Chapter 14: Talking with Ron
It had been a week since the Halloween feast, and the recruiting of the students to fight. Whenever Harry walked down the halls he could tell who had joined the fight, there was an unspoken nod that would pass between people, plus all the students seemed to be working harder in class, mastering every skill they could. Everyone in Julia's class had joined the fight so they could openly talk about it.
"Julia may I try one more time" asked Neville as they were practicing their dueling with a boggart Julia was able to get.
"Of course Neville, remember everyone, the dementors will probably be Voldemorts first line of attack. He won't want to risk Death Eaters if he doesn't have to. If at any time a whole group can conjure the Patronus it will be bigger and stronger then just one person. Ready Neville!" asked Julia.
"Ready," he looked nervous but Neville grasped his wand tight and watched as Julia began to open the box. Once the dementor was out, Neville stood still with fright.
"Come on Neville, think of your happiest moment!" cried Julia.
"I don't know if I have one," he muttered with a cold breath as the dementor came closer.
"Neville, remember carrying Hermione and fighting off the Death Eaters! You're Gran was so proud of you!" Harry shouted to him. Just then Harry saw Neville snap out of his trance and recompose himself.
"You're right, I'm not scared of you!" Neville yelled at the dementor. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" shouted Neville. A giant lion leaped from his wand and charged towards the dementor causing it to fly back into the box. The lion then trotted back to Neville and rested at his feet before disappearing.
"20 points to Gryffindor! Neville that was amazing! What did you think of?" Julia was ecstatic.
"When Harry yelled out about us fighting the Death Eaters last year and then about my Gran, I remembered her reaction when I got my O.W.L's. It was the proudest she'd ever been," said Neville as he held himself high while walking back to the group of students.
"Good job all of you, now remember your homework assignment, I want each of you to be able to conjure your Patronus by next class," she said as the class began to pack up their belongings. Harry had decided that he was going to talk with Ron later that night. The rumors had died down about Hermione and Harry but Ginny had approached Harry several days ago to ask him about it.
"Harry do you have a moment," she asked while he was studying in the library.
"Sure what's up?" he paused from reading about the Ferula charm.
"Okay – is it true – that you know – um you and Hermione," she tried to finish her sentence but it didn't work.
"Oh no you heard that rumor too? Has Ron?" Harry asked.
"I don't think so, why, is it true?" Ginny was asking to protect her brother from any heartache and Harry could tell she was not going to be happy with his next answer.
"Not yet," Harry said.
"Not yet," repeated Ginny in a cold tone. "So you plan on asking her to go out with you is that it! Behind my brothers back!" her voice was starting to get louder.
"NO!" Harry whispered. "I haven't asked her yet because I wanted to talk with Ron first. Honest, besides you're one to talk about doing things behind your brothers back. How long have you been seeing Draco?" Harry blurted out. He caught Ginny completely off guard. The two looked at each other for another moment then Ginny cast her eyes down at the floor.
"We haven't started yet, not officially, not until I talk with Ron. Besides we're just friends at the moment. He's been talking to me about his mum and how he wants revenge against his dad. He just needs someone to talk too" She looked up at Harry. They were both in the same predicament.
"Well, I was planning on talking to him in a couple days, what about you?" asked Harry.
"Probably after Christmas break," blushed Ginny.
"Good at least that gives him some time to recover," laughed Harry. Ginny fell silent for a moment.
"I'm sorry I got mad, it's just I know he's liked her for a while and I thought you two were dating behind his back." She slowly admitted.
"It's okay Ginny, I know you want to protect your brother. Just remember I consider him a brother as well and I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize our friendship." There was complete honesty in Harry's voice.
"I know Harry, I know," she gave him a hug and walked off. Harry was glad she had talk to him, at least if Ron asked her about it she could tell him that Harry had the best intentions.
"Potter!" snapped Snape. Harry was quickly brought back to the present as he looked up from his caldron to see Snape looking at him.
"Yes Professor," said Harry trying to remember what he was doing.
"Come up here!" said Snape. Harry slowly walked up to his desk thinking he was in trouble but realized that the class was packing up to leave. "About the matter you asked me about several weeks ago." Started Snape.
"Oh yes!" Harry suddenly understood what Snape was talking about.
"He'll join you out side Miss. Granger," said Snape who was peering behind Harry to make sure the room had emptied. Once she closed the door Snape looked back at Harry. "It has come to may attention that the Dark Lord has been trying to feed you bad thoughts for the last month to try and weaken you. So a staff member has been in your head diverting these images and that is way you saw their vision," Snape seemed to soft much more then usual.
"Thank you sir, I appreciate you looking into the matter," Harry couldn't believe that Snape actually followed through on helping him.
"I would suggest that over the Christmas break you ask Dumbledore if you could try and sleep with out the help of this person. I understand you have gotten much better at Occlumency, and if you can shield your mind on your own it would make you much stronger against the Dark Lord in person," Snape almost sounded like he cared what happened to Harry. "No be off with you I have matters to attend to," he snapped in his old fashioned way.
"Thanks again sir," said Harry as he left the room. Hermione was still waiting for him when he got out.
"What was that about?" she asked, worried Harry might have gotten a tongue-lashing.
"Come with me," Harry grabbed her by the arm and went into one of the empty classrooms on the second floor.
"Harry what's all this about," she asked as he was closing the door.
"Snape told me why I saw the vision. Someone has been in my head this last month or so. Snape said that Voldemort has been trying to feed me bad images while I slept to try and weaken me but that a staff member has been blocking those images out of my head. So when Julia had her vision, that's why I saw it, because she has been protecting me." Harry said in one big breath. Hermione stared in amazement for a moment.
"So what do we do now?" she asked.
"Snape mentioned I should try and block him out myself over Christmas break," said Harry, still wondering why Snape gave him so much information.
"Well now I know where I'm spending the holiday," Hermione said with a smile.
"But Hermione, you haven't seen your parents in months," Harry felt horrible, feeling that he was taking Hermione away from her parents.
"Harry it's okay, Dumbledore talked with them this past summer," Hermione sounded like she wasn't telling the whole story.
"Hermione," Harry said in a tender voice. "What are you not telling me?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "Come on we're going to be late to Hagrids." And with that she was off. Harry had a feeling he was going to need to talk with Dumbledore about this, because he knew he wouldn't get any answers from Hermione.
It was soon dinnertime and Harry was getting nervous. As they were walking down to the great hall, Harry had pulled Ron aside and asked if they could talk after dinner. Ron just figured Harry wanted to talk about the Slytherin game that was in the coming week.
"I figure that Ginny and the other two are much quicker then Slytherin's chaser, plus Dean and Seamus are more accurate with they're bludger hits then Crabbe and Goyle. Plus you've already beaten Malfoy twice," Ron said as he stuffed his face with potato's.
"Yeah, you're right," Harry said nervously. He looked over at Hermione who was reading another one of Sirius's books. "How's it going?"
"Horrible, this book is in Celtic I can't understand a word," she said as she closed the book with a huff.
"Ya know – you shh – giv the booook – to Ulia," Ron said as he was eating another potato. Both Harry and Hermione looked at him as if he were an alien.
"You might want to try that again Ron," Harry said as he started to laugh. Ron quickly grabbed a cup of pumpkin juice and took a swig.
"I said, you should give the book to Julia. She might understand a little bit or know someone who does," He smiled and Harry and Hermione look dumbfounded that he came up with the idea.
"That's a good idea, I'll ask her to look at it after I go to the library," Hermione started to pack her things.
"Where are you going?" asked Ron.
"I have some things a want to look up, that might help. I'll see you guys back in the common room." With that she was off. Harry was now visibly nervous, he knew it was time to talk with Ron.
"Hey Ron – " Harry had barley gotten the words out of his mouth.
"Yeah you wanna talk. Where we going?" asked Ron.
"Julia's classroom," Harry said as he got up from the table. They walked up to the classroom. Ron continued to talk about why Gryffindor was going to pond Slytherin.
"I'm telling you mate nothing to worry about," smiled Ron as he turned to Harry, who was closing the door behind them. He then noticed how nervous Harry looked. "Hey you alright."
"Yeah I'm fin –" Harry stopped, he wasn't fine. His insides were eating him whole. One would have thought he was asking Ron's permission to marry Hermione. "I'm not fine, I need to tell you something and I need you to let me finish before you say anything," Harry said as he gave Ron a serious look.
"Yeah sure," said Ron, who could tell his friend was struggling to say something.
"Things have changed since last year," Harry started. "We're now sixteen and I've started to look at things a little differently," more like I've started to look at Hermione differently, thought Harry.
"Harry," Ron interjected. "Do you fancy boys? Cause it's okay if you do, I won't judge."
"No! Nothing like that," scoffed Harry. "I like girls," Harry paused. This was it just say it and get it over with, he thought. "In fact, I like one girl in particular . . . no it's much more then that," he took a breathe. "Ron, I'm in love with Hermione," Harry waited for some type of reaction but none came. "Ron?" Ron was still blankly looking at Harry.
"I'm sorry I thought you said you were in love with Hermione," Ron's voice on the brink of exploding.
"I did," said Harry in a soft voice. Ron continued to stare, Harry could tell he was boiling mad.
"Does she love you?!" Ron shouted.
"I don't know, I haven't asked her yet. I wanted to talk with you first," Harry making sure Ron knew he wasn't doing anything behind his back.
"Oh thanks MATE, how noble of you!" Ron started to pace. "You knew I liked her!"
"You never told me Ron, I always just assumed," Harry's, voice becoming stronger.
"Why?! Why Hermione?!" Ron continued to shout. "You could have any girl in the school, why her?!
"Because all the other girls in the school are not Hermione," pleaded Harry. "No one works as hard on their classes as she does. No one bites they're lip the way she does when she's concentrating. No ones smile can make me feel as alive as hers, and if anything happened to her I don't think I could go on." Harry's speech ended just as quickly as it had started.
"You think you're the only one who notices these things!" spat Ron.
"Yes! Because if you really liked Hermione you would have had the balls to ask her out two years ago!" Harry volleyed back.
"Is that so!" Yelled Ron.
"Yes and the worst part is Ron, you never planned on asking her out. You hoped that maybe someday she'd see how you fancied her, and ask you." Harry couldn't stop himself. "But that's not Hermione! She wants romance just like all the other girls she just doesn't want to be babied."
"I don't baby her!" Ron said through gritted teeth.
"No you just egg her on whenever you have the chance because that's the only way you know how to talk with girls," Harry now felt like he was defending Hermione.
"When did you become the girl expert, last time I checked your last girlfriend dumped you because you couldn't understand her," Ron thought he got the best of Harry.
"Well at lest I had a girlfriend!" Harry zipped back. Ron stormed around the classroom for a moment.
"Why do you always get everything? You got to be on the quidditch team in your first year! You got picked to be in the Tri-Wizards Tournament! You're the famous Harry Potter and everyone loves you!" Ron was completely venting, but Harry wasn't going to take this.
"You're right I'm the famous Harry Potter! The boy who might not live to see seventeen!" Harry screamed. "The boy who has lost everyone that he loves and is scared that he might lose his best friends in this battle if he doesn't figure out that damn riddle!" Harry was referencing the prophecy and expressing his fears about the battle. He still hadn't told Hermione or Ron about the prophecy and now wasn't the time. Ron stopped pacing and looked at Harry. Harry's last comment had knocked some sense into him.
"Be honest with me Harry. What did you see that night back at Grimmauld Place that made Hermione mad at you?" asked Ron in a much calmer voice
"Ron I don't know if I should," it wasn't Harry's place to tell Ron about something that happened in private.
"Just tell me," Ron said in a serious tone.
"The night I was attacked, when Dumbledore got me back to Grimmauld Place, after he placed me in bed he asked Hermione to look after me. She kissed me on the lips after promising not to leave my side," Harry couldn't make eye contact with Ron, but he could hear him laugh.
"I should have known. I've been an idiot all these years mate," Ron laughed. "If you were in any danger, that's all she thought about. Hermione stayed up the whole night to make sure you were okay. She refused to leave your side." Harry still didn't understand what Ron was getting at. "Cho had every right to be jealous of Hermione, because you two couldn't go a day with out talking with each other. This year was your first fight that resulted in you guys not talking. Whenever Hermione was with me all she could talk about was whether she was too hard on you or if she should continue not talking to you." Ron looked down at the floor.
"You guys have always liked each other, but you didn't know till now," Ron's voice now barley above a whisper. "I think somewhere in the back of my head I always knew. I just didn't want to believe it," Ron took a deep breath then looked Harry directly in the eye. "If it couldn't be me then I'm glad it's you, I don't think I'd trust any other guy," Harry started to smile at his friends kind words. "But know this! If you hurt her in anyway, Voldemort will look like a walk in the park," Ron smirked.
"I'll remember that," said Harry as he stuck out his hand to shake with Ron's.
"Do me one favor, could you wait to ask her out for a little bit. I just need to take some time so I can let her go," said Ron as he shook Harry's hand slowly.
"Of course, just let me know when you're ready," said Harry.
"Thanks . . . I'm going to take a walk. I'll see you later," Ron slowly made his way out of the classroom. Harry stood for a moment in shock, he sat and replayed the whole conversation in his head and after several moments it finally set in. Harry was free to ask Hermione out! All he had to do was let Ron have some time and then he could tell her how much he cared for her.
It had been a week since the Halloween feast, and the recruiting of the students to fight. Whenever Harry walked down the halls he could tell who had joined the fight, there was an unspoken nod that would pass between people, plus all the students seemed to be working harder in class, mastering every skill they could. Everyone in Julia's class had joined the fight so they could openly talk about it.
"Julia may I try one more time" asked Neville as they were practicing their dueling with a boggart Julia was able to get.
"Of course Neville, remember everyone, the dementors will probably be Voldemorts first line of attack. He won't want to risk Death Eaters if he doesn't have to. If at any time a whole group can conjure the Patronus it will be bigger and stronger then just one person. Ready Neville!" asked Julia.
"Ready," he looked nervous but Neville grasped his wand tight and watched as Julia began to open the box. Once the dementor was out, Neville stood still with fright.
"Come on Neville, think of your happiest moment!" cried Julia.
"I don't know if I have one," he muttered with a cold breath as the dementor came closer.
"Neville, remember carrying Hermione and fighting off the Death Eaters! You're Gran was so proud of you!" Harry shouted to him. Just then Harry saw Neville snap out of his trance and recompose himself.
"You're right, I'm not scared of you!" Neville yelled at the dementor. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" shouted Neville. A giant lion leaped from his wand and charged towards the dementor causing it to fly back into the box. The lion then trotted back to Neville and rested at his feet before disappearing.
"20 points to Gryffindor! Neville that was amazing! What did you think of?" Julia was ecstatic.
"When Harry yelled out about us fighting the Death Eaters last year and then about my Gran, I remembered her reaction when I got my O.W.L's. It was the proudest she'd ever been," said Neville as he held himself high while walking back to the group of students.
"Good job all of you, now remember your homework assignment, I want each of you to be able to conjure your Patronus by next class," she said as the class began to pack up their belongings. Harry had decided that he was going to talk with Ron later that night. The rumors had died down about Hermione and Harry but Ginny had approached Harry several days ago to ask him about it.
"Harry do you have a moment," she asked while he was studying in the library.
"Sure what's up?" he paused from reading about the Ferula charm.
"Okay – is it true – that you know – um you and Hermione," she tried to finish her sentence but it didn't work.
"Oh no you heard that rumor too? Has Ron?" Harry asked.
"I don't think so, why, is it true?" Ginny was asking to protect her brother from any heartache and Harry could tell she was not going to be happy with his next answer.
"Not yet," Harry said.
"Not yet," repeated Ginny in a cold tone. "So you plan on asking her to go out with you is that it! Behind my brothers back!" her voice was starting to get louder.
"NO!" Harry whispered. "I haven't asked her yet because I wanted to talk with Ron first. Honest, besides you're one to talk about doing things behind your brothers back. How long have you been seeing Draco?" Harry blurted out. He caught Ginny completely off guard. The two looked at each other for another moment then Ginny cast her eyes down at the floor.
"We haven't started yet, not officially, not until I talk with Ron. Besides we're just friends at the moment. He's been talking to me about his mum and how he wants revenge against his dad. He just needs someone to talk too" She looked up at Harry. They were both in the same predicament.
"Well, I was planning on talking to him in a couple days, what about you?" asked Harry.
"Probably after Christmas break," blushed Ginny.
"Good at least that gives him some time to recover," laughed Harry. Ginny fell silent for a moment.
"I'm sorry I got mad, it's just I know he's liked her for a while and I thought you two were dating behind his back." She slowly admitted.
"It's okay Ginny, I know you want to protect your brother. Just remember I consider him a brother as well and I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize our friendship." There was complete honesty in Harry's voice.
"I know Harry, I know," she gave him a hug and walked off. Harry was glad she had talk to him, at least if Ron asked her about it she could tell him that Harry had the best intentions.
"Potter!" snapped Snape. Harry was quickly brought back to the present as he looked up from his caldron to see Snape looking at him.
"Yes Professor," said Harry trying to remember what he was doing.
"Come up here!" said Snape. Harry slowly walked up to his desk thinking he was in trouble but realized that the class was packing up to leave. "About the matter you asked me about several weeks ago." Started Snape.
"Oh yes!" Harry suddenly understood what Snape was talking about.
"He'll join you out side Miss. Granger," said Snape who was peering behind Harry to make sure the room had emptied. Once she closed the door Snape looked back at Harry. "It has come to may attention that the Dark Lord has been trying to feed you bad thoughts for the last month to try and weaken you. So a staff member has been in your head diverting these images and that is way you saw their vision," Snape seemed to soft much more then usual.
"Thank you sir, I appreciate you looking into the matter," Harry couldn't believe that Snape actually followed through on helping him.
"I would suggest that over the Christmas break you ask Dumbledore if you could try and sleep with out the help of this person. I understand you have gotten much better at Occlumency, and if you can shield your mind on your own it would make you much stronger against the Dark Lord in person," Snape almost sounded like he cared what happened to Harry. "No be off with you I have matters to attend to," he snapped in his old fashioned way.
"Thanks again sir," said Harry as he left the room. Hermione was still waiting for him when he got out.
"What was that about?" she asked, worried Harry might have gotten a tongue-lashing.
"Come with me," Harry grabbed her by the arm and went into one of the empty classrooms on the second floor.
"Harry what's all this about," she asked as he was closing the door.
"Snape told me why I saw the vision. Someone has been in my head this last month or so. Snape said that Voldemort has been trying to feed me bad images while I slept to try and weaken me but that a staff member has been blocking those images out of my head. So when Julia had her vision, that's why I saw it, because she has been protecting me." Harry said in one big breath. Hermione stared in amazement for a moment.
"So what do we do now?" she asked.
"Snape mentioned I should try and block him out myself over Christmas break," said Harry, still wondering why Snape gave him so much information.
"Well now I know where I'm spending the holiday," Hermione said with a smile.
"But Hermione, you haven't seen your parents in months," Harry felt horrible, feeling that he was taking Hermione away from her parents.
"Harry it's okay, Dumbledore talked with them this past summer," Hermione sounded like she wasn't telling the whole story.
"Hermione," Harry said in a tender voice. "What are you not telling me?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "Come on we're going to be late to Hagrids." And with that she was off. Harry had a feeling he was going to need to talk with Dumbledore about this, because he knew he wouldn't get any answers from Hermione.
It was soon dinnertime and Harry was getting nervous. As they were walking down to the great hall, Harry had pulled Ron aside and asked if they could talk after dinner. Ron just figured Harry wanted to talk about the Slytherin game that was in the coming week.
"I figure that Ginny and the other two are much quicker then Slytherin's chaser, plus Dean and Seamus are more accurate with they're bludger hits then Crabbe and Goyle. Plus you've already beaten Malfoy twice," Ron said as he stuffed his face with potato's.
"Yeah, you're right," Harry said nervously. He looked over at Hermione who was reading another one of Sirius's books. "How's it going?"
"Horrible, this book is in Celtic I can't understand a word," she said as she closed the book with a huff.
"Ya know – you shh – giv the booook – to Ulia," Ron said as he was eating another potato. Both Harry and Hermione looked at him as if he were an alien.
"You might want to try that again Ron," Harry said as he started to laugh. Ron quickly grabbed a cup of pumpkin juice and took a swig.
"I said, you should give the book to Julia. She might understand a little bit or know someone who does," He smiled and Harry and Hermione look dumbfounded that he came up with the idea.
"That's a good idea, I'll ask her to look at it after I go to the library," Hermione started to pack her things.
"Where are you going?" asked Ron.
"I have some things a want to look up, that might help. I'll see you guys back in the common room." With that she was off. Harry was now visibly nervous, he knew it was time to talk with Ron.
"Hey Ron – " Harry had barley gotten the words out of his mouth.
"Yeah you wanna talk. Where we going?" asked Ron.
"Julia's classroom," Harry said as he got up from the table. They walked up to the classroom. Ron continued to talk about why Gryffindor was going to pond Slytherin.
"I'm telling you mate nothing to worry about," smiled Ron as he turned to Harry, who was closing the door behind them. He then noticed how nervous Harry looked. "Hey you alright."
"Yeah I'm fin –" Harry stopped, he wasn't fine. His insides were eating him whole. One would have thought he was asking Ron's permission to marry Hermione. "I'm not fine, I need to tell you something and I need you to let me finish before you say anything," Harry said as he gave Ron a serious look.
"Yeah sure," said Ron, who could tell his friend was struggling to say something.
"Things have changed since last year," Harry started. "We're now sixteen and I've started to look at things a little differently," more like I've started to look at Hermione differently, thought Harry.
"Harry," Ron interjected. "Do you fancy boys? Cause it's okay if you do, I won't judge."
"No! Nothing like that," scoffed Harry. "I like girls," Harry paused. This was it just say it and get it over with, he thought. "In fact, I like one girl in particular . . . no it's much more then that," he took a breathe. "Ron, I'm in love with Hermione," Harry waited for some type of reaction but none came. "Ron?" Ron was still blankly looking at Harry.
"I'm sorry I thought you said you were in love with Hermione," Ron's voice on the brink of exploding.
"I did," said Harry in a soft voice. Ron continued to stare, Harry could tell he was boiling mad.
"Does she love you?!" Ron shouted.
"I don't know, I haven't asked her yet. I wanted to talk with you first," Harry making sure Ron knew he wasn't doing anything behind his back.
"Oh thanks MATE, how noble of you!" Ron started to pace. "You knew I liked her!"
"You never told me Ron, I always just assumed," Harry's, voice becoming stronger.
"Why?! Why Hermione?!" Ron continued to shout. "You could have any girl in the school, why her?!
"Because all the other girls in the school are not Hermione," pleaded Harry. "No one works as hard on their classes as she does. No one bites they're lip the way she does when she's concentrating. No ones smile can make me feel as alive as hers, and if anything happened to her I don't think I could go on." Harry's speech ended just as quickly as it had started.
"You think you're the only one who notices these things!" spat Ron.
"Yes! Because if you really liked Hermione you would have had the balls to ask her out two years ago!" Harry volleyed back.
"Is that so!" Yelled Ron.
"Yes and the worst part is Ron, you never planned on asking her out. You hoped that maybe someday she'd see how you fancied her, and ask you." Harry couldn't stop himself. "But that's not Hermione! She wants romance just like all the other girls she just doesn't want to be babied."
"I don't baby her!" Ron said through gritted teeth.
"No you just egg her on whenever you have the chance because that's the only way you know how to talk with girls," Harry now felt like he was defending Hermione.
"When did you become the girl expert, last time I checked your last girlfriend dumped you because you couldn't understand her," Ron thought he got the best of Harry.
"Well at lest I had a girlfriend!" Harry zipped back. Ron stormed around the classroom for a moment.
"Why do you always get everything? You got to be on the quidditch team in your first year! You got picked to be in the Tri-Wizards Tournament! You're the famous Harry Potter and everyone loves you!" Ron was completely venting, but Harry wasn't going to take this.
"You're right I'm the famous Harry Potter! The boy who might not live to see seventeen!" Harry screamed. "The boy who has lost everyone that he loves and is scared that he might lose his best friends in this battle if he doesn't figure out that damn riddle!" Harry was referencing the prophecy and expressing his fears about the battle. He still hadn't told Hermione or Ron about the prophecy and now wasn't the time. Ron stopped pacing and looked at Harry. Harry's last comment had knocked some sense into him.
"Be honest with me Harry. What did you see that night back at Grimmauld Place that made Hermione mad at you?" asked Ron in a much calmer voice
"Ron I don't know if I should," it wasn't Harry's place to tell Ron about something that happened in private.
"Just tell me," Ron said in a serious tone.
"The night I was attacked, when Dumbledore got me back to Grimmauld Place, after he placed me in bed he asked Hermione to look after me. She kissed me on the lips after promising not to leave my side," Harry couldn't make eye contact with Ron, but he could hear him laugh.
"I should have known. I've been an idiot all these years mate," Ron laughed. "If you were in any danger, that's all she thought about. Hermione stayed up the whole night to make sure you were okay. She refused to leave your side." Harry still didn't understand what Ron was getting at. "Cho had every right to be jealous of Hermione, because you two couldn't go a day with out talking with each other. This year was your first fight that resulted in you guys not talking. Whenever Hermione was with me all she could talk about was whether she was too hard on you or if she should continue not talking to you." Ron looked down at the floor.
"You guys have always liked each other, but you didn't know till now," Ron's voice now barley above a whisper. "I think somewhere in the back of my head I always knew. I just didn't want to believe it," Ron took a deep breath then looked Harry directly in the eye. "If it couldn't be me then I'm glad it's you, I don't think I'd trust any other guy," Harry started to smile at his friends kind words. "But know this! If you hurt her in anyway, Voldemort will look like a walk in the park," Ron smirked.
"I'll remember that," said Harry as he stuck out his hand to shake with Ron's.
"Do me one favor, could you wait to ask her out for a little bit. I just need to take some time so I can let her go," said Ron as he shook Harry's hand slowly.
"Of course, just let me know when you're ready," said Harry.
"Thanks . . . I'm going to take a walk. I'll see you later," Ron slowly made his way out of the classroom. Harry stood for a moment in shock, he sat and replayed the whole conversation in his head and after several moments it finally set in. Harry was free to ask Hermione out! All he had to do was let Ron have some time and then he could tell her how much he cared for her.