Chapter 9
Chapter 9 of 9
HermioneWeasley1972After the confrontation with Ron, Severus felt an anger that he hadn't felt for a long time. He couldn’t believe what Ron had done to the woman who had stuck by him through thick and thin, whom he had once professed to love. But that wasn't important now. All that was important was his wife and his unborn child.
Once he had calmed down sufficiently, he made his way back to the hospital where he found an Auror he was pleased to see was not Harry Potter, but another Auror whom he recognised. The Auror nodded at him and moved aside so that he could enter the room.
Hermione was asleep when he entered the room, and his heart broke when he saw the tracks of tears on her face. Not wanting to wake her, he took a seat next to her bed and gently took her hand.
"Hermione," he whispered softly, "I'm here for you. I promise you that he will never bother you again."
As he watched her, she stirred on the bed and eventually opened her eyes. "Severus? You're here?"
"Of course I am," he said, bending down to kiss her. "I wanted to come back and see you before I turn in for the evening. How are you feeling?"
Sighing deeply, Hermione looked at him. "I'm doing better now than I was earlier. They assigned Ron to come and guard my room. We got into an argument." She stopped and looked carefully at him. "You know, don't you?"
"Yes," Severus said reluctantly. "The Healer Floo'ed me and told me about what had happened. I could have wrung Weasley's neck."
"Severus, being angry with him isn't going to do any of us any good." She yawned deeply and took a deep breath. "I'm so tired, Severus."
"Then get some sleep. I'll stay until you fall asleep," he said, bending down to kiss her again. "I love you, Hermione," he added softly.
"I love you too, Severus," she replied, closing her eyes.
Several minutes later she was fast sleep. Severus bent and kissed her one last time before quietly leaving her room.
Ron awoke early the next morning to an incessant tapping on the windowpane of his and Lavender's bedroom. Moaning, he glanced at the clock which read 6:30. Who in the world was sending an owl this early in the morning?
He opened the window to allow the owl inside and recognised it immediately as an Auror office owl.
I need to see you in my office at 7:30.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
He gulped loudly and sighed. He knew what Shacklebolt wanted to see him about, and he had a feeling that the meeting would not go well. He turned back to the bed to see Lavender blinking at him.
"You're up early," she said with surprise in her voice.
"Yeah, I got an owl that Kingsley wants to see me. I reckon I'm in trouble for last night."
"Did that goody goody bookworm report you?" Lavender asked, making a face at him.
"Didn't have to. Two Healers came in, and one of them took me out of her room." He bent down and kissed her. "I gotta go shower. I'll let you know what happens."
An hour later Ron sat in the office of Kingsley Shacklebolt, looking at his boss, who had a very serious expression on his face.
"Weasley, you know that I consider you to be a good Auror. But I have gotten some serious complaints about what you did last night at St. Mungo's. Whatever your personal feelings may be about Hermione's choice for a husband, you can't allow it to influence your job. The way that you reacted last night was unethical and unprofessional, and I can't allow someone like that on my Auror team."
"You're firing me?" Ron asked, his eyes wide.
"No, I'm not firing you. But I am suspending you for one month without pay. I simply cannot have that type of behaviour from an Auror in this office." Kingsley's voice was grave and his eyes were steely.
Ron stood up and paced around the office. "How can you do this to me? I'm a good Auror. I've captured some of the worst Death Eaters over the years."
"I know you are, Weasley, and that is why I'm not firing you. I'm giving you some time to get your act together." He held out his hand. "I will need your badge. You can get it back once your suspension is over."
"I thought we were friends," Ron said, tearing his badge off his robes and throwing it on the desk.
"And I thought Hermione was your friend. I will see you in a month."
Ron stormed out of the office and slammed the door behind him. He couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Neither Ron nor Kingsley knew that a third set of ears had listened to the exchange with a great deal of interest.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Lesson in Friendship
156 Reviews | 5.22/10 Average
Are you going to write anymore? It's a great story!
Response from HermioneWeasley1972 (Author of A Lesson in Friendship)
Thank you. Yes, I just got busy with RL. :) Thanks for the review.
Response from Grace52373 (Reviewer)
Thank you for responding! i was afraid this was abandoned, and that would be a real shame, since it is such a great story! Looking forward to the next chapters! Grace
Please, PLEASE don't leave me hanging! Ron's in trouble... And Lav isn't being very nice.
Ron's lucky he didn't lose his job. Lavender is no better. What's her problem? Why is she so resentful of Hermione?
Great update, Ron got off easily in my book, I would have put him in Azkaban, if not for anything else than being a prat.
So, who is the one who listened with great interest to Ron and Kingsleys conversation? A friend of Hermione or Ron, or neither?
Another thing; Lavender, does she find it acceptable that Ron is still so hung-up about Hermione? Her jelousy towards Hermione after so many years, and with Hermione so obviously not wanting Ron, makes me think that Lavender is bottered by Rons remaining feelings for Hermione. Indifference should have been preferred compared to continued hang-ups over an ex-girlfriend, so maybe Lavender feels seccond best and blame Hermione for Ron's feelings?
I look forward to read more.
Good for Kingsley. I was afraid that Ron would escape with just a slap on the wrist. I wonder who the ears belong to?
Oooohh! Who's the third set of ears??!!
I'm glad you gave us another Ron scene - very curious about him. I'm glad he's upset, but he should be glad he wasn't fire - the bonehead!
Nice touch there with Kinglsey's rerort "And I thought you and Hermione were friends." !!!
Awesome. Looking forward to reading more.
"Did that goody goody bookworm report you?" Lavender asked, making a face at him.
Nice to see that Lavender's matured every bit as much as her charming husband. *Insert eyeroll*
And the fact that Ron never once expressed remorse over his appalling behavior towards the pregnant victim of a brutal attack--who happens to be a kind-hearted former friend-- is proof that he desperately needs and deserves the suspension that he's so furious about.
Of course, Ron's more upset about the fallout for himself rather than what he did to earn it. Knowing Ron, he'll probably blame Hermione, even though she wasn't the one who reported him.
I'm curious, though, about who was eavesdropping on Ron's ill-fated meeting with the Minister. My first thought was Rita Skeeter, but...?
Great story BTW, I look forward to seeing how things further unfold.
Another great part! I just have one critique, NOT LONG ENOUGH! I want to read more! Anyway, however way you write it, long or short, I still can't wait to read more!
I think you should add another category for this story under "Potions Under Duress." I know that lots of Hermione/Severus fans would enjoy reading this story.
Hurray - an update! I am so glad - I really liked this story. I am glad Hermione is fine. I am also glad that Severus told Ron off. Great job - I look forward to an update.
Response from HermioneWeasley1972 (Author of A Lesson in Friendship)
Thank you. I have good news for you. An update is pending in the queue and I fixed it. As soon as an admin releases it, it will be up. :)
At least he's a little angry at himself.
It's so good to see this story continued - thank you! And what a promising chapter...
You are such a tease. Now you've re-opened a can of flobber worms, so you can't quit now. It was good to see the update.
Nice job!
I am trilled to see an update to this story, I love it! So, Ron had to be a git still, I guess he will never grow up. Severus were rigth to warn him and for standing up for his wife, that is what a decent man should do.
Ron, Harry and the rest of those who turned their back on Hermione for daring to marry the man she loves should all be ashamed of them self, not to mention preferably put in their place!
The culprit (Lucius?) should be publicly humiliated and punished, preferably by Severus and Hermione, but as long as it is painful I guess I can live with it no matter who gets the honor:-))
And you should feel guilty Ron!! As should Harry!!
Lol. I was so excited when I saw an update! Woo-hoo! 
Just loved how Snape was all sweet and threatened Dunderhead!Ron.
I'm very curious how Ron's guilt will influence his next actions.
I'm also very curious about how the children's friendships develop and what they will think when they find out about their parents' estrangement.
So glad Hermione's baby is okay!!!
Look forward to reading more!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I have been looking forward to a new chapter for awhile now! I can't believe Ron, but then again, he has always had the maturity of a teaspoon! Ha! Ha! It was great to see Snape stand up for his family! Ron deserved that and more! I can't wait to see the next chapter!
Grace
Ron was out of line, he deserved what he got and more.
Nice to see how much Ron has matured over the years.
I guess it's fine for he and Lavender to keep building their own personal Quidditch team, but how dare Hermione have a second child with her husband, the man that she loves? So naturally Ron thinks it's a fine idea to antagonize his former friend, a pregnant woman who's just been brutally attacked and barely avoided a miscarriage?
What an ASS!!!
Harry's son James showed much more class and maturity when he stuck up for Nicoletta when that creep Brian tried to start something about a Snape in Gryffindor.
Sounds like James could teach Uncle Won-Won a lesson or two!
So glad to see this story back on the boards. I was really enjoying it. I look forward to your next chapter. Thanks, JoAnne
I hope no one considers Ron Hermione's friend anymore. Jeez. What a loser.
ron the eternal git. wonderful update. thanks and smoochies
I was over at Granger Enchanted when I came across this fic - it stopped at chapter 4 over there - and i just needed to read more. A good search was able to bring me here where you've got 7 chapters. It's very good. I've read several "broken trio friendship" fics, and this is defiantely one of the better ones. I love little Nicoletta and look forward to seeing what happens when Hermione and Ron confront each other at the hospital.
I'm hoping for heaps of guilt from Ron and Harry for being such jerks. I dunno if this fic is abandoned but i really hope it isn't.
Look forward to reading more and catching the bad guy!
Ron doesn't see what he did wrong? And if the healers turned him in, eh. He and Lav are going to blame Hermione anyway.
Ron! How awkward!Ooh, I like this story so far. I hope for another update soon!I'm glad that Hermione and the baby were safe, I was really worried that she would lose the baby. I hope that she can go live with Severus at Hogwarts (although I have a feeling he won't let her stay at home by herself).