Chapter Four
Ginny had gone home (finally), leaving Harry, Neville, and Ron in their apartment. Harry looked horribly bothered, Ron thought with satisfaction. Maybe he'll finally end it with her.
"So." Harry spoke to his roommates, both of whom were doing their level best to avoid him at all costs. "I-- erm... I ran into Hermione."
Neville dropped the chessboard onto Ron's foot. (Ron was too busy staring at Harry open-mouthed to notice.)
Harry shuffled his feet.
"She wasn't... too happy with me."
Ron and Neville still continued gaping at him.
"So I apologized."
Now the two were completely flabbergasted.
"She told me that... well, we weren't... we didn't have friendship anymore and that there was no use trying to force it."
Harry took a deep breath, and with what seemed to be a great effort, said, "Have I been that bad?"
Ron's face split into a grin.
"Harry, for once in a long time, you're talking sense."
Harry offered a hesitant smile back.
"You've been worse than Malfoy." Neville said frankly, making Harry cringe.
"What's wrong with Hermione?" he said finally, "I heard her talking with another Healer about her 'condition', what--"
Ron fell silent, then he spoke.
"It was that curse she took in fifth year." he said carefully, "It-- erm... interfered with her."
Harry's stomach was churning, but he forced himself to say quite calmly, "In what way?"
Ron looked at Neville.
Neville looked at him sadly.
"Harry, she's not expected to be with us much more than eight more years." he said quietly, looking positively miserable. "We thought you knew."
Harry's breath had taken sudden leave of his lungs.
"It's amazing, actually, because at first we thought she wouldn't last much more than-- well, a few months." Ron said very quickly, obviously trying to sound cheerful, "She takes about a dozen potions every day, and the healers say that her willpower in fighting the curse has kept her alive so far. And Hermione, well, she's not one to give up, right?"
Harry sank back onto the couch.
"You simply don't care about me anymore."
"Did she go home?"
Ron glanced at his watch. "She's usually home by now, but why--"
Crack!
"Wow." Neville said after a long pause. "I never thought anyone could Apparate so quickly."