He Knows
He knows, but simply cannot understand why she prefers Ron.
After all, hadn't he been the reason why she and Ron had become friends in the first place? If he had not come to Hogwarts, he was pretty much sure that she and Ron would never have got along in the first place. Such different personalities the two of them- Ron the impulsive Gryffindor, and she the intellectual, rational Ravenclaw. Oh yes, she had been sorted into Gryffindor, but he's sure she would have been sorted into Ravenclaw if she hadn't known about the house system prior to Hogwarts and had not met Ron on the train. Ron was always a shoo-in for Gryffindor.
He's always been a loyal friend to her, her first real friend. Ron had been an on and off character who hadn't matured with age the way he had. He was judgmental and jealous, both qualities that would have immediately placed him at loggerheads with her rational side.
They had not fought during their years at Hogwarts, barring that episode in his sixth year regarding Snape's book. For an instant, his heart had flickered with hope when she chose to stay with him during the hunt for the horcruxes instead of going away with an angry Ron, but that hope went out when he saw her moping in the tent for Ron.
He wishes that Ron had bought the vision Voldemort's horcrux had shown him, but no, he had to ask Harry the truth and as much as Harry wanted to say that he fancied her, he could not bring himself to do so. Shouldn't he have had mustered his Gryffindor bravery and confessed his love? No, it would have only alienated him from them because he knew that she had only desired Ron.
He cherishes their combined rescue of Sirius, the time they spent in fourth year together when Ron was a prat and also their moments during the Horcrux hunt. But they will remain just that-friendly memories, and not the conversion to a life together that he had hoped for.
He sometimes wishes that he could go back in time and play out events to ensure she fell for him instead of Ron. They would have been the perfect couple together- why on earth had such a thought never occurred to her? That question would always remain unanswered….
One of the first things he had watched on the threatre scene as a child was a play that ended with the words "Love is blind". He had viewed it with contempt then but now, he cannot help but realise the truth of those words.
"Oh Hermione, if only we had…!"
"Mr & Mrs Granger
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Hermione to Mr Ron Weasley
at Ottery
on 1st September 1999"
He keeps staring at the document as the seconds continue to tick on the old grandfather clock that she had bought for him as a gift.
Time seems to stop for him and then….
"Incendio"
With a deft flick of his wand, the invitation is burnt to a crisp.
He's sure the Mirror of Erised will show him a different vision today if he went to see it.
After all, what use was it being the darling of the Wizarding World if it could not get him the woman he loved?