Question

Question

By fbline

Hermione

What a summer. I never imagined I'd hear two boys tell me they loved me, and certainly not within two months of each other. Viktor was the easier to turn down. He really is a smart, caring, and gracious man. I just don't think he had ever learned to love someone; it was almost like a duty to him. I constantly felt like he saw me was something like an accessory. A trophy he could show off, as he did with his Quidditch cups. I know I hurt him, but I'm glad that we decided to stay friends. He really is a great person. Ron was much harder to say no to. Unlike Viktor, Ron leads with his heart and puts all his emotion into every decision he makes. I knew he liked me, of course. Between getting upset every time I received a letter from Viktor, and using up all his money to buy me perfume last Christmas, I knew it was only a matter of time before he would get up the courage to tell me how he felt. I can still see his face when I told him that I loved him too. The only time I'd seen him that happy was when he had managed to defeat Ravenclaw in Quidditch. But it all changed so quickly when I told him that I loved him like a brother. He was so embarrassed. His ears always did give him away. It took the entire trip back to Hogwarts before he would speak to me again. I must have apologized a thousand times. I know I had hurt him, just like I had Viktor, and that it took Ron a long time to heal. He promised me he would though, and that we had known each other too long to let anything come between us now. I was so relieved. I hope he meant what he said, because I fear I may end up hurting him much more than he knows. I would give anything to change the way I feel, but I might as well try to stop the night from coming on. How can I tell one best friend that, the reason I cannot love him, is because I am in love with his other best friend? And how will I tell all this to Harry?

Harry

I wonder what Ron is so upset about? He and Hermione must be arguing about something, as usual. With the two of them on prefect duty, and Ginny and Neville off undoubtedly finding a place to snog, I've got the whole compartment to myself for a change. It feels so good to be back here, away from Privet Drive. I keep telling myself that I will only have to spend one more summer there, and then I'll have graduated and can move into my own place. With the money that Sirius left me, I can buy any place that I want. Maybe I'll buy Malfoy Manor and chuck Draco out. I could have Ron and Hermione come live with me, if they want. Ron may want to say at the Burrow, if he plans on pursuing a career as an Auror. He and his father could go to work at the Ministry together. Hermione could move in though, she's mentioned that she wants to stay in the magical world, and that would mean leaving her parents house. Living with Hermione would be great. With the constant threat of Voldemort, knowing that I would be there to protect her would make me feel a lot better. I don't think I could stand it if something happened to her. With Sirius gone, Hermione may well be the most important person in my life now. I should really tell her that. Maybe not though, Ron is way too sensitive when it comes to her these days. It would be nice to see those two together. Hermione deserves someone that understands her, someone that really cares about her. I never did think that she and Krum was a good match. I know that he appealed to her intellectually, and he was extremely smart, but he didn't seem to be very sensitive. Hermione may act like a bulldog when she's roused, but there's a very fragile side to her as well. She's such a beautiful person, inside and out. She deserves someone who can make her happy. I wish I could find a girl like her. Maybe that's another reason I can't help but feel jealous of Ron. I used to think that it was just because he had such a great family, while I had the Dursleys. Maybe there's more to it than that. Hermione is my best friend, but what would it be like if she were more than that? I can't imagine ever being this close to another girl. I shouldn't think like this, I would never want to do anything that would jeopardize our friendship.

Friends for a long time but I think

That we shouldn't fuck

Friends for a long time

Baby you don't want to see the

Rest of me. Friends hold a

Safety, keep a line never crossed

And lovers take it further, I don't

Want to see our trust ever lost

Hermione

I need to talk to Harry. I don't know what Ron has told him, but he seems to be uncomfortable around me now. I don't think Ron knows how I feel about Harry, so he must have told him that I broke his heart. Harry is very close to Ron, so he'll probably blame me as well. I can't let this come between us all. I can stand Ron being angry at me, but not both of them. Not when I still can't figure out how I feel about Harry. I'll try to get him alone tonight in the common room. It's Ron's turn to do night duty, so I should be able to talk to Harry without any distractions. I'll tell him how sorry I am to have hurt Ron, and that I certainly never meant to. He'll want to know why I turned Ron down, thinking that I must have found something wrong with him. How am I going to tell him that, the only thing wrong with Ron, is that he isn't Harry?

Harry

I need to talk to Hermione. Ron won't tell me what's happened; only that he finally got up the courage to tell her how he feels, and she turned him down. I know how hard it must have been for Ron to tell her how he felt. What's Hermione playing at? Doesn't she realize how good Ron would have been for her? Is there someone else? Who could she possibly know better than Ron? I know Hermione; she wouldn't just take up with someone just like that. I need to talk to her and see what her side of things is. I could have stood the thought of her and Ron, I know he would never hurt her, but who is she willing to throw that away for? And with Ron, I could handle the jealousy I would feel towards him. Who is it now? I need to know who he is and have a chat with him. If they ever hurt Hermione, there's nowhere on Earth they can hide from me.

And some would say this

Could be a great foundation

For something more. And some

Would say I'm just afraid to

Look beyond this door. But if we

Stop right now I could go back

To what we were before.

Just don't know, just not that sure

Hermione

Well, here goes. Harry's sitting by himself in front of the fire. It looks like he's working on his Astronomy chart. I don't know who he thinks he's fooling; he's got the thing upside down. Ever since we became the last two people left, he's been pretending to be absorbed in his work. Yeah, chance is a fine thing. When I sit down beside him and tell him we need to talk, I swear I saw a momentary tensing up on his part. Now he looks like he had been expecting it. When he turned around to face me, my courage felt like it would vanish from me entirely. His green eyes looked so deeply into mine, I felt was if he were reading the words etched on my very soul. It was as if I didn't need to speak the words I had been rehearsing all day. When I told him how I felt about him, he smiled. I felt a great rush of warmth flowing through me, like I had drank an entire case of butterbeer. The warmth turned cold when his smile faded. His eyes turned away to look into the fire for a while. Then he looked back at me, his eyes were looking into me again. His voice seemed to go directly into my heart.

Harry

I'm in shock. This cannot be happening. I'm looking into the fire, trying to give my brain a chance to catch up with my emotions. I can't help but wish that Sirius would take shape in the flames and tell me what to do, but that can't happen anymore. I've been trying to avoid talking to Hermione all evening. I had been working up the nerve to have a go at her about hurting Ron, but now I can't even speak. I never would have dreamed that the reason she couldn't love Ron was because she was in love with me. Ron must not know because he would be avoiding me as well as Hermione. What the hell am I supposed to do now? My mind is telling me to walk away. I can't betray my best friend like this. I just can't be with Hermione, that's all there is to it. It's hard to hear my mind though, when my heart is screaming for joy; Hermione love me! I was so worried that she would end up with someone who wouldn't treat her as she deserved, but I know I could. I know her better than I know myself, and I know that she understands me the same way. It would be so perfect, but what about Voldemort? He will never rest until I'm dead, and if Hermione gets too close he would have no hesitation in killing her as well. I'll have to tell her that we can't cross that line, but I can't do it. She's so beautiful in the firelight. Her eyes are looking at me, pleadingly. She's looking at me the same way she did when I came out of the maze back in fourth year. I have to do what's right though; even if it means hurting us both.

And what it all boils down to

Is a question of trust. Well are you really

Capable of being there when I really must.

And what about those days

When I just fall apart, I'm relying on

Bravado you know I've made it an art.

And some would say this

Could be a great foundation

For something more. And some

Would say I'm just afraid to

Look beyond this door. But if we

Stop right now I could go back

To where we were before.

Just don't know, just not that sure.

Hermione

I can't stand it anymore. I know what Harry is going to say. I can't bear him being so noble, when I need him to be as selfish as I am right now. Yes, Ron would be hurt, Voldemort would come after us both, the future held many daunting prospects. The here and now is what matters.

"I love you, and I know you love me."

I cut him off from responding by kissing him. I know he wasn't expecting it, but I had to do something to show him how serious I was. He may not have been prepared for it, but it didn't take him long to respond. His hands running up and down my back left behind them goose flesh everywhere they touched. The adage is true; actions do really speak louder than words. I was able to shut Harry up long enough to tell him that I didn't care about anything else, I only cared about him. He finally admitted that he loved me too, and that we could be together. We both started crying then. It was like a dream come true. Our second kiss was even better than the first. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life kissing him.

Ron

Boy, am I glad to have this night behind me. Between Peeves trying to dump a bucket of dragon dung on my head, and those snotty little first years who were trying to sneak into the girls showers, it's been a long night. I think I'll just go right on up to...wait, who is that snogging in front of the fire? Son of a bitch. Harry and Hermione must not have heard me come in. Little wonder, they seem to be rather busy at the moment. My first thought was to cast Crucio on them both. How dare my best mate go after my girl, when he knows I like her! But, that's not entirely right, I guess. Harry is my best mate, but Hermione never was my girl. She's my best friend too, and the pair of them together isn't as bad as it could be. When Hermione had turned me down, I feared that the three of us wouldn't remain the same. I hated the thought if us not being together anymore. If Hermione is with Harry, then things won't have to change after all! And I know Harry will take care of her, and Hermione will look after him. I can't help but smile at them now. You know what though, I know that I'm ok with the two of them, but they don't know that. I can make them sweat this one for a long time. Harry might be a bit more willing to let me borrow his Firebolt from now on. And mom would be dead pleased to see my grades improve. Hermione will be all too willing to do a few of my papers for me now. Yes, this relationship could be the best thing that ever happened to all three of us.

Let me explain. Your childhood

Seems relatively sane. Seems to me

You got it all from your family.

Well do you want to know my history?

And I would say this could be a great foundation

For something more. And I

Would say I'm just afraid to

Look beyond this door. But if we

Stop right now I could go back

To what we were before.

Just don't know, just not that sure.