I do not own Harry Potter. This is my own idea. All rights are reserved
to JK Rowling
To my Reviewers: I would just like to thank you for your continued support of my story. I would not have continued with it if you did not let me know you like it. I would also like to especially thank Ron-Is-Mine for letting me know I was being selective of the reviews I received, it has been fixed.
PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING!!!
Chapter 5: Coping
"Ron Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed up the stairs to her youngest son. "You get up this instant. Your breakfast is getting cold and Harry will be arriving here any moment."
Ron jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs of the Burrow. He was staying at home for the Christmas holidays. Following graduation five years ago he moved out of the Burrow and into a flat in London he shared with Harry near Diagon Alley. Harry was currently off visiting Sirius, who had been cleared of any wrong doing after the downfall of the Dark Lord their last year at Hogwarts. They both were scheduled to arrive that morning to spend the holidays with the Weasley clan. To top it off, the very next day was Christmas Eve and the Grangers would be coming over as well. The thought of the Grangers made Ron's eyes begin to leak, he missed Hermione terribly but never gave up the hope that she was alive. He silently cursed his parents for inviting them. It was always difficult for him to be around them, they had lost their only child and seemed to subconsciously cling to Ron. He had been dating Hermione for just over two years when he had planned on asking her to marry him last Christmas, but she disappeared two days before he had the chance.
He sighed softly as he sat down at the table full of people to eat his breakfast. Ginny was seated to his right with two empty spaces in-between them for Harry and Sirius. Harry had proposed to her over the summer and he smiled inwardly at the thought of the look on Hermione's face when she found out she was not around for the momentous occasion. On the other side of Ginny were Fred and his wife Angelina with their one-year-old twin sons George and Harry. Next to them was George with his wife Alicia, who was pregnant with their first child. Percy and his wife Penelope were seated across from Ron with their three-year-old little girl, Annabelle. Next to them was Bill with his wife Fleur and their two-year-old son, Ron and newborn baby girl, Molly, named after his Mum. Charlie was next with his girlfriend Hailie. The table was completed with his mum and dad seated at opposite ends.
Hearing a small 'pop' emanating from the living room, Ron and Ginny rose from their seats to greet their guests. "Hey, mate!" Ron said as he clasped hands with his best friend. "How've ya been?"
"Not bad, you?" Harry replied letting go of Ron's hand and engulfing his fiancé in a hug.
"Sirius, its great to see you," Ron said to the other man in the room and they also shook hands.
After the greetings had been completed the four made their way back into the kitchen for the lovely breakfast Mrs. Weasley had prepared. As Ron was finishing his food he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, the tell tale sign he was being watched. He lifted his face to see every eye at the table on him. "Do I have food on my face or something?" he questioned even though he knew why they were staring. Today was the anniversary of Hermione's disappearance. One year ago today he had been the happiest man alive and then out of nowhere his dreams vanished before his eyes. His family went back to eating and Ron, deciding that he had enough of being social, returned to his room in dampened spirits.
On his desk he had two presents wrapped neatly in red and gold paper, the colors of Gryffindor House to which he belonged. He picked up the smaller box and held it lightly in his hand. Inside was the ring he was going to give Hermione last Christmas. It was not much, a small solitary diamond in a gold setting that was simple and elegant, he only wished he could afford the type of ring she deserved. He put it down and picked up the larger, rectangular box that was lying next to it on the desk. While he was out shopping for presents for the members of his family he came across a gold bracelet that he thought would suit Hermione well. It had only one charm, an open book. He grinned as he thought of the engraving he had placed on it; Hogwarts, A History. He knew she would love it.
~ ~ ~
His mind drifted back to when he had finally gathered his courage to 'fight' for Hermione. For five frustrating years, from the time he was in his fifth year at Hogwarts, he had stood by and watched her grow up before his eyes. He saw her focus more on her appearance when she turned sixteen, continually applying Sleekeazy's Hair Potion to make her hair less bushy and wearing a minimal amount of makeup that she got from Parvati and Lavender. Although he liked her new appearance, he did have a fondness in his heart for her bushy hair and natural complexion. At least that way there weren't as many boys to fend off.
When Viktor Krum came back into the picture two years after graduation Ron knew he would have to act if he wanted to have Hermione.
*Krum had made up lame excuses to spend time with her on a regular basis. Hermione had been working at The Ministry of Magic in the Care of Magical Creatures Department since graduation and had moved up the ranks steadily ever since. Viktor Krum just 'happened' to need advice on the treatment of his house elves or his garden gnomes or any other creature he came up with and decided that Hermione was the one to ask. He would show up once a week and after discussing his latest creature he would ask her to lunch. Hermione had been telling Ron and Harry all about the lunch dates for over a month when Ron completely lost control. He knew it was 'now or never.'
The following week the three of them had scheduled a night out to dinner at the Leaky Cauldron and a muggle movie, Hermione's pick. Ron and Harry had been sharing a flat following graduation and Ron begged Harry to back out of the plans. "Just say something came up. Just say anything," Ron pleaded. "I can't lose her forever." Ron had never seen Harry smile so broadly.
"I'm glad you finally realize that, mate," Harry sighed. "I was beginning to believe you are as thickheaded as Hermione thinks you are."
Harry, of course, had no trouble breaking off his plans, telling them he had a date. He did in fact make other arrangements with Ginny instead, so really, it was not a lie.
"Ron, maybe we can just meet next week when Harry is available," Hermione had offered.
"No, I was looking forward to the dinner and the movie you picked." He retorted. "Besides, it isn't as if either of us have anything better to do."
They agreed to meet at The Leaky Cauldron at six that evening since the movie started at eight. That would give them plenty of time to eat. The tavern was practically full of people when Ron arrived and looking around the room he noticed his best girl friend sitting at the small table in the back which he had reserved special. He wanted to be situated as far from everyone as possible. During dinner they had made small talk and Ron could feel his stomach tighten every time she bit her lip, blushed or clutched at the charm on her necklace he and Harry had given to her as a graduation present. Moving his plan into full swing he told her he left his muggle money in his flat and would have to return there before heading to the theater.
Since it was a beautifully cool November evening instead of apparating they both decided it would be better to walk the three blocks to his flat. While they were walking Ron 'accidentally' tripped Hermione and she fell awkwardly to the hard sidewalk. "Ron, geez, could you be anymore clumsy?"
"I'm clumsy? I believe you are the one with the bruised bum." He smiled at her and offered his hand to help her up. She graciously accepted but when she had risen to her feet Ron made no effort to remove his hand from hers. He watched her look down at there intertwined fingers and noticed the blush creep up her slim neck and cover her cheeks in a matter of seconds. He also became aware that she too, made no attempt to release her grip of his hand.
When they had finally reached his flat he dropped her hand from his and held the door open for her to enter. He heard and saw the reaction he desired. She gasped, her mouth was hanging open and her eyes were large and beginning to water. The room was filled with roses of every color imaginable and colors that one could not even dream up. A harp in the corner was playing a slow tune that filled the air with warmth. Ron took Hermione's reaction as a good sign. "May I have the honor of this dance," he asked as he gingerly took her right hand in his left, placing her left hand up over his shoulder and his right onto her hip. For the first time in his life he had made Hermione speechless.
Slowly he started to guide her across the flowers beneath their feet and he saw her face relax into a smile and her eyes twinkle with unshed tears. She lowered her eyes from his gaze and rested her head on his chest as they continued to dance. Neither of them noticed the music stop. When Hermione finally lifted her eyes to his once more her face was tear streaked and blotchy but Ron thought she had never looked more beautiful. "What is all this for?" she asked in a barely audible whisper.
"It is for all the Yule Balls we never attended together, all the times when I missed the opportunity to dance with you, for all the flowers I should have sent you, and because I want to spend forever with you. I do not want to waste another precious moment that we could be sharing together." He wiped away the moisture falling steadily from her eyes as he leaned forward and caught her lips with his own.
It was a soft kiss, full of love and caring. When they pulled apart Hermione was the first to speak. "You do not know how long I have waited for you to say that." She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him again with more passion than either of them knew they possessed. With his last coherent thought he flicked his wrist and the harp began to once again play the melody it had earlier. They swayed to the music the rest of the night, content to just be held in the other's embrace. *
~ ~ ~
He sighed softly as he placed the box back down. Just as he returned to bed thinking 'I just need to be alone,' he heard a knock on his door. He groaned to himself; positive his Mum was checking up on him, as usual. The person knocked again and he heard the familiar voice of his best friend, "Its just me! Can I come in?"
Sitting up in his bed and crossing his legs beneath him he responded, "Yes!" with not much enthusiasm. He was well aware of what this conversation would be about.
"Wow, your room hasn't changed one bit," Harry said as he glanced around the orange room. The Chudley Cannons' posters still covered every inch of the walls and the sloping ceiling and his Chudley Cannons' bedspread was sprawled across most of the untidy bed. On the windowsill there was the same fish tank that had been there for as long as Harry could remember, but instead of being full of frogspawn it now had actual fish swimming around. As always, the sounds of the ghoul in the attic were echoing through the small room.
A soft grunt from Ron was the only reply Harry received.
"You ok, mate?" Harry inquired.
"Fine," he was not too convincing.
"No you are not. Listen I miss her too, but you have to get on with your life. It is what she would have wanted." Ron looked up at Harry standing before him with confusion in his eyes.
"I don't have a life with out her," Ron retorted as he slowly rose from the bed. Even though he was only a few inches taller he seemed to tower over the raven-haired man. "And how dare you imply that she is dead." His voice was low but there was an abruptness and strength to it that did not need to be loud to be understood. His eyes flashed with anger that made Harry take a step backwards, away from his friend.
Clearing his throat, Harry quickly clarified what he meant, "I'm not saying that I believe she is dead but you have to move on."
Ron's height shrank as his anger subsided. He walked over to the window and stared out at the gnomes causing mayhem in the garden below. "I know you mean well but this is really none of you business," he said sharply.
"None of my business?" Harry was shocked at how cruel Ron was being. He started to close the distance between them, "She was my best friend too, you know." Now it was his turn to be angry.
"I am well aware of that, Harry," his tone was friendlier. He returned to his seated position on his bed and cast his eyes down at the floor.
Harry calmed himself down, "I just want to see you happy." There was a long awkward silence that followed. Ron's body seemed to be hitching as he tried to hold back his sobs. "Ron," Harry broke the silence. "We have to accept that Hermione might not come back." It was hard to say and Harry knew it was probably harder for Ron to hear.
Ron looked up at him through misty eyes for a few moments before he replied. "Harry, this isn't the same for you. I know you cared about her but I was, Bloody Hell! I mean I am in love with her." He could feel the water in his eyes threatening to explode through his closed lids. "You have Ginny, I want my Hermione."
Harry didn't know what to say and knew there was nothing that would comfort his friend at that moment. He walked over to him, squeezed his shoulder in a consoling gesture and quickly exited the room giving Ron the alone time he desperately wanted.
To my Reviewers: I would just like to thank you for your continued support of my story. I would not have continued with it if you did not let me know you like it. I would also like to especially thank Ron-Is-Mine for letting me know I was being selective of the reviews I received, it has been fixed.
PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING!!!
Chapter 5: Coping
"Ron Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed up the stairs to her youngest son. "You get up this instant. Your breakfast is getting cold and Harry will be arriving here any moment."
Ron jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs of the Burrow. He was staying at home for the Christmas holidays. Following graduation five years ago he moved out of the Burrow and into a flat in London he shared with Harry near Diagon Alley. Harry was currently off visiting Sirius, who had been cleared of any wrong doing after the downfall of the Dark Lord their last year at Hogwarts. They both were scheduled to arrive that morning to spend the holidays with the Weasley clan. To top it off, the very next day was Christmas Eve and the Grangers would be coming over as well. The thought of the Grangers made Ron's eyes begin to leak, he missed Hermione terribly but never gave up the hope that she was alive. He silently cursed his parents for inviting them. It was always difficult for him to be around them, they had lost their only child and seemed to subconsciously cling to Ron. He had been dating Hermione for just over two years when he had planned on asking her to marry him last Christmas, but she disappeared two days before he had the chance.
He sighed softly as he sat down at the table full of people to eat his breakfast. Ginny was seated to his right with two empty spaces in-between them for Harry and Sirius. Harry had proposed to her over the summer and he smiled inwardly at the thought of the look on Hermione's face when she found out she was not around for the momentous occasion. On the other side of Ginny were Fred and his wife Angelina with their one-year-old twin sons George and Harry. Next to them was George with his wife Alicia, who was pregnant with their first child. Percy and his wife Penelope were seated across from Ron with their three-year-old little girl, Annabelle. Next to them was Bill with his wife Fleur and their two-year-old son, Ron and newborn baby girl, Molly, named after his Mum. Charlie was next with his girlfriend Hailie. The table was completed with his mum and dad seated at opposite ends.
Hearing a small 'pop' emanating from the living room, Ron and Ginny rose from their seats to greet their guests. "Hey, mate!" Ron said as he clasped hands with his best friend. "How've ya been?"
"Not bad, you?" Harry replied letting go of Ron's hand and engulfing his fiancé in a hug.
"Sirius, its great to see you," Ron said to the other man in the room and they also shook hands.
After the greetings had been completed the four made their way back into the kitchen for the lovely breakfast Mrs. Weasley had prepared. As Ron was finishing his food he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, the tell tale sign he was being watched. He lifted his face to see every eye at the table on him. "Do I have food on my face or something?" he questioned even though he knew why they were staring. Today was the anniversary of Hermione's disappearance. One year ago today he had been the happiest man alive and then out of nowhere his dreams vanished before his eyes. His family went back to eating and Ron, deciding that he had enough of being social, returned to his room in dampened spirits.
On his desk he had two presents wrapped neatly in red and gold paper, the colors of Gryffindor House to which he belonged. He picked up the smaller box and held it lightly in his hand. Inside was the ring he was going to give Hermione last Christmas. It was not much, a small solitary diamond in a gold setting that was simple and elegant, he only wished he could afford the type of ring she deserved. He put it down and picked up the larger, rectangular box that was lying next to it on the desk. While he was out shopping for presents for the members of his family he came across a gold bracelet that he thought would suit Hermione well. It had only one charm, an open book. He grinned as he thought of the engraving he had placed on it; Hogwarts, A History. He knew she would love it.
~ ~ ~
His mind drifted back to when he had finally gathered his courage to 'fight' for Hermione. For five frustrating years, from the time he was in his fifth year at Hogwarts, he had stood by and watched her grow up before his eyes. He saw her focus more on her appearance when she turned sixteen, continually applying Sleekeazy's Hair Potion to make her hair less bushy and wearing a minimal amount of makeup that she got from Parvati and Lavender. Although he liked her new appearance, he did have a fondness in his heart for her bushy hair and natural complexion. At least that way there weren't as many boys to fend off.
When Viktor Krum came back into the picture two years after graduation Ron knew he would have to act if he wanted to have Hermione.
*Krum had made up lame excuses to spend time with her on a regular basis. Hermione had been working at The Ministry of Magic in the Care of Magical Creatures Department since graduation and had moved up the ranks steadily ever since. Viktor Krum just 'happened' to need advice on the treatment of his house elves or his garden gnomes or any other creature he came up with and decided that Hermione was the one to ask. He would show up once a week and after discussing his latest creature he would ask her to lunch. Hermione had been telling Ron and Harry all about the lunch dates for over a month when Ron completely lost control. He knew it was 'now or never.'
The following week the three of them had scheduled a night out to dinner at the Leaky Cauldron and a muggle movie, Hermione's pick. Ron and Harry had been sharing a flat following graduation and Ron begged Harry to back out of the plans. "Just say something came up. Just say anything," Ron pleaded. "I can't lose her forever." Ron had never seen Harry smile so broadly.
"I'm glad you finally realize that, mate," Harry sighed. "I was beginning to believe you are as thickheaded as Hermione thinks you are."
Harry, of course, had no trouble breaking off his plans, telling them he had a date. He did in fact make other arrangements with Ginny instead, so really, it was not a lie.
"Ron, maybe we can just meet next week when Harry is available," Hermione had offered.
"No, I was looking forward to the dinner and the movie you picked." He retorted. "Besides, it isn't as if either of us have anything better to do."
They agreed to meet at The Leaky Cauldron at six that evening since the movie started at eight. That would give them plenty of time to eat. The tavern was practically full of people when Ron arrived and looking around the room he noticed his best girl friend sitting at the small table in the back which he had reserved special. He wanted to be situated as far from everyone as possible. During dinner they had made small talk and Ron could feel his stomach tighten every time she bit her lip, blushed or clutched at the charm on her necklace he and Harry had given to her as a graduation present. Moving his plan into full swing he told her he left his muggle money in his flat and would have to return there before heading to the theater.
Since it was a beautifully cool November evening instead of apparating they both decided it would be better to walk the three blocks to his flat. While they were walking Ron 'accidentally' tripped Hermione and she fell awkwardly to the hard sidewalk. "Ron, geez, could you be anymore clumsy?"
"I'm clumsy? I believe you are the one with the bruised bum." He smiled at her and offered his hand to help her up. She graciously accepted but when she had risen to her feet Ron made no effort to remove his hand from hers. He watched her look down at there intertwined fingers and noticed the blush creep up her slim neck and cover her cheeks in a matter of seconds. He also became aware that she too, made no attempt to release her grip of his hand.
When they had finally reached his flat he dropped her hand from his and held the door open for her to enter. He heard and saw the reaction he desired. She gasped, her mouth was hanging open and her eyes were large and beginning to water. The room was filled with roses of every color imaginable and colors that one could not even dream up. A harp in the corner was playing a slow tune that filled the air with warmth. Ron took Hermione's reaction as a good sign. "May I have the honor of this dance," he asked as he gingerly took her right hand in his left, placing her left hand up over his shoulder and his right onto her hip. For the first time in his life he had made Hermione speechless.
Slowly he started to guide her across the flowers beneath their feet and he saw her face relax into a smile and her eyes twinkle with unshed tears. She lowered her eyes from his gaze and rested her head on his chest as they continued to dance. Neither of them noticed the music stop. When Hermione finally lifted her eyes to his once more her face was tear streaked and blotchy but Ron thought she had never looked more beautiful. "What is all this for?" she asked in a barely audible whisper.
"It is for all the Yule Balls we never attended together, all the times when I missed the opportunity to dance with you, for all the flowers I should have sent you, and because I want to spend forever with you. I do not want to waste another precious moment that we could be sharing together." He wiped away the moisture falling steadily from her eyes as he leaned forward and caught her lips with his own.
It was a soft kiss, full of love and caring. When they pulled apart Hermione was the first to speak. "You do not know how long I have waited for you to say that." She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him again with more passion than either of them knew they possessed. With his last coherent thought he flicked his wrist and the harp began to once again play the melody it had earlier. They swayed to the music the rest of the night, content to just be held in the other's embrace. *
~ ~ ~
He sighed softly as he placed the box back down. Just as he returned to bed thinking 'I just need to be alone,' he heard a knock on his door. He groaned to himself; positive his Mum was checking up on him, as usual. The person knocked again and he heard the familiar voice of his best friend, "Its just me! Can I come in?"
Sitting up in his bed and crossing his legs beneath him he responded, "Yes!" with not much enthusiasm. He was well aware of what this conversation would be about.
"Wow, your room hasn't changed one bit," Harry said as he glanced around the orange room. The Chudley Cannons' posters still covered every inch of the walls and the sloping ceiling and his Chudley Cannons' bedspread was sprawled across most of the untidy bed. On the windowsill there was the same fish tank that had been there for as long as Harry could remember, but instead of being full of frogspawn it now had actual fish swimming around. As always, the sounds of the ghoul in the attic were echoing through the small room.
A soft grunt from Ron was the only reply Harry received.
"You ok, mate?" Harry inquired.
"Fine," he was not too convincing.
"No you are not. Listen I miss her too, but you have to get on with your life. It is what she would have wanted." Ron looked up at Harry standing before him with confusion in his eyes.
"I don't have a life with out her," Ron retorted as he slowly rose from the bed. Even though he was only a few inches taller he seemed to tower over the raven-haired man. "And how dare you imply that she is dead." His voice was low but there was an abruptness and strength to it that did not need to be loud to be understood. His eyes flashed with anger that made Harry take a step backwards, away from his friend.
Clearing his throat, Harry quickly clarified what he meant, "I'm not saying that I believe she is dead but you have to move on."
Ron's height shrank as his anger subsided. He walked over to the window and stared out at the gnomes causing mayhem in the garden below. "I know you mean well but this is really none of you business," he said sharply.
"None of my business?" Harry was shocked at how cruel Ron was being. He started to close the distance between them, "She was my best friend too, you know." Now it was his turn to be angry.
"I am well aware of that, Harry," his tone was friendlier. He returned to his seated position on his bed and cast his eyes down at the floor.
Harry calmed himself down, "I just want to see you happy." There was a long awkward silence that followed. Ron's body seemed to be hitching as he tried to hold back his sobs. "Ron," Harry broke the silence. "We have to accept that Hermione might not come back." It was hard to say and Harry knew it was probably harder for Ron to hear.
Ron looked up at him through misty eyes for a few moments before he replied. "Harry, this isn't the same for you. I know you cared about her but I was, Bloody Hell! I mean I am in love with her." He could feel the water in his eyes threatening to explode through his closed lids. "You have Ginny, I want my Hermione."
Harry didn't know what to say and knew there was nothing that would comfort his friend at that moment. He walked over to him, squeezed his shoulder in a consoling gesture and quickly exited the room giving Ron the alone time he desperately wanted.