A/N - okay, this is one of two chapters. It was going to be a one-shot but I thought the ending might just be too much for all of us H/Hr shippers out there. I guess this is yet another theory why Hermione changed tack in HBP - and in saying that, this takes place when Harry visits the Burrow at the beginning of HBP, but this is from Hermione's POV. The one conversation that changes everything…
Oh, and thanks for the well wishes for my mum - she's getting better and should be out of hospital in the next week or so. Cheers.
"It looks like I'm the one who's got to finish off Voldemort…at least it said neither of us could live while the other survives."
Hermione closed her eyes, aware of the tears that leaked from her closed lids and rolled down her face but ignored them as Harry's words repeated again and again in her mind.
"…I always knew I had to face him in the end."
She stifled a sob.
Harry has to kill Voldemort - it was prophesied and documented; an official record in the Department of Mysteries, part of the Ministry of Magic. That made it real. Professor Dumbledore believed it. That made it a certainty.
But still Hermione's mind debated with the knowledge that her best friend was indeed the 'Chosen One', that it had been prophesied before Harry had even been born. She had never held the divination arts in high regard so that in itself was reason to see that it could all be a load of rubbish and there was no reason that Harry was destined to face the most powerful, evil wizard in years. Except it was recorded in the Ministry of Magic. And Professor Dumbledore believed it.
She let herself stare unseeingly out the window of the room she was sharing with Ginny at the Burrow. It had been just over a week now since Harry had shared his secret with herself and Ron and she thought she had been successful in hiding her concern away from them both.
Hermione chuckled sadly to herself at that thought - she had had a lot of practice at hiding her emotions away from her two friends. Especially Harry. Her tears flowed a bit heavier as she once more thought of the way she felt about him and how he didn't seem to feel the same way, that even though they had worked so well together during their previous year at Hogwarts he was still oblivious to the fact that she liked him. She liked him a lot.
Which made the whole idea that it was up to Harry to destroy Voldemort even harder to comprehend and accept. It wasn't fair on so many levels. It wasn't fair because Harry didn't ask for it. It wasn't fair because he hadn't even come of age and was expected to duel the most powerful wizard in the world. It wasn't fair because his life had been so horrible already, he deserved to have some happiness. It wasn't fair because he could be taken away from her without him knowing how much she really cared for him.
I should tell him, she thought desperately, I should just let him know.
But she shot that idea down as soon as it rose. She knew she couldn't say anything as it could ruin everything they had, especially their friendship - something she knew was exceptionally special. Besides, this coming year at Hogwarts she felt was her year; this year Harry Potter will finally see her as more than just his 'female best friend'.
She smiled slightly as she wiped away a few remaining tears as she thought about the last week. Harry had seemed genuinely happy to see her and even after his news, he seemed more relaxed than she had thought he'd be. Sure, he kept dodging any talk about Sirius and she sometimes saw the sadness in his eyes that he was trying so hard to hide, but he seemed happy, considering. And he chose her to be on his team when they played Quidditch with Ron and Ginny, helping her out and not making as much fun of her as the other two did. In fact, he hadn't teased her at all even though she had been rather shocking on a broom - he had even stuck up for her a few times.
Maybe, she thought to herself, just maybe this year he'll…
"Hey Hermione."
Ginny's voice broke through Hermione's thoughts, making her quickly brush away any remnants of tears before turning away from the window in time to see Ginny enter their room. Like usual, the youngest Weasley looked stunning, dressed casually in shorts and a singlet type top that Hermione could only dream of wearing, her hair long and sleek down her back.
"Hey Ginny," Hermione replied casually, leaving the window and going to her bed as Ginny plopped down on its twin, "how's Dean?"
"Oh, you know," Ginny replied off-handily, "he's okay. Didn't really do much, just watched that stupid game he likes."
"Oh, right," Hermione nodded with understanding, "the football premiership's started."
"Yeah, something like that," Ginny confirmed, "what about you, been up to much?"
"Not really," Hermione answered truthfully, "Harry and Ron started this huge conversation about some Quidditch world cup game. I gave up after a while and came up here."
"You okay?" Ginny asked with a frown, looking over at Hermione, who turned away quickly, "you look upset."
"I'm fine," Hermione hastily replied, "just thinking about…"
"Harry," Ginny finished off with a smile.
"What makes you think I was thinking about Harry?" Hermione questioned, turning back to her friend.
"Because you're always thinking about Harry," Ginny answered matter-of-factly, "that's what you do. What's up?"
"Nothing."
"Right."
Hermione lay back onto her back and let the silence hang between her and Ginny, trying to stop her wildly beating heart getting out of control. She knew Ginny was frustrated that she was kept out of the 'information' loop, her short response confirming that, but that wasn't the reason Hermione had suddenly become nervous - she had a feeling the conversation was going to get a whole lot more personal. And it did.
"Hermione, do you fancy Harry?" Ginny blurted out, breaking the silence.
"Harry and I are just friends," Hermione answered automatically, still staring at the ceiling.
"That wasn't my question," Ginny persevered, "I asked if you fancied him, not if you were a couple. So…do you?"
"What makes you think I fancy Harry?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"The way that you look at him," Ginny replied, "especially lately. Not to say there isn't something to look at, he is definitely turned into a good looking bloke."
Hermione stayed silent, not trusting herself to look at Ginny.
"Can I be totally honest with you Hermione?" Ginny continued on, filling in the silence.
"Sure," Hermione said, inwardly cringing as she did so, knowing that whatever Ginny was going to say wasn't going to be good.
"You and Harry," Ginny started - Hermione closed her eyes and fought back her tears that were never far away, "I mean, you are fantastic friends, the best. But I just can't see Harry falling for you."
"Oh…"
"It's just that, you don't seem his type…"
"Type?"
"He seems to like athletic girls, you know? Girls that like Quidditch, that can keep up with him. And he seems to like girls who are, well, attractive…"
"He told me he thought I was pretty," Hermione whispered without really thinking, remembering back to their conversation after his fight with Cho, realising he didn't actually say she was pretty, just that he didn't think she was ugly. Cho, on the other hand, had been stunning.
"Oh, Hermione, you are!" Ginny exclaimed, sitting upright and facing the still lying Hermione, "but, I don't know…he seems to go for…"
"…girls not like me," Hermione sighed, "I get it."
"I'm so sorry Hermione," Ginny said softly, "I know it's hard to hear, but I just didn't want you to get your hopes up just to have them crushed…"
"That's okay," Hermione shrugged before adding quietly, "it doesn't matter."
"Ron, however, I think he's more your type," Ginny continued brightly.
"Ron?" Hermione repeated, frowning, finally looking at her friend, "but he and I fight all the time!"
"He really likes you, you know," Ginny said with a smile, "he just doesn't know how to tell you."
"I…I thought he may like me," Hermione acknowledged slowly, her mind in turmoil - she didn't want Ron, she wanted Harry.
"Well, he does," Ginny smiled broadly, "and I think you two are well suited. Not to sound horrible, but let's face it, boys aren't exactly crying out to be your boyfriend now are they? And Ron - we already know he likes you, and you're already friends. It's perfect!"
Boys aren't exactly crying out to be your boyfriend now are they?
Hermione felt like bursting into tears but was determined not to show Ginny how her words hurt. She knew her friend was just trying to help and besides, what she was saying was true - Hermione was nearly seventeen years old and really only one boy had been attracted to her, and she and Viktor never even kissed!
Ron, however, was a safe bet and although at times he drove her insane, she did like him. He was funny and cute, in a freckly sort of way. She may need to try and not be so smart in front of him, or talk to any other boys when he's around - but she could try and change so they wouldn't fight as much. At least she'd have someone. At least she wouldn't be alone. And she could talk to Ron about Harry and how they could help him.
Harry.
Hermione closed her eyes and thought about her other best friend. Ginny was right about that too, the girls he was attracted to were nothing like her - she had no chance. She needed to stop deluding herself and let the idea of her and Harry go; it was a nice dream, but only a dream.
Sighing, she realised what she was going to do. She would try and forget about Harry in any sort of romantic sense and instead change so Ron wouldn't be so threatened and ask her out. It was the logical choice and although she could feel her heart breaking, she knew it was the right choice.
"I guess you're right," she acknowledged, "me and Ron, huh?"
"Just think about it," Ginny carried on, standing up from the bed she had been lounging on, "dinner will be soon so I better go and check on mum and Phlegm. See you downstairs?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in a minute," Hermione smiled stiffly, sitting upright.
Hermione watched as Ginny sauntered out of the room, her hair swaying perfectly down her back. She absently ran a hand through the mess that was her own hair and sighed again. Returning to her place at the window, she thought about what had just been said and realised that she had to make some tough choices.
Harry could never know how she had felt, her attitude towards him couldn't change. She had to be there for him, help him as much as she could to get him through the horrid things that were sure to come his way. She had to remain his friend, no matter how much it hurt.
And Ron. She would try and understand him better, try and show him that she would make a good girlfriend if only he asked. It could work, her and Ron, she just needed to change and try harder.
Hermione sighed. It was going to be a rough year.
Ginny felt a bit guilty as she walked down the stairs - after all, Hermione was her friend and it had been Hermione's advice to act normally around Harry if she ever wanted to attract him; a piece of advice which seemed to be working. She had already noticed that Harry was more attentive to her this summer, that he had been staring at her on more than one occasion and seemed to like her company. Ginny smiled to herself. Although she technically was with Dean, Harry was the boy she really wanted and if this 'playing hard to get' worked, then all the better.
A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.
But Ginny wasn't stupid and knew Harry and Hermione were exceptionally close, that they understood each other better than anyone else. She had also seen Harry looking at Hermione this summer as well, and that yet again Hermione was privy to Harry's secrets where Ginny was excluded. She knew if she wanted a chance with Harry, she had to weaken his relationship with Hermione, it was the only way.
Hence the talk.
She could justify it easily, that everything she had said was technically true. Except she knew, in the back of her mind, that Hermione actually did have a chance with Harry Potter and that chance needed to be eliminated. Again, Ginny smiled to herself, convinced she had been able to do just that.
After all, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.
Pausing, she looked down on Ron and Harry, still deep in discussion about one thing or the other. Harry's back was towards her, allowing her the opportunity to admire the way his shoulders had broadened, and the way his messy hair sat on his collar. She smiled more broadly, thinking, not for the first time, how perfect they would look together - Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. And if Ron and Hermione became a couple, they would complete the Weasley family - it would all be fantastic.
One big happy Weasley family - the way it should be.
A/N2 - Now, before anyone gets all upset, this is a H/Hr story and will end that way, I promise! See why I couldn't leave it as a one-shot? You guys would've killed me!