Chapter 3
A few hours later, everyone was exhausted, but they still had to figure out what to do. While Harry and Hermione were talking to Alex about the wizarding world, Lindsey had come to a decision.
"Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lindsey asked.
"Sure," Harry replied.
She led him out of the room, and into the hallway. She shut the door leading to the living room.
"Harry, I love you, I really do, but while you were talking to Alex, I was thinking. I've decided that, no matter how hard this is for me, I'm going to break up with you. I'm really sorry, but I won't let you voluntarily live a cursed life, which will happen if you marry me. I would do no good. I would just be making you suffer for me, and I just can't put you through a life of pain because of me," by the time Lindsey had finished, she was crying.
"Lindsey, it's all right. I'll do it for you. I love you too much to give you up. I've survived Voldemort many times. I've grown up without parents. I mean, I can take it," Harry told her confidently.
"No, Harry. That's exactly what I mean, you've suffered enough already, and I don't need to put you through more suffering. I just won't let you do it. Besides, I think Hermione likes you," Lindsey said, smiling.
"Well, I would certainly hope so; we've only been friends for over ten years," Harry replied, laughing.
"You know what I mean Harry," Lindsey said exasperatedly.
"I know, but I think you're wrong," Harry replied, blushing slightly.
"I think you like her too," Lindsey said, giggling.
"I do not," Harry blushed a deeper shade of red.
Lindsey laughed at him. "It's okay, Harry. I think it's cute. Anyway, I want you to have the best life possible, even if it means I can't have you. I hope we can still be friends," she said getting serious again.
"Of course. I'll miss you Lindsey, but we can definitely be friends still be friends," Harry replied, smiling.
"Here, Harry, you can have this back," Lindsey held the engagement ring out to him.
"No, you keep it," Harry said, pushing her hand back.
"Are you sure? It must have cost a fortune, you should keep it," Lindsey replied.
"Yes, I'm sure. Keep it," Harry told her. "It's a gift, from a friend."
"Alright, if you're sure. I gotta go. Bye, Harry," she gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"Bye, Lindsey."
Then she left.
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In the living room, Alex and Hermione were having a similar conversation.
"I love you, Hermione, but I can't put you through that. I'll see you around. Bye," Alex was finishing.
"Alright. Bye, Alex," Hermione replied sadly.
Then he left. Hermione just sat staring into space, thinking about something Alex had said when they first stated dating.
*Flashback*
"Hermione I want to ask you something," Alex said to her.
"What?" she asked.
"What's with that Harry Potter guy? I mean, who is he?" he asked her.
"He's been my best friend since I was eleven years old," Hermione told him angrily.
"Well, I don't like him," Alex replied bitterly.
"I don't care if you like him or not, but I do," Hermione yelled at him.
"I don't see why. He's a bit weird, if you ask me," Alex said innocently enough.
"Well, I didn't ask you, did I? You don't have to like him, just quit picking on him," Hermione snapped at him.
"I'm sorry; I know he's your friend. I'll lay off him," he said. "I guess I'm just jealous."
"Why would you be jealous of Harry?" Hermione asked, confused.
"I think he likes you as more than a friend," Alex replied.
"Why would you think that?" Hermione demanded.
"I don't know, just by the way he looks at you when you're not looking," Alex told her.
"Whatever. I don't think you're right. It's impossible. Anyway, he has a girlfriend," Hermione said.
"Why do you think it's so impossible for him to like you?" Alex asked innocently.
"Because we've been best friends for more than half our lives," Hermione informed him.
"So?" Alex asked.
"Well, it's just not like that," she said helplessly. "Besides, he has a girlfriend," she repeated.
"He does?" he asked.
"Yes. Her name is Lindsey," Hermione said. "Now let's just drop it."
"Okay," Alex said.
*End Flashback*
Now that Hermione thought about it, that was their first fight. It had been a stupid fight she knew. Harry does not like me like that, she told herself. Or maybe he does, said a voice in the back of her head. Of course not, she repeated firmly.
Just then, Harry re-entered the room, looking somber.
"Hey," Hermione said quietly.
"Hey. Where's Alex?" Harry asked.
"He left," she told him.
"Hermione, do you like me?" he said all of the sudden.
"What?" she asked shocked.
"Never mind," Harry replied.
"No, what did you say?" Hermione asked again.
"I said, do you like me?" Harry repeated, blushing.
"Of course I do, you're my best friend," she said.
"You know what I mean, Hermione," Harry replied exasperatedly.
"Why do you ask, Harry?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Just something Lindsey said," he told her.
Hermione started giggling, much to Harry's horror.
"What is so funny?" he asked indignantly.
"I was going to ask you the same about you," she said between fits of giggles.
"You were?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes, I was thinking about something Alex said when we first started dating," Hermione told him.
"Oh, I thought you were laughing at me," he confided.
"Why would I laugh at you, almost the entire female population of the wizarding world has a crush on you," Hermione told him, getting serious.
"Don't remind me," Harry said, think of all or the times when people came up to him to ask for his autograph.
They sat in silence for awhile, until Harry said, "Hermione give me the contract, I need to see something.
She handed him the contract, and watched his face pale.
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked.
"Hermione, my twenty-fifth birthday is in two weeks," he replied.
"It is?" she asked, surprised. She looked at the calendar. "Oh my God, it is."
"What are we going to do?" he asked Hermione.
"I don't know," she replied.
"Where are your parents and Sirius?" Harry asked.
"In the kitchen. Come on, let's go talk to them," she replied.
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When they got in the kitchen, Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Sirius looked up.
"So, what's the verdict?" Sirius asked.
Hermione bit her lip. "We don't know what to do. The contract says we have to get married before our twenty-fifth birthdays, and Harry's twenty-fifth birthday is in two weeks," Hermione explained quickly.
"I almost forgot about that," Sirius said.
"We're really sorry, Harry, Hermione," Mrs. Granger said. She looked like she had been crying.
"It's going to be fine, really, Mum, we'll get through this. We always do." Hermione said.
"Yeah, we always do," Harry said with a smile. "No matter what the situation, we always come out on top."
"But how are you going to do it this time?" Sirius asked them.
"I don't know, but we'll figure something out," Hermione said confidently.
"I think that you have two options, you can be cursed for life or you can get married," Sirius said matter-of-factly.
"Thanks Sirius, that makes me feel so much better," Harry said sarcastically.
"Harry, it may not be comforting, but it's the truth," Hermione said quietly.
"I know," Harry said.
"Well, you have two weeks to decide. You could go on a few dates, and see what happens," Sirius suggested.
"We've tried that before, it was a complete disaster. We ended up ignoring each other for two weeks. That's all we need, to be fighting now," Harry said bitterly.
"You two dated? When?" Sirius asked, surprised.
"Right after Ron died," Hermione told him.
"We were both so upset we decided to give it a try," Harry added.
"We could try again. I mean, it was a long time ago, we were only seventeen, and like you said we were both so upset, we weren't thinking correctly. Let's give it another try," Hermione said hopefully.
"No," Harry said.
"Come on. Please, Harry. It's our only chance. Unless, you want to live the rest of your life cursed and friendless," Hermione said mischievously.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, didn't you read the contract? It said that if we don't get married by our twenty-fifth birthdays, we would face dire consequences, which in the wizarding world, means a cursed life," she stated matter-of-factly.
"I know that, I was talking about the `friendless' part of what you said," Harry replied.
"Well, do you think I would still be your friend if you'd rather be cursed than go out with me? I don't think so. You'll be on your own, Potter," Hermione told him.
"That's not going to work. You can't trick me. I said no, and I mean it," Harry said firmly.
"Pleeease, Harry. Please. It can't hurt to try. It's the only logical option. Unless, you just want to get married today. I mean, we could do that, but that's not logical," Hermione pointed out.
"Okay, okay. Leave it up to Hermione to be logical at a time like this," Harry said with a snigger.
"Well, it's true," Hermione said defensively.
"So, when will this `logical' date be?" Harry asked her teasingly.
"Is tomorrow okay with you?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded, and said, "I'll pick you up at seven. Right now though, I'm going home. I'm exhausted."
"Alright, see you tomorrow," Hermione said.
"Bye Mr. Granger, bye Mrs. Granger. Bye Sirius. See you tomorrow Hermione," Harry said, and Disapparated.