A Future of Hope

Chapter Four: All We've Been Through

June

"Can't sleep again Harry?" I hear the voice and know it's Ginny. I have to wonder what she's doing up so late. The only reason I'm not asleep in my room is the fact that I have an Ancient Runes exam tomorrow. I have to study.

I stand still on the staircase, well hidden in the shadows as I watch the interaction between Ginny and Harry. They would make such a cute couple if only they would make it official. I still remember the day they were kidnapped for all of ten minutes. After they came back you could see it in both of their eyes. They wanted to be together but were taking it slow. I just wish Ron would want to be with me.

I decide not to think about my unrequited love and focus more on Ginny and Harry. I know I shouldn't eavesdrop on them, but I can't seem to move. "I'm not tired," he replies, his voice saying otherwise.

Oh Harry, I wish you would confide in Ron and me. We love you too, you know. The pain my friend is in is enough to break my heart. All you have to do is look at his eyes and see their sparkle dimming daily. The strain he's under is so much that I sometimes worry if he's going to make it through his next encounter with Voldemort.

"You have to sleep Harry," Ginny says and sits down beside him on the couch facing the fireplace. "We've discussed this before."

"I know," Harry replies, not even looking in her direction.

I hold back from stepping into their conversation. We all worry about Harry but Ginny seems to be the only one who can get him to talk about anything. Ginny reaches out and holds Harry's hand. He finally turns his head and looks first at their hands then at her. "What's wrong, Harry? You can tell me."

"I hate him Gin."

My mouth drops at this. Never has Harry spoken about Voldemort with Ron so easily. It would take us days to get him to talk about him and Ginny had only asked one question and he was talking to her. I chew on my lower lip and worry that maybe Ron and I haven't been good enough friends to Harry. Surely if we were better friends, he'd confide in us about his past?

"I wish he was dead. I wish he'd never existed. I wish I didn't have to sit back and watch him go after everyone I've ever cared for. He tried to kill Lupin last week, Ginny. I don't really know how much more I can take. What if he tries to take you again?"

I can just barely make out the smile on Ginny's face. "Then we'll deal with it when the time comes. And he didn't kill Lupin, Harry. He managed to get away just in time. And you can do this. I have faith in you." Her reply gets an even more personal response I cannot believe he gave.

"What if I have no faith in myself?"

I want to run and throw my arms around my friend. How can he think such thoughts? He knows that he has power enough to rival Professor Dumbledore. Why can he not see that Voldemort is going to meet his downfall? I start to take a step to him so that I can reassure him that he can do this when a hand stops me.

I stifle a cry of surprise and turn around to see Ron. He must have known Harry wasn't in his room and came to investigate. Or he was just hungry. I'm not sure which one. "Let them be," he whispers quietly. "She can help him."

I nod and together we listen as Ginny rattles off the reasons why Harry should believe in himself. I can't seem to absorb any of the rationale she gives. My mind is on the fact that Ron and I are standing so close together that I can feel his breath on the nape of my neck. I turn my head around and smile up at him. He returns the smile and we go back to the conversation.

"I don't want you getting hurt trying to help me," Harry tells Ginny, averting his gaze to the floor.

Ginny reaches out and turns his face back to hers. "Shouldn't that be my decision? I know what could happen and I'm willing to accept that fact."

"I'm not," Harry whispers placing his hand on the side of her face. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I care too much about you."

I can see the blush creep up Ginny's face. It brings out her freckles just the tiniest bit. "Really?" she asks, her voice a mixture of flirtatious and shyness.

Harry nods and leans over to her. I can't keep the smile off my face as I turn around to Ron. "They deserve some privacy now," I whisper.

Ron nods and says, "Come to my room, we should talk."

I nod and let him lead the way. I know we're going to discuss what Harry said to her and how we can help him. I truly hope that Harry hasn't given up on defeating Voldemort. Ron and I sit on his bed and he casts a Perimeter Silencing Charm around the posts. "He speaks so freely around her," Ron comments. "I think they're good for each other that way."

"What do you mean?" I question him.

"I caught them the other night. She was telling him about her first year. She doesn't even talk to the family about it, but she told him everything it seemed. It was so hard for me to pretend I hadn't overheard. But they both have had close dealings with You-Know-Who so its easier to talk about him."

I can't believe how intuitive Ron can be sometimes. If he can read his sister and our best friend so easily, how come he can't see that I love him? How come he can't tell how my heart quickens when I see him? I frown and stare at his mussed sheets. "Hermione?" he asks.

"Yes?" I do not dare look up from the bed. If I do, I'm sure he will see the hurt in my eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Ron shifts and inquires if I mind having a serious conversation before we go back to sleep. I shrug my shoulders and say that its fine. "I was wondering Hermione...summer's almost here and ...do you think you'd...What I mean is...would you liketostayattheBurrowwithme?"

For a moment I try to make out what he said. I look up and ask, "What did you say?"

He shifts again and asks, "Would you like to come stay at the Burrow with me? Well, not just me, Harry and Ginny would be there. Oh and Neville and Luna. But I thought we could...you know...hang out...just the two of us."

I feel the hope creep up into my heart. Is he saying what I think he's saying? "The two of us?" I whisper softly, my breaths heavy.

Ron replies, "Yeah. We could...you know...oh bloody hell. We could go on a date if you wanted."

I smile and throw my arms around him. "What took you so long, you thick headed idiot?" I say.

I can feel his arms wrap around me as well. "You mean it?" he asks me. "You want to?"

I nod. "I'd love to Ron Weasley."

I pull away from him and he lays a soft kiss on my lips. I could definitely get used to treatment like this from Ron. I am filled with so much happiness I could burst. Unrequited love my ass. What was I thinking earlier?

For the moment, for the day, I forget the horror of the world and savor my time with Ron. Evil will come, but it doesn't seem to matter this night. Tonight, all that matters is the happiness that has touched the four of us. We deserve it after all we've been through.