Yes! Awesome I wrote another chapter!! Four Chapters more and we'll be done...aww.... :(( 7. Six Years Go Down the Drain
Harry woke up next morning with only the memory of his date the previous night with Hermione. Miraculously, nothing had gone wrong. He pulled open the curtains to find Ron waiting for him.
"Hey," he said. Suddenly, he held up his hand.
"Huh?" Harry asked, confused.
"Congrats," he replied. "The best man won."
"Oh no, mate, how did you find out?" Harry said. "I'm . . . I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"That's okay."
"Did Lavender tell you?" Harry asked, thinking of something he can do to get back on Lavender if Ron said yes.
"Uh . . . no, actually. I uh—took a walk down the Quidditch Pitch last night . . ." Ron drifted off.
"Ron . . ."
"Oh come on!" Ron pretended to be overjoyed. "We had a deal, shook on it and did our best. I'm happy for you two. Really."
"Thanks," Harry finally said, shaking his best friend's hand
***
Even though he didn't show it, Ron broke when he saw Hermione. He didn't resist the urge to hug her, she was already Harry's property.
"Ron!" Hermione groaned.
"Just thought I'd say congratulations," he said, fighting back the tears.
"H-how did you find out?" she asked after he finally let go.
"I saw you last night," he explained. It was Hermione's turn to fling her arms around him.
"I'm sorry!" she apologized immediately.
"Apology accepted," Ron said simply. "All I want you two to do is be happy. You don't have to hide now." Ron turned away and walked out of the portrait hole, his hands in his pockets and a sullen expression on his face.
Fortunately, as he was walking to no one knows where, Luna appeared. She read his expression and immediately understood each other.
"Okay, the problem is, I'm in love with her," Ron confided to Luna as they were skipping rocks in the lake, shoes off, trousers rolled up and knee-deep in water. He threw a rock which skipped several times before truly sinking.
"Then tell her," Luna replied in a heartbeat. She threw a stone.
"It's not as easy as that," Ron said with a laugh. "Harry got there first."
"Oh," Luna sighed thoughtfully. "Then, I guess all you can do now is wait."
"But it's so hard," he complained. "They're my best friends. I see them everyday. It hurts too much. And besides, I could get caught easily if I was waiting for them to break up."
"Practice makes perfect, Ron," she said. He smiled. Luna almost always called him Ronald. "You're not the only one who goes through that. And believe me, I've experienced worse.
"Why?"
"I kept waiting for him to ask me out to the Halloween Ball, but I guess he was too depressed to care since the girl he wanted went out with someone else," she said. "At least I got a dance with him. The hurtful part his, I stare after him, and he doesn't know I'm hurting when he tells me about how hurt he is."
"Oh . . ." he flicked another rock that skipped once. Luna's skipped on. "That rock's kinda like me. I only got to first base: the friend stage."
"Don't be so pessimistic," Luna consoled. "If something isn't given to you, something so much better is waiting."
"I hope so . . ." he trailed off, wondering who could be "someone better." "The guy . . . anybody I know? I could kick his arse for you, make him notice you or something."
"I think you know him," Luna allowed. "And thanks for the offer. Really, but I don't need it. I think he'll notice quite soon."
"Mm . . ." Ron said. He glanced at his battered watch, yet another hand-me-down from Fred. "Oh, shoot. Luna, I'm really, really sorry but I have to go."
"That's okay," she replied. Ron pecked Luna on the cheek, surprising her completely.
"Thanks . . . you know, for being my shock absorber. I really needed it.
"No prob," she replied. Ron hurriedly waddled to the shore and put on his shoes. He waved goodbye to Luna.
Luna stood still in the water, contemplating on their conversation. She smiled to herself, knowing that soon (if not now), Ron would realize who the mystery guy was.
"Ron, you're such a stupid prat that it's a wonder I love you," she muttered to herself while shaking her head. She flicked another flat rock and watched it fly until it disappeared.
***
Later in the night, Ron confided in Ginny.
"You're hopeless Ron," she said after he explained the present situation.
"wow, I really needed that, thanks," Ron replied sarcastically.
"Wait, maybe you're not that hopeless," Ginny amended. "Have you told her?"
"Nope," he admitted.
"Then what are you waiting for? Christmas?" she said. "You better tell her. Let her know she has options."
"How's that going to help me?" he asked.
"Once she realizes that Harry's not meant for her, she'll go to you. Options delay any permanent decision."
"Like marriage?"
"You said it, I didn't," Ginny said. "But what you have to do is to make her feel what you feel."
"Huh?"
"You prat, kiss her!"
"I don't think that'll help," Ron said.
"Don't be such a baby," Ginny scolded. "Do you love her? Do you want her? Do you need her?" Ron sat there silently.
"Harry's my best mate," he muttered.
"All's fair in love and war," Ginny quoted, "but sometimes, you can't play fair."
Ron couldn't sleep again that night. Luna's and Ginny's voices ran around in his head. He wasn't sure whose advice he should follow.
Stop thinking about it, he ordered himself. Tomorrow's Saturday. He had a whole day to decide.
***
Ron woke up next morning and immediately began thinking about what he should do.
Enjoy yourself first, Ron scolded himself. He walked outside to the lake, where he met Luna again. Once again they took off their shoes and flicked rocks across the lake.
"I'll tell her today," Ron said proudly to Luna.
"Good," she replied brightly. Deep inside, she felt her heart break. No hope now, she told herself. "Good luck, Ron."
They continued to flick rocks, Luna losing half the interest of doing so.
When Ron entered the Common Room, he found himself alone with Hermione.
"Hey, Ron," she greeted happily.
"Hi," he replied with a feeble smile. He took a deep breath. "Look, do you have a minute or two. I . . . I have to tell you something."
"Sure."
Ron paused to take control of himself. Okay, do this quickly. He took another deep breath.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he laughed to himself.
"Then don't talk if it makes you uncomfortable," Hermione suggested. "You're freaking me out."
"No, I am ready," he reassured. I have to be. "Okay. Here I go.
"I love you."
He waited for her reaction but she just smiled like Ron was her son or something.
"Of course you do. We're best friends, right?"
"No, no, what I said was wrong," he said, waving his hands in the air as if erasing what he said. "What I meant was . . . I'm in-love with you."
Hermione turned sober. They stared at each other for a few moments.
"This . . . this is stupid," she finally said. "I . . . I have to go, Ron." She tried to walk past him, but Ron held her back.
"No, look, I know you don't feel the same way—"
"I love you both," Hermione said, "but I love you only as my best friend! I love Harry, Ron. I thought you understand that?"
"I do," Ron said. "I just want you to know that you have a choice."
"I've already made my choice!" she said, moving a step closer.
"Can't you change your mind?" he asked. "I'll be here, because I know that somewhere in your heart, you love me more than Harry. You're just too wound up in him to notice!"
Hermione stared at him once more. Ron put her hand on his chest, over his heart. The other held her face.
"For once, listen to that tiny part," he pleaded. "Let yourself feel what I feel." He moved her face closer and closer to his . . .
***
Hermione tried sorting her feelings out, but it was too late. Ron's lips pressed on hers. Her lips suddenly had a mind of its own. She loved Harry so much that she couldn't believe she had allowed this. She wanted him to stop, but his lips gave her as much pleasure as Harry's did. For some reason, she liked it and kissed him back.
A few seconds passed, but still he won't give in.
"Ron, stop," she gasped when Ron took a deep breath. His lips found hers again. She waited for the time that he would break free for a while to breathe. She kept a firm grip on her wand and yelled, "Protego!" Ron flew to the other side of the room. But it was still a few seconds too late. When he finally stood up, Harry surged and punched him square on the jaw.
"Harry!" Hermione cried.
"And I thought you were my best friend," Harry snarled. Hermione was crying behind him. "If I didn't know that it would hurt her, I could just kill you right now. How dare you do that to her?"
Ron was speechless. He stayed there, his lip bleeding. Harry towed Hermione away.
The protrait swung shut and Ron began crying and beating himself. He'd been so stupid to do that.
At this point, Hermione is not sure of herself.
Now, only one thing is for sure.
The friendship they had built for a long, long time is slowly gaining speed as it tears apart.
You probably hate me now for doing this to Ron. I know, I know. I just had to okay? Please forgive me!!!!!!
