Unofficial Portkey Archive

When Harry arrived home he was soon informed that Hermione was at the house. He had not seen her in quite a while and was anxious to find out how she was doing. For now he would put questions of his feelings for Hermione out of his head.

It was Ginny's fault he determined. If she ended the relationship she had to put the blame somewhere, and he doubted Hermione would destroy it. Hermione was in her own relationship with their best friend Ron. It had taken a while for them to get together, and now that they were he didn't see her ruining it.

On his way upstairs he thought about informing Ron that she was here, but thought against it. She might be tired, and busy unpacking. When he reached upstairs that was exactly what he found her doing.

"Long time, no see," Harry said. He propped himself against the frame as Hermione looked up at him with a light smile from her spot on the floor. She raised a finger to her lips motioning for him to be quiet for a moment. Shortly after he realized that she was on the phone with her sister Olivia.

"Tell Olivia I said hi."

She nodded, and opened her hands pointing to a box across the room. Harry crossed the room and picked up the blue box labeled `Clothes' in her curvy handwriting. He listened to the one sided conversation and managed to get nothing from it before she hung up the phone and started going through the box.

"So how is your sister?"

"She's doing fine," said Hermione a bit evasively.

"Did you find your wand alright?"

"Yep, in the middle drawer in the study just like you promised," said Hermione. She tapped the clothes so that they began to fold themselves away. "You might as well take your opportunity to gloat."

"What are you talking about?" asked Harry.

She pushed a stray piece of hair behind her head, and continued look down into the big box of items she owned.

"You were right, and I should have listened. I don't know what gives me the idea that I know best, but I don't," said Hermione. "My parents they just don't understand me like they used to. And they have turned against the wizarding world."

"They're going to need some time to readjust to having their lives back. You didn't mess up the memory charm did you?"

Hermione shivered at the thought. Lockhart was still in the ward at St. Mungo's. It was possible that he would never recover from the memory charm that had addled his brain.

"No, their memories are as good as ever. That's why I'm here. Harry, they're making me choose, and it could be the hardest choice that I ever have to make in my life. I just, I need you to be there for me right now."

Hermione had no idea when he had come closer to her. But there he was hugging her with everything he had, and she hugged back. She needed his friendship which she had missed out on all these months.

Leaving him…leaving all the friends she'd made here was a big mistake. And she wasn't prepared to give it up for the rest of her life.

Hermione separated herself from him. And she realized that she was crying. For years she had stood as this unmovable rock and it seemed as if everyday, she was crying. Yes, what her parents were putting her through was emotional, but this was just ridiculous.

Harry passed her a tissue, which she took gratefully. She dabbed under her eyes as she looked at him with the other.

"I have no idea what's wrong with me," said Hermione. "I've been doing this nonstop.

"There is nothing wrong with you. At least, there's nothing wrong with showing emotion."

Hermione couldn't help but smile. She ignored his sorry attempt at a joke.

"But if I know your sister, she isn't standing for this and neither are you."

Hermione nodded.

"I would understand if you decided to give up magic. I would miss you, but your family is very important to you. They were around before you discovered that you where a witch. Your family should be your number one priority."

"Harry, both sides are important to me. I would miss all of the friends that I've made here. And I couldn't bear the thought of not being able to see any of you again. Once magic is given up there is no way to reclaim it."

"It's not giving it up. It's just refusing to use it."

"How could you do something like that? How could you not be selfish about it?" asked Hermione.

"That's easy. You're my best friend, and I want for you to be happy. And if that's with your family then, I'll just have to accept it."

"But Harry, you are a part of my family."

One summer Harry had visited her home instead of going to the Burrow. He had enjoyed himself immensely and gotten to know a side of her that not many people knew. Not many where interested and her parents tended to have a strict side. Hermione however, was surprised when her parents had approved him as a part of the family.

Harry would always be a part of her family. And Ron would be a part of her heart. Two totally different matters, and she admitted that Harry possibly held a higher position. She was digging herself a hole with that admission. Both in her thoughts and as she uttered the words out loud.

Maybe Olivia did have an idea of which world she would choose, but Hermione did not. And that's the only opinion that really mattered. Hermione would surely depend on her sisters' confession that she would stick by her either way.

And then she heard a loud rap on the door. Neither of them knew it until now, but there had definitely been a moment between the two of them. And now it was disturbed, and Hermione silently cursed whoever was at the door. The horrible feelings she had experienced before were beginning to creep up on her.

Harry got up from his spot next to Hermione and opened the door. On the opposite side Hermione saw Ron's face. He looked a bit tired, but he also appeared to be pissed off.

"Hello to you too Hermione," fumed Ron. "When were you planning on informing me of your return to the wizarding world?"

"I was going to call you in the morning. How did you know that I was here?"

She stood up from her spot on the floor. Brushing off whatever dust there might be, although she predicted none. Her arms folded across her chest subconsciously as if protecting herself from a blow.

"Mum's clock."

"I need to write Molly a note. It's like an invasion of privacy," muttered Harry.

He motioned to come between the two of his friends, but thought against it. He should let them solve their own battles. He would come in between them if absolutely necessary.

"Yes, that is absolutely true. I don't need you checking up on me every minute of the day."

Harry groaned. He did not intend to get involved in another one of their on going battles. They had not been in the same room five minutes without a fight brewing between the two of them. Well, actually Ron came to instigate it.

"I wouldn't have to if you would talk to me."

"Ron a civilized conversation is not barging into my room. No, "How are you feeling?" or "Can I do something for you? But you would still expect for me to consider how you feel."

"Hermione I'm trying to make this relationship work. That's all that I can promise you, and I'm doing the best that I can."

"Ronald, I bet that if you gave our relationship half the effort you gave Quidditch we'd be married by now."

"The same can be said of books and physical intimacy."

Hermione's face flushed red, and so did the tips of Harry's ears. He had not expected to hear that from either of them. Harry wanted to stay far away from any aspect of their relationship. Hermione too was embarrassed that he had to mention that especially in front of Harry.

She took off down a flight of stairs. Slamming the door behind him.

"What the hell was that?" asked a furious Harry after he knew Hermione was gone.

"I messed up didn't I?"

"No, you messed up a long time ago. That a few minutes ago was just….I can't even describe it."

"How is it that I always manage to say the wrong things to her?"

"Because you just can't sit down and listen to what she has to say. If you listened to a word, then you'd know what's going on. You'd know that the crap you just pulled wasn't the smartest thing to do."

"Look, I've already got enough to deal with. I need someone on my side."

"Ron, I am not the enemy, and I am not giving you any more advice. If you want to know what's wrong with Hermione I suggest that you ask her yourself. I am not getting in the middle of this."

Harry opened the door to the room before he looked at Ron with a final glare hoping he would get the message.

"Miss Hermione, please stop crying. Kreacher made soup. Kreacher will be mad if Miss Hermione does not eat soup and….and…"

"I'll eat the soup Kreacher," snapped Hermione.

Harry made his way downstairs. Hermione noticed as she ran her spoon through her soup that he had changed his clothes to ones that he could wear to sleep. Hermione looked back down at her soup. It looked absolutely delicious but she couldn't find space in her stomach to put it.

In her mind she knew that she hadn't even had a proper breakfast. But it was as if her heart had plummeted managing to fill both spaces.

"It's not his fault, you know," sighed Hermione as she laid down her fork.

She had given up her futile efforts to feed herself and passed it across to Harry. He accepted it and started eating.

"Well it's definitely not your fault," concluded Harry.

"Why isn't it my fault? I mean Ron…"

"…Doesn't understand your situation," Harry finished looking her in the eye.

"That's not what I meant Harry, and you know it. What if my relationship with Ron is in shambles? I don't want that to happen to us."

"I'll tell you what I told Ron. I am not getting involved in your relationship, and I am not telling you what to do about your parents."

"Do you think I should tell Ron?"

"Yes, I do think you should tell him. Although I cannot tell you how he would react to that information."

Hermione was frustrated. Wasn't impartiality what she wanted? And Harry was giving her exactly what she had asked for. There. She was stuck, and she would have to make her own decision.

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