Exams over! My high school life is finally over! I am a free bird! Sorry couldn't help but write that. But freedom is amazing. My dark circles are starting to scare me now. I'm not much confident about Maths, but I think I did well in other subjects. All I have to do is to wait for my results.

It's tragedy here. My laptop is not working anymore, and all my stories were there, all with new chapters. I feel like crying. I have to rewrite them again and update soon. I managed to save this one chapter. I have to rewrite Denique Una and Truth again! It's horrible. I'm so sorry for further late updates.

For nowm chapter for you people. I am so sorry I couldn't update. Here it is.

Chapter – 7 Can I get over it?

Hermione sighed as she pulled a book in front of her face. So far so good.

She had avoided Harry smartly. She didn't even have her breakfast, and she was super hungry. Ignoring the grumbling complains of her stomach and placing the book back on the shelf, Hermione felt somewhat unprotected. Rubbing her temples and uselessly convincing herself that she was being precarious for no reason and that Harry would be suspicious if she behaves like this, Hermione shook her head.

It was Saturday. Sigh. More difficult to avoid him.

But she had to show him her face sometime.

Not now, no way, her conscience sounded as harassed as she was.

Hermione walked to the farthest left corner of the series of bookshelves, stopping on the eighth one. She searched for a few minutes until she found what she was looking for.

"Ah ha!" she exclaimed happily, wincing when Madam Pince shot a glare at her direction. Hermione pulled out the book excitedly, running a finger over the binding and nodding to herself proudly.

She did it! She found the book to hide the dark circles!

And now I can wallow in my self-pity.

That doesn't sound too happy does it? Sigh.

Hermione turned to walk to her favorite corner. Just as she walked towards it, she gave a small, thankfully silent, gasp as she found a familiar mop of messy black hair approaching near the shelf just in front to her spot, making a clear view that she was present there, if he would just tilt her head a little, he would catch her.

She raced at the bookshelf behind her and ducked down, panicking whether he saw her or not. Looking at the legs across from the gap the table legs created, which was the only thing she could see and it told her he hadn't realized that she was present there. Hermione clasped a hand over her mouth as she saw him approaching towards her favorite table.

No!

Please gods, please!

"Hey Harry? Ron was looking for you," a voice told Harry. Her mind was practically screaming Hallelujah.

"Oh. Alright. By any chance, have you seen Hermione?" Harry asked calmly, a hint of impatience and strained aggravation could be heard in his voice, even if he hid it too well.

"Yes, I have seen her-" who is this stupid motherfucker asswipe-

"She was just behind that shelf the last time I saw her," the male voice said.

Hermione held her breath.

Harry legs turned where she was last standing, where she searched for the book she took the grooming tips from.

"Ah, oh, thanks Justin," Harry answered gratefully, his voice taking a flinty note. Shite. She was dead.

When Harry scurried away, she made sure Justin walked away, too. Peeking around, finding the coast clear; Hermione jumped to the bookshelf, just parallel and two bookshelves away from Harry. She has to walk as calmly as she could, hoping Harry won't notice her.

With a fluttering heart, when she saw Harry's face the other side, she walked to the next bookshelf.

This was a wrong move. A very wrong one.

Harry's head suddenly tilted to her direction, emerald meeting amber for fraction of second as she snapped her head away, looking out from the corner of her eye. Hermione panicked and pretended that she didn't notice and walked away, pretending to look like she was very busy with the book in her hand.

She could feel Harry follow her from the bookshelves trying to catch her eye. She ignored him blatantly, feeling very grateful that they were in the library. She might have said this million times already but:

Thousand kisses to whoever who invented a library.

Hermione raced through bookshelves, Harry easily keeping up with her until she reached the last one.

Damn.

With that Hermione halted in her steps with a frown in her face, inside she was a wrecking cannon ball. Because Harry stopped too. And he was coming, in this direction. She was a Gryffindor dammit. Her bowels clenched as she cursed and readied herself to face her fate. She squeezed her eyes shut as she turned around and bumped to someone.

"Granger! What a pleasant surprise!"

Hermione thought she could kiss Cormac right then and there!

No not a kiss, maybe a hug? Merlin, she was grateful. Eternally grateful.

"Oh, er, hello Cormac! What are you doing here?"

Cormac had a strange look of pride and satisfaction on his face. Hermione gave a forced smile. He grinned – Hermione thought it looked more feral than friendly.

"I was just passing by and I found you here. Were you looking for me?"

Hermione struggled not to punch him. So that's what he was smug about!

"Erm no… It was just for this book – you seem to misunder-" Cormac didn't look convinced at all. Hermione fought an urge to click her tongue in frustration as he cut her off. "Well, I might as well ask, would you like to go to the Slughorn party with me?" He flashed that annoying grin again.

Cormac was one of the people who know they are good-looking and are arrogant about it; it was a major turn off.

Her conscience had some other ideas. She found herself answering, "Sure."

Cormac - McLaggen took her wrist and it took all her willpower not to yank her hand out of his grip. He played with the skin there – something in his eyes flashed as he planted an open mouth kiss on the inside of her wrist.

Hermione gulped.

"I am waiting for that day… Hermione." His breath was hitting her face.

A spark of blue hit just the near Cormac leg as he jumped to defend himself. He squeaked – Hermione fought the urge to chuckle – and looked around for the culprit.

"No hexing in my Library!" Madam Pince exclaimed shrilly as she walked towards Cormac, Hermione discreetly hid behind the shelf.

Ignoring her thumping heart, she sighed in relief and wiped her wrist in her robes, reminding herself to order a sanitizer the next time she owls Mom.

Hermione poked at her lunch as she read the book beside her. Merlin, the dessert was delicious…

And Harry wasn't here.

Her stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch as she nibbled on her fork. She felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned back, her eyes betraying a flicker of bitter surprise but overall she maintained her impassive expression.

"Oh, hello Harry." Hermione smiled and turned around to wince, taking another bite of her crêpe.

"I think we need to talk." Harry started in a slow voice. Hermione winced again; she could imagine the scowl on his face.

"About what? Oh hey Ginny." Hermione waved at the red-head and pushed Harry to her with a suggestive expression. Harry didn't even bother to hide his annoyed look as he glared at her. She just rolled her eyes.

He gave her a 'this isn't over' look while Hermione tried her best to look confused, and turned to Ginny.

Hermione gave a silent sigh, but soon tensed when Harry took a seat beside her. She kept herself from banging her head on the table, which was becoming more of a habit these days. Anything, oh anything to save her now!

Distraction came in the form of Ron, stealing the crêpe from her plate.

"Hey! That's mine!"

Ron, who had it almost in his mouth, took it out and offered to Hermione – looking not sorry at all.

"Oh, here then."

Hermione fought the urge not to vomit as Ron grinned as she shoved his hand away and huffed. Irritated enough, and secretly happy that she had a reason to walk away, she stood up.

"Oh c'mon Hermione! I was just joking!" Ron protested through his crêpe filled mouth. Hermione spared him a look of disgust and turned to walk away. She felt a familiar grip on her wrist.

"Don't leave. Ron said he was kidding." Harry said quietly, his thumb stroking her beating pulse, staring at her intently. Hermione thought dimly that it was the same place where Cormac has kissed her, but then shook her head.

Ginny stared at him, then her suspiciously, but Hermione slowly pulled her hand away when his grip tightened. "It's not that Harry. I have an essay to complete." With that she walked away, feeling Harry's stare all the way to the door of the Great Hall.

Hermione sighed as she walked back to the Common Room. It seemed like a feat she accomplished for dodging Harry and was proud of it. Being a Hogsmeade day, she chose to sit down and have a good read. The whole dorm was empty, hopefully.

Hermione wondered that why did she really start these lessons? It was all her fault and she wouldn't have to sneak off whenever she saw Harry, or…

Sometimes she really wondered why people call her 'the Brightest Witch of Her Age'.

She was anything but that.

Harry was just sitting right there with the Marauder's Map on his hand. "Oh you came. Good. Mischief Managed," Harry said and smiled to himself, probably appreciating his strategic skills. Hermione calculated that how far she was from the Portrait hole, just a metre away… she thought as she slowly took her steps back.

"No one is here now in the dorms. Some first years and second years in the Boy's dorm, but they are hardly a bother, so… we can talk now," Harry stated as he looked up, Hermione just managed to reach the Portrait door and was just going to swing it open. She flinched when Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Don't force me to tie you and drag you away Hermione. Or better Body Bind you," Harry started angrily.

Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Deciding that better get over with it as soon as possible, she marched to the sofa and plopped down beside him, Harry's eyes following her every movement.

"So, what do you wanna talk about?" It was an effort not to fidget under Harry's scrutiny while she faked nonchalance. She straightened her back and greeted his eyes with her own. His hardened eyes softened a fraction.

"Out with it, Harry."

"Why are you avoiding me?" Harry asked as he leaned back. Hermione pretended she didn't understand, broke her eye contact and curiously stared at the swirling flames.

"I don't know what you are going on about Harry," She swore she could feel his glare.

"So you won't open your mouth would you? Should I start?" Harry said softly, eerily.

Hermione didn't respond as she gazed in the fire intently, not even sparing a glance at him. She could almost imagine the twitch in his eye, his irritation practically creating static in the air.

"What was that in the Library? I know you saw me." Harry continued when Hermione started to protest – effectively shutting her, "Do you think I don't know? During Lunch? I know you were lying to me. And then I had to hex McLaggen-"

"So!" Hermione spluttered in realization – she almost forgot about that! "So- it was you who threw that spell! It could have hurt him – in a Library Harry! Why-"

"Nevermind, that. You needed an escape. You didn't particularly look cozy with him." Harry muttered.

"What if I didn't need it? I think he was very charming." She faced Harry, who looked like she just said 'I hate books'. She didn't mean to say that, but he was really starting to get on her nerves.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, again opened it, resembling a gaping fish. He finally flushed red in anger.

"You won't talk to him, Hermione. I'm serious here."

"You don't tell me what to do." Hermione grumbled. If anything more, Harry looked angrier. He shook his head.

"I want to talk about yesterday-" Harry started but Hermione stood up abruptly and regarded Harry shrewdly. "Oh honestly Harry, anything but that. You got Ginny, have a nice life. It's over, it was just a bit of snogging."

Hermione walked away tears that were threatening to flow finally leaking out, ignoring Harry's call to stop right there. She winced, feeling guilty for that remark – but this was the only way she could brush Harry off. He needed to concentrate on Ginny, not on her bushy-haired best friend.

She choked on a sob as she ran away.

Impossible, her mind concluded, it was impossible to get over him.