It's Not Like You'll Marry Me!
Chapter 4: Hermione's Fear
Author's Note: I haven't had much time to write since Mom decided to sell our house. cries But I'll try to get as much in as I can.
"I'm dead." Ron said. "Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead."
"It's not THAT bad." Harry said.
"Not that bad? NOT THAT BAD! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! First I'm in trouble for GETTING married, and now I'm in trouble for NOT getting married!"
"Calm down, it'll get sorted out." Harry said.
Ron started hitting his head against the wall. "HOW CAN YOU BE SO OPTIMISTIC! IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, MY LIFE IS REALLY MESSED UP RIGHT NOW!"
Harry grabbed Ron so he wouldn't suffer brain damage. "I've noticed, okay? All I'm saying is it will blow over in time."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Time. Sure. Time will fix everything. That's exactly what Hermione said."
"Ron, I'm not implying that—"
"Then what are you implying?"
"I'm just saying that it'll get sorted out sooner or later."
"It better be sooner." Ron said.
"It will be."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah…In fact…" Harry walked towards the door. "I was just on my way to go talk to Hermione."
Ron's eyes opened wide in shock. "R-really? You're going to do that?"
"Yeah, I'm going right now." Harry turned around.
"Wait—what exactly are you going to say?" Ron asked.
"Well, I was thinking about telling her you still like her." Harry replied.
"Telling her I still like her…yeah…that's good…" Ron muttered, thinking it over.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Stop worrying, okay, Ron? I'll just say what needs to be said, and if she's not back here begging to get back in a weeks time, I shall be very much surprised."
As Harry walked out the door, Ron stared at the ceiling. "I'd better start praying."
Hermione walked across the kitchen of her apartment. She was fixing her favorite dish while reading a book, yet again multitasking. This wasn't the usual study book; this was one of those sappy romance novels she always had to hide from her roommate Ginny to avoid ridicule. She loved romances, but since Ginny was more of the action/adventure and horror type, she knew that liking cutesy happy ending books would be something that Ginny would never let her live down.
This particular romance was a fantasy romance about an elf maiden and a man who loved each other, yet they could never get together because their races were constantly at war. Each race believed the other betrayed them long ago. Hermione had read this one before, yet she loved to read books over again. However, it was sad because they both ended up dying in the end. Well, I guess when you think about it, they are better off in death than in life…
She heard the door being unlocked. Quickly, she hid the romance novel under a chair cushion and went back to her cooking.
The door slammed shut. Hermione looked away from the kitchen to see Ginny standing in the hallway. "Hey, Ginny, why are you back so early? I thought the Barmaid of The Three Broomsticks had to stay later."
"Today was my day off, so I went to visit Mum." Ginny growled.
Hermione was puzzled by her behavior. "Oh…what's with you? You act like someone cheated you out of ten galleons."
Ginny shot her a cold look. "You wanna know what's 'with' me, then go figure it out."
"Okay, Ginny, this is getting ridiculous. What is the matter with you? Why are you so mad?"
Ginny didn't look at her, just walked over to the fridge and pulled out a soda. "Go look in a mirror."
Hey! What did I do? "What are you saying?" Hermione asked.
Ginny sat down at the table. "Let's think about this, shall we? You seem to be so cheerful today that it makes me sick."
Hermione sat down across from her. "Okay, Ginny. You have never acted like this. You're usually more 'cheerful' than I am. Now tell me, what I did!"
Ginny gave her another cold stare. "Why don't you first tell me why you decided to break my brother's heart."
Huh? Wait…how does she know about that? "Uh…Ginny? You don't really understand the circumstances…and the real reason…"
Ginny sipped the soda, staring away from her. "You're right. I don't."
"Ginny, if you would just hear me out…
"Really? What are you going to do? Give me some lame excuse like, 'the love just died?' honestly, Hermione, I don't need to hear it."
All right. This has got to be settled. "GINNY, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND—"
"WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY YOU HAVE TO GO BREAK UP WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO PROP—"
Just then the doorbell rang. Hermione cast one look and Ginny and went to open it. It was Harry. "Oh, Hi, Harry." Hermione said.
"Hey, Hermione…did I hear shouting?" He asked.
"No." She said abruptly. "Come in."
She walked into the kitchen where Ginny was still sitting. "Hello, Harry." Ginny said, not casting a look in his direction.
"Um…" Harry looked from Hermione to Ginny. "Is something going on between you two."
"No," Ginny said, standing up. "If you'll excuse me, I think I forgot something back at the Three Broomsticks." With a pop! She disapperated away.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Hermione went to the stove. "Um…would you like something to eat?" She asked.
"Yeah, that would be great. Thanks."
Hermione served them both up some meatballs while they sat in silence. "So," She dared to ask. "What did you come by here for."
"Well…to talk." He replied nervously.
"About what?" She asked.
"About…about…Ron." He said finally.
Hermione put down her fork. "Oh, not you too!"
"Look, Hermione, we just want to know why—"
"Doesn't seem like it." Hermione said. "It seems to me that everyone is here to punish me."
"Well, come on Hermione, what you did to the poor guy was pretty cruel…"
She got up from her chair and walked into the living room. "Maybe it was cruel. But going on dates with him acting all nervous was cruel for me, you know!"
Harry followed her. "Hermione, come on, give the guy a break—"
Hermione turned around sharply. "Harry, I know he was hiding something from me! I don't know if it was another woman or what, but he wasn't as open to me as he used to be! It was like he doesn't…" She didn't need to finish the sentence. "Anyway, isn't one component of a healthy relationship trust?"
Harry shook his head. "Ron still loves you, okay? He's had it rough these past few days, and I think breaking up with him at this time was pretty mean."
"Harry, I just need to get my life in order right now." She said.
"Oh yeah? Hermione, you're life is so balanced, it beats the food pyramid. I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but I am sure it is nothing compared what you're putting Ron through."
"Harry, you just don't understand." She said, turning away.
"That's what you're been saying, yet I don't get it. I don't know what you want me to 'understand' but all I want you to understand is this—"
"I broke up with Ron because—"
"RON WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO PROPOSE TO YOU!" Harry yelled at the exact same time.
Hermione stopped dead in her sentence. She gasped, and her eyes were wide in amazement. A single tear rolled down her cheek. Slowly, she turned and looked back at Harry. "Wh-what did you say?" She asked.
Harry sighed. "Ron has been planning to pop the question for three months. That's why he's been so nervous. He was finally going to do it and ask you the night you broke up."
Hermione still stared at Harry in disbelief. "Ron was going to…" She put a hand over her mouth as another tear formed in her eye.
"H-Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Go away." She said.
"What?"
"GO AWAY, GET OUT OF HERE, I NEED TO BE ALONE!" She screamed.
Harry, deciding he might as well follow her order, disapperated.
Hermione, still shaking and crying, looked up at the mantle. On it was a picture of her and Ron, the one that was taken after they had started dating. She had looked so happy in the picture, yet at the moment, she could never feel happier and more wretched.
Ron was…Ron was going to propose to me? A small bubble of happiness rose in her chest. But…now I've probably ruined everything.
Why? Hermione? Why does this always have to happen to you? I mean…I can't help myself…but…
I still love him.
"I still love him damnit! I still love him!" She yelled, wiping her eyes. "There, I said it…I said it…" She repeated.
I still love him…yet…if I do…I can't love him…because if I do…If I give into my feelings…
Hermione cast a nervous glance in the direction of the old clock on the mantelpiece. She burst into tears and slowly sank to the floor.
Author's Note: YES, SHE DOES LOVE HIM! And you will find out what is keeping her from being with him next chapter. (I LOVE doing this!)