Chapter 31

For the Best

"Hiya Harry – how's it going?" Ron Weasley asked his best friend, slapping him on the back and taking a seat next to him.

Harry mumbled an "ok" and continued to stare at his drink. Ron looked between him and the nearly empty glass containing dregs of Firewhisky, noticed the time and frowned. The days of Harry drinking during the day had seemed to be over when he found out about Jamie.

"You and Hermione had a fight?" Ron asked soothingly.

"No". Great – one word answers – must be bad.

"What then?" Ron questioned gently, after ordering a drink. Not Firewhisky during the day Ronald – you know how it affects you came the voice, eerily sounding like a mixture of his wife and his mother.

It took Harry a long time to answer, and when he did, he did so without looking at Ron.

"... I did it again." He said it quietly, his voice full of hurt and emotion. "...I've screwed it up again."

"What do you mean? Things with Hermione? – I thought everything was going well – you guys seemed so happy – what happened?" Ron was genuinely shocked.

"I don't know how I managed it. But I did." His voice was bitter, now, a sign of his rising frustration, and also of the depth of pain he was feeling. "She doesn't want me anymore. The only times she's spoken to me or even looked at me, is when she's had to-when Jamie's there. I forced her into coming back... and she... I thought I was making her happy – I thought she wanted me... that she loved me... but she doesn't Ron – she can't even bear to be in the same room as me. She doesn't want me Ron – it was all about the guilt. The guilt of keeping Jamie from me, so she gave me what I wanted – a family – and now she regrets it. She doesn't want me – I'm making her so unhappy..."

It had all come spiralling out, and shocked Ron. He knew there was more, but Harry had seemed to remember where he was and abruptly shut up. He'd returned to his drink when Ron came back to planet earth, wondering how on earth he was going to sort this out.

xxxxx

Ron had sobered him up and basically told him to pull himself together and talk to Hermione. He'd told him he wasn't going to get anywhere, sitting in the middle of the pub feeling sorry for himself, which hadn't worked. And then Ron had told him that if he was just going to sit there and let his family fall apart, then maybe he deserved to loose them. That worked. So he'd decided to skip the rest of work Kingsley wouldn't mind, since he wasn't actually there and Ron had agreed to cover for him and go home and talk to Hermione. Starting with why she lied to him about having a 'headache' the night before. If she didn't want to sleep with me, all she had to do was say and I'd have slept in my room – she knows that so why lie?

He apparated in, and was surprised to find Ginny and Hermione sat at the table in the kitchen, discussing the forthcoming wedding. He tried to be interested, but all he wanted to do was talk with Hermione, so he felt guilty at wanting Ginny to leave.

"Have you sorted the seating plan Gin? Your Mum said you were having some trouble getting some relatives sat far enough away?"

They all laughed; Molly had indeed been flustered about fitting all of the Weasley clan into one wedding hall, particularly as it was commonplace at a Weasley Wedding to have at least one duel resulting in severe or hilarious depending on your point of view results.

"All sorted now Harry. It was actually Dad who managed to figure out how to seat everyone, although Fred and George helped so I think I'm gonna check it out again, just to make sure they haven't placed all the volatile relatives on one table. How come your back so early anyways?"

"Oh-"

"Was it to check on Hermione?"

Hermione started to choke on her biscuit.

"Why would I need to check on Hermione?" Harry asked Ginny, although his gaze was firmly resting on Hermione, who now had her back to him.

"Well she was sick earlier-"

"Are you ok? Did you 'floo a healer?" Harry asked walking towards Hermione, confusion giving way to concern. She turned to look at him-

"I'm fine – It was just a little 'flu that's all – I feel fine now. No need to bother a healer." She turned away from him, glanced at Ginny and busied herself with the kettle. Harry felt guilty for thinking that she faked the headache and was worried that she was ill. He decided quickly, that now probably wasn't the best time to talk to her.

"I'll go change my robes then." Harry said, quietly, still looking at her.

"Ok." She replied, her back once again towards him. He walked out of the room, and she immediately felt less tense. She poured her and Ginny another drink, and turned to face her friend who had a very odd expression on her face.

"You and Harry ok?" Ginny said, the expression on her face unchanging.

"Fine."

"You seem... distant."

"No – we're fine. Did you-"

"You seem distant like before." Ginny had said it with purpose, she was looking right at her with a determined look on her face and Hermione had a sinking feeling she knew where this conversation was going.

"I'm sure I don't-"

"And I'm sure you do Hermione Granger. This morning I walk in on you throwing your guts up. You've been miserable and preoccupied, and I've caught you crying three times. And now you and Harry-"

"Harry and I are fine Ginny – drop it."

"You are - aren't you." It wasn't a question, more a statement of fact, and Hermione found she couldn't deny it to her; she just let the tears roll down her face.

xxxxx

By the time Harry came down the stairs, the pair had adjourned to the living room. They were sat sipping tea on the couch, and Ginny turned and smiled when he walked into the room.

"You were a while." Ginny said to him. Hermione didn't look up from the book, and Harry's mood worsened.

"Sorry – you weren't waiting for me were you?" Harry asked, noticing a new pile of buns on a nearby coffee table.

"No – just wondering that's all."

He smiled at her and an uncomfortable silence rested in the room. Harry miserably thought he should of stayed upstairs.

"Harry?" Ginny said to him. He looked at her politely. "Would you mind fetching me my magazine from the kitchen?" He could of easily summoned the thing, but then so could she, so Harry got up in a bewildered state and went to fetch the magazine from the kitchen. Hermione had looked up when Ginny spoke, and now wore a scared expression as she looked at her friend.

"...Ginny – you won't will you. You promised – I explained – I need time- I will tell him – I just want to deal with it my way for a while." Ginny looked grimly resolved-

"I know Hermione." Was all she said.

"So you won't will you- he won't want- I need some space that's all..." She was rambling and they both knew it "Promise? Ginny please promise – you know how I feel – please? It's for the best - Please?" Hermione pleaded, stopping when she heard Harry approaching.

Ginny stood up, quickly followed by an anxious Hermione and Harry sensed something was going on. Ginny smiled warmly at Hermione and gave her a huge hug. Harry noticed that Hermione seemed to relax.

"Hermione you know I love you. You've always been my big sister – the one person I can talk to when my stupid brothers are doing my head in. The first person I told about Mark and the last person I would ever intentionally hurt." Hermione smiled at her and the pair hugged again. "I love you and I want you to be happy." Ginny moved towards the fireplace and grabbed a handful of powder-

"Harry?" Ginny said; he looked up as did Hermione. "I love you too – and I want you to be happy as well." He smiled at her. "I want you both to be happy, and this is for the best." She was talking to herself more than them, and Hermione seemed to realise just too late-

"She's pregnant Harry – that's why she's acting oddly. Being distant and pushing you away – she's afraid. She needs you to be the strong one – don't let her insecurities push you away – fight for her..."

Hermione looked mortified as she continued to stare at Ginny and Harry simply looked shocked as his head spun to look at Hermione, his mouth hanging open. Tears rolled down Hermione's face, and Ginny swallowed hard-

"It's for the best Hermione." She said before flooing away, leaving the scene behind her. "It really is," she added quietly.