Chapter eight
Crushed
Harry woke the next morning to find that Ron wasn't in his bed. He must have already gone down for breakfast, he thought. Harry sighed heavily and began getting dressed. He had really wanted to talk to Ron about last night, but apparently Ron didn't want to talk to Harry. Harry decided that he would just ignore Ron's question for the time being.
As he joined his friends at breakfast, he noticed that Ron was again sitting next to Daphne, telling her all about Quidditch and the house rivalries of the past few years. Harry's eyes wandered over to Hermione. She was eating a muffin and, as usual, had her nose buried in a book. Her silver Prefect badge shimmered from being freshly polished. Harry looked closely at her. Then he looked back at Daphne, thinking about Ron's question. Daphne was pretty, but then, so was Hermione. Hermione had a more natural quality about her than many of the other girls. His mind wandered to the Yule Ball and how shocked they had all been when they saw her. No one could deny that she was simply stunning that night.
"Harry? You're staring," Hermione made a face at him.
"What? OH!…er…"
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I was…just looking at the…Prefect badge!" He smiled at such a good cover up.
"Whatever…" And she went back to reading her Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5.Harry turned his attention to Ron and Daphne.
"So, let's look and see what class we have for starters. Uh…History of Magic," Ron sighed.
"Oh, good! I love history!" Daphne smiled.
"You won't after you listen to Binns talk for an hour," Ron smirked.
"But we've got transfiguration this afternoon, so at least it won't be all bad," Harry added.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Daphne was true to her word…she LOVED history. She loved it so much that she actually got Binns talking about some interesting topics. Only problem was, they wouldn't stop talking. It was as if the rest of the class vanished and only Binns and Daphne were there. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered much. No one else in the class except Hermione knew much on what they were talking about. Hermione kept raising her hand to try and add to the conversation, but at each attempt, she was ignored.
Ron couldn't help himself on the way to Transfiguration. "So, Hermione, looks like you're not the smartest one anymore."
"I assume you're referring to the absent minded behavior we witnessed in History of Magic," She kept her chin high.
"Daphne sure is intelligent!" Ron said with a grin.
"In history, yes, but may I point out that we still know very little about that girl. And I'm surprised that you can base a person's intelligence on their knowledge of one subject. By those standards I'd be saying that YOU were smart, Ron!" She walked away leaving Ron with an astonished look on his face.
He turned to Harry. "I didn't mean it like that! I was just trying to show her that Daphne's not all that bad."
"I think you went about it in the wrong way. Come on, we're going to be late." Harry said, starting down the hall.
"Honestly, what is it with girls? If I would have said something like that to you, you wouldn't have been upset, would you?" Ron questioned.
"I dunno," Harry really didn't know. He still wasn't quite sure what was going on between his friends. Luckily, Harry spotted Neville Longbottom and decided to start up a chat with him in order to avoid having to answer that question from last night.
They chatted all the way to Professor McGonagall's classroom. Daphne was already in the room, sitting on the right. Hermione was all the way on the other side of the room, as far from Daphne as she could get. This seemed to pose a problem, because who were they going to sit by? "Daphne's over there." Ron pointed.
"But Hermione's over there." Harry pointed in the other direction.
"So? Go sit with Hermione if you want." And Ron, who had always sat next to either Harry or Hermione in their class, took a seat next to Daphne. They smiled at each other and fell into conversation. Harry shrugged and took a seat next to Hermione.
"If you want to sit next to Ron, I'll understand." Her voice sounded a bit shaky.
"No, it's ok…I'd like to stay here." Hermione smiled at him with gratitude and Professor McGonagall began to speak.
It was pretty much the same thing from her. She started off with some magnificent display, making the class "Ohhh" and "Ahhh" with delight. Then came the work, and there was lots of it. The class grumbled, but knew better than to complain in front of her. They started in on the assignment, but no one finished. As the bell sounded, Hermione leaned over to Harry and said, "Looks like History is the only subject Daphne's good at. She didn't answer one question!"
"You know, Hermione, it isn't Daphne's fault that Ron is acting like a git," Harry said.
"I know that. But how he can choose to be her friend over me is just insulting!" Hermione griped.
"That's not what he's doing!" Harry protested.
"Oh yeah? Look!" She nodded her head towards the door where Harry could see Ron and Daphne heading out into the hall, laughing about something.
"Looks like he's even deserting you!"
Harry turned to her quickly. "No! No, no! I told him I had to stay after. The professor wants to see me about something."
"If you say so," She packed up her things and headed for the door. "I'll see you later."
Harry was left with a feeling of uneasiness. He didn't like it when his friends didn't get along. And he especially didn't like it when they didn't get along with him. What ever was going on with Ron, Harry would have to find out.
"That was an interesting situation, Potter," McGonagall said from behind her desk.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't believe I've ever seen you and Miss Granger sit so far from Mr. Weasley."
"Oh, it's nothing," He lied. "Don't worry about it. What did you need to talk to me about?"
"Excellent! Right to the point. That's why I think you're the best choice."
Harry frowned. "Best choice for what?"
She sat forward, placing her elbows on the desk and cupping her hands together, she said, "Well, as you know, Oliver Wood graduated from our school two years ago leaving our Gryffindor Quidditch team without a captain. And with the tournament last year, we didn't really need to think about replacing him. But this year…" Harry knew what was coming. "I want you to take on the position of Captain!" She smiled proudly at him. "Of course, you'll need to hold try outs right away to find a new keeper. Madam Hooch was telling me about a third year boy who…"
Harry interrupted her. "Professor McGonagall, really, I'm flattered. But…I don't think that I can accept."
She was astonished. She obviously hadn't expected him to say no. "But Harry, you're the best choice for the job. Everyone would agree."
"Well, maybe everyone's wrong. I had a really rough year last year. And…I'm sorry to admit it…but I didn't study like I should have for all my classes, and I've got my O.W.L.s at the end of the year. I don't think I could handle the work," He lowered his head so that she wasn't staring so directly into his eyes.
"I appreciate your honesty, Potter. I'll talk to the rest of the team and find out from them whom they would like to have as the new Captain."
"Thanks, Professor," He slipped out from behind his desk and went to the door. "You know," he turned back to the tall woman still sitting at her desk, "I think Katie Bell is an excellent player. Why don't you offer it to her?" McGonagall nodded and Harry headed back to the common room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You turned it down?" Ron was dumbfounded.
"Of course I turned it down! What did you expect?" Harry asked.
"I expected you to become captain and let me on the team!" Ron exclaimed, only half joking.
"Ron, every year there's been something new here for me to handle. Can't I just have one year that is a bit less stressful?"
Daphne joined them. "What are you talking about?"
"Harry just turned down the Captain's position in Quidditch." Ron didn't try to hide his disappointment.
"Now there's something I really need to work on. I'm no great shakes on a broomstick." Daphne said shaking her head.
"I could help you. I've had loads of practice…teaching my sister." Ron smiled that cheesy grin at Daphne.
"I would like that very much!" She said.
Feeling very frustrated with his friend, Harry asked, "Where's Hermione?"
"She's up in her room, talking to your sister as a matter of fact!" Daphne turned to Ron.
"I wonder what they're doing up there?" Harry said, looking toward the stairs that led to the girl's dormitory.
"Ginny's probably rambling on about how much she loves you," Ron teased.
Daphne turned to Harry with a wide grin. "Ginny Weasley…has a crush on you?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Ron!"
"Oh, I think it's sweet!"
"Ginny's sweet all right…full of sugar and sappy love messages!" Ron joked and Daphne laughed.
"All right…so she likes me…what else is new?" Harry couldn't stand the giggling. "You know, I could go on about someone Ron has a crush on…" Ron quieted rather suddenly and looked to Harry, "…but I won't!" Harry finished with a grin.
Harry stood and walked to the stairs he'd been eyeing earlier. He could hear Daphne ask Ron who he had a crush on. Ron replied with a very uncertain, "Er…nobody…it's nothing."
Harry strode up the stairs hoping that the girls were NOT talking about him as Daphne had said. He heard their voices and stopped short of entering the room.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much Hermione. He's bound to come around."
"He's always had a few other distractions," Hermione's voice didn't sound normal. She sounded very upset.
"Does he even know that you like him?" Someone asked.
"If he does, he doesn't want to say anything. He just doesn't seem to notice me," Hermione said sadly.
"That's not true! He notices you a lot. Trust me! I'm an expert on not being noticed," said the voice Harry now recognized as Ginny Weasley.
"What do you mean?"
"Harry never notices me," Harry couldn't help but become more alert at the mention of his name. "But then I'm not very good friends with Harry. You're talking about someone that has been your close friend for years. Someone who knows you really well and has been through a lot with you. Harry doesn't even really know me."
Harry was confused. Who was Hermione talking about?
"So, what do you think I should do?" Hermione questioned.
"Tell him how you feel."
Harry heard Hermione laugh. "Oh sure…just walk up to him and say "'I fancy you!' Yeah, that really worked for you didn't it!" There was a bit of silence and then, "Oh Ginny! I'm sorry! I didn't mean…"
"No, you're right. Harry didn't really like it much when I sent him that Valentine. But like I said, he doesn't really know me. This is different for you."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Surely Hermione wasn't talking about…him! He ran the thought over in his mind. Hermione…having a crush on Harry?
He heard Hermione sigh. "All right. I'll talk to him…but not yet. Give me a few days to think of something. But, are you sure about this?"
"Sure about what?
"Well…me…liking your…"
"If I had a problem with it, I wouldn't have told you to tell him how you feel!"
"You don't think it'll be weird?" Hermione was starting to sound like her usual self.
"No, in fact, I think you're the best thing for him!" Ginny said enthusiastically.
"Thanks Ginny!" Harry heard some ruffling of robes and could only assume they were hugging. "I'd better get down stairs. There's a meeting for the prefects in the Great Hall."
Harry turned and hurtled down the stairs, trying to avoid being seen by anyone. As he reached the Common Room and saw that Daphne and Ron had wondered off somewhere. He quickly took a seat by the fireplace and pick up a random book sitting on the table. Hermione soon entered the room and headed right over to Harry.
"Harry, I just wanted to thank you for sticking next to me today, what with Ron and all."
Harry was trying not to blush. "Er…what are friends for?"
She smiled down at him. "Right! Well, I've gotta go." She exited through the portrait hole, leaving Harry alone, running the conversation between Ginny and Hermione over in his mind. It was one thing for Ginny to fancy him, but Hermione? He'd never really thought about it before, but he was sure it would be all he'd think about for the next few days…until she decided to say something to him! And what would he say back? He couldn't tell Ron about this…no! He wasn't sure if Ron liked Hermione or not. What a mess!
**** Daphne Affigo is an Alphie creation. Harry Potter and all other characters are property of J.K.Rowling and Warner Brothers.
