I'm confused. Something's wrong with Harry, but I can't figure out what it
is. He's been avoiding me, so it has to be something I've done, only… I
haven't done anything wrong!
I first noticed the change a few weeks ago. We've been in school for less than two months, so that means he's been acting oddly for almost the entire time we've been here. He's not overly obvious in avoiding me, after all, we have the same classes, and we always sit next to each other in them, but he's been avoiding as much outside of class contact with me as possible; before this year, we've always spent all our time together, so what 's changed?
Oh no… Bloody… What if he's noticed that I like him as more than a friend, and he doesn't feel the same way but doesn't want to confront me? Or hurt my feelings? That's a reasonable explanation, and a likely one at that… I hope that's not the reason, but what else could it be?
Maybe Hermione knows something that I don't… It's worth asking her, at least. We're all in the commons room doing our homework, but she's been done with hers for almost an hour now; she's just been helping other students on assignments they're having trouble with. All I have to do is get her alone for just a minute or two, but that might be a lot harder than it sounds.
"Hermione?" I say softly, getting her attention in between her impromptu tutoring sessions. She looks up quickly.
"Yes Ron? Did you need some help on your assignments after all?"
"No, I'm finished with my work. I just… Can we go over there and talk for a moment please?" I ask her, pointing to one corner of the room. She looks a little puzzled, but nods her agreement. We both stand and walk over to the corner; Harry watches us go, then quickly looks the other way when he notices me looking at him. What is wrong with him?
"Hermione," I begin when we reach the quite corner and sit down. "Do you know what's bothering Harry?"
She frowns a little, her eyebrows sloping downward. "No, I don't… I'd been meaning to ask you the same question, but I was afraid it was only my imagination that he's been acting strangely lately."
"I wonder if it's something I've done?" I muse. "It must be, he's been avoiding me, but I can't think of anything I've done wrong lately. Can you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I can't. As far as I know, you haven't done anything wrong. I had noticed he's been avoiding you, though, so perhaps he's mad at you for something you don't realize you've done? You know, like you said something wrong without knowing it?"
I nod; that is a very good possibility. I do that way too often for my tastes; talking before I think and getting myself in trouble, that is. "I very well might have… I just wish I could figure out what it might have been so that I can apologize and make him happy again!"
Oops… I think I might have gotten a little too loud at the end of that exclamation, as several of the students closest to us are staring… Harry doesn't seem to have noticed, though, so I guess it's okay.
I sigh and stand up, taking a moment to stretch my muscles. "Well, I'm going to bed, 'Mione. I'll see you in the morning." I stop for a moment, then ask the question that's burning on my tongue. "Hey, do me a favor, please, and make sure Harry gets all his homework done, okay?" It didn't used to be so important, but now… Well, the last thing I want is for him to have detention with Professor Snape by himself.
"All right, Ron. Goodnight." She stands up and heads back to the table she started at; there's already a small crowd of people waiting by the time she gets there. I hold back a chuckle; she'll never get much rest at this rate, but she loves it, so it's okay. I make a quick stop at the table to collect my books, say goodnight to Harry (he just nods), then go up the stairs to the fifth year boys' room.
I've been in the room for less than five minutes when I hear someone coming up the stairs, heading towards our room. The door swings open; it's Harry. He doesn't have his schoolwork with him, so it's probably safe to assume that he's talked Hermione into finishing it for him, 'just this once.' He walks into the room and shuts the door behind him.
"Harry…" I say, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
"What is it, Ron?" Harry replies. He sounds angry, annoyed. I must have done something wrong, it's the only explanation; why else would he be so cross whenever I'm around?
"Did I do something wrong?" My voice is trembling and barely louder than a whisper; I can feel my lip trying to tremble.
I hope he tells me what's going on, even if it means I've messed up somehow. At least that way I'd be able to fix things, make them go back to normal…
I just want my friend back.
I first noticed the change a few weeks ago. We've been in school for less than two months, so that means he's been acting oddly for almost the entire time we've been here. He's not overly obvious in avoiding me, after all, we have the same classes, and we always sit next to each other in them, but he's been avoiding as much outside of class contact with me as possible; before this year, we've always spent all our time together, so what 's changed?
Oh no… Bloody… What if he's noticed that I like him as more than a friend, and he doesn't feel the same way but doesn't want to confront me? Or hurt my feelings? That's a reasonable explanation, and a likely one at that… I hope that's not the reason, but what else could it be?
Maybe Hermione knows something that I don't… It's worth asking her, at least. We're all in the commons room doing our homework, but she's been done with hers for almost an hour now; she's just been helping other students on assignments they're having trouble with. All I have to do is get her alone for just a minute or two, but that might be a lot harder than it sounds.
"Hermione?" I say softly, getting her attention in between her impromptu tutoring sessions. She looks up quickly.
"Yes Ron? Did you need some help on your assignments after all?"
"No, I'm finished with my work. I just… Can we go over there and talk for a moment please?" I ask her, pointing to one corner of the room. She looks a little puzzled, but nods her agreement. We both stand and walk over to the corner; Harry watches us go, then quickly looks the other way when he notices me looking at him. What is wrong with him?
"Hermione," I begin when we reach the quite corner and sit down. "Do you know what's bothering Harry?"
She frowns a little, her eyebrows sloping downward. "No, I don't… I'd been meaning to ask you the same question, but I was afraid it was only my imagination that he's been acting strangely lately."
"I wonder if it's something I've done?" I muse. "It must be, he's been avoiding me, but I can't think of anything I've done wrong lately. Can you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I can't. As far as I know, you haven't done anything wrong. I had noticed he's been avoiding you, though, so perhaps he's mad at you for something you don't realize you've done? You know, like you said something wrong without knowing it?"
I nod; that is a very good possibility. I do that way too often for my tastes; talking before I think and getting myself in trouble, that is. "I very well might have… I just wish I could figure out what it might have been so that I can apologize and make him happy again!"
Oops… I think I might have gotten a little too loud at the end of that exclamation, as several of the students closest to us are staring… Harry doesn't seem to have noticed, though, so I guess it's okay.
I sigh and stand up, taking a moment to stretch my muscles. "Well, I'm going to bed, 'Mione. I'll see you in the morning." I stop for a moment, then ask the question that's burning on my tongue. "Hey, do me a favor, please, and make sure Harry gets all his homework done, okay?" It didn't used to be so important, but now… Well, the last thing I want is for him to have detention with Professor Snape by himself.
"All right, Ron. Goodnight." She stands up and heads back to the table she started at; there's already a small crowd of people waiting by the time she gets there. I hold back a chuckle; she'll never get much rest at this rate, but she loves it, so it's okay. I make a quick stop at the table to collect my books, say goodnight to Harry (he just nods), then go up the stairs to the fifth year boys' room.
I've been in the room for less than five minutes when I hear someone coming up the stairs, heading towards our room. The door swings open; it's Harry. He doesn't have his schoolwork with him, so it's probably safe to assume that he's talked Hermione into finishing it for him, 'just this once.' He walks into the room and shuts the door behind him.
"Harry…" I say, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
"What is it, Ron?" Harry replies. He sounds angry, annoyed. I must have done something wrong, it's the only explanation; why else would he be so cross whenever I'm around?
"Did I do something wrong?" My voice is trembling and barely louder than a whisper; I can feel my lip trying to tremble.
I hope he tells me what's going on, even if it means I've messed up somehow. At least that way I'd be able to fix things, make them go back to normal…
I just want my friend back.