Disclaimer: I don't own HP or any of these characters. That belongs to JKR, Scholastic Books, Warner Brothers, etc.
Part II: End
Irresponsible was the least of the words he would used to describe Hermione's threats.
As Harry stormed up the stairs to the Head Girl's room, he wondered once again what could have driven Hermione to write that letter. He knew that she had been greatly affected by her parents' death earlier this year. Who wouldn't be? But how could anything have driven her to willfully destroy the picture-perfect life they were supposed to be living?
His best friends were meant to be together, with all their old arguments forgotten as they came together in love. He was meant to smile favorably upon their relationship and help them weather any storms that might come. In turn, they were to stand with him, presenting a united front against any future threats from the Dark that might come.
Hermione threatened to destroy that all in that one letter.
She claimed she loved him and that he loved her. That was true, to some degree. He loved her more than anyone else he had ever met in his life. He loved her so much that sometimes he forgot to breathe when she was in the same room, he almost wept when she left, and he could hardly restrain himself from kissing her senseless when they once again met.
None of this mattered though. Because he loved her enough to want her happiness above anything else in this world.
And he knew he could not make her happy. The Death Eaters had killed her parents in order to hurt her and so cause him pain. If it were not for him, her life would have been so much better.
And he knew that she did not love him. She claimed that she loved him with all her heart in that letter. But how could you love someone who would only lead you to your doom? His parents had loved him too much--and had died for that love.
He loved her enough not to wish that fate upon her. He would not see her die for an infatuation. That was what her feelings about him had to be--an infatuation and nothing more.
Because if she felt even a tenth of what he did, there was nothing that could keep him from her side. Because if she did truly love him, he could make her so happy and that was all he wanted. He could keep her safe, if he was always at her side, and that would be a promise that would be broken only by his own death. It would be so easy to love and to live.
It had to be an infatuation because there was no way that life could be so easy. Not for Harry Potter.
Hence, he had to stop her, before she made a mistake that she would always regret. She and Ron were meant to be. Everyone knew that--except perhaps for the girl herself.
He did not even pause to knock on the door when it got in his way. She would know that it was him. She always did.
Hermione knew the second he had entered the room.
He was not happy. But then, she had known that he would have taken the letter badly.
Harry cleared his throat to make sure he had her attention. She looked up at the sound and her heart quailed at the expression on his face.
"I suppose you want to talk about it."
"I don't think we have much to talk about."
"No, we don't. You love me. We both know it's true."
Harry sighed. She was not going to make this easy. "Hermione, you have it wrong. I don't love . . ."
"Don't." She held up a hand to stop his words. "I can't make you say the words, but please Harry, have the grace at least not to lie to me. Especially because I'll know the words you say are not true."
Those words set off the explosion that had been waiting to happen ever since he had read that letter.
"You know, I once thought that you were the smartest person of my acquaintance. I am seriously doubting this now! How could you write such things Hermione! You don't love me, you love Ron! How can you deny what everyone knows is true?"
"Just because they say that Ron and I are meant to be does not make it true. The truth is that Ron and I are not well-suited for each other. He forgets about me so often. There are so many times when he doesn't even think of me. And I'm guilty of the same. I don't love him and he doesn't love me. I would just be hurting us both if I continued with the farce. And worse--I'd be hurting you."
"I didn't think that I've ever given you the impression that I wasn't happy about you and Ron."
Hermione tore her eyes away from his, unable to meet his glare any longer. "No," she whispered, "Like I said, you never betray yourself by word or deed. But it's still true. You love me."
Harry knew she wasn't getting the point. She could not do this to them and to the world. He had to make her see the light. Stepping forward, he reached out and took her hands.
"Even if that was true, it still wouldn't matter. You don't love me. You love some image of me that you have up in your head. But that image is not me. You're in love with an idea, Hermione. It's just an infatuation."
"I can't make you say the words, but please have enough respect for me not to make such accusations. I'm not some silly, love-struck girl. I've lived through the hardest of times, along side with you. And I know you. I know you better than you yourself, as you still hide behind the roles that we've been given. We've been together for so long. How could I not know you? And I love you."
"Please Hermione, I'm trying to stop you from making a terrible mistake. Please please believe me when I say that the bond between us is not one of love. Or at least not the type of love that you are talking about. I don't know what you want me to do but . . ."
"I thought that I made that clear in my letter" She raised her eyes and moved her head ever so close to him. "You love me. I want you to say it. I want you to shout it to the rest of the world. I want you to stay with me always and never leave. I want us to grow to know each other more and love each other more with each passing day. I want you to put aside your part and for once, do what you want."
"I can't do that, Hermione. It wouldn't be . . ."
"Right? It would be the most right thing that you've ever done. What could be wrong about being with the one you love?"
"It would hurt so many people. It would devastate our best friend. Our perfect world would be over."
"Our perfect lie would be over. And I hurt so much because I'm not with you. Because I know you're hurting too. So for once in your life Harry, please let it all go. For once, just live."
He bent his head down, out of sorrow. He could not do that. He could not let the story end.
"I can't," he whispered.
He heard her sigh, her lips brushed across his scar. He felt her move, he heard her say a single phrase in his ear.
"Good bye."
Author's note: As always,
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