A/N: OK, for all of those who keep complaining that Hermione likes Ron. I've read a lot of fanfics where Hermione suffers because Harry doesn't notice her (eventually he does, of course) so I thought it would a break for her to turn the story around. She is still completely clueless, and sees Harry only as a friend... She will see the light some day, but for now, that's not very likely to happen... (specially since she tends to be a little obsessive when she puts her mind in something.)
I got the idea for this fic, because I always wanted Julia Roberts to end up with Rupert Everett... But he was gay. So, here, Harry is not, and I can have the development I want.
Chapter 6 - A talk with Ron
MONDAY
Well, what do you know. There I was, with one of my best friends having lunch on one of the beautiful Wizard Parks in London. We have brought sandwiches and pumpkin juice and we were sitting by a small pond enjoying each other's company.
I had managed to spend one glorious hour without talking about Elizabeth or the upcoming wedding. Instead, we had been talking about Ron's year in the States and my year back here.
"You know, you're very lucky," I said, grabbing another sandwich from the bag "I usually don't stop working for having lunch with people."
"Argh, you work too much, Herm," Ron said.
"What about you? When are you starting in Puddlemere?" I asked.
"I don't know yet. My transfer is still in process. Believe me, it took me a lot to convince my future father in law to accept."
"What, is that you are so good that he can't afford to lose you?" I teased.
"Well of course!" answered Ron, grinning. "But that's not the main reason. I already told you he wanted me to stay in the US."
"What does Elizabeth think?" I asked. I didn't want to bring her name up, but since Ron had started the subject I thought that maybe I could find something that would help me to make Ron realize that she wasn't the one for him.
"She says she's OK with living here. She wants me to be happy."
We didn't talk for a while, staring at some ducks swimming peacefully in the pond.
"I was wondering..." said Ron, all of a sudden. "You never got to told me what do you think about the wedding."
At first I didn't understand what he was talking about. And then I remembered. He was referring to the conversation we were having the day before, when we were interrupted by Elizabeth.
I shifted in my position, not sure about what I should say. "Uhm... Well... I'm not quite sure..."
Ron, who was leaning against a tree, sat up. "I'm listening," he said. It was as if he had expected this.
"It's just that... Are you sure you're not going too fast, Ron? All this has been so hasty! I mean, just four days ago you told us you were getting married, and this Saturday you will be married."
"I know. Sounds crazy, huh?" he said, smiling. "But you know? I don't think I've ever been so sure about something in my entire life."
"Oh," I said, not knowing what else to comment.
"I've never felt this way about anyone. Lizzie changed my life," he said. He wasn't looking at me, he was looking at the grass as if he could find his dear Lizzie in there.
I looked at his smile. He was wrong, why couldn't he understand that? It hurt when he said he'd never felt that way about anyone. What about me? Have he already forgotten about the eight years he spend loving me?
"What's wrong? You're awfully quiet, which isn't normal for Hermione Granger," I heard Ron saying and I realized I had been deep in thought for too long.
"It's nothing," I said.
Ron didn't say anything and leaned back against the three, eating another sandwich. I'll never stop amazing at how much he eats. Suddenly, he started laughing so hard that some birds who were near us flied away, scared.
"Ron I seriously hope there is a reason for you acting like a mad man or I'll start to be scared of you."
He looked at me with tears in his eyes, trying to stop laughing. When he finally was able to do it, he sat up again.
"I just remembered something I had forgotten," he said.
"And do you plan to tell me what it is in this century?" I asked, annoyed.
"Do you remember our Graduation Ball?"
"Yes..." I had a slight idea of where he was heading.
"I've just remembered that promise we made."
"Promise?" I said, acting confused. He had just remembered? How could he?
"You don't remember? We said that, if we were still single when we turned 25, we would get married."
"Oh that. And what's so funny about it?"
"I was just thinking. The idea of you and me, married... Do you realize that if I hadn't met Lizzie, maybe you and me would have ended up together?"
Of course I realize, you git.
"Well, it's not like I'm alone. I have Harry" I said, defensively.
He frowned.
"Right. I'd forgotten about that," he said. "Is it true you liked him back at school?"
"Ron! You of all people should have realized that Harry was joking when he said that! Everything he said yesterday was with the purpose of embarrass me."
"I'm glad to hear it." He started staring at me intensely, which made me very nervous.
"What?" I asked finally.
"I was thinking about you and me," he said, sitting closer to me. "I think we could have been a great couple, you know?"
Of course we could have. If he hadn't come out with this stupid wedding.
"And to think I spent 7 years of my life trying you to notice me as something more than a friend." I was going to say something but he put a finger on my lips to shut me up. "For once, Granger, could you let somebody else but you, speak?" I frowned but remained silent. "I know that our short relationship back at Hogwarts wasn't the best. We were still too immature... I should have known that we were confusing our feelings back then. Don't get me wrong, I was in love with you, but you weren't. You loved me just as a best friend. Now I've come to understand that, and I think we are better like this. You're my best friend and Lizzie is the woman I love."
I wanted to say something but words didn't want to came out of my mouth. I wanted to scream "Don't be silly, I do love you, don't get married!" but I couldn't.
"When you told me you were engaged with Harry, it felt weird," he said.
"Weird? What do you mean?"
"I don't know... Maybe I was jealous. I know I shouldn't be, you are my best friends and I'm really happy for both of you."
"Are you still... jealous?" I asked, aware of the tone of hope in my voice.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "We both find the right person to be with," he said, smiling at me.
I smiled back, holding back the tears.
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That evening, when I got back to my apartment I analyzed my conversation with Ron. He seemed sure about his decision to marry Elizabeth. But, being the obsessive person I am, I started reading between lines. OK, OK, maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but I felt I had a chance. I was more determined than ever to stop that wedding. I was going to be ruthless. No more Hermione, goody-two-shoes, the fool girl that always accepted things without complaining.
This time I was going to fight.
And I was going to win.
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Three knocks on the door informed me that Harry was outside. I checked my watch. It was 9 o'clock. I was experimenting in the kitchen with a new book of Italian recipes I had bought. I was planning to invite Ron on Wednesday to share dinner with Harry and me. I opened the door. Harry stormed inside of my apartment. He stared at me with his arms crossed. I knew I had flour on my face, but I didn't think he was giving me that look just because of that.
I was in a happy mood, so I smiled sweetly at him.
"Hello Harry," I said, ignoring his frown. "How was your day?"
"Not as good as yours I guess," he said. "But I didn't come here to talk about your date with Ron, of which I didn't know a thing."
"Are you jealous?" I asked, grinning playfully.
"No, I am not jealous," he answered through gritted teeth.
"Geez, calm down, I was only joking. What's going on with you? Did you have a bad day?" I said, getting in the kitchen. Harry followed me.
"I had my interview today," he said. "The one I told you about last Wednesday, remember?"
"Yes, I remember. I should have known that was the reason of your frown, which, by the way, doesn't suit you at all," I commented. It was true.
"That journalist kept me three hours, three hours!!, trapped in my apartment... And you know what was all she asked about?" he said, ignoring my remarks.
"Uhm... Let me guess... Quidditch?"
"Ha-ha, very funny. All she asked about was you!"
"Me?" I asked, not really understanding.
"News fly, don't they? Specially when they concern me! And now that journalist asked me about my engagement to you!"
"Oh..." That was trouble.
" "Oh"!? "OH?!" That's all you're going to say? Do you know what's going to happen when that article comes up?! Sirius and Remus are going to apparate in my apartment, asking me a million questions, and the first one will be why didn't I tell them! Not to mention that now I'm not only lying to my best friend and his family, but to the entire wizard world!"
"What did you say to her? To the journalist, I mean?"
Harry took a deep breath.
"I appreciate your concern about all I have told you, Hermione. Seems that the only thing you care about is that Ron can find out that you've been behaving like a spoiled brat."
"I'm sorry, Harry, you're right," I said, trying to calm him down. "I know it's my fault that you're in this mess."
"I told that journalist I didn't want to discuss my private life," he said, answering my previous question.
"Well then you didn't confirm or deny anything, right?" I said.
"She will twist everything I said," he sighed.
I hugged him. And though he was angry with me, he hugged me back, burying his face in my neck.
"Harry, everything's going to be fine, trust me. I won't let you go through a bad time just because you're helping me." He nodded. "But please, don't be mad at me," I pleaded.
"You know I can't be mad at you, Herm," he said, letting me go. "Well, whatever. It's not like it's the first time the Daily Prophet publishes something about you and me," he added, obviously referring to all those infamous articles that Rita Skeeter wrote during the Thee Wizard Tournament.
"That's my Harry," I said, kissing him on the cheek.
He smiled slightly.
"What are you cooking?" he asked, looking for the first time at the mess I had in the kitchen.
"Just a new recipe I found," I said. "I'm going to invite Ron and Elizabeth this Wednesday to have dinner with us."
"Did I hear well? You're accepting this?" he asked, not daring to believe it.
"Of course not," I replied naturally. "Come on, try this," I said, sticking spoon with the sauce I was cooking in his mouth. His face was expressionless. "How is it?" I asked.
"Very good."
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A/N: By the way, I wrote this fic before OotP!