When We Try to Deceive.
Chapter 6: The Truth Will Out
Author's Note: As always, thank
you to my kind reviewers (Topaz
Waters,
I lov Redheads w/
Fangs, Wedgie
Antilles, British-BrownEyed-Beauty
and Twinkey). And I am BEGGING
you... please review!
***
After watching Hermione retreat rapidly down the corridor, George turned to his
twin. He didn't know whether to be shocked, amused, or angry. As a result he
was mostly confused. Fred still had fires burning in his cheeks and was rubbing
his forehead, his face scrunched up and his eyes closed. He was the perfect
picture of someone who knows they have just done something unbelievably
idiotic, but now it's too late to do anything about it and they're stuck living
with the repercussions.
"What do you think you're doing?" George asked, emphasising the 'do'
heavily. He waited patiently for Fred to lift his chin slightly and squint at
him through one eye before he continued, "It's bad enough you get a
ridiculous crush on a girl who's practically your brother's girlfriend, but
then you kiss her? In the middle of a school hallway? Pretending to be
ME?!" Fred grimaced.
"Yeah, so it looks bad..."
"Yuh huh! It couldn't look much worse!" came the instant reply.
George had has his fair share's practice at snappy dialogues with his twin. Now
he was at the stage where he could usually anticipate what Fred's last words
were going to be, and so he had a split-second to think of a reply. That didn't
mean he was good at the witty comebacks though. As the following conversation
could well be used in evidence of.
"She was upset, alright?" Fred replied, irritated at himself more
than anyone. He lowered his tone a little when he carried on. "I was
comforting her. And one thing led to another..."
"You kissed her!" Fred sent George a death stare that would very
likely have been replaced by "Duh" had this been an American story.
Alas, it is not. So we will have to make do with the meaningful looks and
suggestive body language. *Sigh*.
"It was a mistake. I'll explain to Ron. Apologise- whatever," Fred
muttered curtly. George faltered a little. He had been quite enjoying this
little skit, and hadn't expected Fred to concede so quickly.
"Well... you better!" was his half-hearted attempt to reverse the
situation again, but Fred wasn't having any of it. It seemed his priorities
were now clarifying the situation to Hermione, and apologising profusely,
before begging her not to tell Ron. Or else he'd have to tell both Ron and
Hermione it was a genuine mistake and apologise profusely. Either way he'd have
to grovel... and he wasn't about to practice on his twin. Speaking of which,
George was stood rather awkwardly opposite Fred, looking down at his trainers
under his robes as he scuffed his toe against the polished floor.
"I suppose it's not the end of the world," he granted. Fred smiled
wryly. He considered replying something along the lines of 'Speak for yourself!
I've just completely blown my chances with the only girl I've ever loved- not
to mention gotten my brother in a bit of a mess to say the least! So yeah, for
at least three people this probably will feel like the end of the world in the
next few hours!' While this would have been a mature, effective way of coping
with the situation- Fred took the coward's back door and nodded briefly before
showing an intense interest in the cuff of his robes. They really are fascinating,
you know. The way the end has been cunningly folded over before being stitched
meticulously, and- wait, I don't need to convince you. I'm sure you feel like
this already. I'm so sorry for talking down to you.
"One question," George broke the silence with. "Why did she
think you were me?" Which just so happened to be the one question Fred
couldn't answer.
"I- uh- I don't know. She was upset. Confused," bluffed Fred.
"Oh right." Thankfully both boys were still looking down and so
neither noticed the other blush uneasily. There was a fairly long pause.
"And there's the whole identical twin thing!" George suggested,
looking up and shrugging reasonably.
"Yeah! Yeah, good point."
An even longer pause.
"She, um..." George cleared his throated and Fred tilted his head
questioningly. "Well, I mean... she knew you were, er- you know- you when
she kissed you, right?" George grinned. Fred stared at him open mouthed.
"Right? Please tell me she knew you were Fred!"
OH. MY. GOD.
"Yeah- sure," Fred assured him, laughing far too loudly.
"Anyway- gotta go!" and with that he paced off in the direction
Hermione had taken, without a backward glance. It's pretty obvious what he was
thinking. Hermione had thought she had been kissing George.
***
Hermione needed to be alone right now, to gather her thoughts, and try to find
a way to sort out this huge mess she was in. Unfortunately, she was just about
to go into Potions class, and she was already a couple of minutes late. She
burst through the door, panting due to her run.
Professor Snape looked at her and smiled coldly. "A point off Gryffindor
for lateness. Hurry up and take your seat, Miss Granger."
Hermione immediately slipped onto the bench she was accustomed to sitting at
every Potions lesson... next to Ron. Who was also sitting next to Harry. The
tension was unbearable. Hermione couldn't stand to turn and look at either of
them, and so looked straight down into her cauldron the whole lesson. Ron kept
trying to catch her eye, whilst studiously ignoring Harry who was trying to
catch his eye.
Snape picked up on the fact that something was going on with them when he came
round to inspect their Potions. Hermione's was, of course, perfect; so he
passed her by with nothing but a sneer. When he stopped at Ron's cauldron he
let out a snort of disgust. Ron's cauldron was violently bubbling bright orange
and letting out a steam that smelt remarkably of rotten eggs. Harry's was not
much better. It was murky brown and every so often would gurgle and make rather
rude noises.
Snape was intrigued. Evidently, Hermione "star pupil" Granger had not
been helping her two boyfriends this lesson. He grinned maliciously, before
clapping his hounds quietly yet authoratively until he had the whole class'
attention. The Gryffindors looked sympathetically towards Ron and Harry, and
Dean gave them an encouraging smile. The Slytherins gathered around smirking,
and making a big deal of holding their noses and wafting the air in front of
their face.
When there was silence, Snape spoke.
"Have a little lovers' spat now did we?" he jibed. Hermione and Ron
just ignored him but Harry looked up startled. Seeing his reaction, the Potions
master moved over to Harry.
"Not got your girlfriend to help you with your potion anymore
Potter?" he continued. The Gryffindors all glared at Snape's back, and
Seamus muttered something about a weasel swimming. Or so it sounded to
Hermione, but there is the distinct possibility she misheard him. Snape was
clearly enjoying himself, as were all the other Slytherins, not least Malfoy.
What a celebration they would have if they knew the whole truth, Hermione
thought wryly. Her thoughts were interrupted by Ron.
"She's not his girlfriend! Nobody is!" he shouted. The he added, as
an after thought, "or ever will be!" Harry looked at him, clearly
appalled. Inside his heart was breaking. One of the few people he thought he
could trust completely in this world had just turned his back on him. Because
of one stupid kiss. Only it wasn't stupid- it was magical, and wonderful, and-
if only Hermione hadn't interrupted them. If only it had lasted a few seconds
longer... Hermione. What did Ron see in her? She was nothing compared to Harry.
Harry glared at Hermione, who had been looking at him empathetically. She
blushed and looked away. Harry didn't feel any lament. He just felt jealous,
and angry, and hurt. Most of all hurt.
Snape's eyes lit up. He'd just stumbled upon a goldmine. A goldmine, in the
sense that the gold was hormonal Gryffindors' feelings to exploit for his own
amusement...
"Care to elaborate on that, Weasley?" he goaded, his eyebrows raised
and the corners of his mouth twitching.
Ron was about to speak when the door burst open. Surprisingly, it was not
Hagrid- who was usually the cause of doors being burst open in Hogwarts. It was
Fred.
"Hermione!" he exclaimed, relief showing all over his face.
"I've been searching all over for you!" he added as means of an
explanation of his bursting into a lesson.
"Not now," Hermione muttered. She was flushed and although she
appeared embarrassed, Harry could tell she was inwardly seething. 'Good. Let
her suffer' he thought spitefully. Ron was too busy staring in bewilderment at
his brother to pay any attention to Hermione's facial expressions.
"Why do you want to speak to Hermione?" Ron asked, clearly puzzled.
"Nothing," came the instant response from Hermione. She glared at
Fred and he looked remarkably uncomfortable, stood in front of the class with
nothing to account for his awkward presence.
"It's kind of important-" Fred continued, but Ron got there first.
"What is it?!" he insisted.
"Yes Weasley, do spill the beans," smirked Snape.
Fred shifted from one foot to the other and glanced at Harry, looking for
support. Instead Harry was mentally cursing Hermione and had hardly noticed
Fred. So Fred addressed Hermione yet again, his voice tentative and unsure.
"I'm really sorry, Hermione. I should have told you the truth. I know
that. And I'm am so, so sorry."
Hermione met his eye and for a moment she melted in the intense attraction
between them. But then she broke the gaze and reminded herself of what exactly
had happened.
"I'll speak to you later."
"But-" Fred began, upset that Hermione was being so dismissive.
"I will meet you at lunch, alright?" she spoke forcefully. After she
looked at the door pointedly, Fred began to edge towards it. Hermione turned
her back to him, and so Fred reluctantly made his way down the corridor.
"Fifteen points from Gryffindor for that shameless display. Now carry on
with your work." Snape was instantly in control again, although his voice
was laced with malice.
"What the hell was that about?" exclaimed Ron.
"Let's just get on with our Potions shall we?" Hermione dismissed
him, all the while measuring out extra ingredients.
"No- what did my brother want?"
"Nothing!" Hermione started to chop up the magsweed violently. Ron
was motionless.
"I'll just ask him..."
"He won't tell you," Hermione muttered, sweeping the chopped herbs
into the cauldron.
"HERMIONE!" Ron grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her round on her
stool to face him.
"SHUT UP!" Hermione shouted back, before looking around at the rest
of the pupils, clearly embarrassed.
"Listen, I don't care what everyone else thinks. Just bloody tell
me!" Hermione finally through down her palette and looked Ron in the eye.
"Fine! While you were busy making out with Harry, I kissed Fred. I kissed
your brother. Happy now?" She jumped up and stormed out of the classroom,
slamming the door behind her.
Back in the lab, Snape looked as though Christmas had come early. Everyone's
eyes were boring into Harry. He followed suit and ran out of the room, chasing
Hermione.
He finally caught up with her and pinned her against the wall. Hermione was too
upset to even struggle.
"What the hell are you playing at?" Harry shouted in her face, his
eyes blazing with fury. Hermione pushed him away from her and retaliated.
"I could say the same to you!"
Harry was indignant.
"You told the whole class I kissed Ron!"
"So? It's true!"
"That's low, Hermione." Harry was disgusted. He turned and walked
away from Hermione.
"Harry!" she called, but he didn't even show he'd heard.
"Harry! I'm sorry!" she called again, realising she had begun to cry.
As Harry turned round the corner Hermione sunk to the floor and wiped her eyes.
She heard footsteps coming along the corridor and looked up. Ron.
"Hey!" Hermione begun, but Ron just glanced down at her. His eyes
were red and his mouth was quivering. Ron carried on past, without speaking a
word.
"Ron!" Hermione spoke louder. No response. Ron had just blanked her.
He hated her. Harry hated her. Fred lied to her. George wanted nothing to do
with her.
If she had any tears left, Hermione would be in sobs right now. But instead she
got to her feet and began walking to her next lesson, knowing she had lost
everything.
***
Audrey: Duh duh duuuuh... and I'm not updating again until I get 35 reviews. Nah ah; not happening. Thirty-five reviews, people! It's not a lot to ask, now is it?
