Written for the 'Russian Roulette' Challenge on HPFC - My pairing was Dean/Ron.
Predicament
Dean Thomas had seemed to find himself in a bit of a predicament. For as long as he could remember, he had admired his friend, Ron Weasley. At first he had thought it only to be childish admiration—he loved it when Ron made jokes, and he thought that Ron's hair was cool (it was red!), and he really admired Ron's courage.
It wasn't until fifth year that Dean really realised that he felt something more. He was in love with Ron, and the realisation was a crushing one. Ron would never look at him like that. Ron, the hilarious one. Ron, the gorgeous red-head. Ron, the bravest Gryffindor he knew.
Dean tried to push his feelings away, but they shared a dormitory and he couldn't help glancing over at Ron now and again, and feeling that fluttering in his chest. It made him feel good and why would he want to stop that feeling?
Sixth year came, and Dean didn't think he could survive. Ron got himself his first girlfriend, and for some reason it hurt Dean in a way he didn't think imaginable. For some reason, Dean had always hoped somewhere deep inside that Ron was interested in guys, but this girlfriend just squashed all hope.
Dean was depressed. It was one day when he was sitting in the library that he came across Hermione Granger—also depressed. She sat down next to him and sighed.
"Are you alright?" she asked. Dean glanced at her, wondering why she could be asking him such a question.
"Yes. I guess. You?"
"No," Hermione said sadly. "And you aren't, either. I know, Dean."
"You know what?"
Hermione smiled a little. "I know that you're in love with him."
Dean's eyes widened and his eyes darted around the library to make sure nobody had heard. "How do you—where did you get that idea from?"
"I'm perceptive," Hermione said with warm eyes. "It's okay, I'll keep your secret."
"Thanks," Dean replied. "And I know that you're in love with him, too."
Hermione nodded stiffly. "Yes, and he's with her. Should he ever break up with her—and he will, trust me, I want us to make a deal."
"Sure," Dean said.
"I want us to remain friends, no matter who he chooses," Hermione said softly, but there was a kind of sympathy behind her eyes. Like she knew that Ron would pick her, and that Dean didn't stand a chance.
And Dean knew that, too. And so he was in a predicament. As much as he wanted to hate Hermione and sabotage any chance that she had with Ron, he knew that she was right. He smiled broadly and nodded.
"Of course, Hermione," Dean said quietly.
So when that fateful day came that Ron and Hermione announced that they were a couple, Dean forced himself to smile. He forced himself to slap Ron on the back, and he forced himself to hug Hermione. He forced himself to look over the moon, when really he was dying inside.
That's the price of being a good friend, Dean mused. And it sucks.
~The End~