Parting Ways

PotterMama

Rating: G
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 13/01/2005
Last Updated: 13/01/2005
Status: completed

How do you end another year? What do you do when the love dies? When will you know that a better one is coming? [Edited and re-posted]

Chapters

1. untitled

1. untitled

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books and Scholastic Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

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Last Sunday at Hogwarts, his sixth year there was almost at its end. Harry Potter was sitting under their favorite tree near the lake. The sun was setting and he didn’t want to join everyone for dinner at the Great Hall. He was there to be alone and contemplate on what had come to pass.

He felt sorry for the hurt he was causing her then. Maybe it really wasn’t meant to be, he thought. We knew it was coming all along.

Then he heard robes rustling and a stifled cry. When he turned his head, Hermione stopped on her tracks.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you are here,” she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She started to turn her back.

“Please don’t leave,” he pleaded. “Why are you here anyway? And may I ask – why are you crying?”

She sat down beside him. “I was hoping I could have a time alone and think. And why aren’t you at the Great Hall?”

“I am also here to think.”

“Oh,” Hermione sighed. She simply stared at the lake hoping to catch the giant squid create some ripples. “I hope I’m not intruding or something… So, can I sit here with you and be also alone in my thoughts?”

“OK,” he replied.

Nobody said a single word for minutes. Harry broke the silence and asked, “So why are you crying? You and Ron had another fight?”

“Yeah,” she answered softly.

“Don’t worry, things will return back to normal,” he looked at her with a slight frown. “Merlin knows, how many times you’ve fought and made up!” he added with a slight laugh.

“But this isn’t like before.”

“Oh, come on! You’ve got rows that lasted for days, even a shouting match at the Entrance Hall, which cost us, what, fifty points? You’ll get through this.”

Hermione pulled her knees to her chest, trying hard to fight back the tears, which had slowly started to roll down her cheeks. “This time we never raised our voices, I can assure you that. We just talked, really,” she said softly. The pain on her chest was so powerful that she suddenly burst, “I don’t know how it happened, but I certainly agreed with everything that he said, and he also thinks that I’m also right.”

Harry moved closer to her, and wrapped his arms around his crying friend. “Shhhh. It’s okay.” Rocking them both slowly and running his left hand up and down her back, he added, “What was it really all about?”

“Ron and I had come to a conclusion that we can no longer continue seeing each other… dating. That our relationship was not going anywhere,” she replied in between sniffles. “I’ve been feeling it for weeks now. I just don’t want to accept it, you know. I was thinking there’s got to be a way to fix it. We’re friends first for goodness’ sake! We can find a way.”

“But then, maybe the friendship came first and foremost that is worth saving,” Hermione continued. “He thought that we better give up on what we are having and save our friendship. Because if we let it go on any longer, we wouldn’t have any friendship to fall back on.” She just paused and had that glazed look in her eyes.

“He’s right, isn’t he?” she asked him and finally stopped crying.

Harry didn’t say anything. He just kept his hand on her back.

“For once, Ron’s right,” she beamed, eyes floppy though.

Harry nodded in agreement and he didn’t know why.

“So we’ll be back as friends, we have agreed to that before parting,” she added. Hermione eyes were fixed on something so far away. “It felt like there was a big rock lifted off my chest, like someone had been choking me for a long time, and finally got tired of holding my neck. I feel like I’m being re-born, really – everything becomes clearer. I felt like I’ve been groping in the dark for years and a light was trusted to my eyes.”

“I don’t know why I’m crying, honestly,” she chuckled, wiping the tears off her face. “I mean, it wasn’t really that bad. We had some good times. It’s with Ron, how can it ever be awful?”

“Yeah,” Harry replied. Eyeing Hermione and giving a silent sigh, he said, “No time wasted in there. Maybe it was true for a while.” He wasn’t really sure if he’s talking about Hermione or trying to convince himself. “You’re good friends, everything started innocently enough. You shared laughter, fears and tears. Spent the whole day together, but couldn’t sleep wondering why tomorrow is taking so long, so you can hold hands again. But then you realized that it was a beautiful beginning for a love that would never be fulfilled.”

It was Hermione’s turn to look at her forlorn friend. “Why?” Her eyes began to water again.

“I also don’t know why, you just – you held back… thinking that, or afraid that this couldn’t last forever. Or maybe, you felt that someone – something – was calling you to find another path,” he responded.

Harry looked in Hermione’s eyes; seeing her tears roll down, he bit his lower lip and continued. “Though you’ve been asked to stay and you longed to say yes – the yearning to discover what your dreams could become – to explore everything that you could be, would never leave you.”

Never really knowing where these are all coming from, he went on “You let go… not just by setting the other person free, but also setting yourself free from all bitterness, hatred, and anger that is boiling in your heart.”

Hermione finally understood and took his hands to hers. “Is that why you are here alone, too? No wonder I haven’t seen Ginny all day.”

“What a great day, isn’t it?” he asked. “Why have we all decided to end our relationships on this beautiful summer day?”

“Maybe because school is ending, and it would really help if won’t see each other for a few weeks,” she answered. “We’re growing up, aren’t we?” She smiled at him and then looked away. “Well, crying helps to make sure that the tears wash away the hurt, but not because it’s over.”

Harry stared at Hermione’s profile, “Someone better is coming tomorrow, you’ll see. When it does, it will stay and last a lifetime…”

They sat there for a long time, fixing their eyes on the calm lake, not uttering another word, each lost in their own thoughts, trying to be alone… together.

He didn’t know how long they stayed by the lake, but when he saw Hermione felt the chills of the night, he took and squeezed her hand. They got up and walked towards the castle, hand in hand, still no words uttered.

*********

Though there were a lot of students still lurking in the Gryffindor common room, Harry went straight to the boys’ dormitories. He saw Ron lying on his bed, still awake.

Harry took off his robes and changed into his pyjamas, and then sat on the edge of the bed facing Ron. “I saw Hermione tonight and she told me what happened,” he said to his friend.

“How is she?” Ron asked, pulling himself to sit.

“Not that bad – but not so well either,” Harry replied. “But she’s going to be OK.”

Ron merely nodded his head and said, “I never thought that this would happen, mate. I hope I’m not really breaking her heart, and all.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Man, this is really hard!”

“I know. I know – hey,” Harry dropped his elbows on his knees. “Have you seen Ginny?”

“No, I was holed up in this room after I left Hermione. Why?”

Harry took a deep breath and sighed, “I guess, I should be the one to tell you then.”

Ron fixed his eyes on him with a wondering look.

Oh this is gonna be hard, Harry thought. “Well, while you and Hermione are probably discussing your future today, – ” he started while lowering his eyes and stared on the floor. “Ugh, Ginny and I kind of decided to part ways too.”

Ron’s shoulders dropped, “Oh, – how so?”

“We’ve had this talk remember? Or have you forgotten?” Harry tried to recall that day when he voiced to Ron that he felt his relationship with Ginny was going nowhere. Ron was a little bit angry at first; he couldn’t believe that Harry might break his sister’s heart. However, when he heard Harry reason out, he finally conceded. Ron gave a good advice though – to try to find a way to work things out, to never jump into something that they may regret later.

“So how did she take it?” Ron asked.

“Ginny, kind of, have the same feeling, we had a really good talk. We weighed each point and – well, you can say it was a really mature way of sorting things out. I didn’t even know that I could make such a responsible decision in my life. But I can assure you Ron, Ginny and I made the decision together,” Harry replied.

“And –,” Ron said half-laughing, “you’ve decided to return to just being friends, right?”

“Yeah, just like you and Hermione.”

“Isn’t that wonderful? We’re all going through hell together,” Ron commented and started to lie back on his bed. Harry did the same. “It’s good that we’re all back to being singles again. At least we’re on equal footing,” Ron added.

Harry didn’t say another word, closed his eyes and the dreams he’d been having of a girl he knew started again.

*********

The following days had been hard for them. Though Ginny spent more time with Luna, she never ignored Harry whenever they bumped into each other. Harry, Ron and Hermione went about their usual ways, sticking together. Hermione and Ron couldn’t seem to stop having a go at each other. Harry did not mind, though, as he was just too happy that they were back to the good old days.

Ron seemed to be adjusting to the idea of being single again a little quicker than the other two. He had been checking out girls, who unfortunately enough crossed their path. “I think Loony is quite cool. How ‘bout it, Harry?”

“Huh?! I thought you said she’s mental?” Harry said, raising his eyebrows.

“It was Hermione who’s mental.”

“What?” Hermione butted in, “and when did you came with that conclusion?”

“First year, actually. We weren’t even sorted yet. Harry agreed with me.”

“You did?”

Harry quickly rebutted, “But we’ve grown to love you, didn’t we? – I mean, we accepted you for who you really are.” Hermione flicked her wand, and made her books hit them both on their heads all the way back to the Gryffindor tower.

“Hermione, make them stop! I don’t want to go to the Parting Feast with them following me around,” Ron shouted. “We’re also really grateful that you’ve put up with all our eccentricities as well.”

The books stopped but there was still a lingering pain on Harry’s head that made him a little dizzy. “You’re going to pay for this, you know,” he complained. He ran his hands on his head, which he thought had a little bump.

She placed her hands on her hips and said, “And what do you plan to do, pray tell?”

“Oh, you’ll be surprised.”

She grabbed her things and threw them on the floor beside her favorite armchair at the common room. Ron brought out his wizard’s chess and invited Harry to play. They waited until it is time to go down to the Great Hall for the Parting Feast.

*********

Since they would leave Hogwarts the next day for the summer, everyone seemed to be cheery and the Gryffindor common room became rowdy all night long. Just when almost everyone had already left to their quarters, Hermione gathered her things to go to her dormitory.

As she was about to start to take the stairs, she took one last glance at the fireplace and saw Harry still sitting by the rug and staring at the flames.

She went back and sat beside him. “Everything, OK?”

“I was just wondering, what will happen this summer,” Harry replied still staring at the fire.

Hermione draped her right arm over his shoulders and shook him a little. “Everything will be fine. I think you won’t have to spend more weeks with the Dursleys. Surely, you’ll need to go Grimmauld Place. I’ll be there, everyone will be there, and it’ll be fun. We have to clean the house all over again.”

“Where are your parents taking you this summer?”

“I’m not sure. They mentioned about going to Asia last Christmas, but nothing is final yet.”

“That far, huh?! I hope Hedwig had prepared for longer journeys,” Harry sniggered.

“Is that a promise that you’ll be writing to me?” Hermione asked with a smile on her face.

Harry turned his head and looked at her. “Surely, you’ll have to answer them, – ‘cause if you don’t, I’ll go crazy.”

She giggled and Harry swore that he had never seen nor heard her do that before. “Honestly, Harry! When have I not answered your letters? I may even send you the owl first, ‘cause you’ll be busy checking out girls around Privet Drive.”

“There aren’t many girls around Privet Drive,” he snapped back. “Mundugus Fletcher is surely going to flow me everywhere I go and I have to report to Mrs. Figg every now and then. Do you think it will be a turn-on to Muggle girls our age to see me enter her house regularly?”

“OK, point taken,” she conceded. “So how are the dreams going? Anything new?” She had been checking on his dreams almost everyday since the start of sixth year. And lately, Harry had been lying to her all about it, though it pained him to not being honest with her.

“Well, like I told you before… I haven’t had any more nightmares for months and Ron could vouch for that. I’ve been having nice dreams, really – ” he replied and he saw her eyes widened, awaiting for him to tell her what were his dreams all about. “Which I’d gladly tell you that I would like to keep to myself. Thank you.”

“Oh, come on! I’m your very best female friend here – doing all the greatest ‘best friend’ stuff you could possibly ever think of – and yet you won’t budge in and tell me anything?” she said batting her eyelashes, trying to be cute, working hard to ape Lavender Brown when she’s flirting.

“O, ho ho! Look here. Hermione Jane Granger using her sexuality to get something she couldn’t have. I never thought I’d see the day.”

Harry stood up and motioned her to get up too. “That’s your punishment, for hitting me with those heavy books of yours.”

*********

The trip back to King’s Cross had been quite uneventful. Harry sat near the window playing another round of wizard’s chess against Ron. Even though Ron beats him all the time, he had now managed to put up a good fight. Hermione sat on one corner reading her huge Arithmacy book, while Luna, Ginny and Neville played exploding snap in another corner.

“Hermione, what are you doing?” Ron asked with furrowed eyebrows.

Never taking her eyes off her book Hermione answered with a slight sarcasm in her tone, “Isn’t it obvious that I’m reading? I’m preparing for the NEWTs, you know.”

“Oh come on, Hermione, get out of it!” Ron retorted loudly. “Summer break just started. Can you at least try to enjoy it first? We still got two months before we need to go back to school.”

“Alright, then. What do you suggest I do?” said Hermione, putting down her book.

“How ‘bout helping Harry in here because I’m beating his sorry arse?” Ron said and Harry gave her a pleading look.

“Ok.” She sat down beside Harry and tried to analyze the chessboard.

“Hey guys! What do you think of Ernie Macmillian?” Ginny finally blurted.

“He’s a prefect, a Hufflepuff and looks quite ok,” Hermione replied.

“And he’s a DA,” Harry added still looking at his chess pieces.

Ron raised his eyebrows and said, “Why are you asking?”

“Well, he’s kind of asked me if it’s alright with me if he send me owls this summer,” Ginny replied with a slight smile.

“Oh! I think he’s cute,” Luna butted in with that dreamy look again on her face.

“Hey! No one asked you how cute he is?” Ron said loudly. “And what did you told him?” he turned to Ginny.

She looked at Harry and their eyes met. “Well, I said yes. I hope that’s OK with you, Harry.”

“Ginny, you no longer have any obligations to me. Whatever it is you think will make you happy, then go on with it. I support you, - we will all support you,” said Harry, and then looked at Ron. “Right, Ron?”

Ron still with a bewildered look on his face, “What? I don’t like him, just so you know.”

“You never liked every guy I dated!” Ginny snapped back.

“There’s Harry, I like him,” Ron answered.

Ginny rolled her eyes, “You practically pushed us to be together.”

Ron gave Harry a pleading look for help. “I totally agree with her,” Harry shrugged.

Luckily the trolley lady just arrived outside their compartment. “Why don’t you all get whatever you like, my treat,” Harry said. He didn’t know if Ron wanted to get back at him or something, but Ron bought an awful lot of Chocolate Frogs. They almost emptied the trolley and nothing was much left in Harry’s moneybag but a few silvers and a couple of Knuts.

Hermione gave him a cauldron cake and ate the pumpkin pastry. Everybody seemed to be contented and went back to their games.

“You shouldn’t make that move,” Hermione rumbled with her mouth still full.

“But I can’t use the other one, he’ll –”

Hermione leaned a little bit closer to Harry to take a good look at the chessboard. “Oh yeah, you’re right. How about – ”

“No way. It will be over – ”

Ron looking so puzzled blurted, “I don’t know what you both are blabbering about, but when are going to make a move?”

Harry was surprised with Ron’s question because he was too busy loving the feeling of Hermione so close to him. “Huh?! I don’t think this is the right time to – ” he answered not sure if he understood Ron correctly.

“He’s talking about us. You git!” Harry’s knight shouted. “We’ve been waiting here for ages, or do you want us to play this game for you?”

“Oh shut up!” Hermione cried. She cupped her hands and whispered to Harry’s ear, which caused Harry to shudder. He didn’t move nor say anything.

“So?” Ron asked impatiently.

“What?” Harry asked back.

“Your move,” Ron said.

Finally Harry went back to his senses. After a few prodding with his chess pieces, Hermione and him were close to winning.

Ron’s eyes burrowed, scratching his head, he said, “I hope you guys know what you are up to.”

Hermione’s eyes glistened when Ron made his bishop move. She looked at Harry and their eyes locked. They had come to an agreement and she shrieked, “We won! We won!”

Harry made his queen move and said for the very first time, “Checkmate!” Hermione gave him a tight squeeze still blurting that they have finally defeated Ron.

Ron, on the other hand, was first at shock and then at last conceded, “Well you two were working together against me... and I got so bored because it took you ages to decide your moves.”

“Quiet, Ron! Let us delight in our very first victory,” Harry growled and gave Hermione another hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks.”

For the next hour everyone had kept to himself or herself. Hermione went back to her books. Harry stared outside, not really to look at the landscapes they pass through but just to be with his thoughts. He didn’t even notice that the train had already made a full stop at the King’s Cross.

Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville took their trunks and went out. As Hermione tried to heave her trunk, she became aware that Harry hadn’t moved a bit. She sat opposite him and shook his hands, “Hey, anything wrong?”

He looked at her and dropped his gaze to their locked hands. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too. But we’ll see each other soon,” she replied. She stood up and tugged him, “Come on, we can’t stay here for two months and wait for the train to go back to Hogwarts.”

Harry smiled, “That’s a nice idea.”

“No, it’s not. We don’t know where this train stays during our break. We might not have anything to eat, since we already bought almost everything from that trolley. And where are we going to take our – ” but Hermione never got to finish as Harry’s lips were already on hers.

A few seconds later and their lips parted. No one dared to say anything; they just kept staring at each other’s eyes. When Hermione started to open her mouth to say something, Harry pressed his finger to her lips to silence her.

But the voice calling Harry’s name never stopped, “Harry! Harry where are you?”

Ron opened the carriage’s door panting, “Blimey, Harry! You gave us a fright!” He looked from Hermione then back to Harry. “Mum went mad when she didn’t saw you get off with us.” He grabbed Hermione’s trunk and led the two out. “What happened?” he asked Hermione.

Hermione just grabbed Crookshanks and went out without answering Ron.

Ron turned to Harry instead. “What?” Harry snapped.

Harry eyed his friend fearing that he can’t escape Ron’s prying, especially with his eyebrows raised so high that they were hidden behind his red fringe, which looked kind of scary. “I – er – we –,” nothing coherent can come out from Harry.

“You kissed her, didn’t you?” Ron said with a silly grin on his face.

“How?” Harry bemused, “What made you say that?”

Ron rolled his eyes, “Have you forgotten that I’ve dated our dear Hermione?” They stepped out of the train and approached Hermione and the Weasley clan. “With the way she looked when I saw you two, I can tell. And I think it was a good kiss, no wait, a knock-your-socks-off kiss, ‘cause I haven’t seen her all that flushed before,” he added whispering.

A wide grin flashed across Harry’s face upon hearing this.

Molly grabbed and gave him a long hard squeeze. “I do hope you’re all right, dear.”

“I’m fine, you don’t have to worry too much about me,” Harry answered still smiling and looking at Hermione beaming back at him.

He turned to see Uncle Vernon and grimaced, “Guess party’s over, guys. Hope to see you soon.” As he headed to the Dursley’s, Hermione caught up with him and before he knew it, she was murmuring to his ears, “Oh, I think the party is just starting… and we’ll see each other soon… very soon.”

Before Harry could react, she waved him goodbye and went running to her waiting parents.

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Fin