The Circle of Endless Confusion

The Circle of Endless Confusion

Chapter 9: Resignations

"It's been almost three weeks, Ron," Hermione said as she sat next to him on the couch in the common room. "Look at him, he looks so depressed." She glanced at her best friend across the room.

"Yeah, well, he should have thought about that before hand. Besides, he's been out every night with Draco, he can make him feel better," he said, with a shudder at the thought.

"No, he hasn't," she said, sighing.

"He hasn't what?" Ron asked, distractedly looking at his sister across the room talking to Colin Creevy.

"He hasn't been with Draco. Draco hasn't spoken to him since the day after you found out, which was the night that Harry told him. Draco had actually proposed to him but Harry had gone with the intent of telling Draco the truth. As soon as Harry told him he told him to leave and still hasn't let him see him," she said with a tear in her eye. The slightest things had started to bring tears to her eyes. It was really starting to annoy her, but she knew it was just part of being pregnant. "But don't tell him I told you, he didn't want me to tell anyone."

"So, Draco hasn't been with him? Wow! That's horrible, 'Mione. I feel sort of guilty. Wait, no! I do not feel guilty. He slept with you, Hermione. He should be shunned."

"Then so do I!" she exclaimed, frustrated.

"No, you don't," he replied quickly.

"Hullo! I'm your girlfriend and I slept with him! Now stop being a bloody idiot!"

"I'm not ready to talk to him, 'Mione," he sighed. "I just can't, not right now. If I did I'd probably end up attacking him again."

"Okay," she said reluctantly.

"I do feel bad that Draco isn't talking to him though. I kind of know how he feels."

'Yes, your situations are exactly the same," she said, touching his arm carefully.

"No, they are not!" he said, pulling away from her touch. "They are completely different!"

"Ron, his lover slept with me. Your girlfriend slept with Harry. Situations are identical," she said practically.

"No, he's a guy in love with a guy."

"Love is universal. It doesn't matter really whether it's a boy and a girl, two boys, or two girls, it's all the same. Besides, you never had a problem with Percy."

"Percy? What are you talking about? How did Percy enter the conversation?" Ron asked, confused.

"Do you ever pay attention to anything your brother says?" she sighed in exasperation.

"No! What are you talking about? Percy lives with Oliver Wood, what else is there to know?" he asked, looking at her.

"Ron! Don't you remember the last time I was over? Percy told all of us that he was gay and moving in with Oliver Wood because they were lovers. Your mum cried for days, Ron."

"I thought she was crying because he was moving out for good! God! Does Gryffindor only produce faeries now?"

"Well, there's you and Neville, of course. He's become quite the ladies man lately."

"He has? The world has completely turned upside down!" he said, standing up and starting to pace.

"Well, most of it was slow coming; you just don't notice anything, love. Anyway, I want you do to something for me," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him down next to her.

"Yes?" he asked, suddenly noticing that no one else was left in the common room.

Hermione leaned over and kissed him.

"Hmm, I'll do that anytime you want," he said, smiling. "But I would assume that's not all you wanted."

"I want you to talk to Draco."

"Of course," he said dreamily. "Wait, what?"

"I want you to talk to Draco about Harry."

"Why? I'm not even talking to Harry. Why would I ever talk to Malfoy?"

"Well, Harry deserves some kind of happiness in all this mess. Besides, if you and Draco can't connect over this there is no hope. I've already sent an owl for him to meet you by the lake tomorrow night at seven," she said, smiling.

"I am not meeting Draco Malfoy by the lake! That's the outside version of the Astronomy Tower! That's the preliminary to the Astronomy Tower, Hermione!" he roared.

"Darling, it's the safe, common place where no one will notice you. Besides, you can always take a walk; you don't have to stay there!"

"But, but, but! He's gay!" Ron cried.

"It's not like he's going to kiss you, Ron! Stop being ridiculous, do this for Harry. I know you're mad at him now, but soon enough you'll be over it and you'll be happy you did this for him," she said, running her fingers through his hair.

"I don't know. But I guess I can do it," he said, resigning to the inevitable.

"Good. I love you, Ron," she said, kissing him again.

"Yeah," he said, pulling away. "I love you too."