"Get out of my restaurant! You fucking kids!" The manager screamed as the room fell silent.

Kip the coat boy, came rushing out and threw their jackets at them before retreating back to the storage room.

Grabbing his jacket Harry stormed out quickly,  followed by Hermione and Ron who had their arms linked and their faces were stuck in their shocked expressions.

Ginny stayed behind and hastily helped Draco to his feet once he was standing she grabbed her overcoat from the floor and threw it on. Buckling the belt and snapping the buttons as she chased the others out of the restaurant.

Hermione and Ron were in the alley whispering when Ginny came around the corner.

"Harry, already left," Ron said scratching his neck awkwardly.

"We thought we should wait for you," Hermione added holding out her hand.

"Thank you," Ginny whispered barely audible.

She took Hermione's hand and as they all became compressed into the tube of apperation, a sob welled up inside her chest. When her feet landed heavily in the cold stone steps of Grimwald Place her knees collapsed and she melted into a puddle on the ground. Sobbing silently Ginny's body convulsed and shook.

"We need to get her inside," Hermione whispered.

Nodding Ron picked his little sister up like a baby and carried her gently through the door. Ginny pawed at his chest and muffled her screaming sobs into his jacket.

Carrying her gently up the stairs Ron placed her in bed with Hermione standing behind him. She kissed Ginny's forehead and before shutting the door glanced at Ginny who was sitting with her hair a mess and makeup running. Her eyes were glassy and the moon reflected off of them. She was still shaking but her lips had sealed shut and she was staring at the ceiling.

Hermione closed the door gently and walked down to the kitchen with Ron and Harry.

When Hermione walked in Ron threw down his jacket and started pacing.

"I'm going to lose my temper now." He said.

Hermione grimaced and glanced at Harry who had already taken off his tie and jacket. He was leaning on the counter facing the wall and has his shoulders hunched over.

"FRIENDS WITH MALFOY!" Ron roared. Just thinking about it made his jaw clench. "I can't believe it. Why would Ginny ever confide with or befriend with someone so- so vile! He thinks he's high and mighty being pureblood. I can't even imagine! I don't even want to think about my sister around him!" Ron screamed slamming his arms and turning his back as he began to pace the kitchen.

"How, are you so calm about this?" Harry questioned quickly and marching up to Hermione.

His jaw was clenched and his glasses were falling down his nose. His shoulders were rising and falling rapidly and he took rattling breaths. His eyes stung and he was standing in a cold sweat. His body in denial.

"You knew. You already knew! DIDN'T YOU?" Harry was visibly getting more upset by the minute. "How could you not tell us!?"

Hermione sighed biting her lip took her coat off. Delicately hanging it from the hook she tucked her hair behind her ears and walked back over to Harry. Ron was standing fuming watching and waiting for Hermione to answer Harry.

"Go grab that pitcher, please." She said pointing towards the clay pitcher next to the sink. "When I answer, if you get mad, hurl it at the wall."

Walking over to the sink quickly Harry grabbed the pitcher and stormed back over to Hermione, his eyes wide and waiting.

"I have known-" Harry interrupted her with a yell as he hurled the pot against the stone walls. He watched it shatter and fall to the floor.

Calmly Hermione pointed her wand at the pot and repaired it.

"I have known since Ginny and I first started living here." Hemrioen finished as calmly as she could.

"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US!" Ron ranted kicking a chair.

"Ginny didn't want to tell you," Hermione said also fixing the split chair leg. "And I can see why. Both if you reacting like this. It's ridiculous." Hermione said shaking her head. "Both of you need to calm down at sit down so I can explain to you exactly what happened," Hermione said also losing her temper but at the boys.

Ron sat down grumpily and started screaming the table with his fingernails. Harry sat down slowly and stared at the wall angrily. He was clenching his fists so hard his knuckles were white and there were marks on his palms from his nails.

Sitting down Hermione rubbed her temples and sighed. Laying her palms down in the table she looked and Harry, then Ron.

"I understand that you are protective and that hopefully you only want the best for Ginny. But she is her own person. And don't accuse me of not caring or not being mad." Hermione said pointing at Harry who had opened his mouth. "I was furious. She was friends with Malfoy all of our last year at Hogwarts. Right under my nose. Every day she would sneak off to the Room of Requirement and meet with Malfoy. The reason she was talking to him the restaurant was that he was drunk. After the war, he felt guilty. Or that's what Ginny said. He started drinking. He felt responsible for what his parents had done. In a way, she was only carrying on your hospitality." Hermione said looking at Harry.

"Tolerance." Harry corrected through clenched teeth.

"Tolerance, or whatever. The point is, Ginny helped him stay sober. So to see him in a bar drinking his life away after a year's worth of work and friendship put into him, she couldn't handle it. She had to step in. I know for a fact that Malfoy never hurt her, he never made her do something she didn't want to do. They were just friends and don't go freaking out about the making contact now, because they did not end on good terms. The first few weeks when we back did you notice how upset she was? That's because they had a row and that ended their friendship. Ginny loved Malfoy. Not in that way Harry and you know it." Hermione said throwing Harry a look. " What you need understand and come to terms with is that they were friends, oh, it took me forever to admit it and it took me even longer to accept it oh, but this is still Ginny talking about, this is the girl we know and love, we're not just going to throw a relationship with her away over this are we? She's probably upstairs losing her mind right now." Hermione sighed looking over her shoulder at the door.
"So before either one of you can see her you both need to figure your shit out." Hermione finished. Tears glistened in her eyes as she pushed away from the table and grabbed a glass of water.

Ginny who had heard the shouting match from upstairs started throwing her belongings into a bag as soon as it got quiet.

She took off her dress and zipped it back into its cloth holder. Laying it on her bed she threw on black leggings and a white sweatshirt with the UK's flag on the pockets. She tightly laced her ankle high white converse. Before ripping the bobby pins from her hair and haphazardly pulling the style out. She then threw it up into a high ponytail. Grabbing her wand and bag she ran quickly by silently from the house.

Appearing in front of George's flat Ginny banged in the door.

"Please open the door, George!" She cried. "It's Ginny! Just opened the door. Please?" She finished weakly and let her head fall against the cool glass. George flung the door open causing Ginny to stumble back.

"Ginny?" He questioned. "What's wrong-" He was interrupted by Ginny jumping on him throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing into his shoulder.

"Hey, hey," George said gently prying Ginny off of him and guiding her inside. "What happened Gin?"

It was nine at night so George was still awake. But he would have been awake at two in the morning anyway.  His insomnia was kinda a bitch.

"What happened?" He asked once again after he had sat Ginny down on the couch, wrapped her in a blanket and made her a cup of hot tea.

Ginny recounted everything that had happened at Hogwarts and that night through hiccups as she slowly began to calm down.

"Oh, God! He probably hates me and is going to break up with me George!" Ginny wailed falling back onto his shoulder and sobbing once more. He rubbed her back soothingly. "What have I done?" She cried quietly shaking.

George stayed silent for a second. He was also mad about the whole Malfoy businesses. But that was not as important. Harry making Ginny like this is what really made him want to scream. So he rubbed Ginny's back and soothed her until she stopped sobbing and looked back up with red puffy eyes.

"You listen to me. Harry loves you. Your family loves you. Hermione loves you. You did what you thought was right. And you helped someone in a difficult place. You helped Mal– Draco. You helped Draco out of being an alcoholic. You did the right thing, Ginny. They can be mad, let them. You can stay with me until this blows over. We go to Mum and Dad's Tuesday. So, just stay here with me. I am here for you Ginny. I love you. And if Harry is stupid enough to break up with you over this, the whole Weasley family might have to shun him. If you need anything I'm here. And just say the word. Say the word and I go to Grimwald place and beat Harry to a pulp. And maybe Ron. Okay? Now go to sleep Ginny. You need it." George smiled lightly as he gently guided Ginny down to sleep on the couch.

He pulled a blanket that their Mum had made over her and kissed her forehead.

"Good night Gin." He whispered.

"Love you, George." She whispered back.

"I love you too Ginny." He said, then he shut the light off.

•••••••••••••••••••

"Are you ready to go talk to her?" Hermione asked for a second time looking at Harry from her book.

"Not yet," Harry said. I am not going to shout at her. You love her! Breath, calm down. You need to talk to Ginny! Harry scolded himself in his thoughts as he took deep breathes and attempted to calm himself.

Ron had long since left the room and was playing Bettles records softly across the hall.

Hermione had put up a barrier at the stairs until Harry said he was ready to talk to her. He would be the first to talk to Ginny.

A few minutes later Harry relaxed his hands and looked at Hermione.

"I'm ready." He said.

"Are you sure?" Hermione questioned closing her book but keeping her finger in between the pages.

"Yes," Harry said nodding.

Hermione removed the barrier and let Harry walk up to the fourth floor. Alone.

"Hey, Ginny? Can we talk?" Harry knocked gently on the door and waited for a response. "Please?" He called through the door. "Ginny?"

Opening the door a crack Harry looked around. No Ginny. He opened the door fully. Stepping inside the room, no Ginny.

"Ginny!?" He called loudly. Running around the hall he opens the door to Hermione's room. Nowhere.

Bathroom? No.

Harry's room? No.

Ron's room? No.

Bathroom? No.

Their floor living room? No.

Drawing room? No.

Second-floor bedrooms? No.

Living room? No.

Kitchen? No.

She's nowhere in the house. Panicking Harry starts running around the house opening random door and curtains. Rechecking each room ruffing through clothes and knocking over umbrella stands.

Hearing Harry freak out Ron peaks his head out.

"What's going on?" He questions Hermione who's running past down to the kitchen.

"We can't find Ginny." She says rushed.

"Bloody hell," Ron mumbles and begins running around the house with the others.

"Ginny! Ginny where are you and Hello's?" Ring through the house as the golden trio searches for Ginny.

"Guys!" Ron calls from upstairs. " I found something!"

Stumbling over himself Harry sprints towards Ron's voice.

"What what'd you find!" He questions looking around Ginny's room as he holds Ron's shoulder panting for breath.

"It was in her dress," Ron said to him handing the small piece of parchment to Hermione.

"Lemme see, lemme see that," Harry says breathlessly snatching the paper from Hermione's hand.

You guys don't need me. I'm sorry I messed up so bad. I'm going to Mum and Dad's or maybe shell cottage, or maybe I'll stay with George. I don't know. Just, don't come looking for me. I don't need that right now. And you don't need me.
See you at dinner, I guess.
Bye.

"I have to go get her." Harry started bluntly.

"No, you don't," Hermione said. "What she needs is space. We will see her on Tuesday."

"I can't wait that long," Harry said in shock. "Tonight was supposed to special." Harry sighed stomping his foot.

"Oh, that reminds me. Do you want this back?" Ron asked holding out the box.

"What's this?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," Harry said quickly grabbing the box.

"No, let me see," Hermione said prying open Harry's hand.

She grabbed the box and opened it slowly. "Ah." She gasped. "Harry, you were going to propose to her?" Hermione said shocked.

Her voice was faint and her eyes were misty.

"Going to. Past tense." Harry said snatching the box back.

"Did you ask my Dad?" Ron said. "Because you would have to ask one of us."

"Why do think I left work early Friday?"

"Oh."

"Doesn't matter anymore," Harry grumbled. "I'm- going to bed." He said walking out of the room.

Once Harry left the room Hermione leaned on Ron.

"This is not good." She whispered.

"It's okay. As you said, we'll see her on Tuesday." Ron soothed playing with Hermione's hair.

"We should go to bed too," Hermione said.

"Okay," Ron said.

Hermione walked into her room and slowly but surely stripped off her layers of makeup and glitter and pulled off her beautiful but tight dress. Throwing her hair up into a messy bun, Hermione put on an old band t-shirt and some grey sweatpants.

Going to the bathroom she slowly brushed her teeth and washed her hands. There was a cut on her palm from when she removed the glass from Harry's jacket.

She yawned and slowly walked from the bathroom. Just before she would walk into her room Hermione changed her mind. She turned and walked up to the stairs. Walking in into Ron's room she crawled over to her side of his bed and laid down, she fell asleep almost instantly.

•••••••••••••••••••

Walking up Harry stretched and for a second forgot about everything that had happened in the last twelve hours.

"Ahhhhhhh." Harry groaned shoving a pillow into his face.

The pillow smelled like Ginny.

"I hate everything!" Harry groaned again throwing the pillow at the wall.

He glanced at his clock. 9:57 a.m. Wonderful.

He laid in bed until he heard Ron and Hermione moving around downstairs.

He decided to sit in his bed miserably until eventually Ron or Hermione would come up and convince him to leave his room.

Harry sat in the edge of his bed chewing his lip starting on the window. The shadows from the sun on the back of the house made the steam rising from the sidewalks very noticeable. But Harry knew that soon the weather would become wet again and soon it was going to begin to snow.

"Harry?" Hermioen said knocking lightly on his door. "Ron wanted to come up and get you, but I thought I should come first. Listen, I know you feel bad and – and I feel bad too. I shouldn't have kept that secret from you. I was only doing what Ginny asked."

Hermione's voice was soft and Harry could tell she'd been crying. He could hear the faint bump of her head against the hard work only the door.

"Harry?" She asked again.

He didn't move from his bed. Just go away, Hermione. He thought. Please. He waited and ignored the stinging in his eyes. He would not cry. Then the screeching sound came. Of Hermione letting her palm from the door and down to her side. Her fading footsteps echoed around the house, and Harry's head.

Putting his head in his hands Harry fell back onto the bed. Grabbing the blankets he pulled them over his whole body and wished for sleep to overcome him.

Ginny hadn't slept well, she woke startled and thrashing around, tangling herself in the knitted blanket.

"Where am I! Where am I?" She gasped thrashing around, hair flying around and crusted tears covered her face and made her eyes hurt.

"Ginny! Ginny, calm." George ran over to his sister and started stroking her head. "It's ok. You're with me, above the store. It's okay." The memories came flooding back.

The glass, the fight, the drink, the yelling, and the silence. Oh God, the silence. Ginny put her head in her hands and started shaking.

She didn't know when George left her side. But he had to open the store. There was a plate of eggs and sausage on the counter and a cup of black coffee. The food and drink were cold. Ginny had gotten lost in her mind and the once piping hot food was bland and cold. Ginny wasn't hungry anyway.

She took a few small bites of the egg. The food felt funny in her mouth. Slimy and dry. Impossible to swallow. She forced it down a lot with bitter sips of coffee.

Lacking the will to pick herself up Ginny crawled back to the couch and buried herself among the cushions.

She didn't know when she fell asleep but the light was fresh and the house smelt of honey.

It was the next morning. George had changed clothes and was putting honey on a biscuit.

"Morning sunshine." George ginned trying to make her smile.

"Ahhh. My head." Ginny groaned.

"Come on. Mum will have something." George said becoming his head.

Before Ginny could even answer her brother was holding her arm and they both appeared in the aspen grove in front of the burrow.

Deciding to ignore the trees Ginny ran inside searching for her mother's arms. Fresh tears burning in her eyes Ginny stumbled into her mothers embrace. Losing all her dignity she said she was upholding. Ginny sobbed. She sobbed hard. Tears staining her mother's clothes and snot running down her nose.

Aurther looked at George who had been the first to arrive with Ginny.

"What happened?" He asked looking around for the others.

"It'd be best if Harry or Ginny explained," George whispered back. "She really just needs Mum right now. I did what I could when she came to my flat last night, but Mum should have some tea or fancy from stuff for her. But Dad, when Harry and Ron get here, please hold me back."

"What why?" Aurther questioned bewildered.

"Let's just say I'm not happy with either of them at the moment."

"Leading me on. But okay." Aurther sighed and scratched his bald spot. "How's the shop been?"

Once Ginny had stooped crying enough to compose herself. Molly gently lead her up the stairs and into the bathroom.

"Come here, Darling." Turning on the tap to the tub Molly helped Ginny in.

Sitting in the water covering herself slightly. She was a little delusional and it was just her mother.

Molly dumped salts and oils into the tub. The hot water gave off soothing scents and Ginny's body relaxed.

"There there dear." Molly soothed. Shushed she gently cleaned Ginny's face. The dried tears and old makeup came off on the cloth.

She took Ginny's arm and started gently cleaning her arm. Gently rubbing the cloth up and down in soothing motions. Taking her palm Molly frowned.

"You're dehydrated." She sighed.

Taking a glass from the counter Molly filled it with cool water from the tap.

"Here you go, love. Drink." Tipping the glass to her lips Ginny gulped the water down.

Slowly but surely Ginny became clean and relaxed. Through more tears, Ginny told her mother everything that happened.

"It's all my fault Mum!" She sobbing into her hands.

"It is not your fault love," Molly said gently. "When did you go to your brothers?"

Taking her out of the tub, Molly wrapped Ginny in a towel. She dressed her slowly an old marron sweater. Faded jeans and a braid. Molly brushed her daughter's hair slowly and gently.

"I love you, Mum." She whispered once finished.

"I love you, Ginny. Come with me. Help me cook dear." Eyes still puffy but no longer crying Ginny unfolded her legs and stood.

Slowly the rest of the family arrived. Bill and Fleur with their daughter Jasmine.
Charlie couldn't come back from Romania, but he would be here for Christmas.
Percy and Audrey, unbelievably cute together.

"Ginny? Can I please tell them?" George begged for a second time.

"Are they here?" Ginny questioned not looking up from the vegetables she was chopping.

"No." He said looking at her shoulder desperately.

"Quickly. And not near me." Ginny snapped.

"As quick a possible," George said relieved.

Audrey, Teddy, and Victorie were sent into the kitchen when George gathered the rest of the family.

The house went silent except for the cooking food in the kitchen for a few minutes before outraged shouts came filtering through. Ginny flinched each time she heard a yell.

The yelling was followed by shushing from George. Minutes passed in silence before there were more shouts even louder than before. There was the sound of a rattling cup. Probably Flure shaking with rage. And the cup was probably taken from her by Bill.

Tense whispers were floating from the living room when a loud pop echoed across the house and Ginny looked up from the potatoes she was mixing in fear. Her eyes were wide and the spoon she was holding started shaking so badly it was clanking against the pan.

Molly came up next to her and took the spoon. Holding her hands she helped Ginny subdue the shaking.

"It's okay," Ginny said firmly. Taking the spoon again she looked down at the potatoes. Stirring firmly, she did not look up when the three entered.

"Hi everyone!" Ron called taking off his snow-covered hat. The room grew silent and even in the kitchen, and food seemed to stop cooking. Except for the sound of Ginny stirring. Ron looked around and the smile fell from his face. "Oh." He said.

"Hey, Ron! Hermione, Harry!"  Teddy called running out of the kitchen as they slowly took off all of their winter gear. Halfway breaking the tension in the room.

Harry trailed behind Ron and Hermione who had their arms wrapped around each other. His hands were shoved into his pockets and had a frown on his face. He lifted his lips at people when they said his name. Otherwise, he kept his eyes on the floor.

Hermione went into the kitchen in search for Mrs. Weasley but her eyes landed on Ginny first.

"Oh, Ginny!" She whispers cried running over to her friend.

Ginny turned away with the pan still in hand still mixing.

"Ginny?" Hermione questioned. "We were worried sick about you!" She cried to Ginny's back.

"Well, you found my note. I'm fine, you're all fine. I don't see what the big deal is." Ginny shrugged dumping the food into a serving bowl.

"But we're not fine." Hermione sighed.

"Harry, he's not fine." Hermione held Ginny's shoulder and pointed at Harry in the sitting room.

He was slumped in the side of the couch staring down at his knees. He looked fine overall, but the closer she looked more apparent it became on how much he was not fine.

Ginny gasped and whimpered slightly at the sight. But she forced herself not to cry.

"Paper, I need paper." She muttered going towards the other side of the kitchen and digging through the junk drawer.

Grabbing a scrap of paper Ginny took a broken quill and some ink and scribbled out a note.

My room, five minutes. Please.
-Gin

Folding the scrap she took her wand a levitated it over to Harry.

She let it fall in his lap and she moved away from the door frame. Pretending to still work Ginny watched the clock. When five minutes had passed she looked back into the living room.

He wasn't there. Wiping her hands in her pants and smoothing back her hair Ginny rushed up the stairs as discreetly as possible.

She gently opened the door to her room. Harry was standing leaning on his hand against the window frame.

"Hey." She said lightly pushing the door once she had stepped in.

Harry turned around but didn't speak. They both stood, far apart not speaking, but looking at each other, waiting for someone to drop the ball.

"Listen, Harry. I'm – I'm so sorry." Ginny's voice wobbled and she let a few tears leak out of her eyes. "I should have told you. I should have never been friends with Draco–Malfoy! I mean Malfoy. I should have never been friends with him. He's a death eater, right? Who cares? Right? Forgive me?"

"I'm such bastard," Harry said.

"Come again?" Ginny said confused as she sniffed up snot that was leaking from her nose.

"You don't mean the things you just said. You said to them to please me. So I would forgive you. I'm such a dick. He really was your friend, wasn't he?" Harry questioned grimacing at his own words.

Ginny nodded and used the heel of her hand to wipe her eyes.

"He didn't hurt you? Did he?"

Ginny shook her head no.

"I really overreacted, didn't I? It's just– It's just that he was so evil! For so long! I could imagine him changing, or you being with him over me. I am selfish too. Ginny, you should not be the one apologizing. I should. I went out of my place, I overreacted, I fought him in a fancy restaurant, I made you run away! God, what's wrong with me!"

Without saying a word Ginny took Harry's hand. She places her fingers against his as if they were measuring hands. Then she leaned her forehead against his and slipped their fingers together.

"Your family knows right?" He asked.

"Yeah." Ginny breathed back.

"Are they going to hate me now?"

"Only for a little bit." She said bluntly.

"Can you forgive me?" Harry asked looking down more.

"I will. I told you I could never stop loving you, and I stand by that statement. But not right away. But for the most part yes." Ginny said. A single tear fell from her eye and splashed on the hardwood floor.

"I know. I'll give you all the time you need." Harry responded. Then he laughed.

"What's funny?" Ginny asked a smile dancing on her lips.

"I cannot wait for 'Mione and Ron to have a serious row. That will be the fight of the century." Harry laughed.

"Time will only tell." Ginny laughed. "I should go back down before my Mum rings me out for not helping," Ginny said leaving the room.

"Okay," Harry said to her disappearing shadow.

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Ok, so this might be a long note so if you need to skip then that's fine.
So I'm going to cover stuff from the last two chapters it did not feel right to leave a note after a cliffhanger. But that chapter was incredibly fun to write. Please don't judge me for the weird outfits and hairdos.
Again, this will not be the last time we see Draco.
The part with Ginny and Molly in the tub, also please don't judge me. I thought I was something I should include. Plus it's not like Molly was being perverted. She was helping her daughter.
The bought of sadness that came over Ginny and Harry probably seemed exaggerated, but if you have even been in a fight with someone or been through a breakup then you know the feeling.
I had a lot of fun writing these chapters.
It's kinda funny. I used to force myself to have 450 words in my chapters before I could publish it and now I'm disappointed in myself when the story is 3500 words long.
This community had been wonderful to me and I would not be here without everyone's support. I have to sound like a broken record. But I really appreciate it.
Leave comments! Tell me what you think! Point out typos! Please! I'm not perfect and I want my content to be readable. Let me know what you think. I love all of you.

Hope you liked this two-parter!

See you next time Loves!

💚💚😜😜