A/N: Jeepers I think Ron needs a sedative! Cool it boy. But anyway yes Ron and Hermione definitely have a thing for each other...to put it in light terms. And poor Harry he's caught in the middle of it all. Sniff. Whatever, it will be resolved, and very soon I might add (hint hint)
Chapter 4
True Confessions in Wonky WaysThe wind was blowing quite violently at 9:34am on the morning of November the 6th when Harry drifted into consciousness. Everyone else in the room was still sound asleep, as Harry noticed when he sat up and put on his glasses, except Ron. Harry suspected he was already awake, and downstairs eating breakfast, because he had been up all of last night. Harry woke up once that night, and from what he remembered, Ron had been sitting up in his bed reading, or writing or doing whatever he was doing because he couldn't sleep. Harry knew exactly why too, but he preferred to shove it to the back of his mind because it annoyed him. He had been procrastinating in talking to Ron about the Hermione issue, but decided as he got out of bed and got dressed, that he was going to make himself do it today because it was a Saturday and he would have a lot of time to do it. Harry quietly left the dorm and made his way down to the common room where he found, to his surprise, Hermione and Ginny, who were up, dressed and deep in what looked like a very private conversation. They stopped whatever they were talking about and looked up as he passed.Hermione looked as if she had been crying and Harry had enough sense to know that he should just keep walking. He would talk toher later.
Just as he had predicted, Harry found Ron sitting alone at one end of the Gryffindor house table nibbling on a dry piece of toast. Harry sat down next to him and reached across Ron for the eggs, but Ron didn't even acknowledge his presence. Harry decided to make the first move.
"All right," Harry said, placing the dish of eggs a bit more forcefully that he would have, down in front of Ron, giving him a start. "What is your problem?"
"Nothing," Ron mumbled.
"Oh dry up Ron! You, me, and probably the rest of the bloody school knows that you you've got a stick up your ass! I'm sick of you wallowing in your own misery." This was a bit more severe than what Harry was meaning to say but he thought it would be good in getting the point across.
"I am not wallowing in my own misery," Ron argued back. "I'M SURE YOU WOULD BE TOO IF YOU !" He was once again yelling and brandishing a fork in Harry's face. The few staff and students who were around, looked over wondering what was causing the commotion. Ron paused and lowered his voice. "If you were – were – were in love with someone who didn't love you back." He spluttered out at a rate almost impossible for the human mouth to utter. Ron, who just realised what he said and to whom he had said it went bugged eyed and let his mouth hang open. Then he got up as fast as he could, avoiding Harry's look of faked amazement (he had known all along) and made a move for the exit. Harry let him go because he knew there would be other times to discuss this and that it would probably be easier if Ron let it out in small amounts. I guess there were advantages to having a girl as one of your best friends. They may be crazy, over-emotional and impossible to understand, but one did pick up a few pointers here and there.
Abandoning his breakfast, Harry made his way out into the Entrance Hall. He had to hurry there were Quidditch try-outs at 10:30, which meant that he only had forty-five minutes to get his practice robes, get down to the pitch, and prepare for the pre-try-out explanation. He had neglected to do this earlier in the week on account of his mind being filled with homework and Ron/Hermione confusion. Being Quidditch captain was more planning work than he realized. No wonder Oliver and Angelina were always so stressed out. Hmm this could also be a reason why Ron was avoiding him. They had gotten the news only a few weeks ago, (McGonagall told Harry before the official start of season) and he had sort of mentioned it in passing to everyone on the team. He never thought about the fact that Ron might be put off by the whole thing. Fantastic, now there was just one more problem to add to the already rather large pile.
Harry quickly made his way back to the Gryffindor tower taking steps two at a time. He passed Hermione and Ginny, yet again, butHermione looking much better than she had earlier that morning. Each had their arm around the other and was talking again. When Hermione saw Harry coming up the stairs her face dropped and she looked suddenly concerned. She avoided his glance, but stopped abruptly at the last second and grabbed him by the arm, almost causing him to plunge face first down the very long, stone staircase.
"Jeez Hermione!" Harry yelped finally finding his footing. "Look I know things have been tense lately but you don't have to take it out on my by throwing me down the stairs."
"Oh my goodness!" Hermione squeaked when she realised where Harry was headed and let go of his arm. "I guess I've just been rather nervous lately. Sorry. Uh – Could you uh – Could we talk – some time later – maybe."
"Yeah sure, whenever you want." Harry replied straightening his distorted sweater.
"Ok uh – maybe after tryouts then?" she asked.
"Yeah sure," Harry answered now feeling rather awkward. He knew what was coming.
"Alright then," Hermione called heading the rest of the way down the stairs to Ginny. She had grown impatient and continued on to the bottom.
"This was it," Harry thought resuming his assent of the staircase. "The moment of truth. His two best friend would reveal their secret love and he would be thrown aside like an over used dust rag."
The wind had died down since the morning, much to Harry's delight, when he walked out onto the Hogworts grounds a few minutes later. This meant that Harry's life would be much easier. It was bad enough that he had to scrutinize and then perhaps shatter peoples dreams of becoming world class Quidditch stars, but adding the wind factor on top of that, would have made it worse. The team needed two Chasers and two Beaters and Harry was dreading it. He hated making sticky decisions. The prospects, when things finally got under way, were not as bad as Harry had predicted. Colin and Dennis Creevey tried out each for Chaser and Beater and weren't bad at all. Harry thought that slamming a ball into oblivion was an excellent channel for their energy. Several others who tried out were also surprisingly good. It was going to be a rough decision. Thankfully Harry had Ron and Ginny to help him in his dilemma. Although Ron kept mumbling something about how Harry was the Quidditch captain, and so it didn't matter what they thought, he was going to make the decision in the end anyway. This annoyed Harry. After all he was the one bearing the brunt of Ron's complicated love life and – well – Harry was Quidditch captain so Ron was just going to have to deal with it!
After try-outs and after the hoard of gabbing prospects had left, Harry, Ron and Ginny trudged back up to the castle, fighting as they went because the wind had started up again. Once they were in the castle, Ginny, for a reason unknown to the boys said goodbye and went in the opposite direction of the common room.
"Where are you going?" Ron called after her, but she was already halfway down a staircase and didn't hear him. "I bet I can guess," Ron mumbled under his breath. Harry changed the subject.
"So what do you think of the new prospects for the team?" He asked trying to keep the mood light.
"They're fine," Ron mumbled again. "I'm sure you won't have any trouble deciding." he then added something Harry couldn't really hear. Harry thought it was about how he might as well just replace Ron since he was so lousy and everyone else was really good.
"I thought we cleared up the self pity issue this morning," Harry remarked rather bluntly. "Look," he said stopping in front of the fat lady and not saying the password to go in. "I know things have been – well – complicated. But I guess it will all just work out – somehow." All this mushy talk was making Harry queasy. Yeah! This was just one more thing to look forward to for later when he had to talk to Hermione.
"Yeah, I suppose," Ron sighed, uttering the password and leaning forward to duck through the door, but getting abruptly whammed in the face by the door, as someone was coming out.
That someone happened to be Hermione who was leaving the common room to look for Harry, though the boys didn't know it. She screeched again and clamped her hands over her mouth. Harry just started laughing.
"OW! I think my nose is broken!" Ron yowled bent over in agony.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" Hermione apologized tears starting to run down her cheeks. "I – I am just hav – having such a terr – terrible day!" she sobbed burrowing her face in her hand and sliding down the wall. Harry had stopped laughing a while ago transfigured some scraps of paper that were in his pocket into tissues, and gone over to help Ron whose nose wasn't broken but bleeding quite a lot.
"Oh dawn't cry Herrmiune," Ron struggled to say beneath his hands, the pain and the blood. Ron pushed Harry aside, went over to Hermione, picked her up off the ground and pulled her into a (slightly bloody) hug.
Harry, once again, felt very awkward, jealous and angry. He just wanted things to go back to the way things were before, when this whole business never existed. Subconsciously Harry had suspected it had always existed, but preferred to suppress the idea. Finally Harry just left, went into the common room and slumped down into one of the many armchairs. Ron and Hermione noticed Harry's inferior exit so Ron went down to the hospital wing and Hermione went into the common room to talk to Harry. She walked nervously across the hearthrug and sat down in a chair adjacent to Harry's. She thought this was going to take a while so she made herself comfortable.
"Harry," she started. "Can we uh – talk about a few things?"
"Sure," Harry replied lazily.
"Um – I don't exactly know where to start. Uh – what do you think about uh – Ron?" she asked thinking it was a rather stupid question.
"He's my friend," Harry answered also thinking it was a stupid question.
" No I mean about uh – what he thinks of – of – things." She spluttered trying to form concrete sentences. It wasn't working.
"For goodness sake, Hermione," Harry said staring to become annoyed. "Just say what you want to say."
"Ok fine. Harry do you think Ron likes me?" Hermione blurted out very fast with her eyes screwed shut.
"Yes," Harry answered bluntly, and resorting to one-word answers in hopes that it would make the conversation go faster.
" Really? Hermione asked her face lighting up.
"No he doesn't. Jeez Hermione have you not seen the way he looks at you!" The one word thing wasn't going to work Harry could see that. He was really going to have to tell Hermione the truth and hope it would be painless. "He's in love with you Hermione, and what's more, you're in love with him. Now I may be a guy and know nothing about relationships, but I am not so dense that I can't see when TWO PEOPLE ARE IN LOVE SO MUCH IT HURTS THEM, AND THEIR FRIENDS!" Harry was now standing up and yelling.
Hermione looked hurt and started to cry. Now Harry felt like an idiot. He went over to Hermione and hugged her.
"I'm sorry Hermione," Harry apologized letting her go. "I – It just hurts me to think that my two best friends will become a couple and – and forget about me." Now it was Harry's turn to be downcast.
"Oh Harry," Hermione assured him. "We would never in a million years do that to you. We both love you a lot, even though Ron has a very disoriented way of showing it." She laughed and slid off her chair to join Harry on the rug.
"But – but do you really think he loves me," she asked tentatively, still hopeful.
"Yes he does," Harry answered, also chuckling. He couldn't believe he was saying this. "And you love him too," he said poking Hermione in the arm.
"Yes – Oh my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed smiling immensely, and turning slightly pink. "What should I do? Oh please tell me Harry, you're a guy, you know what he's thinking."
"I'm not going to tell you what he's thinking." Harry laughed to himself.
"Oh," Hermione replied looking taken aback. "Well what should I do then?"
"Tell him you love him for pity's sake! Oh God I sound like a complete idiot!" Harry said shaking his head.
"No, no," Hermione said. "This is great. Oh my gosh I can't believe this!"
"Oh my gosh I'm so excited!" Harry added very sarcastically. They laughed.
Just then Ron, and several other people came down the stairs. Others were also making their way to the exit to go down for dinner. Hermione and Harry looked up and Hermione turned red and cracked a smile. She got up, slid through two chairs and passed Ron. She smiled, and ran her hand gently across his shoulder then slipped out the door. Harry followed Hermione past the dumbfounded Ron and slapped him hard on the back.
"Nicely done," he said also smiling. Harry knew what he did was the right thing. He was a little more comforted with Hermione's assurance that he would not be dumped, but he still knew it would be a difficult situation.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and other students made their way down to the Dining Hall for dinner. It seemed as if the house elves were having a rather good day because there was roast beef, potatoes, corn and a delectable dessert selection. Hermione had the cheesiest grin on her face the whole time and Ron just stared from her to Harry in bewilderment wondering what had gone on in his absence. Ginny was also at dinner, back from wherever she had run off to, but in conversation with one of her friends.
Harry wasn't particularly hungry. All he wanted to do was go to bed so he would be unconscious, and wouldn't have to think of this mushy love stuff until the morning.
After everyone was mostly done eating Hermione pulled out a parchment from in her pocket, bummed a quill off Dean Thomas, scribbled something on it and shoved it under Ron's plate. Then she ran off in a flourish her long brown waves flowing out behind her. Ron dropped his fork in an instant, ripped the note out from under his plate, launching his fork across the table into a crowd of third year girls who screamed in surprise. He read the note, turned pink and sat there concentrating and looking as thought the wheels in his head were turning at a breakneck speed.
"What is it?" Harry asked even though he already knew the answer. He wanted to be supportive.
"Hermione wants to talk to me in the Room of Requirement in ten minutes," He said looking as though he was about to sing a solo in front of a live, international audience.
"Oh really?" Harry answered still trying to be supportive.
There was a long silence as Ron stared bugged eyed across the room, really looking at nothing in particular and Harry sat there nibbling away at his dinner roll. Then Ron spoke.
"I love her," he said quietly and then turning to look at Harry. "I have for a long time. I just – didn't have the heart to tell her, or you. I knew it would change all of our friendships." Ron turned away again to continue starring across the Hall
"I know," Harry replied, keeping his eyes on his plate. The fact that Ron had known and acknowledged that his love for Hermione had the potential to drastically alter the bond between he three friends eased Harry's mind. It was good to hear this from the one person he would miss the most if anything happened.
"Harry I – I have to go," Ron suddenly said getting to his feet. "You don't mind do you?"
"No," Harry said. "Go on, she'll be waiting. Oh and take this."
"What is it?" Ron asked taking the small plastic container Harry had handed him.
"They're mints," Harry replied grinning. "You're going to need it."
"Thanks," Ron called running down the aisle.
Ron tore off down the right corridor, up the stairs and onto the second floor. Shoving several of the little white mints into his mouth, Ron tried frantically to straighten his hair and try to look somewhat presentable. Presentable! What was he thinking he needed to be hot! But there was no time for that now he had to find the room. Now which hallway...Ah ha! Here it was. Ron stopped and caught his breath. He was shaking from head to toe. His heart was pounding so fast he was sure than anyone coming from two hallways away could hear it. Mustering up all the courage he possessed and doing the first bold, daring and impulsive thing in his life, he creaked open the door to the Room of Requirement. It was beautiful. The whole room was glowing with the soft, warm light of about a million candles. It smelled like a tropical rainforest and had curtains of ivy and jasmine hanging over the windows and the doorway. Hermione was standing in the middle of the room wearing a long flowing dress with her hair let down and sparkling with gold dust. Ron slowly walked over to where she was standing.
"Hermione you look – oh this is so amazing!" Ron looked around in awe and then back at her. "Did you make all this?"
"Yes, thank-you," She said smiling and blushing. "You came. I was so worried you wouldn't."
"Of course I came," Ron replied taking her hand. "How could I not? Hermione I – there is something I want to tell you. Hermione I – "
"No," she whispered. "You don't need to say anything."
Then she touched his cheek with her hand and kissed him. Ron looked at her for a long time.
"I love you," he said.
"And I love you," she replied smiling.
They held each other for what seemed like the whole night the soft glow of the candles dancing around them and each in their own minds dwelling on the sweet reality of finally finding the one they loved.