AN – I own nothing!

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Chapter 34

Everyone was seated around the table, with a variety of mouth watering foods and cake that Molly had made. All of them, eating happily, except for Ron. Hermione was seated across from Ron this time, next to Harry and Tonks. Remus was the one that switched places with Hermione. Hermione ignored him completely joining in various discussions around the table, pissing Ron off all the more.

"Did you go to all the Italian designer stores and spend loads of money?" Ginny asked.

"I sure did," Hermione grinned. She remembered the times when Severus grumbled and complained. "I'd say I spent six digits easily."

"Merlin Hermione," Fred said. "That's a lot of money."

"Yeah," George agreed. "Who knows, maybe one day, we'll be able to spend that much. Our joke shop is doing quite well." When they had graduated, they were able to open a joke shop with at Hogsmeade. With all the money that they made selling items in school, they were able to save enough money to open their store, Zonko's Joke Shop.

"The both of you are successful entrepreneurs," Arthur stated. "You make more money than I do. Which makes me ask you again… When are you going to move out?" Fred and George could very well afford living on their own, and were grown men as it was.

"When we're married," George replied.

"Why should we move out when we can live here, rent free?" Fred added. He and his brother then started to laugh.

Arthur sighed and shook his head as he looked at Molly, who just shrugged. Neither of them could argue with their twin sons.

"Hey, can't I work for you or something for extra cash?" Ron asked. He was always jealous of his older siblings. They were all successful and had their own jobs. It wasn't the first time he asked them for help. His allowance with his parents was lower than he liked.

Fred shook his head.

George said, "Told you, we don't need an extra pair of hands. We did things on our own for extra cash. You have to do the same."

"He's got a point," Molly stated.

"What you give isn't enough," Ron complained.

"Ron!" Arthur said angrily. He wasn't going to have the same argument with his son again. Out of all his children, it was Ron that complained about everything and compared himself with everyone else.

Suddenly, there was a big white owl that flew into the house. It circled the table a few times, and dropped and envelope into Harry's lap. It flew out, not asking for a bite to eat, like other owls usually did when they had dropped personal letters.

"Who's it from?" Sirius asked. He and everyone looked at Harry as he examined the seal on the envelope.

Harry's eyes widened as he saw the seal of the royal family. "It's from the King," he answered.

"Don't open it Harry, it might be trapped with poison or something," Ron suddenly said.

Harry frowned at Ron, and said, "Whatever." He then ripped the envelope open, and pulled out a letter and read it. "King Richard is inviting me at Wellington castle this weekend for lunch. He wants to meet me."

"That's something," Percy said, as others just smiled.

Ron shook his head. "I wouldn't go. I don't trust him. He's a faker, I tell you."

Hermione just kept silent and shut her jaw. Ron was making her angrier again. It was true; he didn't like King Richard, her grandfather.

"Did you hear about King Richard?" Ginny asked Hermione.

"Yeah," was all that Hermione could say. She really wanted to slap Ron, or punch him.

"Don't go Harry. He's a traitor. He put Fudge up, and looked what happened? Corruption. He's just as bad, and corrupt as he is. He may even be a follower of the Dark Lord you know. I can't believe Dumbledore allowed him to join the Order."

"That's enough!" Molly scolded him. "I don't want to hear you saying terrible things about our leader. I am truly ashamed of you Ron. How could you think about such things?"

"How could you now?" Ron countered back.

Ron was very opinionated about everything. He saw things differently, had his own beliefs, and stood his own ground. His parents and his family wondered why he always was different. He stood out of the family like a sore thumb when it came to such topics. Most of the time, or rather, all the time, he was sadly mistaken. How could he see things so differently, and in the wrong way? Molly and Arthur brought him up, just like they had brought up their other children. They never played favoritism. Ron felt differently of course because it always seemed like everyone was against him.

"Well, I think that you should accept the invitation," Arthur told Harry. "It would be rude not to. And not a lot of people get to meet the King, and dine in his own home. It is a once in a lifetime experience, that you should accept."

Ron shook his head. "You'll probably get killed," he grumbled. It was only Ginny that heard him. "Ouch!" he said as he felt her kick his leg.

"Stop!" she hissed.

Ron made a face at her, and stuck his tongue out.

Ginny rolled her eyes. Even though Ron was older than her, he acted like a five year old. It was really annoying. Being the only daughter wasn't the biggest headache she had to deal with in her home. It was Ron.

"I'll go," Harry said, as he slightly gave a nod to Hermione. He had a feeling what was to happen. He knew who was going to be present at the lunch meeting.

Hermione acknowledged him and understood him. Her grandfather had talked to her and Severus about meeting up with Harry. After all, he was the-boy-who-lived.

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Hermione was seated outside on the porch swing alone. She needed to get away from Ron. Being with him, in the same room made her feel cluster-phobic. How dare he treat her the way he did! How dare he say such rude and absurd statements about her grandfather! Her hate for him kept on progressing.

A smile formed on her lips as she remembered that she was with a child. She couldn't wait until later and tell Severus. She didn't know how he would react, but she had a feeling that she'd be happy with the news like she was.

She imagined how it would be. She a mother and Severus a father. There would be much love to give to the child. he would grow up in a loving family, and hopefully, grow up in a Voldemort-free world. She started to worry when he crossed her mind. What would happen if he knew? Now her life was in more jeopardy. Hermione's train of thought was interrupted when she saw Ron open the front door and walk towards her.

"Hi Hermione," Ron said in a surprisingly calm tone.

Hermione didn't say anything, but turned away from him when he sat himself down next to her. She felt insulted; he didn't even asked permission to sit next to her. Again, he was sitting a little too close to her. She couldn't scoot further away. She was between him, and the arm of the swing.

"I'm a nice guy," Ron stated. "So, I'll forgive you."

What the fuck?! Hermione's head snapped as she turned to face him. She didn't need his forgiveness. It was him that acted like a childish immature prick, not her. "I'm not apologizing for anything," she said.

"That's what you'll say now, but you'll regret it eventually and come to your senses." He started to sound all cocky. "You don't want to lose me, I know that."

"Ron, we are just friends—nothing more."

"No, we are more than that. I can see it. Why can't you?" maybe he had to do something to make er see things the way he did.

"For the last-" Hermione was interrupted midsentence as Ron roughly planted his mouth on hers. His tongue demanding entrance on her lips. His arms and hands, wrapped around her tightly, forcing her against him.

Hermione's eyes widened in shock. She gasped accidentally allowing Ron's tongue inside her mouth. He tried to kiss her, making her want to gag. She tried to squirm free from his gasp and push him away. Failure was her outcome since her entire upper body was locked in his strong embrace.

"Miss Granger!" Severus hissed in a very angry and scary tone. This made Hermione and Ron pull away from each other, staring wide eyed at him. Their mouths gaping open, and lips swollen. He couldn't believe what his eyes had just seen.

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AN – Don't hate me for another cliffy. Review!