Ron entered his Great-Aunt Muriel's room and felt like he is entering the lion's cage; well not exactly, he corrected himself he is going into Lioness's cage. He saw her sitting in an easy chair and reading 'The life and lies of Dumbledore'. Just great Ron thought cursing Griphook for making him do this. He closed the door and cast Muffliato.
He was very careful coming here; he didn't want anybody especially Fred and George to find out that he willingly went into Aunt Muriel's room. Fred and George would never let him forget this for a long time.
Not knowing how to start the conversation he cleared his throat loudly. But to his dismay she didn't appear to be heard as she continued her reading. Never in his life had Ron initiated a conversation with his Aunt. Now he is forced to do so he felt at loss.
He slowly moved towards her and adding to his misery he knocked the flower vase on his way and it fell down with a loud noise and broke into pieces causing his Aunt to look up from the book.
Ron flinched inwardly seeing her gaze on him. He resisted the urge to run away. He fumbled with his wand before casting a 'Reparo' spell and placing the vase in its place. He tried to smile but it came out as a grimace.
Ron waited for her Aunt to start the conversation but she just raised her eyebrows questioningly at him.
"Hello Aunt, how are you?" Ron asked lamely cursing inwardly for lack of his conversational skills.
"You are here to ask my well being, I am impressed Ronald. Unlike your twin brothers who are using my house as some joke shop. Well at least one of Arthur's sons other than William has some manners. It appears only first and last Weasley boys only inherited Prewitt's characters. Well, now tell me why exactly you are here?" Muriel asked placing her book on the table.
Ron knew his Aunt only liked Bill among all Weasley sons. He should have sent Bill here instead of coming here like a stupid fool he is, Ron thought helplessly. He decided to get over with it in one go.
"Aunt, I want your tiara, it-it's not for my personal gain or anything. It is very important to fight against you-know-who. I actually want something from Gringot's account but the Goblin will only help me if I get him the tiara. Well if I give it to him once I will never be able to get it back to you. But the Goblin's help is very crucial to us." Ron stopped abruptly realizing what he said. He blurted everything before his mind processed what he was saying. He cursed inwardly for his stupidity. He know how much his Aunt loved to gossip and even worse she is a diehard fan of the stupid beetle Rita Skeetar. He doesn't know what came over him to say like that. He immediately went for his wand with an intention to 'oblivate' his Aunt. But to his utter amazement the next words came from his aunt's mouth left him stunned.
"It's not a big deal; I will give you the tiara." Muriel said seriously causing Ron to open and close his mouth like fish under water.
"I… I don't know how to thank you Aunt. I am glad that you understand the gravity of the situation." Ron said clearly he didn't anticipate this meeting to be successful. He was waiting for a 'but' to come and it came eventually.
"But, I need a favor in return and whatever we discuss here shouldn't leave this room." Muriel said without her usual criticism in her voice. Wonders never cease to end Ron thought, he is surprised and you can tell by the expression on his face it is the understatement of the year.
Ron tried to think what might Muriel ask but he came up with nothing. She is more than a century old and he didn't think she has any wishes left. Whatever it is he has to fulfill it in order to get the tiara. Merlin help me, Ron prayed whatever Muriel asks to be in his reach.
"No problem Aunt, I will do it. I would have done it even without the tiara also." Ron said with false cheeriness.
"What do you think my age would be?" Muriel asked leaving Ron dumbfounded.
"Well maybe close to 150 years." Ron answered exaggerating but his Aunt didn't seem to mind.
"Well you know I am living alone for almost more than 5 decades. I don't have any children." Muriel said.
Ron never bothered knowing about his Great-Aunt before. Thinking back he don't know anything about her except his mother is niece of her. For him she is just some old bat who insults everybody and greatly annoys him.
"After this war ends I want you to be my caretaker not like some outsider but as my grandson until my death." Muriel said looking into Ron's eyes.
Ron felt as if he is about to faint. He never liked to be present in his Aunt's presence more than necessary. But she is practically asking him to be his grandson so that she has someone with her in her old age. He can understand her situation she never had any relatives she made herself sure of that with her attitude. Even his own family doesn't like her except she barges into his family insulting and dominating everyone around her.
"Aunt, are you feeling alright? You know I am Arthur Weasley's son. You don't like us." Ron said unable to believe the situation he got himself in.
"I know you are a Weasley and that too Molly and Arthur Weasley's son. That's way I am asking you." Muriel said still looking straight in Ron's eyes causing him to shift uncomfortably.
"Aunt, you can get anybody appointed to look after you, why me?" Ron asked, he doesn't even if he can survive the war and even if he survived he don't know he can see Hermione and Harry being happy together and he can sustain his worst nightmare and the pain by seeing them.
"I can, but they will come only for my gold, unlike the Weasleys." Muriel said causing Ron to think about Percy. Not all of them aunt, Ron thought bitterly.
"I think you are choosing the wrong guy Aunt. I am definitely not the type of grandson you are looking for and moreover I don't even know I can survive the war." Ron tried desperately to make her Aunt to see the reason.
"You are the one I am actually looking for; let me tell you a secret. You know when your mother was pregnant with you she was so desperate for you to be the girl. The healer also said it was a girl. You don't know how much your mother cried when you were born. She and Arthur always wanted a girl." Muriel said.
After listening to her Ron felt as if he is back in the forest facing the Locket all over again. He always felt neglected by his parents as they never had time for him. It always hurt him but the feeling intensifies whenever he saw her parents talking to Harry and seeing his parents caring about him. Not that they didn't love him but they didn't bother enough to talk to him or have any kind of serious conversation with him, except once when his father gave him the 'talk' which was a 2 minutes awkward conversation.
They never bothered about his likings or disliking. Even how many times he told his mother he dislikes his maroon jumpers he always gets them year after year. She always forgets he dislike towards corned beef. He wouldn't have felt that much bad if he doesn't attended the Yull ball rather than attending it in the horrible robes he got where as his other siblings got at least decent enough robes. He always gets the worst of all. He always suspected but he knows now that he was a disappointment to his mother from the birth. As Ron lost in his self loathing his Aunt continued.
"I asked Molly to adopt me one of her son." Muriel paused, Ron's ears perked up. He never knew anything about this.
"I have many relatives but they never were as good as the Weasleys. With the war raging on and your father along with your uncles Fabian and Gideon were actively supporting the Order. Than your uncles were killed brutally by the death eaters and your family went into hiding. Your parents were very poor and Arthur and Molly were barely able to meet all your brother's needs. The situation got worse when Molly was once again pregnant and your father lost his job since he didn't support death eater movement. Lucius Malfoy tried very much to bring all the Pure blood families together to support you-know-who but your father didn't joined him, as a result he lost his job. Even though the situation was worse they wanted to keep the child if it was a girl or abort if it was a boy." Muriel paused to take a deep breath.
Ron felt as if the whole world twirling around him. His own parents didn't want him to be born. He wanted to shout at his Aunt to stop but he couldn't even speak his couldn't even make any sound from his throat.
"I already asked Molly to let me adopt any of her sons but she didn't agree than I… I bribed the healer so that he told you were a girl. When you were born Molly cried so much. They were barely able to meet their needs and you were nothing but the extra burden to them. I once again asked Molly to adopt me not your brothers but you. I even offered half of my estate to her in return." Muriel paused again to drink some water.
Ron never knew any of this. He caused so much pain to their parents. It would have been a great opportunity for their parents they could have got rid of the child they never wanted and in turn they also would have got enough money. He… He would have been raised by Aunt Muriel he shuddered just thinking that. He remembered Neville who grown up with his granny. No he definitely wouldn't want to be raised by his Aunt. But he is still a Weasley and that means his parents didn't agree with his Aunt.
"But your mother didn't agree. I tried my best to convince her I even told her that you will be inheriting all my property after I died and also she can have her son back if I die before you turn to 17. Your mother didn't even budge. She flatly refused to give you up. I lost my temper and I accused her that she would have killed you before you even born if not for me bribing the healer and made him to tell you that you were a girl. She was stunned first but then she said even though she considered aborting she would have never done it. She would never kill her child. We didn't talk for 2 years after that incident. For few months they struggled like anything to meet all you demands and all of the sudden you-know-who disappeared and your father got his job back and your mother was pregnant with your sister. Everything returned to normal." Muriel finished sighing loudly.
For the first time Ron believed that there is always light after darkness. His parents faced all the hurdles but they never abandoned him. After hearing all this he felt stupid for even doubting his mother's love towards him. His maroon jumper, corned beef and Yull ball robes all appeared materialistic and nothing considering all of which his parents went through. They would have gotten enough money just by giving him away but they didn't, they loved him. Her mother liked Harry because he was the reason for disappearing of you-know-who for the first time. If not for him may be his family would have starved to death.
The locket was wrong his mother loved him. So what if Hermione didn't love him. She can be happier with Harry than him. Loving someone doesn't mean wanting them to be happy only with you, wanting them happy where ever they are and whatever they choose and whoever they choose in their life. Hermione choose Harry and she is happy he will not be the reason for any sad moment in her life. He loves her; he will make sure that her rest of her life is happy and peaceful. He owes her that after all the times he made her cry.
As for Muriel she just wants a grandson she never had to look after her at her end. He can do that; he would have done that even without her giving him the tiara.
"I agree to your condition Aunt. I promise on all my magic that if I survive this war I will be your grandson and I will look after you. But I don't want your money or anything. You can give it to any charity you like." Ron said taking the wizarding oath.
Muriel took out the tiara and gave it to him. Ron removed 'muffliato' and went to his room to plan his next move.
Hermione can never remain calm when she has something in her mind. She doubts Harry and she doesn't like it one bit. She knows Harry since she is 11. He is her best friend and she can give her life without second thought but the recent incidents created doubts in her mind. She has to make sure of Harry's intentions before continuing their search. Making up her mind Hermione came outside the tent to talk to Harry. She is surprised to see Harry's shoulder shaking. She went closer to find that he is crying.
The only time Hermione saw him crying was at the end of Tri-wizard tournament. Now seeing him crying made Hermione's heart melt. All the anger towards him vanished. She knows Harry is a strong willed person. Anybody other than Harry would have broken down long ago with the responsibility he is carrying. This mission must be taking a lot out of him. Hermione gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Harry stopped shaking and quickly wiped his yes and turned to her his eyes were red.
"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Harry asked he appeared to be ashamed and embarrassed.
"Why are you crying Harry? You can talk to me. I am your best friend. Just because we had a misunderstanding doesn't mean you can't talk to me." Hermione said trying to console him and all the sudden Harry hugged her and started crying again.
"I am sorry Hermione; I shouldn't have said all those things about Ron. I don't know what I was thinking then. I shouldn't have said those things about you too. The locket influenced me a lot Hermione. I tried to fight it back. When I destroyed it… it showed me many awful things. I should have told you about that but I am so sorry Hermione." Harry said crying and hiccupping simultaneously. Hermione rubbed his back soothingly.
"Oh Harry, I should have guessed the destroying of the locket wouldn't have been easy. I know it was toying with our minds by creating doubts and fears. You should have told me. I should have known when you said you love me. It must be the after affects of the locket-" Harry stopped Hermione as he jerked away from her.
"Hermione stop it. The locket only creates hateful things it doesn't make you to love somebody. It is evil Hermione; it doesn't know anything about love. I meant it when I said I love you. I can understand if you don't feel the same and you love Ron. I won't come in your way. But just remember I always love you and always will." Harry declared and with that he went into the tent leaving Hermione.
Hermione stunned hearing Harry's declaration, for one moment she felt happy hearing it was the effect of locket. But if Harry has feelings for her she doesn't know what happens to Ginny. If Harry had said this long ago by this time she would have convinced him otherwise. It is still not too late. She has to make him realize his love towards Ginny. She tried to convince herself thinking that since she stood with him in difficult times, he misunderstood his affection towards her as love, Hermione tried to convince herself even though her mind is shouting it isn't the case.