Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter Five: True Feelings.

"Harry, you alright mate? You seemed to still have some jelly legs from sleeping in St. Mungos' beds too long." Ron stretched out his hand towards Harry who was currently lying on the floor. Harry looked around at the lush green hills of the Burrow countryside before grabbing Ron's outstretched hand.

"Thanks mate. Guess I better be a bit more careful next time." Ron chuckled.

"Yes you better. You wouldn't want to get splinched. Dad read in an article of a couple splinching themselves in downtown muggle London. The ministry had to obliviate everyone's mind near the area." Ron's face was red from laughing. "You should've seen the picture on the front news! The couple walked around beheaded with no arms. Quite a scare for the poor muggles really."

Harry made a mental note to practice apparation during his stay at the Burrow. Loud music could be heard from the backyard indicating that the party was already in full swing. Slowly walking towards the Burrow, Harry decided to get some information about the Weasleys. "So Ron." Ron turned his head indicating to Harry that his full attention was on him.

"How's your parents these days? Any news on your family now that the war is over?"

Ron stopped for a moment looking at the sky before turning his head back towards Harry and walked towards the front doors. "Well, my dad still works for the ministry but he's got a promotion. Head of misuse of muggle artifacts section. From what I've seen of mum, she looks younger now that all that stress of the war is off of her shoulders. Once she's relaxed and happy, the whole family is. Bill is in the backyard with his wife, Fleur. He traveled to somewhere in India last summer to research ancient treasures for Gringotts and came back with a sack full of antiques. Funny how most of the jewelry is shaped from monkeys and elephants." Ron cracked a cheeky smile. "Who would want a golden elephant sitting on their desk? Those fat hunks can't do squat but act like a hose. Quite crazy really."

Opening the fence, Ron allowed Harry to walk into the yard before closing it again. "Percy has finally crawled back to the Burrow once the new ministry of magic went into office. He now has a job in the courts of Wizengamot." Ron scowled. "Sometimes Percy is just too snobbish. I mean, what makes him think he's better than all the rest of us?"

Harry thought back to his fifth year where Percy was literally bowing beneath that oaf of a minister Cornelius Fudge. To tell you the truth, Harry wasn't looking forward to seeing Percy, either.

Ron's scowl turned into a crooked grin. "Fred and George have opened another shop! This time in Hogsmeade. Their business is booming. You have to personally thank them Harry, they kept everyone sane during the war. Quite geniuses those two." Ron had a sense of pride surround him.

"Charlie is here. He's still single since tending for dragons take a lot of time off of their lives. Psh, why doesn't he just marry one?"

Harry had one last question to ask. "What about Ginny?"

Ron seemed a bit uncomfortable before the front door opened to a very happy and frantic Mrs. Weasley. Buried in one of Mrs. Weasley's fierce trademark hugs, Harry couldn't get the answer from Ron.

"Oh Harry, your alright! My oh my, you've certainly grown tall." Mrs. Weasley looked up at Harry's 6"2 tall frame. Even though Ron was still taller at 6"4, Harry was proud of his height.

Two identical voices could be heard from behind Mrs. Weasley. "Harry! Long time no see. How's it been?"

Fred and George appeared from behind Mrs. Weasley. Both twins were identical and Harry still had a hard time figuring one of them from the other.

"Welcome to the Burrow!"

"You feeling better!"

"Toffee?"

Harry was just about to accept before Fred and George were pushed out of the way by a brown-haired girl. Hermione ran up to Harry and gave him one of her trademark bone-crushing hugs.

"Hermione!" Harry managed to gasp out.

Ron squeezed Hermione lightly before she let go. "Merlin Hermione, Harry hasn't broken any bones yet and he doesn't plan to anytime soon."

Hermione backed away before bursting out in happiness and hugging Harry again. "Oh Harry, you looked so weak in St. Mungos! Look at you now! You can stand and walk!"

Harry rolled his eyes before speaking slowly. "Yes I can walk Hermione." Harry walked around the room before standing back in front of the brunette with a cheeky smile.

Hermione cracked a grin before punching Harry playfully on the arm. "Prat."

Harry mocked a bow and slapped Ron in the hand. Ron promptly walked to Hermione's side and put an arm protectively around Hermione's waist. "Well, that's just about all here. There are a few guests of Fred and George but no one else. The Burrow is currently hosting a small family party for you Harry.

Harry smiled. "I'm glad I met the Weasleys." He was just about to walk to the backyard where the music was currently playing and the smell of Mrs. Weasley's great cooking wafted into Harry's senses when another voice was heard, this time from the stairs.

"Hey Harry, nice to meet you here!"

Harry whipped back around towards the stairs where one of his friends from Hogwarts was currently standing. "Dean!"

The dark-skinned man grinned before walking the rest of the way down the stairs and shook Harry's hand. From the corner of his eye, Harry noticed the Weasleys look a bit uncomfortable and anxious. "What are you doing here Dean?"

From the look on Dean's face, Harry quickly changed his sentence." I mean, certainly a surprise to see you here Dean! Did Ron invite you?"

Dean was just about to respond when a firm voice was heard from the stairs, this time belonging to a female. Harry recognized the voice immediately. "I invited Dean."

Harry whipped back towards the stairs even quicker before quickly running up the stairs towards the voice. "Ginny!" Harry swept Ginny into a hug and she hugged back. But something felt wrong, it seemed to Harry that Ginny didn't hug him back with much enthusiasm at all.

Letting go of Ginny, Harry's face fell back to Dean where he stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Harry slowly walked back to Ron and Hermione's side. He sensed tension in the air from all the Weasley's as the Burrow seemed to be frozen in time. Glancing around, Harry saw the look of anxiety on everybody's faces, and somewhat guilty expressions on the faces of his two closest friends, Ron and Hermione.

Harry looked back to Ginny. She was beautiful. Flaming red hair stretching beyond her shoulders. Herbrown eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Her face was the only one with an emotionless expression in the room. Harry needed to say something.

"What's going on? Ron, Hermione?"

Ginny broke the freezing atmosphere in the Burrow before walking down the stairs and walking towards Dean where he put a protective arm around Ginny. Ginny finally said something.

"Harry…" Everybody held their breaths. Harry was starting to put the pieces together as his deep emerald eyes held Ginny's stare. "Dean was invited by me to the Burrow."

Harry visibly relaxed. "So that's why Dean's here."

"He's my boyfriend…"

Silence.

Ron slowly turned his head towards Harry as he saw Hermione do the same. Hermione was the first to say something after the long silence.

"Harry...?"

Ron saw the look on Harry's face and he suddenly felt sorry for the poor guy. It seemed as if hundreds of emotions were sweeping on and off of his face. Glancing down, Harry's fists were clenched and shaking. He's trying to hold his emotions inside. Ron turned his attention back to Harry's head and he saw his emerald eyes focus on the couple standing on right in front of the stars.

(Rons POV)

Finally, one firm emotion held firmly to Harry's face. He smiled and congratulated the couple in a cackled barely heard voice. Dean was smiling widely, that git. My sister Ginny also had a few emotions on her face but women, they're hard to read them.

Harry walked slowly out into the backyard and disappeared. Hermione looked at me. After being Harry's best friends for nearly a decade, we can't be fooled by his fake emotions. Damn it Harry, he's wallowing in pity right now. Hermione glanced at me, silently signaling at me to talk to him. I nodded my head and walked slowly towards the backyard. Passing Dean's still beaming face, I felt the extreme urge to punch that ugly grin off his face.

That's right I said it! I do not like Dean Thomas! In fact, I hate the idea of him being my sister's boyfriend, much less if he's really lucky, her husband. Over my dead...body…

I needed to find Harry fast. Rushing out the back door, the afternoon breeze hit my face causing some of myhair to clash horribly into my eyes. Brushing the annoying bangs out of the way, I glanced around. Party tables, balloons, music. No Harry in sight. Dragons Dung!

Stuffing my hands into my jean pockets, I started to wander the ground of the Burrow. So much has happened since we were at war. Nearly two years of unexpected news. Harry can only take so much… After defeating Voldomort, he shouldn't go back to being somewhat incomplete. What me and Hermione wanted was for him to spend the rest of his life in deserved happiness.

I feel somewhat guilty. My Family made Harry feel this. That means I am involved to the fullest. The problem, I don't control Ginny. She has her own heart and I give her every right to live her life. But Harry's happiness is what I also want. Oh Merlin, what do I do now? This is a dead end…

Walking to the edge of the lake, I see a distant profile.

"Harry!" As fast as my legs can carry me, I run towards him.

(Normal POV)

"Harry!"

Harry turned his head from the lake to a very anxious looking redhead running straight towards me. "Ron?"

Slowly, Harry stood up and patted the dirt off his jeans. Ron reached Harry before stopping a short distance between Harry and himself. He coughed.

"Hey..."

"Hey Ron…"

Harry managed to smile a bit before turning back towards the lake. Picking up a smooth rock, Harry skipped it across the lake waters causing the peaceful water to stir in small circular waves. Ron also turned towards the lake, picking up a rock and playing with it awkwardly in his hands.

"Look Harry…" Harry immediately knew where this conversation was going.

"No Ron, you do not need to be sorry. Ginny made her decision and I'm… happy for her." Harry picked up another rock and skipped it into the lake. Ron stayed silent for an awkward moment before slowly walking to Harry and putting one of his large hands on his friend's shoulder.

"Harry…you don't need to do this to yourself. Stop hiding your feelings. You're killing yourse-"

"How am I killing myself Ron! How am I hiding my feelings! Don't cut into things you don't understand!" Harry immediately regretted his anger and sat down on the ground burying his head beneath his hands. Ron was now used to Harry's anger breaks but since the beginning of the war, Harry barely yelled at anything. This was just too much…

Walking slowly towards Harry, Ron sat down next to the base of a tree and sighed. "Mate, I know exactly how you feel... The love of your life going out with another person. It just tears you apart, maybe not from the outside but on the inside, it wears you down to almost nothing." Ron's voice was calm.

Harry immediately understood Ron. Harry paid his full attention on Ron knowing he had something important to say. Harry understood Ron was trying to help and Harry inwardly thanked God that Ron was his friend.

"One name Harry, one name caused me almost 5 years of pain in my chest." Ron held his heart for a few minutes, breathing before continuing. "I guess it started our in second year. I finally came to realize that I needed Hermione, we needed her but I was different. I enjoyed her presence even though you might have not realized." Ron stopped and looked at the sky reminiscing in the trio's past Hogwarts experiences.

"Who knew that I cared for Hermione during third year? Heck, half the time we were yelling at each other and I made her cry Harry! I made her cry! Thinking back, it still hurts. But the thing I don't believe is that she forgave me. After so much misery that I caused her from first to second and third year. Three years Harry and she forgave me!"

Ron was now deep into his conversation and Harry had no intention to stop his best mate.

"Fourth year…" Chuckling, Ron threw a nearby rock into the lake sending ripples everywhere. "Fourth year was when I as brought to my senses Harry. She went out with Krum. That was when the pain set in. That was when reality struck me hard in the chest like lightning. But the pain stays…it doesn't leave you. It haunts you and it destroys you inside."

Ron picked some grass from the nearby shrubsand started playing with them unconsciously.

"During the Yule Ball, I guess you kinda figured out about my crush to Hermione. Yes, she was absolutely beautiful that day but that was not the reason why I loved her. Her heart and soul and inner aura was what attracted me to her like a magnet."

Ron put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, when have you ever seen my Hermione give up. When has she ever said, let's just give up and try again?" Harry thought back.

"No Harry, she never did. She helped us get the sorcerer's stone, she helped us figure the riddle that even Dumbledore couldn't figure out about the Basilisk. She outsmarted all of the teachers in the school solving a riddle centuries old! Think back to third year. When I accused her of so many false accusations, did she ever go into her room and cry her eyes out? No! Harry, she went and helped you figure out that Sirius Black was you godfather and even more important, that he did not kill your parents Harry! You engaged a werewolf, and flew Buckbeak to escape an innocent person from a most horrible death, and with the eyes of the ministry and a couple hundred dementors on your back. That Harry, is what I call immovable pure golden soul. Without her, we both wouldn't be here right now."

Ron had a small smile on his face, his blue eyes shining in the sunset. The lake was now a golden color and there were a few swans floating around enjoying the weather.

"Harry, I want you to understand me. I don't want you to make the same mistakes as I did."

Harry whipped his head around towards Ron. "What mistakes Ron? You have the heart of Hermione, what else could you want?" Quickly seeing the alarm in Harry's eyes, Ron quickly shook his head and smiled again.

"No Harry, I want nothing more. Through the gates of hell or heaven, Hermione will be beside me and I will be there to protect her." Ron looked like he was about to release a great weight upon his shoulders.

"I mean by being a prick like me and ignoring my feelings!" Harry was surprised by Ron's emotions this evening. Staring into his blue eyes, Harry saw a few traces of tears in Ron's eyes. Ron was pouring his heart out.

"Ron, you don't need to-."

"No Harry, I need to explain this! I ignored my feelings for Hermione and I went through even greater pains. Not for just me, but for Hermione also. I hurt her Harry! I hurt the love of my life! I was too stupid and too hotheaded to realize. I didn't even realize that she liked me too. I wouldn't believe it! It just cannot be true right? Wrong!"

Ron grabbed both of Harry's shoulders and shook him lightly.

"I don't want you to make the same mistake as I did! I don't want you to almost ruin your life! Just because you won't believe the possibilities! I know how you feel! Hermione felt like I didn't love her and she went out with someone else! It broke both of our hearts! We were sending each other so many different emotions, mixed signals! I made an even greater mistake! I went out with another girl right in front of Hermione to make her jealous!"

Harry held his palm up towards Ron to calm the emotion down. Ron may have the emotion of a teaspoon as pointed out by Hermione but when he's really serious, he could make anyone near him feel the powerful emotions that he's currently flowing through his system. This made no difference for Harry. He was shaking. The power of love for Ron and Hermione was so great that Harry felt himself shake and the ground rumble around the tree base that Ron sat near.

"Ron, I want to ask you one question."

Ron gave his best friend his full attention, occasionally wiping the tears that he couldn't keep inside. "I'm sorry Harry."

"No Ron, don't worry. I'm glad that you're feeling this way. It just proves Hermione wrong that you have almost no emotion. In fact, you're overflowing with it. But enough of the jokes Ron. I am glad that you feel this way about Hermione. You two have a strong bond almost unbreakable. But one question Ron."

Silence. Harry breathed before letting it out.

"What is love Ron? How do you feel it? How do you know when you're in love?"

Ron thought for a moment, thinking carefully.

"Well Harry, to tell you the truth, love can't be expressed in words. But I can tell you this. Have you ever felt that when one of the people you care about is in danger, would you risk your life to save that person?"

Harry thought about his parents.

"Like Hermione, during the war, I saw a death eater fire a spell at her and I ran as fast as I could without even registering in my mind what I was doing. Before I knew it, I was out cold sprawled on the ground. I woke up in a nearby medical tent with Hermione sat crying on my bed right next to me. I took a pretty nasty curse in the chest."

Unbuttoning his shirt, Ron revealed his chest where a large scar was cut from his right shoulder to his left hip. Harry winced at how bad the scar looked.

"That was when I finally confessed to Hermione about my feelings. And since then, we have never been apart. Never. There' might've been an argument here and there, but hey, that's life. There are no two people in the world that share all their interests. A relationship has their arguments."

Ron cracked a smile at Harry.

"I'm just telling you that there will be chances in love, even if there doesn't seem like one. It will come Harry. Trust me."

Harry was proud of his best friends. "Hermione is really lucky to have you Ron."

Ron broke into a grin. "No Harry, we are really lucky to have each other…"

Ron stood up and stretched his hand towards Harry currently sitting nearby. Harry took the hand and hoisted himself off. Both men patted the dirt off of their jeans and started to walk back to the house. Ron spoke out.

"Come on, we need to visit Hermione. The female mind is much better at these things Harry. I admit it, from personal experiences, men are dimwits at love. Try to prove me wrong. All men first start out as blockheads. We always go in the wrong direction. You need a friend's help that actually knows what she's doing."

Harry broke out into a smile. Wow, Ron definitely has grown more mature throughout his years. Harry was deeply impressed. No more clue-less Ron. A more grown up, more mature Ron has taken his place.

"Ron, another question."

"Fire away Harry."

"How do you know that I will have another chance with Ginny?"

Ron stopped and put a hand on Harry's head ruffling his hair. "Brotherly Instincts my friend, Brotherly Instincts…Trust me."

Harry and Ron walked back with large smiles on their faces. Harry would remember this important conversation for the rest of his life. With a grin, both men raced back to the Burrow where they would find their missing piece to the trio. The piece that stuck them together to make them inseparable. They went to find Hermione.

Authors Note: Before any of the action starts, i just needed people to know more about the characters. All of this information will become necessary once the story progresses. Review!