A/N: This update is later than usual. The weather here has been very nice and I spend a lot of time enjoying the sun that I usually would have spend writing and I'm honestly not sorry about that :).
A lot of time elapses and a lot happens in this chapter, this causes the chapter to be a bit choppy. I hope it's still readable.
Chapter 7
After dinner Minerva and Hermione stay at the Burrow for the night so that they along with Ginny can easily floo to the ministry the next morning where they will get a portkey to Australia.
Their surch starts at the ministry of magic in Australia. Minerva still has a few contacts from her time working at the Ministry and one of her contacts is able to get them into the muggle ministry of migration affairs. Even though Hermione knows when she planted the idea of moving to Australia in her parents head it still takes them a week to find their papers. Hoping her parents haven't moved since arriving in Australia Hermione and her companions head to the village Hermione's parents live according to the migration papers. After confirming Hermione's parents live indeed at the address they found the women decide Hermione will meet her parents alone while Minerva and Ginny wait at a bench nearby. When Hermione has left Minerva turns to Ginny. This is the first time they are alone since Ginny came out to Minerva, and Minerva plans on continuing that conversation and hopefully get a little closer to getting the girls together.
"So Tell me Ginerva, have you come to a decision who of your brothers is going to be the first you come out to. Or have you decided to tell your father first?"
"I told my dad a few days ago. It actually went better than I thought it would. He told me he didn't care who I fall in love with, as long as he gets to threaten them and walk me down the aisle." Ginny tells Minerva while chuckling.
"Good to hear you're having all these positive experiences. Have you considered telling more people?"
"Yeah, I'm going to tell Fred, George and Bill when we're back."
"Hmmm, and outside of family? Any friends you want to tell?" Minerva asks.
"If you're asking whether I'm going to tell Hermione, the answer is no. At least not now. Maybe if all of my brothers know, or maybe I'll wait until I get paired by the ministry. Dad said the ministry takes sexual orientation into account, so maybe I'll wait till I'm paired with a girl and then she'll know."
"It is obviously your decision but I would really recommend telling her sooner rather than later. She would like to hear that kind of information from her friend and not from some ministry announcement." Minerva tells Ginny sternly.
"I know, I just need some more time ok?"
"Alright."
They sit in a comfortable silence for a little while more until Hermione comes to get them.
"Minerva, Ginny, you can come. I restored their memories and told them the short version of what has happened this past year. We still have a lot to talk about but they told me to get you first. Apparently I'm being a bad host leaving you out here." Hermione tells the other women while practically bouncing up and down. Minerva and Ginny follow Hermione into her parents house and the five of them spend several days catching up and getting to know each other. When it is time for Hermione, Ginny and Minerva to go back to England the air between Hermione and her parents is cleared and the Grangers have started to make arrangements to move back as well. It will take them a few more months to get everything in order, but everyone is positive Hermione will be spending Christmas with her parents in England.
They arrive back at the Burrow only two weeks after they left. Although it isn't a long time Molly acts like they have been gone for months, insisting on a feast the evening of their arrival with the Weasleys and Harry.
Shortly after Molly leaves the women to send out word to her husband, sons and Harry, Ron walks into the kitchen. He's surprised to see them but determination soon replaces his surprised expression.
"Hi, you're back. Did everything work out in Australia?" Ron asks Hermione.
"Yes it did, my parents expect to be back in England before Christmas."
"That's good news. Listen Hermione, I would like to speak to you in private." Ron starts and holds up his hand when both Hermione and Minerva open their mouth to tell him no.
"You have every reason not to want to talk to me in private. However I want to apologise for some things and I don't think those things are any business of Ginny and Professor Mcgonagall." Ron continues. Hermione contemplates everything Ron said for a few moments but before she can tell him yes he speaks up again. "I'll leave my wand here with Professor Mcgonagall if it makes you feel better. Please? It will only take a few minutes." Ron actually begs and Hermione is afraid he will actually kneel down to beg of she doesn't agree fast enough.
"Alright. Your room?"
"Yes." Ron hurries to his room and waits till Hermione is seated on his bed before he sits down on the window still.
"Please let me finish before you get angry okay? I already send a letter to Hogwarts the day after you left for Australia, but since you're here now I also want to apologize in person. I figure I at least owe you that. I'm sorry Hermione. I'm sorry for not really listening when you told me I was nothing more than a friend, I'm sorry for proposing, persisting and not listening when you said no and I'm sorry I drove you to the point where you felt pressured to come out to me. Lastly I want to apologize for outing you to my mum. After you stormed out my mum came and we had a talk. I told her what you said and she explained to me that coming out is difficult even more so if you come out before you're ready. Which was the case when I pressured you to marry me. Even though I told my mum I want you to know your secret's safe with me. I haven't told anybody and I will not tell anybody until you tell me it's okay."
"Apology accepted. I should not have let you rile me up like that, I've known your temper for years."
"My temper should not be an excuse for my behaviour and I've finally come to the conclusion that I need to do something about it. I've been to a healer-therapist last week and he going to help me with my temper. Nobody knows though so I would really appreciate it if you could keep it a secret."
"A very wise and mature decision Ron, I'm proud of you. And obviously I will keep your secret." Hermione assures Ron and gives him a hug before the two of them go back to the kitchen.
When the two of them get in the kitchen they only find Molly preparing dinner.
"Dinner is almost finished. We'll be having it outside, since it's such beautiful weather. Ron could you take the bread please. Hermione and I will bring the rest in a minute." Molly tells them. When Ron has left the kitchen Molly turns to Hermione. "Do I need to have another conversation with my son or has he behaved himself?"
"No need for a conversation with him Mrs. Weasley. He was a perfect gentleman and only apologized."
"Good to hear there is still hope for him." Molly says with a chuckle.
"He also told me he told you of our conversation before I went to Australia." Hermione starts but gets interrupted by Molly.
"He did, and I promised not to tell anybody."
"He told me, that was not why I'm bringing it up though." Hermione says while taking deep breaths to stay calm. Again she get's interrupted by Molly.
"Listen Hermione, I don't want to have this conversation with you because you feel you have to talk to me because you know I know. In fact I don't want you to bring it up to me until you feel ready to talk about it. Now could you please take these plates out back." Molly said sternly and handed Hermione plates with food.
Dinner starts a little awkward when Harry ends up sitting next to Ginny, obviously not knowing how to handle himself after her rejection and revelation, but there are no more incidents and dinner is quite enjoyable for the women.
The rest of the summer Ginny, Hermione and Minerva split their time between Hogwarts, the ministry and Hermione childhood home.
At Hogwarts they tend to the small repairs now the big structural damage has been repaired, At Hermione's home they clean up and make some magical modifications. Hermione has received special permission from Minister Shacklebolt to connect her parents house to the floo network and use some spells on the garden so the neighbors won't see people apparating or her parents owl. Hermione has bought her parents an owl as a welcome home present so it will be easier to stay in touch. Least favorite are the trips to the ministry for all of them. The ministry has rounded up what's left of the death eaters and Voldemort supporters. The women are called in as witnesses in a lot of the trials. Most death eaters and a lot of their supporters, including Ombridge to the delight of all three women, are sentenced to live in Azkaban. Only exceptions are Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. Both are sentenced to some community service and will be closely monitored. Narcissa gets such a light sentence because of Harry's testimony that she lied to Voldemort about Harry being dead and thus helped him defeat Voldemort. Draco isn't send to Azkaban after both his parents testify, while under the influence of Veritaserum, that Draco only joined the death eaters after pressure from his father and threats to his parents life. This in combination with the testimonies of the Golden Trio that he did not give up their identities when they were at Malfoy Manor let Draco off the hook although part of his sentence is finishing Hogwarts, though he is not allowed in the Slytherin common room.
In evenings and free hours here and there Hermione helps Ginny study for her exams and with this help Ginny passes the exams with flying colors. The girls will finish their Hogwarts education together.
Both Molly and Minerve talk to Ginny about coming out to Hermione, she however keeps standfast and after a few talks refuses to have anymore conversations with both Molly and Minerva about her sexual orientation. Ginny however does find a moment to talk to some of her brothers. This happens about a week after her return from Australia. Fred and George have just finished repairs on their shop and the apartment above and Ginny invites herself and Bill, who the Ginny's discomfort insists in bringing Fleur, for dinner. Even though Fleur is there Ginny decides to go ahead and come out to her brothers. Reminding herself that even if Fleur wouldn't have been there Bill would have shared what she had to tell with his wife.
Ginny is quiet during dinner and this does not go unnoticed by her brothers and sister-in-law. It is Fleur who brings it up during dessert.
"You are very quiet Ginny, what is the matter?"
Ginny looks up and visibly gulps. No time like the present, just like ripping of a band aid she reminds herself.
"I'm g-gay." She blurts out before closing her eyes waiting for the blow, instead slender arms pull her into an embrace and Fleur whispers in her ear. "I'm so proud you finally have started telling people!" Ginny opens her eyes and looks at Fleur in surprise. "You knew?"
"Yes, it's the Veela in me. She knows matters of the heart. Have you confessed your feelings to your lady-love?"
"No I have not nor will I." Ginny tells Fleur resolutely. She looks to her brothers a little apprehensive wondering why they haven't reacted. Before she can ask them about it she is engulfed in a family hug by her brothers.
"I love you." Bill whispers
"One can never have enough sisters-in-law." George says with a grin
"I told you we should make gay love and lust potions for … Oomph." Fred get smacked in the head by both his brothers before he can finish his sentence.
Ginny leaves her brothers appartment content that evening knowing they don't feel any different towards her now they know she won't be bringing any boys home.
The start of term is nearing and Ginny keeps on telling herself it's time to come out to Hermione but every time she decides today is the day she talks herself out of it.
The evening before the Hogwarts Express will bring her to Scotland for her last year she promises herself she'll tell Hermione after the aptitude test.
Unbeknownst to Ginny Hermione makes a similar vow the evening before her return to Hogwart. Since she hs been struggling with the same, wanting to tell her best friend she fancies girls but not being able to do it.
