Solitude

ImmortalFlick

A/N: No, there will be no Harry/Ron slash, don't get yourselves in a twist. There isn't a slash pairing at all. It's unrequited. There are only 2 chapters after this one.

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Solitude - Chapter 3

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Ron knew Hermione was smart. She always had been. Everyone knew it. But she wasn't smart right now. She couldn't see it and Ron hated her for it.

He knew why the teachers didn't know. Because they were just as sucked into that 'Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived' image as those stupid fan-girls of his. Hermione couldn't see the complete deadness in Harry's eyes and as his best-friend, he had to do something about it. There was nothing more terrifying than seeing thoughtfulness in Harry's expression when he saw a knife or a long fall.

Ron could pinpoint the exact moment when he'd known Harry wasn't 'right'. It was very simple. Very normal.

One morning, two weeks ago, Ron had woken Harry up during a nightmare. Harry looked at Ron and said in a tired voice: "I don't want to wake up." It could've been taken as fatigue or still part of the nightmare. But it was scary. And Harry's eyes...

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Ron sat next to Hermione in silence. She looked uncomfortable.

"Snuffles promised to look into it. Harry will be fine."

"Herm, I have to ask you something." Ron was cautious.

"What?"

"Are you and Harry..."

Hermione continued when Ron trailed off. "Am I and Harry what?"

"Together?" He finished with a sigh.

Again there was a long silence. Ron waited, holding his breath.

"Yes." He barely heard it through the rush of blood to his head.

"What?" He asked, his voice trembled.

"Yes, Harry and I are together." Hermione smiled at him, waiting for something.

Ron gathered himself together.

"Oh."

Hermione's smile faded, she looked concerned. "Are you okay with that, Ron?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron felt himself get angry. His friends had been sneaking around shagging.

"Harry and I thought you would be upset, we were going to tell you."

"And when I told you he was suicidal?" His voice cracked.

"I asked him about it, he said you were overreacting. I'm his girlfriend, Ron, I ought to know."

"Why would I be upset? You two are my best friends!" The common room was catching onto the conversation now, eyes turned to them.

"Ron, you obviously have a crush on me! We thought we would wait until you were over it!"

"Merlin, Hermione, a crush on you? You're not my type!"

Hermione looked hurt and confused. "Not your type?"

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Ron slammed the portrait closed.

"Young man, mind your manners," The Fat Lady scowled at him.

Ron ignored her.

Fucking hell.

This was messed up. Hermione and Harry? Why didn't they tell him?

What was with Harry then? He had Hermione. He had Ron, who would do anything for him. He had Black.

Why the hell was Harry so lost?

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Harry stared down at the trees in the Forbidden Forest. Hermione had laughed at Ron's actions for the past few days. Said this was typical Ron, seeing things that just weren't there.

Harry wondered how Ron knew. He wondered how much longer he had to live in this damn world. He wondered if Hermione would miss him. He wondered how far it was to the ground.

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