A/N: I'm not going to rework this story. I like this story, lip ring and all. In fact, I LOVE the lip ring. So *raspberries*.
Lol, I'm kidding. You're all entitled to hate the lip ring, as much as I'm entitled to love the lip ring. It's lucky I don't do this for money, because then I'd have to re-write it. As it happens, I'm doing this because I enjoy it, so no rewriting for me. =P
Hermione spent the next couple of days in some kind of stupor. Anywhere she went, whatever she did, she couldn't keep her mind of Harry. She knew it was stupid, Ron would notice something soon, and she didn't even know properly how Harry felt, although from the other night, it seemed that it wasn't as if he didn't like her like that.
The truth was that Hermione had the distinct impression that she was falling for Harry. This in itself was a dangerous realisation. Now that she knew she felt more for Harry than she did Ron, she would have to do something about it. Otherwise, it just wouldn't be fair on any of them. However she knew that if she were to tell Ron what she and Harry had done, that would be the end of their friendship, and Harry needed that more than anything at the moment.
They were sitting in the sitting room on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. The members of the Order were all out. Fred and George were now old enough to join the Order and had done so as soon as they could, so the only people left in the house were Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna and Harry.
All of them, save Harry, who stayed in his room and played his music again, spent their morning playing gobstones and chess, and generally mulling around, chatting and laughing. Although they had so much to be miserable about, it was so sunny outside that they found it hard to be in a bad mood.
`Maybe we should go get Harry,' piped up Ron, who had just beaten a fuming Ginny at chess again. `He needs to come out of his room for a while. Get some air, see people, you know.'
Hermione perked her head up and listened intently to the conversation.
`Do you think he'll join us?' Luna walked over to the couch and sat down next to Ron, who, Hermione noticed, did not seem to mind at all. In fact, she swore she could see a smile being suppressed. `He doesn't seem very people-friendly at the moment. Perhaps it's because of your break-up, Ginny?'
`Oh, no, we're fine about that now. I talked to him about it.' Ginny replied, matter-of-factly. `I knew he didn't feel that way about me anymore anyways, it was only a matter of time before he told me. I'm just glad things ended when they did. Otherwise we'd have gone through that whole bad break-up thing…'
Ron and Hermione looked at each other. Neither could tell that the other was thinking the same thing. Would their break-up be a bad one?
Hermione knew they were coming to the end of their relationship. They hardly spent any time alone with each other anymore, and Hermione could sense that Ron was getting tired. She knew it was her own fault, she didn't give him enough attention and she knew it. However, she didn't want to have to be the one to break it off; she wanted to give him that. He didn't seem to want to be the one either though, because it carried on for about a week. Hermione hadn't seen Harry in that week, so she hadn't had a chance to tell him what she was going to do. In fact, the way they had left things, she wasn't sure what he wanted at all.
She did know, however, that breaking up with Ron was for the best. He made his move a couple of hours later, in her room.
She was sitting with a book open on her lap, reading up on anything that would help the Order when he came in bashfully, tripping over his own feet.
`Hermione, can I talk to you?'
`Sure, Ron, what's up?'
He sat down on the edge of her bed, but made no sign of wanting to come closer. Hermione could see that something was definitely bothering him.
`I think… we should break up, Hermione.' He said awkwardly. `It just seems like we're not going anywhere with this, it's lost whatever it had.'
Hermione smiled. Ron wasn't as daft as he made out, and she was glad of it. Reaching out, she drew him into a hug, chuckling at his surprised face.
`I agree, Ron, I really do.'
She felt him grin, and wrap his arms around her in return. This was exactly how it was supposed to be. This comfortable feeling with Ron was something she'd missed when they'd started their relationship. She was always worrying about what their hugs meant, how far did he think this hug would go? But with this one there was none of that. No expectations. Just friends, who loved each other dearly.
`Um… Hermione?'
They broke apart and Hermione looked at him with a warm expression on her face.
`Yes?'
`Um…' He still seemed embarrassed. `I was wondering… would it be totally inappropriate to tell you that… I kind of fancy someone else?'
Hermione didn't know what to say. Disbelief etched her features before she realised that Ron had done almost the same as what she had done with Harry. The only difference is, she thought with a pang of guilt, Ron could wait. She didn't.
Ron was looking at her with a very worried expression on her face, and she could tell he was mortified to think he'd upset her. She decided to release him from his pain and she grinned at him. His relief was palpable.
`I'm very pleased for you, Ron. Can I ask who it is?'
`No.'
`What?' She laughed, sensing that Ron was obviously very embarrassed about it. She already had a vague idea who it was, but she wanted him to say it. `Why won't you tell me? After all we've been through?'
`Oh, all right! It's…. mmfff…' He mumbled the last part so incoherently that she had to lean forwards to hear.
`Who?'
`Luna, alright! It's Luna!' He half-shouted, then looked shocked at his outburst and looked around nervously, as if Luna could hear him. Hermione laughed.
`Thought so.'
++++++++++++
A few hours later when everyone had gone to bed, Harry poked his head outside his bedroom door, looking around for anyone who might be around. Finally satisfied that everyone was asleep in their rooms, he crept out, taking care not to let any loose floorboards creak under his weight. Closing his door, he turned to the one next to his and knocked gently. Not hearing a reply, he tentatively opened the door and looked in.
Hermione had obviously not heard his soft knock as she didn't turn around when he came in. She was shuffling something on her desk; it looked like a roll of parchment. She must have just had a shower, because her hair was damp, it clung together in thick strands which reached down her back in ringlets. Already dressed for bed, she was only wearing a grey tank top and a pair of pink hot-pants which showed off her long, smooth legs.
It took all of Harry's self-control to remember why he was there. He closed the door quietly, placed a silencing charm around the room, then cleared this throat softly, letting her know of his presence.
`Oh, Harry! I wanted to talk to you actually, but I thought you might be asleep-`
`Can I talk first?'
She looked taken aback as he cut in, trying to complete his mission before his knees gave way.
`I don't think we should see each other anymore, Hermione. Not while you're with Ron.'
He had expected tears. Crying. That's why he had placed the silencing charm around the room. He fully expected Hermione to shout at him, telling him that they needed to see each other, he couldn't break away from her like this. What he hadn't expected was Hermione to break out in a huge happy grin. He raised his eyebrow at her and she giggled.
`That's the thing, Harry! Ron broke up with me this morning! He fancies Luna!'
`Luna..?'
`Yes!' She jumped up happily and ran over to him, flinging her arms around his waist. `He knew we weren't going anywhere, and he broke it off!'
Harry looked at her, astounded. She looked so happy, her face was shining with mirth. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to break that happiness. She seemed to notice that he wasn't smiling, however, and she stopped smiling herself.
`What's wrong?'
Harry broke away from her and turned away. He didn't want to look at her when he made her miserable.
`Hermione… what does this mean? Because you know I can't-`
`Oh, balls to that.'
Harry stared.
`What?'
She giggled and carried on smiling. Harry looked on, completely stunned. He'd never heard her say anything so un-Hermione-ish.
`I said, balls to that. I'm not having you ruining this because of him.'
How did she know that? Harry shook his head in disbelief as Hermione giggled in front of him. How did she know that he was thinking of what would happen if Voldemort found out? Then again, he thought, she'd always known what he was thinking, and she was always as stubborn. She wouldn't let him ruin this, he knew she wouldn't. He grinned.
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