The Talk

There was a knock on the door of Ron's bright orange room.

"Can I come in?" Harry asked, popping his head inside.

"Yeah, sure…" said Ron lying on his bed and facing the ceiling.

"What are you doing, mate?" Harry said flopping down on his own bed. Ron turned his head to look at him, then he said: "Just thinking…"

"Yeah, well, I thought so. And I think I might know what your thoughts are about."

"What are you talking about, Harry?" Ron looked confused and worried. Harry couldn't be reading his mind, could he?

"Oh Ron, come on! I want to talk to you about you and Hermione!"

Shock spread across Ron's face and his ears turned scarlet. How could Harry know? Oh, yeah, right, he had been in the same room with him and Hermione kissing…

"Ron, please, admit just once that you fancy her and I will never bring up this kind of talk again."

"Well…" Ron began "You already know it, don't you?"

"Yeah, but I want to hear it from you! Just say it once, Ron. It can't be that hard."

"Oh, you have no idea… It is." Ron's stomach began to twist. He just couln't say it, he couldn't admit it to anyone but himself. It had taken long enough to do just that.

"This thing between you two is going on for so long now, mate. Just… well, give it a try. I know you are worried that your friendship might break apart, I understand that. But… I think this isn't going to happen. You two are just… I don't know, maybe you are kind of… meant to be? Or something…" Harry looked nauseated at his own choice of words but Ron looked even worse.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing, coming from Harry's mouth. They had never talked about things like these and now they were saying… really weird stuff. But it somehow made Ron feel better, to know that he had such a good friend who didn't like this kind of conversation but had it with him anyway.

"So… um… I fancy Hermione. No, more than that, I like her a lot. A hell of a lot, really…"

Harry grinned. "I know."

Ron sighed and faced the ceiling again. "I have no idea what to do about it."

"Tell her." Harry said simply.

"Well, that sounds easier than it is, doesn't it?" Ron replied miserably.

"Yes, but you know that she likes you just as well, so what's the problem?"

"I don't know anything like that!" Ron looked at Harry again, once more a shocked expression on his face. "Has she told you… ?"

"No, she hasn't. But she kissed you, remember? And she told Ginny and well… Ginny told me. And it's kind of obvious."

"It's not!" Ron said angrily. "That's the problem! It's anything but obvious! I just don't understand her! One time I think she likes me because she holds my hand and one time I think she hates me because she shouts at me and another time I think she likes… you. Because she looks at you so lovingly and she's always on your side and against me. She's always so worried about you and you see, you're the hero here, really…"

"Ron…" Harry tried to calm him down but he wouldn't let him.

"No, Harry, don't you see it? You are the brave one, you always get the attention of everyone, you get the girl."

"I don't want all of that, Ron! Well, I'm glad I got the girl I fancy but I don't want the attention and the fame! I hate it! And besides that you are not less brave than me. You went all the way with me through this war and you had so much to lose. I had nothing to lose, really. You and Hermione are the bravest and most loyal people I have ever heard of. Don't think less of you." Harry's face had so much love in it, that Ron couldn't help but calm down a bit.

"Thank you." Ron mumbled.

"You're welcome." Harry answered. "Hermione is just worried about me because she is like my sister. You would be just as worried about Ginny or one of your brothers or about me, wouldn't you?"

"Probably." Ron said quietly.

"She doesn't like me like this. You are the one she kissed, okay? Why can't you see that? When you were gone over Christmas she was crying all the time. We would sit in silence and never mention your name. We would hope all the time that we'd see you walk inside the tent any moment. When you were back she sure was mad at you but she was happier than ever to have you back, believe me. And so was I. When you splinched yourself the first time she was so scared. She was panicking you might die or something. Don't think she cares more about me than about you. That's definitely not true. She likes you, Ron. For more than just her best friend."

"Have you ever… thought about being with her? Have you ever wanted to kiss her? Or have you ever had the feeling she wanted to be with you?" The sound of his own voice startled Ron. It was thick and he felt tears forming in his eyes. The thought of his two friends loving each other wouldn't leave his mind.

"No, Ron, I haven't. I don't want to be with her. You and Hermione are my best friends. I… well, I want you two to end up together. I think it… has to happen. It wouldn't be right to see one of you with someone else."

"What am I going to do now?" Ron asked frightened of the answer.

"You are going to tell her. If you don't, I'll do it."

Ron sat up in his bed with a start. "You wouldn't dare to do that!"

Harry smirked. "Oh yes I would."

And with these words he left the room, leaving a scared and troubled Ron behind.

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saule-pleureur