My Thousand Wrongs

My Thousand Wrongs

Chapter Two

Azkaban Riddle

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Ginny was sitting in front of the fire at the Common Room, knitting some hats Hermione had requested for the house elves. It had been several hours since she and Hermione had spoken about Harry, but the tense air that had surrounded their conversation was still floating among them.

Hermione was now dressing and preparing herself to attend the Yule Ball. Ginny had already dressed herself. She was wearing brown dress robes that contracted slightly with her hair, making it a lot more noticeable. Her hair was wavy this time. Ginny kept on knitting meanwhile looking at the fire's flames, thinking.

The portrait hole opened, revealing two people. One boy with red hair and a girl with black hair.

The redhead screamed, " Hey Ginny! How's Hermione?" Ginny got up from her armchair and spun around. It had been Ron who had screamed for her. He had his arm around Padma, his girlfriend, literally towering over her. Ginny ran over to them and smiled.

"You look nice," commented Ron with a goofy grin.

"Thanks, Ron," Ginny replied. She looked sideways at Padma and then returned her gaze to Ron, giving him a quizzical stare.

"Oh," muttered Ron. "Um, I asked Professor Dumbledore if I could bring her into the Common Room and he gave his permission. At the end he just muttered something about inter-house relationships and you-know-who."

"You won't ever stop saying You-know-who, will you?" Hermione had heard the conversation between Ginny, Padma, and Ron, and had decided to join them. She climbed down the staircase, all ready to go to the Yule Ball.

She wore light blue robes and her hair had been let down. It was now shiny, sleek, and straight.

"Wow Hermione, you- you- you look nice," finished Ron, impressed.

"Why, thank you, Ron. Nice to see you, Padma.

Padma glared at Hermione, sulkily. She replied a defiant and jealous, "hello, Hermy," to Hermione and then turned to face Ron. She reached up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you at the Ball," Padma then turned around on her heels and left.

"Never mind her," said Ron, his ears going red. He avoided Ginny's and Hermione's raised-eyebrows stare.

"So, where's Harry?" asked Hermione, somewhat slyly.

Ron turned around, and seeing that no one was close enough besides Hermione and Ginny to hear him, replied. "Uh, you know.... Old Harry.... He has never had any love from his relatives, and now, well, with Parvati and all, well...." He trailed off.

"Well what?" snapped Hermione, trying to find out where harry was, but having a shrewd idea anyhow.

"Ron, you aren't making any sense," Ginny said, innocently.

"Parvati and Harry decided to, well, y'know...." Ron looked embarrassed beyond point, " Have 'quality' time together."

"WHAT!?" screamed Hermione and Ginny at the same time. The whole of Gryffindor Common room turned to stare at them both.

"Oh! Sorry- nothing's going on around here," explained Ginny waving her hands frantically at her sides. She tuned to face Ron. "Do you mean 'quality time' as the 'quality time'? " she asked.

Ron paled; he definitely now looked redder than his hair. "Um, yeah, I think so," he replied weakly.

Hermione couldn't take it. She couldn't stand imagining Harry and Parvati hugging each other, kissing each other, and the like.... First, she paled, and then she undoubtedly turned green.

"Hermione? Are you all right?" Ron looked worried.

"I think I'm going to be sick," muttered Hermione. A moment later, she ran out of the Common Room, robes billowing behind her. Back at the common room, Ron turned towards Ginny, with an astonished look.

"Ginny, what happened?"

"Well," Ginny said, " Hermione felt sick and apparently had the need to barf all over her brand new, beautiful robes for the ball."

"No, Ginny! Not that!" Ron exclaimed. "I already know that! Ginny," Ginny glanced at Ron, who she had never seen this serious before, "Ginny, what happened between you and 'Mione? What did you talk about?"

Ginny's jaw was set; she looked determined to not say anything at all until Ron started pleading with her.

"See here," said Ron, "I know, as Hermione said once before, that just because I have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean everyone else does." There was a pause.

"When did she say that?" Ginny interestedly asked.

"When- oh, never you mind. That's not the point I'm trying to make here. What I'm trying to state is that Hermione is one of my best friends, and just because I can't understand everything she goes through, it doesn't mean that I don't want to know what is wrong with her or that I don't care about her any longer."

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. "You are right, Ron. I'm sorry, but I am not sure if I'm the correct one person to tell you what is happening between her and Har-" she stopped at mid-sentence and suddenly covered her moth with her hand. Her ears were turning red; she had almost told Ron Hermione's secret!

" -ry. Harry," Ron finished for her. Ginny's face ashen.

"Go ahead, Ginny. Say 'what is going on between Hermione and Harry,' because I know. I know everything. Or at least everything I can know from Hermione's stares toward him...."

"Ron? You know? How could you know? As far as she told me, she always kept her secret, well, secret!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Ginny," said Ron, waving his hand impatiently, "It's obvious. The change of looks, the stares, the special smiles, the breathless sighs; just everything. Remember that everything that she used to do, I used to notice."

"Ron, come over here," muttered Ginny. She led Ron to the nearest chairs to the fire and told him to sit down as she did the same. "Ron," she was serious and grabbed both of Ron's hands in her own. "Ron, I need to ask you something. Do not make some lame excuse telling me that you need to go get dressed for the ball or something like that, because it's still three hours before eight 'o' clock," stated Ginny as Ron opened his moth to say something.

"Look, you're my big brother. I love you so much you can't even imagine. You are one of the examples of how and what choices and decisions I should make in life. I know you are not perfect, I know that; but still, I love you a lot. I am so proud of you. Really, Ron, I am." Ron was looking at her disbelieving.

"I really am proud of you; look at how much you have accomplished since you left home for Hogwarts! You have helped Harry save both the Wizarding world and the Muggle World alike countless of times! So please," she regarded Ron with a pleading stare now, "please answer me this question honestly, Ron, at least in 'Mione's sake. Ron, do you.... Do you still love Hermione? Do you have any feelings for her at all?"

Ron looked away. He stared at the Gryffindor first-years, remembering how long it had been since he himself was a first year, and the adventures he and his friends went through during that year. He remembered how worried and scared Hermione had been back then when he had been knocked out cold by the gigantic queen during that Chess Match.

He also remembered how Harry had caressed Hermione's hand while she had been petrified and had to stay in the hospital wing during their Second year.

"I suppose I do, I guess?" Ron asked himself loudly enough . He had forgotten Ginny was stationed next to him on the cushy red arm chair, so he jumped and was very surprised when Ginny spoke.

"What do you mean by 'I suppose I do, I guess?' You say it so carelessly."

"Well it's true. Now that I reflect on it, I have to admit I used to love Hermione, I really did, but sometime last year, I solved things out. I figured that Hermione liked or maybe even loved Harry; it was obvious. So I just gave up. Well, not really gave up, I more of let go.

"I loved- well, love her so much I gave up my happiness to save hers. All that matters is that she is happy, even if I'm not and that she finds happiness with someone, and if that 'someone' is my best mate, so be it, Ginny, so be it. I still love her, but I know she will be loved by someone else too....

"I am trying to forget her, to let her be one of me best friends again. I'm ready to start my new life with Padma and forget about Hermione being my lover; just remembering and knowing Hermione the best friend will be sufficient." He smiled. Ginny let go of his hands and hugged Ron.

"I will repeat it again, Ron," she said while embracing her brother, "I'm really, really proud of you."

"Thank you, Gin, " whispered Ron, his ears red. He looked very pleased. Just then, the portrait hole opened and Hermione stepped in. She walked over shakily to Ron and Ginny, finally having spotted them near the now extinguished fire.

"How are you feeling, 'Mione?" asked Ron, preoccupied. Ginny looked at Hermione with concern in her eyes.

"I'm okay," answered Hermione, weakly. "It was only the shock of having heard the news."

"Do you want to sit down?" asked Ginny.

"Oh, that's fine. I'll stay standing."

"I don't think that's such a good idea, 'Mione. Come and have my seat," Ginny said, bossily.

"All right!" Exclaimed Hermione, exasperated.

Hermione sat down whilst Ginny stayed standing.

"Hermione, don't be nervous," commented Ron.

"What do you mean by 'nervous'? Who's nervous? I'm not nervous! What's there to be nervous about, Ron? Nothing! Nothing at all!" She gave a shaky laugh.

Ginny walked towards Hermione and kneeled down in front of her. She whispered, "He already knows about you-know-what Hermione." Hermione's eyes immediately widened and looked at Ron for a few moments. Her gaze soon afterwards returned to Ginny's face.

"How can he know?" Hermione asked, awestruck.

"It was fairly obvious for me, 'Mione,'" added Ron, instead of Ginny.

"Was I that obvious?" Demanded Hermione.

"No! You weren't; it was just that I wasn't as busy as Harry looking up ways I could succeed in Occlumency. Therefore, I was likely to see more of what was going on in my surroundings," explained Ron.

Hermione snorted. "More like obsessed with finding out ways to be around Parvati rather than being interested in Occlumency," Hermione smirked. Ginny's face ashen even more at this statement; she could easily be compared to Draco Malfoy's long lost cousin or something like that now. Ron's ears just got redder than they had been moments ago.

Hermione suddenly looked ashamed. "Look," she added, "I'm sorry I made that comment, but both you two and I know that is the truth. Why lie about it?"

"I- you're right. We shouldn't try to hide the truth or our feelings, should we?" said Ron. He looked pointedly at Hermione.

"Oh, all right! Ginny already told me I should tell Harry about my feelings today, and even if we voted on it, I would lose. Two over one doesn't make much difference, does it? I'll tell him today, I promise," Hermione smiled. So did Ron and Ginny.

"I knew you had it in you, 'Mione, I knew it!" Ron grinned. Hermione returned his smile. 'She looks so beautiful when she smiles. Maybe....If only for the last time....' Ron thought. He blushed. Hermione was looking at Ron when he blushed and avoided her eyes. He apparently had something to say.

"Ron, whatever you need to say, say it," Hermione muttered between gritted teeth. She hated the times when Ron acted like this.

Ron took a deep breath before he said anything. "'Mione, you know your my best friend, or at least one of the two people I would give my life for any day."

"Uh-huh," Hermione whispered. She was at a loss for words. She had never seen Ron taking so seriously to her, ever.

"I now know I will never have a chance with you Hermione. We couldn't possibly become something more than friends for many reasons. Even though I love you with everything that's me, I will never get a chance with you, and you will never love me the way I love you.

"So today, I ask you this. You may not agree with me, but I have got to at least try. 'Mione, will you.... Can you.... May I give you a kiss? At least this once; this is the only time I'll ever ask of you something like this. The one and only time...." Ron whispered, hopefully.

Hermione thought about for a few moments, then smiled at Ron. "Fine, Ron," she said. His face lit up at her answer.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Positive, Ron. Positive," she answered. Ron grabbed both of Hermione's hands in his own and leaned forward in his chair toward Hermione. Hermione did the same. Ron closed his eyes as Hermione did the same and finally met her lips. Her lips tasted of vanilla and chocolate. It was everything Ron had ever dreamed of and in a way, much more.

'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*

Ginny gawked at her big brother. Ron had never kissed anyone like that, well, not even Padma, his girlfriend. If only Padma saw Ron right now! Ginny laughed mentally at the thought.

As she decided that she would rather do something else than gawk at her brother and Hermione, the portrait hole opened, revealing two people with black hair.... Jet-black hair! Ginny's look of humor turned into a look of horror in less than two seconds.

Harry was here! Harry was coming; he was walking towards Ron and Hermione! Ginny wanted to scream a warning at Hermione and drag her away from Ron as soon as possible now that Harry was here, but she couldn't. She was paralyzed; too shocked to move. She didn't expect this to happen so soon, and then she remembered. Hermione wasn't her friend anymore; Ginny wasn't on Hermione's side any longer, and it was best if Harry saw this now so he could see what Hermione was worth.

Oh yes, this was good news, for her and the people on her side that is.

Harry had one arm around Parvati, and was laughing at something she was whispering in his ear. He looked happy for the first time in years.... Harry told something back to Parvati in her ear this time and she laughed harder than Harry. She let go of him and doubled in laughter. As she regained her control and straightened up, her eyes roamed the whole common room, until they snapped onto Ron and Hermione, still kissing.

Her jaw dropped open. She immediately pointed at them with disbelief etched all over her face. 'Thank you, Parvati,' thought Ginny.

Harry turned his gaze slightly to one side, and his gaze found the target Parvati was pointing at. His eyes narrowed for a second and then widened dramatically. His jaw also dropped open and remained like so for quite while.

Finally, when he regained control of his jaw and snapped it shut, he smirked at Ron and Hermione, who were still kissing like crazy.

'Weird,' thought Ginny, 'Harry doesn't smirk.... Since when did he start smirking? Could this possibly be a clue meaning as to he joined my side? He has gone through to our side then?'

Harry put an arm around Parvati's waist and led her to chairs next to Ron's and Hermione's. He whispered something to her ear and she sneered at them pair still kissing. Harry looked over at Ginny and signaled her to be quiet. Ginny just nodded. Parvati reached for Harry's hand and held it. All of the three turned towards Ron and Hermione and stared at them, Harry and Parvati smirking at them, while Ginny pretended to put a horrified face.

Five seconds later, Ron separated himself from Hermione blissfully. He still had his eyes closed when he spoke.

"Wow...." Was apparently all he could manage.

"Yeah, I know," replied Hermione, breathlessly. She, too, held her eyes shut. Ron opened his eyes and stared at Hermione lovingly, with a certain sparkle in his eyes Hermione had never seen before. They stared at each other, really studying their facial features for the first time.

Harry pretended to cough loudly and clear his throat at that exact instant. Ron and Hermione stopped looking at each other and instantly turned toward the source of the commotion. Seeing Harry and Parvati smirking, and then seeing Ginny with that apparent look of horror, made Ron and Hermione pale, if possible, even more that Ginny was.

"Well, well, well...." said Harry, with that horrible smirk still on his face. "You had it very hidden, mate. I always knew you guys liked each other, but I would have never guessed you were together, if my eyes weren't showing me otherwise."

"No Harry; You're all wrong! Me and 'Mione aren't-"

"-- Oh, so now it's 'me and 'Mione' now, is it? Where did that 'Her' part go, Ron? I don't ever recall calling her 'Mione', Ron...." interrupted Harry.

"Yes you did! You just called her that yesterday!" argued Ron, indignantly.

"No mate, I didn't. You must be hallucinating or something...." Muttered harry. Ron opened his moth to continue arguing with Harry when Harry spoke once again.

"Ron, mate, you're my best friend and everything, but I've got to tell you this. You don't know what the Hell you're doing, do you?"

"Huh?" responded Ron.

"Exactly! 'Huh' about sums it all up! Here we are, Parvati and me, giving you a compliment and leading you into a good relationship like ours, " he gestured to Parvati and himself; Parvati just smirked even more at this comparison, "and you suddenly get all worried and start saying things you don't really mean. Honestly mate, keep saying stuff like that and I doubt Hermione will ever speak to you again, if she already hasn't decided that."

Ron glanced at Hermione and then returned his gaze to Harry. Harry stood up and Parvati followed, keeping her mouth shut and only smirking.

"Look, we'll leave you two alone so you can snog some more and then, maybe, you can make up your mind, Ron," spoke Harry. "Come on, Parvati." He grabbed Parvati's hand and led her out of the Common room, the portrait of the Fat Lady closing behind them.

Hermione started to cry. She had a look of remorse, embarrassment, and anger mixed on her face.