Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I do not own the places. I don't own anything J.K Rowling thought up, all I own is the plot.
Chapter eight: Snow
"Harry? Are you in there?"
An angry grunt told him he was.
"I'm coming in, okay?"
He pushed through the door and found Harry sitting on the ground, his back leaning against his bed. Ron sat down and looked at him.
"Harry…"
"She's got the wrong idea, Ron. She thinks me and Parvati…but it's not true! She saw Parvati hugging me, but that was because Parvati was so upset about last night. She thought Hermione was angry with her because of the Ball. And she just needed someone to talk to."
"I know what she saw. She told me." Ron said calmly.
Harry's head snapped up.
"What?" he asked icily.
"Hermione came to me. She was crying because of that hug, Harry. She thinks you don't love her anymore."
"So she came to you for comfort! And you didn't mind, did you? You thought this was your chance?"
Ron looked at him confused. "I have no idea what you mean. All I know is that she is hurt. She saw you two hugging and kissing. I know the kiss wasn't your fault, Harry, but you should've stayed away from Parvati for a while. For Hermione's sake."
Harry snapped up. "Who's side are you on? You're supposed to be my friend! But you chose her side! Some friend you are."
Now Ron jumped to his feet too. "You're crazy! I don't fancy Hermione, she's my friend! And I'm not on anyone's side, I just want you two to get back together because living in between you two like this is hell!"
"Sure, whatever Ron. But she ran to you for help. So why don't you just go back over there and take care of her again. I'm sure you'd do nothing more gladly!" Harry spat.
Ron was ready to pull his hair from his head. "For the last time, I don't fancy her! If I did then why would I have a date with Lavender?"
He groaned and closed his eyes, tilting his head backwards. He wasn't supposed to tell anyone, not yet. But Harry shook his head.
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"Fine, be that way! If you don't want to believe me, then fine. But just go and talk to Hermione for Merlin's sake! She loves you!"
He turned around and stormed out of the dormitory. Why would he never stop being such an idiotic stubborn git?
-
Hermione was crying intro her sleeve. She had come down to the library to do some work. But as she looked around her, it seemed that Hogwarts was suddenly drowning in happy couples. Everyone seemed to be with someone.
She had seen Harry around, of course. But he hadn't spoken to her in weeks. And Ron…she didn't know what to think of Ron. Every time she approached him to talk to him, he'd either make up and excuse not to talk to her or kept glancing over his shoulder in case Harry would come in.
The only time he had spoken to her briefly was yesterday evening in the common room. It had been empty except for them. But when she had confronted him with the fact that both he and Harry were avoiding her, he just looked away.
'I'm sorry Hermione. It's not that easy for any of us. You love Harry and he loves you. But neither of you has the courage to go up and talk to the other. And both of you take it out on me!'
She still remembered every word he had said.
She looked out the window. Autumn was definitely coming to an end. The trees were no longer carrying their leaves and in the mornings little frost crystals covered the windows. It looked so romantic, the couples walking hand in hand. She imagined Harry and herself walking like that. A few weeks ago it could've happened. But now it was as likely as Draco Malfoy becoming a Gryffindor.
She sighed and nearly started to cry again. She didn't need to look up when someone sat down beside her. Only Lavender and Neville talked to her now, and Lavender was busy with Ron most of the time
"…You can't keep this up, Hermione."
"Oh Neville, you know I'd do anything to get back with Harry. I love him so much. But he doesn't talk to me. No one does anymore."
She leaned against his shoulder and sobbed softly. He sighed and hugged her.
"I know, I know. But I'm serious. You don't go outside, you only come down for meals and classes and you don't even spend your evenings reading in the common room anymore. It's not healthy."
He let go of her and stood up.
"Come on." He said as he pulled her up from her chair. "I'm taking you for a walk. You need some fresh air, to bring a bit of colour back to your cheeks. You look like a ghost, you know."
She grinned through her teary expression. "You're right. I need some fresh air."
She pulled out her wand and summoned her cloak and scarf. Neville muttered the same spell, but only his cloak answered his call.
"I still don't have the hand of that spell." He said apologetically.
But Hermione smiled. "It's just a matter of concentration. You'll get the hang of it sooner or later."
He nodded. "Especially if you'll teach me."
She looked at him as he took her arm and lead her outside. "I? Teach?"
"Yeah! You're a great teacher, Hermione. I really made some progress thanks to you. And then you stopped…"
"I- I just wasn't up to it."
"I understand. But maybe teaching will be good for us both. I'll get a chance to improve and you'll be able to get your mind off things."
She looked away. The sun was bright, nearly blinding her. The wind was chilly and sent a shiver up her spine. She looked at the other people who were walking by. Everyone looked so happy. She wished to be one of them.
"Well, isn't this a sweet picture. I thought you two would end up together. The mudblood and the squib."
Hermoine sighed. Would he never stop this useless taunting?
"Listen Malfoy, wasn't breaking your nose once enough?" she said as she turned around to face him. "Do I have to do it again?"
"As if you could." He sneered. "That was just a lucky punch. Just as lucky as the fact that you didn't land your sorry little butt in detention."
"A lucky punch?" she laughed heartily.
Looking at the band-aid that covered his nose, she decided to put him straight.
"You don't have to worry about me breaking your nose…" she said, walking over to him and turning her voice softer.
"You know…" she said.
As she ran her finger up his neck, she could see him swallowing difficultly. She brought her face close to his ear. "You know…from up close…you still look the same old stuck up git you've always been."
Swiftly she pulled her knee up, kicking him where it hurt most. Malfoy groaned and fell to his knees, his hands reaching down and his face screwed up in agony.
"Stop bothering me if you ever want kids." She spat.
She turned around and left Malfoy to call for help. Neville stared at her, his jaw practically hitting the ground.
"Her- Hermione…" he gasped. "That's really…no one deserves that."
She shrugged. "He does."
She walked on and didn't look back. Malfoy would probably go to Snape to complain. And if he did, she'd probably get detention. But it had been worth seeing Malfoy moaning on the ground, on the verge of crying.
Neville caught up with her. "You scare me sometimes Hermione. You're not going to do that to me, are you?"
"Don't worry." She laughed. "I only do that to those who deserve it."
"Harry'd better stay out of your way then." He muttered darkly.
Hermione didn't hear him. Instead she looked up at the sky.
"Neville…look!"
Up there, snowflakes started falling down. She smiled and started to spin around in circles, her arms stretched out.
"It's snowing!" she skipped over to Neville and hugged him. "It's winter!"
"It's winter…" he repeated as he looked into her eyes.
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, swallowing difficultly and not breaking eye contact. She pushed him away and stepped back.
"Hermione, I'm sorry. I-"
"…No, don't you start as well. We're friends, okay? Forget about it."
He nodded subdued.
She started to walk up to the castle again and he followed her after a slight hesitation.
"Will you still teach me?" he asked carefully.
She nodded slowly. "Yes. But only if you promise me you'll never do that again."
He stuck out his hand. "Deal."
She shook it and started to laugh. He looked relieved and joined her laughter.
She pointed at the castle. "I'll race you."
"You'll never beat me. You know I'm faster." He said as he stretched his leg.
She smiled deviously. 'Yeah, maybe. But I'm the one with a head-start. Bye!"
"Hey, not fair! Come back here!"
-
Harry was sitting in a chair, looking out the window. He wondered how long this no-talking-with-Hermione torment would go on. He missed her he saw her sometimes, in a classroom or at the House table. But she'd never look at him. And he couldn't help noticing that she had stopped coming down to the Great Hall for lunch.
Normally she just sneaked in, took a sandwich and left again. At breakfast she would be up even before the teachers, making sure she was alone. And at dinnertime she sat with Ginny and Neville at the other end of the table.
Sometimes she looked at him. But when he looked back at her and smiled, she'd look away. He looked outside again.
And now that the grounds were covered in a thick layer of snow he realised how long this had been going on.
The portrait hole swung open and Ron and Lavender came in, looking rather happy. They joined him at the window.
"Hey Harry." Ron said. "Have you talked to her yet?"
He shook his head. "She doesn't want me near her."
"But have you tried to? She's hoping you'll talk to her." Lavender said as she leaned against Ron, who put his arm around her shoulder.
"I try…but she just turns her head. She can't even smile at me anymore." Harry sighed. "It's useless."
"No it's not!" Ron said fiercely. "You go up and talk to her, tomorrow. Corner her if you have to. Just do it. You have to, before she leaves for Christmas."
Harry looked up. "She's leaving?"
"Haven't you seen the list? It's on the message board. Hermione signed to go home." Lavender said as she started to eat a piece of Christmas fudge.
"But she's never- she always stays, doesn't she?"
"Almost always." Ron muttered.
"Listen, I'm going up to bed. I'm tired. Try and get him to talk to her." Lavender whispered in Ron's ear before kissing him. "Goodnight. Goodnight Harry."
It was silent until the door to the girls' dormitory closed again.
"You have to. Please? Make peace, be friends again."
Harry nodded vaguely. "…You're right. But I don't feel ready to face her…"
"Well you'd better make yourself ready then. Because if you don't, I'll hex you. Now go and sign the list to stay here. I am. And so is Lavender."
Harry dutifully got up and signed the list. When he sat back down gain, Ron had his eyes closed, though he wasn't asleep.
"I saw Parvati signed up to leave as well. That's good."
Ron nodded. "Definitely. Can you imagine what Hermione would think if both of you stayed?
Harry shook his head. "How did I get into this mess?"
"Three words. Parvati drank alcohol. That's how. But I'll leave you to ponder that on your own. I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."
Harry nodded again. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
Ron got to his feet and walked up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Before he opened the door, he turned back. "And you'd better prepare what you're going to say to her. Because it needs to be thought about. You know how girls are, one word can make all the difference."
AN: Ack! Sorry it took me this long guys! I had a few things on my mind and a load of school stuff to take care of. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Dark Angel's Blue Fire: I'm not telling you anything :P not because I don't like you, but because I'm not going to give away anything of what has yet to come. It's obvious that Neville likes Hermione, that's true. But I'm not going to tell you any more. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise
Emma Barrows: I'm really glad you like this story! And I want to thank you for reviewing 'Words that we couldn't say' as well. Oh, btw, I recommended you to one of my friends and she really loves your stories! I'll check out your updates really soon!
Magic and Sparkle: Well….Neville rather likes Hermione for himself…not for Ron. And Ron's got Lavender now. I never really set out to pair them up in this story, but it kinda just happened along the way. Anyway, glad you like it
I'll update a bit sooner this time. But You'll have to wait till Saturday though, because I'm in the school orchestra and we have this theatre production with the school's acting group called Julius Caesar and we've got three performances, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So I'll be a bit busy this week . Hope you all can hold out till then.