Chapter Six: Murder, She Said

Disclaimer: HAHAHAH! Do I even need this? I mean if you think I own anything… you're crazy! (But it's okay, I'm crazy too! =)

A/N: Who should it be? The question still stands! Harry… or Ron? I've gotten 3 responses to this matter and they point to Harry. Well, you'll just have to read this chapter and decide again ok? (Hint: Give Ron a chance too). Remember to tell me what you think via review or email. Thanks. As the reader, your opinion matters a LOT to me!

'Another thankless day of work,' thought Hermione. She began to wonder how she ever got all those things done in one day before her holiday. 'Man, why did I take that week off? I can't believe how much catching up I have to do! I'll have to work twice as hard as I did before, and that's not even humanly possible!'

"Hermione? You okay in there?" asked someone outside her office.

Hermione, who was sitting at her office desk, complaining to herself after finishing her notes on the cases, looked up to find one of her colleagues, Bryan, by the door poking his head in.

"Fine, just perfectly fine," said Hermione, somewhat sarcastically.

"Good." Hermione stared at him. Bryan cleared his throat. "Anyway, do you still have any problems with your letters? I mean, your fan mail?" asked Bryan.

"Well, it's a pain but I'm ok with it. Thanks by the way. You must have had a hard time explaining the explosions in my office. I'm so glad you're here. Nice to have another wizard in the place."

"Oh, no problem. All I did was lock the door and put a soundproof charm on your office. I made sure no one needed to go in your office, which wasn't hard because everyone knows how prissy you get when someone touches your stuff."

"I do not get prissy! I just don't understand why people take things without asking, and not putting them where they found it after they use it. It's impolite and annoying."

"You're just prissy." At this point, Hermione shot Bryan a deadly glare. "Did I say prissy?" said Bryan quickly. Hermione maintained the 'glare'. Bryan cleared his throat again and changed the subject.

Ahem. "So, are you really going out with Harry Potter? Or have you guys broken up?" asked Bryan.

"Well, Harry is a really good friend of mine."

"I think you guys look great together." Hermione blushed. "You guys have been friends for a while right?"

"Yeah. Since first year at Hogwarts," replied Hermione.

"Wow. Did you guys date at Hogwarts too?"

"Bryan, I never said Harry and I are dating. Anyway, during our years at Hogwarts, I was dating someone else."

"I see. So are you and Harry dating now?"

"I'm not sure. Why are you so interested anyway?"

Suddenly, Bryan turned a bright red. "Well, actually, I wanted to, umm, ask you out for dinner?" said Bryan, with a nervous grin.

Hermione didn't answer. This was the first time in seven years that she ever got asked out. (Harry was different, they went out as friends, or at first anyway.) Suddenly, images of her "dates" with Harry flooded her mind. She had so much fun. Harry was a great guy to be around with. Then, there was Ron. Their dates back at Hogwarts were a lot of fun too. Of course the recent encounter with Ron was fresh in her mind. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she forgot Bryan was there, still waiting for her answer.

"Umm, Hermione? Hello? Earth to Hermione!" cried Bryan, waving his hand in front of her face.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Bryan. I'm just… not ready to date yet. I have a few problems I still have to sort out. Umm, thanks for asking though. I wouldn't mind going with you as a friend if you can't find anyone."

"Well, don't worry about me. I'm sure Emi would love to go with me. See you later Hermione," said Bryan, with a slight bitterness in his tone.

'I guess he doesn't get turned down often. He's nice and handsome, but his ego is way too big,' thought Hermione. With another sigh, Hermione got her suitcase and prepared to go home. When she reached the door with her hand on the handle, she turned her head quickly to make sure everything was in order. Suddenly, the door jerked open.

"Ron! I… I didn't expect to see you so soon. I… well… I just thought… I," said Hermione, all too quickly.

"Hermione, I need to talk to you."

"Ah… okay. I'm listening."

"Umm, you want to go somewhere to get a drink first?"

"Sure. Umm, you know what? Come in and we'll go to the Leaky Cauldron."

"Ok."

Hermione quickly locked the door and apparated to the Leaky Cauldron with Ron. They found seat at the corner and ordered their drinks.

"Ok. The thing is, I talked to Harry today and he said that you guys aren't really going out and I got my facts all mixed up. Is that right Hermione? Is this true?"

Hermione looked at Ron. She honestly didn't know what the answer was but since Harry said they weren't, then she could only guess that they weren't.

"Yes Ron, it's true."

A look a relief could be seen on Ron's face. He was absolutely glowing. He grabbed Hermione's hand.

"Good! The thing is Hermione, I've loved you all along and I never did stop loving you. I tried because I thought you'll never forgive me but it didn't work! I've been miserable without you Hermione. I'm sorry for what I did earlier and whatever I did wrong but I really am sorry. I love you Hermione, please believe that I do." Ron was blushing a bit but nonetheless happy that he said all that he wanted to say. He patiently waited for Hermione's response, while holding her hand.

Hermione was lost at sea. She had no idea that Ron loved her all these years and she was miserable because she thought he wasn't. However, what confused her most was that she wasn't really that excited about it. It seemed that when she finally decided to let go, Ron comes back and messes with her mind, not to mention her heart again. 'I guess I'm never going to understand love' thought Hermione.

"Ron, I don't know what to say. I've been very miserable these past years, because I thought you didn't love me. Why didn't you look for me all these years Ron? Why did you laugh when I told you I loved you during our graduation dance?"

Ron smiled at her sheepishly. "You never gave me a chance. You ran away every time I approached you and Harry told me that you were still very upset. Then I never worked up the nerve to explain to you. Besides, I didn't know what happened until after."

"What do you mean you didn't know? Why did you laugh Ron? After all these years, I deserve to know Ron!" said Hermione dangerously.

"It was Fred and George," said Ron, with his hands in the air, as if he was surrendering, "The stupid gits saw me looking kind of nervous and decided to give me hand by placing a cheering charm on me. They completely over did the charm at the most inappropriate time too. I actually didn't find out until a year ago when they got really drunk on my birthday."

Hermione sat there, looking perplexed. Her years of misery was due to a stupid cheering charm. Sort of ironic actually. "I'm going to kill Fred and George," muttered Hermione. Ron smiled.

"Good," said Ron, smiling at Hermione and rubbing her hand gently with his thumb. Hermione smiled back at Ron. It had taken seven years but she finally found out the truth. She wasn't rejected after all! Suddenly, it felt right to be with Ron, holding his hand. God she missed him so much!

"So, you want to go now?" asked Ron.

"Now what? Where?"

"To the Burrow of course"

"The Burrow? Ron, I don't understand."

Ron chuckled, then he smiled. "To kill Fred and George of course!"

A/N: I've noticed that my titles are really misleading. I'm sorry for the short chapter but I'm not done with it yet! Ron and Hermione are together, for now anyway. I'm going to work on that, and please tell me if Ron is working with this fic or if it should be Harry. My theory is I should at least give Ron sometime with Hermione, to be fair to him. Anyway, thanks for reading my story and please review! (Special shout to Twilight Fantasy for being an extremely cool and faithful reviewer. Please read her story "Hairy Harry". Of course, a great big THANK YOU to all the other very special people who reviewed too! Thanks again!)