Hogwarts Online
Chapter Three: He's My Best Friend

"Hermione! Hermione, stop!" Ginny shrieked over the dull roar of the busy common room.

"What is it Gin? I'm really hungry, it would be nice to get some breakfast." Hermione stated, slowing down so the younger girl could catch up.

"Hermione, I have to talk to you."

"About...?"

"Harry."

"What about Harry?"

Ginny thought for a minute, choosing her words carefully. "How do you...feel...about him?"

"He's...nice...?"

"No! I mean feel."

"Where are you going about- oh no, Gin, you have got to be kidding me!"

"Do you like him?" Ginny changed tactics, might as well be blunt.

"He's my friend."

"Is he anything...more?"

"He's my best friend."

"Oh." Ginny sagged, she didn't want to be the one to tell Harry.

"Why a sudden interest in my relationship with Harry?" Hermione asked, then suddenly froze, "Ginny...he doesn't like me does he?"

"Uhh...no?" Ginny said, but Hermione didn't bother believing her. Ginny was a patheticly horrid liar.

"Oh, my god...He does? That's...new..." Ginny nodded nervously in reply.

"Oh no." Hermione said sadly, before bolting off to the great hall, to find Harry.

"Hermione, wait!" She heard Ginny calling behind her.

"I have to talk to him!" the bushy haired bookworm called over her shoulder.

It didn't take long to spot her two best friends, she strode over to them confidently, "Harry, we have to talk."

"Wow." Ron said, "Thats how every one of my girlfriends broke it off with me."

"You act like there was more than one Ronald." Hermione snapped, before turning back to Harry, "Can we talk, Harry? Alone?"

Harry nodded and followed Hermione to the hallway.

"Something wrong, Herms?" he asked cautiously. Hermione had started pacing.

Hermione stopped abruptly, and turned to him, "Ginny and I had the most interesting conversation earlier."

Harry paled considerably, but otherwise kept calm, "Oh? What was it about?"

"You." Hermione sighed, "She says you like me- as more than just a friend."

"You are my best friend, Hermione."

"I mean...like you would want to date me. Harry, is that true?"

"Yes." Harry took a deep breath and braced himself, as if he were about to plunge into an icy ocean.

Hermione seemed to be pacing around Harry, making him even more nervous then before.

"Listen, Harry, I ..." She couldn't think of what to say. 'I like you, but I like someone else?' 'It's not you, it's me?' 'I want us to just be friends?' "I...think that a relationship would...confuse our friendship, and if anything happened to that, I...it'd be awful... I'm really sorry..."

Harry's face fell for only a moment before he was able to mask his confused emotions, "Oh...you're right, Hermione. It's fine."

Hermione's face, however, did not hide her confusion. Wasn't he upset? "We should get back to the, uh, breakfast...thing..."

Harry cracked a smile, "Breakfast thing? Oh indeed, we should get back, they might send a search party for the boy-who-lived and the daring bookworm."

Hermione laughed nervously, wondering how he could so quickly switch emotions, wondering how he could act like their previous conversation never happened.

She nodded nevertheless and they walked back into the Great Hall.

After a nervous and awkward breakfast, Hermione saw there was still some time left before class. Excusing herself, she walked quickly to the library and signed in, as always, sending James a quick e-mail.

Hey, James. I don't know if you're on now, but I just figured since there was time before class, I could talk to you. The strangest thing just happened... My friend asked me out. I...I still can't believe it. I never would have guessed he liked me. It's...strange. Anyway, I'll talk to you later. Bye

- Jane

Surprisingly, she got a reply quickly.

Jane,

Sounds like we're in the same boat...well sort of, I just asked my friend out, the one I told you about...she turned me down. Tell me what happened.

James

James,

Well a friend of mine told me he liked me so I confronted him, and...well it didn't go well, I have a feeling things will be awkward between us for awhile.

Jane

Jane,

Oh...I'm sorry. You...turned him down? Or said yes? Am I prodding into your personal business? If I am, ignore the questions.

James

Hermione smiled. Did he really care?

James,

No, you're not prodding. Yes, I turned him down. Only because... actually, I'm not even sure. He's very handsome, and very nice and sweet, but everytime I find myself falling for him I feel oddly... guilty. I mean, I don't know. I think I'm falling for someone else.

Jane

Jane,

Someone else? I'm sure he'd give his right arm to date you, you shouldn't have any trouble. I'm sure your friend will get over the turn down, I'm sure he values your friendship very much.

James

PS: I sound like a parent don't I?

Hermione smiled even bigger.

Authors Note: Hello, this is Maggy. The co-writer of the story (Liz and I are writing this together), I just want to say on behalf of Liz and myself: Thank you for all the reviews.