Chapter 3: The Confrontation

A/N: Again I want to thank my wonderful beta who will be revealed after voting. Thanks for helping me with all my errors.

Chapter 3: The Confrontation

Ginny arrived at work on Monday morning with a whole new attitude. She couldn’t change things, so she might as well try and move on.

“Good morning, Ginny,” George greeted her cheerily. “I wasn’t sure if you would make it in today. You weren’t at Mum's last night.”

“No, Hermione and I had a late lunch and spent some time talking. That helped. I figured I couldn’t sit around doing nothing, so I came to work. I can’t stop my life because Harry chose to marry Cho instead of me.”

“Well, that’s a good look at things.”

“So, what’s the plan for today?” she asked him. She hoped they had a busy day.

“The Ministry is sending one of its Aurors to pick up some shield clothing,” he told her.

“They don’t feel threatened again, do they?” Ginny was a bit frightened.

“No, nothing like that. The new hires need a set. They buy them every year.”

“Well, that’s a good thing,” she said to him, relieved. “I can’t imagine going through another war. So, who are they sending?” She was hoping it wasn’t Harry.

“I don’t think they are sending Harry,” he told her, as if reading her mind. “Besides, he is probably on his honeymoon. Oh, sorry…” He was interrupted by the bell at the front door.

“Hey, guys,” Ron said as he entered the store. “How are things?”

Ginny looked like she was going to hit him. “You know damn well how things are!” she screamed at him. “You were there, weren’t you? The Prophet said a few friends and family. You stood up for him, didn’t you? You were his best man!”

Ron mumbled something under his breath.

“What was that? Cat got your tongue? Don’t bother trying to explain yourself. I can’t believe it. You’re my brother!” She was on the verge of tears.

“He’s my best friend!” Ron yelled, finally getting his voice back. “What was I supposed to say? Sorry, mate, you don’t want to marry my sister so find a new best man.”

“Maybe you should have,” she said to him. She was mad at him, but not as mad as she was at Harry. She just knew that she would never say these things to him, so Ron made a good substitute. “Why did this happen so fast?”

“I guess Harry couldn’t wait. I thought he had been put under some kind of spell at first. She only just started back at the Ministry a month ago. Next thing I know, he was telling me that he had fallen for her, and they were going to get married. Then he told me that the wedding was Saturday. I was completely shocked. I asked him ‘what about my sister?’ He told me you were through.”

“And you believed that? Ron, he told me he needed a break, I gave it to him. I didn’t know he was going to run off and marry the first girl that came into his life.” She was really upset now.

“She isn’t the first girl, if you remember; they dated back in our fifth year. They have a bit of a history.”

“You expect me to believe that his feelings for her never really changed? Was I a good substitution in the interim? Then why all the talk about weddings and kids, if he was going to mess it all up by marrying her?” She was crying now. “I loved him with every bit of my heart for eleven years, and he ruins it all.”

“Ginny, I’m really sorry. I don’t know what else I can say. He made up his mind, and I can’t change that.” Ron looked out the window, avoiding her gaze. “I really thought you two were destined for each other.”

“I guess we weren’t. Now, what about you and Hermione?”

“We’re definitely through.”

“How can you say that? I mean, I know the two of you fight a lot, but you always seemed to make up afterwards. Tell her that you’ve been acting like a complete arse, and you want her back.”

“It’s not that simple, Ginny.”

“Sure it is,” George suddenly reappeared. He had conveniently been absent during the exchange. Ginny could handle herself. “Tell her how much you love her and that you’ve been a complete idiot. It worked for me when I left Angelina.”

“You left her for two days, not a full year. Besides, you and Angelina were right for each other. Now look at you guys, ready to have twins any day. Hermione and I were always fighting. It got to be too much. We aren’t a good fit. Besides, the way she looked the other night when I ran into her leads me to believe she doesn’t want me back anyway.”

“Why?” George asked him. “Were you with someone? I find it hard to believe that anyone else would go out with you. Who is she?”

“I’ve been seeing someone for the last month. It seems to be working out well, although I did almost blow it with her when I saw Hermione.”

“Who is it?” George and Ginny asked him in unison.

“If you must know, I’ve been seeing Luna.” He looked at them as if daring them to make fun.

“Luna Lovegood?” George asked.

“How many Lunas do you know?”

“I like Luna,” Ginny interjected. “I just didn’t think you did. You were always making fun of her at school. You said Hermione saw the two of you together?”

“Yeah, she happened to be coming out of Flourish and Blotts. Luna and I had just had dinner. We were walking down Diagon Alley, and there she was. I tried to explain that we were just friends, but of course that isn’t true. Luna almost killed me with her look. Anyway, Hermione stormed off. She was really angry. So, I don’t think reconciliation is in the cards. Besides, I’m having fun with Luna.”

“Funny, Hermione never said anything to me about seeing you and Luna,” Ginny told him. “When did this happen?”

“Last weekend. When did you see her?” he asked.

“We had lunch yesterday. No wonder she was convinced you two were not getting back together.”

“Well then, I guess that’s settled. I have to get back. George do you have the Ministry’s order?”

“It’s in the back. I’ll go get it.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you coming to Mum's this Sunday?” George asked him as he emerged from the back room. “She was really disappointed the two of you were not there yesterday. She understood, but she wasn’t happy.”

“I’ll be there,” Ron answered him. “I’ve got to run. Send my love to Angelina.”

“See you then,” George said to him and disappeared in the back room again.

“Bye, Ginny.”

“Bye.”

As Ron was leaving the store, Draco Malfoy came in. They nodded curtly at one another.