A.N.: Updated.

It was a cold autumn night, there was no living soul walking on the street, nor where there cars on the road; the rain was pounding heavily on the window and no sound could be heard inside the apartment except for the roaring rain. Inside, a man was looking at that natural chaos, his green eyes wouldn't move or squint, his face washed by a pensive expression.

Three years had passed since the victory over Voldemort, and what seemed so absolutely resolved back then was now starting to lose meaning. Harry Potter was famous, victorious; his face was all over the world, every child respected him and looked up to him. He was a hero, an overachieved young man indeed, but his heart was still far from achieving the happiness he longed.

He was dating Ginny ever since the glorious victory, and Ron and Hermione also seemed to be pretty happy since then. Even though all four of them were together since then, no one had yet taken the next steps towards the true couple life. Harry had moved in with Ron a year ago in to an apartment in central London, just a couple of minutes away from the Ministry of Magic where they worked as Aurors. Ginny still lived at the Burrow mainly because Mrs. Weasley was having a hard time getting past Fred's death and could not yet bare another child of hers leave home. As for Hermione, she practically lived at St. Mungo's hospital even though she had rented an apartment with some friends from work.

Overall, life seemed to be going just as he planned. There was only one thing that he would change: his heart. Even though Ginny was the girl he had once dreamed spending the rest of his life with, something changed deep within him. Something about her - no - something about him, was wrong. Every time they were together, he'd feel as if something was missing, as if the fire had extinguished. 'Nothing lasts forever, I guess,' he muttered.

Suddenly the door cracked open and a drenched Ron walked in. 'Bleeding Merlin! What a mayhem outside!' He took off his drench-coat and casted a Drying Charm on it. 'Did you make anything for dinner, Harry? I'm starving,' he walked towards Harry but he received no answer. 'Harry? You in there?'

'Oh, hi Ron… I'm sorry, what?' he said, snapping out of his thoughts.

'Did you make dinner? Rainy days kinda make me hungrier… What were you thinking about?' replied Ron, as he dived his hand on his pocket to grab something and, without letting Harry respond to his question, added: 'What do you think?' He opened a small box. Inside was a beautiful ruby and diamond ring.

'Whoa, I know we're really good friends, Ron, but I'm not yet gay,' he chuckled nervously. He knew what that meant.

'Harry, you're too funny! I'm proposing to Hermione, not you, snitch-head,' he laughed. Harry's heart stopped for a split second. His life flashed in front o his eyes as if the fact of Ron and Hermione getting married would mean his death. 'I'm doing it tomorrow at the party at Hog's Head. What do you think she'll say?'

Harry looked down at the ring expressionlessly. That could mean that, in a matter of a year or less, he'd be the only one who was still single since his feelings for Ginny were no longer the same. He would be alone. 'I dunno, but she's probably gonna freak out,' he uttered finally.

'Freak out? As in shriek of emotion and faint on my arms?' inquired Ron. 'Anyway, I just hope she says yes.'

'Yeah, I hope so,' replied Harry smiling awkwardly. Why was he feeling so sad with such an exhilarating announcement? Was it just for the fact that he was the only one that could't still think of such a commitment? Or could it be more than that: a feeling, a fear, or probably a mix of both? He shook his head hoping that thought would leave him. 'Anyway, let's have dinner?'

Ron put the ring away and stormed towards the kitchen. 'I thought you'd never say that!'

Sunlight washed Harry's face what seemed to be too soon that morning. He wasn't able to sleep all night; he dreamed about Ginny, only to wake up feeling agonised, and also dreamed about Ron and Hermione. That last dream was like a nightmare. For some reason he could't bear the thought of his two best friends getting married. He reached lazily to his glasses and put them on. It was 9 a.m and he could already hear noise from the living room.

He got up, grabbed his robe and dragged his feet across the room and opened the door. In the living room, Ron was already dressed and was walking around impatiently murmuring words as he fumbled his pockets, probably to guarantee he had all he needed. "Oh, you're finally up, mate! Get dressed, we need to go!" said Ron as he acknowledged Harry's presence.

'What, now? The party won't start 'till eleven… What's the hurry?' he was barely awake let alone have the physical and mental strength to even have bath.

Ron looked at Harry incredulously. 'Of course, now! We never know what may happen… There can be a setback or something!' Harry could see how nervous Ron was. This was the big day for him.

'But we're Apparating there, aren't we? So why hurry?' said Harry rubbing his eyes. 'Do you know if Ginny's going?'

'Don't be such a lazy ass,' Ron replied promptly. 'And you should know better if Ginny's going; you're the boyfriend,not me,' he added with a slight punch on Harry's arm that almost knocked him off.

Harry rubbed the area where Ron had punched him. 'Ouch, do not punch me when I'm still waking up, will you? And I haven't talked to Ginny since last Friday, I dunno what she's up to.'

'We'll figure out when we get to Hogsmeade. Now, c'mon!'

The party was going incredibly well. Everyone was cheering and dancing, after all it was the commemoration of the third anniversary over Voldemort's defeat. But all - and that included old Aberforth - except Harry seemed to be having fun. 'What's wrong, Harry?' asked a sweet woman's voice. Harry felt a shiver running down his spine, an unusual feeling for him. 'This party is all about you, why aren't you happy?' she inquired worryingly, sitting by his side.

'Oh, I don't know, Hermione…' he managed to say. 'I feel empty.'

'What are you talking about? You have conquered what you most desired and you found the perfect girl for you, what could make you feel that way? It isn't about your parents or Sirius, is it?' The worry in Hermione's voice was so comforting he wished that he could just hold her.

'No, it's not about them,' he paused thinking if he should confess his feelings to her, after all she too was Ginny's friend. He let out a loud sigh and said: 'it's about Ginny.'

Hermione looked astonished. 'G- Ginny? Why? What's wrong?'

'I guess that everything has its time, and that also applies to love. I don't think I love her anymore,' he said as he looked to Hermione. He had never noticed how beautiful his friend was, how gracefully her hair touched her shoulders and how physically attractive she was. He shook his head, still in disbelief of what he had just thought. 'She's taken, brain, stop it'.

'Oh my, I thought you were just fine. Did you tell her already?' she replied putting her hand over Harry's shoulder and gently caressing it.

'No, I was waiting for her to come. But I guess she's on the same page about me… We haven't talked since last Friday,' he said, a hint of sadness running across his expression.

Hermione hugged him with all her strength. He felt her warm body press against his, a motherly warmth but at the same time he could also feel that an overpowered feeling was taking control. 'No, I can't,' he thought, but maybe it was too late.

The music stopped suddenly and Hermione broke the hug, mouthing 'It's gonna be fine' and they both turned to the front. A overly excited Ron (maybe because of the beer he had been drinking) got on a chair and exclaimed: 'Everyone, I have an announcement to make!' he paused and looked at Hermione. 'Hermione, can you come here?' he asked with a huge grin on his face. Hermione got up, with a puzzled look on her face, and walked towards her boyfriend. As she approached him, Ron got down on his knee and held up the small box that he had shown Harry the night before and asked her: 'Will you marry me, Hermione Granger?'

She covered her mouth with her hand and froze for a couple of minutes. 'I- I…' she stuttered, her face turning to a bright shade of red.

'Hmm, I have all the time but my arm is starting to give in, babe,' said Ron nervously.

'I'm sorry', she uttered as she turned away and ran out of the bar.

Harry blinked twice just to be sure that that wasn't a dream. Hermione had just refused Ron's proposal without an explanation. He looked around and gazed at each and everyone that was at the party: was it just him, or had that just happened? Everyone looked as dumbfounded as he was and Ron was standing there, on his knees, completely apathetic.

Everything was changing, in what way he was unsure, but nothing would be the same after that afternoon.