"Harry, sit down. I need to tell you something" Hermione started, pacing nervously around the Gryffindor common room a nervous gleam in her eye. Harry couldn't help but assume the worst. Hermione only got agitated like this when she was keeping something from Ron and I, or when she was embarassed. Like that time she had changed into a cat instead of Millicent Bullstrode, or when Viktor Krum had asked her to the Yule Ball.
"Alright…? What's going on 'Mione?" Harry questioned remaining standing, unable to keep the curiosity out of his eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want to sit down?" Hermione asked, the nervous gleam growing ever brighter by the second.
"Yes, Hermione, I'm quite sure. Now what is going on here?" Harry said, starting to wish Hermione would just spill the beans already.
"Alright well…Harry, there's no way to put this easily…"
"Hermione, you're really starting to make me wonder. Is Ron alright? Why aren't you having this conversation with him here? Whatever I know, he deserves to know as well" Harry pressed, suddenly adamant that he did not want to hear the news Hermione was about to reveal. Hermione only got like this when something terrible had gone wrong.
"Harry, you need to hear this. Not Ron, not Ginny, you. I just want you to know…this is the toughest thing i have ever had to do. Tougher than helping you and Ron keep the Philosophers stone out of the wrong hands, harder than keeping my time turner hidden from everyone, even harder than fighting off death eaters at the Ministry."
"Hermione, whatever you have to say, just say it, or go away, You're really starting to have me worried"
"Alright Harry…I think I'm in love with someone"
Harry exhaled a sigh of relief. He had expected her to say something like "Ron is in the infirmary, and is dying as we speak", or "Hedwig crashed into a tree while delivering a message"
"Is that it? Honestly, 'Mione, you had me worried for a second. Well, congratulations, who's the lucky man?" Harry said, now happy for his best friend.
"Well, Harry…I'm not sure you're going to like this next part. I am in love…with Draco Malfoy. And I think he loves me back."
Harry's insides froze. Turned to ice, right along with his heart. He started to speak, but was cut off by Hermione
"No, Harry, don't. I know what you're feeling. I know he's your rival, your arch nemesis, your mortal enemy, etcetera. I know that, I understand that, but I've fallen for him nonetheless. I had to tell you, you're my best friend In the whole world, save Ron, but…you needed to know. I need to know that you're okay with this. Harry, please be okay with this…" She trailed off, her voice dripping with desperation"
Harry started, not exactly sure what was about to come out of his mouth .
"Well…That's great Hermione. Happy for you, really. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to start that essay Slughorn set us for Potions." And Harry brushed hast her, if a little too harshly, and ran up to his room. Glad no other boys were in there, he ran to his bed, and plunked down face-first into his pillow. 'She can't love him', he thought. 'She can't she can't she cant. And he cannot possibly love her back. If he did, I would not know what to do with myself. Feign happiness, I guess? Oh god, how did everything get so muddled. She can't love him. Because I loved him first'
That may have been the toughest thing she had to do, but it was the toughest thing I've ever had to hear…