Harry Potter and the Torrid Affair

Chapter 20: Stupid Love Triangles

"Ron, they can still hear us," Lavender said. Though Harry and Hermione were both petrified, it was true that they were still conscious. Ron and Lavender left the dorm and decided to talk in the staircase, as they would be able to hear people coming up.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Lavender started beating Ron on the arm.

"HOW—COULD—YOU—CHEAT—ON—ME?" she screamed between punches, "ESPECIALLY—WITH—HER?" Lavender started sobbing uncontrollably, her grief tangible in her disheveled hair and the tears splashing down her face.

Ron rubbed his arm, as it was now quite sore. "Lavender, I've already explained—"

"No you haven't! Why'd you let her kiss you, huh?" she asked scornfully, "You could have pushed her away. Why didn't you? Answer me, damn you!"

"I-I-I was taken by surprised! She just jumped on top of me just before you came in."

"BULLSHIT!" Lavender screamed, "You shouldn't have let her even come close! You had the wand, you could have petrified her or slowed her down or just about anything else! What were you THINKING?" But Lavender already feared the answer. She had feared something like this ever since she'd started dating Ron.

Hermione had never said anything to them, but she had made it obvious just how jealous she was. Had Lavender known how long Hermione had been dating Harry, she might have thought differently. To her, though, Harry and Hermione had only just started dating, and she had carried her frightful suspicions that Hermione wanted Ron up until this point, where it seemed her suspicions had taken a frightful turn.

Now it was apparent that she should have been more worried about Ron wanting Hermione.

Ron was, of course, very hesitant in answering, as he was just starting to discover his feelings himself. There was only one reasonable explanation as to why he'd let Hermione kiss him. Telling that to Lavender, though, would clearly end their relationship. And since Hermione had recently told him she was dating Harry, he knew he would probably never win her over.

It made Ron burn with jealousy, thinking about the two of them. Harry had always beaten Ron at everything. He was a better student and a better Quidditch player. He'd been the one to thwart Lord Voldemort so many times. Now, he had beaten Ron to his heart's desire.

"Do you love her?" Lavender asked, biting back tears again.

"What?" asked Ron, playing stupid to buy time.

"DO YOU LOVE HER?" Lavender screamed.

"YES!" Ron retorted, and Lavender shrieked so loudly it almost rivaled a banshee. Tears flowed down her face again, and she whacked Ron as hard as she could in the head and stood up.

"Lavender, wait!" Ron called.

"FUCK YOU!" Lavender yelled, "I've had it! We're over! You hear me? OVER!" And with that, Lavender stormed down the stairs, hoping never to see that red-haired traitor again.

She nearly bowled over Neville and Professor Slughorn on her way down the stairs. She apologized quickly and hurried off, hoping to avoid any questions. Neville shook his head and continued up the stairs, where he saw a miserable Ron waiting for them.

"Are you all right, Ronald?" Professor Slughorn asked. It was the first time Slughorn had addressed Ron, and he was very grateful.

"Not really, but I think I'll manage. They're inside the room."

"Thank you, Ronald. Take care of yourself, son." Professor Slughorn walked past, and Neville gave Ron a reassuring pat on the back before following the professor into the room.

"Dear, dear," Slughorn said, and he unbound Harry and Hermione.

"Where's Ron?" they asked. Neville almost answered, but Professor Slughorn hushed him.

"Ron's gone, but he wants you to drink this." Professor Slughorn gave each of them a flask, which was filled with the antidote to Amortentia. Once Harry and Hermione had drained the flasks, they sunk from their highs and felt discombobulated, but they were thinking clearly again.

"Do you remember what's happened in the past twenty minutes or so?" Slughorn asked. They both shook their heads.

"Neville, if you could please explain to them what happened. I'd best be off. Have rather important business to attend to." Professor Slughorn left, not for any rather important business, but to avoid Harry questioning him again about Horcruxes.

Neville explained all that had happened to Harry and Hermione. If he had been less compassionate, he would have had to keep from bursting into laughter. When he was finished, he watched Harry and Hermione sit, stunned and saddened by what had occurred.

"I wish I was making it all up," said Neville, "but it's all true." Harry and Hermione said nothing.

"Ron's outside, by the way. He looks pretty upset; you should go talk to him." Harry and Hermione nodded. Neville went outside and sent Ron in. Ron collapsed in his bed and groaned.

"We're finished," he said, "Lavender and I. She just dumped me flat."

"I'm…sorry, Ron," Hermione said.

"What? It was your fault!"

"It was Romilda Vane's fault!" Harry said, "Don't blame Hermione for something she couldn't control."

"Harry, please," Hermione said, "It's fine. Ron's right. I should have stopped myself."

"Hermione, you'd just taken Love Potion! You were out of your right mind. As a matter of fact, this is as much Ron's fault as it is anyone's!"

"Excuse me?" Ron asked, trying to defend himself. But then he sighed. "No, Harry, you're right. I let Hermione come on to me."

"Why would you do that?" Hermione asked, but she was smart enough to figure it out without Ron saying a word.

"Hermione, I lied when I said you were a poison to me," Ron said, "I…was angry. I mean, I always wondered whether you liked me or hated me, and when I finally heard the answer, I was so frustrated. I…can't really explain what happened, but I wanted to hurt you the same way you hurt me."

"That's ridiculous, Ron. Why didn't you just tell me the truth?"

"Well…I was scared to," Ron admitted, "I'm ashamed of myself for that, but Lavender was a sure thing at the time, and I didn't want to date you only to find that we were all crazy around each other. But that was just so stupid of me! I'm sorry." Hermione patted Ron on the arm.

"It's all right, Ron." Harry was keeping out of the conversation, holding back his skepticism. He thought Ron was getting off far too easy. After all, hadn't he just kissed his girlfriend?

"Ron, I'm sorry, too," Hermione said, "All those years of putting you through such hell…well, I can imagine now why you would say those things. To tell you the truth, I was afraid you didn't like me. So I treated you badly so you wouldn't find out how I felt about you and then reject me. But look! It happened anyway; you rejected me. Karma, I guess.

"I'm also sorry we didn't tell you about us sooner," Hermione added, gesturing to Harry. Harry crossed his arms and glared at Ron, indicating that he was not at all sorry. Hermione gave him an exasperated look, then turned back to Ron.

"You should have known way sooner, but we were afraid about how you would take it."

"Don't worry about that, Hermione. It didn't make much of a difference anyway."

"I guess not…What about you, Harry?" Hermione suddenly snapped, "Aren't you sorry, too?"

"Not at all," Harry said, "Ron, you let Hermione kiss you, knowing she was out of her right mind and knowing she was going out with me! How could you do that to me?"

"Harry, you were conked out, and I thought it was my only shot to see how kissing Hermione felt. Believe me, I regret doing that to Lavender and especially to you, my best friend."

"So what? Don't you get it? I can't trust you anymore, Ron! How do I know you won't start snogging Hermione again the minute my back is turned?"

"Harry," Hermione said, "I would never let that happen—"

"Are you sure? Can you really promise me that?"

"Are you telling me you don't trust me?" Hermione asked, hands dangerously placed on her hips.

"Hermione, you told me how much you loved Ron back in November," Harry said, "That feeling just doesn't vanish into thin air. I can't be sure about you two anymore."

"Harry, for God's sake," Ron said, "I told you I was sorry."

"That's the easiest thing in the world to say," Harry said. "Words are easy."

"Harry, if this is really how you feel then I don't think we can see each other anymore!" Hermione cried in anguish. Harry's anger instantly subsided.

"No, Hermione, I didn't mean that…"

"Well, if you can't trust me, how can we keep dating? God, I can't believe we're having this conversation."

"What?" Harry asked sardonically.

"All those times I kissed you, all those times we slept together"—Ron's mouth fell open at this—"all those times I said I love you, does that mean nothing to you? Harry, you know I'm the most trustworthy person you know. Why can't you forgive what happened?"

"Because I still can't trust Ron!" Harry spat, "and…well…" Harry had been deflated. What Hermione had said made far too much sense. He now felt so ashamed of himself for snapping at Hermione, when in reality it was Ron with whom he was more angry.

Ron finally shut his mouth and recomposed himself.

"Harry, I don't know what to say," Ron said, "We've been best mates for life. If you can't trust me, well…maybe that's it. Maybe you're better off without me…" Harry shook his head, knowing that Ron had a point. But Hermione looked between the two of them and tears began to well up.

"Oh, stop it, you two! Look what's become of us! We've been friends since that troll fight. How come we didn't let a troll get between us but we're now arguing over stupid love triangles!

"Harry, those dreams you've had, about Voldemort"—Harry looked at Hermione in surprise. She had never said Voldemort's name with such conviction—"remember those? He wanted you to stop associating with Ron and I, wanted to stop us from being friends. If you let this get in the way of our friendship, then he'll win, Harry, and you can't let him win! The world depends on you, and you depend on us! You have to trust us, Harry, you simply have to, for your own survival! Because I can't bear the thought of losing you, Harry!" At this, Hermione buried her face in Harry's shoulder and started bawling. Harry stroked her back and tried to comfort her. He gave Ron a heartfelt look of apology.

"Hermione," Harry said, "you're right. I can't let something like this break us.

"Ron, I'm so sorry. I remember hating it when you didn't believe that I hadn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire. I trust you."

"Thanks, Harry," said Ron, breathing an enormous sigh of relief, "Hermione? I love you, and, well, if Harry makes you happy, that's cool with me. I'll get over it." Ron smiled sheepishly. Hermione looked at Ron with the most heartfelt joy.

"Oh, thank you, Ron!" she cried, running to give him a hug and kissing him on the cheek. Harry joined the embrace, and all of the torment of the past few months finally seemed to be ending.

"Now, wait a minute," Ron said, "when did you two start sleeping together?"

…

Harry had a dream about Voldemort again that night, but this time he had intended it. Voldemort sneered coldly, pointing his wand at Harry. Behind him, Ron and Hermione were shackled in black chains.

"So, Harry, you have refused my demands. How very foolish. Now their lives are in my hands, and their deaths will haunt your conscience forever."

"Voldemort," Harry said with conviction, "you'll never kill my friends, because I won't let you. They'll stand by me to the bitter end and we'll fight you and we will not fail." Voldemort laughed coldly. The hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood on end, but he stayed firm.

"Fool! Do you think you can match wands with the most powerful sorcerer in the world? Your friends will die, and you along with them. And then I will reign immortal!" Voldemort turned his wand on Harry. Harry felt his own wand rise to meet Voldemort's Killing Curse. His red light connected with Voldemort's green light, and they were locked in a struggle once again, fighting to keep the magical energy away.

Harry felt his energy drain alarmingly quickly. He fell to one knee, and Voldemort pushed his wand forever, anticipating the final blow. Suddenly though, Ron and Hermione were freed from their chains, and they shot their own beams of light at Voldemort; Ron's blue and Hermione's gold. The three friends moved inward, concentrating their beams of energy. Voldemort could not handle all three of them. There was a cracking noise, followed by a large explosion when the energy collided. When the smoke cleared, there was no trace of Lord Voldemort.

"Did…did we kill him?" Ron asked.

"No, he Disapparated," Hermione said.

"So? We taught him a lesson," Harry said, "He can't kill me, because I've got a power he'll never know—"

"Okay, Harry," Ron said, "we get it. You don't have to spell it out for us."

…

The next day, Harry went down to the Common Room to find Ron and Hermione waiting for him. Everyone else had apparently gone to breakfast. Hermione greeted Harry with a warm kiss, and then Ron smiled and gave him a hug.

"So, you weren't lying," Harry said as he snuggled next to Hermione, "You're really okay with us?"

"Well, I'll get used to it," Ron said. Harry shook his head with a smile. Suddenly, the portrait opened and Ginny walked in. She smiled when she saw Harry and Hermione sitting so closely, but somehow it seemed forced. She left the room a bit faster than was natural.

"Suppose Ginny will have to get used to it, too," Hermione said.

"What?" Harry and Ron asked.

"Harry, she was lying to you, too. I overheard her talking to her friends, saying she still liked you." Ron's ears turned red.

"Sorry, Harry. My sister's a real nutter."

"It's okay, I'm used to hanging around with nutters." From there the conversation deterred to Quidditch, which left Hermione hopelessly lost, but she didn't care in the slightest. Being with her two best friends and being happy was a blessing, even if she couldn't tell a Quaffle from a Bludger.

*FIN*