Disclaimer: Don't go thinking I stole these guys from J.K. Rowling…and I'm not pretending to be her either!
*** Oh wow, you guys are so awesome! Thank you so much to Alayna, who was the first to tell me it all made sense; DazzlinAngel555, you dazzle me with your great praise! Thank you to Snwflakesweety, I'm glad you're enjoying my story like I am yours (everyone, you ought to read her work!). Eponine, I'm glad you thought a blue Crookshanks was funny (and you people ought to read her stuff too). Thanks to Shaunna…I'm embarrassed by your compliment…utterly speechless. Thank you to Triniroo, I'm not all that sorry I've made you argy-bargy (you'll like this chapter, I promise). Thanks to Claire, I'm sure you'll like this chapter too. Thank you so much Hp addict for your praise (it means a lot to me). Thank you Hermione Weasley for reviewing! I'm sure you all will love this chapter…or, if nothing else, it will make you laugh…or frustrate you…ENJOY! Thank you to you all.
Chapter 14: Dilemmas, Dilemmas
Ron had been unusually quiet all day the next day…and continued being quiet even into the night. Harry had thought his friend would perk up around the time he found out he made the team as Keeper, and Seamus made the team Chaser, but Ron didn't. He smiled, he laughed, and he thanked Angelina profusely but he turned down the butterbeer Fred and George offered him. Something that was, by all normal standards, quite un-Ron-like.
"Harry, you're his best friend, maybe you could figure out what's wrong with him?" Ginny asked quietly as she watched her usually loud and obnoxious brother sit quietly in front of the fire, not talking to anyone, not looking at anyone either.
"Maybe," Harry said, not at all convinced Ron would speak to him; considering Harry had the distinct feeling he was part of the problem. Ron had been quiet all last night after they had left the library, nearing midnight. The library normally closed at eleven, as it had last night but Madame Pince seemed inclined to allow them to stay there an hour longer.
He moved toward his sitting friend when a bushy haired witch intercepted his line of walk. "Harry, I need to talk to you now," she said in a business-like tone.
Harry sighed and followed her out the common room into the stone hallway, where only the paintings and maybe the suit of armor could hear them. She stopped suddenly, whirled around and grabbed his wrist. "What did you say to him Harry Potter?" she accused. Her eyes flashed dangerously and Harry was left baffled for a moment.
"Wh-what did I s-say to w-who Hermione?" Harry stuttered. He didn't like the ability to see how she was going to kill him in her dark eyes.
"What did you say to Ron?" she rephrased the question carefully and articulated each syllable.
Harry's eyes widened and the emerald green was that much more evident in the dimming light. "I didn't say anything to him." She stared at him like she didn't believe him. "I didn't. Honest, Hermione," he said with such a straight face she couldn't help but believe him.
"Then why has he be ignoring me?" she asked in a defeated tone. "He's been avoiding me like the plague this whole day. Even in Transfiguration, when I answered all of McGonagall's questions right he didn't roll his eyes like he normally does," she pointed out.
"He's been ignoring me too, Hermione," Harry said quietly.
She was trying hard not to cry, but it was becoming difficult. She gave a pathetic attempt of a smile. "Well, at least you aren't ignoring me, Harry," she whispered quietly. Her watery eyes searched his out. "I couldn't stand it if you started ignoring me…then it'd be Third Year all over again. I hated that year," she finished softly.
Harry looked away uncomfortably. He knew what he wanted to say to his best friend about his other best friend but he didn't know if he had the guts…oh what the hell! "Hermione, maybe you should just tell Ron," Harry suggested as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
Hermione, however, stared at him like he'd grown another head. "I can't do that!" she squeaked.
"And why not?" Harry asked with a rarely used tone of superiority.
She sighed, completely exasperated and exhausted with this suddenly nosey Harry. "Don't you see, Harry? He'd just laugh at me! I may be Hermione Granger but that doesn't mean I don't have feelings!" she shouted.
Hermione clamped a hand over her mouth. "OK, I feel really stupid now…Just, never mind what I said Harry." She rubbed her temples. "Why, why, why must everything be so confusing?" she asked to no one in particular.
The green eyed boy watching her didn't have an answer for her.
She looked to him again with watery eyes. "He could never like me like that, just tell me that straight out Harry so I can forget about him!" she pleaded in a weak moment of desperation.
"Do you really want to forget about him?" Harry countered.
"Aaargh! Harry, quit being so smart! I'm supposed to be the smart one!" she yelped.
Harry shrugged. "Sorry Hermione…but I can't tell you that he'll never like you like that."
"And why not?" Hermione's cheeks were red and she was clearly frustrated.
Because I would be lying. "I just really think Ron should be the one to tell you those things, not me." Harry thought of something else then. "Hermione, you're subjecting yourself to that blessing-curse by not telling Ron—
"I think I'll take my chances!" she snapped, boldly interrupting Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me Harry!" she demanded.
He would never tell her this, but she was being ridiculous. "Hermione, I'm going back into the common room. Ginny asked me to talk to Ron just before you took me out here," he explained. His voice was terse and he could see by Hermione's fallen expression she was upset.
"Fine. I'm going to the library. I've homework due in Arithmancy anyway," she declared as she walked in the complete opposite way of the library.
Harry walked into the common room shaking his head. Ron was still seated on the sofa in front of the fire and that same blank expression decorated his face. This is going to be a long night. Then another thought occurred to him. I really should have placed a bet for a later date…there is no way they're going to straighten their relationship out by Halloween.
"Hey Ron," Harry started as he seated himself next to Ron.
Ron barely acknowledged his friend's presence.
Frustration was mounting. He sighed. They were both so stupid. "Ron, what the hell is wrong?" he asked quietly.
That got Ron's attention; Harry barely ever swore. "What do you think is wrong?" Ron responded.
"I don't know because you won't tell me!" Harry's voice raised an angry octave.
"I should think you'd be able to figure it out with that smart girlfriend of yours!" Ron shouted angrily.
The common room's noise level dropped from loud to silent and everyone backed away wearily. They were surprised to see Ron and Harry fighting and no one wanted any part of it, especially after hearing Ron's comment about Harry's girlfriend. No, this fight had all the makings of a war.
They exited the common room in droves, all wanting to leave before another hateful thought flew out of one of their mouths.
"Who's my girlfriend?" Harry asked in a shout.
Ron exploded. "Hermione, obviously!" he yelled. "And you know what's worst about this whole thing? You knew I fancied her and yet you still had to have her!" Harry stared gaping at his friend as Ron continued. "I saw the way she looked at you Harry! I know she likes you!"
Harry was completely baffled.
"Why do you have to have everything I want Harry?" Ron implored. "You couldn't just possibly be happy being the youngest Seeker Hogwarts has seen since your father or defeat the Dark Lord five different times, could you? You couldn't possibly be happy with all that, could you?" Ron accused.
"You stupid ass!" Harry returned.
It was Ron's turn to gape. "I'm not dating Hermione, you complete and utter prat! I don't even like Hermione! She's my friend and that's it!" Harry wanted to punch Ron in the nose but knew that if he did Ron would kill him in the amount of time it would take Harry to fly from one end of the common room to the other.
"Besides, why would she be dating me when she fancies you, although who knows why she likes you?" Harry shouted, immediately realizing his deadly slip of the tongue.
Ron blanched considerably. Even his freckles had hardly any color in them. "Wh-what?" Ron stammered.
Harry collapsed onto the couch. "You heard me," he said…no longer angry with Ron but fearing for his life when Hermione found out he told Ron how she felt.
Ron sat down on the couch next to him. "Hey Harry…about what I said before…well," he paused to take a deep breath. "Well, you know."
The dark haired boy looked at Ron and smiled. "Yeah, me too. You know, about apparently doing something to give you that impression…She's going to murder me when she finds out I told you…" Harry's voice trailed off and he hoped Ron understood.
Ron shook his head. "I promise," he said, granting Harry's unspoken wish.
Harry nodded. He was glad Ron wasn't mad at him anymore; it was nice to know he probably wasn't going to die alone for he was fairly sure Ron would go down with him…A mad Hermione was far scarier than ten Voldemorts.
So, how was that? Thanks for reading! It's been quite a ride, hasn't it? Well, I just wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate your reading this! Thanks so much and please review!
