AN: I was listening to: The Barenaked Ladies: Maroon, The White Stripes-Get Behind Me Satan, and Bowling For Soup's A Hangover You Don't Deserve and Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York and The Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols, and U2's The Joshua Tree.



AN #2: And no, not all at the same time. I got a job (pending drug test.. so no poppy seed muffins for me).. so less time for writing and such, I'm guessing.. but I'm thinking this particular story will only have two parts after this one. This note is from July 12th, 2005.. I have the job now.. just put in my two weeks notice today..



AN #3: And infer whatever you want.. it's probably true.. I'm meaning a few things in the chapter.. that I'm expecting comments on.. well because My Lovely Beta certainly did.. ... if there's spelling mistakes it's cause I missed em.. I'm not sure.. what Jen got too.. soo.. bear with us... I just had to post something.. cause I was talking to this one guy.. and I decided I better before you guys track me down and slaughter me..


Part 12-Love

Ron flooed to Hermione and Harry's flat on the first of December. An empty apartment and a note written in Hermione's hand greeted him:

Ron,

I'll most likely be working late at the ministry today and Harry's working at the bookshop. Yes, Ron, the same one.
Fred and George want to take you to dinner tonight. They said to meet them at their shop in Diagon Alley.
Oh, and Harry said feel free to stop in on him at work today.

Love,

Hermione.



After reading the note, Ron looked at his wrist watch, realized the time change and went in search of a clock with the proper time.

Finally he found one in what he assumed was Hermione's room, because of the abundance of bookshelves.

Besides the shelves packed with books, the room was fairly empty.

'Was Hermione's room always this empty and clean?' He wondered, but he wasn't exactly sure.

Anyway it was almost noon, so Ron decided to see if Harry wanted to catch lunch with his oldest friend.

Ron found Harry on the second floor of the muggle bookshop where he worked and would indeed enjoy having lunch with his friend.



!



The duo went to a cafe across the street from Harry's place of work for lunch. "How have you been, Ron?" Harry asked his friend after they ordered their sandwiches, chips and drinks. Coffee for Harry, who had been... up late the previous night, and tea for Ron.



"Fantastic, Harry! Really fantastic, I've finally moved on. The change of scenery really helped and even being back here again... I feel no different, I still feel great!"



"Excellent! I'm finally moving on as well."



"Hermione told me that."



"I know," Harry smiled genuinely. "So I've heard you have a girlfriend?"



"I do," Ron grinned, "She's brilliant, off the pitch and on."



"What's her name? Hermione didn't know."



"Juliana, she's beautiful mate, blonde hair, bright blue eyes..."



"She looks rather like Luna then?"



"Nah, no one matches Luna, no one will ever surpass her. But Juliana is...well the next best thing; no…she's her own person. Sure they look alike, but they both hold special places in my heart. Luna was my first love. Yes, I would have married her, but I love Juliana just as much and I hope everything continues to blossom between us. I feel as if Luna's watching over me... making sure, I get better, and move forward and is encouraging me to be happy again."



Harry seemed consumed in his own thoughts as a waitress finally brought their food and spontaneously asked, "How do you know if you're in love, Ron?"



"You just know."



"How?"



"Harry, you love me, my Dad, my brothers and Hermione, right?"



"Of course... but in different ways."



"Right, I love you and my brothers and Hermione and my Dad like family but with Luna I could imagine spending my life with her, having children, and growing old together. The same way I feel with Julianna" Ron took a bite of his sandwich and realized that this might be it for Harry. "Harry, do you know someone you could imagine doing that with?"



Harry nodded.



"Who mate?"



"I have to admit it to her before anything is told to you."



"Are you taking a leaf out of Dumbledore's books and speaking in riddles now?"



"Uh," Harry's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "How in the hell did that happen?"



"No idea, maybe Hermione and the bookshop are rubbing off on you."



Harry smiled, "Could be."



"So who is she... or um... he?"



"It's a she... and you'll find out soon enough."



"Do I know her?"



Harry nodded.



"Does she work at the bookshop?"



"No."



"Did she go to school with us?"



Harry nodded again.



"Was she in our year?"



"Yes."



"Was she in our house."



"Yes."



"So... you've reconnected with Lavender, Parvati or one of those other two chicks? Or...I guess...um... Hermione...she was in our house and year and is a girl…uh…hem…woman."



"What? You finally realized she's female? You know the both of you had quite a row about that and Viktor Krum fourth year... what do you have against the bloke anyway?"



Ron blushed, "Nothing, stop bringing that up, old news. You beat him, end of story."



"Till you brought it up again fifth year."



"Shut up, Harry."



"Why? Wow! I'm actually getting a rise out of the Ronald Weasley, and I'm not Hermione!"



"Maybe you've been spending too much time in close proximity to her?"



"Never," Harry smiled, "I could never spend enough time with... Her... with her helping me buy groceries," Harry finished lamely.



"Oh... okay... whatever you say, Harry," Ron replied quite unconvinced, but also baffled as to what Harry was actually saying... was he really implying he was involved with Hermione? Nah... That's preposterous... said one voice in his head, while another replied:



They have lived the past five months alone... and they have always seemed unusually connected and knowing of the other... hm...



"Has Hermione always been so clean?"



"What?" Harry asked confused.



"Her room, has it always been so clean?"



"Uh... no... I don't think so... I'm the neat freak of the three of us... she's usually fairly messy.. um.. Maybe she cleaned up because she knew you were coming... yeah... that's probably it."



"Oh... okay. Wow! It's not like I spend time in her room."



"Ron, you didn't go into my room did you?"



"No, I found a clock in Hermione's so I was done in my search for one."



"Oh. Good."



"Why?"



"Oh... my room's just rather a disaster area right now."



"Why? Lots of overtime?"



"Sure... yeah, that's it."



'How can that be?' Ron wondered... 'When did Harry ever have overtime? What is he hiding?'



Harry on the other hand said, "Well, I have to get back to work," while thinking, 'Oh, shit! I never... hardly ever work extra hours and I know that and he knows that... oh shit!'



!



When Harry arrived home, he found Hermione fast asleep in their bed, Ron no where to be found. Though presumably he was off with Fred and George.



Harry fell back onto the couch for a moment, before kicking off his sneakers and going into the kitchen to wash the dishes and wonder why Hermione was sleeping so early.



Harry's mused question was soon answered by the trudging out of their bedroom, Hermione... and she looked like hell.



Harry looked up from the plate he had been washing to smile as she came out... which she responded to with a pained look before dashing off to the loo.



Harry rushed after her and called, "Hermione, what's the matter?"



"I'm sick, Harry," she said obviously, leaning against the wall to steady her tottering self.



"Someone said I had a really high fever, someone at work. They sent me home early."



"Oh," Harry replied dumbly, as she crouched over the toilet and puked again.



"Do you need anything?"



She shook her head, before thinking better of it and said, "Can you get me another blanket, I'm freezing."



"Okay love, get back into bed and I'll get you that blanket."



"Thanks, Harry."



"Not a problem," he smiled lovingly.



He brought in an extra blanket, a cool washcloth and a bin with him into their room.



"Here you are, my lady, a blanket, to keep you from freezing, a bin, so you won't have to run to the loo so often and a washcloth to try to bring that fever of yours down."



He kissed her boiling forehead before putting the washcloth on it.



"Thanks, Harry," She said sleepily.



"Not a problem," he smiled lovingly, "Would you like some tea or soup or toast, love?"



"No, no... Could you just lay here with me for awhile?" She pleaded tiredly.



"I'd love too," He replied sincerely, as Harry laid down next to her he realized that he was lying next to the currently ill love of his life... he thought I just called her love! How did that happen? Luckily she didn't notice... or didn't comment... This is Ron's doing... but I'll tell her out of my own mouth after she's better and knows she's not hallucinating. I mean come on... Harry Potter has never told anyone he loved them... not even in a friendly way, but they all know I do. But now I need to overcome the hurdle and tell Hermione that I love her.



After watching her sleep for an hour at most, Harry Potter fell asleep beside his love.



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



Ron Weasley returned to his friend's flat at around nine pm, sober more then drunk. Well, he had a few drinks at his brothers' insistence, but he still had enough of a head on his shoulders to apparate safely...aka… not splinch himself.



He drank slowly with lots of water in between drinks.



Harry heard Ron's crack of apparation so he carefully got out of bed to greet his old friend. He walked out into the main room and motioned for Ron to be quiet.



When Harry reached him and sat on the couch beside him, Ron asked, "Why do I have to keep quiet? Where's Hermione?"



"She's sleeping, she's sick. The flu or something."



"Is she contagious?"



Harry's eyes widened, "Gee, I hope not."



"Why?"



"Oh, I don't fancy getting sick is all."



"I don't blame you, mate."



Hermione came out of Harry's room, Ron noticed, not hers. He wondered why?



Harry rushed over to their ill friend asking, "How are you feeling?"



"Hungry," she answered truthfully.. having forcefully cleansed her meals for the last 24 hours.



"Why don't you sit down, I'll make you some food," He kissed her hair and led her over to the couch, covering her with the blanket hanging over the back.



"What would you like to eat? Soup? Toast? Ice Cream?"



"Soup."



"What kind?"



She shrugged her shoulders.



"Chicken noodle?" Harry asked, holding up the first can he pulled out of the cupboards.



Hermione nodded, before turning her fatigued attention to Ron, "How're you, Ron?"



"I'm great, Hermione, and you? Oh, I'm sorry...your obviously not doing so well right now.. "



"Well, before today I was doing well," she replied.



Harry called from the kitchen area, "Hermione, would you like some tea and you, Ron?"



"Yeah, mate."



"Yes, maybe it'll help."



"What do you want in yours, Ron?" Harry asked, "Milk, sugar, honey?"



As the kettle whistled as a result of Harry's heating charm upon it.



"Milk and sugar, please," Ron answered.



A few minutes later, Harry entered the seating area with a tray laden with three cups of tea, two bowls of soup, biscuits and a cold wash cloth."



"Thanks, mate," Ron said as Harry handed him his cup of tea.



Harry leaned over Hermione and kissed her forehead, "Are you still freezing?" He asked her.



"No, I'm hot now."



"I can tell," He smiled, putting the washcloth on her forehead.



Harry put the biscuits, his own cup of tea and bowl of soup on the coffee table, giving Hermione the tray with her own soup bowl and tea cup.



Harry sat on the floor on the other side of the coffee table facing Ron and Hermione on the couch.



The trio ate and drank their tea in relative silence, only the clanking of dishes or slurping of soup or tea was heard.



Ron knew something was up...Harry's oddness, Hermione coming out of Harry's room... Harry kissing her hair and forehead.



'Why haven't they told me?' Ron wondered.



'Or are they scared of it coming out, their secret, their evident solace in each other...



Don't they understand I'll be happy, am happy for them?



How can they think so low of me as to not tell me?



- - THEN it dawned on him--



Maybe it wasn't he they needed to admit things to..



But to each other!



That explains Harry's question about love.



He, there scared, yet overjoyed, yet unsure about there new found and evolving relationship...



So it has yet to be discussed...



Now I wonder if I'm right?



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - -







"Ron?" Harry asked. "Ron? Ron, are you okay?" Harry called to get his friend's attention.



"Oh, sorry, Harry. I was lost in thought is all... Where'd Hermione go?"



"I drew her a bath, mate... Ten minutes ago. Ron, I um... We have a confession."



"What's that?"



"We've been sleeping in the same bed since August."



"So. What's your point, Harry?"



"We're...um...involved with each other now."



"That's great, Harry. And, I surmised as much."



"Really! And you...um, don't want to blast an impotence spell or anything at me?"



"Why would I want to do that?. If you hurt her maybe. But, with the way you treat her, especially watching you take care of her, this last little while. I can tell that you do feel what you're not ready to admit. You're waiting for yourself to get up the courage to tell her and for the proper time, and I love you for it, Mate. You're my best friends and I want you to be happy."



"Thank you Ron," and Ron gave him a bone crushing hug.



"Where am I sleeping?"



"Hermione's room. I put your stuff in there earlier. It's all set and you can brush your teeth in the kitchen sink, if you like."



"Okay, Goodnight Potter, and do you have any toothpaste?" And he yelled toward the bathroom, "Goodnight, Hermione, hope you feel better."



"Thanks Ron, and Goodnight," she called back.



"I'll get that toothpaste, Ron," Harry said going off to the bathroom.



- - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- - -- - - - - -



By the end of the week, Ron was staying with his twin brothers to avoid being sick like his two friends.



Ron visited his brother, Bill, his father and even took a few afternoons helping Fred and George out at their shop.



He visited old school chums and his former teammates as well.



He even observed a Chudley Cannons practice, which made him glad he was no longer their Keeper, after watching the poor chap let in at least twenty-five consecutive goals, as his beaters incapacitated themselves.

(Post Chapter AN: Well.. this was written Pre-HBP... two. or rather four chapters left.. two different versions of the next two chapters are coming next!)