Chapter 72 - Confessions & Battles II

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The very next day it was the Transfiguration exam. This was a subject that he struggled with since it wasn't really handy in battles. However, he had studied plenty and did decently well in the written exam. Meanwhile, the practical exam went more than well as he felt his luck helped a lot.

Like that, Herbology came the next day, a mere written exam. Then, a day after was DADA written and practical, where he once again aced. After that, he finally had a day to rest since Ancient Runes wasn't his game, and only Hermione among them took it.

The weekend passed, and eventually, the Potions exam went by. Ron did well this time as he had used a lot of potions in his battles and with some more study, it wasn't that tough. The practicals were even better where he made the best potions.

Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy theory, then Divination, and at late night the Astronomy practical.

Then at last, on 16th June, Ron took the final exam, History of Magic. Sadly, unlike most others, he and a few of his friends couldn't take a sigh of relief.

As soon as the exam ended, the group of students that he and Harry had gathered to train over that whole year met on the seventh floor, a total of ten. Although there were more, Ron and Harry had only called the ones who were strongest.

Ron cleared his throat, looking around nervously before speaking. "Look, everything we've trained for... it's happening the day after tomorrow," he began, trying to ground everyone in the moment. "It's not going to be a walk in the park, it's dangerous—some of us might not make it. That's why no one's forcing you to come along. You can back out, no one's going to think less of you."

He glanced at Harry before adding, "Harry's got his reasons, and I've got a bone to pick myself. But the rest of you... you're here because you're our mates, and that's more than enough for me."

"We're going," Padma responded. "If he wins, we'd be killed on sight no matter our blood status."

"If you're going, we're going too." Fred and George said at the same time.

Ron sighed and let Harry talk to them. He had already given the Portkey to Harry since he wasn't planning on staying in Hogwarts. Instead, he looked at Hermione now and then, gathering enough strength to tell her everything.

Eventually, Harry finished talking with all of them and ended the meeting with the plan to meet again on the 18th. After that, Harry nodded towards Ron and left the room with everyone else.

"Hermione, can you hang back for a sec?" Ron blurted, stopping her before she could join the others.

Brows furrowed, Hermione looked back at Ron. She had gotten a little used to fewer interactions with Ron, no matter how much it hurt. She just folded her arms. "Sure. What is it?"

Ah, I deserve this. What was I thinking all this time?

"Hermione, I know you've noticed. That I've been avoiding you lately. It's been driving you mad, hasn't it?" Ron swallowed, his face serious as he met her gaze. "I didn't mean to hurt you, not really. But I need to explain why. Why I think... maybe we should stop getting involved like 'that'."

"What do you mean by 'that'?" Hermione asked.

"Sexually." He answered without holding back. "We need to stop this, Hermione. I... I have to tell you everything today. I've never been sure about us, not really. It just sort of happened, and now I can't go on pretending. After the Triwizard Tournament, something happened between me and Fleur, and... A few months ago... She… She had a baby."

Lips went dry, and Hermione stumbled back. Her brows furrowed and relaxed, then creased again. Disbelief, anger, disappointment, sadness, and confusion swapped on her face. Her heart failed to control its rhythm and her lips failed to move.

"B-baby!? What–?"

"Fleur had a baby with me… It's a girl," Ron replied, trying his best not to step closer and help her maintain balance. "It wasn't planned, but it happened and…"

Should I tell her about the other girls? Ron wondered to himself. No, I can't tell her about Amelia. It's for Edgar's safety.

"Ron, is this one of your stupid jokes!?" Hermione asked, looking miserable.

He remained serious, his expressions unchanging.

Hermione looked down. "I-I…"

"Hermione, we can still step back. We haven't crossed that line yet. We can go back to being good frien—"

"No, we can't!" Hermione lashed out, clenching her fist in self-restraint. "Why are you so blind, Ron? I loved you! I've loved you for so long."

What? Ron lost himself there. Over the past few months, he had treated her differently, closely, and intimately, but never romantically. He never saw her as more than a good friend, but he had noticed the signs recently. Signs that only became clear when it was too late.

I… I never had romantic feelings for her? But I liked being with her. Love? I… don't know… I'm going mental.

"Since when?" Ron questioned her.

Tears rolled down Hermione's eyes. She finally walked closer to Ron. "I don't know, but I wanted to be close. I wanted… I wanted you to ask me for the Yule Ball, Ron."

Ron went through a quick flashback all of a sudden. The memories of the days when Yule ball was approaching. The way Hermione gave him the strange look and the weird temper she had. How she was annoyed with him that entire school year.

Why? Why so late? Ron felt hurt by that. If he had known, everything could have been avoided.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked back. "Why didn't you say it to me?"

"I tried! I gave you hints, I gave you all the chances. You never did, you never tried."

That angered Ron a little. "No, you never showed it! All you did was avoid me! All you ever did was be annoyed at me! I'm not a mind reader, Hermione—How was I to know your feelings for me? I… You're the smartest girl in this school and somehow I was supposed to think that you were into me?"

Ron rubbed his face tiredly, annoyed at everything. If only Hermione had confessed instead of expecting him to be a mind reader.

"Do you love her? Fleur?" Hermione suddenly asked, not even wiping away her tears at that point.

Ron looked away from her and thought of Fleur. Her smiling face flashed in his thoughts, and how to the point she had always been with him.

Yeah, I guess I do.

"I do." He replied to Hermione.

Thud!

Hermione stepped closer to Ron and slammed her forehead on his chest. She cried there for a while, sobbing with noises. She mumbled many things, like having imagined a future together, days ahead, or the next two years of Hogwarts.

I can't betray the family I've made, Hermione. This is necessary.

He didn't embrace her, nor try to console her. It was better to cry it all out all at once.

Thump!

She softly smashed her fist on his chest and stepped back.

Thump!

With tears in her eyes, she punched his chest with a little more strength. Maybe as much strength as she could muster. Ron flinched a little but accepted it.

Silently, she turned around and walked towards the door. "Good luck."

I've ruined it. Ron felt horrified with himself. All that luck and I used it to shag women.

Hermione didn't look back and just left in silence.

Ron wanted to stop her but he had no idea what to say to make her feel better. There was nothing that could make her feel better.

Friendship ruined?

A little afraid, Ron walked out of the classroom after some time. It was turning dark already, so he went to the the Gryffindor dorms. Since the exams were over, it was almost a celebration in the common room.

But, avoiding all the mayhem, he arrived at his dorm room. It was only Harry there, packing his bag since the year was coming to an end.

"How did it go?" Harry asked.

Ron sighed and started packing his luggage too. "Tears, anger, and possibly a friendship ruined."

"She'll forgive you," Harry added.

Ron felt angry by that. Just a little, but he felt it. Not much had happened between him and Hermione yet, and also the fact that Hermione never confessed when it was the right time.

"Harry, you know Hermione fancied me since the fourth year? She was just waiting for me to ask her to the Yule Ball. Can you believe that?"

Harry frowned. "When did that happen?"

"Exactly! She somehow expected me to read her mind." Ron frustratingly just flicked his wand to make the bags pack themselves while he sat down on the bed. "It's annoying. She should have said it back then."

Harry scratched his head and did what Ron had done. He also got down on his bed. "So, what will you do now?"

"I don't know. I'll need to figure things out, but I'll need your help."

"Sure, what do you need?"

"A way out."

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