25

Heartbreak

"I'll kill him!" Hermione was awakened by Ron's angry shout. She also heard Molly talking to him, but she could not make out what she was saying. She put on her robe and quickly stepped into the living room. She could see Molly and Ron talking in the living room of their flat. Ron's ears were bright red. Molly was speaking softly.

"Ron, we don't know anything…"

"We know he…"

"What's going on Ron?" Hermione asked as she stepped up to him and put her arm around him.

Ron did not answer her, but he looked like he was ready to kill someone.

Molly filled Hermione in on what she knew. Ginny had come home for Christmas break and was spending more time up in her room than with the rest of the family. Molly also told her that even though Ginny had been home for the last two days Harry had not been to the Burrow to see her. It was then that Molly had realized that none of the Weasley's had heard from Harry in over a week. She had stopped by to see of Ron or Hermione had talked to Harry. She was concerned to find that they had not.

Hermione knew what Ron was thinking, but she could not believe Harry would break Ginny's heart a second time.

"Ron, we don't…"

Ron interrupted her before she could finish. "I know what happened. He ditched her. I told him not to mess around with her!"

Ron stormed out of the living room, a murderous look in his eyes.

Hermione picked up her mobile and called Harry's office. The secretary for the special services division told her that Harry had not been in for the last week and that he was on Holiday until after Christmas. She asked to speak to Kingsley. Kingsley told her that he had spoken to Harry and he had asked for some personal time. Since the case against Benedict was proceeding smoothly, and the loose ends for the Order of the Dragon had been tied he let him have the time off.

Kingsley was surprised that no one had heard from him over the last week. Hermione assured them that she and Ron would look in on Harry and make sure he was ok.

Molly shook her head as Hermione relayed what Kingsley told her. She heard Ron muttering something angrily behind her. Hermione turned to Ron.

"I am going to go see how Ginny is doing. Promise me you won't do anything until I get back?"

Ron just stared at her. Hermione knew the minute she left the house he was going to go and confront Harry. She just hoped that Ron would control his temper when he did. She knew that was not going to happen. Hermione found herself hoping she would still have Harry as a friend at the end of the day.

*****

No one was at the Burrow when Hermione arrived via the floo network. She quickly brushed the ashes from her shoulders as she stepped out of the fireplace. She headed up the stairs to Ginny's room. Her door was closed. She tried the door and found that it was locked. She knocked gently.

"Ginny, it's Hermione."

Ginny did not answer her, but she heard the door unlock. She opened the door and stepped into Ginny's room. Ginny was sitting at her desk, looking out the window. All things considered Ginny did not look like she was taking things too hard.

Ginny turned to face Hermione.

"If you are hear to tell me how much I have hurt Harry don't bother!" Ginny hissed.

Hermione did not understand what Ginny was talking about. If Harry had ditched her why would she be worried if she had hurt Harry?

"Ginny, why would we think you hurt Harry?"

Ginny looked at Hermione for a minute, she seemed confused by her question. Then Hermione saw realization in Ginny's eyes.

"You're here because you think Harry ditched me aren't you?"

"Isn't that what happened?" Hermione asked, her mind beginning to put the pieces together. She needed Ginny to confirm her suspicion.

"No." was all Ginny said.

Hermione sat down on the bed across from Ginny. She took the time to look at Ginny. She did not seem to have been crying over being ditched. Maybe she and Harry had not split up and this was all a misunderstanding.

"So you and Harry…"

Ginny interrupted her before she could finish her question.

"Are no longer together, I split up with him about a week ago." Ginny stated.

Hermione looked at Ginny.

"So why have you locked yourself in here for the last few days?"

"I could not face Mum or Dad." Ginny answered. "They love Harry like their own son. I just could not tell them I ended with him. I was afraid of what they would say."

Hermione tried to fight back her anger, but was not able to. Rather than tell her family what happened she let them believe Harry had split with her. She did not think of the consequences of her not saying anything, and now Ron was on his way to Harry's house to set him straight.

"Ginny, did you even think what would happen by you not saying anything?"

Ginny just shook her head.

"Your Mum and Ron think Harry ditched you, and that is why you have been locked in your room since you got home. Ron is right now on his way to set Harry straight for breaking your heart again!" Hermione did not care how harsh she sounded as she finished her statement she realized she needed to get to Harry's and let Ron know he had it wrong. She also knew that Harry would need someone to comfort him.

"I can't stay Ginny. I have to go and keep your brother from killing Harry, since you did not bother to tell anyone what happened. I would not be surprised right now if Harry is having to deal with all of your brothers. I just hope they believe me! Honestly Ginny, I expected better of you." She stated angrily.

Hermione did not bother to leave Ginny's room before apparating

.

***

The first thing Harry did after Ginny asked him for time to herself was to call Kinglsey and ask for a couple of weeks off. He needed time get himself together. No matter how Ginny had phrased it, Harry knew what she wanted was to end things with him, he would have to stay away from the Burrow. The Weasley's, the only family he had known for the last seven years.

Harry realized that for the first time in seven years he was truly on his own. His best mate Ron was Ginny's brother, so he did not want to involve him in this. His other best friend Hermione was about to marry Ron, making her just another Weasley. Not only had Harry lost Ginny, but he would also have to give up his best friends as well. Harry hoped Ginny would let them know what had happened.

Harry was startled by the sudden pounding on his front door. He looked at his watch. It was just ten in the morning. He had no idea who it was, but he did not get up to answer the door. Harry had no desire to talk with anyone right now. Whoever it was would eventually go away.

The pounding continued for another minute then he heard Ron's voice.

"Damn it Harry I know you're in there! Open the God damn door or I swear to Merlin I will break it down!"

Ron sounded angry. Harry headed towards the door. He had no Idea why Ron would be angry at him. This time Ginny had ended things, not him. Harry got to the door and opened the door. Before he could say anything he felt a sharp pain in the side of his face, his glassed flew off and he fell back to the floor.

Harry looked up from the floor shocked. Ron had just punched him. He heard Ron shouting.

"I told you not to mess around with her, didn't I!" Harry could see Ron was working himself into a pretty good rage as he continued to shout. "I told you not to start anything with her if you were going to hurt her again."

Ron kicked Harry angrily as he shouted. Harry curled into a fetal position to protect himself as Ron continued to pummel him.

"You Bastard! How could you do this…."

"RONALD STOP IT!" Hermione's screamed as she grabbed him and pulled him back. Ron tried to push himself around her but she would not let him pass. She drew her wand and pointed it Ron. "Don't make me curse you Ronald!"

Ron stopped trying to get to Harry. Harry felt Hermione check to see how badly he had been hurt. Ron stared at her dumbfounded and then shouted at her.

"What are you doing? You know what he did to Ginny, How could…"

Hermione whirled on Ron.

"Harry didn't do anything to Ginny you prat!" Hermione glared at Ron angrily as she continued. "I asked you not to do anything until I talked to Ginny. But no you had to go off and protect her honor didn't you! Harry did not ditch Ginny, She ditched him!"

"What?" Ron looked at Hermione, his anger draining. He looked down at Harry.

Harry heard the footsteps of someone else entering the house. He looked up to see Ginny running into hall. Harry had been dealing with the fact the Ginny split up with him, he could forgive her for that. But letting her family think he had once again broken her heart. He could not forgive her for that. Ginny stood their looking at Harry. He could not hold back his anger any more.

"You didn't tell them?" He asked trying to keep his voice calm. Ginny just looked away, which made him more angry. He shouted at her "Damn it Ginny. You did not tell them you broke up with me! You let them believe I had broken your heart? How could you do that?"

Ginny did not answer. She looked at him, he could see she was hurt by what he was saying. He did not care. "So not only do I lose you, but now I have lost the only family I ever had!" He shouted this.

"Harry," Ron said softly, "That's not true."

"Bullocks Ron" Harry did not shout. He was torn between being angry and feeling betrayed by his best friend. "You just decided that I would be a prat to your sister. You never even bothered to ask me what happened. You just assumed I was the arse. I didn't say anything because you never gave me the chance."

"Harry please", Ron started to say.

"Ron, I think you should take your sister and leave." Harry answered.

"Harry."

"Get the hell out of my House Ronald, and take your sister with you." Harry's voice sounded dangerous.

Hermione grabbed Ron by the shoulder. She whispered to him to take Ginny and head back to the Burrow. She promised she would see him in a bit.

As Ron was leaving Harry told Hermione to leave as well. She refused. Harry tried to get her to leave but she still would not go, trying to take Harry into her arms to comfort him. At first he resisted, but finally he buried his head into her shoulder and started to cry over not just losing the woman he loved but his only family as well.

*****