Hey everyone! So a reviewer asked me to make to give an estimate of how often I'll update. So far I have four chapters written out. I will publish one of those chapters every Wednesday, and after that I really can't make any promises. I'll update when I finish a new chapter. In some instances there may be a week in between, other times longer. To be honest I am facing a writer's block now - not for this fic, but for all writing. I'm dealing with a few things in my personal life, but hopefully that should be done with soon (and I'm fairly certain these "things" are a big part of why I've had issues writing). If all else fails I am positive that seeing Half-Blood Prince, as much as I despised that book, will influence me to write, simply because it reintroduces me to the Harry Potter phenomenon.
I hope you're enjoying your week! Please review if you get a chance.
*****
Hermione closed her front door softly behind her. As the door clicked into place, she slid to the ground.
"Bloody hell, what did I just do?" she muttered to herself. "Merlin, I sound like Ron," she groaned, bringing her knees up to her chest and threading her fingers through her hair. She stared blankly in front of her, devoid of all logical thought. The only thing that she could discern was a name: Ginny. It was she, after all, who had landed Hermione in this mess, was it not? She who had been that unrelenting voice in her head screaming, "MARRY HIM!" Who better to untangle this web than the woman who tangled it? Standing up on shaky feet, Hermione walked into her living room and called, "Gin? Ginny, are you still here?" No one replied, and Hermione realized that she must be at Harry's.
Knowing that she was in no condition to apparate, Hermione grabbed some floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. As she threw down the powder and called, "Harry and Ron's flat," she wondered why Ginny even bothered owning her own place, given that she usually slept at her brother's or Hermione's.
Within moments Hermione stepped into Harry's living room, coughing and covered in soot. Three pairs of eyes stared at her in surprise.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Ginny demanded, pushing herself off the ground and stomping over to Hermione, who was busy brushing off the last of the dust. "It's only 10:00!"
"I-I know," Hermione managed to get out.
"So shouldn't you be celebrating your engagement or something? Shagging the night away?" Ron, who had taken a swig of butter beer, choked on his drink, while Harry's face turned white. Hermione, on the other hand, blushed at Ginny's forwardness and hissed, "Stop it!"
"What, he didn't propose?" Ginny asked, her hand on her hip. Hermione remained silent. Aggravated, Ginny grabbed Hermione's left hand and examined it. "Well that's not the problem. There's clearly a ring on there. And I don't think size is an issue either, seeing as this diamond is as big as that brain of yours. So my question still remains: what are you doing here?"
"You said yes?" came a voice, hoarse from confusion. Hermione's eyes flickered from Ginny's face to Harry's.
"I…well…" Hermione licked her lips, apprehension overcoming her once more. "I…" This is why she had wanted to ask Harry first. She just knew he would feel betrayed. Best friends were there to guide you, weren't they? Hadn't she made him feel obsolete by failing to ask for his opinion concerning such a pivotal question?
"Oh for Merlin's sake, obviously she said yes!" Ron cried, always the subtle one. "I mean look at that rock on her finger."
Harry held Hermione's gaze, and for reasons that Hermione couldn't understand (and had she, would never admit), he made her wish she could reply, "No, Harry. Of course I said no." Instead she returned to Ginny and gave her a pleading look.
Ginny rolled her eyes in response. "Well come on then. Harry, may we borrow your room for a few minutes?"
"Why do you need his room?" Ron asked, eyeing the two suspiciously.
"To have a shag, Ron," Ginny shot at her brother, sounding much more malicious than usual. "Why do you think? To discuss some things, all right? We just need a few minutes to talk. Is that an issue for you?"
"Merlin, what'd I ever do to you," muttered Ron. "Now I'm going to have sick images coursing through my brain for the next week."
"My apologies. Now, Harry, may we?"
"Er, sure. Yeah, whatever," Harry replied, still distant. "Go ahead."
"Thanks." Ginny grabbed Hermione and pulled her down the hall and into Harry's bedroom.
"Okay, so what's wrong?" Ginny asked, shutting the door. "I had a feeling you might have a couple of doubts, but you look scared out of your mind. Actually, to be quite honest, you looked less scared when You-Know-Who attacked Hogwarts."
Hermione gave a short, bitter laugh. "Seeing as I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life, yes, Gin, I'd say I'm pretty frightened."
"He's a great guy, Hermione. There's no reason to be upset."
Hermione began pacing as she replied. "I know. I mean I know, Gin, believe me I know. He's been nothing but amazing all of these years, and I couldn't ask for better. Except…"
"Except what?"
"Except when he was proposing to me, all I could think was, `What will Harry think? How will he react? Will he think it's too soon?' I mean for Merlin's sake!" Hermione threw up her arms as she uttered this exclamation. "This amazing guy proposes to me, and all I can think about is Harry! That must mean something, right? You're the psychology expert after all. Well, as great an expert as one can be without actually studying the subject," she added to herself.
"It could mean a lot of things," Ginny reasoned, sitting down on the bed and signalling Hermione to sit next to her. "And I'm sure one of the reasons you're thinking of is the idea that there might be…more to your relationship with Harry." Because there is, Ginny thought to herself, but remembered that the purpose at hand was convincing Hermione to marry Andrew, a man Ginny thought almost as worthy as Harry (and who also had the added bonus of the ability to express emotions, unlike a certain black-haired friend). "But perhaps the truth is you just think highly of Harry's opinion," Ginny said, praying Hermione wouldn't realize that she was lying through her teeth. "He is your best friend after all, and it's always important to, well, marry someone that meets your best friend's approval."
"Who meets your best friend's approval," Hermione immediately corrected, but backed down at Ginny's raised eyebrow. "Sorry."
"As I was saying, I'm sure you're just channelling all your anxiety about marrying Andrew to your fear of whether Harry will agree with your decision. And you really don't need to worry. Andrew is a wonderful bloke, Hermione. He loves you so, so much. And you love him too, right?"
"Of course," Hermione sighed. "Of course I love him, Gin, but what if- " Before she could say, "what if I'm not in love with him?" Ginny cut her off.
"There is no what if, Hermione. If you love each other that's all that matters. At least that's what all those soap operas you got me hooked on tell me."
"I did not introduce you to those horrendous things!" Hermione exclaimed, outraged. "The only channels I ever showed you were the History Channel and BBC!"
"Well you introduced me to the telly, so you might as well have," Ginny shrugged. "Now back on point. If you love each other, it's enough."
"But sometimes love isn't enough, Gin."
"It is for you two. Stop worrying so much!" Ginny laughed, giving Hermione a small nudge. "Everything will work out. Believe me."
Hermione let out a breath and smiled at her best female friend. "You know what? You're right. I love him and he loves me. And we've been dating for so long…this will work. No, it has to work. Even if Harry…" Hermione's smile faltered, but she took in a deep breath and said, "No. Never mind that. It just…it'll work. Right? Right. All right then…right. Right…" Hermione appeared lost in her thoughts, and Ginny knew that she was in the process of convincing herself, beyond a measure of a doubt, that this was the correct choice. Hermione quickly returned to reality and cried, "Thank you, Ginny!" She jumped up, a smile on her face. "And the States isn't that bad, right? Living there won't kill me. And I can always apparate over here when I have a spare second. Granted, I won't have much time, seeing as I'll be busy with work. And I suppose I'll probably have to transfer to the American Ministry, but that won't be too awful. Right. This will work! Oh, thanks so, so much!" Hermione walked out the door, almost skipping.
"The States?" Ginny croaked, watching Hermione's shadow disappear around the corner. "The States? You're moving to the States?" A scream resonated throughout the flat. "What the bloody hell is going on? I didn't approve this! HERMIONE JANE GRANGER, YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSANT!"
*****
"What was that?" Ron asked, wide-eyed at the sound of wretched screams.
"Haven't the faintest," Harry replied, still far away.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Okay, Harry, would you stop it? So she's getting married. What's the problem? I mean I don't want her to get married and leave us for some bloke either - she is our Hermione - but I think it's time we accept that she has a life apart from us."
"Ron, I know that," Harry said, frustration creeping into his voice. "And believe me, that's not the problem."
"Then what the bloody hell is? Because this brooding thing is getting old. I didn't like it when we were in school, and it's not any more amusing now."
"I don't know, Ron, that's it!" Harry exploded. "I haven't got a clue! All I know is that the idea of Hermione marrying that guy is driving me insane!"
"Maybe you're jealous," Ron suggested with a shrug.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron, of course I'm not," Harry shot at him. "This is Hermione, remember? Hermione!"
"I'm not talking about being jealous of Andrew. I'm saying you're jealous of Hermione." Before Harry could protest, Ron explained, "You basically lost Rebecca because of her, and now she's going to have your happily ever after because she didn't bother to return the favour and run the situation by you."
Harry pondered this for a few minutes. "You think that's it?"
Before Ron could answer, a more-content-than-before Hermione finally returned.
"Hello," she greeted them. "Sorry about before. I guess I was having some engagement jitters, you know?" Hermione laughed, a laugh that, had Harry not been so pre-occupied with his own concerns, he would've immediately recognised as forced. Ron, who still wasn't completely in tune with the female's range of emotions (though he had heartily improved in the past 14 years), simply smiled and offered, "It's fine. We get it."
Hermione let out a breath she had unintentionally held in, relieved that, so far, everyone believed her. While she was working her way to convincing herself that she had made the right decision, an important part of this process was affirmation from her close ones. As she turned to Harry for his support, she immediately noted that he seemed lost in his own thoughts, a small frown etched on his face.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, nature taking over. Ron rolled his eyes. Typical Hermione - always putting Harry in front of her own life.
"He's fine, Hermione," Ron assured her. "Don't worry. He's just having another one of his brooding, 'woe is me' moments."
"Ron!" Hermione shot at him, offering him a glare. "Can't you be a little more sensitive? Obviously something's bothering him!"
"Because it's completely uncalled for!" Ron cried. Though it came as no surprise that Hermione easily lost patience with him (what else was new?), he took offense at the very notion that he couldn't care less about Harry. "He's getting himself worked up over nothing."
"Ronald, I'm sure it isn't nothing," Hermione snapped. "How would you feel if you were upset and Harry here just sat there and said, `Oh, don't worry, Hermione. He's just being histrionic. Let's go get a cup of tea!'"
"Would you stop putting words in my mouth?"
"Would you stop acting like a- "
"Actually, Hermione, can I talk to you?" Harry asked suddenly.
Hermione and Ron, who were now nearly head to head due to their disagreement, turned so they faced Harry.
"Of course, Harry," Hermione said through gritted teeth. "Unlike certain people, I actually care about my friends."
"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Ron blew up. "Would you stop insinuating that I enjoy watching Harry suffer and make a habit of laughing about it behind his back?"
"Ron, let them talk," came a voice. Ron turned and found Ginny standing in the doorway. There was no trace of a smile on her usually smug face, and she looked even paler than usual.
"Gin, are you- " Ron began to ask, but Ginny quickly shook her head to silence him.
"Go on ahead," Ginny told Harry and Hermione, as if they needed her permission (which, knowing Ginny, they probably did).
"Well, er, thanks, Gin," Harry said awkwardly. He left the room, a rather confused Hermione following after him.
"Ginny, what the bloody hell is going on?" Ron demanded. "It's like all of you have gone mental!"
"We have a serious, serious problem," Ginny informed him, taking a seat across from her older brother.
"Oh, Merlin," Ron groaned. "Don't tell me this has something to do with the screaming I heard."
*****
"You wanted to talk?" Hermione inquired, sitting down on Harry's bed for the second time that night.
"Yeah…yeah," Harry said, clearly distracted. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out how to begin.
Hermione unconsciously licked her dry lips. "Harry…what's wrong?" The same concern that had underlined that question since their first year was clearly present, and for some reason it unnerved Harry.
"You accepted his proposal, that's what's wrong!" he cried, throwing his hands down and turning to stare at his best friend of nearly seventeen years.
"Harry," Hermione began, taken aback. "What are you- "
"You know what I'm talking about, Hermione!" Harry said. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. When I was going to ask Rebecca to marry me I talked to you first. I talked to you to make sure you would be okay with it, and then Rebecca finds out and not only calls off the engagement, but breaks up with me!"
"And you're blaming me?" Hermione said, narrowing her eyes at him. "You're honest to Merlin blaming me?"
"I'm not blaming anyone, Hermione. All I'm saying is that you…you should've shown me the same courtesy." In the back of his mind Harry realized that he was acting in a completely unreasonable manner, but he was too far gone to correct his mistake.
"Well I'm sorry, Harry. I'm sorry that when Andrew proposed to me I didn't reply, `Can I get back to you on that? I need to ask Harry if it's all right that I marry you,'" Hermione snapped at him. When she heard what she had said she immediately grimaced - not because of the harshness of her words, but rather because that's exactly what she had wanted to do.
"Hermione, you know that's not what I'm saying."
"Then what exactly are you saying?"
"I…" Harry was at a loss for words. "All right, maybe that is what I'm saying," he admitted. "But you can't blame me for being bothered by this!"
"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry that Rebecca broke up with you over me. I really, truly am. Had I been the one proposing to Andrew I would've mulled it over with you first. But I didn't. He proposed to me. If Rebecca had proposed to you would your first response had been, `Let me ask Hermione and see what she thinks'?"
"No," Harry said, resigned to the fact that he had lost this argument. He settled down next to Hermione. "No, you're right. I'm sorry, I'm being a git."
"Maybe," Hermione agreed with a small smile.
"Thanks a lot." Harry tried to sound annoyed, but he ended up laughing instead. Hermione, however, did not join in.
"Harry," she said slowly, looking somber once more. "There's…well… There's something else you should know."
"What?" Harry inquired, coming down a few levels himself.
"Andrew…Andrew's company is moving him to the States. And I…he wants me to join him."
Hermione held her breath as she watched Harry take in this new bit of information.
"Well that would be okay, right?" Harry finally answered. "I would still see you at work and- "
"That's just it, Harry," Hermione said. "Right now I'm at a place in my job where I'm about to dedicate almost all of my time to it. I'm at the stage where I can either stay where I am or really move forward. And if I work in England then I would rarely ever see Andrew, and in the first years of a marriage that's creating a really precarious situation. I… Most likely I will have to switch to the American Ministry. I know that the man in charge of the American Department of Magical Law Enforcement just retired, and they offered me the job a few weeks ago. I said no, of course, because then I'd be separated from all of you," Hermione said logically, "but now that Andrew's moving there…I…well…I think I have to take it. And for the first year or two I probably will be spending most of my time proving my worth and taking control of the mess over there, because you've heard the stories about how unorganised the American department is. I probably wouldn't be able to visit all that often. Maybe once," Hermione swallowed as she revealed the worst of the truth, "once or twice a month."
Harry stared at her in disbelief. "Well, er…well I certainly wasn't expecting that." He looked as if he had lost his footing and didn't know how to get it back.
"But if you think I shouldn't take the job," Hermione said suddenly, influenced by something she couldn't understand, "then I won't. Andrew and I can work something out, and- "
"Don't be ridiculous, Hermione," Harry said, giving her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You…you would be miserable if you did that. Not only that, but it's a great opportunity for you. Who knows how long it'll be before our Ministry finally comes to its senses and puts you in charge of the department?"
"You think I should do it then?" Hermione asked in a small, insecure voice, so uncharacteristic of her. Harry immediately recognised her vulnerability and how much she needed his assurance, no matter how much he wished he could tell her otherwise.
"I do," he told her. "I really, truly think you should. And we'll figure something out. We were okay when you went back to Hogwarts without us, weren't we?"
"But that was different," Hermione protested.
"Believe me when I say that even if, by some off chance, Ron and I stop keeping up with you, Ginny won't let you slip through the cracks."
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione said, smiling at him. "That…that means a lot."
Harry nodded at her, not trusting himself to continue. He worried that he would slip up and reveal that he thought it was an awful idea, that he had no clue how he would get on without seeing her every day. She was right about Hogwarts, after all - he and Ron had visited Hogwarts and badgered her constantly back then. Seeing her only once or twice a month would be almost unbearable, and the very idea of it made his insides twist.
*****
"Wait, I thought you wanted Hermione to marry Andrew?" Ron said after Ginny had informed him of the
situation at hand. He had moved their conversation to the kitchen so he could grab an apple from the fridge. "You
were constantly badgering him to ask her, weren't you?"
"Yes, but that was before he planned on moving to the States and taking my best friend with him!" Ginny exclaimed, angrily shutting the fridge door as Ron walked across the room.
"So now you want to- "
"Break them up?" Ginny asked swiftly. "Yes."
"Don't you think you're being a bit selfish?" Ron asked her, biting into the apple.
Ginny shrugged. "Maybe. But we both know that there's a reason why Harry, if he puts his mind to it, will be able to convince her to stay."
"Because he's her best friend? But I'm her best friend, too, so why didn't you just- "
"No, not because he's her best friend," Ginny said through gritted teeth. "Because she's been in love with him since she was fifteen, at the very least. You plonker," Ginny added under her breath.
"Hermione? In love with Harry?" Ron laughed. "Did you hit your head?"
"Have you hit yours?" Ginny countered. "She spent all of fourth year worrying her arse off about him and she hasn't stopped since. And let me tell you, she wasn't too pleased about the whole Harry and Cho thing, or Harry and any other girl for that matter."
"She gave him relationship advice when he dated Cho," Ron pointed out.
"She arranged a meeting with Rita Skeeter, of all people, on the day of their Valentine's date! Tell me that doesn't just scream jealousy."
Ron pondered this for a moment. "All right, I see where you're coming from," he conceded. "But do you honestly think Harry would try and convince Hermione to stay? He's too noble for his own good, if you know what I mean. He's my best friend and everything, but sometimes his pride- "
"Look, we both know that he doesn't want Hermione to leave anymore than we do," Ginny stated matter-of-factly. "In fact, I'd say he wants her to stay even more than we do. All we have to do is get him to act on these feelings rather than his desire to please everyone."
"And how, exactly, do you propose we do that?" Ron demanded.
"Easy," Ginny said, looking smug once more. "We get them together."
"Why am I suddenly scared for my life?" Ron sighed, tossing his apple into the rubbish bin.
Ginny's only response was a sly grin.
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