Ron, Luna and Ginny Weasley sat around the table, watching Harry Potter cradling a large cup of coffee, staring into space and seemingly completely unaware of their presence.
"Well, I'll say this for Muggles, they know how to make good Muffins" Ron spoke with his mouthful. Luna smiled at her husband affectionately and Ginny grinned at her brother.
"And at least if we're going to be stuck in the airport all day there are lots of shops to amuse me while you two kiss and Harry gazes into his coffee like his pet just died" Ginny commented with a smile, looking down at the bags of shopping at her feet.
"How did I manage to spend so much money in an airport?" She asked bewildered as she mentally totalled up her impulse buys.
"Gin darling, you could spend money anywhere" Luna teased her.
At this point Harry briefly returned to the land of the living,
"Sorry, did you say something?"
The three of them exchanged a glance, and through an unspoken agreement and much tilting of heads, Ron leaned over to his best friend.
"Harry mate, something you want to talk about?" He prodded gently.
Harry seemed surprised to find his three friends looking at him, and paused for a moment, opening his mouth to reassure them he was fine, but the words died before they were spoken. He closed his mouth again, tilted his head and shrugged at Ron.
"I know mate" Ron said kindly, patting Harry on the shoulder.
Ginny and Luna exchanged a bemused glance, each knowing that by now they should be used to the trio's silent communication and instant understanding of one another, but then again this wasn't the trio, it was Harry and Ron, and without Hermione, both men appeared different, as if they'd changed their hair and you hadn't noticed, but could tell that something was different about them.
Either Ron was bored of eating muffins and biscuits and ready for a different meal, or he'd decided it was time to sort Harry out, for he suddenly seemed spurred into action.
"Ok, I hate to state the obvious here"
Harry looked across at him intensely
"State it"
"Well mate, you're in love with her…no need to think about it or deny it, or to try and say its love you feel for a friend, it's not. You're in love with her. You don't want to risk your friendship with her, or what the three of us have, but you're forgetting a vital fact Harry."
"Which is?"
"This is Hermione. She's our best friend, and were things weird when I asked her out and she said no? Well, other than that first week, has it ever come between us?" Ron wasn't even pausing for breath now, this little speech had obviously been a long-time coming and he wanted to get it all out at once. "So even if she didn't feel the same you would have lost nothing, but you would know once and for all, and trust me that it wouldn't be a disaster. This is Hermione. I can't say that enough, because as much as we're the famous trio and all the other stupid names the Prophet gives us, you two are closer than that, you're a duo at the same time. You've always understood her, she's always known when you need space, or when to step in to stop you doing something stupid, or to call you on your saving-people thing…and to be honest, deep down I think you know all of that, and that maybe you're scared to let yourself be completely happy and admit that you love her because of what's happened to those you love. But that's all over now, he's gone, and while none of us can guarantee that there won't be another evil maniac on the lose at some point in the future, I think it's unlikely that you'd be destined to defeat two dark lords in a lifetime, even your luck isn't that bad." Ron took a big breath, and the group sat in silence for a moment.
"Feel good to get that off your chest?" Harry asked, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
"It did actually, maybe I should consider a career as a motivational speaker"
"No need to get ahead of yourself there Weasley, you'd miss flying too much" Ron nodded in agreement, "So you're not denying it then?"
"Nope. Not a lot of point. Seems pretty obvious that I'm madly in love with her, to be honest I'm surprised no-ones called me on it before, some Gryffindors we all are. For the smartest witch of her age, Hermione's been a bit slow on the uptake on this one though." Harry smiled sadly. Ginny made a small squealing sound as her excitement finally got the better of her, Harry chuckled at her and Luna linked her arm through Ginny's.
"So, what are we going to do about it?" Luna asked, smiling dreamily at Ron, her eyes sparkling happily.
"We?" Harry asked.
"Harry dear, it's taken you years to admit to yourself, let alone anyone else that you love her, I'm afraid that Gin here may explode with excitement if you don't do something about this soon. So we're here to force you into action."
"We're going to need a plan" Ginny mused, her head dropping into her hand on the table as the four descended into thoughtful silence.
"Got one" Harry announced with an infectious grin.
"Already?" Ron asked in amazement.
"Well, you were right, I guess I know her better than I thought, plan sorted, but I'm going to need a hand…"
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