Warning : At the end of this chapter you will read something that you will know is grossly against the canon character of Hermione as created by JKR. I ask that you have patience for the next chapter since everything will be explained then. I haven't gone away from canon, so have faith (pun intended ;P) that I won't. There is a reason for it (besides the need to mention one of my prompts) :D

Chapter 14 - Everybody lies and Heaven (Prompts)

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The kitchen was silent as they ate, the only sound being the light scratching of cutlery on their respective dishes. Occasionally, he would see Hermione looking at him before she would look back down to her own food. After a bit of silence, she finally spoke.

"Why did you ask me that?"

He looked up briefly before giving his food the utmost attention. "Ask you what?"

She hesitated. "Why I look after you?" she asked cautiously.

Harry shrugged lightly, keeping his gaze from hers. "Dunno."

"It's just that..." She shifted in her seat, her fork piercing the piece of chicken lightly. "It seems like you're the second person tonight to question my motives."

Harry looked up at her cautiously. "Who was the first?"

Maybe it was the way he looked at her, or maybe it was the fact that she could still read him like an open book, but her expression immediately changed. "Were you listening?"

Harry felt himself twitch uncomfortably. He could never understand how she could pick things up from him compared to anyone else. He chose not to answer, not really feeling in the mood to lie. Partly because he was just too tired to keep his story straight, and partly because on some level, he wanted her to know that he had been listening, and he wanted to hear what she had to say about that.

At his silence, Hermione looked at him unbelievably. "Aren't you too old to be spying?" she asked, her tone accusing him.

Harry placed down his knife and fork, knowing that the conversation they were currently getting into wasn't going to be a pleasant one. "Not really." He knew that denying it wouldn't get him anywhere, but the truth would get him answers where Hermione was concerned. She had a passionate dislike towards all who lied to her, and Harry had always tried to be honest with her. Always.

She shook her head in disbelief as she poked the piece of chicken on her plate somewhat harshly. Harry couldn't help but eye the piece of meat warily. At least he could be sure that she was definitely not pleased with him.

"I didn't mean to," he began sincerely, hoping to appease her anger. "But the two of you were talking about me. How am I to ignore that?"

She still kept her gaze focused on her plate, her expression becoming thoughtful. "What did you hear?" she asked so softly that he barely could make out the words.

This was another opportunity that he had to lie, but didn't. "Everything."

She stiffened. "Oh."

"Yeah," he mumbled, aware of the gravity of what he just said. "Oh."

At his semi-sarcastic tone, she finally looked up. "I don't think Ron meant what he said. He's just upset."

That was true, but that didn't mean that Ron was off the mark when it came to what he had noticed. "You're saying he's wrong then?" he asked softly, with baited breath.

Hermione's eyes widened slightly and he could just make out the fact that she had stopped breathing. "I..." She shook her head, a small smile gracing her lips. "I'm tired," she suddenly spurted out cheerfully. "That's what I feel. And so are you." Immediately, she stood up. "We should really go to sleep now."

He watched her as she cleared everything up, keeping her head low and her gaze away from him. He felt this undeniable urge to ask her that question again. But the truth was, he was afraid of the answer, no matter what the answer was. He wasn't looking forward to either option, which made him take the coward's way out and simply nod his assent.

Hermione didn't wait for him as she cleaned up and left quickly, proof that she wanted to be away from him as soon as possible. With a tired sigh, Harry washed up his own dish and prepared to leave the Weasleys kitchen, only to stop when a string of beads caught his eye. Curious, he made his way to that beaded bag that Hermione had forgotten to take with her, immediately reaching for the rosary that was peeking out.

Harry frowned at the religious item, confused by its appearance. How is it that he knew the most minute things about his best friend, but he didn't know that she had been praying to the heavens? Clutching the beads in one hand and the purse in the other, he made his way back up the stairs to Ginny's room - where he knew she would be. He had every intention of just dropping off the items then making his way back to Percy's room; but if in the process of him doing this, he could somehow get her to talk, that would most definitely be a perk.

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