HERMIONE'S JOURNEY
''I guess you'll be back soon'' said the boy who was next to her as a question, he was lying on the bed where Hermione had scattered all the belongings that she would take with her for the trip.
Still distracted, packing her things and making sure everything was in her little bag, Hermione answered distantly.
"In four monthsMaximum" She answered still distracted, without paying much attention to her answer, because she was concentrating, trying to make sure she didn't forget anything of importance. She was already stuffing the last of her items into her little bag, the expandable charm on it making it extremely handy.
"But you will send me owls, right?" asked the boy, his ocher hair, somewhat long, partially covering his face. At first, Hermione had found that somewhat attractive in him, but it was somewhat annoying that repetitive movement of his hand to remove him from her eyes.
"When I have time" Hermione clarified, rolling her eyes as she realized that she was missing the little vial of dittany she always carried with her, it was something she carried more out of precaution than necessity, but being prepared was something she had carried since the war and that made her feel safe. So, he put down his suitcase and went downstairs to her little lab.
It was easy to know where it was, anyone else would have been confused by so many little bottles, they all looked identical to each other and with so much work that goes into preparing a trip, Hermione hadn't had time to properly label the vials containing the potions that filled the wall. from his makeshift lab in the studio. Fortunately for her, it was extremely easy to recognize the content of each of the vials with a simple glance. After defeating Voldemort and everything that had happened during her months as a fugitive, she realized the immense amount of knowledge that she needed to acquire, which is why she approached professor Slughorn and had studied some extra potions courses with him. The old master, not to mention the benefit he got from the Half-Blood Prince's old book.
Once she had the bottle of dittany, she retraced her steps to where her little bag and her boyfriend were. But only his belongings were found in the room, there was no trace of Ethan anywhere.
At times like these Hermione wondered what she was doing sharing her life with a guy like that, they had only been together for a few months, but Hermione didn't feel that whatever it was between them would work, although Hermione found it physically attractive, the attraction did not go beyond that. There were no feelings involved, at least not on her part.
He looked around again to make sure one last time that he wasn't leaving anything he was going to need in Germany, he was going to be there on ministry business. Although Voldemort's reign of terror had ended years ago and she and those she loved had been able to live in relative calm since Harry had succeeded in killing that snake-faced maniac, what he and his followers had done for decades left remnants all over the world. the wizarding community in Europe and now it was the job of the survivors to clean up the messes the dark lord's passing had left behind.
Suddenly his gaze was caught by a particular corner of his room, where there were hundreds of things, neatly arranged. Of course, most of these objects were books, it wouldn't be her room otherwise, but she also had many photographs. They were images of herself, which her mother had decided to place there with great affection, of her family, of trips she had made, some of Hogwarts and with her classmates.
He fondly remembered how after the war, with the help of Harry and Ron, they had managed to restore their memories to their parents and they had decided to return home to London. He had been so happy to find them okay and to have been able to restore their memory. At first they were a little upset, but Harry defended her and thanked them for raising such a brave daughter with such good values, thanks to whom he and many people had survived. Her shocked parents hugged her tightly, giving thanks to whatever superior strength Hermione had made it as well.
He walked over to the small shelf where three framed photos stood. The three of them moved at a slow, calm pace. Each one was very special to Hermione.
In the first, there were three little children, happy and waving at the camera, completely unaware of what fate had in store for them just before boarding the train that would take them home, after finishing their first year.
She denied amused when she saw her front teeth come out a little from her mouth and as they called giving her face a funny look, for a long time that made her feel self-conscious, until the fourth year when she had the opportunity to reduce them with magic after being attacked by that Malfoy's brat, she used to joke with Harry by telling him that this was one of the "few" benefits she had gotten from being friends with "The Chosen One" but they both knew that even without the reduction of her front teeth, she would go through everything she went through being his friend.
In the second photograph, a more serious teenage Hermione posed with a larger and more varied group of students, all wearing their uniforms and holding their wands. they were in the room of requirement after one of Dumbledore's Army lessons and their serious and formal expressions indicated the seriousness with which everyone took the training they received there, everyone there was aware of how dangerous it was to belong to that group and at the same time how important and useful it could become. The image had been taken by his dear friend Colin Creevey, who had died in the famous battle of Hogwarts, which is why the photograph was so important.
The last one and without a doubt the most important one as well, compared to the previous ones, showed an eighteen year old Hermione, crossing the small space that separated her from a smiling Harry Potter who was waiting for her with open arms. In the photo it was even appreciated how he was preparing to receive the impact of her friend's body colliding with his. In a show of gallantry and driven by the joy of seeing her after some time, Harry wrapped his arms around his best friend and lifted her off the floor spinning with her. They didn't seem to care that all of Hogwarts was watching them attentively, with undisguised looks, some of envy, others thinking that what everyone had come to see was finally happening, however the magic of the moment was broken when Harry lost his balance a little and ended up almost crushing Cormac McLaggen. Finally they both hugged each other with emotion and laughed due to the disaster they almost caused.
Hermione still remembered the day that photograph had been taken, as if it were yesterday, it had been particularly meaningful to her. It was their first meeting since she decided to return to Hogwarts to finish her studies and present her NEWTS. Harry and Ron had no heart to return and for the first time in 8 years, Hermione spent months without them around, clearly, she misses them very much, much more than she imagined, but of course you do not go to hell and back with someone without that happening.
The first to visit her at Hogwarts had been Ron on the first outing to Hogsmeade, where he had presented her with a belated birthday present. A beautiful autographed first edition of "The Hogwarts Story" by the late Bathilda Bagshot, accompanied by a cute leather bookmark, with some owl feathers tied at one end.
"It's from Harry and me" Ron explained with red ears, Hermione didn't know if from cold or embarrassment.
"You two shouldn't have" she replied without much conviction because it was her favorite book, besides the first edition and autographed! "The book must have cost them a fortune".
"Actually, the book was in the old Potter house library, I only bought the bookmark".
However, Harry didn't show up until after the Christmas holidays, which made Hermione quite disappointed after such a gift, as well as making her extremely worried, the last time she saw him was a week after the war, and although they sent each other letters often, he kept saying he needed time alone and in none did he mention visiting his parents' house. Hermione longed to see him again, but she was determined to give him his space, after all, she had earned it and it was something they all needed.
And in that exact photo, taken one day in late January, when he finally arrived, he appeared with a group of aurors at the door of the great hall. A little taller (or maybe that was how she saw him), with the healthiest look she had ever seen him. Hermione smiled to herself, the moment fully vivid in her mind.
****Flash Back****
The great hall had fallen into absolute silence, before the sudden arrival of the group of magicians and some witches with black and impressive suits. But Hermione didn't care at all when she saw the wizard who was at the head of the group, none other than Harry James Potter himself. And she rushed towards him running as fast as her legs would allow and she still remembered the words he had said to her as they hugged.
"I missed you so much" Hermione told him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
"I'll always come back" her Harry answered, pulling her a little closer to him.
"I loved the Book" was the next thing out of her mouth.
"I imagined It" this time his answer came with some playful petulance which made them both laugh heartily. It had been one of the best days of his life, because he had seen his best friend again.
******** End of Flashback ********
Still smiling a little wistfully at the photograph, she thought that it would be a good idea to take that photograph with her to Germany, because although she would return in a few months and see everyone, she would return to Harry, just as they had promised that day, that photo it would give her the necessary strength to resist the time away from her friend, remembering that on her return Harry would give her that same hug when he saw her again.
He tucked it under his arm and as he walked around the bed looking for his bag to put the painting and the dictame bottle inside, to finish packing and with that at last being fully prepared to travel, Ethan re-entered the room, pushing the door half open, opened so hard that the doorknob lightly hit the wall. This made Hermione jump and she turned to see him with a frown, but Ethan was very upset with his arms crossed and walked past her until he was standing in front of the window with his gaze lost outside.
Surprised by the sudden change in mood and behavior of her boyfriend, Hermione approached sighing heavily, because Ethan used to have very bad manners when he was angry.
"Something happens?" she asked in a calm voice, but Ethan's eyes were fixed on the glass when he answered.
"If something happens to me?" Ethan hissed back, which only highlighted the anger in his voice. "Great moment to remember that I exist!".
"Realize that you exist?" Hermione replied angrily, the last few days they had spent together in view of his imminent departure and she finished with scathing sarcasm, "I always knew, for some reason. Unless I've been dating another Ethan all these months!" Could you explain to me what all this is about? Merlín!"
Ethan's eyes finally settled on her in disbelief. Okay, she admitted that they didn't have the smoothest relationship in the world, but she didn't understand this sudden outburst.
"Apparently for you, being together doesn't prevent you from continuing to love him" the blue-eyed man claimed angrily.
Hermione couldn't believe what she had heard, perhaps he was accusing her of something, she crossed her arms in a defiant position inhaling deeply to not let her own anger take control of the situation. She would give him one chance, just one chance to explain his behavior.
"What do you mean by all this, Ethan?" she said with obvious annoyance in her voice and clarified. "be quick, I don't have time for games or silly discussions. I need to get there to take the portkey!".
"Do not think that I did not notice that you carry a photograph of him with you or that I do not know that you would send him owls every day, even if you are full of work. You never give Harry Potter the crumbs of time your precious career leaves you like me. Of course not! Merlin will never allow it! if it's for him, you take time even under the stones if you have to". The last words were shouted furiously, practically spitting out Harry's name bitterly.
Hermione looked at him astonished without saying a single word and her voice gave a slight tremor due to the suppressed anger and to a certain extent to the anxiety, had Ethan noticed? Were her emotions so transparent?
"Harry is my best friend in the world, you can never understand our friendship, I can't just ignore it. We've known each other since we were eleven years old, we were in the war together, we were willing to die for each other, it would be horrible if I didn't..." Hermione started to say, but he cut her off, making her stop talking and step back, when he hit the window frame hard.
"I don't care about anything you guys have done! How you met and created your famously stupid friendship" Ethan said with his face purple with anger "That is already in the past Hermione. The only thing you should do from now on is never see him or talk to him, not while you're with me!".
It took Hermione a moment to process what Ethan had said, as she stared at him ecstatically from her position by the bed, still clutching her bag and her mouth hanging open in shock and outrage. Who did he think he was to give her orders?! her brow began to furrow sharply.
"You're my girlfriend! And with that, I decide who you can date and hang out with!" Ethan said as if he read what she was thinking in his gesture. "and I already said it, I don't want to see you with Harry Potter again!" Ethan stated bluntly.
Offended and unable to believe what she was hearing, Hermione raised an eyebrow in disbelief and asked herself again, what was she doing in that relationship? These fights were more and more constant and each time he proved not to be that charming boy he met at the beginning, this was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Fearless, she was determined to face him, Ethan had once told her that he loved her fierceness, well, he was about to get to know that side of her well.
"Being your girlfriend doesn't give you the right to control me or tell me what I can or can't do!" Hermione exclaimed furiously letting out all those emotions that she had been containing, Ethan had crossed the line of things that she could ignore and had left her far behind and the worst thing was that the idiot didn't seem to realize it, that was clearly why he kept insisting.
"If he does, at least with him!" The boy claimed.
"I have never forbidden you to see anyone, all your friends are welcome here!" She didn't understand why he couldn't see the absurdity of what she was asking of her, she understood even less why she was trying to reason with someone who couldn't hear the incoherence of her own words. "apparently you want to do the opposite with me!".
"Is it so difficult to get away from him? You just shouldn't talk to him or see him and that's it! We will be happy!" He said, trying to stay calm and apparently get some sense into her head, only getting her to repeatedly shake her head, that idea seemed even more absurd.
"Harry needs me and I need him, it's been like this for years. I'm not going to leave him because of your crazy absurd jealousy or your insecurities" she said, her face red with anger.
"He's not an eleven-year-old boy, and neither are you". Ethan said in a desperate tone, as if he had heard that argument hundreds of times. "You're both old enough to take care of yourselves, Merlín! The two of you are heads of important offices in the ministry, and what happens when I need you?".
Ethan took a step forward, one hand gripping her wrists tightly, taking Hermione completely by surprise, for she couldn't retreat or reach for her wand to defend herself. Physically he was bigger, muggle-like she had no way of beating him, he knew that and had taken advantage of her being off guard.
"You don't do the same as with him. Admit it, you would throw yourself from the astronomy tower to follow him" He continued with his protests, as if he had been holding back until this very moment.
"I would do it because I know that Harry would have a real and important reason to do it" snapped Hermione trying to break free from the strong grip he had on her, but it was impossible for her. "unlike you, who would do it because you're not in your five senses, after going out with your friends".
The grip tightened, starting to leave marks on Hermione's wrists. He didn't even deny it!
"I forbid you to insult me!" He exclaimed, clenching his jaw.
"It's not an insult, it's the truth" she whispered defiantly.
"You're in love with him!" It wasn't a question, it was a statement, that left Hermione somewhat perplexed, but before she could say anything, Ethan released her making her fall to the floor with a thud as he began to walk in circles around the room with an air of superiority. "What does he have that I don't?" the boy asked petulantly.
"You're just not him" the girl thought to herself.
"Harry Potter is an orphan. It's overrated in the wizarding world. Everyone falls at their feet like fools" Ethan said, gritting his teeth.
Hermione's face began to turn red with anger, hearing that.
She hated him, she had already put up with him too much, she didn't need him to live, she could support herself and she was sure that she would be happier alone than with this boy, who yelled at her every moment and treated her like a servant, while he never he was at home by always being at "important ministry meetings," though of course these weren't meetings, more like parties.
" ...That's what I don't understand! Being with me you must have all your attention on me! I knew what everyone said was true! That you were in love with him and nothing has changed since then. I wouldn't be surprised if you gave him amortentia to keep him by your side, seeing how smart you are, nothing is impossible for you. If you want to impress me, show me that you don't love him and that you can live without him by your side" her boyfriend settled.
That was enough, she knew that it was not worth staying to discuss such arguments. He did what was best and took her small bag in his hand and with a determined expression, fighting the urge to slap him, pushed him away, causing him to slam against the wall.
She stood in front of him for a moment .
"The next time you go out with someone, remember that the fact that she is your girlfriend, does not mean that she is your servant and that you can control her. And most importantly, be careful and respect what you say" Hermione finished and stormed out of there.
Leaving it still against the wall, she walked out into the street, where a storm was raging that instantly drenched her.
The tears that came out of her eyes mixed with the raindrops that slid down her face. She wasn't crying about breaking up with Ethan, no, actually it was because of what he had said. Because he was right about only one thing. She was still in love with Harry.
She tried to convince herself that what she felt for him since the third year was nothing more than a simple attraction, something of children, but from then on, that feeling towards him never left, it only grew and became stronger with time.
She could feel how her heart broke thousands of times before many things. Harry's first kiss. She had to listen to him and pretend she was happy for him. And Merlin! Yes, she was! But the fact that it had been with Cho Chang changed things a lot.
When Ginny kissed Harry in front of everyone in the common room and became the new Hogwarts couple, again, he put the biggest, most radiant smile on his face and everyone believed her. Everyone believed that Hermione Granger was happy that Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley were dating.
When they broke up, many would have said it was her chance. But Harry never showed romantic interest in her and accepted it, it wasn't easy, it still wasn't when he remembered all that, but she thought that at this point she hid it very well.
Now that Ethan had told her, he only showed her that some could see it and the most painful thing was that she would never become anything more to Harry.
Walking at a fast pace and not knowing where to go, since her parents' house was too far from the ministry, she decided to apparate outside of it. When she arrived, the street was empty due to the storm and the time, since everyone had gone in a few minutes ago to work, so she knew she was late.
She tried to run toward the entrance, accidentally slipping on a puddle of mud in front of her.
Anyone who saw his appearance right now, would believe that he had just gone through an existential crisis a few minutes ago.
He was thankful that everything was empty, including the atrium which was normally jammed. He reached the level where she was to meet the minister for one last talk before her departure, and when she reached the door, she opened it and closed it behind her with a defeated sigh.
What she didn't count on, was his two best friends chatting in there instead of Kingsley.
Seeing her soaking wet, her bun a mess, covered in mud and her eyes bloodshot, they both got up from their seats and ran towards her.
"Hermione, what...?" The redhead asked, scared.
Ron couldn't believe the image he had in front of him, standing there not really knowing what to do .
While Harry, scared too, went to fill a glass with water for her.
"Hermione, are you okay? What happened?" Asked the green-eyed, concerned.
"We thought Ethan was going to accompany you to the Ministry" Harry continued.
Slowly denying, the brunette leaned her head against the door, closing her eyes tiredly.
Harry took her hand and pulled it towards him, he took out his wand ready to dry her with it, but Hermione decided to speak before Harry could take action and dry it.
"We're done" she announced, small tears streaming down her eyes.
Kingsley's office fell silent, but then no one knew which was louder, Hermione's sobs, Ron's yell of anger, or Harry's unconscious banging against the door.
"He's going to die, I will kill him" Harry muttered furiously, taking his wand and ready to walk out of the office.
"We knew that guy wasn't good for you!" Ron denied angrily.
"Everything was going well this morning, until I accidentally didn't pay him enough attention and he got mad" the brunette said between sobs.
"You're not a house elf to follow his orders, Hermione and he knows it, he's done it too many times already" Harry started to walk towards the door.
"He is an idiot, I knew it from the beginning!" Ron exclaimed, annoyed.
"He's at home, right? Hasn't he left with his things yet?" Harry turned to her for a moment.
"Yes, but wait, Harry!" Hermione asked desperately.
Knowing Ethan, she knew what he could do, he could put her down, humiliate her with her two friends or find something to get even with her.
Harry returned to her and with a flick of his wand, Hermione was completely dry, though still a mess.
His expression was rigid with anger. One that not everyone would dare to challenge, being the highest rated auror and the most feared by criminal wizards.
"Harry, please, don't go, it's not worth it, leave it like that, he'll realize his mistake himself and..." she said, but was interrupted by Harry.
"And then he commits it again? Not crazy! He must have what he deserved or at least a good and reasonable excuse to explain it!" said the jet furious.
And with just that, Harry disappeared from the room, followed by Ron.
Desperate, Hermione followed them, appearing in front of the entrance of her house, which was already open.
The screams were already sounding outside the house, so she quickly went inside.
"Do you know what you've done?! You destroyed her! Is that the only thing you know how to do? Use her and then dispose of her as garbage. I'm warning you! Don't go near her until you change your attitude! Well, you'll see that..." Harry let loose, invaded by fury, until he was interrupted by Ethan, who stopped packing his things to answer the questions. protests.
"Stay away from her until I change my attitude? I'm sorry, Potter, but that 'attitude' in me doesn't happen very often. In fact, it all happened because of one thing that was her fault" Ethan answered, with disinterest and turned to see her with hatred.
"Oh yeah?" Ron inched closer to him threateningly.
"What could she have done? Irritate you by telling you to be careful with what you say or with your actions? Well, I'm letting you know that she's absolutely right about that" Harry protested.
Ethan laughed sarcastically despite Harry and Ron's reprimands.
"Then she never told you anything" he murmured, with a terrifying smile.
Hermione was frozen in place. "He wouldn't dare to say it, he wasn't capable of doing it."
"Tell us what?" Harry asked still annoyed.
Ethan laughed again, turning to look at Ron with pity and then at Harry.
"That your dear best friend, my now ex-girlfriend, was, is and always will be in love with you, Potter" Ethan blurted out with hate in his voice.
Panicking, Hermione quickly shook her head, but that did nothing more than make her look like a little girl, denying a prank.
Still not believing it, Harry turned to see her slowly, expecting to see some serious denial or seeing an argument coming, but nothing happened, Hermione was in the doorway of the entrance, drenched again by the rain, trembling slightly, with silent tears camouflaged by the water running down his cheeks, making it clear that what Ethan said was more than true.
"H... Hermione?" Harry asked.
But the girl didn't answer, instead of going into the house, she decided to go out and run away from it.
She had everything set up, she knew where the portkey was, she could talk to Kingsley afterwards...
"Hermione!" Harry yelled, starting to run after her.
She ran faster, she could hear Harry's footsteps behind her, following her.
She walked into the small park next door and was grateful that it had many giant trees, so she hid behind one.
"Hermione! Hermione?" She listened to Harry nearby, looking for her.
She turned around and with a loud snap, disappeared from the place.
In a few seconds she was in front of the portkey, she only had to climb a small hill where there was a sheet of newspaper and she would leave there.
With some relief, but still feeling betrayed, she finished climbing the small mountain, but when she got there, she didn't expect to find Harry already waiting for her, as he and Ron knew where her Portkey would come from.
Instinctively she froze for a moment, but remembering what had happened minutes before at her house, she tried to push past it and get to the paper.
Harry took her arm very carefully, trying to stop her.
"Is that...? What I heard there" he said with difficulty due to the force with which the raindrops fell, Harry's eyes went to the ground. "Is it true?" Asked the jet.
"Harry, I need to go. I'm late, there are seconds left for the portkey to activate" said Hermione, her heart racing and hoping to get out of there as soon as possible.
She carefully released her arm from his grasp and walked a little further, reaching the slightly trembling paper.
The boy turned and walked towards her with a longing expression.
"I just want to know if it's true" He raised his voice a little, because it was too difficult to listen through the sound that the drops of water made against the ground.
Hermione took the portkey.
Ten seconds and she could get out of there, she thought sadly.
But why not tell him? It was true that she wanted the earth to swallow her up right now, but she also didn't want to leave Harry standing in the rain with the question on his mind and without a goodbye.
nine seconds...
What else did it matter? He already knew it anyway.
eight seconds...
"It's true!" she shouted a little, narrowing her eyes to protect them. "Everything Ethan said is totally true. I love you; I've been in love with you since fourth year, but I knew that my place would always be that of your best friend and nothing more" she said with his voice cracking.
seven seconds...
"And probably things would have changed between us if you didn't reciprocate. That's why I decided to keep quiet" she sobbed.
Six seconds ...
She couldn't figure out the expression on Harry's face at the moment. The only thing she could make out of all that mix was surprise and shock.
Five seconds…
"But please, Harry" a small lump formed in her throat at the perplexed look. "I know you don't feel the same and you never did, I accept it and I understand you, but please, don't let this separate us, please, you're my best friend and I don't want to ruin what we have" she asked, with her eyes on the floor.
four seconds...
"Because being your best friend is all I have left to be happy by your side" she finished, sobbing and trembling. She took courage and raised her gaze to meet his, which at that moment was unreadable.
Harry didn't take his eyes off hers wanting to tell her something, but no sound or word came out of his mouth.
Two seconds…
With a sad little smile, Hermione tightened her grip on the Portkey, taking one last look at her best friend, the person she'd always loved.
"Goodbye Harry"
…
After Hermione left, Harry stood very still, frozen in place, feeling the raindrops soaking his clothes, still unable to believe that his best friend had confirmed Ethan's words.
Hermione was in love with him.
But what made the situation more confusing and shocking and left him unable to move, was that she told him that she loved him since her fourth year.
He felt so miserable.
''How many times could he have hurt her, without realizing how she felt about him?''
Remaining in the same state of stupefaction in which he had been for several minutes, he decided that he needed to go to his office, assimilate the situation and above all, have a drink with his best friend.
Harry apparated out of the ministry and headed straight for his office, paying no attention to anything around him.
Arriving at his office, he opened the door, raised his wand, dried his clothes, and realized that his best friend, Ron, was already waiting for him.
Ron's expression wasn't far from Harry's. Like his friend, he was extremely surprised, but the difference was that Ron was not in that state for having found out about Hermione's feelings, on the contrary, he had already known about it for a long time, but he promised her friend not to talk about it, as he knew, it wasn't up to anyone but her whether to tell Harry or not.
Therefore, Ron's expression was largely due to the anger he felt remembering his best friend paralyzed with fear and nerves when her ex-boyfriend, Ethan, revealed her most important secret.
Finding himself in his inevitable state of shock at what had happened moments ago, he walked without paying attention to Ron, or to anything around him, his best friend's words still spinning in her head.
"I love you; I've been in love with you since fourth year, but I knew that my place would always be your best friend and nothing more."
And I could still hear her voice breaking from crying.
When Harry reached the desk, he turned and leaned a little on the furniture, slowly raising his face to fix his green eyes on his best friend, who was already looking at him curiously.
Ron couldn't figure out what was in that look. That was very easy for Hermione, but not for him. He knew of course that Harry was scared and still hadn't fully assimilated the situation, but he didn't fully understand what his best friend was feeling after a revelation like that.
"Did you know?" Harry asked. His expression was softer, but still full of disbelief, he was surprised to see his best friend nod slowly to his bewilderment.
"Since when?! Why didn't you tell me?! Do you know how many times I could have hurt her?!" exclaimed the jet furious, raising his hands to his face.
"Harry, I found out in sixth year, after Ginny kissed you in the common room. Although Hermione seemed happy, I found her crying later on one of the sofas and she ended up telling me. I didn't tell you because she asked me in first place and she also told me that she didn't want to ruin your friendship. You were with my sister and she felt terribly guilty with me, I could only promise to keep her secret. Besides that she told me that if you were happy, she would share your happiness. It's the only thing Hermione has ever wanted, your happiness above all else, even before hers" The redhead clarified.
Not knowing what else to say, Harry heaved a sigh as he flopped into the chair in front of his desk, still in disbelief.
Seeing him so dejected in his chair, Ron hurriedly got a Firewhiskey out of one of the office cupboards and poured it into two half-full glasses, then offered one to the raven, who accepted it absently.
"I also don't want you to seem or think I'm a traitor to her, but Hermione has always been pretty obvious about her feelings. Maybe not for you, but for everyone else around you. Look, Ethan himself knew it, doesn't that tell you something?" Ron remarked as he refilled his friend's glass.
Hearing his best friend's words, Harry realized how true this could be. Although of course, it was never obvious to him, since Hermione never had any problem showing her affection with all her friends. She had always been like that and for that very reason, he never suspected that for her, her displays of affection had a completely different meaning. Although if he tried to remember, she always showed more concern for him than for anyone else. Looking back now, Hermione had been pretty obvious about it.
"Also, I don't know if you've noticed, she has always put you first, it's always you. Hermione has never left you alone and her affection has always been most effusive towards you. Think about it, she never gave me a kiss on the cheek or on the head when I came out of the lake after the second task of the triwizard tournament. Or if? For me it was always just friendly hugs, nothing more" said Ron, sitting down opposite Harry and noticing how he blushed at his accurate words.
"I don't know what I'm going to do, Ron. I appreciate her, yes, and I also need her more than anyone, she is one of the most important people in my life, but... Damn! Is my best friend! I don't want to hurt her or break her heart and risk losing her. I love her as my friend, but I want to think on this and know if I can love her more than just as a friend" Harry said, beginning to sob.
"I don't want to make you feel worse, my friend, but I think her heart is already broken. I also know, and I'm sure you do too, that Hermione is quite a strong woman and she has shown it to both of us, if not, tell me, how has she endured so much by your side? Being your best friend and being in love with you for so many years?" Ron asked cautiously.
At his words, Harry thought about what he said, remembering that when he went out with Cho or was with Ginny, he had seen something in her eyes that he couldn't decipher. She always smiled and then lowered her gaze, trying to hide her discomfort whenever he went out with a girl and she hated now knowing that it was because of her feelings for him and that much of the blame for her mood was due to him. Harry had never liked to see her suffer.
"Of course, now that you know, you're going to want to take care of all your steps. I think when she gets back, you should talk to her" The redhead suggested.
"Hmm... The thing is that she wants to see me or talk to me, taking into account that she will feel embarrassed, I know her. Although she told me that she didn't want discomfort between us, we can't deny that at first there will be. But of course I'll try to talk to her, I'm not willing to lose my best friend" declared the green-eyed man, drinking his fire whiskey in one gulp.
"By the way, when you went after her, I stayed with that asshole, and guess what? He told me that he made her choose earlier, to get away from you and stop talking to you. We already know how it ended and as my little revenge, I left my fist in his face" said the redhead, updating his best friend on everything that had happened later with Ethan.
Harry got up tired, walked around the desk slowly and let out a small sarcastic laugh, remembering Ethan and the anger it caused him to know that idiot had tried to make Hermione look bad. He leaned casually against the desk and stuffed his hands into his pants pockets.
"He's an idiot. He still has to hear what I have to say, don't let him think he's going to get rid of me so easily" Harry said, his jaw clenching in anger.
And so, both friends stayed there for a long time, chatting at length while drinking firewhiskey.
At the end of the day, Harry decided that as soon as he saw Hermione again, he would talk to her and resolve the situation.
We reached the end of the first chapter of this story, I hope you liked it. I appreciate your comments, your favorites and other signs of liking the fic.
Read on soon to see what happens with Harry and Hermione, after this secret that Harry just found out.