Here we go! The next chapter! Took a little longer, sorry. I went out of town this past weekend.
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 3
The next day was the day before the wedding and while all the Weasleys spent most of the time running around getting last minute tasks completed, Harry stayed out of their way and spent his morning in Hermione's room. He woke up early, wanting to surprise Hermione with breakfast in bed, just like he suggested.
Mrs. Weasley was cleaning the house so the kitchen was empty and free to do as he pleased. He made them both a plate of scrambled eggs, slices of bacon and buttered toast. He also filled a glass of marmalade for the both of them and carried the tray up the stairs carefully to her room.
She was awake playing with Crookshanks and a ball of yarn when he came in. She was practically beaming when she looked up at him. "Oh, Harry you made me breakfast!"
"I told you I might," he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed and placed the tray on her legs. "I made a plate for myself."
"It smells delicious," she said as she took a deep whiff. "I haven't had solid food in days."
"Are you up for it?" he asked as he handed her a napkin.
"More than up for it," she said as she picked up a bacon and took a healthy bite. "Mmm, nice and crispy. Perfect."
"How did you sleep?" Harry asked before forking up a pile of eggs.
"Like a baby," she said with a smile. "I checked my temp when I woke up. No fever."
"Really?" he asked with a grin. "That's great! Maybe later I can sneak you outside for a bit."
"That would be lovely," she sighed dreamily. "Maybe you can take me to where you found the flowers."
"We can have a picnic maybe," Harry suggested. "I can see if Ron can go, although he might be too busy with the wedding."
"I think he had to do a last minute fitting today in Diagon Alley," she said as she sampled some of her toast. "Poor guy, you know how he feels about dress robes."
Harry chuckled. "Well, at least it won't be as bad as 4th year…that was bloody awful."
Hermione giggled. "It was so hard for me not to laugh when I first saw him. Don't tell him I told you that."
He held up a hand. "Promise."
XXX
"I think a picnic is a wonderful idea," Mrs. Weasley said as she rummaged through her icebox. "I've got some cold chicken and some mini sandwiches."
"That sounds perfect, Mrs. Weasley," he said as he took the platter of chicken then placed it in the basket, along with the sandwiches.
"I'll put some bottles of butterbeer in her, too. Is Hermione still upstairs?"
"She's getting dressed. I better go see if she's ready."
"No worries, mate," Ron said with a smile as he helped Hermione through the kitchen, who was now full dressed in a white knee length skirt and a yellow blouse. "I've got her and she's ready to go."
"Oh," Harry said as he shoved his hands in his pockets, noticing how Ron's arm was around Hermione. For some odd reason he didn't like to look of Hermione leaning into him, Harry had come used to the one Hermione leaned on. "Er…I've got the food and blanket."
"Let's go then," Hermione said who was practically glowing. "I'm ready to get out of these walls. Er…no offence, Mrs. Weasley."
She waved it off. "None taken, you three go out and enjoy yourselves."
Harry tucked the blanket and basket under one arm as he walked up on the other side of Hermione, and was pleased when she put her other arm around is waist. Together, they walked outside and Hermione closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun. Harry couldn't help but smile at the content look on her pale face and hoped that being outside would put some color in her cheeks.
"Oh, Harry," she gasped in pleasure as they walked through the flowers. "Is this where you got my flowers?"
"Yeah," he said noticing the scowl from Ron. "Why don't we sit under the tree, it will give us some shade."
"That's fine with me," Hermione said. "I'll help with the blanket."
"No, you stay here, Ron and I will do it." Harry then gestured to Ron to help him out while Hermione waited patiently as they spread the blanket under the tree.
Harry went straight back to Hermione's side, while Ron did the same and gave Harry a weird look, before they helped her take her seat. Harry couldn't help but notice how strange Ron was acting lately when it came to Hermione. It was like he was doing his usual jealous act, however he was the guy he was jealous of. Why was that? It wasn't as if he fancied Hermione. She was his best friend.
They sat in a small circle as Harry passed out the cold chicken and sandwiches. It was like old times. The three of them hanging out as if they were eleven again, joking and laughing together as they munched on chicken legs and nibbled on tiny sandwiches.
"Hermione you got a little mayo on the corner of your lip," Ron said tapping his own.
"Do I?" she asked as she stuck her tongue out to try and wipe it off.
"No, other side," Harry laughed as he reached up to swipe it away with his thumb, but Hermione's tongue beat him to it, causing it to brush against his skin. He jerked back as if he touched fire as he tried to ignore the little tingle where her tongue touched. "Er…sorry."
"It's all right," she said as she blushed giving him a sheepish smile. "Honest mistake. Is it gone?"
Harry gave a quick glance to Ron who looked like he was going to leap up and attack him at any moment. "Er…yeah, it's gone," he said and then cleared his throat. "More chicken?"
"No, I'm stuffed," Hermione sighed as she placed a hand on her belly. "That was great. This is great."
Harry's stomach couldn't settle down. It's just the food. That last piece of chicken tasted a little funny. If that was the case, why was his hands trembling as if he had the shakes. A little uneasy, he stretched out his legs and gave his friends a quick smile, trying to hide the fact that his insides were shaking. "I could take a nap here."
"Me too," Hermione sighed as she lifted her arms above her head to do a little stretch. Harry noticed that he wasn't the only one staring at the way Hermione's blouse stretched against her chest. Best friend or not, he noticed things like that. He was after all a guy.
Hermione then rolled over onto her stomach, stretching out next to Harry as she rested her cheek against her folding hands. "It feels so good to be outside again."
"Well, if you two are going to stretch out I might as well also," Ron said who was on the other side of Hermione. However, before he could even get situated the sound of someone calling him had all three of them lifting their heads off the ground to see Mrs. Weasley walking up to them. "Mum?"
"Ron, you need to come back to the house," she said a little breathless from the short hike through the field. "You need to go with Fleur to Diagon Alley."
Ron shot up. "What?! Are you joking?"
"Of course not, why would I tease about that," she huffed and then waved her hand up. "Come on, I
don't have all day. She has some errands to run and she needs someone to help her."
"Why can't Bill go?" Ron asked miserably as he stood up.
"Because one of her errands is to pick up her dress and he can't see it. Everyone knows that's bad luck. Now, come on she's waiting in the house."
Ron rolled his eyes and groaned as he turned to Harry and Hermione. "Looks like I have to go spend a day in Hades. You two going to head in?"
Harry looked at Hermione and shrugged. "It's up to you, I don't mind staying out here awhile longer."
"Okay," Hermione said with a smile then turned to Ron. "Thanks, but we're going to stay out here a bit."
Ron looked at Harry and could have sworn there was a look of warning in his eyes. "See ya later then," he finally said before turning and stalking off.
Harry sighed as he laid his head back down, folding his hands above his head for a pillow. "Ron's been acting a bit odd lately," Harry said and then turned his head to Hermione who was back to resting her cheek on her hands. Their faces were close, but not close enough for it to be awkward. "He seems to…I don't know, it's like I can't seem to smile at you without feeling wary of him."
She gave him an amused look. "Harry, you're just now realizing this?"
Harry frowned. "Er…well, yes but I assume you're going to tell me why I should have noticed something sooner."
"Ever since sixth year when I said you were more fanciable than ever he's been kind of suspicious around us." She lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. "Every time you pulled me back for a quick word or whenever he caught us alone. He would always look at us as if he almost caught us doing something friends don't normally do."
"I know he gets jealous of other guys when it comes to you, Hermione," Harry said as he casually moved a hand to pick out a blade of grass that found its way in her hair. "But it's me. He knows we're just friends."
She let out a laugh. "Yes, but you're Harry Potter."
Harry winced. "Give me a break, Hermione."
"No," she laughed. "You know I don't see you that way and Ron doesn't either most of the time, but sometimes…well, he remembers who you are. He probably thinks that maybe one day I'll realize your…qualities…and start fancying you or something."
Harry grinned. "My qualities?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, you know what I mean. He doesn't get it. He doesn't realize that you've never been the famous Harry Potter to me. Even when I read about you before I came to Hogwarts, I never thought of you as special."
"Well, that's a bit harsh," he teased.
"Maybe that's the wrong word to use, because you are special, Harry. What I mean is, you're just Harry to me." She shrugged again. "You'll always be just Harry to me."
A feeling of warmth filled his heart as he smiled brightly at her. "I've always known that, but it's nice to hear it. Thanks."
"Anytime."
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Harry asked as he turned over to his side and propped his head up on his elbow.
"You want to know what's between me and Ron?" Hermione asked as she copied his position but was facing him.
Harry frowned. "Do you have to do that?"
She grinned. "Do what?"
He scowled. "Always know what I'm thinking?"
"You know what I'm thinking half the time so that makes us even."
"Yeah, but…okay, we're straying off topic here."
"Oh? What's the topic?"
Harry eyed Hermione. "Now you're just being cruel."
Hermione laughed. "I'm sorry. Okay, you want to know what's going on between us?"
Harry nodded as he felt his nerves come back. He didn't know why but he wasn't looking forward to hearing that Hermione fancied him, or that they were together but have been keeping it secret. "I want to know. It's time that I do."
"Would you mind it if we were together?"
"I…don't really know that yet," he said as he started to pick at the loose threads of the blanket. "Let's start with my question first."
"Fair enough. I pretty much could tell Ron was starting to fancy me over the years. Fourth year, especially. I was flattered. Besides Victor, he was the only boy who showed any interest in me. So, at first I thought I didn't fancy him that way. During fifth year I was too distracted by…er…things, to really notice Ron. But, by the end of the year and during the summer, I thought about it. So, I told myself that if Ron ever asked me out, I'd say, yes."
"To give it a try?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, but he never did. All last year I waited for him to ask me, I even started to get excited about it, but then…I saw him kissing Lavender."
Remember how Hermione reacted, he could understand now how she felt. "I'm sorry, Hermione."
"It hurt. That's why I acted so psycho." She sighed and let out a laugh. "Then you went off with Ginny…sorry, I know it's hard to talk about now that you know…"
"No, it's okay," he assured her. "Go on."
"Well, I just felt alone last year, I guess. It was like the three of us drifted apart at times."
"Yeah," he said sadly as he looked away from her. The sadness in her eyes broke his heart and made him feel guilty that he had a huge part in bringing it there. "I'm sorry I wasn't much of a friend to you, Hermione. It was obviously the potion and other things, but it's still no excuse."
"It's okay, I'm just glad everything is back to normal between us." She rolled back over to her stomach and since she rolled towards him, her whole side of her body touched against the front of his. He was still on his side up on his elbow and his face now loomed over hers. "And to answer your question? Nothings going on between us. Ron had his chance to ask me and it's too late."
"Hermione," he said placing a hand on her back. "Are you sure? He's just a bit slow, maybe I can talk to him."
"No," she said firmly. "Don't do that. I don't fancy him. Truth is, I don't think I ever liked Ron romantically."
They were silent for awhile, neither of them speaking as Hermione had her eyes closed while Harry's eyes drifted and unconsciously rubbed tiny circles on her back. "You know that day during Dumbledore's funeral…I thought…after seeing you cry on Ron's shoulder and him stroking your hair." Harry then lifted his hand so he could now stroke it just as Ron did. "I thought you two were together."
Hermione sighed dreamily and Harry could tell she was about to drift off to sleep. "I wanted to lean on you, Harry," she mumbled sleepily. "You should know that."
Hearing that, his heart did a little flip. "Why didn't you?"
"With Ginny sitting on the other side of you…I didn't think…it would be appropriate."
She fell asleep before he could think of what to say after that. She wanted to lean on him. Not Ron. The knowledge of that made him feel shockingly good. It shouldn't have. The friendship he had with Hermione wasn't a competition between Ron. But it didn't hurt to know Hermione wanted his shoulder, rather than Ron's. It didn't hurt to know that Hermione and Ron would never be together. It was one less thing to worry about.
It also didn't hurt if he laid his head down next to her. So he did. He closed his eyes too, and didn't bother to move his hand on her upper back, which was now buried in her soft hair. A little cat nap out in the sun between friends.
No harm in that, Harry thought as he started to drift off to that place between sleep and awake. No harm at all.