CH. 10 - A Thank You

A/N: Long time no see. Life is easing up so I have some time now, so therefore CH. 10 was born. It's short and is kinda a filler chapter, but I hope guys enjoy it nonetheless.

Ron stormed into the kitchen of the Burrow, after his father Arthur, picked him, the twins, Ginny and Harry up from King's Cross.

"Mum," he shouted urgently causing Molly to nearly drop the celebratory ham she was baking.

"Ronald, what the devil has gotten into you?"

"Hermione is engaged!" Ron blurted out.

"I'm sorry, what was that dear?" Molly asked confused.

"Hermione is engaged to Draco Malfoy, Mum. We have to do something!"

Molly looked at her youngest son, it wasn't a secret that her son harbored a crush at least on Hermione, the girl was brilliant, sensible, charming, incredibly well-mannered and very pretty, in the Weasley matriarch's opinion. Ron confided in her just after his Third Year that he liked Hermione. But the sudden news regarding the young witch had her scratching her head.

"Ron, why don't you sit down and explain everything, because quite honestly dear I don't know what you're talking about." Molly guided her son over to nearby chair and Ron began to tell his mother of the events of the last few months. Twisting events so that it sounded like Draco Malfoy was forcing Hermione to be with him and neglecting to mention his failed "date" with her. Just as Ron was getting to the engagement, he stopped to gauge his mother's reaction, when he saw that she had a worried expression, one that said, 'I-will-help-you-save-Hermione'; he continued. However he only got the word 'anyway' in, when the twins, Ginny, and Harry all came in with furious-looking expressions directed at him.

(***)

"Ron, you liar!" Ginny yelled at him.

Fred and George proceeded to slap him up side the head, while Harry continued to glare.

"What on Earth are you lot doing?" Molly asked shocked at the actions of her children and de facto son.

"Mum, everything Ron's told you is a lie. Draco and Hermione have been together since Second Year when he apologized to her, she was not forced to be with him as Ron claimed," Ginny told her mother.

"And how do you know he didn't give her a potion or oblivate her memories and implant new ones? You weren't there. And how do you know I'm lying?" Ron accused the group.

"We've been listening by the door, we wanted a snack, but then we heard you tell Mum the "truth" about Draco and Hermione," Ginny told him sharply. "Anyway Mum, Ron failed to mention quite conveniently," she glared at her brother, "about his near-assault on Hermione when they went to Hogsmeade as friends."

At this Molly turned to youngest son, in shock. "Furthermore, he called Hermione a bitch after the spell Hermione put on her and Draco, not the other way 'round protected her from Ron. I know because Harry and I were there, Harry didn't trust Ron to not act accordingly so we trialed them, thank Merlin we did."

At this revelation Ron glared at his best friend. Harry didn't seem bothered. Ron sensing he was fighting a losing battle left in a huff. Ginny took his place.

"So, do you want hear the real story between Draco and Hermione, that all of us witnessed at one point or another and of the engagement?" Ginny finally asked her mother.

After a while of digesting, what her youngest son did to his supposed love, she nodded. Fred, George and Harry all pulled up stools and together the four teens told Molly about the last few months, not mincing any mention of Ron, because Molly had a right to know after that lie-filled story Ron told.

(***)

By the time they finished recounting several important events they saw between Draco and Hermione, Molly had gone back to cooking. And as the group got up to leave, an owl tapping was heard at the window. Molly went and opened the window, the owl then gracefully flew in, settled on the table and directed the group of teens to a package on its left leg. Harry untied it and the owl took off immediately.

The group huddled around the package, it was meticulously wrapped.

"What do you think it is?" Ginny asked.

"Only one way to find out." Harry tore open the wrapping paper and looked at the package. On the upper left-hand side there was the embossed Malfoy family crest and in the middle in fine script, were the words 'Thanks'. This to say the least shocked the group, they remembered Malfoy thanking them when they stood up against Ron, but they had expected an actual gift.

"Should we open it?" Harry asked. The three Weasleys nodded.

Harry opened the small box and pulled out two envelopes. One that was blank and the other that said 'I owe you'. Harry opened that first, as he read silently his eyes bulged.

"For Merlin sakes, Harry read it," Ginny said annoyed.

Harry looked sheepish and muttered, "Oh right, Dear Potter and Weasleys," Harry began.

"At least he used our actual name," Fred commented but was quickly shushed by Ginny.

"Thank you for all you have done in regards to Hermione and myself. I realize that had things been different from the off, our relationship would not have been a surprise and Hermione and I probably would not have incurred the youngest male Weasley's temper. However what is done is done and we cannot change that, unless one of you has a Time Turner; but I digress. The main reason I am writing is to thank you again for the support you have given Hermione in regard to our relationship, it means a lot to her. I am especially thankful for the way you lot stood up to your brother and friend at the Yule Ball because Hermione truly does mean everything to me. I have told her and you before as long as I have her, I am willing to give up my family status, fortune and anything else that impedes on our relationship. So rest assured, knowing that Hermione is happy, in loving (yes I can be loving, despite contrary beliefs) hands and I will make sure she is that way now, when I marry her and until my last breath. As a token of my thanks, enclosed in the other envelope are box suite tickets for the entire Weasley clan and Potter, but minus the youngest male Weasley to the Quidditch World Cup, along with VIP passes to a player meet-and-greet, two days before the tournament proper, held at Slane Castle Quidditch Grounds and a commemorative Quidditch World Cup shirt signed by all the captains of the nations participating in the tournament. Enjoy it. With great gratitude, Draco Lucius Malfoy." Harry stopped reading.

The group looked at the letter and then at each other in total shock, trying to register the words and the reward afforded them. Suddenly, they all whooped and hollered in celebration, the twins tearing away at the envelope to indeed find tickets for everyone, less Ron to the Quidditch World Cup, the VIP passes and magically flattened to fit the Quidditch shirt with the captions' autographs.

"I guess good deeds are rewarded," George said grinning.

The other three agreed wholeheartedly.