Chapter 7
"Harry…Shelly…I…Sorry…" She managed to get out.
Harry and Shelly looked at her with a startled face, dropping each other quickly and turning to face the bright light coming from Hermione's wand. Harry looked like a cat caught in the headlights of a car on the road as he recognized Hermione's voice.
Hermione spun on her heel quickly and ran off. She didn't know, and she didn't care where she was running, she just wanted to get away from the scene. She wanted to run away as far as she could from Harry, as far as she could possibly go.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted after her as he broke away from Shelly and ran after her.
Harry sprinted in the direction Hermione had run and managed to catch a glimpse of Hermione's brown hair disappear around the corner and heard her footsteps come to a stop. He slowed down, took and deep breath and slowly walked towards the corner. He was totally unprepared for what he heard next and it shattered him right to the core.
Hermione was sobbing. She was letting out heart wrenching sobs that just tore him apart.
Hermione didn't know why she was crying. She didn't know why she was so upset. She didn't know why seeing Harry and Shelly at the alley like that just tore her apart. She didn't know why it made her feel like her whole World had come crashing down on her.
"Hermione……" a familiar voice Hermione recognized all too well said on her left.
"Go away Harry…leave me alone…" she let out through sobs.
"Hermione I…" Harry started, wanting to comfort the woman in front of him who always seemed so strong who was now looking so vulnerable and fragile. Harry wanted to just hold her in his arms and just let the world fade away. He reached out to touch her but she pulled away from his touch as if it scalded her.
"Leave me alone!" she repeated herself again, this time more fiercely, turning away from Harry as her back faced him.
"Let me explain…" Harry started but Hermione cut him off.
"You don't have to explain anything Harry. I'm really…happy for you." The words stung her, like acid poured on an open wound.
"No, you don't understand!" Harry cried out.
"I don't understand?" Hermione responded, with as much exasperation. "I don't have to understand anything Harry!"
She had stopped crying now, her sadness was now being replaced with anger. "I don't even know what I'm feeling now so don't try talking to me because nothing is going to make sense! Nothing's been going right these few weeks you've been back! Do you know! For the first time in 15 years, I've felt uncomfortable around you!" Hermione was practically screaming and on the point of hysterical now.
"So you and Shelly are together now? All the built up sexual tension is being released? I'm sorry I spoilt your moment. You should go back Harry, you shouldn't leave her there…"
"HERMIONE!" Harry bellowed, grabbed Hermione by her arms and shook her – firmly but gently.
"Would you just listen to me? Harry tried to look into her eyes but she refused to look at him. At least she wasn't pushing him away now.
"Shelly and I were at dinner, following that death eater right? We were following him when we realized that we hadn't brought enough Polyjuice to cover our fake identities. I think the guy knew that he was being followed and he swung around. We couldn't do anything...so I just pulled Shelly into the alley back there and leaned there with her. But that guy wasn't convinced, he actually followed us in and I had to pretend to do something right? I couldn't risk blowing our covers. So I just told Shelly to act like couple and to kiss me. She was a little reluctant at first but the guy was approaching really quickly and so she did that. It helped us cover our faces now that the Polyjuice had worn off…" Harry said quietly.
Harry didn't know why he had this strong urge and need to explain everything to Hermione. It's not like she was his girlfriend, and he had been cheating on her or anything like that. Hermione as his girlfriend. The phrase rung in his head. That wouldn't be such a bad idea after all, would it?
"I was keeping my eye on him the whole time Hermione, he was standing at the other side of the alley. He left when you lit your wand. That's all that happened. Nothing more, it was just an act Hermione."
Hermione wanted to believe him so much. But the sounds that were coming from both him and Shelly certainly didn't sound like anything pretending. Or were they just very good actors? She took a deep breath and looked at him.
"It's all right Harry, I understand. I'm sorry I - " Hermione started but Harry cut her off.
"What are you saying sorry for 'Mione? You've got nothing to be sorry about."
"Huh? Er, I…I'm sorry for over-reacting….I guess…errr..i was so embarrassed when I interrupted you and Shelly, ummm, well I thought that you two were really going at it, but since you said it was all an act it's a different thing, but well, it wasn't like that just now…" Hermione started rambling.
She was nervous, Harry noticed. The only time Hermione Granger rambled and did not make any sense was when she was nervous.
"You're nervous Hermione…" Harry told her.
Hermione stopped her rambling at once and her eyes snapped up to look at Harry.
"What's making you so nervous?" Harry whispered to her as he took a step closer to her.
Hermione's almost stopped breathing. As Harry inched towards her, she suddenly remembered all their previous similar experiences in the kitchen and Greg's speculations on Harry's pent up sexual tension. Hermione was furious. How could he use her like that! She pushed Harry away suddenly, making him have a very confused look on his face.
"Stop it Harry!" Hermione almost screamed. She wanted to cry. She want for him to kiss her so badly, god she just wanted to pull him down as he was leaning in and let everything just fall away. But she refused to be made use of.
"How could you do this?! Hermione cried, almost hysterical.
"What are you talking about Hermione?" Harry asked feeling a little frustrated now. What was Hermione getting so worked up about?
"Greg said you've been having some problems lately." Hermione shot back."And he's been noticing that you and Shelly have been talking together a lot so maybe you have some feelings for her…" she continued "And since you've been away for so long so you've got some…issues…and you've got no girlfriend to help you with those…issues…and now you've got Shelly and I'm really happy for you that you've found someone and – "
"You're happy? If I really did have feelings for Shelly you'd be happy?"
"If you're happy, I'm happy…" Hermione answered softly, her eyes refusing to meet his.
Harry ignored the stabbing pain in his heart when she said that, pressed further on. "and what issues are you talking about?"
Hermione mumbled something incoherent Harry couldn't catch.
"What was that Hermione, I can't hear you."
"Sexual tension." Hermione mumbled.
Harry was gob smacked. Sexual Tension?! Was that the reason why Hermione was avoiding him? Because she thought that he had all this build up sexual tension and that he was going to pounce on her like some sex-starved hormonal crazed teenager??
Hermione hurmph-ed in front of him.
"I don't care if you have some pent up sexual tension you haven't released for I don't know how long but how can you do this to me!" Now that Hermione had started, she couldn't stop. "If you really like Shelly, pretending or not just now, I don't care! I'm happy for you! You don't have to use the death eater as a cover up! I know it's embarrassing when your best friend stumbles upon you making out with your girl but…If you've found someone you're happy with, then I told you I'm happy for you! There's nothing to be shy about! You…you're…you're my best friend!"
"Best friend…" Harry repeated after her. He was beginning to hate that word now. He wanted so much to just shut up this best friend by kissing her so passionately that she would forget what the word best friend meant. But he knew he couldn't do that, not if Hermione didn't' feel that same way. No…he had to tell her.
