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Interference
Sunlight was streaming through a crack between the curtains when Ron awoke the next morning. Sitting up he rubbed his tired, bleary eyes and took a glance around the cluttered living room. The long emptied bottle of Ogden's was precariously strewn on the floor mingling with his cloak and that dratted letter. He stretched his aching back muscles and frowned thoughtfully at the pile. In the sober light of day things seemed much clearer. Hermione was getting married and that was final. There was no reason to avoid her wedding day like the plague. After all, he had his chance didn't he? Ron shook his head of these reflections….there was no need to dwell. He indulged himself last night but today he was going to take it like a man.
A loud rumbling sound from his stomach brought him back to earth. Perhaps it was time for a little breakfast and then a new letter accepting the invitation. I'll just tell her that the case was closed or thrown out and she won't suspect a thing, he thought as he strode into the kitchen.
Despite this commendable brainchild, Ron found himself idling over his repast and made every excuse in the book to make breakfast drag on. He ate very slowly causing his entire meal to get cold and wound up starting from scratch. Next, he dawdled at his kitchen table pretending to be extremely interested with the radio's "Ministry Political Hour" discussion on muggle baiting. Then after many, many extra helpings of toast he decided to face the music.
But as he trudged despondently towards his writing desk, a loud CRACK stopped him dead in his tracks.
Ron nearly fell over in surprise as a grinning Harry Potter apparated into his living room. Harry whipped off his cloak with flourish and flung it towards him completely ignoring the slack jawed expression on his best friend's face. Shooting a disdainful glance at the Ogden's bottle he turned to Ron with a wry look on his face, "So. Not taking it well I assume?"
Arranging his features into an expression of utter confusion Ron gave a weak laugh, "I have no idea what you're talking about but I'm busy so if you wouldn't mind…" Harry gave a snort of derision as Ron turned around with the pretense of hanging the cloak up but in actuality was hiding the faint crimson colour creeping onto his face.
"C'mon Ron, don't play this game with me. I know what you're going through."
Ron spun around so fast he tripped over himself, "You know what I'm going through huh? That's funny, because I don't think you do."
Taken aback Harry held up his hands helplessly and looked at Ron in disbelief, "Listen, I'm trying to help."
"I know…just forget it," Ron mumbled, he was not in the mood to disturb ghosts of his past.
Harry took a deep breath and tried again, "Listen mate pull yourself together, there's no reason to get unhinged. Will you at least tell me if you responded to her yet?"
Ron nodded dully, "Yeah. I did."
"And?"
"And I told her I wasn't going, I made something up about having a case to work on…but I think I acted a bit rashly."
Harry sighed and stared at the woebegone expression on Ron's face.
"You know what you have to do right? Send her another letter and accept."
"I know, I was going to but Pig is already out delivering the letter and the post is closed."
"No matter, I'll just apparate back home and get Hedwig. Don't move." A loud CRACK echoed through the room as Harry disappeared.
Ron felt very much alone as sat down and clutched an overstuffed pillow, "Don't think about it. You shouldn't care. You are happy for her. Damn ECSTATIC is what you are." he looked down and realized he had just ripped his pillow in half and there were now feathers everywhere.
It's not like this place can be any more of a disaster, he thought as he took in the cluttered room and mismatched furniture. What he wouldn't give for a feminine touch. His bravado began to fail him as he fell into a sort of daydream. The room was tidy for once and a ginger cat was dozing comfortably in front of the fireplace, a cheerful patchwork quilt brightened up the sofa. The bookcase was filled to the brim, and two figures were in the warm kitchen having dinner and laughing. Ron snapped out of his reverie and gave a fleeting look at his kitchen table. It was set for one.
"Now I'm even happier than I was before," Ron said sarcastically through gritted teeth. Harry's bemused voice came out of nowhere-
"You know that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness?"
Ron jumped with a start, "Where did you come from? I didn't even hear you!"
"I apparated out front…" Harry said with a dismissive wave.
"Er, where is Hedwig?" Ron said, noticing that Harry was empty-handed, and was it his imagination or did Harry appear discomforted?
"About that….I took it upon myself to respond for you, you know I got top grades in auror training for handwriting duplication."
"Handwriting duplica-WHAT?!" Ron bellowed, "What did you SAY?!"
"Um, nothing. I just said that you wanted her to disregard your first note and that you'd be there, that's all." Harry suddenly became very interested with the design on Ron's cloak.
"That's all? That's all? You might've gotten top marks in handwriting duplication but I my friend, was at the head of the class on deceit!"
"That did slip my mind," Harry admitted, "Well, you win. I conveniently forgot that I had added a postscript."
"And what did this postscript say?" demanded Ron.
"Something along the lines of you needing to talk to her. Will you look at that, it's already half past two….time sure does fly when you're having fun. Is that someone calling my name? I better go…." Harry darted towards the closet to retrieve his cloak.
"Talk to her? About what?"
"Listen Ron…"
"I can't believe you meddled like this."
"Me meddling may be the best thing that ever happens to you. You've tortured yourself for about a decade over her, don't you want to at least let her know how you feel?"
"She's getting MARRIED. Do you not comprehend what that is?"
Harry took a moment to fasten his cloak, "I know. But this life of regret you live isn't healthy. It's consuming you, don't you want to at least try?"
"I'm sick of trying, she's lucky I'm even going to be there," Ron said savagely.
Harry gave a bitter laugh, "Don't kid yourself. You've never tried. See you."
A loud crack silenced the string of curses that was going to flood from Ron's mouth, Harry was gone leaving Ron more alone and more confused than ever.