Authors Note

First I want to thank all of you that have taken the time to read Order of the Dragon. Even though I have not had a lot of reviews I want to thank those of you that have taken the time to review the story. I would always welcome new reviews. Reviews help me get an Idea of what you think of the story and how I am writing the charactors.

The bad news is that this story is coming to a close. There are about three more chapters to go with The Order of the Dragon I spent over a year and a half writing this story, and have learned a bit about writing as I have worked in this story, There some things I am please with and some things I think I could have done better in hindsight. Overall I think I am pleased with how the story turned out.

The Good news is I have already started a new story that will continue where this one left off. I already have six chapters of the new story written, and am starting the seventh tonight. That story is already outlined and written in my mind, I just have to get it down on paper...Well more a word document than paper...Does anyone use paper anymore.

So without delay, here is the next chapter of the Order of the Dragon.

25

Consequences

Ginny Weasley was at war with herself. She sat in her dorm room staring out the window fighting an inner struggle. It had been three weeks since they had rescued Hermione. Hermione was still in the hospital, but at least she had finally woken up. She was going to be ok.

Benedict had been arrested and was now facing charges for kidnapping, assaulting an Auror and several counts of rape and two counts of attempted rape for his trying to rape her and Hermione. All of these charges were bought against him in the muggle courts to get around the fact that there were no laws against rape in the Wizarding world.

To Ginny's horror, with Hermione in the Hospital, Harry had been assigned to complete the investigation of the attacks at Hogwarts, meaning Harry had found out about Benedict's attacking her. That was something she did not want anyone to know about. To his credit Harry did not treat her like a china doll when he had to interview her. Ginny hated him for taking the case. She had begged him to have the case assigned to another Auror. Harry told her he had to finish the case for Hermione.

Luna had warned her that she had told Hermione what had happened with Benedict last year, and not just about how Luna had been raped by him, but also how Benedict attacked her as well. Ginny had not minded that Luna had told Hermione, since Hermione was also one of Benedict's victims. Having to talk to Harry, her boyfriend was something entirely different. Ginny avoided Harry's request for an interview as long as she could. He finally pushed the issue with McGonagall so she was forced to tell Harry everything Benedict did to her. She had made it clear to Harry she did not want to talk to him about the attack. She begged him to let her talk with another Auror. In the end Harry gently refused her request and Ginny had no choice but to talk to him. After the interview Harry tried to comfort her, she pushed him away and left without saying a word.

In addition to what was happening with Harry, Ginny also had to consider what she was going to do when she finished her last year at Hogwarts. After the last Quidditch match, Gwenog Jones met with her. Gwenog was impressed with not only Ginny's flying but also how she managed the Gryffindor team as well. She and Gwenog talked for about an hour. At the end of the meeting Gwenog offered Ginny a spot on the Holyhead Harpies as a chaser. If Ginny took Gwenog up on her offer this would mean being away from home for several months.

Ginny knew that Harry wanted to get married, however after his pushing her to talk with him about Benedict's attack combined with the offer from the Harpies, Ginny was not sure she was ready to get married. It was not the thought that she might not be ready to get married that Ginny was struggling with. She was struggling with her anger at Harry. In addition to his leaving her during the year before the final battle, and his faking his own death during that battle, She saw another side of Harry she did not really like when he forced her to talk about Benedict. It was this that Ginny was struggling with.

The first question she asked herself was. Do I love Harry? It was how she answered this question that was bothering Ginny. Her answer seemed to be, "I love him but..." Ginny was coming to the conclusion that maybe she was in the process of falling out of love with Harry. She needed time to come to terms with that.

Ginny knew what the solution to her problem was. She needed some time to herself, without the pressure of being in a relationship. If she was honest with herself she was not really struggling with the answer, but struggling with how to tell Harry.

***

Hermione finally woke up three days ago. She woke up in the middle of the night. It took her a minute to get her bearings once she did wake up. About a minute after she woke up she realized that she was not alone. When she looked around her room she saw the form of a red haired man sleeping in the chair by her bed. She also felt his hand in hers. As she lay looking at Ron, she felt tears of joy. If he was here, then he had to have forgiven her.

Hermione gently pulled her hand away from Ron's. Ron awoke with a start. He looked to see that she was awake and she could see relief in his eyes. She just looked at him and smiled weakly. "Hey you" She whispered.

Ron got up and took her into his arms. He did not say anything, but he just held her like he would never let her go. His holding her that night told Hermione all she needed to know.

Over the next day or two Hermione and Ron spent as much time as they could with each other. Hermione knew Ron loved her. He showed her how much with the things he did. From helping her brush her hair, to making sure she took her potions. This would have been fine for most couples but Hermione had known Ron for eight years. She had been in love with him for six of those years so she could tell something was just a little off. At first she thought it might be that Benedict had almost taken her.

Hermione finally broke down. She had to know what was bothering Ron. She knew he would not tell her. She also knew if she asked him what was wrong he would tell her. She may have to push a little to get it out of him. It was not that he didn't want to keep a secret from her, but he didn't want to hurt her either. She looked at him, trying to show him in that look just how much she loved him.

"Ron?"

Ron looked at her. He knew by the way she said his name she knew something was bothering him. He had been trying to hide it from her. He also knew he could never hide anything from Hermione. No matter how hard he tried to hide it she would always know when something was bothering him. The thing was that what was bothering him was really not that big of a deal.

"'Moine" He gave her one of his best disarming smiles, hoping she would forget to ask what was bothering him.

When Ron smiled at her, she almost decided not to ask what was bothering him. He had that effect on her. He could make her forget everything with just a smile. She was not going to let him get away with it today. She knew that whatever was troubling him was not a big deal, but she knew it still bothered him. That was enough for Hermione to want to know what it was.

"Are you going to tell me about it?"

"About what?" Ron looked at her as if he had no idea what she was talking about. Hermione however knew better.

"Don't try acting like you don't know what I am talking about Ronald." She said sternly. "Just tell me what is bothering you."

Ron looked at her sheepishly. He knew he would have to tell her. As he looked at her he realized how much the letter she had sent him bothered him. He fought back the tears he felt coming.

"How could you ask me to do that 'Moine?"

Hermione was confused. She had not asked him to do anything. She had no idea what he was talking about. "Ron, what are you talking about?"

"How could you ask me to forget about you?" He looked hurt as he answered.

Hermione looked at Ron. She could see he was fighting to keep from crying. He was talking about the letter that Umbridge had her write. She did not think that she was going to ever see Ron again. She had asked him to find someone else.

"Ron." She took his hand as she spoke. "It's not that I wanted you to forget about me. I could not bear the thought of you not being loved. I wanted you to know I would be ok with you finding someone else after I was gone."

When Ron looked at her, she saw it in his eyes. For Ron there would be no one else but her. He did not need to say it but he did anyways.

"Hermione, after you, how do you think I could love anyone else"

Hermione looked at Ron. She knew he meant what he said. She also knew the same was true for her. There would never be anyone else for her but Ron. More than anything she wanted to be his wife. She did not want to wait anymore.

"Marry me." She whispered.

Ron looked at her, a bit confused.

"I am going to." He smiled as he answered.

"Honestly Ronald." She lifted his hand "I don't mean will you marry me. I mean marry me, right now, today!"

Ron looked at her, he laughed as he answered.

" Moine. I want to live to grow old with you. I want to have children. If we deny my mother the chance to plan and be at our wedding we won't be married long because she will kill the both of us the minute she finds out we got married, not to mention what your parents would do."

As Ron finished they both started laughing. Ron placed his head on her forehead.

"How long does it take to plan a wedding?" she whispered.

They talked about all that was involved in planning a wedding. As they discussed it they decided they would give Molly five months to plan their wedding, and set a date for the beginning of May.

***

The skies were grey with a blustery wind. Harry pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders to fight back against to cold blustery wind. Harry walked quickly to The Three Broomsticks. Harry knew he would have to wait for Ginny for about a half hour.

Harry sighed as he thought about Ginny. Something was off with her for the last two weeks. She had not answered any of the owls he sent her. Harry was beginning to get worried until he received an owl from Ginny. It was the last owl he received was what Harry was worried about. All it said was "Meet me at the three Broomsticks Saturday at 1:00, Ginny." Ginny usually signed her letters to him with love Ginny. She did not sign it love Ginny this time. Harry hoped he was wrong, but he did not think this was going to be a pleasant lunch.

***

Ginny was not looking forward to meeting Harry for lunch. She tried telling herself that she was just asking for a short break. No matter how often she told herself that, in her heart she knew she was going to break up with Harry. She still had feelings for Harry, and she knew her calling it quits would crush him. She also knew this was the only way she would be able to have the life she wanted.

After all that is what she was doing came down to. Having the life she wanted, not what everyone else expected her to do. She resented the fact that everyone just assumed that she would marry Harry. It was as if no one really asked Ginny what she wanted. She would have been fine with that until Gwenog Jones offered her a place on the Harpies. Ginny tried to say she wanted to end things because of how Harry had pushed her to tell him about Benedict. After she had a chance to think about things, she realized that really had nothing to do with her feelings. She wanted the chance to be her own person. With Harry she would just be the girl that married the Great Harry Potter. No one would ever see her as Ginny Weasley.

Ginny looked at The Three Broomsticks, sighed to herself and said to no one "Here goes nothing."

***

Harry waved Ginny over to the table where he was seated. Ginny walked over slowly as Harry got up tried to kiss her. She turned her face away at the last minute, so he kissed her on the cheek.

"This can't be good", he thought as she sat down. Harry noticed she did not look him in the eye. The fact that Ginny did not look at him told Harry he was in trouble. He reached for her hand, and she pulled it away.

"Ginny?"

***

Ginny heard Harry say her name. She had not meant to be cold to him, but she had to keep her resolve. She knew what she needed to do. She also knew that she was barely keeping her resolve. She wanted to return the kiss Harry offered her but knew she had to remain strong for the next few minutes. She looked at Harry and saw he was confused. Ginny did not know where to start.

"Harry." She gave him a weak smile. "Have you heard anymore about Hermione?" Chicken she said to herself as she put off what she had to do with small talk.

She did not hear Harry's answer. She was trying to think of the best way to say what she had to.

"Ginny, are you there?"

She looked up at Harry "Huh?"

"I asked what was up with you. You seem distracted?" Harry asked gently.

"Sorry Harry." She answered, "I have had a lot on my mind the last week."

Harry then gave her the opening she needed by asking her to tell him about it. Ginny started by telling Harry about the meeting with Gwenog Jones, and the offer to join the Harpies. Harry congratulated her and told her he thought she would be brilliant.

She looked Harry in the eye.

"Harry, I am going to accept Gwenog's offer."

"That's great Ginny."

She interrupted him before he could continue.

"That means I am going to be away with the team for a good six months each year" Ginny explained. She hoped maybe he would start to get the hint.

"That will leave us six months" he answered.

Ginny looked up at him again as he said that.

"About us Harry…"

****

Harry went numb and sensed what was coming. It did not take a rocket scientist to see that. The fact that she did not kiss him and the way she pulled her hand away told the story. He did not need to hear the words. He knew she was ending things with him.

When she finished Harry looked at her and tried not to break down. He loved her with all of his heart and if she needed to be on her own, he would just have to accept it. That did not mean he was happy.

Harry looked at Ginny for a few minutes before saying anything. She had made up her mind and there was no point in arguing with her. All that would do was make matters worse.

****

Ginny braced herself for an argument. She watched as he tried to hide how much what she had just told him hurt him. He was good, but Ginny knew him too well. She had just broken his heart.

"Harry?" she whispered.

"I get it Ginny. You need time to yourself." He answered as he stood up. "I won't take up any more of your time."

He turned and walked out of the three broomsticks and she heard the crack of him apparating. "That did not go so bad", she thought to herself. She also wondered why she had to wipe tears from her eyes as she stared at the door.