One furtive secret tear

from her eyes did spring:

as if those youths who can be playful

it ( or she ) seemed to be envious of.

What more searching do I want?

She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it.

Just for an instant the beats

of her beautiful heart if I could feel!

My sighs if they were mingled

for a while with her sighs!

The beats, the beats of her heart if I could feel,

to fuse my sighs with hers...

Heavens! Yes, I could die!

I ask for nothing more, nothing.

Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die!

I ask for nothing more, nothing.

Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.

L'Elisir d'Amore – Gaetano Donizetti

"She's so important to me, but she's so amazing, so beautiful! Harry, what can I do? She's never going to fall for some poor bloke like me." whined Ron, as he and Harry sipped teas at a little London café.

"Ron, all this complaining isn't doing you any good. Why don't you talk to her? Tell her how you feel?" Harry patted Ron's shoulder. "Besides, what have you got to lose?"

"I know, I know. But... well... it just seems as if she wants to be 'free' for a while," he sighed. "Ginny told me that she was going to meet up with some Muggle she knew studying at Oxford..." Ron took another sip of his tea, "They're going to some opera."

"Hermione likes opera? Really?" Harry thought about it, "I guess I can see that about her. Always surprises me, that girl."

"Yeah, well. I don't like it. They're seeing that fat German one, Tristan or whatever." Ron was now in a throughly cloudy mood. Harry just let his friends anger blow over for a bit.

"Well, they're probably just friends. Don't think too much on it." Harry replied as they walked out of the café.

Ron and Harry strolled back to their flat in silence. Ron thinking the whole time about Hermione and her dating other men. She had kissed him, but after that it was difficult to stay in touch. She had to go about Australia and search for her parents, and he was busy helping George at the shop. It didn't leave much time for dating. After trying to stay in contact, they realized it just wasn't the place or time for their relationship. They would wait until both were settled. Hermione began studies at Kingston University and Ron was still working for his brother. Since Hermione was living with her parents, and Ron was still at the Burrow it became easier to just see other people.

Ron thought that once Hermione had brought back her parents, she would think about sharing a place with him, but he ended up renting a flat with Harry and Ginny instead. It never felt complete, though. Without Hermione there the whole place seemed empty to him.

*********

Hermione loved getting dressed to go to the opera. She could de-frizz her hair, wear the most beautiful gowns and shoes, and the architecture of the Royal Opera House was breathtaking, with its large, panoramic windows and stunning chandeliers. Tristan and Isolde would be amazing. She'd already read the history and summary of the story before going. Even if she wasn't particularly attracted to Henry Belcore, he was intelligent and engaged in interesting conversations. Part of her wished it was Ron taking her tonight, but Ron would hate the opera. She knew him too well: he'd hate the clothes he had to wear, he'd be bored with the music, and even worse he'd hate drinking champagne all night. Ron was a beer and quidditch man, or at least rugby. Not opera and champagne.

Hermione fastened her second earring and took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror. She thought she looked pretty hot. She turned to her side so she could see the back of her dress. It graced her body nicely, she thought, not too sexy, but just enough to be enticing. She sighed and walked downstairs to greet her date. Henry was chatting with her parents over a glass of sherry. 
"Are you ready?" She asked him as she wrapped her stole around her bare shoulders.

"Wow, Hermione. I'm quite the lucky bloke tonight, now aren't I? You look fabulous!" Henry kissed her cheek and escorted them to his car, holding the door open for her. They arrived at the opera house early enough to enjoy a glass of champagne before curtain. Hermione sighed. I really, really wish Ron was more interested in this kind of thing... she thought as they took their seats. The overture began, the Tristan chord echoing through the live acoustics, setting up this tragic tale of love. Hermione was mesmerized by the voices and orchestra. The music was so well expressed, she almost felt a tear starting in the corner of her eye.

Henry drove her home that evening and she plopped down on her bed. Crookshanks curled into her side as she sighed of relief. "Remind me to send Henry a thank you, Crooks..." She stroked her cat down its fluffy back.

**********

Ron lay on his back staring at the ceiling. Harry walked in and rolled his eyes at his friend's sulking. "Just call her, mate. It's only going to be worse if you don't at least talk to her." His urging only making Ron grumble and turn onto his stomach.

"I don't know her number..."

"Then use the post owls, I'm sure she'll respond. If you two don't start talking soon I'll box both of your ears." Harry then left the room to snog with Ginny, knowing Ron would suck up and write.

Dearest Hermione,Hermione,Ms Granger,

"Shit." Ron laughed at his poor attempts at writing and through the ink stained parchment into the waste bin. Picking up a new sheet he took a deep breath and began to write again.

Dear Hermione,

I'm sorry I've acted like such a git. Ginny has been keeping me updated on your current social life. I heard you enjoy your studies at Kingston. I really hope you can look past the fact that I haven't written in over a month and we can go grab a coffee. I can't wait to see you.

Sincerely,

Ron

"Here, Pig. Please deliver this to Hermione. Thanks, Pig." The owl hooted a quick response and flew swiftly out the window, letter in hand.

"You wrote her?" Ginny asked as she saw Pig take off out the open window.

"What? Oh, yeah. Well, I asked if she wanted to get coffee." Ron sighed and collapsed back down on his bed. "She's not interested in blokes like me, though."

Ginny sat down next to her brother and patted him on the arm. "She asks about you every time we talk, Ronald. I know she cares a lot about you." Ginny smirked a very sinister smirk before adding, "I think I know a way to help you..." and left the room promptly to head to the kitchen.

"Ginny, what are you doing?" Harry asked as he watched her go through a bunch of obscure spices in the cabinet.

"I have a plan..." she brought Harry's ear to her lips and whispered her scheme to get Ron's self-confidence back.

"A fake love potion?" Harry laughed as Ginny covered his mouth, he started again in a whisper, "that's brilliant, Ginny. It's just what he needs." Harry helped her add different spices to an old wine.

"Perhaps a little more oregano." Ginny pinched a bit out and stuck it in the bottle. Shoving the cork back in and shaking the bottle, they walked into Ron's room to give him this 'love potion.' "Ron." Ginny entered cautiously, hoping Ron hadn't fallen asleep yet. "Ron, this is a potion I made for you." Ginny handed him the bottle of wine. "It's a love potion. It makes girls fall in love with you."

"Do you really think it will work on Hermione?" Ron asked, a smile creeping across her face.

"I'm sure," Ginny replied confidently, "but it takes a day or two to really work, so don't be disappointed if they don't start flocking to you right away."

Ron smiled and began drinking from the bottle, satisfied that it didn't taste half as bad as most other potions he'd used. Harry and Ginny kept from laughing as they stole away to their bedroom, overwhelmed with giddiness.