Iuga Sortis (Bound By Destiny)

Seventeen

"It's all right, Ron. I understand perfectly."

He groaned and rolled his eyes. No, you don't understand; no matter how much you tried to say otherwise.

"If you understand so well, why won't you look at me?" She shifted and met his eyes with hers. They were filled with unshed tears. "Hermione--"

"Ron! I said I understand. You don't have to say anything, really."

He scooted closer to her and gently grasped her chin with his thumb and forefinger. "You know if I had a choice, I'd go to Hogsmeade with you, don't you?"

"Yes, Ron. I told you I understood. We're just friends, anyway."

Ron felt his heart clench at that. Yeah . . . just two friends who snogged each other senseless over the holidays.

"I promise I won't have any fun at Quidditch practice. In fact I don't know why Angelina won't find a replacement as it is."

"You mean a lot to the team, Ron. They need you there. As I said before, I understand. I'm hoping to meet someone at the Three Broomsticks anyway."

He felt his cheeks heat in anger. "Who?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Since when did you find it proper that I tell you everything that went on in my life? As I remember, you told me to stay out of yours."

Damn her for having a memory like an elephant.

"I didn't mean that; I said it in the heat of the moment," he said in defense. "Besides, Hermione, that happened weeks ago! I'm surprised you remember!"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Clearly you don't know me at all!"

That was the most irrational response he'd ever heard from Hermione. "Pardon? What does that have to do with anything?"

"Of course I'd remember! How else does one learn if they don't remember?"

Leave it to her to bring up school in a discussion like this.

"Hermione, please, I promise I'll make it up to you," he tried, letting go of her chin to caress her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, and Ron smiled.

Maybe she's coming around.

"Do you even know what tomorrow is?"

Oh damn.

"It's the Hogsmeade trip," Ron guessed.

Hermione rolled her eyes and moved her face from his hand.

Maybe she's not coming around.

"Look around you, Ron! For what other holiday do you see cupids and pink hearts everywhere?"

Valentine's Day. Oh damn.

"I didn't notice," he mumbled.

"You don't notice a lot of things, Ron."

"That's not true!"

"Then why did it take Neville to make you realize I was a girl?!"

He gulped and backed away from her. "You were just Hermione, my friend."

"And I'm still just Hermione, your friend. What happened over holiday doesn't change anything."

But I want them to change.

"You kissed me first," he reminded her.

"Heat of the moment. I was trying to cheer you up."

You bloody well did 'cheer' something 'up'!

His cheeks turned red at the memory.

"Are you all right, Ron?" She placed cool hands on his face, and all thought fled from his mind.

"Do you go around snogging every boy who feels sad?" he asked finally, his voice having a jealous edge to it.

"I've kissed Harry before."

Ron's eyes bugged out. "You WHAT?"

He cursed then, noticing the entire common room had turned their attention on them. "Nothing to see here!" he seethed, glaring at his nosy housemates.

"Oh Ron! You were there! Remember last year at the platform as we were leaving? I kissed his cheek!"

Whew.

"Besides, what's it to you? You were so far gone over Fleur I'm surprised you even care who I kissed."

He grinned in spite of himself.

Hermione jealous? It's a beautiful thing, really. Her eyes flash, and her cheeks become rosy. Those full red lips draw into a luscious pout as an eyebrow arches. Mmmm . . .

"Ron!"

"Huh?"

"You're salivating, Ron."

Shit.

He quickly wiped his mouth, and he glanced at her. Her face mirrored her disgust.

"I cannot believe you have the audacity to drool over Fleur."

"I wasn't drooling over Fleur, Hermione."

She arched an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "We were just talking about her, Ron. I'm not daft, you know."

"I know you're not. I think you're brilliant."

"Humph."

"If a bit irrational . . ."

Hermione huffed, springing off the couch and marching up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. Ron sighed wearily and dropped his head against the back of the couch. He closed his eyes and placed a hand over them.

That was a bloody mess!

"What did you do this time, Ron?"

"Sod off, Harry," he said, not bothering to look at the other boy.

There was a moment of silence, and Ron felt the couch sink from Harry's weight.

"She likes you, you know."

Ron gave a short bark of laughter. "She sure has a loopy way of showing it. Even after all we've been through, she insists we're friends. Let me tell you something, mate, friends don't kiss the way we did over holiday."

"Why don't you tell her that?"

Ron opened his eyes and looked at Harry as if he grew another head. "Are you mad!? I don't fancy a hex from Hermione, thank you very much!"

Harry grinned. "But you do fancy a snog from her."

Ron scowled, moving his mouth as he silently mocked what Harry just said.

"You're not in Gryffindor for nothing! Buck up some courage and just tell her how you feel."

Ron snorted. "Easy for you to say, seeing as you have a girlfriend!"

Harry sighed. "She's not my girlfriend . . . actually I don't know what she is . . ."

Ron became curious. For the better part of two years, Cho had been Harry's crush. Now that they were all but officially dating, he seemed reluctant. "Oi, Harry, what's this? I thought you wanted her to be your girlfriend."

Harry shrugged. "I thought I did, too. But that was before Cedric . . . before Voldemort . . . before . . ."

Ron knew there was something else Harry was not telling him. "Is there someone else?"

"Sort of . . ."

Ron tapped his chin in thought. He raised an amused eyebrow. "Is it Loony?"

"Ron . . ."

"Ginny, then. Is it her?"

Harry frowned. "She's all but a sister to me! That would be gross!"

Ron didn't know if he should be relieved or angry. Shrugging, he tried again. "D'you like this person?"

"It's more complicated than that."

Ron's heart leapt into his throat. "Is it Hermione?"

"It's not that complicated!" Harry teased.

Ron couldn't help it--he laughed loudly, his relief flooding through him like a tidal wave. "Dear Merlin, that was close," he said after he calmed.

Harry smiled softly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Though admittedly, I wish it were that complicated. At least the attraction would make sense."

"I don't follow . . ."

"When I'm with her, Ron, I feel warm. I'm the safest I've ever been, and I can let my guard down. It feels good--really good. I don't have to be Harry Potter; I can just be Harry."

"Do me and Hermione treat you like Harry Potter?" he asked, slightly hurt. Harry looked down at his hands, not willing to answer.

"Blimey, Harry--"

"Look, Ron, it's not your fault. Everybody does it at one point or another--even Dumbledore seems a bit awed by me at times. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't like the special treatment; I didn't ask to be the Boy Who Lived. But I am. But sometimes I wish I could just be a boy."

It was then Ron realized the tremendous amount of pressure Harry had to endure just for being who he was. Ron felt sad and guilty; throughout their friendship he'd wrestled with jealousy issues of being Harry's friend. Now, he realized he wouldn't trade places with Harry for the world.

"Harry, I know I'm sorry for treating you like that, and I'm sure Hermione is, as well."

Harry clapped him on the shoulder appreciatively. "Don't worry about it, mate. You're a good friend, Ron. I couldn't ask for anyone better."

Ron smiled. "Fate's a crazy thing, isn't it?" He saw Harry tense. "Are you all right? It's not your scar, is it?"

"Fate . . ." Harry murmured, pressing his fingers to his scar.

Ron began to panic. "Look, maybe you should--"

"That may be able to explain the dreams I've been having," Harry said absently.

"I thought that's what you were taking the Occlumency lessons for--to stop those dreams--though I personally think Snape is--"

"That would explain why they look so much alike--same eyes . . ."

"What are you on about?"

"Have to go, Ron. If I hurry I can get to the library and back before curfew." Harry stood quickly.

"You're starting to sound like Hermione!" Ron teased.

"You'd do well to make a trip there, as well, Ronald Weasley. That way you'd have a chance of making at least an Acceptable on your O.W.L.s."

Ron started when he heard Hermione behind him, and Harry tried to smother a laugh. Ron glared at him before addressing Hermione.

"Bugger, woman! Something could be wrong with Harry's scar, and all you can think about is O.W.L.s!"

"There's nothing wrong with my scar, Hermione," Harry answered quickly.

"Are you sure?"

Harry looked at them with a grin. "Positive. Now you two kiss and make up; this is the holiday for lovers . . ." Harry winked at them before he left the common room.

Ron scowled at his retreating back. "That boy's cracked."

Hermione snorted. "I don't think he's going to the library at all. He's going to see Cho."

"At least he's getting some loving," Ron muttered.

"I'm sure your broom will get all the loving it needs by this time tomorrow."

Ron gaped at her. "Hermione! Do you realize what you just said?"

"What?" She almost looked innocent, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I've corrupted you," he said with feigned remorse.

She grinned at him, and his heart kicked over. "You wouldn't have me any other way."

His eyes widened even more as he watched her approach him and pat his cheek before walking past him to talk to his sister. Ron grinned.

She was right--he wouldn't have her any other way.