QLFC, R7, Magpies Keeper - date
Content warning: mentions of breakup
living through you
"I think Harry's trying to live through us."
Hermione turned her head towards the window. The busy streets were filled with shoppers and pedestrians, the hustle and bustle so loud it was audible from even inside the cafe. As she watched, a mother took her child's hand as the little boy spotted something in the distance, making his eyes light up.
"I understand it," she responded, returning her gaze to the menu.
"We both know this isn't going to work," Ron insisted not impolitely, aggressively stabbing an item on his own menu with his pointer finger. "So - we're just going to play along for his benefit?"
"Basically. You know he was miserable after he and Ginny broke up - maybe he thinks he's doing what's best for us, but honestly he's probably just trying to, as you said, live through us."
Ron was silent for a moment, and Hermione was content with the giggles and cries of the outside world to lightly permeate the cafe and assuage the awkwardness. "What do you want?" He changed the subject.
"I'll just get the mini sandwiches," she said, twisting the menu to find the number associated with the item.
"Same, I think," Ron said, raising his hand. A waiter approached and took their orders without hassle, which Hermione was grateful for. When he left, they were left hanging in silence again.
"This isn't going to amount to anything, we both know," she said matter-of-factly.
Ron hummed in acceptance and Hermione was ready to not talk until they said their goodbyes. Unexpectedly, he opened his mouth and said, "Do you remember during the battle -"
"The kiss?" she said. "It's okay, I know -"
"It wasn't an accident or anything," he interrupted hurriedly. "I meant to, I didn't fall and do it by mistake, I -"
"Heat of the moment," she supplied. "I felt it too, but -" Hermione gestured around her. "It's after. I think we were both just trying to survive and I wanted to do something daring before I died. There were a lot of things leading up to that, of course, but still."
"Not really."
"Huh?" She furrowed her brows and crossed her legs.
"During our time on the run -"
"Is this a confession?" she said, frowning, immediately regretting her words as Ron's expression twisted. "I'm sorry, I know -"
"No, it isn't," he clarified, and relief rushed through her. "But I used to."
The noise from outside suddenly seemed to become muted and the newfound silence was stifling. She stuttered, unsure what to think - should she be happy her feelings had been returned? But she didn't like Ron now, so did it really mean anything? Why had he wanted to tell her?
"I just wanted to get it off my chest," he said quickly. "I don't feel the same way now, don't worry, but it was just - haunting me, I suppose. I thought if I never told you I'd live with the burden forever or something. I don't know. I was over exaggerating things. I'm sorry if it makes this awkward, but..." He trailed off.
"I don't want it to," she said finally, tripping over her words in an effort to get them out. "I think we both knew that we used to -" She dropped her hands down to her lap. "Merlin, I just made it all awkward, right?"
"I did," he muttered. "I know this is supposed to be a date -"
"We already established Harry's just trying to live through us."
"So...friends?" Ron offered. She nodded and hesitantly extended her hand.
Someone screamed from outside.
"Huh?" Ron jumped out of his chair and stared at the window. "What was that?"
"Just kids," she assured him. "What did you expect from this location?"
He sighed. "Nothing much, really...I guess the war really made me paranoid."
"It made us all."
"So did yours and Ron's date go well?"
"Amazingly," Hermione said truthfully. "Thank you for setting it up."
Harry beamed, a curl falling into his face. "That's great to hear!" He leaned closer. "If you don't mind me asking, did you feel...it?"
"Yes," she lied. "Of course, you know me."
The dates Harry set up for them became more of an excuse to get away from their everyday lives and chat for a while, catching up with each other. Sometimes Hermione felt guilty for leading Harry on and making him think there was romantic tension between them both, which was what motivated him to pay every time, though she was also very grateful for his restaurant recommendations. Her fridge had been looking empty lately and she was always too tired after coming home to go down to the local fish and chip shop.
"So did yours and Ron's date go well?"
"Yes, of course. As usual."
As the tenth date approached guilt began to weigh Hermione down a little bit more. She knew Harry was looking for evidence of their romantic relationship whenever the three of them went out together, but she just couldn't do it - hold hands, smile flirtily, do anything that seemed to be required of a couple. Maybe this was why she had never been able to have a long-lasting relationship.
Honestly, she didn't really care about that.
"So did yours and Ron's date go well?"
"Of course."
"So did yours and Ron's date go well?"
"As well as every time."
"Do you think Harry's becoming a little…too obsessed with our 'relationship'?" Ron asked one 'date', making air quotes. "He always asks me about how the date goes and if I feel a connection with you, things like that."
"He asks me those things too," Hermione said, swirling her coffee. "I think - we should tell him. He's getting better, he doesn't mope about the house quite that much anymore or reminisce about Ginny. He's progressing to a better mental state, overall, and I'm happy about that."
"Maybe we should wait. Wait for him to actually be happy and not try to live through us anymore. It kind of hurts to see his puppy dog eyes when he asks about details."
"Okay," she said finally, draining her coffee. "We'll wait."
"Just a little."
a/n - I cannot write romance, forgive me judges