A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took a little longer. There are certain conversations that need to happen and I had some trouble deciding when they were to happen. I figured it out so chapters should be coming faster.
Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think :)
Chapter 4
The next morning Hermione and Ginny are the last to arrive for breakfast. As Minerva predicted Ginny was still awake when Hermione arrived in the dungeon. They ended up going to bed quite late because they talked about the new law and Hermione's reaction for a while. For a brief moment during that conversation Hermione considered telling Ginny all the reasons why she's angry about the marriage law but eventually settled on telling Ginny she wants to marry out of love and not because of some law. Hermione is not sure if Ginny will be as understanding as Minerva about her sexual orientation and isn't ready yet for the possibility of losing one of her best friends.
When Hermione follows Ginny into the kitchen Professor Slughorn calls her.
"Miss Granger, I saved you a seat, would you do me the honor of sitting next to me over breakfast?"
Hermione isn't sure what the Professor is playing at but quickly decides it's probably harmless and sits down next to him. He immediately pours her some Pumpkin juice and starts up conversation. "Miss Granger, may I call you Hermione?"
"Sure." Hermione is a little surprised with this request and wonders what the potions Professor is up to. "Hermione. As you know I have a lot of contacts in all sorts of places including the ministry. I believe my contacts combined with the fact that I have a good job here at Hogwarts make me excellent husband material." Hermione gets an uneasy feeling about where Professor Slughorn is going with his speech but doesn't know how to stop him without being rude. She carefully looks around and sees Minerva looking at her with sympathy. Ginny on the other hand seems to be doing her best to look anywhere but at Hermione. "You, Hermione," Professor Slughorn continues, "as a member of the Golden Trio are excellent wife material. I therefore believe the two of us would make quite the power couple. So what do you think Hermione?" Hermione looks at him confused. What is she supposed to say to that? "What do I think about what Professor?"
"Marrying me of course." Professor Slughorn answers as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. Hermione knows that as a member of the Golden Trio it is likely people will propose to her in light of the new law. She did however hope they would be a little more romantic than sum up the qualities of both parties. This sounds more as a merger proposition than a marriage proposal.
"You're proposing to me?" She needs to be sure she's got this right, because a small part of her can not believe her potions Professor is proposing to her.
"As a matter of fact I am. So what do you say Hermione. Will you marry me?"
"No!" Hermione blurts out immediately.
"No? And why not? I believe we would be a wonderful match." Professor Slughorn presses and suddenly Hermione doesn't care anymore whether or not she is rude.
"I disagree Professor. Besides the fact that you're my Professor..." Professor Slughorn opens his mouth to protest but Hermione holds up her hand to silence him. "I did not attend last year, but I do plan on returning to finish Hogwarts. Beside the whole student teacher thing I also believe we would never work as a couple because to you I would be nothing more than a trophy, nothing more than a wife to show off at functions or the Slug Club. And I believe I deserve more than that."
By the time Hermione is finished Professor Slughorn is deep red and leaves the kitchen while mumbling something that sounds a lot like 'too feisty for my liking'. Hermione is so focussed on the Professor that she doesn't see the lovestruck smile Ginny sends her way. Minerva however does.
The rest of breakfast is a quiet affair and soon they are off to the Great Hall. While on the way Hermione asks Ginny something she's been wondering since she heard of the law.
"Hey Ginny, I forgot to ask yesterday with all the consternation, but when are you and Harry planning to get married?"
"I'm not marrying Harry."
"What? Why not? I figured the two of you would reconcile after the war."
"Yeah… Well things have changed." Ginny offers as an explanation. Hermione looks intently at Ginny. "You do know at some point you're going to have to explain to me what you mean, right?"
"Yeah… Just, maybe when we're somewhere a little less crowded."
"Alright. How about we go to the lake for lunch? Have a little picnic." Hermione proposes
"Sounds good."
They arrive at the Great Hall and Minerva sends Hermione to the other end of the hall while she takes Ginny with her.
They've been working for a little while when Minerva speaks up. "I couldn't help but notice your reactions to the marriage proposal Hermione got this morning Miss Weasley."
"Oh." Ginny doesn't know what to say. She wonders what the Professor is after.
"I was a little confused. At first you tried your best to look anywhere but at Hermione when she needed the support and then at the end when she said no you had a smile on your face that lit the whole room. Why?"
"Why what Professor?"
"Why did you ignore your friend when she needed you most and why did your smile light the whole room." Minerva elaborates.
Ginny looks at her feet. She doesn't want to answer these questions because the answers will reveal her feelings. Feelings she has only shared with her mother. Feelings which she isn't sure she's ready to share with someone else. Ginny gets jerked out of her thoughts by Minerva's hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I do however believe I already know the answer and I want you to know two things. First and foremost. There is nothing wrong with what you are feeling. Secondly I want you to know you can talk to me about this. I realise I might not seem like the first choice but sometimes talking to someone who isn't very close to you can give a new perspective. Also know that even though I might be friends with Hermione, this does not mean I'll run to her with whatever you tell me. Your secret's safe with me." Than Minerva turns and walks off to a different part of the hall leaving Ginny alone to think about what she's just been told.
When it's time for lunch Hermione comes to find Ginny with a package containing some sandwiches and juice. Together they walk to their favorite spot at the lake. Hermione transfigures some leaves into comfortable chairs and a little table to put their food on. Once they've settled down Hermione immediately dives in.
"You said things change. What has changed?"
Ginny contemplates how much she wants to reveal. She decides on, "I'm not in love with Harry anymore."
Hermione chuckles humourless. "I don't think love is going to play too big a role with that damn marriage law. I would however like to know what made your feelings change. Before the boys and I ran off you were a lovestruck girl."
Ginny contemplates what to answer without lying or tell Hermione something she's not ready to share with her.
"I don't really know. Looking back now I'm not really sure I was ever in love with Harry. I mean I liked him, I still do but somewhere during the last year I started to realise I missed Harry in a similar way as I missed Ron, like a brother."
"I understand. However with this law maybe marrying Harry is a good idea? Who knows who the ministry will pair you with. At least with Harry you know that the two of you get along and he'll treat you right."
Ginny laughs. "I guess you would have a point if it weren't for the children part of the law. Having sex with Harry would be like having sex with a brother. That's wrong in so many ways."
Hermione looks at Ginny a little shocked before she starts laughing as well. " You're right. Best not marry Harry."
The two of them eat the rest of their lunch in comfortable silence with one of them giggle every now and then thinking about the weirdness of marrying one's brother. They're almost finished when Hermione sees an owl looking a lot like Hedwig carrying a letter and a bouquet of roses coming their way. During their year at the run Harry told Hermione he would be getting an owl similar to Hedwig once the war was over. As a tribute of sorts because he missed his owl so much. Hermione therefor has an inkling who the owl is for and what it's message entails.
"Hey Gin? Have you talked to Harry about your changed feelings?"
"No. I planned to go see him tomorrow."
"I think tomorrow is too late." Hermione says, pointing to the owl as explanation.
"That owl looks a lot like Hedwig." Ginny comments.
"Harry told me he missed Hedwig a lot and would be getting a new owl similar to her once the war was over." The owl lands on Ginny's lap holding out its foot to hand over the letter and flowers. Ginny takes them and gives the owl a bit of her sandwich and watches it fly off before opening the letter.
Dear Ginny,
I'm sorry I didn't reach out to you right after the end of the battle. However I felt you needed some time alone with your family, while I myself felt the need for a little solitude to process everything that has happened.
Originally I planned to give the both of us a little more time. However with the marriage law coming in affect shortly my plans changed. I went to the Burrow this morning to talk about us, the law and the consequences. Unfortunately you were not home. You mother informed me you're helping with repairs at Hogwarts. Instead of coming over right away and disrupt the work I thought it best to announce my arrival, I will come to Hogwarts for dinner tonight and hope we can talk.
Love,
Harry
P.S. I brought you flowers and will send them with this letter before they wither.
When Ginny is done reading she hands the letter to Hermione.
"You're right tomorrow is too late. It will be tonight."
Hermione reads the letter and looks at Ginny with sympathie.
"I'm sorry it has to be like this. I know you would've wanted to have this conversation in a different setting. If you want I can stay close in case you need support?
"Yeah, I think I'd like that."
The two of them clean up after themselves before returning to the Great Hall for repairs.
Everybody has just sat down for dinner when Edo appears next to Minerva. "Headmistress. There is a Mr. Potter at the gates asking for entrance."
"Please let him in and make sure he finds his way here." Minerva says.
Ginny looks a little nervous at Hermione. She's going to break the heart of the boy she considers her seventh brother. Even though Ginny knows she has to do this she dreads the pain she will cause.
When Harry walks into the kitchen everyone falls quiet. Ginny and Hermione, who are seated with their backs toward the kitchen door, turn around and are speechless. Harry has decided to go all out in this and is carrying a huge bunch of roses, a heart shaped box of chocolates and several heart shaped balloons. Harry confidently walks up to Ginny and moves on one knee.
"Ginerva Molly Weasley, would you do me the honor of being your husband. Will you marry me?" He holds out a big diamond ring and looks up at Ginny expectantly. Ginny kneels down in front of him, takes his hands and whispers with tears in her eyes, "I'm so sorry for hurting you, but my answer is no." First surprise takes over Harry's face before it settles on sadness and hurt. "Why?" he asks.
"Let's go somewhere private so I can explain." Ginny tries, knowing everybody is watching and trying to listen.
"I don't need to be somewhere private, I only need to know why." Harry answers in a whisper while tears threaten to fall.
Ginny takes a few deep breaths and decides on ripping off the bandage.
"During the last year I've come to realise a few things. One of those things is that my love for you is the kind siblings shear. I love you like a brother."
"But isn't a marriage with that kind of love better than ending up in a loveless marriage arranged by the ministry?" Harry reasons.
"You deserve someone who can truly love you Harry."
"But I only want your love, whatever form that love comes in."
Ginny makes a quick decision and casts a muffliato before giving Harry more of an explanation.
"I know you would settle for any love I can share, but the fact that I don't love you in a romantic way isn't the only reason my answer is no. I've also realised I'm in love with someone else. The feeling isn't mutual so I've got a pretty good idea of the position I would put you in if I would marry you. I believe a marriage arranged by the ministry where both parties are not in love would be better than being in a marriage where one person loves the other but is not loved back. I am really sorry for breaking your heart but I believe in the end both of us will be happier this way."
Harry mulls over Ginny's words and nods his head. "As much as it hurts to know my love is unrequited, you are right. It is probably for the best." He looks around and only now realises Ginny cast a muffliato.
"You haven't told Hermione about this have you?"
"I told her I'm not in love with you. I didn't tell her I'm in love with someone else. And I would really appreciate it if you could keep this to yourself."
"Of course. Thank you for trusting me. Now I think it's time for me to leave. I hope in time we can be friends?"
"I hope so to." Ginny answers and hugs Harry before canceling the muffliato. Once the spell is cancelled Harry gets up and walks out of the kitchen without looking back.
