Forgiveness

Mrs. Weasley walked in the room and laughed when she saw Hermione dancing once again with George. "Hermione, do you have a thing for George now too?"

Hermione laughed. "No, Mrs. Weasley. But George won the chess game so I'm on his team now. I only have a thing for Ron, don't worry."

"Well that's good to hear." Ron said. Hermione smiled at him.

"Dinner's almost ready. Arthur is almost home and I'm sure he's hungry. The Ministry is very busy these days." She shook her head.

"Did you need help with anything?" Hermione offered, as she stopped dancing.

"Oh no that's fine, dear. Just come sit at the table."

"All right."

"It was fun dancing with you, Hermione." George said, smiling. His eyes weren't smiling as they usually would, but this was good enough for Hermione.

"It was fun dancing with you too." She said, smiling back.

"Yeah, yeah, very fun. Can we sit down now?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Of course," Hermione grinned. She walked to the table with Ron and sat down at her spot.

Then Harry and Ginny came down. Ginny did not look at Hermione, even though she sat right across from her. She spoke to everyone but Ron and Hermione. Harry looked uncomfortable and just sat still in his seat.

"Hello!" Called Mr. Weasley as he entered the house. There was a chorus of greetings shouted back. "Dinner smells magnificent, Molly. What did you cook?"

"Oh thank you. It's roast beef and there are roasted potatoes and corn."

"Sounds delicious," Mr. Weasley said as he sat down at the head of the table. "Let's dig in, shall we?"

Hermione reached for the bowl of corn but Ginny did too. Hermione's hand shrank back and so did Ginny's. Hermione quickly reached for her glass of water and took a couple of swallows. Ginny had instead moved to grab the roasted potatoes. Hermione gingerly reached out for the corn and spooned some onto her plate. She didn't want to ask Ginny for the roast potatoes so she waited until it was passed around to her. Only it wasn't. It went to Ron and then he gave it to Harry, who gave it to Ginny who set it down in front of her.

Hermione squirmed in her seat. Then she cleared her throat. "Can you please pass the potatoes?" Ginny pretended she didn't hear her and continued to eat. Hermione then asked Harry.

"Oh yeah, sure. Ginny, pass Hermione that potatoes, would you?" Harry asked, gesturing to them with his fork. Ginny picked up the plate and thrust it towards Hermione. A potato rolled off and bounced onto the table.

"Oh, ermm, thanks." Hermione said, taking the plate. Ginny didn't say anything. Hermione just put the plate back down and tentatively picked up the potato that fell on the table, placing it on her plate. When Ron offered her a piece of the roast, she declined.

"What's the matter, dear?" Asked Mrs. Weasley, frowning. "You don't like roast beef?"

"No it's not that," Hermione said.

"You should try some. Mum works hard to cook for everyone." Ginny said, looking at her coolly.

"I know. Mrs. Weasley there's absolutely nothing wrong with your cooking. I'm sure the beef is delicious but I'm not feeling entirely hungry."

"Oh not feeling well?"

"You could say that." Hermione said, pushing her corn around her plate. She didn't touch much of her dinner; even George ate more than her. Everyone finished and dispersed around.

Hermione and Ron were still in the kitchen. "I think I'm going to head up to bed now." Hermione told him.

"All right. Don't be afraid to come and get me if you have another nightmare." Ron said looking her in the eye. Hermione blushed and nodded. "Ok. Night Mione." He said softly.

"Good night."

Hermione went upstairs and cautiously tiptoed into Ginny's room, trying to see if she was in there. She wasn't and Hermione was relieved. She put on her pyjamas and headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth. When she was done, she walked lightly back to her room. Then she froze at the door. Lying on Ginny's bed were Harry and Ginny.

Ginny was on top of Harry, and he was running his hands over the back of her jumper as they kissed each other. Hermione tried to back away but the floorboard creaked. Ginny jumped off of Harry.

"Merlin's beard!" she said, embarrassed

"Hermione?" Harry said, his face flushed.

"I'm sorry! I was just going to bed, never mind I'm leaving! I'm sorry!" She practically ran downstairs. She crashed into someone as she turned the corner of the family room. They put their arms around her to steady her. She knew it was Ron by his familiar scent.

"Whoa Hermione! Slow down!"

She pressed her face into his chest. "Oh my gosh Ron you won't believe what just happened."

"What?" Ron asked.

"I was in the bathroom and then I went back to Ginny's room to sleep and they were snogging on her bed!"

"WHAT?" Ron yelled. He moved Hermione aside and strode purposefully towards the stairs.

"Ron! No! Come back here, what are you doing?" Hermione called desperately after him. He didn't stop.

With an exasperated sigh Hermione chased after him. She was too late though. He had opened the door and was looking in on the same thing Hermione had before.

"BLOODY HELL!" Ron shouted.

They sprang away from each other. "GET OUT RON!" Ginny screamed. Harry's face was scarlet and he looked like he wanted his Invisibility Cloak.

"What are you doing?!" Ron asked.

"None of your business!" Ginny yelled. "Go away!"

Hermione tugged on his arm. "Ron I told you not to come up here!" He didn't move. "Ron, please! Leave them alone!"

"Why in Merlin's beard would I do that?" he demanded.

"Because it is none of your business! Ginny's a big girl Ron. She can take care of herself. And Harry's you're best friend; he would never take advantage of her." Hermione said. She stroked his hair. "You don't have to protect Ginny from anything. She's fine. If she and Harry want some private time together, there's nothing you can do about it."

Ron's breathing slowed down. "You're right. I'm sorry for intruding. I'm going to bed now." He said, then abruptly turned and left.

"I'm sorry, I'm leaving too." She turned.

"No, Hermione wait." Ginny said. Hermione turned back and faced Ginny. "Thank you. For saying what you did to Ron. I think you're the only person who could have made him listen." Ginny walked to Hermione and hugged her. Hermione hugged her back tightly. "I'm sorry about before, too."

"No I'm sorry." Hermione said, shutting her eyes. "I never should have said what I did."

"I forgive you." Ginny said. They let go of each other and smiled. Harry cleared his throat. Ginny turned to him. "I think you should go to bed now, Harry."

"Yeah I think so too." He said, getting off her bed. "Night." He said, kissing her cheek.

"Night." She reached up and twined her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to hers. Hermione looked away to give them a moment of privacy.

"Night, Hermione." Harry said, walking past her to go to Ron's room.

"Good night." Hermione went to Ginny's spare bed and pulled back the covers.

"Ok. You have every right to pester me about Harry." Ginny said, spreading her hands.

"Yes I do. But I'm not going to." Hermione said.

"You're not? I thought you'd want to!"

"Well I do!"

"Then go ahead! Do it, get it over with. Ask away." The friends chatted with each other late into the night until they both fell asleep, thinking of their wonderful boyfriends.