Ron was looking at him funny. "What is it?"
Harry grinned and shook his had. "What is what?"
Ron peered into Harry's emerald eyes. "Something's happened."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
It was a month after the wedding, and Harry had come to visit Hermione and Ron in their new home. And, Harry reminded himself, it had been two glorious weeks spent with Brie. They'd been on half-a-dozen dates, and Harry had loved every minute of it. He had not, however, told anyone about Brie.
"Hermione," Ron said when his wife entered. "Doesn't Harry look different to you? He won't tell me what's happened."
Hermione set a platter of cheese and crackers in front of the boys, and then peered into Harry's eyes. "It's a girl."
Ron smiled his I-knew-it smile. "Who is she, mate?"
Harry grinned. "Her name is Brie."
Ron raised an eyebrow and held up a wedge from the platter. "Like the cheese?"
Hermione was beaming. "That's wonderful, Harry! Tell us all about her. Does she work with the ministry? Maybe Ron knows her."
Harry shook his head. This was going to be the hard part. "No, she's a pediatrician actually. A…a Muggle pediatrician."
Ron's eyebrows rose once again. "She's not a witch?"
Harry shook his head. Hermione and Ron looked at him for a moment, but then Hermione broke the silence.
"Does she know about…about you? Being a wizard, I mean?"
Again, Harry shook his head. "No. I haven't told her 'cause we're not that serious yet, and-"
"Yet?" said Ron with a sly grin. "Ooo, Harry, you've got it bad for this one."
Harry turned crimson. Not wanting to admit Ron's statement was true, her turned to Hermione. "Do you think I should tell her?"
"Well, it's going to be quite a shock. At least, it was when my parents and I told my relatives about me. I'm not saying you should tell her now. Just don't let it go too long, you know? Honesty is the basis of a strong relationship." She smiled at Harry. "But I'm sure she'll be very understanding. You tend to be an excellent judge of character."
"Yeah!" said Ron in a muffled voice, his mouth full of cheese and crackers. "After all, you picked me to be your best chum!"
Harry laughed harder than he had with his friends in a long time. He loved the effect Brie was having on him. He was happy, really happy, for the first time in a long time. In fact, he could never remember being this happy.
And honestly, he didn't want to loose the feeling. His greatest fear was that if he confessed his true identity, and told Brie of the wizarding world, he would scare her away. But maybe Hermione was right. Maybe honesty was the way to go. He'd tell her soon.
If only he could find the courage.