Chapter 4: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and sat down next to Ron. Ron kept thinking back to the Divination lesson where Harry was acting weird. And when he said. he loved Ginny. "Hi," Hermione said, reaching for the jug of Pumpkin Juice. "Hey," Ron answered. Hermione looked around. "Where's Harry?" Ron opened his mouth. Harry had left him and ran to Ginny's side when they had passed her after Divination. "Uhm. he's coming." "Oh, okay." "Herm?" Ron was fidgeting next to her. "Yeah?" "Are you. you and Harry okay?" he asked. "Why wouldn't we be?" she smiled. "Unless. you know something I don't?" "Nope, I know nothing." Ron started. He wasn't going to tell Hermione about the Divination lesson and get her upset. It wasn't time to panic. yet. "Oh, there he is!" Hermione spotted him. He had come into the Great Hall with Ginny by his side. They took a seat down at the end of the table without even glancing in their direction. She ruffled her brow. "That's odd." Before Ron could do or say anything, Hermione had jumped up and sprinted over to the two of them. "Harry," she started. He slowly turned to her. Ginny had her head down. "Why don't you come sit with me and Ron?" she asked. "You can come too, Ginny." Harry stared at her as if she were a slug under his boot. "No, I'm fine here, thanks." Ginny replied without looking up. "I'm not going anywhere without Ginny," Harry stated. Hermione shot him a look. "What?" "Your dinner will get cold," Ginny interrupted. "We'll move down here then." Hermione told Harry. "No, Hermione, just stay where you are." Ginny scolded. "What's going on!?" Hermione declared. "Ginny is fair and beautiful," Harry grinned. Hermione's jaw flopped open. Ron looked on, stunned. "So," Hermione said. "You two are dating behind my back?" Ginny didn't look up. "ANSWER ME, Harry!" Hermione shouted. She didn't care that they were in the Great Hall. She didn't care everyone was watching them. What she cared about was the truth. Harry didn't look at her. "It's all been a lie, then! Everything!" she shouted. Ginny stood up. "Hermione, you're making a scene!" "I DON'T CARE!" she yelled. "Harry!?" He continued to ignore her. Hermione slapped a hand to her mouth. "So, I mean nothing to you then." Tears filled her eyes and she dashed out of the hall. Ron shot a nasty look at the two of them and ran out after Hermione.
Ron clutched his side as he clammered through the portrait hole. He never knew Hermione could run so fast. He closed the portrait and saw her sobbing at the table, her head in her arms. Seeing her like that, Ron's heart broke into a million little pieces. "Herm," he said quietly. She sobbed. He gently rubbed her back. She looked up at him, with tear-stained cheeks. "Oh, Ron!" and she threw her arms around his neck, breaking down. "All these years." she started. "All these years, and I've never meant anything to him." "That's not true," Ron said quietly. "Half the things he did were for you. Remember in first year with the troll? He immediately thought of you." "We were just kids then!" she protested. "Alright, then in fourth year, when he wouldn't leave you under water?" She was silent. "See," Ron said. "Just showing off," she said bitterly. "Hermione," Ron snapped. She burst into tears again. "Harry's. just different now." he said quietly. "Why?" "I don't know. but he was acting differently in Divination." he said. "Like. he was there, but he wasn't ALL there." "If he didn't love me, then why did he say it?" "I know for a fact that he loves you." Ron said. "I was such an idiot," she sobbed. Ron took her shoulders. "Listen to me, okay?" She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "C'mon," Ron said, grabbing her hand.
Ron led her into the trophy room. "What're we doing here?" she asked, drying her eyes. "Shh!" he said. He walked to the trophy case where the plague with James Potter was. On the wood beside the trophy case, there were two carvings. "Look for yourself," Ron said, pointing. Hermione squinted at the engravings. One said: James loves Lily. Hermione wiped more tears out of her eyes. The next engraving made her gasp: Harry loves Hermione. She turned to Ron, tears streaming down her face. Ron nodded. "See," "But then." "We'll figure it out," Ron said.
Ginny knew Ron and Hermione were on their way to Hogsmeade. She had hid in a corner of the common room while Ron was persuading her to go. She grinned, as she stirred the cauldron in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It was kind of hard, with Harry right next to her, kissing her neck, but somehow, she had to focus. Myrtle floated down, and peered at them coldly. "I should scream that there's a boy in here," she stated. "You do, and I'll make your life a living hell. well, your death." Ginny shouted, gently pulling away from Harry and ladeling some potion into the butter beer. Myrtle's eyes narrowed even more. She flew into the stall, and grabbed the cauldron, and zoomed up to the ceiling with it. "You give that back!!!" Ginny screamed. "No!" Myrtle shouted. "Everyone's always keeping Myrtle in the dark! Ugly Myrtle! Fat Myrtle! Maybe I want the potion! Maybe I like Harry!" "Myrtle," Ginny said calmly. "Just come down here, and we can talk." Harry gave a small moan. His eyes were no longer dazed, but focused, and he was starting to regain consciousness from the potion. "Myrtle!!" Ginny cried frantically. "He's waking up! Hurry!" "Where am I?" Harry asked. "Ginny, what's going on?" "Drink this!!!" she thrusted the Goblet into his hand. He eyed her oddly. "Why? No, I want to go find Hermione.. And Ron." Ginny panicked, and handed him the goblet. "It'll explain everything." "Butterbeer!?" he asked. "Please!" "What's going on!?" he demanded. "Is. is that Myrtle?" "Don't do it!" Myrtle cried. "Quiet!" Ginny hissed at her. "Harry, quickly!" He looked from one to the other, took the goblet and drank. Myrtle gave a huge gasp and flew out of sight with the cauldron. Harry swayed on his feet, but caught himself. "Harry?" Ginny asked nervously. She knew she didn't ladell enough potion into the Butterbeer. Half, maybe. "Yes, sweetheart?" he asked. Or had she?
Hermione walked into the common room with a sigh and flopped down at the table. Just a few days ago, she and Harry had spent nights here together, staring at the fire, when he loved her. Ron flopped down beside her. He was trying his best to cheer her up, and felt like socking Harry in the eye. Harry and Ginny walked in, and Hermione got up to leave. Ron put an arm on her shoulder. "No, stay. I want to talk to him." Ginny lowered her head and ran up the stairs. Hermione stared after her. Harry turned his attention to Hermione, smiled, sat down next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione sprang away. He looked at her oddly. "Harry. Harry, what are you doing?" she demanded. Harry arched a brow at her. "What do you mean what am I doing? Being close to the one I love." "Love? Love!?" Hermione gasped, jumping out of the chair. "How can you say you love me after what you said about Ginny?!" "Hermione, what are you talking about?" he demanded. "Harry, the great hall! You said you loved her, and all of the sudden she goes upstairs and you love me again!?" Harry got up to. "What!? I never said I loved Ginny!" "Like hell you didn't! You were treating me like trash!" "Herm, I would never do that! I love you!" Harry turned to Ron. "Please, talk some sense to her." Ron stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I wish I could, Harry. But. you have been acting. weird." "Has the whole world gone insane?!" Harry demanded. "I am not acting weird!" "Harry, I love you!" Hermione cried. "I have always loved you! You can tell me what it is! Is it. drugs?" "Drugs!?" Harry bellowed. "You think I'm using drugs?" "What're drugs?" Ron asked. "A Muggle thing," Hermione said quickly. "Harry, tell me what it is!" "It's nothing!" "Fine." Hermione said. "Fine. I love you, Harry. And when you can understand that I love you no matter what, you can tell me what's wrong. Until that time, don't touch me." "Hermione, please." Harry started. "I am not on drugs." "Look at yourself." Hermione held a mirror up to him. "Your eyes have been dazed for days." Harry took the mirror and stared at himself. "There is nothing wrong with me!" "All of you just calm down!" a voice hissed from the stairs. Ginny had heard the whole thing. Was this it? Had the dose not been enough? The three of them turned, and saw Ginny coming down the stairs. "What do you know about this?" Ron asked. "Nothing," Ginny said, and ran out the portrait hole. Harry's head snapped to Ginny. "My love!!!" and he dashed after her. Ron turned to Hermione. "I'm so sorry, Herm." Hermione's brows were knitted. "I think I'm starting to understand something. I have to." ".Go to the library," Ron finished for her. Hermione nodded, and went out the portrait hole.
Hermione sat in the library, half hidden by the stack of books in front of her. She looked up when someone knocked into them. It was Oliver Wood. "Sorry," he said, straightening her pile of books. "Haven't seen Harry, have you?" Hermione shook her head. "Earlier. Why?" "He didn't show up for Quidditch practice, it's not like him. Angelina Johnson didn't, either." "Oh really?" Hermione asked. Wood nodded. "Well, if you see him, tell him I'd like to speak to him." Hermione nodded. "Sure." As Wood walked off, Hermione was almost positive her accusations were correct. She closed a huge book with a snap, and ran out of the library.
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and sat down next to Ron. Ron kept thinking back to the Divination lesson where Harry was acting weird. And when he said. he loved Ginny. "Hi," Hermione said, reaching for the jug of Pumpkin Juice. "Hey," Ron answered. Hermione looked around. "Where's Harry?" Ron opened his mouth. Harry had left him and ran to Ginny's side when they had passed her after Divination. "Uhm. he's coming." "Oh, okay." "Herm?" Ron was fidgeting next to her. "Yeah?" "Are you. you and Harry okay?" he asked. "Why wouldn't we be?" she smiled. "Unless. you know something I don't?" "Nope, I know nothing." Ron started. He wasn't going to tell Hermione about the Divination lesson and get her upset. It wasn't time to panic. yet. "Oh, there he is!" Hermione spotted him. He had come into the Great Hall with Ginny by his side. They took a seat down at the end of the table without even glancing in their direction. She ruffled her brow. "That's odd." Before Ron could do or say anything, Hermione had jumped up and sprinted over to the two of them. "Harry," she started. He slowly turned to her. Ginny had her head down. "Why don't you come sit with me and Ron?" she asked. "You can come too, Ginny." Harry stared at her as if she were a slug under his boot. "No, I'm fine here, thanks." Ginny replied without looking up. "I'm not going anywhere without Ginny," Harry stated. Hermione shot him a look. "What?" "Your dinner will get cold," Ginny interrupted. "We'll move down here then." Hermione told Harry. "No, Hermione, just stay where you are." Ginny scolded. "What's going on!?" Hermione declared. "Ginny is fair and beautiful," Harry grinned. Hermione's jaw flopped open. Ron looked on, stunned. "So," Hermione said. "You two are dating behind my back?" Ginny didn't look up. "ANSWER ME, Harry!" Hermione shouted. She didn't care that they were in the Great Hall. She didn't care everyone was watching them. What she cared about was the truth. Harry didn't look at her. "It's all been a lie, then! Everything!" she shouted. Ginny stood up. "Hermione, you're making a scene!" "I DON'T CARE!" she yelled. "Harry!?" He continued to ignore her. Hermione slapped a hand to her mouth. "So, I mean nothing to you then." Tears filled her eyes and she dashed out of the hall. Ron shot a nasty look at the two of them and ran out after Hermione.
Ron clutched his side as he clammered through the portrait hole. He never knew Hermione could run so fast. He closed the portrait and saw her sobbing at the table, her head in her arms. Seeing her like that, Ron's heart broke into a million little pieces. "Herm," he said quietly. She sobbed. He gently rubbed her back. She looked up at him, with tear-stained cheeks. "Oh, Ron!" and she threw her arms around his neck, breaking down. "All these years." she started. "All these years, and I've never meant anything to him." "That's not true," Ron said quietly. "Half the things he did were for you. Remember in first year with the troll? He immediately thought of you." "We were just kids then!" she protested. "Alright, then in fourth year, when he wouldn't leave you under water?" She was silent. "See," Ron said. "Just showing off," she said bitterly. "Hermione," Ron snapped. She burst into tears again. "Harry's. just different now." he said quietly. "Why?" "I don't know. but he was acting differently in Divination." he said. "Like. he was there, but he wasn't ALL there." "If he didn't love me, then why did he say it?" "I know for a fact that he loves you." Ron said. "I was such an idiot," she sobbed. Ron took her shoulders. "Listen to me, okay?" She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "C'mon," Ron said, grabbing her hand.
Ron led her into the trophy room. "What're we doing here?" she asked, drying her eyes. "Shh!" he said. He walked to the trophy case where the plague with James Potter was. On the wood beside the trophy case, there were two carvings. "Look for yourself," Ron said, pointing. Hermione squinted at the engravings. One said: James loves Lily. Hermione wiped more tears out of her eyes. The next engraving made her gasp: Harry loves Hermione. She turned to Ron, tears streaming down her face. Ron nodded. "See," "But then." "We'll figure it out," Ron said.
Ginny knew Ron and Hermione were on their way to Hogsmeade. She had hid in a corner of the common room while Ron was persuading her to go. She grinned, as she stirred the cauldron in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It was kind of hard, with Harry right next to her, kissing her neck, but somehow, she had to focus. Myrtle floated down, and peered at them coldly. "I should scream that there's a boy in here," she stated. "You do, and I'll make your life a living hell. well, your death." Ginny shouted, gently pulling away from Harry and ladeling some potion into the butter beer. Myrtle's eyes narrowed even more. She flew into the stall, and grabbed the cauldron, and zoomed up to the ceiling with it. "You give that back!!!" Ginny screamed. "No!" Myrtle shouted. "Everyone's always keeping Myrtle in the dark! Ugly Myrtle! Fat Myrtle! Maybe I want the potion! Maybe I like Harry!" "Myrtle," Ginny said calmly. "Just come down here, and we can talk." Harry gave a small moan. His eyes were no longer dazed, but focused, and he was starting to regain consciousness from the potion. "Myrtle!!" Ginny cried frantically. "He's waking up! Hurry!" "Where am I?" Harry asked. "Ginny, what's going on?" "Drink this!!!" she thrusted the Goblet into his hand. He eyed her oddly. "Why? No, I want to go find Hermione.. And Ron." Ginny panicked, and handed him the goblet. "It'll explain everything." "Butterbeer!?" he asked. "Please!" "What's going on!?" he demanded. "Is. is that Myrtle?" "Don't do it!" Myrtle cried. "Quiet!" Ginny hissed at her. "Harry, quickly!" He looked from one to the other, took the goblet and drank. Myrtle gave a huge gasp and flew out of sight with the cauldron. Harry swayed on his feet, but caught himself. "Harry?" Ginny asked nervously. She knew she didn't ladell enough potion into the Butterbeer. Half, maybe. "Yes, sweetheart?" he asked. Or had she?
Hermione walked into the common room with a sigh and flopped down at the table. Just a few days ago, she and Harry had spent nights here together, staring at the fire, when he loved her. Ron flopped down beside her. He was trying his best to cheer her up, and felt like socking Harry in the eye. Harry and Ginny walked in, and Hermione got up to leave. Ron put an arm on her shoulder. "No, stay. I want to talk to him." Ginny lowered her head and ran up the stairs. Hermione stared after her. Harry turned his attention to Hermione, smiled, sat down next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione sprang away. He looked at her oddly. "Harry. Harry, what are you doing?" she demanded. Harry arched a brow at her. "What do you mean what am I doing? Being close to the one I love." "Love? Love!?" Hermione gasped, jumping out of the chair. "How can you say you love me after what you said about Ginny?!" "Hermione, what are you talking about?" he demanded. "Harry, the great hall! You said you loved her, and all of the sudden she goes upstairs and you love me again!?" Harry got up to. "What!? I never said I loved Ginny!" "Like hell you didn't! You were treating me like trash!" "Herm, I would never do that! I love you!" Harry turned to Ron. "Please, talk some sense to her." Ron stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I wish I could, Harry. But. you have been acting. weird." "Has the whole world gone insane?!" Harry demanded. "I am not acting weird!" "Harry, I love you!" Hermione cried. "I have always loved you! You can tell me what it is! Is it. drugs?" "Drugs!?" Harry bellowed. "You think I'm using drugs?" "What're drugs?" Ron asked. "A Muggle thing," Hermione said quickly. "Harry, tell me what it is!" "It's nothing!" "Fine." Hermione said. "Fine. I love you, Harry. And when you can understand that I love you no matter what, you can tell me what's wrong. Until that time, don't touch me." "Hermione, please." Harry started. "I am not on drugs." "Look at yourself." Hermione held a mirror up to him. "Your eyes have been dazed for days." Harry took the mirror and stared at himself. "There is nothing wrong with me!" "All of you just calm down!" a voice hissed from the stairs. Ginny had heard the whole thing. Was this it? Had the dose not been enough? The three of them turned, and saw Ginny coming down the stairs. "What do you know about this?" Ron asked. "Nothing," Ginny said, and ran out the portrait hole. Harry's head snapped to Ginny. "My love!!!" and he dashed after her. Ron turned to Hermione. "I'm so sorry, Herm." Hermione's brows were knitted. "I think I'm starting to understand something. I have to." ".Go to the library," Ron finished for her. Hermione nodded, and went out the portrait hole.
Hermione sat in the library, half hidden by the stack of books in front of her. She looked up when someone knocked into them. It was Oliver Wood. "Sorry," he said, straightening her pile of books. "Haven't seen Harry, have you?" Hermione shook her head. "Earlier. Why?" "He didn't show up for Quidditch practice, it's not like him. Angelina Johnson didn't, either." "Oh really?" Hermione asked. Wood nodded. "Well, if you see him, tell him I'd like to speak to him." Hermione nodded. "Sure." As Wood walked off, Hermione was almost positive her accusations were correct. She closed a huge book with a snap, and ran out of the library.