Chapter Four

In the Morning

Ron came to him in the morning as he was sitting upon the steps of the house, idly making stones rotate in the air. He could hear the laughter of Ginny from inside the house, Mrs. Weasley talking loudly to George, and Percy and Mr. Weasley discussing Ministry business. Ron approached him, casually slumping down onto the steps beside him.

"What do you think?" He asked.

Harry looked up at the other man. "What do you mean?"

Ron shrugged. "Dunno. You've been odd for a while." He said.

Harry nodded. "A lot on my mind." He said simply.

"Bugger this." Ron muttered, setting his arms upon his knees and looking out toward the lawn. "Ginny told me to talk to you. Nosey git she is. I told her it's just best to leave you alone 'til you get your head wrapped around things, but she insists that something's up."

"Nothing's up." Harry said, letting the rocks set down upon the ground.

"That's what I told her." Ron said. "But, you know girls, they think just because they're girls they can read your soddin' mind." He brushed back a lock of red hair from his forehead and glanced down at Harry. "Everything's keen, right?"

"Yeah." Harry said. "Just like you said, I have to wrap my head around things. A lot's happen."

Ron glanced at him again and they sat there for a long moment.

"We'll be here for you Harry." Ron said after a while.

"You're a good friend, Ron." Harry said. Ron ducked his head and grinned.

"I'm your only mate, Harry. 'course I'm a good friend. " He clapped a hand upon his shoulder and ambled back into the house. Harry watched him go and thought on what he had done to him. There was something he owed to not only Ron, but to the others as well. Something they would never in their lives ask for payment upon, but it was something he still owed them all the same.

He sighed, leaning back against the steps and looking at the blue sky. The rain had passed and so had the sweltering heat, now it was pleasantly warm and almost cool. There was the clatter of birds in the trees and the sound of garden gnomes marching afoot.

He heard footsteps walking toward him, but he did not turn. A familiar presence sat beside him, the smell coming to him like a heavenly scent.

"I have my doubts." Harry said, after a few moments passed. He still didn't look toward the figure.

"As do I." Hermione responded.

They were silent for a while.

"I just make a right mess of things, don't I?" Harry asked.

"You've been known to cause trouble."

Harry looked up at her and saw that she had a drawn look upon her face, her eyes was distant and the small smile upon her face was forced.

"I can't do this to them. I owe them too much." Harry said.

"Ron and Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"And Mr. and Mrs. Weasley." Harry said. "How would they feel to know that two of their children's hearts had been shattered? I know they've always treated me well and that they love me as much as they do their own children… it would be bad to do this to them and to Ron an d Ginny." Harry looked back out toward the lawn. "There's wrong and there's wrong and there's this situation that I've placed us both into."

Hermione sighed, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them.

"Things are never simple." Hermione said.

"I tend to make a good situation bad." Harry said, pulling himself into a sitting position. He glanced at Hermione again. "I'm not going to hurt them out of my own selfish needs. It would be wrong."

"What about Ginny."

Harry sighed. "My feelings haven't changed for her. I love her, but I don't Love her." He said. "Maybe it's all that's happened, the deaths, the battle, the end of all that has been plaguing us for years, add in the rain, the long absence…"

"Don't try to shove what you felt off on outside events." Hermione said, her voice suddenly sharp. 'Your feelings didn't just miraculously appear from a vacuum and to say that because you've had a hard time of late caused you to feel these feelings will only cheapen it for you and for me." She looked at him. "I felt what I felt and I know what I felt, it wasn't because of the rain or because I've been gone for two weeks. It was because I do love you."

Harry smiled sadly. "Yet?"

"I also love Ron. And I love this family." Hermione added, she glanced briefly back into the house, catching a glimpse of Ron peeking from a corner. " I didn't do what I did out of some girlish fancy and swooning." She sighed, oddly at a lost for words.

Harry nodded. "Ron is a good man." Harry said wholeheartedly. "He's loyal and he adores you completely. There's no better man in the world."

Hermione blushed at his words, but he still could see that the words had taken her aback. She glanced at him and he saw her arriving at the same conclusion he had been trying to articulate.

She gripped his hand. "We can't do this to them, can we?"

"No." Harry said. "Not what you and I had planned to do. Not to Ron and not to the Weasleys. I was stupid in causing this situation, I was selfish and didn't see anything besides what I wanted." Harry continued to not look at Hermione, knowing she would read every emotion he felt. "I was a bloody fool. Now, I'm going to make it right."

"What about Ginny?" Hermione asked.

Harry paused, looking down at the grass. "It doesn't change how I feel for Ginny. Those feelings weren't spontaneous or random. I have to tell her. I can't lead her on, toy with her as you said. It would be wrong and it would be hurtful to her. She needs to know.' He said.

Hermione gripped his hand tighter. "Its the only way." She said.

Harry sighed. "I'm dreading doing it."

"Postponing it will only make it worse."

"I know."

Harry heard Ginny's laughter again and stared out onto the lawn. Hermione's touch was still warm upon his hand and he her words were still fresh in his mind. He couldn't postpone it, he couldn't drag it out.

He got up and reentered the house.

Hermione watched him and quickly looked away, wiping away tears that were about to shed.