Disclaimer: I own nothing…
A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews! I think you guys might be a little happy that Liz is out of the picture… Would've seen that one coming? Well, here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy!
Harry passed out on the couch in an oblivious sleep mere minutes after sending Hedwig off with Hermione's letter. The first few hours of sleep were deep and pleasing, but after a while, the numb feeling left him and he was left with the usual nightmares. Sirius, his parents, Ron, Cedric, Liz telling him that he wasn't good enough, and various other people weaved in and out of his dreams. He awoke atleast a dozen times in the night, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
At about twelve in the afternoon, Harry awoke from a particularly horrid nightmare—the night of Ron's death—sweating and gasping for air, trying not to cry and completely forgetting that it was Monday. When he opened his brilliant green eyes, he found none other than Lexi standing a few feet away from him with her hands on her hips and looking at him with a half worried, half disturbed expression on her face and Hedwig on her perch near the door with a letter tied to her leg.
"Lexi?" Harry asked in confusion. What was Lexi doing in his living room first thing in the morning? Had they…
"Harry Potter," Lexi said in an annoyed voice, "Next time you decide not to show up to work, you'd better send an owl telling us!"
"What?" Harry asked, slightly hung-over from the night before.
"Don't play dumb with me, you know what I'm talking about. I had to cover for you! You would've gotten fired. What the heck is wrong with you? You don't just skip work and let anyone know! For all I knew, you were dead!" Lexi shrieked at him with her hands on her hips and her brows furrowed.
"Today's Monday?" Harry asked with a gasp.
"Of course today is Monday, you prat. It's the day that comes after Sunday!" Lexi said, looking at him as though he had sprouted another head. "What's gotten into you?"
And then all the memories of Sunday came rushing back to him. Alcohol could only keep them at bay for so long. Malfoy showing up at Liz's family home. Liz finding out about his family. Mrs. Blaze shrieking at him about Sirius. Harry leaving in anger. Liz coming back to his apartment and screaming at him, sounding betrayed.
"Harry?" Lexi asked with worry in her eyes.
Harry snapped out of his stupor.
"I'm fine, everything's fine," Harry said automatically.
"Um, ok," Lexi said in confusion. "If everything is ok, then why does your apartment smell like coffee and why didn't you take the letter from Hedwig yet?"
"I spilt coffee. Hedwig didn't wake me up when she came in," Harry said with a shrug of his shoulders. The last thing Lexi needed to know about was what happened with Liz.
"And for the last question, why didn't you show up at work today?" Lexi asked with raised eyebrows.
"I just got a little drunk last night and overslept. It's no big deal," Harry said, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice. It was a believable story.
"I thought you didn't drink?" Lexi asked, her big blue eyes boring into his own green ones.
"I don't," Harry snapped. He never drank. That's why he was so nauseous the next day. It was a shame he was so horrid at potions. Was he not, he could have made a potion to cure the hang-over, but he had been terrible at potions from that first day.
"Then why did you?" Lexi asked cockily.
"I didn't," Harry snapped, his head throbbing.
"You just told me that you did," Lexi snapped, looking at him as though he had just sprouted another head.
Harry slowly sat down on the couch with his head holding his throbbing head.
"Why does it matter?" Harry asked after a moment of silence. Just speaking was making his head hurt more.
"Why does it matter?" Lexi shrieked, throwing her hands in the air.
Harry flinched.
"It matters because you didn't show up for work and I had to cover for you," Lexi said, obviously having seen him flinch at the volume of her voice.
"I'm sorry," Harry said dejectedly.
"I know," Lexi said quietly, pausing for a moment. "But why were you drunk in the first place?"
Harry obviously wouldn't get away with not telling her.
"I broke up with Liz. Are you happy now?" Harry asked in a voice which came out sounding very spiteful.
"Oh—I'm sorry… I—I—I had no—" Lexi stuttered, obviously at a loss for words.
"It's fine," Harry said, slumping back in the couch and crossing his arms over his chest.
Lexi sighed and sat down on the arm of the chair.
"Really, I'm very sorry, I had no clue—" Lexi began again.
"I'm not really in the mood for sympathy right now," Harry said bitterly.
"Yeah, um, I guess I should get back to work now," Lexi said, looking around worriedly before apparating out of the building.
Harry sighed and stood up, walked across the room, and untied the letter from Hedwig's leg. As he untied it, he pet her gently.
As he had suspected, the letter was neatly addressed to him in Hermione's handwriting.
Dear Harry,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me! Things here are wonderful; Victor and I are having an amazing time. As for our conversation on my wedding day, I'm not very happy about it, but I can understand. I know you were just looking out for me because you didn't want me to get hurt. I'm truly sorry if I was rough with you.
I'm so sorry about Liz. I really can't even think of any words to express how sorry I am. What happened is a terrible thing. Please, don't be too hard on yourself about the breakup.
Best wishes,
Hermione
Harry sighed and placed the letter back on the end table nearby. Why did everyone insist on telling him they were sorry? It's not like it would change anything.
Harry picked up the letter, walked over to the desk in the kitchen, and found a quill, ink, a parchement.
Dear Hermione,
I'm glad that you and Victor are having a good time in Greece. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.
Harry
It wasn't long, but it was something.
Harry folded the letter and tied it to Hedwig's leg.
"Take this to Hermione for me, ok," Harry said, giving her a pat on the head before opening the window and letting her out.
Harry sighed and walked to the couch, collapsed on it and slept the afternoon away.
~~Well, I know it's short, but Lexi makes an appearance and I'm exhausted… So, that's all ur getting! Lol! Well, if you liked it, go REVIEW! I'm hoping for 123~~
Chiquita-3~ I'm glad I made you feel better! Don't worry, Harry is not an alcoholic…
Faith456~ Aww… That's so nice of you to say!
Lannei~ It had to happen eventually… Lol!
Dee Ann~ Interesting ideas…
Muse of the Stars~ LOL! Hope you didn't fall of the desk!
La Belle Dame Rose Sans Mercy~ Lol! I'd be writing it for the rest of my life if I went that route…
Queen of Zan~ LOL! I'm glad you were happy! I know, prejudice really is terrible…
Dracosprincipessa~ Thank you for giving me ur opinion on the topic! I was planning on going atleast until the wedding…
Sunlight704~ Yeah, you gotta hate her!