Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, locations, or other magnificent creations discovered by on Joanne Rowling.
Chapter 3
Harry knocked softly on the door before entering Ginny's bedroom. As he stepped through the door he perceived the opposite effect of Ron's bedroom; he expected the temperature to drop several degrees. The lights were off giving the room a gray blur and Ginny was talking in a low coo attempting to alleviate Hermione's suffering.
As the door clicked shut behind him Ginny looked over from her sitting position on Hermione's bed to greet the newcomer. She smiled slightly to show that she was glad Harry was here but not at all pleased with the situation. A sob shook out of Hermione's essence and into the pillow in which her face had been planted eliminating the humorous mood Harry had felt in the hallway.
Harry walked over to the corner of Hermione's bed and squatted down so he was level with Hermione's face, or rather the side of her head. He placed his hand on her shoulder causing her to tense at the new presence in the room.
"Don't worry, it's just me," Harry said softly yet above a whisper. He rubbed her shoulder and she slowly relaxed. The effect of the comforting hand seemed to help a bit as her sobs were subdued and she was left only to breathe heavily.
After a few minutes she turned her head on the pillow to face Harry, her chocolate eyes bloodshot from crying into her pillow. Harry grinned at her in another attempt to make her feel better.
"There she is!" he said jokingly. Despite the emotional drama Hermione managed to laugh slightly as she exhaled. Ginny shook her head.
"Harry, I'm afraid that kiss in the middle of the battle was a mistake. I was wrong." Hermione said gravely.
Ginny looked questioningly at Harry and mouthed, "What kiss?"
Harry glanced at her for a second but quickly returned his gaze to Hermione.
"Well I would say your timing was wrong but not your reasoning," Harry said chuckling at the memory.
"No, Harry, my reasoning was wrong. I was wrong about the whole thing." she replied in the same depressed tone.
"You think so?" Harry asked with a sarcastic tone of being incredulous that she did not catch.
Hermione nodded fervently.
"Do you really believe that? Because I'm sure Ginny and I could easily prove you wrong, which would be immensely satisfying." Harry finished with a smirk.
"Honestly Harry, if you really must but-"
"Exhibit A," Ginny cut in, "My brother is a complete git."
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat up in bed wiping her eyes with her sleeves. Harry and Ginny stood up so they were next to each other and facing Hermione. Hermione crossed her arms with an air of impatience.
"Exhibit B," Ginny continued as Harry opened his mouth, "he doesn't deserve you and knows it."
"Exhibit C," Harry said with a slight air of annoyance. He didn't think Ron didn't deserve Hermione. Apparently it was a girl thing. "Ron has a book up in his room titled Twelve Fail-safe Ways to Charm Witches, of which he gave me copy and all of these "fail-safe ways" he has used on you."
At this news both Ginny and Hermione looked with a strange look on their face, each unique to its person. Ginny looked disbelieving at her brother's stupidity while Hermione looked somewhere between disgusted and amused.
"Exhibit D," Ginny said glancing at Harry with a look that suggested she was eager to move on. "Ron's behavior at Bill and Fleur's wedding. I seem to remember my darling brother sweeping you off you feet by complimenting you on your looks and dancing with you all night."
"And when you compare that to his behavior at the Yule Ball, I'd say that's a big deal," Harry said.
"Not that he didn't want to dance with you at the Ball, I'm sure he did, but I would refer to Exhibit A," Ginny added.
"You're being stupid," Hermione said before they could continue. "Maybe Ron did do all of those things, but he can't have done him because he liked me in that way. That book he got he was probably just practicing on me if he really did get it. And he was just having a good time at Bill and Fleur's wedding. It didn't mean anything."
Ginny rolled her eyes and Harry smirked.
"You're forgetting a few things Hermione," Harry said.
"Mmm, what's that?" Hermione asked.
"Ron's my best mate. I hear what he says when it's just me and him." Harry said with a grin.
Hermione's face turned slightly pink.
"And Harry and I have been around you guys for a while now. We've seen all those little "moments" that you two have had and not realized happened." Ginny added.
Hermione's face grew slightly pinker. She began to open her mouth but thought better of it.
"Hermione, the fact of the matter is that you haven't been imaging the tension between you and my git of a brother. He really likes you and you really like him." Ginny said with a grin.
"And you have to understand, Ron's kind of an idiot when it comes to girls," Harry laughed.
The conversation continued in this manner for several minutes. Harry and Ginny each took turns reminded Hermione of moments hinting at Ron's affection for her including Ron's jealousy of Viktor Krum and Cormac McLaggen to his desperation for her during his time in the hospital wing due to poisoned mead and everything in between. Fifteen minutes later Hermione had regained her dignity and was ready to face Ron if need be.
With Hermione's confidence regained, the three friends moved their conversation to the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone over to Bill and Fleur's for supper, leaving the other occupants of the house a chicken pot pie that needed to be cooked. Ginny took the home made pie and put it into the oven to cook as the three friends enjoyed a pleasant conversation for the first time in over a year.
In the middle of a particularly humorous story involving Luna and a particularly hungry garden gnome a loud cough came from the other side of the room. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione immediately looked up from their conversation to find Ron entering the kitchen looking at the floor with none of his regular humor in his expression.
Hermione's face immediately darkened upon Ron's entrance. Harry and Ginny quickly looked at each other immediately feeling awkward. Harry noticed that Hermione fingers were digging into her palms.
"Err…" Harry began not quite sure what to say or do.
"Harry! I just remembered I…err… wanted to show you something…err-" Ginny quickly said.
"It's okay guys. I think Ronald and I need to talk," Hermione said lowly.
Harry and Ginny both nodded and quickly fled the room to let Ron and Hermione "work out their differences". Although as soon as they made it to the living the room they both grinned at each other.
"You don't happen to have any Extendable Ears?" Harry asked Ginny with an evil grin.
Ginny's eyes widened and her grin turned mischievous.
"I'll be right back," she whispered.
A/N: I was hit with an urge to write at four in the morning. I pulled out my laptop and opened a fresh word document and the words started appearing. I worked hard on this chapter so I'm hoping you enjoy it. Please review if you enjoyed or disliked the story. I like to think that each hit is someone actually reading my work and appreciate every review.