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A few weeks later, all of us went out shopping when we ran into Ron.
"Excuse me! I'm so sorry!" Squeaked a red-haired man.
Red-haired man? Wait, I've seen that redhead before.
"Ron?" I stammered, standing up, gathering my packages.
"Hermione?" He cried.
"Oh my God! It's been centuries!" I said, hugging him and jumping up and down.
"I know! And have you seen Harry lately!?" He asked, running his hand through his hair.
"No, we've...grown apart." I said, trying to describe it.
"You..and Harry have grown apart? How weird is that!?" He exclaimed, laughing.
"Well, we were mere teenagers Ron!" I reasoned with him.
Hold it! Maybe I should explain something here. All right, I haven't been entirely truthful here. See, Harry and I have had a very messy relationship. In our sixth year, Harry and I went out. Then in our seventh year, Harry 'discovered' Lavender and Parvati and even Ginny Weasley and dumped me. Then when I tried to confront him on the day of graduation, he got really angry at me and stormed off. I never heard from him again.
"So, Ron. What brings you around these parts?" I asked.
"I was picking up tickets for tonight's Chudley Cannons game. My bud can't make it, you want to come along?" Ron asked.
"Me? At a Quidditch game? I don't know..." I said skeptically.
"Please? We get to see Harry! For old time's sake, Herm?" Ron gave me his best puppy face.
"Ack! Not the face!" I moaned and then sighed, "You know how much I hate sitting through professional matches, right?" I teased.
"I don't really mind it!" He said.
"Yeah, well you've never been human." I answered, punching him lightly.
"O..K, well as much as I love to see old reunions, these bags are starting to get super heavy...can we go?" Tara pleaded.
I blinked.
"Sure!" I said, totally forgetting they were even there.
"I'll see you tonight, right here?" Ron questioned.
"Sure, see you then!" I called to Ron's retreating back.
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I was stalling. I did NOT want to see Harry. Not tonight, not ever. Those nasty what-ifs were stuck in my head like a bad song.
"WHAT IF he starts asking about why you haven't kept in touch?"
"WHAT IF Harry has a girlfriend?"
"WHAT IF Harry refuses to talk to me?"
Natalie came bounding into the room and flung herself onto my bed.
"Guess what?" She exclaimed happily.
"What?" I said, dryly.
"I found that pink cardigan I'd been looking for! It suits you so well!" Natalie ran and got it.
"I've told you guys! I'm not out on a date, it's just...me and Ron are going to see Harry play tonight." I stammered out.
"And that's another thing! Harry Potter! Whew, he is such a hottie-"
I choked.
"Harry? Oh no! Not you, too!" I moaned, throwing the nearest pillow at her.
"Oh ho! Is this one of those...sister-brother things where it's like embarrassing to talk about one another?" Natalie teased.
"No!" I scoffed, "For heaven's sake, he's been married 5 frickin' times! And has probably slept with every girl in this country! And you're telling me about brother-sister relationships!?" I screamed at her.
"Well..yes!" She said, hands on her hips.
I tried to calm down, but this was making me super mad. I hated him! I always have...as presently as three years ago.
"Fine, I'm taking your cardigan and leaving. I hope you have a wonderful evening." I said and stormed out.
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The stadium was jam-packed with annoying children screaming and pushy reporters, but we eventually got to our seats.
"The lights are extremely bright and blinding me!" I whined.
"Don't worry!" Ron called, "You get used to it!"
I scanned the field, looking for players. No, not Harry. Though I was dreading even watching him play.
"Ladies and Gentleman! Welcome to tonight's match, The Chudley Cannons vs. The Wimborne Wasps!" An announcer's voice boomed, startling me as the game started.
I kept a close eye for Harry. I froze in my seat as I saw him, gliding above all the other players. That's kind of like his trademark thing. Well, duh, I mean all Seekers fly above the rest but the way he did it...was just so original. I'm sounding stupid, shutting up.
"He's DIVING!" Ron leapt up, spilling popcorn.
"Ron!" I groaned as I wiped off access grease and butter.
"Sorry.." Ron said, distractedly as he kept his eye on Harry.
I rolled my eyes.
Suddenly, as though all the people in the crowd had sat on thumb-tacks, they all stood up and started whispering and shouting to one another,"Potter's got the Snitch!"
"No, McFeeleny has it!"
"Potter's taking the dive now!"
"No...wait, he was blocked!"
And then, with that final statement I heard, the whole crowd seemed to go wild.
"Potter did it! CHUDLEY CANNONS RULE!"
"Hermione! Harry caught the Snitch!" Ron said, dancing around.
"Woo.hoo." I said.
"Let's go see if we can catch him after he's congradulated and stuff like that, ok?"
Ron said, helping her up.
I nodded mutely, though inside my head, my little voice was screaming "Here comes TROUBLE!"
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It was cold down in the locker room area. Ron was pacing back and forth, I was sitting on the curb thinking.
"We could go home now and just forget about him." I mumbled quietly.
"Forget? Hermione, you can't run away from problems your whole life! If you forget, it would be more of a struggle then if you got this over with." Ron said, his voice rising slightly.
"OK." I said morosely.
Some of the Chudley Cannons came out but no Harry.
"Well, guess he's not here, lets go!" I said cheerfully, standing up.
"Not so fast!" Ron said.
"What?" I said angrily, "Look Ron, this might be just another stroll in the park for you, but I haven't heard from OR seen Harry Potter in over three years. I cannot go through with this!"
"Uhm...Hermione?" Ron asked in a strangled voice.
"Wha-?" I asked spinning around, and staring into the face of non other than Harry himself.
I just stood there. IDIOT! TALK TO HIM! My head said. What do I say to someone who hasn't talked to me in three years?
Silence.
This is embarrassing. I'll bet you my head must be on fire or something.
"Hi." I said shortly, hoping my words would help him detect anger.
"Hey." Harry said.
Harry had grown. In more ways than one..but physically the most. He was like a giant, he'd grown so much. Bigger muscles and all that stuff. But his eyes were the same.
"So." I looked at the ground.
"Yeah...awesome game, Harry! Those Wasps didn't stand a chance!" Ron said, starting a new subject.
"Yeah, they were pretty easy, with my amazing Quidditch skills and all. Those saps should all just quit because I play." Harry bragged.
I stopped moving. Excuse me, did Harry just BRAG about winning? Since when has that come into play?
"Oh, so now you've started BRAGGING about winning, not just about the girls you sleep with?" I sneered.
"What did you say? I couldn't hear you, I'm too busy not talking to you." Harry retorted.
"Maybe if you'd talk to me, it wouldn't be that difficult!" I shot back.
"Guys! This might not be the best time to recall loving memories!" Ron protested.
"You're right, Ron. I can't bear to live on the same planet as Mr. Ego!"
"I can't believe you even dragged her to see me!" Harry said, as though he'd just pulled a disgusting bug from his shoe.
"I'm leaving, this is just such a waste of valuable oxygen and time. Call you later Ron." I said, stiffly and walked away.
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Ok...Disclaimer and all that stuff. Second chapter posted! R/R would be acceptable!
Liz