As they pushed their way through the crowded airport, Hermione couldn't help but wonder if she should tell him. If she was going to do it this was her last chance.
She glanced sideways at Ron Weasley, one of her best friends and the man she had been in love with for as long as she could remember. Hermione shook her head. No, she wouldn't do it.
Telling him how she felt now would just ruin everything. He thought of her like a sister and even if he didn't they were about to be a world away from each other.
She was on her way to New York to help organize the wizarding world in America, which was sorely lacking in schedules and discipline, and he had been accepted into the Auror Academy. It would never work.
"Hermione?" Harry's voice shook her out of her thoughts.
"What?"
Harry gave her a grin. "Lost in your thoughts?"
"No." she lied. "Why?"
"Well, you were about to pass the security check. Isn't this where you wanted to go?"
"No I wasn't." Hermione agued, but then she noticed she actually was almost four feet passed the security entrance. She glared at the wide smile on her friend's face. "Oh, shut up Harry."
Ron chuckled but gave her a mock serious expression when her gaze turned to him. Hermione laughed. She was going to miss them so much. It would be the first time in seven years that they had been apart for more than a couple of weeks. Life just wouldn't be the same without them.
Harry pulled her into a friendly hug. "We'll miss you. Sorry that Gin couldn't make it but she said to tell you to write at least once a week."
Hermione wiped a tear from her eye. "I'll do that."
Then it was Ron's turn to say goodbye. He shot a look at Harry.
Trying to hide his smirk, Harry hugged his friend one last time and made an excuse about having to check in with Mrs. Weasley.
When they were finally alone Ron struggled with a way to tell her all the things he'd wanted to tell her since they were thirteen, but the words wouldn't come out. As the awkward moment stretched on he began to feel like more of an idiot than he had felt in years. Why couldn't he say it? Why couldn't he say something, anything to let her know what was in his heart? He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his fiery locks.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you then." He gave her a quick, uncomfortable hug and turned to leave.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears at his heartless goodbye. "Is that it? Is that what I get after all these years?"
Ron turned to look at her and his heart felt like it was breaking. She was crying and it was all his fault, again. "Hermione…"
"I wasn't expecting a parade or anything but I was hoping for a little more than that. You show more emotion over losing a meal than you do over losing me. But I guess I know where I stand with you." She nodded and then turned to go. "Goodbye, Ronald."
And with that she was gone.