Better Late then Never

All four friends slowly landed safely on a patch of sand. Harry looked up and saw the beach house that he had recently bought and renovated. “Here we are” said Harry. Ron and Hermione turned around and saw the enormous house. “My word Harry, that’s not a beach house. It’s a villa” said Hermione. “Whoa! Harry” exclaimed Ron. “Well, you haven’t seen anything yet” smiled Harry as he helped his wife get up.

The four friends entered the house. “Oh Harry it’s beautiful” said Ginny. Harry blushed at his wife’s statement, “So are you” he whispered. Ginny rolled her eyes at her husbands comment, he then turned to Ron and Hermione “Well make yourselves comfortable, your rooms are to the right. Let me show you”

“Harry dear, I’ll start unpacking” “Okay love” said Harry as he led his friends to their rooms.

“It’s so spacious. Thank you very much for inviting us” said Ron. “Oh don’t mention it. If I can’t have my brother in law and my best friend here, who will I have.”

Harry opened the door to the simple but large room. “It’s really nice” responded Hermione. “Thanks, sorry I haven’t put any paintings and I know the furniture it simplistic…” Hermione stopped him “Oh Harry, its fine.”
“The other room is next door. But I’m afraid you guys will have to share a bathroom.”
Ron shrugged “That’s alright. Where is it by the way?” asked Ron. Harry led them to the bathroom where there mouths dropped.
The tub was an exact replica of Prefects Bathroom at Hogwarts; “You didn’t” exclaimed Hermione. Harry laughed “Oh Hermione, you never cease to amaze me”. Hermione continued; “Ha, finally I’ll be able to bathe in the infamous Prefect’s tub. And in peace.” Ron immediately replied “Well not always”.
Hermione immediately looked at her friend, to which Ron blushed under her gaze.
“Well…You’ll have to share it with me” said Ron.
Hermione stuttered “Err. Yeah. I’d love that.” Hermione gazed at Ron with surprise and happiness Harry was in background desperately trying to keep his grin at bay. “Well get settled, I’ll check on Ginny.”

Ginny was unpacking their luggage, one thing she had to hand to Harry. He was neat and organised. Finally putting away their clothes, Ginny unpacked the G-String bikini she brought; she smiled to herself; ‘Should I give him a preview?’
Ginny ran to the bathroom and locked it. She heard Harry come back in; “Ginny?” asked Harry; “I’ll be out in a minute. Are Ron and Hermione settling in?” she asked.
Harry laughed “Hermione literally blurted out she wanted to share the tub with Ron”. Ginny laughed, as she stripped naked; “Do we need any supplies?” asked Ginny.
“Oh that’s a good point. I’ll go out and get them.” Ginny panicked; “NO! Send Ron and Hermione”
“I can go no sweat Gin.” The shower began to run and Ginny soaped her body and poured the water all over her.

Hermione knocked on Ron’s door. “Come in”. The door opened and Hermione came in wearing a short white summer dress and sandals. Ron turned around and was speechless; “Wow, you look beautiful” Hermione blushed “Thanks Ron. So are you ready?” asked Hermione.
Ron put on his shoes and left the house with Hermione. “So did Harry give you a list?” asked Hermione.
“Yeah, mind you he missed out a few things” said Ron. Hermione laughed “He clearly had Ginny in his mind”. “Yeah. Listen after we go to the shops, do you want to go for a drink?” asked Ron. “Yeah, of course” Ron grinned “Okay”.

Ron and Hermione had left and Harry after giving them a key locked the door. Coming back into his room, Harry answered. “Hey Gin, they volunteered” said Harry.
“Great, can you come in here. I think there’s something wrong with the plumbing” Harry opened the door and saw Ginny standing dripping wet wearing the g-string that was clearly a size or two small for her, so much so that her breasts were barely coming out. Harry gulped and Ginny grinned.
“What are you waiting for Potter?” asked Ginny.

“Thanks” said Ron to the waiter as he and Hermione sipped their drinks;
“I can’t believe it’s been this long since I’ve had even a drink with my best friend”. Ron smiled; “I missed you so much. So how’s life?”
Hermione clicked her tongue “Well got divorced from Krum, caught him shagging one of my workmates. But I guess you already knew that”.
“Well only from what I’ve read in the Prophet. Must’ve been hard?” asked Ron.
“It was I mean here I was blaming myself that we can’t have kids, and all this time he had been shooting his load up other girls”.
Ron became curious “What on earth made you think that you can’t have kids?” asked Ron. “Well, you know after the…” Ron finally caught on; “Do you still…you know?” asked Ron sympathetically.
Hermione looked down and nodded “Yeah. It’s always that moment that bothers me”.
“Look at me Mione” said Ron softly. Hermione looked up into the blue she once loved,
“If I was in your shoes, I too would have nightmares”. Hermione nodded; “Listen Ron, I’m sorry I wasn’t around for you and Rosie”.
“What are you apologising for. You were getting divorced, you didn’t need to burden yourself with my situation” said Ron.
“I should’ve been there for Pansy”. Ron interrupted “She understood. Believe me she did”.
But Hermione wasn’t buying it, “Do you miss her?” asked Hermione.
Ron looked down “All the time. To be honest the reason why I came with Harry and Ginny was to get out of that house. Everywhere I looked, it reminded me of Pansy. The colour of the walls, the flooring we chose...The books she read. It makes absolutely sick, cause everything that touched those things...is now dead”
Ron couldn’t help but cry. Hermione took hold of Ron’s hand; “I think you’re very brave”.
Ron let go of Hermione’s hand and wiped his tears; “No you are. Putting up with the womanizing big nosed...” Hermione smiled; “That isn’t bravery. That’s cowardice”.
“No Hermione, that’s bravery. Trying to make your marriage work with all the things he put you through”.
Trying to change the subject; “Ron I have to say, I’m really looking forward to this holiday, especially since I’m with you guys”
Ron cheered up “Same here. I’m glad they invited you. It just wouldn’t be the same without you here”. Hermione smiled sweetly and squeezed Ron’s hands.

Harry and Ginny were lying about in bed, indulging in the afterglow.
“So is that enough for you Potter?” joked Ginny.
Harry looked towards her; “What we do will never be enough” said Harry as he cuddled his wife.
Putting her head on her husband’s chest, Ginny caressed the hairy torso. “Is that a promise?” asked Ginny, “Yes” replied Harry as he kissed his wife’s head.
Ginny moved up and kissed Harry, knowing perfectly that was what Harry craved more than anything, simple kissing, caresses and touching.
“I’m glad you invited Ron and Hermione. Do you think that they together will break Ron’s spell?” Harry nodded; “I hope so. I can’t bear to see him like this. Ron and Pansy were beautiful together, they were so special, but...” Ginny interrupted “...but she was just a rebound after Hermione turned Ron down for Krum”.
Harry didn’t want to admit it, but it was true, Pansy was just a rebound. “I can’t.... I don’t want to even want admit that”.
Ginny sat up and looked at Harry; “I know what you mean. Pansy really was special, and she was my best friend for so many years. I mean thanks to her Ron got on with his life and made something brilliant from it”.
After a pause, tears came down Ginny’s face; “Merlin. ‘Pansy was a rebound’. I feel like such a shit just saying it. Do you think that’s why Ron doesn’t want to move on?”
Harry sat up and put his glasses on, “What? You mean that Ron feels guilty about moving on, because Pansy was a rebound?”
Ginny nodded; “Yeah”. Harry nodded “Could be” Ginny wiped her tears to which Harry approached her and kissed the last few away “Don’t cry Gin” he said softly.

Ron and Hermione entered the house; “Do you think they’re still...intimate?” asked Hermione quietly.
Ron gave her a look of disbelief “Hey you two!” shouted Ron. “Are you guys decent?”
Hermione blushed in embarrassment but couldn’t help but laugh at Ron’s actions.
“We’re here guys” said Ginny from the kitchen.
They both made their way to the kitchen, “Did you get what was on the list?” asked Harry.
Ron held the bags, “Yes my lord”.
Ginny grinned; “Oh Ron you’re so witty” she said dripping with sarcasm; “Anyhow dinner should be in a few hours” said Ginny.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other; “Well I was thinking, why we all don’t go out? It’s a holiday after all” said Hermione, “Okay, I could buy that. Saves me doing the dishes” said Ginny.
Harry looked at his wife in disbelief “You never do the dishes, Kerchner does”
Hermione looked at Ginny with mock disgust; “Ginny Potter, you of all people keep a house elf. Harry I’m shocked”.
Ron was quick to put his point“I know Mione. It disgusts me, I keep trying to give clothes to Kerchner, but he refuses”.
Ginny laughed “Bullshit, he accepts your clothes, but only to launder them. And what’s all this business of freeing house elves? When we have a soiree, you think of nothing put ordering more exotic cocktails”.
Hermione was in a fit of laughter, Ron smiled.
Hermione calmed down; “Okay, I better go out and pick out a dress. Ron will you help me?”
Ron blushed; “Err, Mione I’m not really too clever in that department”.
Hermione shook her head and grinned, “Come on Ronald” Ron was exhaled; “Why me? Why not Ginny?”
Hermione responded; “Because Ginny will no doubt want time to pick out a dress for herself. Come on” Ron shook his head and began walking with Hermione back to their respective rooms, accidently brushing their hands together. Ron took Hermione’s hand in his, Hermione looked to Ron and smiled.

Harry and Ginny looked on. When they heard the door close, Ginny looked at Harry who was grinning;
“Am I a genius, or what?” Ginny clicked her tongue; “That doesn’t prove anything” she said trying to win an already victorious debate.
“Well, they held hands. Clearly they are both still interested in each other. Plus he set himself up for a humiliation trap, just to make her laugh”.
Ginny was biting her tongue, she knew she lost. Harry then whispered “Plus he called her Mione. He hasn’t called her that since he poured his heart out for her back in the hallway, remember?”
Ginny accepted defeat, but that was erased from her mind due to the memory.
“I’ll never forget that for as long as I live. Everybody at Hogwarts listened in. I’ve never seen anybody so ripped apart like Ron was that night”.
Harry nodded; “Even McGonagall broke down into tears. Remember the next morning? During the lecture, Hermione was squirming with her arm in the air. McGonagall couldn’t even bear to look at her”.
Ginny and Harry walked back to their room; “No one did. Every single girl at Hogwarts didn’t even register Hermione. Remember the banners?”
Harry nodded; “Weasley is the true king!, Ron 4 Hermione! Then the last one really hit sting; Smart student, dumb girl: Call Hermione Granger!” Ginny shook her head; “Anyway let’s get ready for tonight”.


A/N: I posted the first three chapters in one sitting. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks