Thanks for reading, everyone. Just a reminder – not HBP compliant.
Cheers to Vaughn for being an awesome beta!
Three weeks into the summer, Fred, George, and Ron Weasley came to fetch Harry from the Dursley's. Vernon was thrilled to see him go, and made sure to help him out the door as quickly as possible. Harry was more than happy to leave, and piled his things into the Weasley's car for the trip to the Burrow.
The trip was fairly long, as the car had not yet been enchanted to fly, and Harry spent a good part of the trip staring moodily out the window. Ron knew him well enough to know he had a lot on his mind, and decided to leave him alone for a change. Besides, he had a lot to think about himself. Ron had come to the conclusion that he had developed serious feelings for Hermione. The problem was, he didn't think she returned his interest. This past year, he had watched her a lot, and what he saw disturbed him. He felt like a git for not realizing it earlier.
Ron knew Harry and Hermione were best friends, like him and Harry and him and Hermione. The Dream Team as they were called – three best friends that did everything together. Only things had changed as of late, and Ron reluctantly had to admit some of it was his doing. Deep down, he had known Harry would never put his own name in the Goblet of Fire, but he had been having problems dealing with the fact that people referred to him as Harry's sidekick. It wasn't Harry's fault. Ron knew he didn't see his friend that way. But it had bothered him nonetheless, and he lashed out at Harry in response. He regretted the fact that he had allowed his ego to start getting in the way of their friendship, but he hadn't realized he was doing it until his sister pointed it out to him.
It was around the same time he came to a realization on his own: Harry and Hermione loved each other. It never occurred to him that his major competition would be his best friend. When it did, he felt angry with Harry for once again coming out on top. But after the battle in the Ministry of Magic, Ron found himself unable to continue to resent Harry's obvious feelings for Hermione. He thought about all the times they had spent together, and remembered that it had always been Harry who had been there for her.
Their first year, Harry was the one that thought of her being in the girl's lavatory after Ron's thoughtless comment had made her cry. Harry was the reason they charged to her rescue. Their second year, Harry was the one constantly by her side after she had been petrified, holding her hand and trying to figure out how to save everyone. Ron remembered how Harry's face had lit up when Neville pointed out Hermione was back, and how she threw herself into his arms upon seeing him. Ron had been uncomfortable at the time, and had not known how to react. The third year was hard on them all, due to Hermione's efforts to protect Harry from his godfather. But at the end they had stood together, as always, to rescue him once they found out he was innocent of his crimes. Ron privately admitted he had been a prat to her about her cat, and didn't blame her for being angry with him. The fourth year was the hardest. Ron had gotten angry with Harry, and it hadn't helped matters that Hermione stood by him once again. By that point, Ron had come to realize he liked her, and had been jealous of Harry and anyone else that got near her. Probably the only reason Ron had not completely pushed Harry away was because he did not seem interested in anyone but Cho. Ron always felt she was wrong for Harry, but wanted them to get together so he could get with Hermione.
That wish ended along with their fifth year.
Ron began to notice during the summer that Hermione spent a great deal of time around Harry, and throughout the year she kept finding reasons to spend time with him. Take Christmas for example. Her family was skiing, yet she left early to come spend time with Harry at Grimmauld Place. She hadn't even allowed the snow to melt from her hair before she was upstairs with Harry. The end of the year only served to prove to Ron, and everyone else, how much his two best friends cared for each other. Anyone watching them in the Ministry of Magic would immediately think they were partners of some sort. They way they protected each other gave the impression that they cared very deeply for one other. Ron had heard how Harry reacted when Hermione had been injured. He hadn't witnessed it, and even he could still tell it meant a lot more than concern over a friend. He knew Harry blamed himself for Sirius' death and Hermione getting hurt. He also knew his friend had a tendency to close himself off in hopes of protecting his friends. Hermione seemed to be the only person that could truly break through to him. Sure, Ron could make Harry laugh and forget his problems for a while, but Hermione helped him solve them.
Ron sighed. Combine all the evidence together and there was only one conclusion he could come to. Harry and Hermione loved each other, and Ron was never going to have a chance with her. The thought hurt a lot less than he expected it to. It was probably because he cared for them both so much. And he wanted very badly for Harry to find some form of happiness in his life. Ron wished he could have turned that Umbridge woman into a toad for all that she did to him last year. Harry had been miserable, it was easy for anyone to see, and the "High Inquisitor" was a large factor into it.
Ron wasn't sure how he would handle a romance between his two best friends. But he did know that he owed it to them to support them if it came to pass. Ron could see the possibility of other women in his life, but Harry was the type of person that fell in love for a lifetime. Seeing them almost made him believe in the existence of soulmates. Looking over at Harry, he could see the lines of sadness etched on his face, and the pain behind his eyes. Ron knew it would go away if Hermione suddenly showed up to visit him. She was one of the few people he relaxed around, and if her behaviour was any indication, the feeling was mutual.
Ron continued to think about the possibilities as they rode to the Burrow, leaving Harry alone to do his own thinking.
Harry stared pensively out of the window trying to figure out why he wasn't happier. He was away from his Muggle relatives, and on his way to his best friend's house. Why shouldn't he be happy? Because it's not the best friend I want to be with, he thought. Harry squirmed uncomfortably at the thought. He knew Ron had feelings for Hermione, and did his best to studiously ignore the feelings of jealousy he had at the thought. Last year had been very strange for him. He was attracted to Cho Chang. Hermione was corresponding long distance with Viktor Krum, and he thought there was no problem with either situation. But while he was attracted to Cho, he freely admitted that part of his mind kept comparing her to Hermione. When they kissed, he had been ecstatic, but there was a small part of him that was disappointed. He had no idea why at the time. Then came the fateful date on Valentine's Day, where he proved to Cho where his priorities lay, and he had to admit he was not terribly heartbroken by her rejection.
The battle in the Ministry of Magic was what changed things for Harry. He still had nightmares about Hermione and Ron being injured, but mostly Hermione. His heart almost shattered in his chest when he saw her lying there, and it was all he could do to maintain his composure. He remembered back to the past five years, and noticed a pattern. Hermione was always there in his thoughts. From the time they rescued her from the troll to the battle in the Ministry, he always thought of her as a constant in his life. It never occurred to him that he might be in love with her, but he had to admit he possessed all the signs. The good news was that it appeared to him that Ron did not. Harry thought it was more of a crush than anything. Harry wished he knew how Hermione felt, but he had a pretty good idea that it was not what he wanted it to be. She was with Viktor, and how could he compete with that?
As he thought, Harry idly fiddled with the ring Hermione had given him right before they left Hogwarts. She had handed it to him, and informed him it was one half of a set of Talking Rings.
"Unfortunately, the set only comes with a male and female ring, so I was not able to get one so you and Ron could talk. I think he is planning on kidnapping you to the Burrow as soon as possible anyway." She smiled at him, driving the butterflies in his stomach crazy. "I'll be in France for a few weeks during summer, but I should be back around the time you get to the Burrow. I'll keep in touch with you while I'm away. That way you won't be lonely at the Dursleys."
"Thanks, Hermione. This will help a lot. I certainly wasn't looking forward to being stuck there for another summer." He put the ring on, and smiled at the thought of being able to talk with her.
The Dursleys treated him better this summer, no doubt because Uncle Vernon was afraid of Alastor Moody, and the presence of Ryselle Spellsinger helped smooth things over with his aunt. She was trying very hard to win the young woman over and as a result was much nicer to Harry. The three weeks he was forced to stay with his relatives was almost pleasant, as they left him alone and he was able to retreat to Ryselle's house.
He and Hermione talked often. It sounded as if she was enjoying herself in France. She loved the Louvre, and spent a great deal of time describing the things she saw there. She took pictures and promised to bring him postcards. The surge of jealously he felt at the idea of her going clubbing with some guy named Pierre dissipated when she informed him that the boy was with her cousin. Until then his dreams were filled with visions of Hermione falling in love with a handsome French man who did not have an insanely evil wizard after him. Why couldn't he be an ordinary young man who could go with his best friend to Paris? He was determined to get there someday. With Hermione if it were possible. He flushed at the thought.
"Hey you two! You look like Snape made you drink one of his potions. Lighten up or we'll feel compelled to help you." Fred's voice cut through Harry's reverie like a knife. He looked at the twin, startled, and smiled feebly.
"Come on, George, you know I can't help but be brooding and silent. It's all part of the hero bit!"
Fred and George laughed. "How does that explain him then?" Fred pointed at Ron, who was now looking around in confusion.
"The faithful sidekick is but a shadow of his heroic partner!" proclaimed George.
Ron turned red. "I'm not a sidekick!"
Harry looked at the twins sternly. "Indeed he is not. After all, a sidekick could never beat the hero at chess every time they played now, could he?"
Ron glanced over at him, and grinned at the look on Harry's face.
"That's right! So you ruddy bastards can just bugger off!"
Fred and George laughed, and the boys spent the rest of the trip talking about Quiddich, school, and, of course girls.
They arrived at the Burrow toward evening, and were greeted enthusiastically by the boys' mother, Molly Weasley. She came bustling out of the house, followed closely by Ginny, and wrapped Harry in a big hug.
"Ah Harry dear. I'm so glad we could get you out of that horrid place! I hope things were not too bad for the past month."
He shook his head. "Things were surprisingly pleasant. I think Uncle Vernon is very frightened of Alastor Moody. He actually did everything he could to ignore me. The only time I really saw them was when they were showing me off to their new neighbor."
"New neighbor?"
"Uh, yeah. She moved in last summer. This is the first time I actually got to meet her. She's really nice."
Molly smiled. "That's wonderful, Harry. I'm glad there's a nice Muggle in that neighborhood."
"Uh, yeah." Harry made a mental note to avoid mentioning her magical ability. It didn't seem like she wanted it known to others and he respected her wishes.
Molly shooed the boys upstairs to Ron's room, where Harry would be staying for the rest of the summer. He arranged his things as best he could in the small space, and then went downstairs for dinner. The house was unusually deserted. Arthur Weasley was at work, trying to get things settled after the Minister of Magic finally accepted Voldemort's return. Charlie and Bill were there helping their father for the summer, and Percy was attached as usual to Cornelius Fudge. Harry knew better than to ask about that situation. Even after the Ministry admitted that the Dark Lord was alive and well, Percy was still unwilling to make peace with his parents. He was too busy trying to get ahead on Fudge's coattails. Fred and George were full of comments about his taste for shoe leather, among other things, but said nothing in front of their mother.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny spent a great deal of time together, practicing at Quiddich, clearing gnomes out of the garden, and generally hanging around enjoying the summer. Hermione was due to return from France in a week, which excited both boys to no end. Ron found himself secretly hoping Ginny and Harry would get together and leave the way open for him to woo Hermione, but as the week progressed, it was obvious Ginny had no interest in a relationship with the dark haired Gryffindor. Fred and George spent as much time as they could at home, while maintaining their fledgling business. Ron, Harry, and Ginny became very cautious about everything they ate or drank because of the twins' decision to make them a test market. Nothing their mother said could stop them.
Harry took to getting up at dawn every morning and climbing out on the roof to watch the sun rise. He found he needed more solitude than in past summers. Much of his time was spent thinking of Sirius. However he also devoted a considerable amount of his attention to trying to figure out what to do about Hermione. The solitude gave him the opportunity to let his emotions show for a change, and much of his time was spent with tears falling from his eyes as he thought about the things he had seen over the past few years.
He was sitting up on the roof staring out at the dawn one morning when he heard someone coming up the side of the house. He quickly wiped his face, willing the tears to stop, and assumed a neutral expression. He was very surprised to see Ginny Weasley's head pop over the side.
"Hey, Harry. Mind if I join you?"
He shook his head. "Not at all. It's your house after all, Ginny."
She clambered up to where he sat. "You're a guest. Mum says that gives you more rights than those of us that live here. So what's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've been climbing up here every day for the past week. I imagine there's a reason."
"Maybe I like to watch the sunrise without wondering if Fred and George are going to light my hair on fire."
Ginny laughed. "They do make it hard to get some peace, don't they? That's the good part about being a girl. One screaming fit got Mum to threaten to bob their ears if they ever came in my room again."
"That and the unrelieved pink color scheme."
"True. Mum did go a bit overboard, didn't she?"
Harry looked at her in surprise. "I thought you picked the décor."
She made a disgusted face. "Heavens no! I prefer green. The only good thing about pink is that it prevents the boys from stealing my covers."
He laughed.
"So what are you thinking about?"
He hadn't expected that question. "Uh…things, I guess."
"What things, Harry?"
"Uh…well…uh…Sirius, for one."
She nodded. "That explains the tears."
He looked startled. "What tears?"
She gently wiped his face. "Those tears.
He smiled ruefully. "I see."
"So 'things' implies there was something else you were thinking about. What else is on your mind, Harry?"
He blushed. "Uh…uh…I…uh…"
"Hermione."
Harry choked. "Wh…why do you say that?"
"Because I'm not dumb or blind, Harry. It's not hard to see how much you care for her. In fact, it's obvious to anyone with half a brain. Even Ron's noticed."
Harry looked disturbed at that. "Ron?"
"Yes, Harry, did you think he wouldn't?"
He looked down at his feet. "I had hoped I hid it better than that. Ron was the last person I wanted to figure it out."
Ginny gave a small smile. "Because he likes her, huh?"
Harry nodded.
She took his hand. "Harry. Ron isn't stupid. He knows…has known for some time Hermione doesn't see him that way. He's just…hoped that he was wrong. The battle at the Ministry of Magic made things abundantly clear how the two of you felt about each other."
"It did?"
"Harry, you were fighting like I would imagine your parents fought. Everybody saw it. You make a great team. And it was not hard to see how much you cared for her when she got injured. Or how much she cared when that Death Eater threatened you."
He looked surprised. "You think Hermione cares for me as I care for her?"
"Without a doubt, Harry. Never think otherwise."
"But what about Viktor Krum?"
"Him? Oh, that's been over. She stopped writing him at the end of last year after he freaked out about…something. He's always been a bit too jealous of you in my opinion. But on the other hand, he's not blind either." She caught his eyes. "Neither is Cho."
Harry flushed with embarrassment. "I didn't mean for things to end the way they did. She just…always kept crying and trying to talk about Cedric, and was always so defensive about Hermione. She's my best friend, for heaven's sake. Cho knew that when she started…being interested in me."
"Yeah, and she probably figured you would drop Hermione like a blast-ended skrewt when she paid attention to you. She's like that, Harry. Bill calls it 'high maintenance'."
He laughed. "That she was!"
"Look, Harry, you need to think about what you want for a change. You've always been so self-sacrificing and noble, that you rarely take the opportunity to do things for yourself."
"I play Quidditch!"
"Yeah. And you spend the whole game thinking about how much the team will be happy when you get the Snitch. That's not for you, Harry. You should ask her out."
He choked. "Ask…her out?"
She nodded. "Yes. It's not like she's going to say no, Harry. Of course, there are very few women in the school that would turn Harry Potter down."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah. It's the scar. The scar is SO attractive, it drives women wild."
She squeezed his hand. "It's not the scar, Harry. It's you." She got up to leave. "Think on it, Harry. You and Hermione are great together already. What do you think it would be like if you were even more together?"
"What about Ron?"
She paused and turned to face him. "What about Ron, Harry? It's not going to happen for him and Hermione, as much as he may wish it to. He'll have to move on sometime. Sometimes lessons are hard." A brief look of sadness crossed her face.
Harry suddenly felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Ginny."
She smiled. "Don't be sorry, Harry. It's better this way."
He smiled. "Friends then?"
"Friends forever, Harry."
Hermione arrived at the Burrow about a few days after they had freed Harry from the Dursley's. Ron had spent the time in between trying to convince himself to accept the romance between his best friends, and step aside to encourage Harry to get together with Hermione. However, as soon as she arrived, all his plans went right out the window, and he found himself trying to figure out ways to get Hermione alone with him and Harry and Ginny alone with each other.
Unfortunately, his plan failed. Ginny was uncooperative and Hermione just paid that much more attention to Harry. It was all Ron could do to keep the two from being alone. He found himself participating in far too many conversations about Dark magic, magical defense, and even Potions to make him feel as if it were summer. Hermione was far too obsessed with school and Harry was starting to get just as bad.
He wasn't sure he could survive the summer.
The day after Hermione arrived at the Burrow was Harry's birthday. Molly and Ginny had planned a nice party for him, and immediately swept Hermione into the plans that evening, leaving Harry and the Weasleys free to play Quidditch.
The next morning Harry awoke to find Hermione downstairs meticulously preparing breakfast. He casually lounged in the doorway watching her. This was something he could get used to. An image of her fixing breakfast in their house flashed through his head, and he quickly grabbed it and tossed it into his mental closet with the rest of them. No need to make things more uncomfortable.
"Morning, Harry. Happy birthday!" She rushed over and gave him a tight hug while the potatoes sizzled. He was a bit amused by the fact that she was cooking, but thinking about it, it made perfect sense. Hermione was one of the best Potions students in the school. How could he ever think her incapable of following a recipe? For some reason, he always pictured her as a mess in the kitchen.
"Morning, 'Mione. Thanks. What are you cooking?"
"Potatoes, eggs, sausage, bacon… oh, do you like cheese on your eggs?" He nodded. "Good. Muffins, and I've made porridge for Ginny but I'm sure there's enough for you to have some if you want. Oh! I need to put on the pancakes."
Harry watched with a bemused look on his face as she rushed around preparing breakfast for him and the Weasleys. She is so beautiful, he thought. Her untamed honey-brown hair fell in soft curls down her back making him itch to run his fingers through it. She was already dressed for the day in a pair of white shorts and a red tank top. The glint of an odd silver pendant at her throat drew his attention to the creamy white expanse above her shirt and he hastily averted his eyes before they dropped to her chest.
The sounds of what could have been a hoard of rampaging hippogriffs approached and a sea of red-haired men stampeded into the room taking their spots at the table. Hermione immediately moved to bring them food. Harry looked at her with stunned admiration as he she took the first platter of hotcakes to the table as soon as the boys were seated. Taking his seat, he noted it was already set with the utensils and dishes necessary for breakfast. Ginny fetched a large pitcher of orange juice while her mother laid out the makings for tea.
Breakfast was the best he'd ever tasted. Not only was Hermione a terrific cook – she got compliments from all the boys (especially Ron who gushed like a schoolgirl) – but also seemed to have a knack for estimating how much food she needed to make. Perhaps five years of watching the Weasley boys consume incredible quantities of food had taught her how much to prepare. He loved her all the more for it. Bloody hell.
Hermione seemed to be paying special attention to him this morning. On no less than four separate occasions (two more than Ron) she asked him how he liked the food and if there was anything else she could get for him. Ron's expression grew darker as the morning progressed.
Harry didn't notice. He was too busy enjoying the attention.
"So what are we doing today, Harry?" Ron was gazing at him with an oddly hostile look.
"Er…" Instinctively he thought about Quidditch, but then he remembered that Hermione would be left out. He was not about to do that to her. "I'm not sure, Ron."
"Quidditch?"
Harry's eyes glanced toward Hermione. He was surprised to see a momentary flash of hurt before she schooled her features into a pleasant yet neutral countenance.
"No, I'm not really in the mood for Quidditch today."
The silence was almost deafening. But it was worth it for the surprised gleam in Hermione's eyes.
"Are you feeling okay, Harry?" "Should we get a nurse?" "Did Snape curse you or something?"
He laughed. "No, I just don't want to do something that not everyone will be involved in."
Hermione flushed as the Weasley's turned to stare at her.
"Uh, that's okay, Harry. It's your birthday. I can just watch like I usually do."
Harry was about to respond when Ginny beat him to it. "Actually, I have to agree with Harry. We always play Quidditch. Let's do something different for a change."
"Exploding Snap?"
"Chess"
"De-gnome the garden?"
"Fred!"
"How about hide and go seek?" Harry's ears perked up a Hermione's soft suggestion.
"That's brilliant, 'Mione! We could do it the Wizarding way."
They all looked at Ginny curiously.
"Oh bugger it all. It's easy. You can use your wand to cast concealment and detection spells, but you still have to tag the person yourself. We'll say that tree is the safe zone for the red team and that one for the blue team."
"How about red and gold?"
"Green and blue?"
"Red and green?"
"Guys! Shut it. I like this idea. It's certainly something different. How 'bout it, Ron?"
Ron looked at Harry, and then glanced at Hermione. The hopeful look on her face was all it took. His will crumbled and he nodded.
"Great!"
The next several hours were spent in a frenzy of hiding and chasing around the Burrow. Harry, Hermione, Bill, and George were the red team, which left Ron, Ginny, Charlie, and Fred for the blue team. Hermione taught them two concealment and detection charms that the red team used to good affect against their opponents. The lead went back and forth until Harry's team won two games in a row. Molly Weasley stepped in at that point and ordered everyone to get cleaned up. They were going to meet at Grimmuald Place with Remus, Tonks, Luna, and Neville for dinner and birthday cake.
By 6:30 they were ready to head out, and the group Flooed to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters where Harry's older friends waited. Upon stepping out of the fireplace, he found himself wrapped in a huge hug with Remus Lupin.
"Harry! Glad you could make it." He winked. "I see you brought a few friends."
Hermione waved. "Hi, Professor."
Ron, who was still upset about losing, gave the werewolf a curt nod. "Remus."
Remus was about to say something when he noticed Hermione's headshake. Right. Apparently the boy was feeling sensitive today. Lupin's enhanced perceptions caught the undercurrent of something between James' son and the young woman who was his best friend. The Weasley boy bristled with hostility toward Harry and it seemed pretty obvious what was going on. The fight for dominance was on. Everyone else appeared oblivious.
While Molly, Ginny, and Hermione went into the kitchen to fetch the plates and silverware, Remus examined Harry for signs of the crushing grief he'd seen before the end of the term. It was still there, but it seemed as if the young man finally came to terms with the loss of his godfather. It was surprising that he did not seem to have a problem with being in the Black house.
"How are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"I'm okay, Remus. I just… needed some time I guess."
"Understandable. I can't say I'm too happy about it either."
"I'm sorry."
Lupin looked at the dark haired boy in surprise. "Whatever for?"
"I shouldn't have gone running off to save him like that. I should have… I don't know. Something."
"Harry, listen to me. Sirius knew what he was doing and what the risks were. You can't blame yourself for his choices."
Harry sighed. "Yeah, that's what I've been told." He shook himself. "So how have you been?"
"Tolerable. I'm just glad Severus saw fit to send me a good supply of the Wolfsbane potion. Now I can spend my summer without worrying about running out."
Harry's face darkened at the mention of the Potions master. "I… good, Remus. Glad to hear it."
"Come on Harry, let's join the rest in the dining room."
"Creepy place that it is."
"Oh, I think you might be pleasantly surprised." Remus wished he could tell Harry that his godfather had found love before his death, but Dumbledore was very insistent that no one know about her. Fortunately, he'd already met her so she was able to visit with him. It was thanks to her that Sirius' mother's portrait was silent and the gloom of the house had been lifted. The dining room appeared to be much more open and comfortable after her changes.
"Nice job, Remus." Harry looked around the room admiringly. He remembered the dining room as a dark and gloomy place suited, it appeared, only to dining with Dark Lords and their servants. Now the curtains and walls were lighter and the furniture had been changed into something more comfortable with big red cushions and a lighter oak wood.
The door to the kitchen opened and Arthur Weasley came out bearing a large three-tiered birthday cake covered in candles. The frosting was yellow (gold?) with red lettering and a Celtic pattern around the edges. His eyes were drawn to the sparkling gold form of a Snitch on the top of the cake that sat there, wings idly flapping.
"Hermione made this," muttered Arthur as he set the cake down in front of Harry. Startled, he gazed at his beautiful best friend. Her smile was uncertain until he grinned at her and nodded thanks.
Ron nudged him. "Oy. Make a wish, Harry!"
Harry closed his eyes and thought about all the things he could wish for, but there was one thing that stood out above them all. He could wish for so many things – like Volemort's death for example – but this was far more desirable. Sucking in a deep breath, he exhaled as hard as he could, determined to blow out all the candles so he could make his wish. He opened his eyes as the group cheered, and immediately sent his wish up to whoever might be listening. Please keep Hermione safe. It was simple yet profound, and he was surprised to discover it was the most important thing he could think of. He could die happy knowing that Hermione, the woman he loved, was safe.
You will not win, Voldemort, as long as she lives, he resolved.
The cake was quickly sliced and the pieces distributed. Following the mass feeding frenzy came the presents. This year the Weasleys had gone all out and spent the first bit of Arthur's new salary on gifts for their almost-son. He nearly cried at the thoughtfulness. Charlie got him a nice dragon-hide jacket and boots from Romania, with the admonition to try and stay away from Hungarian Horntails for a few more years. Bill gave him a scarab ring, informing him that the ancients believed they held great protective powers. Fred and George gave him a lifetime supply of any Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze he could ever want as well as a certificate for a free fireworks show at the event of his choosing. Ginny's gift was simple – a wrist sheath for his wand – and Ron got him the Interactive Guide to the History of Quidditch.
Hermione's gift was amazing. He expected the books. She gave him all four volumes of Defying Evil: A Definitive Study of the Dark Arts and How to Defend Against It by Archwizard Acheyrusand a Note-taking Notebook for school. The thing he liked the most, however, was the pendant. Hermione gave him and Ron a small box with an odd-shaped pendant like the one Hermione wore inside. Harry's was gold, Hermione's silver, and Ron's bronze. Each one had the initials of all three friends on the back and she showed him how they fit together to make one pendant.
"They've been charmed so we can locate each other and I was that told other charms can be added for a small charge."
Harry was ecstatic. He gave her a big hug and quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, 'Mione! You have no idea how much this means to me."
Ron scowled while Hermione blushed and insisted the two boys put their necklaces on. A brief surge of magical energy connected the three once the last was fastened. The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Harry. Ron dragged Hermione off to chat with her while Ginny kept him company. The others fluctuated in and out of the assorted conversations and he enjoyed the opportunity to be around his friends in the Order without being in the middle of a life-or-death situation. He kept wondering what Ron and Hermione were discussing, but refused to go over there and interrupt them. He knew Ron liked her and from what he could tell, the feeling was mutual. It was something he would just have to deal with.
They returned to the Burrow late that night, and Harry went to sleep content for the first time in a long while. Ron, on the other hand, was less than happy. His conversation with her did not go the way he planned. She kept looking over at Harry, not even trying to hide the fact that she wanted to be with him instead. The red head's irritation grew and by the end of the evening he was ready to hex both his best friends for being selfish prats. Wasn't it enough that Harry got everything? All the success. All the attention. All the girls. Resolving to not think about it until the morning, Ron went to sleep.
The next day did not go the way he planned either.
Hermione was staying in Ginny's room, which Ron had been banished from years ago. She spent the day catching up with his sister, who had become very good friends with Hermione over the previous year. He knew Ginny wanted to hear all about her trip to France, so he resigned himself to not seeing either of them outside of meals. Several days passed and he saw very little of his female best friend. Toward the end of the week, he decided to get together a Quidditch game to distract him from his thoughts. Harry and his brothers were all too willing, and the boys spent the next few hours in the air.
Meanwhile, Ginny and Hermione stayed in the younger girl's room, catching up on their summer activities.
"Okay, so tell me about France. Was it truly the Romance Capital of the World?"
Hermione blushed. "That's not what I was there for, Ginny! I spent time sightseeing and taking pictures."
"No handsome Frenchmen offer to take you to see the sights?"
"Ginny! No! Well, I mean, I was asked, but I said no!"
"You were asked? By who?" Ginny's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Hermione frowned. "By no one I knew or cared to 'see the sights' with. Most of the time I actually spent with my cousin and her boyfriend." She sighed. "It was nice, but…"
"Too bad Harry wasn't there, huh?"
The older girl sighed. "Yes, too bad. It would have been lov… Hey!" Her cheeks flushed red at the thought. "Uh, it would have been nice… to be there with a… friend."
"Uh huh." Ginny eyed her friend skeptically. "A friend. Do you know what that friend told me last week?"
"What?"
Ginny replied coolly, "Nothing you'd be interested in." A pillow flew at her head. "Hey! What was that for?"
"Oh you know what it's for. What did he say? You didn't mention it for no reason."
"I suppose I didn't." Ginny's mischievous grin turned serious. "Hermione, answer me a question first."
"Okay."
"How do you feel about my brother?"
"Which one?"
"Ron, silly!"
"Oh! I thought I already made it clear. I guess you could say I feel like anyone would feel about his or her best friend. I care for him deeply, kind of like a brother."
"Is that all?"
Hermione smiled. "Yes, Ginny. Now I'll admit that I once considered the possibility of there being more than friendship with him…"
"And?"
"And, I came to the conclusion that it would be an unmitigated disaster. I like him, Ginny, but not in a romantic way."
"But you were attracted to him."
"Of course. For a short while. But I was also attracted to several other boys as well. I was a young girl growing up."
"You make it sound like you're not young now."
Hermione sighed. "I'm a lot older than I was, Ginny."
The girls were quiet for a moment. Ginny broke the silence. "So there's nothing other than friendship now, is there?"
"No, Ginny. I care for him as a friend, my best friend, but that's all." She looked at the younger Gryffindor curiously. "Why the inquisition?"
"Because, Hermione. Ron likes you. Like as more-than-a-friend likes you. So does Harry. The problem, of course, is rather obvious."
"What? What do you mean Ron likes me?"
"Exactly what I said, Hermione. He's had a crush on you for a while. He just never said anything about it. I think he's always known deep down that you don't think of him that way. But that doesn't change his feelings."
Hermione looked stunned. "But, I never…"
"Hermione, no one ever said it was logical. Or even possible. He knows how you feel about Harry."
"How I feel… He does?"
"Who doesn't? Come on, Hermione. It's so obvious I'm surprised the room doesn't burst into song when you two are in the room together. I bet even Malfoy knows."
"He's rather perceptive, Ginny, he… wait, what do you mean by the room bursting into song?"
"You know, like in movies where the hero and heroine are in the same room and the romantic music swells to illustrate the love they feel for one another?"
"You're still on about Harry having feelings for me? Oh, come on, Ginny!"
Ginny stood up. "What, you don't believe me? Let's go ask him!"
"Ginny! No! I…" Hermione grabbed at the red-haired girl's hand. "Please, don't embarrass me like that."
"How are you going to be embarrassed, Hermione? He loves you. You love him. You were made for each other!"
Ginny flung the door open and narrowly missed running into Ron who was standing just outside the door. He quickly stepped back out of her way.
"Whoa, Ginny, where's the fire? Uh, in a hurry for something?"
Something about the way he shifted his eyes made Ginny suspicious about his presence outside her door. She quickly scanned the area for Extendable Ears. Eyes narrowed, she glared at her brother. "Is there something you wanted, Ronald?"
He winced at her tone. "Uh, no! I was, uh, just headed downstairs for a bit of a snack!"
"Uh huh."
"What? You know how hungry I get after Quidditch! Is that so hard to believe?"
"No, Ron, it's not." Suddenly, something caught her eye. "Except for the fact that you don't have to use Extendable Ears to get one!" She bent over and grabbed the Ear hidden just inside the doorway.
"Er, uh, well, I, uh…"
"Ginny, is there something going on?" Hermione looked at the two Weasleys curiously.
Ginny grabbed Ron's hand. "No, Hermione. Not really. I just need to talk to Ron about something. That's all." She dragged her brother downstairs, leaving a confused Hermione behind.
Ron was dragged outside by his sister and taken to the shed. There, she rounded on him.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, what the bloody hell do you think you were doing?"
"Uh, well, I, uh…"
"That's not a good enough answer, Ronald! You were eavesdropping on my and Hermione's conversation! You prat! How dare you listen in on what was a private discussion…"
"About Harry and how Hermione bloody loves him! Yes, I know, Ginny. I wish it had remained private. I was coming down to take the Ear back. I didn't really want to hear any more."
"Any more? How long have you been spying on me?"
Ron could feel the anger in her gaze. "Uh… since the beginning of the summer." He held out his hands to stop her from hurting him. "Wait! I can explain! I promised Fred and George I would do an extended trial. I thought I would just hear you singing or talking to your diary or something. I didn't mean to listen in on you and Hermione."
"But you couldn't resist once you had the chance, could you?"
"Uh… well, uh…"
"What? Were you hoping to hear her confessing her undying love for you or something?" His pained look gave her the answer she needed. She immediately felt sorry for him. "You were hoping exactly that, weren't you?"
He nodded, hanging his head in regret.
Ginny reached over and gave him a quick hug. "Oh Ron. You idiot. I thought you knew how they felt about each other."
He sighed. "I… I guess I did. I just didn't want to accept it. I thought… maybe you and Harry might…"
She held up her hand. "Not going to happen, Ron. Even if Harry was mad for me, I'm kinda going out with someone else right now."
"You are?"
She silently cursed. "Yes, Ron, I am. And don't you get all brotherly and protective on me! I'm perfectly capable of handling myself with a guy! I don't need you to come barreling in playing all mean and disapproving!"
"Who is it?"
"Someone really nice. That's all I'm telling you, Ron! I still haven't forgotten the last time you had a chat with one of my boyfriends."
Ron winced at the reminder. She had been angry with him for weeks. He never meant for them to break up, well, not completely. He just felt the boy needed to know how things stood. How was he supposed to know the boy was afraid of snakes?
"Anyway," Ginny continued, "it's beside the point. You bloody well had no right to plant that thing in my room and use it to spy on us! I've a good mind to tell Mum about this."
"Wait, Ginny, don't! She's already hacked off enough about the burn marks on the carpet. I really don't need another lecture."
"I think you do!"
"But…"
"But not from her. I'm not going to tell Mum, Ron." She smirked at his look of relief. "You're going to apologize to Hermione. After you explain what you did."
"WHAT?"
"You're going to go upstairs and apologize to Hermione about using the Extendable Ears to violate her privacy."
"You're crazy, Ginny! She'll be royally hacked off at me for it! Then I'll never have a chance!"
Ginny was silent for a moment, and then spoke softly. "You honestly think you have a chance now, Ron? After what you heard?"
"If Harry's too blind to see how she feels about him, then too bloody bad!"
"How dare you." The soft statement stopped him cold.
Ron whirled around to see Hermione glaring angrily at him. "How dare you say such a thing about your best friend, Ron Weasley! After everything we've been through, and everything he has done for us, you dare to ignore his feelings in such a way? Not to mention mine? I thought you were my best friend! I thought…"
"Best friend? Is that what I am? Because you bloody well don't act like it! You're constantly ignoring me to moon over Harry Bloody Potter, who doesn't even know you're a girl yet! He's so blind to you yet all you do is follow him around like a puppy hoping for a small bit of attention. Well you know what, Hermione? It's never going to happen! Harry doesn't feel that way about you. I don't care what Ginny says! It's pathetic how everyone is trying to put the two of you together when only one of you is even aware that the other exists! And you fall for it every single time!"
"Ron…" Ginny began.
"You're so bloody desperate for his affection that you threw away a perfectly good relationship in hopes that one day he will come down off his ivory tower and pay attention to you! You're fooling yourself! Every girl in the Wizarding world wants him. How the hell do you think he is going to react when he meets a girl that looks like Cho and does magic like you? Assuming he actually noticed your existence, he'll leave you to go running off with her. And then where will you be? Broken hearted and alone just because you couldn't accept the fact that he doesn't love you!"
"Ron!" Ginny was furious. "How…"
"You may be right, Ron." Hermione spoke softly, her voice sadder than Ginny had ever imagined it could be. "He may not love me. As a matter of fact, I don't think he does. Not the way I want him to. But that doesn't change how I feel about him. I love him, Ron. It would not have been fair to stay with Viktor when I felt this way about another man. He deserves better. And I deserve better than a selfish and callow bastard who calls himself my friend! There will never be anything between us, Ron. Today you have seen to that. I hope one day you will be able to accept the friendship Harry and I have always offered you, but until that day, consider things between us at an end."
Ron watched in disbelief as Hermione turned and walked away. His gaze followed her until she entered the house, his heart breaking when she entered without looking back. Suddenly, he realized what he had said to her and what he had done to her with his words. He glanced over to see Ginny gazing at him sadly. It was that which broke him, and tears began to stream down his face. He pushed Ginny away when she tried to hug him, and he grabbed his broom taking off into the sky, resolutely ignoring the hurt look on her face.
Ginny sighed, suddenly realizing this summer just got a lot more complicated.
Up in Ron's room, Harry sat back on his cot, enjoying the feeling summer away from the Dursleys always gave him. The sense of freedom was very powerful. He loved being able to choose what to do with his time, and he loved having such great friends to spend that time with. And he could always count on Ron to throw together a good game of Quidditch with his brothers.
The game went well today. Playing with the Weasleys was always infinitely more relaxing than playing at Hogwarts. Ginny was right. Whenever he played there, everything he did was so the Gryffindor team would come out on top. It wasn't terribly relaxing because he always felt such a strong feeling of responsibility for the game. Catching the Snitch often made the difference between winning and losing. He had missed playing this past year, but part of him admitted that the game had become less of a relief and more of a responsibility over the years. He looked forward to the day where he could just play for enjoyment. He figured things would get a lot easier after Voldemort was gone.
A slight chill passed over Harry as he thought about the dark wizard. He still hadn't told anyone about the prophecy, and sometimes it weighed very heavily on him. He wanted to tell Ron and Hermione, and had originally planned to do it over the summer. But after seeing how relaxed and happy Hermione had been upon her return from France, he realized he couldn't dampen her summer that way. Ron was acting strange already, so Harry decided to keep the information to himself. He thought he might talk with Professor McGonagall about it when they returned to school.
He had no idea what was up with Ron. He was beginning to suspect Ginny was right about Ron knowing of his feelings for Hermione. Ron was certainly acting jealous. From what Harry could tell, however, he had no reason to be. Harry was not about to start chasing after Hermione now. For multiple reasons. Ron was just one of them. He had no desire to further strain their friendship, so he had made a concerted effort to think of her as nothing but a friend from the time she arrived. It was not easy, however. She grew more beautiful and amazing every year, but there was something about her this summer in particular that caught his attention. He realized he should not be thinking of her as anything other than a friend, but it was hard not to when she smiled at him the way she did.
His heart almost stopped when she first walked into the Burrow a few days ago. Her soft pink lips were curved into a beauteous smile, white teeth sparkling in the sunlight. Her cinnamon eyes shone like agates, full of joy and life. He couldn't help but respond in kind and found himself grinning like a maniac. She flung herself into his arms and gave him a huge hug, which had the result of making his heart beat even faster. Peripherally he noticed Ron glowering in the background, but it hadn't mattered at the time when she was in his arms. Harry found himself smiling involuntarily at the recollection. Reality quickly returned, however, and he concentrated on pushing his feelings to the back of his mind. He did not want to open that particular can of worms while she was visiting for the summer.
It occurred to him that Ron had been gone for a bit longer than he expected. The two Gryffindors had been resting after their Quidditch match when Ron suddenly felt the need for a snack. He bolted out the door before Harry could react, muttering something about bringing something back. With a shrug, Harry sat back and got lost in his thoughts. That had been well over fifteen minutes ago. Harry knew his friend extremely well. It did not take fifteen minutes for Ron to find food. He got up and headed downstairs to see what was going on.
Harry walked down the stairs and was almost bowled over as Hermione came running by, tears streaming from her eyes. He regained his balance and chased after her.
"Hermione!" He never realized she could move so fast. "Hermione, wait!"
Harry reached the door to Ginny's room as it slammed in his face. He heard her lock the door behind her, and cursed the Ministry's rules against underage wizardry.
"Hermione! It's Harry! What's wrong?"
"Go away, Harry." Even through the door he could hear the tears in her voice.
"Hermione, please. Talk to me! Tell me what the matter is."
"Nothing, Harry. Please go away."
"Hermione, I'm not going away until you tell me what is going on."
"If you want to know so badly, why don't you go ask Ron?"
"Ron? Why would I…" Suddenly, comprehension dawned. "You two have another fight?"
"Yes, Harry. We had another fight. And when you see him, you can tell Ron that I'm every bit as good as every other girl out there! So he can bugger off!"
Shock rooted Harry to the floor. He realized she must have told him she had a crush on him or something. Despair lanced through his heart. She was in love with Ron. Suddenly, so many things over the past few years made sense. The fights, the uncomfortable silences, the odd looks. Harry felt like a fool. Ginny was horribly wrong. Bowing his head in defeat, Harry slumped away, his heart heavy. He had allowed himself to begin to think that maybe there was something to what Ginny had told him. He realized now that everything was as he thought it was. She was just a very good friend who was happy to see him.
Reaching the room he was sharing with Ron, he listened at the door for the red-haired boy, hoping for once the room was empty. He heard nothing, so he went in and was relieved to find himself alone. He grabbed his wand and climbed up to the roof where he had been taking refuge for the past few weeks. Only when he was sure he was alone and unobserved did he allow the tears to come.
Meanwhile, Ron Weasley perched on a tree several miles away from the Burrow, having raced away on his broom as quickly as possible. He knew Hermione would probably go running to Harry, and he had no desire to encounter the dark-haired Gryffindor in his current state. Despite what Hermione thought, he did still value the friendship between them, and wished there was a way to restore it to what it once was. It occurred to him that it might no longer be possible. Too much had been said between the three of them. Ron knew that Harry really did like Hermione. He hated himself for what he said to her. He simply found himself speaking before he thought. Like usual. And in doing so, made it highly improbable that Hermione would ever give him the time of day again.
He didn't want to even consider what Harry would do when he found out. He was always so protective of her. How ironic. He was the one chasing after her, but it was Harry that was always defending her. Harry hurt her with his indifference, but Ron hurt her with his words. This time he really went too far. He knew what he told her was wrong. If Harry finally admitted his feelings for her, he would be committed to her forever. He was like his father that way. But he was so caught up in being Harry Bloody Potter, and valiantly defending the Wizarding world that he neglected to be there for his two best friends. Ever since Sirius died, Harry had been more silent than usual. It was driving Ron crazy – all the brooding and introspective silences. He got the feeling it was more than just the issue with his godfather dying. Harry had come back from Headmaster Dumbledore's office with a haunted look in his eyes that he tried to hide. But Ron had known him since they were eleven. There was something else. Something Harry refused to tell either him or Hermione. It was just another sign of how their friendship had changed over the past year.
He was responsible for some of it, he knew. He had expected Harry to be chosen to be a Prefect, as had everyone else, and he couldn't help but get a bit of an ego boost when he was selected over his friend, the Great Harry Potter. Perhaps he shouldn't have rubbed it in quite so much. Ordinarily he didn't think it would have mattered, but Harry was being painted as an insanely unstable threat to the Wizarding world. The strain simply made things worse. He had been Harry's friend through all of it, but maybe he could have been a bit more supportive. He owed both his friends an apology. The friendship the three of them was the most valuable thing he had. If he thought it would help Harry feel better, he would give up his Prefect's badge in a heartbeat. He resolved to fix things, and to deal with the situation between Harry and Hermione as it came. The way things were going now, Harry was going to keep them all at arms length until Voldemort was defeated.
Ron climbed out of the tree, taking one last look around. The rolling hills were covered with rich, green grass and speckled in places with colorful flowers. There were several stands of trees in the area like the one he stood in, and with summer in full force, they were green as the grass and full of leaves. It was peaceful here. His own private refuge from the hectic reality of six brothers. Ginny never really bothered him that much, but then he was smart enough to stay on her good side. Except when it came to her boyfriends. His eyes narrowed. He needed to find out who this mystery guy was so he could make sure the boy knew to respect Ginny and treat her well. He mentally went through the list of boys at Hogwarts as he climbed on his broom and headed back to the house. He was confident he would figure it out.
Back at the Burrow, Hermione quickly threw her clothes into a bag, determined to escape before Ron returned or Harry managed to convince one of the older Weasleys to unlock the door. There were still several weeks left before school started, and if she went home now she could get a head start on next year. She could not believe Ron said what he did to her. Knowing her feelings for Harry were unreturned was one thing, but having someone baldly state it to her was another. Harry and Ron spent a great deal of time together, so Hermione supposed he would be the one to know if Harry liked her. Ginny's assertions aside, she never really thought Harry would ever find her attractive the way he had Cho Chang. Not that she blamed him. She was beautiful, smart, and athletic – all the things Hermione was not. Well, except for smart. She knew she had that one down. But with Cho her intelligence was attractive and interesting, whereas Hermione seemed to possess a more obnoxious and boring version.
Her packing was finished before she knew it. This was probably the first time in her life she had not stopped to meticulously fold everything and place it carefully in her bags. Now she just needed to get to the fireplace before anyone noticed. She heard Harry go upstairs right after she yelled at him, and figured he was still there, brooding. Her heart twinged as the thought of how he would feel about her absence. Like he would notice, said Ron's voice in her head. She frowned at the uncharitable thought. He would understand once she explained to him what happened.
Tiptoeing to the door, she opened it a crack to see if there was anyone around. The house was bizarrely empty today. After the Quidditch match, the older Weasleys had gone their separate directions, Bill and Charlie to the Ministry; Fred and George to their shop; and Percy had yet to return home even for a visit. Hermione slowly opened the door and gingerly picked her way down the stairs. She sighed with relief when she saw the fireplace and no one else was around. Now she just had to find the Floo powder.
"Looking for this?"
Hermione turned to see Ginny holding the canister. She looked very upset, her pale skin flushed in anger. Her foot tapped impatiently.
"Ginny, you know I can't stay here right now."
"So you're just going to leave without telling anyone?"
"It will be better this way."
"Why, because it's the coward's way? I thought you were a Gryffindor!"
Tears suddenly sprang to Hermione's eyes. "Maybe I shouldn't be! Maybe I should have been in Ravenclaw after all! I can't handle this, Ginny! Do you expect me to stay here knowing he doesn't love me? It's going to be all I can do to deal with it in school! I wish I had never said anything!"
"But Hermione…"
"Ginny. Please understand. I'm not running away, but I'm not staying either. I'll see you at Hogwarts." She hesitated. "Maybe we can get together in Hogsmeade again."
"But…"
Ginny gazed at her for a moment, taking in the brown-haired girl's tear-stained face and puffy eyes. Her heart broke to see fresh tears sparkling at the corners of her chocolate eyes. She knew then that a quick resolution to the situation would not be found. With a sigh, she held out the pot of Floo Powder. "Alright. But I'm keeping you to that. Owl me and we can go out sometime."
Hermione nodded, taking a handful of the powder. In a flash of green flame, she was gone.
Ginny took a deep breath and fought down the surge of temper she felt at the thought of her brother's actions. He made a right mess of things, she thought. Harry was going to think Hermione ran away from him, and Ron was going to blame himself (rightfully so) for her unhappiness. It was all she could do not to lock them all in a room together and force them to work things out. Unfortunately, she knew that was not the answer. Harry and Hermione needed to work through their feelings for one another, and Ron had to learn to accept it. So much for the fun-filled summer she had been looking forward to.
She turned to head upstairs and was shocked to see Harry standing on the bottom step. His eyes were fastened to the fireplace where Hermione was just moments ago, and she could see despair clouding their emerald depths. It confused her for a moment, as she tried to figure out why Harry was so upset, and then she remembered Hermione's parting words. Understanding struck her like a Stun spell. He must think she meant Ron didn't love her. He thought she told Ron she had feelings for him and he rejected her. Ginny started to say something when Harry's eyes met hers. She almost drowned in the depth of emotion she saw there. The protest died on her lips as she realized he was in no mood to listen.
Shoulders slumped; he turned and headed back up the steps. She wanted to call him back but she had no idea what to say. Hermione was gone, and somewhere a terrible mistake had been made to convince Harry the woman he loved was in love with Ron. She needed to find out what happened.
Filled with a new purpose, Ginny squared her shoulders and went in search of her brother.
She found Ron by almost running him over as she headed out the door to fetch her broom. Her fit of temper died when she saw the regretful cast of his features. His eyes were sad, filled with remorse for what he said to his best friend. She wasn't about to let him off the hook, however.
"Ronald."
"Ginny."
"What the bloody FUCK do you think you were doing?"
Ron's eyes widened at the expletive. "Uh, I… uh…"
"Shut it, Ron, and listen good. I don't know what you thought you were doing when you said all those things to Hermione, but you hurt her. Worse yet, you hurt her deliberately. Were you trying to drive her away?"
"I…"
"You succeeded. Beyond your wildest dreams you did."
"What?"
"She's gone, Ron. She went home. She couldn't stand to be here anymore, knowing you said what you did. She…"
Ron collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs. "Bloody hell." He looked up at his sister. "I didn't mean it, Ginny. You have to believe me. I would never say anything to deliberately hurt her. I lost my temper. I'm so sorry! Bugger. I never wanted things to end like this. I love her."
"You…"
"So that's what happened."
Ginny whirled to see Harry highlighted in the doorway. "Harry."
Ron's eyes widened in shock as he realized his other best friend had heard his confession. "Uh, Harry, uh…I…uh…"
"Don't worry about it Ron. I know. I've known for a while."
"You have?"
Harry nodded. "It's pretty obvious. Even Malfoy could figure it out. You've been mooning over her since our fourth year, when you developed a sudden dislike of Viktor Krum after he asked Hermione to the Yule Ball. You've been jealous of anyone who paid her the slightest bit of attention, including me I might add, and are constantly looking at her when you think no one is looking."
"What about you then? You're pretty much in the same boat, mate."
Harry grimaced. "Maybe we are, but it doesn't matter. She'll never…" He shook his head. "It's not important. She's better off with someone else anyway."
"Harry…"
"No, Ginny, I know what you've said and I think today has proven that you are badly mistaken. Let it go. All I want is to make things better between all of us so we can get back to being friends."
"Here, here, mate." Ron went over and clapped Harry on the back. "It'll be alright. We fight like this all the time. She'll get over it."
"I hope so."
Ginny narrowly avoided smacking them both. She knew this was not the end. Her brother was being an idiot like usual, ignoring the fact that Harry was madly in love with Hermione who returned the feeling. She knew Harry still had the wrong impression, but after what he heard today, nothing was going to make him change his perspective. Only Hermione could do that. But first she needed to convince the older girl that Ron was wrong about Harry's feelings. She certainly had her work cut out for her.
"I'll be in my room, guys. Don't forget that Mum wanted the gnomes booted out of the garden tonight before she gets home." Without another word, she flounced off, leaving the two confused young men behind her.