Disclaimer: None of these magnificent characters belong to me. I just play with their emotions...no money is being made, though, Lord knows I need it. HAVE FUN KIDS!
Hermione continued to console Harry, when out of the corner of her eye she saw a platinum blonde bend over to a person with mounds of red hair. Hermione tried her best to see what they were doing but the window only allowed her to see the crowns of their heads. Normally, two people talking outside of a pub wouldn't bother Hermione, but these people looked familiar; like Ginny and Draco!
'Now, what are they doing' Hermione thought.
It was confirmed that it was indeed Draco and Ginny outside whispering something to one another when they passed by the open door to the pub. Ginny pointed eagerly to Hermione holding Harry and Draco couldn't suppress his laughter. Ginny smacked Draco hard in the chest causing him to double over and clutch his knees. Ginny walked off in the opposite direction, back to Hogwarts, and a wincing Draco followed.
"I wonder what that was about." Hermione said, not realizing she had spoken aloud until she felt Harry's head move.
"Hmm?" Harry questioned, looking up to her with droopy eyes, cheeks stained from tears.
"Nothing, just thinking out loud; Harry we need to go back to school, I think you need to rest." Hermione said, staring down at Harry. Harry nodded and left a galleon on the table and followed Hermione out of the pub.
Hermione walked briskly seemingly ignoring the meek Harry behind her. She noticed how quickly she was walking and immediately slowed and turned around to let him catch up. He panted beside her. "A little eager to get back eh?"
"No, it's just bloody cold out here! I need a fire or some blankets..." Hermione retorted. She grabbed his arm and walked slowly back to the castle and back into the Gryffindor common room.
................................
"Hermione, you can come up to my room, don't look so scared!" Harry said to Hermione, frozen at the bottom of the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Harry had just gone up the stairs expecting her to follow and seemed surprised when she didn't.
"I promise Ron isn't up there naked, though, that may make you want to run into the room..." Harry said, laughing.
"Oh sod off Harry, you know I can't see Ron like that, he isn't my type. He doesn't know how to be sincere. I need someone who can be serious every once in a while." Hermione said, noticing Harry's head drop to look at the floor with the last bit.
Harry pushed the door open to the dormitory once he reached the top of the stairs. He proceeded in as did an anxious Hermione. He sat down on his bed and motioned for Hermione to do the same. He placed a hand on her thigh and turned to her, looking into her eyes.
"You have no idea what your friendship means to me, it has been truly a rough time these last few months and I don't think I could have done it without you. Thank you Hermione, thank you for everything." Harry said closing with a hug to his best friend. Hermione closed her eyes and let the moment happen. Merlin, she loved this boy, she just wished he knew.
She moaned softly into his ear unconsciously, this made Harry's head turn towards hers. Hermione began blushing profusely, knowing what she had done. Harry just looked into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity, and Hermione felt a sudden pang in her stomach.
"I...I...I've got to run Harry, I had a great time..." Hermione stammered out. She left the embrace and seemingly ran out of the door and down the stairs. She fell onto a couch in the commons crying. No one was in the commons except for a few second-years and they were looking at her oddly. She didn't care though.
'So close, so close to coming out.' Hermione thought. She decided to go where no one would be, especially on a Hogsmeade Saturday; the library. Hermione gathered a few of her things and walked towards the Fat Lady. She heard a door open in the hallway of boys' dormitories. She ran out of the door and all the way to the library.
"I can't do this, I can't do this." Hermione said, repeating it so it became real.
"Can't do what Granger, I find that you not being able to do something is somewhat of a new idea." Said a snide voice from behind her, Draco Malfoy.
"Get off it Malfoy, I need to study," she said, not allowing Draco to see her tear stained cheeks.
She moved past him to a vacant table and laid down her parchment. He followed.
She wandered over towards the section on Transfiguration, again he followed.
"Will you get? I have some studying to do and would appreciate some solace." Hermione said, turning suddenly to face Draco placing emphasis on the word 'appreciate'.
"No, no, I think I'd like to stay, it is such a nice day to sit inside, read, and sob over a scar-headed freak..." Draco said smoothly, a smirk playing across his face.
"You watch it Malfoy, you don't need to go poking your nose where it doesn't belong," Hermione said just as calmly. She was used to insults about herself and those close to her from Malfoy; they just rolled off of her back.
"Fine, be a bitch." Draco said standing up.
Hermione stood up as well. She smacked him across the face as hard as she could.
"Never, EVER call a woman a bitch to her face; I would have thought your mother would have taught you better manners than that Malfoy." Hermione said angrily.
Draco looked shocked, and then scowled at Hermione. "Watch your back mud blood," was all he said, turning around dramatically to exit.
"Prat," Hermione said after him. She gathered all of her things off of the table and went down to dinner; she was in no mood to study anymore. Damn Draco messes up everything.
She walked down to the Great Hall and found her friends; Harry was obviously saving her a seat because he flagged her down immediately when she entered. She looked at the Slytherin table and noticed Draco winking at someone in her general direction. 'Fucking asshole,' Hermione thought. She sighed and went and sat down next to Harry.
"Hermione, we need to talk..." Harry started. Hermione quickly cut him off, "Harry, I don't know what to say, I don't really know what happened..." Hermione stopped when she saw the surprised look on his face. "...we need to talk to Dumbledore about the Pensive, did you have something else in mind to talk about?" Harry said, finishing his sentence.
"No, no I don't. Er, pass the butterbeans." Hermione said
................................................
Fooled you, you dirty little ones! Thanks for all the reviews, hugs to all of you. I am going to try my best to get this story done next week. I'm going off to college on the 18th so I won't have but so much time left for my beloved HP FF! (sigh). And, again, I'm sorry I didn't post last night, I grovel at your feet. And extra thanks to Sabrina, I really am trying to make a new kind of fic, one I have looked for all over the place and couldn't find, so decided to create myself.