Hermione didn't think that just three little words could make her true love leave her forever…sheregretted it so deeply. But she couldn't do anything about it, yet she wanted him so badly. "Ron, go away!"
It was an October morning, one of the kinds that's chilly but has slight rays of warmth cascading over slim sidewalks and glistening down on grass covered fields.
Ron Weasely had just hit an exciting age of 22, blooming in a wonderful career as a financial manager at Magic Money, had a sporty new vehicle, and enough money to save a poor wizarding community. But his love life couldn't be any more down in the pits then they were now.
"Harry…I'm 22, rich, famous…and I want to go homosexual…" sighed a depressed Ron.
"Ron…that's some heavy shit man…don't go there." replied a shocked Harry, practically blaring into his phone's speaker.
"Damnit Harry! I was just joking…god…trying to break my eardrums or something?"
"Ron, if your love life sucks so much, go out and find someone, not including a man!" suggested Harry, as if finding your "true love" was as simple as hooking up with some random female in a bar.
"Ya right Harry, I'm not exactly the "lady's man" like yourself." clearly being sarcastic on Harry's part.
"I resent that…for your information, Ginny and I have-"
"GOD HARRY! SPARE ME! She's my sister you bastard! I don't need to know how many times you've fucked!"
"Sorry mate…forgot that you're her brother. Anyway, What about Hermione? She's not really dating…well maybe, just this one bloke named Charlie. But she said he's rather a jerk, cheated on her I believe."
"Seriously? That must suck for her…AND BLOODY NO! I'm not going out with Hermione!"
"Why not?"
Ron knew exactly how to respond, all he had to do was recite the whole incident when his beloved Hermione told him to go away and never speak to her again. Yet, alas, no answer came to mind.
"I don't know…just…no!"
"I think the two of you are good together…you just don't want to believe it do you Ronniekins?" sniggered Harry.
"Shut up Harry. You wouldn't understand…its just me, ya, it's just me." Ron finally answered, finishing off the topic at last.
"Fine, fine. Meet me at that new bar on Clementine St. at 6pm. Maybe I can find you a suitable girl…if you're not bad enough to scare the hell out of her with your tactics!"
"What? Harry! I'm not that awful! What tactics?"
But the line had already gone dead; Harry had hung up on him.
"Damnit…another girl to dump…what a life." Wheezed Ron, he jumped back onto his bed. Staring at his room's ceiling, he felt the emptiness of his house suppress the living delights out of him…he so wished he had a companion to share his life with. Having about one hour left, Ron heaved himself off the bed after a few minutes and rushed to the loo. After relieving himself, he took a quick shower, dressed in some black slacks, a slightly ruffled button-up shirt along with dress shoes, and he was set to go.
"Maybe some cologne for the "lucky" lady as well?" He puffed some light Entrancing Love Spell for Men from his expensive bottle and gave himself two shots and wink in the mirror before heading out.
Sliding into the leather interior of his luxurious new sports car, he revved up the engine and took off, nearly blasting his private gate away in speed.
"Shit! I'm late!" was all he had to say before he ran into the biggest surprise of his life.
"Harry? Where am I?" asked a young woman of about 22.
"Shh, I just want you to meet someone. He's a good friend of mine, I'm sure you'll like him."
"Harry…I've told you before, I'm not interested right now!" the girl huffed, obviously irritated.
"Just wait and see alright? You'll be happily surprised I'm sure." He replied, snickering just a bit.
"Are you laughing? Harry James Potter, I have never been so insulted! Do you honestly think I'm pathetic to not want to be dating right now? It's just with that wretched Charlie and his freakish idea of a "true lady"…god…it makes me want to kill him sometimes!"
"Shit, I'm just joking. Seriously though, you'll be truly happy to meet…or should I saw, re-meet him…"
"What? I've met him before?" cried the woman as Harry shoved her forwards, closer to the entrance.
"Where the fuck is that idiot…he's late, as always."
"Harry, don't swear, I read a book about how bad it truly is, one man swore himself to death one day, and he really did die. Dreadful case really…"
"Oh, he's here! Oi, RON!" Harry yelled. Not yet seeing his blind date, Ron grinned and swam through the crowd to meet Harry.
"Wait, Ron? Harry, you liar!" the girl cried, slapping Harry's arm as he waved to Ron.
"HERMIONE!" Ron hollered, once he met eye-to-eye with the brown haired girl.
"You look so…different." Ron quickly scanned his old friend, noticing how much she had developed after school got out. She wore a pair of jeans which hung a bit too tight to her new curves, and a low cut cashmere sweater that nearly screamed out the news of her grown chest. Not to mention her hair, it had clearly tamed quite thoroughly, she had it curled out in loose waves, so he couldn't rightly tell. But it was enough of a change for him to handle in one night, he almost fainted in shock.
"Hi Ron..." she blushed.
"What's wrong with you two? Aren't you happy to see each other?"
"Ya, of course!" The two answered, trying to make sure Harry wouldn't catch on to their act.
"Something's going on…I just know it. What's the big idea, did I miss something?" Harry inquired, eyeing the two suspiciously.
"It's nothing!" the two responded, exactly at the same time. Both of their eyes were wide and each a bit pale for their own good.
"Uhuh…"Harry moaned, rolling his eyes.
"You two get friendly, I'll get some drinks! What'd you two like?"
"Pink Lady for me, please." Hermione requested, giving a small smile, turning right pink herself.
"I'll have a Firewhiskey, thanks pal." Ron then stated. He reached down into his pocket and pulled out a few galleons for Harry.
"Are you kidding me Ron? I'm paying!"
"No you're not! I'll pay for my drink Harry, it's completely alright!"
"My treat you idiot! Take back the galleons!" Harry yelled, shoving them away.
"I'll take them!" Hermione squeaked, she reached out, snatched away the coins and giggled. Although Harry began laughing, Ron was baffled by her new attitude as well as the new appearance. He could scarcely take it all in.
"Alright then…at least the money goes somewhere." Ron finally agreed, he gave a forced chuckle then sat down at a small table by the bar, offering for Hermione to sit too.
"Thanks."
"No problem. So, how's work?"
"Oh, nothing much really. How have you been?"
"Doing good…great…wonderful! I just, you know...Imissyoualot." the last few words came out so mushed together that it sounded more like "Imishyuawot!" then anything else.
"Er, sorry, I didn't catch that last part."
"Hermione…I miss you a lot. I'm sorry to bother you like this, after you clearly told me to, you know, go away. I didn't know you would be here as well."
Hermione turned so red that she looked just about ready to be ill, her eyes went everywhere but his slightest direction and she could barely contain herself.
"I-I..Imsorryron!"
"Pardon?" Ron asked, returning the question about a slurred sentence."
"I'm sorry Ron! I'm so sorry, I was just so angry, and frustrated. I didn't mean it at all! Please, just, forgive me! I shouldn't have been so cross to break up with you at the time!"
The conversation stood silent, and to them, all the upbeat music and screaming people in the background died off and all that each of them saw was each other, ashamed and feeling guiltier then ever.
"I, you, Hermione…" but Ron was at lost for words, the last time he had been at lost for words with Hermione was when they first met on the train to Hogwarts for their 1st year.
"Oh, by the way, you have dirt right…here." The curly haired girl said, she pointed at the side of her nose before walking out the door of their car.
This fond memory always returned to Ron when he saw Hermione, and before he realized his actions, he rapidly shouted, "Hermione, I still love you!"
Ron jumped from his seat, crossed to Hermione's side and embraced her in his arms.
"Ron…"
"I still love you, I always will! Hermione," he kneeled to one knee and picked up her left hand, still red but pale all the same, "please, marry me! I don't have a ring, and I didn't think this through, but I know that you're the one I want to be with forever!"
Hermione's eyes turned white and she was beginning to shake all over, but before anyone could say a thing…
"Alright guys! Drinks are ready! Drink up!" Harry announced cheerily, he set three glasses onto the table before he finally realized the situation and stared dumbfounded.
"Ron," Hermione's emotion had gotten the better of her and tears were pouring out her eyes, sliding down the curve of her cheeks and dripping down onto her hands, "I'm sorry!" she tossed away his hand, flew from her seat and ran away through the crowds of people, sobbing more then ever.
"Ron…I am really sorry! But…I can't…I just can't!" Hermione screamed as she ran down the sidewalks, it was already dark out and she wanted to fly away on the next shooting star and never come back again. "Ron…I still love you too…it's Charlie I can't leave…he would do such terrible things…terrible things…" She couldn't hold it back anymore, her sobbing was in such hysterics that passersby's just stood and stared their eyes right at her. She took out her wand, although muggles were watching, and apparated back to her flat.
"Please Ron, don't give up…I still love you!"
Meanwhile, Ron sat, still completely shocked, in the bar.
"Sorry Ron, I didn't know at all. I'm really sorry." Harry begged, closing his eyes in regret and deep sorrow felt sincerity.
"It's fine Harry. Just forget it." Ron was completely wasted, and was downing his sixth Firewhiskey.
"You should probably stop now Ron…" Harry advised, removing the empty glass from Ron's hand.
"I can't believe it…all in one night. Surprise…happiness…sadness…"
"It's life buddy."
"Figures…to bad I'm stuck in it."
"You should go find her Ron." Harry again advised.
"She doesn't love me Harry, she's with Charlie, I was so fuckin' stupid to forget! Stupid me, stupid me!" Ron hollered, beginning to slap himself. Harry watched this and stared up into the ceiling.
"Ron, you're wasted and tired. Just go back home and-"
"Hold up Harry! Why would Hermione run away crying, wouldn't she be angry or just surprised, why crying?"
"Because she felt bad you stupid git!"
"Wait! It can't be Hermione…and if not, it must be Charlie!"
"Then again…that might be the case…By the way…on this crossword puzzle, what's a seven letter word for "dead meat"?" Harry asked, holding his pen in his mouth, prodding the edges of the puzzle with his fingers.
Ron sat away, thinking of an answer, so drunk and tired that he could barely think. But when he came up with a solution, it was the wittiest thing he had said all night.
"Harry?"
"Yup?"
"Charlie...a seven letter for for dead meat!"