Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

I'll Cry Later

Ron and Hermione had been going out for something about maybe two months. Not that long if you thought about how long they had actually liked each other. They had confessed their feelings by the beginning of their sixth year. Now here they were, in the middle of the Gryffindor Common room, the rain splattering against the windows. But Ron and Hermione were to busy to notice, they were trying to talk about things, work things out.

'Ron, this... this isn't working,' said Hermione with tears in her eyes.

Ron didn't say anything, he just stood the like he was paralysed.

'Look, I need to spend some time alone, I need to be able to clear my mind,' said Hermione. Ron shook his head.

'What do you mean?' he asked.

'What I'm saying is that maybe the two of us isn't meant to be,' said Hermione, a tear slowly rolling down his cheek.

'Why, what makes you say that?' asked Ron.

Hermione stroke her tears away before answering.

'Ron, I'm not sure about my feelings for you,' she said. 'I can't help but to wonder if I'm wasting my time, if I'm wasting your time.'

'You'll never waste my time, Hermione,' said Ron, placing his hand on top of hers. Hermione pulled her hand away.

'Well, I think I've just done that, Ron,' said Hermione. 'This is it. It's over. I'm sorry.' Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Ron nodded, looking at the floor. Then he looked up at her, into her eyes.

'Is there someone else?' he asked.

Hermione avoided his eyes while answering.

'Yes,' she said, nodding.

Ron backed away, looking angry, but still hurt.

'Who?' he asked.

Hermione didn't answer. Ron shook his head, laughing angrily.

'Forget about it then,' he shouted at her and ran up to the boys' dormitory.

Right now my heart ain´t working
Can't spare the time for hurtin
You told me you'd found someone else
Shoulda known that you were cheatin'
By the company you were keepin'
But I learned the hard way, I was proud
I'm laughing' right know

He flung himself on his four-poster bed and buried his face in his pillow, letting go of the tears that had been burning behind his eyes. As he lay on his bed crying someone entered the dormitory. That someone was Harry.

'Err-Ron?' he said. Ron took his head away from the pillow and looked at the person standing next to him.

'Are you OK?' asked Harry. Ron was about to say yes when he realized that that was a total lie.

He shook his head.

'No. Harry, I feel like shit,' said Ron. Harry nodded.

'I figured, I met Hermione,' he said. Ron sighed.

'I can't believe this. After six years we get together and then, two months later she dumps me all together,' said Ron.

'Did she tell you why?' asked Harry. Ron sighed.

'She told me that she wasn't sure about her feelings for me, that she needed to clear her mind,' said Ron.

'Anything else?' asked Harry. Ron nodded.

'She has found someone else,' said Ron, and he could make the tears stop. He felt them circle down his cheeks.

Harry looked surprised and stunned.

'Someone else?' he asked. Ron nodded in silence.

'Someone else,' he muttered.

Harry shook his head, and mumbled to himself. Ron stroke away the tears from his cheeks.

'Don't tell her about me, you know,' he said.

Harry smiled weakly.

'Don't worry, I won't,' he said.

'Thanks,' said Ron. Harry nodded.

I'll cry later
Cry later
You ain´t gonna' see me hurt
I'll cry later
Cry later
Coz crying only make it worse
It's raining it's pouring
Those tears I'll ignore them
I'm laughing' right now, yeah
I'll cry later

Ron had surely fallen asleep because Harry had to shake him to get in contact with him. After been shaken back to reality Ron and Harry decided to go and have some breakfast, since the morning had caught up with them.

While walking down the staircase leading down to the common room Ron was worried that he'd find Hermione there, waiting for Harry. He couldn't help but to feel a bit relieved when he found the common room without Hermione, totally empty.

They continued, out of the portrait hole and down the stairs. Finally entering the Great Hall Ron got the sight of Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table next to Ginny, talking. He and Harry sat down at the far end of the table, far away from Ginny and Hermione.

But during the entire meal Ron kept glancing at her, Harry surely noticed because he dragged Ron out of the Great Hall, out in grounds.

'Come on Ron, forget about-' said Harry, but Ron cut him off.

'I can't Harry! How can I forget about her? I love her!' shouted Ron.

Harry was taken aback by Ron's words. He looked surprised.

'You- you love her?' he asked. Ron nodded.

'Yeah,' he said.

'Wow,' said Harry. 'I mean I knew you like her and that you were, you know, in love with her but... I never knew you loved her.'

'Well I do,' said Ron.

Harry looked at his best friend, probably looking for the right words.

'But still, you got to move on,' he said. Ron shrugged.

'Yeah, I guess,' he said. 'I'll just move on.'

With that they headed back to the Gryffindor tower.

I'm carefree on the surface
Act like I couldn't care less
Deep Down I'm not that cool at all
I'm down, you'll never know it
This clown, ain´t gonna blow it
My shattered heart won't make a sound

Christmas arrived soon enough and so did the Christmas holidays. Ron had tried, well enough, to move on. He had managed it quite well, according to what Harry had seen. But Hermione on the other hand, who had spent quite a lot of time alone, hadn't. At least not what Harry had been able to notice.

This snowy, windy day, Ron was going to go to Hogsmead, so was Hermione.

She was planning to by some Christmas presents. She still hadn't bought Harry's, Ginny's or... Ron's. She sighed. Should she by Ron a present? Why shouldn't she? They were still friends. She nodded.

'I'll by him a present,' she said to herself.

She entered a shop and looked around, then her eyes fell upon the perfect present for Harry, and next she noticed Ginny's. She smiled to herself.

'This is easy,' she said.

'What?' asked a lady next to her.

'Oh nothing,' said Hermione and blushed.

'OK,' said the lady.

Hermione picked up Harry's and Ginny's presents two different cloaks that matched perfect to each other.

'Just like the new owners, a match made in heaven,' said Hermione to herself.

I'll cry later
Cry later
You ain´t gonna' see me hurt
I'll cry later
Cry later
Coz crying only make it worse
It's raining it's pouring
Those tears I'll ignore them
I'm laughing' right now, yeah
I'll cry later

After paying for the cloaks and getting them wrapped up Hermione entered The Three Broomsticks. She really needed a hot butterbeer, it was so cold outside. She stroke a hand through her hair to get some of the snow out and looked around.

She didn't recognize anyone; she shrugged and went to the counter.

'One butterbeer, please,' she said to Madam Rosmerta who nodded.

Then she recognized her.

'Just one?' she asked.

Hermione nodded.

'Yes just one,' said Hermione.

'Oh,' said Rosmerta. 'What happened with him, err- Ron?'

'Err-' said Hermione, not quite sure what to say.

Madam Rosmerta had known about her and Ron, of course, just as everybody else.

'We've broken up,' said Hermione and avoided madam Rosmerta. Instead she looked to her left.

The sigh made her stunned. There was Ron and... some girl. Her heart sank. They were talking, she could tell it was a date, their first date. Ron noticed her watching. Hermione turned back to Madam Rosmerta, pretending she hadn't seen Ron.

Ron noticed this but turned back to his date. Glancing at Hermione, as she got her butterbeer from Madam Rosmerta and sat down at the counter. She finished her butterbeer quickly. Ron had a feeling why. He recognized the look on her face, the look in her eyes. She did something special with them when she was about to cry.

Ron seemed to have forgotten about his date. He was watching Hermione closely. He watched her finish her butterbeer, saying good bye to Rosmerta and heading towards the door.

I'm out with someone knew
Guess who I see across a crowded room
Now you won't show you your heart is sinking
But I can tell what your really thinkin'...

As Hermione stepped out of the Three Broomsticks Ron got up. He looked at his date, Melinda, for a second before muttering;

'I'm sorry.'

Then he ran towards the door, while opening it he could see Madam Rosmerta smiling at him. Then he stepped out into the cold and snowy outside. He looked to his left and then to his right, but didn't see her. Just then, when he was about to get back inside, he noticed her. A bit far away, but yes, it was her. He could see her bushy brown hair.

It only took him a second to start running; it didn't take long before he caught up with her.

He looked at her, and then he placed his hand on her shoulder.

'Hermione?' he said.

She turned around, slowly. Ron could see that she had been crying. He had been right.

'Ron?' said Hermione. Ron smiled, weakly.

Ron didn't say anything he just looked at her, and then he brought his hand up to her face and stroke away the tears.

'I'm so sorry,' he said. Hermione nodded.

'Me too,' she said. 'I shouldn't waste your time like this; I should have known that you'd move on.'

Ron shook his head.

'I haven't, that was just an attempt to. I tried, I couldn't,' said Ron.

'Ron I'm so sorry. I've missed you so much,' said Hermione, crying.

Ron embraced her, hugging her tightly.

'So have I,' he said, while Hermione sobbed into his chest.

I'll cry later
Cry later
You ain´t gonna' see me hurt
I'll cry later
Cry later
Coz crying only make it worse
It's raining it's pouring
Those tears I'll ignore them
I'm laughin' right now, yeah
I'll cry later

When Ron let go Hermione looked into his eyes. Hers were red from all the crying, his was blank from the tears that were waiting to escape from there.

'I didn't want you to see me like this,' she said.

'Hermione, I've seen you like this more than once,' said Ron.

Hermione smiled and nodded.

'I know,' she said.

Then Ron, once again stroke away the tears from he cheeks. When he was done Hermione took his hand, looking up into his eyes.

'Ron, I love you,' said Hermione.

Ron pulled her closer, placing his lips on top of hers, kissing her. She kissed him back.

'I thought I had lost you,' Ron said as they broke apart. Hermione shook her head.

'Never,' she said.