AN: another longish chapter, sorry guys! But I don't have as much time to
write now that I'm back at university so I can't update, as often I would
like to enjoy though.
"Ronald Weasley!" Lavender yelled as she walked back through the portrait into the common room, "I can't believe you sometimes!" Ron was dragged through the portrait to be met by a hundred intrigued faces watching them.
"Lav, what are doing," Ron hissed at her.
"Just play along," she whispered back. "I can't believe you'd do this to me, ME!" she shouted again at him.
"For God sake, Lav, shut up!" Ron hissed at her again. He didn't want another scene in the common room, but he knew Lavender was out to get back at Faith for both times; for the time Ron kissed her, and for the fact she would have tried to split them up.
"Don't you dare tell me to shut up!" she screamed again, "Just because you're in love with someone else, doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that."
"I'm what?" Ron replied stunned by what Lavender had accused him off. Of course he knew she was only acting, but he was still shocked by how convincing she could be.
"So you're going to deny it now?" Lavender threw at him, her hands on her hips and fixed angry expression on her face.
"Deny what?" Ron threw back at her. Ron hardly needed to act, since he was so frustrated at her anyway.
"Uh! You disgust me sometimes!" Lavender said in spitting voice. She marched off towards where Faith was stood with Seamus and Dean. "Take him then," she told Faith, "You two deserve each other!" were her final words as she stormed out of the room. Ron was left standing in amazement. What was he supposed to do now? He saw Harry and Hermione seated in the corner, and quickly went over to them.
"What was all that about?" Harry asked quietly, "Did you tell her?"
"I told her, but she'd already guessed and then she was fine about it," Ron whispered back, "I don't know what she's playing at," he added shaking his head.
"Well what had Faith got to do with it?" Hermione asked, confused now. So Ron told them about what had happened with Faith trying to split them up, and voiced his thoughts that Lavender was plotting revenge.
"I think this might be partly our fault," Hermione told him, "We were talking about you and Lavender outside, just this evening, she must have overheard and planned to use it against you." Hermione said, not believing her own words, "I can't believe Faith would do that!" she added in astonishment.
"Yeah well she did, and now she'll pay for it.courtesy of my girlfriend," Ron replied with a groan.
Faith was still watching Ron from the fireplace; a group of giggling girls were surrounding her trying to find out what was happening, and Seamus had moved away to join Pavati and some 6th years; he no longer wanted anything to do with her, "Too much hassle," he was heard saying to Fred and George. "To think, our little brother has caused this much trouble," George was saying to them.
'What have I done?' Faith was asking herself. 'I've actually done it; I've split them up!' She couldn't believe that she was capable of something like this, but now that she'd done it, she felt empty and alone. She mad her way over to where the three friends were sat, but Ron got up and stalked away without even glance.
"What have I done?" she asked at Hermione as she flopped on the floor next to her, "I really didn't mean to split them up, not actually." Hermione and Harry exchanged glances, and Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for Faith. She looked so vulnerable sitting there on the floor.
"Faith, I think you need to talk to Lavender, and find out what's happened," Hermione suggested gently. Harry didn't say a word; he didn't feel particularly sorry for someone who'd tried to break up a great relationship. He was actually feeling lucky that she hadn't tried a similar move with himself and Hermione.
"I can't talk to her!" Lavender cried in a small voice, "She hates me, and so does Ron," she added with a sob.
"Well I hate to say it, but it's all your own doing," Hermione said with a sigh, "So if you want to fix it, you need to talk to her."
"But she said Ron was.was in love with.with me," Lavender answered back. "I never meant for that to happen." Hermione thought how best to answer her; she couldn't tell her the truth, that Lavender was making the whole thing up, but she didn't want to upset her even more.
"Just go and talk to her," Hermione insisted, "I promise it'll clear things up," she added with a knowing look. Faith guessed there was something Hermione wasn't admitting to knowing, so she took her word for it and headed off to find Lavender.
"Did you see her face?" Lavender said laughing, "It took so much strength to start laughing!" she added, collapsing in a fit of giggles. Ron stood in front of her and couldn't help smiling himself, even though he was still mad at her.
"Oh come on Ron," Lavender said, "It was only a joke," she said trying to win him back on her side.
"Mmm," was all Ron said, but he knew he wouldn't stay mad for long, in fact he intended to seize the opportunity of them being alone together.
Faith climbed the stairs to the girl's dorm and pushed open the door leading to where Lavender slept. Perhaps she'd in here, Faith thought to herself.
"Oh!" Faith exclaimed as she saw two people lying on the bed together, apparently rather busy with each other. She saw a mass of red hair as the guy turned to look at the intruder.
"Hello," Lavender smiled sweetly at Faith, "Was there something you wanted?"
"I-I thought." Faith tried to say but the smug look on Lavender's face, and the diffident expression on Ron's face bemused her.
"Yes, well we decided that since you don't actually have anything to say against my boyfriend, and the mere fact that you think that the whole school's on love with you, sum up our opinion that you're really not worth the hassle." Lavender look decidedly pleased with herself as she saw the dismayed expression on Faith's face.
"Look, Faith it's just that." Ron started to say, but Lavender cut him short.
"You don't have to make excuses for her Ron," Lavender blurted out, "Faith, you only have two weeks left here so I suggest you spend them either hiding away or hanging out with people that actually like you; I'd try the Slytherin's if I were you," she added with a smirk. Faith turned and fled before they'd see the tears that were brimming in her eyes.
"Lav, I didn't know you could be so nasty," Ron said.
"Why thank you," she replied pleased with herself.
"That wasn't meant as a compliment," Ron replied under his breath, fortunately Lavender was too preoccupied with her triumph over Faith to hear him.
Meanwhile back in the common room, it was time for everyone to be in bed, so Hermione and Harry parted to their separate dorms just as Faith emerged down the steps with her suitcases packed next to her.
"Faith! What are you doing?" Hermione asked in astonishment.
"I'm going home!" Faith replied. She was no longer crying, but the puffiness of her eyes betrayed that she had been.
"Don't be silly," Hermione soothed, "It can't be that bad."
"It is,' Faith sobbed, sitting on a suitcase, her head in her hands. People were starting to stare so Hermione led Faith back into the common room, which was now deserted. Harry followed them at a distance, not sure if he was wanted or not. Hermione sat Faith down on a chair, and tried to reason with her. She managed to find out what Lavender had said to her in process.
"I can't believe Lavender would say that," Hermione whispered to Harry who had decided to sit down with them. Harry only shrugged, embarrassed by Lavender's loud sobs of despair.
"Faith you have to clam down," Hermione tried once more, "You can't leave now, and besides, you only have a couple of weeks anyway." Faith's tears calmed down, but she was still determined to leave tonight.
"Ok well I'll go and see what Professor Dumbledore can do," Hermione sighed as she stood up. She motioned for Harry to stay with Faith in case she decided to do anything silly. "Try talking to her, please," Hermione whispered to Harry as she left. Harry sat awkwardly on the edge of the sofa next the chair where Faith was sat. 'What am I supposed to say?' he thought desperately. He was saved by Faith speaking herself.
"Harry, do you hate me too?" she asked in a small voice.
"Why would I hate you?" he replied uncomfortably, not exactly wanting a heart-to-heart with her. She looked at him miserably, wanting him to comfort her.
"Because.because Ron's your best friend and I tried to hurt him," she suggested.
"Yeah, well.you know, we all make mistakes don't we?" Harry replied trying to sound convincing. To be honest he was a bit angry with her as well for what she had tried to do, but he knew that wasn't what she wanted to hear right now; he knew that much about girls.
"Do you think I should leave now?" she asked him.
"Now?" Harry answered, "Well you're going home soon anyway aren't you, so you may as well stick around."
"I guess so," she replied sniffing. Harry couldn't believe he was convincing her to stay; Hermione had tried and failed, yet he had persuaded her in a matter of minutes.
"There you go then," Harry said smiling.
"But Ron and Lavender hate me, along with the whole school probably," she added.
"I hardly think the whole school hates you," Harry said, he wanted to tell her she was overreacting, but he didn't think that would go down too well. "Have you said you're sorry?" he suggested.
"Do you think it would help?" she asked him frowning. Harry couldn't understand this girl. Of course saying sorry helps when you've hurt someone; Harry mused that she can't be used to apologising to people. Perhaps why she seems to disregard other people's feelings, Harry considered.
"Definitely," Harry replied, "I'm sure Ron will forget it easily, but Lavender.I'm not so sure she'll be so forgiving." Faith managed a half- hearted smile, and thought again how incredibly gorgeous Harry was. He was the one comforting her and talking to her, 'he must care about me a bit,' Faith told herself, 'otherwise he wouldn't be here.' She looked over to Harry and for the first time she noticed his scar. Of course she knew about Voldemort and how Harry had got the scar, but she'd never really noticed it till now. Harry looked away embarrassed; Faith was staring at him, making him uncomfortable, he wished Hermione would hurry up and get back.
"Harry." Faith said reaching to touch his scar, just has Hermione clambered back through the portrait.
"I changed my mind!" Faith blurted out, snatching her hand back from where'd been about to touch Harry's face. "I'll stay," she added quietly, "So I'll just take my things back then, ok, see you in the morning," and with that she was gone. Hermione collapsed on the sofa, not quite having believed what she just heard.
"What did you say to her?" she asked Harry, amazed.
"Nothing really," he replied, "I just, told her to say she was sorry and they might forgive her."
"And that convinced her to stay?" Hermione asked unbelievably.
"I guess so," Harry replied casually before slipping along the sofa to grab Hermione in a bear hug.
"You're squashing me!" she shrieked as Harry pinned her down on the sofa.
"I suppose I am," he replied as he bent down to kiss her. They were too busy on the sofa to hear Faith returning to grab her forgotten suitcase. Faith paused on the stairs to watch them for a moment, wishing it was she underneath Harry, but she dismissed the thought quickly. 'I only have two weeks left here," I can't mess things up for anyone else, and so she left them to it.
Hermione broke away for a moment to catch her breath; staring up at Harry she realised how much she was in love in him, and how much she'd miss him if they were ever apart.
"What are you thinking?" Harry asked, stroking her hair away from her face.
"I was thinking how much I love you," she replied softly.
"You wanna know what I'm thinking?" Harry asked, arching an eyebrow. Hermione rolled her eyes in response, but her insides turned to mush when he looked at her like that.
"And here I was being all romantic, and all you're thinking about is."
"Hey!" Harry protested, "I was thinking about how much I love you, and here you are assuming the worst in me," he added, pretending to be hurt.
"Mmm," Hermione replied, not entirely believing him.
A couple of days later, and Faith was ready to apologise. She appeared early in the common room before breakfast, and was found, by Hermione, pacing the room in annoyance.
"Where are they?" she asked angrily at Hermione.
"Where are who?" Hermione responded, not wanting another drama from her.
"Ron and Lavender," she replied hotly, "I left them notes to meet me here before breakfast. Harry said I should apologise to them," she added glancing at Hermione.
"I have to agree with Harry," Hermione replied, "and I'm sure they'll be here in a minute, after all it's still half and hour till breakfast." Faith didn't reply, but merely turning to look out of the window where Harry was having an early morning Quidditch practice.
"Is Harry out there?" Hermione asked.
"Um, I don't know, I'm not watching them," Faith replied a little too hastily and Hermione couldn't help but notice the red patches appearing on Faith's cheeks.
"Ok, well I'll see you down at breakfast then," Hermione called. Faith didn't reply, but went back to staring out of the window.
"Well then?" a voice asked impatiently behind her. Faith spun round to see Lavender standing with one hand on her hip and Ron stood a little behind her. He looked as if he'd much rather be somewhere else.
"I, um...I just wanted to say. um.that," Faith tried to apologise but the bored expression on Lavender's face was making her nervous and confused.
"Yes? We would like a reply this side of Christmas," Lavender told her vehemently. Ron didn't say anything in either one's defence.
"I-I wanted to s-say that.that, I'm sorry," Faith replied quietly.
"Oh really?" Lavender replied, still looking impatient. "Well I'm sure you didn't mean it really did you?" she added in sarcasm. But at least she didn't through the apology back in her face.
Yeah well, cheers for the apology," Ron said, finally speaking up, "Let's just forgot it ok," he suggested. Lavender neither agreed nor disagreed with him, only gave Faith one last look before departing with Ron. 'Well it could have gone worse,' Faith thought to herself, glancing once more out of the window to the Quidditch pitch, but Harry and the others had already gone in for breakfast.
"Sorry I'm late," Harry panted as he sat down next to Hermione. His hair was still wet from the shower, and to Hermione he smelled deliciously of fresh air.
"I saved you some toast," she said pushing the plate towards him, "There were four slices but Ron couldn't resist helping himself," she added with a disapproving glance at Ron. Ron grinned apologetically, and continued to wolf down his third croissant. Faith was sat towards the end of the table surrounded by a crowd of fellow 4th years; they were plaguing her with questions about Ron, and she was pretty tired about it by now, so eventually she left them to it. She glanced at Harry before leaving the hall, noticing how healthy he looked after the Quidditch practice. Hermione saw Faith leaving, but didn't get up to ask how it had gone with Ron and Lavender; Ron seemed fine and Lavender was busy chatting away to Pavati about her and Ron's plans for the Easter holidays.
"Harry what are you doing for the holidays?" she asked suddenly, realising that they hadn't made any plans.
"Staying here I guess," he replied after swallowing his mouthful of toast, butter and jam. "Why?"
"Well, it's 3 weeks break, and we're not going to see each other," she replied, a little hurt that Harry didn't seem concerned.
"Oh yeah," Harry replied, sensing how upset she was.
"I'm sure you two will cope without each other for 3 weeks," Seamus remarked from across the table. They both ignored him, but Harry turned to Hermione, concerned himself now.
"Can't you stay here?" he suggested hopefully.
"I have to go home and make sure Faith gets off to America ok," she a replied bleakly, "It's so unfair," she added with a groan.
"Well couldn't I come back with you?" he proposed. Hermione considered it for a second; her parents knew Harry and her were a couple, and she couldn't realistically see them allowing Harry to stay.
"I don't know if my parents would let you," she answered, dejected. Harry stared miserably at his empty plate and tried to think of another way they could be together, but his mind couldn't come up with anything.
"I may as well ask them though," she replied trying to cheer both herself and Harry up. Harry managed a smile, but he wasn't holding much hope.
Sorry guys, I know it's not a great end but I really wanted to post this chapter before it got incredibly long and boring! I promise to update as soon as I can. xxxxx
"Ronald Weasley!" Lavender yelled as she walked back through the portrait into the common room, "I can't believe you sometimes!" Ron was dragged through the portrait to be met by a hundred intrigued faces watching them.
"Lav, what are doing," Ron hissed at her.
"Just play along," she whispered back. "I can't believe you'd do this to me, ME!" she shouted again at him.
"For God sake, Lav, shut up!" Ron hissed at her again. He didn't want another scene in the common room, but he knew Lavender was out to get back at Faith for both times; for the time Ron kissed her, and for the fact she would have tried to split them up.
"Don't you dare tell me to shut up!" she screamed again, "Just because you're in love with someone else, doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that."
"I'm what?" Ron replied stunned by what Lavender had accused him off. Of course he knew she was only acting, but he was still shocked by how convincing she could be.
"So you're going to deny it now?" Lavender threw at him, her hands on her hips and fixed angry expression on her face.
"Deny what?" Ron threw back at her. Ron hardly needed to act, since he was so frustrated at her anyway.
"Uh! You disgust me sometimes!" Lavender said in spitting voice. She marched off towards where Faith was stood with Seamus and Dean. "Take him then," she told Faith, "You two deserve each other!" were her final words as she stormed out of the room. Ron was left standing in amazement. What was he supposed to do now? He saw Harry and Hermione seated in the corner, and quickly went over to them.
"What was all that about?" Harry asked quietly, "Did you tell her?"
"I told her, but she'd already guessed and then she was fine about it," Ron whispered back, "I don't know what she's playing at," he added shaking his head.
"Well what had Faith got to do with it?" Hermione asked, confused now. So Ron told them about what had happened with Faith trying to split them up, and voiced his thoughts that Lavender was plotting revenge.
"I think this might be partly our fault," Hermione told him, "We were talking about you and Lavender outside, just this evening, she must have overheard and planned to use it against you." Hermione said, not believing her own words, "I can't believe Faith would do that!" she added in astonishment.
"Yeah well she did, and now she'll pay for it.courtesy of my girlfriend," Ron replied with a groan.
Faith was still watching Ron from the fireplace; a group of giggling girls were surrounding her trying to find out what was happening, and Seamus had moved away to join Pavati and some 6th years; he no longer wanted anything to do with her, "Too much hassle," he was heard saying to Fred and George. "To think, our little brother has caused this much trouble," George was saying to them.
'What have I done?' Faith was asking herself. 'I've actually done it; I've split them up!' She couldn't believe that she was capable of something like this, but now that she'd done it, she felt empty and alone. She mad her way over to where the three friends were sat, but Ron got up and stalked away without even glance.
"What have I done?" she asked at Hermione as she flopped on the floor next to her, "I really didn't mean to split them up, not actually." Hermione and Harry exchanged glances, and Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for Faith. She looked so vulnerable sitting there on the floor.
"Faith, I think you need to talk to Lavender, and find out what's happened," Hermione suggested gently. Harry didn't say a word; he didn't feel particularly sorry for someone who'd tried to break up a great relationship. He was actually feeling lucky that she hadn't tried a similar move with himself and Hermione.
"I can't talk to her!" Lavender cried in a small voice, "She hates me, and so does Ron," she added with a sob.
"Well I hate to say it, but it's all your own doing," Hermione said with a sigh, "So if you want to fix it, you need to talk to her."
"But she said Ron was.was in love with.with me," Lavender answered back. "I never meant for that to happen." Hermione thought how best to answer her; she couldn't tell her the truth, that Lavender was making the whole thing up, but she didn't want to upset her even more.
"Just go and talk to her," Hermione insisted, "I promise it'll clear things up," she added with a knowing look. Faith guessed there was something Hermione wasn't admitting to knowing, so she took her word for it and headed off to find Lavender.
"Did you see her face?" Lavender said laughing, "It took so much strength to start laughing!" she added, collapsing in a fit of giggles. Ron stood in front of her and couldn't help smiling himself, even though he was still mad at her.
"Oh come on Ron," Lavender said, "It was only a joke," she said trying to win him back on her side.
"Mmm," was all Ron said, but he knew he wouldn't stay mad for long, in fact he intended to seize the opportunity of them being alone together.
Faith climbed the stairs to the girl's dorm and pushed open the door leading to where Lavender slept. Perhaps she'd in here, Faith thought to herself.
"Oh!" Faith exclaimed as she saw two people lying on the bed together, apparently rather busy with each other. She saw a mass of red hair as the guy turned to look at the intruder.
"Hello," Lavender smiled sweetly at Faith, "Was there something you wanted?"
"I-I thought." Faith tried to say but the smug look on Lavender's face, and the diffident expression on Ron's face bemused her.
"Yes, well we decided that since you don't actually have anything to say against my boyfriend, and the mere fact that you think that the whole school's on love with you, sum up our opinion that you're really not worth the hassle." Lavender look decidedly pleased with herself as she saw the dismayed expression on Faith's face.
"Look, Faith it's just that." Ron started to say, but Lavender cut him short.
"You don't have to make excuses for her Ron," Lavender blurted out, "Faith, you only have two weeks left here so I suggest you spend them either hiding away or hanging out with people that actually like you; I'd try the Slytherin's if I were you," she added with a smirk. Faith turned and fled before they'd see the tears that were brimming in her eyes.
"Lav, I didn't know you could be so nasty," Ron said.
"Why thank you," she replied pleased with herself.
"That wasn't meant as a compliment," Ron replied under his breath, fortunately Lavender was too preoccupied with her triumph over Faith to hear him.
Meanwhile back in the common room, it was time for everyone to be in bed, so Hermione and Harry parted to their separate dorms just as Faith emerged down the steps with her suitcases packed next to her.
"Faith! What are you doing?" Hermione asked in astonishment.
"I'm going home!" Faith replied. She was no longer crying, but the puffiness of her eyes betrayed that she had been.
"Don't be silly," Hermione soothed, "It can't be that bad."
"It is,' Faith sobbed, sitting on a suitcase, her head in her hands. People were starting to stare so Hermione led Faith back into the common room, which was now deserted. Harry followed them at a distance, not sure if he was wanted or not. Hermione sat Faith down on a chair, and tried to reason with her. She managed to find out what Lavender had said to her in process.
"I can't believe Lavender would say that," Hermione whispered to Harry who had decided to sit down with them. Harry only shrugged, embarrassed by Lavender's loud sobs of despair.
"Faith you have to clam down," Hermione tried once more, "You can't leave now, and besides, you only have a couple of weeks anyway." Faith's tears calmed down, but she was still determined to leave tonight.
"Ok well I'll go and see what Professor Dumbledore can do," Hermione sighed as she stood up. She motioned for Harry to stay with Faith in case she decided to do anything silly. "Try talking to her, please," Hermione whispered to Harry as she left. Harry sat awkwardly on the edge of the sofa next the chair where Faith was sat. 'What am I supposed to say?' he thought desperately. He was saved by Faith speaking herself.
"Harry, do you hate me too?" she asked in a small voice.
"Why would I hate you?" he replied uncomfortably, not exactly wanting a heart-to-heart with her. She looked at him miserably, wanting him to comfort her.
"Because.because Ron's your best friend and I tried to hurt him," she suggested.
"Yeah, well.you know, we all make mistakes don't we?" Harry replied trying to sound convincing. To be honest he was a bit angry with her as well for what she had tried to do, but he knew that wasn't what she wanted to hear right now; he knew that much about girls.
"Do you think I should leave now?" she asked him.
"Now?" Harry answered, "Well you're going home soon anyway aren't you, so you may as well stick around."
"I guess so," she replied sniffing. Harry couldn't believe he was convincing her to stay; Hermione had tried and failed, yet he had persuaded her in a matter of minutes.
"There you go then," Harry said smiling.
"But Ron and Lavender hate me, along with the whole school probably," she added.
"I hardly think the whole school hates you," Harry said, he wanted to tell her she was overreacting, but he didn't think that would go down too well. "Have you said you're sorry?" he suggested.
"Do you think it would help?" she asked him frowning. Harry couldn't understand this girl. Of course saying sorry helps when you've hurt someone; Harry mused that she can't be used to apologising to people. Perhaps why she seems to disregard other people's feelings, Harry considered.
"Definitely," Harry replied, "I'm sure Ron will forget it easily, but Lavender.I'm not so sure she'll be so forgiving." Faith managed a half- hearted smile, and thought again how incredibly gorgeous Harry was. He was the one comforting her and talking to her, 'he must care about me a bit,' Faith told herself, 'otherwise he wouldn't be here.' She looked over to Harry and for the first time she noticed his scar. Of course she knew about Voldemort and how Harry had got the scar, but she'd never really noticed it till now. Harry looked away embarrassed; Faith was staring at him, making him uncomfortable, he wished Hermione would hurry up and get back.
"Harry." Faith said reaching to touch his scar, just has Hermione clambered back through the portrait.
"I changed my mind!" Faith blurted out, snatching her hand back from where'd been about to touch Harry's face. "I'll stay," she added quietly, "So I'll just take my things back then, ok, see you in the morning," and with that she was gone. Hermione collapsed on the sofa, not quite having believed what she just heard.
"What did you say to her?" she asked Harry, amazed.
"Nothing really," he replied, "I just, told her to say she was sorry and they might forgive her."
"And that convinced her to stay?" Hermione asked unbelievably.
"I guess so," Harry replied casually before slipping along the sofa to grab Hermione in a bear hug.
"You're squashing me!" she shrieked as Harry pinned her down on the sofa.
"I suppose I am," he replied as he bent down to kiss her. They were too busy on the sofa to hear Faith returning to grab her forgotten suitcase. Faith paused on the stairs to watch them for a moment, wishing it was she underneath Harry, but she dismissed the thought quickly. 'I only have two weeks left here," I can't mess things up for anyone else, and so she left them to it.
Hermione broke away for a moment to catch her breath; staring up at Harry she realised how much she was in love in him, and how much she'd miss him if they were ever apart.
"What are you thinking?" Harry asked, stroking her hair away from her face.
"I was thinking how much I love you," she replied softly.
"You wanna know what I'm thinking?" Harry asked, arching an eyebrow. Hermione rolled her eyes in response, but her insides turned to mush when he looked at her like that.
"And here I was being all romantic, and all you're thinking about is."
"Hey!" Harry protested, "I was thinking about how much I love you, and here you are assuming the worst in me," he added, pretending to be hurt.
"Mmm," Hermione replied, not entirely believing him.
A couple of days later, and Faith was ready to apologise. She appeared early in the common room before breakfast, and was found, by Hermione, pacing the room in annoyance.
"Where are they?" she asked angrily at Hermione.
"Where are who?" Hermione responded, not wanting another drama from her.
"Ron and Lavender," she replied hotly, "I left them notes to meet me here before breakfast. Harry said I should apologise to them," she added glancing at Hermione.
"I have to agree with Harry," Hermione replied, "and I'm sure they'll be here in a minute, after all it's still half and hour till breakfast." Faith didn't reply, but merely turning to look out of the window where Harry was having an early morning Quidditch practice.
"Is Harry out there?" Hermione asked.
"Um, I don't know, I'm not watching them," Faith replied a little too hastily and Hermione couldn't help but notice the red patches appearing on Faith's cheeks.
"Ok, well I'll see you down at breakfast then," Hermione called. Faith didn't reply, but went back to staring out of the window.
"Well then?" a voice asked impatiently behind her. Faith spun round to see Lavender standing with one hand on her hip and Ron stood a little behind her. He looked as if he'd much rather be somewhere else.
"I, um...I just wanted to say. um.that," Faith tried to apologise but the bored expression on Lavender's face was making her nervous and confused.
"Yes? We would like a reply this side of Christmas," Lavender told her vehemently. Ron didn't say anything in either one's defence.
"I-I wanted to s-say that.that, I'm sorry," Faith replied quietly.
"Oh really?" Lavender replied, still looking impatient. "Well I'm sure you didn't mean it really did you?" she added in sarcasm. But at least she didn't through the apology back in her face.
Yeah well, cheers for the apology," Ron said, finally speaking up, "Let's just forgot it ok," he suggested. Lavender neither agreed nor disagreed with him, only gave Faith one last look before departing with Ron. 'Well it could have gone worse,' Faith thought to herself, glancing once more out of the window to the Quidditch pitch, but Harry and the others had already gone in for breakfast.
"Sorry I'm late," Harry panted as he sat down next to Hermione. His hair was still wet from the shower, and to Hermione he smelled deliciously of fresh air.
"I saved you some toast," she said pushing the plate towards him, "There were four slices but Ron couldn't resist helping himself," she added with a disapproving glance at Ron. Ron grinned apologetically, and continued to wolf down his third croissant. Faith was sat towards the end of the table surrounded by a crowd of fellow 4th years; they were plaguing her with questions about Ron, and she was pretty tired about it by now, so eventually she left them to it. She glanced at Harry before leaving the hall, noticing how healthy he looked after the Quidditch practice. Hermione saw Faith leaving, but didn't get up to ask how it had gone with Ron and Lavender; Ron seemed fine and Lavender was busy chatting away to Pavati about her and Ron's plans for the Easter holidays.
"Harry what are you doing for the holidays?" she asked suddenly, realising that they hadn't made any plans.
"Staying here I guess," he replied after swallowing his mouthful of toast, butter and jam. "Why?"
"Well, it's 3 weeks break, and we're not going to see each other," she replied, a little hurt that Harry didn't seem concerned.
"Oh yeah," Harry replied, sensing how upset she was.
"I'm sure you two will cope without each other for 3 weeks," Seamus remarked from across the table. They both ignored him, but Harry turned to Hermione, concerned himself now.
"Can't you stay here?" he suggested hopefully.
"I have to go home and make sure Faith gets off to America ok," she a replied bleakly, "It's so unfair," she added with a groan.
"Well couldn't I come back with you?" he proposed. Hermione considered it for a second; her parents knew Harry and her were a couple, and she couldn't realistically see them allowing Harry to stay.
"I don't know if my parents would let you," she answered, dejected. Harry stared miserably at his empty plate and tried to think of another way they could be together, but his mind couldn't come up with anything.
"I may as well ask them though," she replied trying to cheer both herself and Harry up. Harry managed a smile, but he wasn't holding much hope.
Sorry guys, I know it's not a great end but I really wanted to post this chapter before it got incredibly long and boring! I promise to update as soon as I can. xxxxx