Summary: Harry and Hermione deal with many things that have happened between them. When the time comes, they realize that some things are meant to be. Post-Hogwarts with flashbacks during their seventh year. Harry/Hermione

Previously…

Harry raised her chin so he could look deep into her intoxication brown eyes one more time. He knew at that moment he would never be fine but he couldn't ruin their happiness. He placed a tender kiss on her damp cheek and whispered into her ear. "Thanks for the chance you gave me and for making me the happiest guy in the world during this last month. I'll cherish that time with you in my heart always."

As tears fell down his face, he climbed up the stairs to go back into his dorm room and closed the door behind him. He didn't get to hear what Hermione said next. "But Harry, I am in love with you."

Harry put the dishes away from dinner and went to the living room to get everything ready for the 'sleepover'. As he leaned over to pull the pillows off the couch, the sound of a knock came from her front door.

He opened the door of Hermione's apartment and found his other best friend. "Hello, Ron."

Chapter 4

Ron looked up with a surprise look on his face. He spoke, "Oh, Harry. I didn't expect you to be here. Should've, but I didn't."

"Well, I didn't exactly expect to see you either, especially today. Do you want to come in?"

The redhead mumbled, "Yes. Um no. Where's Hermione?"

Harry leaned his body against the doorframe and jerked his head back to in the direct of inside the apartment. "She just got into the tub."

"Good, that means she'll be in there for a good forty-five minutes. Can we talk? Like, out here." Ron backed up out of the way to allow Harry enough room to step out onto the balcony with him.

Harry pulled the door closed behind him "Sure, What do you wan to talk about?"

His best friend let out a deep sigh. "I was originally going to talk to Hermione about this. But maybe it's better if I talk to you instead." He walked across balcony and looked over edge in a thoughtful way.

Harry went to stand by him and watched a blue bird that flew in the sky. "What is this all about?"

"I want …" Ron ran his long fingers in a frustrated manner through his long, red hair, "I've been a crappy friend for the past five years to the both of you. Actually, I was a selfish bastard as my sister so eloquently put it."

"What are you talking about, Ron?"

Ron began, "You've been the greatest best friend a guy could've asked for and certainly better than I deserved. You gave up the gift that meant the most to you and handed it over to me. And I was selfish and stupid about the whole thing."

"What are you rambling on about? The season will change before you get around to the point. Spit it out!" Harry said as a pain of worry began to pull at his heart.

"Hermione, you dense git," Ron looked at his hands on the wooden banister. He softly began to speak, "You want to know something. She has always loved you. Well, most of the time since the beginning of our seventh year. Its ironic it was all due to Malfoy's sharp tongue."

Nervously, Harry kept his eyes on the beautiful sunset with its different hues of red, pink, and purple. "I remember that day very well. But I know she loved you. Hell, Hermione married you not me. Or did you forget who you slept next to during the past few years?"

Ron remained silent for a long moment. "No, I remember all to well. Yes, she married me. She was a great wife too. She didn't deserve it, any of it. I should've done it?"

"Done what? You didn't cheat on her did you?" Harry asked the man he considered a brother. If he did, I'll hex into the next dimension.

With a shake of his head, Ron replied, "No, I never touched another woman since we started dating. Truth is, I had not touched another woman until about a week ago when I was on the date with Luna. I shouldn't have married Hermione. Marrying a best friend is not a good idea when she is in love with your other best friend."

Harry turned quickly to look at Ron but he didn't know what to say. , Since he broke up with her, Harry never got any hint that she loved him more than a friend. Ron still did not turn to look at him as he continued to stare forward at the beautiful sky.

Ron continued, "Why'd you tell her to give me a chance? Why did you force Hermione's hand by breaking up with her?"

"I did not force her hand," he stated venomously.

"Bloody hell, Harry. Okay, I know you heard me wallowing in my own self-pity that night. Then you decided to be righteous about the whole thing and break up with her. You broke Hermione's heart that night and practically handed her over to me on a silver platter."

Harry felt the anger in his veins start to boil. "What did you want me to do, Ron? You said you loved her and that you wished for a chance. Now years later, you are damning me because I granted your wish. I guess I was damned if I did and damned if I didn't."

"You could've let mer make up her own mind or asked her opinion. But you didn't, did you?" Ron's voice showed the anger he was feeling as well.

"No, I didn't," Harry sighed and closed his eyes to stop tears from forming. "I figured I didn't have a chance. She dated me to make you jealous and it worked. So, I did my part and stepped aside."

"You never figured she might have fallen in love with you."

"Oh yeah, she loved me so much that she married my best friend. Look, I am sorry your marriage didn't work out. But don't blame me for it," Harry ranted.

"I don't blame you or her. It was mostly my fault all the way around. I dated her knowing that you loved her and was sure she still loved you. I thought she might fall in love with me like she did with you. When I asked her to marry me, I expected a 'no'. When she said 'yes', I convinced myself I had finally won over her heart. And for some miracle, she loved me as much as she had loved you. But Hermione didn't and she couldn't. Finally, I got the point and asked for a divorce. I knew the marriage was killing our friendship in the process."

"She never cheated on you; if that's what you are thinking." Harry couldn't find the strength to look at his best friend, who was telling him things that complicated everything in his life.

Ron spoke, "No, it would've made it easier if she had. No, I don't mean that either. I know you two didn't do anything while we were together. I would've been able to tell. But I saw the love that was still there in your eyes when you watched her when you thought I was not looking. At first, I was furious when I saw the love was still there years later. I had to remind myself that I trusted the both of you. I watched for any signs of betrayal and never found any from either of you.

"I should've given her time to get over you before I asked her out. But I was so scared that if I waited she might change her mind or you would come to your sense and get back together again. I didn't even give it a day before I asked her."

Harry pushed away from the banister and sat in a rod iron chair against the apartment near the front door. His fingers scratched his head as he tried to understand why Ron was saying this to him. With a low voice, he asked, "Why are you telling me all of this, Ron? It's a little too late for Hermione and me. You are my best friend and always will be."

Ron turned to face him and stated, "One of your two best friends. And the other one is still in love with you and it is not too late. Ginny told me Hermione recently confided in her that she doesn't believe you still love her like you used to. But I know you do."

"So what? Are you giving me your blessing or something like that to date your ex-wife?"

The red head shook his head and tapped his fingers on the wood beneath them. "You do not need my blessing. Plus, I don't think of her as my ex-wife. I think of her as a best friend. That's what she should've been all along. What I am doing is telling you to date her. I don't want to whole divorce-thing to be for nothing. She's a great wife and she'll be even better to the man she loves with all her heart. Now, you go and tell her how you feel. Or I might have to consider getting back together with her."

Harry raised his head and saw his best friend had a sly smile on his face. He got to his feet and stuck his hands in the pockets of his blue jeans. "Ha. Ha. Ha. Not a chance in Hades I'll give you that opportunity again. Now, be on your way because I have some things I need to do before she gets out of the bath."

"Sure, by the way mate. She really likes massages," he winked at his best friend and started down the steps of Hermione's apartment.

Harry stood at the top of the steps and sweetly smiled. "I already know that. Remember who had her first."

"Well, goodnight. Tell Hermione that I'll talk to her in a few days to congratulate her," Ron said as he reached the last step.

Harry leaned over the edge of the banister and watched the red head straight put a piece of candy in his mouth. "Congratulate her on what?"

"On being the future Mrs. Potter of course."

"Get out of here, Ron."

"Nag. Nag. Nag. See you in a few days. And I don't want details."

A twinkle appeared his Harry's emerald-colored eyes. "No details, just big smiles."

Ron shook his head and made a sick look to his face. He replied, "Maybe I should wait a few weeks before seeing either of you. That should be enough time from you two to get rid of that stupid 'I'm in love and been shagged countless times' look off your faces."

Harry chuckled and then a big grin curve on his thin lips. "No, that won't be enough time. But you'll get over eventually."

"Looks like I don't have a choice but to get over it. Since you two are my best friends after all. Who else would put up with me and feed me from time to time."

"True, so very true. Goodnight and thanks," he stated as he opened the door but kept his eyes on where Ron stood.

Ron shrugged his shoulders and said, "Whatever. Now, I need to go spend some quality time with my dear little sister and kick Malfoy's arse out of her bed. It's going to turn out to be a good day." With a big smile on his face, Harry's best friend Disapparated from the grass in front Hermione's apartment building.

Harry stepped through the front door and looked around the living room. He could hear her singing to herself in the bathroom and grinned at many possibilities the night had in store for the love of his life. "Yes, it's going to be a very good day."

…. To be continued …