An Olive Branch.
In an attempt to start the new season on a positive note, Harry had arranged a private dinner for the players and coaching staff at a fancy restaurant on the day of the first game of the season. The fact The Cannons had won their first match of the season only added to the festive atmosphere, and Harry watched the laughing and joking with a smile on his face. The atmosphere around the team was great, and thankfully the recent press activity hadn't had any negative effect. In fact the team were more united and upbeat than they'd been at all during the previous season.
Harry could now clearly see the negative effect Ron and Ginny had placed on the team the previous season. Even though they were only two people, recent events proved what a negative effect they'd been subconsciously having on the team. But now with Ron out of the picture and Ginny's fresh attitude, it was as though all the negativity had left The Cannons camp. Despite now being in charge for slightly over a year, Harry was really just beginning to feel as though his journey with The Cannons was starting in earnest. The first year had been a bumpy ride, but hopefully with their problems behind them, the club could look to the future.
As rosy as the club's future looked, Harry couldn't help but dwell on private matters. He'd been devastated by the interview Ron had given to Rita Skeeter, and he was still struggling to accept his best friend had betrayed him in such a way. Of course he knew from Ginny and a few of the other Weasleys that Ron seemed genuinely sorry, but he hadn't yet spoken to his redheaded best friend. Harry wanted to speak to Ron, as he was hoping to fix things between them, but he was also scared of how things might end up. He knew that unless Ron was really going to change, all the apologies in the world wouldn't make a difference. He'd apologised before for the times he's messed up, only to make the same mistakes again and again. Harry knew an apology wasn't going to cut it this time, if he was going to remain friends with Ron, his friend needed to change.
"You seem deep in thought," Ginny remarked, nudging Harry gently in the side.
"I am," Harry confessed, turning to his girlfriend. Since Ginny's change of attitude things were going from strength to strength between the couple, and Harry hoped that Ron was able to follow his sister's lead and change his attitude before they fell out for good.
"What about?" Ginny asked, even though she had a sneaking suspicion it involved her brother. Ginny wanted nothing more than to fix things between Ron and his two best friends, but she knew it wasn't wise to push things and that it was up to Harry and Hermione to decide if they could give Ron another chance.
"Ron," Harry answered with a sigh. "I miss him."
"And he misses you," Ginny said, lacing her fingers through Harry's and squeezing slightly. "I know he was a fool, and you know I was as mad as anyone when I read that awful interview he gave, but he is genuinely sorry. I know it probably doesn't help with the sense of betrayal, but I really think the interview was the wake-up call he needed. Ron knows your friendship is on the line, which is why he's waiting for you to make the first move."
"It's not easy though," Harry admitted. "I'm not sure I'm over the betrayal yet, and I know Hermione isn't. Even if I can forgive Ron and we can fix things, I don't know if Hermione can just yet. I don't want to be torn between the pair of them, Ginny."
"You need to talk to Hermione," Ginny advised. "Given what's happened, I think it's understandable that she's finding it harder to forgive Ron. But she's a good person. Even if she's not ready to speak to Ron, I don't think she'll object to you doing so."
"So you think I should be honest with her, and tell her I want to try and fix things with Ron," Harry said, flicking his gaze down the long table to where Hermione was sitting. His best friend was sitting chatting to Alicia and Angelina, but she was sitting next to Draco and, Harry could see the blond had his arm draped over the back of her chair, despite the fact he was talking to Theo.
"Honesty is the best policy," Ginny said with a nod. "Hermione's your partner, Harry, you don't want to alienate her."
"No, I don't," Harry agreed. "But I do want to fix things with Ron. He's been my best friend since I was eleven, and it kills me to think we might not be friends anymore."
"You don't regret buying the club, do you?" Ginny asked, surprised by the depth of her boyfriend's suffering in regards to her brother.
"Despite everything that's happened over the last year, I don't," Harry answered, not even having to think about it. "I regret the way things have gone with Ron, but I don't regret buying the club. I wouldn't change owning The Cannons for anything. I'm just hoping that ultimately it doesn't cost me my best friend."
"It won't," Ginny replied confidently. "Ron's just waiting for you to approach him. I don't think you're going to regret giving him another chance."
"I hope not," Harry replied quietly, letting his gaze once again fall back to Hermione, who had now turned around and was whispering quietly with Draco.
For the next half hour, Harry mentally plucked up the courage to go and speak to Hermione about Ron. As much as he wanted to sort things with Ron, he didn't want to jeopardise his friendship with Hermione. He knew Hermione had been deeply wounded by Ron's interview, not to mention the other remarks he'd made about her private life, and he didn't want her to think that he was condoning Ron's behaviour in any way. However, things couldn't carry on the way they were, and he wanted to try and put his life back to normal, and that meant fixing things with his oldest friend.
When Harry spotted Draco getting up to visit the bathroom, he took the opportunity to move down the table and slide into the seat next to Hermione. He doubted Draco would mind as the meal was nearly over and people had been switching seats all evening. Besides, he just wanted a quick word with Hermione before she undoubtedly headed home with Draco to celebrate him catching the snitch in the first game of the new season.
"This was a great idea, Harry," Hermione said with a smile. "I think everyone's having a great time."
"That was the idea," Harry replied with a grin. "So I take it, you're having a good time."
"I am," Hermione confirmed with a nod of her head. "Are you? You seem a little quiet tonight?"
"I've just got something on my mind," Harry admitted. "It's something I would like to talk to you about actually."
"Do we need to go somewhere private?" Hermione questioned with a frown, wondering if Harry had a problem that he needed to discuss with her.
"Here should be fine, unless you were rather we were alone," Harry replied.
"We'll just stay here then," Hermione said. "So come on Harry, what's on your mind?"
"Ron."
Hermione's face lit up in understanding as she gave her partner a small smile. "You miss him."
"I do," Harry confessed in a small voice. "I don't forgive him for what he did, but I want to. I want to move on and be friends again."
"And what? You're worried that I'm going to object?" Hermione asked.
"Not object exactly," Harry replied. "More like, I don't want you to feel I'm choosing him over you. I just want him back in my life, providing he's going to change his attitude."
"I understand, Harry," Hermione said with a sigh. "In fact, I feel the same. I want to sort things with him, I'm just not ready. I can't forgive him yet."
"Maybe what you need is proof he's really changed," Harry suggested. "Maybe it'll be easier to forgive him, once I've made amends with him."
"Maybe," Hermione agreed with a thoughtful nod. "I never wanted things to get this bad with Ron, and while I don't know if things can ever get back to how they were, I would like to have him in my life. But I need to be sure I can trust him, Harry. And more importantly, he needs to accept my choices and stop insulting my boyfriend."
"I'll make all that clear to him," Harry vowed. "And when you're ready, I can maybe help mend things between you."
"I'd like that," Hermione said, smiling at Harry as she gave him a quick hug.
Feeling relieved that everything was fine with Hermione, Harry finally relaxed and enjoyed the rest of his evening. He felt much better knowing he was going to try and fix things with Ron. All he could do now was hope that Ginny was right, and that her brother had truly seen the error of his ways and wanted to start afresh.
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Ron had seriously thought about attending The Cannons first match of the season, but in the end he'd decided that it wouldn't have been a wise move. Instead he listened to the match on the radio, and he actually surprised himself when he didn't feel any jealousy when his former team won. Even though he'd accepted his time with The Cannons was over, all due to his own mistakes, he'd still expected to feel resentful towards his former club when it came to them winning and doing well without him. However, it had been a pleasant surprise when they'd won that Ron's overwhelming feeling was happiness for Harry and Hermione. He genuinely did want his friends to be successful, and recent events had helped him grow up and realise just how badly he'd behaved over the last year.
However, despite his happiness for Harry and Hermione that their season had gotten off to a winning start, Ron still couldn't help but dwell on the fact neither of them had been in touch since his disastrous interview had been published. He'd followed Ginny's advice and released a statement apologising for the interview, and then he'd kept a low profile. He'd refused to talk to anymore journalists, and even though he was desperate to talk to Harry and Hermione, he refrained from bothering them. He knew that if he wanted to make amends, he was going to have to be patient and prove to Harry and Hermione that he was genuinely sorry this time.
The day after The Cannons first game, Ron's patience was rewarded when Harry unexpectedly turned up at his flat. Ron was so stunned to see Harry when he opened his door that he stood in stunned silence for a couple of minutes before he gathered his thoughts and invited Harry inside. Leaving Harry in the front room, Ron hurried off to make some tea as he tried to calm down and get his thoughts in order.
The only time Ron could ever recall any real tension between himself and Harry was in fourth year, when he'd reacted like a petulant child when Harry was entered into The Triwizard Tournament. Ron had been insanely jealous of the attention Harry had received and in his jealousy he'd refused to believe that Harry hadn't found a way to dupe the Goblet of Fire. It had led to a falling out between the boys, and it had taken them months to fix the rift that had developed between them. Thankfully they'd done so and it hadn't harmed their friendship in any way, and Ron was hoping that they could do the same again and move on with their friendship.
"Here we are, freshly brewed tea," Ron announced nervously as he returned to the front room and placed a tea tray down on his battered coffee table.
"Thanks," Harry replied with a short nod of his head, although he made no move to grab a cup of tea.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," Ron began as he perched on the seat opposite his friend. "I know I don't deserve to be forgiven, but all I can do is throw myself on your mercy."
"Ron, stop," Harry interrupted, holding up a hand to stop Ron before the redhead got carried away. "I'm not here for an apology. To be honest, an apology won't just magically fix things. You've apologised before, and then messed up again. What you need to do now is prove that you're sorry."
"I can do that," Ron said eagerly, latching onto the hope that Harry wasn't visiting to end their friendship completely. "Because I am sorry. I just wish I hadn't spent the last year acting like such an arsehole."
"I agree with you there," Harry said with a wry smile. "I wish this last year had been different, but it wasn't. I would rather just move on and forget about recent events. You're my best friend Ron, and I don't want to lose your friendship."
"I don't want to lose yours either," Ron replied sincerely. "I know after everything I've done, I'm lucky you're still talking to me. And I just have to accept that I've lost Hermione."
"Not just yet, you haven't," Harry said. "I'm not going to lie, Ron. You've totally destroyed her with some of the things you've said and done. She's nowhere near ready to forgive you, but she does hope to save your friendship."
"I'll do anything," Ron swore.
"Then just be patient," Harry advised. "If you want Hermione back in your life, you're going to have to show her you've changed. And you're going to have to accept Draco. Can you do that?"
"I can't pretend to like him, because I don't," Ron said. "But I can learn to tolerate him. It's Hermione life and if she's happy, than I can accept him. I will never say or do anything that will hurt Hermione again."
"And that's all we ask," Harry said, hoping that Ron meant it and could stick to his word. "This is your final chance, Ron. Not just with Hermione, but with me as well. Recent events have hit Hermione harder, but I've still been affected. You still stabbed me in the back as well."
"I know, and I can't express how sorry I am," Ron said sheepishly. "All I can do is prove to you that I can be a good friend again. I've been a complete git for the last year, and it's time I started to make amends. I will earn your trust back, and I will prove to Hermione that I'm sorry and can be trusted again. I won't let you down again, Harry."
Harry nodded as he reached forward and picked up his tea. He hoped Ron was right, for all their sakes, but it was a chance he had to take. He couldn't walk away without giving his best friend one more chance to make amends. Although, hopefully Ron would grab the chance with both hands and make sure he didn't do anything to mess things up again, or else he would lose Harry and Hermione's friendship for good.