Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N - What's up, all? This is just your friendly neighborhood Hopeful Writer with Chapter 4 of Tomorrow's Pain. Ron just told Hermione the whole secret with Seamus, but she doesn't believe him. Or does she? Now she's about to confront Seamus. What will he say?

Shout outs to Dreamer4, Dark Gamer, Light Gamer, EeyoreP, Knight, SaturnsChild, EvilTenchi, PhoenixChild, Wolfie, TogetherAgain, AAUK, Arylwren, SC, Blackout12, Phire Phoenix, Fallen angel of Hope, Immia, AlexPG13, and shadow2k. Special dedication to Ashes for inspiration.

"..." means someone is speaking, -...- means someone is thinking, ... means a flashback, *...* means the word is emphasized.

Tomorrow's Pain

By: Hopeful Writer

Chapter 4: Resolutions

"Seamus?" Hermione and Seamus were in the Great Hall, the only ones left. It was five days after Ginny had died, and Ron and Hermione hadn't spoken since. For the first two days, Ron wouldn't even go to his classes; he felt too sick with grief over his little sister. Finally Professor McGonagall had forced him to get up and get back to normal. He had gotten better. He would fool around with Harry again and twice he had started laughing at a joke. But he wouldn't make eye contact with Hermione and he most certainly would speak to her.

Now the words Ron had one said were catching up to Hermione. She desperately wanted Seamus to deny them, so she casually brought them up to him one afternoon after lunch. "What's up, Hermione?"

In a heartbeat, Hermione poured out the story Ron had told her. "Is it true?" she asked, begging him to say no. But Seamus remained silent, pushing the remaining food around his plate. Hermione suddenly felt sick. "You lied to me," she whispered bitterly, her voice cold. She slapped his across the face and ran from the Great Hall, tears pouring down her cheeks shamelessly.

It was a beautiful day outside of Hogwarts, so, of course, everyone was outside. Except one person that Hermione did not want to see at the moment: Ron. "What's the matter?" he asked immediately, forgetting about his silent treatment.

"Why do you care?" she demanded, trying to push past him and up to her dorm.

"Because I do," he replied stoutly. "What happened? Did Seamus do something to you?" Ron didn't say that because he didn't like Seamus. He said it because he had the gut feeling he was right.

-Why does he know me so well?- Hermione wondered silently. She didn't answer him, but that was answer enough for Ron. "That bugger," he muttered angrily. "I'll kick his sorry butt when he gets back here if he hurt you one bit, Hermione."

Hermione didn't say anything. Instead, she bit Ron's wrist hard enough to make him let go and then sped away for her dorm. Ron let her go, nursing his wound and shaking his head. -That woman is going to be the death of me.-

Suddenly the portrait hole opened and Seamus hopped in. "Ron, just the person I wanted to see," he spat scornfully. "Why'd you tell her?"

"Because you wouldn't."

Seamus swore at him and swung a punch that connected solidly with the side of Ron's head. What started as just that, erupted into an all-out brawl between the two boys, until both were rendered unconscious.

Ron slowly woke up about four days later. It wasn't like in the movies where their eyelids flutter open and they see a bunch of faces. His eyelids felt heavy while the rest of his body was so weak. As he slowly separated them, he was barely able to make out some blurs that eventually registered as the worried faces of Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore. "You're awake. Good," the headmaster said, peering at Ron with his crystal blue eyes.

"How long was I asleep?" the boy mumbled weakly.

"Four days," the nurse called, bustling around to give him some pain killer. "You and that sandy-haired boy took a piece out of each other."

"How is he?"

"He's fine. Just woke up about a half hour ago. Nasty black eye, though."

"I'm peachy, Weasley," Seamus called from a nearby bed. Ron noted the way Seamus addressed him with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"I must go tend to things around the castle," Professor Dumbledore told them, eager to leave the tense environment. "Good day, boys, Madam Pomfrey."

Madam Pomfrey slipped to the back to check on a few things and the boys were alone. "I'm sorry, Seamus," Ron apologized, remembering what had happened when he hadn't apologized to Ginny right away. "I didn't mean to tell Hermione. It was the night Ginny died and I just got upset that she was blowing me off to go with you. Besides, uh, I kinda, uh," cough, "like Hermione."

Seamus was silent a moment. Then he laughed. "You idiot. Why didn't you tell me that to begin with? Then we wouldn't be in this position and you and Hermione would still be speaking. Besides, I was gonna break things off with Hermione soon anyway. It just wasn't working out, but I didn't want to hurt her, like I wound up doing, so I was trying to let her down easily."

"Oh, really?" Ron and Seamus looked up from their beds to see Hermione leaning on the door post, her eyebrows raised in amusement.

"How much of that did you hear?" Ron demanded.

"Just what Seamus said. Was there something more I should know?"

"No," the redhead replied quickly, before Seamus could open his mouth.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," the sandy-haired child said, lowering his eyes to the bed sheet. "I was gonna tell you soon, really. And I didn't want to lie to you either. I just... didn't know how to tell you myself, and Ron is really good at saying stuff."

"I'm sure you would have done fine, Seamus. Oh, and Lavender sends her love."

"What?" Seamus couldn't decide whether he was more shocked or outraged by this.

"Here." Hermione thrust a handmade card at him and gave him a moment to read it. "So I would have probably broken it off with you soon, too."

"Thanks," Seamus replied. "I think."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Two days later, Ron and Seamus were released from the hospital wing. Hermione had visited them several more times, but she and Ron were still barely on speaking terms. She was mad at him, obviously. Finally, Harry got fed up. He dragged them both up to the boy's dorm and shoved them in. "I'm locking you guys in here until you work out your differences and start talking to each other again. I hate being in the middle of your fighting!" With that, he slammed the door and held it shut. He pressed his ear to it and waited for them to begin talking.

Ron didn't know what to do. At last, he exclaimed, "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to lie to you. I promised Seamus I wouldn't say anything, and besides, I didn't want you to get mad at him for asking for help. And about blowing up at you. Um, that was an accident. Things were piling up and I just... couldn't... take... it... anymore." With that gasped statement, Ron broke down into tears. The week's events suddenly took their toll on the poor boy and he lost control.

"Oh, Ron, don't cry," Hermione whispered.

He was sniffling back the tears as best he could. "You're the only one who's ever seen me cry, besides my family," he mumbled. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be burdening you with this. You've got enough on your plate without me adding to it."

To his surprise, though, Hermione reached over and hugged him close. "Ron, you're not a burden. You're my best friend and I'd never let you deal with this stress alone. I just have to ask, did you really say that I was beautiful?"

Ron's face turned an illuminated scarlet. "No! I mean, yes. Well, maybe?"

"Answer the question, Ron."

"Yes," he muttered weakly.

"No one's ever told me that before," she explained in awe.

Ron's head jerked up. "Really?" She nodded. "Well, they should. You're amazingly beautiful. I mean, look, Hermione, what I'm trying to say is—"

"Ron. Shut. Up." Hermione then leaned forward and kissed him. Her lips were soft on his and he shivered with delight. He stomach tumbled like on a big roller coaster and his spine tingled. His palms were sweating, but his fingers felt cold. -If just one kiss can make me feel like this, what else can she do to me?- he wondered, as they separated.

"Wow," he squeaked, his face heating up.

Hermione was blushing, too. "Yeah."

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Um, I really like you," Ron managed, "and I was wondering if you would do me the honor of being my girlfriend."

Hermione stared at him for a moment and Ron's heart sank. Then she smiled. "Of course." She leaned in to kiss him again, and he gladly accepted.

And outside the door, Harry muttered, "And, thus, we start a new chapter of their book. From killing to kissing."

A/N - The end! I hope you enjoyed this lovely little fic. Ashes gave me the idea, so special dedication. Uh, it was also based of Whatever it Takes. Great movie, Shane West and James Franco. Please review. No, it's the other button. On the left. Keep moving the mouse. There you go! §LaTa§ -- hW