Chapter 3: The Death of the Dream
Harry reclined in his chair and put is feet up on his office table. It had been a long day and he was tired; all he wanted to do was go home and get some rest. He looked over his desk. If he was honest with himself, it was a mess; covered in foot high mounds of paper work that either need his attention or had already been completed. He was the boss and no one was about to tell him to tidy it up, so the state of his desk was of little concern to him.
Taking prize place on his desk was a picture of him and Hermione taken at the burrow almost five years previously. He reached over and picked up the picture frame; gazing at the photographic Hermione who every now and then would lean over and kiss the photographic Harry. He smiled at the memory, it had been the day that he and Hermione had 'officially' got together. He often wondered how he could have been lucky enough to have found someone like her. It was because of this; he was having a hard time understanding why she would think him capable of cheating on her with someone else, someone else who wasn't her.
A faint 'pop' announced the arrival of Ron whom often visited Harry when he wasn't busy. However this time his arrival went unnoticed by Harry who was blissfully starring at the picture of him and Hermione that was still resting in his hands.
Ron stood on the spot that he had just apparated too, normally by now Harry would have realised his presence and greeted him. But Harry, as Ron could see had drifted off in to his own little world and wasn't likely to come back anytime soon unless something, or in this case someone caused him to.
'Probably thinking about Hermione' Ron suspected.
Sensing the opportunity that his friend had presented him with, he decided that in order to live up to his obligations as a Weasley he would have to exploit it to its fullest. Looking over at Harry he could see that he was carefully reclining in his chair, keeping balance by having placed his feet on the desk in front of him so that he wouldn't lean too far and fall. Ron quickly decided that this was his weak spot.
Ron's face lit up and a mischievous grin spread across is face as a plan formed in his mind. Moving as a slowly and as quietly as he could, Ron made his way from his apparition point and over to Harry's desk; which even in Ron's opinion was a complete mess.
Holding in a breath Ron balled his fist and slowly raised it in to the air. Then after another quick glance at Harry he slammed it in to the desk in one swift motion causing many of the stacks of papers to slip gracefully on the floor.
Harry jumped as Ron's fist connected with the desk, his face twisting in horror as he began to loose grip on the table. He emitting a high pitched scream as he fell over backwards in his chair; landing on the carpeted floor with a dull thud. Seconds later the picture frame that had previously resided in his hands joined him by landing squarely on his forehead.
"What the bloody hell was that for?" he yelled, looking up expectantly at Ron.
Ron however was laughing so hard that he had to grab the corner of Harry's desk to prevent him from falling over, his other hand clutching his side trying to catch his breath. This rendered him unable to form any coherent sentences; however he was pleased that his plan had achieved maximum effect.
"Your face!" He managed chocked out through his fits of laughter.
Ron grasped once again at Harry's desk in an attempt to steady himself and to try and calm himself down, only to erupt in to further laughter at the murderous look on Harry's bright red face. Harry shook his head at Ron's childish antics, wondering how his wife managed to put up with him.
Seeing that Ron wasn't going to calm down anytime soon he took this opportunity to remove the picture that was still lying on his forehead and make an attempt at standing up; carefully checking each arm and leg to make sure it still functioned properly and had not been damaged from his 'adventure'. He then returned his chair to its upright position and re-seating himself whilst gingerly touching the point that the picture frame had connected with his head.
'Will he ever grow up?' Harry though.
In the time is had taken Harry to recover himself Ron had managed to calm himself down sufficiently and had stopped laughing, although he was still panting slightly trying to regain is breath. He was however able to form coherent sentences one again.
"Sorry Harry" said Ron looking rather forlorn and slightly afraid.
Although Ron's actions had greatly irritated him, he decided now was not to the time to get angry at him; he would need his friends support later if things didn't go as planned.
"Don't worry about it" replied Harry, dismissively waiving his hand in the air.
"So tonight's the night ey Harry?" asked Ron, grinning at his friend.
Ron almost immediately regretted his words seeing the pained expression which appeared on Harry's face.
"What?" he asked looking somewhat confused "Don't you want to marry her?"
"No, no it's not that" Harry replied solemnly.
"Well what then?" Ron queried again. Something was bothering his friend and he was going to find out what it was.
"Let's just say that for time, I thought I wouldn't need a ring" replied.
Ron on the other hand was still stood, looking at Harry with a most bemused expression on his face.
"Ring?" he questioned "The one you're buying from Cho's jewellery shop?" He paused "Harry your not making much sense".
Harry looked back up at Ron.
"Ron" he said plainly. "Hermione accused me of having an affair with Cho"
Ron's eyes widened at hearing this, his mouth opened slightly in disbelief.
"Oh, I know Ron; she also told me that I couldn't be trusted" he said despondently
Harry noticed Ron still hadn't; moved nor had his facial expression changed. He seemed to be in shock.
"Ron" he queried.
No Response.
"Ron" he said, a little louder waving a hand in front of his face
"Huh? What? She said that?" Ron questioned frantically, looking a little startled.
"Yes she did" Harry put simply.
"What did you say?" Ron asked quickly, concern etched all over his face.
"I told her I was leaving" Harry replied, a pained expression emerging on his face; he was not enjoying recalling these events.
Ron wasn't quite sure if his ears were betraying him. Here he had his two best friends, Harry and Hermione which the 'Daily Prophet' had surprisingly dubbed 'the perfect couple' were breaking up; and over some petty misunderstanding. His ears must have been deceiving him.
"Y-you're leaving her?" he stammered, still trying to comprehend what Harry had just said.
Harry shook his head.
"No Ron" he replied.
"But you just said…" Ron trailed off rubbing his head; he often did this when met with a confusing situation.
Harry looked sympathetically at his friend
"Yes Ron, I know its confusing but lets just say that after a lot of talking." he paused "..and crying, I think things are going to be ok" He smiled slightly.
"Think?" Ron asked accusingly.
"Well…you see I still need to explain why I was with Cho…" Harry trailed off looking rather sheepish thinking about Hermione's reaction once he'd explained himself to her.
"Don't worry mate, she'll be fine don't worry" Ron said reassuringly, seeing the worried look on his friends face
Harry smiled wearily at Ron not quite believing him; he hadn't seen Hermione as angry as she was last night and that was something he didn't want to go through again. Ron, seeing the uncomfortable look on his friends face decided to steer to conversation away from Cho, slightly.
"So, I you had a close shave there?" Ron said, chuckling slightly.
Harry sighed, recalling of the events of the pervious night.
"You're telling me, I don't even know what possessed me to want to leave"
"Oh?"
He shook his head "I mean living without her it just…well…not an option"
Harry yawned, fatigue seemingly getting the better of him. He hoped that he would have enough time for a short rest between going home and preparing for his evening with Hermione.
"At least things are back on track regarding tonight" Ron said hopefully, now considerably happier that things were still going to plan, after all he though Harry deserved some happiness in his life.
"Yeah" mumbled Harry.
Harry looked at his wrist watch. He was due to meet Cho in fifteen minutes and would need to leave now if here were to get there on time.
"Well Ron, if I'm going to get this ring today I'm afraid I've go to go" he announced, getting up from his hair and walking over to the coat stand in the far corner of his office.
"Good luck Harry, but be careful with that one we don't want her ravishing you in the street now do we?" Ron joked, a large grin returning to his face.
"Ron" Harry shouted, shocked that Ron could possibly think such a thing "Cho would never do that, she knows where I stand with Hermione"
"Well, you never know, she's one feisty woman" replied Ron, smirking intently at Harry.
Harry raised an eyebrow "And you'd know that would you?"
'He really needs to know how to take a joke' Ron mused.
"Sure I would" Said Ron grinning.
Harry shook his head disbelievingly "I'm sure Lavender would be thrilled to know that"
"Oh she won't mind" Ron replied casually, trying to contain his laughter.
"Honestly Ron!" Harry retorted indignantly
"I don't have time for this. See you tomorrow" he mumbled as he picked up his coat and out of the office, closing the door behind him.
'Another character trait he's picked up off Hermione' Ron though to himself as he disapparated home.
~~~~~~~~~
Harry rounded the corner in to the park where he was meeting Cho. She had offered to meet him there instead of him walking to the other side of town where her shop was situated. Knowing that he would be in somewhat of a hurry this evening he graciously accepted.
He spotted Cho sitting on a wooden bench which was situated under one of the many great oak trees that the park housed. The sunlight streaming through the tree branches reflected off her face making it glow with beauty.
As Harry walked closer he could see her dark blue dress shimmering in the late afternoon sun and even he had to admit she did look rather pretty. Harry presumed that in a choice between Hermione and Cho most men would pick the latter, but in his opinion it would be a fool that would pass up a chance to spend his life time with Hermione. To Harry Cho was pretty, but Hermione was beautiful. Cho just couldn't compare. This was why he couldn't fully understand why Hermione could even think it possible for him to want anyone but her.
"Harry?" He heard Cho's voice call.
Harry blinked and looked around. He realised that whilst in his reverie he had walked straight past Cho, who was now giving him funny looks.
He smiled sheepishly before hurrying over to her.
"You okay Harry?" She asked seeming slightly concerned "You just walked straight past"
"No nothing really, just a long day" he replied absentmindedly, not really wanting to tell her the real reason for his 'detour'.
"Well okay" she said uncertainly.
Harry smiled and looked up, deciding to get straight to business.
"So, I believe you have a ring deliver?" he said looking expectantly at her.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot" she replied grinning at her apparent forgetfulness.
Cho set the bag that she had been carrying with her down on the park bench and extracted a small blue box. It would have seemed unusual for Harry to be buying a ring that he had not seen before for such a special occasion but he had in fact chosen the ring many weeks before. However because of its value and extreme rarity he had not other choice but to wait. Cho may have owned a muggle jewellery shop but she certainly had not abandoned her magical ways and could track down some of the most unusual magical items of jewellery imaginable.
The ring was one of the more unique items she had managed to acquire. Whilst looking like any normal muggle ring, it had the ability of allowing the wearer to share their emotions with one person who was deemed to be their 'protector'. In most cases this was a relative or lover. In this case it was Harry.
"Did the amount cover everything?" Harry questioned as he held up the ring to examine it.
"Very much so" she sighed "Hermione is one lucky lady you know"
"Oh, I don't know about that. I think I got the better half of the deal by far" he replied, his voice distant. He did often wonder why, that out of the many eligible wizards that she could have had, she chosen him. And although Hermione had insisted that it was only him that she ever wanted, it was this thought that haunted him at this very moment; in his mind there was the small lingering possibility that she would say no.
"Well, I'd better be getting back the shop" Cho announced, picking up her bag from the bench.
Harry nodded "I should get back; I've still got to plan exactly what I'm going to say"
"Don't worry, you'll be fine" she replied encouragingly as she moved towards him.
She leant forward and kissed him quickly on the cheek "Good bye Harry" she said softly and turned to walk away.
Cho had only moved a few steps away from him, when she turned around to face him.
" and Harry" she called.
"Yeah?"
"Good luck"
He smiled and nodded "Thanks"
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione and Lavender walked out of the clothes shop they were in, they had been shopping most of the day and Lavender who seemed to be surrounded on all sides by shopping bags had finally managed to get Hermione to agree to a break.
"It's not my fault you bought almost everything in the shop!" Hermione exclaimed as they cross the main street, heading for the park.
"But you only have one bag!" Lavender whined as she trailed behind, slowed down by the weight of her bags.
"Well, I only needed one item of clothing, so I only have one bag" Hermione replied smugly.
They entered the park and searched for the closest available bench. Upon finding one, they quickly made their way over to it and sat down, resting their sore feet.
"That's much better" Lavender said, sounding relieved, her feet not having to support the extra weight of her shopping.
Hermione however gave no reply. Her gaze was fixed on the vast expense of green that the park offered. The location of the park was always something that had fascinated her, it was almost like having her own piece of the countryside in the middle of the many number of streets and building that surrounded it. Her eyes wandered around the park, taking in everything it had to offer; until her gaze landed on a figure that seemed vaguely familiar…
"That's Harry isn't it?" Hermione asked motioning in the direction she was looking.
Lavender squinted her eyes, looking in the direction Hermione had just pointed out.
"Yeah, I looks like him, he's with someone too" she remarked "Do you wanted to move closer and have a look?"
Hermione nodded and they cautiously moved closer, using the trees as cover.
'This is silly' Hermione though feeling a little ashamed at the fact that she was spying on Harry 'Its not like I have a reason not to trust him...do I? However her curiosity got the better of her and she followed behind Lavender.
They stopped as they become close enough to see the two figures clearly.
"Oh my..." Lavender exclaimed.
"What?" Hermione replied anxiously.
"I'm sorry Hermione, but its Cho..."
"Lavender, they're only talking" said, silently hoping it would stay that way.
"But last night…"
"What about it?" Hermione asked, slightly puzzled at what last nights events had to do with the current situation.
"They seem to be standing rather close…" Lavender commented as she turned to face Hermione "and he never did tell you what he was doing with Cho did he?"
Hermione frowned, it was true that Harry never did tell her the real reason behind his meeting or telephone conversation with Cho and with everything else that had happened she had forgotten to ask. She trusted Harry; although it was at times like these that she couldn't help but doubted that trust. It wasn't that she didn't trust Harry exactly; she sometimes had a hard time believing that Harry could want her, despite his assurances an when compared with someone like Cho in situations like this she sometimes wondered how long it would be before someone better looking than herself took him away from her.
"No…" Hermione replied thoughtfully. She gestured in Harry's direction "but, it's not as if they're…" she trailed off, her eyes now fully focused on the couple.
At that moment Hermione watched as Harry held up a small, round shinny object as if to examine it before placing it in Cho's outstretched hand. From her vantage point she could clearly see it was a ring of some sort and an expensive looking one too.
Harry had given Cho and ring. It filled her with sadness, he'd never once in the course of their relationship bought her a ring, other jewellery perhaps but never a ring and rings usually signified certain feelings between two people. In her mind there could be only one reason why Harry had given Cho that ring.
Hermione then watched in sadness as Cho leaned towards Harry, their silhouettes joining for a brief moment before separating and Cho turning to walk away; leaving the park at the far end. Tears welled in her eyes, it couldn't be true, she would have known before now if Harry was seeing someone else, she knew him too well or at least she thought she did. Unwilling to believe what she had just seen; she turned to Lavender for confirmation.
"Did he just give her…" She asked unable to bring her self to say it.
"Yeah" Lavender replied, clearly stunned by that she had just seen.
"And did they just…?"
"It sure looks that way" Lavender confirmed again.
A single tear ran down Hermione's face. It was true; the moment she had dreaded for the last five years had finally come true; Harry had found someone else, someone else who was far prettier than she could ever be and there was nothing she could do about it. How could she face him now knowing that although she loved him, he obviously didn't love her?
"I'm so sorry" Lavender said, she her self on the verge of tears as she put her arms around Hermione's shivering body.
"I knew this would happen" She sobbed.
Lavender looked down at her "What do you mean?"
Hermione looked up at Lavender, her vision blurred slightly by tears "Why would he want me if he could have someone like her? I was afraid something like this might happen when we first got together, that's why I was so hesitant at first…I guess just tried to buried it in the back of my mind but now this…I…I just can't compare" she said sadly looking over at Harry who was grinning in the distance.
"Don't think like that" Lavender said firmly, shaking Hermione by the shoulders "Any guy would be lucky to have you!"
"Not the one I want" She replied, wiping her eyes.
Lavender didn't know how to respond, nothing she could say could erase what they both had just seen, nothing could make it better, not yet at least and she doubted the she was ready to face Harry now, if at all.
"Do you want to stay at our place for a while?" She asked "I'm sure Ron won't mind"
Hermione nodded "I can't face Harry; I need some time to think. Figure out what I'm going to do and where I'm going to go from here"
"Okay that's settled then"
Lavender took hold of Hermione's arm "Everything will be okay" she said softly as they began to walk away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry arrived home; it was almost 6pm, which meant he had plenty of time before he had to start getting ready. Walking through the back door of their house he shuddered as he was overcome by an odd sense of deja-vous. The house was exactly as it was when he arrived home the previous night; no light, no smell of coffee and again, no Hermione. He hoped that this night didn't go the same way. Hermione was probably still out shopping; he hoped.
He walked in to the kitchen flicked on the light and made his way over to the kettle; however before he reached it something else caught his attention. Lying on the counter was an envelope bearing his name. Curious as to whom the letter might be from; he gingerly opened it and began to read.
Dear Harry,
I'm leaving. I saw you with Cho today. I saw the ring you gave her and I saw you kiss her! I thought you loved me, I was so foolish! How could you do this to me? Not that it matters anymore. You already have and there's no way to fix it. I'm leaving; you shouldn't bother looking for me, for it will only be in vain. I hope you're happy with Cho.
-Hermione.
Harry could feel himself going numb 'This has to be a joke, Please, let this be a joke' his mind pleaded.
He began to read the latter again, this just couldn't be happening. Not now, not today; the day he was going to ask Hermione Ganger to be his wife and she had gone. She had gone and there was nothing he could do about it, everything in his life no longer mattered; his reason for living left with her.
He fell to his knees; the letter still clutched tightly in his hands.
"Please come back" he whispered, tears welling in his eyes.
"Please come back" he repeated.
"I love you"
A/N: Sorry for being so late with this chapter, I failed miserably at my 1 chapter per week target but this is twice the length of the others, so that's my excuse. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, you are the reason that I have got this far, I appreciate every review I get .
The credit for the letter in the end scene goes to SleepieCareBear, she has some great H/H fics. I owe you one.
As for part of what's going to happen in Ch4, there is a hint in something Harry says to Ron. *evil grin*
Thanks for reading
thefly try and guess where I got the name from.