Chapter 8
Harry received Hermione's return owl later that day.
Harry-
I hope this doesn't sound cruel, but you know you shouldn't have sent me that owl! If Draco had gotten hold of that letter… you'd be ashes by now. You know I'm going out with him. I don't want to crush you, but I can't break up with him just because I found out you're in love with me! It's not sensible! And you know that. I'm sorry, Harry, but a relationship between us is just not possible. I'm so sorry. I know you didn't want to read that, but you had to know.
Hope your day gets better,
Hermione
Harry's heart dropped to the bottom of his stomach. His hands shook violently as he tore apart the reply to shreds, putting it at the bottom of Hedwig's cage to get soiled. Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, had just been rejected.
~*~
"Draco, I know you don't want to hear me whine, especially about this, but I feel horrible for Harry. He must be devastated! To think… all these years I thought he liked Cho Chang… you think you know someone when you really don't," Hermione poured out to Draco at lunch.
"It could be a recent acquirement," Draco suggested. He did not really like the subject, but if Hermione really needed to talk, he would listen.
"But seriously, though! I feel absolutely horrible! Knowing how sensitive he is, he could spend the next three days moping around at home."
"Would it make you feel better if you talked to him? I have a cell phone with me," Draco had acquired a taste for Muggle objects from his father, and finally brushed up on the uses of a phone.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Hermione asked, in awe that Draco had taken it so well.
"Well… yeah. Just take the phone before I change my mind," Draco forced a weak smile.
"You're so sweet!" Hermione exclaimed as she snatched the phone out of his hand, her finger a mere blur as she speedily punched in Harry's number. He picked up after the first ring.
"H… hello?" he was out of breath and had obviously ran to the phone.
"Hi, Harry! It's Her—"
"Hermione!" Harry cut her off, apparently very excited she had called. "I knew you'd come to your senses!"
"What are you talking about?" What was he saying?
"That I knew you'd realize Draco was—"
"Oh, Harry…" it was Hermione's turn to cut him off. She felt even worse for what Harry assumed the call was about. "Harry… you're jumping to conclusions!"
"What?" Harry seemed to be confused as well.
"I didn't break up with Draco, Harry."
"Oh…" there was severe disappointment in his voice.
"Harry, please don't do this to me! I called to see how you were doing, not to make me feel even worse about this situation. Shouldn't you be at work?"
"I called in sick."
"Harry, you're not sick."
"I'm lovesick."
"Oh, God," Hermione sighed, holding her head in her free hand. "Harry, you need to get a grip! Look, I'm going to have Draco talk some sense into you."
"No! No, no, n—"
"Stay away from my girl," Draco growled into the phone and pressed 'end'.
"Draco!" Hermione scolded. "How could you do that to him?"
"Hmm… let's see… he's my enemy and he has a chance of taking you from me," Draco said bluntly.
"I am not an object to be taken, Draco! I am a human being!"
At this, Draco knew he had made a big mistake.
"That's not what—"
"It doesn't matter what you say to cover it up, Draco! The truth bleeds through!" Hermione cut Draco off and ran out of the restaurant in a huff.
~*~
A/N: There ya go! I'm typing up the ninth chapter as fast as my fingers can! I'll post it as soon as I can! Grant I don't have anymore ISP problems… grrr… MSN is eeeeevil…