The small circle of light didn't extend far into the darkness surrounding the fire. Merrily dancing flames tried to keep the oppressive blackness at bay without much luck as the two tried to hide their ambiguous stares over the small encampment. "I think it's time to go to bed, Harry." Hermione finally said, breaking the silence that had fallen since dinner. Slender of frame, the girl who had grown into a woman before his eyes gazed into the dancing flames, her eyes seemed to have dulled ever since their escapades ended. Her usual shine of happiness that he saw in her before was now just a small glimmer.
Harry snorted, throwing an extra wood into the fire. "I'll go to bed when I want, stop mothering me around." Hermione shrugged her shoulders, noticeably recoiling at the boy who lived surly answer. "I know I'm not your mother, next time I'll try not to worry so much about you." Her voice was tiny, barely more than a breath, Hermione sighed and dropped her gaze back down to her hands in her lap and nodded slowly. He stifled a sigh. He hadn't meant to make her feel worse.
"Look I'm-"
"It's ok, don't worry about it." Her voice was still monotonic as if she didn't want to feel any tip of emotion. Then Hermione finally asked the dreaded question she tried so hard not to. "Do you love her?" It has been playing over and over again in her head. She wanted to ask the question sooner but she dreaded to know what the answer might be. In the beginning she decided it best to be oblivious about it. After, some time though she kept thinking what if?
"Huh?" Was all Harry said, it was as if he didn't hear or understand the question?
"Ginny, - do you love Ginny?" this time a little more forcefully.
"Hermione I don't think we should have this conversation." He said.
She had none of it, "answer the damn question, Harry." She was tired of being in limbo; right now she wanted to get to the bottom of it all, even if his answer would hurt her. With a sigh he stood up from the floor and walk over to the couch, he didn't sit instead he had his back turned towards her.
"Harry?" she was close to tears. Hold it Hermione don't you cry in front of him.
"You knew very well that it wasn't going to last Hermione." He said patiently.
"No I didn't." she pointed out. "How was I supposed to know?" She asked.
"When we were together the second time-," he didn't finish his sentence.
"No, we talked about keeping it a secret from Ron because you knew he had a crush on me." It was true.
"I just assumed that –," again he was interrupted.
"Assumed? Assumed, Harry?"
At that Hermione stood from the couch she was sitting in grabbed Harry's shoulder and turned him around to face her.
"How was I supposed to assume anythingHarry, you acted like everything was great"? She stopped to see if he'd say anything, and when she knew that he wasn't, she kept going.
"What did you just expect me to do- go into your mind and read what you were thinking?" she knew she should stop but she was too upset and she wanted what she had bottled up inside, out. "In order for me to know what you want, you are supposed to tell me what's bothering you."
"How could I?"
"What do you mean, Harry?"
"What I mean is, whenever we were alone I tried to talk to you, but you being the nymph that you are never let me." He snapped
Hermione couldn't believe what Harry just said.
She slapped him. Anger was all that she could feel right now.
Harry wasn't expecting it at all he just stood there stunned. He couldn't believe that Hermione miss know-it-all just slapped him. Harry was pissed and without thinking of the consequences he blew up at her.
"You want to know what I thought of our relationship." He yelled to her inches from her face.
"I thought it was meaningless it meant nothing to me." That wasn't the ended though. If she wanted answers she'll get answers. "I was tired of it all: the kissing, the sex; I had enough of it." It hurt but not bad, but the next sentences that came out of his mouth wasn't something she'd expect from him.
"I was even tired of you!" There he said it.
It was salt on an open wound. She didn't know what to feel. All her emotions that she tired to keep hidden for the past couple of months were now let out. Like the story of Pandora's box, with Harry's ignorance towards her he let the box of emotion she kept hidden well was now roaming around freely. Anger pain and anguish are now in her body tormenting her with these feelings she didn't want.
"You want to know my answer, yes I do love Ginny." That was it Hermione just stood there looking at Harry. Hot tears slowly started to fall. He waited, waited for her to say some hateful words back, it never came though because the next thing that came out of her mouth shocked him.
"I'm glad Harry." Her voice was hoarse and broken sounded, like a record player was being scratched. With that last said she walked past Harry up the stairs to her room.
Harry just stood there he didn't even try to go after her. Instead he just plotted himself back on the couch. He didn't even know how they started this conversation? He knew that someday they would talk about it; he just didn't think that they would go this far. Sure they'd have an argument or two about their differences, but all in all he thought that she would end up understanding him and be the same Hermione - the best friend. He didn't expect to blow up at her.
How they even end up alone? He remembers being late for dinner.
Harry sat down next to Ginny, he notice Hermione wasn't there. Not really thinking much of it he started to pour him self-food and eat. When dinner was over Ginny, Ron and Harry started to walk back to the common room.
Ginny stop them though saying she had to go to the library before it closed to check out a book for homework that was due the next day, that left only Ron and Harry. When they reach the common room he realized that he wasn't going to catch Hermione studying in the common room. Instead he caught her sitting next to Dean talking and laughing. He didn't know why but it bothered him.
Hermione noticed them first and greeted them.
"Hi! Where were you guys at?" she asked not really noticing the time.
"We just came back from dinner." Ron said.
"I thought you were going to study?" Harry asked a little irritated.
"Oh, I finish awhile ago." She said coolly.
After that Ron decided to sit in the love seat and much to Harry's disapproval he had no choose but to sit next to Dean. Somehow they start a conversation about Snape.
"Do you think that the reason he so grumpy is because he doesn't get some?" Asked Dean.
"What are you getting at Dean?" Ron asked. Before he could answer though Harry interrupted him.
"Dean everyone knows that Snap is like that because he's never got laid before."
"True, a girl would die and whittle in front of him, and even then he wouldn't get some." Everyone laugh at Dean joke.
"Seriously guy it rude to be talking about Snap like." Hermione again ruined their fun.
"Aw lighten up Hermione you wouldn't be so up tight if you were already laid." He said this as he wraps an arm around her shoulder. Harry saw this it bugged him but he ignored it. Not really caring at the time.
Sometime later it was starting to get late. Ron and Dean left at the same time, Ginny came in after that.
"Ginny where were you I was worried?" Harry asked concerned.
"Sorry Harry, I ended up staying at the library studying for a bit." She hesitated in studying. Why did it seem that she wasn't telling him something? Not thinking too much about it he decided to just blow it off. "I'm going to bed I'm a bit tired." She said. "Goodnight Harry." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips, before going upstairs, that left Hermione and him alone.
'Should I go up and see if she's ok?' he thought to himself. He knew what he said wasn't true. He should apologies but he knew he had to do more than that to have Hermione talk to him again. After awhile of thinking he decided it best to go to her room and check up on her. When he opened the door he saw Hermione fast asleep. He decided it best not to wake her up. He was about to close the door when something caught his eye. Being the curious and nosey person that he was he walked over to her bed; on the nightstand there was a small black cauldron, filled with white-purple ooze. He knew that potion very well it was a sleeping potion.
When he drew back he couldn't help but notice her face had tearstains on her cheeks. His eyes wondered to the bed - tissue paper was everywhere then his eyes reached down to where one of Hermione's legs was exposed. He tried to pry his eyes off, but couldn't. It seemed to hypnotize him.
"Harry Potter sir, what are you doing in Miss Hermione's room sir?" It was Dobby's voice that interrupted him from his evil thoughts. It was than that he realized that his hand were mere inches from her leg ready to touch her smooth soft pale skin.
"Err- nothing Dobby I just came to check on her." He said in a disbelieving tone. Dobby just looked at him not understanding him. If was just going to check on her then why was his hand near her leg?
"We had a fight Dobby that was it." With that said he walked toward the door and slowly shut the door behind him.
"You know how easily offended I get when one of my best students hasn't been paying attention in my class for the pass two months, Hermione." Professor McGonagall commented one day after class.
It had been two months now since that incident in the common room. Ever since than Harry acted like nothing happened. Whenever we walked passed we saluted to each but that was it. We would never sit alone with each other anymore. Probably because our casual talks would turn into a heated argument and we were both trying to prevent that. We weren't friends like we use to be. I miss it; I miss us sitting under the tree near the lake and talk. We would talk mostly of nothing or our day and sometimes of our problems.
"I'm sorry Professor I just been kind of have been tried lately." I mumbled absently.
"Really, and the whole fact that Ginny and Harry are going out doesn't bug you in the slightest bit."
I quickly looked up at her. "What m-makes you think that's the reason I have been like this."
"Because last year you two were peas in a pod and all of a sudden Ginny and Harry go out you two started to distant yourself with each other." Professor McGonagall peered down at me with her stern face. "Tell me; am I wrong?" she questioned.
"Professor," I paused a bit not knowing exactly how to tell her that my personal life was none of her concern, but she interrupted me before I could finish. "I understand it's none of my business," she sigh and waited a bit before she continued, "I suggest that you tell some one Miss Granger, keeping this secret of yours is going to give you more stress than you all ready have."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, may I leave now?" I pleated to her.
"Yes, you may go." She said. Hermione quickly grabbed her things and dash out the door.
All day today Hermione felt like shit and it was all Harry's fault. Classes were going good for her until her last class, which was with Professor McGonagall. Hermione was walking down the corridors when she heard a noise to the left in one of the empty classrooms. Curious she went to go look and god she wished she didn't see it.
There, was Harry, full blow snogging Ginny while she was sitting on top of a desk. Hermione saw Harry kneading one of her naked breast. Her skirt was still on but when she looked down on the floor was where Ginny's shirt was, was also her knickers. Right there she realized; the way Harry was sliding in and out of her that they were shagging, even though his pants were still on.
She choked down a sob; she wasn't going to cry anymore she promised herself she wouldn't. Hermione turned around and walked to her last class.
All through class she couldn't help but think. Why Ginny, why perfect redheaded Ginny. Is it because she has huge breast, she looked down at her breast sure they were small but they were perky and they were descant hand size, right? Or maybe it's something about her and what she's good at. 'She's smart but so am I, she can cook just like her mom.' She sighed well that's two strikes against herself. Last time she cooked it blew up in her face, literally.
One morning at home from school she was trying to cook some eggs when she realized that something was in her eggs she looked down at the pan when all of a sudden the grease was too hot and it came jumping and attack her eye. Her eye was sore for a few days, but ever since than she tried to stay away from the kitchen.
The class ended and Hermione was still in her seat thinking. That was when Professor McGonagall came up to her.
She was still in her thought and before she realized where she was going bumped into somebody. "Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." She said
"Nah don't worry about." She knew that voice even though she hasn't spoken to him in a couple of months.
"Hi, Dean." She stated.
"You seem a bit out of it, are you okay Hermione?" Dean asked with concern look on his face.
"Of course I'm okay why wouldn't I be."
"Alright if you say so." There was a complete silence between the two until Dean spoke up. "Hey, I was meaning to asks you," he paused for a minute before he continued; "would you go to hogsmeade with me?" he finally finished. Dean asked her calmly, and cool. He didn't seem nervous at all. It was like he asked so many girls out that it didn't matter eventually she would say yes sooner or later.
Hermione just stood there stunned. A cute guy was asking simple Hermione out. Is this a joke or something he seemed serious about it.
"You don't have to say yes if you don't want to." He said thinking her silence was a no.
"No it's not that it just that a cute guy is asking me out."
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Well look at me I'm plain no guy thinks I'm pretty, besides wont your friends make fun of you for hanging out with me."
"I don't think of you as plain, Hermione," he took a step forward towards her till he was inches from her face, "I see a very smart, beautiful women." He said huskily. Her face turned bright red when he finished his sentences.
"Really?" she whispered. "Has anyone ever told you, you are beautiful?" Her eyes cast down to the floor when he asked that. "No one, Hermione not even your friends Ron, or Harry." At the mention of Harry's name her eyes shot up she looked enraged. She stayed cool and collect she didn't say a word shaking her head was all the answer that he needed.
"Well that's sad I think your very beautiful, so what would you say would you go to Hogsmeade with me?"
"Yes Dean I would love to go to Hogsmeade with you, is five ok with you."
"Yea it is I'll see you than, bye"
"Bye" with that they went their separate way.
Hermione was really going to turn him down. Her heart still hasn't recovered yet. But at the mention of his name three words came across her mind: betrayal, rage, and revenge.
