Tell Me

A/N: Sorry for the lengthy delay. I'm a senior in college, and have a very busy life, so I don't get much time to write for fun these days. I have every intention of finishing this story and the sequel to “All I Want for Christmas”, but I have no timeline on the conclusion of those stories, or what I'll write beyond that.

I finally got back to this chapter. For those who didn't realize it already, yes this story will jump around a bit time-wise as at least early on I'll be jumping between a few different points of view, so there will be events that repeat themselves, but I'm trying to paint as complete a picture as possible. I'm not sure when I'll get time to write the next chapter since I'm graduating from college in about a month.

Please read and review. More reviews encourage faster updates (real life permitting, of course).

Disclaimer: I'll refer you back to Chapter 1 to save space and simplify things for those whom have already read it.

Tell Me

Chapter 3: Operation Prat Removal

Both my best friends are complete and utter prats.

It's obvious to everyone but the two of them that they're madly in love with each other. They're as blind as bats about the painfully obvious. How can they be that bloody oblivious?

Sometimes I just want to knock their heads together…maybe that would knock some sense into them. Of course, it might only make them mad at me too. It's not a good idea to get on the bad side of the most powerful witch and wizard of our age, because they could hex me to the other end of the universe…especially if they worked together, which they probably would.

One of the people Ron was frustrated at called out, bringing Ron back to reality, “Alright everyone! Practice is over. We'll see you tomorrow…hopefully under drier conditions.”

Ron laughed along with the rest of the team as they landed and started walking towards the locker room.

Suddenly, Ron felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder and Harry's voice tell him softly, “don't wait for me in the locker room. I'm going to do some extra flying.”

This is a perfect opportunity to figure out how I might be able to knock some sense into these two prats.

“I'll wait for you anyway, mate,” Ron told him. “I've got some plays I want to diagram out to see if they look as good on paper as they do in my head.”

“You mean there's actually something in that head of yours?” Harry teased playfully.

Ron stuck his tongue out at Harry. “Git,” he mumbled as he turned and walked towards the locker room.

I don't like lying to Harry, but I needed to give him a believable cover story for waiting for him. That also gives me a chance to think about how to knock some sense into those thickheads.

Ron entered the locker room and plopped down on the bench in front of his locker with a heavy sigh.

“What's eating you, Ron?” Seamus inquired.

“Just trying to figure out how to get the two oblivious gits, otherwise known as my best friends to see the obvious.”

“What? That they're head-over-heels in love?”

“Yeah.”

“You mean they haven't been secretly going out since third year?”

Ron glared at Seamus. “Only if they haven't told me, and were cheating on Krum, Cho, and my little sister the whole time they were together!”

Seamus turned red in embarrassment. “Point well taken.”

“How can two people that close to each other not see that they're madly in love with the other?” Ron mused aloud.

“I have no bloody idea mate. I also don't see how your sister still believes that Harry's going to get back with her. I mean, that one came out of nowhere on his side in the first place. It's almost like she slipped him a love potion or something.”

Ron glared at him again. “Keep in mind that you're talking about my little sister,” he snapped.

“Sorry mate,” Seamus said quickly before fleeing the locker room, leaving Ron alone with his thoughts.

As much as I hate to admit it, Seamus did have a point about Harry's fling with Gin coming out of nowhere on his side. Of course, he probably wouldn't have said anything to me anyways, knowing that I tend to be a bit over-protective of her.

Still, even though I may have the emotional range of a teaspoon, you'd think I'd have realized if my best mate fancied my little sister.

Ron got up and walked over to the blackboard and started randomly diagramming plays as he continued to think.

I mean seriously…how have Harry and Hermione not realized that they're head-over-heels in love with each other? With all the hugging and touching and grabbing and all the other mush stuff they do to each other, you'd think they'd been going out since third year!

Folks say my folks are lovey-dovey on each other?! Harry and Hermione blow them off their brooms!

Ron suddenly realized that the quidditch players on the blackboard had drawn a heart, and he quickly cleaned the board and went and plopped back down on the bench in front of his locker.

Bother. Why can't I find somebody to love? Lavender was lust, plain and simple. Padma's a nice girl, but I ruined any chance I might have had with her at the Yule Ball. Even if Hermione wasn't Harry's things wouldn't work between us. We bicker too much for us to have a chance.

Loony's not bad looking, and she seems pretty nice…but still, she's Loony Lovegood! I can't go out with her! It'd ruin my reputation.

Wait a minute! I'm getting off-topic here. I'm supposed to be figuring out how I can get the bloody dense prats I also call my best friends to figure out they're in love with each other.

Ron leaned back against his locker and stared at the ceiling.

How do I make them see what's right in front of them? Preferably not making it painfully obvious that I'm trying to get them together.

The old trick-them-into-snogging trick? Nah, I'd probably get my bits hexed off for that.

Leave them alone on a Hogsmede weekend? Nope. They'd probably come looking for me instead of talking out their feelings.

What if I had a date though…?

Nah, that probably wouldn't work either, since they'd probably spend most of the time wondering how bad I'm mucking things up instead of talking about their feelings.

And that's not even considering the question of who I'd get a date with. My options would be a bit limited.

Ron suddenly sat straight up.

They're both Gryffindors, so where's their bloody legendary Gryffindor courage? You'd think two people as brave as they are would have no trouble telling somebody they fancy them.

So why haven't they told each other they do?

Ron leaned back against his locker with a slightly cheeky grin on his face.

Well…Hermione's a girl, and I have no idea how girls think, so I'm not even going to try to figure out why she hasn't told Harry.

That leaves me trying to figure out why Harry won't tell Hermione that he fancies her. That's no easy feat either, and I've been his best mate for seven years. He's so bloody secretive with his feelings. It takes a Hermione to figure him out.

I don't know how she does it. She has this…Harry radar that's honed in on him 24/7. I'd go nuts if I was him.

Then again, he's always been the one that's tolerated her the best. No wonder she fancies him. He's such a softy when it comes to her it's not even funny. It's rather sickening actually. In a sappy way.

Ron stood up and walked over to the window and watched Harry slowly circle the pitch for a few minutes.

He must really be thinking about something…probably Hermione. I should have figured that was what he was going to do when he said he had some flying to do. It's not like he had to practice moves for our next match or anything, since he can trick that prize git Malfoy easier than Fred and George can prank Percy.

Is he finally trying to work up the courage to admit to Hermione that he's completely, utterly, head-over-heals in love with her?

Ron laughed loudly.

Yeah, right! He'd rather hex Malfoy than admit to a girl that he fancies her. Especially so for Hermione since they've been best friends for seven years.

Maybe the better question is: Does he know that he's in love with Hermione?

Maybe not. So I need to continue with Operation Prat Removal, just in case.

So where do I start? They're too smart to be lured into a plan like this too easily, so it'll have to be something really good.

Let's not be too hasty to do anything though. If they're close to getting together on their own, then I should just stand back and watch it happen. That means talking with them and finding out how they feel and then figuring out what to do.

Ron smirked as he walked back to his locker and sat down.

Hermione would be proud of me for that one. I actually thought something through and planned ahead for once. She just wouldn't be happy with me for what finally made me do it.

Ron lowered his head into his hands.

I sure got myself in over my head on this one didn't I?

Ron sat that way for a few minutes until the door opened and a hand touched his shoulder.

“Are you alright, mate? Do we need to get you to Madame Pomfrey?” Harry asked

Ron shook his head. “I'm okay, mate.”

“Why'd you have your head in your hands then?”

How do I explain this one to Harry? Well…I suppose there's no time like the present to get his take on his relationship with Hermione.

Ron stood up with a stern expression on his face and put a hand on Harry's shoulder.

“Mate, we need to talk.”

Harry looked at him puzzled. “What about?”

“Hermione.”

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