Confused Paths

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just the plot (is there a plot here?) and the OCs. Just like last time, I don't know if they'll show up in this chapter, but you know them already. Don't sue me, JKR; I'm poor and I don't have any money.

Chapter 6 - Aftermath

Harry didn't bother going to the showers after that conversation. He left straight to the Gryffindor Tower, and took his shower there. Then, he just laid on his bed and waited until he finally fell asleep. Fortunately, none of his roommates tried to wake him up.

He got up early in the morning, and thought about last night's discussion. He was sure that by now, everyone had figured out that he fancied Hermione. He wondered how he would face her if they meet on the corridors. And there was Ron too. He looked at Ron's bed and saw he was sound asleep there. 'I'd better get out of here before he wakes up', Harry thought. 'It's not like I want another fight right now'. With that, he changed his clothes and left the dormitory.

He wanted to go straight to the Great Hall, and have his breakfast before Ron or Hermione were up. Scratch that. He wanted to have his breakfast before everyone was up, because he was sure that the whole school knew about his exchange with Ron yesterday. 'Gossip here travels faster than someone apparating', he thought bitterly, while going down the stairs. When he got to the common room, he was surprised to see he was being awaited.

Hermione was sitting in one of their usual chairs by the fire, but she had turned the chair to face the stairs, as if waiting for someone to come down. When she saw Harry, she immediately stood and walked to him. 'Quite a good start for the "avoid them" thing', Harry thought. His eyes locked with Hermione's and stayed this way for a minute. He wanted to say something, but the words were failing him. She was the one who broke the silence.

"I'm sorry", she began.

"What are you sorry for?", he asked. "It's not like you've done anything. Ron's the one who started that, and I'm the one who's jealous of him", he continued, avoiding to say his true feelings for her. She stepped nearer to him, and Harry could almost feel the heat radiating from her.

"I am to blame, too", she said, and lowered her head. "I should have known it. I was trying to make my relationship with Ron work out, and I neglected our friendship", she continued. Her voice was very low, and Harry thought she would cry soon. He walked to her and gave her a comforting hug.

"I can understand", he said soothingly. "He's your boyfriend, I can't get expect to get the same attention he gets from you", he added. It hurt him to say that, but he couldn't say he craved for that same attention. It seemed that Hermione wasn't aware of his feelings yet; he would make everything worse if he confessed now.

Her eyes were shining with unshed tears, and Harry felt bad he had anything to do with it. She wiped a lone tear that escaped and said, "He's not my boyfriend anymore", she said. Harry was quite shocked to hear that, to say the least. "After all those mean things he said yesterday, I just gave up trying", she added. Harry didn't expect Hermione to break up with Ron because of him, and felt a pang of selfish happiness in his heart. "You didn't have to break up with him, you know", he said. "I was the one he insulted, not you. We could still be friends, even if Ron and I aren't anymore".

"He insulted me too", she answered, interrupting him. "He said that I was his prize. That "he's got the girl". You heard that. I don't want to be a trophy for him to show up. I have been trying to make this relationship work, but if that's the way Ron sees it, I give up. In fact, giving up is all I have been doing. I even left you alone at the library yesterday!"

"Forget that", Harry said. "You don't have to feel bad for that. You were trying to make it work, and that makes for it".

She was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm still feeling a little guilty", in her normal voice again. "I should have said something when Ron started snapping at you down there. At that time, I thought it would make things worse, because people would start speaking about you. That's why I'm stayed silent. I'm really sorry for that", she said.

Harry was amazed that she had thought of him at that time. He had been a little frustrated that Hermione was silent during the exchange; but now he understood her position and was really grateful for it. "It was better this way", he said. "And don't apologize to me. I was the one that broke your relationship. I should be the one who's apologizing here", he added, and his voice wavered a bit. He wasn't being truthful at that time.

Hermione didn't answer. The two friends stayed on their hug for a while. Harry could smell the sweet scent of Hermione's hair; it had a calming effect upon him. It felt very good to be holding her like that; her small frame emanated some warmth he enjoyed. He started to feel guilty about his thoughts; this was like taking advantage of her, when she was feeling so bad. He reluctantly pulled apart from her and said, "Have you had breakfast yet? I'm a little hungry, you know". He smiled a sheepish smile at her.

She let out a small laugh at his sudden change of subject. "No, I haven't", she said. "I was waiting for you to come down. I really wanted to talk to you", she added, lowering her head.

"I'm sorry I ran out like that yesterday", he said. "I just wanted to avoid Ron after that, so I thought of sleeping right away".

"You should have had your dinner, at least", she said. "I brought something to you, because I expected you to be hungry after the tryouts, but I asked Dobby to take it back to the kitchens when Neville said you were asleep already", she continued. Harry blushed slightly. "Sorry about that too", he said sheepishly. "I really wanted to avoid everyone".

"Even me?", she asked. He was taken aback by that question, but answered truthfully. "Yeah, even you. I thought you would be mad at me because I…" He wanted to say, "I fancied you", but held his tongue. "Because I was jealous of you".

"Oh", she said. "You had all reasons to be. Like I said, I really neglected everything to make that relationship work. But I promise I won't neglect our friendship again", she said, in a trembling voice. "Hmm… Thanks", he said. Harry realized the conversation was turning to be quite embarrassing, both for him and for her, so he changed the subject again. "Well, we'd better head to the Great Hall now, my stomach will be screaming soon", he said with a smile. She smiled back and nodded her concordance.

Even after their conversation, it wasn't late enough and the Great Hall was almost deserted. They had their breakfast slowly, and have tried to avoid embarrassing subjects. They couldn't avoid all of them, though, and soon they had come back to Hermione and Ron's break-up. Hermione said Ron didn't take it well, but he agreed to be her friend. Harry just said that he would wait a little before trying to get Ron back as a friend. Hermione agreed.

Hermione also asked Harry why he had cancelled DA's first meeting. She said she had been quite concerned with him since she got the warning. Harry thought that explained the looks she was giving him during the tryouts, and lied saying that he cancelled due to an unfinished Transfiguration essay.

Harry's theory about the gossip had proven itself right when the students began to come down. Everyone shot Harry and Hermione a look, and most of them weren't very friendly. In fact, the only people who actually talked to them were Ginny and Neville (who both knew about Harry's feelings). Dean gave Harry a "good morning", surely under Ginny's influence; Lavender and Parvati said it was good to have Hermione back, but it was bad she had broke with Ron. Hermione looked at Harry, who had a questioning look on his face, and she whispered, "Just ignore it, it's not like they mean anything". Harry laughed.

Despite everyone's whispering about him, Harry wasn't really worried until the mail arrived. He hadn't received anything, but Hermione received a small package that Harry recognized right away. It was his birthday present to her. 'Damn it, the woman must have mistaken the day', he thought. He thanked God that Ron wasn't there, and watched Hermione's surprised expression when she saw it was from a jewelry store. She opened it under the curious stares of Ginny, Lavender and Parvati, while he turned his head away, and cursed the old shopkeeper's mistake. Hermione would probably think he didn't know the correct date.

Hermione pulled the pendant out of its box, and the three girls at her sided gasped at it. "Who's it from", Ginny asked right away. Harry still hoped Hermione would forget to read the card, but that just killed all of his hope. The four girls read it, and Hermione turned to Harry, whose facial color was matching Ginny's hair.

"Thank you Harry, but…", she began. "I know your birthday isn't today", he said. "September 19th, isn't it? I'm sure I said it right to the clerk", he said, interrupting her. He wanted to make sure he knew the correct date, even if the gift came a little earlier. She smiled at him. "I'm sure you knew the right date, you prat, but you never gave me any birthday presents, you didn't have to start now, you know. I'm sure this was very expensive".

"I just wanted to make it back for your gift this year", he said, pointing at his own pendant, "And for everything your friendship means to me". He instantly wished he hadn't said that, as Hermione blushed and the other girls started giggling madly. Even Neville couldn't get a hold of himself, and winked at Harry. Both he and Hermione finished their meals fast, and they left the hall under the suspicious looks of everyone there.

"I'm sorry for that", Harry said, as soon as they had left the hall. "I didn't mean to embarrass you", he continued. "I know you don't", she said. "And I want you to know your friendship means much to me, too", she added. She suddenly threw her arms around Harry on a hug, and kissed his cheek. "I must go to the library now, I have some research to do for the DA", she said with a wink, leaving a dumbfounded Harry alone at the corridor.

A/N: Sorry for the delay! I finished this chapter last Thursday, but I wasn't able to log into FF.net then and I decided to update later. I'm really sorry about that.

This chapter is a bit short because I've broken by left hand last Tuesday, so I had to type it one-handed… And English is not my mother language, what complicates things a lot.

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, HPHrShipper, but I had to make Hermione dump Ron here. It'll take a while until H/Hr get together, though. And Harry won't date the OC girl. The OCs will play just a small part on the plot (in fact, they were included as an experience; the original plot didn't have any OCs).

Hope you liked the chapter, anyway. R&R, please. ^_^