Chapter 19 - Betrayal and Promise (Prompts)

.

St. Mungo's was exactly how Hermione said it would be. People kept clamouring just to see him, take pictures with him, speak to him and shake his hand. Harry felt a headache coming on within the first fifteen minutes of the commotion. It was finally Hermione and Ron who managed to keep others at bay in order to find them a Healer. And it wasn't that he was short of willing Healers, either. Nearly everyone who he met tried to fight the other to be the Healer who healed Harry Potter after the Final Battle of Hogwarts. It was bloody tiring.

But then, his best mates managed to find someone who was more annoyed with the commotion created by his presence than excited by it, and who wanted to heal the Boy Who Lived just to get him out of the hospital. Gratefully, Harry sat patiently as the unimpressed Healer did his job with a disapproving, grim expression. Once he was put back together, Ron grabbed his and Hermione's hands and Apparated. Which is how they found themselves in the Forbidden Forrest an hour later, making their way through the dense natural growth.

Harry could see Ron from the corner of his eyes as he appraised the Forest, his forehead marred by a frown. This was a fruitless effort, one that increased his guilt of the situation with every step he took. He felt the undeniable need to show Ron where the Resurrection Stone was buried, admit to him what he and Hermione had done, and let the chips fall where they may. Lying to his best mate of seven years felt wrong, and he couldn't help but look at Hermione - who was a far bit ahead of them - and wonder if she felt like they were betraying the one other person they trust.

"I saw her come out of your room, you know. Hermione."

Harry stopped, surprised by what Ron had said under his breath in a barely heard mumble.

Ron continued to casually look around, almost as if his tone wasn't accusatory at all. "I thought she was sleeping in Ginny's room."

Harry felt his heartbeat quicken in panic, the question of whether or not to lie forming in his mind. "She was in Ginny's room," he said, trying to keep his tone every bit as casual as his best mate as he continued to walk beside him.

"What was she doing in yours then?" The question seemed almost innocent.

And Harry honestly had no answer that was appropriate enough to give. Anything he said would seem like the wrong thing and give Ron the wrong idea. Or the right one, he thought hastily.

"She kissed me, you know," Ron continued in a low voice, his voice still keeping that annoyingly casual tone.

"Yeah. I got there. I was actually there, remember?"

Ron looked up at him quickly. "No need to snap at me, mate. I was just reminding you."

Harry stopped again, unable to hide the agitation in his voice. "I remember it fine, thanks." It was obvious that Ron was trying to say something without actually saying it.

Ron looked at him seriously, almost as if he was sizing him up. "Good."

Harry felt the agitation in him increase with every passing moment. "What exactly are you trying to tell me?"

Ron's jaw twitched and Harry could guess from that small movement that h really didn't want to have this conversation. "Just promise me that you'll stay away from her, alright?"

There was no doubt who he was talking about, but Harry felt the selfish urge to hear his friend say it. "Who?"

It was apparent that Ron wasn't happy with saying it out loud, but he did anyway. "Hermione. You have Ginny, so stay away from Hermione."

"I don't have Ginny."

"Well, you can always get her back, can't you?"

Harry narrowed his eyes at him. "What is it that you're afraid of, Ron?"

Ron's jaw twitched even more, a sure sign that he was holding in his anger. "You think I don't see the way you look at her? The way you always follow her around like a long lost puppy?" He stepped even closer, towering over Harry with all of his anger barely in check. "I know she didn't sleep last night in Ginny's bed. How do you think that makes you look?"

His meaning couldn't have been any clearer, and the insult couldn't have been taken in any other way. Harry stood his ground, his gaze narrowed considerably in anger. "Nothing happened," he said slowly, almost as if saying it slower would make it go into Ron's head clearer. "You know her better than that."

Before Ron could say anything else, they heard Hermione's voice. "You two coming?"

They both looked at her before they each sent a meaningful look at the other. Their thoughts were obvious. The conversation was far from over.

As Ron began trudging towards Hermione, Harry's gaze met hers. She looked at him confusion before she seemed to read him once again. Her features immediately changed to one of pure panic, her eyes asking him one simple request: don't tell him.

But Harry wasn't sure whether or not to reveal where the Stone was. The guilt of hiding it played heavily against the anger he felt at his best friend for trying to control something that he had no control over.

"Harry," Hermione asked him gently. "Are you coming?"

When Harry finally looked up, it was Ron's expression that finally made the decision for him. Angry and hurt by his best mate's thoughts of him, and feeling an undeniable urge to hurt him in any way he could, Harry said softly, "I know where the Resurrection Stone is."

.