Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's Note: Two updates in 24 hours. While I'm supposed to be studying and writing papers. I swear, you guys will be the end of me (I actually wrote a 12 pages paper today in addition of this, so I hope you guys like it! ;) ). Once again, thank you for the reviews, they were all very much appreciated and all replied to.

I was having a good time, trading jokes with Ginny and watching Harry and Draco be themselves, throwing subtle insults that sometimes weren't so subtle at each other. The food was amazing, as always. I was happy. So obviously, it was doomed.

'You know, Potter, it would be really ironical, after facing Voldemort and surviving, if you choked on a bone and died. Ever mentioned I appreciate the fine art of irony?' Draco said slowly and deliberately, drawing his eyes away from Ginny to turn to Harry, who was sitting opposite him at the table. That earned him a good smack behind the head from his fiancée before Harry could even reply and we all shared a laugh, the twins apparently finding that exchange of great amusement if their roaring laughter was any indication. I was still laughing when I caught movement from the corner of my eye and instinctively turned to look at what it was.

I felt my stomach sink when I saw that Ron was standing up and the pain that had brought me to tears earlier in the week returned tenfold. I think perhaps I had tried to forget what he had planned to do tonight, because it had been easier to go through the week thinking about the wonderful day Harry and I had had together without having to remember why we had spent said day together. And now, Ron had to go and ruin it all. A soon as the thought crossed my mind, I shook my head lightly to chase it away. It wasn't his fault, I couldn't allow myself to think like that. It wasn't fair to Luna and him.

I sensed Harry shift on his seat next to me but I didn't look at him, simply because I could not tear my eyes away from Ron. The redhead waited to be sure he had gained everybody's attention, then turned to the blonde sitting next to him. She wore her hair up in an intricate design with her wand protruding from it like Chinese sticks and the necklace made of woven paperclips she'd worn every time I'd seen her since she'd lost her butterbeer cork necklace. It was a bit peculiar, but it actually looked good on her.

'Luna. The past months have been the most exciting, most mind-boggling of my life. And considering what I went through at Hogwarts, believe me, it's quite something.'

Everybody gave a small laugh, except me.

'And the only thing I wish is for the rest of my life to be exactly the same.'

Mrs. Weasley gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth. I didn't.

'Will you marry me?' Ron finished, pushing his chair back and getting on one knee in front of his girlfriend. Luna stared dreamingly at him for a moment, her big blue eyes lost in his, then she gave a small nod. A large smile on his face, Ron took her hand in his and slipped a diamond ring around her finger before pulling her in for a kiss. The room erupted in claps and cries of joy, and I tried to join in, but my heart truly wasn't in it. Ron's family gathered around him, his brothers giving him congratulatory slaps on the back and his sister jumping in his arms as she literally squealed with glee. Knowing nobody would notice my absence, I slowly got up and left the room, heading up the stairs in silence. I climbed until I finally reached Ginny's old room and laid down on her bed just as I felt the first tears roll down my cheeks.

The sound of someone coming up the stairs made me realize that I had been wrong, that someone had indeed noticed that I was missing. 'Hermione?'

I pushed open the door slowly, looking for the brunette I had seen walk away from the dining room. I now had a pretty good hint of what had upset her earlier in the week and even though the implications of that hurt beyond words, I simply couldn't stay away. If I couldn't be her boyfriend, then at least I would be the best of friends. Because losing her completely would hurt even more than never having her.

She didn't answer when I called out her name, but I finally caught sight of her on Ginny's old bed and I walked in, closing the door behind me. The room was in pitch darkness and I felt my way to the bed with my hand, sitting on its edge once I finally reached it. As my eyes got accustomed to the darkness, I saw her wipe away stray tears.

'Is this why you were upset on Tuesday?' I tried, clinging to the hope that is was all just a coincidence. A small 'yes' was her simple answer and once more, I felt my heart sink. I was about to ask her if she wanted to talk about it even if I knew it would probably be the end of me, but she spoke before I could say anything.

'I feel so stupid. I don't love him anymore, I really don't. It's just that…he's been the only one, you know?' she said, sitting up on the bed and pulling her legs against her chest before encircling them with her arms. 'He's been the only that's ever really loved me. We were together for over three years and not once did we talk about marriage. I thought perhaps, the problem was both of us, but…'

Her honest revelation about not having feelings for Ron would probably have made me grin like an idiot had the circumstances been different but I knew it was neither the time nor place for that. I reached out and caressed her arm softly in a reassuring manner. She offered me a thankful smile before she continued.

'If Luna makes a better wife than me, what do I really have to look forward to? All this time, it wasn't Ron and I that had been the problem. It was simply me.'

'No! Mione, don't say that. You're a beautiful, wonderful, smart woman. Anybody would be crazy not to want to be with you.' I blurted out before I could realize what I was saying. Good job, Harry. She'll never figure it out now.

'Harry. I've only had one steady boyfriend in my entire life span and he's marrying a lunatic! I think it's a pretty good indication that I'll end up alone!'

She said all of this very fast on a slightly angered tone which she immediately seemed to regret. With a sigh, she stretched her legs in front of her and leaned her head back on the headboard. 'I'm sorry, I think I…I think I better head home. Tell the others I wasn't feeling well, okay?'

I nodded in silence and she got up, reaching for her wand in her back pocket. Before she could disapparate, I reached out and wrapped my fingers around her wrist, stopping her. She turned to me with a frown and waited for me to stand up and face her. Silently, I cupped her face with my hands and pressed my lips to her forehead gently, my nose in her hair. She wrapped her arms around me and pressed herself against my chest, taking comfort in my presence. My lips leaving her forehead, I leaned my chin on top of her head and we remained like that in pure silence for a while.

'There's someone in the world for you, Hermione, someone that can love you and cherish you for the rest of your life. That will take care of you no matter what.'

I felt her smile against my chest and she nodded softly, then took a step back and disapparated. After staring into the empty spot left by her absence for a few seconds, I hung my head and sighed. It was the absolute truth, someone loved her. I loved her.

I apparated into my empty flat and stumbled back onto the couch behind me, bewildered. The sudden realization that had hit me as I was in Harry's arms had left me shocked beyond words.

Being in his arms had felt so perfect, as if I was home, finally. As if nothing could ever make me cry again, or make me hurt again. All thoughts of loneliness were forgotten and in his arms was the only place I ever wanted to be for the rest of my life.

And then it had been clear, a little too clear even. How could I have not seen it before? How could I have been so stupid?

I was in love with Harry. Completely and utterly.

'What midnight kiss?' Ron asked with his brow knitted together, looking over at his sister. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat and peered down into my half empty glass of fire whiskey. The now adult Weasley children, their life partners and I were sitting in the living room, having a drink and talking. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone to bed almost an hour before.

I wasn't at all comfortable with the direction in which the conversation was now heading, ever since Ginny had asked me if Hermione had finally figured out who her midnight kisser was and I had shaken my head, eager to change the subject. But Ron had chosen that moment to turn away from his own private conversation with his fiancée to enter ours.

When I looked up again, I noticed Ginny's eyes were on me, giving me a suspicious look. I raised my glass to my lips and downed the remaining liquor, refraining a cough because it was so horribly strong that it burned as it went down. When my eyes returned to Ginny, she was now giving Ron the whole tale. His eyes were wide and he didn't say a thing for the whole time. I couldn't decide if his face expressed shock or anger. Knowing that I couldn't stand seeing an upset Ron overreact over the kiss, I got to my feet and left the room, heading for the kitchen. There, I dropped my glass in the sink and turned my back to it to lean against the counter. A loud gasp escaped my mouth when I saw Ginny standing a feet meters in front of me, her arms crossed over her chest and her piercing eyes on me.

'Are you going to tell her?'

I'd probably imagined that. She couldn't possibly have said those words. 'What?'

'Were you ever going to tell Hermione that you're the one who kissed her?' Ginny continued, taking a few steps in my direction. I wanted to back away from her knowing stare but my back was already to the counter and I was trapped.

'What are you talking about, I-I didn't…' I stammered, trying to sound innocent even if I knew it was hopeless. Ginny sighed with exasperation and her arm suddenly split the air as she hit me on the shoulder. I gasped at the sharp pain and rubbed my arm where she'd hit me. You could easily see she'd had plenty of experience in dealing with boys, growing up with six brothers and that she knew being gentle never quite sufficed. At the very least, my arm clearly felt it.

'Don't try that with me, Harry Potter. I was obsessed with you for my first three years at Hogwarts, I've observed you enough to be able to read you like a book,' she said indignantly, as if she could not believe I was trying to lie to her. Personally, what had me troubled was learning that she'd basically stalked me for three years, even though I'm not exactly sure that's what she meant. It certainly put in new perspective all the things I'd done when I thought nobody was watching.

Knowing I couldn't fool her now, I let out a sigh and let my shoulders sag. 'Ginny, please, keep it secret…'

'Like hell, I will! Harry, if you don't tell her, I will!' she let out, wide-eyed. She waved a finger in my face as she continued, making me lean further back against the counter. 'I've watched you dance around your feelings for her for way too long, Harry. It's time she knows.'

I felt almost violated, knowing that she could read me so well. For some reason, it felt right when Hermione was doing it, but with Ginny, it was different. I didn't want to be this bare in front of her, the only one I could stand being this open to was Hermione. But how could Ginny know and not Hermione?

'Do you think she knows?' I asked, my voice shaking. If she knew and hadn't said a word, then it truly meant she felt nothing for me. She was trying to spare my feelings, hoping that I'd keep it quiet and would move on eventually. In front of me, Ginny sighed and lowered her arm, all anger fleeing from her brown eyes. Her mouth formed a small pout as she shook her head slowly.

'She's lonely Harry, she clings to you because you're there and that makes her blind to your very obvious feelings for her, because in her mind you've always been there. When things went south with Ron, she clung to you. When she's had a bad day, she goes to you. She's probably the smartest person in England, Harry, but she's hurting. And her pain is clouding her judgement.'

I tried to take all that in. I had no choice now, either by my doing or Ginny's, Hermione would eventually know. For a moment, I considered begging Ginny to keep it silent, but from the look she gave me, I knew it would be of no use. Finally, I hung my head and sighed, giving in.

'Give me a week?' I pleaded, lifting my eyes to meet hers.

She seemed to consider it for moment, then she nodded, turning away and heading back where she'd come from. Suddenly, she whirled around and pointed a finger at me as she spoke. 'If by Sirius' birthday party, you haven't told her, then I will. Everything, the kiss, your feelings…everything. That's one week extra, lucky you.'

I gave an unenthusiastic cheer and she smirked, spinning on her heels and leaving the kitchen. With a long sigh, I crossed my arms over my chest and turned to look out the window into the pitch-dark backward of The Burrow.

Two weeks.

I needed to have a talk with Ron.

Author's Note: I always thought Ginny was scary, a bit like Mrs. Weasley. But I love her (not HBP-her, but definitely fanon-her). Hope you guys enjoyed the fluff and the promise of a party, because (hint) you should be looking forward to it ;) Next update should follow shortly.