Hey all! I want to start by thanking all my reviewers: Ftmble1, stars4ever,Anhayla, hobasteritch, the anonymous reviewers, and george III ( who I think needs to do some re-reading because your comments don't make sense :)....)
I'm kind of surprised by the people who are wondering if this is a H/Hr fic....I wouldn't put it on here if it wasn't, so yes it is! Patients my friends :p
Chapter Seven
Ginny's Secret
" Hey, that one looks like Buckbeak!" Hermione said, laying on her back and pointing at the fluffy white cloud above. Harry, who was laying beside her, shook his head.
" Nah, it looks more like Goyle when you hexed him in sixth year to have wings sprouting out from his head" he smiled.
This comment made Hermione burst out into more giggles. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed this hard, it had surely been awhile.
" Look at that one!" Harry pointed out, " It looks like a golden snitch!"
Hermione rolled her eyes at this and turned her head to face him.
" Is quidditch all you think about?" she grinned, " I swear, Harry, you're just as bad as Ro-" she cut herself off realizing what she was about to say. Her smile then slowly faded and her laughter died down as she gazed up into the blue sky.
Noticing his friends sudden attitude change, Harry slowly turned over onto his left side and propped his head up with his hand.
" Hermione, why don't you go and talk to him? You guys can't go on like this, you're best friends!" he urged.
Hermione sighed. " No, we were best friends. Sure, we can forget this ever happened but it will always be there, Harry, it will always cause our friendship to be awkward. Sometimes I wish that-that we never even started a relationship. If we hadn't then maybe we would still be best friends right now..." Her voice became a soft whisper as she said this last line and she could feel Harry's large green eyes transfixed on her.
She had often wondered this, she spent alot of lonely nights in Paris laying awake and thinking about it. She loved Ron, still did, but looking back on it she often wished they had never started anything together. She would rather have her best friend back than have things the way they were now.
" Look, Mrs. Weasley wants us to come over for dinner tonight, why don't you talk with him then? Work everything out, you know?" Harry suggested, breaking her out of her depressing thoughts.
Hermione frustratingly sat up and pushed the hair that was blowing around out of her face. " It isn't that simple. We just can't work everything that has happened between us out with a small conversation, Harry! It won't change anything."
She didn't mean to sound rude or be short with Harry, she instantly felt guilty that she had snapped at him like that but he just didn't understand. He didn't understand that her friendship with Ron could never be like the way it was in school, not since she left him to go to Paris. She also doubted they'd ever get over the incident that had happened the night before and she cringed every time she thought about. What was she thinking? Trying to kiss him in the Three Broomsticks and then telling him she still loved him! She kicked herself mentally for being so stupid.
Harry nodded slowly and stood up onto his feet. His raven black hair blew around in the breeze as he shoved his hands into his coat pocket. " Maybe, but it's a start, isn't it?"
Hermione didn't reply as she kept her gaze locked on the sky above her. After several more seconds she could hear Harry's footsteps making their way back to the house.
***
Later that night Harry and Hermione prepared apparate to the Burrow, against Hermione's wishes. She had pleaded
with Harry to make up some excuse to tell everyone so she wouldn't have to go. The last thing she wanted was to
have to sit near Ronald Weasley. But Harry being well...Harry, shook his head and practically dragged her by her arm
saying
" You can't hide from him for the rest of your life"
She had to admit, he had a point and she hated it when he was right. She couldn't spend the rest of her life avoiding the rest of the Weasley's just because she didn't want to see Ron. Afterall, they were almost like a second family to her. So sucking it up, she put on her best outfit and made sure she did her hair extra nice. If she was going to see Ron tonight she was just gonna have to show him what he was missing, that's all.
" Ok, I am ready" she called, putting in her right earing as she made her way down the spiral, carpeted stairs. Harry was already waiting for her at the bottom and she couldn't help but notice the odd look he was giving her as she put on her coat. " What is it?"
He shook his head and shrugged. " You just look really nice that's all" he said, blushing slightly.
A small smile appeared on her lips. Did Harry Potter just say she looked really nice? Out of all the years she had known him that was the first time she had ever heard him say anything like that. He sure had grown up in the last five years since she was gone. He was no longer a young, lost boy but a mature grown up man.
" Well, are you ready?" he asked.
She nodded hesitantly." Ready as I'll ever be"
And with a loud 'POP' they were both gone.
***
The minute they stepped into the Burrow they were instantly crushed in a hug by a over excited Molly Weasley.
" Its good of you to come!" she smiled.
Hermione noticed that she looked like she had been spending all day cooking. She had flower on her face and her broomstick apron was covered in what appeared to be chocolate sauce. If it was one thing Molly Weasly loved to do it was cook. Some things never change Hermione thought.
" Something smells good, Mrs. Weasley" Harry complimented, giving her one of his famous lopsided grins
Molly blushed and waved him off as she headed back over to her food that was currently cooking. " I wonder where that Ron is, he said he wouldn't be late!" she scowled, looking out the window.
" And I'm not" came Ron's cheery voice as he entered the kitchen.
" There you are dear" Mrs. Weasley smiled, giving her son a hug. " Did you and Luna go to madam Bindlewand's Bakery this afternoon?"
" Er-yes mum, we did" he said in a hesitant voice. A scowl instantly appeared on Molly's face as she placed her hands on her hips.
" Ronald Weasley, what did I tell you? I said I would be honoured to make a wedding cake for Luna and yourself! No need to spend galleons on one of madam Brindlewand's cakes."
An anxious look came over Ron's face as he began to bite his lower lip. " We know that mum but you shouldn't have to do that, you're doing enough as it is with baking all of the other food"
Mrs. Weasley considered him for a moment before nodding. " Alright, the offer still stands if you need it though..."
" I know mum, don't worry" he stated, smiling slightly.
Hermione stood nervously behind Harry wondering how long it was going to be before he noticed they were standing there.
As if on cue he turned his attention their way.
" Hey, Harry!" Ron smiled, hitting his friend playfully on the back. His smile faded however when he spotted Hermione behind him. The room became quiet as a thick tension filled the air. Even Mrs. Weasley, who appeared to know nothing about the previous nights events could tell something was up.
Not knowing if she should be the first one to speak she slowly let out a small cough. Thankfully Harry noticed the awkward tension between the two and cut in.
" Ron-er-why don't we go outside into the yard? You can show me those new flying moves you were talking about..."
Hermione could feel Ron's gaze on her as he finally agreed and without another glance he made his way outside with Harry.
" Is everything ok with the two of you, sweetie?" Molly asked, giving her a concerned stare as she continued to stir the food before her. " Being a mother I can tell when something is wrong and something was definitely wrong just now. Do you want to talk about it?"
" Thanks Mrs. Weasley but I think I need to handle this on my own" she admitted.
" I understand, but if you ever need someone to talk to you know where to find me" she smiled. " I think Ginny is upstairs in her room, would you be a dear and tell her dinner is almost ready?"
Hermione nodded and began making her way up the crooked staircase and to Ginny Weasley's room. Knocking once she slowly opened the door to see her friend quickly attaching a small letter to her owls leg.
" Your mum wanted me to tell you that dinner is almost ready, Gin" she said softly, entering the room. Sending her owl out the window to its destination she turned around and gave Hermione a big smile.
" Thanks....um, Hermione?"
Hermione, who was smiling absentmindedly at a picture of Ron and herself finally turned her attention to Ginny. "Hm?"
" Are you ok? I mean-er- Ron told me what happened lastnight between the two of you lastnight and well..." she gave Hermione a look that was mixed with sympathy and pitty. " He doesn't hate you, you know" she went on, walking up beside her and also looking at the picture of the once happy couple.
Hermione let out a small sarcastic laugh. " Yea right, Gin."
" He's just confused, Hermione. You really hurt him when you left and then you go tell him you still love him right before he is going to get married!"
" I know, I know it was stupid of me!" Hermione mumbled, taking a seat on Ginny's fluffy bed.
Ginny placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. " It wasn't stupid......ok, well maybe it was stupid"she corrected when she saw Hermione give her a hard glare. " But thats not the point! The point is, is that if you guys talk it out maybe you can go back to being friends."
" You sound just like Harry" Hermione laughed.
Ginny, shrugged and stood up from the bed. " It's worth a try though..." she stated. " You gonna coming?" she asked, standing in the doorway.
Hermione waved her off. " Yea, you go ahead and I'll catch up with you, ok?"
Ginny grew a concerned look but nodded anyway and soon disappeared out of the room.
Ginny was just like Harry, telling her try and be friends again with Ron. They just didn't understand how awkward it was now and how beyond repair their friendship was.
Sighing she was about to get up and head back downstairs when a small photograph on Ginny's nightstand caught her eye. It was laying flat down and was covered by several letters. Brushing the letters aside she curiously picked up the photograph and what she saw almost made her drop it to the wooden floor.
Standing there in the picture with Ginny's arms around his waist was no other than Draco Malfoy.