Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter5

July 15th, 1998

Hermione spent most of her time at the Burrow. She felt that Ron needed her more now than ever before. She put up with his constant yelling, arguing, and the occasional thrown object. He'd never turned his wand on her, though. She knew that was only because it was a known fact that she would have not only blocked whatever hex he sent at her, but would have hexed him back.

They were eating lunch in silence with George and Angelina when an owl flew in and landed in front of Hermione. Curiously, she untied the parchment from the owl's leg and read:

Hermione,

Harry and I have decided to elope. We don't really see a point in waiting any longer. I'll still be going to Hogwarts in a few months, but I'd rather get this over with now. Anyways, we were wondering if you and Ron would be our witnesses. Please? It would mean the world to us. Our appointment at the ministry is at 2 o'clock. Hope to see you there.

Love,

Ginny Soon-To-Be Potter

Hermione couldn't contain her smile. She looked up at Ron, who was stuffing his mouth as always, and handed him the letter. He nearly choked on his food as he finished reading it.

"Can you believe it, Ron?" Hermione asked him excitedly.

"What in the world is Ginny thinking?" Ron was angry. Hermione knew that he was possessive of his little sister, but she'd thought that he would've been happy for her, given the man she'd be marrying was his best friend.

"What do you mean? We all knew they would do this eventually."

"What are you guys talking about?" asked George. But before either of them could respond, he snatched the letter from Ron and read it, before handing it over to Angelina. "This is great!"

"I think it's a wonderful idea as well." Hermione glanced at Ron's wrist watch and nearly jumped out of her seat. "And Merlin, it's nearly 2! I should get dressed." As she went to stand up, Ron grabbed her wrist and roughly pulled her back into her seat. "Ouch!" She pulled her wrist out of his grasp and moved away from him.

He stood up and towered over Hermione. "You're not going! I don't fuckin' approve of this stupid wedding!"

"Oi, Ron, you can't be fuckin' serious!" exclaimed George. He hurried over between Hermione and Ron, and shoved the latter against the wall. "I thought you and Harry were best mates? What's going on with you?!"

"That was before he started shacking up with our little sister!" said Ron, working his way out of George's grasp.

"You didn't have a problem with it before! What changed now?"

"She's not even done with school yet! She's not of age! How come this doesn't bother any of you?!"

"Ron, just calm down, please," said Hermione. She walked over to him and put herself between the two bickering men. "You don't want to upset your parents, now. C'mon. Let's go upstairs." She put her hand on his shoulder but he quickly shoved it off.

"Don't tell me what to do, Hermione!"

"Ron, it'd be best for you to calm down. Please!"

"You don't know what's best for me! Despite what you think, you don't know everything, you bloody know-it-all!"

"You're way out of line, Ron," said George.

"Don't you start, too."

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't acting like a bloody prick!"

"So, what? You're on their side?" he asked in disbelief.

"No one's taking any sides here. You're the only one making a big deal about this."

"I'm done here." He turned to face Hermione. "And you're not to go to their bloody wedding, Hermione."

"Of course I'm going. Harry's my best friend. And Ginny is practically my sister."

"How can you be so naive? Harry's never cared about you! He only ever talks to you when he needs something. You're nothing to him. And Ginny? Well Ginny's not your sister. The only family you had is dead and you'll never be a part of ours." He gave Hermione one last angry glare and stormed off, leaving her staring after him in shock.

"Hermione?" She heard Angelina's soft voice behind her. "Are you okay?"

Hermione shook her head but answered, "I'll be fine." She turned to her friend and smiled weakly. "Maybe I should go after him. He needs me."

"No, 'Mione. I think he needs to be alone now."

"But I-"

"No," interrupted George. "Ginny needs you right now." He gave Hermione a small hug. "I'll deal with Ron later."

"Will you come with me? Ginny will need another witness and I'm sure she'll be happy to see you." Hermione was trying to keep her voice steady. She didn't want George or Angelina to know that she was about to have a breakdown. She had to be strong for everyone else.

"Of course. We'll just go and get ready then." George and Angelina headed for the kitchen door, and George turned back to Hermione. "Remember not to take what Ron does or says personally. We're all grieving differently, so just let him be. Oh, and Hermione?"

"Yea?"

"You'll always be family to us."

"Thank you," she said quietly before turning away from them. She didn't want them to see the tears in her eyes. When she heard their footsteps going up the stairs, she let herself sink into a nearby chair. and put her head down to rest on her arms. Her breathing quickened and she let herself sob quietly into the sleeve of her jumper. She had been trying her hardest not to let herself cry, and had been successful until that moment. Ron's words had hit her hard. She knew they weren't true, but it had pushed her over the edge. She longed to feel nothing; to have all emotion stripped from her heart. Feeling nothing would be better than feeling all the anger, regret, hurt, and sadness that was eating away at her.

But she couldn't make it disappear. So after a few silent tears, she wiped away and apparated home. With only fifteen minutes to 2 o'clock, she rushed to the restroom and splashed some water on her face. After applying a small amount of make-up, and changing into semi-formal clothes, she apparated back to the Burrow to meet George and Angelina.

A/N: Please please please please Review. I'd really like to know what you all think, good or bad. Thank you!