'Ron?'
Thud… thud… thud… thud…'Ron?'
Thud… thud… thud… thud…'RON! Enough of the incessant head banging!' Harry was lying on the spare bed watching his best friend beat himself senseless against the nearest wall. This had been going on for a good five or ten minutes and Harry was beginning to believe that it wasn't good that Ron was killing the few helpful brain cells that he had left.
After making his excuses, Ron had immediately headed up to his bedroom. Harry had never seen him move so fast and by the time he had finally caught up, Harry's gaze met with the sight of his redhead friend sitting on his bed as he leant back against the wall, hitting his head rhythmically.
'This. Is. The. Worst. Thing. That. Could. Ever. Happen. To. Me,' Ron groaned in between thuds.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to look thoughtful, trying to avoid the unavoidable question. He knew what Ron was talking about, he had known since fourth year, maybe even before. Yet he was finding it so difficult not to ask, in the end he gave in, 'why?'
'Because,' he sighed, 'because I… ow!' His long-awaited admission was interrupted as he knocked into the corner of a picture frame, rubbing his head he continued, 'Because I love Hermione.'
Glad that the banging had finally stopped, Harry knew exactly what Ron had meant by that statement, still he decided to have a little bit of fun, 'So do I, mate.'
'No, I don't think you understand Harry. I'm in love with Hermione.'
At this, Harry's eyes snapped open and he shot up in mock shock, looking over at Ron in awe, 'Are you really?'
Ron stared back at him in astonishment, no longer rubbing his bruised head, 'Yeah, you mean you couldn't tell?'
Harry returned to his own self again and lay back down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, 'Of course I could,' Harry caught a book that Ron had automatically aimed at his head after realising the mocking tone of voice, 'but if it helps I think Hermione may have missed the signs.'
'What signs?'
Harry looked at the cover of the book that had just been used to unsuccessfully attack him. "The fifty greatest method actors of all time," one of Hermione's books, 'Firstly that you've been stealing her property,' he waved the offending object in the air.
Ron gave him an irritated stare and was ready to pick up another book, this time the Oxford English Dictionary. Hardback edition. Noticing Ron's hand move towards the dictionary in a determined manner he continued swiftly on.
'Other than that,' Harry placed the book on the floor beside him and began to count on his left hand, 'there's the jealously, constant arguments, tension, attraction,' he turned over and propped himself up on his left arm, 'you have to admit there have been a fair few sparks flying between the two of you for the past few years.'
'Oh right, thanks Harry. You've made this whole situation much better by telling me that,' Ron replied sarcastically, if he hadn't been worried that there had been noticeable attraction beforehand he certainly did now.
'So what exactly is the problem?'
Ron sighed deeply and leaned back against the wall, 'I love Hermione, Hermione is now family which means that I can't make a move or tell her how I feel. In my mother's eyes we are all supposed to act like brothers and sisters, therefore I am now a brother to her. I can't go round declaring my love for my sibling, it's like saying I'm in love with Ginny,' he shuddered, 'I don't think Hermione feels the same way as me. I suppose, in a way, I've always been a brother to Hermione. This turn of events confirms it.'
By the end of his speech, Harry was staring at him in confusion, 'That is what this is all about? You really have no idea how to act around her?' Ron nodded hopelessly, 'Ron mate, you said it yourself, you've always been like a brother to her and you've managed to control your feeling for this long. Nothing needs to change between the two of you for now. If something's meant to happen then it will, you'll feel a change in relationship. Trust me.'
Ron was silent for a minute as he took in this plan. He could act normally around Hermione; she was one of his closest friends. After a moment he shrugged, 'I suppose you're right, I just wish this hadn't happened in the first place.'
'Come on; want to play some Quidditch with me? If only to clear your head,' Harry asked as he hopped off the bed. Picking up Hermione's book he threw it back at Ron, 'put that back, she'll kill you if she finds out you've been raiding her things.'
'She wouldn't be our Hermione if she didn't.'
'Your Hermione, mate!' Harry stated encouragingly, hoping to get Ron's hopes up about the fact that it could still work out.
'Well, I wouldn't go that far just yet,' Ron replied, grabbing his broomstick and legging it out of the door before Harry could question him. There were many things in Harry's life that he didn't understand, the workings of Ron's mind was one of them!
'So you're in love with my brother.'
Hermione's head flew up as she followed the direction of the voice that had broken her chain of thought. Her eyes immediately met with the sight of Ginny Weasley who was propping herself against the doorframe leading into the room they were sharing. 'Excuse me?' Hermione said in a confused tone.
'I assume that's what this is all about,' Ginny replied as she walked over and sat on the bed opposite Hermione, 'all of the worries about changes are because of Ron.'
'No they're not,' Hermione said indignantly.
'Come on, Hermione. You're so transparent when it comes to your feelings about him. Tell all.'
At this, Hermione sighed deeply and put down her book on physics, closing her eyes she leaned back against the wall, 'I don't understand how this can happen to me, I mean of all the families I could have joined, it's the one family which has the greatest effect on my life.'
"Ron?' Hermione nodded her head, 'so you love him, what has a change of family got to do with anything?'
'He's like a brother to me now, I can't go round asking out my brother. Anyway, I don't think he feels the same way about me. He's always keeping me away from guys, protecting me, we argue like siblings. I just don't think he sees that I like him as more than a brother or a friend.'
'I would have to disagree.'
'Why? Has he told you?' Hermione's eyes shot open and looked slightly hopeful, edging forward on the bed towards Ginny.
'Not in so many words exactly,' Hermione's shoulders slumped, 'but come on Hermione, it's obvious isn't it?'
'No,' Hermione admitted, then realisation hit her. Grasping hold of Ginny's hands she continued, 'Merlin! You don't think he's noticed that I like him, do you?'
'Hermione, this is my brother we're talking about here, he's oblivious to pretty much anything that isn't spelt out to him in ten foot high lettering.'
'Fair point.'
'Are you coming out now? You're going to have to face your new family at some point, and I fancy doing some shopping later as well' Ginny reached out a hand to Hermione and smiled warmly.
'Ok, why not!'
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