Friendship Conquers All

The Wonder Trio.

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

Ten years as best friends.

All these thoughts were running through Harry's head and then pulled to a stop at one- Hermione and Ron are getting MARRIED.

Harry had never felt more alone in the world, even when living with the Dursleys. His two best friends, probably the two people he cared about more than anyone else in the entire world were leaving him. They would be living right down the street but Harry would be the third wheel. They would be all over each other and, call him crazy, but he wasn't particularly keen on witnessing that spectacle.

He just wanted to curl up in a ball and retreat to his room and CRY. Amazing, he thought, Harry Potter, The man that defeated Voldemort, is going to CRY over his best friends marriage. He knew he should have his speech ready, but he didn't. He knew he should be happy, but he wasn't. "Harry Potter, you are so screwed up in the head," said Harry out load.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

Sirius knew. He ALWAYS knew. But, for the fist time, he knew exactly how Harry felt. The same thing happened to him when James and Lily got married. Of, course, one thing was different. Sirius had not been in love with the bride-to-be.

He knew Harry still was. Harry sat on the couch "reading" his book. He hadn't flipped a page in ten minutes. Sirius could read the pain in Harry's eyes. He looked as if he had just been killed by his best friend. Ron didn't know it yet, but he had.

"Harry, earth to Harry," said Sirius.

"Wha- What? Oh, Sirius, How long have you been standing here?"

"Long enough. She deserves to know. You should tell her."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Get off it, Harry. I've known you for seven years. You are no genius but you aren't stupid. You know precisely what I am talking about!" Sirius screamed.

"Fine. You want to talk? Let's talk!" Harry got up and closed the door. Nobody else was home. Ron and Hermione were off doing "wedding stuff" and Ginny, their other housemate was on another of her endless dates.

Harry started. "Mione and I, we went out in fifth year. Remember? I was on top of the world. Ron told me I could. He even told me I should. It wasn't even my idea. He didn't want to admit how much he loved her. I liked her since the end of fourth year, when she kissed me on the cheek at the train station. Anyways, I asked her out on my birthday and she said yes. I fell for her. What I hadn't counted on was the Ron factor. We went out all year and into sixth year. I never talked to Ron about it and he never talked to me about it. I knew he was hurt though. Whenever Hermione and I would hug or kiss or hold hands he would grimace and look like he was going to start puking up slugs again. I forgot all about Ron until we went to fight Voldemort. Hermione ran over to him when he fell. We both thought he was dead. She cried and held his hand while I kept fighting. When Voldemort fell she was still crying. We were so relived that he hadn't died. So happy. We took him to the hospital wing and we talked. I still remember what she said, 'Harry, it's time we face the facts. You are so wonderful, but Ron, well, he needs me more. I love him. I will ALWAYS love you, just not like that.'" Harry was trying to mock Hermione's voice. He was choked with tears.

Sirius was dumbfounded. How had he gone all those years without knowing about that? He had always thought Harry had broken up with Hermione. "Harry," he said "I'm so sorry."

"I never truly got over her. Not when I was with Ginny or even with Cho. I always wished that it was Hermione. Hermione seemed to move on just fine. She never gave me a second thought."

"Tell her," Sirius offered.

"TELL HER!?! Tell her what? That secretly for the past four years I have been pining over her and that secretly I wish that Ron had died that day so we could still be together? Yeah, and I'm sure she'll just jump into my arms and drop Ron," Harry shouted out of pure confusion and annoyance, sarcasm dripping from every word.

Suddenly, the front door opened. "Hey, we're back. Hermione announced.

"Yeah. And we brought food. Chinese," Ron said as he sat down at the dining room table and started chowing down.

"Uggh... I can't believe you talking me into buying that. How will I ever fit into my wedding dress with all this unhealthy food in the house," Hermione said in her I-know-everything voice that the boys knew all too well. Ever since the wedding was announced she had decided to start eating healthy which added nitpicking about everything that went into Harry and Ron's mouth to all her other annoying, but alarmingly cute, habits.

"Honey, you look wonderful. You will look beautiful at the wedding. Don't WORRY," Ron said in his sweetest voice possible.

Harry couldn't witness anymore. The last thing he wanted was to breakdown in the kitchen. "I'm really tired. I think I'll turn in now," he said as he made a fake yawn and he retreated up the stairs.

"What's with him? It's only six thirty," Ron asked, puzzled.

"Long day," said Sirius. "Hey, I better get back home. See you guys at the wedding." And with that he dissapparated, feeling very sorry for his godson.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

"Do you, Hermione Emma Granger, Take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

And do you, Ronald Rupert Weasley, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

And they kissed.

It was over. They were married.

Now, officially, he had no chance with Hermione. He was the third wheel in the new relationship. They would no longer be introduced as Harry, Ron and Hermione, but now as Hermione and Ron with their famous best friend, Harry Potter. He would go to their house with their kids and their life. Then he would leave and be all alone. The Wonder Trio was no more.

He wished he could leave now and skip the reception, but he was best man. Plus, they were still his best friends

One by one the wizards apparated to the reception, the muggles got in their cars and drove away.

The hero's supposed to get the girl. Not the sidekick. That's not the way it works. But this isn't a movie. This isn't a book. This is REAL LIFE.

"Get over her Harry," someone said from behind.

"It's that easy isn't it? Why don't you try it sometime?" Where was it their place to give him advice anyways?

"I already have." It was Ginny. "Now, let's go. They are gonna start wondering where the best man and maid of honor are pretty soon. Shall we?"

Get over her. Can it really be that easy?

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"I'd like to make a toast. Hermione and Ron have been my best friends for ten years. They... They are truly perfect for each other." Am I LYING in my best man speech? "Too many happy years. That your friendship can conquer all. To Hermione and Ron." Friendship can conquer all. I sure hope so.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

"Ron's dancing with Ginny. Do you want to try this one with me?" she asked.

"Yeah. Let's go."

They walked out to the middle of the dance floor.

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

"Harry, thanks for coming," Hermione stated simply.

"I couldn't miss this for the world," said Harry.

"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we were still together, me and you."

"Me too."

"Our relationship won't change. We'll still be best friends. Our kids.. They'll call you Uncle Harry. You are welcome over any time. You know that right?"

That's what she says now. But we are on different paths. I'm still a bachelor. I won't be invited to their parties or understand their problems. I'll be stuck in the middle of their fights.

"Of course."

If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?

Harry!!! A voice screamed in her head. Don't ruin this for me. Don't make me feel bad about this. It's how it is. I LOVE him. Don't make me cry. Don't make this harder for me than it already is. I can't lose you.

"I can't lose you," she said. "We are twenty-one years old and I promise you when we are one hundred and one we will STILL be best friends. I promise."

"Yeah." It was taking all he had to hold it in. A tear rolled down his cheek. She saw it.

Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right
And though I can't be with you tonight
Know my heart is by your side.

"You are going to find that special person, Harry. When she comes, you'll know. You won't be able to stop thinking about her and that will be it."

Don't you get it? I found it! I found it in you! I love YOU, Hermione. I can't help it. I can't stop. I'm addicted to you. Who needs you more now? What kind of friends are we if we can't tell each other how we feel?

At that point they were both glad that neither of them were physic.

"I hope you're right."

"When have I been wrong?" she smiled.

"Just once... Just once." When you gave me up.

"I'll always love you, Harry Potter. Just not that-"

"Don't say it. I know. Just not that way. I love you too."

The song came to an end.

"Well, the cake is waiting for me." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on his cheek, now soaked with tears. "See you."

"Yeah. See You."

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

"Hey, Harry. Wait up!" she called.

"What?" What could anyone possibly want from him now?

"I was just wondering. Do you want to go get something to drink? I know this has been hard for you and you might want a friend to hang with," Ginny asked. Not in the hopeful girlish I-need-date-way but just as a friend who knew what he was going through.

"You know what Gin? That would be great."

That was what he needed a friend.

Maybe friendship CAN conquer all.

THE END