On the Differences Between Soulmates and Lifemates
disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters therein belong to J.K. Rowling and are borrowed by the author. Any other, original characters belong to the author. Don't take them they'll run away and come back home to me.
Chapter 1: The Soulmates Choose
"Hermione, I must talk to you, before we go back to the Burrow this weekend," Ron said quietly, trying to keep Harry and Ginny from hearing.
"Sure, what about?" Hermione said sickly. She, too, had things to say, and feared what would happen when everything came out. She rose from her seat in the Gryffindor common room and led Ron to her chambers in the prefects' dormitory. She charmed the lock on her door and let Ron enter first, then followed and locked and silenced the room.
"Hermione, I"
"Ron, I"
Both smiled and laughed, the tension dispersing in their wake. Hermione smiled warmly at the man before her, more a friend and brother than any else in the world.
"Shall I go first, or would you like to?" Ron asked politely, reverting to formality in his discomfort.
"You first. Who knows, we may be saying the same thing, and that will save oxygen," Hermione said in her best professor's voice.
"Hermione, I love you so much, you've been like a sister, but more all these years. I have Ginny, but they are two completely different relationships," Ron began, watching Hermione's face closely for any signs of a bad reaction.
"And I feel the same about you. However" Hermione trailed off.
"You don't want to date anymore, either, do you?" Ron said suspiciously.
"Look, you were about to end our relationship, so don't get mad at me for initiating the discussion. I love you, but I think romance is no longer in the equation."
"I don't think it was ever a question of romance, Hermione. You complement me in every way"
"But I don't complete you. I get it, Ron. And I feel the same way about you. So, this is an amicable parting?"
"Hermione. I need to say this. I think you are my soulmate."
"Didn't we just agree that we have no romance to speak of?"
"Being your friend, and being with you, loving you, and making love with you you've taught me that soulmates are more like brother and sister, a pair that complements one another as opposed to completing each other. What I mean is, this aspect of our relationship taught me us that soulmates are too close to be in a romantic relationship. It would be like being in a relationship with myself."
"So, we're breaking up because we fit together too perfectly?"
"No, because we're each the same piece. I can't complete you, and vice versa. We had the relationship and closeness because we were so alike."
"I'm sorry; I feel the same way. I think that it would be a good thing to move on romantically."
Me, too. And you're really okay with this?"
"Yes, Ron, I'm fine. It's too bad, though, we did have great chemistry. I think that we should tell your family this weekend but keep it under wraps here until we get back to classes," Hermione said, her eyes misting over.
Ron came over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "Scary, isn't it? Everyone thought this would work out so well."
"Too well, as it were, I guess. Ron," Hermione said, wriggling against him, "I think we have some left over chemistry!"
Later that day, Hermione was straightening her robes for the second time that day, as Ron tightened his tie. He fixed it perfectly and slung his bag over his shoulder and messed up his tie.
"Here, let me, Ron," Hermione said, having fixed her own tie and having much experience with helping both Ron and Harry with their ties.
"Thanks, 'Mione. I wasn't trying to get you into bed, you know?" Ron said, blushing as Hermione laughed.
"Who knows, maybe I was trying to get you into bed. It will be awfully lonely without you here. Perhaps this is one thing we don't have to give up, not quite yet," Hermione said thoughtfully, turning Ron towards her mirror so she could observe his reaction.
"Hermione, you can't mean that. And anyways, the boys will being breaking down your door and they certainly wouldn't want to share you," Ron said, surprised at this new Hermione.
"Fine, but you can at least still come here and be with me. We can be together and cuddle and even sleep in the same bed without actually moving on to something more physical," Hermione was taken aback by Ron's reaction, and it showed in her voice. "If you're so convinced about the soulmates not being romantic, then you shouldn't be afraid to be alone with me!"
"Hermione, that's not it, and you know it. I want you, badly, but we just decided to end our romantic relationship I don't want you to regret anything. I don't want you to regret me, or us," Ron had turned to face Hermione, and he took her face in his hands. "I know I wouldn't regret any of this, but I'm afraid of losing you and our relationship in the physical stuff. Fuck, Hermione, you're the girl you're supposed to yell and scream and tell me to go do nasty things, not stand there and offer to be fuck friends!"
"Don't get angry with me, Ronald Weasley! I want to be more than friends. I want you, I want you in my life!"
"And I'll be in your life. You're my best friend; not even Harry means as much to me as you do, dammit, Hermione. But give me a break. You have class, I have class. I'll see you in our common room for dinner."
Ron turned to leave and Hermione yelled after him, "Fine! Let's break up and have dinner together! Makes a lot of sense to me, Weasley! It'd serve you right if I showed up naked!"
Hermione had seen neither hide nor hair of Ron all day, even at lunch. Sighing, she picked up her bag and left Lavender giggling with Pavarti and their crowd. She looked at her schedule, which even though it was a month and a half into the school year, she had not yet memorized it. She sighed again as she headed down to the potions dungeon.
"This is a very un-Hermione thing to do," Hermione whispered to herself.
"What exactly constitutes an un-Hermione action?" a cold voice said behind her.
"Speaking to you, Malfoy," Hermione turned, wand out, but she stopped when she saw the dark circles under his eyes.
"Better not do it then, Ron would be quite angry with you," Draco said softly, walking past her into the open door of the dungeon.
"Th that doesn't matter anymore! We we broke up!" Hermione said before she thought about it. She clamped a hand over her mouth and froze, waiting fro an attack that didn't come.
"Weasel King find a new princess? Cheated on you, did he? Hmm, perhaps he just couldn't bear snuggling up to a mudblood anymore," Draco gave a bark of laughter at the look on her face.
"You're a bloody prick, you know that? You deserve Pansy Parkinson!" Hermione spat.
"She and I are not together. We've not been together for a very long time. I thought you'd know. I assume you got the 'We should see other people' crap from Weasley?" Draco smirked, baiting her.
"No. But we will be seeing other people. Not that you care."
"Then you'll have no trouble meeting me in my sitting room for dinner this evening. And if you don't, I may have to tell Ron that you haven't been telling him everything," Draco's smirk got even bigger. He truly enjoyed verbal battles with Hermione, but he'd never let her know that.
"That won't work. Ron knows I tell him everything. We've always been like that, even before we dated," Hermione's breath quickened in her anxiety.
"Ah, but with the breakup so fresh in his mind, he wouldn't know who to believe, now would he? He hates me, but you confuse him. I just bet he started the conversation, but you jumped in and put the end to it, hmm?"
"How?" Hermione looked at Draco, wondering if he had circumvented her silence charms. "What do you think you know?"
"I would bet galleons that you then did something you're rather ashamed of now? Slept with him again, did you? Ah, well, weakness once is forgivable. It's not like you offered to be fuck friends."
With that, Draco stepped past Hermione into the Potions classroom, shutting the door behind him.
"I have a conference with the professor to discuss my marks on the OWLS. You understand, right?" Draco flashed a huge smile at Hermione, and her knees felt weak.
"Damn it all," Hermione sank against the wall, sliding to the floor and contemplating how Draco had found out about the morning's happenings.
Potions had gone off without a hitch, but Hermione felt anxious. She had to meet with Draco for dinner, in his own sitting room in the prefects' dormitory. She had to find Ron and tell him she couldn't make it that evening, and she had to find out if he had said anything to anyone. She dreaded telling him that she had spilled the beans to Draco Malfoy.
It was nearing the dinner hour when Hermione caught up with Ron, as he was on his way from the divination tower down to the Great Hall. He was walking with Harry, Pavarti and Lavender, and looking quite green.
"Hey, Ron, how are you supposed to die now?" Hermione laughed at the sight.
"'Mione, that's not funny. Besides, it wasn't my death she predicted. It was a vision she had in class, when she was leaning over me, checking my tea leaves."
"Yeah, it looked as if she were having a nightmare, really," Lavender chimed in.
"It was really strange, Hermione," Pavarti said, linking arms with Lavender as Hermione joined their group.
"Trelawney had one hand on his tea cup and when she put the other on his shoulder, she went into a trance. But she was whispering, so I didn't really hear what she said. Whatever it was, it freaked Ron out," Harry interjected, waving to Ginny who was walking towards them fro the far end of the corridor.
"I'll tell Hermione, then I'll catch up with you lot in the dining room," Ron said, stopping and putting his hand on Hermione's shoulder, taking her to an empty classroom.
"What was her vision now, Ron? Boils on your bum during the final Quidditch match of the year?"
"No. A snake-like monster stealing a young woman from a tower. I didn't say anything around Harry because it reminded me so much of when we almost lost Ginny in our second year. Look, d'you mind if I skiv on dinner tonight? I want to check on Ginny and talk with her and Harry about the vision."
"No, that's fine. I have to study tonight, anyways, and I was going to break dinner anyway. Funny how we seem to be right on nowadays, hmm?" Hermione tried to laugh. She was worried about Ginny now, and she'd have to hide it around Malfoy.
"Fine. What are you studying tonight?"
"Potions," Hermione said and clamped her hadn over her mouth, for the nth time that day. "I have to study, and I said I'd help some student with the parchment due Monday. 20 inches on veritaserum and its cousin potions and counter-potions. Script no taller than a finger width. Slughorn's enforcing that now. "
"Who are you helping?" Ron was trying to be interested, but having taken remedial potions so he could continue and get his Auror's certification, he found it hard to concentrate on the dreaded subject.
"I forget. I have the name in my notes somewhere. I'll see you later tonight, then."
"Hermione, I'll just see you at breakfast tomorrow. I know how you study. You'll be up all night perfecting everything. Try to get some sleep," with that, Ron kissed the top of Hermione's head and left the classroom, leaving her blushing as she recalled how they had 'studied' so often.