Tell Me

A/N: Okay, so there was a bit of a delay with this chapter too. I'm now a college graduate, so hopefully I'll have more time to write now. Of course, I do have to find a job, which will cut into my writing time. 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. At the moment, the sequel to “All I Want for Christmas” looks like its going to be about six chapters long. It's still untitled, but I have about half the chapters drafted now.

Ah yes, the moment that most of you have been anxiously awaiting since Chapter 1 has finally arrived…“the talk” between Harry and Ron. After this chapter, time-wise we're back to where we were when the story started and now we'll be able to move on, there may be future chapters that take place simultaneously from different character's points of view.

Please read and review. More reviews encourage faster updates (real life permitting, of course). Of course, constructive feedback is encouraged.

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 5: Revelations

“In the name of Merlin, why do we need to talk about Hermione?” Harry demanded bewilderedly.

Ron raised an eyebrow as if to imply that Harry should know full-well why they needed to talk, but said nothing.

“Let me get changed. Then we'll talk on our way back to the common room.”

“You'll want to be quick. Hermione's probably worrying herself into a frenzy already that we're not back.”

Harry turned and smirked at Ron as he started changing knowing how right Ron was.

A few minutes later, not having bothered to shower, Harry shut his locker and turned to face Ron. “Okay, so talk.”

“You've noticed the problem we have, right mate?” Ron inquired hesitantly.

Problem? How's Hermione a problem?

“What problem?” Harry asked confusedly.

“The fact that Hermione's a girl and we're both blokes.”

“Why's that a problem?” Harry asked cautiously.

“So you don't have a problem with the rumors going around the school that the three of us are sneaking off at ungodly hours and having a illicit threesome every night?”

What?!

“Where in the world did you hear that ridiculous gossip?”

“Seamus asked me about it the other night.”

“Did he really?”

“Stop answering my questions with questions!” Ron demanded.

“Have I been?” Harry asked innocently.

“Yes!”

“Oh sorry, mate.”

“We're getting off-topic here.”

“What were we talking about again?” Harry asked cheekily.

Ron glared at him. “Hermione, you prat!”

“I still don't see where the problem is. You know that the gossip you mentioned was ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but there's two of us and one of her, and everyone seems to think that one or the other of us is going to end up with her.”

What? Why do people think I'm going to end up with Hermione? True, she understands me a lot better than Ginny does, and I know Ginny and Mrs. Weasley expect us to get back together to form one big happy Weasley family. Still, I can't help but think that it would lead to one big miserable divorce court proceeding. Neither Ginny and I or Ron and Hermione seem to be great for each other, but they're comfortable relationships. We know what we're getting from them.

“She's just my best friend.”

Ron raised an eyebrow at Harry, but said nothing.

“What? We've only been best friends for the last six and a half years, the three of us, so you know that we're best friends.”

They stepped out into the rain and started walking back towards the castle.

“Mate, have you ever considered the possibility of fancying her?”

Harry stopped suddenly and turned to look at Ron like he'd just told Harry that he fancied Voldemort.

What?! Where did that come from? I thought he was going to ask me how to go about asking Hermione out, not if I fancy her. Sometimes I think I don't know what's going on in his head, which is sort of sad considering we've been best friends for seven years.

“Why would I have given that any thought?” Harry asked in confusion.

“Besides the fact that everybody but the two of you has already seen the obvious?”

Obvious?

“What are you on about?”

Ron just shook his head at Harry in disbelief. “For as smart as you two are it's hard to believe that you're the last two to see it. I've even seen it, and I'm supposed to be the dense one!”

“What has everyone else seen that Hermione and I haven't?”

Ron looked at Harry like he'd grown an extra head. “If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not going to tell you. You'll have to figure that one out on your own.”

“What am I supposed to say then if I don't have a bloody clue what we're talking about?” Harry demanded.

“Have you ever thought about the possibility of fancying Hermione?”

“Didn't you already ask that?”

Ron cuffed Harry upside the back of the head as they entered the castle. “Just answer the bloody question already!”

How do I answer that?

I don't want to make him mad by saying that I have, but I also don't want to lie to him and say no.

This is one of those questions without a right answer.

So which of the lesser of two evils do I pick?

Harry turned and raised an eyebrow at Ron. “How often do you think about how much you fancy her?”

Ron nearly fell over. “WHAT?! Where did you get the bloody idea that I fancy Hermione?”

“The whole school's been waiting for you two to get together since the Yule Ball. With all that sexual tension that keeps rearing its head when you argue.”

“I argue with Ginny like that too, and I sure don't fancy Ginny. That'd just be wrong!”

Harry looked at him confused. “How did we get on to Ginny? We were talking about Hermione.”

“I'm not the one picturing his best mate having an incestuous relationship.” Ron said, pretending to throw up all over the floor.

Harry looked at Ron, now totally lost. “What are you saying?”

“I'm saying that I think of Hermione as a sister, you thick-headed prat!”

Harry's jaw dropped and no sound could come out of it.

“Seriously mate, you must be going mental to think I stood a chance with Hermione anyways,” Ron added.

“Wh-Wh-What? Wh-Wh-Why do you say that?” Harry stammered out after a minute.

Ron rolled his eyes and shook his head at Harry. “Blind and dumb. I'm a genius at picking my best mates,” he muttered. “I don't like arguing with Hermione any more than she does with me, but we see so differently on so many things that we'd never work even if we did fancy each other.”

“Just bite your tongue. She ends up being right most of the time,” Harry responded.

“I know. I just can't help myself,” Ron muttered dejectedly.

“Try counting to ten or something.”

“Been there, done that, didn't work.”

“Then I don't know how you can deal with your Weasley temper. Just try not to aggravate her. Especially with N.E.W.T.s coming up soon.”

Ron nodded. “How do you know to handle girls?”

Harry rolled his eyes. “I don't. Remember that little disaster called Cho? I just know Hermione really well since she's been our best friend for six and a half years.”

Ron chuckled. “Oh yes, after pining after her for so bloody long it ended up being a disaster when you finally got together.”

“Not that my relationship with your sister was much better. It was a nice distraction, but nothing more.”

Ron paled. “I don't want to know about what it felt like when you were snogging my sister! Though that does spell the end of any chances for mum's one big happy Weasley family.”

Harry chuckled softly. “That would have ended in one big miserable divorce court?”

Ron doubled over laughing. “You're right! I'd never thought about it like that before. I'd just thought about how me and Hermione wouldn't have worked.”

Harry grinned at Ron. “Even though you two do argue like an old married couple at times.”

Ron cuffed Harry. “Prat.”

Harry laughed.

Ron looked at him with a scheming glint in his eyes. “What about you and Hermione?”

Are we back here again?

“What about Hermione and me?”

“You think you might fancy her?” Ron asked smugly

I'm beginning to think he already knows what I was thinking about out there. Now that I know that he doesn't fancy Hermione maybe I can talk to him about it. I did say that I needed to talk to somebody about it soon…

Harry sighed. “To be honest…I don't know. I've tried to keep myself from going there because I was sure you fancied her, which made her off-limits to me. But recently, I haven't been able to help myself at times. I do know that I don't think of her as a sister, but I'm not sure that I fancy her. It'd almost be cliché…the hero ending up with his best friend.”

“But is it cliché for the hero to end up with the plain looking girl?” Ron inquired.

“She's not plain, she's beautiful!” Harry insisted.

Ron smirked at Harry.

“What?” Harry demanded.

“Did you just hear yourself?”

“You've lost me, mate.” Harry said confusedly.

“A guy normally doesn't describe his best friend as beautiful unless he fancies her. Pretty, maybe. But certainly not beautiful.”

Harry turned a light shade of red. “That's just what I'm talking about. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel towards Hermione anymore, especially now that I know that you don't fancy her. That means it's fair game for me to seriously consider if I fancy her.”

“And I'm going to help you do just that.”

“When did you become such an expert about feelings, oh he who has the emotional depth of a teaspoon?”

Ron glared at Harry. “Do you want my help or not?”

“Yeah, I needed to talk with somebody about it anyways, and since I know you don't fancy her I know now that you're safe to talk to about it.”

“What's stopping you from fancying Hermione?”

Harry sighed. “She's so important to me that I need her in my life, even if it's only as a friend. I wouldn't want to lose her if we tried dating and didn't work out.”

Ron looked at him like he'd grown a second head. “Do you really think so little of her, mate? She's been so ga-ga over you for so long there's no way she would throw away your friendship because you didn't work as a couple.”

Harry blushed embarrassedly. “There's no way she'd fancy me anyways.”

Ron shook his head in disbelief. “Didn't you hear what I just said? She's been ga-ga over you for years. Of course she fancies you!”

“You really think so?” Harry asked tentatively.

“I'd bet my entire wizard card collection on it.”

Harry smiled softly. “For you to be willing to bet something that important to you on it, it must be a sure thing.”

“So are you warming up to the idea of fancying Hermione?”

“Her and Luna are about the only people to see me as just Harry, instead of whomever the rest of the wizarding world thinks I am that week. I've always really appreciated that about Hermione. She's the only person who can get through to me, no matter what's going on in my head…”

Ron commented aloud to whomever was within earshot as they turned into the hallway just outside the portrait of the Fat Lady. “I'd say he's already smitten.”

Harry turned and glared at Ron.

How dare he!

I wouldn't say that I'm smitten. I may be warming up to the idea, but I'm not smitten.

Am I?

Thinking that Ron fancied Hermione was one of the biggest reasons I wouldn't let myself fancy her, but now that I have his blessing to fancy her…

Okay, okay…so I am totally head-over-heels in love with my best friend.

Harry broke out into a big silly grin. “You're right.”

Ron looked so happy that Harry was beginning to worry that Ron might kiss him.

Instead Ron plastered a goofy, but strange grin on his face as he gave the password and they started talking about the match with Slytherin as they entered the common room.

Ron quickly broke off the conversation and walked over to say hi to Hermione as Harry paused to admire Hermione sitting peacefully on the couch taking notes for one of her classes.

She looks absolutely beautiful.

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