Times of Changes

Times of Changes

Chapter 5

All’s well end well

“So, Harry, do you like Hermione?” Ginny asked quietly.

“Of course. She’s my best friend.” Harry answered, head still between his knees.

“I mean, you know, as in a girlfriend.” Ginny asked again, a tiny spark of hope in her heart. Maybe, just maybe…

“I know what you mean, and I mean what I said too.” Harry replied. “I mean,” he continued, seeing Ginny’s uncomprehending look. “Last year, during the Triwizard Tournament, she was the only one, other than Hagrid, who believed me when I said I did not put my name into the Goblet of Fire. She was the only one who stayed by me before the first task, when even Ron deserted me. I would like it very much to ask Hermione to be my girlfriend. But I have another best friend, who also like Hermione. Is it not the job of a friend to let his best friend get the girl?”

“Oh, I see…” So much for that spark of hope.

“So now you know. Don’t tell Ron, ok?” Harry said, finally lifting his head to look at Ginny.

Ginny looked into Harry’s eyes, those oh-so-green eyes that she had loved since she saw it first at Kings Cross, almost 5 years ago. ‘Should I…can I tell Harry I like him too.’ His words keep ringing in her ear. “Is it not the job of a friend to let his best friend get the girl?” or in this case, the boy. She could not do that to Hermione. Besides, Harry liked Hermione, not her. Her mind made up, she resolved to tell Hermione the news. Harry need never know about Ginny’s feelings for him…

“Ginny? Ginny, you ok?” Harry asked, a little worried at the empty look on Ginny’s face.

“Huh? Oh… yeah. I’m fine. Let’s go in and find them, shall we?” Ginny said, fighting to keep the tears in.

“Ok, let’s go.” Harry stood up and pulled Ginny to her feet. They started walking back toward the Burrow.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Ron, you know I like you, just…just not that way.” Hermione chose her words carefully, not wanting to hurt Ron too much.

“I know, I know. You still like Victor Krum, right? I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s rich, a seeker with the Bulgaria Quidditch team, good looking…well, maybe not, but still…” Ron was rambling, to hide his disappointment.

“Ron, it’s not Victor that I like.” Hermione interrupted.

“It’s not? Then who is it?” Ron demanded.

“It’s…” Could she tell Ron? She had seen first hand last year how jealous Ron can get. What if this time was really one time too many. Harry, she know, could not do without his best friend beside him. No, it is better if Ron doesn’t know about who she really like.

“Well?”

“It’s ... Draco Malfoy…” Hermione said, looking at the ground.

“WHAT?!?” It wasn’t Ron who said that though. Ron was too surprised to speak. Hermione turned around to find Harry at the backdoor of the Burrow, looking shocked, Ginny beside him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny pulled Hermione to a corner of the garden, just beside the pond, away from the boys.

“What was that?” Ginny asked.

“Oh, nothing. Ron told me he liked me, but I couldn’t very well told him that I like Harry, could I. So I said the first name that came to mind, Malfoy’s name.” Hermione explained, her voice miserable.

“Oh, I see. Well, at least you don’t need to worry about Harry.” Ginny replied.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Hermione asked, puzzled.

“Harry likes you. I asked. Just now, out on the hill.” Ginny said.

“What? But I asked you to take him there because I wanted to give you a chance to tell him how you feel.” Hermione said.

“I know. But he asked if you and Ron were going out, so I told him that you like him, not Ron. Then I asked if he likes you too. He said he did.” Ginny said, tears collecting in her eyes, despite her attempts to stop the tears.

“But what about you?” Hermione asked.

“I’ll be ok. It really doesn’t matter anyway. Harry likes you, not me.” Ginny answered.

“Oh Ginny…” Hermione hugged Ginny.

“Alright already. Just go over and tell Harry, before he really believe your tale about Draco. Why did you choose him anyway? I mean, Malfoy? As your boyfriend? Eeewww!” Ginny attempted to lighten the mood by joking.

Despite herself, Hermione couldn’t keep herself from giggling at the thought of it.

“Hey Ginny, thanks.” Hermione said, after getting her giggling under control.

“You’re welcome,” Ginny answered. “Let’s get back to the boys, or they will think you fell into the pond or something.

~~~~~~~~~~

“What is going on here?” Harry asked Ron, who was still stunned.

“I have no idea, Harry. I told Hermione that I like her, then she told me that she like Draco Malfoy.” Ron answered.

“I had hoped that I heard wrongly or something…” Harry said, sitting himself down beside Ron.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, each trying to guess what are the girls up to. Finally…

“They are coming back,” Ron said, standing up.

“Great. Maybe we can get some answers.” Harry said, also standing up.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione walked straight to Harry, determination written all over her face. She took hold of Harry and pulled him into the house. When Ron tried to follow, Ginny blocked his way, shaking her head.

“No, Ron. Leave them alone.” Ginny said.

“What are you saying. What is Hermione up to?” Ron asked, trying to force his way in.

“Can’t you see? Harry likes Hermione and Hermione likes him back!” Ginny cried, pushing Ron back from the door, landing him on his back on the ground

“What? What about Draco?” Ron yelled, puzzled. He stood up to try to get past Ginny again.

“She said that so that you wouldn’t be jealous of Harry because she likes Harry instead of you, and to prevent you from destroying the friendship between all of you like you almost did last year, you great prat!” Ginny shouted.

Ron stopped. “What?”

“You heard me.” Ginny replied, softer this time.

Ron sat down on the stairs leading to the door, suddenly feeling very tired.

“Just to let you know, Harry did not tell Hermione he likes her is because he counts you as his friend and wanted to give you a chance to tell her your feelings first.” Ginny said, sitting on the step above Ron.

“…That stupid git…” Ron muttered.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Is it true?” Hermione asked. They have been sitting at the front door steps of the burrow in silence, while Hermione gathered her courage to ask Harry this.

“Is what true?” Harry asked, turning to look at Hermione.

“That you … ahhh … like me?” Hermione said it very fast, still looking at the ground

“Oh, that…yeah. It’s true.” Harry managed to say it in a calm tone. “And is what Ginny told me true, that you like me too?”

“…Yes” Hermione said in a whisper, so soft that Harry had to bend nearer to Hermione to hear what she said.

“So what do we do now?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know. Be girl-boy friends?” Hermione answered.

“I am willing to try it if you are.” Harry said.

“…Sure, why not?” Hermione replied.

“Ok then, from today onwards, we are officially going out with each other!”

Hermione looked at Harry, and started giggling

“What’s so funny?” Harry asked, a little surprise at her reaction.

“You…you make it sound so…so formal!” Hermione managed to say in the midst of laugher.

Harry thought about what he said for a moment, then busted out laughing too.

“Hermione?” Harry asked when they managed to stop laughing. “Can I kiss you?”

Hermione blushed and said in a tiny voice: “ …Sure…”

Harry cupped Hermione’s face in his hands, and leaning towards Hermione, gently kissed her on the lips.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ron looked from the window out onto the kissing pair, his face a mask. He had heard most of what they said to each other.

“See, I told you.” Ginny said from her position beside Ron.

“Yeah…”Ron couldn’t find any other answer. He watched as his two best friends broke their kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Wow…” Harry said, holding Hermione in his arms.

“Wow is correct.” Hermione said, resting her head in Harry’s shoulders.

“There is still one problem though…”Harry said.

“And that is…?” Hermione asked.

“How are we gonna tell Ron about us?” Harry answered.

“No need, I know already. I heard you.” Said a voice from behind the door. Ron opened the door and stepped out, followed by Ginny.

“Ron, I sorry…”Harry started to say, but was cut off by Ron.

“What are you apologizing for? If Hermione likes you, what can I say? Just don’t leave me out too much, that’s all I ask.”

Harry smiled. “Thanks, Ron. We’ll try not to.”

“I’m not the one you’re suppose to thank. It was Ginny who talked some sense back into me, or I would have flatten you already.” Ron replied.

“You do know that things are going to change between us, right?” Ginny said.

“Yeah, but if we all stick together, we can overcome it.” Hermione said, looking at Harry.

~~~~~~~~~~

The End