Love, Lies, and a Secret

Love, Lies, and secret

Chapter 11: something

The Burrow

September 24, 2000

Sunday afternoon.

Remus and Harry were standing in front of The Burrow's kitchen door, neither of them too eager to enter.

Remus had said that would be better if Harry was the one to tell Ron about Hermione's condition, though he would not tell him the entire truth.

Harry knew his former Professor was right, but it didn't make the task any easier. To have to do it at The Burrow made everything even more painful and uncomfortable. It would have been so much easier if it was only the two of them - only Harry and Ron, and not the whole Weasley bloody family!

However, Harry knew that as today was Sunday, Ron would be lunching at his parents' house, and Harry was supposed to be there too.

"Come on, Harry," Remus hushed him, "let's enter already."

With an annoyed groan, Harry finally opened the door, revealing Remus and himself to the Weasley family. Strangely, he didn't see Ron there.

"Harry dear!"

"Love!"

Mrs. Weasley and Ginny cried out at the same time, the latter running towards him and hugging him; a hug that was not returned.

"Where's Ron?" he blurted out, releasing himself from his girlfriend, not really caring about the slightly hurt and angry glint in her eyes.

"Oh, well..." Mrs. Weasley replied, motioning to Remus and Harry to seat at the kitchen's table, where Mr. Weasley, Fred and George, Bill and Fleur and their two-year-old son were finishing their meal, "Ronald had to eat early. Apparently there was something big he needed to do at work."

"I flooed you about noon, as you were late for lunch, but it seems you weren't at home," Ginny commented a little bitterly.

Without a glint of patient, Harry simply said, "That's because I didn't sleep there last night."

The room went silent - deathly silent.

"What!?" Ginny cried angrily. First Ron, now- Harry!?

Noticing that the situation needed help urgently, Remus poked in for the first time, "Harry slept at Grimmauld."

"Why?" was Ginny's reply, her voice slightly harsh.

"I slept there because I want to!" Harry practically yelled at his girlfriend. He really wasn't in any mood for Ginny's jealousy and childishness. "And besides I don't have to give you any explanation of my whereabouts!"

"I am your girlfriend!" Ginny yelled back, her face red with anger.

"Well, we can change that," Harry replied without even thinking. Ginny's eyes opened wide in shock, her eyes beginning to get teary.

"Harry, Ginevra," Mr. Weasley spoke calmly but firmly, "please."

Harry shifted uncomfortable in his seat, running a hand through his messy dark hair. Why does Ginny have to be so moody? "Er, sorry, Gin," he muttered apologetically, exchanging a look with Remus, who nodded. "It's just- it's just that-"

"There was an accident," Remus said, freeing Harry of his misery.

"What?"

"How?"

"Where?"

Harry wasn't quite sure who asked which question.

"What happened, Harry?" Bill spoke for all his family.

"Well," he began, taking a little of the food that Mrs. Weasley was offering him. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley." He wasn't hungry, but didn't have a heart to decline, not after he yelled at her daughter. "As you may know, I worked with Tonks last night. Everything went alright until she and I had to go to Ministry to get some papers-" With the corner of his eye he looked at Remus, who seemed impassive. Were they buying it? "A-And-"

Remus put a resurgence hand on his shoulder, urging him to go on. "You can trust the Weasleys, Harry."

Harry gave a short nod.

"Yeah, mate, whatever you have to say, you can trust us," George said, earning approving mutters of all his family. Harry looked at him and his twin brother sadly. The war and Lee Jordan's terrible death had wounded the two of them deeply. Even if there were still running the joke shop and playing pranks, nothing would ever be the same.

"I know, and I'm sorry," Harry apologized.

"That's okay, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley replied, "but, what happened?"

"To make short a long story, there was an explosion..."

"An explosion?" Fred interrupted him.

"Shh! Let Harry finish!" Ginny hissed.

"Sorry," Fred muttered. "Go on, Harry."

"Er, okay...there was an explosion in the Experimental Charms Department and- and..." He couldn't go on, even if it wasn't the truth, the image of a naked and beaten up Hermione still haunted him. It was her scars, the pale face...

"Terry Boot and Hermione were seriously hurt," Remus spoke for him.

"Oh my!" Mrs. Weasley cried, bringing a hand to her mouth; Ginny and Fleur did the same.

"But they are alright, right Remus?" Mr. Weasley asked, his voice full of concern. Hermione was like a daughter to him, even if she wasn't Ron's girlfriend.

Remus nodded gravely. "Yes, they are," he said. "However, they were trying a new experiment and you know how unknown charms can be nasty." They all nodded in agreement. "It seems that this certain spell they were working on...um, how can I say this? Hermione was more affected by it. Somehow the fact of she being a Muggleborn...caused some outside effects."

"Which effects?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"She is temporarily allergic to magic," Harry said, without looking anyone in the face.

"Mon Dieu!" Fleur cried out aloud, and everyone else began to talk at same time.

Harry held up a hand, making everyone stop. "As I said before Hermione is temporarily allergic to magic. Therefore, she'll need to spend some time out of the Wizarding World, with her parents."

"Oh, well, at least she is out of danger," Mrs. Weasley said. "Ronald can visit her on-"

"No!" Harry cried, and everyone looked to him in surprise. Remus raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Er, he is a Pure-Blood, too much magic. He can't see her before she is cured."

It was a lie, and Remus knew that very well but didn't say anything.

The old werewolf only wondered...

*~*~*~*~*

Hogsmeade

Unseen's Bar

Ronald Weasley was sitting alone in the darkest corner of the nearly unknown pub in Hogsmeade, drinking a Firewhisky. He knew it was too early for that, but he really didn't care. He just wanted to be alone, and The Three Broomsticks and the Leprechaun's were out of question. He needed to think about a way to get out of the mess he was in.

'I love Hermione,' he thought to himself. 'I know I love her.'

His thoughts were broken when a pair of soft hands covered his eyes.

"Guess who?" asked a voice that he knew very well.

Ron took the hands out of his face, before saying with a slight smile, "Hello, Lavender."

Her answer was a kiss on his lips.

*~*~*~*

The Burrow

Harry was finishing his dessert, and desperately wishing to go back to Hermione, just when Ginny put a hand on his left arm.

"Harry?" she spoke his name almost shyly, and Harry felt a little sorry for her. He knew she wasn't being treating well. As a girlfriend, she deserved a lot more. Harry just wondered if he could give her more.

"Yeah, Gin?" He forced a smile.

"Well, how about we take a walk after you finish?" she asked. "It's a lovely day."

Deep inside he want to say 'no, I'm sorry, but I want to be with Hermione', but the others, who at the time were purposely looking away from them, reminded him that he couldn't.

And Ginny was his girlfriend.

Ginny.

"Of course," he replied, enforcing a grin, "it would be lovely."

"Great!" Ginny said contently, before taking a sip of some of her pumpkin juice.

*~*~*~*

October, 1975

Hogwarts' grounds

Near the Black Lake

Remus was strolling around the Lake with James, Sirius, and Peter, when he heard someone calling his name. He, and the others, stopped and turned around.

"Hey, Remus," Jane Adams spoke good-naturally, Lily Evans by her side, "my baby sister Mary sent me a letter. She told me that she thinks you are quite charming."

Sirius and James began to catcall, while Remus blushed a deep red. "Oh, I think she is very nice too," he stammered, and Jane and Lily smiled at him.

"Oh! Our little Remus may have found himself a girlfriend!" Sirius exclaimed, mimicking a mother's voice.

The girls snorted at him.

"You know, I just had an amazing idea!" James proclaimed, and Lily couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Next holiday we can have a double date!"

Jane raised an eyebrow at him. "A double date with whom, James? Can I ask?"

"Oh well, a double date with Moony here and your sister, of course." James smirked at his friend. "And Evans and I! Two passionate couples! Doesn't that sound perfect?"

"Argh, James Potter!" Lily cried in annoyance. "You are unbelievable!"

He grinned. "I know. That's why you love me so much, my dear!"

"I'll never ever date you, did you hear me, Potter?" Lily pointed a finger at him, her face red.

"Oh, sweetheart, why keeping denying?" he replied, shaking his head. "We are bound to be together. We will have a handsome baby boy...your eyes and my good looks! Doesn't it sound amazing?"

Instead of saying anything, Lily grabbed Jane's hand and almost dragged her friend away with a huff.

"You know, Evans," James called out aloud after her, "maybe our son will fall in love with Remus and Jane's sister's daughter!"

*~*~*~*~*

Mike Navy's clinic, London, England

September 24, 2000

Sunday night

It was almost 9:00 pm when Harry (Remus had gone to Grimmauld) finally managed to return to the Muggle clinic. The time spent with Ginny had been nice and he felt somewhat guilty and confused, as to why he didn't feel much when he was kissing his girlfriend.

She was nice, pretty, smart... In other words, she was the perfect girlfriend. Then why didn't he feel anything while he was with her?

Maybe it was the stress.

Maybe.

Shaking his head lightly to vanquish those thoughts, Harry opened the clinic's door to reveal a smiling Neville.

"Neville?" he asked in surprise, stepping inside. "What are you doing here? Where's Susan? Has something happened?" The questions were fast and spoken with worry.

"First of all, everything is okay," Neville reassured him. "I just sent Susan home. She really needed to take a rest."

Harry nodded in understanding. "And - and Hermione?" he asked quietly, his cheeks strangely warm as he spoke his female best friend's name.

Neville smiled broadly. "She's awake. I-" But Harry had never the change to hear Neville finish his sentence, because he simply ran towards Hermione's room, leaving a surprised Neville Longbotton behind.

*~*~*~*

Hermione's room

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed happily as he opened the door, and walked quickly towards the bed where Hermione was. "Oh Hermione!" He took her in his arms. God, how she felt perfect in his arms! "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, looking over her body, to make sure she was really alright.

God, she still looks so pale... so thin...

"I-I fine, Harry," Hermione answered him with a smile, "fine as I could be."

"D-Did Neville...?"

She nodded. "Yeah, Dr. Navy had been here early. I was told about my condition." She looked away as an unwelcome tear dropped from her eye. "Tomorrow morning I'll be going to my parents' house." Hermione looked back at him, a shy smile playing on the corner of her lips. "H-Harry? T-Thank you. Thank you for finding me... for saving my life."

Harry took her small hands in his. Since when her hands been so small compared to his? "It was nothing, Hermione." He caressed her palm. "I would die for you, know that. And - and after my behavior in that club... Oh, god, Hermione I'm really sorry for the way I acted."

She pulled a hand out of his and placed it on his cheek, her fingers caressing his cheek lightly. "I understand why you acted that way. You were angry because you thought I was cheating on Ron." Oh, Hermione, my anger had nothing to do with Ron... "I felt hurt, yeah, but I understand."

Harry put a hand over hers, making her fingers to stop. "Then why, Hermione?" he asked in a serious tone, and Hermione blinked in slight surprise. "Why did you lie to me? Why did you lie all these years?"

Hermione didn't say a word.

"Come on, Hermione!" he cried in frustration. "Why didn't you ever tell me you were a Hit Wizard?"

"You know why, Harry!" she answered at last. "I couldn't tell anyone!"

Harry stood up from the bed, and began to pace around the room before facing her again. "You know that's bullshite!" he yelled at her. "I am your best friend- I had the right to know!"

Hermione snorted, getting angry herself. "Oh, poor little Harry Potter!" she yelled back at him, not caring if the wounds had started to hurt again. "That's exactly why I didn't tell you! I knew how you would react! I knew you would tell me 'it's too dangerous, Hermione'!"

"Yeah! I think it is too dangerous!" he replied, his voice rising. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone anymore; you know that, don't you? We aren't in Hogwarts anymore, Hermione Granger! You won't receive points for Gryffindor if you get yourself killed!"

If there wasn't so much space between them, and she didn't feel so tired at that moment, Hermione Granger would have slapped Harry Potter.

"I know that school is over, Potter," she spoke acidly, "and I know I don't need to need to prove myself to anyone anymore." She straightened her back against the headboard. "I'm doing this because of myself! Years of my life past while I had been looking after you and Ron... and I never had a chance to look after myself, and to what I wanted! It was time to make something by myself, and not because I the Boy-Who-Lived needed my help!"

"Hermione..."

"I was, and I will be, always by your side. I never doubted you. Not even in our fourth year! Even then, I was by your side! I knew you hadn't put your name in the Cup!"

"Hermione..." he tried again, his voice much softer this time but she didn't listen to him.

"I was always by your side all these years and you never, ever, thanked me. Not even after the Final Battle!"

Harry blinked at her in shock. Of course he had thanked her, hadn't he? If it wasn't for her he would be as good as dead.

"I am not saying that I am only looking for praise, but sometimes it feels good to hear it!" She was fully crying by now, her lips trembling. "The way you looked at me in that club! Sure, I understand why, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less. And what really hurts me is to think that you didn't even stop to think that maybe it wasn't what it looked like! That maybe it was an act! I know if it were the other way around, I would stop and think! But, you? No! You looked at me like I was unworthy scrum. I-" she stopped as her sobs began to become uncontrollable.

Harry watched, his chest tightening, and a horrible in his gut.

Unable to say anything, he walked towards the bed and took Hermione in his arms, before kissing her on the lips.