A/N: I've decided I'm just sick of this story and I'm just gonna post it up as is so I can move on to something else, which sounds awful, but I hate having it hanging over me.
Chapter 10
Harry stared at Hermione for a moment.
"Doesn't remember what, exactly?" He asked, but was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder.
He turned, irritably to see who it was, and was completely thrown when he saw Ron standing there grinning at him broadly.
"Hey, mate!"
Harry stared.
Hermione stepped in.
"Ron, come on, let's get you checked in." She said, softly and took him by the arm over to the sign in desk.
Harry stared after them in complete shock.
"I…what just happened?" He asked dazedly to Andy who looked just as surprised as he did.
"Well, if I had to guess, I'd say Ron's either completely lost his ever loving mind, or…he doesn't remember you and Hermione getting together."
Harry nodded slightly, and turned and walked away from the celebrating group of people. He saw a flash of Ron's hair and followed behind them numbly. Hermione noticed him as they were going into Ron's room and waved him inside. He went, simply because he didn't know what to do.
"Sir, what is your name?" A Healer asked.
"Ron," Ron said, "Ron Weasley."
"And what is the last thing that you can remember?"
Ron turned to look at Hermione.
"I remember being at my house…" He said slowly, "and you were there, and you as well, Harry, and I'd just met your new friend…Andrea…that's her name. Andrea."
Harry's face turned white.
The Healer nodded and turned to Harry and Hermione.
"I'd like to speak with you two for just a moment. Mr. Weasley, take this potion, please, it's for dreamless sleep, and I'd like for you to be resting."
Ron nodded, downed the potion, and was asleep within a few moments.
Harry and Hermione followed the Healer outside the door.
"That event that Mr. Weasley described….how recent is it?" The Healer asked.
"Weeks ago," Hermione said sadly, "almost a month and a half, I think."
The Healer sighed.
"I was afraid of that. It appears that his memory has been altered…and the spell that was performed is unlike one I've ever seen…I'm afraid…I'm afraid that we might not be able to do anything with his memory, and that the period of time that he cannot remember will simply be excluded from his memory, for the rest of his life."
"There's nothing at all?" Harry asked sharply, "Nothing?"
The Healer shook his head.
"I'm sorry," He said, "I know this is quite difficult to try to absorb, but you need to accept the fact that you either have to tell him about every single detail that ever happened, or everyone he knows decides to just go on as if it never happened. I greatly recommend that you consult his family before saying anything, and" the Healer looked at his watch, "you have quite a while to talk, because Mr. Weasley isn't going to be waking up anytime soon."
The Healer walked away and a feeling of despair overcame Harry.
"I need some time to think." Hermione said, sounding very much like she had a horrible head cold.
Harry nodded.
"Right, right, of course," He agreed. "D'you…want do think alone?"
"Yeah," Hermione said, looking uncomfortable, "I kind of do. It's not that I don't want to include you in this, Harry, it's just that I need some time to process everything and…figure out exactly what all of my options are, and the consequences of all of them."
Harry nodded. Her words reminded him that no matter what was decided, Ron was going to be upset, and more than likely hurt.
"Take all the time you need," He said softly, "I'll be in the waiting room, I suppose, with Andy. I assume that the Weasleys are going to want to wait for him to wake up in his room."
Hermione nodded.
Harry smiled at her and gave her a soft kiss, and held her close for a moment.
"I love you," he whispered, "no matter what happens I love you."
Hermione watched him go feeling her heart sink. She was going to think long about what she needed to do, but in her heart, she knew what was going to happen, and the thought of it made her feel sick.
She turned to go into Ron's room, but was stopped by Mrs. Weasley.
"I know what you are about to do, and I won't have it."
"What?" Hermione said, confusedly.
"You are about to go into that room and break my Ronald's heart to ease your conscience, so that you can go and live with Harry and be happy while he's miserable. I am not going to let you do that. Either you go in there and tell him that you will be with him forever or you walk away now, and never look back. And, keep in mind, Hermione, that if you leave, you never come back. I will never let you near him again if you go. If you do this to him, mark my words…that image…the image of his face when you break his heart will be the last one of him you will ever see."
o--o
When Harry arrived back at the waiting room, the first thing he did was tell the Weasleys the room number of Ron's hospital room. He then sat down and buried his face in his hands as the Weasleys left. Andy came down and sat beside him.
"What's happening?" She asked softly.
"He knows who he is and he remembers you and me and Mione being at his house and that's it." Harry said, completely monotone.
"Oh, Harry, I am so sorry." Andy said.
Harry looked up.
"What's there to be sorry about?" He asked.
Andy looked taken aback.
"Well…I mean…it's just…" She spluttered.
"What, you're sorry because my best friend is here and I hate him for that? Or are you sorry because you think that Mione's going to leave me? Is that what you think, Andrea?" He asked harshly.
Andy looked defensive.
"I never said a word about Hermione leaving you," She said coldly, "and I think that the only reason you might have mentioned it is because you think it's going to happen."
Harry glared at her.
"Don't overanalyze this, Andrea. Don't imply what you want to say. If you have something to say to me, you can damn well say it."
"God, just shut up, will you?" Andy yelled.
Harry looked at her in surprise.
"Don't look so shocked! You're acting like you know what's going to happen, and you don't! You're already preparing for the worst thing! What if she doesn't leave you, huh? Ron already found out about you once, what's telling him another time going to hurt? You know, I'd love to be here for you right now, because I know you need someone, but if you're going to be like this, I'll leave."
Harry stared at her as she sat back looking upset.
"I'm sorry," He said, "I'm acting like a prat, and I don't want you to leave. I can't do this waiting thing all alone."
Andy smiled stiffly.
"I forgive you then."
"Have you heard anything about Ginny?" He asked quietly after a few minutes.
Andy shook her head.
"Some guy came out and said something to her parents, but they didn't say anything, really. It must not have been good news."
Harry nodded.
"Yeah, well, maybe someone can tell us something around here…I'll go ask, okay?"
"Okay."
Harry got up and went to a Healer that was standing around, looking bored.
"Do you know if there has been any progress made with Ginevra Weasley?" He asked.
The Healer looked at him warily.
"She broke through some minute ago…just all of a sudden came out of the curse. She's sleeping right now."
"Do you know the time that happened?" Harry asked, a horrible suspicion coming to him.
"No, but I do know it was just about the same time that red headed bloke came in…the one there was such a fuss over?"
Harry nodded.
"Right, well, thanks." He said, and went and sat down again with Andy.
"Is she alright?" She asked.
"She broke through the curse about the same time Ron came in. She's asleep now." Harry said.
Andy looked confused.
"What, is that significant or something? The whole same time as Ron coming in thing?"
Harry turned to look at her.
"I think it may be…" He said slowly, "The thing is…you don't just snap completely out of the Imperious curse…it has to be lifted…and…well, what with Ron being released by Malfoy at the same time as Ginny being released by that curse…it makes me wonder if Malfoy's been behind all of this, and if so…then why did he do it?"
Andy sat quietly.
"Do you need to go into the office?" Andy asked.
Harry sighed.
"Probably so, but I don't feel like doing that now…I would more than likely be in charge of interrogating any witnesses, and I know that there probably are some, since no one sent me any word to let me know that they caught Malfoy, but I can't…I need to be here."
Andy nodded, and the two sat in silence. This went on for what seemed like ages, and finally Mr. Weasley came into the waiting room to get them.
"Ron's awake, and he wants to see you." He said to Harry.
Harry nodded.
"I'll stay here and wait in case something happens with Ginny." Mr. Weasley said, "But you and Andy can go."
So Harry and Andy went.
Hermione was waiting for him by the door.
"I haven't decided yet." She murmured as Harry looked at her questioningly. "But he wants to talk to us."
Harry nodded, and he and Hermione went inside.
"Hey." Ron said.
He was sitting up in bed, and looked utterly lost and confused.
"Hi, Ron." Hermione said softly.
"I've missed you so much, love." Ron said, looking at Hermione.
"How could you miss her if you don't remember not being with her?" Harry asked.
Hermione turned to look at him.
"Harry!" She said.
Ron laughed.
"No, it's alright, love, Harry's got a point. The thing is…even though I don't remember much of anything since that night, I remember not being with you, and I remember feeling so completely lost without you that I knew I wanted to be with you so badly."
Harry felt like he was choking. He wasn't going to be able to take much more of this.
"You do know then…?" Harry asked.
Ron looked at him for a moment.
"That I was kidnapped?" Ron said, finally, "Yeah…Captain Smith came in to ask me some questions and basically told me that I acted like a complete idiot and ran straight at Malfoy. I don't remember anything about, it though, and I wish I did, because I'd love to know why I did that."
Hermione was looking nervous, but Harry simply stared at Ron.
"Yeah," Harry said eventually, "Well, that…that would be great to know."
Ron's face fell.
"You mean you don't know why?" Ron asked, "I'd hoped you did, since you were with me and
all…"
"Just because I was with you doesn't mean I know how your mind works." Harry said, "I thought you
were being a complete moron running out there like you did."
Ron looked a little surprised at Harry's tone.
"Sorry," Ron said, "I just wondered."
Hermione sighed and looked at Harry.
"Ron, I think you need to get some more rest, okay? Do you want to see anyone? Harry and I are just going to go and see Andrea…Harry's friend, remember?"
Ron nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I do remember her. Erm…well…Mum's probably chomping at the bit to run in here, so yeah, you can send her in. In fact, send everyone in."
Hermione nodded silently, and she and Harry left the room as quickly as possible.
"He wants to see all of you." Hermione said quietly to the Weasleys and they nodded gratefully before entering his room.
Harry sighed and took up a vacant seat.
Hermione sat next to him.
"You were being really inconsiderate in there." Hermione said.
Harry sighed.
"I know." He said, running a hand through his hair, "But hearing him talk to you like that, like you're still his…god it just burns me up."
Hermione nodded.
"I know, Harry, but you can't jump all over him like that…he's still so confused…"
Harry sighed and took her hand, intertwining their fingers.
"This is not going to be easy." He said.
Hermione took a deep breath.
"Harry," She said.
"Yes?"
"I have to go back."
"Back where?" Harry asked, confused.
"I have to go back to him."
"What? You're joking." Harry said, turning towards her.
"Harry…"
"Hermione, we're a family, remember? You are my family."
"It would be so much easier this way! You need a real family! I'm not enough for you!"
"Yes, yes, you are! You're my everything; you're like having pancakes, remember?" Harry protested wildly.
Hermione sighed impatiently.
"Harry, please, can we discuss this like adults? This isn't food, this is real people, with real emotions."
Harry gave a disbelieving laugh.
"Real? Real emotions? You think I don't know what real emotions are? Dealing with real life? Hell, Hermione, I've seen more reality in nineteen years of living than most people will see in a lifetime, and I personally wouldn't care to see anything more! I wanted to live in the fantasy of you and me, alone, and in love, without a care in the world. I didn't to be the bloody "boy who lived with the brain"! I wanted us, and what we have together!"
"Harry, please don't make this any harder than it already is. Harry, please, I love you, so much, but I can't do this! I cannot break his heart again! He nearly died, okay? He nearly died because I left him! It was killing everyone involved! God, Harry, I love you, but at the end of the day, I will NOT be the girl that broke the good, sweet bloke's heart to run off with the `big shot'. Not that you are a big shot, but that's what people are going to think! At the end of the day, Harry, I am a good person, and I am so sick of people judging me like I'm horrible!"
"A good person? You can break the heart of the man you say you love, and who loves you with everything, and still say you are a good person? You're going to leave me to be with the man that you've pretended to love for years? You know, you broke my heart already, and I came out somewhat okay by the grace of god knows what, and I will not be able to go through that again! If you were happy, if I knew that you were going to be happy, I could find some way to get on with my life, but I know you won't be! Do you think you'll be happy, `Mione? You're just gonna lie to him for the rest of his life and have him think that you love him as much as you love me? You--he's never going to know that you left him? He's never going to know about us? About how much we love each other? Hermione, you're a blind idiot if you think that's going to happen! Lying to him isn't going to hurt just me and you, but it's going to hurt him, because in the end this will all fall down around you and there will be nothing you can do about it!"
Hermione was crying now.
"What am I supposed to do, Harry? Tell me that! Am I supposed to just…just walk away and leave him and never look back? Am I supposed to just run away with you to some fantasy? Leave everything…all of this behind, and forget all the years of it being the three of us? Is that what you want? Because I don't know if I can leave you, but I don't think I can leave him, either!"
Harry grasped her hand suddenly.
"Yes! Yes, let's do that! Just…come with me and let's run away! We'll leave tonight, right now, and we'll go anywhere! Anywhere you want to go, `Mione and we'll be there. We'll get married and we'll find two complete strangers to witness it and…and it'll be you and me, and that is all we need!"
Hermione grabbed both of his hands.
"Harry, listen, listen to me! This past…month has been amazing! Don't ruin the time we had by ending it
like this! Let's just remember that time."
Harry shook his head, but Hermione put her hand affectionately on Harry's face.
"Shh..listen…let's just remember that month of fantasy that we had before we had to go back to reality. Let's just be so glad that we could have that small piece. We shared more love in that month than most people will ever have. I love you, but this is the right thing to do."
She leaned up to kiss him one last time, making sure it was one he would never forget.
Harry kissed her back, numb with disbelief that this was happening.
She let go of him and turned away.
He watched her as she walked into Ron's room, and his brain was screaming at him to move, but his feet felt like lead, and his head was spinning.
He saw her glance back at him one last moment before closing the door.
"I wanted the fantasy," Harry whispered, "I wanted us."
But it was too late.
She was gone, and she wasn't going to walk out of that door and say that she would be his, Harry's.
Feeling like his heart had been torn and thrown, bleeding to the floor, and run over by a hippogriff, Harry left, without a word to anyone.
o--o
"Ron," Hermione whispered, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead, "I'm back, love…I'm here. I love you, and I'm not going anywhere."
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