YAY! Chapter 11 FTW! this is the LAST official chapter.
War and Peace
The finals were over and soon, it would be time for the Bequeathal Awarding. It was an event where seventh years pass on their responsibilities to the sixth years. McGonagall had forced me with Harry because I was one of the best in our year. Surely, if I was one of the best, I would have an award, right?
Ginny, Luna, Parvati, Lavender and I were playing Exploding Snap by the lake when Neville came out to the courtyard clutching a handful of parchment.
This is it. This will happen only once. A once in a lifetime chance. I needed to have an award for this.
Neville approached us and my heart beat faster. He gave Luna and Ginny a piece of parchment before waving goodbye. He left.
He left. Without giving me anything. After six years . . . all my hard work . . . it wasn't enough? That just doesn't seem fair. But then again, life's not fair. And it's not up to me to decide.
I could feel something stinging the back of my eyes. My vision blurred, I could barely see Luna and Ginny giggling excitedly. Soon, hot tears poured down my face and I began sobbing. I hid my face to muffle the noise.
"Hermione, look! We got—oh no," I heard Luna say. "Y-you didn't get one?"
I faced her and shook my head.
"That—that's impossible!" Ginny added. "Come on, Luna, we're going to McGonagall."
"No, no, please don't," I managed to say in between tears. "I don't want to be so desperate. Maybe it was all the rule-breaking I'd done that made them decide I didn't deserve an award."
"Hermione, if it weren't for that rule breaking, we'll still be hiding under tables because Voldemort's at large. You of all people deserve an award," Ginny said. "The entire event will be pointless if you weren't recognized."
"No, I promise, I'll be okay," I reassured them. "It's just an award. I'll get over it."
I grabbed my stuff and hurriedly walked back to the dorm, angrily wiping my tears. On the way, I met Ron.
"Hey, 'Mione, where's your—?" he began, but he saw my empty hand and my tear-streaked face and didn't continue. "Impossible! Where's Ginny? We have to talk to McGonagall!"
"No, Ron, honestly, I don't need it," I said. "Ginny already offered."
He took a deep breath. "Well, okay then," he said, then hugged me in a one-armed embrace. "Remember, you're still the best, okay?"
"Thanks," I said with a smile.
I felt stupid after I spent an hour crying. I descended to the common room and saw Harry.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," I replied.
"So," he said.
"So what?" You're annoying me . . .
"How many awards did you get?" he asked. But before I could reply, he said, "Oh. That's right. You didn't get any."
I know I wasn't supposed to be angry at him. It was the same reason everyone hated him. He took people's feelings for granted. I was supposed to be used to that.
But rubbing it in didn't help.
I felt angry. I wanted to slap him, but I was too broken to do so.
"Hermione, it was a joke," he said as if I'd reacted badly to a good joke.
"You think everything's a joke, Harry," I said menacingly. "But here's one thing that isn't a joke. You're losing your friends, Harry. One by one. I was the last one standing. I was the last one who could keep up. But you just turned me into the weakest link. You're all alone now, Harry."
I moved in closer so that he could see my eyes brimming with tears that hadn't poured down yet.
"Congratulations."
Then I turned my heel and went back to my dormitory, trying my best not to look at the people who had just seen what happened.
"Hermione," he's not worth it," Ginny comforted. I'd been crying all over again. The truth hurts a thousand times when the person who said it was very important to you. I know felt like someone had poured seawater on all my wounds.
Ginny, Luna, Ron and everyone in my dorm was comforting me.
"Okay, I'm done," I said in a thick voice, after another hour of crying. "No more crying because of Harry Potter. I've got you guys. It's his loss. I don't need a jerk like him."
The following day, Ginny and Luna stayed by my side like bodyguards in case Harry would dare approach me. Well, I actually know for a fact that of all things he could be afraid of, he chooses to be afraid of people getting any angrier at him. That's why he and Ron never made up. Neither would swallow his pride.
I saw Harry and, for the first time, he looked . . . nostalgic? Sad? Alone seemed to be the right word. But before I could feel sorry for him, I looked away.
"Not worth it, Hermione," Ginny said. "Not worth it." But she looked like she was feeling sorry for Harry as well.
Later, Neville approached me and said that McGonagall was looking for me.
"Sit down, Miss Granger," she said. "You are in no trouble. I just want to clarify all your awards –"
"Wait," I said. Did I hear her right? "My awards?"
"Yes, dear," McGonagall replied incredulously. "You are the top student in your class for six years now. Don't you think that should account for something?"
I was silent.
"Okay then. So, your awards are Most Outstanding in Charms, Most Outstanding in Transfiguration, Most Outstanding in Astronomy, Most Outstanding in Ancient Runes, Most Outstanding in Arithmancy and Most Outstanding in Muggle Studies."
Whoa, that was a bit more than I expected.
"I expect you to be outside the Great Hall thirty minutes before the event tomorrow. We have a lot of arrangements to make. You may go."
Feeling giggly and jumpy I stood up and left the office to look for Luna and Ginny. They just have to hear this.
"I told you so!" Ginny said as soon as I told her and Luna about my meeting with McGonagall. "You had nothing to worry about! You are the best!"
I smiled at her. Her words seem to reassure me.
Yes. I am the best.
The following day, we had the Bequeathal Awarding. Harry found out of course, and he was looking lonelier than ever. I was presented with six awards, and Harry was presented with three. I wanted to look at him smugly, but I realized that it wouldn't help in any way.
"Harry looks a bit . . . down, doesn't he?" Luna said when we were eating in the Great Hall after the Awarding. Harry had nothing on his plate, but he was drinking Pumpkin Juice like it was alcohol. "Maybe you should go swallow your pride, Ron. For heaven's sake it's been ages!"
Ron was quiet, but it looks like he'd give in soon.
"Hermione, go talk to him!" Ginny urged.
"What? You go!" I replied. Both of us looked at Ron.
"You go!" We said together.
"No way," he said and moved away from us.
"Fine!" Luna said, irritated. She began walking towards Harry. Soon, Ginny followed her lead. So, basically, they left me alone because the person they used to hate is now friendless. Wow, really touching.
I kept to myself before I could run to him and hug him and forgive him. Nope. That wasn't going to happen. I shuddered at the idea of doing that.
I went up to the dormitory to continue packing my stuff.
The following morning, we leave Hogwarts. Summer. Finally! I can get away from him! I put all the remaining stuff in my trunk and made sure that I hadn't left anything. I looked under my bed and saw a photograph.
It was a Muggle picture of me and Harry. I remember shoving it under my bed.
It had been, in my opinion, from a different. Time. A time when Harry was not a jerk, when we were just three best friends out killing Dark lords and saving each others' lives while they kept tabs on the Quidditch scores. Ridiculous, but true. Life without Harry as at least a friend would be totally different, maybe even unbearable.
Maybe I'd been too hard on him lately. I put the picture on top of my other things and shut my trunk. Then, I descended my dormitory and went to the lake.
There he was, as I'd predicted. He always comes to the lake when he's feeling nostalgic. I could tell that he's always nostalgic nowadays.
"Hey," I said from behind him. Wow. A first in months. He looked at me and smiled a bit. I jogged to the lakeside and sat beside him.
"I thought you'd never speak to me again," he said, with a tiny sigh of relief.
"Yeah, well, I'm pretty generous in a way." I said. "I figured that I should let go of that tiny thing that made me hate you. You were wrong anyway. Why should I hold it against you anymore?"
"Really sorry," he muttered.
"You are so not off the hook," I teased. "I'm surprised I ever talked to you. Ugh, I'm pretty disgusted at myself for even thinking of approaching you."
"'Mione, you're talking to me right now," he said, confused.
"Ugh, I'm hearing you're voice!" I said, covering my ears.
"Oh, come on! We just made up!" he said. "Tell me, what would it take for you to forgive me?"
"Wrestle the giant squid," I replied, challenging him with a raised eyebrow.
"Fine, then," he replied. He began taking his shirt off.
"No! Harry, you prat!" I cried, slapping his arm hard. I think it hurt me more than it hurt him.
"What? I thought you'd forgive me if I do it?" he mocked, sitting back down.
"Ah, you're off the hook already," I said, bumping his shoulder. I smiled at him and he smiled back with a real smile.
"Thanks," he said.
I know. That is not a fucking ending. That's why I have a sequel.
Deets in the next chapter people!
