Chapter 9

It was in the middle of the night, and Hermione was still laying in her bed completly awake with a stomach pain. Livia had changed completly in a matter of second. One minute she was defending her from people's insults, and the next one, she was announcing her their friendship was over.

Hermione tried to find the detail she had missed, the reason why Livia had decided to end the best relationship she had ever had. Deep down, she couldn't help but think that it was also the best friendship Livia had ever lived, or at least she wanted to believe it.

She turned around on her side, staring at absolutly nothing, remembering every word that came out of her best friend's mouth. Her feelings wouldn't change, and she knew that even if she wouldn't return it, Livia was the best friend she ever had.

She sighed, getting pissed at herself for not being able to take Livia out of her mind. She remembered how they met, how they quickly bonded, and all the time they laughed, or shared special moments. When she finally got out of her thoughts, she noticed the tears that had started to fall, invading her cheeks, and the sad smile spreading on her lips. She hated to admit it, but she needed Livia's friendship more than she ever needed something, and she was gonna get her back, she had to.

With that thought and one last smile, Hermione closed her eyes and fell deeply asleep.

***

Livia woke up in the morning, feeling the dried tears on her cheeks. She didn't dare to open her eyes just yet, thinking of the biggest mistake of her life.

Hermione's face appeared in her mind, making her headache even stronger. She should have tried to win her heart, instead of pushing her away. She thought it would help her not to fall in love with the brunette, but just then, she realized that she already had fallen, and couldn't seem to get back on her feet.

She pulled her legs closer to her, curling her body in a ball and allowed herself to sob at the wrong turn this friendship had taken. She wanted to go back in time and take away those mean words. And even though she knew that the easiest would have been to never meet Hermione, she felt like those days they had spent together was more worth than any other things she had done in her life.

It took her all her strenght to get up from bed, dress up and go join the others in the great hall for breakfast. She sat next to Draco as his eyes fell on her. He took her hand under the table and she quickly turned to him.

"Are you alright?"

Her green eyes met his pale ones. They were soft, and expressed worries.

"I saw you crying yesterday, but you didn't give me the time to talk to you."

Livia looked down in shame, feeling tears coming up to her eyes, one of them escaping on her right cheek. She quickly wiped it off and swallowed her pain.

"I told Hermione we needed to stop being friends, yesterday." she let out in one breath.

"What?" Draco said, surprised. "Why?"

"I don't know." Livia shook her head.

"You know. And I know."

Livia moved her head up slowly and looked at her oldest friend.

"You love her, and you're scared of her rejection." Draco explained.

The petite girl felt her heartbeats accelerate at the veracity of Draco's words. She didn't want to admit it to him, or to herself, but she knew that Hermione's feelings could never turn into love, and the fact that she was aiming right in a broken heart's direction made her do a mistake.

"Maybe." she almost whispered.

"You need to solve this problem, or I will." he threatened.

Livia frowned to him, motionless before Draco got up roughly and headed to the Gryffindor's table. Understanding was he was going to do, Livia tried to stop him and only ended following him around the room.

"Granger." Draco shouted as Livia appeared next to him.

She took his arm and tried to bring him back to the Slytherins' table, but he resisted. Hermione and most of the Gryffindors were staring at the two of them, surprised by their behavior.

"Give her an other chance." Draco simply said.

Hermione's face softened and she glanced quickly at Livia before to look at the blonde boy again.

"I never wanted that friendship to end in first place." she admited, getting up.

Livia felt the tears burning her eyes once again. Without thinking, she started running, crossing the great hall and quickly pushed the door open. She couldn't face this. She couldn't handle to look at her more. The love inside of her was exploding and invading her insides, bringing pain instead of happiness. Her legs seemed to be unable to bring her anywhere else, and she fell on her knees, not bing able to contain the sobs and tears anymore.

She never thought love could hurt as much.