"No Hermione. I don't think sorry is enough. I will submit to any punishment or do whatever penance I need to make up for my failure. I would request a punishment to assuage my guilt regardless." Ron said with the tips of his ears flaming red.
Harry spoke first into the shocked silence. "Ron you saved my life you do not need penance or punishment"
Ron gave one last pleading look towards Hermione before turning to Harry and saying "I actually do deserve it Harry. Bill already assuaged a proportion of my guilt by punishing me already for leaving you."
Harry gaped.
"How?" asked Hermione.
Ron blushed further red and in a barely audible mumble "Uh... by thoroughly applying a hairbrush to my bare arse."
Hermione snorts in a pleased manor. "What happens if I can't forgive you? And have no desire to offer you penance or deliver punishment?"
All color leaves Ron's face. He shakily lowers himself to his knees and begs "Please Hermione! I know I hurt you by leaving. And that I have no right to ask for penance or for you to assuage my guilt. But I am asking that you do what you need so we can defeat You-Know-Who, and I think you need to vent your anger so we can be a team again"
"Harry" Ron calls not taking his pleading eyes off Hermione, "please take down the shield, return Hermione's wand, and don't interfere with whatever she decides".
Harry shakes his head and says "No, Ron."
Before Ron can respond, Hermione speaks to Ron in an icy tone, "Fine. I will for the sake of teamwork and to rebuild trust, but not to repair our friendship. What is a fair punishment or penance? Name one which you think is fair or equivalent to the pain you caused us."
Ron could hear the unspoken threat in her challenge.
"I abandoned you both when you needed me, and for that I should be deprived of my sight of you both for the duration of the punishment. For the pain I caused emotionally I beg for a physical manifestation upon my body. Though to what degree I am not sure would equal your pain, though I expect what is fair and equivalent is more than I can bear. And finally I should beg for the punishment" Ron stated still on his knees.
Hermione finally gave a pleased smirk and replied "There is poetic justice in that. I think I would be able to work with you if you do that with a few modifications and the following conditions. First to ensure you do not go over what you can bear safely if anyone calls stop that will be the end. Second you will be naked, for humiliation but primarily for safety to ensure we aren't causing too much damage. Then I think you should ask for each blow and count and thank for each one given. I am thinking 49 blows, for the 49 days you were gone would also be poetic justice. I think a hand spanking of 24 hard spanks for a warm up, then 15 with a paddle, 10 strokes with a cane all delivered on your ass and thighs. And finally Harry must agree to provide comfort and care afterwards. Are there any questions or objections?"
Ron swallowed audiblely before replying "No Hermione"
Harry replied "I am uncomfortable with this, but I will not stop either of you".
Hermione turned to Harry "I will need my wand now and the shield to be lowered"
Harry reluctantly lowered the shield and handed Hermione her wand.
Hermione turned to Ron "Strip".
Ron turned a deep shade of red but stood and began to take off his soaking wet clothes.
Hermione gazed at Ron as more and more pale and freckled skin appeared. Harry avoided the sight.
After Ron had divested his last bit of clothing and folded them, he stood there shivering hands at his sides knowing his humiliation was part of his penance.
Hermione slowly walked around Ron and told Harry "Get a pepper up potion from my bag for both you and Ron please. We can't have you getting sick."
Harry returned with the potions and he and Ron drank theirs. With steam coming out of his ears, Ron asked "Where and how should I position myself for my punishment?"
Hermione smirked and answered "Over Harry's lap and he can deliver the first 24 hard swats"
Harry spluttered "I didn't agree to this!"
Ron turned to Harry. "Please Harry. I need to make this right. Please spank my arse hard 24 times. It's much less than I deserve. Please Harry I know you think I made up abandoning you, but I still feel guilty and this would help me reduce my guilt".
Hermione nodded approvalingly and conjured a wooden chair.
Harry slowly nodded. And took a seat on the chair.
Ron then turned to Hermione and begged "Please blindfold me so I can set right for abandoning you".
Hermione wordlessly conjured a black blindfold and handed it to Ron.
Ron placed it on once he was on Harry's right side, and bent over Harry's lap. Still red with humiliation.
Harry placed a calming hand on Ron's back. And both Ron and Harry took a deep breath.
Ron begged "Harry can you please give me 24 hard spanks in order to start rebuild trust. I am so sorry Harry and Hermione for abandoning you and for the emotional pain I caused."
Harry's hand landed on Ron's ass a second later. Ron gasped in surprise and then counted "One thank you. May I please have another harder one?".
Harry spanked Ron slightly harder on Ron's tense buttock. "Two! Thank you. May I please have another harder one"
CRACK
"OW" Ron hissed. "Three thank you. May I please have another hard one".
Harry spanked again and again with Ron counting and thanking and asking for more, as Ron's pale flesh steadily turned pink.
On the 15th Ron started to tear up and cry silently.
Harry paused "Are you okay to continue Ron?"
Taking a shuddering breath, Ron begged "Please finish Harry".
Harry responded with a stroke to the back and a sixteenth strike to Ron's sit spots.
Ron was steadily crying and his arse was a dusty red by the time Harry was finished with the twentiforth spank.
Hermione finally spoke "Well done Harry. His arse is getting color. Ron, when you are ready for your paddling, stand."
Ron tried to slow his breathing, as Harry stroke his back. A couple minutes later, Ron unsteadily pushed himself off Harry's lap.
Hermione summoned a leather paddle and guided Ron to the table by the hand.
"Ron are you ready for your paddling?" Hermione asked.
"Yes Hermione. Please paddle me 15 times to share the pain I caused you when I left." Ron stated.
Hermione guided Ron to bend over the table and said "Grasp the other side of the table and brace yourself".
Ron took a steading breath and curled his fingers on the edge of the table pushing his arse out.
Hermione lined up a strike, and slapped the paddle hard against Ron's arse.
"Ow!" gasped as Ron's buttocks clenched in pain.
"One thank you. May I please have another?"
SMACK
"Two thank you. May I please have another?"
SMACK
"Three thank you. May I please have another?"
Harry watched as Ron twitched as the paddle meet Ron's reddening ass. He stepped forward to put his hands over Ron's as a show of support.
Ron murmured "Thank you Harry"
SMACK
"Owwww! Four thank you. May I please have another?"
By 9 Ron was steadily crying.
SMACK
Ron stamped his feet trying to relieve the pain. Gasping he got out "Ten, thank you. May I please have another?"
Hermione paused asking Ron "Do you need to stop or take a break?"
Ron shook his head "Please just finish the paddling Hermione."
Hermione nodded and said "I will deliver the last five without needing you to count."
SMACK
SMACK
SMACK
SMACK
SMACK
Ron collapsed against the table crying.
Hermione rubbed Ron's lower back saying "You took that well Ron".
Ron responded with a broken cry and a barely understandablely "Thank you".
Harry stroked Ron's knuckles.
After a few minutes Ron's tears slowed and breath steadied. Ron said "Hermione and Harry please finish this. Can I please have my caning now?"
Harry looked pleadingly at Hermione trying to say it was enough, but Hermione shook her head and responded to Ron. "Yes we can."
Hermione changed her paddle into a cane, and swished it in the air.
Ron trembled at the sound and braced himself.
"Ready?" Hermione asked.
"Yes Hermione." Ron responded after a deep breath.
CRACK
Ron howled at the impact of what felt like a line of fire was ignited across his backside.
"One... thank you Hermione... May I please have another" gasped Ron.
Hermione could see a welt beginning to form on Ron's buttocks. And finally her anger which had been slowly fading evaporated suddenly.
"No Ron. That's enough. We are done" replied Hermione instead of taking another swing.
While Harry gave a sigh of relief, Ron groaned in distress.
Hermione placed a hand on Ron's back rubbing small calming circles, asked "Why does that distress you Ron? I trust you not to abandon me again".
"I didn't receive the full punishment. I am relieved and appreciate to have regained your trust. But I haven't forgiven myself yet and I don't think I have gotten your forgiveness yet...Please Hermione give me the other nine strokes. I will tell you if it becomes too much." Ron replied.
Hermione sighed. "Ron, you may be right that I don't forgive you yet, but this punishment is to build trust. You did that by submitting to the punishment this far. And I think only time will earn you forgiveness and to rebuild our relationship to where it was. But you have already started that process by submitting to this punishment and it is over".
Ron sobs returned at Hermione's words.
Harry glanced at Hermione concerned.
Ron murmured "Please Hermione, don't make me beg for the remainder."
Hermione looked at Ron's arse now a deep read from his punishment. Stroking his reddened flesh, she finally nodded and replied "As you wish Ron".
CRACK
"Two... thank you Hermione... May I please have another" gasped Ron gratefully.
CRACK
Ron sobbing continued to count the strokes he asked for. As much as he tried to hold still he had to stamp his feet on 8th. And collapsed onto the table on the tenth and final stroke.
Hermione vanished the cane wordlessly before stroking Ron's back in comfort. "It's over Ron. You did well."
Harry murmured to Ron "I forgive you. Please forgive yourself".
Ron's sobs began to slow. "May I remove the blindfold please?"
"Yes, let me help you" replied Harry.
Meanwhile Hermione summoned pillows and one of their sleeping mats, which she then enlarged to be able to fit all three of them.
Ron slowly opened his red rimmed eyes to see Harry's green ones looking at him in concern.
Ron gave a weak smile "It's fine Harry. I needed that". To which Harry simply nodded.
Hermione turned with a spare robe saying "Ron when you are ready you can cover yourself with this. And if you want a hug or cuddles, know Harry and I are here for you".
Ron blushed slightly as he took the robe and donned it. Asking "Will you both cuddle me please?"
"Of course" Harry replied.
"Yes" Hermione replied simply.
The end.