RISING FROM THE ASHES

Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to weasleybabe24 for reviewing every single chapter of this story. Thank you! Here's the next chapter, I'm sorry it took three weeks!

Chapter Eight – Percy's Return

A few songs later, Harry and Ginny decided to sit down and take a break. They sat and watched as couples danced.

"Harry!" Ginny whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"Look at Ron and Hermione!"

He turned to see Ron and Hermione dancing to a slow song, Hermione's head on his shoulder. Harry smiled; glad to see his friends happy.

The music stopped, but they stayed where they were. Ron took hold of Hermione's hand, took a deep breath, and began to say something which Harry couldn't make out.

"I want to hear what they're saying, follow me!" Ginny said, grabbing Harry by the hand and pulling him behind a nearby bush.

"…wanted to tell you something," he continued, nervously running his fingers through his flaming red hair.

Hermione smiled expectantly, a slight blush creeping across her face.

"Yes?" she asked after several moments of silence.

"Hermione," Ron blurted, taking her hand. "I…"

He was cut off, however, by a new arrival to the conversation.

"Herm-own-ninny," said a deep voice, "It has been much too long."

Viktor Krum stepped forward, and took her hand.

"Oh no…" Ginny breathed, "That idiot."

Harry's stomach sank. This could not be good.

"Victor!" Hermione gasped, and dropped Ron's hands. She ran over to where he stood, and embraced him.

Ron scowled, eyes narrowing.

"Oh, why hello, Vicky," he spat, glaring contemptuously at him.

Hermione gave him a reproving glance, and Krum simply looked confused.

"What are you doing here?" asked Hermione, beaming.

"Fleur invited me to her wedding," he replied. Although his English was broken, it had greatly improved since Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts.

"It's so good to see you!" Hermione gushed.

"It is good to see you too, Herm-own-ninny. You look very nice."

"Thank you!" she exclaimed. "What have you been up to?"

Ron's shoulders slumped, and he shook his head in disgust. He slunk away, muttering things under his breath such as, "Don't know why I thought…never stood a chance…bloody Krum…"

"Should we follow him?" Ginny asked Harry. He shrugged.

"Oh, come on," she said in disgust, and dragged him away.

They found him by the tables, sitting with his chin resting on the palm of his hand. He glowered at the chatting pair.

"Hi, Ron," said Ginny carefully.

He looked up at them with anger in his eyes.

"What do you want?" he sneered.

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked angrily. "We were only trying to help you!"

"I don't need your help," he responded rudely.

"I think you do! Ron, it's obvious you like Hermione. You have for quite some time. You've been an absolute git to her since the day you two met!"

"What?" he spluttered. "I—I don't like Hermione!"

Ginny stared at him defiantly. "Everyone knows, Ron," she said in an agitated tone, "and we all think it's high time you did something about it.

Ron's resolve seemed to crumble at that moment.

"I tried," he said miserably, "I was about to – to tell her everything. But then…"

"But then Krum showed up." Ginny finished for him. "We know, Ron. We know."

"What does she see in him?" he asked angrily. Neither Harry nor Ginny answered. He seemed to be asking himself more than them. "What did she see in McLaggan?"

"Well, what did you see in Lavender Brown?" Ginny countered. "Or Fleur?"

"I…"

"That's what I thought. Listen, Ron, you great prick. She doesn't see anything in them. Maybe Krum was a crush, but she doesn't love him."

"Well, who does she love then?" he demanded.

"Why don't you go tell her what you were about to say?"

"But Krum!"

"I don't care!" Ginny seethed.

"Ron," Harry said, "just, er, ask her, will you?"

"Yeah, but if she loves some other bloke..."

"JUST GO!" Harry and Ginny shouted in unison, both of their patiences worn thin.

"Alright, alright," Ron said dubiously, "I'm blaming you two if I get shot down, though."

"You won't blame us," Ginny called after him, "you'll thank us."

They watched from afar as Ron strode up to Hermione and Krum. The pair stopped their conversation when he came. Ron made some sort of gesture to Krum, who shrugged and walked away.

Harry watched as Ron's face grew steadily redder with his pathetic attempts at explanation. He grinned sheepishly at Hermione.

"This is it…" Ginny breathed, clutching Harry's arm. He gulped, and felt the place where her hand grasped his forearm prickle.

"Ah, young love," said Fred, joining the pair of them and gesturing at Ron and Hermione.

Ginny grinned. "We're just waiting for her reaction."

Harry smiled uncertainly. It had become obvious to him how his two best friends felt about each other, but he was not quite sure how he felt about them as a pair.

Hermione stepped closer to Ron, who shifted uneasily. By now, Harry, Ginny, Fred, and George had been joined by Bill, Charlie, and Fleur.

Unaware that they had an audience, Hermione leaned close to Ron and kissed him square on the mouth. When they broke apart minutes later, it was to cheers and applause from Harry and the Weasleys.

Harry and Ginny walked over to congratulate them, and Fred and George followed in their wake, most likely to torment the new couple in everyway possible.

"Congratulations mate," said Harry, clapping Ron on the back, "but could you not do that around me? I think I've been scarred for life."

"You already were scarred for life," Ron pointed out, his arm around Hermione's waist.

Harry stared at him incomprehensively for a moment, and then burst out laughing.

"Nice one, little bro," said Fred from behind. George nodded in agreement.

"Well," said Ron, "are the two of you going to take the mickey out of us?"

The twins exchanged mischievous glances.

"We will," said Fred finally.

"Just not yet," George smirked. They left.

"Great," Ron groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Prats…"

The four of them stood together conversing until they were interrupted by Mrs. Weasley, and with her was Percy.

"You," Ron snarled, "what are you doing here?"

"Be nice…" his mother warned him.

Ron turned away in disgust.

"I've come to congratulate Bill and Flower," Percy said forcedly, "and to collect a few things I … er … left behind."

"It's Fleur," Ginny informed him, "and what kind of things?"

"Just some books," Percy said evasively, "I'll be in my room, mother."

"Okay, Percy, dear," Mrs. Weasley beamed at him as he walked away. Once he was out of earshot, Ron and Ginny immediately began protesting.

"Why are you acting like nothing's changed?" Ron demanded.

"Oh, Ron," Mrs. Weasley sighed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, "You'll understand when you're a parent. Which better not be any time soon," she added, looking between Ron and Hermione, who both turned bright red.

Harry choked back a snicker.

Ron and Hermione were saved further embarrassment by Percy, who came bounding toward them.

"Which one of you took it?" he snarled.

"Took what?" Ron asked shortly.

"We haven't touched any of your stuff, Percy." Ginny said coolly.

"Something of importance is missing," said Percy, "and I want to know which one of you has nicked it."

"None of us has nicked anything of yours," Hermione said.

Percy glared at them. "Mother, I think I'd best be off now." He left without another word to anyone.

"What was that all about?" Ginny asked, perplexed.

"No idea," said Ron.

Harry, however, thought he had some indication as to what it was about, and put his hand deep into the pocket of his robes to grasp the letter which he had discovered.