Title: Ron Weasley: Genius

Prompt: How could you? Ron's POV.

Rating: PG

Word Count: Heh! 749

A/N(optional): I haven't specified who Ron ended up with after he broke up with Hermione, I leave that up to the reader's imagination!

Ron Weasley: Genius

It's amazing how three little words can be said in so many different ways, and I'm not talking about the three that most people will think about on hearing the phrase 'three little words'. If you say 'I love you' to someone, there's really only one way you can take the sentiment. I should know, I've said it many times over the past few years and I've had it said to me, too. I always meant it, I just didn't seem to notice when I stopped meaning 'I'm in love with you'.

I'm not really making a lot of sense am I? The three words I was talking about at first are 'How could you?' You think of them and automatically assume they're being said with so much venom that the phrase instantly becomes threatening. She said that to me and I admit I was scared by the anger in those three little words.

'How could you let me believe that you still loved me?'

'I do still love you!'

'You know what I mean, Ron. I've stopped being the person you think about as you fall asleep, I've stopped being the person you imagine a future with. I've stopped being the most important person in your life. How could you lead me on like that?'

I hadn't meant to mislead her, of course I hadn't and after that argument and conversation that went on for hours and hours we went our separate ways. We hurt, we got upset and I hit a couple of things, but we moved on. I found true love in someone else and Hermione accepted my decision. I love her for that and I always will.

But at the minute I'm annoyed with her because she's been keeping something from me and I want to know why. Why couldn't she tell me about this thing which is obviously so important to her? Why did I have to work it out myself? If I've figured out that she's falling in love with my brother then it has to be said that it's more than likely a hell of a lot more people know. I arrive at her flat and don't wait for her to answer and let myself in. I know it's safe to – her welcome mat is orange, it turns green if she's er… occupied – and find her at the kitchen table with a half eaten plate of pasta on her left and a huge pile of case notes on her right.

'How could you not tell me you're falling in love with Fred?'

Her left hand stops moving the forkful of pasta to her mouth and her right hand stops writing. A pasta shell falls off her fork and lands on her parchment. She swears and cleans it up with her wand.

'Good evening to you, too, Ron! Please come in!'

'Don't make me feel guilty for barging in. You'd be concerned if I didn't. Why didn't you tell me?'

She looks at me over her reading glasses. 'Because if I'm honest with myself I've only just realised that I might be in love with him.'

'I-. Oh! Really?'

'Really. I have no idea if I'm feeling all this for the right reasons or just because I want to feel everything I think I'm feeling. I need to be certain about all of this before I do anything…'

She looks out the window and drifts off before snapping her head back towards me. Her eyes are narrowed.

'How did you know, anyway? I haven't told anyone!'

'You haven't? I thought I was the last to know. You're hardly subtle when you're with Fred!'

She blushes. 'I suppose I've been flirting a little, but I have to gauge if he has any idea about how I feel and whether he feels anything similar. I think if I mess things up with another Weasley son, your mother may kill me.'

I laugh and she relaxes a little. 'Well, I have to say, there's something different about Fred these days, he seems… I dunno, happier definitely, but… maybe cautiously happy, if that makes sense.'

'You mean, like he's anticipating something good?'

'Yeah, that's exactly it.'

She nods and I can't help but smile.

'Are you okay with this?' she asks.

'Are you happy?'

She nods. 'I'm happy.'

'Then I'm okay.'

And I am. For Hermione, for Fred and for me. I can't believe I'm the first to know!

I am Ron Weasley, I am a genius.