Chapter 25
The next morning Ron came in to visit Harry in the hospital wing.
"I see that went well." Ron said sarcastically, looking at the small bandage oh Harry's forehead. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. Harry was sitting up against some pillows.
"Oh yeah Ron, it went great." Harry said half sarcastically.
"So, how'd it happen?"
"Didn't Hermionie tell you?" Harry asked.
"Well of coarse she did. I just want to hear your version." Said Ron.
"Well, I wasn't looking where I was going and I fell."
"On what?"
"Stairs."
"How?"
"Is this some kind of test?" Harry asked.
"No, just making sure your story and her story add up right." Ron answered.
"Uh-huh." Harry said, giving Ron a weird look.
"So tell me how this happened." Ron said. Harry told him everything, every little detail. Ron gagged a few times at Harry's romancing efforts, but he listened all the same. "Wow." He said when Harry finished.
"Yep." Harry said with a sigh.
"So now what?" Ron said.
"For crying out loud Ron!" Harry said, "I don't know! I just want to get rid of this headache and get some sleep."
"Right, sure." Ron said.
"Okay, what the hell is wrong with you?" Harry asked smiling.
"Oh, nothing." Ron said. "Right, Sure." Harry mocked.
"Honestly, there is nothing wrong with me." Ron said with a grin.
"Uh-huh. You think I don't notice that expression on your face?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's bloody obvious Ron." Something happened with Emma, and Harry wanted to know.
"What is?" Ron was playing stupid and Harry just wanted him to spill it already.
"Come on Ron, fess up. What happened with Emma last night?"
"Oh, that!" He said. "We just stayed up all night, waiting for you to come back, and we talked that's all."
"Yeah?"
"She has a crush on you, mate." Ron said. Harry didn't know why this would make Ron act so funny.
"Oh?"
"Yep."
"That's great."
"Is it?"
"I just said so didn't I?"
"Apparently."
"Just do me a big favor and go down to breakfast already. I'm sure Hermionie will bring my homework without me having to ask." Said Harry.
"You can count on it." Ron said.
"Did you see what she gave me last night to read?" Harry picked up the book and showed it to Ron.
"Ha!" he said.
"No kidding." "Well, bye then Harry. See you at dinner I hope." Ron said, then left the ward.
"See ya." Harry said, and was alone once more. He heaved another sigh and relaxed against his pillows. Madam Pomfrey had checked on him earlier that morning and told him he could sleep now, and his concussion was gone. But he'd have to stay in the ward for the rest of the day just to make sure he'd have a clean bill of health.
Harry lay in bed all day, napping on and off. He glanced every now and then at Hogwarts, A History but never made a move to pick it up. When Harry heard the last bell ring for the day, he knew Hermionie would soon be here, arms full of books and homework assignments that he'd missed. Thank God it's Friday. Harry said to himself, knowing he'd have the entire weekend to catch up on homework and relax a bit. A few moments later, Hermionie came striding into in hospital wing, a few books at hand.
"Hey." She said, "How 're you feeling?"
"Better." Harry smiled.
"Here is your homework." She said, tipping the three books onto his bed. "There isn't much. None from potions because we have that essay due next week, and same for transfiguration. Lupin gave us a small writing assignment. And that's it."
"Thanks." Harry said, grabbing the books and setting them on the bed side table, on top of Hogwarts, A History.
"How was your day?" Hermionie asked polity.
"Boring." Harry said simply, getting comfortable on his pillows. "Ron came in this morning." Hermionie didn't say anything. Harry didn't know why she was suddenly so awkward and silent.
"Did you read that book I gave you?" She asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Harry said. "I wouldn't read that unless I was bored to insanity. I came close though." He laughed. She just smiled. There was still that weird silence between them. "Listen Hermionie," he said, grabbing her hand. "You have to believe me. I do lo-"
"Hi Harry!" Emma came into view from a little distance behind Hermionie. Harry didn't hear her come in. He immediately dropped Hermionie's hand. She gave him a hurtful look, and she saw 'I'm sorry' in his eyes.
"Oh. Hi, Emma." Harry said in the cheeriest voice he could muster.
"Am I interrupting anything?" She smiled sweetly looking between the two.
"No, It's alright. Hermionie and I were just talking." Harry lied. Ever since that night she kissed him, Emma thought she had a chance with Harry Potter. Better think again. Harry thought bitterly, I'm not going to let you get in the way this time. Oh no. I'm through with you.
"Well," she smiled sweetly again, "I brought you something." Harry and Hermionie just noticed the bag she had in her hand. Emma moved around to the other side of Harry's bed, and pulled out something. Surprisingly it looked like a book. "Here!" She squealed, bouncing on her feet. I remembered you liked Quidditch, so," She flipped the dark green book around, so you could see the title, "I checked this out of the library for you!" She handed it to Harry, bouncing on her feet again. Okay, one little kiss and you get preppy on me? Geez. He thought as he took the book. It read, Quidditch for beginners.
"Umm," Harry said.
"Emma, Harry was, and still is, one of the youngest Gryffindor Quidditch seekers in about a century." Hermionie said, taking the book from Harry and flipping through a few pages. It had chapters like, How to hold your broom, and, which snitch is which? This thoroughly disgusted Hermionie. "Didn't you tell her that Harry?" Hermionie asked, snapping the book shut and looking at him. Harry looked at Emma.
"Well, no."
Hermionie handed the book back to Emma and she took it with a defeated look on her face.
"I don't think he'll be needing this. You should go return it." Hermionie said with a smile. This wasn't the same sweet smile Harry liked and knew; this was different. Emma placed the book bag in her bag.
"At least I didn't bring him homework." Emma said rudely. Harry was surprised at this. "He needs rest, and you bring him homework?" Hermionie just glared at her. She didn't know what to say to her.
"Umm." Harry said after a few minutes of the girls giving death stares to each other. Harry didn't know what to do. He sat there looking from one to the other. "Umm." He said again.
"Harry, I hope you feel better soon." Hermionie said, without looking at him, "See you in the common room later tonight." Then she left, Emma giving her glares all the way out the door.
The next morning Ron came in to visit Harry in the hospital wing.
"I see that went well." Ron said sarcastically, looking at the small bandage oh Harry's forehead. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. Harry was sitting up against some pillows.
"Oh yeah Ron, it went great." Harry said half sarcastically.
"So, how'd it happen?"
"Didn't Hermionie tell you?" Harry asked.
"Well of coarse she did. I just want to hear your version." Said Ron.
"Well, I wasn't looking where I was going and I fell."
"On what?"
"Stairs."
"How?"
"Is this some kind of test?" Harry asked.
"No, just making sure your story and her story add up right." Ron answered.
"Uh-huh." Harry said, giving Ron a weird look.
"So tell me how this happened." Ron said. Harry told him everything, every little detail. Ron gagged a few times at Harry's romancing efforts, but he listened all the same. "Wow." He said when Harry finished.
"Yep." Harry said with a sigh.
"So now what?" Ron said.
"For crying out loud Ron!" Harry said, "I don't know! I just want to get rid of this headache and get some sleep."
"Right, sure." Ron said.
"Okay, what the hell is wrong with you?" Harry asked smiling.
"Oh, nothing." Ron said. "Right, Sure." Harry mocked.
"Honestly, there is nothing wrong with me." Ron said with a grin.
"Uh-huh. You think I don't notice that expression on your face?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's bloody obvious Ron." Something happened with Emma, and Harry wanted to know.
"What is?" Ron was playing stupid and Harry just wanted him to spill it already.
"Come on Ron, fess up. What happened with Emma last night?"
"Oh, that!" He said. "We just stayed up all night, waiting for you to come back, and we talked that's all."
"Yeah?"
"She has a crush on you, mate." Ron said. Harry didn't know why this would make Ron act so funny.
"Oh?"
"Yep."
"That's great."
"Is it?"
"I just said so didn't I?"
"Apparently."
"Just do me a big favor and go down to breakfast already. I'm sure Hermionie will bring my homework without me having to ask." Said Harry.
"You can count on it." Ron said.
"Did you see what she gave me last night to read?" Harry picked up the book and showed it to Ron.
"Ha!" he said.
"No kidding." "Well, bye then Harry. See you at dinner I hope." Ron said, then left the ward.
"See ya." Harry said, and was alone once more. He heaved another sigh and relaxed against his pillows. Madam Pomfrey had checked on him earlier that morning and told him he could sleep now, and his concussion was gone. But he'd have to stay in the ward for the rest of the day just to make sure he'd have a clean bill of health.
Harry lay in bed all day, napping on and off. He glanced every now and then at Hogwarts, A History but never made a move to pick it up. When Harry heard the last bell ring for the day, he knew Hermionie would soon be here, arms full of books and homework assignments that he'd missed. Thank God it's Friday. Harry said to himself, knowing he'd have the entire weekend to catch up on homework and relax a bit. A few moments later, Hermionie came striding into in hospital wing, a few books at hand.
"Hey." She said, "How 're you feeling?"
"Better." Harry smiled.
"Here is your homework." She said, tipping the three books onto his bed. "There isn't much. None from potions because we have that essay due next week, and same for transfiguration. Lupin gave us a small writing assignment. And that's it."
"Thanks." Harry said, grabbing the books and setting them on the bed side table, on top of Hogwarts, A History.
"How was your day?" Hermionie asked polity.
"Boring." Harry said simply, getting comfortable on his pillows. "Ron came in this morning." Hermionie didn't say anything. Harry didn't know why she was suddenly so awkward and silent.
"Did you read that book I gave you?" She asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Harry said. "I wouldn't read that unless I was bored to insanity. I came close though." He laughed. She just smiled. There was still that weird silence between them. "Listen Hermionie," he said, grabbing her hand. "You have to believe me. I do lo-"
"Hi Harry!" Emma came into view from a little distance behind Hermionie. Harry didn't hear her come in. He immediately dropped Hermionie's hand. She gave him a hurtful look, and she saw 'I'm sorry' in his eyes.
"Oh. Hi, Emma." Harry said in the cheeriest voice he could muster.
"Am I interrupting anything?" She smiled sweetly looking between the two.
"No, It's alright. Hermionie and I were just talking." Harry lied. Ever since that night she kissed him, Emma thought she had a chance with Harry Potter. Better think again. Harry thought bitterly, I'm not going to let you get in the way this time. Oh no. I'm through with you.
"Well," she smiled sweetly again, "I brought you something." Harry and Hermionie just noticed the bag she had in her hand. Emma moved around to the other side of Harry's bed, and pulled out something. Surprisingly it looked like a book. "Here!" She squealed, bouncing on her feet. I remembered you liked Quidditch, so," She flipped the dark green book around, so you could see the title, "I checked this out of the library for you!" She handed it to Harry, bouncing on her feet again. Okay, one little kiss and you get preppy on me? Geez. He thought as he took the book. It read, Quidditch for beginners.
"Umm," Harry said.
"Emma, Harry was, and still is, one of the youngest Gryffindor Quidditch seekers in about a century." Hermionie said, taking the book from Harry and flipping through a few pages. It had chapters like, How to hold your broom, and, which snitch is which? This thoroughly disgusted Hermionie. "Didn't you tell her that Harry?" Hermionie asked, snapping the book shut and looking at him. Harry looked at Emma.
"Well, no."
Hermionie handed the book back to Emma and she took it with a defeated look on her face.
"I don't think he'll be needing this. You should go return it." Hermionie said with a smile. This wasn't the same sweet smile Harry liked and knew; this was different. Emma placed the book bag in her bag.
"At least I didn't bring him homework." Emma said rudely. Harry was surprised at this. "He needs rest, and you bring him homework?" Hermionie just glared at her. She didn't know what to say to her.
"Umm." Harry said after a few minutes of the girls giving death stares to each other. Harry didn't know what to do. He sat there looking from one to the other. "Umm." He said again.
"Harry, I hope you feel better soon." Hermionie said, without looking at him, "See you in the common room later tonight." Then she left, Emma giving her glares all the way out the door.