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Her breath hitched as she heard a slight 'pop' indicating that the only two left to join the little gathering currently being held at the burrow had arrived. Closing her eyes she listened from her spot in the kitchen as the new guests were welcomed and informed that the party was being held outside and that lunch had been served. She began to play with the hem of her red dress, starting to think that trying to dress up had been a bad idea and that know she thought of it, it really was pointless. He wouldn't notice that she was wearing the red dress he bought her, the one with the red lace, or that she had 'tamed' her hair, or that she had applied just enough makeup to be able to tell she was wearing makeup but not enough for it to look to full on, or that she had even worn a pair of low high heels – just for the occasion. Hermione's eyes opened in surprise as she felt someone's hand slightly grasp her arm,

"Oh Harry, I didn't hear you! I was just thinking to myself about how we all were the first time we came to the burrow and how you and Ron both played Quidditch whilst you forced me to watch. I was so distracted I didn't even hear you come in, silly me!"

Harry looked at her, he didn't believe it for a second, her eyes gave away the sadness and regret she was trying to maintain, so he did all he could think of and pulled her into a big brotherly hug. He heard her sniff as if she was holding off a sob, she snuggled closer into his embrace. After a few moments they were interrupted by a shout calling their names from the living room,

"Harry! Hermione! Lunch is ready dears!" They heard the eldest witch of the Weasley clan yell.

"Be there in a second Molly!" Harry shouted back, freeing Hermione from the hug, "Will you be okay? You don't have to be here if you don't want to be we could always go and get lunch somewhere else, Hogsmead, Diagon Alley or maybe even the Lovegood's?" He continued quietly speaking only to Hermione this time.

Hermione wiped her face with the back of her hand concealing any tears that may have had escaped from her betraying eyes,

"No, it will be fine. I'm not a coward. Besides everything that happened between him and I is long over and it wasn't like it really mattered anyway, I don't feel though I've lost anything really." She said with a supposedly reassuring smile.

Harry's face did not alter from its worried expression, he could still she the hurt in her eyes, the same hurt that had been there for the last two months,

"I've known you for too long Hermione, I hear what you're saying but I can also see your eyes. Your eyes never lie; I know you don't want to be here. And it was only two months ago it ended, that's hardly a long time. You don't need to prove anything to anyone, we understand-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence Harry, because you don't understand otherwise you would know that I need to be able to walk out there as if nothing is wrong, as if nothing has happened because that's what he is doing. He's here right now to prove to me that he has moved on and doesn't need me anymore. He's showing me that I'm as disposable and worthless as I was two years ago. He's letting me know he doesn't care. It's just a shame that she has to be the one he's used to prove this to me with. I could deal with it barely if it wasn't her, but he knew how it would make me feel. He knew it would make me hurt. That's why he chose her. That's why I'm doing this. That's why I'm here…. But I would like it if you would hold my hand and walk out there with me," Hermione's voice softened "just in case."

Harry smiled slightly and grasped her hand giving it a slight squeeze.

"Well then," he began "I think I can smell some lovely food, and I haven't eaten all day. So shall we?" He began to pull her towards the door.

But Hermione stopped him,

"Harry"

"Yes Hermione?"

"I know this is hurting you too. I can see it. It's killing you inside. I'm so sorry, I feel as though it's all my fault. If he wasn't trying to prove-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence either Hermione. She's made her decision. Yes it hurts but she and I were never really together so it doesn't matter."

"But you love her."

"But you love him." He stated, once again pulled her towards the door.