Chapter Ten – The Fair

"Lemme off! Lemme off!" Ron screamed as the roller coaster did a nosedive before going up again.

Harry and Hermione laughed as the roller coaster did another nosedive. Ron continued to scream in horror. Ron gripped their arms. He was sitting in the middle of them. Finally, to his relief, the ride was over.

Woozy, the three of them got off the roller coaster. Ron leaned on Harry who just laughed.

"You muggles have got serious thrill issues!" Ron shook his head.

"It's just for fun," Hermione said. She stopped and got cotton candy. She offered some to the two boys.

"What's that? It's mighty hairy," Ron backed away. He looked at Harry, horror-struck as he took a tuft of cotton candy and put it in his mouth.

"That's the first time I've seen you turn down food," Hermione grinned.

Harry shared her amusement. Ron, with a quivering had, took a small tuft of cotton candy and put some in his mouth. In less than a minute, he'd taken the whole thing.

"So sweet! And it's pink!" he said happily. Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes. He was so busy eating he didn't see Harry and Hermione sneak away to get on the Ferris wheel. Though they didn't say it, they both knew the other was glad that Ron wasn't there.

"I've never really been on a Ferris Wheel," Hermione said nervously as she looked down below her. The people seemed tiny like ants in a colony as they moved along. She reached out and took his hand. She made to draw it away but Harry grasped her hand. She remained silent, but secretly, she was glad he didn't let her take her hand away.

"Where's Ron?" Hermione asked as soon as they got off the Ferris wheel.

"Harry looked around. "I don't know. Maybe—"

"HELP! HELP!"

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other. "Ron!" they shouted.

They quickly took off in the direction where Ron's voice was coming from. They found him cornered by clowns who were spraying him with water from their little flowers. Harry rushed to his friend's aid.

"They melted it!" Ron stammered. He was only holding the stick to the cotton candy and it was soggy and dripping with pinkness. "They melted it the fuzzy pink thing! They melted it!" he fell to his knees. "Why? WHY?"

Harry shook his head. "Come on Ron, we'll just get you a new one." Which they did once he was calmed down.

As Hermione left with Ron to dry him up, Harry wandered around. He came upon a game that shot water through a hole, which made a small hammer, hit the bell. Harry tried his luck and won a medium sized bear.

"There you are!" Hermione said. Ron was clutching the back of her coat so he wouldn't get lost as he ate more cotton candy. "What's this?"

Harry shrugged. He smiled and gave it to her. "Won it," he replied. "Just for you." He avoided Ron's eyes. He sensed he was staring at him in wonder.

Hermione gasped. "Really? Oh thank you Harry! It's adorable!" she hugged it tight. She smiled at him and Harry had to look away to keep her from seeing him blush.

It wasn't until Ron and Harry were back at the Granger house that Ron mentioned what he did earlier. They had to end up sharing the extra room that Mr. Granger prepared while Harry and Hermione went camping. Once again, Harry couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"Won it, just for you," Ron mimicked Harry's earlier sentence. Harry was glad Ron couldn't see his blushing face. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing… I just gave her a teddy bear, what's wrong with that?" Harry said defensively.

"Oh don't give me that," Ron replied. "Is something going on with you two? And what was with the sneaking away when I wasn't looking huh? Huh? Huh?"

Harry rolled over. "Leave me alone Ron."

"Nuh uh, not until you tell me what's going on with you two!"

Harry sat up. "Will you shut up? She might hear you."

"Come on, tell me."

Harry hesitated. Should he tell Ron how he felt about his other best friend? He looked at Ron's figure in the dark. He couldn't talk about it here; Hermione might hear them. He grabbed Ron's collar and dragged him out through the window. They sat down on the roof, not noticing that Hermione's window was slightly open.

"Okay," Harry said. "I'll tell you, but you have to promise to keep your mouth shut."

Ron nodded. "Go on then."

Harry sighed. He looked at his hands. Where to begin? "Well… I guess these past couple of weeks has been… They've been great. I got to know her more… Which was surprising because you'd figure you know everything about a person after knowing someone for three years. But… well, did you know Hermione could sing? And she's really… out going and pretty and—"

"You like her don't you?" Ron finished off. He was smiling. "Well, I always knew from the first day we met her you'd end up fancying her."

Harry smiled faintly. "Haha, oh. Well… So you haven't got a… Problem… I don't know what to do." He said miserably.

"Tell her then." Ron said simply.

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one in the situation!" Harry shook his head.

"Well, you never know until you try… and here's your chance now." Ron said and gestured to the now open window from Hermione's bedroom. She was coming out of it.

"Hey, you guys are up late," she smiled. "What's going on?"

Harry looked to Ron but he was already climbing back through the window and giving him the thumbs up. Hermione sat down beside Harry, not seeming to mind that Ron had gone.

"Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Mm hmm?" she replied. She seemed distant once again as she stared blankly ahead of her.

"Have you… Have you figured out that stuff you were confused about?"

"Not… not really no."

"Oh." Harry looked back at the window and there was Ron standing there still nodding him on. "Erm, can I tell you something?"

"Sure Harry."

"Well… Well I think you're a very… Smart witch. And you're very… beautiful and so much fun to be with… I guess—I guess what I'm trying to say I've kind of grown to like you more than just as a friend. And I'd like to pursue… a relationship with you… if you were to give me that privilege."

Harry twiddled his thumbs. What was she going to say? What if she said no? His heart was the only thing he could hear. It was as if someone were holding it right beside his ear. He looked at Hermione.

"Harry… I like you too," Hermione said quietly. Harry's heart seemed to relax a little but she wasn't looking at him, "and I'm glad you feel the same way…"

Please say yes; please say yes, Harry thought. Hermione was still avoiding his eyes.

"And believe me, I want to pursue something with you that's beyond friendship," she continued, "but I can't."

Harry felt like his heart fell to the floor and someone stomped on it. He tried not to look hurt but he couldn't help it.

"Harry, we can't do this to Ron. He'll feel left out and it'll cost us a lot. I don't want to lose the closeness we've got. Harry, please, I hope you understand that—"

"Yeah," Harry said rising. "I understand perfectly." And with that he climbed back through the window and shut it. Ron was already lying down in his bed.

"Well, what'd she say?" Ron asked excitedly.

"Shut up," Harry snapped and got into bed. He pulled the covers over him and forced himself to sleep. From his bed, Ron saw that Hermione was getting up too, and she had tears in her eyes. Ron knew exactly what to do. He had to talk to them tomorrow.

Author's Note: OMG OMG! Lol I have no idea why I said that.. Oh yeah! Just... 2 more chapters! Hehe poor poor Harry... Ha! Ron, he's so cool! Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you liked that... Even though that wasn't such a nice chapter. Lol. Don't forget to review!

Toodles

MW89