"Harry! Bloody hell, where have you been mate?" Ronald Weasley exclaimed, glomping his old friend on the back.
"Ron."
At the alienated sound of his name, Ron drew back. That wasn't the tone he had expected. In fact, it was disturbing, almost a hiss. "Harry, what's the matter? Is something wron- Merlin Almighty! You've got blood on your shirt. Quick, come inside and Ginny will heal it for you. She has become quite a healer in such a short time, too."
"Did she now." He might as well play along until the time is right.
"Yes, in fact, she can reverse many spells and potions!" Ron went on excitedly.
This was quite enough of cheery talk, Harry decided, "Can she reverse the Avada Kedavra?"
Ron stopped dead in his tracks, searching Harry's face for any hint of humour. "Harry, are you-?"
"Ron," Harry cut him off, "you like attention, don't you? In fact, you crave attention from your family, don't you?"
Silence.
"I can give you that attention."
Ron blinked so violently he thought his lashes would fly off. What was Harry suggesting? Surely not…?
"Harry. Are you suggesting we have sex together?"
Harry laughed. Hollow, empty, devoid of emotion.
"No. I mean this." With that he raised the wand hidden in his shirt, flicked his wand, and muttered the two words. A flash of green light and Ron fell with a plump on the hard wood floor.
The noise must have been loud, for a door opened beyond the stairs and out stepped Hermoine Granger. Her face shone happily as she saw Harry, but as her eyes traveled to his wand and Ron's unmoving form, she screamed. A wailing, petrified shriek of terror and disbelieve.
Harry's vacant expression immediately melted into a bright blank smile. Hermoine slooked at him once more and stumbled back, fear written across her stricken face.
"H-Harry?" She said in a small voice barely above a whisper.
"Hello, Hermoine."
"W-w-why?"
"He hated you, Hermoine. He's a Pureblood. All Purebloods hate Mudbloods. They're cunning. And I destroyed him for you. Aren't you glad?"
Hermoine, with a bewildered look, whispered again, "Of course he didn't hate me! Harry-"
"He did."
"No! He told me earlier today that… that.. that he l-loved m-me!"
Harry scoffed, "Ha! Loved you. Purebloods are not capable of love. All they are is hate. Let us clean this world of Purebloods, so we can rid ourselves of the hatred emitted by their foul smelling bodies." He extended a hand to help Hermoine up. But she didn't take it. Instead, she drew her hand away, got up, and shook him angrily.
"Harry, snap out of it! You've just killed your best friend! K-killed him with the A-Avada Kedevra curse! What were you thinking?" She broke off, sobbing.
"Hermoine, I was only-"
"-How could you?" She whispered harshly and coarsely, arms protectively
holding the still body of Ron.
"I thought you would be happy. I-" Harry broke off.
"He was your best mate, Harry!" Hermoine spat between her tears.
Harry blinked, and for a moment, there was a flicker in his eyes. A small pebble of thought rose within his brain, but he quickly dismissed it. If Hermoine wasn't going to appreciate what he had done for her, let her be. Soon she will realize, as he had.
