Chapter 5: A Hero Indeed

Hermione was well contented with the success of her ploy so far. The other Hermione seemed to have taken on board what she was saying and was off in the stacks hunting for a book on quidditch; Hermione chuckled at the idea of Hermione using a book to win over her love, but it was a rueful chuckle. She knew she would be the same. There was a comfort in books and a joy in their ability to help.

Now, all she had to do was find Ron and get him alone to talk to him.

She looked up. Speak of the devil, she thought with a wry smile. Even though this wasn't her Ron her breath still caught in her throat at the sight of him. They were so similar but this Ron seemed, if possible, even more vulnerable than the one she'd left behind. Probably due to the Harry thing she thought. Ron was insecure enough about her friendship with Harry; imagine adding an ex-relationship into that mix. She smiled at him and he faltered as he reached her.

'Are you …?'

'I'm 'the other one' sorry,' she smiled at him.

'Oh. Well, anyway your Harry and Ginny said you guys wanted to see me.'

Hermione concealed her look of surprise under a genuine smile. Ginny was on to her, it seemed.

'Yes, well. When the other Hermione gets back we need to talk about getting that portal open again. I think I know how it works but I think we need backup just in case.'

Ron nodded enthusiastically.

'But in the meantime,' Hermione carried on 'I wanted to talk to you anyway.'

'You, you did?' said Ron, suddenly looking uneasy.

'Yeah, and you don't need to look so worried. I won't bite.'

'Oh, yeah, OK. I'm not …'

'You like her don't you?'

Ron blushed so furiously that his face was almost the same colour as his hair. He couldn't quite meet her eyes. She smiled gently.

'I thought so. So why don't you tell her?'

'It's too weird saying this to you; you're too much like her.'

'Rubbish. I only look like her. Pretend I'm her twin and just talk to me.'

'Well, it's complicated. Harry …'

'Doesn't like her anymore and she doesn't like him, so there's no problem.'

'But she keeps hanging around him … watching him …'

'No, she watches a 'good' relationship and she looks jealous, because that's what she wants … with you.'

He blushed again. 'But she's so intelligent and thoughtful and caring and kind and I'm … just boring old Ron Weasley.'

'Not to her you're not. You should never sell yourself short, Ron. You're a very special person. I should know; I have one of you back home.' Her eyes twinkled at him. 'Now do you have any other objections?'

'I … no, I guess not.'

'Do you want her as your girlfriend?'

'Of course I bloody do. How long have I thought about it …?'

'Good, then you should just go for it. I guarantee she won't say no.' Hermione's eyes twinkled at him again. 'But enough of this talk. Here comes the lady now, so let's get down to business. How do we make sure the portal will definitely open when my Ron tries the spell?'

As they began talking details, Hermione smiled to herself. As the other Hermione had walked back with the book on quidditch open to the page on the Chudley Cannons she had seen Ron's eyes grow wide. He couldn't miss the significance of Hermione looking up that particular team in a book about a sport she wasn't much interested in. She rather thought she'd got them both at least thinking in the right direction. It was a pity she wouldn't be around to see the final play but she was pretty sure the two of them would get together fairly soon.

'OK, good. So Ron you'll try the spell words during the time when our Ron is trying to open it from the other side. And we only have about half an hour before he starts trying so we'd better gather everyone up and make our way to the Room of Requirement.'

Ron nodded, still looking a little shell shocked from his conversation with Hermione, and volunteered to go and find Harry and Ginny and get them headed to the Room of Requirement.

The other Hermione cast the disillusionment charm on Hermione and they set off to the Room. They made sure to make quite a performance of making lots of noise as they entered the empty classroom to collect this world's Harry and Ginny. The two of them were a seemly distance apart when the Hermiones entered but they did look rather flushed. Smiling gaily the other Hermione told them it was time to go and say goodbye to the other world's people. Finally they all got to the seventh floor at the same time that Ron arrived with Harry and Ginny.

Hermione removed the disillusionment charm and smiled encouragingly at Ron. He stood up uncertainly and said the words she had taught him in the library.

'Portus vivendi'

Nothing happened.

'Hmmm, our Ron mustn't be ready yet' said Hermione confidently. 'Maybe we should just wait a few minutes then try again. This gives us a chance to say goodbye anyway.'

Tears stood in her eyes as she looked at this world's Harry. There was a new steeliness in his eyes that hadn't been there even when they came through earlier. He was going to be noble any day now, she could tell. Hermione just hoped Ginny was strong enough to cope with what he would do. On impulse she threw her arms around him and whispered in his ear 'It won't be forever Harry. Just hang on to that. She'll be here when you come back.' He hugged her back and she felt him tremble as she spoke, but he nodded as they stepped apart and gave a thin smile. Hermione then turned and gave Ginny and Ron hugs too. Her whispered words to Ginny were tinged with tears: 'He needs you to accept and be strong,' Ginny just nodded sadly and took hold of her Harry's hand again. For Ron, Hermione just smiled a watery smile and said 'Just do it.'

Once Ginny and Harry had hugged all of this world's people too (or in Harry's case manfully patted Ron and the other Harry on the back), Hermione turned to Ron again and asked him to try the words once more. This time when he cast the spell a shimmer opened up on the wall and there was her Ron waiting for them on the other side. Forgetting herself, Hermione threw herself through the shimmer and into Ron's very surprised, but welcoming, arms. She could hear his heartbeat speed up as his arms tightened around her and he hugged her back. Looking up at him, Hermione thought it might just be time to have a little talk with her own Ron given the success of her talks with the pair in the other world. She turned and watched as Harry and Ginny followed her through the portal, and they all turned and waved at those on the other side of the shimmer. They were all pleased to have gone but happy to be back home where they belonged even if it was a time of great sadness for their school.