Admitting the Truth

"I can't stand him!" Hermione spoke to her empty dorm room. Her earlier attempts to finish her essay were futile, as she was much too distracted.

Her ranting was interrupted by a voice. "You know, they say the first sign of madness is talking to yourself."

Lavender. So her room wasn't empty.

Half-embarrassed, half-resentful, she responded, "I'm not mad."

"Could've fooled me," laughed Lavender. "You seem pretty mad at Ron."

Hermione was caught. She admitted, "I am mad at Ron. We had a fight."

Lavender laughed again. "You guys always fight. I'm sure you'll get over it."

Hermione smiled at the other girl, but it quickly faded. The thing was she wasn't sure.

She couldn't understand why it bothered her so much. That is, the fighting. It had always been a part of their relationship, so it was confusing as to why she didn't like it anymore. Not that she had liked it before, she had just accepted it. Now she wondered if she and Ron were really meant-to-be.

This wasn't the only thing that confused her. She was also befuddled because she had begun to compare Ron to Harry and couldn't understand why. Harry was kinder than Ron. Harry was more understanding than Ron. Harry was even smarter than Ron. She shuddered. She couldn't do this, it felt too bad. Although, she had to admit, it was the truth, and Hermione wasn't one to ignore the truth.

***

Ginny walked very contentedly around Hogwarts. The war was over, school was being good to her, and she was with Neville, her best boyfriend yet. Life for Ginny was very content indeed.

Although her life was content, she was concerned that others' lives weren't content; most specifically Harry's life.

Ever since she and Harry had decided to not get back together, he had seemed lonely. She had thought about what the solution could be, and had decided that he needed someone to get together with. He needed someone who had been with him during the war, someone who understood him, and someone who didn't treat him as The-Boy-Who-Lived, but Just Harry. The only someone that met all of those conditions was Hermione.

Her only problem was Ron, and she didn't know how to get rid of him. She could make them fight, but that hadn't broken them up yet. So she had a new plan.

"Ginevra!"

A diversion. Someone to take care of Ron without him knowing it.

"Hi, Luna," Ginny greeted cheerfully. Little did Luna know what Ginny had in mind for her. "What have you been up to?" Ginny asked conversationally.

"I've been keeping an eye out for Zappiks," answered Luna.

"The ones that drop you from cliffs?" Ginny asked with a grin. There was a solution for getting rid of Ron: set a Zappik on him.

"Yes," affirmed Luna, "but they can drop you from any great height really."

"Of course," said Ginny. The possibilities are endless, she thought evilly.

Luna added, "I've also been talking with your brother."

"Who, Ron?" Ginny questioned half-surprised, half-excited.

"Yes, Ronald. He asked me to the seventh-year graduation party, you know."

If Ginny was surprised before, it was nothing compared to the shock brought from that statement. Her jaw threatened to drop, but she finally sputtered, "No, Luna, I didn't know."

"Oh, well, he did," stated Luna matter-of-factly.

"How exciting," Ginny responded while pondering the question: did Ron and Hermione break up? If they had, then Ginny's problem was solved. It was now just a matter of getting Harry and Hermione together.

"Neville is taking you, isn't he?" Luna asked, and Ginny was brought to attention.

"Yes, I'm going with him." Ginny suddenly had a sloppy grin on her face.

"Well, then I suppose I shall see you there," said Luna merrily.

"Yes, I suppose you shall," Ginny joyfully responded.

"Goodbye, Ginevra." Luna began to walk away.

"Bye, Luna." Ginny waited until she had turned the corner, then she yelled, "YES! Ron is taking Luna!" Ginny jumped into the air with a triumphant fist.

***

"So Harry and Hermione have to get together," Ginny finished with a flourish.

Neville sat staring at his girlfriend beside him with a look of being confused and amused all at the same time. Ginny had just returned to the Common Room and excitedly explained how since she wasn't with Harry, he was lonely and needed someone, plus Hermione was just right for Harry and so they deserved each other. He couldn't understand how she said it so fast and still managed to keep her tongue in her mouth. After pondering this, he told Ginny, "This is sudden."

This didn't satisfy Ginny, and she grew exasperated. "That's all you have to say? Not any, 'Ginny, that's ridiculous,' or, 'Ginny, you shouldn't meddle,' or anything like that?"

Neville responded with a grin, "Well, I was thinking all of that, but it didn't come out as fast as your words do for you."

Ginny pretended to be insulted. "Are you mocking my fast 'girly' talking?"

"Maybe," Neville teased, "but mostly just admiring."

"Nice save." Ginny smiled. "Now, don't you agree that Harry and Hermione are perfect for each other?"

Neville thought. Harry did need someone, and Hermione was an ideal choice. The two of them seemed to have a special connection. "Hermione would go well with Harry," he agreed.

Ginny shook her head of long red hair at him. "You are the king of understatement, you know that?"

He laughed. "At least I'm sure of what I say," he retorted.

"You don't think I'm sure that Harry and Hermione are meant-to-be?" she asked, making him laugh again.

"Actually, I think you are sure. I agree with you." Neville nodded gravely. "Harry and Hermione are much more compatible than Ron and Hermione."

Ginny grinned. "King of understatement," she accused.

"Queen of fast-speaking," he countered.

They laughed. Neville marvelled that he was here sitting next to the girl he'd loved since his fourth year. And now she was his. He was still getting used to that.

Heaving a happy sigh, Ginny laid her head on his shoulder. "Harry and Hermione have to get together," she repeated.

Neville responded grimly, "You're right, but Ron and Hermione are together. How do you plan to break them up?"

Ginny smirked. "Already taken care of. Ron is taking Luna to the graduation party."

Neville was startled. "Luna? I thought she was over him."

Ginny giggled. "Not quite. She's very excited about the whole thing. I'm happy for her."

Neville nodded. "I am too." He and Luna had become close friends his sixth year. She deserved to be happy. "She and Ron will get along fine."

She laughed again. "I'm not going to say it."

"What?" Neville asked, "King of understatement?"

She grinned, "Yes."

He got a mischievous glint in his eye. "You're going to pay for that."

"Oh, really?" she challenged.

Neville didn't answer. He just began to tickle her mercilessly while her shrieks filled the room. He only stopped when she threatened to use her Bat-Bogey Hex on him and peace filled the Common Room once more.

***

Hermione sat in front of the mirror in her dorm room. Parvati and Lavender had finished getting ready for the party a while ago, and now Hermione sat doing the finishing touches to her hair.

Suddenly the door burst open and in came Trouble.

Trouble came in the form of Ginny Weasley.

"Hermione! There you are. I've been looking for you." She gasped when she noticed Hermione's state. "Why aren't you dressed yet? Everyone's waiting for you."

"I'm coming," Hermione assured. "What's the big hurry?"

Ginny grinned mischievously. "Harry's down there. He's looking oh-so-lonely." She slowly stressed the last three words. "And handsome, I might add."

Hermione squinted at Ginny confusedly. "What are you on about?"

"Harry, of course! Dashing man, isn't he? Brave too," Ginny added.

"Ginny, what are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that Harry is marvellous, that's all," she replied innocently.

"Ginny, are you implying that I break up with your brother for Harry?" asked a shocked Hermione.

"Well, some call it implying. I call it insisting."

"I should have to agree," answered Hermione, laughing. She then asked, "What is your reasoning?"

Ginny grew serious, but still persistent. "Hermione, you two are perfect for each other. You understand each other, you care about each other, and you bring out the best in each other. You and Ron," she sighed, "don't. You don't make sense to each other, you annoy each other, and you are always fighting. You and Harry are simply made for each other."

Hermione was startled, but not shocked, at these realizations. It was true, every word of it. She had known it before, but now she knew what it meant. She was perfect for Harry, and he for her.

But what about her and Ron? They had been together nearly the whole war. Could she break it off now?

Not entirely sure about her decision, Hermione said, "Thank you, Ginny. I'll be getting my dress on now."