DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters.
CHAPTER 9:
"Hermione, we...can't...do this."
He pushed me off of him and I was dealt with a mental blow. I raised my head to meet David, as he stood up to rebutton his shirt and take his jacket from the floor. I felt so ashamed. I had used him. I was ready to lose myself to him while thinking all along that he was Harry. It was unfair to him and I had to explain.
"David, I..."
He put his fingers on my lips to stop me from saying anything. "I think we overdid it a little tonight, Hermione. Don't worry, I promise we'll have lots of time to do it after we get married. But for now, let's just leave it like this." David smiled as he planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. "It's late and I have to meet with a colleague early tomorrow. I should really get going."
/How can he think about meetings after what had almost happened between us?/ my mind wondered, looking at his well-built frame as he exited my room. Sometimes I think David cares more about his work than he does about me, but I didn't say anything. Doctors hardly own their time after all.
I straightened my sheets and shrugged out of my dress. I saw my reflection in the mirror and thought that I did look like as if I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. My eyes were bright, my cheeks were spotted pink and my lips were kiss-swollen and red.
Of course, I'd also pretended that it was Harry that I was kissing...
And speaking of Harry, I knew I had to talk to him about what happened tonight. The best man thing (what were you thinking?). He seemed so forced, so...laconic when he had agreed to it that I was afraid that he really could be thinking that it was my idea.
/No time to think about that tonight. Why don't you just go see him tomorrow?/
/Not a bad idea,/ I replied to my own thoughts as I entered the bathroom.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"What do you mean he's not here?" I asked Ron, standing outside their flat the next afternoon, my hands crossed over my chest.
"It means what it means. Harry's not here." Ron sighed petulantly. "He's at the Cannons' training pitch."
"I thought he didn't have practice on Sundays?"
"He doesn't. But he needed to blow off some steam. He was getting pretty irritating after coming home last night."
"What?" I sneered. "Wasn't Elizabeth up to his standards?" I knew it sounded cruel but I couldn't resist taking a shot at her.
Ron winced. "Elizabeth is Sirius' girlfriend, Hermione. Harry just brought her along to..." He cut himself off, unsure if he should be the one to spill Harry's feelings to her.
"To what, Ron?" I asked hopefully.
"Look, if you want to talk to Harry, why don't you go see him at the Pitch? He's probably still there. Do you need me to come with you?"
"No," I replied, shaking my head. If he didn't want to help, fine with me. I could find Harry on my own. And it's better that Ron's not around to watch.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
I found Harry beating the hell out of the Bludgers with one of the Cannons' specially-made clubs. His face was furrowed with concentration, and he was all sweaty and hot - and I'd never seen a sexier sight. But I didn't come here to ogle him...
"If being a Seeker doesn't work out, you could become an excellent Beater," I said, popping up with a smile from behind one of the orange-draped stands.
Harry only glanced at me, his face expressionless and didn't even mutter a greeting. I could sense that he was a little angry at me for last night.
"Could I bother you for a moment, or should I let you finish beating up the Bludgers?" I asked light-heartedly, trying to set a different mood, to no avail. Harry didn't even flinch.
"Harry, are you mad at me?"
That got him to notice me a little bit. "Why should I be mad at you?" he asked in a cold drawl that reminded me of Malfoy.
"Well, you certainly look like you are and I'd like to explain..."
"There's nothing to explain."
I blinked. Who was this guy talking to me? Certainly not Harry Potter. Even if Harry was truly mad at me, he would never, ever resort to treating me like this - like I was nobody. Would he?
I tried again. "I want to explain about what happened last night."
Harry beat an oncoming Bludger so forcefully I was surprised it didn't blow up into tiny bits of charmed leather. "Why? Did something happen last night?"
"When David asked you and Ron to be the...best men...at the wedding, you sounded so curt, I was worried..."
"I said yes, didn't I?" He slammed the club into another Bludger, setting it off in a spin to the far side of the Pitch.
"Yes, but I don't want you to feel as if you're being forced into it." My eyes studied him in his new light. *This* man standing in front of me was definitely not Harry. Harry would look me straight in the face even if he's angry with me. He wouldn't just turn his back to me. He's too good for that.
"Look, I said yes, okay?" he snapped, turning to face me. "It doesn't matter how I said it, as long as I agreed to it. It's not like I had a choice." Harry resumed his original position and beat consequent Bludger attempts to strike him.
"You could have said no," I said quietly. I was scared of him now.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't do that! You wanted this, didn't you? You'd be so happy if your two best friends would be right by your side on the happiest day of your life. Ron agreed. It seems quite unfair to him if I leave this burden on his shoulders." Harry was yelling now as he faced me again, the Bludgers nowhere to be seen. "Let's just drop this, okay."
"I didn't want this, Harry." Tears began to well in my eyes. "I was surprised, too. I'd never thought that David would actually do this..."
"Where *is* David?" he asked coolly. "He's probably still a little dazed after that post-dance invitation you gave him."
My ears perked up when he said those words. "What did you say?"
"You were probably so happy that David did all the dirty work for you last night that you wanted to reward him."
Did he see us last night? Was he wearing his invisibility cloak and was in my room the whole time? But it didn't explain why he was still being so hostile. David and I didn't do anything.
"Were you spying on me last night?" I asked, my breathing heavy.
"You know, I never would have thought that you'd be the type of girl who just invites random guys up to her room for a post-date nooky," he continued, his voice still cold.
"Stop it," I whispered. Why was he doing this?
"But then again, a lot has happened in four years. Tell me, what exactly *have* you been doing at Cambridge? I don't think you were studying all the time, were you? Maybe that's how you got David to notice you - the perennial student with something to hide underneath her skirt..."
I slapped him before I could even think of stopping myself. Was that what he thought of me all along? That I was some flirt who pretended to be a bookworm to seduce men? I had read somewhere that one of guys' favorite fantasies was of a hot, gorgeous librarian who needed to be shown something that was 'not in the books.' Did Harry think of me like that?
"I am not a slut," I said in a low voice, tears streaming down my face. Harry looked at me with genuine surprise but I ignored it. "I don't screw men for the fun of it. I'm not a whore and I'm sorry if you thought that I was one." My voice got louder. "You didn't do a good job spying on me, Harry, because last night *nothing* happened between me and David. *Nothing.* He pulled away before we could even start so I apologize if it destroys your view of me."
I blinked several times before continuing, cursing myself for crying. "And just so you know, I did not seduce David. He asked me to go out first. He was the one who approached me first. I know this is hard for you to fathom considering your obviously low view of me, but that's what really happened. And he's marrying me because he doesn't think I'm a slut. Because unlike you, he thinks I'm actually worth some love."
His face remained expressionless, but it softened a little. I had stopped my tears from falling and was trying to regain my composure.
"Do me a favor, Harry. Just get out of my life."
***************
A/N: I apologize for Harry's nastiness but my plot goes that way. This is one of the more climactic scenes and I can't not put it in because it connects with the next two chapters. Keep in mind that this scene happens on Sunday afternoon. The next chapter happens on Sunday evening and the next one after that happens on Monday early morning. I've already decided on who Hermione is going to end up with and how it's going to happen - but you guys just have to keep reviewing before I put up the next chapters (hint, hint).
Can't wait to hear what you guys thought of this. Review please! (
CHAPTER 9:
"Hermione, we...can't...do this."
He pushed me off of him and I was dealt with a mental blow. I raised my head to meet David, as he stood up to rebutton his shirt and take his jacket from the floor. I felt so ashamed. I had used him. I was ready to lose myself to him while thinking all along that he was Harry. It was unfair to him and I had to explain.
"David, I..."
He put his fingers on my lips to stop me from saying anything. "I think we overdid it a little tonight, Hermione. Don't worry, I promise we'll have lots of time to do it after we get married. But for now, let's just leave it like this." David smiled as he planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. "It's late and I have to meet with a colleague early tomorrow. I should really get going."
/How can he think about meetings after what had almost happened between us?/ my mind wondered, looking at his well-built frame as he exited my room. Sometimes I think David cares more about his work than he does about me, but I didn't say anything. Doctors hardly own their time after all.
I straightened my sheets and shrugged out of my dress. I saw my reflection in the mirror and thought that I did look like as if I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. My eyes were bright, my cheeks were spotted pink and my lips were kiss-swollen and red.
Of course, I'd also pretended that it was Harry that I was kissing...
And speaking of Harry, I knew I had to talk to him about what happened tonight. The best man thing (what were you thinking?). He seemed so forced, so...laconic when he had agreed to it that I was afraid that he really could be thinking that it was my idea.
/No time to think about that tonight. Why don't you just go see him tomorrow?/
/Not a bad idea,/ I replied to my own thoughts as I entered the bathroom.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"What do you mean he's not here?" I asked Ron, standing outside their flat the next afternoon, my hands crossed over my chest.
"It means what it means. Harry's not here." Ron sighed petulantly. "He's at the Cannons' training pitch."
"I thought he didn't have practice on Sundays?"
"He doesn't. But he needed to blow off some steam. He was getting pretty irritating after coming home last night."
"What?" I sneered. "Wasn't Elizabeth up to his standards?" I knew it sounded cruel but I couldn't resist taking a shot at her.
Ron winced. "Elizabeth is Sirius' girlfriend, Hermione. Harry just brought her along to..." He cut himself off, unsure if he should be the one to spill Harry's feelings to her.
"To what, Ron?" I asked hopefully.
"Look, if you want to talk to Harry, why don't you go see him at the Pitch? He's probably still there. Do you need me to come with you?"
"No," I replied, shaking my head. If he didn't want to help, fine with me. I could find Harry on my own. And it's better that Ron's not around to watch.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
I found Harry beating the hell out of the Bludgers with one of the Cannons' specially-made clubs. His face was furrowed with concentration, and he was all sweaty and hot - and I'd never seen a sexier sight. But I didn't come here to ogle him...
"If being a Seeker doesn't work out, you could become an excellent Beater," I said, popping up with a smile from behind one of the orange-draped stands.
Harry only glanced at me, his face expressionless and didn't even mutter a greeting. I could sense that he was a little angry at me for last night.
"Could I bother you for a moment, or should I let you finish beating up the Bludgers?" I asked light-heartedly, trying to set a different mood, to no avail. Harry didn't even flinch.
"Harry, are you mad at me?"
That got him to notice me a little bit. "Why should I be mad at you?" he asked in a cold drawl that reminded me of Malfoy.
"Well, you certainly look like you are and I'd like to explain..."
"There's nothing to explain."
I blinked. Who was this guy talking to me? Certainly not Harry Potter. Even if Harry was truly mad at me, he would never, ever resort to treating me like this - like I was nobody. Would he?
I tried again. "I want to explain about what happened last night."
Harry beat an oncoming Bludger so forcefully I was surprised it didn't blow up into tiny bits of charmed leather. "Why? Did something happen last night?"
"When David asked you and Ron to be the...best men...at the wedding, you sounded so curt, I was worried..."
"I said yes, didn't I?" He slammed the club into another Bludger, setting it off in a spin to the far side of the Pitch.
"Yes, but I don't want you to feel as if you're being forced into it." My eyes studied him in his new light. *This* man standing in front of me was definitely not Harry. Harry would look me straight in the face even if he's angry with me. He wouldn't just turn his back to me. He's too good for that.
"Look, I said yes, okay?" he snapped, turning to face me. "It doesn't matter how I said it, as long as I agreed to it. It's not like I had a choice." Harry resumed his original position and beat consequent Bludger attempts to strike him.
"You could have said no," I said quietly. I was scared of him now.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't do that! You wanted this, didn't you? You'd be so happy if your two best friends would be right by your side on the happiest day of your life. Ron agreed. It seems quite unfair to him if I leave this burden on his shoulders." Harry was yelling now as he faced me again, the Bludgers nowhere to be seen. "Let's just drop this, okay."
"I didn't want this, Harry." Tears began to well in my eyes. "I was surprised, too. I'd never thought that David would actually do this..."
"Where *is* David?" he asked coolly. "He's probably still a little dazed after that post-dance invitation you gave him."
My ears perked up when he said those words. "What did you say?"
"You were probably so happy that David did all the dirty work for you last night that you wanted to reward him."
Did he see us last night? Was he wearing his invisibility cloak and was in my room the whole time? But it didn't explain why he was still being so hostile. David and I didn't do anything.
"Were you spying on me last night?" I asked, my breathing heavy.
"You know, I never would have thought that you'd be the type of girl who just invites random guys up to her room for a post-date nooky," he continued, his voice still cold.
"Stop it," I whispered. Why was he doing this?
"But then again, a lot has happened in four years. Tell me, what exactly *have* you been doing at Cambridge? I don't think you were studying all the time, were you? Maybe that's how you got David to notice you - the perennial student with something to hide underneath her skirt..."
I slapped him before I could even think of stopping myself. Was that what he thought of me all along? That I was some flirt who pretended to be a bookworm to seduce men? I had read somewhere that one of guys' favorite fantasies was of a hot, gorgeous librarian who needed to be shown something that was 'not in the books.' Did Harry think of me like that?
"I am not a slut," I said in a low voice, tears streaming down my face. Harry looked at me with genuine surprise but I ignored it. "I don't screw men for the fun of it. I'm not a whore and I'm sorry if you thought that I was one." My voice got louder. "You didn't do a good job spying on me, Harry, because last night *nothing* happened between me and David. *Nothing.* He pulled away before we could even start so I apologize if it destroys your view of me."
I blinked several times before continuing, cursing myself for crying. "And just so you know, I did not seduce David. He asked me to go out first. He was the one who approached me first. I know this is hard for you to fathom considering your obviously low view of me, but that's what really happened. And he's marrying me because he doesn't think I'm a slut. Because unlike you, he thinks I'm actually worth some love."
His face remained expressionless, but it softened a little. I had stopped my tears from falling and was trying to regain my composure.
"Do me a favor, Harry. Just get out of my life."
***************
A/N: I apologize for Harry's nastiness but my plot goes that way. This is one of the more climactic scenes and I can't not put it in because it connects with the next two chapters. Keep in mind that this scene happens on Sunday afternoon. The next chapter happens on Sunday evening and the next one after that happens on Monday early morning. I've already decided on who Hermione is going to end up with and how it's going to happen - but you guys just have to keep reviewing before I put up the next chapters (hint, hint).
Can't wait to hear what you guys thought of this. Review please! (