Chapter #7 –No Name Necessary

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters in the book, or anything else related to the book.

A/N: OMGSH! I have been so busy & I know it has been over 4 months and that saddens me greatly. But here is another chapter. Hope you like it!

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He sipped his tea slowly; staring intently at the frazzled young man sitting across from him. Mr. Jack Granger had invited Harry into his home. Harry tried not to appear vulnerable, he tried to conceal his pain; but he couldn't. He felt dirty and guilty for thinking of Hermione, for remembering her the way he did. He felt wrong for loving her, he felt wrong for even holding Jack like he was his son. But Hermione had come back to him, she held him, she kissed him. But he hadn't heard from her since. And that fact was what was killing him the most. It was as if she had disappeared from his life; only to be purposely hiding.

"So Harry, I see that you are a little upset," Jack sliced the silence with his words. They had sat in the quiet on the ride to his home. Harry wanted to avoid the question; he wanted Mr. Granger to ask him how work was or talk about the weather. He had hoped for a simple meal, but if he truly wanted that he shouldn't have said his state of life was horrible. He shouldn't have returned with Mr. Granger, and he definitely shouldn't have started to tear.

"Yeah, life has been a little…odd lately."

"Odd? Oh, well I figured you knew odd like the back of your hand. It must be worse than odd." Mr. Granger didn't shed any emotion on to the awkward discomfort he was causing Harry. He knew exactly how he was speaking and what he was saying. The truth was; he actually wanted to know what was wrong being that he figured it involved his daughter.

"It's a different kind of odd. It's thinking you have a son and then finding out that you wasted time on people who are just playing games with you. I don't even know if I want Hermione or Jack anymore. I don't know if they're even mine to want. This odd is more of a heart-aching odd that completely turns your world upside down so that breathing gets harder and harder until you give up on it all together, thinking maybe someone or something will come along to turn you around and point you in the right direction." Harry paused to take a sip of his tea, "And you know what? Maybe I feel better that this giant load has been lifted off me. Now I'm free. I'm free to date and get married and move and do anything I want. I can leave completely and I won't be missing anything!" Harry was flush and his heart was racing. He had just told such problems to an almost complete stranger, who of which is the girl you think you love's father. He saw Jack's eyes get narrow and his mouth open slowly to speak.

"Then what's keeping you here?"

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Mrs. Weasley stood in her kitchen washing dishes with Hermione. She concentrated heavily on the circle pattern that her hand rotated in. She tried to be unaware that Hermione was crying; but it was difficult to pretend. She turned to her daughter-in-law.

"I need to know what is wrong,"

Silence.

"Hermione, I can't sit here and listen to your constant sobbing. You need to be strong. ENOUGH with this self-pity. You have a son to take care of. Jack is the only man you need in your life right now. Tell me what is going on or get out!" Hermione had never seen her so fierce before. Her face was turning a shade of scarlet and her eyes were watering. "Now."

"Fine," Hermione glanced into the other room as if to gesture at Jack. "Ron has been his father for the last two years. I love Ron with all of my heart; I would never want to hurt him. But I love Harry in a different way. A spontaneous youthful way. I feel so right with Harry; so safe with Ron. I just can't decide. I know I have to; this choice has been haunting me for years. And I don't want to keep going like this. I want to have a life, to have more kids and be happy. But I'm not sure if I have that now or not."

"Well Hermione, you don't need either Ron or Harry. If choosing is too hard choose neither. It may seem so wrong, so impossible. But it may be the only way to concentrate on raising Jack, your one true responsibility. Oh darling, I hate to say it, but this is your fault."

"I-I—" Hermione looked confused, how was this her fault?

"Dear, it really is."

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The door creaked open at 1:34 in the morning. Ron had been out drinking, well not really. He went to a bar to drink away his problems but found more comfort in hot chocolate than any kind of alcohol. He was almost positive that Hermione had left him. There was no way that he could live without her, she was his life support. But lately he had been drowning; she had been almost no help to him. He wondered if he could live without her. He supposed it mustn't be that hard. He shuffled his way into the kitchen and opened the fridge. The yellow radiance from inside cascaded against his face. Out of the shadows submerged a figure. Her skin pale against the moon; her blue eyes bearing a soft allure. He moved closer to her. He wanted to hold her, he craved the attention.

"Ron, up late I see,"

"Well, you are too Luna."

"Yes, it's become quite a hobby, the night. It's so quiet, so serene."

"Sure," Ron shrugged; he didn't know what to say. But he damn well knew what he wanted to do. She was paying attention to him, such close attention that their faces came closer and closer. He could feel the wisps of her hair tickle his cheek. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to be kissed. He looked into her eyes, he saw their depth.

"Ron?" She whispered. She wanted to go further. She didn't want to stand as motionless silhouettes against the moonlight. She wanted to kiss; she wanted him to notice her like she had dreamt of.

"I'm sorry, I-I can't" He backed away, realizing what a fool he was being. He was married. He already had a woman that cared enough about him to vow to spend forever in his arms and in his heart. Was there a need for another? Or was it just the idea of attention? He turned around and headed towards his bedroom. That was enough excitement for the night. But as he entered his bed the moon once again cast its light, but this time on the empty sheets and that was when he longed again for Luna. He heard the steps, an echo in the hallway. She came in and sat next to him, but instead of kissing they embraced and she held him close. So close that he could smell the intoxicating scent of peppermint. And oh how he loved peppermint.

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It was 2:46 AM, she had been wondering the city all night. She just loved to walk. She didn't care where anymore; it wasn't like she had a home. There was someone else coming towards her, a night owl, she assumed. But when he came closer she noticed the shape, the walk. It was someone she didn't expect to see up so late. But when he realized she was close he smiled and stopped in front of her.

"Hi Ginny,"

"Hey Harry," She paused, thinking of what to say, "Why are you up so late?"

"No idea, and I'm assuming it's the same reason for you,"

"Basically," She added before taking his hand. "So where are we headed?"

"Well, just around, I guess." He smiled and followed her as they continued in her direction. The night was clear, and the sky was vast. "You walk like this a lot?"

"Yeah, lately, I don't have any destination." She turned a corner, "But I don't think it really matters, as long as you have a purpose in your heart.""What if you don't have a purpose?" Harry asked, wondering if he was the only purposeless fool out there.

"Well you better find one," She added with a little snicker. "But don't worry, I haven't got one either. That's why I'm walking around like a fool. I figure it has to be around here somewhere, even if it isn't maybe the long walks will give me an idea of sorts."

"I guess I'm looking too," Harry felt better knowing there was someone else who had absolutely no idea what to do. Someone else that was wasting precious time doing nothing. And maybe walking in the dark with Ginny exposed a vulnerable side of her he had never seen. He knew it was a good thing. And for first time today, he genuinely smiled. If only she had seen it, she would have smiled too.

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A/N:

So there is a chapter, yes there it is. And I hope you enjoyed reading it. It wasn't really that long and I know nothing extremely eventful happened. But I know that I'll post soon, maybe even later today or tomorrow sometime. Thanks for reading! Feedback?