Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!" (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23, page 432)
"Hermione, wait! Please don't go!", shouted Harry. Hermione stopped in her steps and turned back to look her friend in the eyes. "I've had enough of us never talking about the elephants in the room."
"What are you talking mate? There aren't any elephants in the room." Asked Ron confused.
"It's a muggle figure of speech, Ronald. It means there's a topic or thing that's clearly a problem and nobody is mentioning it.", answered Hermione after letting out a sight and sitting down on the solo sofa.
"Ron, I don't want to lose your friendship, but Hermione is right! We don't appreciate her enough and I am sorry, Hermione, I really am. I'm happy you enjoyed the ball, you really do look beautiful tonight. We should respect you more, you are the sister I never thought I needed. You are always there for us. You are the first and only one who has really stayed and genuinely cares. Can't we just stop fighting? I'm tired of fighting. Why can't we just get along?" Harry then turned to his redhead friend, "Ron, you are the brother I always wanted, the brother I always needed, and it hurts when you don't see that I don't want the fame, I don't want the attention, I want to just be Harry, I am just Harry. And you are more than just another Weasley. Heck, Dumbledore said you did the greatest game ever played at Hogwarts and Hogwarts has been around for over a millenia."
"1,094 years to be exact.", interjected Hermione.
"Right, thank you Hermione. You don't need to compare yourself to us or your siblings, you just have to be you. Be who you are and you'll stick out because of how brilliant you are. I see it, Hermione sees it, you would see it too if you'd stop comparing yourself to your brothers and us."
"And if you feel insecure, uncomfortable or jealous you should just talk to us. We don't need to carry the brunt of your temper Ron, we do it because we love you.", interjected Hermione, softening her tone of voice trying to not be in the offence.
"Have I really hurt you?" asked Ron with an ashamed expression, Harry and Hermione looked at each other for a moment, then nodded. "I'm sorry guys, I'm used to not matter." Ron's lanky frame started to shake softly after his last word came out of his mouth.
Harry took a step closer to his friends and hugged them. "You matter Ron, you matter to us. We won't leave you behind or ignore you." he whispered loud enough for the three to hear in the quiet common room.
"You can ask for what you need, we'll always be here for you Ron. I think I can speak for Harry and myself that you are the brother we've always needed and wanted. No one had stood up for us before we met you. You truly are brilliant, do you know how quiet we are without you?" Hermione whispered back.
"You guys think I'm brilliant? Me? Ron Weasley? Hermione Granger and Harry Potter think I'm brilliant?" Answered Ron after a few hushed sobs that broke his friend's hearts just a little bit more.
"Well, of course you are Ron! You're also a great and loyal friend. The best brother we could've ever asked for." said Harry. With tears in his eyes, Ron hugged his two best friends tighter.
The three friends remain quiet for a few minutes. As if the silence was the only thing that would bind them as siblings. Just basking in the warm embrace Harry let out a sigh and muttered, "I wished we could be a family for real. I wished that no matter what happens I could always be this happy."
"That would be nice, mate. Family dinners once a week, small traditions and little inside jokes of other inside jokes", Ron let out a light laugh after his sentence.
Hermione raised her head with a brilliant smile and teary eyes. "What would you guys say if I told you that there's a way?"
"Really, 'Mione?! What do we need to do?" asked Harry excitedly
"Is it safe?" asked Ron at the same time. Though people normally wouldn't think so, Ron was normally the "mother hen" when Harry and Hermione went overboard with their interest.
"I was researching soul bonds for my arithmancy class and found a book in theー
"The restricted section!" exclaimed the boys in unison and laughed after noticing their overlapping.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted" Hermione gave a faux glare at her friends before starting her explanation at a rapid pace. "It's technically both a blood adoption ritual and a loyalty vow. We would be blood related siblings since we are older than eleven years we shouldn't have that much of a noticeable physical difference. We would also be able to feel in a sense each other's feelings, thoughts and magic. Though I read that it isn't intrusive it's more like a hunch in the back of your mindー
"Hermione, relax, we aren't going to shut this down. You had us at, blood related siblings. What do we need so we can do this as soon as possible?" Ron smiled after looking at Harry who was glowing with happiness and excitement.
Hermione smiled as well after looking at Harry and tried to recall the ritual, "It needs to be at the new moon to represent a new beginning. Since the full moon was over a week ago, the new moon is in a week. I think we need a few drops of our blood, a single hair strand each, candles, water, a meaningful object to each other, a feather, pomegranate seeds, and our wands to make the vow."
"Would you guys really want to do this? You don't have to, I would understand.", questioned Harry trying to hide his growing disappointment and agitation.
Ron and Hermione look at each other and then at Harry. They knew Harry wasn't doubting them, his aunt and uncle made him doubt he could ever be loved. They vowed to themselves to do anything in their power to make Harry understand that wasn't true. Harry was to be their little brother and together they would make a family where there wouldn't be any hatred to lurk around.