Title: Puffs, Huffs, Fears & Tears (1/?).

Author: Jagged Fel.

Category: H/Hr Romance, bit of Angst, Friendship.

Rating: PG-13.

Spoilers: none. But certain lines relate to the rumours about the fifth book- Order of the Phoenix.

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters…just borrowing from J.K.

Summary: A bit of horse-play can have a lot of repercussions for three 15-year old Gryffindors.

(A/N: This takes place sometime during the 5th year, though probably not anytime close to winter.)

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Puffs, Huffs, Fears & Tears

-Chapter Two

That night, as Harry and Hermione crept back into the Gryffindor Common Room after needing to spend more time together, they weren't sure what to expect from Ron. Part of Harry ached for things to be back the way they were before, back when friendships were less complicated and he didn't have to worry about jealous friends and broken hearts. But that would have been before Hermione had kissed him…and changed his life.

As they climbed through the portrait hole, hand-in-hand the last thing they expected to see was Ron waiting for them. But he was. And judging by the way he had stormed off during their last encounter, Harry expected him to curse them on sight, but all he did was stand there. Harry sighed inwardly. He knew he'd have to face him sooner or later, and he just hoped sooner was the better alternative.

"Hermione, could you excuse us for a minute?"

She nodded immediately, crossing her fingers, praying for a non-violent confrontation between the two of them. After all, she thought to herself as she moved up the stairs, she had however unintentionally, started this whole thing, and for that, she felt rather guilty.

Ron watched Hermione go, regret evident in his expression. He took a deep breath and let it out, before he faced Harry again, "I always knew she'd choose you… You're the smarter one, the braver one, the one who's actually worth something…"

"Ron—"

"No, Harry. I don't want to hear it. You're the one who had the courage to show your true feelings and…you deserve her. I'm the coward here…Is she listening to this?"

"No." Hermione's strangled reply floated down the stairs.

"Right."

Harry could not help but admire the strength it must have taken Ron to say all of that. Pour out all his feelings in a single moment. He may say that he had no courage, but when it came to matters of friendship, Ron was a true Gryffindor. And a true friend.

He didn't know how long they both stood there, silently contemplating their tangled relationships, which were just beginning to sort themselves out. As he watched Ron fidget uncomfortably with a hole in his robes, Harry's face broke into a true grin, all anxiety and doubt washed away. The walls of jealousy were batted down once again as Ron smiled back and couldn't help but laugh at the simplicity of it all. Harry joined in and didn't even notice Hermione who was perched on the top stair, furiously wiping away stray tears, yet looking as though this was the happiest day of her life.

All it had taken was an apology, a new understanding and a laugh (a single cry of mirth) to unlock one of life's simplest treasures and a human being's greatest gift. Hermione shook her head. She could spend all eternity in the library but she knew the answer already lay in her heart – Friendship.

~THE END~