The atmosphere was tinged with nerves and anticipation as the Weasleys waited at a poolside table at their hotel for Ron and Ginny to appear. Although given the way things had gone the previous evening, they weren't even sure if Ron would turn up. After making a complete show of himself with Harry and Hermione, he'd stalked out of the party and he hadn't been seen since. Ginny had stuck around for a short while, offering apologies for Ron, but then she'd also left the party early and only time would tell if she would have persuaded Ron to catch-up with the family.

"So, what so we think?" Charlie asked as time slipped away and it became clear that if they were coming, Ron and Ginny were going to be late. "Are we just wasting our time here?"

"I thought Ginny at least would have turned up," Fred remarked. "She seemed keen enough last night."

"Maybe Ron got her to change her mind," George suggested. "I can't see him being as keen to face us this morning."

"I just want to know where I went wrong," Molly sighed. "What did I do to raise two children who would abandon their family and friends without a second thought? And Ron still doesn't seem to have grown up, at least Ginny seemed eager to make amends."

"This isn't your fault, Mum," Charlie assured his mother. "Ron and Ginny are adults, and they weren't children when they left home. But as you say, at least Ginny seems to have grown up and realised how foolish she'd behaved."

"Although it might have been a different story if she hadn't seen that Harry and Hermione were both with other people," George cautioned. "Let's not forget, one of her main reasons for running off was because she was convinced they were together. I dare like to bet that if she still thought that was the case, she wouldn't be as quick to make amends and return to the fold."

"Shh, George," Arthur hissed. "They're here," he remarked, nodding his head towards the hotel where Ron and Ginny had just emerged. "Let's all try and make this work."

Following Arthur's lead, everyone greeted Ron and Ginny warmly as the pair joined them and settled in the two empty seats.

"Where's Alicia and Angelina?" Ginny asked. "And the kids. We were hoping to meet our nieces and nephews."

"We did say that wouldn't be happening straight away," Fred reminded his little sister.

"And the kids are with Ange and Alicia at the quidditch stadium," George replied. "Harry and Draco have arranged for them to have a private tour and even a fly around the stadium before it's dismantled this afternoon."

"So Malfoy is with the kids?" Ron asked, his diastase evident by the scowl on his face.

"Yes, Draco is with the children," Fred said, emphasising the blond wizards given name. "And if you really want to be part of this family again, you're going to have to drop the attitude, Ron. Harry and Hermione are family, which makes Daphne and Draco family."

"Fred is right," Molly said, her tone leaving no room for Ron to argue or protest. "I want all my family back together, and that includes Harry, Hermione, their partners and when it happens, their children as well. It also includes you, Ron."

"We know what happened last night, but Harry has spoken to us this morning and he's assured us that he's willing to put it behind him," Arthur said. "Both him and Hermione have promised that they don't hold any grudges, and that they will be civil next time, and every other time, you meet."

"How big of them," Ron sneered. "And has it ever occurred to anyone, that maybe I wasn't the one in the wrong? That maybe I should be the one entitled to hold a grudge?"

"And what have you got to hold a grudge over?" Fred snorted. "You were the one who ran off, Ron. And you were the one who insulted a witch you don't even know last night."

"Please, it's obvious why Greengrass is with Harry," Ron retorted. "They went to school together for seven years, and she never showed any interest in him. Now he's a big, rich quidditch star, she's all over him."

"That is pathetic reasoning," George said. "Has it escaped your notice that Fred and I went to school with Angelina and Alicia, and nothing happened between any of us until after we'd left school. Or do you think they're also with us for our money? After all, Fred and I own a successful business."

"That's different, at least you were friends in school," Ron argued. "Besides, you went to the Yule Ball with Angelina, so there was at least some attraction there before you left school."

"Actually, I took Ange to the Yule Ball," Fred pointed out. "But none of this has anything to do with Harry and Daphne. For all you know they fancied each other in school and it was only when Harry became friends with Draco that they got to know each other and had a chance to act on their feelings."

"Did they like each other in school?" Ginny asked, wondering if it was Daphne rather than Hermione who was the reason why Harry had never given her a chance.

"I don't think so," Fred replied with a shrug. "I was just making the point that Ron has no idea what he's talking about. He doesn't know Daphne, and he certainly has no idea what her relationship with Harry is like. Maybe if he had stuck around he would know that Harry is the happiest he's ever been. He and Daphne are perfect together and I've never seen a couple more in love."

"Unless you look at Hermione and Draco," Charlie remarked. "Those two are totally into each other."

"Hermione is also the happiest she's ever been," George agreed. "You know Ron, these people were your friends. Instead of judging them and holding onto childish grudges, you should be happy for them. Both Harry and Hermione have found love and happiness, and it's a pity you haven't managed to do the same. Maybe if you had, you wouldn't be so bitter."

"If this is the way I'm going to be spoken to, I'm not sure I want to be part of this family any more," Ron said.

"Don't say that, Ron," Molly pleaded. "All we want is for you to accept that Harry and Hermione are part of this family as well. Even if you can't be friends again, you can at least be civil to one another. If Harry and Hermione can promise as much, so can you. Please Ron, I don't want to lose you again."

"We've said our piece, and no-one will bring up past events again," Arthur added. "Let's consider this a fresh start."

Ron nodded reluctantly as the topic of Harry and Hermione was dropped and instead attention turned to what Ron and Ginny had been up to in New Zealand. An hour later, Ron and Ginny had to be getting off as they were heading back home, but it was with the promise that they would keep in touch and they would visit the family back home in England as soon as possible.

"Will they stick to it?" Charlie asked the twins as Molly and Arthur said a prolonged goodbye with their two youngest children. Even though Ron and Ginny were his siblings he'd gone abroad when they were still children, so he often felt as though the twins knew and understood them better than he ever could.

"Ginny will," Fred said decisively. "And you can bet that once she's home, even if it's just for a visit, Mum will do her best to convince her to come home. My bet is that within the next couple of years, Ginny will be back at home."

"And Ron?" Charlie questioned.

"Ron is a law unto himself," George snorted. "You saw how he reacted today. He's incapable of letting the past go. I guess only time will tell if he comes around and re-joins the family. But I can say that he's lost the friendship of the two best friends he's ever likely to have. Harry and Hermione won't forgive him after this trip, and quite honestly who can blame them."

{}{}{}{}{}

While the Weasleys were having a family reunion everyone else, including Draco's friends and Sirius, were at the stadium where the World Cup final had been held. It was an experience of a lifetime for any quidditch fan and the children loved every minute, especially when Harry and Draco flew them around the stadium on their brooms and performed daring tricks with their help.

However, all good things must come to an end and by lunchtime the trip was over, and they returned to the hotel, where they met up with the Weasleys and all had lunch together. Over lunch the Weasleys filled the others in on what exactly had happened with Ron and Ginny, and their expectations that Ginny would certainly re-join the family, but Ron's fate remained up in the air.

After reassuring the Weasleys that they would cause no problems with Ron if he chose to return to the family fold, Harry and Hermione headed off to spend the afternoon with Draco and Daphne. Tomorrow they would all be returning home, and they intended to make the most of their final day in New Zealand.

"I'm sorry about how things have worked out with Ron," Daphne remarked as the two couples settled down with a drink in one of the outdoor bars.

"You weren't to blame," Harry assured his fiancée. "Ron was the one who never bothered to grow up."

"It's sad really when you think about it," Hermione said. "He's the one missing out. How bitter must you have to be to hold onto petty grudges from eight years ago? His own life must be pretty lacking if he's still so caught up in the past."

"Hermione's right," Harry agreed. "If Ron had a life of his own, he wouldn't be so resentful towards our happiness."

"I hope you don't expect me to feel sorry for Weasley," Draco snorted. "He's had eight years to build himself a good life, and if he's refused to do so that's his own fault. And it's certainly his fault that he's lost his two best friends. Anyone with even half a brain knows that true friends are invaluable."

"That they are," Harry said, smiling at Hermione. "And speaking of true friends, I have something I want to ask you, Hermione. Will you be my best man, or rather best woman, at my wedding?"

"Seriously?" Hermione asked.

"Seriously," Harry confirmed with a nod. "You're not just my best friend, you're my family. And I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have beside me when I get married. I know I could ask Draco, but I'm sure he'll understand."

"Of course, I understand," Draco said. "And I think it's a lovely idea."

"Is it okay with you, Daph?" Harry questioned.

"It does mean I'll have to find myself another chief bridesmaid," Daphne said with a playful sigh. "But I actually think that it's only right that Hermione is by your side on our wedding day," she added seriously.

"She hasn't accepted yet," Harry pointed out. "So, what do you say, Hermione? Will you do the honours?"

"Does it include giving an embarrassing speech?" Hermione asked with a devious smirk.

"You mean like Blaise did when you and Draco got married?" Harry laughed. "That was the best speech ever. He had the entire room in kinks."

"You do know he made half of that up, don't you?" Draco checked.

"You say that now, but at the time you were red with embarrassment," Harry retorted.

"Wouldn't you be embarrassed if your best friend told the story of how your parents met the witch you were marrying for the first time when they walked in on us having sex?" Draco queried.

"That would be uncomfortable," Harry admitted. "Bot nothing like that has ever happened to me."

"I could tell the story of how Sirius gave you the sex talk before sixth year," Hermione said.

"Don't all parents give their children the sex talk?" Daphne questioned with a frown.

"This wasn't about being careful, Sirius's advice was all about how to pleasure a witch," Harry confessed with a grimace as he recalled the embarrassing conversation. "You wouldn't believe the details he went into and the tips he gave me."

"Maybe I should thank him, you've certainly never left me wanting," Daphne said with a sly grin. "Clearly you listened to his advice."

"I did," Harry confirmed. "But we still don't need to tell that story at the wedding, Hermione. Just stick to how perfect Daph and I are together and how we're meant to be together. Go for romantic rather than raunchy."

"In that case we'll have to save the raunchy for your stag night," Draco laughed. "I'm hoping that even though Hermione is the best man, I still get to organise your stag night."

"That is one duty I'm happy to hand over," Hermione chuckled. "But just to be warned, if things get too raunchy, I won't be happy. Remember you're a married man, Draco Malfoy."

"And a happy one at that," Daphne added.

"As if I could forget," Draco tutted with a roll of his eyes.

"So, does this mean you'll do it?" Harry checked with Hermione.

"I will," Hermione confirmed. "You've got yourself a best woman."

"Thanks Hermione, you're the best," Harry grinned, giving his best fiend a hug. "Now for more drinks. We need to celebrate some more. This has been an epic trip. First, we win the World Cup, then Daphne and I get engaged and then you two decided to start a family. It's certainly been a time to remember."

Although while the previous few days had been a good time to remember, there had also been the reunion with Ron that hadn't exactly been one to remember. The reunion had proved once and for all that their friendship with Ron was well and truly over. He'd clearly just been meant to be in their lives for a short period of time, but luckily the friendship Hermione and Harry shared was much stronger and they both knew that they would be friends forever.

It was sad that Ron wasn't part of that friendship any more, but he'd made his choice and he'd chose to walk away. And it wasn't as if Harry and Hermione's lives had suffered without him. They both had lives they loved, with people they loved, and neither of them would change a thing. Life didn't depend on Ron Weasley, and both Harry and Hermione had done just fine without him in their life, and they would continue doing just fine without him.

The End.

A/N – I just want to say thank you to everyone for reading yet another one of my stories, and I hope you all enjoyed it. As always, I appreciate all the support I get, and it keeps me writing. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting one-shots and collection pieces – including the launch of my new series – After The End. So thanks again, and I hope you all continue to enjoy my stories.