Disclaimer: I own nothing - I'm not making money – everything belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Rating: M for later chapters. Femslash; Hermione/ Minerva, don't like don't read.
A/N: This is my first FanFiction story, so I am a bit nervous and excited. I apologize ahead of time for any grammar/spelling mistakes and any out of character. Well I hope you enjoy and please leave a review.
Summary: Hermione's friends help her get Minerva to fall in love with her; little do they know that Minerva's friends are also determine to help their true love.
What are Friends For
Prologue - Letting Go
Sitting under the large willow tree by the black lake Hermione finally had a moment to herself. A moment of solitude was rather welcoming - the following days after the battle where hectic; celebrations, funerals of love ones, exhausting long meetings with ministry officials, and the rebuilding of Hogwarts. She knew that moment wouldn't last long, Hogwarts was full of witches and wizards who actually wanted to help rebuild the castle and others who just wanted to see firsthand the destruction.
Finally being alone she lost herself in her thoughts about the pass and especially the future. She already knew what she wanted to do education and career wise, she had that figured out since her third year. What she didn't have the answer to was her future with Ron. The tall slender redhead boy -man was caring, loving, funny (but will never admit it to him), and overall a good person. Everyone expected them to get marry and have many redhead babies. Hermione pictured herself being a wife, mother, working at the ministry or at Hogwarts, and traveling the world. These desires made her feel happy. Yet every time she tried to picture Ron by her side she couldn't see him. She saw someone else. It was more of a fantasy to see the other person by her side. She knew it could never be.
"Hermione?" a familiar voice brought her out of her thoughts, "Hermione?"
She was surprise to see the tall redhead sitting next to her, "Ron? When did you get here? I'm sorry I was miles away."
"Not too long ago. Are you okay?" he asked with concern in his voice.
"Yes, I'm fine. Where is Gin and Harry?" she answered with a faint smile and trying to change the subject, which of course worked.
"Ginny and Harry are helping Professor Flitwick and Madam Hooch remove a charm that Oliver Wood put on the Quidditch pitch. He charmed it so the Slytherins couldn't make any points. It would have gone unnoticed, but he made the charm is too strong; it won't even let in any of the Slytherins near the pitch. It sent Malfoy and a few other Slytherins flying when he got too close." Ron finished with a smirk.
"Oh dear, we should go and help" she was about to stand up when Ron took a hold of her arm.
She gave him a questioning look. "Before we go, I need to talk to you, and since we are finally alone I think this is the perfect time," he let go of her arm.
Hermione detected nervousness in his voice, so she just nodded for him to continue.
"Hermione," he began but stopped to look into chocolate eyes that had unease written all over them, "Hermione, you know that you are one of my best friends in the whole world and that I love you, right?" She nodded knowing that he wasn't finished. "My life wouldn't mean anything if you weren't part of it."
'Oh Merlin, please no, please don't let him be proposing. Dear Lord I don't know what I'll do if he is asking me to marry him,' Hermione thought to herself. She wanted to run away. She knew that she would say yes even if her heart was screaming no. She was going to stop him, tell him that they needed to go help Ginny and Harry. She was going to tell him her secret. Her thoughts stopped when she heard the next part of his proposal.
"Hermione, will you always be my friend?" Ron finished.
"Huh?" did she really just hear him right.
"What I'm trying to say, is that I would rather us be friends than be something more… more romantic. I know deep down in my heart if I asked you to marry me you would say yes, and would try to make out lifes work for the best. Still I know that you and I would not last. We might have a few years of happiness, but then our differences are too strong and would eventually break us apart," Ron explained.
He gently picked up her left hand with his right, "I want you to be part of my life even if it means just being friends."
"Ron, you don't…"
"I don't know if we would last," he interrupted her, "Hermione I might not be as brilliant as you, but even I can tell your heart belongs to someone else. Yes people expect us to be together, but it's more important what we want. Like I said before, I would rather you be one of my best friends than to end up hating me for eternity."
Tear drops started to roll down her cheeks, "Ron I never meant hurt you. I do love you, but you're right we would never last. The love that I have for you isn't strong enough to over look the difference between us. I don't think we want the same things in life. Please forgive me, I didn't mean to let you on. I would love to be your friend from now and forever. You are one of my best friends too, and your friendship means the world to me. I don't know what I do if you weren't in my life."
She embraced him into a tight hug. After a few seconds they slowly let go of each other.
"Thank you Ronald, thank you for letting me go," She said in a whisper.
Feeling a knot in his throat Ron only nodded, he didn't trust himself to speak. Hermione will always have a place in his heart.
Rolanda Hooch walked into the newly appointed Headmistress of Hogwarts office. She was in search of her best friend - Minerva McGonagall. Hooch found her staring out of the large cathedral window. Minerva was quiet, motionless; her full attention was given to whatever she was looking at. Hooch slowly approached Minerva and stood by her side, and saw what the Headmistress was looking at. The most spectacular view of the black lake, mountains, and forbidden forest came into view, but Minerva gaze was upon the bushy brunette know – it – all and young Weasley boy that seem to be having a very important discussion.
Not understanding and frankly not caring why Minerva was so focus on the two below Hooch started talking (it's not like she could fully see or hear them, they where after all under the willow tree that blocked most of the view).
"Minerva we need your help. Bloody Oliver Wood charmed the Quidditch pitch to not let any of the Slytherins in. Not that I don't mind," she said the last part to see if Minerva was listening.
Minerva didn't hear a word Hooch said let alone realize she was standing next to her. She had been watching Hermione and Ron for a while now. From up in her office it looked like Ron was proposing marriage. Minerva's heart started to ache when she saw him picked up Hermione left hand. She didn't know why she felt like this. Okay she did, but she didn't want to admit it. Next she saw them embrace, Minerva was about to break down sobbing when she felt a hand shaking her shoulder.
"Minerva," Rolanda shook Minerva's shoulder harder, "Are you in there?"
"Will you stop shaking me Rolanda, I am not a rag doll," Minerva snapped.
"I…I…I'm…," a bit startled Hooch quickly recovered with a comeback, "well if you weren't trying to spy on those two down there I wouldn't have try to get your attention."
"What are you talking about, spying on whom?" Minerva pretending not to know what Hooch was talking about; although, she and Hooch have been best friends since their student years at Hogwarts she wasn't about to tell her deepest secret. Desperately changing the subject she asked, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be finishing the last details for the Quidditch pitch?"
Rolanda just rolled her eyes she knew Minerva too well. She knew Minerva was hiding something, but decided to drop it for now, "That's why I am here! Oliver Wood charmed the pitched so the Slytherins can't get in. Malfoy was sent flying when he tried to enter." She finished trying to hide a smirk.
It was Minerva's turn to roll her eyes. With a quick wrist movement and a whisper "Expecto Patronum"; a slivery tabby cat came out of her Fir wand, and she spoke in her most stern teaching voice, "Mr. Wood, you will return to the Quidditch pitch immediately and remove the charm you put on." The women watched the patronus cat sprinted out of the room in search for Oliver Wood.
"That's it?"
"Yes, he will be there before you and I make it to the Quidditch pitch."
"Are you sure he will get the message today?"
"Yes, he still on the grounds," Minerva answered calmly.
"Are you. . ."
"Rolanda, he will be there!" Minerva wasn't about to spend her time debating whether or not Wood would show up.
Rolanda let out a sigh, "Well thank you, Min."
Minerva just gave her a slight nod. Rolanda couldn't help herself, she knew something was wrong, but she knew if she pushed Minerva too much she would just shut herself more, "Min are you okay?"
"Yes, Rolanda," Minerva turn her attention back to the window trying hard not to stare too much at Hermione and Ron. "No. Not okay. I just want all these people gone, there is no need for them to stay and linger. I swear if I see Rita Skeeter I'm going to turn her hair back to its original color. She thinks that I don't know that she is the one that invited the wizardry world to come 'help' restore Hogwarts," Minerva's voice had become thicker with her Scottish brogue.
"People just want to help, Min."
"Not when they are putting charms that sent people flying off. All they are doing is creating more conflict," Minerva snapped.
Rolanda had enough sense to stay quiet. Instead she moved closer to her and looked at what Minerva was gazing at; know – it – all and the Weasley boy. Hermione and Ron hugged again, got up and started to walk away from the willow tree. Thanks to her hawk like eyes she could see faint smiles on their faces. Turning to look at Minerva she saw tears threatening to pour out of emerald eyes. She looked out the window again while she leaned into Minerva's taller frame and laid her head on Minerva's shoulder. She had done this since their school days.
Minerva felt Rolanda lean onto her, "I didn't mean to snap at you Ro. I will officially close Hogwarts to all visitors expect those I have approve and of course faculty and staff." She took a deep breath and willed her tears to go away. She knew once she was in her private quarts she would allow herself to cry. She pushed Hooch off of her playfully, "Thank you Ro, you always know the right thing to say."
"I do my best," Hooch replied cheekily. She wanted to ask what was really bothering, but she bit her tongue. She would wait a day or two to get Minerva to talk. "We should go see if Wood removed the charmed yet."
"Lead the way Hooch."
Rolling her eyes Hooch headed towards the door. Minerva stayed by the window, putting her trembling hand on the glass she let out a whisper, "Goodbye my dear." Minerva would have to let her feelings go, she had to make herself forget, she would have to…
"Minerva are you coming?" an inpatient Hooch yelled out to Minerva.
"You, Madam Hooch, are lucky to be one of my dearest friends. If you were anyone else and talked to me in that tone of voice I would have turned you into a toad," smirk Minerva. She turned on her heel to follow a smirking Hooch.
Hermione and Ron stayed silent for a while just staring out into the black lake.
"Are you sure we will be okay?" Hermione broke the silence.
With a smile Ron answered, "Aren't we always?"
"True, we survived a troll, basilisk, death eaters, pink toad, Voldemort, and Rita Skeeter," she smiled back, "I guess we will make it threw no matter what comes are way."
Ron lit out a short chuckle.
"Ron is there someone you are in love with?" the question came out before Hermione could stop herself. She didn't want Ron to stay in love with her. She wanted him to move on, she didn't want to feel guilty, and she too wanted to move on. Ron deserved to be happy not just her.
"I thought I was in love with you," Ron started slowly, "When I left you and Harry in the woods, I spend most of that time thinking about us. I realize that we weren't meant to be. When we kissed during the battle; I wanted to believe you and I would work out. I really did, but these pass days made me realize what we have is a strong friendship." He smiled at her.
"That doesn't answer my question Ronald."
"Let me finish."
"Sorry."
"Like I said in these pass days made me realize what we have is a strong friendship," he pause. "What made me understand was the fact that, yes, I am in love with someone else."
Hermione let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. It was a relief to hear him say those words. The guilt she had melted away from her. She smiled, "May I ask who?"
"Of course," he returned the smile. His ears turned a fiery red, "Lavender Brown."
With a grin she said,"I think she still in love with you. You should tell her how you really feel." She leaned in to give him another hug. "We'll always be friends," she said while pulling away from him. "Come on we better go help out at the Quidditch pitch" They both stood up.
As they stood up Ron asked her, "How about you, are you in love with someone?"
"Yes and no, it's more of a crush really," she felt shame for not letting him know the truth, should she tell him the truth?
"Who is it?"
"I'll tell you later, not right now, I have the strange feeling we're being watch," she said staring at the edge of the forbidden forest.
"We are at Hogwarts, it always feels like someone is watching," he smirked.
"Too true, I should be more worried if we weren't being watched," she said as they started to walk to the Quidditch pitch with smiles on their faces.
A/N: Thank you for reading; I want to show how Hermione and Ron ended and that fact that they are still great friends before the main part of the story starts. Please let me know if you like it or not. Please no flames, I can take criticism pretty well, especially if it's meant to help me out, but if you're out there to just be a jerk than you can go somewhere else.
