Chapter 3: Old Friends
Recap:Morning came and Hermione stretched to the smell of breakfast in the kitchen. Harry was already up, for he had always slept less than her. Due to the Dursleys' incessant commands, Harry had learned to cook, and the scent of pancakes smelled absolutely heavenly. Hermione decided then that she would take a break from her empty refrigerator and let her stomach do the thinking. She waltzed into the kitchen to find Harry talking and laughing with a young woman. Her mouth fell open.
"Ginny?"
The young woman smiled nervously. "Hi, Hermione. It's really been too long, you know. We didn't know what to make of it when you suddenly took off without notice and then today, Harry told me you were staying here, and I hadn't seen you since you left two years ago, and I'm sorry if you didn't want to see me, but-" Hugs and squeals quickly stopped her from saying more, and Harry took it as his cue to leave the room.
"I'm so sorry," Hermione began, "but I suppose after two years, you'll have to have heard about what happened to Ron. I was terribly afraid that you'd blame me, so I left."
"I never blamed you, Hermione. None of us did. You did everything you could, and we knew that. You should have known that we would never blame you. You're like family to us, you know, and besides, before Ron got together with Luna, Mum was more than ready to take you in as her daughter-in-law." Ginny smirked as a blush crossed Hermione's cheeks. "You know I never felt that way about him, Gin. I did love Ron, but he was really just an older brother to me. Make no mistake, he was a wonderful, overprotective brother, but the bickering between us contained no more sexual tension than the bickering between you two." At this, Ginny grimaced.
"I know. I know. You've told me enough times, and I understand that. The rest of Gryffindor had their hopes pinned on you two though. It was really very amusing to watch the arguments." Hermione smiled sadly.
"I really loved him, Ginny. No matter what stupid thing he said or did, I know he loved me too. I just couldn't bear it that he left me, you know? He was one of my best friends. So many years of bonds, of memories, and I lost my best friend. My quiditch-loving, homework-copying, idiot of a best friend. And I loved him. And I lost him. He was my last connection to Harry. And when he had gone, I just...I lost both of my best friends, and I just couldn't take it." Tears slowly began to trickle down Hermione's cheeks. Gently, Ginny took the older girl into her arms and let her cry. Tears that hadn't fallen in years escaped the confines of Ginny's pure blue eyes.
"He did love you, Hermione. And he's watching you right now, crying with Luna because he loved you. You were as much a part of him as he was of you, and you know that. We all did. And that's why we never blamed you. And that's also why you have to stop blaming yourself."
Hermione smiled. "I guess I do have to let go of him. It will take a while, but I think I'm ready."
"Wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed. Eager to change the subject, she launched into the only other one she could think of. "Now what's this about you and Harry? Ron, I know you thought of as a brother, but how you can look at Harry and not see more than a best friend? I mean really, he's gorgeous. The years away have really done him well, not to mention that he's kind, generous, the savior of the Wizarding world..."
The blush on Hermione's cheeks returned and deepened into the red of Ginny's hair. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ginny. Harry and I are destined to be just friends. It's been a line that we've never thought of crossing. I'm too comfortable where I am to risk it all for something that will most probably not last."
"But I know you've thought of crossing the line! I know it! And you never said anything about him being your surogate brother! I know that if you just came to realize your feelings, you would know that you could never let him go!"
"Ginny! If you think him such boyfriend material, why don't you get back with him?"
Ginny just waved off the comment. "Hogwarts is over, Hermione. Harry and I are done. It was great while it lasted, but I think it was a bit of normalacy for him and a bit of fame for me. We weren't meant to be, and now, he's become just another one of the boys. It was wonderful, of course. Nothing with Harry could be anything but wonderful, but I'd have to say. Nothing is as great as the feeling of almost being Mrs. Neville Longbottom." Hermione gasped and looked at Ginny's hands. The latter grinned at raised the hand with the engagement ring on it. The women squealed in sync and exchanged fervent hugs.
"Congratulations! You've certainly chosen well." And it was true. The war had made Neville into a serious, yet strangely lighthearted young man who would stop at nothing to protect his loved ones. Although his potion brewing had not improved, Neville's wandwork rivaled the best of the Aurors.
"Well I have to go now, or Mum's going to tan me for not being there for my dress fitting on time. I just wanted to ask you, though. I know it's sudden and all, what with you being gone, and you not knowing any of the stuff that goes on really in the wizarding world and -"
"Ginny, just spit it out!"
"Oh all right then. Well, what I mean to say is - I mean - I - well-"
"Ginny!"
"Will you be my maid of honor?"
Happy tears sprung to Hermione's eyes. "Of course, Gin. I would love to." The two women hugged for what seemed to be the longest time before Ginny, finally realizing that time was of the essence, left. Before she apparated, however, she couldn't help but whisper in Hermione's ear, "Harry told me to come here. He cares about you more than you know. He just wants you to be happy." With a pop, she was gone.
Hermione sat and mused at Ginny's last words. She knew Harry cared about her, but this was going a little to far. Before she could think any further, however, the door squeaked and Harry came out of his room.
"Have a good talk?" He wasn't sure if he had done the right thing, but could see that meeting up with her friend had left her rejuvenated and had put a small sparkle back into her eye. He wasn't prepared, however, when he felt her pressed against him in a soft hug.
"Thank you, Harry. I really needed that. I had held myself responsible for Ron's death in the worst of ways and realizing that none of the Weasleys blamed me has given me the strength to finally let go of my guilt."
"Anything for my best friend," Harry coughed, suddenly embarrassed. He pulled away and suggested a couple of places they could go to spend the day. They first went to visit Ron and Luna's graves. The inscription on the stone read:
Ron and Luna Weasley
Beloved Friends, Spouses, Heroes
We will never forget what you have done for us.
Tears were shed as Harry finally let it sink in that Ron, his first best friend, loyal to the very end, was gone. He locked his arms around Hermione, not willing to let go of the one person who truely felt his pain. He could see Ron's bright smile, his determined look as he figured out the strategy for defeating his opponent in chess, his look of ecstacy as he dug into the Hogwart's feast, his look of love when Luna danced with him at a Yule Ball. Harry could see his best friends arguing to no end. He could visualize every moment of their days together. Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The Trio. They were supposed to be together forever, but some things were just not meant to be. The trio had been separated only in body, however, because Ron would always stay in their hearts. They knew that, but nevertheless, Hermione stroked Harry's hair as he cried into her shoulder. She watched as his pain mingled with her own, his tears mingled with her own, dropping to the ground in front of the gravestone.