Summary: Over ten years after Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny find that they can't escape from all their problems just yet. Loosly based on Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband". RHr HG
Categories: Post-Hogwarts Characters: None
Warnings: None
Challenges: Series: None
Chapters: 20
Completed: Yes
Word count: 68512
Read: 66541
Published: 01/25/06
Updated: 07/13/07
Are We Having Fun Yet? by Liisa
Chapter 19 â“ Are We Having Fun Yet?
âItâs not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story.â
- âHow You Remind Meâ by Nickleback
----
âToo big. Too flashy. TooâŚâ
âToo expensive,â Ron said with a shudder, placing the ring back down.
Harry picked up another one, examining it for a moment before putting it back. âI think the problem is that Iâm not used to jewelry having anything to do with Hermione. The thought canât register.â
Ron gave him a punch in his arm before turning back to a new set of rings.
Rubbing his arm, Harry went and sat across from Ron, pretending to examine more rings. âAll Iâm saying is that itâs got to be some special type of ring for her. She wonât just fit in with the same old diamond.â
Ron looked up at him with a wicked grin. âI know.â
Harry gave him a sly look. âYes, Iâm sure you do.â
Accepting the challenge, Ron crossed his arms ruefully, smiling over at Harry. âAnd youâre the expert on this, yes? Tell me, how many people have you proposed to in your life?â
âIs that âhow many people I have wanted to propose toâ or âhow many people have I actually proposed toâ?â
Ron looked confused. âIs there a difference?â
âUnfortunately, yes. But that is beside the point. The point is that we might have to visit a few more stores before we actually find something.â
âIâm not done here,â Ron reminded him, going back to examining more rings. âAnd you promised me a whole day. Sit your arse down and help me.â
Harry reluctantly began to examine more rings that the jeweler brought over. After a few moments of silence, Ron spoke up again.
âYou never answered my question, you know.â
âI was hoping you would be your ignorant self and not notice,â Harry admitted, holding up a ring for Ron to examine.
âToo small. Ignorant self?â
âUsually I can slip stuff like that past you,â Harry admitted, pulling out another one for Ron to judge. âHermione must be rubbing off on you.â
âKind of how the silver is rubbing off of that ring onto your finger,â Ron commented, laughing as Harry quickly put the ring back. âShould I be taking that as a compliment?â
âIf you like,â Harry agreed.
âSo tell me.â Ron opened a new case with ten more rings. They were all too large.
âWhich one, the first or second?â
âWell, why not tell me who you would have wanted to propose to.â
Harry held up another ring. âThought that one would have been obvious.â
âOoooâŚI like that one,â Ron commented, reaching forward to try to take it out of Harryâs hand, but Harry pulled it back.
âToo late, I bought it four years ago.â
Ron gave him a surprised look. âYouâre serious?â
âUnfortunately,â Harry commented wirily as he put the ring back in his pocket. âMore unfortunate than that is the fact that I doubt Iâm ever going to use it now.â
A sort of pitiful look crossed Ronâs face. âWhat makes you think so?â
Harry shrugged. âJust a hunch.â
âWell if you want me to take it off your hands right now-â
âNot a chance,â Harry said too quickly.
Ron gave a satisfied chuckle, going back to examine more rings. âThatâs what I though.â
----
Remus was the first to figure out where he was. But there was no real surprise there. Next to Ron Weasley, Remus Lupin had the confidence of Harry Potter.
Remus stopped short as he went up the aisle, frowning as he saw Harry intently looking at a number of books, flipping through them quickly before returning them to the shelf. He heard a noise behind him and turned to see Draco had caught up with him and was looking at Harry with confusion.
âWhat in Merlinâs name is he doing?â Draco whispered, sounding just as confused as Remus felt.
âI havenât the foggiest,â Remus admitted. âThis was just a stop on the way to his house, but I guess weâve found him alreadyâŚâ
âA library?â Draco sounded suspicious. âWhatâs a bloke doing in a library at a time like this.â
âThere are many different answers to that question, Draco,â Remus admitted, motioning Draco to follow him as he started towards Harry, âbut the best one, Iâm sure, is yet to come.â
The walked nonchalantly up to Harry who was so involved in his latest book that he didnât notice them till Remusâ shadow covered the page. He jumped slightly, looking over at them with an innocent face.
âYes?â
âExtra credit?â Remus questioned, motioning towards Harryâs book.
He closed the book quickly and returned it to the shelf, starting to scan for others. âIâm thinking of taking up Chinese. Mandarin or whatever.â
âLanguage?â Draco asked.
âLanguage, lifestyleâŚ.â Harry wasnât paying much attention to them, despite their close proximity and picked another book. âHas excellent weather during April.â
Remus frowned. âWhat does?â
âChina.â
Draco blew out a frustrated sigh. âPotter, youâre not making any sense.â
Harry closed his latest book with a snap and finally turned to them again. âChina. Beautiful weather. Rather cheap housing expenses.â
âSince when do you need cheap housing expenses?â Remus queried.
âIâm just saying, is all,â Harry went back to another book.
Remus and Draco turned to each other, exchanging âheâs-whacked-outâ looks and then turning back to Harry.
âHermioneâs worried about you.â
Remusâ statement prompted a dark look from Harry. âWhy?â
âHarry, no oneâs seen you for the past 12 hours, not since you ditched me at the Quidditch pitch.â Draco was getting frustrated, but Remus was just getting annoyed when Harry didnât bother reply, just turned back to another book.
âHarry,â he grabbed the younger manâs arm and turned him to face them. âRunning off to China isnât going to fix anything.â
Harry frowned in confusion. âToo close? I was thinking New Zealand, but they speak English there.â
âWhatâs that got to do with anything?â Draco snapped.
âObviously itâs harder to blend in when every English speaking person, and quite a few others, in the world knows your name.â Harry said âmatter-of-factlyâ.
âSo youâre blending in in China where you canât even speak the language?â
âI was learning.â
âEnough!â
Remus hushed them both and when they turned to him, he fixed his gaze on Harry. He didnât say anything, just stared at him for a few moments before Harry finally crumbled and put the books back on the shelf.
âWell, it was just a back up plan,â he admitted, letting them lead him out of the library.
----
Ron had wanted to stay in his bed that morning. It had been warm and cozy under the covers, though not as cozy as it could have been had Hermione not still been in the hospital. But after a day like yesterday, Sunday press conferences were going to be whacked out to the hilt, especially if Emily went through on her promise and handed someone that letter.
As he dragged his body out of bed and started getting ready for the day, he was surprised by how calm he was. He finally realized that it was because the people he cared about the most already knew the truthâŚand everyone else would just have to deal with it.
After all, there was anything he could do to change it now.
Hermione knew, and that was what mattered.
Harry knew as well, but frankly, Ron didnât care about seeing his best friend ever again.
That thought was still firm in his head when he entered the Cannonâs stadium and found Harry waiting there, sitting patiently and looking as innocent as he had the day they had first meant. But it didnât mean anything to Ron anymore. And according to Harryâs actions, it didnât mean anything to Harry either.
So Ron resolutely ignored any and all of Harryâs words as he swiftly walked by him and entered his office, shutting Harry out behind him.
----
The more colorful curses that Sirius had let slip around Harry were now slipping rapidly out of Harryâs mouth as he saw Ronâs office door slam and lock, and Harryâs composure fell a bit as he kicked a nearby wall.
âBloody Weasley!â he cried, holding his bruised toe and hopping on one foot as Draco and Remus appeared from around the corner.
âWhy didnât you just shove the letter in his face?â Draco asked, indicating the fabled blackmail letter that Harry had clenched in his fist.
âIâm not just handing this over.â Harry stated forcefully. âHe needs to know what it cost me.â He shivered involuntarily. âAlmost being married to that womanâŚugh.â Harry spat into the ground, as if there was a bad taste in his mouth and started out of the locked room and into the brightness of the Quidditch field.
âLetâs get out of here. Iâm obviously not going to get anywhere with Ron and there will be reporters here soon.â Harry led the three of them out of the stadium and towards the apparition point.
âWhat are you going to do now?â Remus asked. âUnderstand that China is still out of the question.â
Harry gave him a withered look. âLook, I need to go see Hermione alone and explain. Sheâs overwhelmed enough with everything thatâs been going on.â
âWhat are we supposed to do?â Draco asked. âI, for one, am not inclined to leave you alone again.â He turned to Remus. âDid we check him for sharp objects?â
âEnough!â Harry said, exasperated. âYou two go find Ginny. She needs to hear a few things as well.â
And with that, he took a single step back and disapperated with a pop.
----
âHe did WHAT??â Ginny cried.
Remus took an involuntary step backwards, not inclined to face the youngest Weasleyâs wrath. Draco, on the other hand, didnât seem the least bit intimidated.
âChill, Weaslette,â Draco continued smoothly. âItâs not as if he doesnât know how to handle himself around her.â
By now Ginny was pacing frantically around the room, as if trying to find something to maim. âIf I ever get my hands on that little bi-â
âLetâs take it one step at a time, first,â Remus bravely stepped forward and tried to remain calm. âHarryâs going to be in hot water with Ron if Emily actually sent him that letter.â
Ginny scoffed, unconvinced. âEven Ron isnât dense enough to think that Hermione and Harry would do anything like that.â
âAt this moment we wouldnât be so sure. Ron might take any opportunity to get mad at Harry, even if it is for something thatâs practically improbable.â
Finally standing still again, Ginny looked at the two of them curiously. âAny reason why I am now getting involved with this? Harry hasnât exactly been my best friend the past week.â
âObviously explained by what he was trying to do with Emily,â Draco reminded her.
âYou have to admit that if Harry hadnât figured out a way to get that letter, Ronâs career, and possibly Hermioneâs as well, would have been seriously compromised by the pres conference this morning.â
They all looked at the clock at the same time, seeing that the press conference was well underway by now.
âLook, Ronâs not going to be home for at least a half hour,â Draco said to Ginny. âHarryâs trying to figure something out with Hermione right now, and five heads are better than two.â He motioned with his head towards the fireplace.
Ginny gave them both a doubtful look.
âYouâre his best friend, Ginny,â Remus said in all seriousness. âHe needs you now more than ever.â
----
âI just think itâs better that he knows the exact truth!â Harry tried again, pleading nervously to Hermione who sat in a nearby chair, Gracieâs bassinet by her chair, both of them looking exhausted from the trip back home for the hospital.
âThe truth?? Harry do you have any idea how upset Ron is with you right now?â
âFor no bloody reason,â Harry murmured under his breath.
âMerlin, youâd swear it was fourth year with the both of you all over again.â Hermione gave him a scolding look.
âWell, this isnât all my fault, remember. Youâre not exactly at the pinnacle of innocence right now, Hermione. If I get in hot water, so do you.â
Hermione scoffed at him. âWell then, what do you suggest we do?â
âTell the truth!â Harry practically shouted at her.
âAnd Iâm telling you, that wonât work! Ronâs as stubborn as both of us put together, Harry. Heâll think the worst of it, even if he knows weâre just friends.â
They both sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments.
Hermione finally voiced the unspoken thought. âThis would be a whole lot easier if you were just married by now.â
âCouldnât agree more,â Harry sighed out, flopping down on the couch.
âWell itâs nice weâre all in agreement.â
Harryâs head snapped towards the familiar voice and saw Ginny, Draco and Remus coming in from the kitchen where they seemed to have just come through the floo.
âGinny!â
She gave him an âIâll-discuss-that-with-you-laterâ look and turned towards Hermione. âWeâve got a plan figured out, just follow our lead.â
âWe?â Harry asked, his eyes flickering to Draco and Remus who gave him a wink.
âRonâll be home any moment,â Hermione said with anxiety. âThereâs no time.â
âJust tell him the truth! Please, Hermione,â Harry went over to kneel by her chair, taking one of her hands in his. âRonâs my best mate. I know he is.â
âNo.â Hermione was firm. âNo, Harry. Ronâs my husband and after getting out of your shadow, the slightest shove back toward it will throw him in a frenzy. Believe me, we must not tell him.â She gave him a pleading look. âDo whatever Ginny says, I donât care what it is. Just please, promise me. Promise me you wonât tell him.â
Harry could feel Ginny, Draco and Remusâ eyes on his back and he took a shaking breath. âAlright. I promise.â
âThat you will not tell me what?â
All ten eyes swiveled around in shock to see a furious Ron Weasley standing in the doorway, a familiar crumpled note in his hand and his eyes fixated on his best friend.
----
a/n: That was a pitifully long wait and I donât think I can really apologize enough. Iâm sorry if this chapter wasnât worth the wait, but Iâm hoping that the next (and final!) chapter will be :)
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