always like this between them?" She asked Harry, who nodded.
"It was somehow worse, Gin." Harry told Ginny. "You have no idea how awkward sixth year was."
"Well." Ginny said, thoughtfully. "I did have a bit of an idea, I mean you couldn't stop staring at me."
Harry smiled. His inner monster hadn't surfaced since Ginny and he had gotten together.
"I'm just glad we don't have this kind of drama." Ginny told him.
"That's probably because we are two compatible adults."
"Do you think Ron and Hermione aren't compatible?" Ginny asked him.
"Can you honestly say they are? I mean, it worked for a bit, but they made each other miserable. Hermione is way too uptight, and Ron was way too concerned about pleasing her all the time."
"He just had to act like a regular boyfriend, Harry."
Harry thought about it. With Ginny, he didn't have to worry too much about whether he was good enough for her, but if were to put himself in Ron's shoes, could he honestly say that he wouldn't feel the way Ron did?
"What?" Ginny asked him.
"I'm thinking." Harry told Ginny. "Do you think they…"
"They what?"
"Do you think something happened?"
"What do you mean by something happened, Harry?"
"Do you think they did something physical?"
Now it was Ginny's turn to think. Harry stared at her as she furrowed her brows. God, she looked cute doing that.
"I mean, it was a very tight window, how long do you think Ron lasts in bed?"
Harry would have spat his drink out, if he had any in his mouth.
"That's your brother, and my best friend, also like a brother." He told her, scandalized.
"Surely, you've discussed sex with him?"
"Do you think two blokes just talk about sex all the time?" Harry asked her, offended.
"Well, not all the time, but most of the time?"
Harry grinned. "Yeah." He said, sounding rather stupid. Ginny hit him on his arms.
Before he could ask Ginny about what he'd done to deserve the beating, he heard Hermione's voice calling out from the floo.
"You want to go see what that's about love?" Harry asked her. Ginny shook her head.
"You let your wife to be watch as you got drunk and had a merry ol' time in a pub, it's your turn to handle this mess." Ginny said to him. "I'm going back to sleep."
As he went downstairs, Harry wondered what he'd done to deserve Ginny, and mentally thanked whatever forces there were at work that led him to her.
I guess things are getting rather dramatic for our four characters. Let me know if there are any things you might want to see for this story, and if I like your ideas, I'd consider writing them. Please do leave a review with praise/constructive criticism and follow the story if you'd like to see more.
