Tell Me

This wasn't such a long wait this time. I'm trying to get this story and the sequel to “All I Want for Christmas” done so I can write my own version of book 7, which is in the planning stages right now. It's the shortest chapter so far, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I'm thinking there will only be 2 or 3 chapters left in this story now, depending on how my creative muse moves me. I was more pleased with the number of reviews for the last chapter. Keep them coming. We authors love hearing what people think of our work.

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 7: You Too (and You Two)

During morning break, Hermione grabbed Ron and pulled him into a broom closet. “Talk. Why were you watching Ginny so closely at breakfast?”

“You promise not to tell Harry this?”

Why would he be so insistent I not tell Harry something? Is Ginny pregnant with Harry's child and Ron somehow found out before Harry did? When would they have been intimate like that?

Wait…wait…wait…Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Hermione. It could be something else entirely.

“Okay,” she finally said

Ron scuffled his feet, then finally said, “I was told by a reliable source last night that Ginny is planning on slipping a love potion into Harry's pumpkin juice in the next couple days.”

What?!

“That little…You should have told Headmistress McGonagall immediately!”

“All I had was the person's word, which wouldn't have been enough for her to do anything.”

“Oh, right. So we're going to have to catch her in the act.”

“Looks like it.”

“Okay. Just don't go staring at her like you did this morning. It'll make her suspicious.”

“I wanted to tell you before we got there, but I didn't want to do it in front of Harry.”

“Good idea. I wish I could do something about it now, though.”

I'd like to wring her nasty little neck and maybe doing something that would risk getting me sent to Azkaban to that…that…

I don't think there's an appropriate description for how nasty she's become.

“I know. I do too.”

Ron grinned in a way that Hermione knew meant trouble was ahead.

He's up to something. I'm just not sure what. I need to be on my toes.

“You know, Hermione…you seem more defensive of Harry than usual today.”

Hermione colored slightly. “So?”

“Do you fancy him?”

Okay…definitely not what I expected him to ask. I expected him to have some prank up his sleeve.

Wait a minute…Why is Ron asking if I fancy Harry? I figured he'd be asking if I fancy him instead. After all, he's supposedly been in love with me since fourth year.

Hermione's jaw dropped. “What?!”

“Do you fancy Harry?”

Hermione gave Ron a half-hearted glare. “I heard you the first time.”

“So? Do you?”

How in the world do I answer that? I'm not usually this inarticulate. I know I don't fancy Ron, but I don't know about Harry. I hadn't even considered the idea until Ginny accused me of wanting to be Harry's girlfriend. I'm not opposed to the idea of being Harry's girlfriend, but I know that Harry would never consider me as anything more than his best friend while he knows that his other best friend fancies me.

Hermione sighed. “I don't know.”

Ron loudly faked a gasp. “The all-knowing Hermione Granger doesn't know something! Alert The Prophet!”

Hermione smacked his shoulder. “We've already been over that, Ron. Don't start it again,” she said in annoyance.

“Why are you uncertain about your feelings for him?”

“I know Harry wouldn't let himself think of me like that. Not when he knows how you feel about me.”

Ron leaned back against the wall. “Not you too!” he groaned.

Hermione looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”

“Just that I just clarified this with Harry. I think of you like I think of Ginny. You're like my sister to me. I thought you'd have figured that out with how we bickered and all.”

“Why'd you just clarify that for Harry?” Does that mean what I think that means? How do I want to feel about him?

Okay, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Ron shrugged. “Guy stuff,” he said simply.

“So, I'm like your sister?” Hermione asked in surprise.

“That's what I just said.”

“Then why did Harry make a reference to your conversation?” she inquired in her confusion.

“Because he gave me some tips for how I might get along with you better, argue with you less. Then he came downstairs to us at the start of an argument.”

Now why didn't I think of that?

“So, are you in love with Harry?” Ron asked softly.

What do I say to that?

Harry means the world to me, but I don't want to lose him as a friend. I need him in my life, even if it's only as best friends. I can't bare to think what might happen if we tried to have a relationship and it didn't work. I might lose him completely.

I meant it when I told him he's “more fanciable than ever” last year. He keeps getting sexier every year. He keeps becoming better husband material too, especially since he defeated Voldemort.

“What if we do try being more than friends and it doesn't work, Ron? I need him in my life too much to risk our friendship like that.”

Ron chuckled softly, then said, “Hermione, do you really think so little of Harry that the two of you wouldn't be able to be friends if it doesn't work? Give the bloke some credit. He of all people deserves it.”

When did Ron graduate from having the emotional depth of a teaspoon to a tablespoon?

Hermione grinned sheepishly. “I should. Shouldn't I?”

“Yeah, you should. Besides, coming from another bloke, he looks like he's positively smitten for you.”

Hermione smiled shyly. “You really think so?” she asked quietly.

Ron nodded and smiled at her.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Little things he does that he thinks nobody notices. How his eyes automatically find you when he enters a room, a smile that gets even brighter when his eyes find you, the subtle affectionate touches, the look in his eyes as you walk by…that sort of thing.”

If what Ron's saying is true, maybe there's a chance Harry could fancy me after all.

The question is: Do I fancy Harry?

Hermione's mind drifted to when Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place summer before their fifth year and how wonderful it felt to have Harry in her arms and to be wrapped up in his.

She knew her answer and she blushed at the thought of having to admit it to their other best friend.

Ron smirked. “You love him, don't you?” he asked again softly.

Hermione nodded.

“Good. You should tell him soon.”

“I will.”

Ron reached for the broom closet door when Hermione suddenly gasped.

“What?” he asked.

“You do realize what people are going to think if they see us come out of a broom closet together, right Ron?” Hermione said quickly.

It was Ron's turn to turn red. “Oh. Hadn't thought of that now, had we Hermione?” he teased.

“Was it my idea for us to come in here?”

“Yep, you were the one that drug me in here,” Ron affirmed.

Hermione put her head in her hands. “Oh, no!” she wailed. “What's Harry going to think of us when word gets out we were in a broom closet together?”

Ron put a brotherly hand on her shoulder and smiled at her reassuringly. “Don't worry about it, Hermione. It'll work out alright.”

Hermione smiled and nodded, then Ron pushed open the door.

Several people gave startled gasps, most of them in the hallway, but one came from Hermione as she saw a red ponytail suddenly spin around and go running the other direction.

“We're in for it now,” Hermione groaned.

“I told you things will work out,” Ron said softly.

“I believed that until Ginny saw us,” Hermione said.

“Oh,” Ron said softly. “That might make things a little more interesting.”

Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him towards the Gryffindor common room to try to do damage control.

I hope Harry will understand.

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