Love Will Prevail

Ron opened the door to the apartment and stepped in tiredly. He soon heard Hermione’s footsteps behind him. He turned around to look at her, feeling oddly that he needed to be comforted.

Hermione had her back to him. She was locking up the door. Ron watched her do that simple task, marveling at how graceful she made it all look. Finally she turned around and their eyes met. Ron gazed at her, content to just linger upon her face, but Hermione returned his loving stare with a scoff and an embarrassed blush, which made Ron cringe back in despair.

Hermione brushed passed Ron and into the kitchen, plopping the keys down on the counter. The sound of that clank of metal seemed to disrupt the whole quiet atmosphere about the place. Ron watched her as she opened up the cupboard, took out a mug, and placed it on the counter with a bang. Ron flinched and Hermione looked up.

"Stop looking at me like that, Ron," she said, her voice full of annoyance.

Ron’s heart cringed in hurt.

"What’s the matter, Hermione?" he asked quietly and confused.

Hermione stopped her bustling and gave out a loud sigh. She grasped on to the edge of the counter with her two hands tightly. She stared at the wooden tabletop for a long time. Ron just stood watching.

"Do you really love me?" Hermione asked suddenly, sounding tired and sad.

Ron was taken aback. He slowly stepped forward toward Hermione, who kept her same position staring at the counter. Ron leaned against it sideways, trying to look into her face, his worried eyes gleaming with confusion.

"Of course I love you. How can you doubt that?"

Hermione jerked up, her face white and her brown eyes wide. She looked like a fawn caught in the headlights of an on-coming car.

They just stared at each other for a moment until Ron slowly brought his hand up to touch her face. He knew not to rush things with Hermione, especially in dealing with feelings or love…she just needed to take things slow.

Hermione closed her eyes at his touch, and Ron gently stroked her face.

"What’s the matter, love?" he asked quietly, bending his head closer to her face so that their eyes were level.

Hermione opened her eyes and Ron saw that she looked like she was about to cry.

This isn’t like Hermione

, he thought to himself.

"Ron?" she whispered tentatively.

Ron cupped her small face within his large hands and looked into her eyes endearingly, waiting for her to go on.

"What if you stop loving me?" she asked so quietly that he could barely hear her.

Ron again was taken aback, but was even more overwhelmed at her sudden frailty. He leant in and kissed her tenderly on the forehead, his lips lingering as he thought of what he was going to say.

All he said was the first thing that came to his mind.

"That will never happen Hermione."

Hermione shook her head out of his grasp.

"How can you know that?" she said shakily.

Ron sighed and looked down at the floor. This is it he thought to himself, this is the moment where I tell her how I really feel…

"Hermione, unlike you, I don’t know everything. I’m not incredibly knowledgeable or factious and such…but I do know myself. It took me a while to do that. Being around Harry and you all the time hindered me. I loved you both…but I sort of lost myself. Harry was the big hero who saved the world…and you, you were the intelligent one who did all the work and quick thinking…but me? What did I do? I was just the headstrong sidekick who always did the wrong thing."

He was interrupted by Hermione trying to protest, but Ron held up his hand.

"I don’t blame you Hermione. I never did. I just accepted it; I loved you two too much to really care about myself. But finally I did…the middle of seventh year, the night I ran away from the castle and you and Harry looked all night and day for me. I just had this sudden need to be alone…be myself. And it hit me…all these feelings, all these thoughts.

"And because I know myself I can trust myself, Hermione. I’ve loved women before, I’ve had girlfriends and I’ve felt that feeling of utter happiness and ecstasy. But this, Hermione, this is different. This isn’t just happiness, this is pain. This is confusion, this is worry, this is heaven, this is hell…damnit I don’t know what it is! But whatever it is, it’s so many feelings at once it’s like every time I look at you it’s like someone’s punched me in the stomach and covered me with kisses at the same time. It’s utter bliss at the fact that I have you, you love me and I love you…and utter pain when I think that I now have everything to lose. You are my everything; I would be nothing without you…absolutely nothing. And it scares the hell out of me."

Ron finally stopped talking and took several deep breaths. Hermione was looking at him with wide eyes, tears running down her red face. She didn’t move and neither did Ron. He felt he couldn’t. All he saw was her.

"And that’s how I know Hermione. I love you, I always will. I’ve loved you ever since that troll came into that bathroom and almost killed us all. I’ve loved you through it all and I will love you forever more. You are my life. You are my heart. And I will love from now until forever."

Ron just stared at Hermione, somewhat shocked with himself…he knew one day he would have to explain that to her…but he had no idea it would have happened so soon.

Hermione choked out a sob and ran towards him. Ron gathered her up in his arms and held her as strongly as he could. He never wanted to let go…he felt like if he did, she would run away, find a way to leave him. He had just let her know how vulnerable he was and now she could do anything.

"I’m so sorry, Ron," she sobbed against his shoulder.

"About what?" he asked soothingly, stroking her hair.

"I doubted you. That was an awful thing to do…especially after all the things you’ve done for me. I don’t deserve you."

Ron pulled his head back and looked at her straight in the face.

"Never say that, Hermione. It’s not true. We deserve each other. We deserve each other more than any one else in the world."

Hermione smiled weakly and kissed him tenderly.

"I know, Ron, I know."

Ron laughed suddenly and swirled her around in his arms. Hermione burst out in giggles as she let Ron lightly pick her up and take her to the couch where she fell over on top of him. They just sat there a while, out of breath, Hermione sitting comfortably in his lap, head against his chest.

"So why were you so suddenly upset?" Ron asked suddenly, remembering his previous confusion.

He felt Hermione suddenly tense in his arms.

"Nothing," she said tersely.

Ron cursed himself for ruining the moment, but decided since he had already done the damage he might as well proceed.

"Hermione, there is obviously something wrong. Please, tell me. After all this I would think you would know that you can trust me."

Hermione moved her face to look up at him with worried eyes.

"Well," she started and turned around facing the other way. Ron played with her hair as she talked.

"Ron, have you ever thought about the future?"

Ron stopped playing with her hair and thought about it. He actually hadn’t. He’d been so overwhelmed with the present, the future didn’t even occur to him.

"Well…uhh…yeah, of course," he lied.

"Don’t lie to me, Ron," Hermione said rather tiredly, "You know you lie even worse than Rose does."

Ron shut his mouth, not knowing what to say.

"It’s alright," Hermione said sadly, "It’s obviously not on your mind…"

"You say that so sadly, Hermione," Ron said a little hurt, "It’s just that this time with you now has been all I’ve been thinking about…the future just seems so far away and unimportant. All I have is now with you."

"Just me?" Hermione asked quietly. To Ron it sounded more like she was talking to herself than to him.

"Of course, just you," Ron said forcefully, trying to imprint in her mind the fact that she was the only one he ever wanted. "It will always be just you. Just you and me…no one else, Hermione."
"No one else…" Hermione repeated in a whisper.

Ron was incredibly confused.

"Are you all right, Hermione?" he asked worriedly, rubbing her back.

Hermione got up slowly from his lap and stood up, looking tired and a bit confused herself.

"Yes, I’m just so tired…I’m going to go to bed." She looked at him one more time. It was a long, searching look filled with doubting hope and sadness.

Ron had no idea what to do so he stood up himself and wrapped his arms lovingly around her. She returned the hug weakly and then went away to the room and quietly shut the door, leaving Ron in the lonely room filled with confusion and worry.

**************

Rose sipped her warm tea as she turned the page of her book. She could not have felt more at peace at that moment, wrapped up in heavy wool blanket in front of a light fire gleaming brightly against the dark of night coming in through the windows.

She looked up and stared at the flames of the bright fire. Reluctantly it took her back to the dream she had while she was in Mercanian’s dungeon…about the fiery pit and her mother being thrown in…and her bleeding…and Harry.

She shuddered. Those thoughts had always haunted her unexpectedly. She sometimes thought she would never escape them. She was safe now…but the fear then had been so intense, so painful, it was so hard to forget.

Rose knew what to do. She got up, placing her tea down on the nearby table and went over to her much beloved piano. She sat down on the wooden bench and placed her long, white fingers on the ivory keys. She looked at the piece of music propped up on the stand- a serenade, by Shumann. She stared at the notes a while and then began to play. She seemed to put her whole soul into it. It was her only escape…her music. It let her feelings seep out of her fingers into the keys and be translated into that haunting and dramatic serenade.

Finally she finished with one last dramatic chord, smiling to herself at its success.

She then turned her head at a creak near the doorway. She screamed as she saw someone standing there watching her.

**************

Harry stood outside her door. He felt like a robot; someone left without any feeling or soul…just there. He felt numb. He tried the door, not thinking to knock. He had been living there for a while so he felt like this was somewhat of a home for him as well.

As soon as he opened the door, music came flooding into his ears. It was like a gush of feeling. Harry nearly lost his breath…it was so beautiful. It was like Rose was pouring all her emotions into that song and he was absorbing them. He closed the door behind him and walked slowly to the doorway of the room she was playing in.

Her back was turned to him so she did not see him. He was glad of that because he was afraid he might collapse any moment.

He wasn’t numb anymore, but suddenly felt over burdened with emotion. The emotions pouring into him were those of fear and yet of hope.

Was he doing the right thing? He had no idea. But he knew that she was just as scared as he. He knew she had been having nightmares still. He heard her in his sleep. He couldn’t bear to see her live in fear, haunted by that ever-present thought. A tear trickled down his face as the song just came to an end.

Everything was silent for moment but then the floor creaked unexpectedly underneath him. Rose slowly turned her head around and screamed when she saw him.

Harry sudden awoke from his daze and put up his hands. Rose covered her mouth in sudden recognition.

"Harry!" she exclaimed and jumped up from the bench. Harry held out his arms one last time and let her come to them, wrapping her warm arms around him…filling him with some kind of warmth.

"Your home, Harry," she said quietly kissing him all over the face. Harry closed his eyes and let her lips cover him with their warmth.

He opened his eyes when he felt them stop and found them looking into the depth of her sea colored eyes.

"What is it?" she asked tentatively.

He then realized looking into those eyes that he couldn’t do it. Not in a million years could he do it. Well, at least not to her face. Looking those eyes filled him with joy but also fear that those eyes would hate him for turning her life into race to live, danger behind every curve.

"Nothing," Harry whispered, "It’s just-" He paused. Her eyes were so intense, so close. He felt like he didn’t need to speak, she was just absorbing his thoughts with her eyes.

He felt her hand entwine itself in his and he let her lead him to the couch where he sat down and she next to him. She turned to face him, her eyes filled with worry.

"I love you so much, Rose," Harry sighed. It was the only thing he knew for sure at that moment.

Rose placed her cold hand on his face, which made him shudder, and turned it towards her.
"I know you do Harry, and I love you too…but please tell me what’s bothering you. You can’t just keep things locked inside of you all the time."

Harry forcefully turned his head away from her, leaving her hand to drop heavily on his leg.

"How would you know. You don’t know anything about what I’ve had to go through."

He was angry now, and knew that his words had hurt her but he didn’t dare look at her face…her eyes, now probably shining with hurt.

"I know, I wouldn’t know Harry," Rose replied softly, "But I could if you’d give me a chance."

He knew she was right. He was shutting her out. He was doing this behind her back. Was it fair? He didn’t know. All he knew was that it was easier for him.

Neither one of them moved for what seemed like an eternity. Harry had his eyes fixed on the floor beneath him. Then a thought dawned upon him. These are practically the last moments I’ll be spending with Rose, and we’re fighting…sitting here in angry silence. In his trace with the floor, he had come up with a plan. He would leave her while she slept…he would leave her a letter. It would be better for both of them. He could explain himself so much better in writing as opposed to her staring questioningly at him.

Your being a wimp,

a voice inside his head screamed at him.

I am bloody well not!

another voice shot back, It will be better for both of us to do it that way. Especially for her. She wouldn’t want to watch me leave her. She wouldn’t understand if I was stuttering and mumbling and such. It’s better this way…it is.

You’re making a mistake,

the voice chided

But before Harry’s other side could answer it was interrupted by movement from the other side of the couch.

Harry slowly raised his head and saw that Rose had gotten up from the couch and was slowly walking away. Harry knew he had to do something, so on first instinct he shot out his hand and grabbed her wrist.

Rose jumped slightly in surprise and turned her head sharply to look at him. Her eyes were now cold and angry and he suddenly felt weak and humble underneath them.

"Rose," Harry started. He let go of his hard grip on her wrist and looked once again at the floor.

He then felt her presence closer to him. She had knelt down before him on the floor. She lifted his head up in her hands. They felt cool against his hot face and he close his eyes at their soothing touch.

Harry looked into her face and swallowed hard.

"I’m sorry about what I just said. It’s just, sometimes I feel like I’m the only one in this troubled world of mine and I feel so lost and confused. I’m sorry I shut myself out from you, Rose…it’s just, I’m not used to sharing my deepest thoughts with anyone who isn’t well…magical."

Rose took her hands away from his face and placed them on his knees. She then rested her head down on his right knee and sighed shakily.

"Damnit. I wish to bloody God I was a witch. Why did Oli get to have that gift and not me?"
She looked up at Harry, her face pale and her eyes swollen with unshed tears.

"I know it’s completely beyond my power, and no use whining about…but…but if only. I feel so powerless the way I am, surrounded by you and your magic. I feel the outsider constantly. I feel so useless to you. I’m sorry."

Harry stroked her hair with his hand, now feeling the roles had changed. Now he was the comforter. He didn’t know what to say…except that she was so wrong.

"You are not useless to me, Rose. You are my everything. Magic isn’t anything when it comes down to it. We both live, we both breathe, we both love. I love you so much. You aren’t the outsider. Not in my world. Please don’t say things like that. Don’t regret who you are, because, Rose, without you I don’t know what I would do."

What am I saying?

Harry thought I can’t do this to her! I can’t lead her on!

But it’s true you Ninny!!

The other voice was back. You’d think you’d be saying these things for a reason.

To console her! Why are you trying to console her now when you’re going to leave her and make everything worse?

Shut up! It will be bad for a while, but will be better as a whole. She said her self she feels powerless scared. I can’t even protect her. I’m endangering her. Inside she’s not happy with me.

Harry snapped out of his internal struggle as he felt Rose lift her head up from his lap.

"I’m sorry, Harry," she said with a sigh, her features looking pale and tired. "I just had to let my feelings out. No matter what, Harry, I will always love you, and I hope you know that."

There was a pause. The bewitching silence pounded in Harry’s ears.

Rose broke the trance by getting up.

"I’m tired, Harry. I really need some sleep. I’ve just been so worried about you. Please come to bed, you look like you need rest as well."

She held out her elegant white hand which Harry held in his own instinctively. She helped pull him up off the couch and lead him into their bedroom.

The door shut with a silent click.

*********************

Hermione shifted easily from her sleep when she felt warm fingertips stroking her hairline. She yawned a smile and opened her eyes to see a blurry figure sitting on the bed beside her. The smell of food came instantly to her nostrils and her stomach gave a huge growl.

"Wow, Mione, hungry?" Ron asked teasingly. "Must be the season, you’ve sure been eating a lot lately."

Hermione chuckled but the conversation of last night quickly came back into her mind.

"Thank you for bringing the food, Ron," she said unenthusiastically.

"Oh no," Ron pouted, "You’re not going to start that again, are you?"

Hermione looked up with irritation. "Thanks for the sympathy."

"How can you be so sarcastic?" he asked baffled and exasperated, "Here I made you a wonderful breakfast in bed and all you can do is sulk. Plus how can I be sympathetic if I don’t even know what you’re on about?"

Hermione frowned. She didn’t like to admit she was wrong at all, but she knew deep down she wasn’t being fair to Ron. It was just that right now she didn’t feel like he would understand…

No, she couldn’t tell him. She was afraid of his reaction. She needed to tell someone else, see what they thought. She couldn’t keep it to herself much longer. But Ron, all of a sudden she felt so awkward around him.

"I’m sorry, Ron," Hermione whispered poking at her meal wanting so much to eat it but feeling guilty for what she said to Ron.

"Whatever," Ron retorted and got up stiffly from the bed. "Hope it’s good. It’s the best I can do, sorry if it’s not enough." He gave her one last glaring look and slammed the door shut, leaving Hermione on the verge of tears, suddenly feeling no hunger at all.

"Shit," Hermione whispered angrily into her pillow. Why did I have to say that? It wasn’t Ron’s fault! I just needed some quiet time to think. But how can I think when all this guilt is bearing me down. I’ve got to talk to him.

Hermione quickly got out of bed, pulled her robe around her body, and made her way out of her room, leaving her breakfast quite forgotten.

"Ron," Hermione began to say as she entered the main living room.

"No, Hermione," Ron stated back, emerging from the kitchen in his business robes, "I really don’t want to hear it. Not right now. I need to cool off, and I think you need to get your thoughts in order. Okay? I love you, Hermione, I always will and I know you love me. But there is something that you’re not telling me and that’s not fair."

Silence filled the room. Hermione staring at Ron with helpless watery eyes and Ron staring right back, his blue eyes flaming.

Hermione couldn’t take that stare any longer. She just looked down at the floor and shook her head.

"So I’ll see you later?" she asked pathetically.

"Yeah. I’ll be home around seven."

Hermione looked up and saw him grab his coat and shrug it on. He looked one last time back at her, their eyes meeting for a fleeting second, and then he turned quickly around and opened the door fiercely.

"Good God!" Ron yelled in surprise. Hermione jumped at the sudden yell and instantly wondered what caused it.

"Oh, Merlin, hello Rose. Sorry about that," Hermione heard Ron say softer. Hermione crept forward and watched as Ron led Rose into the room.

"Thanks, Ron," Rose muttered. Hermione was taken aback when she saw her. She looked as though she had just had a nervous break down. Her face was all red and blotchy and her hair was going every which way. Not to mention her voice was small and shaky.

"Are you quite alright Rose?" Ron asked placing a hand on her back. He then looked up at Hermione, a look of question and worry in his eyes.

"Yes, yes, I’m fine…I just wanted to talk to Hermione." She then looked up and their eyes met. A sort of connection seemed to shoot into Hermione just then and she knew something had happened between Rose and Harry.

"Oh, all right then," Ron stated awkwardly, patting her on the back. "Well, I best be off to work. I’ll see you later."

"Goodbye," Rose murmured.

"Bye, Ron," Hermione stated. Ron looked up once in confusion, which Hermione returned with a reassuring nod and he left the apartment.

"Hello Rose," Hermione whispered from across the room. Rose looked up into Hermione’s face.

"Hello Hermione," she squeaked back.

There was an awful sort of silence. Hermione didn’t know what to do. All these feelings were building up inside of her — her confusion about Ron and her own situation plus dread of what had happened between Rose and Harry.

"Merlin, you look awful," Hermione breathed as she rushed forward and embraced Rose in a crushing hug.

"So do you," Rose muttered tiredly as she dug her face into Hermione's shoulder.

The two finally separated, no words other than that spoken. Rose was crying nonstop and Hermione was sprouting tears of her own, not embarrassed anymore to show her feelings. For some reason she felt very comfortable around Rose.

"Its Harry isn’t?" Hermione questioned, sitting Rose down of the sofa.

Rose nodded, sobbing uncontrollably. She just sat there on the edge of the couch looking into nothing and crying. Crying like her tears would never end. Hermione felt cruel questioning her for obviously it gave Rose much pain.

"He left me," Rose gasped, finally subsiding her tears long enough to speak.

"What?" Hermione exclaimed, quickly kneeling in front of Rose. "He can’t have. He loves you Rose. You must be mistaken."

Rose shook her head and pulled out a crumpled letter, somewhat damp from tears.

"I know he loves me," Rose said, "That’s why he left me. I don’t know where he is, or what to do. He told me not to find him. It would just make it harder for both of us."

Hermione read of the letter. She recognized Harry’s unreadable scrawl at once. She squinted for a moment and proceeded to make out the contents of the letter:

Dearest Rose,

I feel that I must leave you. I know I would not be able to do it if I spoke to you face to face so I am forced to write my reason in this letter.

I love you, Rose. I love you so much. That is why I must leave. I can’t let what happened with Mercanian ever happen again. You were so close to death. To tell you the truth I have never been so scared in my life. I can’t let that happen again. I love you too much. You don’t deserve a life of danger and worry every moment. You are my weakness, Rose, and that is what the evil in this world goes after to hurt me. It’s not fair to you.

I am sorry if this hurts you. It hurts me as well. More than I can ever put into words. I will never be whole without you Rose. But some part of my heart is lifted knowing that you are safe, that you are out of danger, and that I am not the one responsible for your worry or hurt.

Please do not try and find me. I have left for a while to regain my strength and think things over. I think everyone in their life needs some time alone, and that time as come for me. If I see you again I do not think I can bear it.

But never forget that I will always love you, my beautiful Rose. I hope you understand me…at least one day you will.

Yours forever,

Harry

"Oh, Rose," Hermione murmured when she looked up from the letter.

"I know!" Rose gasped again, dabbing away her tears. "He’s so stupid! How can he think that being without him would help me in any way. Maybe he doesn’t really love me. He’s just using that as an excuse…"
"No," Hermione snapped. " I’ve never seen Harry as much in love as this. And it proves it even more to see that he would throw it all away just for you."
"But I don’t want him to throw it away!" Rose exclaimed looking angrily towards the ceiling.

Hermione shook her head at a loss for words. Why would Harry do that? Something must have clicked…went off in his brain. Harry has always been somewhat irrational, always acting on his instincts and never thinking things through.

"What about you, Hermione?" Rose asked her voice soft and muffled, her mouth resting in the palm of her hand.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, knowing perfectly well what she meant, but even so, trying to avoid the topic.

"You know," Rose whispered, looking up into Hermione’s worried face, "Why were you crying?"

Hermione quickly looked down at her hands, avoiding Rose’s piercing gaze. Her reason seemed somewhat inferior now. Rose’s problem seemed so sudden, so urgent, it had to do with something at present…where as Hermione’s problem had to do with something yet to come.

"It’s nothing really…" Hermione muttered, still looking at her small and tidy hands.

"Yes it is," Rose stated, "You were crying, Hermione. And I really doubt you do that much."
Hermione looked up into Rose’s watery sea colored eyes and felt suddenly relieved of her nervousness.

"I’m…I’m…well, I’m — "

"Pregnant," Rose finished with a tilt of her head.

"Yes," Hermione said with a small bit of wonder in her voice.

Rose quickly wrapped her arms around her friend.

"What’s to cry about, Hon?"
Hermione pulled Rose away and looked straight into her face.

"Because Ron doesn’t know. And I don’t want him to know. I don’t want things to change. A baby will bring something into this relationship I’m not sure I’m ready for. Ron seems to be so happy with just us. Just Ron and Hermione, not Ron, Hermione and some strange baby screaming its head off."
Rose shook her head slowly.

"That’s not all a baby is, Hermione. Knowing you and Ron a baby would likely bring you two together. Yes, it’s a lot of work and a challenge for both of you…but it’s so much more rewarding then you might think. I mean, I can’t speak from experience, but I’ve always wanted children. To experience that wonder at how this person was created from the two of you. And you get to watch them grow, to help them through life…this part of you, this part of Ron and even the part of it’s own soul. It’s so mysterious how it all works and I think any mother is so lucky to be a part of that."
Hermione looked at Rose with a lost expression.

"I know all of that…it’s just…what if Ron doesn’t feel that way? I mean, Merlin, we’re not even married! And I know all Weasley’s have those ground in morals and as soon as he hears about the baby he’ll want to be married."
"Why is that so bad?"

"Because I don’t want him to be forced to ask me! I want him to do it of his own volition, in his own time…I mean, what if he didn’t even want to marry me!"

Rose gave Hermione a very stern look. "Don’t even try and say that to me. Anyone who has seen you two together know that you are both hopelessly in love with each other and you always will be."

Hermione looked away again, closing her eyes and focusing on the blackness behind her eyelids. She sighed.

"Rose, you are such a romantic," Hermione sighed. "And I suppose I must tell him."

"Yes."

"And I must sacrifice both of our freedom."
"What do you mean?" Rose asked.

"Unlike you, Rose, I am more of a realist. With this baby our romance, our passion will loose its zest. We now will have this incredible responsibility which will put this great strain on our relationship."

"That is not necessarily true," Rose stated, "A baby will also bring you two together in a much stronger way."
Hermione nodded, the lids of her eyes sagging in her tiredness. " I suppose you are right. I am just so afraid that are relationship, so new and fresh, will not be able to stand such a huge obstacle."

Rose stood up suddenly. "Quit referring to this baby as an obstacle! It is a challenge to raise a challenge, Merlin knows, but this is a human being you are talking about, not just some scientific formula!"
Hermione looked at Rose with wide eyes, unable to say anything.

Rose moved her mouth quietly, searching for words, until finally she found them. "I am sorry, Hermione. I can’t imagine what you are going through but you must look at things in a different light. This is a huge thing happening for you but it does not mean it is a bad thing. I know you don’t want Ron to feel obligated to marry you but he must know." There was a silence for a long moment and then Rose whispered, "I don’t think Ron’s the one that doesn’t want to get married."

Hermione’s head shot up.

"What do you mean?" she hissed.

"I mean," Rose continued carefully, "that I believe that you are afraid of not just the baby but what it will mean — that you and Ron might marry because of it. That he will ask you and you will find yourself unable to refuse. I believe you find marriage a confining thing but not only that you are afraid that if you get too close to Ron you will loose your self, your identity."

Hermione just sat there, stunned. Rose stood there, arms on her hips, her eyes watering with the tears of her own troubles as well as her friend’s.

"You’re right, you know," Hermione said softly looking away towards the window. The sun was lightly pouring in and landed upon her pale face, making her eyes sparkling a beautiful brown. " When I’m around Ron, I feel I have no control. I find myself so enslaved by him…I would do anything for him. It scares me that I am so attached, so dependent upon him."

Rose shook her head and sat down next to Hermione, looking off into space.

"I think that’s what everyone feels. I feel it with Harry-"

She suddenly cut herself of, choking back a sudden cry.

Hermione quickly looked over and Rose and took her hand in her own.

"What a day for both of us," Hermione whispered soothingly.

Rose laughed a little through her tears, trying to grasp on to as much happiness she could find. She could slowly feel herself seeping into this cold darkness of depression and she wanted to stay in the light as long as possible.

"What are you going to do about Harry?" Hermione asked after a while.

Rose shook her head, "I don’t know. I think I will leave it as it is for a while. He seemed so sure of his feelings…so sure…" she drifted off, her eyes suddenly blanking as if she had gone to some far off place.

"Rose?" Hermione asked suddenly concerned.

Rose’s head did not turn but she spoke to Hermione, " I guess I should go now. I think I need to go somewhere else. Get away from all these memories. Thank you so much for your comfort, Hermione, but every time I look at you, I see him. This place is haunted by him smell, his things." She got up suddenly from the couch leaving Hermione with a stunned look upon her face.

"Are sure you’re alright, Rose?" Hermione asked, getting up from the couch.

"No, I’m not alright, Hermione," Rose whispered, "But I will be eventually. I just need time to think…by myself."
Hermione stood there silently and nodded. She understood this. She often needed time for herself. Just to think clearly with no influence. To know how she truly felt.

"Where are you going to go?" Hermione asked softly.

"Up North…I have some friends up there."

Hermione nodded, shrugging away the worrisome thoughts plaguing the back of her mind.

Rose grabbed her coat and wrapped it around her shaking body. She opened the door but before she left she turned slowly and smiled at Hermione.

"Good luck with Ron. Don’t forget what I told you."
Hermione smiled faintly back and nodded.

Rose turned away and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. But it sounded like a bang to Hermione. She suddenly felt so alone. She crinkled up her face trying to stop the gush of tears on the brink of falling, but she could not. She stumbled over to the couch, falling down onto its soft cushions with a sob.

She lay there for a long time, grasping onto a pillow, trying to push her tears away, but she could not. Two hours passed until the tears finally ebbed away. But by that time Hermione was filled with incredibly exhaustion and fell instantly into a deep and dreamless sleep.