He loves her.
I can tell by the way he looks at her. Like the world wouldn't matter so long as she were with him. If she would kiss him. Hug him. Caress him. Confess her love for him. Yet love him she does. Just not the way he does her.
I know this because she told me.
She also told me that it hurt her to see him suffer that way, especially over her, but that she wouldn't give in to her pity and be with him just to make him happy. Not again. It was a miracle their friendship made it through that catastrophe. Because that's what it was, catastrophic.
It lasted a week.
She decided to take a chance at it during their 5th year. To see if there could ever be something more between them than just friendship. But there wasn't. Not on her behalf anyway. The aftermath lasted much longer. Six months..
Six months of nasty looks, uncomfortable silences, ridiculous outbursts (on his behalf), his petty attempts to infuriate her, and her civilized 'I'm ignoring you because I respect you and I wish you would just get over it, grow up, and lets be friends already' attitude. Yes, she loves him. But as a brother, a best friend. Nothing more. I think he got the message when she started dating Kevin though. Not that his feelings have changed. He still loves her.
Kevin James, is a 7th year Ravenclaw. He's captain and chaser of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and Head Boy. He's tall, very muscular, has dark short wavy hair, and the most beautiful snakeskin green eyes ever. Not unlike Harry's, whose green eyes are warm and soft, and young and old at the same time. They tell on him when he's hiding something or when he's hurting. No, Kevin's eyes are deep. There's so much drive in them. I understand why she likes to look into them. I bet she gets lost in them.
The fact that Hermione Granger was dating Kevin James was a tragedy for the rest of the female population in Hogwarts. The fact that he was dating anyone, let alone Miss-I know the answer to everything-Granger, was something to be mourned by them. Because they all wanted him, Slytherin's too. He's that guy. The one the girls want and the guys all want to be friends with. 'She's so lucky,' they all say. Like she's won the ultimate prize. But they don't know.. He's the lucky one.
As I sit here in the common room in front of the fire working on my potions essay, I can't help but feel saddened by it all. There's a sense of loss somewhere inside of me. But I can't pinpoint what it is. I haven't lost her. She's still the best friend she's always been. Attentive, understanding, caring, honest, outspoken, intelligent, intuitive, and brave. Did I mention beautiful?
Hermione Granger has grown into a very fine individual. I don't think she notices though. How time has changed her. Inside and out. She hasn't changed much, just matured. Come out of her shell, so to speak. She no longer thinks like a child, let alone look like one. All tall and curvy now, in all the right places too. I think I like her. A lot. But why her?
It was always Harry. Harry and the way I wanted to be near him but couldn't bring myself to do so. The way I wanted him to look at me and see more than just his best friend's little sister. I wanted him. Or at least I thought I did at the time. Things changed when I started noticing other things. Like the way she bites her lip whenever concentrating on a difficult task, the way she smiles, when a strand of hair falls across her face and she tucks it back behind her ear, or the way her inkstained fingertips would eversogently turn the page of the book devouring her, (it's not the other way around no matter what anyone thinks.) Little things.
"Almost finished?"
"Huh? Oh, um yeah, almost."
"Assistance?" she asks as she sits beside me on the couch.
"No thanks. I think I can manage." I give her a small smile and keep writing. She nods her understanding. "It's not that hard, potions. I don't see how Harry and Ron don't understand it. What's not to get?"
She giggles and my heart does back flips. Sometimes I think she sees right through my façade. At times I hope she does. So she can know without me telling her. So much for my Gryffindor courage. Then I wonder if she would still be my friend if she did. That's when I hope she doesn't, because I can't take loosing her.
"Kevin says hello," she tells me as I pack my things, watching my every move. "He wishes you luck in the upcoming match."
"Give him my thanks. But that I won't take it easy on him just because he's my best friend's boyfriend," I smile a cocky smile as I swing my bag around my shoulder and head to the stairs. She laughs as she follows.
"Get some rest. You'll need it for tomorrow," she says when we reach my door.
"Thanks"
She doesn't leave. Just stands there, waiting. What I wouldn't give to just lean forward and kiss her. Again my courage fails me. Instead I bid her good night and walk into my room, close the door and press my back to it. After a minute or so I hear her walk up to her room. I'm so stupid.
The match was gruesome. We beat Ravenclaw 250-90. Harry was ecstatic. All of Gryffindor was. Except for me. When I walked out of the changing room I saw Hermione consoling a very defeated Kevin. When she saw me a flood of emotions showed on her face. But I just kept walking as if I hadn't seen anything.
As I walk though the portrait hole a butterbeer is placed in my hand along with many 'congratulations' and pats on the back. So I walk though the mass of people and head straight to my room. I'm not in the mood to be around a bunch of happy people. I drink it in one shot and lay down, closing the curtains of my four-poster so no one would bother me.
"Gin wake up"
"Ginny"
I recognize the voice. I open my eyes to find Hermione sitting on my bed.
"How long was I out for?"
"Not long"
Another moment of silence. She's thinking of what to say. I can tell by the way she's fidgeting with the hem of her robes. I have't seen her like this since that time she was stressing over her OWLs.
"Ginny, there's something I need to tell you"
TBC
AUTHOR'S NOTE
This is my first attempt at writing, so please excuse any mistakes. This won't be very long, and the rating may change later. Anyway, I hope you all like.