[disclaimer: if you haven't caught on by now...you must be retarded...I own nothing]
(a/n: wow I know it's been like forever and ever and ever since I updated...I am so incredibly sorry! Slipped my mind I suppose, anyway all that really matters is that it's HERE, chapter 15, YAY! clears throat loudly i finally got the specialness like the bold and stuff if you didn't figure it out...YAY... well here we go!)
Harry was trying to recollect himself when he heard a faint, but familiar voice somewhere above him.
"Harry? Harry, are you alright?"
Harry looked up, red-eyed and tear stained, into the freckled, and worried, face of Ginny Weasley.
"I don't want to talk about it," Harry said, sounding more bitter than he had meant to. Ginny didn't leave.
"I've noticed, Ron and Hermione don't seem to talk to you anymore...and I can't help thinking that this has something to do with that," Ginny said sympathetically. Harry remained silent. He didn't feel like listening to anyone, even though deep down he knew that Ginny could be the one person who would understand.
Harry glared at Ginny. She didn't falter. She just looked more sad.
"Harry...I don't care if it's bad. Just, please...just tell me what's wrong."
Harry was starting to think Ginny bothersome, almost obnoxious, and considered just getting up and hoping she wouldn't follow. But then he figured that he really needed to tell someone, and obviously, Ginny wasn't going to give up.
Harry wiped his cheek off with the cuff of his robes. "I believe I've just ruined my life."
Ginny looked confused. "How is that, Harry?"
Harry hesitated for a moment, wondering if he could really tell Ginny without her spilling it to Ron or Hermione. Harry took a deep breath and launched into his story. He had wanted to be straightforward and share just the facts, but he found that once he started leaking the truth, he found it hard not to tell all.
Ginny didn't say a word; her expression was emotionless. She didn't dare interrupt, just nodded her head once in a while.
After Harry had finished, Ginny paused a second before sharing her opinion.
"Well Harry, I can understand you wanted to know why Hermione was in such a bad mood, but sneaking truth potion was pretty down low. I'm guessing you learned your lesson though, didn't you?"
Harry was shocked at how motherly she could sound. "Yes. I have."
"Well, you really love Hermione, don't you?"
Harry thought hard, though he really didn't need to. "I do, not like it matters anymore. She'll never see me as anything ever again."
Ginny's blue-gray eyes were filled with sadness. "Never say never, Harry. But if you really care about her enough, then you should do something about it, because if you don't, someone else will get her. You know that, right?"
Truthfully, Harry hadn't thought of it. But yet he said, "Yes, I know that. Excuse me, Ginny, I'm just going to...to...I'm just going, okay?"
Before Ginny could reply, Harry took off so fast that she could feel the breeze from his robes on her face. She just smiled. She didn't want to take credit for what just happened, but she felt proud all the same.
"Hermioneyouhavetoforgivemeigaveyoutruthpotionanditwasreallyantitruthpotiona ccordingtosnapeandi—"
"Harry, slow down. What are you trying to tell me?" Hermione looked sad, but Harry was just thankful that she was paying attention.
Harry took a deep breath. "Hermione, please forgive me. You were acting so strange that one day, and you remember we made truth draughts in Potions? Well, I...I took a little bit and slipped it into your drink that night and—"
"You WHAT?"
"Please, just let me finish. Well, you said that you were only going out with me because I was famous, it really hurt, and then Ron...well that's a different story. Anyway Snape comes up to me and says that I messed up on my potion, that I made it into an Anti-Truth Draught, and I realized it meant that you didn't mean what you said. And I'm really sorry. But the truth is, I still loved you deep down and I'm more aware of that now than ever. I hope you can forgive me, but I'll forgive you if you can't."
Hermione stood there, her eyes wide, letting it all sink in. She couldn't believe that he had tainted her drink for something so petty...but he had said he loved her...Hermione wanted to tell Harry that she still loved him too, but her mouth just couldn't seem to form the words.
Harry waited for Hermione to say something, but she didn't. Harry was deeply hurt. "At least I tried," he mumbled, and he started toward the boys' dormitories.
He didn't hear Ron call after him, nor Hermione begin to cry.
(a/n: ooh, that's gotta hurt! What oh what will they do? Now that the truth is out, will Hermione still go out with Harry? Or is there still something she needs to say? Hmm...I wonder...no doubt you do as well! You won't find out until you REVIEW! Wa hey!)