Risking True Feelings

Saturday Morning

The morning after the Graduation Ball, Ginny met Harry in the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione had slept in after having a long night, and being quite exhausted.

"How are you, sweet potato?" Harry asked Ginny when she sat down next to him.

"Fine, but I have to ask you a favor," Ginny told him.

"It has to do with Ron, doesn't it?" Harry guessed.

"I guess all those Divination classes paid off."

"So, what about Ron?" Harry asked curiously.

"Well, you need to talk to him," Ginny told him. "He needs to treat Hermione the way you treat me."

"May I ask why?" Harry asked as he took a sip of orange juice.

"Because she's upset that you gave me a promise ring, and she's known Ron longer than you've known me."

"She's upset because of a silly ring?" Harry inquired. "But, why?"

"Because she's a hopeless romantic like you and I, but Ron; he's Ron," Ginny explained. "So, will you help Hermione out?"

"What's in it for me?" Harry asked, raising one eyebrow at her.

Ginny leaned toward him and kissed him. When she broke away from him, she whispered, "More of that."

Saturday Afternoon

Harry had returned to the boys' dormitory at around one, and found Ron rolling out of bed, grumbling and mumbling.

"Ron, can I talk to you, mate?" Harry said, trying not to make it look too obvious.

Ron mumbled something that sounded like 'whatever'.

"Ron, this is important," Harry told him. Ron still seemed to be dead to the world. "Ron! It's about Hermione!"

This finally got Ron's attention. He turned and stared at Harry. "Well?"

"She's not happy," Harry said calmly. "She thinks you don't love her."

"What did I do?" Ron asked, not remembering doing anything bad.

"The question is, 'what didn't you do?'" Harry corrected him. "She doesn't feel like you really love her."

"But, I do!" Ron argued.

"You need to show her you love her!" Harry yelled, angry at Ron's stupidity.

"How do I do that?" Ron asked.

"You give her presents, like Harry does," Ginny, who just entered the room, answered.

"Harry gives you presents?" Ron said confusedly.

"Yes, which makes me feel like he really loves me, and cares about me," Ginny told him. "That's only one thing he does," she added, winking at Harry to get Ron worked up.

"Potter, what have you done to my sister?" Ron asked angrily.

"I don't mean it like that, Ron," Ginny cut in. "He tells me he loves me."

Ron opened his mouth, unable to speak. "You love my sister?" Ron asked, turning to Harry.

"Yes," Harry answered as calm as he could manage.

Ron looked ready to kill. "Ginny?" Ron said turning to her. "Do you feel the same way?"

"Yes," Ginny answered shortly. "I love him with all my heart."

"Ginny, you're too young to be in love," Ron informed her. "I'm a year older than you are and I don't even know what being in love feels like!"

Harry and Ginny stared at Ron. Ron didn't love Hermione. This was going to come as a big surprise to Hermione.

"You don't love Hermione?" Ginny presumed.

"I don't know..."

"Ron, you have to tell Hermione," Harry ordered Ron. "She thinks you love her; you can't just lead her on like that."

"I know; it's just that, I really fancy her, I just don't know if I'm ready to tell her I love her."

To thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

-Shakespeare (Hamlet)