There's Nothing I Can Do

There's nothing I can do,

I can't help loving you

There's nothing I could say

If I can't make you stay

Hermione was curled up in the deep burgundy chair closest to the fireplace. Ron sat on the couch adjacent to her. He watched her every move, taking in all she did and said as if it were his last chance to do so. Hermione's face was flushed, not just from the heat of the fire: she was talking about her upcoming wedding. Harry had proposed only a week before, on the last day of May of their seventh year. They were so in love, anyone looking at them could tell.

"We want to get married as soon as possible! We want to start our new lives right out of Hogwarts, so we were thinking of a July date," Hermione was explaining.

"That's kind of soon, don't you think?" Ron asked carefully.

"We're meant to be together Ron! We knew it at the ball last year when we started to dance and I just looked into his eyes..." Hermione sighed and even more color crept into her cheeks. Ron supposed that she wasn't quite used to talking this openly about her feelings. He shifted in his seat and dropped his eyes. She didn't seem to notice.

I can't let you see the sorrow in my heart

My baby, I'll have to let you go.

Since sixth year when they had gotten together, Ron started to see neither Harry nor Hermione much, Hermione especially. He missed the time they spent talking, the fun that the three of them used to have and even the way he used to fight with Hermione. Now they spoke so little that she never had time to be angry with him. That's what made this evening special. They were finally getting to talk like they used to. Well not exactly, since now Hermione was discussing her wedding plans. Ron wished he could change the topic, but she seemed to be just warming up.

"We're writing our own vows, you know. That's going to be hard. I can write pretty well but it will be hard to put such strong emotion into words. Sure I can copy goblin history, but writing what I feel? I'm a bit worried to be honest."

Ron's stomach was burning and his chest was tight. He kept his head in his hands as she spoke.

Without your smile I know so well

I'm just an empty shell

Hermione cleared her throat. "Anyway, I'm sure Harry will ask you to be his best man. You are his greatest friend after all. In fact, you're both of our greatest friends and if you wouldn't look so awkward in a dress I'd probably ask you to be my maid of honor." She giggled at the thought and glanced up at Ron. He smiled weakly but had to turn his head from her smile. "Sorry, I guess it's not that funny. I'll ask your sister instead though. I think Ginny will look lovely. I'm leaning toward green for the dresses."

Make sure to keep in touch

I'd value it so much

"Harry wants to get away from the Dursleys, as you can well imagine, and I want to be able to live in a magical household, so we're already looking for a house. Just a small one, in the country maybe. My dad has a patient who's in real estate and he's looking around for us. You'll simply have to come see us!"

"Yeah, I will," Ron croaked. He wanted to be able to see Hermione whenever he wanted, which was nearly every moment of the day. He didn't want to have to make an appointment, then sit in a living room decorated with photos of her and Harry and maybe their children. "Or we could write letters."

"Yes, I suppose," Hermione said slowly. "I bet we'll have parties, lots of get-togethers. We'll invite all of your family of course. All of your brothers and their wives, plus Ginny and Dean, assuming they last through next year since they'll be apart and all. We'll invite you and...well whomever you're with then." He could only nod, not trusting himself to speak.

There's so much I would like to say to you

But I'll just have to let you go

A few moments passed before Hermione softly said, "Don't think I haven't noticed the way you've been acting tonight Ron." His heart leapt into his throat. "I understand, I really do and maybe I haven't been very sensitive." She couldn't seriously know how he was feeling, could she? "I can imagine that you'd feel slightly left out, with all this talk of love. You're young though. Harry and I have just been so lucky to find each other this easily. You'll find your soul mate too, I promise. And she'll make you so happy." Ron bit down on his tongue until he could taste the bitterness of blood. "I also promise you that you'll know when you find her, right away. The first time you look into her eyes, really look, you'll know." Ron couldn't help himself. He glanced up and met her golden brown eyes. He held her gaze until the tears that were welled up in his eyes began to spill down his cheeks. He snapped his head down. She was silent for a minute. "Ron, I didn't know how upset you were about being alone," Hermione said gently. Had she even noticed what Ron had done? It was the only way, the last way, he could tell her how he felt and what he thought. She had missed it. "I'll bet that you won't be alone for long," she continued, and then she gasped. "I know where you have a great chance of meeting your special girl, a place where there will be loads of people! My wedding!"

Ron nodded. "I could almost bet she'll be there too."

There's so much I would like to say to you

My baby, I'll have to let you go.