Love's Battle Revisited

Chapter 5 - Discussions with Minerva and Albus

To Harry's surprise, it was only two days later that McGonagall owled him as to the time of his meeting with her and Hermione to work out their marital/legal problems. He knew 'Mione well enough to be at least fairly certain that she would not refuse a direct order from a superior. Just the same, once she realised the true purpose of the meeting, she might try to make a break for the nearest door. But if he knew McGonagall, she would be ready and have a Locking Charm put on it so no one could leave if he gave the word.

It wouldn't bother Harry, of course; this was just what he had been after for some time--a chance to actually sit down with his estranged wife and discuss their options regarding their marriage, children and future. It would help a lot to have Minerva and Dumbledore's portrait's input as well.

He managed to get Luna to take the girls, assuring her he would pay her extra for doing so, making sure to place the longer-lasting Disguising Charm on them before she picked them up since the scheduling of the aforementioned appointment would necessitate their being there even after Ron returned home from work. Using the longer-lasting charm was the safest thing to do at short notice, especially under the circumstances in question.

He arrived shortly before the scheduled appointment; McGonagall assured him that Hermione was on her way after her last class of the day, which ended at 4 p.m., so they had to allow her a little time to get to the office from the Transfiguration classroom. Harry still had a sneaking suspicion that she might try to weasel out yet again, but fortunately, almost as soon as he thought this, she walked in. It was for this reason that Harry exchanged glances with McGonagall and she refrained from putting a Locking Charm on the door.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" Hermione looked between him and McGonagall and back again, a questioning look on her face for a moment, then it dawned on her.

"We've got to talk, 'Mione. You've been avoiding me long enough ... and Minerva agreed to help me."

Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "I might have known. Well, I suppose you're right. Let's get to it."

Harry found it surprising that she would give in so easily after so many weeks of doing almost literally anything and everything to avoid having to talk to him, but was glad that they would finally be able to get things out in the open and get some important, life-changing decisions made.

"Would you not agree that it's time for us to go our separate ways, especially after the last six months and your affair?"

Hermione's cheeks burned and she bent her head, unwilling to meet Harry's eyes for long, but made herself nod in agreement. "I'm sorry about that, Harry."

"I know you are, and I forgive you. Now, I'm willing to give you an uncontested divorce as long as you give me custody of the girls. We can work out visitation rights later on if you like. In addition, since you're working and making good money, I feel that there's no need to give you compensation, such as alimony."

He stopped speaking for a while, just allowing her to think this much over. After a few minutes, she said, "Might be a good idea at that, for you to have custody of the girls, at least for the moment. As for visitation, how about alternating holidays, the occasional school function, and their birthday? And I agree, I don't think I'll need anything like alimony. When did you want to go and make it official?"

"How about tomorrow when we both get off early? Then after we get back, we can break it to the girls and go from there."

Hermione smiled and agreed; Harry exchanged a relieved glance with McGonagall and Dumbledore's portrait; that had gone much easier than expected--but what mattered was that it was finally out of the way. The breakup probably wouldn't be as hard on the girls as it would ordinarily, since they spent most of their time with their father anyway. "Did you want me to give you back the ring now or wait until tomorrow?"

"Might as well wait until tomorrow. One day more or less isn't going to make any difference." Even now, Harry felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. After tomorrow, he would be free to plan his strategy for winning Ginny back, although he fully expected it to take some time before she let him close to her again. He just hoped he had the patience to out-wait her. After all, ten years was a long time to wait to be reunited with one's true soulmate. Even at that, it was no more (or less) than he deserved since he had brought it on himself--or rather, they had.

Hermione sighed. "Well, Harry, I must say it was fun while it lasted."

"But the price of that 'fun' turned out to be much too high. I just hope someday we'll be able to live it down," he returned solemnly. They then agreed to meet at 2 p.m. the following day, then fly to the Ministry of Magic and officially dissolve the marriage, while at the same time make arrangements for their children's future. By the time it was over, Hermione would be "Miss Granger" again and Harry officially a bachelor once more. Luna would have the girls with her, having picked them up from school, and would send them back once Harry had checked in with her.

After Hermione had departed, Harry turned back to McGonagall and thanked her for her help.

"Glad to do it ... and I'm pleased it went so well." McGonagall ordinarily wouldn't have been so helpful to one student in particular (or in this case, former student--even one such as Harry). She had always considered it showing favouritism, and personally believed in treating everyone equally ... but because of Dumbledore's affection for Harry and her own affection for the former headmaster, she figured it was the least she could do to steer the boy in the right direction, if only for Albus's sake.

"Much better than I expected, that's for sure," Harry opined. "Now what do we do about Remus?"

"I'll owl him tomorrow and see if I can't get him to come here so you two can have a real heart-to-heart, then see if we can't get him to reconsider in regards to his disowning you. Can't make any guarantees, of course, just do our best."

"What about the Weasleys?"

"I'll owl the ones in question and explain the situation as best I can, see if they wouldn't be willing to come here and sit down with us so we can hopefully, eventually, get you back in the fold again. Molly's the toughest nut to crack, though, so we'd better start with her. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Harry concurred. "Meanwhile, I'd better get home to meet my girls. Luna's going to be sending them through any time now. Thanks again for your help, Minerva."

McGonagall smiled and nodded in Harry's direction, then the young Auror [this kind of work was a big part of what Harry had done for the American Ministry] left for his home, his girls, and hopefully to begin his new life with his one true love as soon as it could be arranged.

* * * * *

It only took something over two hours for Harry and Hermione to officially dissolve their marriage and make arrangements for the care and education of their girls. After the final paperwork had been taken care of, Hermione had handed back the diamond solitaire engagement/wedding set she had worn for ten years. Harry had pocketed it without a word, intending to possibly sell it or give it to one of his girls later on, if one said she wanted to use her mother's wedding ring for her own wedding.

It might not bode well for her, considering what was transpiring today, but Harry had never been able to deny his girls much of anything, so he'd probably go along with it, if only to please her. The girls seemed to accept their parents' breakup at least fairly well, seeming pleased with the visitation arrangements, at least for the moment, arrangements which could always be modified later if necessary. What mattered was that they would still get to see their mother.

McGonagall owled Harry regarding Remus and informed him that Remus had confessed to her that he still maintained great affection for Harry despite what he had done, but was very displeased with his actions nonetheless and declared that the disowning would stand until and unless Harry could prove to Remus's satisfaction that he had truly repented and turned over a new leaf ... i.e. did everything he could to win Ginny's love back. Just the same, Minerva had no intention of giving up, knowing well how stubborn Remus was, but also knowing that she was just as stubborn and intended to keep after him until he was willing to fully reconcile with Harry, albeit in a "steel in velvet glove" manner.

Harry was somewhat encouraged at knowing that Remus still did care about him and couldn't really blame Moony for being upset with him, but it had hurt, and deeply, for him to have disowned him. It was almost as bad as if one of his own parents had disowned him ... and if only for this reason alone, Harry intended to do everything he could to prove himself worthy of being reinstated as godson, both of Remus and Sirius. He would make them proud of him again, whatever he had to do! Then once he had his surrogate father back, he intended to get his second mother, Molly Weasley, back ... again, whatever he had to do!

It might be too much to ask to actually be able to get Ron back as a friend, much less his best, closest friend, as they once were, but it would make him feel better if they could at least be on speaking terms again. Even that would take time, though, and even then they had to move carefully, slowly, considering how delicate Ron still was, both physically and emotionally, because of what Harry and Hermione had done. But it was at least a step in the right direction for them to have gone their separate ways.

Not that he really wished for Luna to lose her husband, because Harry sensed that she really did love Ron, but if something did happen and they split up, he hoped that Ron and Hermione would either eventually get together ... or if nothing else, at least be on speaking terms again.