Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. No infringement intended.

Chapter two

The Advice

Harry was on his way to meet his godfather, he agreed to meet with Sirius in the morning, in a London borough, "Serious business." said Sirius. He wasn't in a good day, he had trouble sleeping last night and woke up with a tremendous back pain, he shook his head as if he could expel his bad mood. From a distance, he spotted a tall man propped up on the wall in a deserted street, he could recognize that pale skin a miles away, Sirius was holding an ice cream and in his other hand, what looked like a coffee.

"For you." - said Sirius, offering the coffee to him.

"An ice cream? Really? "- Harry raised an eyebrow as he stared at the ice cream and Sirius.

"If I knew that you wanted too, I would have bought another one!" - he hit Harry on the shoulder and then slowly began to walk.

"So, what happened?" - Harry asked and sipped his coffee.

"Actually, nothing happened! I just thought that you needed a walk."

"You didn't it! Come on, Sirius. "- Harry stopped, opening his arms.

"I'll stop when you tell me why you're so bitter these days? Days? No. Weeks! "

Harry rolled his eyes and started walking, putting one hand in his pocket.

"It's nothing, Sirius. I just ... I've been having a lot of pain...in my body, I don't know..." - he said discouraged, lowering his head.

"Ginny told me something about this. She said she has asked you to go to St. Mungo's. How can you be stubborn, huh?"

"Oh don't start, I'll go soon as I can, ok?"

"Good. So, you stay here." - Sirius stopped on the sidewalk and looked at his godson who didn't seemed to understand what he had just said.

"Don't you too?" - Harry asked suspiciously.

"Not now, I have some things to resolve."

Harry pursed his eyes, trying to read through the blank Sirius's expression, but he gave up when realized he wouldn't discover anything.

"Okay. See ya! "- said Harry, hugging Sirius quickly. Seconds later Harry was down the phone booth.

The pictures on the wall formed a clumsy triangle, Harry always wanted to look at them and remember the reason he was alive. Half an hour had passed, and he was still looking at the pictures, looking for details that he previously had failed to see. There were reminders of special dates, such as his marriage, which was at the top of the triangle, below was a picture where the whole Weasley family was present, it was Ron's birthday, across the triangle, Harry posed with Sirius, Neville and Luna, at the triangle's base, a old Dumbledore's picture, Ron and his parents, there was also a picture of Dumbledore's Army and the old Order, but Harry fixed at one portrait in particular, on which he was standing and a little grave, when suddenly, Hermione jumped on his back and he finally smiled and they waved.

Over the past days, Harry spent more time than usual in the Ministry, the needed in occupy his day was immense, he needed empty his head and he saw at work, a good way to get rid of the thoughts that troubled him so much. But at that moment, Harry found himself stuck, he had done practically everything, has signed several petitions, visited all departments of the Ministry to inspect and learn new things, participated in meetings to hear what the wizarding community had to say or complain, gave interviews and in the most desperate attempt to spend time, changed the furniture in his office. Harry had his arms on the table and propped his head on them, snorting. The truth was, it had been two weeks since Hermione and Ron traveled to their honeymoon, and well, Harry wasn't used spending so much time away from her and certainly, he didn't want to admit a certain discomfort because of it, but Harry knew that the lies we tell ourselves, are the most painful. Most of the time, he felt bad because he wasn't feeling so happy for his friends and this was becoming a torture. Harry heard the doorknob move and immediately looked up, it was Ginny.

"Hi, honey! Oh... changed the furniture? Great!"- she said, noting the entire cabinet and walking in all over the place.

"What I owe the honor of your visit at this time of the day?" - Harry looked puzzled.

"A wife can't just decide to visit her husband at work? There is no intent." - Ginny sat in the chair across the table from Harry.

"In this case." - he said, turning to one of the books on his desk.

"Actually..." - she rolled her eyes.

"THERE. I knew it! "- Harry interrupted, tapping a hand on the table.

"Okay, I was caught. Now can we talk? "

"Sure!" he said, still smiling.

"I need you to renew my permission for the library."

Harry scowled.

"Again? When will you finish this book? You know I don't like that place."

"But what can I do? If I could walk away with the books, fine. I would do my research at home, but there's no other way and you have to help me. The book is almost finished, you know how much I dedicated myself and how I'm being charged for the book to be ready as soon as possible, I cannot delay it now."

"That place is dangerous." - he tried to argue.

"Dangerous? How? He is protected for God's sake!" - she snorted, ironic.

The library in question, it was located in the old village of St. Blues, which for years was completely abandoned due the Death Eater attacks at the Voldemort's period. The village was one of the most destroyed, hundreds have died and those who survived fled, since then, the village became a desert and no one had the courage to revive that place full of violent and sad memories. St. Blues was known for hosting one of the oldest and important libraries of all time, the library of Louis Marie - a powerful witch and founder of the village - which contained an arsenal of rare books, maps, among other things. However, it was impossible to remove any book that belonged to the library, because the place was magically protected by Marie. Then the Ministry launched a protective enchant that only liberate the entry of those who the Minister allow. Harry still wasn't totally convinced, he hated that place, it was extremely scary, but the last thing he wanted was to start a fight with her, what would happen quickly if his answer had been negative.

"I will allow more time for you. But hurry up with this book, ok? "

Ginny jumped up happy and went straight toward Harry, giving him a hug and many kisses on his face. "You're the best husband!" - she said, and before Harry could answer, Ginny stood up and walked to the door.

"If you don't find at home, don't worry, I'll visit mom. She's freaking out! "

"What happened?" - He said with a tone of concern.

"Don't you know? My brother and Hermione arrived yesterday evening from their honeymoon, it seems that they fought, I don't quite understand. Mom will tell me everything! "

Harry was mentally controlling his outside reaction, he didn't wanted that Ginny notice his excitement by the news.

"I-I didn't know. In the middle of their honeymoon? "

"I was surprised too. If they were spending the time with things that don't involve talk, this fight might have been avoided. "

He quickly tried to erase from his mind the image of Ron and Hermione spending time with things that don't involve talk, luckily Ginny continued, "You should go visit him, he's your best friend!"

"Sure, sure. You're right and, hm, I'm going there right now."

"See you later. Someone will win a gift today to have renewed my entry."- she gave Harry a wink and left.

He waited until the door was closed and then took a deep breath, he felt an urge to smile, "No, no, this is bad Harry, be sad." he said to himself. After a few minutes reciting a monologue about guilt and happiness, he left the Ministry.

It had been some time since Harry was standing in front of Ron and Hermione's house, some banging on the door and no sign of them. He doesn't mind staying there until someone answer if wasn't for the cold, so he decides to leave and turn to go down the front stairs, but he heard a noise at the door. It was Ron, and his friend expression was of someone who had fallen asleep and forgotten to wake up.

"Oh... you! "- Ron said, moving away from the door so Harry could enter.

"It's good to see you too!" - Harry thought in hug him, but it was so cold that he treated to go into the house quickly.

"You got it wrong! I'm relieved. I thought it was my mother for the tenth time. Sorry, mate!"

Ron was walking toward the kitchen as he spoke. Harry was listening, behind his friend and the smell coming from the kitchen made he realized that Ron was preparing tea.

"Since when you make tea?" - Harry asked.

"Since I decided to marry a crazy woman." - Ron held the teapot with a small towel and poured tea into a cup pretty big. "Have some?" - Said, dragging a cup to Harry who refused.

"What happened?" - Harry was curious to know what the fight was about, but he didn't know if he was prepared to give advice about love in that situation.

"Well, the usual. She gets mad and proud, so she decides to ignore me until she thinks that I've paid for my sins. "

"Wich was...?" - Harry was intrigued.

"You know, Harry. It's not my fault if people recognize me and want autographs and stare at me, I cannot escape it, it's part of my job and she has to accept."

"But it was your honeymoon, Ron!" - Harry argued, sounding a little upset.

"I know! I know... "- Ron couldn't think of any plausible answer. "You think you can talk to her? She hears you. "- He said with a sad expression.

"I can try. She is in the...?" - Harry looked up and pointed to the stairs, Ron nodded.

"I think there's a secret bathroom in that library, I swear. Harry, please... tell her that I'm really sorry. "

Harry nodded and stretched his hand on the table, grabbed the cup which he had previously refused. "Just a bit."

Ron served him and holding the cup with both hands, Harry went up the stairs silently. As much as he was dying inside to face that he had missed her, Harry knew that this wasn't the reason he was there, at that moment, he should be a good friend and try to help. Harry gave some weak beats on the door and heard Hermione scream.

"Ron, I said! I DON'T WANT TO TALK! "

"It's not him." – said Harry, embarrassed.

Hermione opened the door and Harry could see she was embarrassed by the situation.

"Hey, you! Sorry for the shouting... come in."- she left the door and sat in an armchair. There were dozens of books thrown on the floor, Harry put the cup on the side of a book on the desk wich sat beside the chair.

"I brought for you." - he said, sitting on the floor in front of her.

"Thank you." - she took a quick sip of tea.

"You want to talk?"

"There is not much to comment, apart from the fact that I was exchanged for fame in the middle of my honeymoon."

Harry looked down, he was thinking in something to tell her. He knew that now more than ever Hermione needed someone to listen and understand her, but she continued.

"Oh Harry, in the first days... everything was so perfect! We, the beach... but then... everything became a succession of events that only left me angry with him! He couldn't ignore the people and when I think about, I realized that I was in the background and as if that were not enough... he began to complain about the heat, sand, everything."

"To be honest, I don't know what to say, Hermione!"

"Ohh... He didn't tell you the worst of all, didn't he? "- Hermione closed her eyes.

"Is there anything worse than this?" - he frowned in disbelief.

"He was called Harry. I don't know how long he will be out, but he was summoned to train. He leaves tomorrow. I didn't return because I wanted to. "

At that moment, Harry felt so bad for her, he longed to have a beautiful speech that could help her, but he decided to stay quiet for a few minutes. How Ron could have done that? He couldn't find an answer, he felt some anger because that woman sitting in front of him, was the embodiment of everything that Harry wanted but he was afraid to admit. He leaned forward and stretching his arm, grabbed Hermione's hand strong.

"I'm sorry" - were the only words Harry could say.

"He sent you here to talk to me, right?"

"Actually, I wanted to come here. I was missing you. "

Hermione smiled.

"Me too. I'd buy a gift for you, you know? But... "- she chose not to finish the sentence.

"It's okay, I guess I can live with the fact that you went somewhere and didn't bring gifts to me." - he joked, trying to feign an air of indifference. "But tell me, how is Hawaii?"

"Oh Harry, it's beautiful! You would have loved. The climate is very different from here, obviously. You can see the sun making your skin glow and the sea ... is so wonderful, local food is a little strange at first, but very tasty. And people are very nice, we meet some wizards there ... "

Hermione seemed to have forgotten the reason why she was devastated during the last days, she narrated in detail and with great excitement about the good things that had happened and what she had learned about the local culture. Harry was more than happy to see her smiling and joking. There was something about being in her presence, that made Harry feel at home, safe, happy and then, they remained there for a long time. Ron, who was sitting on the sofa, heard a laughter coming from the library and began to think about the fact that no one else, except Harry, could calm Hermione within minutes.

The sky was already dark when Harry said goodbye to his friends, but he just decided to leave when he was sure that Hermione would be okay. He wished good trip to Ron, who promised go to Harry's house later to say goodbye to his sister. When Harry left the house, he remembered that Ginny had promised him a 'gift', but he knew very well what he would receive and he wasn't quite in the mood, in fact, he mentally refused the idea of coming home. So, he decided to visit his godfather, because what he really needed after that day, was talk to someone he completely trusted.

Harry was received as always with great joy by Sirius. He was very busy lately at Auror Office, the last time Harry had the opportunity to talk right with him was at the wedding.

"I was at their house, I wanted to help." - said Harry, after he told what had happened to them.

"I would do the same thing for a friend." - Sirius offered the couch so Harry could sit.

"And... how is the Auror Department? "- Harry asked, settling on the couch.

"Full of Aurors..." - Sirius raised his eyebrows.

"Very funny!"

"Harry, I was wondering..." - Sirius joined his hands. "...when you'll tell me the real reason for your visit."

Harry swallowed. He knew he couldn't hide himself from Sirius. His godfather and Hermione were the only ones who noticed immediately when something was wrong with him. Harry took a deep breath in an attempt to create some courage.

"It's about ..."

"Hermione?" - Sirius finished the sentence for him.

"It's so obvious?" - Harry asked, perplexed.

"It always was. I saw you two, you know, in her marriage... I always thought that after you date all the girls, you'd be with her, well... when the youth blindness had passed. When you stay with Ginny and married her, I assumed I was wrong. But now... "

Harry was visibly restless, trying to organize his ideas so he could say something to Sirius.

"You know, this scar..." - Harry took his hand to the scar on his forehead, "every time Voldemort was around, or when I dreamed or thought about him, it burned. And... when he died, the world came off my shoulders and suddenly, the pain stopped. But now, now I feel that there is this invisible scar... right here..."- he slid his hand up to his chest," ...and it burns, rips, it hurts every time she comes near me. "

Harry huffed in agony, rubbing his hands over his face and then continued.

"There was a time many years ago... I was alone with her in the tent, we were looking for the horcruxes and Ron left us, you know that... and she stayed with me, and there was a moment, I realized it was her, but I was afraid. I mean, I knew she was in love with him, and ... I thought it was a passing thing and over the years I hid it, but in their marriage... these feelings, they came back, I couldn't." - he stopped, pressing his hands, "...and now I spend most of my time feeling miserable about this, about what these feelings represents. Is not simple."

"It's official, you're screwed!" - said Sirius, concerned.

"Oh, that's it? I come here and I tell you the truth, and that's what my godfather has to tell me? "- Harry was indignant.

"As you said, is not simple!"

"You can try to comfort me."

"Harry, the best advice I can give you is: look in her eyes! If you look in her eyes and see that she really loves Ron, that she is completely happy with her life, don't say anything. This revelation will only end up bringing pain to you and her. Move on with your life, try to fix things with Ginny and if you still remain unhappy... divorce her, try to find a person who makes you feel alive. But... if you look in her eyes and feel... that she has doubts, that she may be feeling the same for you... tell, Harry! Because if this is true, she probably spent a lifetime waiting for the day when you finally... wake up! And Harry, don't forget... everyone suffers. Don't be afraid of the consequences, living a regret can destroy you "

Those words have entered Harry's mind, he froze for a minute, his gaze was distant, and then he felt an urge to curse someone, hit on his own face. How can he be so stupid? During all this time? He couldn't believe what was happening and he couldn't imagine anything worse than that: his wife, his best friends. Harry looked up and said.

"Well .. you're totally right. I'm screwed! "