"Ron . . . I asked if you wanted any gravy."

The redhead man shook his head and continued with his previous activity: shredding his turkey.

"Erm Ron, are you okay? You've been really quiet, and hardly touched your food. Did something happen at work? Are you sick?" Dropping her fork, Hermione reached out and brought a hand to her husband's forehead.

"Stop it Mione, I'm fine" He dropped his gaze from the pair of concerned brown eyes, tracing the floral patterns on his plate.

"No, I think you're hiding something . . ." Leaning closer, Hermione studied Ron's face. It was emotionless, all except for his diverted eyes. Both were pools of blue, swirling with hidden feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, and . . . . pain?

She brushed a stray piece of hair away from her face, licking her lips as Ron looked back up. "You were never good at lying Ron, you and Harry."

At the mention of Harry, Ron scowled. "Git. That fiancee of his is ruining our friendship, and his love life."

Hermione chuckled. "May I remind you that it was a certain someone who made him dance with Alex in the first place?"

"Umhh, don't remind me. Besides, it still doesn't make me forgive him about what he's doing to Ginny."

He stood up, grabbing the dinner plates and silverware, pausing to explain to Hermione. "I got a visit from him at work today. Said something about signing papers to put Ginny down. I swear to Merlin, it's the first time I've seen him in weeks and his reason is to tell me he killed my little sister."

"Ron, we've talked about this before and– careful, that plate didn't do anything to you!" Hermione took the plate from him and gathered his head in her hands. "Harry's been going through some rough times. We owe it to him to at least give him a bit of time to recover. I'm sure that when the wedding is over, he'll be back to his old self."

Ron's lips perked up into a small smile as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Then I guess we'll give him some time." They were just starting to pick up the pace in their kissing, when a loud tapping noise shot through the room.

Breaking apart, Ron stomped his foot. "Whoever made that noise just ruined the making of my first child!"

Then, as Hermione pressed a hand over her giggling mouth, he made his way to the middle of the kitchen, listening for the noise again.

Tap, tap, tap!

"The window," she laughed, gesturing for Ron let the post owl inside. Eyebrows furrowed, Ron let the tawny brown owl into the room and untied the parchment from it's leg.

Hermione watched as his expression changed from curious to shock. "What-?"

He looked up, eyes wide and mouth open. "I don't . . . Oh my friggin god Hermione!"

"Don't swear Ron."

"Ginny's awake!" Ron ran over and squeezed her tightly as she gapped at the letter in his fist.

"But- but how? I thought Harry signed the papers! Lets go, come on!" Hermione ran and grabbed a cloak and her wand. "We're going to pay your sister a long, overdue visit."

XoxoxoxoxoX

"I love your sweater dear," an old witch said to a friend. "It's definitely your color. Where in the world did you– umf! Hey, watch it young man!"

Ron spun to a stop, skidding on the overly waxed floors of the wizarding hospital. "Sorry, but I've got to run!"

The lady watched as the rude man and some bushy-haired woman disappeared behind a corner. "Young are wasting away these days," she said to no one in particular.

XoxoxoxoxoX

"How could you bump into a poor old lady?"

Ron turned to Hermione as the two sped across the room. "Poor! She was wearing a fur coat! When I was little, mum never had fur coats. If you hadn't noticed, fur is way too expensive for a Weasley!"

Grinning, she replied, "What about the birthday gift you got for me last year? What was it again? Oh yes, a fur coat."

"Shut up, Mione, we're here."

She swallowed, clutching Ron's arm. "Are you ready for this? You're about to see someone that's been asleep for three years. She might be completely different."

"Yeah . . . come on." He opened the door to the room.

As soon as he saw Ginny turn around to face him, he almost started to cry. "Gi-Ginny?"

"Hello R- hey! Ease up a bit, I've been through a lot of tests." She smiled slightly, hugging Hermione in turn. "Where's Harry? When they told me I might see my family tonight, I thought he would come too."

Ron coughed while Hermione squirmed. "Um Ginny," Ron finally said. "You've been through a lot today, why don't we just-"

"No. He didn't- he didn't die, did he?" Ginny looked up fearfully. "Tell me he's alive and that bastard Voldemort is dead!"

Hermione put a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "He's alive."

"Then why . . ."

"Are you sure you're ready to hear this, Gin?"

The younger girl nodded, confused.

Ron sighed running his fingers through his hair. "Okay . . . well, did anyone tell you why you were in a coma? No? Um, it was Malfoy."

Ginny shot up. "MALFOY!"

"Yeah . . . he's dead though, so you'll have to dig him up if you want to murder him again. Anyway, you've been in a coma for three years . . ."

"Wait, what does this have to do with Harry? Where is my boyfriend?"

Hermione bit her lip, grimacing. "Erm, that's just it Ginny. Harry, he's . . . well, he's getting married."

All the color from Ginny's face drained as she leaned back against the pillows. "Married," she whispered quietly.

"I'm really sorry Ginny, but . . . none of us thought you were going to wake up. Even then, Harry still visited you every night. That was, until . . ."

"Until what, Hermione? Tell me now, because I don't think my life can get any worse. "

Ron sighed, looking at the floor. "Harry signed the papers to have you put down. He told me today at the office."

"It's official . . . Harry lied to me." A tear streaked down her pale cheek.

Sitting down next to her, Hermione stroked Ginny's head. "No he didn't Ginny."

"Yes! He did, he told me he loved me . . . Does getting married to another woman and signing papers to kill me sound like love to you! More like betrayal!"

"He did love you Gin," Ron spoke up. "I could tell. When he found out you were put into a coma, he nearly died as well."

Ginny choked. "I want to see him . . . though if he signed the papers, he probably hates me."

Hermione and Ron exchanged glances. "Of coarse he doesn't, he still loves you."

She shook her head, another tear running down her neck. "Not when he's getting married to another woman. I can't look him in the eye, or he'd see that I still loved him. He can't know. Promise me you won't tell Harry that I'm awake, yet!"

Ron took a deep breath, looking into Ginny's chocolate eyes. "I-I promise Ginny."

She reached out and hugged him, tears spilling freely down his back. "When the time is right, I will go myself to see him . . ."