Five Years Later

Hermione looked down at her butterbeer as she talked. "It was hard with Viktor because he was away too much. I think it just wasn't meant to be. We didn't love each other enough."

She looked away. "I think he found someone else."

"Oh, Hermione. I'm sorry," Harry said.

Hermione looked at Harry. "It hurts, but not that much because I knew it wasn't meant to be."

Harry took a deep breath and then said the words, "What about Ron?" Harry braced himself for Hermione's reaction.

Hermione tried to look puzzled. "What about Ron? What does he have to do with this?" she said a little too quickly.

"Come on, Hermione," Harry said with agitation. "You two are my best friends. Don't think that I can't see it."

"See what?" Hermione said with her arms crossed. Her eyes glared at Harry with a scorching look.

"Hermione, I'm not a fool. Ron and you have been in love with each other for years. Both of you are just too damn stubborn to say anything to the other," Harry said with a touch of anger in his voice.

"Well if he loves me why hasn't he answered my owls and ignored me for the past five years?"

Harry sighed and thought. They really have it bad for each other.

"In the last six years you have been dating Viktor. Ron was jealous in seventh year when things started to get a little more serious with you two. It really tore him up inside to see you and Viktor. I think that he didn't want to have any contact with you because you were with Viktor. He really couldn't deal with the fact that the woman that he loves was in love with someone else."

Then in a lower voice Harry said, "You love him. Tell him that."

"This from the-boy-has-been-carrying-the-torch-for-Ginny-Weasley-for-all-these-years-and-won't-admit-it-to-her." Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"Ginny and I dated, remember, and it didn't work out. Besides, I think she is dating someone else." Harry looked down.

"But you still love her?" Hermione said tenderly.

"I do." Harry was fidgeting with the glass of butterbeer. "But you're changing the subject."

'I know," Hermione said sadly, "but I'm not admitting that I love Ron until he stops making a fool of himself."

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Harry stared at the door of Ron's apartment. How am I going to do this? How will he react? Harry took a deep breath and knocked at Ron's door. Harry wanted to interfere so that Hermione and Ron finally would get together but he also knew that he couldn't interfere too much. They have to do their part. They just need a push.

The door opened. A beautiful girl (er...woman, now, thought Harry) with long red hair stood there. She was wearing a yellow sundress, which made Harry stare at her even more.

"Ginny," Harry said hugging her, "you look so beautiful."

"Harry, good to see you," Ginny said.

They pulled apart faced each other and then let go of each other rather awkwardly with red faces. It just felt so good hugging her, Harry thought. Gosh, she is so beautiful.

Ron's apartment was quite bare. It definitely looked like a twenty-three-year-old single male's apartment. In a way it wasn't really home for Ron, Harry thought. The stark apartment mirrored Ron's life which was quite empty except for Quidditch.

"So...er," Harry tried to fill the uncomfortable silence. "How's Justin?"

"Well, I haven't seen much of him lately. I'm sure he's doing well," Ginny said trying to smile.

Ron appeared at the doorway watching Ginny and Harry chat.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Harry said, throwing a dirty look at Ron, "I guess Ron hasn't been keeping me up to date."

"That's okay...anyway I should go. It was really nice seeing you Harry." Ginny picked up her coat and hugged Ron.

"Okay...bye. See you soon, Gin," Harry said.

"Ginny, be careful! Don't talk to any weird guys. And..." Ron said in a firm tone.

"I know, know...I'm 22. I can take care of myself. Bye, Ron, Harry," Ginny said closing the door.

Ron faced Harry and said in a mocking tone, "Ginny, you look sooooo beautiful."

"Quit it, mate." Harry pushed Ron down onto the sofa. He sat down across from him. "Why didn't you tell me that she and Justin had broken up?"

"Oh, well like you're actually going to do something about it. Why don't you get over it and shag already?" Ron snickered.

"I could give you the same advice about Hermione," Harry said slowly meeting Ron's eyes. They never talked much about Hermione. Ron never asked and Harry, fearing an appearance of the Weasley temper, never wanted to bring Hermione up.

"She has Viktor. They can live in Bulgaria together, have thirteen children and take S.P.E.W. internationally for all I care," Ron said with disgust. He looked away but not before Harry saw the sting in Ron's eyes.

"Not anymore, Ron," Harry said in a quiet tone.

"What...?" Ron's eyes flew to Harry. He was completely speechless.

To be continued...