Harry Potter and the Sixth Year Secrets

"Harry! You knew I liked her!" screamed Ron, while sitting on Harry's bed in his Muggle clothes. He couldn't believe what Harry had just admitted to and he was determined to get the answers he wanted. He didn't understand how his best friend could stand there in his too-big shirt and pants and tell him that like it didn't change anything.

"Don't scream at me, Ron! I can like whomever I choose!" retorted Harry. He was lying up against the wall, arms crossed in an exasperated fashion.

"You bloody well can, and you're supposed to follow the best mate rules!" yelled Ron.

"Rules?" asked Harry. "What the bloody hell are you talking about now?"

"The ones that say you're not supposed to steal, cheat, or like your best mate's girl!" Ron yelled again, ignoring Harry's last remark.

"Ron, I can't help who I like," Harry said, while walking over to Ron and taking a seat on the bed. Ron, in turn, stood up and took Harry's place at the wall.

"You know I can't. I could have just as easily said two years ago that you can't like our best friend because it would mess up the group," said Harry, beginning to lose his temper. He was already having thoughts of punching Ron's angry, red face.

"Well, you didn't! That doesn't matter know," said Ron, obviously having a very, very bad day. "It's you who's keeping Hermione and me from being together! It's always you who gets everything and now you get the smartest, prettiest girl in the year!"

"Maybe that's your problem, Ron! You treat her like an object instead of a person! I don't get her! I don't even know if she bloody well likes me! So stuff a sock in it and stop being a baby," Harry said nastily. He was tired of Ron and his reactions of not getting his way. He was basically just an overgrown jealous baby at times.

"Of course she likes you! You get everything! Well, you know what you don't get?" asked Ron. "You don't get a best mate! Don't ever talk to me again! You or Hermione! You can go on all happy now and be the prince of the wizarding world and make her your princess and live happily ever fucking after! GOOD-BYE!"

And with that Ronald jumped off the bed and ran out of the room, leaving a distraught Harry behind.

------

"What do you think they are talking about?" asked Ginny, while sitting back down on the couch in the living room. The boys had left them alone and Ginny didn't know what to really say to Hermione.

"That's a good question," answered Hermione. A question she knew the answer to, and that answer was her. She could just feel that Ron was going to do something that would mess her and Harry up. She didn't know how she knew, but something was happening.

Ginny just sat there, legs crossed and frown set, not knowing what to do. She was growing increasingly uncomfortable. She knew things had gotten weird after her display earlier. How am I supposed to fix this? she thought to herself, while glancing back at Hermione. She couldn't ever remember feeling weird around Hermione. True, she had been Ron's friend first, but they had grown close too. I need to think of something entertaining, thought Ginny, which will ease the tension.

"Would you like to walk over to Tonks'?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, I would," Ginny said gratefully, having failed to think of something entertaining.

"Okay. I'll leave a note for Ron and Harry and we can leave," Hermione said, while rummaging around the living room for something to write with. "Do you have a pen or pencil, Ginny?"

"What's a pen or a pencil?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I sometimes forget some wizards aren't accustomed to Muggle terms. I usually remember not to use them at school, but I sometimes forget during the summer," Hermione said, finally locating a pencil.

"It's okay," Ginny said. "I'm going to go ahead and walk outside."

"Okay," Hermione said, "I'll just take a sec. I'm almost finished."

-------

Merlin, this book is boring, thought Tonks. She was reading a very long book on ancient curses that Arabella Figg had her working on. There had recently been an attack by Death Eaters and a Muggle had been cursed with a spell that nobody knew the counter-curse to. Arabella had her looking up every ancient jinx she could find and seeing if they matched with the effects of the unknown spell.

"Good Merlin, what I wouldn't do to get out of this house," Tonks said aloud to herself. She was once again surveying the shabby room with distaste. The living room had very old furniture that was patched in places and had stains from animals. The wallpaper was a sickly brown that matched the ancient furniture, and the smell of cats and litter grew more horrible each day. It was even worse in the heat, and unfortunately today was a very hot day.

I guess I should get back to the book, thought Tonks. That poor Muggle is probably hurting enough as it is.

Too late, she again thought to herself, secretly thanking whoever had just rung the doorbell.

"Hullo?" called out Tonks. "Who is it?"

"It's Hermione," said a muffled voice through the door.

"And Ginny," said someone else.

"Hermione!" said Tonks, while opening the door and smiling widely. "And Ginny! It's so good to see you again. How's everything?"

"It's fine," Ginny said, waiting awkwardly outside the door. Tonks was standing in the way and she didn't want to butt herself inside.

"And how about you, Hermione?" Tonks asked.

"As well as can be expected, I guess," Hermione answered back.

"And what about everything else?" Tonks asked again.

"Oh, well," started Hermione, "it still hurts when I think about it. I've accepted the fact that I won't ever get to see him again, but that doesn't seem to help. I really don't know what to do on occasions."

"I'm sure you will be fine. These are grave times and I'm sure, although it's horrible, that tons of people are feeling the exact same way."

"Umm, I'm sorry to butt in, but it's extremely hot outside..." said Ginny.

"Oh, of course, sorry, this way," Tonks said, gesturing for them to follow her inside the house.

They made their way over to the couch and sat down. Hermione reached for the book while Tonks went to make tea and Ginny looked around the living room. "What is this book for?" asked Hermione. She had been flipping through the pages and it looked to be a very Dark book.

"It's for research. A Muggle was attacked the other day with an unknown sell and a group of us were assigned to find out what the spell was. Do you want tea?"

"Yes, thank you. Ginny, would you like some?"

"Yeah, that would be great," Ginny answered. "Tonks, why does it smell so bad in here?"

"It's because of the cats. It's smelt this way for years," Tonks said. "Look right there," she pointed. "See that litter?"

"Yeah, but why didn't you clean it? This is horrible," Ginny said, eyeing the room and pinching her nose from the smell. She wasn't even sure she wanted to sit on the couch, so she stood behind the couch Hermione was sitting on.

"It's Arabella's cat's. I wasn't going to be the one to scoop that up," Tonks said.

"Tonks, sometimes I worry about you," Ginny said, smiling.

"Why?" asked Tonks. "What's wrong with me?"

"It seems you often forget that you're a witch," laughed Ginny. "You don't need to touch it."

"I didn't forget. I did try. I just can't seem to get the hand of these household spells. My strong point is defense," Tonks replied, looking a little hurt.

"Oh, Tonks, I am sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you. I thought you had just forgotten," Ginny said pitifully. She felt horrible now.

"It's okay. I guess I will forgive you if you clean it up," Tonks replied, now hiding a smile. She loved getting people to clean for her.

"Scourgify!" yelled Ginny, multiple times.

"That's much better," Tonks said. "I just wish we could get rid of the smell. But I guess one out of two is better."

"I can get rid of the smell," said Hermione. "Airo Purificationo!"

"Wow," said Tonks. "I didn't even know that spell existed."

At that moment Ginny threw a speculative glance at Hermione, who just acted like she didn't see Ginny throwing glances at her.

"I should really study up on household spells and see if I can improve," Tonks said, as the doorbell rang again.

"I wonder who that is?" Tonks said aloud to the girls. "I wasn't expecting anybody today."

"Hullo? Is anybody home?" came the voice of Ron through the front door. "Ginny, if you are in there, we're leaving!"

"What? Why?" asked Ginny while opening up the front door. "What's wrong?

"Potter is wrong! I'm done with him! I've got our stuff ready and it's time to go," Ron said, still red faced and angry.

"I don't have to go just because you're going!" yelled Ginny. "I can stay here, can't I, Tonks?

"Sorry, Ginny," said Tonks. "But you guys have to leave together. We can't risk two separate trips. It was enough of a risk to bring you here in the first place.

"Hermione," Tonks said while turning towards her, "I'll escort you home and then I have to take these two back to their brothers. Sorry you couldn't stay longer."

"It's okay. Can I talk to Ron for a moment?" she asked.

"Sure, that's fine..."

"I don't want to speak to you!" yelled Ron. "You're just as bad as Potter! I don't want to speak to either of you again!"

"Ron!" yelled Mrs. Figg, while running down the stairs. "What is the matter with you? You must not be making a spectacle in front of the neighbors, and that is no way to speak to a lady! If you do not cease that yelling, I will be forced to tell your mother about this!"

"Fine," said Ron. "Tell my mother! I don't care anymore. She couldn't do anything worse to me than these two have!"

Tonks had seen enough of Ron's wild actions. She raised her wand and shouted, "Silencio! Ron, I can't believe how you are acting right now. I don't know what's gotten into you, but it ends here."

She then turned to Hermione and said, "You will have to walk yourself home. There are lookouts, so you should be okay. We have to leave now."

Hermione, looking very hurt and near tears, merely nodded and strode outside to walk herself home. After about fifteen steps she heard the door slam shut and she was left alone.

-----

Harry wasn't sure what he should do after Ron departed so abruptly. He wasn't sure if he should go after him or give him some space. He decided on the latter because he needed some time to think about what had just happened too.

Harry sat down on his bed and replayed the whole scene again in his mind. I can't believe he freaked out like that, thought Harry. I mean I knew it would be bad, but he was just being ridiculous. He doesn't have claim on someone just because he likes her.

At about that time, he heard the front door slam. Harry went downstairs to the living room, and crept towards the window. He saw Ron walking very fast down the street. I wonder why he's going to Mrs. Figg's, wondered Harry. And where are Hermione and Ginny?

Harry went back upstairs and couldn't find them. He called out their names and still got no response, which was very unnerving. He was starting to get really worried. He started searching the house for any signs of them and came across a note on the floor. Ron must have thrown it on the floor, thought Harry.That's why I didn't see it at first.

He picked it up to read it and was relieved it was from Hermione. So, that's why Ron went to Mrs. Figg's, thought Harry. He went to find Ginny so they could leave.

I wonder if he will actually leave, pondered Harry. I wonder what he will say to Hermione. I wonder what she will say to him. I wonder what...

"Harry," said Hermione, while walking through the door. She looked very distressed and worried. "Ron just made a huge spectacle in the street. Tonks had to actually use the Silencio spell to shut him up. He was being just horrible."

"Come here," said Harry, while patting the couch. "It's okay." Hermione looked near tears and he was not going to let her cry. She had done enough of that lately.

"But, Harry, nothing is going right these days," continued Hermione. "It's like the world is against me and I have no clue why!"

Harry wasn't really sure to say to her. She looked so sad sitting beside him on the living room couch almost crying. Her head was bowed and her shoulders were quivering. She really is having bad luck lately, thought Harry.

"I really am sorry, Hermione," Harry said, eventually. "I'm sure Ron will come around. You know how he gets when he doesn't get his way sometimes.

"But what if he doesn't Harry?" asked Hermione. "I don't know if I can take losing someone else so important to me right now. It really is killing me to think Ron will not ever forgive me."

"Why exactly is he mad at you, Hermione?" asked Harry. "I know why he's mad at me, but I'm not exactly sure why he's mad at you."

"Well, we had a conversation, and he didn't take what I said too kindly," answered Hermione.

"What did you guys talk about?" asked Harry.

"Well," Hermione began nervously. She wasn't sure if she should be telling Harry this or not. It wasn't the kind of thing you just tell people.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me, Hermione. I really will understand," said Harry. "I was just curious."

"Well, I guess it's not a big deal," Hermione began. She was afraid Harry would think she thought he was untrustworthy. "Remember when Ron came and pulled me aside earlier?"

"Yeah, I think so," said Harry. "Was it when he told Ginny and me to duel?"

"Yeah, I believe so," Hermione responded a little nervously. "He pulled me aside to tell me some things."

"Like what?" Harry asked delicately. He didn't want to seem to eager to hear what she had to say.

"Like how he feels about me. He told me that he had been in love with me for awhile and how he thought I would return his affection. And I tried to let him down easy, Harry, I really did!" Hermione said, needing Harry to believe her.

"I'm sure you did," Harry said. He could tell something wasn't right.

"No, Harry. This is my fault," replied Hermione, while looking him straight into the eye. "Ron leaving is my fault. I should have been more gentle with him, and now I have driven him away. This is my fault!" Hermione yelled, while looking back own again.

"No, Hermione," Harry said, while putting his hand on her chin and easing her head upwards. "Don't blame this on yourself. Ron should not have been so selfish and childish. This is his fault, not yours."

"But, Harry..." started Hermione.

"No," Harry said, and realizing how close their faces were, he felt a great upsurge of emotion. "No," Harry said again, and then he leaned in and kissed her.