CHAPTER 2
Ron's Confession
"I DON'T CARE RON! HOW THE BLOODY HELL COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME?"
Ron looked sorry beyond belief, but said nothing as Harry continued to yell –
"YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY BEST FRIEND..." Harry continued throwing things into a battered trunk – "AFTER EVERYTHING-EVERYTHING RON- THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH HOW COULD YOU? HOW?" Now Harry whirled on Ron, and he looked slightly afraid, as he sat wearily on the edge of Harry's bed.
After a few minutes of silence, Harry said loudly [although not yelling] "How long have you known where she is?"
Ron looked his best friend in the eyes and said simply "if you sit down and stop yelling I will tell you everything I know – I promise".
Harry sat, his anger not fully abated but his desire for the truth taking over, and waited for Ron to begin. Ron shifted uncomfortably before he spoke-
"Er... I – I just want you to know mate that whatever I did- it was only to stop you any further pain-
Harry snorted contemptuously, but let Ron continue-
"- I know you won't believe that but I wanted to say it all the same because it is the truth." Ron stopped and looked right at Harry who stared back, unblinking.
"When Hermione left you I didn't know where she'd gone – I promise. Those six months after she broke your heart you were – frankly – so awful to live with that had I known where she was I would have raised Voldermort to get you to her."
Harry looked at Ron, mouth agape. He was actually still quite proud of Ron for using the name, despite the fact that Harry had defeated Voldermort eight and a half years previously and knew [as far as any of them could] that he wasn't going to return. That was before he remembered why he was angry with Ron in the first place. He scowled again.
"Anyway... as time went on and the years passed I thought you would get over her – I know it was Hermione – our Hermione – but- well I thought, after how badly she hurt you, that you would find a way to let her go. I prayed you would Harry – we all did and little-by-little it seemed you were starting too."
"Seemed being the operative word" added Harry silently
"... so... when I found out where she was – I decided I wouldn't tell you- Harry started, but Ron continued "BUT I would first go to see Hermione first..."
There was silence for a second and then – "You've seen her- how is she? Does she still hate me? Will she see me? How long-"
"HARRY!" Ron bellowed to stop Harry's babbling. Harry was silent.
"I went to see her a little less that two years ago. I found out she was working for a wizard paper in Paris. I just turned up and said hello – right out of the blue." Ron paused remembering how bad he'd felt when he'd left her that day. "When she saw me – she hugged me and I honestly thought she'd got over blaming us for her parent's death. But then it was like she remembered and pulled away. We went to this little café place. It was nice – very Hermione" Ron said sadly. "Anyways... we talked – mostly about you – and..."
"And?" Harry said breathlessly.
"... I'm sorry Harry..." Ron breathed out slowly "...but she said she wasn't sorry for her decision, some rubbish about it being for the best and you needing to have a whole new life after Voldermort... about you needing to live and she'd stop you or something...it was awful..." Ron had said this quietly but Harry had heard every word. It was only what he'd expected after all.
Harry stood up, Hermione's face in the front of his mind, and started putting things in the trunk. "Harry what are you doing? You can't STILL want to go see her!" Harry continued. "She doesn't want you Harry! I'm sorry but you have to move on with your life – it has been eight years!"
Harry turned to look at his best friend and said simply "I can't... I need on I mean-"
"Ron. I have to see Hermione at least one last time or I'll never ever get her out of my mind."
He saw Ron admitting defeat and leaving his room, and he turned back towards the trunk packing his things quickly. If I just explain about her mum and dad maybe she'll listen. Maybe. He sighed, remembering with a shudder the deaths, now eight years prior – just before Voldermort's downfall. If you'd been quicker to her house Potter, Malfoy wouldn't have been able to get Mr or Mrs Granger. Shouldn't have been dwelling on Percy's death – should have been watching over Hermione's parents LIKE SHE ASKED YOU TO. He swallowed a sharp pain in his throat and told himself he'd make her listen to him.