Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, but this plot (I hope) does.
Author's Note: Okay, so, a lot of people felt bad for Harry, but I promise, he and Hermione will make up, and he may even start dating Ginny, I'm not positive or anything. But I had to hurt him to keep the story interesting and rolling. I apologize to Harry, and anyone who felt bad for him.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Hermione entered the Great Hall, and walked over to the Gryffindor table. The night before, Hermione had pushed Draco away, and had told him that this was a mistake, and that she just needed to be alone. Hermione then locked herself in her room. About ten minutes later, Draco did the same.
Unbeknownst to the two, Harry quietly opened the door of the bathroom, and rushed out of the common room. He tried not to let the tears fall, and couldn't look Allegra in the eye. She was about to stop him, but, after getting a glimpse of his face, shut her mouth. Harry ran back to the Gryffindor Tower, and quietly went up to his bed. He lay awake for about an hour, thinking about Hermione, and how she had betrayed him. He fell asleep as the tears dried on his cheeks.
Hermione slid in next to Harry, and leaned in to give him a kiss. He turned his head a fraction of an inch, and she touched his cheek instead. Hermione thought this was a little cold, but figured he didn't want to gross out Ron, or anything. Hermione noticed that Ginny was not at the table, and this saddened her.
"Hermione, can we go talk out in the corridor?" Harry asked suddenly.
"Um, sure." Hermione looked at Ron, to see if he knew what Harry wanted to talk about, but he was staring down at his plate.
Hermione stood, and followed her boyfriend out of the Great Hall. A few people glanced in their direction, but no one really paid much attention. Draco, however, couldn't keep his eyes of the two of them. Even though last night had been wonderful (what with kissing Hermione twice), he had to admit to himself that it was a mistake. If Hermione decided to stick with Harry, then their friendship could be completely ruined. And Draco liked being Hermione's friend. Of course, he would rather Hermione wanted to make out with him on a daily basis, but he was willing to wait for her to come around.
Harry led Hermione down the corridor for a while, without saying anything. This worried Hermione. Normally, he was very talkative. She almost ran into him as he stopped suddenly, and faced her.
"Hermione, is there anything going on between you and Draco Malfoy?" This question surprised Hermione.
"W-well, no," she stuttered, not looking him in the face. "I mean, we've become better friends, and all, but…"
"Then why were you kissing him last night, after the party?" When Hermione didn't respond, Harry continued. "I mean, you don't make out with Ron like that, right? Unless, of course, you like Malfoy more that a friend. Is that true?"
"No, Harry, of course--" Hermione was interrupted by Harry, who was obviously pissed.
"How can you so blatantly say that you don't have feelings for him?!" Harry cried, throwing his arms into the air. "I saw you kiss him last night, I saw the way you looked at him! I don't mind the fact that you like him, even though, for the past six years, we have hated him. I just hate that you lied to me, and cheated on me. How would you feel if I began making out with some random girl?"
"I'm sorry, Harry, really." Hermione kept her gaze down, embarrassed and ashamed. "I never meant to hurt you."
Harry lowered his voice. "If you didn't mean to hurt me, than why did you do it?"
"I-I don't know--"
"Whatever." Harry held up a hand to stop her. "Please. I just need a little space. And maybe, hopefully, someday, we can be friends again." Harry began to walk away, but Hermione's voice stopped him.
"You're not going to say anything, right? I know it's a lot to ask, but you have to realize how people would react, if they knew that, you know…Just, please. We were friends before this, right? You still care about me, right?"
Harry took a deep breath, but didn't turn around. "I did tell Ron this morning, but no one else will know. How you can even question if I still care about you, that upsets me. But I just need a little space. I hope you can give me at least that."
"I will, Harry. Don't worry about that." Harry continued his walk back to the Great Hall.
Hermione stood in the corridor for a few more moments, thinking. It was impossible for her to even comprehend that she and Harry were broken up. She had enjoyed being his girlfriend, and wasn't sure if she could go back to life before that. What she knew, though, was that she did not want to go to classes. She knew it was wrong, but she turned around, and ran back the Head's Dormitory. Entering the common room, she took long strides to her room, stripped down and changed into a t-shirt and boxers, and climbed into bed. She didn't give the fact that she was skipping all her classes a second thought, and was asleep.
After classes were over, Ginny was seen walking to the Head's dormitory, a worried look on her face. She hadn't seen Hermione all day, but had seen the way Harry acted. He had seemed very sullen, and Ron seemed to be feeding off of this vibe, making them both look very depressed. Ginny's first thought was that something was wrong with Hermione. Even though she was extremely upset with the girl, Ginny was concerned. They were still friends, and Ginny wanted to make sure Hermione was okay.
"Hey, Ginny," Allegra greeted the girl, a smile on her face. It faded, though, once she saw Ginny's expression. "Oh, my god, is everyone at this school depressed? Or, like, is this dorm haunted, or something? Should I be worried?"
Ginny wondered what the mermaid was talking about, but mentally shook her head. She was here about Hermione, and could worry about what Allegra did during her off time later.
"Is Hermione in there?" Ginny asked, gesturing to the door.
"Um, I think so," Allegra said. "I mean, I hear someone moving around in there occasionally. Of course, if those rumors about Hermione are true, I have no idea why she would be skipping school."
"Is it okay if I talk to her? I just want to make sure she is okay."
Allegra hesitated. "I really shouldn't let you…but if something is wrong with Hermione, then she needs someone to talk to." The portrait door swung open, and Ginny began to walk through it, a smile on her face. "Just remember, you got in here on your own, okay?" Ginny nodded, and Allegra closed the door after her.
Once inside, Ginny did a quick look-over, and deduced that Draco had not yet returned to the room. She knew this gave her a few minutes to figure out what was wrong with Hermione.
Ginny knocked lightly on Hermione's bedroom door. "Hermione? Are you in there?"
There was some rustling from inside the room, and the door swung open, revealing Hermione, dressed in her pajamas, her hair in tangles, her makeup smudged and tear-stains on her cheeks. Without thinking, Ginny wrapped her arms around the girl, and held her tightly. Hermione returned the hug, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I am so sorry, Ginny," Hermione said, her voice muffled.
"I should be the one to apologize. I shouldn't've gotten so upset. You're my best friend, and I value your opinion."
"But I was so mean!"
"Look, I forgive you," Ginny said, pulling back from Hermione, "and you forgive me. We have made up, and are now the best of friends. Now please, tell me what is up with you and Harry." Those words caused another wave of tears, and Ginny pulled Hermione back into a hug. Obviously, this was going to take a while.
"How could you kiss Draco?!" Ginny cried for the umpteenth time. "I don't want to seem mean, or anything, but did you not realize how…idiotic that was?"
Hermione sighed. "Look, I understand that, Ginny. It was a huge mistake, and I hate the fact that we did it. But right now, I need you to reassure me that everything is going to be okay. I know, I know, totally cliché, but at this moment, that is all I need. Okay?"
"Okay." Ginny smiled slyly. "But I still can't believe you kissed him. I knew there was something going on between the two of you. But what are you going to do now?"
"I dunno," Hermione said, covering her face with her hands. "Obviously, nothing more can come of the kiss, because it would be too weird, and it would be a major insult to Harry. But how can we possibly live in the same dorm together, with this hanging over us? The tension could, like, be cut with a knife, or something."
"I'm not sure what you are going to do. But at least Harry isn't going to say anything. Life would be a lot worse if he told a Gryffindor. I mean, you made out with a Slytherin! That's, like, revealing information with the enemy in a war, or something."
"That makes me feel a whole lot better, just so you know."
"I try," Ginny said, smirking.
"I am very happy that he isn't going to tell anyone. I would probably die. I still can't believe how I made out with a Slytherin! Who is also Draco Malfoy, for Merlin's sake! The guy who, for the last few years, has made my life miserable, and who I have hated for just as long. How did we get to this point?"
"Well, you are incredibly hot, so Draco was drawn to you for your looks, but he also got to know you really well. If I, like, didn't fancy guys, I would totally want to date you."
Hermione smiled. "Thanks, Gin. But how did I start to like him?"
"Pretty much for the same reason. Draco is astonishingly hot, but he also has a great personality. The only reason I haven't jumped his bones is 'cause I know much he likes you. If I didn't think he liked you, I'd be all over that like…Lavender and Parvati on a makeup sale."
Hermione giggled. She began to speak, but shut her mouth when she heard the portrait door open, and male voices. She quieted down Ginny, and motioned the girl to follow her. They tiptoed over to the door, which was open a bit, and leaned in. Draco and Blaise had entered the common room, and were settling themselves on couches. Hermione was about to return to the bed, but Ginny stopped her.
"Let's see what they have to say," Ginny whispered. Hermione rolled her eyes, but joined the girl.
"So where's Hermione?" Blaise asked, looking around.
"Uh, I dunno," Draco mumbled, clearly uncomfortable. "She's probably hanging out with Potter."
"Bastard," Blaise muttered. "Well, this will give us an opportunity to talk about…you know."
"Oh. Right. When are you planning on doing it?"
"Not sure. I want to do it soon, but how am I going to break them up?"
Hermione and Ginny exchanged glances. What were they talking about?
"She'll probably be back here in a little bit. You can ask her then."
"What if she says no?"
"What about your excellent persuasion skills?"
Understanding clicked in both the girls' heads at the same time. Blaise wanted to ask out Hermione!