When One's Fancy Turn's to Another
Chapter 6~Setting Things in Motion
A/N: Thanks to Miss, who smashed the block I developed on this story. I love her dearly
It took about five seconds for Hermione's mind to register what was happening. As Ron wrapped his arms around her, Hermione's eyes snapped open and at once she pushed away.
"No," Hermione said quietly as she shook her head.
Ron ran his fingers through his hair with a confused look on his face.
"Hermione?"
"I'm so sorry, Ron. I didn't mean for that to happen," said Hermione backing father away.
"Shh, its ok," said Ron walking closer to Hermione.
"No! Its not. Ron, I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have done that," said Hermione.
"But, Hermione…" said Ron, reaching out to touch her.
"Look, I know it doesn't make sense, " said Hermione pushing his hand away and walking
circles. "You are amazing, Ron. You're handsome, funny, and nice, but I just can't."
"Why?" asked Ron bluntly.
Hermione stopped and gave him a meaningful look. Ron immediately understood.
"Harry," said Ron heavily.
"I know its stupid. I should just get over him, but I can't. Not right now anyway. Ron, I do care for you, but it wouldn't be fair to you right now. Not when I can't give my whole heart to you."
"But when, Hermione?"
"I don't know," said Hermione quietly as she stopped and faced Ron. " I love him, Ron."
"I want to be with you Hermione, but I don't know if I can wait," said Ron bending his head down to look at the ground.
Silence surrounded the two for a few moments that seemed like and eternity. A crisp autumn wind blew by and Hermione took a breath. Ron looked from the ground to Hermione.
"I'm not asking you to," said Hermione staring without blinking into Ron's eyes.
Ron let his head fall again and he walked away and leaned heavily on the fence. Hermione stared to walk away back towards Hogsmead.
"Hermione, wait, " said Ron barely audible.
Hermione spun around and gave Ron a quizzical look.
"I have to tell you something."
~*~
Ginny Weasley apparated into a dark alley in a part of London she hadn't entered since her sixth year at Hogwarts. She immediately wrapped her cloak tighter around her shoulders as a cold wind danced through the alley. Ginny swept a curtain of red hair out f her eyes and proceeded to emerge from the alley into the dirty street. The day was cloudy and though it was only afternoon, the street was dark and gloomy.
Though she hadn't been there in years, she knew exactly where to look for it, and before long he dirty, dark house materialized before her eyes. Her gaze went to each window, looking for any sign of life within the walls. Finally, at the top, a small light as though from a fire shone through.
Ginny walked up the door and rang the bell. No screeching from inside came as it used to, for the portrait of the old lady was long gone. After waiting for several minutes, Ginny rang the doorbell again. Another couple of minutes went by and Ginny felt her temper rising.
She walked back a little and looked up at the window the small light was coming from. A figure was looking back at her and Ginny gave a little wave.
Harry Potter sat at the top of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, looking over some material for next weeks test. He had survived the first stage of the Auror trials, but the next few weeks were going to be the hardest. Intense physical and mental examinations required extreme concentration and Harry was having a hard time concentration on anything.
He was finally getting past the second page of the manual he was reading when the doorbell sounded through the house. Harry looked towards his bedroom door, thinking that it must be Remus, the only person who had come to see him. Harry knew that Remus knew the spell to
opened the door.
Harry went back to trying to read, thinking at any moment he would hear his old professors voice ringing through e house calling or him. Suddenly the doorbell ran again. Harry looked at the door again with a puzzled look. If it were Remus surely he would have let himself in.
Harry pondered for a moment on who could be. His mind instantly went to the one person he desperately wanted to see, but he tried to shrug it off as wishful thinking. Harry closed his eyes and the image of curly brown hair blowing in the wind out side his door, and deep brown eyes came to mind. Harry immediately stood up and walked over to the window, looking down at the doorstep.
Harry felt his heart sink as he saw red hair instead of brown. Ginny Weasley was standing on his doorstep waving at him. Harry at first thought maybe if he ignored her, she would go away. But it was a cold day and not a very nice neighborhood, so he couldn't just leave her outside. Harry gave Ginny a feeble wave and proceeded to go downstairs.
Ginny saw Harry leave the window and for a moment she wondered if he was going to just ignore her and leave her outside. But after a couple of minutes she heard a tap of a wand on the other side and Harry's face peered out as he half opened the door.
"Ginny?"
"Hello, Harry," said Ginny simply.
"What are you doing here?" asked Harry still not opening the door all the way.
"Would you mind if I came in first? This isn't really the ideal way I would like to say what I have to say to you."
Harry's response was opening the door and allowing her in. Ginny looked around the old dirty entryway. Harry led her into the same front room he had went the night he came back. Ginny rubbed her cold shoulders and looked longingly at the empty fireplace. Harry took out his wand and lit a fire.
"So this is where you've been hiding," said Ginny sitting in a chair by the fire.
"Remus, told you, I suppose,' said Harry, throwing himself down in the other chair.
"Actually he told Ron, and Ron told me," said Ginny.
"So why are you here, Ginny?" asked Harry harshly.
"I was worried about you. Everyone is Harry. I just wanted to see if you are alright."
"I'm perfectly fine. I've been busy."
"Oh, " said Ginny, nodding.
"So, if that's all you wanted you can go now. You can tell everyone when the trails are over, I'll come by," said Harry.
"That's not the only reason I came here, Harry," said Ginny, looking at him.
Harry looked at Ginny wearily, clearly worried that she was going to ask about the status of their relationship.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," said Ginny quickly.
"Look, Gin…" started Harry but a confused look suddenly cam over his face and he continued on, "You're sorry? Why?"
"That night at Hermione's birthday party. I shouldn't have done that, Harry."
"Oh that. Wait, why are you sorry?"
"Why am I sorry?" asked Ginny standing up. "Harry, I betrayed two of my best friends that night."
"Ginny, what are you talking about?"
"I know you are in love with Hermione," said Ginny simply. "I knew it that night and I still threw myself at you."
Harry looked at Ginny, but did not argue with her.
"I've ruined everything for both of you. I knew she had feelings for you as well. Everyone knows that. It's just when I saw her and Ron dancing like that, I thought…"
"You thought she had fallen for him," finished Harry. "You aren't wrong, Gin."
"What?" asked Ginny sharply.
Harry pulled out a worn piece of parchment he had gone back to his apartment and retrieved and handed it to Ginny.
"She left this for me that night in our apartment," said Harry dully.
Ginny's eyes ran over the parchment reading the lines quickly.
I'm sorry I couldn't return your feelings. You're everything anyone could want and that includes me, but my heart already belongs to another. Know that I love you, and will always be there when you need me. I hope you find the happiness you deserve.
Ginny's mouth fell open and a look of realization came upon her face.
"Harry, this letter wasn't meant for you," said Ginny quietly.
"What are you talking about? I found it in our apartment. Who else could it have been for?"
"That night after you left the burrow, Hedwig came with an envelope for Ron. On it was Hermione' handwriting but the inside was empty. We guessed that the letter must have fallen out somewhere in between. Harry, this must be the letter."
"You mean…" said Harry taking back the letter.
"She was writing to Ron about her feelings for you."
"But that night at the party. I saw them dancing. Ron was holding her," said Harry.
"He was holding her, because she was upset that you would never love her back, Harry. He was comforting her."
"I've been a fool, " said Harry slumping back down in the chair.
"It's not just your fault, Harry. I'm guilty as well. I can't believe what I've done to both of you. I'm so sorry."
"No, Gin, I led you on. I know I did. Besides I should have done something about my feelings before now. I should have known."
"It's not too late, Harry," said Ginny kneeling beside shim. "Go to her now. You know where she is, don't you?"
"Of course, Remus reminds me of it every time he comes here," said Harry.
"Then why are you just sitting here?" asked Ginny straightening up. "It's Saturday, there aren't any classes. Go to her now."
"But what if I mess everything up?"
"How could anything be more messed up than it is now? Come on Harry, you can't just sit there and stew in your own regret, " said Ginny grabbing Harry be the arm.
"I... I just…" said Harry, trying to think of an excuse why he couldn't go.
~*~
"Ron, I don't think there is anything left to say," said Hermione quietly. "I'm sorry, but…"
"Hermione, its not what you think," said Ron. "I came here today to tell you something, but I got sidetracked. I never meant for this whole day together or the kiss to happen. But when I saw you I couldn't do it. I had to give it one more chance."
"Ron…" said Hermione walking closer to him.
"I'm sorry, I should have known better. I knew you loved Harry. I knew it and I still did what I did. Hermione, forgive me."
"Forgive you? Ron, I'm the one who should be sorry. I let the kiss happen, I let today happen. You haven't done anything to me or anyone else. Only yourself."
"You're wrong, I've hurt my two best friends."
"But Ron, there's nothing between Harry and I. At least nothing on his side."
"That's what I have to tell you, Hermione. Harry isn't with Ginny. She kissed him that night,"
"What do you mean he isn't with her? It takes two to kiss, Ron. I think that after today we both know that," said Hermione folding her arms into her body.
"Yes, but also you think you would learn today that people make mistakes. Harry ran after you when he saw you, Hermione."
"He did what?" asked Hermione, letting her arms fall to her sides.
"He ran after you. He kissed Ginny, because he saw you and I dancing at the party. He thought that we were together."
"But that doesn't mean …I mean, he could have just cared about me as a friend."
"Not according to Ginny," muttered Ron.
"But its impossible, Harry couldn't, he couldn't actually have feelings for me."
"Why not, Hermione? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to tell you this? Harry is obviously in love with you. He's been brooding in Grimmuald Place ever since the party. He needs you Hermione just like you need him, just like I need you both to be happy."
"It's impossible, Ron. I don't understand why you are doing this," said Hermione with tears in her eyes.
"Hermione…" said Ron taking a step closer to her.
"No, Ron, It can't..." said Hermione as she turned and ran.
Hermione ran through Hogsmead with tears in her eyes. She ignored the people who stared at her as well as Remus as he called after her as she passed by. She finally left Hogsmead to the deserted road that led to Hogwarts.
Hermione stopped to catch her breath as she fell onto a stump on the edge of the road. She broke down as tears spilled from her eyes, and her breath came as great gasps. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind.
In her mind Harry's face swam into view. His bright green eyes stared at her as he flashed his charming, crooked smile. He was reaching out to her, asking her to come to him. Could it be possible, could he actually love her like that? Hermione's tears came slower as she let this new thought spin through her head. Ron's voice suddenly came to her.
"He ran after you…He thought that we were together…do you have any idea how hard it is for me to tell you this? Harry is obviously in love with you. He's been brooding in Grimmuald Place ever since the party. He needs you Hermione just like you need him, just like I need you both to be happy."
Hermione looked up at the sky, wiping her wet eyes with the back of her hands. She reached back and released what hair was still up in the bun she had pinned up this morning. Shaking her hair out, her mind worked over time, processing the events of the past few months.
She had realized she loved Harry, she had realized he would never love her back, she had kissed Ron, he had told her Harry had feelings for her.
But was the last part true? Hermione let herself hope for a second it was until the image of him kissing Ginny came back to her mind.
'But Ron said he ran after you, Hermione,' she thought to herself. 'If he did, then where is he now? Why isn't he here telling me what Ron did?'
'He thought you and Ron were together. Maybe he though it was best to step back,' said her first train of thought. 'But he should have asked me; he should have asked Ron. Can all this be true?'
Before Hermione could answer herself, she heard Remus calling for her just inside Hogsmead. Hermione stood up and ran again towards Hogwarts, wanting the safety of her own room
She finally reached the gates, as tears were still stinging her eyes, wanting to come out. All she could think of was not stopping until she reached her bed. She needed to lie down, to think, to cry.
Hermione ran with her head down through the gates, and up the winding road that led to the large doors. Never looking up she reached the stairs and stomped up them, trying to breath and holding the stitch that plagued her side.
As she reached for the doors, she felt herself go dizzy. She went to lean on the door to give her support before she fell face forward. As she was looking down she didn't notice that the door was already open and that a man was standing in the open doorway. She went to lean into the door and instead of feeling hard wood, she felt soft arms catch her before she fell into the empty space.
"Hermione?" said a soft voice coming from the one holding her.
Hermione looked up shaking to find herself staring directly into Harry Potter's green eyes.