In the next few days, Harry had no time to be depressed, and true to his ardent promise to Hermione, he didn't think too much about the events of that day in London. In fact, he didn't have much time to think about a lot of things. He spent the days following his arrival at Grimmauld Place either fervently cleaning, speaking to all the members of the Order that dropped by, and generally hanging around and playing Wizard's Chess with the Weasleys.
He was actually enjoying his stay at Grimmauld Place to his surprise. As much as he thought he shouldn't, he was. The Weasleys were being as kind to him as ever, and he appreciated their gentle support. Members of the Order were always smiling, always pleased to see him, which made a pleasant change from his life at the Dursleys. However, what Harry was most looking forward to was when Hermione arrived.
He had received her reply a few days earlier, yet he hadn't had the time to write back to her. However, he was very eager to find the time to, he had some questions for her.
Hiya Harry,
Hope you had a safe journey to Grimmauld Place. Ron told me he was going to floo there, I hope it wasn't as bad as the last time someone flooed to your house!
So, anyways…
You'd like to get to know me better, huh? You know, you're the first. I've never really had anyone try to get to know me better, everyone thinks I'm just books and brains. But sure, I'd love to get to know you a little more too. Tell you what, why don't we make a night of it? When I get there next week, We'll make a whole night of it, and get to know each other more, sound good to you?
You know, you're far too modest for your own good, Harry Potter. Instead of complementing other people and putting yourself down all the time, you should focus on what you've actually done. Of course you make sense, you're just an impulsive person, which to be honest, I envy. You aren't really afraid to show emotions like that, and I suppose I am. It makes you a great wizard, you know. Remember what I said to you in first year? There are more important things than Books and Cleverness… Friendship, bravery, and Love, Harry. You're not afraid to show those things, and I wish I wasn't. Sometimes I wonder why the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor…
As for the whole 'Ron' situation, yes, it was shocking. You know, I can't tell you how much it makes me happy to hear you say those things, Harry, for once, it makes me feel so good about myself. Still, when I read it, I blushed so much, my mum thought there was something wrong! But seriously, Harry, thank you--
There was a lot of scribbling out here, and Harry's curiosity had grown to immense proportions when he read it. Hermione usually knew exactly what to say, she wasn't really the stuttering type. That was more his thing…
--You know, you're not so bad yourself.
Harry's spirits had soared through the creaky, mildewed roof. He was surprised Ron hadn't noticed him bouncing around on the soles of his feet for the past two days, his face fixed in a permanent euphoric smile.
I'm glad you wouldn't want me to be like Cho, I'm afraid that's not really my style. Sure, I can understand how she feels sometimes, but when I cry, I like to think it's for good reason, not just a reason to kiss you. But, like I said, I can understand her point sometimes.--
Harry was sure his spirits had flown somewhere up among the earths atmosphere by now.
Well, anyway, Harry, thanks again for the compliments. Your opinion means a lot to me. Reply if you can.
Lots of Love,
Hermione xxx
Harry almost had the whole letter memorized by the ninth time he had read it and was very surprised that none of the Weasleys had noticed his vacant dreamy smile everytime he relived it in his head. Everytime he thought of replying to her, his thoughts wandered.
It almost sounded like Hermione was asking him for a date, the way she suggested they spend more time together. Maybe it was just Harry's wishful thinking running swiftly away with him. However, he was more than happy to accept. His desire to spend as much time as possible with Hermione was growing curiously, but instead of questioning it, Harry let the feeling grow within him. For some reason, instead of feeling guilty, he decided that it felt right, to want to spend time with Hermione.
Unfortunately, the feeling of guilt was not totally suppressed. Everytime he spotted Ron, he was left with a melancholy pang of guiltiness. Ron was not happy, Harry could tell. He spent the day moping around, his face like thunder and Harry could not help but feel sorry for him. He knew that Ron really liked Hermione, he had done for a while, even if Ron himself hadn't noticed it straight away. Though something about this gloomy sulking was bugging Harry. He couldn't quite put his finger on the reason why, but there was something about Ron's sulking that seemed, in a way, resigned. It was like he half expected Hermione to turn him down, and he knew the reason why. The only real, solid indication Harry had to believe this was the night he had arrived, when Ron showed Harry Hermione's reply. He mumbled something about thinking that he knew who she loves, but Harry was still waiting for him to elaborate.
In the end, he decided to ask Hermione herself, figuring that with their new found open-ness, it would be no problem for Hermione to tell him the truth. True, half of him was twisting up inside at the thought that Hermione didn't like him that way, but he thought that he might as well be the good friend and ask her.
So after dinner that night, Harry rapidly retreated back to his and Ron's small room to write Hermione's reply. Setting out his things on the bedspread like he had done at the Dursleys, he laid out Hermione's letter in front of him for reference. Smiling gently at Hermione's choice of words in her letter, he dipped his pen in his dark blue ink and began to write.
Hi Hermione,
I did have a good journey, well, as good as can be expected. I hate travelling by floo, always have. I always seem to find a new way to break my glasses. Still, it was worth travelling by floo to see Uncle Vernon's face when he saw Mad-Eye again. Last time, he had nightmares for a week.
About the whole 'getting to know you ' thing, it sounds great. I'd love to. It's a date. No, I'm joking, but seriously, it should be fun. We hardly ever get time to talk about normal stuff at Hogwarts, what with homework and all the other stuff that comes with having a Homicidal sorcerer after you.
Modest, am I? Well, I wouldn't call it that. More stating the truth, really. You know, sometimes being impulsive isn't a good thing, you saw what I was like last year. It makes you do foolish things which could land people in nearly fatal situations.
But if you really want to, you can just let it out, you know. I never used to, it kind of wasn't really allowed at the Dursleys, but I'm glad I can now. I know very well now, that there are more important things than Books, but there are more important things than bravery and courage as well. It's all very well being this great wizard that everyone looks up to, but it's even better when you have people you love at your side, that's where you get your real strength. And look at me, I go all soppy. But anyway, what I'm trying to say is, if you want to say something, Hermione, say it. Don't keep it bottled inside, isn't that what you told me? See? I listen to you.
Oh, and by the way, there's no doubt you belong in Gryffindor. You'd need to be brave just to be my best friend.
So, you really blushed that much when you read my letter? I can't imagine a blushing Hermione. I should start complementing you randomly just to see if you'll blush. But I'm glad my opinions mean something to you, yours do to me as well. But you probably gathered that already. But, thanks for the compliment all the same.
Actually, I have a question for you. I hope this isn't too personal or anything, but Ron showed me the letter you sent him as your reply. You handled it pretty well, I thought, though he has been moping around a bit. I'm sure he'll get over it. But the thing is, he said something on the night that I arrived about thinking he knows who it is you love. Is it too personal for me to ask who it is? Ron really seems to have convinced himself that he's right in thinking he knows who it is, but I'm afraid to ask him in case it upsets him or something.
Anyways, write back, Beautiful. (See? I told you I'd start complementing you randomly, are you blushing yet?)
Lots of Love,
Harry xxx
He added the usual amount of kisses to the bottom of his letter, then with a daring thought, he added another one. With a smile, he read and re-read his letter to make sure it sounded alright. He knew it was a bit flirty, as one might have called it, and slightly more bold then he usually would have written, but something in the air was causing him a slight daring air. He was just about to proudly roll up his long scrap of parchment when Fred and George burst exuberantly into the room, with Ron trailing dejectedly behind.
"Hey, Harry! Up for a Chess Tourny? You can… hey what've you got there?"
Harry made to stow it out of sight before George lunged for it, but he successfully grabbed it and opened it. With his face turning a deep shade of embarrassed crimson, Harry covered his eyes as Ron and Fred joined George in reading Harry's letter.
"Hey, it's to Hermione!"
"Why are you writing to her? She's going to be here in a week!"
"What the--"
Harry looked up just in time to see all three faces in a kind of muted shock. With a half amused, half curious smile, Fred looked up at Harry, as Ron continued to read down the parchment. Harry wished he wouldn't.
"A date, huh, Harry?" Fred inquired, as George began to snigger beside him. Harry felt his face grow even hotter. "Since when have you and Hermione been dating?"
"Yeah," came Ron's voice, and Harry peered through his fingers at him, to see his face growing pink and his ears becoming a nice shade of red. "Since when?"
"We're not," Harry tried to justify himself, amid hearty sniggers and disbelieving snorts. "We're just joking, it's nothing, really. Can I have my letter back now?"
Getting up and grabbing his parchment back, he quickly rolled it up and gave it gratefully to Hedwig, who seemed to sense Harry's embarrassed distress, as she took flight as soon as the letter was clenched firmly in her beak. Turning back to the other three with a resigned feeling of apathy, he was quite surprised to see the twins sharing a gleeful smirk, which clearly meant they were plotting something. He was even more surprised that Ron didn't look the least bit angry. He had gone back to that same resigned sadness he had been carrying all week.
With a fake sigh, Fred caught Harry's attention again as he and George headed for the door.
"You do know that Mum is going to want to hear of this, Harry?"
"Yeah," agreed George with the same mischievous smirk. "And Tonks, Lupin, Moody, Kingsley, Arabella, Dung, and Dumbledore."
Harry's bottom dropped out of his stomach as he gaped at the twins. Finally being on the receiving end of their practical jokes was not in the least bit funny.
"No… you wouldn't. You wouldn't… I'm meant to be your financial backer! I mean… Oh, don't be evil, Guys!"
With an evil cackle, the two left the room. Harry was left with an immense feeling of dread, and as he turned back to fling himself onto his bed with embarrassment, the feeling intensified greatly. Ron was sitting on his own lumpy four poster, his eyes staring fixedly at the floor, and his ears now a good shade of purple. Harry moved across to his bed tentatively and sat himself upon the fluffy duvet, his eyes not meeting Ron's.
"You're… You're not mad with me, are you, Ron?" He asked timidly, playing with a small piece of his blanket. "I- I didn't mean for it to happen like that… I mean… I didn't mean for it to happen at all…"
To his surprise, Ron calmly shook his head. He looked up at Harry, with that same reconciled air in his eyes, and sighed.
"Just tell me this, Harry. Do you love her?"
Harry was quite taken aback by this answer, and by big mistake he answered far too quickly, and ended up stuttering his answer.
"No! I mean, I-- um- I'm not sure-- I mean, I don't know… uh…"
He looked up at Ron, his face burning again, and sighed. Ron was looking at him with a sceptical face. Harry sighed again, his insides doing a sort of triple jump forward flip. It was time he faced the truth.
"Yes. I do. I love her."
He expected some kind of berating for this, for in many ways, he had stolen Ron's thunder, stole the friendship and affection that Ron and Hermione shared. He felt terrible, guilty and nervous, and wished Ron was say something, anything. He even wanted Ron to shout at him, or hit him. Something that Harry felt that he deserved to do.
Ron didn't move. Instead, with a pained saddened voice, he said forlornly; "Then there's not really anything I can do, is there? I knew you did. You two are meant to be together, there's nothing anyone can do about it…"
Harry froze. He tried to gulp, but his mouth had suddenly become very dry. Finally, he managed to stutter a response.
"You-- You knew? But… what? How, I mean? I didn't even know? What do you mean we're meant to be together?"
"It's the way you two act around each other. You're always so open with each other. It's always you that saves her, or helps her. It's always you that goes off on some adventure with her and leaves the rest of us behind. It's always you that she cares about first, and vice versa. I suppose I was trying to keep my place in the trio by asking Hermione out. I mean, if she went out with me, then maybe things would stay the same, but…"
With that, he dejectedly threw his four poster hangings around him. Harry sat there mutedly, digesting this piece of information that had eluded him for four or so years. How could he not have noticed? How could he have taken all that for granted and not realised? All those times that he and Hermione had stuck together over the years, all the support she had given him, consciously and subconsciously, all those things they had said to each other. The hugs, the kisses on the cheek, the words of remorse and luck. How could he have not grasped that it was because they were meant to be together?
He looked hopefully out of the window, where he had sent Hedwig along with Hermione's letter not ten minutes ago. With the letter sent, the growing feeling of excitement arose in Harry like never before. Soon, he would find out who Hermione liked. Soon, he would know whether they would be together or not.