Chapter 4 - The Argument And The Promise

Harry slept through the night with no interruptions whatsoever. He got up feeling refreshed and quickly made his way downstairs, intending on taking Lavender's advice into action. He opened his window and Summoned a rose up to him.

"Accio Rose!" he said with a wave of his wand and within seconds, it landed right in the palm of his hand. He carefully pocketed it in his pocket and quickly walked downstairs. He was startled as he bumped into Hermione on the way down, making her drop all her books.

"Oh! I'm sorry Hermione," he said helping her pick them up.

"It all right Harry," she said, taking her books from him. "Where have you been yesterday? I was beginning to worry about you when you didn't show up in Transfiguration ."

"I felt sick yesterday Hermione," answered Harry. "But I'm feeling much better now."

"Well that's good!" said Hermione smiling. Harry looked around suspiciously, making sure that they were alone in the common room.

"What's the matter Harry?" asked Hermione, seeing the curious look on his face.

"Um…I've been meaning to ask you…"

"Ask me what?"

Harry looked into Hermione's eyes. They seemed to dance in the firelight, totally hypnotizing Harry. "Wow," said Harry to himself, "she looks so beautiful…" Hermione interrupted his stare.

"Ask me what Harry?"

"Sorry," said Harry, shaking his head. "I been meaning to ask you…"

"Yes?"

"Well you know that the Valentine's Ball is coming up right?" he asked uneasily.

"Uh huh," said Hermione nodding.

"Well…I was wondering…if you…would come to the…Valentine's Ball…with me…" he said, his voice shaking. He took the rose out of his pocket and held it out in front of Hermione. He stood nervously as he waited for her answer.

"That's really sweet Harry, I-"

"Will you?" he said, looking very hopeful. Lavender was right. How could she say no? Then he heard what he had been dreading.

"I can't," Hermione replied softly.

Harry's heart completely shattered at the sound of it. His soul seemed to drain away from his body slowly as he lowered his hand holding the rose.

"What!?" said Harry. "W-why not?"

"I have my reasons Harry."

"Like what?"

"Well…I can't really tell you…"

"Ok I see how it is," said Harry feeling rejected, but feeling enraged at the same time. "I ask you to the ball, and you say no. I ask you why, and you can't tell me. Fine."

"Well I'm sorry Harry," said Hermione, her voice raising.

"Why are you so upset?" he asked.

"I have my reasons to be!" she said sternly.

"You're upset because I asked you to the Valentine's Ball!?" shouted Harry. "What's there to be upset about!?"

"Ugh…Harry you're being selfish. Honestly!"

"I'm being selfish!? You're not the one telling me what you're so upset about!"

Hermione shook her head. "You don't know Harry! You don't know. And I don't appreciate your attitude right now."

"That's new," said Harry scornfully.

Hermione's lip trembled and tears filled in her eyes. That's all it took for Harry to react. He hated seeing Hermione cry. And she was crying because of him.

"Sorry Hermione, I-" said Harry, reaching for her. She remorsefully backed away out of his reach.

"No Harry! Just…just leave me alone," she said within cries. Harry looked at her blankly, truly regretting ever yelling at her.

"Is…is that what you want?" he asked, his eyes slowly filling with tears. "For me to leave you alone?"

"Y-yes Harry," she answered sniffling. Harry took a deep breath.

"Ok Hermione," said Harry, his tears on the verge of falling down his face. "Just say it. Say 'leave me alone' and …I'll leave you alone. You'll never see or hear from me again…I promise…" It was really hard to say 'I promise'.

"Just stay out of my life Harry! I'll be happier when you do! I really hate you for this!" she exclaimed, still crying. And she rudely turned her back on Harry and stormed out of the common room.

Harry stood their alone, frozen with disbelief, still holding the rose in his hand. The rose seemed to wilt as much as Harry did. He had heard straight from Hermione to say out of her life and he said he promised he would stay out of it.

"All right Harry!" shouted a voice from upstairs. It was Ron, hand in hand with Lavender.

"Well, how did it go?" asked Lavender looking very excited. "Come on Harry we want details…" He smile faded and so did Ron's when they both saw a look of anguish on Harry's face.

"Harry," said Ron, "what happened?"

"She…she said…no," stuttered Harry turning away from them, trying immensely to hold back his tears.

"WHAT!?" shouted Ron and Lavender at the same time.

"Why Harry?" asked Lavender.

"I don't know," Harry shrugged. "She wouldn't tell me. But I know what it is. She knew that I knew that she liked somebody. An I was idiotic to ask her to the Valentine's Ball.

"Oh Harry! It's my fault! I shouldn't have told you to ask her to-"

"No it's not Lavender," finished Harry. "I don't blame anyone but myself for this."

"What else happened Harry?" asked Ron.

"Well I promised her that I'll stay out of her life." Ron's face dropped and Lavender gasped. "Told her she'll never see or hear from me again."

"You're mad Harry!" cried Ron. "That's a promise you KNOW you can't keep! You know that it's impossible to not have Hermione see you! You have classes with her!"

Harry laughed very weakly. "I've already got it sorted out. I'll explain it to the both of you tomorrow. I'm…starting to feel sick again. He turned toward Ron and Lavender and forced a smile. They both saw a tear run down Harry's face.

"Oh Harry," said Lavender. Harry held his hand up to stop her. He put his hand down and looked at his other hand that was holding the rose. He held out the hand toward Lavender.

"Take it," he said. "Hermione won't take it from me and I don't have anyone else to give it to." Lavender had no choice but to take the rose. She looked extremely sorry for him. "I'll see you guys later. I won't be attending classes again. If anyone asks, I'm still sick. I have permission from McGonagall." He nodded to them and walked upstairs with his head drooped.

"Poor guy," said Lavender as Harry went out of sight. "He just had his heart broken."

"I don't blame him for feeling like that," said Ron scornfully. "It's all Hermione's fault! When I see her, I'm going to tell her off and-"

"You will NOT be doing anything of that sort!" scolded Lavender. "This is between Harry and Hermione. If Harry wanted you to tell her off, he would have said so."

"I guess you're right," sighed Ron, calming down. Lavender suddenly looked interested.

"How do you suppose Harry will successfully 'stay out of Hermione's life'? That sounds almost impossible. I don't think he'll be able to do it."

"I don't know Lav," said Ron. She looked at Ron with an "are you serious" look. "No, you don't understand. Harry's never broken a promise to anyone. And I don't think he'll start now. It's kind of his weakness."

"Well, we'll see then," said Lavender. And the both of them went to class.

***

Without realizing it, Ron and Lavender ignored Hermione through most of the day. Still, they told all the teachers that Harry was still sick. During lunch, Hermione sat herself down next to Ron. She looked really worn out and her eyes were still red from crying.

"Hi Ron," she said."

"Hi Hermione," he said between seethed teeth.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked after a sniffle.

"Nothing," Ron lied.

"Where's Harry?" she asked.

"I have no idea Hermione," he said with a little hatred.

"I thought he was feeling better," said Hermione.

"That's what I thought too Hermione," he said hotly. Hermione slammed her books on the table, shaking the food on Ron's plate.

"Ok what is it Ron?" she simply put.

"What?" said Ron.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on!"

Hermione exhaled impatiently and took a deep breath. "Harry told you about our argument didn't he?"

"So what if he did!?" snapped Ron. "What's up with you Hermione? Harry simply asked you to the Valentine's Ball. That was it. The least you could've have done is simply say 'no' and tell him why. But instead you had to BLOW UP in his face and not tell him why. That's what's going on Hermione! I'm really disappointed in you. I thought you would've been more mature about it. To think, out of everyone, it had to be you."

Hermione's lip started to trembled and her eyes were filling with tears again.

"You don't know Ron," she cried between sobs. "You don't know what I'm going through."

"And you know what else!?" Ron said. "He's going to stay out of your life…Just like you wanted…"

"Ron," she said, slowly stopping her crying. "There is NO WAY Harry is going to keep that promise. You and I BOTH know that."

"I don't know Hermione," said Ron, looking down and shaking his head.

"You just watch Ron," continued Hermione. "He'll be here tomorrow and I'll see him." She gathered her books and left Ron, still crying. Ron watched her leave, sadly thinking that Hermione was right.

*A/N: Well, well, well. So far things are getting interesting. I think this is halfway through the story. If I get more replies, then I may post the other half…;) Harry/Hermione 3:16