Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 164: Hermione Dilemma
HERMIONE GRANGER POV
When Hermione first arrived at Hogwarts, the person she disliked the most was Ronald Weasley.
It wasn't because of he come from poor family but the way he ate the food, the way he talked and bullshitting others making Hermione hate him.
He was loud, careless with his words and often seemed uninterested in studies. To Hermione, who valued discipline and knowledge. Ron represented everything she found frustrating, their early interactions were filled with arguments, criticism and mutual fight.
However, as time passed, things began to change especially after Harry and Ron come to save him in the girl bathroom.
Since then they become friend and some people even called them the trio.
When Hermione was in danger, needed someone there will always be Ron there to save her. Despite his flaws and weakness Ron and Harry was always there with her.
Whenever danger appeared, whenever Harry was in trouble, Ron never hesitated to stand beside him. He might complain, he might grumble, but in the end, he stayed. That loyalty towards others, slowly broke down Hermione's initial dislike.
But that was broke when Ron started to act childish and become enemy to Harry in her fourth year and later they become friends again and Ron act like a true friends once more.
In the original timeline, Hermione feelings grew even stronger because of Ron constant presence during critical moments, especially when they risked their lives together. The battles they fought, the dangers they faced and the emotional support Ron provided to Harry all contributed to deepening her feelings.
Shared hardship created connection but this timeline was different.
Because of Dudley influence, many of those life-threatening situations never occurred. The trio didn't rush recklessly into the Ministry to fight for their lives. They didn't face the same level of danger together and without those moments…
Ron role naturally diminished and Hermione didn't feel the same feeling she had towards the cannon timeline ron.
He was still a friend, an important one but not someone who stood at the center of Hermione world.
Her feelings for him never crossed that line and he remained, simply… Ron just a close friend and nothing more.
Now that roles were replaced with someone else
Someone who, without her realizing it at first, matched everything she valued.
Steve Rogers, He was calm, composed and intelligent. Unlike many others, he didn't speak nonsense or waste time with empty words. Every conversation with him felt meaningful. He understood complex topics quickly and could even challenge her in discussions—something she rarely experienced.
He also shared her thirst for knowledge but at the same time, he was different from her.
Where Hermione was reserved and often kept to herself, Steve was a natural social butterfly. He could speak with anyone, adapt to any conversation, and move effortlessly between groups of people. He was approachable, confident, and strangely warm.
And then, there was his appearance. Tall, Handsome and ature.
Without realizing it, Hermione found herself paying more attention to him than she intended.
He fit… perfectly to her style
What divided her and him are age, steve just 11 years old and Hermione are 17 years old, just a few months and she will become 18 years old.
But everything changed the moment Steve revealed the truth about his origin.
He wasn't who she thought he was, he wasn't just an eleven-year-old first-year student but he was actually a grown man.
A wizard from another dimension and this years he is twenty-four years old.
The moment that truth surfaced, everything Hermione thought she understood about him changed completely.
When she was on her bed, her mind was replaying the confession from Steve.
"I never like someone like I did to you and no one ever heard my real self unless you this is because I really like you and wanted to be with you," said Steve.
Hermione thumped her feet on the bed and groaned in frustration.
'He lied to me, no he didn't lie but keep it as a secret,' thought Hermione. 'But Dudley knows his real self, wait wasn't it because Dudley discover his real self?'
"I need to meet him again," muttered Hermione.
...
RON WEASLEY POV
For some reason, Ron couldn't fall asleep.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling of the Gryffindor dormitory, his mind restless. The room was quiet except for the occasional sound of someone turning in their sleep or the faint rustling of blankets.
'Something felt wrong today,' thought Ron.
It wasn't something he could clearly describe. It was more like a strange emptiness in his chest, as if he had lost something important without realizing when or how it happened.
Ron frowned.
'What is this feeling?'
He shifted on his bed, trying to get comfortable, but the unease wouldn't go away.
"Can't sleep?" Harry's voice suddenly broke the silence.
Ron turned his head slightly and saw Harry sitting up, looking at him with a curious expression.
"Yeah," Ron admitted. "I don't know what's wrong, but… it feels like I've missed something important."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Missed something?"
"Yeah," Ron replied, running a hand through his hair. "Like… something that was supposed to happen, but didn't."
Before Harry could respond, another voice joined in.
"Maybe you're just in heat," Neville said casually from his bed.
Ron immediately sat up. "Hey! Neville, what do you mean by in heat?!"
Neville quickly turned his head away, trying to hide a smile. "Nothing."
Harry snorted, trying and failing to hold back his laughter.
Ron looked between them, clearly annoyed. "Oi! I'm serious!"
But the more serious he sounded, the harder Harry laughed.
Ron groaned and flopped back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling again.
"…Idiots," he muttered.
Still, that strange feeling didn't go away and he didn't know and he couldn't understand it what really happen.
But deep down… he felt something had already changed and while this was just a small moment inside the Gryffindor dormitory, something far more significant was happening beyond Ron awareness.
Hermione and Steve's relationship had become real and on Hermione eighteenth birthday…
They would officially begin something that Ron had unknowingly lost before it even started. Ron would bawled crying and cannot said anything, they never officially confirmed any relationship so he couldn't act angry towards her when everyone acting normal.