Chapter Seven: This is Awkward

"Some things I'll never know
And I had to let them go
I'm sitting all alone feeling empty"

Pressure - Paramore

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the songs. I'm just fond of them.

Hermione twiddled with the bottom of her jumper from nervousness. She agreed to meet Ron at a Muggle restaurant that they used to go to when they first started dating. She figured he picked this place so he could make her realize how much she missed him.

She was thankful he picked it because it gave her an excuse not to hex him in public.

Ron arrived about ten minutes after her (some things never change) and he greeted her with a pursed smile.

"Hello Ron." She said, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Hey… Um… How are you?" He asked – scratching nervously at the back of his head.

"I'm doing swell, and you? How's the New Year treating you?"

"I've been better." He shrugged and looked at the menu in front of him. "Have you ordered yet?"

"No, I was waiting for you." She glanced at the menu even though she already knew what she was going to order.

"I'll pay for you." He offered but Hermione just shook her head.

"Thanks for the offer, but I can pay for myself."

"Just like how you can do everything else for yourself, right?" He said, making his ears turn red. Hermione knew he was getting angry now, which caused her to hold back a sigh.

"No, just because it's my meal and I'm the one eating it. I have to money so I can pay for what's mine. Or is that wrong of me?" She kept her cool, as she looked him in the eye.

"I guess not." He muttered, closing the menu sharply.

"Are you two ready to order?" A waitress asked.

"I would like a turkey sandwich, please." Hermione said, handing her the menu.

"I would like a ham sandwich and a coke." Ron said quietly, handing over his menu. The waitress wrote it down and left promptly.

The awkward couple sat in silence as Ron ran his fingers through his hair and Hermione sipped at her water she had received earlier.

"Look, Hermione," Ron began to say. "I'm sorry for everything I said at that Ball thing. It was wrong of me and I was quite intoxicated and I didn't really mean it. I do love you and I would want us to get back together in a heartbeat."

She smiled softly at the redhead in front of her and placed her hand over his to give it a gentle squeeze.

"Ronald, thank you for apologizing, but I know that our relationship was on the rocks. We are both at a crossroad in our life and I think it's best if we don't be together. We've been together for about two years now and we've been best friends for about nine. It's been great, but we should see what's out there beyond just us, don't you think? If we are meant to be together, then we will find ourselves together. But right now, I can't say I would put my all into it if we did… Do you?"

Hermione looked into his brown eyes as he took what she said into account.

"Yeah… Yeah I suppose you're right." He sighed, resting his head on his hand. "I guess it just felt right to be together because maybe that's what everyone expected. I feel like I'm losing you, though. Not as a lover, but as a friend. You've been my best mate first and I don't want us to not be mates. Err… Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes, I do. I want us to stay friends too." She smiled at him, which he returned with his goofy one. The waitress returned with their sandwiches and Ron's coke and they ate in a comfortable silence.

Hermione was dreading this meeting, but she is glad it happened. It lifted a relief from her shoulders and she found herself not being quite as mad at Ron anymore.

"So, Harry said you're staying at Draco's place?" Ron asked, casually but Hermione knew he was just trying to get a feel for their relationship to each other.

"I just rent a room from him. We're only friends."

"Oh, oh I see…"

"Yes. Who was that blonde you were with at Blaise's party? She looks familiar." Hermione asked making Ron blush all over.

"Ah, that was Daphne Greengrass." He mumbled, making Hermione smirk.

"Daphne? I haven't seen her in awhile. She looks different."

"Yeah, but she still looks the same at the same time."

"I feel like her nose is a little more… centered." Hermione stated making Ron's eyes widen.

"You're right… Bloody hell, how do you think that is?" Ron scratched his head trying to remember what she looked like then and now.

"She got a nose job, Ron, that's how." Hermione gave him a pointed look as she sipped her water. He choked on the huge bite he just took and he looked at her like she was brilliant.

"Merlin, you're right!" He exclaimed.

"Of course I'm right!" Hermione rolled her eyes but she still let out a laugh. "I didn't think she was the type of person to actually get one done, though."

"Well her family has the money. The Greengrass family is one of the richest pureblood families out there." He commented, taking out pickles and handing them to Hermione – she was quite fond of them.

"That's no surprise. It's so humiliating though. Why would you want to change the way you look?"

"Says the girl who had Pomfrey fix her teeth." Ron coughed making Hermione blush at her hypocrisy.

"It was just a tiny bit. I've never regretted that decision and I probably never will." She stuck her tongue out at him and made him laugh.

"I know, I know. I'm just saying that sometimes people feel better if they tweak something. Like when Percy experimented with that mustache." Ron and Hermione both scrunched their noses at the memory of that and they laughed it off.

"He looked so ridiculous. I'm glad you and George were able to talk him into shaving it." Hermione said and Ron suddenly became quiet. "You… You did talk to him about it… Right?"

"I might have said a few words about it…"

"Ronald…"

"With a wand in my hand and pointing towards him while he was sleeping and George held him down. Who cares! Mum praising his 'handsomely shaven' face made him not question anyone about it and that's all that matters." Ron smirked wickedly as Hermione rolled her eyes.

"That's still wrong. Poor Percy has to put up with so much."

"He deserves it for turning against us for a couple years. Poor mum was in agony that he wouldn't even look at her." Ron sneered into his practically gone sandwich and Hermione took what he said into consideration.

"Yes, I suppose that's right. But still, maybe if you guys weren't so hard on him he would have been a little more faithful to his family." She reprimanded which caused him to roll his eyes. It was comical to watch, since his cheeks were stuffed with his sandwich. She watched as he swallowed it up and drank the rest of his soda. He looked at her sandwich with longing eyes and she gave him her uneaten half.

"Nothing has changed." She smiled as he took it from her.

"This is why I lov- I mean. Thanks." He blushed, almost forgetting they weren't in a relationship anymore. She just nodded in return, causing an awkward silence around them. The waitress brought the bill and Hermione took out enough for her portion.

"I think that should be enough." She said after awhile and he nodded. "I should get going now. I'm going to see my parents today."

"Yeah. Okay. I'll see you… Some time." Ron spoke cautiously.

"Ginny invited me over to lunch this Saturday for lunch at the Burrow. You'll see me there." She reassured him with a smile that everything was okay. With a small wave she said goodbye and felt the awkward clutch of her heart.

Even though she talked to Ron, she knew things were always going to be wrinkled between them.

Hermione left the diner and found herself walking aimlessly. She didn't have to be at her parent's house until dinner and that was in a few hours.

She was thinking of what to tell her parents and she knew how they wouldn't accept a magical book that was helping her decide what to do with her life…

Wait, magical book.

She rummaged her purse and found the book humming with magic, having completely forgot it over the past couple days due to the events going on. She opened it up to the new step:

Step Three: As you walk aimlessly on January 2nd, you should make your way down to the first café you see. There will be someone there who is need of your advice.

Hermione stared at the entry with confusion written all over her face.

She started walking forward with caution, looking at the buildings to her left. She read the signs, but no cafes to be seen.

After ten minutes, she was about give up before she saw a small sign with a coffee cup on it.

'That must be it.' Hermione thought as she made her way to the small shop.

The bell rang as she stepped inside and the smell of coffee warmed her up. As she took off her scarf, she noticed she did know someone there.

In the corner of the café was Parvarti Patil, crying quietly over what seemed to be a cup of tea. Hermone felt uncertain about approaching her old classmate, but the book said she was there to give someone advice.

She made her way to Parvarti until she was standing next to the table.

"Got room for one more?" She said nervously. Parvarti looked up at her through her tear-streaked eyelashes and after taking a moment to realize who she was looking at, her dark brown eyes shot open.

"Hermione!" She exclaimed, wiping her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I was walking and wanted to get some coffee and that's when I noticed you were here." Hermione said, sitting down across from her. Parvarti looked skinnier and sullen since she last saw her. She figured this had something to do with losing her best friend, Lavender, during the war.

"Oh, I see." She replied meekly.

"Do you-do you want to talk about what's wrong?" Hermione asked. Parvarti looked at her before tears began fell down her face.

"I'm pregnant." She cried out, placing her grieving face in her hands.

"Parvarti, that's wonderful news!" Hermione exclaimed, even though she was quite shocked. Parvarti looked up at her with her red eyes and shook her head.

"No, it's not! I'm too young to be a mum! My parents are going to kill me." She moaned. Hermione felt guilty about how terrible she was feeling. She didn't even think about how worse it could be and here she was in front of her crying classmate.

"Yes, it is. A baby is a wonderful thing. May I ask who the father is?"

"An-Anthony Goldstein."

"Anthony?" Hermione said, eyes wide open. "How did this even… You know."

"Padma introduced us. I mean he was always just a friend to me. I never even had a romantic thought towards him. Until one day he brought over a bottle of firewhiskey and I was alone in Padma and mine's apartment… One thing led to another and I barely remember what happened. I can't fucking believe I'm pregnant." Padma cried out, heaving her shoulders.

Hermione went to the other side of the booth to hug to poor girl and tried to think of what she could do.

"Have you thought about the options?" Hermione said, uncomfortable she was even bringing it up.

"Options? What options?" Parvarti asked through her tears.

"Well," Hermione felt uncomfortable. "You can always keep the baby or… not keep the baby in the muggle world."

"Oh… No, I… I can't do that. I want this baby." Parvarti spoke softly. She stopped crying and then looked at her tea before grabbing the mug and chugging down every last drop she could. Hermione gaped as she did this and watched as she looked inside the cup.

Hermione realized she was reading the tealeaves and forced herself to hold back from rolling her eyes.

"I see a sun and a moon. What do you think that means?"

"I think it means your tealeaves were able to make two circles." Hermione stated and Parvarti frowned.

"I forgot about your little fiasco in Divination. I should owl Professor Trelawney once I get the chance." Parvarti put the cup down and sighed.

"Will you be okay?" Hermione asked and watched as the witch shrugged.

"I suppose a baby is going to be my New Years Resolution." She smiled at the thought and looked towards Hermione. "What should I do now?"

"Maybe you should tell Padma and your parents first, since family will always be there for you no matter what. Then tell Anthony. He definitely needs to know. Do expect to get married?"

"I didn't even think about that." Parvarti muttered, her mind going over all of these things and what decisions she's was going to have to make.

"You'll make it. Don't be afraid to owl me. I don't really have anything better to do." Hermione smiled and Parvarti hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, Hermione. It's so strange that you decided to come into this café! Almost like fate." She grinned. Hermione felt the book hum through her bag and decided that fate was definitely magical.

A/N: Blaaaah. I've been getting busy and I'm trying to build up this story but it's proving to be quite difficult! I love Ron so much, I could never make him and Hermione hate each other and I honestly don't believe they would hate each other over something like that. Ron is more understanding than that! He's not some bomb of anger and hate, he's a big sweetie who loves to eat. Plus, I've always been a softie for him since he was my first sexual fantasy.

Sorry there's not much, but it's something! I didn't want to keep you guys waiting any longer.

Also, thanks for all the follows, reviews and stuff! It makes me wanna cry with happiness!

Much love! ~SunflowerHikari