Author's Note- HI ALL! Because I took so long, here's a fun fact for those of you that don't already know: Lavender Brown, a Gryffindor and one of Harry Potter's classmates, is actually, African American (contrary to popular belief in many fanfics)!
CH 7
"Y-Y-YOU! YOU WERE THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS TROUBLE?!" Ron bellowed at Harry and Ginny. (Dam! Run Harry run!) "RAAAUUGHH!" Ron roared, charging at Harry and smashing him in the face. Blood splattered from Harry's nose. Ron leapt of Harry, as if daring him to fight back. But Harry just got up from the floor, holding his nose, and staring at his feet in silence. The punch had changed the mood. Now, instead of Ron being loud and reckless, he was silent but dangerous. No one spoke, except from the occasional whimper from Alana.
But then Ron spoke.
"We were mates Harry," Ron said quietly. Harry winced at the word were. "We were great friends. For 7 years, 7 YEARS!" Ron started to yell again, but stopped himself, and became quiet once more. It was several minutes before Ron spoke again.
"Why?" Ron asked, his voice cracking. "Why did you do this?" Harry and Ginny looked up at Ron's face, whose ears were very red, and his eyes watering.
"Ron… We-… we didn't mean for you to find out this way. We-… We just thought…" Harry didn't know what to say. We didn't think you belonged with Hermione? You aren't good enough for her? Harry couldn't think of any excuse that would explain his and Ginny's actions and would not lead to Ron being charged with murder. Apparently, Ginny couldn't either.
"I-…" Ginny began, but she couldn't continue. "I-I'm sorry," was all she could say. Tears streamed down her face as she watched her own brother cry too.
Ron turned around to face Alana.
"And you," Ron said. "You were a part of this…weren't you?" He asked softly.
Alana gave the smallest nod and whimpered.
"But my feelings and friendship for you are real!" Alana cried desperately, almost begging for Ron to forgive her.
Ron looked around. His eyes shone full of hurt. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but instead he ran off without another word.
Why Ginny didn't mention her conversation with Hermione to Harry, before Ron's outburst, she had no idea. But all she knew was that Harry was right.
-Ginny's POV-
Harry was right. I'm a fool for ever thinking that bringing Harry and Hermione together would be as simple at as Bat Bogey Hex. All I've ended up doing was bringing Harry and Ron apart. My own brother! What would mum think of this?
Hermione cried. (I mean, she was still crying after Ginny left her, not that she started all over again. Oy.) She was still in the bathroom when Moaning Myrtle floated in.
"Oh. Hullo Hermione," Myrtle said, bored. "You're crying? What's wrong now?"
Hermione sniffed loudly.
"Where's Harry? He promised he'd come and visit, but I haven't heard so much as a peep from him," said Myrtle, in a miffed tone.
At the mention of Harry's name, new tears arouse to Hermione's eyes.
"Stop crying. It's getting quite pathetic you know," Myrtle said apprehensively, not wanting to see anymore tears. It made her quite uncomfortable. Then Luna Lovegood came through the door. She saw Hermione and Myrtle and her eyes widened.
"Hermione? What's wrong? Myrtle? What's happening?" Luna asked simply.
"Oh good! You're here. Now I can leave her alone to her sniffing and wailing," Myrtle said, satisfied, and disappearing into the nearest toilet with a large splash.
Hermione sniffed.
"Oh, Hermione, did Ronald bother you again?" asked Luna. "I could go tell him not to. Maybe he'd listen to me. Maybe-" Hermione cut her off.
"No, no. I'm not crying about Ron anymore. Well, not really. I'm crying about Harry too. I guess I'm wondering what… what if… I… didn't date Ron. Do I really even…fancy Ron? Or is this attraction something I made up in my mind?" Hermione said to herself, more than Luna.
"I think you might really like him, but I don't think you could ever really love him, as a boyfriend, or even as a husband," Luna said, thoughtfully.
Hermione blinked.
Luna took this silence to leave quietly, but only after saying to Hermione, "Think about it."
Ron ran. Ron was running through Hogwarts grounds, and ran to the Great Lake, where the Giant Squid lived. Ron sat down near a shady tree, and looked up at the night sky with his wet tears streaming down his face. Ron watched the bright crescent moon, and watched the shooting stars with a breeze going through his face.
And he began to think.
Harry… Harry Potter. My ex best friend. I trusted him. He loves Hermione… Hermione. MY girlfriend. Mine. Not Harry's, but mine. Hermione, who I love and plan to marry, that is, if she accepts. But of course she will accept! She loves me, doesn't she?
…
Doesn't she?
Ron thought to himself. I'm seventeen. I'm an adult now. Why don't I ask her to marry me? We could get married after school ended, and we could have kids all over the place, like at Mum's house!
Ron got up and ran to the Gryffindor Common Room. Luckily, Harry and Ginny weren't there, but neither was Hermione.
Ron ran to the prefect's girl's bathroom, hoping to find Hermione, who he wished would be ready to forgive him. But Ron didn't see, her, and right when he was about to sprint out of there, he caught a glimpse of Luna.
"Luna!" He called.
"Oh, hello Ronald," Luna said, in her ever dreamy voice.
"Have you seen Hermione? I've been looking all over for her." Ron asked.
"Yes," Luna said simply.
Another pause.
"Well…can you tell me?" Ron said, getting a little impatient.
"No." Luna began to drift toward the door.
"What do you mean 'no'?" Ron demanded.
"I mean, that I'm not going to tell you," Luna snapped.
"Why not?!" Ron was livid. "And why are you snapping at me?"
"Because Hermione is crying right now. And I'm pretty sure it's because of you," Luna said.
"See? I thought she would be. I want to apologize to her!" Ron cried, exasperated.
"And what?" Luna said quietly.
"Huh?"
"What will you do after that? You'll say you're sorry. Then what? What if she doesn't accept your apology? Don't strut in there, looking to apologize, and expect it to have a happy ending."
Ron paused. Luna was right. He didn't think about Hermione not being happy with him, that she wouldn't like his apology. And if she didn't accept his apology, why would she accept his proposal for her to be his wife?
"Then I'll make a speech. I'll make a speech, telling her how sorry I am, and how much I really love her," Ron stated. Luna beamed.
"That'd be exceptionally nice Ronald. Very well; I'll tell you where she is. She is in the girl's bathroom, at least, she was there when I last saw her," Luna said, smiling.
"Thanks Luna! I owe you one!" Ron called back, running out the door.
"Hermione?" Ron called. He had just entered the girl's bathroom. "Hermione, are you here?" Ron heard loud sniffing and sniveling.
"Hermione!" Ron ran over to her and was about to wrap his arms around her, but Hermione stood up from her seat and backed away.
"Ron, please, don't. Not now," Hermione turned around, her back toward him. Ron couldn't bear it.
"No, Hermione, please! I'm here to apologize!" Ron cried. "I'm an ass! I know! I shouldn't have lied, I shouldn't have gone off with Alana, and I shouldn't have-" Ron's speech was cut off by Hermione.
"Ron, no. You hurt me. You really did," Hermione's voice was quivering, but firm. "How could you lie?" Hermione spun around to face him. "How could you do that to me? I thought you loved me. What a fool I am. Was. I'm not a fool anymore. I know better now."
Ron's ears turned tomato red and he shook his head.
"You don't understand Hermione. I do love you. You're my world. Without you, it's like I can't even breathe. You-You're everything to me." Tears trickled down his face.
Hermione glared at him. "Ron, do you really mean that? Don't say it to make me feel happier, don't say it if you don't mean it.
"I do Hermione, I do." Ron cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her, long and hard. Then he broke off, and with one knee, he kneeled on the ground, holding her hand in his.
"Hermione…I don't have a ring right now, but…" Ron started.
Hermione gasped.
"I have my love and my heart. I'll love you to the ends of the heart and beyond. So… will you marry me?" Ron asked, looking up into her shining brown eyes.
Author's Note- Ahem. So…Hope you enjoyed. This is 3 PAGES LONG in Microsoft word, so I'm REALLY sorry if it turns out to be some short looking paragraph.