Over Parchment Burned By Fireworks (Fremione Fanfic)

Chapter 11: Someone Else

A term that seems to hurt more than anyone would think at first. 'Someone else'. A term used too much when it came to the end of a friendship, a job...or even a relationship. Commonly said as 'There's someone else.' Two key words that could make someone miserable in seconds. For Hermione there was someone else.

All she was left to do was to figure out if the 'someone else' was Fred or Ron.

She had more intimate moments with Fred than she had ever had with Ron. But her mind kept telling her she wanted Ron. Lucy had even tried to talk to her about Fred but all Hermione said -and could say- was that 'it meant nothing in the long run'. She still thought of Ron as her crush after everything. Surely that should mean something...

Right?

Ron's presence meant a lot to her, she liked when he was around. He was annoying at times and rude but he was also kind and gentle...well, when he wanted to be.

The fire crackled in front of her as she sorted through her jumbled emotions while sitting on the ground with her knees to her chest. Perhaps she was looking for more in Ron. Searching for a backstory, a personality that he might be hiding, for him to be more than meets the eye. She often did that with a lot of people, not on purpose a lot of the time. Hoping that people had a reason for their unkind actions, or unfriendly nature.

Ron wasn't always an arsehole to her, they were closer before. But there was always something between them. They became friends through Harry, and stayed friends because of Harry. But it wasn't Harry who was that 'something between them' maybe it was that Harry was the only thing they had in common.

Harry was the only thing they both connected over. Sticking with Harry, being there for him when no one else was, and occasionally being there for each other when they needed someone to talk to about the things going on around Harry.

Albeit, there was an element of trust that grew between them because of all that, but now all that trust was dripping down a drain without anything to plug the leak. They were rarely alone anymore. She wasn't sure she wanted to be alone with him. After what he's done. After what he's said.

"Ah, there you are." A voice announced from behind her, Ron.

"You were looking for me?" Hermione turned confused, her heart beat in her chest slightly louder now. Damn the affect he had on her still. It made her feel sick...and she couldn't figure out if the nausea was from the butterflies in her stomach or simply from the memories connected to him now.

He sat on the couch behind her, resting his elbows on his knees, "Why are you so shocked at that?" He questioned, as if he looked for her all the time. He didn't.

"Never mind, do you need something?" She didn't sound very enthusiastic, she could hear it in her voice meaning he probably could too. "I wanted to talk to you." He shrugged. Hermione knew he wanted something out of this. There was no way he didn't, well, there might be a slight chance but that was in her younger self's dreams.

"What did you want to talk about?" She turned fully to face him, her back warming to the fire. She couldn't help her curiosity. Although curiosity killed the cat...

"Well, I wanted to talk about us." He sent her a soft smile. Now she definitely felt sick..., "I'm sorry? What about 'us'. Is there much to really say, Ron?" She felt like standing, sitting with him looking down at her made her feel odd -almost uneasy.

Ron leaned back slightly, rolling his shoulders back for better posture as he took a quick breath, "I have to tell you something, Hermione-"

"-Ron, wha-?" She interrupted but it made no difference to him as he watched her stand. "Hermione, I really like you."