A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed, followed, and favorites this story. Special thanks to Huda for informing me the truth about the threatening message. I guessed it myself but it was nice to have it confirmed. Thank you very much.

Chapter 12: The Cost of Betrayal

Harry Potter arrived home, exhausted from a long, grueling day of chasing down rogue dark wizards. His Auror job, though fulfilling, never seemed to get easier. It was nearing dusk, and the sky had already started to darken. The comforting warmth of home was something he always looked forward to after days like this. He hoped for a quiet evening with Ginny and James, maybe some laughter, something that would remind him of the simplicity of life away from his duties.

But as soon as he walked through the door, it was clear that peace was not on the agenda tonight. Raised voices echoed from the kitchen. Ginny was arguing with her brother Ron, and from the sound of it, the discussion had been going on for quite some time.

Harry's stomach sank. Ron had been coming over more frequently since the day he proposed. He claimed he was there to visit his nephew, James, but Harry and Ginny both knew it was an excuse. Ron had become obsessed with the situation between Hermione and Draco, and worse yet, his deluded belief that he could fix things. That Hermione would eventually forgive him and, somehow, choose him over Draco.

Harry paused in the hallway, debating whether to intervene immediately or give Ginny space to vent her frustration. As much as he loved Ron, these visits had been increasingly uncomfortable. Every time Ron came over, it felt like walking through a minefield.

"You're just going to have to wait Ron?" Ginny's voice rang through the house. "Wait until she makes her choice?"

Harry grimaced. He stepped closer, now able to hear them more clearly.

"What's wrong with buying her an engagement ring" Ron snapped back. "It's not like she's going to pick Malfoy, after all he's done."

"All he's done?" Ginny's voice rose in pitch, her anger palpable. "What about what you've done, Ron?"

"It was one mistake!" Ron shouted, his voice defensive.

"A mistake?" Ginny's voice trembled with fury. "It was a crime, Ron. A crime you committed willingly. There wasn't some maniac threatening you or your family. You did it because you couldn't handle the fact that Hermione didn't want you anymore!"

Ron fell silent at that, the weight of Ginny's words clearly hitting home. Harry could hear the heavy silence that followed, and he knew he couldn't stay out of it any longer. He entered the kitchen quietly, hoping to diffuse the tension before things escalated even further.

"I can't believe you're on his side," Ron said, his voice low and defeated, breaking the silence.

Ginny folded her arms across her chest. "I'm on Hermione's side, Ron. I'm supporting whatever decision she makes. And I'm sure as hell not going to help you manipulate her by picking out a ring, or whatever absurd plan you've got in your head."

Harry stepped forward, finally making his presence known. "Ron, Ginny's right. It's not up to you—or any of us, really—to decide who Hermione ends up with. It's her choice. You've got to start accepting that."

Ron turned to face Harry, his face flushed with frustration. "Accept it? How can I accept it when you're practically pushing her into Malfoy's arms?"

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No one's pushing her into anyone's arms, Ron. We're just trying to support her in making the decision that's best for her."

"What decision?" Ron spat. "She's not seriously considering Malfoy, is she? He's scum! You of all people should know that."

"Actually," Harry began, "I think you need to face the possibility that she might pick him. He's the father of her child, Ron. And whether you like it or not, he's changed since the war."

Ron's face twisted in disbelief. "Changed? How can you believe that? Just last week, you were talking about how his business was losing and gaining money like there was something shady going on."

Harry took a deep breath, bracing himself for the backlash he knew was coming. "I looked into it. After Lucius died in Azkaban, Draco took over the family business from narcissa. Then he shut down everything illegal or unethical that it had been involved in. Yeah, they lost a lot of money—billions, but there's nothing shady there. He's been building the business back from scratch, ethically. That doesn't sound like the same person we grew up hating."

Ron blinked, his expression incredulous. "You told Hermione all that?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I didn't tell her directly. But it's all in the report I gave her, along with everything else I found. Draco Malfoy's record is squeaky clean, Ron. The more I dug, the more it became clear—he's not the same man he was."

Ron's fists clenched at his sides. "Why would you do that? You're supposed to be my friend. Not his."

Harry felt the weight of those words. He had known Ron for most of his life, but he couldn't allow their friendship to cloud the truth. "I am your friend, Ron. But I'm also Hermione's friend. And this is her decision, not mine, and not yours. I'm just giving her the information she needs to make an informed choice."

"You're setting her up for disaster," Ron muttered, shaking his head. "This will destroy her, Harry. Why can't you see that?"

Ginny, her patience visibly wearing thin, stepped in. "No, it won't. Hermione's stronger than you give her credit for. And Malfoy's not the same person he was during the war. You're the only one who refuses to see that."

Ron's eyes flashed with anger. "I can't believe you're falling for Malfoy's 'I've changed' act! He's still the same snake he's always been!"

"Whether he's changed or not," Harry interjected, "what's clear is that you've changed, Ron. The things you've done—drugging Hermione, trying to manipulate her into loving you again—those aren't things you would've done years ago. But you did them. So now, Hermione has to choose between someone who committed a crime using his free will a few weeks ago, or someone who was forced to commit crimes as a minor ten years ago. It's not a difficult choice."

Ron's face turned pale, and for a moment, it seemed like the words had finally reached him. But then, his jaw tightened, and he shook his head. "No. This isn't over. I can fix this. I have to fix this."

"Ron," Ginny said softly, trying one last time to get through to him, "you can't fix this. You need to let Hermione make her own decision. Let her be happy."

"Why can't you see that we're meant to be?" Ron's voice cracked, his desperation palpable. "I can't believe you're trying to set her up with Malfoy."

"No one is setting anyone up," Ginny said firmly. "We're just giving Hermione the freedom to make her own choice. That's all."

Harry stepped closer to his friend, his voice calm but firm. "Ron, this whole idea that you're 'meant to be' is exactly why your relationship didn't work out. Every time Hermione tried to bring something up, you dismissed it. You thought that everything would magically work out because you were 'meant to be,' and you never put in the effort to actually make things better. Even when she left you, you did nothing. You didn't fight for her, you didn't go to counseling with her. You just assumed she'd come back because it was destiny. Well, she didn't come back, Ron. And now, especially after what you did, she's not going to."

"No, no, no!" Ron shouted, his face red with frustration. "This isn't over! I can still fix this!" With that, he turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

The room fell silent. Harry and Ginny exchanged a weary look, both exhausted by the confrontation.

Ginny sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Harry nodded, his heart heavy. "Neither do I."

But they both knew that whatever came next, it was out of their hands. The choice was Hermione's—and hers alone.

A/N: Thanks for reading. In the next chapter, you will get to witness Hermione and Draco's first date.