In Sickness and in Health

{20}

After it was explained, Hermione supposed she understood exactly how Harry had gotten Ron to forgive him. There was no confundus charm used, luckily enough, and they'd been really good about the entire conversation. Harry had cornered Ron in his own flat and told him to get a life hating Hermione like he did. Ron had tried to explain how it was and why, but Harry hadn't listened to a word of it.

He had been a bastard, he realized, and with Ron accepting that, guilt flooded him like a tidal wave on a cardboard box, and Harry was able to weasel in an apology about his affair against Ginny. They were best mates, and with the state of conscience Ron was in, it helped his forgiving side.

Harry had only done what Hermione had, only he'd acted on the feelings. She had barely even had the opportunity, let alone taken the chance.

The last two people to give and get forgiveness respectfully, would be Ginny and Harry. There was no doubt she would take a while to come around, and Harry understood that. There had been so much turmoil and hurt, and worst of all betrayal, that no one was surprised about their need for a lot of space.

Ron and Hermione had made a pact that if Draco hurt Harry they would murder him on the spot. It was not necessarily the kind of pact that was made in the verbal sense, but one look at each other and they knew they would do anything to protect their friend from the heartbreak they thought was inevitable for Malfoy to cause him.

Regardless, they decided to focus on the good coming up, and with the holidays approaching, Hermione determined the best way to do that was a smashing holiday party. She was thrilled to announce the event to all of her friends, and then Harry to his, and Ron the same. They were going to make it large and grand, and everyone was to be invited... well, almost everyone.

Hermione knew that even if she did feel inclined to owl an invitation to Severus it would go unanswered due to their previous encounter. It had been a mess, and then her whole interaction with Ron and Harry right in front of him?

She doubted he would even read the letter.

With the impending party only days away, seeing as they had short-planned it, there was a surprising amount of people willing to come. Though, Hermione supposed that their mild fame helped to aid anyone who felt reluctant to change their plans.

The whole thing was going to be quite grand, if they said so themselves. Ron was in charge of food, Harry was the one gathering people and making sure they were coming, and Hermione did all of the decorating. She was thrilled when snow fell the day before, knowing it would be just the touch needed.

Considering it had been going around for a while that the coined "Golden Trio" wasn't speaking with one-another, the party was the talk of the wizarding world. Hermione even saw the article on it in the Daily Prophet, explaining how they'd put together their differences in some asinine way that was completely false.

Now, the fact that Ginny and Draco were invited sparked worry in Hermione and Ron. They knew that when everyone finally saw them together, it was going to be a shock. No one ever expected it, and those who knew had hardly condoned it until now. But, Harry seemed ready to face what he may for the love he felt, and while Draco hadn't been in their presence, Harry assured him that his partner was much the same prepared.

That Saturday, Hermione spent the time at her flat casting several extension charms she'd gotten last-minute approval from by Kingsley. He'd been more than happy when she asked and he was extended an invitation, despite its polite refusal. The Minister was simply happy to see her relaxed... at least more so than she'd been before.

So when her apartment was rightfully now twice its size, she phoned Ron and told him to get himself over there, shutting her room's door and locking it to make sure they didn't live down too many memories. Hermione didn't mind recollecting their life together, it had been nice for a while, but that wasn't her goal for the party. She wanted it to be about happiness and togetherness, even if she was the only one who was yearning for someone else now.