Truly Madly Deeply

Chapter Eight - Secrets Revealed

~ Herbology ~

When Harry finally made it to Herbology, only a couple of minutes late, he found the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors in various states of distress. Harry himself was radiantly happy. Draco had accepted his proposal and they had decided to get married a week after they had graduated. The Hufflepuffs were equally sympathetic and horrified. They had potions the next day with the Ravenclaws and both houses were praying that Snape didn't have the same lesson planned for them.

They were working outside today, in the herb garden. This meant that the Gryffindors were able to talk quietly to each other as they weeded the garden. Ron was viciously digging his trowel into the dirt and Hermione looked heartbroken as Seamus filled Harry in on what had happened at lunch.

"As soon as we got to the Great Hall, Dean dragged Ginny away somewhere so I couldn't embarrass him. We'll have to make him tell us what happened while he's still under the influence of the Veritaserum. Lavender disappeared also. I think she went to the tower to change because when she finally joined us, she'd changed her image to what you see now."

Lavender had her hair pulled back into a severe McGonagall-esque bun, her face was scrubbed clean of the make up she religiously wore everyday. She was working hard at weeding the garden over by Professor Sprout. The most amazing thing was how serious she was. She would normally be giggling and gossiping with Pavarti, but although Pavarti was working near her, neither girl was speaking.

"So I sat with Nev, here, and we had a good old chat about his love life and let me tell you, I got the shock of the century! I pride myself on being unshockable, but this got to me,' Seamus said as he continued to inform Harry of the Gryffindor gossip. "You will never guess who Neville is in love with? Totally gaga for, head over heels in lust with. Go on, guess!"

Neville had by this stage turned bright red and was desperately trying to ignore the conversation in the hope that Seamus would forget it. Unfortunately for Neville that was never going to happen. This was juicy gossip at it's best and Seamus would not be content until the entire school knew.

Harry scrunched up his face in mock concentration.

"Pansy?"

"Not even close, but I will give you a hint - you've got the right house."

"So, a Slytherin then. You've got good taste, Neville," Harry joked. "Millicent?"

"No. Right house, wrong gender."

"Oh! Goyle?"

"No, he's a little older than Goyle."

"But Goyle is a seventh year, there's no one older than.....oh my god.....you don't mean...." Harry had turned faintly green and looked nauseous.

"I think we have a winner!" Seamus said excitedly. "I had the same reaction myself. But it does explain why Neville's Potions grades are always so bad. He's so distracted by our sexy professor that he can't think clearly enough to brew the potions properly!"

Neville was clearly mortified and wouldn't meet Harry's eyes. The rest of the class had already had time to process this information as Seamus was blurting it out wherever he went. Harry was glad he had missed lunch by talking to Draco down by the lake. He doubted he would have been able to keep it down.

"Neville, he's old enough to be your father!" Harry said, scandalised.

"I know," Neville whimpered, "I can't help it. There's just something about him."

"So, Harry, you were looking mighty pleased with yourself when you finally decided to turn up for our lesson. What happened with Draco? Anything naughty?" Seamus asked, apparently bored with Neville's predicament finally. Harry grinned.

"I proposed to Draco and he accepted!" Harry said jubilantly, unable to stop himself from bouncing on the spot.

"Oh, Harry! That's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed, pushing her grief aside as she hugged her best friend.

"Congratulations," Ron said as he shook Harry's hand. Harry wouldn't let go of Ron's hand and grabbed Hermione's hand with his free hand.

"Now, what's going on with you two?" he asked, determined to get to the bottom of their misery. Hermione held back a sob as she started explaining what had happened after the rest of the class had left the Potions dungeon.

"Ron wasn't sleeping with Lavender, he asked her to help him choose a birthday gift for me, that was why he didn't tell anyone, not even you. He wanted it to be a surprise and I ruined it. I can't believe I actually thought Ron would cheat on me. I should have had more faith in him and I'm so sorry. I feel terrible."

Ron still looked angry but also wretched because Hermione was so upset. Harry looked at each of his best friends.

"Ron, Hermione has told us how she feels. Now it's your turn. We are not leaving this herb garden until you two sort this out. I've never seen either of you so happy as when you were together and now that you're apart, you're both miserable. Ron, tell us what you feel about this."

"I am angry that she thought I would rather be with someone else than with her." Ron turned to face Hermione who had silent tears coursing down her face. "I love you more than anything in the world, Hermione. I would rather die than hurt you but you've hurt me. You honestly thought I would sleep with someone else? I just wanted to find the perfect gift for you to show you how much you mean to me but I don't know much about that sort of thing. I guess I should have trusted my instincts but I wanted a female's opinion and Lavender happened to be around at the time. I'm sorry that you were hurt when you saw us together but nothing happened and nothing ever would. I love you and only you. I can't live without you."

Hermione threw her arms around Ron, knowing it was his way of saying that he forgave her.

"I love you too. I'm sorry I didn't trust you. It will never happen again." Hermione and Ron kissed as the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs cheered.

Ron and Hermione were one of the cutest couples in the whole school and no one wanted to see them fight, particularly since they both had pretty bad tempers and they involved the entire school when they did fight.

Chapter Eight - Secrets Revealed