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SIYE Time:14:49 on 29th March 2024
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HB Prince: Year of Love
By DHobbit

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Category: Post-OotP
Characters:All, All
Genres: Angst, Drama, Fluff, Humor
Warnings: None
Rating: PG
Reviews: 309
Summary: *** The author has been reminded via the e-mail address on file that this story is listed as incomplete and has not been updated in over 2 years ***

This story starts at the end of Order Of The Phoenix. Although this story starts as the usual Harry/Ginny romance, I believe after several chapters, you will find that Ancient Dark Magic takes on a whole new meaning to our Harry and Ginny. Will Harry discover the key to the Half-Blood Prince?* * * *American Edition *** * * *
Hitcount: Story Total: 195825; Chapter Total: 3210





Author's Notes:
Beta by Wolfs_scream SUMMARY: Ron confesses - Hermione doesn’t want to hear it - - Will Ron have to pay? ---------------




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Chapter Fifty-seven - Confessions


Ginny sank back onto Harry’s lap crying. Harry turned her to
face him. She buried her face in his neck. He rubbed her
back cooing into her ear.

“Ron, I think you should shower first,” said Molly.

“I already took a shower,” said Ron, defensively.

“I know, but I really think you should take another before we
go. It wouldn’t hurt to brush your teeth too. We have enough
time that it won’t be too late in the evening to come calling,”
said Molly.

Ron went up to shower as Harry comforted Ginny. Molly
went up to Ron’s room straightened his bed and removed the
bucket, then she went to freshen up for their visit.

Arthur left the room to leave Harry to comfort Ginny in
private. Harry placed his hands on the sides Ginny’s face
and he gently kissed her all over her face. When he felt her
body untense, he kissed her lips. After a few moments, he
helped her stand. “I think you should go freshen up. Ron is
going to think that your ‘Affliction’ has taken over,” said
Harry, gently.

“I look that bad?” asked Ginny.

“Yeah,” said Harry, squeezing her waist.

Ginny went to the sink and washed her face, then went up to
her room. Arthur saw her pass so returned to the kitchen. “I
think Ginny should stay here with me.”

Harry nodded.

“Are you going? ” asked Arthur.

“Yeah, don’t know why; as support I reckon,” said Harry,
hoping that he wouldn’t be forced to take sides. At the
moment, Ron would be on the losing end. He was very
close to hitting him right now.

Arthur nodded, then looked at Harry quizzically. “Harry, is
there any reason that Ginny should be so upset? She seems
unusually upset about Hermione hearing the news from
those girls.”

Harry thought a moment. He had an idea but wasn’t sure, if
that was what it was, he surely didn’t want to talk to his
father-in-law about it. “I’m not sure; I think her nerves are a
bit raw right now.”

He sipped his tea thinking about what had just happened. He
still didn’t have the whole story from Ron. Of course, it really
wasn’t his business about what went on between Ron and
Hermione, but he was disappointed in Ron giving up so
easily. He had held his temper with help from Ginny, but
then Ginny just suddenly went off on Ron. As Arthur had just
mentioned, she seemed more concerned about Hermione
hearing about what happened from Lavender and Parvati
than what actually happened. It was as if she knew the
feeling personally. Did she ever know that kind of hurt? If
she did, was it something that he did that others told her
about? Lisa? Or was it from before they got together,
maybe as far back as Cho?

Whatever the cause, she had enough of a burden to deal
with. How was he going to make her life better with so much
turmoil surrounding them?

* * *

Ginny entered the kitchen to see that everyone had returned
but Ron. She went directly to Harry, wrapping her arms
around his waist. Harry held her until Ron entered the room.

“Ready, I guess,” said Ron.

Ginny hugged Ron tight. “Nothing but the truth, Ron. She will
see through anything else,” she whispered in his ear.

He nodded.

“Do you have a story to tell the Grangers?” Arthur asked
Molly.

“I’ll stick to the truth as much as possible,” said Molly. She
stood between Harry and Ron, linking her arms with theirs,
then Apparated.

They appeared at the Grangers back door. There was light
filtering on the ground close to the house from the curtained
windows. Further back, the yard was in shadow, with a hint
that it was enclosed by a tall hedge or thickly grown shrubs.
“You two stand back. Go off around to the side of the house.
I’ll bring her out,” whispered Molly.

Molly knocked at the door. Mr. Granger answered it,
surprised to see Molly Weasley standing there. “Come in
Molly. Is something wrong?” he asked.

Molly stepped inside. “I would like to speak to Hermione, if I
may.”

He led her into the living room, where Mrs. Granger was
sitting, watching television. He left to go get Hermione. Mrs.
Granger turned off the television, invited her to sit down, then
asked if there was something wrong.

* * * *
Harry and Ron stood on the walkway that ran between the
Granger’s and their neighbors. There was a tall hedge that
separated the properties. The diffused light from the street
lamp and from shaded windows from the nearby houses was
the only source of light.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Padma was after me?” asked
Ron.

“I didn’t know until tonight when Luna told me,” said Harry.

“Luna? How would she know that?” asked Ron.

Harry shrugged his shoulders.

“I hate to tell her the truth, she’s only going to think I’m trying
to defend myself, which will sound like a lie,” said Ron.

“The truth will be enough,” said Harry.

“Well, you saw. I suppose I could have been more
gentlemanly, but she caught me off guard,” said Ron.

“What are you talking about?” asked Harry, irritably.

“I mean, you know. I could have pushed her off sooner, but
... well, you know... “

“So you’re saying that Padma did the kissing?” asked Harry.

“Of course, what else did you think?”

“Sorry Ron, I wasn’t watching your every move, so I didn’t
know what happened. Besides, it isn’t really any of my
business. I don’t want to interfere in your love life,” said
Harry.

“Yeah, thanks. I don’t get any privacy in my life. I didn’t
even get to ask Hermione... it’s not easy like it was for you,”
said Ron.

“Easy? What’s easy?”

“You know, asking Ginny. You already knew she would. I
have no idea what Hermione would do. It’s really hard and I
... well you know.”

“I didn’t know any such thing. What makes you think it was
easy for me?” asked Harry.

“Ginny’s always had a crush on you. You’ve known that,”
said Ron.

“I knew she USED to have a crush on me.”

“Are you really that thick?” asked Ron, not expecting an
answer.

“There were other obstacles. It wasn’t that simple,” said
Harry.

“Like what?” asked Ron.

“Like there was you AND your family, who may think that I
was betraying their trust AND her “Affliction” AND there’s
always Tom Riddle. Yeah Ron, it was real easy for me,”
said Harry, sarcastically.

“Yeah, I guess, but you KNEW about me. You knew that I
approved,” said Ron.

“Not really. You’ve let on like you would approve, but I don’t
know if you trust me with her even now,” said Harry.

“I trust you all right, but not so sure about Ginny,” said Ron.

“Careful Ron, be very careful about what you say concerning
Ginny.”

Ron didn’t respond. Harry didn’t get it. Harry doesn’t know
what it’s like to care about someone. Someone who is...
above himself. Ginny does... yes, Ginny does.

He remembered back to the beginning of last summer,
before Harry arrived. He and Ginny were talking in the living
room of The Burrow. It was a nothing conversation, nothing
of any importance. Ginny mentioned some girl’s name; that’s
what got started the whole thing. He made some comment
about Harry wouldn’t have any interest in this girl because
she wasn’t pretty enough. Ginny went cold. She was sitting
on the sofa, then suddenly her face changed. “I know I’m not
pretty enough for Harry to ever notice me, but it doesn’t
matter. I will always love him, always,” she said, then she
left the room.

Even though what was said before she made the statement
was not connected to her, she was hurt by it.

What struck him, was that she said it with little emotion. It
was stated as simply a fact. It was hard to explain to himself,
but he knew that it was a rare moment in their life; she had
let him see right into her heart and she would probably never
expose herself to him like that again.

Later, while Harry was ill, he remembered asking her how
she could stand taking care of Harry while he was so
helpless. She replied; “You know why.” That statement had
the same impact on him. He knew that if Harry would have
been in a coma for months or longer, that she would have
tended to him, feeling that it was her right to do so, because
she loved him.

After Harry was healed, he worried that Ginny might throw
herself at him. But she didn’t change when Harry was
around, not the way the other girls did. She acted her normal
self. He rarely thought about her statement and the effect
that it had on his opinion of Harry and Ginny’s romance, but
when he did think about it, it was unsettling. It was a strange
feeling to know the amount of love that his sister had for his
best friend. Although, he wanted her to be happy, he always
feared that Harry could never return that kind of love. That’s
why he was so shocked and relieved, while in the Chamber
of Secrets, when he realized that Harry was deeply in love
with Ginny.

Since they started dating, she still didn’t change much when
around Harry. She looked pleased when he entered a room,
but not “gushy.” There was a small change, she became
“softer” when she was around Harry. Now that he knew why
they had been acting so strangely, his mind was greatly
eased, except for that fact that Ginny had an “Affliction.”

It worked out for Ginny, but she knows that feeling. Harry
couldn’t understand.

Hermione was everything he ever wanted. She was brilliant
and beautiful. He was just a poor boy who barely got by in
school. Without her, he would probably have failed every
year. He was not worthy of her, but he loved her.

“Ron, do you know what you’re going to do or say to her?”
asked Harry.

“No. It’s too late to try to fix anything. The only thing I can do,
as Ginny said, is to keep her from hearing about it from
those cats first. She won’t be happy. Harry, if she “Stuns”
me, you and Mum will get me home, right?”

“Yeah, we’ll get your body back no matter what shape its in,”
said Harry, grinning.

“Thanks, Harry.”

* * * *

Hermione entered the room looking harassed. “What’s
wrong?”

Molly stood. “It’s about Ron. He’s been to St. Mungo’s.
He’s better now, but we thought that you would want to see
him,” said Molly.

“St. Mungo’s? Is he all right?” asked Hermione, worriedly.
“What happened?”

“He’s better now. I think we would only be gone about an
hour. Is that all right with you?” asked Molly, turning to the
Grangers. They nodded.

Molly and Hermione stepped out from the back door. Harry
heard the door close and stuck his head around the corner of
the house. Molly motioned for him to come and gently
pushed Hermoine towards the corner, motioning for her to go
around. Harry and Molly bent forward and snuck back into
the shadows of the yard, as not to be seen.

When Hermione rounded the corner, Ron gasped. The
diffused light shone on her hair, reflecting on her curls. It
made her hair appear glistening wet. “I can’t do this,” thought
Ron.

“Ron?”

“Yeah.”

“Y our mum said you were at St. Mungo’s. What happened?”

“Was... I was drunk,” confessed Ron.

“Drunk? People don’t go to St. Mungo’s because they’re
drunk.”

“I did. It was Harry’s idea.”

“Oh.”

Ron stood frozen in place. After a bit, Hermione began
getting nervous. “Ron, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry. Eh... I messed up...
really bad. I didn’t want to face you,” he said.

“Well, we’re here. You might as well tell me,” said Hermione.

“Eh... OK, I got drunk at the Three Broomsticks today. Very
drunk. Eh... Padma and Parvati showed up,” said Ron.

“Oh, I see,” said Hermione.

“You see what?”

“You and Padma. She’s been fancying you this year,” said
Hermione.

“I didn’t know that, did I?” said Ron.

“So, how does this concern me?” asked Hermione.

That was not the reaction he was expecting. He didn’t know
how to respond, so he didn’t answer. He could make out the
light shining on her eyes. He dared to step closer to her.

“Ron?”

“Everything that I do concerns you. If I didn’t run out of time,
you would know that,” he said.

“Run out of time?”

“Yesterday morning. I wanted to talk to you about us, but...
well... you know. Mum was in a hurry to get you back. I
thought we would have enough time... “

“What did you want to say?” she asked.

“Now is not the right time for that. I don’t want to... not with
you mad at me, or anything,” said Ron.

“I’m not mad at you,” said Hermione, gently.

“You should be... or think you should be... but not really...”

“Ron?” Hermione moved closer, then pulled his face down
and kissed him. The kiss was so unexpected that it threw
him off all thoughts other than this could be the last time that
she would ever let him kiss her, so held on like it was his only
link to life. When he felt that they both needed a break to
breathe, he whispered into her hair, as he kissed her neck; “I
love you more than anything in my life, please don’t leave
me.”

He felt her body tense. He knew that he went too far...

“I love you too.”

“What? Hermione, did you just say... ?”

“Yes, Ron. I love you,” she said, eyes dancing.

“You love me,” he said, joyfully lifting her up and spinning
her around. They were both laughing. He gently lowered her
back to the ground and kissed her. Then he began to panic.
It was more important than ever to explain what happened
today.

“Hermione, about Padma. I don’t have any interest in her. I
haven’t talked to her in years...” started Ron.

“I know. Shut up, Ron,” she said, deepening their kiss.

“Hermione, I really need to tell you about it,” he said, after
another moment kissing.

“Ron, I really don’t want to hear it. It’s not like we were going
together at the time,” said Hermione.

“Are we going together now? Eh... I mean... Hermione, will
you be my girl now, officially?”

“Yes.”

“You will? I mean, you’re my girl. No misunderstandings,
it’s official. You’re mine?”

“Yes, and you’re mine.”

Ron lifted her up again, spinning her. Then gently lowered
her and began kissing her again.

“Bloody hell! I forgot. Hermione, I bought something for you.
I sort of messed up. I was going to give it to you when I
asked you,” said Ron, regrettably.

“What is it?”

Ron dug in his pocket and pulled out a tiny wrapped box. He
unwrapped it. “It’s a ring,” he said.

“You bought me a ring? A ring? When did you get it?”
asked Hermione, excitedly.

“Today, I thought it was pretty. I wanted you to have it,” he
said opening the tiny box. He carefully removed the ring
and placed it on her right hand ring finger.

“It’s beautiful! Oh, Ron.”

“It’s not anything fancy or ...”

“Shut up, Ron.” she said, kissing him again.

He knew what that meant and indulged in a very passionate
kiss. Several passionate kisses...

* * * *

“What do you think they’re doing?” Harry whispered to Molly.
“It’s awfully quiet. I’m sure they put up a ‘Silencing Charm’,
but... it’s awfully quiet.”

“Yes, it has been a while. I think I’ll go take a peek,” she
whispered. She tipped-toed over, then peeked around the
corner.

“Oh my,” she whispered.

“What?” Harry whispered. “Is Ron OK?” Picturing Ron
sprawled on the ground bleeding, with Hermione standing
above him grimacing triumphantly.

“They’re kissing,” she whispered.

Harry stepped around her and peeked. They were kissing all
right. “He’s using the ‘softening her up strategy’,” he
whispered, drawing himself back.

“Oh dear,” whispered Molly.

“What? Bad idea huh?”

“I would think so. She’s going to see right through that. It will
probably make her even madder. I know I would be,”
whispered Molly.

They both tip-toed back into the shadows. They had been
standing in the dark for about a half an hour and they were
getting tired, so they sat down on the damp lawn.

“He’s taking a long time to tell her. How long to you think
they have?” asked Harry.

“I told the Grangers about an hour,” whispered Molly.

“He’s used up about half his time already. If he plans to
soften her up, then tell her, then try to win her back, he’s not
going to make it,” whispered Harry.

“I guess I should have told him how much time he had,”
whispered Molly.

They sat for another fifteen minutes before Harry couldn’t
stand it any longer. “I’m going to take another peek,” he
whispered. He tip-toed back to the corner, took a peek,
then returned.

“I think Ron’s forgotten why he’s here. They’re still at it,” he
whispered.

“One of us is going to have to go remind him,” she
whispered, looking at her watch.

“I suppose you mean me,” whispered Harry. Molly nodded.

“Well? Are you going or me?” whispered Harry, after a
couple of minutes.

“No! You go. I nodded my head, meaning that you would
be going,” Molly whispered.

Harry stood. “It’s dark, how was I supposed to see you nod
your head,” he whispered

Harry tip-toed to the corner and peeked. He sighed.
“Psssst”, whispered Harry. No reaction. “Psssst!” Harry
whispered again. “Ron!” he whispered louder.

Ron heard that time and separated from Hermione. “Be right
back. Don’t go away,” he told her.

“What?” he asked Harry, impatiently.

“You only have five minutes left. Hermione has to get back,”
whispered Harry.

“OK,” said Ron.

“Ron, are you going to tell her?” whispered Harry.

“I’m working on it,” said Ron.

“Five minutes. Your mum is getting antsy,” whispered Harry,
pointing to his watch.

“He said he was ‘working on it’,” whispered Harry, when he
got back to Molly.

“That boy! I’m gonna kill him if she doesn’t”, she whispered.

Four and a half minutes later, Harry went back to the corner
of the house, peeking. They were still at it. He noticed that
Ron had a fine technique going on, but knew he had to break
them up. He walked up the path a few steps then cleared his
throat very loudly.

“Harry! Thank you for coming tonight,” said Hermione,
beaming.

“Eh... yeah. We got to get back,” said Harry.

“Hermione, come back with me,” said Ron.

“I can’t. Dumbledore, remember?” she said, disappointedly.

“Yeah, right,” said Ron.

Hermione rushed over and gave Harry a hug. She put her
right hand in his and mashed his fingers on the ring on her
hand. Harry beamed at her. “Goodnight, Hermione. We’ll
see you soon,” he said.

“Be careful, Hermione, we’ll see you soon,” said Molly.

Hermione entered the house without looking back.

“Off we go,” said Molly, taking Ron and Harry by the arm.

* * * *

“How’s Ron?” asked Mrs. Granger.

“Much better,” said Hermione.

“What was wrong with him?”

“His heart,” said Hermione.

“It’s amazing with they can do now days,” said her father.

“Yes, it is amazing,” said Hermione, before she walked back
to her bedroom. She closed the door and looked at her ring.
It was beautiful. She didn’t tell Ron that she could barely
make it out in the dark.

On her dressing table lay a piece of parchment. She picked
it up and re-read it, then took out a fresh piece of parchment.
Posing her quill, she paused, then she began composing a
letter to Lavender Brown.

* * * *

“Ronald Weasley! What was the purpose of going tonight, if
you weren’t going to tell her?” said Molly, exasperated.

“I did,” said Ron, grinning.

“When?”

“When we first got there,” said Ron.

“Do you mean that Harry and I sat in the dark on that damp
lawn for an hour, while you two... ?” asked Molly, outraged.

“Did you want me to waste an hour I could spend with
Hermione?” he said grinning.

“Really! You’re just like your father. I may have ruined this
dress,” she said.

Ron and Harry stood grinning.

“Well?” asked Ginny.

“It’s official. We’re going together,” said Ron, lifting her up
and spinning around.

“That’s wonderful,” said Ginny, giggling.

“Thanks, Gin,” he whispered.

“What did I do?” asked Ginny.

“Let’s just say, you inspired me,” said Ron.

She hugged him and he let her down.

“You explained everything?” asked Ginny.

“Yes, of course. Well, at least as much as I could. She
really didn’t want to know too much about it. I mean, I tried,”
said Ron, thoughtfully.

“That doesn’t sound like Hermione,” said Ginny, warily.

“She already knew that Padma was after me. Anyway,
Hermione’s mine. I’ve got to go send her an owl,” he said,
excitedly, beginning to leave the room.

“Ronald, not so fast. I want a word,” said Arthur.

“Whew! Glad that’s all settled. I best be off,” said Harry. He
was heading over to give Ginny a hug before leaving when
Arthur interrupted him.

“Harry, I think you should join us. Please sit down.” Harry
looked over at Ginny, who gave him a warning look.

******
Arthur tossed some Floo powder into the fire. A moment
later Luna Flooed in, then Lupin and Tonks Apparated into
the kitchen.

“Ron! How is Hermione?” asked Luna.

“Mine! It’s official,” said Ron, grinning.

“She’s a very forgiving kind of person,” said Luna.

Molly and Ginny made drinks and snacks then left with
Tonks and Luna for the other room. But before leaving, Luna
put her finger to her ear and twisted it. Harry got the idea
that it was a warning.

“Ron, today, I sent you to buy supplies for the chicken coop.
You had a set amount to spend; also a list with estimates.
You knew that you would have to make adjustments on the
list according to the prices. It was to be a learning
experience,” said Arthur.

“It was, we learned that Winston was a crook,” said Ron.

“You were given explicit instructions about payment,” said
Arthur.

Ron blushed. Harry saw what was coming then.

“You decided to shop elsewhere, so a loan was made,” said
Arthur.

“He was upping the prices and he was going to sell me
warped doors and windows. Even Mr. Grommet said so,”
protested Ron.

“I see, but arrangements were made. How were you
expected to pay at a different establishment?” asked Arthur.

“I loaned him the money,” said Harry.

“I see. You offered to loan Ron the money?” asked Arthur.

“Yes. Winston was planning on cheating Ron, so we took
our business elsewhere,” said Harry.

“So you wanted to help,” said Arthur.

“Of course,” said Harry.

“Do you realize that now instead of one debt, there are two?
Do you know my financial situation?” asked Arthur.

“Eh... I didn’t think of it that way, but what were we
supposed to do?” asked Harry.

“What were you supposed to do? That’s a good question. A
little late to be asking now, I think,” said Arthur.

“Ron, what were you supposed to do?” asked Arthur.

“Eh... I don’t know.”

“You never thought to contact me?” asked Arthur.

“Eh... no,” said Ron.

Arthur looked to Harry. “Eh... no, I never thought of it
either,” said Harry, blushing.

“I see. A loan was made. Ron you accepted the loan?”
asked Arthur.

“Yeah, Harry said you would pay him back,” said Ron,
defensively.

“Harry said that I would pay him back. Did I say that I would
pay him back?” asked Arthur.

“No. But what’s the difference if you pay me back or
Winston? Actually I wouldn’t change you interest so you will
come out much better in the end,” said Harry, reasonably.

“But I didn’t accept a loan from you. You can’t just loan
people money without asking. This is the real world, boys.

“Well then, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to pay me
back. I would gladly give you the money,” said Harry.

“It was a gift then?” asked Arthur.

“Yes,” said Harry.

“Ron, you are to go to Madison and Grommet’s in the
morning and cancel the order,” said Arthur.

“But why?” asked Ron.

“Because we won’t accept such a large gift,” said Arthur.

“OK! It was a loan,” said Harry.

“Who did you give the money to?” asked Arthur.

“Ron.”

“Ron, did you accept the money from Harry?” asked Arthur.

“Yeah.”

“Good, then that’s settled. Now how do you expect to pay
him back?” asked Arthur.

“Me?” asked Ron.

“Yes, you. Harry offered you a loan. You accepted it. It is
YOUR responsibility to repay the loan.”

“But I don’t have any money,” said Ron.

“Then I suppose you will have to look for work. Weasleys
pay their debts, Ron.”

“But...” stammered Ron.

“You are ‘of age’. You accepted a loan, you must pay it
back,” said Arthur.

“But... I’m still in school. I can’t make enough money to pay
that much,” said Ron.

“Then I suggest that you start looking for employment first
thing in the morning ,” said Arthur, firmly.

“What if I don’t find a job?” asked Ron.

“Then I suppose you will have to start selling your things. I
am assuming that the first installment will be in thirty days.”

“I don’t have that much to sell,” said Ron.

“You have a guitar and a broom for starters,” said Arthur.

“My guitar and my broom? Bloody hell! Harry! Look what
you’ve done!” said Ron.

“You are going to blame Harry, Ron? Harry was helping you.
Don’t blame the person who lends you money when you
need it. You put yourself in this position,” said Arthur.

“No. I put him in this position. I am the one who sent him to
Madison and Grommet’s and I offered the money. I was only
trying to help,” said Harry.

“We have no doubt that you were trying to help, Harry. Your
motive is not in question,” said Arthur.

“I guess I’ll get Fred and George to give me a job,” said Ron,
defeatedly.

“Don’t assume, Ron. We don’t know Fred and George’s
finances.”

“They’re doing well,” said Ron.

“They appear to be doing well, but they are doing all their
own work. They may be making enough for a fair living, but
they may not be doing well enough to hire outside help. You
are making the mistake of assuming again,” said Arthur.

“That being said, I wish to see the bill of purchase from
today.”

“Harry has it,” said Ron.

The invoice was in Harry’s room. He didn’t want to go
through the bother of leaving and returning, so he wandlessly
summoned it to his pocket. Then he handed it to Arthur.

“That’s all of it. Minus the fountain from the total, that was a
gift,” said Harry. He watched Arthur’s face as he read the
invoice. He was blushing and paling off and on.

“Very good, very good indeed. You did a fine job. Ron are
these their regular prices on the timber?” asked Arthur.

“Let me see.” Ron took the invoice, then returned it. “Yes, I
didn’t get any extra deal on that. There were a few things
that he told me he was giving to me at special prices, but the
timber was his regular price.”

Harry summoned the list with Winston’s quotes on it and
handed it to Arthur. Again he watched Arthur’s face as he
read the quotes. Ron started to say something but Harry
kicked him from under the table. He was forming an idea as
he watched Arthur’s face simmering with anger.

“Ron, give me some money,” said Harry.

“What? I don’t have much,” said Ron.

“Just anything, give me a knut or whatever,” said Harry. Ron
pulled some change out of his pocket. Harry lifted a knut and
stated: “I am accepting this as payment for services,” said
Harry.

“For what?” asked Ron.

“You are hiring me to assist you,” said Harry. Harry watched
Arthur’s eyes as they looked from one parchment to the
other, comparing prices. He knew he had to move quickly
and very carefully for this to work. He kicked Lupin from
under the table. Lupin’s eyes widened. Then Harry
summoned parchment and ink and quill.

Harry quickly made copies of the papers and began doing
figures. He asked the interest percentage from Winston’s
and how long he would be making payments and did more
figures. He handed it to Lupin who re-checked the figures.

“According to my figures, checked by Lupin. You owe Ron
two hundred and thirteen Galleons,” said Harry.

“How do you figure?” asked Arthur.

“This is the price that Winston was going to charge. This is
the percentage that Winston would have changed. This is
the price that Ron paid, minus the fountain,” said Harry,
pointing to each figure as he read them off. “Of course I’m
just guessing about the time, so it is an approximate
number.”

“Time?”

“Don ’t worry about it,” said Harry, grinning.

“How did you know how to figure this?” asked Arthur,
checking the figures.

“Winky. She insisted that I know how to do some of this.
Since house elves do most of the shopping, they pride
themselves on saving their masters’ money. Winky is a good
house elf. She knows how to save a knut. She knows when
to put things on account and when to pay cash,” said Harry.

“Isn’t it always better to pay cash?” asked Arthur.

“Not according to Winky. It depends on the shop you are
dealing with and the timing. We got your bedroom
redecorated for only a few Galleons, by her methods,” said
Harry, grinning.

“Anyway, she insisted that I learn the basics. She said that
all young masters should have some knowledge of money
management. She bullies me sometimes,” added Harry.

“How could you get that room done for only a few Galleons?”
asked Arthur, fascinated.

“Partly because we used lots of stuff we already had. Some
of the items, she bought at shops that let you wait ninety
days to pay, with little or no interest . The time that the
money remained in the bank somehow accumulated almost
as much as the price. Something about the more it costs the
better. Anyway, it ended up costing only a few Galleons. I
get lost when she starts talking about the time of day, that
factors in there somewhere,” said Harry.

“This is all well and good on paper, but the reality is quite
different,” said Arthur.

“Don’t you see? Winston lost several hundred Galleons by
us buying elsewhere. You’ve got to get some satisfaction out
of that,” said Harry.

“Yes, I see. It does, but Harry, I can not afford two
payments. That is a fact. Ron will have to pay, ” said Arthur,
blushing.

“After what he tried to do to Ron? You bought a lot of stuff
from him and he is making a lot of money from you. If
anything, he should have given Ron his best with reduced
prices. It was not right for him to take advantage of your son.
He is a dishonest man, he deserves to be punished,” said
Harry.

Arthur looked back at the figures. His face showing anger.

“I think we should pay him off,” said Harry.

“Winston? No Harry, you don’t understand,” said Arthur.

“Yes I do. Winston would have ended up getting twice the
money of the actual purchase, PLUS two hundred and
thirteen Galleons. We won’t even account for the other
money he would have gotten because Ron would have had
to buy even more to complete the project. If the things Ron
bought today lost him hundreds, a whole house should lose
him a thousand or more. Let me run some numbers,” said
Harry, grabbing a blank parchment.

A few moments later he sat back. “There, making a wild
guess at the cost of a house, he would loose over ten
thousand Galleons. TEN THOUSAND,” said Harry,
excitedly.

Arthur looked at Harry’s figures. They weren’t really too far
off the mark. “That’s all well and good, but no,” said Arthur.

“Why? Because it will be benefiting you?” said Harry.

“Harry, you don’t understand about money.”

“I understand more than you think. Your pride is a heavy
factor, but this time there is more involved,” said Harry.

“Like what?”

“Revenge,” said Harry. “There is a lot of money sitting in our
vaults at the bank. It is not doing anything but sitting there.
Let’s use it to get back at Winston,” said Harry.

“Harry, the money in the bank is drawing interest. You
would be losing money,” said Arthur, reasonably.

“Not if you paid me the difference. The interest paid to the
estate from the bank is far less than the interest on a loan.
Winky explained some of that to me,” said Harry.

“Thank you Harry, but that is not what our family does. We
pay our own way,” said Arthur.

“I understand that, but you don’t have to pay so much for
your own way,” said Harry, looking to Lupin for help.

“We could make an agreement that would be to our
advantage. Harry, run these figures,” said Lupin.

Harry worked out the figures. “Where would be the
advantage?” asked Harry.

“Add one percent,” said Lupin.

“Yes, that would be a tidy sum. What do you think, Mr.
Weasley?”

“Call me Arthur, Harry. You make me feel like an old man.
Anyway, that is a nice sum but not nearly enough,” he said.

“I wouldn’t mind having that in my pocket,” said Harry. “Look,
your payments would be much smaller and it would be paid
off in three... no four times as fast. You’d be crazy not to go
for it,” added Harry.

“I agree,” said Lupin. “The benefits would far out weigh any
pride that I would have.”

“Besides, it’s a family thing. Family should stick together,”
said Harry.

Arthur frowned, nodding towards Ron.

“No worry, he’s been sleeping since I brought out the
parchment,” said Harry, grinning.

“I don’t like this,” said Arthur.

“OK, what if I add another one percent for the chicks? That
gives you more pride and me more Galleons later,” said
Harry, grinning.

“The chicks?” asked Lupin.

“Never mind, it’s just a saying, Muggles use it,” said Harry,
thinking fast.

“So, you agree that by taking a loan from the estate, that it
would benefit both of us and get back at Winston, correct?”
Harry asked Arthur.

“Harry’s right,” said Lupin.

“Since you put it that way,” said Arthur.

“Do you see it any other way?” asked Harry.

Arthur sat thinking over the situation for several minutes. He
worked over the figures trying to see the flaw in Harry’s plan.

“Arthur, I really don’t see how this would not benefit both
parties,” said Lupin, after several minutes.


They sat at the table working out the actual figures and came
to an agreement. They shook hands on the deal, then woke
Ron to send him off to bed.

“I will run this by Winky. She will know exactly when we
should do it. Time, she always factors in time, somehow,”
said Harry.

* * * *

As Arthur and Molly lie in bed that night, Arthur reflected on
his latest disappointment.

“Ron and Harry don’t understand about the whole situation. I
can’t tell Ron and it would only upset Harry,” said Arthur.

“Arthur stop worrying about your foolish pride,” said Molly.

“They both think I’m a fool. They don’t have any idea that we
didn’t have time to save up the money to get a bank loan. So
all they know is that I let Winston cheat me all this time,” he
said, frowning.

“You can’t tell Ron that we needed the house quickly so that
Ginny would have a place to be ‘seen’. That will all have to
be explained later... when this is all over,” said Molly.

“Winston went too far. After all the money I spent, then
letting him charge a high interest on the loan, he tried to
cheat my son. You wouldn’t believe the prices he was going
to charge Ron. I had explained to Winston that it was an
educational experience for Ron. What did he do? He tried
to sell him inferior goods at inflated prices. I really wanted to
sort him out.”

“Arthur, we have enough to be going on with. We don’t need
any more drama in our life right now,” said Molly.

“I know,” he sighed.

“I let Harry and Lupin talk me into giving me a loan to pay
him off instead. It would hurt him more than if I punched him
out, but I don’t like taking personal loans from friends or
family. We Weasleys have always paid our own way.”

“Are you planning on not paying back the loan?” asked
Molly.

“No.”

“Will they be making a profit from the loan?” asked Molly.

“Yes, but only a token amount,” said Arthur.

“Arthur, Harry is your family now. He will not be pleased
when he finds out the debt you carried was to buy a house
because of You-Know-Who. He is very sensitive about what
people suffer because of him.”

“Molly, I’m tired.”

“I know you are. If it is worrying you that much, tell Harry the
situation, he will understand. About Ron... what does he
know?”

Arthur thought a moment. “He fell asleep during our
meeting. I think he only knows that Winston tried to cheat
him, not how much I was in debt to him or the interest rate.”

“Arthur, Ron won’t know the difference. Let the matter drop
and give yourself some rest. You’ve put far too much on
your shoulders. It’s time you thought about other things.”

“Such as?”

“Me,” she said, grinning, snuggling up to him.

“Right you are, Molly.”

* * * *

After Hermione finished her letter, she folded it neatly, with a
mischievous grin on her face. She put Crookshanks on her
bed and changed into her pajamas.

She lay in bed studying her beautiful new ring. The unusual
ring was silver, designed with roses carved across the top.
The bottom, a little narrower than the top, was smooth
polished silver. After a few minutes she became sleepy, so
she turned off the light and fell asleep. It was the first time, in
a very long time, that she fell asleep completely content.

* * * *

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