Continental Holiday

CA Crawford

Rating: PG13
Genres: Angst
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 7
Published: 19/02/2015
Last Updated: 26/02/2015
Status: completed

After the final battle, the trio take a holiday through Europe to sort through all that has happened to them over the past year. Some bonds are broken, while others are deepened. Will the trio survive the changes the aftermath brings to their relationships? Post DH (skipping the Epilogue). The first in a trilogy of post-DH stories.

Chapters

1. Chapter One

2. Chapter Two

3. Chapter Three

4. Chapter Four

5. Chapter Five

6. Chapter Six

7. Chapter Seven

8. Chapter Eight

9. Chapter Nine

10. Chapter Ten

11. Chapter Eleven

12. Chapter Twelve

13. Chapter Thirteen

14. Chapter Fourteen

1. Chapter One

A/N: Hey guys, new to Portkey here, but have been posting on another site so you may be familiar with me. Excited to share this story with you! It’s the first of three parts, so Harry/Hermione won’t be together until the end. It will be worth the wait I promise! Besides, it wouldn’t happen overnight.

Anyways, this first fic deals with all the baggage that was surely left by everything that happened in Deathly Hallows and how it effects our favorite trio. Please Read and Review! Feedback is most appreciated!

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or anything from JK Rowling’s works. She does. Though it’d be nice to have that cash flow….

~

“…and the first to reach him were Ron and Hermione, and it was their arms that were wrapped around him, their incomprehensible shouts that deafened him. Then Ginny, Neville, and Luna were there, and then all the Weasleys and Hagrid, and Kingsley and McGonagall and Flitwick and Sprout, and Harry could not hear a word that anyone was shouting, nor tell whose hands were seizing him, pulling him, trying to hug some part of him, hundreds of them pressing in, all of them determined to touch the Boy Who Lived, the reason it was over at last-“ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, page 744

~

Harry was sitting underneath a tree in Rome, Italy with his eyes closed just feeling the breeze blow against his face. In the August heat, it felt delightfully cool. Ron and Hermione had stopped at a small ice cream shop for a moment and Harry had gone ahead to the top of a hill for a quiet moment alone.

They had spent the last year on the run fighting a war. Now it was time to catch up on all the life they missed out on. Not to mention that an extra week would be spent in Australia afterwards, putting some lost pieces back in the puzzle.

Ron caught up with him and took a seat next to him in the grass.

“Hey mate, you’re a million miles away. What’s on your mind?”

“Have you gotten over being bone tired yet?” Harry still hadn’t shaken the feeling of being weary down to his core. If he could, he would curl up and sleep for the next two weeks, months, or years..

“Can’t say that I have, but then again, it’s been like being in another world this week. You’d think a war never happened down here.”

They had already been through Paris, had visited the same southern village that Hermione had vacationed at on the Mediterranean coast, and had spent a weekend in Lisbon before passing through Madrid on their way here to Rome. It had been a memorable week and a half with his friends and though they were enjoying the time away, they had yet to get much real rest. They all had trouble sleeping.

Harry had to agree with Ron. The Continent had clearly not suffered as Britain had during Voldemort’s reign of terror. In fact, Harry found he was even relatively anonymous. Not that he was complaining. “I envy them. This is what normal life is supposed to be like.” He hadn’t meant to sound so defeated.

“Cheer up mate. We’re still here. It’s over now. We won.” Ron was trying hard to sound optimistic, but the dark bags underneath his eyes told another tale. Fred’s death was still weighing hard on the Weasley clan. Harry certainly could relate. He couldn’t go a day without seeing Remus and Tonks being lowered into their graves, holding his godson next to a stone faced Andromeda Tonks.

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry changed the subject.

“You know her; she caught a glimpse of some monument or other and had to get the full experience. She’ll be up eventually.” Ron sounded amused at the very predictable behavior of the third member of their Trio.

“So where are you two exactly? With each other?” Harry hoped he hadn’t crossed a line. Ron had never really been one to talk about relationships with him before.

“I’m not sure to be honest. I think we’re just enjoying being alive and whole right now. I think she wants to sort it out when we’re home. What’s on your mind?”

Harry weighed his options in his mind. He had been worried about something for a while, but wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk about it. A thought that had crept into his mind once he had been able to think clearly for a day or two. Now that they were here, he figured now was as good a time as any.

“Ron, you and Hermione have a chance for a real life now.” Harry took a deep breath, gathering the courage to ask a question he was afraid to know the answer to. “You could have had that ages ago without knowing me. Without Death Eaters wanting to kill you for being my friends. Won’t having me around simply be a constant reminder of the hell we’ve been through?” Harry felt the blood leave his face. He had rarely been this open with anyone about how he felt. Now that he voiced it, it seemed all too real to him that he felt like a walking monument. Reminding everyone why their loved ones wouldn’t be joining them any longer.

“Harry…” Ron gave him a concerned look. “You remindmeof the very reason I am alive to enjoy this life I have. Why Hermione is still here. A reminder to me and everyone else of why we can sleep at night without wondering if tomorrow is our last day on Earth.”

Harry was taken aback. Ron was not prone to emotional speeches. Again, that was Hermione’s department. She must have rubbed off on him after all. Regardless, Harry was still unsure of himself.

Sensing his unease, Ron continued. “And Hermione and I both are more grateful than you can believe to have been able to stand by you all this time. Well, most of it for me….” Ron took a moment to examine his shoe laces. “But we wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else than by your side.”

“He’s right you know.” Hermione came strolling up to join them. “How many times do we have to give you this speech? We’ve had seven years. Seven years Harry. We could have had our own life ages ago.” Both Ron and Hermione were looking at him now with determined looks. Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him.

“Thanks.”

He couldn’t muster up anything else to say. Hermione and Ron took a seat on either side of him. It was like they were sitting underneath their tree at Hogwarts again, just with different scenery. The sun sank lower in the sky, setting off a terrific sunset over the city.

Harry wanted to ask them if anything would ever benormal. If the nightmares and constant reminders of what had been lost would ever go away. Ultimately, he decided it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be alone for one minute of it.

~

Harry woke up the next day with a start. He hadn’t realized he had been asleep. Sleep usually fled from him.

“Wh-wha’sgoinon?” he very groggily groaned. He was answered by Ron’s snoring on the couch next to him. They had both fallen asleep sprawled over the two couches in their hotel suite.

“I hope you’ll forgive me.” Hermione came walking into the room from the connecting door to her adjoining suite. “I spiked yours and Ron’s drinks with some Dreamless Sleep potion last night. I took some myself in my room. We were all exhausted yesterday; I figured we needed some real sleep.” She had a concerned look on her face. Harry knew she was worried they would be mad at her for not telling them.

“No, thank you. I hadn’t slept like that in weeks.” Harry stretched before moving into the kitchen to put on some coffee. He did feel a lot better he had to admit. Ron continued to snore in the living room. Harry thought it best to leave him be.

“Care for a walk? I’ve been meaning to go to the market.” Hermione asked as she accepted a cup of the freshly brewed coffee.

“Sure, let me get ready.”

Twenty minutes later they were walking down a narrow street towards the sounds of a bustling market square. There were stands with all sorts of freshly grown vegetables and fruits, along with handmade household items and touristy souvenirs. They walked in amicable silence among the stands as Hermione bought a couple of days’ worth of fresh food.

When they returned, Ron had woken and was eating some leftovers from the night before.

“I could get used to this Italian stuff.” Ron amusingly said through a mouthful of chicken marsala.

They spent the afternoon in a park on the city’s periphery. Hermione sat in the shade of a tree reading a book while Harry taught Ron how to throw a muggle Frisbee.

“You’ve just about got it. You just have to keep your wrist level.” Harry consoled Ron as they took seats with Hermione. Registering their presence, she looked up from her book to give them both a look that said she had something on her mind.

“Well, come out with it then.” Ron made a point to dramatically sigh with resignation. Ignoring her friend’s teasing, Hermione looked at Harry.

“What are you going to do about Teddy?” Harry frowned. He had been avoiding the thought of his now orphaned godson, as it was a constant reminder of his failure to protect said godson’s parents.

“I would guess he will live with Andromeda. He’s my godson though, so I intend to do everything I can to be there for him.” Harry looked away from Hermione. This conversation was leading him to remember his own godfather. He thought for a brief moment of the life they could have had now with the war over, but he pushed it from his mind.

As if reading his thoughts, Hermione grabbed Harry’s hand. “Like Sirius did for you.” Unsure what to say, the trio sat in silence for a few moments.

“I’m going for a walk.” Harry got up to leave. When he saw his friend’s motion to follow him, Harry raised up a hand. “If you guys don’t mind, I would rather be by myself for a minute.” Looking a bit put out, they both settled back into their seats as Harry walked off. He could hear them start a muted conversation just as he passed out of earshot.

Part of why he wanted to be alone was to give his friends some time without him. The tension between them wasn’t suffocating or anything, but he knew they had some things to discuss. If Ron’s answer the day before had been any indication, he and Hermione hadn’t spoken much since their kiss during the final battle. Harry wanted to give them some privacy. He sometimes felt like he was intruding on them, or that they held back from each other in his presence, probably to make him feel less awkward.

The truth was, Harry was ready for whatever was happening between his friends to be settled. As uncertain as his own future loomed ahead of him, he felt like he owed them the chance to figure out their own. Harry was truly unsure of what he would do upon returning home. Where was “home” anyways? Grimmauld Place? The Burrow? Hogwarts? He could make a case for any of them, but they all had their baggage. Harry felt like what he wanted was a fresh start. A clean slate.

An idea had been forming in his mind. He had never thought he would live to see his twenties. Or that he would ever have a life outside of battling Voldemort. Now that he had the chance, he felt very strongly that he wanted to finally live the life that had been taken from him. An excellent start would be making a home where his chance for a normal life had been stolen from him: Godric’s Hollow.

Harry thought that it would be the ultimate victory. The final trophy of the hard fought peace. Building a life where his parent’s lives had ended. Not to mention it would be quiet and out of the way. The perfect way to escape the new found pressures of being the savior of the wizarding world for a second time.

He would have to rebuild it, which raised plenty questions of its own. He wasn’t sure if he would even be allowed to and he certainly didn’t have the handyman skills to do the actual work. He would learn though. This washislife to build. So he would build it, along with his friends of course.

Ginny was another matter altogether. She had wanted to come with him on this trip and Ron had lobbied hard for her, but Harry had only wanted his two closest friends. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be around her, at least he didn’t think so; he just wanted to be with the only two people who understood everything he’d been through the past year. He felt relatively sure that when he returned to England that he wanted to be with her, but he no longer really knew why and that bothered him.

His mind wandering and missing his friend’s company already, Harry made his way back to the tree. He had made a full circle around them, so he would be approaching from behind them this time. As he drew closer, their conversation was carried to him on the wind.

“..then whatdidit mean Hermione?” Ron sounded rather angry.Great,Harry thought,at least the tension won’t be so bad when they refuse to be in the same room later.

“It meant that I loved you Ron. Idolove you.” Hermione sounded like she was fighting back tears. “It’s just…now…it’s not a good time.”

“I just thought, when you kissed me that we could finally be together. Beus.”

“Ron, I do want that. Please listen to me. It’s just not the right time yet. I don’t even have parents to introduce you to and you’re family is still reeling from Fred….” Her voice cracked on the last syllable. “We’ve waited this long, is it really that terrible to wait a little longer?”

Harry stopped a little ways off; he didn’t want to end up in the middle of another argument between his two best friends.

“I….I get that Hermione I do. But maybeIneed this. Did you think about that?”

“Ron….I want so badly to make you happy. I wish I could give that to you, butIneed just the opposite. I need you to be my friend until I can get my life back together. Until we canallget our lives back together.”

Ron stood up from his seat. “I’m going for a walk.”

“Ron, please don’t go. Don’t do this again…”Hermione was pleading with him.

“So we’re bringing this up again eh? Why can’t we move past it Hermione?” Ron was getting angrier. “Every time you have to bring that back up and throw it in my face again! Do you forgive me or not?”

“Ron, I’m trying to forgive you. It doesn’t help that here you are about to do it again!” Hermione was clearly in tears now. “I need you to stay here with me and you’re just going to walk away and sulk! You know what? Go! Just go Ronald!”

Hermione was on her feet now. Without another word Ron stormed off in the direction Harry was standing. When he passed by Harry, Ron gave him a withering look and muttered something like “Mental. Makes no sense.” before walking off in the direction Harry had come. Hermione had fallen to her knees and was crying by the tree.

2. Chapter Two

~

“Hermione?” Harry was careful to approach her slowly, ready to back off in case she didn’t want company.

“Hey Harry.” Hermione took a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry, we just…” and she plunged her face into his shoulder and started crying. She stayed this way for a few minutes before she seemed to gather herself.

“I’m sorry Harry. I know we shouldn’t be fighting. I thought we had agreed to not talk about any of this until we got back to England.” Hermione sat up and brushed the tears off her cheeks with her sleeve. She stood up and started pacing back and forth in front of Harry.

“Don’t apologize Hermione. You can’t just put your life on pause.”

“Don’t tell me you actually agree with him?” She rounded on Harry, giving him a look that would probably melt a man on the spot if it had been anyone else.

“No Hermione, that’s not what I meant.” Harry sighed. He was trying to keep his cool. Shouting wasn’t going to help things. “I meant that if you and Ron have stuff to work through then you can’t just press pause and deal with it later.”

“Isn’t that what you did when you told Ginny she couldn’t come?” Hermione shot him a filthy look. It hit Harry a little closer to home than he’d ever care to admit.

“That was different.”

“How Harry? How is it any different?”

“For one, she didn’t spend the year living on the run like we did. Not that Hogwarts was a cakewalk mind you, but I thought we were the ones who needed to get away. You told me that yourself.”

Hermione seemed to deflate a little at Harry’s logic.

“Not to mention that ultimately it came down the fact that I wanted you two with me. Not her. You’re the ones I can barely stand to have out of my sight, not her.”

Hermione’s eyes went tender at this statement. “Harry…”

“It’s true and you know it.” Harry was stating a fact. Even the moments he thought he wanted to himself usually turned into fitfully finding his way back to them.

“Well it’s pretty hard to stay mad at you when you say things like that.” Hermione took a seat next to Harry again. “Thank you. Though, you probably shouldn’t tell her that you feel that way about me.”

“Why’s that?”

“Let’s just say Ron is not the only Weasley to have a little green monster.”

Harry sighed. The jealousy the Weasleys was really tiresome. “Don’t they think that if there was anything between us that we would have acted on it by now?”

“Well, maybe we wouldn’t have.” Hermione answered simply. Harry wasn’t sure he followed her and it must have showed on his face. “Sometimes is takes people awhile to figure these things out Harry. I’m not saying that’s what is happening with us, but it does happen. I’m just trying to say that they’re not exactly being that unreasonable.”

Harry frowned; he had not been expecting Hermione to defend Ginny and Ron like that. Hermione again picked up on his train of thought.

“I’m not exactly defending them Harry. They still are too overbearing and jealous when it comes to you and me, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be more aware of how we act around each other sometimes.”

The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Harry was unsure about what Hermione had said. He didn’t think it was fair that he and Hermione had to change anything when they both had done nothing to prove that they were disloyal to their respective partners. Deciding to put the thought aside for the moment, Harry stood up. It was time to find Ron.

“Do let him know how much I care about him.” Hermione looked up from a book she had started reading with a concerned air about her.

“I will. I’ll be back once he’s cooled off. Just promise me you two will try and work this out.”

Hermione gave Harry a look he didn’t quite understand. “Okay Harry.”

Unsure exactly what was going through Hermione’s mind, Harry set off in the direction Ron had left. After walking for about ten minutes, he eventually found him sitting on a bridge. Dropping rocks into the stream below him.

“Keep it up and you’ll damn the whole creek up.” Harry tried to lighten the mood. It didn’t seem to work.

“She would have died with you.” Ron’s voice cracked, like he had been crying.

Harry already was alarmed at where this conversation was going.

“Ron, we’ve all risked our neck for each other more than we can count. She would die for you in an instant and she still would. So would I, for the record.”

“You don’t get it Harry. She said it herself. She would have gone into the Forest with you. She would have died with you Harry. She’d rather die with you than live with me.”

All the blood left Harry’s face. He had no idea how to respond to what Ron had said. Filing it away for further thought later, he knew that for the sake of his friend, he had to think of something.

“Ron…” Harry started, trying to feel his way out of this. “Ron you know she didn’t mean it like that. She’s my best friend, just like you. She knew that I wouldn’t have ever asked you guys to go with me, but that all the same I had no desire to be apart from you forever. That was simply her way of saying that she didn’t want our trio broken up either. I know you felt the same way, even if you didn’t say it. Because I would feel the same way if our roles had been reversed and so would she.”

Ron lifted his face to look at Harry. There was a deep well of hurt inside of them. Ron seemed to be scrutinizing Harry’s face.

“A part of me believes you. I really do, but another part of me thinks that you just don’t see what I do.” Ron turned his face down to look at the water again, a fresh tear leaving his eyes.

“Ron, she loves you. You know that right?”

“I don’t question whether or not she loves me mate, I question whether or not she loves you more.”

“Ron how could you…” but Ron didn’t let him finish.

“She fancied you before. Did you know that?”

“Well Rita has always been known for pin point accuracy..”

Ron looked at Harry and then laughed. “Boy you really can be thick Harry. It’s not that. Everyone could see it. I knew it even before she told me so herself.”

Harry could feel his face heating up. “When was this?”

“She told me during fifth year, but it started before that. Don’t you remember how she was during fourth year?”

“Fifth year?” Harry was flabbergasted. He had spent most of that year in a dysfunctional relationship with Cho or being a borderline nutter. Fourth year was a daze of simply making it from one task to the next. Sure Hermione had helped him immensely, giving up loads of time, but she had been mad at Ron for not asking her to the Ball. He had always assumed she was just being the amazing friend to him that she always was. Where in all of that did he miss that Hermione was interested in him? Ron almost seemed genuinely amused at Harry’s lack of knowledge on the subject. Harry straightened his thoughts out, determined to bring the conversation back to Ron.

“Well, I never knew she felt that way and it doesn’t matter. We’re not in fourth or fifth year Ron. We’re in the here and now. And here and now you are the one she wants. I’ve never lied to you about how I felt about her. I never wanted her in that way.”

The silence hung on the air too long for Harry’s liking. Ron seemed lost in thought.

“I know Harry. I’m grateful to have a best mate like you.” His expression softened.

“Ron, you’re my best mate, you’ve given me the family I never had. You’ve been with me through thick and thin.” Harry raised his hand to stop Ron’s retort, “No Ron I mean it. I told you to leave that night didn’t I? It was as much my fault as yours what happened that night.”

Ron opened his mouth but said nothing. “I have more to be reason to be grateful for you than you for me.” Harry quietly finished.

Harry didn’t wait for him and turned to make his way back to Hermione. Ron’s footsteps behind him told him that he was following a short distance behind. While it wasn’t exactly what he had in mind when they planned this holiday, Harry supposed that it made sense for all three of them to work through some things while they could. The more he thought about it, the more Harry realized had happened in the short year since they had left on the Horcrux hunt and the more sense it made that they wouldn’t be able to simply ignore it all until they returned. Maybe it was good that they got away from the pressures of home to sort through everything.

They found Hermione once again wrapped up in her book. Before anything else could be said, Harry quickly suggested that they return to the hotel to loaf around for the rest of the day. Not hearing any arguments he led them down the road to return.

When they got back to the room, Hermione retired to her veranda to continue reading her book while Ron stretched out to watch television. He had a new found fascination with muggle sitcoms. Harry retreated to his own room.

He stretched out on the bed lost on thought. He was disturbed by Ron’s attitude about Hermione.

I’ll go with you.

He had barely been able to comprehend her words at the time. Barely able to accept what she meant. In hindsight, he felt terribly guilty that he had never said anything back to her. To show her how grateful he was to have a friend like her.

Surely she didn’t mean it like Ron had said. Harry couldn’t bring himself to think that Hermione was choosing him over Ron.

Again.

The thought occurred before he could stop it. But he wouldn’t let his mind go there. She wasn’t choosing him over Ron. It had never been that way.

But then what had Hermione been trying to get at? The more he thought about what she had said about “people taking awhile to figure these things out” the more mystified he became. What was that supposed to mean? Why was she defending the Weasley children for thinking there was something between them?

And what about what Ron had said about Hermione fancying him? Why had she never said anything? Had he really been so daft as to never recognize that his best friend had feelings for him?

Harry didn’t like where this line of thinking was taking him. He forced himself to think about Ginny. About how he could finally be with her without having any fear for her safety. They could finally be a normal teenaged couple.

Oddly, that prospect didn’t affect Harry the way he thought it would. It was a pleasant thought for sure, but it wasn’t the wonderful end game he had thought it would be. In fact, Hermione had been a lot closer to home than she thought when she accused Harry of avoiding Ginny.

It wasn’t that he actively didn’t want to be around her. What few moments they had had together before the Trio had left were nice enough. Even with the Weasley family in mourning over Fred. He had comforted her as best he knew how and even found comfort in being with her. But something was missing. She no longer made his stomach do somersaults or awakened that creature in his chest. It wasn’t that he no longer found her attractive either. She was as pretty to him as ever. There just wasn’t anything beyond that.

He didn’t understand it. He had spent the months on the run thinking about her, missing her, wanting nothing more than to be with her. She had been the last thing he thought of when he gave himself up to Voldemort. It should have been his dream come true to finally be with her, but something just wasn’t there anymore. Instead of their grief bringing them together, it seemed to be pushing them apart. Harry felt guilty that Fred had died fighting a battle for him. He wondered if perhaps, deep down, Ginny blamed him as much as he blamed himself.

Harry pushed all these thoughts aside. Ginny would never think that. He could here Hermione’s voice in his head telling him that Fred didn’t die for him, that he had made his own choice and that Ginny surely saw it that way.

With that thought in mind, Harry drifted off to sleep.

3. Chapter Three

A/N: I should say that Harry/Hermione is going to be a very slow burn. They’ve spent seven years not crossing that line. It is going to take time for our pumpkins to get there. We all know who will realize their feelings first! They won’t be together until the end of this trilogy. I hope the journey will be worth it! Cheers!

~

Ron may have been looking at the television, but his mind was a million miles away. His latest fight with Hermione wasn’t the worst they had ever had, but it was perhaps the most frustrating to him.

Everything had seemed to finally come into place. She had kissed him. It seemed like he would finally get the girl he had longed for. He knew he hadn’t always deserved her, but she was finally his.

Or so he thought. He had barely had time to cherish his victory when his whole world seemingly crashed around his ears. His best friend in the whole world was going to walk to his death and the woman he cared about more than any other wanted to go with him.

He couldn’t even blame Harry. He hadn’t asked. Ron knew he never would have. Harry was far too noble for that. Ron could even see in the look Harry gave him over Hermione’s shoulder. Take care of her. He meant all along to go alone. On top of it, Ron truly cared for Harry. Loved him like any of his other brothers. Ron didn’t want him to go either.

I’ll go with you.

Four words that rocked Ron to the core. Just when he thought she had chosen him once and for all, she proved him that Harry would always come first. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he could see that Harry had always come first to her.

She chose to help Harry over him (and Krum) during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, she wanted Harry (not Ron) to be Prefect with her, she chose Harry when Ron had left during the Horcrux hunt, and she had chosen to die with him over continuing to live with Ron.

But she kissed you. Not him.

The thought comforted him. Maybe it was his own fault. Ron would be the first to admit that he wasn’t always the best friend to her or Harry. There had been plenty of times when he put his own selfish considerations over theirs, coming to a head whenever he walked out on them that night right when they needed him most.

He had tried to tell himself that it was just the Horcrux that led him to do it. Tried to convince himself that he was at least somewhat justified in his actions. But he knew deep down that he was perfectly in his right mind when he walked out. It was his choice and he had been wrong. He wasn’t sure that he would ever live it down to either of his friends.

But they had welcomed him back with open arms. Harry had said today that he was as much to blame as Ron. Though the exact words had never been said, he knew Harry had completely forgiven him. It did much to quell the fears that had been gnawing at him.

Ron stood in the entrance way looking at Harry. He had spent so long harboring jealousy for his best friend. Secretly, he had always eyed Harry’s wealth, fame, and talent with envy. He was everything Ron had always dreamed of being. He hadn’t realized when he walked into that compartment on the Hogwarts Express first year that he was adding yet another person in his life he wouldn’t live up to. Another shadow to live in. As if his brothers hadn’t been bad enough.

Thinking of his brothers brought a twinge of pain. It still hurt Ron deeply that he would never see Fred again. But the pain brought forth a new determination in him. Losing Fred and thinking he had lost Harry had broken him of the illusion that people would always be there. He decided right then and there that he was done looking at people he loved and wishing he had their life. He would be grateful for the family and friends he had and he would live his life. His life. Not settling for sulking enviously in someone else’s shadow.

Harry was far from perfect. Hell, nobody was perfect. But he was the best friend Ron had. He had always been able to count on Harry.

Hermione, well she was Hermione. The girl drove him mad, in more ways than one. She was stubborn, emotional, and bossy. She was also loyal to a fault, compassionate, kind, and bloody brilliant. Maybe she was having a harder time with what had happened than Harry, but that made sense with what was at stake for her personally.

A warm feeling spread through Ron’s chest. No, his friends weren’t perfect, but he wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.

~

Hermione was purposely engrossing herself in the book in front of her. Any other time, her trusty Hogwarts: A History would have given her a welcome escape from her troubles. Now however, she couldn’t get her mind off her last fight with Ron.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with him. Well, it wasn’t entirely because she didn’t be with him. Truth be told, Hermione was as confused as she had ever been about her feelings regarding her two closest male companions.

On the one hand, she truly did love Ron. There was a reason she had kissed him in the Chamber of Secrets. She hadn’t been trying to move towards a relationship with him since second year for nothing. She genuinely felt like he did lover her, even if he couldn’t always express it like she hoped. She was willing to overlook his flaws and see that he really was a good man. While a life spent with him would surely have its moments, it was nothing to sneeze at.

On the other hand, recent events had made her question her feelings for Harry. There had been times when the thought had entered her mind. While it had clearly been under strenuous circumstances, she had to admit that their ride on Buckbeak to rescue Sirius was perhaps the most romantic thing she had experienced in her life to this point. The Skeeter article, while inaccurate, had also made her wonder what it would be like. She had even dared herself to kiss him at King’s Cross to see what would happen.

Since then, he had made it obvious by his inaction that he only thought of her as his best friend. Considering just how far Harry’s friendship went, this too was nothing she took for granted. So she settled into her role with Harry while working to cultivate her relationship with Ron.

Then, just when she thought things were going to turn out alright, she found herself confused all over again. At Bill and Fleur’s wedding, she was completely caught off guard when she found herself looking at Harry, not Ron, with a huge smile on her face and tears in her eyes as they were bonded. It happened so fast she hadn’t even realized she was doing it until the emerald in Harry’s eyes alerted her to it. It had been so long since she had thought about Harry that way. Why look at him now? Feelings she didn’t even know she had rushed to her in a whirlwind that was only compounded by Ron’s unexpectedly dancing with her. She had almost been glad for the distraction that the Death Eaters had provided for her whirling mind.

Then there was that night in the forest when Ron left them. Left her. She remembered vividly walking among the trees, getting soaked to the bone while she desperately called him to come back. She remembered crying herself to sleep at night, crying into her pillow to keep Harry from hearing her. She remembered literally feeling pain in her chest as she relived him storming out the tent.

When she hit her lowest point: frustrated with their lack of progress, saddened by Ron’s departure, and depressed by the overall feeling of losing the war; Harry brought her a ray of hope. When he danced with her that night, it had done much more than he realized. It reminded her of what was important. They were alive, they were fighting, and Harry was still there. It brought her hope when she needed it most.

There was the night in Godric’s Hollow, sharing that intimate moment with Harry before the graves of his parents. She had known that placing the wreath for them had been the right thing and that it was exactly what Harry needed. She always could tell what he needed, even when he didn’t say anything.

There was the nightmare of Nagini and Voldemort. Saving Harry’s life by the slimmest of margins and praying over his thrashing form that he wouldn’t leave her. It was then, while she desperately tried to nurse him back to health, that she began to realize that her feelings for him were stronger than she cared to admit.

Then, out of the clear blue sky, Ron was back. Though deep down she had been over the moon about him returning, she had rightly let him know just how much he had hurt her. How ridiculously irresponsible he had been to leave his friends when they needed him. In spite of it, she determined herself to rekindle what had been lost with Ron. She knew that Harry had spent plenty of nights staring at Ginny’s dot on the Marauders Map, so despite what the past few weeks had revealed to her, she refused to allow herself to reach for what she couldn’t have.

There was that one shining moment, in the Chamber of Secrets, when it all seemed clear to her that Ron could be the man she hoped him to be. When he had brought up the house elves, it was like the final piece moving into the puzzle of her mind that what she was seeking with Ron was right. It took her a fraction of a second to rationalize trying to snog his brains out right then and there.

It was wonderful, everything she had hoped it would be. It didn’t even faze her that the displeasure in Harry’s voice was more serious than the excuse he gave. It didn’t have to do with the battle currently raging and Hermione knew it. In fact, she had a brief moment of smug satisfaction in knowing that perhaps he was finally wising up to what he had missed.

Then her whole world was turned upside down yet again. There was that awful moment when she realized that Harry meant to die, that moment when she knew without a shadow of doubt that she had no desire to live her life without Harry James Potter.

I’ll go with you.

There was nothing else for her to say. If Harry meant to die, she meant to die with him. She briefly lost the ability to breathe as she grasped him in pure desperation. She never wanted to let him go. But Harry was far too noble and cared far too much for her to let it happen.

So she watched him walk away. She was vaguely aware of Ron’s presence, of his attempts to comfort her. Her world was over. She stood in the entrance hall and prayed beyond hope that somehow, someway, Harry would come back.

Then she spotted him in Hagrid’s arms. It was right then and there that she decided that she had no desire to survive. She would die fighting and she would take as many Death Eaters with her as she could. A world without Harry was not worth living in, even if they had somehow won.

Harry of course, true to form, had evaded death yet again and when Voldemort finally crumpled to the ground dead; a joy filled her heart that she knew might never be matched. Harry was alive and the long dark night was finally over. They could finally live a life without wondering if each day would be their last.

That brought her to now. She hadn’t really been lying to Ron. She really was worried about getting her parents back. She really did want to simply enjoy being alive and being with her two best friends. She really did think that now of all times was not the time to enter into a relationship when her heart was so conflicted.

She didn’t doubt that she loved Ron. She had pursued him almost since she first arrived at Hogwarts. What she doubted was whether or not there was someone she loved more. She even doubted now if she was wrong to feel that way about Harry. She knew he was hiding something about him and Ginny. She knew him too well for him to fool her. Maybe he wasn’t as in love with her as Hermione thought he had been. Maybe there was a chance….

“No.” she caught herself say out loud. As long as there was a chance for their current relationships to work, she wouldn’t give up just yet. Harry was her best friend. You were supposed to feel that way about your best friend. Harry for sure felt the same way about her and he had chosen to go out with first Cho then Ginny. There wasn’t anything to confuse.

She had been chasing Ron for years and had been driven crazy by him in every way possible. There was nothing like the adrenaline that rushed through her when they got into heated arguments (or kissed for that matter) and despite how much of a prat he could be he was loyal, brave, and cared deeply for her.

As impossible as it seemed to her, she was wrong. It didn’t make any sense to push him away now that he was finally hers to have.

Well, at least she could make his day tomorrow. She knew she was never going to hear the end of it when she admitted to him that he was right.

4. Chapter Four

~

Ron was on cloud nine.

He had gone to Hermione to talk to her, but she had shushed him the moment he opened his mouth. Instead of talking about their fight, they ended up making out on the couch in Hermione’s suite.

Reluctantly pulling apart after twenty minutes or so, Ron finally asked the question. “Um, what in the blazes just happened?”

“This is me admitting to you that I was wrong. We should be….we are together Ron.”

“Whoa…..do mine ears deceive me?” he couldn’t help grinning ear to ear.

“Don’t let it go to your head.” She teased.

“I tell you what, I’ll keep it our little secret. But you owe me.” Ron gave her a wicked grin.

“Boys.” Hermione shook her head, but couldn’t hide her own grin.

There wasn’t a whole lot of talking after that.

~

Harry noted that Ron and Hermione looked quite disheveled when they emerged from her suite later that evening.

“I see you two have patched things up.” He grinned at the pair of them. Hermione blushed and Ron sheepishly grinned back.

“What’s for dinner?” Ron changed the subject.

“I thought we could order in. Just relax.” Harry answered.

“Sounds great. There’s a room service menu in the kitchen.” Hermione seemed glad for the change of topic.

After a huge meal that left them all fit to bursting, the trio moved to the balcony to watch the sunset. Harry and Ron sat on either side of Hermione. They sipped on wine and swapped childhood stories.

Harry mainly listened, not really having much from his childhood to share. This was what he cherished most: the three of them together. Just being. They weren’t doing anything special or out of the ordinary, but Harry wouldn’t have it any other way. If this was what life was going to be like from here on out, then he was in for a pleasant ride.

“What’s got you smiling?” Hermione chuckled.

“Nothing at all.” Harry answered, matching her smile with one of his own.

“What do you think life is going to be like, you know, when we go back?” Ron asked.

“Well, we all know Harry here is going to be quite famous.” Hermione playfully swatted his arm. “But then again, I think all three of us will have a little more attention than we’re used to.”

Ron shook his head. “Maybe I’ll publish a memoir. Detailing what it’s really like to live alongside The Boy Who Lived. I’m sure the world would love to know about the time you ate a snot flavored Every Flavored Bean and vomited spectacularly all over poor Neville’s charms book.”

All three of the laughed.

“Or perhaps they want to hear about having the most awkward mistletoe kiss ever.” Ron could barely finish through his own laughs. Hermione in particular thought that one hilarious. She was in tears.

“Haha.” Harry intoned sarcastically, “I be the world would love a picture of Ron dancing on the table at the Three Broomsticks.”

Harry grinned wickedly at Ron who looked like he had been struck by lightning. Hermione had stopped breathing she was laughing so hard.

“Y-you said there was no film in that camera.” Ron looked horrified.

They had all gotten pretty sloshed at the official Gryffindor victory party. It had went on for two days and spanned the common room and both Hogsmeade pubs. Ron in particular had been quite the entertainment.

“H-he had the d-dumbest grin!” Hermione gasped between fits of laughter. Ron had turned as red as his hair.

“Yeah, he was blissfully unaware that Ginny had used a sticking charm on his chair. Quite gracefully leaving his pants behind when he mounted the table.”

Harry now was laughing as hard as Hermione, who was overcome by a coughing fit. Thumping her on the back, Ron suddenly grinned at Harry.

“Of course, I could tell about a certain Mr. Potter who may or may not have….”

“You swore!” Harry countered, horrified that Ron would bring up his own shenanigans from the party.

“Oh you’re not getting off that easily. If I get nailed for dancing half naked on a table, you get hammered for kissing Neville….ARRGGHH!”

Harry had jumped across Hermione and tackled Ron. They wrestled for twenty minutes with Hermione egging them on, all three laughing the entire time.

They eventually settled back into their places and sat in companionable quiet for hours on end. Simply enjoying each other’s company. The sun had long sank beneath the city skyline when they each retired to their warm beds.

~

Harry had returned to the balcony at about five in the morning. After peacefully falling asleep following the events of the previous evening, he was awoken by another nightmare. This time, the one he kept having about Fred’s vacant eyes had found him waking up in a sweat. Knowing sleep wouldn’t be coming back any time soon he had moved to the balcony to gaze over the slowly stirring city.

“Couldn’t sleep?” a soft voice asked behind him.

Harry had a brief struggle in his mind over how to respond, but eventually convinced himself that if anybody understood it was Hermione. “’Nother nightmare.” He replied as Hermione took a seat next to him.

“Who was it this time?”

“Fred.”

Hermione squeezed his arm. “Harry.” The compassion in her voice left no other words necessary. They sat that way for a few moments before she spoke again.

“You know these won’t last forever right?” She was looking at him now. Sadness filling her soft brown eyes.

“I know. It’s just..” Harry choked back a sob, “They’re gone Hermione. Fred, Colin, Tonks, Remus..” and with that he couldn’t fight it any longer. The dead pressed in on every side of his heart. He sobbed uncontrollably. He had never lost control before. There had always been a reason to soldier on, to put on the brave face and keep going.

Now? There wasn’t anything to stop him. Hermione wrapped her arms around him and he sobbed onto her shoulder. She didn’t say anything and she didn’t have to. Her being there was enough.

“H-Harry?” Hermione’s voice choked after Harry had spent himself.

“Yes?”

“Do you remember what you told me? About seeing your parents, Sirius, and Remus in the Forest?” Harry nodded his head. “You know that they’re still here right? They told you they would be. Remember how they were happy? How much younger Remus and Sirius looked?”

Harry lifted his head to look at Hermione. Her eyes too were red and watery with tears.

“Yeah, I do.”

Hermione smiled. “Don’t you know that Fred is with them too? And Tonks, Colin and all the others? They’re there too Harry. They would say the same thing Remus said: they hoped to make the world a better place.”

Hermione looked for a split second like she would lose her composure, but gathered herself and continued: “And they did Harry. Together, they did it. The world is a better place because of what they gave.”

Hermione took his hands in hers. “You know that don’t you?”

Harry looked away over the city, the streets slowly coming to life under the pink early morning sky. He thought of the Hogwart’s Express full of students, of Bill and Fleur at Shell Cottage, and of Diagon Alley full of patrons; all of them going about their business, no longer a pallor of fear hanging over them. Smiles and cheery greetings replacing the heavy silence and weary looks of the past two years.

When he looked back he saw that Hermione was still looking at him. She was still smiling and there was a softness in her eyes that Harry had never seen before. He had never felt so cared for his whole life as he did now, seeing Hermione look at him that way. He couldn’t help but smile back and chuckle to himself.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, and yes I know.” Harry gave her hands a squeeze. “What ever would I have done without you Hermione Granger?”

It was Hermione’s turn to laugh. “Well we both know you would have died at least once a year.”

Harry wasn’t sure if it was the hour or how emotionally fragile they were, but they both laughed and laughed. They laughed until their sides hurt tears of a different kind poured from their eyes.

When they had sufficiently recovered, he helped her to her feet and they both stood together just enjoying the view and the company.

“You know I’ve never thanked you.”

“And you never needed to.”

“Well I am now. Thank you, Hermione. Thank you for looking out for me. For saving me more times than I can count. There have been so many times I’ve been so ungrateful for you.”

They both looked at each other for a long time. Hermione seemed to be thinking hard and looked on the verge of saying something. Harry held her gaze, willing her to tell him what it was. After what could have been minutes, days, or years she simply lifted her hand and gently pushed a wild strand of his hair behind his ear.

“Harry.”

There was something in her voice, something he could see in her eyes that he had never seen there before. He felt warmth spread from his head to his toes. He felt so many things at once: contentment, belonging, wholeness, and just a feeling of right. He wasn’t sure why he felt all these things, but he knew he never wanted it to end.

After what seemed like an eternity to Harry, Hermione gave his hand one last squeeze before she turned and walked back inside. Harry watched her close the door to her room behind her and felt a strange uneasiness wash over him. He didn’t know what had just happened, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something inside of him had shifted.

5. Chapter Five

A/N: It’s nice already being done with a fic when you go to post it! I’ll post them as quickly as I can. I do have to reformat them and do last minute editing before posting. Hope you are enjoying it! Cheers!

~

The trio awoke the next day and after a light breakfast, boarded the first in a small series of trains that would take them from Rome to Vienna. When the appropriate privacy charms had been cast, they settled into friendly games of exploding snap or wizard chess. If Harry didn’t think too hard it was almost like when they were riding the Hogwart’s Express in their school days.

It was while he was on this train of thought that Hermione looked up from the chess game she was losing badly to Ron.

“Do either of you think you’re going to return to Hogwarts? You know…finish our education?”

Ron and Harry exchanged looks. “I’m not sure Hermione. It just won’t quite be the same now will it?” Ron offered. They all knew he was talking about Fred. “Besides, do you really think we need it?”

“Well, depending on what you want to do, a lot of careers are going to want N.E.W.T’s. They’re not exactly going to just hand us whatever career we want.”

Harry had to admit she had a point. “I might go back. After all, I don’t really have anywhere else to go.” It was the truth. Harry had no desire to return to Grimmauld Place or Privet Drive and any plans he had for his parent’s home would have to wait.

“We could get a flat.” Ron offered.

“What about the Burrow?” Hermione asked him as her last pawn was getting throttled by Ron’s queen.

“As much as I love my family, it’s time for me to move out. It’s just been…suffocating there lately.” Harry hated how almost any conversation turned into a conversation about the war’s aftermath.

Hermione gave Ron a concerned look before continuing. “Well, if we went back to Hogwarts, we could at least be together until we figured out what we’re doing.”

That comforting thought seemed to end the discussion. It was quiet except for the sounds of the chess pieces moving as Ron tried to corner Hermione’s king. Harry couldn’t decide if he wanted to talk to his friends yet about Godric’s Hollow just yet. Maybe they should figure out exactly what they’re all going to be doing first.

Ron seemed to sense Harry’s disquiet and had other ideas. “Something on your mind mate? Checkmate Hermione.”

Hermione pushed her king over before looking at Harry expectedly. Harry had to give it to his friends, it was increasingly hard to get anything by them.

“Well, we were talking about places to live, and I have just been thinking…”

“About Godric’s Hollow.” Hermione finished for him.

“Er….yeah.” Harry added lamely.

Ron had a puzzled expression on his face. “What? Your mum and dad’s place? Or somewhere else in the village?”

“I want to rebuild my mum and dad’s.”

Ron and Hermione both gave him a knowing look. “Well, we’re more than happy to help. Though, I don’t know that either of us will be much help at first.”

Hermione’s expression brightened. “Well we’ll just have to learn won’t we?”

“Thanks guys. It means a lot.” Harry didn’t feel the need to go into all his reasons why. They probably knew anyways.

~

When they had reached Vienna, they settled into their hotel. It was a similar setup to their last one. Side by side suites: one for the boys and one for Hermione. Harry had burned through quite a bit of gold to afford their accommodations (not to mention the exchange rate to muggle money), but in his mind it was worth it. Gold had never meant too much to him anyways. He had also spent a pretty penny on a surprise he had for his friends.

“Ron, Hermione, can I see you real quick?” They both joined him in the kitchen from their respective unpacking. “I have something for you.”

Harry handed Hermione a white envelope. Her eyes brightened as she opened it, Ron took up position behind her to see. Hermione’s jaw dropped and she clapped a hand over her mouth when she pulled out two tickets. Ron looked puzzled.

“What are these mate? They don’t look like Quidditch tickets.”

“Oh….Harry! You didn’t!?” Harry had to laugh. His gift was having the effect that he had hoped. Hermione simply gaped at him. When she turned attention back to the tickets, she too briefly looked confused. “But..Harry….there’s only two tickets here.”

“Can someone fill me in what’s going on here?” Ron flustered.

“It’s two tickets to the opera house Ron. They’re terribly expensive, but it’s really fun and very fancy. We went to see one when my family vacationed in France. But Harry, you still haven’t told me why there’s only two tickets.”

Harry grinned at his friends. “I want you two to go out tonight. Just the two of you.” At the worried expression from Hermione he raised his hand. “No Hermione. Really. Go out and have some fun. You two deserve this. Consider it my thanks, for everything.”

Hermione’s eyes watered and she grabbed Harry in a bone crushing hug. Ron grinned, “Thanks mate” and Harry gave him a wink over Hermione’s shoulder.

“Oh thank you Harry! I’ve got to go get spruced up! Ron you had better look your best!” She gave Harry one last squeeze before traipsing off to her room and shutting the door.

“You had better get going Ron. Better look spiffy.” Harry grinned. Ron answered with a grin of his own before taking a more serious expression.

“Thank you Harry. You’re the best mate a guy could ask for.” Ron clapped him on the back.

“Don’t mention it. Now go get dressed!”

~

About forty-five minutes later Harry was standing with Ron in the kitchen again. Ron was wearing a magnificent dark blue tuxedo that brilliantly set off his fiery red hair.

“Come on Hermione! We’re going to be late!” Ron looked at his watch for the fifth time. “Women Harry, honestly. What in the world could be taking so…”

But Ron never finished his thought, for right then Hermione’s door opened and both Harry and Ron audibly gasped.

Hermione was wearing a beautiful ballroom gown that matched Ron’s in color with a pearl necklace and matching pearl studded earrings. Her hair was in an elegant bun with a strand left on either side to frame her face. She looked simply stunning.

Ron’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water while Harry simply gaped. Harry had seen some beautiful women in his life, including a very lovely Hermione at the Yule Ball, but he never thought he’d ever see a woman as beautiful as Hermione was at that moment.

“Well, considering you both have lost the ability to speak I’m guessing I look alright?” Hermione positively glowed from the muted reactions of her two male companions. Harry had never seen her look so confident.

“Alright? Hermione you look…” Ron couldn’t finish his sentence, so Harry came to his friends’ aid. “Positively smashing.” Harry smiled and gave Hermione a short embrace. “You had better help him along or he’ll just stand there all night.”

Hermione beamed at him before turning to Ron. “Let’s go Ronald.” The use of his whole name shook Ron from his reverie. He proffered his arm to Hermione and lead her to the door before opening it to follow her out. They both looked back at Harry.

“Thanks again mate.”

“Thank you Harry. Are you sure you’ll be here by yourself?”

At that they both looked apologetically at Harry.

“I’ll be fine lovebirds, now go before I kick you out myself.” They both chuckled at Harry before Ron closed the door behind him, Hermione giving Harry a last small wave.

They were gone. Harry let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. As happy as he was for his friends and for how they had taken his surprise, he couldn’t help but miss their presence. But he knew that they wouldn’t be able to be around twenty-four hours a day forever, so he might as well get accustomed now.

He honestly hoped they would have a good time and stray away from arguing. While it had been endearing at times and well within both of their characters, Harry thought that at some point they’d have to move a little closer in thought patterns for them to give a relationship a real go. Constant bickering was cute when you’re eleven, but was no way to be married. No other couple Harry knew of behaved that way.

In any case he now had the room to himself. Tired from all the travel that day, he turned on the television and began watching a football match. He was moving in and out of consciousness for several hours before falling asleep, not waking up until the sound of the door opening woke him with a small start past midnight. A strange curiosity peaked in Harry and instead of greeting his friends, he feigned sleep and listened to their hushed conversation.

“He’s asleep Ron.”

“I’ll wake him and have him move to the bed when you’ve run off. Tonight was fun.”

“Really? I was worried at first you would think opera to be boring.”

“I can’t say it’s my favorite activity, but the company was good.”

“Well tonight has shown you can be sweet. It’s nice to know.”

A couple of footsteps and the rustle of fabric told Harry that they had embraced.

“I had a wonderful evening Ron.”

“I did too. It’s the first time in a very long time I didn’t once think about what could be around the corner or about….well…you know.”

“Me too Ron, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why….why can’t we be like this more? We didn’t argue or fight one time tonight and it was the best time I’ve had with you that I can recall.”

There was a moment of silence before Ron answered. “To be honest Hermione, I don’t know. I just…I guess a lot of my arguments with you stem from feeling….you could say…inadequate?”

Another moment of silence. “Ron, how could you..”

“Think about it Hermione. You’ve always done better than me at spellwork and schoolwork. You’ve always seemed to know more than I do. I guess most of the time I would argue so that I could try and prove something to you. Prove that I could be good enough for you.”

“Ron, I….I don’t know what to say. So tonight you…you don’t feel that way anymore?”

“I can’t say I’ve kicked it entirely. But I’m trying. I guess I’m becoming more secure in who I am, determined to just be me instead of trying to measure up to someone else.”

“Well, I’m happy for you Ron. Thanks again for such a wonderful time.”

Harry heard her give Ron a kiss. “Goodnight Ron.”

“Goodnight Hermione.”

Hermione walked into her room and closed the door. Ron stood still for a moment before walking over to where Harry was on the couch. Ron shook his shoulder gently. “Hey mate, why don’t you head to bed.”

Pretending to be just waking up, Harry stretched and sat up. “Sounds good mate. How was tonight?”

“It was…we’ll talk about it later.”

Puzzled at his friends’ answer, Harry followed Ron into the bedroom and changed into his pajamas. Without further conversation, both boys climbed into bed and Ron’s snores soon told Harry he was fast asleep.

6. Chapter Six

~

In the room next door, Hermione was wide awake. Now that she had written down the evening’s events in her journal, she walked to her window and stared at nothing in particular as she processed the night’s events.

Ron and Hermione walked hand in hand towards the opera house at the end of the street. They were idly chatting about nothing in particular. Hermione was struck by how comfortable she felt. For it being their first real date of any significance, she felt no nerves gnawing at her. While on the one hand, it shouldn’t have surprised her that much considering how long they had known each other; Hermione had to wonder, on the other hand, why this change in the relationship didn’t make her the least bit anxious.

When they reached the opera house and found their seats, Hermione had a field day explaining all the intricacies of the opera to Ron. Ron, for his part, was genuinely curious. Though he typically struggled to understand the muggle world, the way that they amplified the voice with the building’s design particularly intrigued him. Hermione was enjoying explaining it to him without his usual impatience towards her gushing.

They sat in companionable silence during the performance, Hermione leaning her head onto Ron’s shoulder. Again she was surprised by how little reaction she experienced with her physical contact with Ron. She had fretted all afternoon while dressing how she was going to react when these things would happen, but she was consternated by the lack of any reaction in her. Maybe she and Ron would bypass all of those early relationship worries and feelings.

She spent the intermission talking to Ron about the plot of the performance and about their future career choices. Hermione was considering a wide variety of choices while Ron was hedged between helping George with the shop and being an Auror. It was so nice to be talking to Ron in civilized tones. She had always enjoyed his company when they weren’t bickering.

After watching the final acts and heading back to the street, Ron suggested a walk in a neighboring park. Hermione gladly accepted and they walked for the better part of an hour and a half, talking about everything that came to mind: the opera, Hogwarts, past adventures, and everything in between.

It was while walking around the park that it finally hit Hermione. The reason why she felt so comfortable with Ron, the reason why it didn’t bother her in the slightest that she was on her first real date and holding hands with the man she had pursued off and on for six years. Despite how happy she had been, despite how great it was to kiss him and spend tonight with him……she wsnt in love with him.

Oh she loved him. She loved him so much she would die for him. But she wasn’t in love with him and that made all the difference. The previous day had been throwing a band-aid on what was already a foregone conclusion. He drove her crazy when they were fighting and yes he was a great kisser, but when it was just the two of them like tonight……there was nothing beyond her and one of her best friends.

In her heart she knew that she wasn’t in love with him anymore and probably never would be again. She had given him so many chances over the years. All second year, the Yule Ball fourth year, both before and after Lavender (a pain shot through her chest at the thought of her dead dorm mate), after Dumbledore’s funeral, and finally even after he walked out during the Horcrux hunt. Every time up until now he had dropped the ball.

She suddenly felt the overwhelming feeling of being tired. Tired of being let down. She was just now realizing it, but when he left the tent that night, he had given up his last real chance with her heart. She couldn’t give him her heart anymore because she no longer trusted him with it. Not like that.

That was the real reason she had fought against the label. She could dress it however she wanted in her other cares and fears, but at the end of the day it was because she flat out didn’t want it. It made her feel awful.

He was still her friend. One of her two very best friends. She loved him and would do anything for him. He had come back and if recent events told her anything it’s that he would never leave again. But he could never get back the trust she once placed with him to hold her completely. That was a barrier he couldn’t cross again because she couldn’t let him.

“Ron, what do you say we head back?”

“Sure. Let’s go get a cab.”

All the way back to the hotel she thought about how tonight had been a perfectly wonderful evening, and how Ron really had changed. She thought about how badly she had once wanted to be with him. She felt a real sense of loss in knowing she wouldn’t feel like that towards him again. Completely unsure of what to do, she resolved herself to let the night play itself out and straighten her own head out before doing or saying anything rash.

Ron helped her out of the cab at the hotel and they walked silently back to their rooms. Out of habit, they walked together into the boys’ room to find Harry asleep in front of the television.

“He’s asleep Ron.”

“I’ll wake him and have him move to the bed when you’ve run off. Tonight was fun.”

“Really? I was worried at first you would think opera to be boring.”

“I can’t say it’s my favorite activity, but the company was good.”Hermione was disappointed that she didn’t blush harder than she did.

“Well tonight has shown you can be sweet. It’s nice to know.”

Hermione pulled Ron into a firm embrace. She felt a small flutter in her stomach. He smelled good, like he had a very light fragrance on. She felt very safe in his arms. Maybe she had been overreacting. This felt very nice.

“I had a wonderful evening Ron.”

“I did too. It’s the first time in a very long time I didn’t once think about what could be around the corner or about….well…you know.”

“Me too Ron, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

Hermione had a brief and violent struggle in her mind. What she really wanted to ask was how he felt about their first date and her, but thinking that she wasn’t quite ready to have that conversation, she went with plan b.

“Why….why can’t we be like this more? We didn’t argue or fight one time tonight and it was the best time I’ve had with you that I can recall.”

There was a moment of silence before Ron answered. “To be honest Hermione, I don’t know. I just…I guess a lot of my arguments with you stem from feeling….you could say…inadequate?”

While Hermione had often thought it, to hear Ron express it was something else entirely. “Ron, how could you..”

“Think about it Hermione. You’ve always done better than me at spellwork and schoolwork. You’ve always seemed to know more than I do. I guess most of the time I would argue so that I could try and prove something to you. Prove that I could be good enough for you.”

Now Hermione felt herself really blushing. “Ron, I….I don’t know what to say. So tonight you…you don’t feel that way anymore?”

“I can’t say I’ve kicked it entirely. But I’m trying. I guess I’m becoming more secure in who I am, determined to just be me instead of trying to measure up to someone else.”

Hermione very well knew who that someone else was. He was asleep on the couch. However, she felt like Ron was growing up in front of her. A warm feeling spread from her heart.

“Well, I’m happy for you Ron. Thanks again for such a wonderful time.”

She leaned in to give him a goodnight kiss. She saw him close his eyes as she drew to his face, but before her lips brushed his, she felt a panic rise up in her chest and she changed direction to give him a peck on the cheek instead.

“Goodnight Ron.”

Hermione saw the disappointment in Ron’s eyes.

“Goodnight Hermione.”

The entire night replayed in her head. Why didn’t she kiss him? It’s not like it would be the first time. Why did she panic at the last moment?

She, of course, knew the answer to these questions. Maybe it was finally time to admit to herself that things just weren’t going to work out with Ron. He was funny, brave, and endearing. He was a wonderful man and if the past few days had been any indicator, he was becoming more of one every day. She loved him, but her heart no longer belonged to him. He had broken it one too many times.

She walked back to her bedside table and picked up a tome about Vienna’s history with the magical world. There would be plenty of time to talk to Ron about this. Later.

7. Chapter Seven

A/N: Sorry for deleting then reposting! Can’t edit on Portkey and I made some BIG changes to almost every chapter (except chapter One). Had a reviewer on another site give me good food for thought. Couldn’t let it slide! I hate to lose your awesome reviews! Thanks so much for all the feedback! Hope you guys enjoy the changes and the new update! Cheers!

~

Ron surprised himself by being the first one awake the next morning. Harry was dead asleep on the bed next to him, and when he walked into the kitchen he saw Hermione’s door still closed. Opening it was usually the first thing she did every morning after getting dressed.

He was eating breakfast on the couch when he first heard a muffled groan from Hermione’s room. At first he waved it off as Hermione waking up, but it grew louder and more insistent. He then heard muffled words, followed by a piercing scream.

All the blood leaving his face, Ron pelted to Hermione’s room and flew open the door. She was lying on top of her sheets where she had apparently fallen asleep reading a book. She was thrashing about with her eyes firmly shut. She unleashed another scream as her whole body seemed to convulse.

Ron dashed to her side and put a hand on each of her cheeks. “Hermione! Wake up!”

Hermione continued to thrash about and screamed yet again.

“Wake up! It’s me Ron! Everything is okay, please wake up! Damn it!”

“Ron, what’s wrong?” Harry had appeared in the doorway.

“She’s having a nightmare, she won’t wake up. Wake up Hermione, please!”

Harry joined Ron and grabbed one of her hands, rubbing it gently in between his own hands. “Hermione, we’re here. It’s alright.” His voice was much calmer than Ron’s.

“Please Hermione.” Ron choked, “We’re here and you’re safe. Wake up.”

Hermione’s eyes finally flew open and she bolted upright. “I was….she was….Harry! Ron!” She was wildly looking around the room before her eyes settled on first Harry, then Ron. Realizing now where she was, she collapsed into Ron’s arms sobbing uncontrollably.

“There, there Hermione. You’re safe. She can’t hurt you anymore. We won’t let anyone hurt you anymore.” Ron spoke soothingly. Harry placed a hand on her leg. “That’s right. You’re here with me and Ron. You’re okay.”

Hermione slowly gained her composure. When she sat up in the bed, Harry cast a Cheering Charm on her. “All better now?”

“Yes Harry, thank you.” Turning to Ron she spoke softly, “Thank you both.”

Ron felt his stomach loosen. She was alright. Harry got up to make some hot chocolate and breakfast for her. Hermione stayed in Ron’s arms, sniffling and hiccupping. After placing a tray with her breakfast on her bedside table, Harry excused himself for a shower. Ron sat cross legged on the end of her bed while she slowly ate.

“I’m glad you were both here.” Hermione spoke softly.

“This is exactly why we’re here. We need each other.” They both shared a meaningful look with one another. Ron lost himself in his own thoughts. He knew he needed to talk to her about last night, he just wasn’t sure if he was ready or if now was the time. Hermione gave him a knowing look.

“Wanna talk about what’s on your mind?” Ron tried to act surprised but he knew that she saw right through him.

“We don’t have to do this now.”

Ron really didn’t think she would be up for talking about much considering how she woke up, but she dismissed his concern with a shaking head. “I’m fine Ron, and honestly I wanted to talk about last night too.”

Resigned that he wasn’t getting out of it, Ron tried to gather his thoughts together. He had never really mastered the art of talking about how he felt about things. That he had done so twice so far on this trip had to be some kind of miracle, or maybe he was finally doing some growing after all.

“Hermione, while I know last night was technically our first real date, it never really felt like I was on a date. It felt like a night out with my best friend. I think you wanted it to feel that way. I genuinely do love you, I’ve wanted to be with you for years now, but something about last night told me that maybe you don’t feel the same way I do about this relationship. I want to know if that’s true.”

Ron looked hard at Hermione. He may not have had the telepathy thing going for him that Harry and her sometimes displayed, but he still knew how to read her expressions. She had never been very good at hiding her feelings about anything. The look of guilt in her eyes told him all he really needed to know.

“Ron, I..” Hermione began with her eyes watery, “I do love you. I’ve spent years trying to get you to notice me. Trying to have something special with you, and for awhile we did. But Ron, I have to be honest with you because you deserve it. I can’t think of you as my boyfriend anymore.”

The silence was deafening. Ron could feel the prickling behind his eyes. Hermione looked at him and he had never seen her eyes look so sad.

“Ron, I am so very sorry. You truly are a wonderful man. You made me happier than I have ever been. But..” and her voice broke, “you broke my heart so many times. Every time I told myself that you would change. That next time would be different. That we would get past the point where we would blow up at each other and not speak for weeks. After Dumbledore died, when we were at Bill’s wedding, I thought we had finally gotten there.”

Knowing full well where this was going and dreading every second, Ron could feel himself turning green. He felt sicker than he had ever had in his life.

“Don’t ever doubt that I loved you with all my heart. But you shattered me when you left. I know we’ve been over this a dozen times, but it’s true. I’ve been trying ever since then to let you back into my heart, but Ron, I…I can’t.”

Her voice broke. Tears were flowing thick and fast from both their eyes.

“You will always, always, be my friend. In a way, even calling you my friend seems to cheapen how I feel about you. But I can’t trust you with that part of me anymore.”

Hermione was crying softly across the bed from him. Ron could feel his own tears moving down his cheeks. His worst fear about that night had been realized. He had gone too far, had let her down too many times. He knew he hadn’t always treated her fairly, but had always hoped she could find it in her to forgive him. He knew now that it had been unreasonable to think she could do it forever. It seemed a cruel fate that just when he was getting his head out of his arse, it was already too late. Yet he had no one to blame but himself.

She moved closer to him and brushed some of his tears away with her thumbs. She looked him deep in his eyes and Ron felt a knot form in his chest as he gazed into those deep brown wells.

“Ron, you have become a wonderful, wonderful man. You deserve someone who can trust you with every fiber of their being. You deserve to be happy, to have someone love you with their whole heart. I wish so badly that I could give that to you, but I just…..I just can’t.”

She gave him a very chaste kiss on his lips. He stored away the memory in his mind, to always remember the way her soft lips felt on his.

“I…I’m going to go for a walk. Stay here and talk to Harry. He will want to help.” And so Hermione got up to walk away. Ron watched her go out of her door, heard a brief conversation between her and Harry, then heard the outer door open and close.

Ron’s eyes were shut tight, trying to hold it back. Trying not to completely lose control. He heard Harry walk into the room and could feel his presence. Unfortunately, controlling his emotions had never been his strength and so he started to cry. He vaguely felt the bed move next to him and Harry’s hand on his shoulder, but Harry remained silent. There was nothing that he could say anyways.

~

Harry was standing in the kitchen washing some dishes when Hermione found him.

“Harry, I just broke up with Ron. I’m going for a walk, he’s going to need you.” She was grateful when one look at her face told him to not ask any questions.

His eyes were full of concern. “Are you sure it’ll be safe with you out there alone?”

Leave it to Harry to think about that. Hermione silently prayed for a day when he could get over worrying about his friends getting cursed in the street.

“I’ll be fine Harry; I’ll come straight back here if there’s a problem.” When Harry didn’t look convinced she added, “I promise.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a while.” He looked resigned to the facts, though his tone communicated that he expected to talk about this later. Grateful for his understanding, Hermione walked to the elevators and out the front doors.

She had been walking for half an hour before she found a stopping place at a bench in a small square a few blocks from the hotel. She had barely sat down when the tears she had been fighting back finally broke free. She knew it wasn’t a flattering sight, to be crying her eyes out on a public bench, but she didn’t particularly care in that moment.

When she finally collected herself enough to look around, she saw that the square was a small park surrounded by shops. She could smell the bread baking at a bakery to her left while the sound of laughter and chit-chat came regularly from the restaurant in front of her.

She wondered if Ron had really stayed and what he and Harry were doing right now. Though she knew it was the right thing to do, breaking up with Ron still gutted her. The hurt in his eyes had been almost unbearable. She hoped to never see his sky blue eyes that way again.

She tried to clear her mind, but if the uncertainty of their relationship was gone it was replaced with the uncertainty of their friendship. Would the trio ever be the same again? She desperately hoped that Ron could find it in him to forgive her and to remain her friend. The last thing she needed was to lose one of the two closest friends she had. She knew she would need him as much in the days ahead as she always had. They all would. Ron had said that himself.

Turning her gaze to the stores around her, a small bookstore on the upper level of a café caught her attention. Deciding it wouldn’t hurt to have a look around, she first dipped into a public loo to freshen herself up with a bit of magic before strolling resolutely up the side staircase and through the front door.

A small bell jingled above her and a kind looking woman turned and smiled. She was a wiry older woman who could pass for the grandmothers that Hermione remembered from her fairy tales growing up. She even had the kind eyes and smile to boot.

“Good morning.” Hermione offered, momentarily forgetting that she was not in England. Mortified by her mistake, Hermione wasn’t sure what to say. Her face must have given her away because the woman simply smiled and answered “Good morning my dear.” Relieved that the woman spoke English, Hermione assured her that she was just browsing and began to pace up and down the aisles.

She scanned the titles on the shelves, picking up and flipping through those that she found interesting. Books had always had a way of distracting her from her troubles. She had become so intent on the first chapter of a volume about Prince Eugene of Savoy that she hadn’t noticed the older woman approach her.

“A great patron of the arts as well as an inspiring commander. His life is quite the read.” While Hermione was at first taken aback by the woman’s interest in her, the kind smile and relaxed demeanor put her at ease. “It does make for good reading. I never caught your name, my name is Hermione.”

“My name is Catherine, pleased to meet you.” Catherine gave Hermione a gentle handshake. “What brings an English girl like you to Vienna?”

“I’m on a holiday with my two best friends.” Hermione explained, avoiding the reason behind the holiday. In the back of her mind, Hermione wondered if Ron really was still her best friend.

Catherine seemed to notice her misgivings. “If you don’t mind me saying so, you look troubled.”

Hermione wasn’t sure how to answer. The woman was a complete stranger and so her first instinct was to not be terribly trusting. She hadn’t just survived a war for nothing, but something about Catherine made her think that perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to have a fellow woman to talk to. It’s not like she was likely to ever come across this woman again and an outside opinion could give her perspective.

“Well, you see, one of the boys I’m here with….we were together, but I broke up with him this morning.” Hermione felt the tears prickling at the back of her eyes. Catherine gave her a knowing smile. “My, my. Well, if you’re comfortable talking about it, we can grab some tea from downstairs and you can tell me all about it. How does that sound?”

Comforted by the thought, Hermione consented and after ordering some tea they returned to the bookstore to sit at a small table in the back. Catherine had asked a young boy, her only employee she explained, to watch the store while they chatted.

Hermione explained to her everything. Starting from when she first met Ron and Harry on the Hogwarts express. Of course, she changed the story quite a bit, removing all the magical parts and sugar coating the events of the war. Catherine nodded, asked questions, and gave her opinion when relevant. By the time Hermione had finished, Catherine had her feeling much better about the situation.

“Well, if you really feel that way about Ronald, then I believe that you made the right decision. If you two really have been through so much, I have to believe that he will remain your friend. He is hurt I’m sure, but a friendship such as yours is not something to be thrown away lightly.”

Hermione smiled at Catherine. Perhaps she was right and the trio could remain together after all. Hope now buoyed her flagging spirits.

“What about this other young man, Harry was it? He seems rather important to you.” Hermione opened her mouth and closed it again. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about Harry. Not to mention that she was unsure herself how she felt about him. “He…we’re just friends.”

Catherine gave her a knowing look. “The very best I assume. You have spoken very highly of him. He seems a very fine young man.” Hermione nodded. It wasn’t as if it wasn’t true. “You seem very fond of him. After all, most of the adventures you and Ronald went on together seemed to involve Harry in some way.”

Hermione was perturbed by Catherine’s perceptiveness. “Yeah, he’s….” but Hermione couldn’t bring herself to say what Harry really was. Not only was she unsure, she didn’t want Catherine to think that Harry had been in any way involved with her breakup with Ron, or that she was already on the rebound.

“I understand Hermione, matters of the heart are rarely as simple as we would like them to be.” Catherine had a faraway look her in eyes, like she was lost in her own memories. Hermione was again taken aback by how applicable Catherine’s wisdom was.

“How….how do you know all of this?” Hermione finally asked. She was aware of how childish the question seemed, but her curiosity got the best of her.

“I daresay I’ve lived quite a bit of life myself dear.” Catherine chuckled, “It’s a simple reality of life. Relationships are never as clear cut as the fairy tales and movies make them out to be.” Hermione bit her lip as she turned these things over in her mind. Catherine had been so helpful with Ron, would it really hurt to see what she thought about Harry?

“Well….” Hermione had one more disagreement with herself in her mind before beginning again, “Harry does mean a lot to me. He truly is my best friend. I love him; I just don’t think that I’m in love with him.”

Catherine sat in silence for a moment before speaking. “Well, only you can know the answer to that. I would certainly let things settle with Ron before thinking about any kind of other relationship, but…” Catherine’s eyes looked strangely sad, “don’t make the mistake of never giving someone like Harry a second thought.” At that moment the boy from the front of the store appeared and questioned Catherine regarding a customer at the desk.

“Well it looks like I have to be getting back to work. Perhaps you should return to your friends. I’m pleasured to have made your acquaintance Hermione. Good luck with Ronald and Harry.” She gave Hermione a hug as Hermione profusely thanked her for her help. “Don’t mention it my dear, you’re always welcome to come back anytime.” And Catherine turned and walked to the front desk.

Hermione walked out the door and back into the street. It was past three now, so she thought it best to return to the hotel and meet back up with the boys. Though she had a queasy feeling in her stomach at the thought of seeing Ron, she couldn’t put it off forever. Besides, Catherine’s counsel had made her think that it wasn’t as hopeless as she had feared.

She had always liked to believe the best in people. Ron had truly grown over the past year. She chose to believe that he wouldn’t let this change anything about their friendship anymore than she was going to.

She hoped she was right.

8. Chapter Eight

~

Neither one of them had moved since Hermione had walked out. Harry was unsure what to say. He was never very good in these situations. It was Ron who finally broke the silence.

“Harry?”

“Yes, Ron?”

“I’m sorry.”

Harry was taken aback. “Sorry for what exactly?”

“I’m sorry that I was the one who broke the trio up. Just when I thought we were inseparable…” Ron sniffed.

“What makes you think we’re done now?” Harry was looking at Ron, who was refusing to meet his gaze.

“Because of me and Hermione. I used to think about what would happen….you know…if we got involved and something went wrong. I mean stuff has happened before, but not like this. I was afraid it would be the end of the three of us. Now it’s going to happen.”

“Why? Did she say she didn’t want to be friends anymore?” Harry asked gently.

“Well….no….” Ron mumbled.

“What did she say?”

“She said she….would always be my friend.” He finally turned to meet Harry’s look, “But she can’t mean that can she? How am I even supposed to look at her now? And surely she hates me for treating her so badly.”

He sounded on the verge of breaking. Harry knew he had to choose his next words carefully.

“Ron, you have been her friend for years. You have watched after her, made her laugh…..if she said she will always be your friend, then she means it. You and I both know her well enough to know how stubborn and loyal she can be. Whether or not she loves you in that way, she will always love you. Surely you know that by now.”

Ron didn’t answer at first. The silence was thick. He could see the wheels turning in his friend’s mind.

“That still doesn’t cover how in the world I’m supposed to be around her. Maybe I should just go home.”

He actually stood up as if to go, but Harry stood up in front of him.

“You’re not going anywhere. You know you don’t really want to and that she doesn’t want you to either.”

Another silence.

“Then what am I supposed to do?” Harry winced at the obvious pain in his best mate’s voice.

“I think…” He wracked his brain for something useful to say. Hogwarts really needed to add classes about how to handle girls and people who were upset. “I think you need to decide what is important to you and stick with it. If you truly want Hermione as your friend, then make that your focus. I think that’s what you both want.”

Harry hoped he had said the right thing. He hoped that his own fears of the three becoming two weren’t about to be realized. He knew now that nothing was as important to him as having Ron and Hermione by his side, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing that now.

After what seemed like ages, Ron finally nodded his head.

“You’re right Harry. I want….more than anything….for us three to be together.”

Harry was glad to see the determination lurking behind the pain in Ron’s eyes. He knew it wouldn’t be easy for Ron, but luckily Ron didn’t have to do it alone.

“I’m here for you mate.” Harry closed the gap and gave Ron a hearty embrace. “Whatever I can do, let me know.”

“Thanks mate. You’re the best.” Ron sniffed again. “As for what you can do, let’s go find somewhere to do some blasting curses until a decent hour to drink comes around.”

Harry smiled. If Ron was keeping it as tame as blasting curses and drinking, then he was going to alright after all.

~

While the next few days seemed normal on the surface, Harry knew it was because Ron and Hermione were doing their best to keep it that way. They had visited a number of different tourist attractions around the city, both magical and muggle, and while they were genuinely having a good time Harry couldn’t help but wonder when everything could be back to normal.

At least they were keeping it subtle. Ron and Hermione both were rather courteous to one another, perhaps more so than usual, but there was a slight tension in the air whenever they were around one another. Harry could see it in how they positioned themselves with Harry in between them at all times, or in how they never seemed to want to make eye contact with one another. Whenever Harry would try to go somewhere on his own, Ron or Hermione would typically volunteer themselves to go with him, leaving the other one alone.

Despite all of this it seemed like they were all headed to a new sort of equilibrium. The first hint Harry had that things were slowly getting back to normal was when they attended a local quidditch match (at Ron’s insistence) and Ron got into an argument with Hermione over who got the aisle seat. The sight of them bickering over something trivial without it boiling over told Harry that they both were moving past their hurt.

There was just one more stop on their tour of Europe before heading to Australia: Greece. There had been a large disagreement over it when they had planned the trip. Ron had wanted to stop in Romania to see his brother Charlie while Hermione had wanted the extra time to visit the two wizarding schools in Europe: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Harry had been the one to offer the compromise: they would visit Greece, whose historic venues interested Hermione, and would be close enough to Romania that if Ron wanted to take a day to visit Charlie he could.

At the time, Harry didn’t want or foresee any need to split up, but had to admit it was probably for the best when Ron told them the next morning that he would be going to Romania the next day.

“I just want to see him, I miss my family you know, and we haven’t had much time together in a while.” Ron had explained to Harry years before how Charlie had always been the brother he related to most. Harry could see why. Bill was too much to look up to, Percy was too haughty, and the twins….Harry felt a stabbing pain in his gut…..had always been too busy pushing his buttons. Charlie was more laid back and shared Ron’s obsession with quidditch.

“That’s fine mate, take as much time as you want. We’ll meet back up with you before we leave.” Ron clapped Harry on the back before awkwardly embracing Hermione. “Take care you two, I won’t be too long. I’ll see you in Greece.” And so Ron left for the local owl post to let Charlie know he was coming. He would catch a flight to Bucharest later that afternoon.

Harry and Hermione passed through security without any problems and were sitting at the terminal awaiting their flight before either of them said anything.

“Do you think he’ll be okay Harry?” Hermione had her patented worry face on.

“Dying in a plane crash would be pretty embarrassing for someone who can do magic.”

Hermione gave him a sour look. “That’s not funny Harry and you know what I mean.”

“He’ll be fine Hermione.” Harry gave her reassuring smile. “You two were bickering just like old times yesterday. Everything will be alright. Just give him some time.”

She seemed to relax and Harry had to marvel at himself for a moment. “Since when am I the one giving you advice?”

Hermione chuckled. “I have to admit it’s not our usual roles, especially when it comes to dealing with people who are upset.” Harry thought back to Cho and the Room of Requirement and how hopelessly lost he had felt.

“I’ve never have been too good with that.”

Hermione gave him a warm smile. “Well I guess Ron isn’t alone in maturing. There might be some hope for you after all.”

They sat in amicable silence until they boarded. Hermione brought out a book and promptly began reading while Harry looked out the window. While it was nothing like flying a broomstick, he still liked watching the countryside pass him by.

Upon their arrival in Athens, they discussed their plans for the next couple of days on their way to their hotel. They made alternate plans in the event that Ron joined them and once they had reached their room, decided to find a nice place for dinner. Hermione liked the sound of a small family owned spot a few blocks away. Dressed casually, they walked to their destination while Hermione gushed about the book she had been reading on the flight. Harry had long thought her diatribes were annoying, but recent events made him more than grateful to nod along and smile at her enthusiasm. He wondered why it took such tragedy and loss for him to be thankful for what he had instead of nitpicking what he didn’t like in his friends.

Harry had to rely on Hermione’s research when it came time to order and though the dish wasn’t anything like traditional English ware, he found that it was quite pleasant. They speculated for a while how the restoration work at Hogwarts was progressing before the topic of their upcoming year came up.

“Do you think we should owl them and tell them we plan on coming back?” Hermione was back in her element: talking about academics. “Will they even take us back? We did miss our entire year after all.”

Harry hadn’t even thought about it. Fred and George had left before their N.E.W.T.’s, but they had never planned on finishing anyways. He wondered if there had been other students who took a year off and if Hogwarts had some kind of policy about students who wished to return. He had never seen any students older than their supposed year, so there was no real evidence that Hogwarts allowed it.

“Maybe with all that happened, they’ll be a little more understanding. Everyone who was there last year got a real quality education after all.” Harry’s comment set off a round of bashing on the part of the Death Eater “professors”. It was when they got to Snape that Hermione paused.

“How do you feel about Snape Harry?”

He wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Finding out Snape’s true loyalties had been a shock. That he had loved Lily Evans for his entire life and devoted it to protecting her son, Harry, put all of Harry’s years at Hogwarts into a new perspective. It also explained Snape’s feelings toward him. He may have had Lily’s eyes, but they were looking out of a boy who looked just like James Potter, the man Lily ultimately chose over Snape. While Harry admired Snape for his courage to live a double life in the face of mortal danger and was grateful for all that he had done to help him complete his quest; it was hard to forget seven years’ worth of taunts, jabs, and unfair treatment.

“He was a brave man, but a man who could never move past who I looked like.” Harry put simply. “He has my gratitude, but I can’t exactly like the man.” Harry instantly was reminded of Snape’s last breaths and felt guilty for speaking ill of the dead. Hermione’s searching look seemed to pick it up.

“Harry, don’t feel guilty for being honest. There was never any love lost between you. Someone being gone doesn’t mean we suddenly have to view them with rose colored glasses.”

Grateful for her understanding, Harry turned the conversation to more trivial matters and they talked long into the evening until they picked up the staff’s signals that it was time for them to leave.

They walked back together underneath a full moon that bathed the city in a soft glow. The marble of the old city in particular benefited from the reflected moonlight. It was a gorgeous evening and so the pair took a long detour through side streets before returning to their hotel, occasionally making small talk about their surroundings but in general just enjoying each other’s company.

Free from the pressures that usually led to Hermione nagging or lecturing him, Harry found her company quite enjoyable. Her inquisitiveness and tendency to ramble was a lot more endearing when it had nothing to do with schoolwork and even her attempts at humor (which Harry politely chuckled at) while far from his own brand of humor, he found charming in a cheesy sort of way. For his part, Harry was content to simply let her ramble and to listen.

After a particularly long rant about some famous wizard named Demosthenes, Hermione stopped talking and gave Harry an inquiring look.

“What are you grinning about?”

Harry, who hadn’t even realized he was doing it, simply shrugged. “I don’t know. You I guess.”

“Me? What about me?” She sounded uncharacteristically shy and her cheeks were tinged with pink.

“I guess we’ve just never really been together, just the two of us, without either school or some deadly adventure in the mix. I’m just learning a bit more about what it’s really like, you know, being with you.”

Hermione’s cheeks turned a darker shade of pink. “I guess you’re right, I’ve never really thought about it before. I bet I’ve been insufferable.” She looked down to gaze at her shoes as they kept walking.

“You had your moments, but…er…” Harry hesitated at the dejected look on her face. “I have too. Remember fifth year? When I kept blowing up at everyone?”

“Believe me, that year is pretty hard to forget.”

Harry still didn’t quite like the look on her face.

“Listen Hermione, I meant what I said in a good way. I’m not always…well…good at saying the right thing. I enjoy being with you. That’s all I meant.”

Hermione gave him a skeptical look. “So you don’t think I’m an insufferable know-it-all?”

“No Hermione I don’t.” Harry gave her a genuine smile. “In fact, if you didn’t know so much, I wouldn’t be around to complain about it would I?”

“But Harry don’t you get it? I don’t want to be just the girl who keeps you alive.” He could see that her temper was quickly mounting.

“Hermione it’s more than that. Its….”

“What is it then? Huh? What is it Harry? I’m dying to know!” Hermione’s voice got shriller with every syllable.

Harry could see in her eyes just how hurt she was. It hit him all at once that this was how she really felt: like a tool he had used all these years. He realized that never once had he taken a moment to ask her what she needed from him. It had been all giving and no receiving for her. He knew that he had hurt her and had been hurting her for a very long time. His heart went cold and he felt ill knowing just how neglectful he had been. He more than anything to let her know those days were over.

“You are the brightest, bravest, most steadfast, compassionate, and loyal person I know.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide and she stopped walking. Harry stopped in front of her and took her hand in his. “And I know that I have been so, so ungrateful for your friendship. You have given me so much and I have given so little; but if you’re willing to give me the chance, I want to spend whatever time I have left to give back to you.”

Holding her gaze, he saw that her eyes went from stunned to tender as his words sunk in. “Harry I…I don’t know what to say.”

“I meant every word.”

“I know.” the words dripped with meaning beyond what they said. He knew that she trusted him completely to be true to his word.

“I’m just so sorry it took me so long to want to pay you back.” Harry felt his stomach tie in knots of guilt. He really had taken her for granted for so long. He was surprised she was even still here. Hermione gave his hands a squeeze.

“I forgive you Harry. I know that you have lived a life full of burdens that should have never been yours to carry. I just did my best to help you see them through.”

They stood there for a moment just drinking in the moment. Hermione’s eyes began to swim with tears. She took a tentative step forward and Harry knew she was about to launch into one of her patented hugs. He opened up his arms in invitation.

“Come here.” And before he had even finished she did indeed nearly knock the wind out of him, so hard did she fling herself at him. “I know I wasn’t there for you like you needed me before, but I’ll always be there starting today. You deserve the best.”

Hermione hiccupped into his chest. “Oh Harry.”

They stood that way for what seemed ages before she released him. Harry took her hand in his and with interlaced fingers they walked side by side into the night.

9. Chapter Nine

A/N: The first of a couple of short updates. Couldn’t resist to get into Hermione’s head and next update is where we’ll check in on Ron. Hope you guys are enjoying it!

~

Hermione was writing furiously in her journal. She had started the instant she had finished unpacking and as the clock read three in the morning she still hadn’t stopped. Her brow was furrowed as deep as any exam had ever sent it as she poured her thoughts onto paper. Things that she had long repressed in her conscious and things that she had never allowed herself to think.

She had been upset with Harry for a very, very long time. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand that he often had the entire wizarding world on his shoulders. She genuinely empathized with him. Hell, she had done everything short of giving her life to help him remove that burden.

But that didn’t change the fact that she was human. She had her own burdens too and as long as she had known him, Harry had rarely given her troubles much thought. All too often, her problems only seemed to matter to Harry when they overlapped with his.

That’s not to say that he didn’t have his moments. Certainly when the cards were on the table and her life was at stake, he was as protective of her as anyone. Even more so in fact. No one took care of her in some of the ways Harry had. On every adventure together he had been an arm she could grab or a hand to hold. He had shielded her and looked after her when she had been hurt.

He even had his few moments outside of their more perilous adventures. She was especially grateful for how helpful he had been during Ron’s Lavender phase or when he danced with her during the horcrux hunt. But those stuck out precisely because of how rare it was for Harry to show any genuine concern for her more mundane and non-life threatening problems.

She often did feel like she was simply there to keep him alive. Just another tool for him to complete the tasks set before him.

Never mind the fact that she went out of her way to take care of him or that she cared enough for him to trade her life for his.

Never mind that she had helped him with schoolwork, relationships, his friendship with Ron, and myriad other lesser problems for seven and a half years.

Never mind that she had sent her parents off without their memories just to be with him.

Never mind the fact that she gave up her only meaningful relationship to stay with him.

At times it had made her deeply resentful of him. There were times she wanted to scream and hex him into a pile of jelly. But she always kept her composure and soldiered on. Convinced that helping him was the right thing to do, regardless of any neglect she felt on her part.

Ron, bless him, had always tried to help her in his own way. At times his humor was all that had helped her keep it together. Maybe that’s why she had loved him so much. But what she really needed was for Harry to acknowledge that she needed his help as much as he needed hers. That their relationship was one of give and take instead of Hermione giving and giving.

The dam had almost burst tonight. When he made another one of his stupid remarks about how she was the reason he was alive she almost lost it. She was at her wits end with his emotional neglect and without Ron around she didn’t have anything standing in her way.

But then, he had said what he said tonight. It wasn’t so much that he said the words that she had waited to hear from him for seven years, but it was how much she saw he meant them. She had seen Harry make promises he wasn’t keen on keeping and this wasn’t one of those. He had genuinely meant every word.

She could read all the signs when he was feeling guilty about something, that being one of his trademarks, but she had never seen him more regretful and sorry about anything for as long as she had known him. He had known in that moment how much he had hurt her, without her even saying it and it spoke volumes to Hermione about her relationship with Harry. When she finally allowed herself to open that part of her up, he had seen it without any prodding.

It was this more than anything else that troubled her. Why was it she was so willing to trust him and communicate so well with him when they were fighting for their lives, but she hadn’t been willing to let herself trust him any other time?

She went through her usual arguments: that it was a product of adrenaline, that Harry had had enough on his plate already, or that she was better off talking to Ginny. But the truth was that despite how helpful Ginny could be, what Hermione had needed most was her best friend and that was Harry.

The other truth was that while it was true that Harry could have been much more attentive to her, Hermione never asked him for help either. Never once had she tried to tell him, verbally or otherwise, that she needed him. Never allowed him to see.

Why was that?

Why did she even care that he wasn’t more involved in her more mundane worries?

If she did care so much, why had she never approached him about it?

While the truth was perhaps more complicated than she’d like to admit, the simple answer was that she had never felt worthy of him attending to her problems. Despite how upset she was that he didn’t seem to care, if she was honest with herself, she never really expected him to. His problems had always looked so much larger and his need so much greater that she always convinced herself that his needs came first.

Not to mention that she had always had a low opinion of herself. It was easier to simply accept his neglect without approaching him than to approach him and be crushed by rejection. Deep down, she had been grateful that a guy like Harry had noticed her at all, let alone be friends with her, and so she was willing to put up with the emotional neglect if it meant she could keep her place.

That was, after all, the primary reason she developed a loyalty to him so fast. Her first year had not exactly been easy. Ron’s comments on Halloween had spoken to her every fear: that no one liked her and that she would never fit in. But when Harry and Ron had come to rescue her from the troll, it wasn’t some romantic notion of being saved by the shining knights in armor that made her lie to McGonagall, it had been the simple realization that they had remembered her. That he had remembered her. When they followed it up by becoming friends with her, her loyalty was sealed.

That was what made what Harry said so special. It wasn’t just that he was trying to correct a wrong he had done. It was that, in his eyes, she was something special. She was someone that he cared about, not just because of what she had done for him, but because of who she was. He had said she was the most loyal and compassionate person he knew. To think that he would compare her to Ron or anyone else and not find her lacking was the sweetest thing anyone had ever told her (her parents excluded of course).

And he meant it. Merlin those green eyes of his were so intense. She could feel it in her bones that he cared, that he was sorry. She knew in her heart that she never had to worry about dealing with her problems without him again. It was ridiculous of course, to base all of that off one conversation, but she knew Harry. When he set his mind to something, there was nothing in the world that would stop him. She had seen that first hand.

Well, if he was planning on starting tonight, it was as good a time as any. She had been holding it together regarding Ron, but now that he wasn’t physically present it was truly sinking in that it was over. She knew it to be the right thing, so why did it have to hurt so bloody much? It was time to put Harry’s promise to use.

10. Chapter Ten

A/N: First of two updates I’m posting tonight. Was really fun to play around with the character of Charlie. We never knew a whole lot about him, but it said a lot to me that Ron’s first wand and pet were once Charlie’s. Hope you enjoy!

~

Ron had no trouble spotting Charlie at the terminal. The flaming red hair of his older brother couldn’t be missed. “Oi! Charlie!”

Charlie gave him a warm smile and a thump on the back. “It’s good to see you Ron, how has your trip been?”

“It’s been great. Mostly.” Ron hesitated, he didn’t want to jump right in about Hermione.

“You can tell me all about it when we get to my place. My roommates are all working so we’ll have it to ourselves while you’re here.”

“Brilliant. Have you heard from mum and dad?” he couldn’t help the worried tone his voice took.

“They’re…managing. Bill and Fleur left a week ago. George and Percy are still at home for now. Mum says George is still….lost.”

Charlie’s voice was tinged with the grief that still hung over their family. Ron wondered how long it would be before things ever went back to normal, if they would ever go back to whatever “normal” would be in this new world.

Charlie’s place was a small, three bedroom cottage perched high in the mountains. It had never surprised Ron that Charlie chose to work out here with dragons. He had always been the most adventurous of his brothers, though Ron had probably taken that title in the past few years. Ron chuckled to himself at the thought.

As they settled in for some tea they chatted idly about Charlie’s work, Norbert, and the places Ron had been on holiday. He tried to mask the hurt in his voice when he mentioned Hermione, but Charlie had always been good at cottoning on when something was upsetting him.

“What’s the part I’m missing here little bro? There’s something bothering you.” His brother gave him a sympathetic look. Ron hesitated, unsure of where to begin.

So he told his brother everything that happened while they had stayed in Vienna, his night out with Hermione and her breaking up with him. Charlie took in his story quietly and let the silence hang on the air when he finished, ensuring that Ron had fully spoken his piece.

“Well Ron, what do you think about it?”

Ron was unsure how to answer. He knew that it was his own responsibility and he had simply blew his chance one too many times, but admitting it felt like he was letting his family down all over again. It was the night he showed up at Bill and Fleur’s all over again.

Charlie caught his eyes. “Ron, we all have to own up to what happens in our lives. It’s part of being a man. You should know by now that nothing you could do changes the way your family feels about you, or Hermione for that matter. We love you no matter what.”

“That’s what Bill said.” Ron mumbled.

“He was right then and he’s right now. It shows strength of character to admit when you’ve made a mistake. Bill and I both were very proud of you for going to him and being honest about what happened.”

Ron felt his face turning red. It wasn’t often that he felt like his family was proud of him. He heaved a great sigh.

“I blew it Charlie. I could have had the girl of my dreams and I blew it.” It felt so final now that he said it out loud. Ron felt his stomach turn to lead. Charlie looked sympathetically at his little brother.

“I thought she forgave you for that?”

“It wasn’t just that.” Every major fight Ron and Hermione had ever had went flashing through his mind, all the ugly things he had said and times he had walked away.

“I let her down so many times; it was just one time too many.”

Ron sat and stared at his shoe laces. He felt completely numb. It was too surreal that he was sitting here with Charlie talking about himself and Hermione in the past tense.

He could feel Charlie’s gaze still on him. There was no sound other than his deep and shaking breaths.

“I know it hurts Ron and unfortunately there’s not a thing in the world I can say to make you feel better.”

Charlie moved next to him and put his arm around his shoulders. Ron could feel the prickling behind his eyes and his chest start to shake.

“What am I supposed to do now?” He forced his head up to look his older brother in the face. Charlie had a pained expression, clearly empathizing with his younger brother.

“Well first of all, I don’t think your friendship with Hermione is something to throw aside. So I think you’re going to have to find a way to live within those boundaries in your relationship.”

Charlie gave Ron a brotherly pat on the shoulder, “but ultimately this is your life. You have to decide for yourself how to deal with this new reality. Personally? I think the bond you have with Hermione is far too deep for you to even entertain the thought of losing her friendship. Even when she starts seeing other people.”

That Charlie had said “when” and not “if” sent a shot of pain through Ron’s heart. As to who that person might be, Ron couldn’t stop himself from asking “Charlie, what if she starts going out with Harry?”

Charlie frowned, “Where is Harry at with Ginny?”

“I don’t know.” Ron answered truthfully, “All I know is that I can’t think of anyone I know that’s closer than Harry and Hermione.”

He could see the cogs turning in Charlie’s mind. “I think then that that’s a possibility that you need to consider. Do you think Harry would do that? Knowing how much it might hurt your feelings?”

“I think…” Ron thought hard about his two best friends. He thought about how they had always maintained that they were nothing but platonic. He believed them, he truly did, but would they stay that way now? “I think that he might, but that he would talk to me about it before anything happened.”

“And how would you feel about that? What would you tell him?”

Ron pictured himself and Harry at the Burrow, Harry telling him that he was in love with Hermione and wanted to know if Ron would be okay with them going out. It made his stomach churn.

His greatest fear had always been that Hermione preferred Harry to him. It was why he had always been so jealous of how close they were. The horrible image from the horcrux came to his mind.

But Ron had had his chance hadn’t he? It wasn’t Harry’s fault that Ron didn’t ask Hermione to the Yulee Ball or that Ron had dated Lavender out of spite. Pushing down again the sadness of Lavenders death that crept up at the thought of her, Ron had to admit to himself that Harry had never once done anything to interfere with his relationship to Hermione. Their relationship had failed strictly on their own terms.

He still loved Hermione and he loved Harry. Didn’t they deserve to be happy? Did anyone in the world deserve that more than Harry? Even if being with Hermione was what made him happy?

“I would tell him that he’s my best mate and…” Ron took a deep breath and shut his eyes, picturing looking into Harry’s face. “...and if being with her is what makes him happy, then how could I possibly take that away from him?” He felt a solitary tear escape his eye and slide down his cheek. When he opened his eyes it was joined by two more.

Charlie’s face held a grimace of pain, but he nodded his head approvingly. “You truly are a great man and a great friend. I couldn’t be prouder of you. Mom and Dad would be very proud of you.”

He took Ron into a tight hug. Ron finally stopped trying to hold it in and sobbed into Charlie’s shoulder. Charlie had always been the one that he could go to and not worry about being ribbed or made fun of for crying. They stayed that way until Ron had no more tears to shed and his breathing had stopped coming in short gasps.

“You’re going to be alright Ron, I promise. One day this will all be just a memory. As for Harry and Hermione, there’s no sense in bothering yourself over something that you can’t control and that frankly, doesn’t exist right now.” Ron could do more than nod his head in response.

“I tell you what little brother, let’s get your mind of Hermione for a couple of days. Why don’t we go on a hiking trip, just the two of us? I’ll take you by our hunting camp and you can see the specimen we caught yesterday. Sound like a plan?”

Charlie was back to his usual cheerful and carefree self. Ron couldn’t help but feel elated at the prospect of spending time with his brother. Personally, he had had his fill of dragons, but the company more than made up for it.

“Brilliant Charlie, positively brilliant.”

11. Chapter Eleven

A/N: Posted this one tonight just for Skyraider. Second of two updates I posted tonight and third today. I’m really spoiling you guys. This was so much fun to write. Cheers!

~

Hermione felt better than she had in days.

She had gone to Harry last night just to talk about Ron. It had been her way to test the waters on Harry’s new commitment to being there and had been pleasantly surprised at how in tune they could be.

Hermione knocked purposefully on the door adjoining their two rooms. After about a minute she heard his footsteps before a very groggy looking Harry appeared in the doorway.

“Hermione? Is everything okay?” Even as groggy as he was, his concern shone through.

“Yeah, it’s just…”

“Sinking in that it’s over?”

Hermione could feel her eyes begin to water and simply nodded. Harry pulled her in and hugged her as she fought a losing battle against her sobs. It struck her that this was twice that she found herself crying into his shoulder in a matter of weeks. Not only that, but tonight he had initiated it. This was something different in their relationship: it was usually Hermione that initiated any physical contact.

“Thanks Harry.” She managed to hiccup. She broke off their embrace and wiped her eyes. Harry ran his hand through his hair and Hermione could see the wheels turning.

“Er…sorry that I’m not sure what to say. Never been any bloody good with this stuff.” His honesty had a way of making his cluelessness endearing.

“I’ll give you a hint Harry: Ice cream.”

Harry chuckled. “Alright then, go settle on the couch and I’ll see what I can do.”

He went into his bedroom and Hermione only heard footsteps before the hall door seemingly opened and closed of its own volition. She chuckled to herself, he had donned the invisibility cloak. It would have been easy enough to simply disapparate to an all-night supermarket and buy the ice cream, but Harry still had his taste for adventure, even if he kept it to simple endeavors like nicking ice cream from a hotel café’ nowadays.

They had spent the next hour or so on the couch watching the lame re-runs that television stations play at four am and eating ice cream. Hermione didn’t remember falling asleep, but the next thing she knew she was waking up in her own bed and the sun was out.

After a shower and some breakfast with Harry, he had taken her on a grand tour of the city. They toured the Acropolis as well as many temples and other ancient structures. He also took her to a magical museum that chronicled how witches and wizards had influenced Greek culture.

She of course, had the time of her life examining the many exhibits and pointing out to Harry the names she had run across in her many readings. Harry, for his part, had seemed genuinely interested in many of the sights (or at least had been polite enough to feign it).

They finished off the day by finding a cozy spot for an evening picnic to watch the sun set over the Aegean. They long sat in silence sipping on some local wine selections before a thought came to her mind.

“Harry? When did I fall asleep last night?” Of course she wasn’t really interested in what time it had been, she wanted to hear from him how he got her to her own bed.

“Right about five in the morning. You fell sleep with your mouth open and your hand still going for the ice cream, it was actually quite funny. Oi!”

Hermione had smacked him on the arm. “What was that for?” He faked being indignant, but was doing terrible. He still had his lopsided grin and couldn’t stop laughing.

“I was tired!” the heat rising in her cheeks.

“Yeah you were. Didn’t even wake up when I carried you back to your room.”

Hermione blushed. “That was very sweet of you Harry.”

Now it was Harry’s turn to blush.

“Don’t mention it.”

Another amicable silence fell as the sky turned a brilliant mix of oranges and pinks. It had become a ritual almost every day for them to watch the sunset. They all had a favorite so far. Ron had liked the way the sun had set off Notre Dame while Harry had liked Rome’s the best. Hermione thought her new favorite was the one in front of her.

She briefly wondered what Ron was doing. He was probably doing something fun with Charlie, maybe involving some dragons. She personally had had enough dealings with dragons for a lifetime, but hoped that Ron was enjoying himself.

When they had vanished the picnic, Harry and Hermione walked a little further across the field until they found a low stone wall. Harry took a seat leaning against it while Hermione situated herself leaning against Harry’s chest, sitting between his long legs.

By the look on Harry’s face she had taken him off guard with their seating arrangement, but Hermione really wanted the feeling of being held. It made her feel better about Ron’s absence, which had slowly been creeping back into her conscience.

So they sat that way until the sun disappeared and the first stars came out. They then slid a little further down in order to look up at the clear night sky. They pointed out constellations to one another and made up new ones. When he wasn’t pointing, Harry’s arms wrapped around Hermione, making her feel safe. She had always felt safe in his arms.

She wasn’t sure why, but the air seemed warmer laying there with Harry. The smell of the grass blended with his scent which had a calming effect like she had rarely felt before. Soon all thoughts of her broken heart were far from her mind. She was having the best day in months with her best friend. Right then that was all that mattered.

~

Harry was taken aback by Hermione’s choice of seating arrangements. He had planned on their usual side by side, but she had situated herself in between his legs and leaned back into his chest. He could smell her hair which had a very pleasant scent that Harry couldn’t place.

They sat that way for a while, Harry comfortably draping his arms around her, when suddenly something clicked in his mind. He had the sudden image of a furious Ginny and realized that this was perhaps not the best idea he had had. What if Ron came back and found them like this?

~

Hermione could feel her eyelids getting heavy when Harry’s next words woke her from her reverie.

“Hermione, I think we should head back. I don’t think Ron or Ginny would appreciate the way we’ve been sitting here.” His voice was thick with guilt.

Hermione’s mind whirred. Had she really been so thick as to not think about how this would look to an observer? Anybody who spotted them lying there probably saw star crossed lovers instead of best friends.

Ginny.

Hermione had completely forgotten about her best female friend. She could picture the look of fury the redhead would have if she saw them together right then. Hermione felt herself flush at the thought and leaped to her feet before helping Harry up with a trembling hand.

“I..I’m sorry Harry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was just, I just wanted to feel safe and…..oh Harry I’m so stupid. I..”

“Shhh.”

~

Harry placed his finger on her lips.

“Shhh.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide and she instantly stopped her stammering. Harry couldn’t help but notice she was blushing furiously. He wondered what made her have that reaction, but couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked right now. And what was that part about feeling safe?

“It’s okay Hermione. It’s not like we were out here making out or anything. It’s like you said before, we just have to be careful how we act. And if Ron or Ginny had walked up they wouldn’t have liked the way we were sitting here. You did nothing wrong, we both were simply enjoying the company.”

Her face was the same shade of red as Weasley hair. What on earth had gotten into her?

He hated that the Weasley jealousy kept them from just being themselves with each other, but none the less he felt like it had been the right thing to do. It had been her idea to be careful how they acted after all and Hermione was usually right, especially when it came to people’s feelings. He just wished he knew what in blazes was going through her mind that had made her blush so hard. Girls could be so weird sometimes.

~

Bullocks.

As if she wasn’t already embarrassed enough at thinking about being seen with Harry by Ginny, he had to put his finger on her lips like that. Why was she blushing like a schoolgirl? Harry had touched her loads of times without so much as a trace of pink in her cheeks and here she is turning scarlet at the lightest of touches.

Maybe she was just in a sensitive mood with the whole Ron thing so fresh. He lowered his hand and she looked him in the eyes. God his eyes were beautiful. She had always known that but why had she never really noticed it before. This of course made no sense even in her mind. She was vaguely aware that Harry was talking.

“…It’s not like we were out here making out or anything.”

A sudden image of herself furiously kissing Harry flashed through her mind and a fresh rush of blood swept up to her face. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t thought about kissing Harry since that time in first year before Harry went to face Quirrell.

It registered in her mind that Harry had finished talking. She hadn’t really been listening at all but knew she was now expected to give some sort of response.

“I…yeah you’re right. Wanna go for a walk?”

“Uh..sure. We’ll take the scenic route back.”

Glad to be escaping the embarrassing mess she found herself in, Hermione settled into stride next to Harry. She had to take a few more steps to keep up with his lengthy strides, but years of practice held her squarely next to him.

Nothing disturbed the quiet for a while before Harry broke the silence.

“Can I ask you something?”

Harry stopped walking and Hermione turned to face him. The moonlight reflected off his skin making it look paler than usual, though the effect was flattering. It really set off his jet black hair.

“Of course. What is it?”

“Remember when we were in the Forest of Dean? And you suggested that we just stay there and grow old?”

How could she have forgotten it? It was right after their harrowing run in with Voldemort in Godric’s Hollow and she had labored for what seemed like years without rest to treat Harry’s wounds. She had been so deathly afraid of losing him then, of being left utterly alone.

“Yes I do Harry, why?”

“You knew then, didn’t you?”

She knew without asking he was referring to himself being a horcrux. She had indeed just figured it out when Harry had woken up. She had had a hunch before, but the previous events had all but assured her she was right. She had never wanted more to be proven wrong. It had been her worst nightmares come true.

“Yes.”

Harry gave her a searching look. He knew there was more to her answer, but Hermione wasn’t about to volunteer anything.

~

Hermione’s answer set off a chain reaction in Harry’s mind. He had been going over all the details of the past year ever since they had left England, working his way through trying to process it all. He thought it would help him gain some closure. By and large it was true, but it also brought with it questions.

At the time, her statement had struck him as Hermione losing hope. He remembered the icy feeling in his chest knowing that even Hermione, who trusted him more than anyone else, was beginning to think their battle hopeless. But now he understood. In her mind, it would have been the only way to keep him alive.

He felt a knot twisting in his gut at remembering that the very next thing that had happened was he had blown up at her about his wand. She had just saved his life for the umpteenth time, was trying to save it again, and his response was to be a selfish git and bemoan his wand. Everyday seemed to provide a new reason to be grateful for Hermione.

“I’m sorry I was such a stupid git about my wand.”

~

There he went, being guilty again. She swore one day she would break him of feeling like he had to be guilty about something at least once or twice a day.

“It’s understandable you would be upset about your wand Harry.”

Truthfully there was a part of her that was grateful to hear him apologize about it. She had been in such a horrible place in her own heart; his attitude about his wand had nearly broken her at the time. But there was no sense in rehashing it all now. It was all ancient history.

Yet, she wanted to tell him. Something inside of her had been gnawing away at her to tell him exactly how she had felt ever since he had told her that he wanted to be there for her. Somehow, his new found attitude about caring for her left her feeling like she owed him the truth about how she had really felt about him all this time.

He was looking at her with curiosity; he knew she was lost in thought. She really couldn’t hide from him.

“Harry, there’s something I want to say.” She took a deep breath, it was now or never. “You can’t possibly know how desperate a place I was in at the time. You said you’re sorry, and I believe you, but I think you should know this. I’ve never been more upset or bitter about you than I was that night. When I was sitting over you, desperately trying to heal your wounds and get you to wake up from whatever nightmare you were having, I was in a complete panic. Ron was gone and I thought for sure I was going to lose you too. Then, even after you woke up, I put the pieces together and knew I was going to lose you anyways. That the only way the whole nightmare would end was if you died. I wasn’t joking when I suggested we stay there Harry. I had no idea what I would do without you. Then you snapped at me and I nearly lost it. I nearly lost my will to fight on that night. Only by talking myself into believing that you were in just as fragile a state of mind as me, and that you needed me, was I able to keep going.”

Hermione hadn’t realized a lone tear had escaped her eyes. Harry looked deeply hurt, not because she had offended him, but because of how badly he knew he had hurt her. Hermione almost smiled. She may not be able to hide from him anymore, but he did no better at hiding from her.

~

Even in her darkest moment, it had been her care for him that brought her back from the brink. How in the world did Harry deserve someone like Hermione Granger in his life? He would probably never know.

He couldn’t even bring himself to say thank you, but a knowing look entered her eyes and he knew he didn’t have to. She already knew.

As long as they were laying cards on the table, there was one more thing he had to know. He had to deal with this doubt in his mind that Ron had put there a week or so before.

“You said you would go with me.”

~

So they were going to lay it all out there tonight huh? Hermione guessed that this was as good a time as any. She never expected they would go their whole lives without those words coming into conversation at some point.

“Yes, Harry and I would have. I just said it once, I’ll say it again: I didn’t, I don’t know what I would do without you. You’ve been my best friend since I was eleven years old Harry. I’ve lived the past seven years of my life with you constantly by my side. I love you Harry. I was, I am with you to the end.”

She hadn’t meant to say that she loved him. It wasn’t that she didn’t love him, she loved him more than life itself, but she wasn’t so sure in the moment how exactly she had meant it. She felt like she covered herself well, calling him her best friend. After all, that’s exactly what he was. She had never felt as close to Ron as she did to Harry.

She felt a twinge of pain thinking about Ron. Ron was the one that she had pursued a relationship with. Ron was the one who always wanted her that way. Harry never had. Harry was much more like an older brother. He was protective and affectionate, but never once had it stopped them from pursuing romantic interests with others. Surely that meant something right?

Harry surely understood what she meant when she said she loved him. He had never once showed any romantic interest in her, so there simply wasn’t anything to misunderstand. Their relationship was set in stone: the very best of friends and nothing more.

The only thing Hermione wasn’t sure of was who it was she was trying to convince.

12. Chapter Twelve

A/N: Dumbledore’s quote during Hermione’s bit is directly from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire page 724. Just trying to keep myself out of trouble. This is the saddest chapter I’ve written so far. Was a real heart breaker in spots to write. Cheers!

~

Harry was doing the same thing he had always done for the past few weeks when he had a problem he couldn’t figure out: he was sitting on his bed and looking through the photo album that contained the only pictures he owned of his family.

He counted himself lucky that he had heard their voices speak to him on two different occasions, because it allowed him let the ideas in his mind take on their voices. It was the closest he would get to getting life advice from his parents.

Almost every parental figure he had ever had was dead: His actual parents, Sirius, Dumbledore, and Remus. He still had Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and he was supremely grateful, but he had a hunch that for this particular issue that they had a stake in the outcome.

That was because the issue that was rolling through his mind involved both their only daughter and the ex-girlfriend of their youngest son.

Hermione had been acting very strangely tonight. Well, maybe not acting strangely so much as reacting strangely. There was nothing new to Harry and Hermione walking and talking. There wasn’t anything new to them holding hands or sitting together. What was new was the subtle changes in Hermione’s reactions. Her blushing, the way she jumped to her feet when he mentioned Ron and Ginny, and her mentioning feeling “safe”.

The one strange action was her choice to sit between his legs. It had caught Harry off guard, but he had chosen at first to simply go with it rather than spoil the moment. Only once he had pictured Ginny walking up did he decide it was time to move. After all, it had been quite pleasant to be in such close company. It reminded him very much of the way he and Ginny would sit by the lake on warm afternoons at Hogwarts.

That was just it wasn’t it? He was missing Ginny and Hermione probably missed Ron. That was what had brought it about, right? It wasn’t as if either of them seriously considered the other as a romantic possibility. At least, he had thought that until Ron had told him that Hermione at least had thought otherwise.

With her relationship with Ron over, was Hermione starting to look at him that way?

It would explain some of the subtle differences in her actions the past couple of days, but so would their heart to heart the previous night. Maybe they were just basking in the glow of a friendship that had reached an all-time high?

Besides, he still had never considered her as a romantic possibility before. Even now something about it didn’t seem quite right. His relationship with Hermione had never been any different, even if it was deeper, than the one he had with Ron, it just so happened that Hermione was a girl instead of a boy.

Granted, he knew she was a girl. A beautiful one in fact. The Yule Ball had been enough to show him that his best friend was a very pretty girl indeed. He hadn’t been lying to her fifth year when he told her she wasn’t ugly.

Still, he had never thought about her like that. He had always known Ron fancied her, probably before Ron knew himself, and he would never think of betraying his friend’s trust. So he unconsciously had put up a wall in his mind to keep it from going there.

But she had broken it off with Ron. Where did that leave them? Even if Ginny wasn’t in the picture, did this mean he could bring that wall down? Ron surely wouldn’t like it and anything that could possibly injure both of his closest friendships was still a no go.

She had said she loved him. She had never said that to him before. She had called him his best friend and that he knew. Maybe she just meant that she loved him as her best friend.

But there had been something different in her voice, something he had never heard before. Come to think of it, it was the same thing he had heard in her voice that night in Rome when she had comforted him on the balcony.

There were just so many “but’s” to go along with that.

She had been with Ron still back in Rome.

She had never seemed to care for him as anything more than a friend before.

She just broke up with his best friend.

Repeat: she had never seemed to care about him that way before.

Harry wished he knew exactly how she felt, but he didn’t want to do anything that might make the rest of the trip awkward. Their friendship was the best thing he had going for him at the moment, so doing anything to jeopardize that seemed selfish.

Besides, Ginny was still in the picture, even if he wasn’t sure what exactly how he felt about her anymore. Ginny deserved her fair shot didn’t she?

He really did want to be with her. At least….he was pretty sure he did. It would all make sense when he got back and saw her again.

Maybe he was just blowing this all out of proportion.

~

Hermione was transfiguring every object in her room that wasn’t nailed down, to the effect that her room was now filled with seemingly random objects like beach balls or umbrellas instead of pillows or drawers. Spellwork had always been a way for her to vent whenever she had things pent up inside of her and now was no different.

“What’s wrong with me?” She huffed to herself as the transfigured her television into a watch.

She had broken up with the love of her life just a few days ago and here she was coming onto the boyfriend of her best girlfriend. At least, they would be boyfriend and girlfriend when they returned. Or something. She wasn’t really sure where they “officially” were, just that they wanted to be together.

Why had she made such a fool of herself tonight? Blushing like they had just been caught in a broom closet together. She was surprised that Harry hadn’t told her off. She certainly felt like she deserved it.

She tried to explain it away. She was just missing Ron. She was in a vulnerable state because of their breakup and so this was just her way of rebounding.

But she knew that Harry meant more to her than some “rebound guy”. She couldn’t lie to herself about the depth of feelings she had for the boy anymore. She had already told him about it anyways. Her messy haired neighbor meant more to her than anyone else in the world.

But was it really like that? Maybe she had just been swept up in the emotion of this new level of friendship that her and Harry seemed to reach.

Maybe she was already panicking about retrieving her parents in a few days’ time (okay that for sure was true).

Maybe she was just overreacting to everything that had happened tonight.

She analyzed every movement she had made tonight. Went through it in her mind to see if she had given him any sort of signal that she felt for him as anything more than a friend. Other than the blushing, she thought that by and large she hadn’t.

Even sitting between his legs like that was something that she imagined a brother and sister would do. She could certainly picture Ginny sitting like that with any one of her brothers (well, maybe not Percy). At least she did a good job of convincing herself of this.

Logically, it made sense that she was simply emotionally vulnerable right now and had sought some comfort with her best friend. There wasn’t anything else to be gleaned from it. Her blushing simply came down to her picturing Ron’s face if he saw them that way, but he had always been jealous of practically everything her and Harry did together so that wasn’t news. She was just overreacting.

Convinced at least for the moment, that she wasn’t experiencing new feelings of any sort with Harry, her mind turned to her other dilemma.

Ron. She felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She really did miss him. He had always been very adept at either making her feel better with laughter or else distracting her from her troubles with something to argue about. Heaven knows that boy liked to argue. He would argue over the color of the sky with a fencepost. Still, she missed it.

Wishing for some kind of comfort and reminder of him, she did the only thing that came to mind.

“Expecto Patronum!”

Out of her wand came bounding the playful otter that had been her patronus since she learned to cast it in fifth year. She would never tell a soul, but she had struggled so mightily to cast it properly because her happiest memories involved Ron. Given that her feelings for him at the moment were always in flux, it had interfered with her ability to cast the spell. Once she had gone through different memories, she had finally found one that had worked for her.

It was at the Burrow during one of her visits there. She and Ron had gone on an adventure through the woods behind the house together. They had found the little river that wound through the trees and had chased each other up and down the banks as the otters played in the water. It was the first time she had realized that she loved Ron. That was why her patronus had taken the shape of an otter. It symbolized her love for him.

Hermione wondered if her patronus would stay an otter now that she and Ron were over. Tonks’ patronus had changed when she fell in love with Remus, so maybe when she found someone else hers would change too. How long would that take? How long would she have to live with this broken heart that he had left her with?

Not that she blamed him. Not anymore. She had spent too much time going over everything that had happened between them to think herself entirely without responsibility in how their relationship had turned out.

She often wondered what she could have done differently. How she could have changed things to keep them together. She poured over every scenario, dissecting them to find where she could have said or done something differently.

Not that it would do any good. There was no changing the past, at least, not since the Ministry’s stock of Time Turners was destroyed. Besides, she doubted that they would let her go back just to change her love life. They had been supremely reluctant to let her use it to take extra classes.

There were tiny moments when she regretted her decision to break up with him. Moments when she strongly considering going after him one more time to beg him to come back.

Again.

That was usually the one word that kept her from doing it. The knowledge that it wouldn’t be the first time and probably wouldn’t be the last time she would go hunting after him. She remembered something Dumbledore had said at the end of fourth year.

“….Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy,…”

Of course, at the time it had nothing to do with making decisions in her love life, but it still rang true to her now. Breaking up with him had not been the easy choice, but it had been the right one.

Hermione’s patronus bounded around the room playfully for a few moments while she followed it with her eyes. A small and sad smile crept onto her face. She would allow herself to feel, just one more time, the bittersweet feeling of all those moments she had cherished with him: all their adventures with Harry, the trips to Diagon Alley, and the rides on the Hogwarts Express, their prefect patrols together, their holidays together, and their kiss in the Chamber of Secrets.

She blinked away the tears. One day, she would regard them with nothing but joy and nostalgia. But she would have to put them away for a while after tonight. They were just too painful right now.

Her patronus kept its playful circles going for about ten minutes before it bounded its way out the window and out of sight. It would be the last time she would ever see the playful otter patronus again.

13. Chapter Thirteen

A/N: The next chapter is the last one, so I’m going to post them both today! Cheers!

~

Ron and Charlie were sprawled on either side of a campfire laughing themselves into stitches. Ron couldn’t even remember the last time he had laughed this much. Charlie was in the midst of retelling one of his favorite Hogwarts stories.

“So….so then he runs right into Tonks, who by this point has made herself look like Sprout, and he just starts babbling at the top of his lungs about how he’s been under the Imperious curse this whole time!”

Charlie could barely get the story out between his hoots of laughter. Ron was grateful for the distraction, Charlie had promised to get his mind off Hermione and so far he was delivering. He had always loved hearing Charlie’s stories from Hogwarts, particularly when they involved his legendary quidditch career, but most of tonight’s stories involved Charlie’s adventures with his friends. None of them involved dark wizards or saving the world of course. Ron briefly wondered how different his life could have been without Voldemort.

“Where are you Ron?” Charlie had noticed Ron go quiet.

“It’s nothing, just wondering what a normal Hogwarts experience must be like.”

Charlie gave him a sympathetic look. “You lot never did get a chance at that, unless you decide to go back this year.” Ron could see the hidden question.

Truth was he had given it a lot of thought and no matter how he stacked it, it just made sense to finish out his N.E.W.T.s.

“Yeah you’re right. It will be nice to finally get that experience, even if it’s in my final year.”

They sat in amiable silence for a while, taking in the scenery. They had hiked among the mountains for two days now. Charlie had offered to take Ron to a camp where his buddies were currently holding some fresh caught dragons, but Ron had declined. He just wanted his brother’s company and he really had had his fill of dragons for one lifetime.

They were currently camped on a small plateau on the outer skirts of the Carpathian Mountains. The land seemed to stretch forever in front of them and the lights from the towns and villages seemed like tiny fireflies from their height. It was also a clear night and the stars seemed close enough to touch. It was all quiet and beautiful.

It was just what he needed. Tomorrow was when he would be meeting his friends again to head to Australia. After spending a few days away from them, he had very mixed feelings about returning. He missed his friends and genuinely wished for their presence even now, but the hurt was still very fresh from Hermione. It would be a bittersweet reunion.

“Wanna talk about it?” Charlie had moved to sit next to him.

“I don’t know that there’s much else to say.”

This was not strictly true. Ron could think of a million things he wanted to say to Hermione: A million different apologies, arguments why they should be together, or ways to beg her to come back. He thought very briefly of leaving to go after her, but knew it would only make things worse. He knew that Hermione had made her decision and it was final.

“You know, you are a great guy to not give up her friendship over this. I’ll say it again, I’m very proud of you.” Charlie patted Ron on the back. “It proves just how much you’ve grown. I know it’s clichéd to tell you this, but this too shall pass. I know it hurts, but it won’t hurt forever and you will be very grateful to have a friend like her.”

Ron gave Charlie a grateful look. He knew what his brother said was true, even if it didn’t change the fact that it hurt like hell at the moment.

He sat by the small campfire just watching the flickering lights below and the stars above for ages not saying a word. Charlie bid him goodnight and gave him a warm hug around midnight. Ron knew that he understood.

Ron took out a small stone that he kept in his pocket at all times. He had picked it up that day that he and Hermione had went running along the river through the woods watching the otters play. It was the happiest he had ever been in his life. He had picked the stone from the riverbank in order to always remember that day.

He ran his fingers over its smooth surface. Anger welled within him and his first and overwhelming instinct was to throw it as far as he could; but he knew that he would regret it the second that he did it.

Instead, he simply stared at it, remembering every small detail about that day: the sunshine dappling through the trees, the soft gurgling of the river, the way her brown hair had flown wild behind her, and those soft brown eyes that had simply melted his heart.

He didn’t realize he had picked up his wand or cast a spell until the silver light of his patronus alerted him of its presence. The small terrier jumped around the rocks in front of him like it was having the time of its life. Ron felt hot tears running down his cheeks. As the memory faded from his mind the patronus leapt into the brush and out of sight.

He didn’t know how long he had sat there, but it seemed like an eternity until his breath evened out and the tears stopped pricking at his eyes. He honestly did feel better, like a huge weight had been taken from his chest cavity. He knew that Hermione would need his support on their trip to Australia, and he was determined to be the best help he could.

He sensed that now that he had reached some sort of equilibrium on his feelings for her. It hurt still, but he knew now that he thought of her still as his best friend besides Harry. He was more worried about her and getting her parents back than he was about how he was going to feel seeing her again.

He smiled. Everything was back to the way it should be.

14. Chapter Fourteen

A/N: This is the final chapter of this story! Remember that this is only part one of three. Thank you so much for reading and all your wonderful reviews.

~

Harry and Hermione were standing at terminal fifty-seven, waiting on flight 341 from Bucharest. Once Ron joined them they would be catching their first of three connecting flights to get so Sydney, Australia. From there they would start their search for Hermione’s parents.

Hermione had been quiet all morning. The only thing she had said since breakfast was to remind Harry which terminal they needed to await Ron. He knew her well enough to know that between her pacing and the way she kept biting her bottom lip that she was very anxious.

“What’s bothering you?”

She looked at him as if she had just realized he was there. “Oh, it’s nothing Harry.”

“Hermione, at the rate you’re pacing you are going to wear a groove into the floor. Tell me what’s on your mind. Are you worried about finding your parents?”

“I’m not so much worried about finding them as I am what will happen then. What if I mess up the reversal spell for the memory charm? What if they’re mad at me? What if they want to stay and forget all about me anyways? What if something happened to them? I just have no idea what is going to happen.”

Hermione came to a stop in front of him, her hair frizzled from her constantly running her hands through it and her eyes were glassy from anxiety. Harry took her hands in his and gave them a firm squeeze while giving her his most reassuring smile.

“It’s going to be alright Hermione.”

She returned his smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“How can you be so sure?” her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Because I’m here.” He gave her the biggest and stupidest grin he could. It had the desired effect; Hermione laughed and gave him a genuine smile.

“You can’t know how grateful I am for that.” She replied with that same quiet voice.

They stood for a minute just gazing at one another when an announcement came over the intercom.

“Oh Harry, his flight is here!”

Sure enough, Ron’s flight was disgorging its passengers and it wasn’t long before they caught sight of the lanky frame and red hair of the third member of their trio. Catching sight of them, Ron bounded over and wrapped them both in a hug.

“So good to see you two! Enjoy your time in Greece?” Ron looked happier than Harry had seen him in awhile.

Hermione stole a quick glance at Harry before responding, “Yes it was wonderful! I’ll have to tell you all about Aristotle and…”

“Alright alright, maybe some other time Hermione. Let’s go get some real food I’m starved.” Hermione gave him a reproachful look.

“Well I did get you a very fascinating book on the origins of quidditch, but I suppose since you don’t want to hear me out...”

“Didn’t mean to cut you short ‘Mione, I haven’t eaten since sunrise.”

“It’s always food with you Ronald!”

“Glad to see you too ‘Mione.”

Even though they were bickering, Ron and Hermione were both smiling at each other. Harry couldn’t help but grin, his two friends were back to normal. Their trio would survive the end of their relationship after all.

“Hey Harry, can Ron and I have a word in private?” she nervously bit her lip.

“Sure, I’ll wait for you guys at the food court.”

~

She simply looked at Ron for a moment, trying to remember what she had rehearsed in her mind to say at this moment. For once in her life her mind went completely blank.

“Have I managed to stump the brilliant Hermione?” Ron chuckled and smiled at her.

“Nearly.” Her voice sounded like it was coming from far away.

“Come on, what’s wrong?”

“I…” she began, her throat constricting, “I’m sorry Ron. I hate that I pulled you in so many directions these past few weeks. It was awful of me to do what I did. I never…”

“Hermione, don’t.” Ron interrupted.

“But Ron…”

“No, don’t do this to yourself. You did what you had to do. I respect that.”

She let out a massive sigh and her shoulders slumped. “I just…I want you to know I’m sorry and that if you don’t want to come you don’t have to. You could go and be with your family.”

Of course, she didn’t want that at all. She wanted him to come nearly as badly as she wanted Harry. She needed both of her boys. Her boys. That was what the other Gryffindor girls had always called them.

“I’m going with you. You’re my best friend. Besides, I know you don’t actually want me to leave.” Ron gave her a crooked grin.

Letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, Hermione laughed. “Good, because you’re right. Thank you, Ron. You’re a good friend. You know I love you right?”

His smile faded a little and she knew that it hurt him to think that she didn’t mean it “that way” anymore, but she could see the genuine affection reflected in his glassy sky blue eyes.

~

A feeling akin to a large stone being dropped in his stomach had briefly overwhelmed him, but he knew exactly what she meant and he had no desire to lose it.

“I know. I love you too.”

Ron saw in her brown eyes a look of immense relief and she hugged him. It wasn’t the bone crunching variety that she reserved for Harry, but it was just fine by Ron.

“You know, I would love for you to regale me on the origins of quidditch.” He gave her a grin.

“Well, you see it all started in the fifth century BCE…”

She talked rapid fire as they walked towards the food court. Maybe it was a little dull and maybe there was a small ache in his chest, but Ron couldn’t be any happier if he tried.

~

Harry saw his two friends walking towards him: her chatting non-stop about something and him looking genuinely interested. He chuckled to himself imagining what Hermione was subjecting him to.

“We better hurry if we don’t want to miss our flight.” He interjected into Hermione’s diatribe about the origins of Olympic quidditch.

Mentioning the flight seemed to bring awareness to all three of what they were embarking upon. They both look worried and Harry felt his own face furrow into a concerned look, but he could also see in Ron and Hermione both the same steely determination they had always had when following him.

One more trip, one more adventure and maybe it would finally feel over. He certainly hoped so. Either way, come hell or high water, the three of them would face it together.

~

A/N: That’s it for this story! I hope you guys have enjoyed the journey as much as I did writing it. Hope I stuck the landing, ending stories is always my weakness.

Planning on two sequels: one of their trip to Australia and one of their seventh year at Hogwarts. This series serves as my love letter to the Potter universe that I love so much. Not to mention my OTP, Harry/Hermione.

I hope you guys aren’t too disappointed that they’re not together yet. All I can say is it will take time for them to get there. I’ve been trying my best to stay away from Weasley bashing, I do love Ron and I’m trying very hard to paint a picture of a maturing Ron. I even have plans to have him be a major catalyst for Harry and Hermione.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing! I have the second part already written, so will hopefully update as fast as I did this one. Cheers!