Disclaimer: The only character I own is Hope.

A/N: I was surprised today to check my email and find a mess of reveiws. It was truely thrilling. Most of them were from Estella Luna. Thank you so. Other I got were from cantbesilenced,aishteru, Darcy,and Masau. Thank you all so much for reading. You all pleaded so that I had to put up this chapter earlier than I had planned. Oh, and , Masau, I do have a couple more chapters in mind. But it it winding down.

ONLY HOPE by Lina Shay

Chapter Thirteen: More than a Man Could Concieve

Throughout the day, Ron, Dean and Seamus decided on what Ginny's next love letter would say. They had decided that Neville had to fight for her, but who would he fight. Ron thought maybe he should take on Goyle in defense of her. Seamus thought he should stand up to Snape for her. Dean wanted something better, but he would not tell the others.

The three entered Gryffindor tower that afternoon. Hermione was sitting near the fire reading. Ron watched her longingly.

"I saw that," Dean snickered.

"What?" Ron asked.

"You have a thing for Hermione," Dean announced. "You always have."

Ron looked at her again.

"You should tell her," Seamus insisted. "Better yet, take her to the Ball."

"You think she'll actually go?" Ron asked. "I mean, she's off on Krum."

"Krum ain't here," Dean told him.

Ron nodded.

Hope held the deep plum dress up to herself, walked dulcetly about as if she were wearing it. She imagined that someone came up to her, Ron maybe. She took up the dress and curtsied. He asked her to dance. Of course, she said yes. To a magical tune that only she could hear, Hope danced about with her invisible partner. Hope imagined a perfect evening, being held by Ron and looking into his dark green eyes. He said something funny and Hope laughed. It was all perfection, until Hope caught her reflection in the full-length mirror. She frowned. There stood Harry Potter with a dress held up to himself. She was Harry to Ron and everyone else. If only she could be herself. Letting go of the dress with one hand, Hope twirled the ends of her unruly black hair around her finger. She looked like a boy. Hope dropped the dress on the floor, then threw herself on her bed, bawling.

There were footsteps coming toward the room. Hope wiped away her tears quickly and stuffed the dress away in her trunk. Dean and Seamus came in whispering.

"Where's Ron?" Hope asked.

"In the common room," Seamus told her. "He's telling Hermione he loves her."

"He is?" Hope gasped.

Ron didn't know that Hermione thought she loved Hope. But maybe, she truly loved Ron instead. If that was so, Hope had definitely lost Ron forever. She had to go see what was going on. She rushed from the room, then snuck down the stairs. Ron sat on the couch very still. Hermione was no where in sight. Maybe he hadn't done it yet. Maybe she could stop him from it.

"Hey, Ron," Hope said as she walked over to where he sat. "How did things go?"

Ron leaned forward, placing his face in his hands. Hope's heart went out to him. It was painful to see him so distressed.

"That bad?" Hope muttered.

Ron ran his fingers up into his hair. Hope held up a hand, then hesitated, feeling herself shaking. Finally, she placed her hand on his shoulder in some attempt to comfort him.

"I'm sorry, Ron," Hope told him softly. "I know Hermione meant a lot to you."

Ron reached one hand up and took Hope's hand. His touch gave her chills.

"Harry," Ron muttered, "I don't understand how I can love her so when she can't return my feelings. I'm just a loser."

"No," Hope insisted, walking around the couch to sit with him, Ron still holding her hand. "No, Ron. You're not a loser."

"No?" Ron asked, looking over at her. "Then why can't anyone love me?"

Ron finally let go of Hope's hand. She wished he hadn't. She wanted to hold him, to be near him.

She looked into his dark green eyes and said, "Ron, you have so much to offer someone. You are a hard worker when it comes to the things that you care about. You always have something funny to say. You're brave and kind."

Hope glanced down at the floor, blushing, as she went on, "And you're very handsome."

He was silent. Hope looked over at him. Ron stared at her with great intensity, almost smiling. Then his eyes widened for a moment and he looked away.

"It's kind of you to say and all," Ron said, looking uneasy. "But if that were true then I would have someone to care for me."

"Maybe someone does," Hope muttered. "Maybe this person is just afraid to tell you, afraid how you'll react."

Ron's face was one of bemusement as Hope stared at him. Ron didn't seem to know what to say. Hope finally said to herself that she had to do it. She had to, no matter how he reacted. She couldn't stand it anymore. Before she could change her mind, Hope reached up and ran her fingers through his brilliant, red hair. Ron watched this with great confusion. Slowly, Hope leaned close to Ron and closed her lips over his. Ron didn't react at first, then he pulled away quickly and stood up, gawking in shock.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN, HARRY!" Ron shouted, his ears going red. "What? Why did you-I mean-what was-uh-"

Ron was going nuts, breathing erratically and pacing. Hope knew she shouldn't have done it. She knew that he would have this type of reaction. She was so embarrassed that she felt like crying.

"I didn't even know you were like that," Ron began, still pacing in front of her. "Listen, Harry, I'm not...I don't...go for guys. At least, I don't think I do. I don't! I can't! I can't care for you like that. It's...wrong."

"I guess now I know how you feel with Hermione, then," Hope said quietly, looking down.

Ron stopped pacing and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked at Hope, saying, "I'm sorry, Harry."

Hope glanced up at him, tears evading her vision. Ron did look sorry. He looked almost mournful. Their eyes locked on each other's for a moment, then Ron shook his head and ran off to the dormitory. Hope couldn't believe she had ruined it. She could have been content just being friends, but now they didn't even have that. She hated herself.

After Hope had thought a lot of things through, she went up to their room She saw that Ron had his blankets covering his head. She walked over to her bed and sat down.

"Ron," she whispered.

There was no answer.

"Ron, I'm sorry," she went on. "I couldn't help it. I care for you so...But I'm putting it behind me. Can we please forget tonight happened? Please, Ron. I couldn't stand to lose you as a friend."

There was no reply.

"Ron? Are you awake?"

Silence.

"Goodnight, Ron," Hope whispered, then she climbed into bed.