Thanks for all of you who reviewed! Sorry it's been a while since I updated a new chapter, but I went back and fixed the previous chapters. I edited them for some grammatical things, and I also added a few things in and took some out, just to add to the story and make it flow better. So, I advise you to go back some chapters and re-read them if you would like. Chapter 3 in particular I added a lot, especially a conversation between Hermione and Sirius that takes place in that chapter is worth reading for better understanding of the story later on. Thanks! I hope you guys like this chapter, please review! And let me know how you liked the conversation between Sirius and Hermione as well. Please review!
It had been relatively quiet in the Gryffindor room since the afternoon the day before, when Ron had walked out, yelling, at Hermione, Lupin, and Harry. Ron had yet to speak to either Harry or Hermione, and Hermione was becoming quite concerned. She had had her arguments with Ron in the past, but even then they had at least bickered. Now, he wasn't even talking to her. And he wasn't talking to Harry either. The last time he had done that was during the Triwizard Tournament their fourth year. Hermione sighed.
She was sitting in the common room, trying to get a head start on her assignments for the Christmas break. Sitting in the comfy lounge chair by the fire, Harry was sitting next to her, and he was trying to get some work done as well. Hermione found it surprising, but then with Ron not talking to him, Hermione wasn't exactly sure what else Harry would have been doing.
Every once in a while, they would hear the common room door open, and they would turn quickly, expecting it to be Ron, or at least hoping that it would be him, but it wasn't. After Ron had left the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, he had come back to the common room, grabbed a few things, and left. Harry had caught him on his way out for a few seconds. He had tried to talk to him, but Ron wouldn't listen. And after giving Harry a glare, and a few remarks about how he had thought they had been friends, he left. Harry nor Hermione had seen him since, and Hermione was starting to get worried. That was yesterday afternoon. They would be leaving for Grimmauld Place the next morning.
The common room door opened again, and Harry looked quickly at it. Hermione looked as well, and when she saw a few second years entering, laughing, and talking, she looked back at Harry. Harry gave her a knowing look, a small understanding smile, and then sighed before going back to his work.
This was hard on Harry. Hermione could tell. He treasured Ron and herself more than anything and she knew that. Ron was his best friend. Of course they were best friends too, her and Harry, but Ron was a guy. Ron was Harry's best guy friend. She felt bad that she had caused this for Harry, she had after all told him not to tell anyone, and she was the one who hadn't told Ron. He was just doing what she had asked of him. Trying to be a good friend. And he had to choose between telling Ron one of her secrets, or keeping hers. Hermione felt bad that she had put him in that position. It was her fault that Ron was not talking to him, and she needed to fix it.
Hermione closed her book and placed it on the table quickly. "I'm sorry, Harry"
Harry, who was still writing, looked up at her and shrugged. "For what?''
Hermione cocked her head. "Harry, you know what. I'm sorry for making Ron mad at you. It wasn't your fault."
Harry shook his head. "You don't have to apologize, Hermione. Ron's got a temper, it's alright."
"No, Harry, it's not." Hermione said quickly. Harry had gone back to writing, and Hermione leaned over to his chair and slowly pulled away the parchment and the book and put it on the table. "Look at me"
"It's my fault that Ron's not talking to you. It's my fault that he's mad. I should have told him. Or not have told you to keep it a secret. I'm sorry." Hermione said quietly.
"Thanks, Hermione. But don't worry too much about it. You're allowed to have a few things that you don't want some people to know. You weren't ready for him to know, it's okay. You don't have to feel obligated to tell the both of us everything. I mean, you should be allowed to confide in me about something, without him getting mad. Honestly, I think he was just jealous."
Hermione hadn't thought about that before. Was Ron just jealous that she had told Harry and not him? "I don't know. You think so?"
Harry shrugged. "It's possible. But either way, it's okay. You didn't really do anything wrong. If you didn't want people to know, that's fine. And, you didn't actually tell me, I found out."
Hermione nodded. "That's true"
"But, are you okay? I mean he shouldn't have flipped out on you like that. You don't deserve it. And neither does, Remu-"
"Shhhh!" Hermione said quickly, looking to Harry and then looking around the common room. The other students seemed occupied playing games or talking to each other, but Hermione didn't want them to over hear.
"Owen" Hermione said quickly. Harry looked confused.
"What?" He asked quickly.
"Owen! Use Owen!" Hermione said.
"Why? Okay. Sure." Harry said quickly, although still confused. Hermione smiled at him.
"Neither does Owen."
"I know, but I still feel a little guilty, you know. Maybe I should have told him" Hermione said quietly.
"Maybe. But either way, he doesn't have the right to flip out on you and Remu- Owen" Harry said as he looked to Hermione quickly, "He doesn't have the right to tell you what to do, sure, he can have an opinion, and it can be different from yours, but he can express it in a mature way. We're eighteen, he needs to grow up a little."
Hermione smiled. "I know. You're right. I'm just worried about him. He takes things like this really personally. It's not like I singled him out. I didn't tell everyone but him. You, Ginny, and Sirius, are the only other people that know."
"I know." Harry said quickly. "That's just the way he is. It's not your fault. Don't worry too much. It's okay,"
"I'm just worried. I haven't seen him since yesterday. I don't know where he is, or what he's doing. I'm kinda scared, Harry."
"I'm sure he's fine. Just blowing off some steam or something."
"Was he in the dormitories last night?" Hermione asked quickly.
Harry was quiet for a few seconds. "No"
Hermione could feel herself getting worried. She didn't know where Ron was or when he was coming back.
"Well, where do you think he could have gone?" Hermione asked quickly.
Harry shrugged. Hermione could sense some worry in him as well, but he also seemed a lot more calm then she was. "He probably just went to Hagrid's or something." Harry said.
Hermione felt relieved. Hagrid's. He probably went to Hagrid's. "Yea, I didn't even think of that. He probably is at Hagrid's." Hermione sighed out, but Harry could tell she was still worried.
"You want to go see Hagrid?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded quickly and then looked at Harry before smiling. "Yea, let's go."
Harry and Hermione put their book back up into their rooms, and met back down in the common room, with coats on. They walked out the common room, talking about Ron and how he had over reacted. But also hoping that he was at Hagrid's.
"I know he's a lot older than me" Hermione said quickly, "but if it doesn't bother us, then why should it bother him?"
Harry shrugged. "He's just looking out for you. He just wants the best for you. Ron's just kinda scared I think. I mean, you guys are pretty far apart in age, I think that's just what he's focusing on right now."
"But that's not what you should focus on" Hermione said quickly.
"I know that." Harry said quickly. "But Ron just wants to make sure this is what's best for you. He'll figure it out though, and he'll come around. It doesn't matter that there's a big age difference. Not when you look to each other they way you guys do."
"See, you understand!" Hermione said quickly. "Why can't he?"
Harry shrugged again. "I think he's just thinking of how unusual you guys are as a couple. He's stuck on that. What he's seeing right now is nineteen years in age difference, our teacher, and our friend. Ron is probably just thinking that because it's unusual, it's automatically not right. But that's not true, he doesn't realize that sometimes the unusual is pretty awesome."
"Thanks, Harry" Hermione said, placing her arm around him as they walked up to Hagrid's hut. "And Owen?" Harry asked with a smile. Hermione smiled as well. "It was the first name I thought of the other day. Now I'm just kinda going with it." Harry laughed and Hermione smiled at him. Harry knocked on the door, and Hagrid yelled for them to come in.
"Hi Hagrid" Harry said quickly, smiling and Hermione did the same. Hagrid gave them a hug and they walked inside.
"We came to see-"
"If Ron was here?" Hagrid asked with a smile.
Harry nodded. "Ugh, yea, is Ron here?"
Hermione was slightly taken aback that Hagrid knew they were looking for Ron, and judging by Harry's face, Hermione was pretty sure he was surprised as well. But Hagrid had known them for eight years, and Hermione smiled.
"Yea, he is. Sleeping in the other room" Hagrid said quickly. "Came 'ere las' night. Seemed pretty upset. Angry and Sad. He asked if he could stay 'ere for the night. I told 'im o'course he could. Something 'appen with 'ou three?"
Hermione sighed, and Harry sat down at Hagrid's table after Hagrid gestured for him to do so. "Yea, we kind of had a fight"
"'Bout what?" Hagrid asked. "If you don't mind me meddling. Jus' Ron seemed really upset las' night. I'm not sure I've ever seen 'im like that."
Hermione swallowed hard. Ron was upset. Not just angry. Upset. Had he been jealous? Had he actually been concerned? Harry looked to Hermione quickly, as to ask her how she was going to respond. Hermione trusted Hagrid. Keeping secrets from those she cared about didn't seem to have worked out in Ron's case, so she decided she'd just tell him what was going on.
"Well, Ron got upset at me. He saw me kissing someone" Hermione looked to Harry quickly and Harry nodded his encouragement. Hermione had the feeling he knew she wanted to tell what was actually going on to Hagrid. Hermione sighed.
"Kissing someone?" Hagrid smiled. "Our Hermione, kissing some fellow? Suppose Ron was just jealous." Hagrid let out a small laugh. "Who is this guy? Do I know 'im?"
Hermione swallowed hard. Yea, he certainly did know him. She doubted whether or not to tell Hagrid, and then she took a deep breath, looked at Harry, and then back at Hagrid.
"Lupin" Hermione said softly.
Hagrid's smile turned into a confused one. He looked from Harry to Hermione, then back to Harry as if expecting Harry to clear it up. Then after a few seconds he looked back at Hermione.
"Remus? The guy you were kissing was Remus?" Hagrid said quietly. Hermione wasn't sure if the tone in his voice was confusion or disappointment. She nodded slowly and braced for him to comment as well.
"Well, bloody time 'lready. 'Mione that's great!" Hagrid yelled with a smile and a laugh. He hugged Hermione, pressing her close to him, and she smiled as well.
Hermione felt relieved. She looked to Harry quickly who smiled. "You, you're not disappointed?"
"Dissapointed?" Hagrid asked, still smiling and leaning over to give Harry a hug as well. Hermione laughed. Apparently he was extremely excited. "I've been waitin' for you two to get together. That's great, really. I'm happy for you guys, you and 'im! He's been waiting for 'ya for a while, now. And you, I don't think I'm mistaken in saying that your crush on 'im never went a way 'id it?" Hagrid laughed again.
Hermione looked at him in confusion. How did he know all this? "Hagrid, I don't ever remember telling you about my crush on Lupin."
"Idn't have too. It was pretty obvious. I may not 'ave finished school, but I can pick up on stuff like that pretty easily. Plus, it helps when you two are so clearly 'nterested in each other." Hagrid laughed. "Congrats"
Hermione smiled. She felt relieved and she couldn't help but smile. Hagrid understood, he didn't have a problem with it. He didn't even feel it necessary to mention the age difference. So why did Ron? Why couldn't Ron understand?
Hermione sighed. "Too bad Ron doesn't feel the same way"
Hagrid noticed the sadness in her voice. "Don't worry about it. Ron's just a little confused about it that's all. He'll be happy for you. He'll see that it may be a little odd, but that it works out pretty well for you guys."
"Yea, hopefully" Hermione said. "Thanks, Hagrid."
"Do you want me to go wake him up? He's been sleeping pretty much all day. It's almost two in the afternoon."
Hermione looked to Harry and Harry nodded. "Yea, that'd be good. Thanks, Hagrid." Harry said.
Hagrid nodded, and took some food that had been cooking on the fire in a cauldron, out of the cauldron and on the table. It smelt pretty good. "This should help" Hagrid said, and he put the food onto four plates that he had on the table.
Harry noticed this and looked to Hermione. "Why did you already have four plates out? Harry asked quickly. And then he looked to Hagrid and nodded. "Because you knew we'd be coming."
Hagrid smiled. "I'll go wake him up, you guys can start"
Hagrid went into the other room and Hermione sat down at the table next to Harry. They looked at each other. Harry smiled and nodded, and Hermione nodded as well.
"What should I say to him?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. Just tell him what you told me. That you didn't intentionally exclude him. But he does owe you an apology, Hermione."
Hermione nodded. "Okay. You think he'll still be mad?"
Harry shrugged as he shook his head. "I don't know. Upset maybe. I don't know about mad."
Hermione nodded. She and Harry sat there for a few more minutes and then heard the sounds of Ron stretching and couldn't help but laugh to each other.
"What time is it?" They heard Ron ask from the other room.
"It's 'lmost two in the afternoon, you sleepy'ead"
"Is that, is that food?" Ron asked, and they could hear him getting out of bed.
"It's in the kitchen. Help yourself" Hagrid said. Hermione and Harry could hear them walking in from the other room, and a few seconds later Ron walked in.
Hermione and Harry looked to him quickly. Ron stopped walking as soon as she saw them and tried to turn around. Hagrid, however, stopped him.
"What are they doing here?" Ron asked quickly. He was still looking at Hermione and Harry, and they were still looking at him.
"They, Ron, came looking for you. Concerned they were." Hagrid said as he started to push Ron toward the table from behind.
"Yea, well, you found me. Nice job. You can leave now." Ron said quickly, and he was obviously still angry and upset. Hermione sighed and Harry shook his head.
"I believe this is Hagrid's house." Harry said. "You can't tell us to leave. Believe it or not, you can't tell people how to direct their lives."
Hermione knew he wasn't only talking about Ron asking them to leave Hagrid's. She gulped and waited for what Ron would say back.
"I wasn't trying to direct anyone's life. Not now, not yesterday." Ron said, apparently picking up on Harry's hint.
"Then, explain. You owe Hermione an apology" Harry said quickly.
"No, I don't. If anything, she needs to apologize to me." Ron said quickly. Harry stood up and started to walk toward Ron, Hermione tried to grab him to tell him to sit back down, but Harry was already walking toward Ron. Hagrid moved quickly and stepped in between them. Harry and Ron were glaring at each other.
"What's your problem with Remus?" Harry asked quickly.
"I don't have a problem with him" Ron said, "I have a problem with Hermione and him dating"
"Why?" Hermione asked quickly, walking over to the boys.
Ron looked from Harry to Hermione to Hagrid, then back to Hermione. He seemed to be looking for something to say, but he wasn't sure what or how to say it.
"It's just, he's just, he's nineteen years older than us. I just don't think that's right. And he's our teacher, Hermione. And our friend. It's weird, Hermione."
"Okay, maybe it's a little different, Ron, but it doesn't mean we can't have a relationship! So what if we are nineteen years apart?"
"So what? Hermione! You want to date a thirty-seven year old?" Ron asked quickly.
"No. I want to date Remus Lupin. Who just happens to be thirty-seven." Hermione said back quickly.
"What? What's the difference?" Ron asked, his voice almost turning into a yell.
"The difference, Ron, is that when I look to Lupin I don't see his age first. I don't see that he is my teacher first. I don't see that he is a werewolf first. Because none of that matters, its not what defines him."
Ron was quiet for a few seconds. He looked to Harry quickly as if asking him to help him, before he remembered that he had been angry at Harry too, and he quickly looked away.
"I just, I know Lupin's a good guy, Hermione." Ron said slowly. "I just don't know if he's the right guy for you. You mean a lot to me. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
Hermione smiled at Ron. That's all she really needed to hear. She knew that Ron didn't really have anything against Lupin. And she knew that he cared about her. But hearing him say it made her happier.
"I know. And you mean a lot to me too. That's why I don't like when we aren't talking. And I know that you are concerned, but you don't have to be. I like him a lot. I've thought about it. I know that there some things that we'll have to work through, but I really like him. I'm not going to get hurt. I know that Lupin would never do anything to hurt me. And I don't think I would enter into a relationship that I didn't think was going to work. I'm touched that you care, Ron, and I know that you do, but I can make my own decisions. And you continuing to remind me that Lupin's thirty-seven isn't going to change that." Hermione smiled. "We're going to try a relationship between the two of us, and I'd be really glad if you could try to understand. You're one of my best friends, Ron."
Hagrid sniffed loudly and used a handkerchief to blow his nose very loudly. Hermione, Harry, and Ron looked at him and smiled. Hermione looked back to Ron and he smiled at her too.
"I'll do my best, Hermione. I'm sorry that I yelled at you. Harry's right. I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have done that. And I shouldn't have yelled at Lupin, or hit him. I'll apologize to him too."
Hermione gave Ron a hug, and he pulled her close to him. "I didn't single you out you know. I didn't even tell Harry, he just found out. The only other people that know are Harry, Ginny, and Sirius. And I told Harry not to tell anyone."
"I know, and I shouldn't have yelled at you Harry, I'm sorry that I took it out on you" Ron gave Harry a hug, and Harry hugged him back.
"It's okay. I'm just glad that we're talking again. I'd probably be a little mad if you kept something from me too." Harry said.
Hermione stood there, looking at Harry and Ron, and they smiled. Hagrid hugged them all and they laughed.
"Look's like you guys are all good now?" Hagrid asked and he smiled.
"Yea, thanks Hagrid" Hermione said quickly.
Ron looked to Hermione quickly. "And don't worry. I didn't tell anyone. I only yelled because I was concerned. I wouldn't do that, no matter how mad I got. I wouldn't want to hurt you. I care too much about you."
"I know you wouldn't" Hermione smiled. "And I know you do."
"Great" Hagrid said with a smile as he put some more food on the table. "So let's eat"
Hermione smiled at Ron and then at Harry. She smiled at Hagrid and she Harry and Ron sat down at the table.
Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know what you think! The next chapter will have some more Hermione and Lupin interaction!