Snow was slowly falling outside the window. Hermione was watching snowflakes, which were dancing in the air. She was sitting in Ginny's bedroom, the one they were currently sharing, and tried her best to focus on anything. But she simply can't. It's been a week since they arrived at the Burrow and most of the time she spent alone in that room. It was easier. It was her safe place. The place in which she wasn't forced to play a girlfriend role. The role she chose to play for herself.
Harry was trying. He didn't push her to do anything, he didn't impose himself on her. He just was around ready to hold her hand or kiss her cheek whenever Ron was around. But it felt too awkward, too unnatural, too strange for her to bare it. She knew it was hard for him too but she had no idea how to make it easy.
Suddenly, Hermione stood up as she heard noises coming up from the living room and rushed down the stairs not sure what to expect.
'You knew I like her!' Hermione stepped into the kitchen and stood next to Ginny, who stopped her from entering the room.
'You have a girlfriend for God's sake!' Harry yelled.
'That's not a point! You took her just to show me you can! You don't even fancy her! Friends don't act like this!' Ron sounded hurt and betrayed.
'I didn't take her! She made her own decision. But you know what? Tell her how you feel about her and let her decide!'
'I'm not ready for this!'
'So let her be! Let her do what she wants as you are doing yourself. You are snogging Lavender right under her nose all the time!'
'So what?'
'Are you really that stupid? You would like to make out with another girl and have Hermione patiently wait until you will be ready for a serious relationship with her? She would be very stupid if she ever even considered it!'
'Yea, yea let yourself think I'm a bad guy here, but you know what she says when all of these girls ask her about kissing you? She says nothing. No words. Because she is doing it only to piss me off and she doesn't even enjoy it!'
Hermione entered the living room just in time to witness how her two best friends started to fight with each other bare handed. She was so shocked she wasn't able to make a move. She should have stopped them. She was aware of it but she was also a little to overwhelmed with everything she's just heard to think straight.
'Expelliarmus' Ginny cast the spell, making her brother flew over the sofa and landed hard on the floor.
'You shouldn't use magic outside Hogwart' Hermione said automatically.
'Oh, please. The Ministry is too stupid to track me down in this house. Too many grown up wizards around.'
'How much did you two hear?' Ron asked, picking himself up off the floor.
'Too much' Ginny answered with her wand still pointed at him.
Harry looked at Hermione with pain painted all over his face. He passed by her and left the room not saying a word.
Hermione fell on the armchair and closed her eyes. She needed to gather her thoughts and processed everything one more time. It was too much for her.
Ginny sat down next to her and tried to say something but she used all her power to cut her down. She didn't want to talk it over with her. It was between her and Ron and her had Harry. Harry.
She stood up rapidly, left the house and moved towards the back yard. Harry was standing in front of a big, old oak and threw snowballs in it with a little too much force. She stood nearby not sure if he didn't notice her presence for purpose or accidentally.
'Leave me alone!' Harry said, stretching his shoulder before the next throw.
'Harry, I just want to talk.' She said, tears shining in her eyes.
'Dammit, Hermione! LEAVE ME ALONE!' He bent down to collect more snow when another snowball hit him hard from behind.
'What the hell you two idiots are doing?' Ginny appeared between them out of nowhere. She was so pissed off she almost radiated her anger. 'Hermione, you are supposed to be the smart one! Are you really going to let them ruin their long time friendship?'
'Of course not!' Hermione said hotly. 'Ginny, please let me talk to Harry alone.'
'I don't want to talk to you right now.' Harry said, walking away. He was angry at her. Angry at Ron. Angry at himself and he didn't even realize why.
'Wait!' Hermione shouted, taking a step forward but Ginny blocked her immediately.
'Let me handle him.' The youngest Weasley said, looking at Hermione with unknown strength in her gaze. 'You should make things right with Ron first.'
'Firewhiskey?' Ron asked pulling the half empty bottle from the cabinet. Harry took the place behind the table and nodded. 'Mum would kill us if she found out' he smiled, pouring liquid into two glasses.
'Women are too complicated' Harry sighed.
'Yep, mate. They really are' he admitted.
'I'm sorry' Harry said, his eyes staring at the table. 'I shouldn't have got involved in all of this.'
'No, you were right. I am with Lavender for all wrong reasons. She's a nice girl, she deserves better. But I can't break up with her right now. I can't give Hermione that satisfaction.'
'Hermione and I...' Harry started but Ron stopped him.
'Whatever is going on between you and Hermione... I mean... you guys sort your stuff out.'
'Merlin, it's awful!' Harry emptied his glass and put it back down, caughting furiously.
'Dad always says that it should be. Otherwise, we would be screwed'
'He's probably right' Harry admitted.
'She's sitting there crying her eyes out, you know.' Ron said playing with his fingers.
'I guess I should go to her' Harry rose up from his sit. 'Are we good?'
'Yea, I'm done with this stupid drama. Bros over hoes'
'Always' Harry answered with a huge smile.
The living room was filled with dimmed light. Hermione was sitting on the couch, sobbing quietly. She tried her best to calm down but she can't sort things out even in her head.
'Are you okay?' Harry asked softly, sitting next to her.
'How can I be okay with all of this horrible mess?' She answered with another question. 'I ruined your friendship with Ron over nothing.'
'We've sorted things out already.'
'Just like that?'
'We are guys, Hermione. We do things just like that' He said. Watching her teary eyes made him feel uneasy. He had no idea how to handle a girl, let alone a crying one. 'How was your talk with Ron?'
'I was trying to tell him the truth, but...' She couldn't stop fresh tears from falling down her cheeks. 'But I just couldn't do this.'
'That's okay. You will tell him when you're ready.'
'How can I ever be ready for this confession? It's humiliating.'
'So we can tell everyone that things didn't work out between us. Don't worry about it right now.'
'Can we tell them later?'
'My lady, where's your Gryffindor bravery?'
'I know I shouldn't ask you for this, but can you be my fake boyfriend some more time, please?'
'What's the point? I don't see anybody here believes us anyway. We play it like a crap.'
'But I'm sure we can do it better! And You were obviously right about Ron. I know it's stupid but I don't want to give him the satisfaction.'
'Merlin, you two are so stubborn. Would you at least stop crying if I say yes?'
'I might.' she said, trying to smile through tears.
'Can you teach me something by the way?'
'What exactly?'
'How to handle a crying girl?'
'You are being really mean right now!'
'No, I'm serious. I have no idea about being a boyfriend stuff. If you want me to fake one, you can as well teach me how to be a good one. So what should I do?'
'Just hold me and let me cry on you shoulder.'
'Should I touch your hair or something?' He asked as he put his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
'I don't mind if you feel like this'
'Are you going to sneeze in my T-shirt?' She tried her best not to laugh. 'Ouch' he squeaked as she punched him.
'You're such a guy!'
'Erm... you wouldn't fake a relationship with me if I wasn't.'
'So we're doing this fo real now?'
'I guess we are.'
