Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (MOD Novelization)

17

Ron shook his head, resignation settling in his frown. He turned to Hermione, voice softening. "I know you had the best intentions with this, but that..." Ron gestured loosely at Harry, "...is not the same person we shared a compartment with on the Hogwarts Express."

He turned to walk away, his footsteps heavy against the marble floor. Hermione called after him in desperation.

"Ron, wait."

"Ah, let him go."

Ron paused, looking back over his shoulder. "I love you, Hermione, but I don't know what you're trying to prove by forcing this. We're not one of the families you need to moderate reconciliations with on behalf of some... mistreated house-elves. This was a waste of time."

"Don't say that," she pleaded softly.

"Y'know, sometimes I think he really did die during the Battle of Hogwarts," Ron said bitterly. "Because that man, right there, is not Harry Potter."

With that, he disappeared into the crowd. A profound sadness clouded Hermione's face as she returned to Harry's side, her shoulders slumped. Rudely, the automated female voice of the elevators chimed coolly.

"Mind your step. The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."

"Like I say—peace, not war," murmured Hermione. "At least the two of you spoke to one another. Progress?"

"He's right, you know," Harry said quietly, his gaze distant. "We're never going to agree."

"You fell out over the correct rules of a rescue operation."

"Ron made a stupid mistake. He should've never done what he did."

"Yes, he made a mistake running into that building," she conceded. "But it was a brave thing he did. You never recognized him for that. He knows he made a mistake... he does."

"It didn't sound that way to me."

"You know Ron. He's being stubborn," Hermione said, her eyes searching his.

"It forced us apart, his stubbornness," Harry responded.

"And your stubbornness is keeping the two of you apart," she countered. "You should've given him another chance, Harry, instead of filling his position and hiring someone else."

"I made a decision. It's done," he said flatly.

"Ugh! I cannot stand you two like this! You have to get over your differences."

"Sometimes families have differences."

"We're not just family, Harry. We're friends," she insisted.

"We haven't been friends in years, Hermione," he replied, not bothering to hide the melancholy in his voice.

"You were best friends at Hogwarts!" she protested.

"But maybe we'll never be friends again," Harry admitted. "That was a long time ago. Ron and I are okay with how things are. It's not easy, but we've come to accept it. You should, too, Hermione. I mean, what did you expect? Another adventure? We won't be sneaking under the trapdoor anytime soon. Those days are far behind us. We're adults now. And adults have to solve their own problems before anyone else's."

He held up the Time-Turner, its delicate mechanisms glinting momentarily in the light. "I'm following the proper procedures and bringing this to the Minister. Even if it is Percy."

"Even after he bungled that meeting?" she asked skeptically.

"He's still your Minister," Harry replied.