Harry and Hermione's Sin

Two years had passed since Harry's best friends had married, and he was still moping around about it. He couldn't help it. He was so desperately in love with Hermione, and he knew she felt something towards him, something more than just a friendship. He could see it in her eyes. But he knew she wouldn't say anything about it. She was with Ron, and Ron looked happier than he had in a long time. Harry had tried getting over his infatuation with Hermione, he really had. He tried dating other girls, but his heart just wasn't into any of the relationships. And he knew it wouldn't be fair to any girl if he didn't want to be with her. So he continued to sulk about not being with Hermione. -~-

Hermione and Ron sat in silence as they ate their dinner. Things hadn't been working out for the best. Hermione had just gotten back from the hospital after having a second miscarriage. The first one had been a heartbreak for both of them, and now there was an uncomfortable silence between the two. Ron had desperately wanted to become a father, and Hermione loved to daydream about having a beautiful little girl to talk to and to love.

"Maybe we should talk to Snape," Ron advised. "He might have something that could help. A potion of some sort that'll enable you to have kids." Hermione sighed heavily.

"Ron, I want children just as much as you do, but right now...it's just too soon. If it doesn't work out, and I do have another miscarriage," she shuddered at the word. "I don't think I'll be able to take it."

"I know. It's just a suggestion. Maybe in a year or so we can try again." She smiled at him and nodded her head.

"If it's okay with you, I think I'll go to sleep early. I'm exhausted."

"Of course. It's been a long day, you need your rest. I think I'll go for a walk, but I'll be back in a while." They both cleared the table and before Hermione headed upstairs, she gave Ron a kiss. "Get some rest. You look like you need it."

"Thanks. I do. Have a nice walk." He nodded his head, and they kissed again. Hermione headed up the stairs and fell onto the bed. She didn't even bother changing into her pjs. She was too tired and sad to.

As she laid in bed, Hermione reflected on the past two years of her life. Her marriage to Ron had been good. They got along fairly well, and he was so kind and gentle towards her. He never raised his voice at her, and he treated her like a queen. She often felt like she didn't deserve all of his love. She always made sure that he felt loved. She hadn't even thought of Harry in a sexual way for a long time. But now that she had a lot of time to herself, and with all that had happened, she found her mind thinking about her other best friend. Their friendship had become quite awkward after her marriage. They knew they liked each other, but they also knew they'd never be able to have a relationship. The sexual tension was strong between them. Hermione knew Harry was miserable, and while she was sad, she knew she wasn't as depressed as he was. She had Ron, and was happy. He had no one. She sighed as she thought about how different things were. She sorely missed her years at Hogwarts. Things had been so much easier then. She felt the pain in her heart of the lost closeness of her two friendships, and the two children she had lost, and decided to sleep to keep away the pain. But she knew it would return once she awoke.-~-

Ron stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked around aimlessly thinking about Hermione...as he often did. Seeing her in pain made his heart hurt. He loved her so much, and when she was sad, it made him sad. He wanted to have children more than anything, but he thought he would be able to handle it, just as long as Hermione was okay, but she wasn't. He knew he was lucky to have her, but he often worried about loosing her. He knew he would never be as handsome as Harry or as suave as Dean, but he always tried his hardest to let her know that he loved her. Despite the fact that he never got the best grades at Hogwarts, he wasn't stupid, and he knew that she didn't love him the same way he loved her. But he had her, and he felt special nonetheless. She had still chosen to be his wife. And it wasn't as if she neglected him or was cheating on him. They were still able to open up to each other and enjoyed reminiscing about the past.

Ron looked at the watch Harry and Hermione had gotten him as a graduation present. He had been gone for almost an hour. He sighed as he headed home.

Once he had arrived home, he opened the door and quietly headed up the stairs and into his and Hermione's room. He slipped into bed with her and put his arm around her and smiled as she snuggled up closer to him.-~-

Hermione sat with Harry and the Weasleys as they watched Ron's Quidditch game. He had become quite a good Chaser, and was playing for the Chudley Cannons. Hermione never missed any of his games, and she wasn't about to miss one because of her loss.

"You really don't have to come to the game," Ron had told her earlier. "It's not that important."

"All your games are important," she told him. "And I'm going," she announced stubbornly.

"I'd rather you stay home and rest." She rolled her eyes and looked at him sternly.

"I haven't missed a game yet, and I'm not about to."

Hermione refused to ever miss a game of Ron's. It was one of her ways of showing him that she cared.

"How are you feeling?" Molly Weasley asked her daughter-in-law in a very concerned tone of voice. Hermione smiled at her weakly.

"I've been better," she answered truthfully. Molly looked worried.

"You should be resting."

"I've rested enough to last me for weeks." Hermione felt bad for sounding a bit snappy, but she was getting tired of everyone telling her to rest. It had been a week, and for the most part, she had stayed in bed.

"Well dear, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find a good ear to listen to you." She smiled at Mrs. Weasley. She had always been so nice.

"I'll be sure to take you up on that." Hermione and Molly's relationship had always been a good one. They had been able to talk to each other and had bonded. As a matter of fact, Hermione had always gotten along with all the Weasleys.

"Look! Here comes Ron!" Ginny announced. Everyone's eyes looked at the Quidditch pitch as Ron came flying out as his name was announced over the loudspeaker. The whole section cheered seeing as how most were either Weasleys or related to them.

"You should be out there playing Quidditch," Hermione whispered to Harry. He grinned and shook his head.

"I love Quidditch, but I love teaching too." Harry had taken on a role of teaching children 5-10 the basics of magic, and he loved his job. Hermione smiled and knew he had a great job. He was so kind and gentle towards all the children, and they all loved him. Not to mention almost every witch who was single.

Suddenly a scream from Mrs. Weasley was heard, and Harry and Hermione immediately turned to look at the pitch seeing if maybe Ron had been hurt. But it was worse, Ron was no where to be seen!

"Wh-what happened?" Hermione asked frightened.

"We're not really sure," Mr. Weasley answered as he tried to wake up his wife who had just fainted. "Ron was trying to keep the Quaffle from making it through, and then he just disappeared. Harry's heart raced as he remembered when he was a first year and was told that players were often lost during a match.

"WHERE IS HE?" Hermione shouted. "ARE PEOPLE OUT LOOKING FOR HIM?" She sounded very agitated. Harry placed a hand on her shoulder and felt her tremble.

"It's going to be okay," he whispered. "We'll find him." Harry sounded more confidante than he felt. He knew there was no 100% way to know for sure if they would find Ron. But Hermione looked stressed, and her body couldn't take the pressure, and she fainted in Harry's arms.