Harry stared at Hermione with an incredulous expression on his face and blinked several times.

"H-Hermione?"

"Um...yes. It's me."

"Y-Your hair. It's black."

"Yes Harry. I've noticed the color of my hair. Thank you for pointing that out."

Harry shook his head and finally snapped out his stupor. He looked at Hermione again and a small smile formed on his lips.

"You know, I read that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

"You READ? As in retaining information from a book on your own free will? Did hell freeze over already?"

"Ha ha," Harry shrugged. "I had a lot of time on my hands. And I was looking through all the books that you gave me as gifts for Christmas and my birthday. And I decided to read them. It wasn't so bad actually."

"Glad to know that my books have been put to good use. Come on in."

Hermione moved away from the door so Harry could walk in. As he gathered his luggage, Hermione smiled inwardly. She scolded herself for being so worried about everything being awkward between her and Harry. They were best friends. Time didn't matter. No matter how long they weren't together, they just easily picked up from where they left off and soon, they were laughing and joking like old times.

Hermione noticed that Harry was awfully quiet when he was walking up the stairs. She caught him staring at the walls and the kitchen and the doors with a look of longing and deep sadness in his eyes. It almost broke her heart.

"Poor Harry," thought Hermione. "Now that I understand him, I'm surprised that he hasn't gone insane with all the emotional trauma he's been through."

They both walked into Harry's room. Harry roughly threw his suitcase onto the bed. His eyes traveled over the room and glazed over a bit. He then blinked and turned around to face Hermione. She wasn't surprised to see a look of distress on his face.

"I-I'm not sure I can do it. I thought I could before. When Dumbledore told me to come, I-I...and I told myself that I could handle it because it was...just a house. But I don't know...it's just so weird..."

Hermione nodded with understanding in her eyes. She knew that she would feel the exact same way if she was forced to go back to the house she used to call "home".

"Want some ice cream?"

Harry looked at her with an odd expression.

"Um, Hermione. I'm a guy. Guys don't feel better after they stuff themselves with fattening desserts."

"Well what do they do? Get laid?"

"N-No! Guys don't-I mean, I don't-"

But Harry was interrupted by the sound of Hermione's laughing.

"Harry! Your face! It was priceless! Do all boys get like that when they discuss shagging?"

Harry gave her a mock glare but soon dissolved into light chuckles. Then his face grew serious again.

"Hey, um, can we get out of this house for a while? I...don't really feel comfortable in here."

"Harry. We can't. Remember? Dumbledore told us to stay here."

A small flash of irritation flickered in his eyes but soon died down.

"So what? It's not like Dumbledore's safety precautions have done any good."

"Harry! How can you say that?" Hermione wished she could relate to Harry and say yes but she owed Dumbledore. Unlike Harry, she didn't blame Dumbledore for anything. She knew he had sacrificed much for her and Harry's well being and respected his wishes.

"Look! I just really don't feel like being in here."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Harry. Truly I am. But we have to stay. It's for our own safety. We have to listen to Dumbledore."

Harry's face grew a deep beet red and he didn't even try to hide the anger in his eyes this time.

"OH, SURE! LISTEN TO THE ALMIGHTY DUMBLEDORE! LOT OF GOOD HIS ORDERS DID US! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU STILL LISTEN TO HIM AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO SURIUS LAST YEAR! WHICH I KNOW IS MOSTLY MY FAULT BUT HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN-"

"HARRY! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE STILL BLAMING YOURSELF FOR SIRIUS' DEATH! FOR THE HUNDREDTH TIME, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT! IT'S NOT DUMBLEDORE'S FAULT EITHER. I'M SURE NEITHER OF YOU WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN! IT WAS FATE! I KNOW HARRY! I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEE-"

"NO IT WASN'T FATE! I COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT FROM HAPPENING IF ONLY I WASN'T SO STUBBORN AND FORCED EVERYONE TO GO TO THE MINISTRY! AND DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU UNDERSTAND ME! NOBODY DOES! I HATE IT THAT EVERYONE SAYS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL AND TRY TO CONSOLE WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW RAT'S ARSE ABOUT MY EMOTIONS!"

Hermione had never remembered when she'd been this angry except for when she found out about the murderer of her "parents". And to think, all this anger was directed toward the last person she wanted to be angry at.

"SHUT UP HARRY!!! JUST BLODDY SHUT UP!" Harry immediately calmed down a bit and grew surprised at the fury and pain in her voice.

"I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING YOU MOPE AROUND AND BLAME YOURSELF FOR SIRIUS' DEATH! EVERYONE HAS BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT BUT YOU DON'T LISTEN BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO BUSY WALLOWING IN SELF MISERY AND IT'S SO BLOODY PATHETIC! DON'T YOU DARE THINK THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON HERE WHO'S SUFFERED BECAUSE BINGO! LOOK AROUND YOU! LOOK AT REMUS! LOOK AT MRS. WEASELY. LOOK AT MR. WEASLEY! LOOK AT TONKS! LOOK...AT...MEEEEE!!!"

And with that, Hermione stormed out of Harry's room and slammed the door. It was only a few minutes later when she was sulking in her own bedroom when she realized that by closing the door, she had just closed out everything she had once taken comfort in.