Chapter 12: Back to Being Friends

"Hermione what the fuck is that?" he asked picking himself up still staring at the ring on her finger.

Hermione turned crimson and put her hands together twirling the ring nervously, "I-it's a ring Ron, what of it?" she replied trying not to let his fury get to her.

"It's an engagement ring isn't it? You can't honestly tell me that you said yes to that slimy thing?" he shouted at her. All the people who were in the common room had their eyes on the pair now. As if the poor girl needed that.

"As a matter of fact Ronald she did, get over it, it's really none of your business what she did. So come off it. You've been a right git yourself; you've been treating her like dirt. Some best friend you are, you're supposed to be supporting her, and be happy that she's happy." Ginny said storming down the stairs to the girls dormitories. The young girl stormed right up to her brother and slapped him across the face.

Both Hermione and Ron stood there absolutely dumbstruck at his sister's outburst. Ginny was clearly furious, no matter what she had said to Hermione, she didn't appreciate the way that the boys were treating her. "You fling jinxes at her behind her back for a month and curse her under your breath when you think nobody can hear you. You claimed for years to be her best friend and you haven't been treating her like such. You loved her once; you should be doing everything in your power to accept her decisions. You should be happy that she's found someone who cares about her and loves her, someone who's right for her. But no, you can't do that, because all you care about is the fact that she chose Snape. No one ever said that you had to like him, just accept that they love each other. Because nothing and I repeat nothing will ever change what they have." She continued to shout at her older brother. "Man up Ronald, honestly what do you think the professors or mother would think of your behavior right now?"

Ron looked back his younger sister incredulously before hanging his head in shame, he knew she was right, but he really didn't know how to accept Hermione and Snape's relationship. They were obviously serious; anyone could see that from the ring that sat on her hand. He sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry Hermione, really I am, but I don't know if I can accept this so easily, it's Snape. If you had chosen just about anyone else, but you didn't, I'll try to accept things they way they are. Just please give me some time, I'm sorry." He walked out of the portrait hole, leaving the two girls behind at the bottom of the stairs they'd been at.

Hermione turned to Ginny giving her a small look of thanks before they slowly followed Ron out of the common room down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

When they were on the last set of stairs before the hall, Harry rushed up behind them. "I heard what you said in the common room Ginny, and you're right." He said to the girl he'd fallen in love with last year before turning to the person he thought of as a sister. "Hermione I'm sorry I know I was a git, I know that I was wrong, I accept your decision. I know he's right for you, and you're right for him, you make him better. I'm glad for you I really am, but Ron, he really does need time, things like this, they don't weigh lightly on him." He gave her a small hug before walking with them into the hall.

For the first time in what seemed like ages to Hermione, she sat with her best friend, and she didn't have to fear a flyaway hex. She smiled and ate decently, for the second time since that day, so long ago at Hogsmeade.

The rest of the day went by smoothly classes were a great deal easier now that she didn't have to avoid Harry, and Ron was behaving himself. It seemed like things were all coming together again, it was a relief.

Severus stopped Hermione as she was leaving the Great Hall after dinner that night. "Miss Granger, would you mind taking a small walk with me?" the Gryffindor nodded and followed him out onto the grounds. The two stopped by the lake and Severus conjured a blanket before sitting and patting the ground next to him. "I couldn't help but notice you and Harry talking today, is anything wrong?"

Hermione looked at the man beside her and smiled. "No, nothing's wrong, actually, everything is right. Harry has decided to accept us; he realized finally, that what we have is true, that we belong together. Ron he needs more time but he's on his way. They've both apologized today." She leaned into him and he smiled.

"That's a refreshing change." Severus replied kissing the top of her head and began stroking her hair. They sat like that for a while before heading back up to the castle; it was almost curfew so Hermione needed to get back to her common room. "I love you Hermione."

"I love you Severus." Was his reply, they shared a quick kiss before going their separate ways, him to his study her to her common. Today was a good day.

"So what did he want?" was the first thing she heard as she stepped through the portrait hole. The question had come from Ginny who was sitting on a loveseat in front of the fire with Harry; Ron had apparently already gone to bed.

Hermione walked over to them and took a seat in the armchair by the couch. "He wanted to make sure everything was okay, he saw me with Harry today and thought that we may have been having another fight."

The couple nodded and they went back to looking at the fire, Hermione got her book bag from where she'd left it by the stairs to her dormitory and walked back, getting out her homework and placing it on the table before starting on it and working diligently until the fire began to fade. At about a quarter to 12 the girls said goodnight to Harry, Hermione packed up her work and they all headed up to their dormitories.

Everything had sorted itself out finally and Hermione wasn't sure if she could be happier, she had her friends back. Ginny smiled as she watched the older girl walk into her room. They all slept well that night, not having to fear anymore fighting over her decisions…

A/N: Thank you for all of the support I can't tell you how much it means to me! Aren't we all happy that they've finally accepted Hermione's relationship with Severus! Anywho not much farther to go with the story now. Tell me if you want a chapter for the wedding! oh and don't forget to Click the pretty review button below to leave love or hate!

Love, Vamps.