Disclaimer If I owned Harry Potter, would I be writing fanfiction?

Chapter 10-- Ron's Futile Attempt

After the trial, Harry Apparated back to the Burrow, feeling extremely tired. Ginny greeted him upstairs, looking very worried.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked her.

"I was worried about you," Ginny said, "How'd the trial go? Did Pettigrew get convicted?"

"Yes. Tomorrow he's going to get the Dementor's Kiss. He deserves it, too," Harry spat bitterly.

Ginny walked over to him and kissed him tenderly. "Wanna move on to a brighter subject?"

"You know I do. How's Lily doing?"

"She's doing fine. Better than her mother is at any rate."

"What do you mean? What's wrong?"

"Nothing really. I'm just sick and tired of being pregnant. I wish I could just hurry up and have this baby already!"

"So do I. But, I'm not looking forward to you yelling and screaming at me the way your mum screamed at your dad when she was having you and your brothers. Hopefully, you'll be a little... milder?"

"How can you expect a woman going through labor to be mild? It's unheard of!" Ginny laughed, her brown eyes shining.

"I guess you can't," said Harry, putting his hand on Ginny's stomach to feel Lily kick. He smiled and leaned closer to Ginny to give her a quick kiss. "I'll be back soon. I've got to go pick some things up for the baby."

"Oh, Harry, can I come? Please? I haven't been out of the house in a while."

"Sure. But, I don't want you picking up anything heavy. If you want to help, you can get some of the lighter stuff, if there is any. We're mainly getting furniture for right now. "

"Yes, Sir!" Ginny said, raising her hand to her head in a mock salute to Harry.

Meanwhile, Hermione saat down on the couch in the living room. Tucking her legs underneath her, she pulled out some of her paperwork and began reading.

"Gee, 'Mione! With as much time as you spend working, I'm surprised that you have to bring your work home, too," came a voice from the door.

"It's HER-mione. Ron, I'm working. Go talk to Harry."

"Harry and Ginny aren't here. They went to go pick up baby furniture."

"Oh," said Hermione icily.

Ron leaned over and tucked a strand of Hermione's hair behind her ear.

"Ron, I'm working," said Hermione, coldly.

"You know, you're the prettiest girl I've ever met," Ron sighed.

"And you are the most annoying guy I have ever met," Hermione said.

"Hermione, let me ask you something. If it's too personal, tell me and I'll back off. Who are you waiting for?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked quickly.

"Who are you waiting for? I've asked you out I don't know how many times and it's always the same answer. No. Why? What did I ever do to you?"

"Ron, it's nothing you've ever done. You've been nice to me. And, I've always cared for you as a friend. But, there's someone else that I care for like you want me to care for you."

"Who is it?" Ron asked.

"I can't tell you. You'd kill me if you knew."

"I won't kill you. As long as it's not Harry, Or Viktor Krum."

Hermione's face grew a little red.

"Oh, God, Hermione . Please tell me that don't still like him."

"Who?"

"Krum."

"NO!"

"Thank God, you were scaring me there for a second. Who is it?"

"I'm not telling you. And that's my final word."

"Hermione, when it doesn't work out, then I'll still be here. I'll always be here for you and I'll never let you down. When you need an anchor, I'll be here. I'll share you tears and your happiness and everything life throws at you. Whether you want to be with me or not."

Hermione looked at Ron and smiled at him. This time it was genuine. "Thank you," she saud, leaning over and giving him a small kiss on the cheek. She got up and walked upstairs.

Ron watched her, feeling shocked and unbelievably happy at the same time.

Ginny and Harry Apparated back to the Burrow.

"You know what I'm in the mood for?" Ginny asked Harry.

"What, sweetheart?"

Ginny smiled. "I'm in the mood for chocolate chip pancakes."

"Mmhmm... That sounds good."

"Let me get Mum. She'll make some for lunch." Ginny started down the stairs. Halfway down them, she met Ron coming up the stairs. Instead of going downstairs, Ginny went upstairs with Ron.

"Someone has a lipstick print on his cheek. Any clue who that might be?"

"Ginny, are all girls weird?"

"Uh, well... Do you mean like Hermione?"

"Sure. Like Hermione. Knowing that a guy has liked her for years and still refusing to go out with him becuase she is in love with someone else, but won't even tell me who the person is?"

:"Let me guess? Is this what's going on between you and Hermione?"

"Well, yeah. She told me it definitely wasn't Krum, though. So, I guess I've still got hope. I told her that I would always be there for her even if she didn't want to go out with me. I told her that I'd be her anchor."

"That's probably the best thing you could have done. Hermione's extremely head-strong. But, then I'm guessig you knew that already?"

"Yeah. That's what I like about her. She doesn't let anything get in the way of acheiving her goals. But, it happens to be kind of a burden right now. Funny how that works."

Ginny smiled. "She'll come around soon, Ron. I know Hermione. She won't be able to stay away for long. She'll make a decision soon. Hopefully it's for the better. I'd love to have her for a sister-in-law."

Ron blushed as Ginnny said this.

"It's a little bit too early to talk about marriage, isn't it? I mean, she won't even go out with me."

"It'll be fine. Now, I'm really wanting those chocolate chip pancakes. Wanna come down to lunch with me?"

"Oh, all right," said Ron, looking a bit happier, "Ginny, I swear, you work wonders."

"What does Ginny work wonders at?" came a female voice from behind them. It was Hermione.

"Getting a man through rejection," said Ron, simply.

Hermione watched him go down the stairs, gaping at what he had just said.

I actually liked this chapter. Hopefully you all did, too. I guess I'll answer a couple of reviews here. So, here goes.

underthewaterfall There, I put Ron in. Happy? LOL...

mauree I had to put that in. Peter Pettigrew is my least favorite character... well, him and Snape. I don't know who I hate more.

luna luck Harry will definitely get cheered up in the next chapter... Most definitely.

I don't have a lot of time to answer everyone's reviews, but for the 100th reviewer, I will dedicate the next chapter to him or her. And I know this chapter is shorter than the others, but just to remind you, I did put in a chapter yesterday and this one today. So, please excuse this one for being so short, and please don't send me reviews complaining about how short this chapter is.

Love you,

James's Girl Forever