Hermione Granger and the Two Lovers

Chapter Twenty

"Were you with my brother, again?" Ginny asked, emphasizing the word 'again'.

Hermione had just returned from her talk with Ron and was trying to hide the fact that she was blushing, as she answered, "Yes."

Ginny immediately spotted Hermione's reddened face through her thick, curly hair.

"Something happened, didn't it?" Ginny assumed, now moving closer to Hermione to tell if she was lying.

Hermione's face turned an even darker red, if that was possible. "That is none of your business, Miss Weasley," Hermione said rudely.

"You kissed!" Ginny shrieked.

"Yes!" Hermione shrieked back at her. Ginny jumped off the bed, grabbed Hermione's hands and they began jumping around excitedly, squealing like five-year-olds.

It was only when Lavender yelled, "Will you two, please, be quiet? Some of us are trying to work!" that they actually stopped.

"I want details!" Ginny demanded.

Hermione told her the entire story. When Hermione said that Harry said that she was meant to be with Ron, Ginny agreed. "Well, of course, you are meant to be with Ron! He's fancied you since your first year."

"Why didn't anyone inform me of this not-so-recent discovery?" Hermione complained.

"Well, I thought you knew," Ginny apologized. "You know, if and when you and Ron get married, you'll be my sister."

"Sister-in-law," Hermione corrected her. "Besides that, it was just one kiss. He didn't propose or anything."

"He will, one day," Ginny said. "This is more than just a crush for him, Hermione, this is like a life dream for him."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

"You haven't noticed how he looks at you?" Ginny was astonished. "He's always happy around you, even if he's just had the worst day. You always make everything better for him."

Hermione thought about what Ginny said as she dressed for bed. It was true, Ron only got mad over her at silly things like Crookshanks eating Scabbers, or rubbish like that.

"The day that Harry asked you out, he was heart broken," Ginny said quietly. "He had told Harry that he fancied you, and Harry told him that he should ask you out. After two days of avoiding you, Harry said, 'Ron, if you don't ask her out, then I am.' The very next day, Harry asked you out."

Ginny pretended to wipe a tear from her eye. "He came to me. He looked as though he had just lost his best friend."

Hermione lay down in her bed. She had never considered Ron's feelings, all those times she had turned him down when he asked her on a date. She never thought he was being serious. She thought he was joking.

"Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"Did Ron, I mean, has he ever fancied anyone else?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Not seriously; not like you. Mum has tried setting him up with her friends' daughters, but he's never seemed to connect with them, not like he does with you. He has a kind of glow when he's with you."

"How have I not noticed until now?" Hermione asked herself.

"People are often blinded by the obvious when they're in love," Ginny told her.

Hermione gave her a confused look.

"I heard it in a book once," Ginny said, referring to her quote.

"And it's true," Hermione added, smiling slightly.

Hermione got up, walked across the room and hugged Ginny. "Thank you, Gin."

"You're welcome, 'Mione."

Love is always patient and kind.

It is never jealous.

Love is never boastful or conceited.

It is never rude or selfish.

It does not take offense and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins, but delights in the truth.

It is always ready to excuse.

To trust. To hope.

And to endure whatever comes.

-Reverend Sullivan A Walk to Remember (2002)