Deception Hurts More Than Death

Ron fell hard into the dining room chair at the Burrow. He was surrounded by his family, Hermione and Harry. He saw himself in the corner of the kitchen, his face as red as his hair. Hermione was sitting in the chair across from the one he had fallen in, arms crossed, a look of disgust on her face. He noticed Harry had his arm around Ginny, and both had the look of being caught in the middle of something.

"Ronny poo, why don't you apologize for being a git to Hermione, so we can all have a peaceful dinner. You know how hard it's been for her to find time to come over. And now your stubborn ass is ruining it." George walked up behind Ron's old self and winked to Hermione, who forced a smile.

"Back off, George, it's none of your business. Besides, I'm wasn't being a git. She was being irrational." Ron finished the last part in a low vioce, appartently afraid of backlash.

Hermione finally stood from the table, unfolded her arms and pushed in her chair. She smiled to Harry and Ginny, and turned to Mrs. Weasley at the stove.

"I'm really sorry, Molly, but I don't really have much of an appetite now. I'm just going to get some fresh air, but please continue without me." Hermione walked past Ron without ever looking his way and walked out of the kitchen door.

"Good job, Ron!" George yelled and smacked the back of Ron's head, before taking a seat in the chair Ron was in. He jumped from the table, thinking it would hurt for George to sit on him, not remembering his ghost like presence.

"Leave me alone." Ron said, face still red.

"Why don't you go after her, son? Resolve this and bring her back for dinner." Mr Weasley finally entered the dining room.

"All she'll do is keep telling me I'm wrong. There is no comprimise with her. She's always right and I'm always wrong."

"I'll go and check on her. She'll always listen to me. And besides, I'm the only one in history who has gotten her to admit she's wrong." Harry walked to Ron and placed his hand on his arm caringly.

"Thanks, Harry." Ron looked out of the window, watching the setting sun. Ron looked to his old self, staring out of the window, and in that moment realized how much he lacked compared to Harry. He never gave any effort to make things better with him and Hermione. He always let others resolve their issues or let enough time pass, that she ended up forgetting about it. In that moment Ron realized why Hermione would easily choose Harry over him.

Ron rushed after Harry, afraid to lose him. He followed Harry to the edge of the surrounding forest. Ron found amusement in the fact that he could walk and let the braches pass through his body, and Harry had to duck around them. Ron wasn't paying attention, too caught up in the thought of being a ghost, finding the irony he was always a ghost to Harry and Hermione, he hadn't notcied Harry stop. Ron walked right through him and stopped several yards away, in the middle of a clearing. He turned to see Harry looking at Hermione.

Ron could see a solemn look on Harry's face, as he remembered the resemblence of this setting to the setting the night he returned, ending any hope Harry and Hermione had of a future.

"I didn't think you would find me. Ron would have never been able to." Hermione said, never turning around to see that it wasn't Ron.

"How did you know it was me?" Harry asked as he walked to the log Hermione was sitting on and took a seat next to her.

"the way you calmly walked into the clearing. Ron would have been stomping around, cursing under his breath. Besides, he never comes after me, it's always you." Hermione continued to stare ahead, clearly upset at Ron's absence.

"I offered to come. I don't mind coming after you. We haven't seen each other for awhile, and I wanted to clear things up." Harry stuttured a bit, clearly nervous.

"Clear up what? The fact I haven't seen you for almost two months. The last time I did, you kissed me, then apparated away. Now the first time I see you, Ginny announces you guys are engaged. Sure, Harry, why don't you clear things up." Hermione gradually raised her voice with each word, upset at the sudden turn of events.

"First of all, don't get mad at me for the length of time we haven't seen each other, this time is was you avoiding me. I thought we agreed to make things work with Ron and Ginny. She was pressuring me and so I just did it. I'm trying my best to make things work. I do love Ginny." Harry placed his hand atop Hermione's, but she pulled it away roughly, and stood from the log.

"It was your idea, not mine, to make this work. I see you and Ginny, and you seem so happy. And Ron, he just drives me nuts. I thought it was a school thing, but we still have rows all the time. We have nice times too, but all the bickering makes me overlook the good. I just wish... we could go back." Hermione whispered the last part, not really wanting Harry to hear her. But he did, and stood from the log and walked behind her.

"I wish we could go back too, Hermione. I love you as much as I did then, if not more. When you walked in the door today, my heart leapt. I don't get thast feeling when Ginny walks in the door. But their my family, Hermione. I have never had a family. I can't sacrafice the only one I do have, no matter how much I hurt myself, I can't do it. I will always love you, that will never change. I wish we could be in another world, another place, where this wasn't expected of us, but we're not." Harry started to walk closer to Hermione but she turned around and he stopped. She ahd tears streaming down her face and she looked to the ground.

"Ron proposed. That's what we were fighting about. I told him I didn't think we were ready. He said since you guys were doing it, we should do it. I said no, cause deep in my heart, you're the only person I can see sharing my life with. I can't do this anymore, Harry. I can't keep acting like I don't feel this. I have to be with you. Does it even matter to you that you are hurting me? The person you supposively love the most, you're hurting over everyone else." Hermione looked to Harry, awaiting his noble response. He walked to her and wrapped her in his arms. She laid her hard on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You hear that. It only beats for you. Nop matter who I marry, or who you marry, it will only beat as long as your alive. We can do this Hermione, we can be strong." Harry placed his chin on her head. Hermione snaked her hand under his shirt and began to rub his back. She did it out of routine, because it was natural. Harry ran his hands through her hair, soothing her nerves and making her tears go away.

Ron stood in the distance, tears in his eyes. Hermione truly loved Harry. If she had just told him, he would like to think he wouldn't have held it against them. But when they suddenly pulled apart, staring into each others eyes, and kissed, Ron's blood boiled, and he realized Harry was right. They would never have understood. He would have hated them and Ginny, would have been even worse than him. No matter how much he felt sorry for them, he hated them.

Harry and Hermione continued to kiss, very passionately. Harry's hands snaking through her hair, holding her face firmly to his. Hermione's hand still caressed his back and the other snaked to the front of them. When she grasped Harry through his jeans, Harry broke the kiss. Hermione looked at him with a serious look on her face. Harry started to back away, but Hermione grabbed the front of his shirt with her other hand.

"Just let go, Harry."

Harry didn't move, he just looked to Hermione, who started to move her hand against the front of his jeans again. He sighed heavily, beginning to enjoy it, beginning to not care. Hermione bit her lip as she began to unbuckle his belt. Harry watched her every move with intensity in his eyes. Hermione unbutton his jeans and zipped down his zipper. She looked at his face, awaiting permission. When Harry's expression didn't change, she continued.

She dipped her hand inside of his boxers and moved her smooth palm across his ever hardening erection. Harry looked to the sky as the sensation was too much. He had missed being this way with Hermione. He and Ginny had sex, but it never felt as exciting or as intimate as it had with Hermione. The simple touch of Hermione's hand did more than anything Ginny would do. Hermione took this opportunity to move his pants and boxers a little lower on his hips, so that he was free of them.

With Harry lost in the sensation, his head still back, Hermione took the opportunity to surprise him. She lowered herself to her knees and took him into to her hot, wet mouth. To say it surprised Harry would be an understatement. His eyes shot open, he looked down at her and bucked his hips, causing his erection to go deeper down her throat. Hermione took it all, looking up and deep into Harry's eyes. Ron turned away, not able to watch.

Harry grabbed the back of Hermione's head, moving her head the way he liked it. She took each stroke he wanted her to take. Never once coming up for air. Each time he bobbed her head she took him deeper and deeper. Minutes went by and Ron listened to the distinct sounds of his wife sucking off his best mate. When the noise suddenly stopped he turned back to them. Hermione was rising from her knees, leaves stuck to them and then hem of her skirt. Harry was still huge and hard.

"I want you to come inside me." Hermione whispered, as if someone would hear. Harry did not protest. He kissed her hard, backed her up to the nearest tree and dropped to his knees. Hermione smiled widely and nodded her head. Harry dipped his head under her skirt and Ron watched as Hermione lifted a leg onto Harry's shoulder and gasped loudly.

Ron could see Harry's head move under her skirt, and Hermione looked to the sky as she pinched her own nipple. Ron could never remember Hermione doing anything as erotic as touching herself when they had been together. He realized they had never had passion like this. Ron watched as Harry brought Hermione to orgasm, his head emerging from under her skirt, his face glistening with his conquest.

Hermione kissed him hard, tasting herself on his tongue. Harry grabbed her ass and lifted her up against the tree. Hermione wrapped her legs around his waist and Harry wasted no time plowing into her. He fucked her hard and fast. They screamed each others names and came hard against the other. They stood there, Harry holding Hermione to the tree for some time. Ron paced the forest, hating himself for not coming after her, allowing this to happen. Remembering this night very clearly. Harry and Hermione had returned after an hour, and Hermione was in the best mood. He thanked Harry endlessly for helping her to forgive him.

He also remembered Hermione had agreed to marry him after dinner was over and they had announced it over cake and tea at the end of the night. Harry seemed very happy for them. How could this be, he thought? He turned to see them standing apart, straightened up from their activities.

"What does this mean, Harry?" Hermione questioned.

"I don't care anymore either. I want to be with you. But I still don't want to hurt them. You don't want to hurt them, do you?" harry looked to her curiously.

"Of course not, but I can't live without you." Hermione answered, grabbing Harry's hands.

"Then, how about we do this? See each other when we can steal time, be together when we can, but live our lives like we have. How about we have an affair? It's the best I can think of." Harry looked to Hermione, nervous for her response.

"If I get to see you, I don't care what we do." Hermione hugged Harry tightly.

"Let's get back. They'll wonder what took us so long." Harry winked to her. They turned to walk back, hand in hand, like a happy couple.

"Too bad we can't tell them we just fucked against the tree they used to swing from." Hermione and Harry both laughed in unison. Ron couldn't believe it. They agreed to have an affair. But how long did they actually do it, Ron wondered? They would have had to stopped once they got married, he knew it.

He watched them walk away, out of sight and he returned to the office. He stood from the desk chair and threw his tea cup against the wall. They had done it, the one thing he knew they wouldn't. They had pulled the ultimate deception. He picked up the stack of papers, he had just recently returned to the desktop, and threw them across the room again. He couldn't catch his breath. He was determined to see the end of this. He threw himself into the chair. He wanted to take a break, a short break and then venture in again. He had to know it all, everything, or he would never rest.