Chapter 13

Harry didn't fully turn around, instead continued what he was doing, just changed the destination of his kiss…and kissed Hermione on the side of her head,

"Kissing her…" Harry whispered, turning towards Ron.

Ron just stood there, it was clear that he was holding his temper, he was fuming inside but then he knew it was an innocent kiss on her forehead and Harry didn't try to hide what he was doing.

"What did you think I was doing … Ron?" Harry broke the silence and got up from the bed.

Ron just shook his head…"Nothing, just well … umm Mum thinks she should be taken to St. Mungoes…she thinks Hermione may be anorexic"

He knew this was not what he had planned to talk about when he entered the room, he didn't like the idea of Harry carrying Hermione so possessively and therefore followed him and he was glad that he did or else he wouldn't have caught Harry…shut up Ron, you didn't catch Harry doing anything wrong…he is her best friend too. He is dating my sister…

While Ron was thinking along these lines, Harry was reading him and he knew his stupid actions could have resulted in something really chaotic. He didn't know why he wanted to kiss Hermione, it was not really impulsive as it was with Ginny in sixth year, and on the other hand he felt like kissing Hermione based on deep thinking and a need that he was again very confused about. He felt guilty for being one of those guys who cheated on their girlfriends, well I am exactly like them, I almost kissed someone without their permission or consent, not any someone My Best Friend and My other best friend's girlfriend…ok she is not is girlfriend but…they are something anyway I better not try that again…I like Ginny and that's that.

He went and sat down on the other bed, facing Hermione's bed while his back was towards Ron.

"She doesn't like hospitals and I don't think she is anorexic, she is eating just not enough, and we should try to help her at home where she is surrounded by people…" Harry said it in a low voice so as not to disturb Hermione and his back still towards Ron. Ron came and sat on the floor leaning against the wall facing straight ahead at Hermione's bed, from here he had clear view of Harry.

Ron was also looking at Hermione and started talking…

"She didn't bicker with me, did you notice? She and I would be on a warpath by now…but she didn't respond in the way she normally does, she is … I don't really know how to explain. Every little thing she does these days is making me think, Harry…Thinking stuff that I never even noticed…"

When Ron said this, Harry turned towards Ron, looking at him disbelievingly…for he was doing the same thing. He was studying Hermione and her actions or just her expression made him think about stuff he never bothered about before. For some odd reason after listening to Ron talking about going through the same stuff made him realize that all these thoughts he had about Hermione were out of pure guilt perhaps, it was not that he was attracted to her or anything.

But then Ron's feeling them too…I don't really know what he is thinking but he's always had these more than friends feelings for Hermione…I don't fancy Hermione then why am I thinking that way either…Harry hastily stood up and ran his hands through his hair, messing them even more,

"Ron we are both feeling guilty…that's it…nothing else…That's all there is to it, the way we are feeling towards Hermione's and noticing her actions…"

"What do you mean by these feelings for Hermione…what are you exactly talking about…Harry…Harry?" Ron had to call out twice as he noticed that Harry was once again deep in thoughts…when he didn't get a response, he continued talking,

"I know its guilt Harry, our ignorance towards her is making us guilty and may be its because of this guilt we are over analyzing everything…but the fact remains that she needs to get her health back. Or at least get her to argue with me again…just to see she is normal again…"

All this coming out of Ron, sure intrigued Harry and he just nodded. Ron is right, its all guilt talking, no deeper feelings involved. I am glad Ron interrupted me or else I would've crossed a limit that I don't think is worth losing Ron or Ginny over. Why is it that just when I think things are getting normal and happy, something goes wrong with Hermione…

YOU ARE A SELFISH PRAT HARRY…

Its right I was just beginning to celebrate my return to Hogwarts with my best friends…and look where we are right now…

SHUT THE HELL UP HARRY…

"I am going crazy…" Harry said this out loud.

"What now? Harry! You ok? ", asked Ron standing up as well.

"Nothing…Just having a dispute between two different schools of thought within my brains…lets go down now", Said Harry in a state of confusion.

The two friends left the room and went downstairs and met with rest of the missing Weaslys. The topic had thankfully drifted off from Hermione and for once Harry was glad that things were carefree and normal.

Ginny brought up the subject of party the next day, which lightened the spirits of Ron and Harry both. Harry had never been to a muggle bar or anyone else in that room, so exploring one with his friends would be fun. Then he remembered that maybe they are all too young to be able to enter the place except for Lee, George and Alicia, rest of them was either 17 or 18.

He raised this point and George suggested making fake Ids but Mrs. Weasley heard him so it was decided that they'll go to some muggle dance club where they could easily enter. Ginny moved ahead, got hold of Harry's hand and asked him to take a walk with her. Harry was more than glad to accept the invitation. They were not too far from the house but were not in visible range from where everyone sat inside…Ginny sat down on the ground and pulled Harry towards her. Ginny's back was towards the burrow and Harry's front was facing Ginny when she started kissing him. They were both snogging heavily and Ginny lied down on the floor and pulled Harry on her. Her hands had thoroughly messed up his hair and were on his butt, that excited Harry a little and he took some oxygen break, when he gazed at Ginny…he saw Hermione's face instead of Ginny's, he shook his head and to clear his head he looked up and once again he saw Hermione looking out the window of Ron's room. He closed his eyes and looked again but found the window to be vacant…

"Harry…you ok?" Ginny's question brought him out of this weird moment. And he stood up immediately.

"I think we should head home. I see someone coming outside" saying this he pulled her up Ginny and brushed out some twigs out of her hair. They both cleaned up the dirt on their cloths and made their way towards the Burrow. Harry kept stealing looks at the window where he thought he saw Hermione. Why did I imagine Hermione right there…It means nothing, just worried about Hermione…doesn't mean anything…Harry was mentally trying to reason with himself and to reassure himself, he gently kissed Ginny on the cheek, Ginny smiled a little but remained quiet and held on to his hand firmly as if he was going to run away. They quietly joined everyone in the lounge, helping themselves to some more soup. Harry thought about checking up on Hermione but decided not to. For some reason or probably due to his recent chain of thoughts about his best friend; Harry was really irritated by Hermione. He was feelings things that he could not interpret and that made him even more agitated and he therefore had no wish to see Hermione. He was sure that Hermione was up but not joining them all…ok now Hermione should've come on her own, she doesn't need an invitation…its getting old now…I wish someone should tell her that…What the hell Harry, she is your friend and obviously still upset…Why the hell am I constantly thinking about her…Its not thinking its just that I am annoyed at her right now…Harry was not fuming inside because of all these stupid conversations going on inside his head and all because of Hermione.

It was almost dark outside when Fleur entered the house along with Bill…she was beginning to show a little due to the prominent bump on her stomach. Mrs. Weasley along with Ginny and Fleur started working on dinner.

Mrs. Weasley called out, "Harry can you be a dear and please wake up Hermione for dinner?"

Without caring to answer, he got up and went upstairs still in a foul mood. He entered the room without knocking and saw Hermione up and reading some book. This made him even angrier but controlled himself, "I see you are up…I came to wake you up for dinner…if its not too much to ask can you make an appearance at the dinner table your highness" Harry said this politely but the sarcasm was dripping from every word he said and not to mention his eyes. The smile on his face was so fake, that a child could tell that it was not a real one.

Hermione looked at him as expressionless as a mannequin, "You saw me earlier during your make out session, so you should've known I've been up for quite sometime now. I'll just finish this page and will join you all" and saying this she looked back at her book.

Harry couldn't keep it in him anymore…

"You know Hermione! Your attitude is getting really crappy. And it would be best if you drop it and start realizing that everyone is worried about you. Everyone in this family is going out of their way to care for you; they care for your pain more than their own…so just drop this attitude … ok! Nobody deserves it…"

Harry didn't know where all this was coming from but he felt like saying a lot more; on seeing Hermione not showing any emotion and just staring at him, made him stop. Hermione spoke in a very calm and kept tone…

"Thanks for the refresher Harry. I don't know what made you think that I am being a snob to Ron's family; I assure you that I would never do that. I would never even think about doing such a thing. Is this about me seeing you snog out there?" Hermione got up from the bed started wearing her sneakers again.

"Just listen to yourself Hermione, you don't even…well you are just…It is not about the snogging, why were you watching us anyway? "

"I was not watching you, I just got up and was looking out, and lo and behold I see Harry in a very heavy snog session with his girl friend. Oh yeah I couldn't really make out the figures so I tried to focus a little so that's why it took me time to turn away."

Once she was done wearing her sneakers, she got up and crossed Harry…"I have no interest in watching you snog. And yes I would appreciate it if you stopped jumping to conclusions about me…I didn't feel like going down so I didn't"

Harry got hold of her arm, "that is exactly what I am talking about. Why didn't you feel like coming down on your own…why … you are too good for everyone?"

Hermione jerked her arm away from his old, "No. I just didn't feel like it. I am not good for anyone Harry, I am not even good enough to exist…" this time Hermione opened the door and walked out without waiting for his response.

Harry felt bad and yet extremely angry, he sat down on nearest bed and lay down with his legs hanging from the edge…"Why aren't you angry Hermione…I just said some horrible stuff and all I got was a robot…" He finally got up and joined everyone at the dinner table.

Hermione was being force fed by Molly Weasley, everyone spoke about general stuff without bringing attention to anything in particular. It looked like a regular normal meal time at the Weasleys without any fear or sadness looming on their heads. If there was any sadness, everybody was doing a good job of hiding it. Throughout the dinner, Hermione and Harry didn't exchange any words or even looked at eachother. Hermione was sitting between Molly and Ron and was being ambushed from both sides to eat something. She tried her best to finish everything on her plate but failed to do so, she looked clearly sick when Ron gave her another piece of chicken. Finally he let go of it because of the obvious sickness on her face.

After dinner she decided to leave for the shop but she was told that they already informed her boss about her taking the day off. But Hermione didn't agree to it, and promised to spend some other weekend with them. Molly Weasley was not entirely convinced but once Hermione asked her to pack some food for her to take, she immediately calmed down.

"Ofcourse dear…I'll just pack some for you…" Molly then started packing food for her.

"You will join us tomorrow for the celebration right Hermione?" Ginny asked her casually. "You must or else we all will be clueless in muggle world, Harry can be useful but not much you know…"she ran her hand over Harry's arm when she said the last part which made Harry blush and he immediately looked around to see if anyone saw how her touch affected him. To his relief nobody paid much attention, he was still always wary of Weasleys feelings when it came to him and Ginny, not that they ever showed anything but none the less, he was always on a look out.

Hermione nodded and said yes with a smile. She took her packed food from Mrs. Weasley and went out to apparate to her apartment.

Ron offered to take her, "I'll go with you; it's quite dark outside Hermione..."

"It's alright Ron. I'll apparate just a little outside the shop, hardly 3 minutes away…so no big deal really" Hermione replied. But Ron wouldn't listen and went anyway. It was a good thing that Ron went with her for Hermione once again felt dizzy and dropped the package with her food. Ron caught her just in time, but couldn't wake her up. So he decided to apparate her back home to the burrow. He picked up the package, looped his arm through its holder and picked up Hermione.

"What's wrong with you Hermione, you weigh lighter than this package I am holding…ok I am exaggerating a little but its true…and the sad part is you are not listening…" Ron was having a one sided conversation and didn't apparate right away. He panicked a little so instead of appartating the two of them this way, he turned around and move towards shop. He found Hermione's set keys to be in her pocket and took her to the apartment. He came out, apparated back to the burrow; everyone had dispersed from the lounge by then leaving only his parents so he told them what happened. Mr. Weasley got up and told his wife to stay calm and he will bring Hermione over …"No Arthur, Take her to St. Mungoes…they should give her some strengthening potion or something. I'll join you there…" Arthur only nodded and left with Ron. They both took Hermione to St Mungoes and Mrs. Weasley joined them there. The healers informed them that Hermione was extremely weak and anemic. They decided to keep her for the night to get her blood level high and some nourishment in her, "she is really malnourished and seems like she has not slept in days…we'll keep her for the night to get her in shape, you can take her tomorrow morning."

Meanwhile back at Burrow, Harry noticed that Ron was still not back and decided to check up on him, he left to sleep earlier to avoid sitting with Ginny. So he sneaked out of his room towards the lounge and found it empty.

Where could Ron possible be … right then it hit Harry that Ron took Hermione to her place and is not back as yet. It is quarter to two…what if they have decided to get together again or snogging or … Harry was hit with a wave of jealousy that he could not comprehend and before he knew it he was at the book store where Hermione worked, in his pajamas. He knocked on the door and rang the bell on the door too the bookstore but no response…at this he imagined sleeping figures of his two best friends on the same bed, though he saw them fully clothed in his imagination but none the less it did not ease his mind. He finally left and went back home, he sat in the lounge staring in to the darkness, when Mr. Weasley appeared along with Ron and his wife.

"Oh Harry you are still up…what is the matter?" asked Arthur while taking his cloak off.

"Nothing…where were you all?" asked Harry while his eyes did not leave Ron. He was feeling certain rage towards his best friend and knew he had no right but he couldn't help it.

Ron told him everything from A to Z about the happenings…

"Can I go see her then?" Harry asked very timidly

"I am afraid its late Harry, the healers sent us home too, we'll be able to bring her back in the morning, they said its only going to take the night to put some nourishment in her system." Saying this Mrs. Wealey gave a small hug to Harry and wished him Good night. They all dispersed, Ron didn't say anything as his mind was on Hermione and same was the case with Harry.

"I am glad you went with her Ron."

"Yeah me too, Harry. We'll go see her, the first thing in morning…don't worry", Ron said sensing the concern in Harry's voice.

"Yes I know…Good night"

At 7 in the morning both Ron and Harry were up and ready to go see Hermione. They left a not to Mrs. Weasley about where they will be and apparated to St. Mungoes. Harry drew quite an attention from St. Mungoes staff but ignored it. Ron and Harry sat next to the sleeping form of Hermione and saw the two drips attached to her arm. One of the staff members came to check up on Hermione, she was at awe once she realized who the two occupants were.

She told them about Hermione's condition, "She woke up sometime around 3-ish, wanted to go home. She is one polite patient that I wouldn't mind having everyday…Oh I mean…I wish all patients were like her not that she should be here as patient…that came out wro…"

"Don't worry about it … we know what you are talking about." Harry interrupted her with a smile. "Please tell us how she is doing?" he pointed towards Hermione.

"Yes as I was saying, she got up and wanted to go home, but we told her that she needs to stay here as per Mr. Weasley's request. She didn't question again, just laid back down…she is very weak, we gave her some potions through I.V to build her hemoglobin level as she was quite anemic and some strengthening potions and she has not been sleeping well either."

After this, the healer went through Hermione's chart…"oh and we had to give her dreamless sleep potion, apparently she has trouble sleeping due to some err nightmares or something, she wouldn't say but she would get up, I personally think she is scared…she made us keep the lights on…anyway so far she is sleeping on her own without any sleeping potion so it's a good thing. You will be able to take her back by noon"

She smiled at Harry and Ron both…"Let me know if you gentlemen need anything or incase Ms. Granger wakes up…"

"What in the bloody hell was she on about…Hermione is not scared of anything, she's faced more horrors than this woman would face in 20 years…perhaps she was scared…"

Ron mimicked the last part in the healer's voice.

"Yeah you are right but why would Hermione keep the lights open…u know after living with her in the same tent that she sleeps in total darkness or covers her face with something while sleeping, just to block light…"

Hermione woke up after an hour or so and was a bit disoriented. When she saw Harry and Ron sitting by her side, she gave wished them …"Good Morning" politely.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked with obvious concern in his voice.

"Good…Thanks, how long have you been here for?" Hermione said the last part looking at Ron.

"About an hour or so … you really gave us a scare Hermione and you better start eating like me…" Ron said humorously.

"Thanks Ron. If I am not wrong I think I passed out on you last night…sorry about that Ron…" Hermione said this with a sheepish smile which was solely for Ron. To Harry it seemed as if he was not even in the room. He looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione, Ron had a goofy smile on his face while Hermione a sheepish one…if I am not wrong I think Hermione is blushing…once again Harry felt a bit jealous and felt like breaking the affectionate moment between the two.

"I'll go get the healer, she asked us to get her once you are up…you can come home with us afterwards…" Harry said in a bit annoyed tone which went unnoticed by the other two occupants of the room.

Hermione just turned towards still not fully attentive and just nodded…she lied down back in bed and closed her eyes for a while.

---------------------------------

Once Hermione was back home with Harry and Ron, she felt much better. They decided to delay the party plan on account of Hermione's health, to which Ginny protested a little. Hermione told them not to cancel their plans on her behalf and agreed to join in even if she didn't feel like it. Mrs. Weasley was still concerned about Hermione but she knew if Hermione didn't go, then Harry and Ron won't go either and this was something they planned for quite some time therefore she had to give in.

Hermione went home to change in to something different as her clothes smelt like St. Mungoes and promised to join them all there at the club. Hermione went home and changed in to a pair of blue jeans and plain black t shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror and started thinking about her parent…for some reason; she couldn't picture her parents…all she saw were fuzzy faces and couldn't tell what the features looked like. What the hell, where are their faces…Mum? Dad? Can you hear me? … Hermione looked in the mirror once again and saw herself in the reflection, how pathetic am I? Hermione you are a pathetic scum, what kind of a monster would forget the faces of their own parents…only you Hermione, only you. Why can't I remember my parents … Hermione panicked so much that she totally lost it … she ran towards her cupboard…looked through some pictures but they were all of Harry, Ron and herself. There weren't any pictures of her parents. She tried to accio the pictures of her parents but she couldn't. She sat down on the floor and felt like crying but no tears came out.

"I don't have pictures of my parents with me…I don't have pictures of my parents with me…I don't remember what they looked like…I am the worst daughter ever…I am …" Hermione was talking to herself with her head in her hands, still no tears, at that moment she felt a sorrow so deep that she didn't know how to deal with it. She once again closed her eyes to recall the faces of her parents, this time they were even more blurry than they were before.

Her door opened and in came Harry and Ginny…she didn't notice them, for she sat there on the floor with her head in her hands and she kept shutting her eyes tightly and then opening them.

Harry immediately fell to his knees in front of him and asked her what was wrong. Hermione didn't hear him and instead kept her eyes tightly shut…Harry jerked her slightly…that's when she looked up and saw Harry in front of her and registered Ginny talking at the back.

Nobody said anything for a while; even Harry wasn't sure what Ginny was said…

"Hermione if you are not feeling well, then you should stay back. Harry and I will send Mum back…"

"No…I can stay with you Hermione…" said Harry

Ginny got a bit angry at this, "there is no need for you to stay Harry. You of all the people deserve this outing and Mum can take better care of her than you…"

Hermione finally registered what was going on around her; she stared at Ginny with an unreadable expression…

"I'll come. I am feeling fine. I just misplaced something and was trying to remember the last time I saw it…Let's go…" Hermione said this as if it was a definition of something…her voice or eyes of devoid of any emotion.

Harry was a bit hesitant as he could see that there was something definitely wrong with Hermione, but didn't say anything.

The three of them finally appeared at the muggle hangout where they joined Luna, George, Ron, Padma, Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lee Jordan, Alicia, Neville, Susan, Ernie and few others. Once they all greeted one another, Hermione sat quietly at one corner, with Neville on her right and the wall on left and across the table Dean and Angelina. Hermione quietly noticed how all the girls were quite dressed up, they all wore dresses and were wearing makeup and fancy hairdos. She looked down at her shirt; she discovered that her clothes were even simpler than the boys. Even they were dressed up nicely if not in suits, yet this didn't bother her. She picked up the spoon in front of her and tried to see her reflection in it but couldn't see herself in it…she tried to focus and again didn't see her own reflection, she panicked a little and threw the spoon back on the table, this grabbed the attention of Neville and Dean, "You ok? " Dean asked.

"Yeah, just a slight current…you know…" she said this hastily while looking back at the spoon lying on the table.

Everyone decided to dance but she didn't get up. She was left alone, she watched Ron and Padma dancing and she could tell that they were having a grand time it's good to know someone is having fun, they all deserved to have fun, at least they didn't kill their parents…Ginny joined her, red in face…

"Hi…Harry's gone to get some drinks…this is so much fun"

Hermione looked at flushed Ginny and gave her a small smile, "you guys deserve to have fun, you all do, and everybody has gone through so much that I believe this was the right…"

"Hermione please if you don't mind, we all are having too much fun to bring down the mood by talking about the lost ones…so if you don't mind…don't…"

Hermione just stared at her and just nodded. Once again she turned her eyes towards her dancing friends…

"Is it bothering you?" Ginny followed Hermione's line of gaze towards Ron and Padma.

"What?" asked Hermione.

"Ron and Padma?"

"No…not at all. I was just wondering the same thing, that it's not bothering me…I am glad that Ron's having a good time", Hermione faced Ginny while saying this.

Ginny had a weird look on her face as if trying to control herself from something but it seemed the control was not that strong…

"Hermione I know you lost your parents…but like you said earlier, everybody here has gone through so much so drop this attitude of yours as if you don't care…" Hermione opened her mouth to say something but Ginny raised her hand to stop her and looked around quickly as if to check for someone, once Ginny was satisfied she stared talking again…

"Shut up and let me finish. Hermione this act of yours is getting old, look after yourself, stop making Harry and Ron worry over you all the time because God know they deserve some normalcy in their lives and you are the only one keeping them from all this. You should be bothered because of this little fling between Ron and Padma…things can get serious and if they do and Ron is happy…AND you come to your senses at that time, Hermione you have to go through me. You are one of my best friends but unlike Harry and Ron…I am going to be straight forward and let you know instead of thinking things and saying them out loud like those two…GET – OVER – IT, you've become an attention seeking little puppy who can't operate on her own. Please for your own good and everybody else's drop this attitude…"

Hermione was sitting there just staring at Ginny but didn't say anything. Hermione after few seconds of staring, just shrugged her shoulder and bit her cheeks a little,

"seems like you've been piling up on things to say to me Ginny…I am sure you are not finished as yet … carry on…"

"Just hold it Hermione, this is exactly what I am talking about now you are trying to be an underdog getting bullied by Mean Ginny…yes I do have a lot to say but I am here to have fun…forget that I have lost a brother, forget that my boyfriend left me for an year, forget everything and have fun. I am not going to let you spoil it."

Right then Harry appeared with two drinks with little umbrellas on them, "Hey I got us this cool drink, it's called ocean cocktail; oh sorry I didn't see you Hermione, want me to get you one…infact have this one, I'll go get another one"

Hermione was still looking at Ginny, and then turned to look at Harry, she felt certain hatred towards both of them, she was described more or less in the same words by Harry yesterday and today she was getting it from her so called best girl friend.

"No thanks…Harry. I'll go get something else for me…" saying this she got out of the booth and went towards the bar side.

Am I really becoming a pain in the neck…well whatever … let them think what they want. I don't care. Hermione granger doesn't need them. They will be going back to school; atleast then I won't have to deal with them again till next August.

Hermione asked for coke, and instead of going back to the booth, she sat there. She was soon joined by Neville and Ernie; both asked what she was having. She told them and offered a sip so they know what it tasted like; they both really liked it and ordered some as well.

"Hey Hermione there's a waitress at the booth, she is taking orders for food, let's go and order…"

"No if you don't mind, I don't want to eat anything. I will join you guys after I am done with my cold drink…"

They both nodded and left. Hermione's thoughts were once again on her parents fuzzy images in her mind. She slightly banged her head on the table in front and thought she would cry soon but once again no tears came out.

She was soon joined by Dean…"Hey Hermione, all good?"

Hermione smiled, "Yep…I didn't know you could dance so well Dean…I saw you out there…"

"I am full of surprises…anyway all set to see all those losers off to Hogwarts …" Dean made a joke of the fact that they were both not going.

"Yeah. It's weird that the school will start from 25th of Septemeber, I mean, I've read Hogwarts a history and this has never happened before, I know it needs certain fixings and all but changing the opening date has never happened…"

Dean laughed at this, "yes it's because in the history of Hogwarts it has never happened that the most talented and brightest student of all time decided to leave out the most important year of school"

Hermione smile and after a moment of hesitation she said, "Dean please don't tell Harry or Ron anything about the real reason why I am not going … or well you are not going because if they knew why you aren't going they'll automatically know why am I not going"

"Hey don't worry, I haven't told anyone, not even Seamus or Angelina, I don't want pity or like becoming a charity case. So there's nothing to worry about. You and I will have fun preparing for NEWTs together. Well you will be teaching me ofcourse…I don't mind that but I do fear McGonagall's promise to help us on some weekends…hey do you worry that what if we are not able to collect enough money to privately give NEWTs?"

"Honestly speaking Dean, I don't know. It will be a lot lesser than an entire year in Hogwarts but truly speaking, I am not worried. I wonder if I want to give NEWTs 'cause at the moment I really don't want to…so no idea…"

At this Dean looked at Hermione as if seeing someone for the first time, "what are you talking about, it'll be a total waste of talent if you didn't give it. I am another case but you…Hermione…"

"Things change Dean, priorities change…Anyway I think I should go now, I have work tomorrow and Mondays are always busy"

Harry who had been looking at the two sitting in bar for quite a long time, decided to interrupt their cozy little session.

"Hey we all are waiting for you guys to place your order…"

Hermione had gotten off the stool while Dean told Harry that he's already ordered, "I'll go see her off…"

"What? You are already leaving Hermione?" asked Harry

"Yes. I have work early in the morning. Mondays are always busy. Please tell everyone bye for me"

Dean placed a casual arm around Hermione, "let's go"

Harry narrowed his eyes in jealousy at Dean's arms around Hermione…he pulled Hermione in for a hug just to get her away from Dean…Hermione half heartedly returned the hug and pulled back.

"I'll come with you too…"

"Oh no Harry…no need for anyone to go with me." Then she leaned forward and whispered in Harry's ears…"I don't want to come off as an attention seeker, or snobbish by asking you to take me back…away from all the fun evening with your girlfriend"

Saying this she left with Dean, leaving a very embarrassed and also angry Harry behind.