the_debt_of_time

Kingsley just open all the doors for me. I'd end up dead or worse, I could get someone else killed. I don't
know what to do now. Maybe Fred and George will give me a job."
Mia sighed, feeling sympathy for her childhood friend and recalling all the times over the past she
had hoped that he had come to some sort of realisation like this but only ended up halfway. Now it appeared
that everything was finally clicking in place and he was ready to listen—really listen.
"Can I offer you some advice?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Of course."
She took a breath and smiled. "I think you should go back to Hogwarts."
Ron winced. "But you and Harry said you aren't―"
"Exactly," she said, cutting him off. "Ron, you've spent your whole life living in the shadows of
your brothers, and then you spent seven years being Harry Potter's best friend. You got through classes
because I did your homework and helped you revise. And you got out of trouble because you were friends
with the Chosen One."
Ron chuckled lightly, scratching at the back of his neck. "To be fair, I got into a lot of trouble for
being friends with the Chosen One, too."
Mia laughed, feeling a weight lift from her heart. "We both did." She smiled, pleased to see that
there was a hint of true reconciliation between them. "I think you should go back. Make a name for yourself
without Harry to steal your thunder and without me to catch you when you fall."
"I dunno. I'd be stuck there with only Ginny, Neville, and Luna."
"Then make new friends. Expand to the other Houses."
He rolled his eyes and groaned. "You just want me to be friends with Slytherins."
Mia quirked her lips and nodded. "Honestly... I think it would be good if you did. And being
civil to at least a handful of them is a requirement of my forgiveness."
Ron smiled at her in wry understanding but then added, "Can I at least pick which ones?"
"Is it always going to be like this?" Harry asked as he frowned, glancing at the few
members of the press who were aiming cameras at their group, some yelling out his name
to try and get him to look their way. Mia promised him that nothing would be printed
without her consent. "I'm dreading the day I have to bring my kids here."
"Oi!" Ginny smacked him on the arm. "I'm not even on the train yet! Can you plan
our future family when I've at least graduated?"
Harry blushed red. "I, umm, I wasn't... because.. ."