AN: So this story hasn't been updated in ages! But DH kind of put me in the mood to write, though there are no spoilers for it, haha.. But I'm going to finish it now as I hate it when stories don't finish! ;-)… hope you like!
Hermione thought that the class would never end; she was dying to talk to Hagrid. Maybe he could shine some light on this entire situation. She was standing next to Josh, they were looking at some small creature Hermione had read about already anyway. She looked at Harry.
She knew he wasn't paying attention but somehow the anger from this morning had changed into… she couldn't quite place his expression; he looked in thought and at the same time in a daze. Ron noticed her looking their way and she quickly turned her head away, she did not need his rejection too.
" 'ight, that'll be all fer today" said Hagrid, "Finally" Hermione exhaled. "I suppose you want to talk to Hagrid alone, then?" asked Josh as he turned to her. "Yes, if you don't mind. I'll definitely tell you, seeing as it somehow involves you" said Hermione with a confused expression. Josh nodded "All right, better go, you're 'friends' are coming this way and I don't fancy having another swing at me" said Josh and he gave her arm a slight squeeze as he left "Okay, bye" she said as he did so. "What? No kiss on the cheek?" came Ron's voice.
Hermione turned to him "Ron, you don't even have a CLUE of what's going on and you just believe Harry?" "Why shouldn't he, I'm not the liar around here" said Harry now as he came up to them. He wasn't sounding as angry as before. She simply sighed "Yes I suppose I'm the one who kept the prophecy from everyone for years and years. Of course Harry, I'm the liar" she replied just as calmly, sarcasm dripping in her tone. She didn't want to bring it up, it was a sensitive subject but she had to get through to Harry. Harry looked at her and she didn't look away.
They just stood in silence for a second, as a breeze traveled through their hair. "We still need to talk about that" said Hermione, taking advantage of the silence. Perhaps she shouldn't have brought it up.
Harry just looked at her… she was just herself, his Hermione the girl he loved and he could tell that she cared in the way she spoke to him now, even after everything he's said and done. Why then would she break his heart and cheat on him? Why did he doubt her? Was it just jealousy getting the better of him? "Maybe…" said Harry and Hermione felt her heart jolt.
Was he considering talking to her about everything? Ron looked at Harry confused but decided to hold his tongue "Let's just go, Ron. I don't feel like seeing you right now, though" said Harry, looking at Hermione and they left. Hermione looked after them her eyes lingering on Harry. She needed to talk to Hagrid before she and Harry drifted further apart.
"What was that about?" asked Ron as they walked away. "What do you mean?" Harry asked his eyes fixed on the ground in front of him "With Hermione. Harry, you can't possibly give her a second chance after what she's don-" "Ron look, I've been angry since yesterday, tried to take my frustration out on Josh this morning, I even walked out of Snape's class, like he needs more reason to hate me, I insulted Hermione for the pure purpose of trying to make her feel a quarter of what I feel and right now… I'm just sort of… out of anger. None of that made me feel better and none of it succeeded in covering the…" Harry trailed off and sighed, his eyes glistening as he looked up into the sunlight.
He never realized just how much he loved Hermione until now, now that it hurt so bad to think that he might lose her. Ron looked in front of him. He never really thought about how Harry must really be feeling because of it all. Harry glanced at Ron before looking at the ground again "I'm just really disappointed and confused and dejected and… well, you get the picture" said Harry and couldn't help cracking a small grin as he finished.
Ron imitated Harry's grin as he put his hands in his pockets "I understand, mate. It can't be easy for you and I'm sorry. I've just focused on cutting Hermione off in stead of trying to understand it all. Perhaps it would be better to talk to Hermione, huh. Maybe find out why and get closure" said Ron.
Harry felt semi-comforted. He had almost started to think that it might be wrong to talk to her; it would just be giving her satisfaction. But now that Ron voiced his thoughts he thought it to be a good idea. He did after all know her, if she cheated on him there must've been a very good reason for it… or maybe he simply couldn't accept that she would cheat on him.
His thoughts got interrupted by Ron "Well I'm off. I'm working on the perfect date" said Ron with a triumphant smile. Harry smiled "I'm glad. Tonight?" asked Harry "Yeah… oh crap" said Ron suddenly looking horrified "What?" Harry asked "I forgot that I needed Hermione to get Luna at the room of requirement." He said with a pained expression.
Harry just looked at Ron, "Cant I help?" he asked. "Well what would be your reason to want a girl talk?" asked Ron. Harry laughed "All right, all right. Let's get another reason then… I know. The DA is reforming and she just has to be there at…?" Harry asked motioning with his hand towards Ron "Seven" Ron filled in "Seven, and coming from me she should believe it, seeing as I'm the leader of the army" said Harry. "You really think that'll work?" Ron asked "Positive" said Harry reassuringly. "Great, thanks Harry. I owe you big time" said Ron and gave Harry a pat on the shoulder as he headed into the castle. Harry smiled but it faded slowly… he remembered how excited he was on his first date with Hermione… but he didn't get a chance to go down memory lane as Josh was heading up to the castle as well. He was laughing with a friend when he saw Harry standing at the entrance of the castle. He walked slower.
Harry took a deep breath and headed to him. Josh prepared himself, he wasn't about to take another blow "What do you want, Potter?" he asked when Harry was still a few feet away. Harry didn't say anything until he got to Josh and his friend. He sighed again "How's your nose?" he asked "Fine" Josh simply said "Can we talk please?" Harry asked. Josh looked at Harry confused. Harry glanced sideways "Please" he asked again "I care about Hermione, obviously, and I'm just really confused about everything so I would love if you could just… I don't know, tell me why she did what she did" said Harry. Josh's expression softened "Why not just talk to her yourself, Harry. Whatever it is you think she, or I, or we did, it's way off. Hermione and I are simply friends, and we enjoy studying together. That's it" said Josh "Well why did you ask me yesterday if she had spoken to me yet? What was that about?" asked Harry "Um…" Josh looked at his friend "Why don't you go and get lunch so long?" he said. She looked doubtful "Fine" she said and left, looking at Harry like he was evil itself.
"So the entire school knows?" Harry asked "No. I just told her why my nose was sore. She doesn't know why you hit me, frankly neither do I. I heard you saying something about cheating?" Harry nodded "Yes"
"Why? Where on earth did you get that idea? Hermione's the most loyal person on this planet?" Harry was starting to lose patience with Josh voicing things he knew very well, so why didn't he just listen! "Look this entire thing is just confusing and a big mess. So if you weren't talking about you and Hermione cheating, then what did you ask me about yesterday?" Josh shook his head slowly "That was about the prophecy-" Harry opened his mouth as he looked confused but Josh kept talking "Yes she told me because she needed someone to talk to and you can trust me, I won't tell anyone about it. She made me swear not to tell you that I knew, and she only told me because she cares and didn't know exactly how to approach you" said Josh.
Harry just looked at him "That's it?" he asked "Yes. What else?" "What about…" Harry sighed "what about the baby? Padma said that Hermione was pregnant." said Harry. "What!? That little… gossip… freak. That's completely and utterly false! No wonder you wanted to kill me" said Josh as he looked at the castle in disbelief. Harry felt like an idiot "What? You're telling me that it was all a story?! Padma made it up?" he asked "I suppose. I don't know how or why she got the idea but yeah… definitely a story" said Josh. Now Harry was furious. Not necessarily at Padma but at himself for believing her… he had said it can't be true. He should've just trusted himself… and believed Hermione.
But the fury got dimmed a little as complete relief overwhelmed him "So you're not seeing Hermione?" he asked. Josh laughed "I think we've established that much, Harry" he said and Harry smiled "I'm sorry! I should never have listened to that, that… never mind. I have some apologizing to do. Starting with you… um, I'm sorry about the punch" he said.
"Hey don't worry about it, I would probably have done the same" said Josh and offered his hand. Harry shook it with a smile "I suppose Hermione's right, you're not too bad a person" said Harry as they let go. Josh laughed again "Hey!" he joked. Harry just smiled. "But jokes aside… you really need to tell Hermione. I think she's the one that got off the worst from all of this" said Josh.
Harry nodded "Yeah, and me not trusting HER in stead of Padma didn't really help the case either" he said. "I'm sure she'll understand, once you guys talk… and I mean both of you actually get to speak" said Josh with a wink. Harry sighed "She probably hates me" "Probably" said Josh "Kidding. Honestly I really think that everything will be okay if you guys talk" he added and started to walk away. Harry nodded "Thanks" "No problem" replied Josh as he entered the castle.
Harry stood for another minute before leaving for lunch himself, though he didn't feel very hungry anyway.
There ya go… next chapter up soon!