House: Slytherin
Position: 3rd Year
Drabble
Theme: Regret
Additional Requirement: A sad occasion/moment/emotion
Words: 450
Harry regrets not telling her. He regrets a lot of things, but this hurts more than he had ever thought.
Harry watches her as she says yes. That she is going to spend the rest of her life with him. She's all smiles and laughter, dancing in a dress she had asked his opinion on moths ago.
"It's, er, it's…you know. Nice?" He said at the time. She just laughed and rolled her eyes and thanked him for the input.
It's more than nice. It's absolutely fucking beautiful, and it fucking hurts.
He's had too much champagne and decides to step out of the pavilion, the excuse being he needed fresh air, when really he just couldn't stand the sight of her being married to someone else.
She finds him outside, dusk bathing them in muted hues.
"There you are, Harry."
Harry smiles.
"Can you believe it? I mean can you? I'm a married woman."
Harry sniffs, and lifts up his glasses to wipe his eyes, and doesn't answer.
She grabs his hand and holds it, carefully leaning on his shoulder.
"It's strange," she says in a whisper.
He takes a deep breath, too aware of how she feels next to him.
"Not as strange as me being in love with you." It comes out of his mouth unbidden.
"What?"
"Yeah, I realize this isn't the best time to tell you," he admits, bravely reasserting his feelings, though he probably shouldn't. "I just…should have told you. Years ago, probably. Not that you'd ever feel the same way, I suspect. Then. Then or now."
She still holding his hand, though now she's facing him, mouth open.
"I guess I'll be leaving now." Harry motions behind him. Gently he releases her hand, and moves to leave.
"Harry Potter. You cannot…I cannot," she stammers, one hand clutching her dress, "How dare you…after all these years? Do you have any idea?"
She's crying, and now Harry regrets ever bringing it up.
"Oh, Harry. I have-I do feel the…same…" she trails off, unable to face what that means for her or him or their friendship. Or her new marriage.
It's near full dark, but there's no stars. Nothing to illuminate Hermione Granger in her wedding dress and Harry Potter in his suit with no tie, staring at each other.
How such a small conversation can make such a huge impact on both of their lives.
"Don't ever bring this up again," she says with finality, before turning back to the celebration.
Harry though he regretted not telling her all those years ago, but now the biggest regret is telling her at all.