And another one bites the dust, umm.. gets posted on the site. Hope you like it. Hermione is a little OOC, so do forgive me if you love her. I do as well, but I needed someone to be the villain.

Thanks to Sue who edited this for me!

DISCLAIMER : OMG OMG, the raffle I did not enter gave me the ownership rights to both universes. Nope, don't own 'em!

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As Ron went to place his broom in the shed before his Mum walloped him with it, Harry rubbed his hands to remove the chilliness and walked into the house to see Hermione walk out of the fireplace. He looked on as Hermione went to kiss Molly on the cheek, same as him, and made a spur-of-the-moment decision to talk to Hermione after dinner rather than before. If the real hurdle he was expecting, Ron, was okay with it, why wouldn't Hermione? He accepted this cool logic and told Molly, "Don't worry, I sent Ron to put his broom in the shed this time." Molly just smiled tiredly and said, "Well, last time, he forgot to keep the broom in and he ended up polishing it for hours because snow had gotten stuck on all the bristles and you couldn't just charm it away." She smirked as she continued, "I may have purposely recommended Gilderoy Lockhart's "Guide to Cleaning Your Broom" to Ron."

George laughed, "Me and Fred had so much fun when that book first released. It does have a weird connotation which I think Mum didn't notice." Harry was surprisingly happy to see that George had stopped crying every time he spoke about Fred. He was happy that George was finally talking about Fred rather than leaving the room whenever his name popped up, which is what he was doing before. They all sat down for dinner and as Molly served the main course, Harry had a large sense of foreboding. As Molly, or Mum as she told Harry to call her, brought out a large apple pie with ice cream, Harry told her to give him and Hermione five minutes before coming out into the yard. He gave Hermione a look and she complied almost immediately, walking out with him and giving him a curious look as she put her gloved hands into her pockets.

Harry started, "Um, I spoke to Ron about an hour back and he was totally fine with what I was about to tell you, so I hope you also feel the same. I really don't want things to be bad between us after seven whole years of friendship." Hermione laughed nervously and asked, "Are you asking me out? Because, I'm sorry, but I just don't like you that way. You're more of a brother to me than a potential suitor." Harry just started outright laughing and Hermione looked offended as he rushed to explain, "No, no, no dear! It's not that the thought is ludicrous. Actually I don't deserve someone of your level of intelligence." Hermione almost started talking again till Harry pleaded, "Please. Um, okay, so I'm just gonna say it. Um… I'm gay, Hermione. And that is why I was laughing, because your parts aren't the ones I'm interested in."

Harry was worried. He knew that kind of humor was not one that Hermione approved of, but he had to break the ice somehow. Hermione, however was not pleased. She said, "Why, Harry? I thought you liked Cho and then Ginny. Don't tell me you're becoming gay because the Boy-Who-Lived needs just another set of fans drooling over him." And this was what he had dreaded.

Why are you being so mean to me?

I know what gay people look like, and you are not one of them.

I never believed you for one to stereotype, Hermione. And what do you mean by that?

See, sweetie. Please tell me you're going to get over this phase quickly because you'll only get tired of it eventually.

Why are you being so mean?

Stop repeating yourself, and it's called being realistic. I've read all the books. It's just a matter of chemicals. There is no sexuality as such. Either you're straight, or you're delusional.

And right then, Ron swooped in like a superhero, shouting, "What the hell is the matter with you, Mione? He's our best friend. No, he's our brother. You said that yourself." Hermione just shouted, "But that was before I knew he was going to call himself a …" She then said something which broke Harry's heart. He told her, "Fine, if you can't stand me, I'd rather go anyway. I thought this might happen, so I came prepared. Sadly, I judged the wrong person. I thought the person who was hothead was Ron, but he is the brother I never had with a lot of sense in him." Harry ran back in, gave Molly an envelope, and gave her a final hug and kiss goodbye. He then apparated to his apartment, where he removed a rubber duck and looked at it sadly. He thought out loudly, "Arthur…Dad, I love you so much for this." Then he disappeared from the apartment, as did all his stuff, leaving only a note for Ron, who had the other key to the place.

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Sorry for making it so angsty. But I needed a reason for him to leave. Review so you'll know fast enough where he ends up!