Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own any rights to Harry Potter, and if you thought so, you might need to get you head examined. But I own the one Quidditch player because I made them up .
( (Harry rolled his eyes as his Aunt and Uncle also climbed into the car, and after starting it, pulled out of the driveway a starting toward London. None of the Dursley's bothered to talk to Harry, or even look at him, and Harry was sure the mood wouldn't change much in the ride to London, how fun.) )
Chapter Two- HermioneHermione was sitting with Ron and Ginny outside of the ice cream shoppe in Diagon Alley, enjoying a delightful conversation over chocolate sundaes. In spite of the end of term fiasco, as well as all of last year, she could always count on summer to lift her spirits. It felt nice to relax for once, and she was determined to hold on to this care-free feeling until the start of term on September first. Maybe she'd still have the feeling after that, she was beginning to realize that life was too short to take too seriously, it was funny that she didn't seem to find that out before, with her friends and all.
"The Cannon's could have made it if Rockfell hadn't been injured mid-season." Ron argued, pointing his spoon at Ginny, who laughed.
"Maybe, but I still think Ireland should have beaten them at the scrimmage, they've got a better layout, the Cannon's only won by luck."
"The Cannon's don't NEED luck, they got that tie breaking goal at the last second on SKILL. Not Luck." Ron huffed, taking another spoonful of his sundae.
Hermione was the first to spot Harry coming down the alley. She practically jumped for joy, waving, before she saw the mile long scowl on his face, and he jump of joy shriveled to a mere twitch. She cleared her throat. "Hi Harry. We saved you a seat." She greeted after re summoning her optimistic summer spirit, that was beginning to disappear. She pulled out the seat between her and Ginny, and he sat down.
"Hey, Mate, why the long face?" asked Ron, his spoon halfway to his mouth, forgotten once he saw the look on Harry's face as well.
"Nothing." Repiled Harry shortly, as a waitress came over to take his order. "I'll have what they're having." He told her before she even had a chance to give him a menu. She returned with a chocolate sundae, which he only stirred absently, glaring at the white wicker metal table. No one spoke for a moment, Hermione pretended to be interested in her ice cream, when actually she had lost her appetite. She now a had a sinking feeling in her gut, she felt sick. He optimism and free spirit had melted, but suddenly a flame erupted in her, she wasn't going to sit by and let Harry's bad mood ruin everything. Not anymore.
"Let's go for a walk," She ordered, standing up from the table and dragging him along behind her, leaving behind their ice creams, and two bewildered red headed teenagers. She kept pulling him along until they were out of sight of Ron and Ginny. "Now," She said, jostling him a little rough than she intended, but she was angry. "You have three seconds to tell me what exactly is going on."
"I told you, nothing." Harry argued, his temper flaring as well.
"No, it isn't nothing, because you're acting like you have a blast ended skrewt up you arse. From the moment I laid on eyes on you today, you've been in a surly mood, and I won't have it. So, talk." She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him. Harry cowered slightly, he hadn't seen Hermione this angry before, at least when it concerned him.
"I don't know. Everything? After what's happened, Hermione, YOU tell me why I'm upset."
"Oh, don't pull that. We all knew Sirius, he meant a lot to ALL of us, not just you. I know that you and he were close and everything, but it doesn't give you the right to take it out on your friends before they even say hello, after not seeing you all summer."
"That's exactly it! I thought we were going to get together this summer, you know, like friends do?!?!? I'm been cooped up in the Dursley's house all summer, it enough to drive anyone insane!"
"Well, if THAT'S what all of this is about Harry, I have to say, I'm a bit ashamed. There hasn't been much we could do about it, I haven't seen them at all this summer either, and you don't see me running around like the whole world is out to get me. I beg you, get over your pity party and snap back to reality. It's been hard, on all of us, you just have to learn not to give in.You don't want to alienate your friends at the time when you most need them, Harry." She replied simply, turning and walking back toward the ice cream shoppe. She sat back down in her seat, returning to her half melted ice cream, shaking her head slightly at Ron and Ginny, who were both about to open their mouths to protest. A minute later Harry returned to the table, in a little bit higher spirits, taking up his spoon and eatting his ice cream after a look from Hermione.
(AN: OUCH! And so it starts. Just to show how much things have changed. Not drastically yet, but its to show just how they're beginning to drift. Tell me what you think! .)
End Chapter Two