Harry stepped out of the carriage, followed closely by Ron, who was leading Hermione by the hand. They were talking in quiet, giggly voices to each other that Harry chose to ignore completly--seeing and hearing the young couple flirt gave him a horrible sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. For just last year they had become an item--Harry remembered it clearly...
It had been a bright, sunny day in the last week of the school year, and Harry was on his way to find Ron who was performing some special prefect duty that Hermione had to do as well. They had left over an hour ago, Harry had thought, so they should be done by now. When he entered the cool Entrance Hall from the grounds, he was shocked to see both Hermione and Ron sitting on the Marble Staircase, whispering and giggling together. Then Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek--Harry had felt a surge of jealousy at this point--and Ron returned the favor affectionately. Then, Hermione looked up and her eyes widened in shock to see Harry standing there. She opened her mouth to say something as Ron had looked up, too, but Harry was already walking back out onto the grounds, burning with envy, contempt, and confusion. Two days later, Ron and Hermione had became an official item--boyfriend and girlfried, leaving Harry out in the dark.
Harry shook himself as he trudged up to the castle through the dismal trickle of rain, hearing his best friends whisper and laugh behind him. 'I'm in the seventh year,' he told himself. 'I've dealt with this all summer, I can last through it now, too'. He entered the Great Hall and took his place at the Gryffindor table, looking bleakly down at his plate. He heard Ron sit down heavily beside him, heard Hermione take her seat just next to Ron, still talking quietly. When the sorting was complete, Harry ate in silence, staring at his meal, listening to his two best friends giggle and laugh as they fed each other mouthfuls of mash potatoes and gravy.
It had been a bright, sunny day in the last week of the school year, and Harry was on his way to find Ron who was performing some special prefect duty that Hermione had to do as well. They had left over an hour ago, Harry had thought, so they should be done by now. When he entered the cool Entrance Hall from the grounds, he was shocked to see both Hermione and Ron sitting on the Marble Staircase, whispering and giggling together. Then Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek--Harry had felt a surge of jealousy at this point--and Ron returned the favor affectionately. Then, Hermione looked up and her eyes widened in shock to see Harry standing there. She opened her mouth to say something as Ron had looked up, too, but Harry was already walking back out onto the grounds, burning with envy, contempt, and confusion. Two days later, Ron and Hermione had became an official item--boyfriend and girlfried, leaving Harry out in the dark.
Harry shook himself as he trudged up to the castle through the dismal trickle of rain, hearing his best friends whisper and laugh behind him. 'I'm in the seventh year,' he told himself. 'I've dealt with this all summer, I can last through it now, too'. He entered the Great Hall and took his place at the Gryffindor table, looking bleakly down at his plate. He heard Ron sit down heavily beside him, heard Hermione take her seat just next to Ron, still talking quietly. When the sorting was complete, Harry ate in silence, staring at his meal, listening to his two best friends giggle and laugh as they fed each other mouthfuls of mash potatoes and gravy.