Well, we're nearing the end here. I just wanted to say something really quickly that was brought up in a review on ff.net re: the ability to listen to music at Hogwarts - Hermione definitely did say electrical things did not work at Hogwarts, but I figured those poor kids could not live without music for 7 years, they must have charmed SOMETHING to play music. I mean, they had all heard of the Weird Sisters in book 4. What was the name of that thing? The Wizarding Wireless Network? Maybe what you listen to that on can also double as a player. I know, I know, I'm reaching.
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It's ok, you can come near me, I'm not quite as melodramatic this morning.
It's amazing what a good night's sleep (blessedly absent of lewd dreams about Hermione, for a change) can do for a guy.
And now I'm bouncing off the walls.
I'm gonna see her soon. And I've reached some decisions, well, maybe just one, and some smaller ones that stem from that.
I can't NOT go for this.
Ron be damned. If he's going to delude himself into moving on, at least it's better than him not moving on at all.
He's actually first on my agenda for the day.
Probably not the best move on my part, seeing as I could arrive to Hermione beaten and bruised, but I just feel I owe it to him to let him know that I'm planning to pledge undying love to his ex-girlfriend in t-minus one hour and counting.
He's on his way back from brushing his teeth right now.
"Ron…?"
"WHAT?"
Shit. I completely forgot about Ron's lack of social skills in the morning. I act generally the same all day, I'm not a grumpy morning person, nor am I a 'night-owl.' All the same Harry, all the time. Sure, I'm a little more muddled and foggy in the morning, but I'd have to count myself as relatively pleasant.
Ron is the exact opposite.
There've been mornings when Hermione and I have had to eat alone because Ron's in such a mood that he can't stand to be around other people. Christmas morning may be the only time I've seen him happy in the early hours of the day.
And today is most certainly not Christmas.
"Harry…? You were saying?"
Fantastic. Now he's getting impatient.
"Well, Ron, listen I need to talk to you abo-."
He interrupted me, "So, talk."
Do not yell at Ron. Do not yell at Ron. Do not yell at Ron.
"Right, ok, then, remember what we were talking about yesterday?"
"How Winky's hot cocoa is much better than Dobby's?"
"No, how yo-"
"How to curse Snape and make it so he actually does have a stick up his arse?"
Ah, that was a good time. Must get back on track though.
"No, Ron, about the Ravenclaw transfer and Hermione?"
"You haven't got it for the Ravenclaw, have you?"
"No, Ron. Incidentally, I, uhh. . . (guess I'll use his phrasing) . . .ihaveitforhermione."
"What was that, Harry? You have a what in your knee? I really haven't got time for this, mate."
"Ron, this is important. (breathe, Harry, breathe)….I, uh, erm. . . that is. . ."
"Out with it, mate."
Well, here goes nothing. "I love Hermione."
"Of course you do, she's your best friend, it's perf-. . ."
"You're not listening, Ron. I love Hermione. I'm IN love with Hermione."
I once read somewhere that people can choose not to hear things that they don't want to acknowledge. It's a defense mechanism against emotional pain. I think I'm witnessing it first-hand.
"You're, you're. . .what? When? Why?"
"In love. With Hermione. For a long time. And because, well, because she's Hermione."
He's twitching. His hand is actually shaking. I sure as hell hope it's not with the effort of trying to keep from punching me.
"Is this because of what I said yesterday? About taking Hermione out? Because I was just messing around, covering up, I didn't mean for you to go and fall in love with the girl. Christ, Harry."
"No, it's not to do with yesterday. Though I had hoped, following that conversation, that you'd be ok, well, not quite ok, but accepting of this whole thing."
"And Hermione? How does she feel about all this?"
He's handling himself remarkably well. I beginning to think I gave him too little credit.
"She, uh, well, she feels the same. I don't know if it's love yet for her, but she wants to give it a go."
"Well, you've just got this all worked out then, haven't you?"
"No, Ron, we haven't. You're important to both of us and we couldn't do it if we knew it'd cost us you and your friendship."
When did I start speaking on behalf of both of us?
"Seriously? You wouldn't do this without being in my good graces becau-. . ."
I do NOT like where this is going. Better cut him off.
"Ron. This. Is. Important. I love her. Very much. Please don't do something rash. You and her are just about all I've got."
"Not true, you have Sirius and. . ."
He wants to quibble over semantics RIGHT NOW? Has he lost his bloody mind?
"Ron."
"Fine, fine. Harry, you're going to have to give me some time because, Merlin knows, I'm not used to being the bigger person, but I'll get there. You should see the way your eyes shine when you talk about her. You're over the moon for her, man. And she's for you too. It's so obvious. I think that's why I clung so fiercely to her, because I knew there was something better for her out there and I didn't want to be left with nothing. You deserve this, Harry. You really do. And so does she."
I'm stunned.
Absolutely, positively, stunned.
That did NOT just happen.
It couldn't have.
He didn't hit me.
He didn't yell. (and I didn't stammer. . .much)
He just accepted it. Gracefully.
And to think I'd been doubting him all this time. I knew there was a reason I was friends with him. He's an absolutely stand-up bloke.
"Phew! This doing the right thing sure takes a lot out of me. Breakfast?"
And yet he remains Ron.
"Sure, Ron, breakfast sounds great."
"Yeah, make sure you eat a good meal, you've got some moves to make."
And he smirked.
What a guy.
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I couldn't do it. I couldn't have Ron be a total jerk forever.
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