I'm sorry it took me so long to grind out the next chapter... Nonetheless, enjoy!
(Harry's POV)
Normally, I would have been amazed at how the Room of Requirement conformed, yet again, to exactly what was needed and more, but I was far too nervous. What I was about to confess was something I never thought I'd come clean about… But then, I'd never had anyone to talk to, excluding Hedwig, of course. I had found out the hard way that it was difficult to share conversation with a snow owl. I should have gotten a parrot, I guess…
"Harry!" I jolted back to reality. Hermione was basically waving her arms at this point. I had let my mind wander a bit too much, apparently.
"Sorry, Hermione… I guess I dazed off for a second there."
"Right… Now, will you please tell me what's going on with you?"
"Hermione - "
Readying myself for what I was about to say, I cleansed my lungs, holding onto the air for as long as I could before finally sighing.
"Hermione, I'm gay."
Now that I had finally let the words go, I felt relieved. Relieved and more alive than ever. But that didn't stop me from catching the slight surprise that played upon Hermione's face. I took joy in that; after all, it took quite a bit to surprise her. But as suddenly as it had come, the surprise flitted from her facial features, becoming a warming smile.
"So that's why you didn't want Ron around to talk about this… I thought it would be something like this."
"Hermione, its not what you think, I-"
"Its okay, Harry. I'm not going to tell him. …But I may not have to. You do it every 5 minutes."
Hermione tacked one of her giggles… The ones that were made of not only amusement, but knowing as well.
"…Seriously? I'm that obvious?"
"Oh, puh-lease, Harry. You couldn't be any more obvious. I've caught you checking out guys, mostly Ron, countless times today alone." This was, of course, accompanied by her signature eye roll. "Now look, Harry. I'm tired, and I'm sure you're tired as well. This …news, so to speak, has opened up quite a bit of possible conversation, too much for our current time frame. So, what do you say we head back, and we'll continue this later?"
I still hadn't told her everything… Most importantly, my emotional status with Colin. She was right, though. But then, when wasn't she? That was the reason I went to her first, after all. She was always right about anything and everything. She'd be able to help me through this… Even if it wasn't tonight.
"Alright, Hermione. We can finish this later."
(End Harry's POV)
After Harry and Hermione walked out the door, Ron just sat in his nook for a few moments, many different thoughts rushing through his head. Even though he knew there was no way he'd be able to sleep, he had to get back before Harry and Hermione. Still unsure as to what he just witnessed, he pulled out the map and left the faithful Room of Requirement.
