Talking While Waiting II

"Have a good time in Hogsmeade?" Ron asked.

Hermione glanced at him, he wasn't looking in her direction, instead he stared at the door that led into the office the healer used. They had taken Harry into nearly half an hour ago.

"Yes I did." She responded, she could see him frowning at the door.

"I thought he was back with Cho." He said softly.

Hermione shook her head. "He was just talking to her. To plan my birthday party. Didn't he tell you?"

"No." Ron said shortly. "What does he tell me? The only thing I've heard from him is that he's going to on a date to Hogsmeade with you."

"Then that's something that needs resolving between you and Harry. There's no need to be angry at me." She replied coldly, responding to the anger in his voice.

Ron was quiet, turning away from her and staring at the door again. "Of all people, why Harry?" Ron demanded suddenly.

"What's it to you? What does it matter who I go to Hogsmeade with?" Hermione retorted

"He's your best friend." Ron shouted, rising to his feet.

"Don't yell at me, Ronald Weasely." Hermione said angrily. "What's your problem? Why are you mad?"

Ron suddenly looked away, frowning fiercely. He began pacing. "He gets everything." He said bitterly, looking straight at her.

Hermione looked at him, confusion on her face. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Ron stopped pacing. "You and any other guy I could handle. But this is worst. This is far worst than you and Krum."

Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes heavenward. "Again with Viktor." She said. "He's done nothing to you."

"This isn't about Vicky." Ron snapped, his face flushing and anger sparking in his eyes. "This is about you and Harry.

"I could handle you and Krum. I could handle the letters, the sighing every time his name was spoken. I could even understand why you fancied him. All this I could take and all this I could understand. I was glad for two things through this, one, he was hundreds of miles away and, two, he wasn't my best god damn friend." Ron roared.

Then it began all clicking together. Hermione just stared at him. "Oh, Ron." She sighed, dropping her head into her hands. "Why now?"

Ron sat down beside her. "I don't think I can stand it. I don't think I could stand seeing you two together. With him being where I wished everyday I could be." He said softly. "God knows I love him like a brother, but this...this would destroy it all."

"All these years!" Hermione shouted, Ron flinched. "All these damn years and you did nothing. You said nothing. Why NOW!"

Ron was silent for a moment. "He gets everything. All the attention, all fame, all the glory. If he wanted to he could get any girl in this damn school. But who does he choose? You." Ron stabbed his finger in her direction. "I could handle it all. Being referred to as Harry's friend, Harry's shadow. Harry's this and Harry's that. But the only thing I've ever wanted for myself, the only thing that I desperately wished for, he snatches right out of my grasp." He clenched his hands into white-knuckle fists.

Hermione glared at him, rage burning in her eyes. "And do I have any say in this? Do I have a voice?"

"I'd always hoped you would choose me." Ron said, slumping in the seat.

Hermione felt her anger burning away. "Why didn't you ever tell me? Why didn't you ever say a word?"

Ron sighed, staring down at the floor. "I was scared, afraid to make that jump. Afraid you would say no, laugh, all sorts of things." He mumbled. "Would you have said yes?"

Hermione looked away, staring at the door. "Yes." She said softly.

Hope suddenly shone brightly in Ron's eyes. He stood up a smile upon his face. "Then will you?" He asked eagerly.

Hermione winced and suddenly felt a pounding headache. "Oh, Ron. Why do you have to ask now? Why?"

Ron looked at her, his face falling and the blank expression of hiding hurt forming. "One date does not constitute a relationship." He said finally. "But then again, I understand. You have Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, interested in you." He sneered. "What am I compared to him? Nothing."

"You'd think me so shallow?" Hermione asked, feeling her anger returning. "You think I want fame, adoration? How dare you." Now it was her turn to clench her hands into white knuckled fists.

"Then why choose him over me?"

"I never said I choose anyone." Hermione snapped back. "You throw this upon me and you expect me to make a choice right now? You expect me to decide between the two people who have shared more pain, suffering, joy, and happiness with me than any other person? You expect a quick answer?"

Ron looked away. "I had hoped that you would never have to choose, because there's no choice. There's no chance for me. There probably never was. Always on the edge, always playing the supporting role." Ron laughed bitterly. "But know this, he'll never feel for you the way that I do. Never."

"Ahem!"

Hermione glanced to the door and saw a short iron haired woman standing there. She looked between the two of them, a slight frown forming. "This is why I never liked school." She said, loudly. "People and all their little dramatics."

Ron glared at her, but she ignored it, pulling a clipboard up. "Ronald and Hermione? Come in." She stepped away from the door.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked looking around the sparse office the healer had been using. Ron stiffened at the mention of his name and brushed pass her.

"He's with Dumbledore." The woman said and closed the door behind them.