Chapter fifteen - Realisation

Ginny's POV

I looked at Harry apprehensively. He looked very pale and his mouth was open slightly. "Are you ok, Harry?" I asked nervously. "Yeah, I'm fine" Harry choked out. He gazed out at Ron who was now dancing with Hermione, at least someone was happy.

"It's going to be ok, he'll forgive us" I said soothingly. Harry looked at me and gave a small smile. "I hope so". He kissed my temple lightly, took my hand and led me out of the hall.

We walked outside Hogwarts and Harry led me to the lake. He sat down and offered me to sit with him. I sat down but then Harry lay back so I laid back and put my head on his chest with his arms around me, supporting me.

He kissed my head softly and pulled me closer to him. We lay there for what seemed like hours. Watching the lake and hearing the water trickle gently.

Hermione's POV

I walked back to the common room with Ron and Seamus, still fuming. How could Ron make something up like that? It was the cruellest thing he's ever said to me and I never thought he'd stoop that low. "Hermione…" Ron began. I looked at him searchingly in his deep blue eyes, which seemed to have small tears trying to leak out.

He looks so innocent when he does that. I felt my anger ebbing away and was about to reply until Seamus started to speak. "Hey, we're here". I looked up and there was the portrait of the fat lady. Seamus said the password and crawled through the hole. I began to follow after him but I was pulled back by Ron.

"Hermione, please listen to me" he said pleadingly. "Ok" I replied, sighing. "You know that I'd never do or say anything to hurt you" he said softly. I felt my anger returning back to me. "Well, it's a bit late to say that. You already have hurt me you asshole" I replied, dragging him through the portrait.

Seamus was waiting on the other side and had a suspicious look on his face when Ron and I entered. I saw him glare slightly at Ron before he kissed me on the cheek but thought nothing of it. When he had left up the staircase, Ron turned to me again and opened his mouth.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say, Ron" I said, taking him up to our room.

Harry's POV

Ginny and I went back to our own rooms after a while. I got ready for bed and climbed inside. I lay my head back on my pillow and smiled in spite of everything that had happened. I still smelled like strawberries which was what Ginny always seemed to smell like.

I wished that Ron would just listen to me and Ginny but I guess I wouldn't really know what to say. I suppose I'd better speak to him tomorrow morning about it…

Ron's POV

I awoke the next morning and the feelings I'd experienced the previous night came flooding back to me and landed in my heart and the pit of my stomach. I looked over at Hermione who was already awake. I tried to say something but she cut me off again.

"Let's just get dressed". We got dressed and walked down the staircase into the common room. The first people I saw there was Harry and Ginny. I thought I'd just ignore them but of course, Hermione went over to talk to them.

"No offence Hermione but we really need to talk to Ron" Ginny said worriedly. "Maybe I don't want to talk to you" I replied stubbornly. "Look mate, Ginny and I care deeply about each other but if you're not happy about us being together then we're finish it for you" Harry said.

I looked at them pitifully. They both looked stressed and tired. I looked down at their hands and saw that they were entwined tightly. I wanted to say that I hated them together and that they should stop seeing each other but I just couldn't. I know I'll regret thinking this but they looked perfect together.

"Do you love each other?" I asked them. They both nodded truthfully. "I'm not saying I'm thrilled about this but if anyone was to go out with Ginny, I'm glad it was you Harry" I said, smiling at them. They smiled back at me and both hugged me tightly saying their thanks.

Making two people that happy did cheer me up slightly.  Hermione pretty much ignored me all day but Harry and Ginny were comforting. I told them all about the thing with Seamus and that Ravenclaw girl and they believed me.

But how could I make Hermione believe me? There has to be a way to prove it to her, she is going to feel so guilty when she finds out that I was telling the truth. But that didn't make me feel any better; I would never want her to feel bad.

It makes me feel sick in the stomach every time I see Seamus and Hermione together. I feel like I could just hit Seamus over and over again for hurting my Hermione. My? No, that's not right. She'll never be mine, even if her and Seamus did break up. It's just one of those things which were never meant to be.

The four of us visited Hagrid today and wandered around a lot. I think it'll be better when we get back to lessons, at least then I'll have something other than Hermione to concentrate on. The slightest touch from her sends shivers up my spine and that happens often, being handcuffed to her and all.

That evening after dinner, Hermione and I walked back to the common room to see Harry and Ginny looking over something in the corner, both of them had pale faces and shocked expressions. "What's the matter?" I asked as me and Hermione walked over to them.

They were startled to see Hermione and tried to block whatever they were looking at from my view. "What's that?" Hermione asked, pointing at the desk. Harry's arm moved slightly and I saw that it was the Marauders map.

Hermione and I took seats near them and I looked over at the map. Everything seemed normal except when I looked closely at the library, I saw two small dots extremely close to each other and they were labelled 'Seamus' and 'Rachel'. 

Panic struck me and I looked up and Harry and Ginny who seemed as scared as I was. "Come on you three, what are you looking at?" Hermione asked curiously. "Nothing" the three of us answered quickly. Hermione stared at us suspiciously.

"Ok, I need to go to the library. Come on Ron" Hermione said. "What?! Why do you need to go there?" I asked, standing up the same time Hermione did. "I have homework to do" Hermione answered. "But it's the holidays, can't you take a break?" I said, fear visible in my face.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at me. "Is there something you're not telling me?" she asked. I shook my head and then in one swift movement, Hermione grabbed the Marauders map. "No!" me, Harry and Ginny yelled.

Hermione stared long and hard at the map and then she lowered it from her gaze, tears starting to form in her eyes. "Seamus…" she whispered. "I'm so sorry 'Mione" I said kindly. She snapped out of her trance and rushed away, dragging me with her.

We climbed through the portrait hole and she dragged me down the corridors in the direction of the library. "I don't think this is such a good idea" I said. Hermione ignored me and carried on walking.

We arrived at the library and there was Seamus and Rachel kissing. Hermione rushed over to them and dragged them apart and slapped Rachel around the face. "Ow! What was that for you bitch?" Rachel asked, before she rushed off in the other direction.

Seamus smirked slightly. "I'm so sorry you had to find out like this, Hermione" he said mockingly. "How could you do this to me?" Hermione shrieked. Seamus smiled again in a horrible way. "It just wasn't working out, sorry" Seamus replied, touching her cheek. He stalked away looking very pleased with himself.

I stared at Hermione who had tears streaming down her cheeks. There was silence for a while except for the muffled sniffs from Hermione. "I wish you hadn't found out like this" I said. Hermione looked at me and flung her arms around me.

I returned the hug and embraced her warmness. "I am so sorry Ron for everything I did or said to you. You were just trying to look out for me and I threw it all in your face. Can you forgive me?" Hermione asked, breaking away from the hug.

"Of course I will" I answered. "I don't deserve you" Hermione sniffed. I pulled her into another hug and kissed her head gently. "Yes you do. I feel lucky just by knowing you" I replied. Hermione hugged me tighter and cried softly onto my shoulder.

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A/N: Another chapter finished and only two more left! Please review and thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far.