Chapter 2

Hermione

When Ron and Hermione got home from Harry and Ginny's, Hermione went to the loo and shut the door. She took her hair out of the ponytail she had it in and threw the hair tie down. She looked up at herself in the mirror crying.

"Now he comes around?" she muttered to herself. "Now that I'm married? Wasn't it obvious to him that I'm not happy? Why would he ask such a ridiculous question when the answer shows on my face?"

She took a few deep breaths and then cast a charm on herself to give the appearance that she had not been crying. Once she composed herself, she went to the kitchen, poured herself a half glass of wine and sat down on the couch. Ron came up from behind and pawed at her to come to bed.

"No," she replied. "I'm not tired. I am going to get some reading in and then I'll be off to bed shortly."

Ron heaved a sigh and looked around before answering her.

"Fine. But no more than five chapters," he said. "Hurry up and come to bed."

"Right,"she replied.

Ron rolled his eyes and went off to bed. Hermione began reading the newest legal book published by the Ministry Of Magic. However, she was still so upset and flustered with Harry that she could not really concentrate on reading. She did her best to keep reading until she heard Ron snoring. She then put down her book and walked over to the hearth and knelt down. She grabbed some Floo Powder, threw it in the fire and said,
"Nineteen ninety, Watson Place."

She then leaned into the green fire and looked around. She saw an averaged sized, pale skinned woman with auburn hair walk by and she quietly called out "Misty!" The auburn haired woman jumped and then saw Hermione's face in the fire.

"Hello Hermione. Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Not really. Can I come over and talk?" Hermione asked.

"Please,"Misty replied.

At that, Hermione stepped into the fire and came out through Misty's fireplace. She dusted herself off and hugged her friend and co-worker very tightly and her frustration was felt. Misty went to the kitchen and came back with two mugs of coffee and they both sat down.

"What's going on Hermione?" Misty asked.

"So much. I am glad I could come to you, Misty because I can trust that you won't go spread it around the office," Hermione told her. "Ron and I went and saw Harry and my sister in law."

"Really? It looks like that didn't go very well," Misty observed.

Hermione told her about the awkwardness at dinner and then the conversation between her and Harry on the balcony and then about how he asked her if she is happy.

"Wow. So it sounds like he is either just realizing his feelings for you or he still has feelings for you and is just now getting to tell you," Misty said.

"I know. I just can't believe he waited until we are both in commitments to realize it," Hermione cried and took a drink of her coffee.

"Sounds like you aren't over him?" Misty asked seriously.

Hermione glared at her for a moment and then relaxed.

"Of course I'm over him. I'm just really flustered that he waits until well after he missed his chance to tell me in his own way the he still wants to be with me. It's unfair of him," Hermione said.

"Hold on now. How are you sure he was making a pass at you? Are you sure he wasn't just being a good friend to you and wanting to know how you're really feeling so he could help you?" Misty asked.

"Of course he was making a pass at me. He wasn't just being a friend. I know Harry better than anyone. Trust me, Misty," Hermione answered sternly. "And it's not fair at all that he asked me that, knowing me better than anyone. Especially being where we are now in our lives."

Misty set down her coffee and looked Hermione in the eye,

"Hermione, here's the real question, are you really mad because you feel nothing but friendship towards him or are you mad because you are genuinely not happy?" Misty asked.

Hermione let out a frustrated grunt and got up from the couch. She stormed towards the fireplace and Misty ran up in front her between Hermione and the fireplace. She quickly took Hermione's wand and made her back up a few steps.

"No! Your are not running away from this. I'm your best friend. You are supposed to be honest with me! Now sit back down and answer me! You need to; I can feel it!" Misty shouted at Hermione.

With a sigh Hermione sat back down on the couch and looked away. Misty sat back down and gave Hermione a hug. She then looked at her again.

"So are you going to answer my question?" she asked sternly.

Hermione's eyes began to swim with tears. "No!" she screamed, "I'm not happy! I'm not happy being with Ron and I'm not happy that Harry is just now realizing he wants to be with me!" Hermione buried her face in her hands began to cry.

"Why did it have to be like this? Why did he wait until it was too late? Why didn't I say anything sooner? Why did we have to let it all get in the way?" Hermione sobbed.

"Sometimes we're all stupid, hon. Sometimes, friendship seems more important. Luckily, there is such a thing as second chances. Even though they can get messy," Misty answered while handing her a tissue.

Hermione looked at her taken aback.

"How do I even know we deserve a second chance?" Hermione asked and blew her nose.

"Do you have a parchment and a quill?" Misty asked.

Hermione returned to her flat an hour later and sat back down on the couch. She could still hear Ron snoring. She decided to just stay in the front room because she was in no mood to use the silencing charm on him, that night. She looked over the parchment she wrote on at Misty's and studied it carefully in case she may need to destroy it so that Ron wouldn't see it. Though she felt better now that she had talked to someone, she still couldn't help but to be angry with Harry, even though she also knew that the he wasn't entirely at fault.

She grabbed the photo's from her honeymoon and realized why Harry and Misty asked her if she is happy. It showed in their pictures that she wasn't. She then looked at a picture of Harry and Ginny on their honeymoon. She noticed that Harry did not look at all happy. She held the two side by side and then tossed them down. She fought back more tears.

"Why did I have to be so spiteful?" she wondered. "Me and my stupid pride! Him and his stupid pride! This isn't fair. Merlin's beard, I don't deserve a second chance with him! Why would I? I'm obviously the one who drove him to Ginny" she said to Crookshanks after he jumped in her lap to comfort her.

She grabbed her wand and said, "Accio Journal!" Once her journal was in her hand, she grabbed her quill and ink and spent the rest of the night writing how she felt about the situation in her journal.

She heard Ron wake up early in the morning. As he came out into the living room and saw her still at the couch writing in her journal, he let out a growl of frustration and rolled his eyes. He muttered and slammed the cabinet doors and brewed coffee. He sat quietly at the kitchen table with his back to her and drank his coffee. Hermione eventually rolled her eyes and looked over at him.

"Again with this Ron? Really?" she asked very irritated.

"I thought we agreed you were not going to do this all night nonsense anymore" he asked with a tone that was just as irritated.

Hermione sighed, "This was the first time in nine months, Ron! Give me a break. I'm allowed a slip from time to time, aren't I?" she demanded.

"Yeah and every time you keep slipping," he replied without turning around.

"What is the real problem. You always act like a prat when you're upset but still have something you want to talk to me about. Out with it!" she demanded.

Ron sighed and turned around,

"Ginny told me something last night and I think it would be a wonderful idea for us too," he said.

"And what is that Ron?" she asked still annoyed.

"I'm ready. I think I'm ready and want to... to..." he stammered and was cut off.

"To what Ron?" she demanded again.

"To have a baby," he answered.

Her eyes grew wide and she almost dropped Crookshanks. She looked around and then back at Ron. That was not the answer she had hoped nor wanted to hear.

"Are you serious? We just got married and we're fighting right now!" she shouted.

She looked down and then back at Ron, "Ron, I won't give you an answer right now. Not until you can tell me if you really are ready for such a commitment and responsibility or if you're just thinking this because Ginny is," she said in a serious tone.

Ron looked at her slightly hurt, "What the bloody hell? What would make you say and think such things? That wasn't fair at all!" he shouted.

Hermione folded her arms, "Because I know you Ronald Weasley! You like to match, outshine or beat your sister to the punch at any and everything. Especially when Harry's involved," she answered.

Ron just sighed again and awkwardly looked at the floor. "You're right," he replied in a defeated tone. "I'll think about it. I' gotta go to work. I love you."

He walked over, gave her a kiss and Disapparated. This gave her more time to try and sort out her thoughts

While she thought more, she continued to keep blaming Harry as if she couldn't help it. The other thought that kept going through her mind was that she and Harry didn't deserve a second chance. When the sun came up, she sent an owl to her office with a parchment that said that she would not be going coming in that day. She spent the rest of the day writing down a list of why she should try and give them a second chance and why she shouldn't. She then wondered if Harry was making the same list and then became angrier when she knew he wasn't. She kept writing and grew so frustrated that she began to cry again.

Three hours later, a Patronus Charm of a dog appeared. Ron's voice spoke through it.

"Hello, lovely. My sister just gave us tickets to see her team play in the Quidditch Playoffs next week. We'll be in a great box this time. Neville and Susan will be there. So will Harry. Well I've gotta get back to work. I love you," and the Patronus disappeared.

Hermione rolled her eyes and grunted in further frustration. It meant that now, sooner than later, she was going to be faced with seeing him again. She knew she would not be ready as she fell asleep after losing so much energy thinking.