Love, Lies, and a Secret

Chapter 18: Intermissions

November 29, 2000
The Burrow

Bill’s birthday party
Together

Harry drank some of his Butterbeer as he tried to hide the smile on his lips. He silently watched Hermione talking animatedly with Remus and Tonks on the other side of the room. She was wearing a pale blue Crepe-de-chine blouse with tie neck and caped sleeves under a dark brown jacket, and a pair of dark jeans that Harry thought were looking amazing on her. It was a simple outfit, but Harry thought she was looking more beautiful than ever.

He let go a soft and controlled sigh, slightly amazed at for how long he had been so blind to not realize that he loved her, how long he hadn’t noticed something that was right in front of him.

More than ever, Harry wished to able to cross the room, take her in his arms, and kiss her with all love-and yes, desire, he had.

`Oh my, how sappy!´ he thought to himself. The young dark haired wizard shook his head slightly, suppressing a chuckle. Harry averted his gaze for an instant and looked around the room. It was filled with Weasleys and guests, mostly well known faces like Neville and Luna, Susan, Seamus, and Katie Bell among others. However, one face caught his attention.

Ron.

His best friend was also watching Hermione talking with Remus and Tonks. However, his features didn’t show happiness. Ron had an irritated expression on his face, but Harry could also notice a glint of sadness in his eyes.

A pang of guilt hit the young wizard’s chest, causing him to look down at his feet. Harry had told himself several times he wasn’t the reason why Ron and Hermione didn’t work out, but it was in his nature to feel at least a bit responsible for their falling out.

He loved Hermione more than anything in the world, and truthfully, he was living the best time of his life. For the first time, he was feeling complete.

With Hermione, Harry started to really think about get married, and having children. Of course, he had thought about it before. Merlin, since he was a kid he had dreamed to have his own family, but it was always in his dreams. Something for the future. When he was dating Ginny, the idea of marriage and starting a new family with the redhead girl had crossed his mind. However, this thought always seemed wrong, even unacceptable.

Now, with Hermione, it was a completely different matter.

Harry wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

They were just- right.

"Harry?" a familiar voice brought him back from his reveries. Harry looked up, shaking his head lightly. It was his partner Lisa Turpin. "Why do you look so amused?"

"Huh?" Harry blinked, slightly confused. "Oh! Just thinking," he said with a smile and she nodded, not quite believing him, but still accepting his answer. "So, Lisa, having fun?"

"Yeah," she said, "it’s a good party." She paused a moment as if she was pondering about something. "Harry," Lisa, suddenly, spoke again, her voice sounding a bit unsure.

"Yes, Lisa?"

"You and Ginny Weasley-" her voice seemed to die at the unfinished question.
Harry pursed his lips, taking a deep breath before replying. "Ginny and I aren’t together anymore," he said firmly and even a little cold. Harry didn’t want to sound harsh, but he truly didn’t understand why she wanted to have this conversation. "But you already know about it, Lisa. It’s in the papers, not to mention we work together. If I recall, I myself confirmed it to you when the matter first showed up in the Prophet-"

Lisa held up her hand. "Oh, please, Harry, I know...I-" She bit her lips. "It’s...well..."

"Lisa..."

Lisa clothed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Okay, right," she said practically for herself, opening her eyes once again. "You are a great guy, Harry, and- a powerful wizard and-" She shook her head. "You really are a great guy. I-I am not saying that I..." she paused, a nervous smile forming in the corner of her mouth. "I was- I am wondering if- Well..."

Harry looked at his partner, silently praying that whatever she was trying to say it wasn’t what he was thinking.

Unfortunately, he was right.

"I-I like you, Harry. Really like you." She blushed deep red. "And-and I was wondering...Would you like to go out for a diner, or even just a drink, with me, Harry?" Lisa finally blurted out.

Harry felt a hit of pity in his low stomach. He couldn’t deny the fact that Lisa was a beautiful young woman with her slender body, long and straight light brown hair and dark blue eyes. However, she always had been, for him, just his partner. A colleague.

"Lisa," he said gently, trying to not sound awkward, "you are a beautiful girl, and a great partner, but-" The hopeful smile that was on Lisa’s lips suddenly went down as he spoke the last word.

But.

Lisa, then, put a finger on his lips, making him stop. "You don’t need to continue, Harry," she said, in a sad but dignify voice, "I understand. You don’t need to say it."

"Lisa, I’m so-"

"No," she shook her head, forcing a smile. Harry could see she was forcing herself to not cry. "I- I...That’s okay, really." She clasped her hands nervously, shifting on her feet. "Now, if you excuse me, Harry, I need to go the loo."

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but she had already gone away.

"Well, I think Ginny was right," he said to himself, heaving a sigh.


"About what?" a voice spoke behind him. With a smile, Harry turned to see the voice’s owner.

"Hermione," he simply said, touching her arm gently.

Hermione beamed at his touch, wishing they could do much more than a soft touch. But even way she was happy with what they had.

She had faith that soon enough they would be able to tell the world about them, without breaking anyone’s heart.

"So, Mister Harry," she continued, in a playful mood, "Ginny was right about what?"

To her surprise, Harry looked a little uncomfortable.

"Harry?" She wanted to touch his face, like many the times she had done before. However, now, it seemed different.

After a few seconds of unsteady silence, Harry spoke again. "Why don’t we talk outside? Mr. Weasley’s shed is a good place." Hermione frowned at his words. "Don’t worry, it’s nothing horrible." He leaned a little towards her, whispering into her ear. "I just want to be alone with you."

Hermione’s eyes lift up.

"In five minutes, then," she said, "Five minutes, Mister Potter."
***
Outside, Mr. Weasley’s shed.

"Yeah, I supposed Ginny was indeed right," Hermione finally said after hearing Harry’s tale about Lisa. "I guess she had something to be jealous about." She turned her back to him, and started to clean an invisible dust in the shed’s wooden wall. "Lisa Turpin indeed likes you. T-That’s..."
Harry went closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"You know you don’t need to worry, love," he whispered into her ear. Still in his arms, Hermione turned around to look at him, placing her arms around his neck.

"I-I’m not worrying," she said rather unconvincingly, but not looking away.
Harry smiled fondly at her, bringing her even closer to him. "I love you, Hermione. You really don’t need to be jealous."

Hermione huffed, in mild offence. "Jealous? Honestly!" she shook her head. "I’m not jealous. It’s just...well, it isn’t exactly nice to hear that your boyfriend’s-" Harry’s heart fluttered at the boyfriend word. "-coworker is madly in love with him."

"Lisa isn’t madly in love with me," he said in a low voice, nuzzling gently her neck. "It’s just a silly crush." Harry started to place soft kisses on her skin.

"Uhuh..." Hermione moaned incoherently, her fingers running through his raven hair.

"I love you so much, Hermione," he whispered, backing up just a little, so they were eye to eye. "I love you," Harry repeated, this time looking straightly into her big brown eyes.

"I love you too, my Harry."

"I love when you say that- my Harry," he commented. "it sounds so kinky!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, but smile nonetheless. "Well, my Harry, are you going to kiss me already or what?"

"Your wish is my command, milady," he replied, just before kissing her on the lips.

The kiss was suave yet passionate, and it did end soon after it’s started.
"Oh!" Harry and Hermione quickly drew apart, their hearts beating fast. "I-I’m sorry..."

"Ginny..."

"I went here to get-" Ginny was looking everywhere but at their faces. "I-It’s not important. I-I’m going..." She turned her feet to leave, but Hermione called.


"Ginny!"

The young Weasley gazed at the brown haired witch; she didn’t look angry but she wasn’t smiling either.

"Ginny, I-"

"I’m not angry at you, Hermione," Ginny said truthfully, "However; I don’t want to pretend to be best friends with you- not right now anyway." A tired sigh escaped from her lips and without waiting for a reply, she walked away.
*
"I think we better return to the party," Hermione said after a few seconds of silence. Neither of them commented about Ginny´s words. "We´re lucky it wasn´t-"

"I know," Harry nodded thinking of what would’ve happened had it been Ron that interrupted them.

"I’ll go first," she said in a slightly commanding voice. She leaned towards him and placed a loving kiss on his forehead.

"Love you."

***

The Burrow’s kitchen.

About twenty minutes had passed since she had left Mr. Weasley’s shed, and Hermione was already missing Harry’s touch.

It was the first time they had been in a social meeting since they had gotten together and Hermione had never thought it would be so hard.

"Not to mention Lisa Turpin!" she hissed quietly to herself, a feeling of annoying towards the young Auror. "What she was thinking? Asking him on a date, just like that!" Hermione huffed, indignantly. "It’s not-" she suddenly stop her ramblings. "Ron."

Her ex-boyfriend was standing at the kitchen’s door, holding a glass of Firewhiskey.

"Hermione," his voice was blurted, confirming a suspicion that he had been drinking a little too much, "what’re doing here, alone?"

"Getting a spare glass. I can’t find mine," she respond, and then narrowed her eyes, "Have you been drinking, Ronald Weasley?"

Ron snorted. "Fuck, Hermione!" he shoved a hand into the air, in a signal of annoyance. "This is a bloody fucking party! Can you please stop nagging me for once?"

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but thought better not to. Instead, she just pursed her lips into a thin line, sighing. She didn’t want to start an argument with Ron.

"I-I’m sorry, Hermione," Ron said after a few seconds, his gaze downcast. He walked near her. "You are right, I drank a little too much today." He smiled tentatively. "But I’m not drunk."

Hermione gave him a slight nod, not knowing exactly what to say.

He leaned in slowly, and touched her face with his free hand. "You look pretty today," he said huskily, bending his face closer to hers.

Hermione started feeling a sense of desperation invading her system.
"Ron..." she could smell his Firewhiskey breath.

"So pretty..." his lips were almost touching hers.

"No, Ron!" Hermione spoke firmly, pushing him away from her. "No."

"I know you love me, Hermione!" he cried angrily, his face turning beet red. "Yeah, yeah, I learned my lesson." His tone was mocked. "But a month is enough. Everything can go back to normal."

Hermione shook her head sadly.


"No, Ron, it’s over."

He let go a dry laugh. "Hah!"

"Please, Ron you have to accept-"

"I have nothing!" He stepped closer, grabbing her fiercely by her shoulders. "You are mine. You were always supposed to be mine." He shook her body. "It always had been you and me! We have to be together!"

"Let go of me, Ron," Hermione hissed trough her teeth, "you’re starting to hurt me."

"No, not until your realize your mistake. Why, Hermione? Why?"

"Ron..."

"We are perfect..."

"Ron..."

"I know you love me, Hermione."

"No, Ron, I don’t."

Ron starred incredulously at her. "What?"

"I don’t love you, Ron. I don’t even know if I have ever loved you. A deep care, yes, a profound like...but love-"

Slap!

"Slut!" He slapped her hard on the face.

Hermione’s eyes opened wide and shocked. With her hands trembling, she touched her face and winced in pain a little.

"I could hit you right back," she spoke in a controlled voice, her eyes tearing, "but I’ll not lower myself to your level. Right now, I curse the day I met you, Ronald Weasley."

Hermione swallowed dry and walked back to the party.

"Oh god, Hermione!" She heard Ron called her name, but she didn’t look back. This time an `I’m sorry´ wouldn’t be enough.

*

"Hermione!" Remus was on her as soon as she stepped into the room. "There you ar- what happened?" he asked concerned, his eyes searching her face and spotting the red flush on her face "What-" he touched her cheek and she cringed. "Who did this?" he asked angrily at whoever this person was. Hermione always had been a special person to him, someone like a niece or even a daughter if he could have one. "Herm-" But Remus got his answer as his eyes caught a sight of a certain Ronald Weasley. Apparently the redhead wizard was looking for something-

or someone.

"I can´t believe him!" Remus cried angrily. "Wait until I gave him a piece of my mind!"

"N-No, Remus," Hermione shook her head, unable to control her tears any longer, "I-I just want to go home."

"Hermione, what he did is unaccepted!"

"Please, Remus..." she whispered and maybe for a glimpse of a moment, Remus thought he was seeing someone else. Someone he saw for the last time more than twenty years ago.

"Hermione, I´m so sorry!" Apparently Ron had found her.

Remus stepped in front of Ron. "I think we need to have a talk, Mr. Weasley. I-"

"Ron!" A female voice cried out loud.

"God, today is the interruption day," Hermione couldn’t help to think.

"Ron!" the voice was louder and uneven. "Ron! Oh, there you are!"

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked in a low tone, wishing that the whole party wasn’t looking at them.


"I came to see you!"

"I think it would be better if you leave."

"Why? Don’t you want me here? Am I an embarrassment to you?"
"Please, you don’t need to yell."

"But I thought you liked when I yell. You told me yourself that time we fucked in my bathroom!"

The room went silent.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Ron hissed, breathing hard. He looked at the shocking faces around them. "She is drunk," he assured, forcing a tiny smile, "nothing to-"

"But I can’t drink, Ronald. After all, I’m pregnant with your child." Lavender Brown wasn’t yelling anymore. "And we don’t want anything to happen with our baby, right Won-Won?"

***
AN: um, I just want to say that this isn’t a bash!Ron story. :)