Title: Somebody Out There (12/15)
Author: silverphoenix
Rating: T
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summary: In the middle of a war, there are going to be casualties. This is inevitable. When two people lose their friends, they come to realise that death is not the end of happiness.


SOMEBODY OUT THERE
Part Twelve: When It All Falls Down

"What do you want me to say? Do you want me to comfort you, because I don't know how."

Hermione looked tearfully at Harry. "I know," she whispered. "I just needed to get out of there - I can't face him after…"

"After what you did?" Harry was ashamed of the shrillness in his voice. "You kissed him. Am I supposed to tell you that you shouldn't have?"

"Lie to me," she begged. "Tell me anything."

Harry beckoned her over, and she crawled into his arms, head on his shoulder. "He's a bastard. He's the worst thing that has ever happened to you." He paused. "Is this the right sort of thing?" She nodded meekly.

"Blaise is an idiot, he's vain, selfish and when he looks in your eyes he doesn't see his heaven. He doesn't love you." There was silence; it weighed heavily on Harry. "I can't do this, Hermione."

She looked up at him, eyes wet. "I know," she said quietly.

"I admit he's not my favourite wizard, but… he's yours, Hermione. You have his heart, and you're lucky to have him."

Hermione fiddled with a lock of her hair, twisting it around her finger. "You know I have to walk away."

"From this? Pretend you never kissed him?"

"One spell and he'd never know…"

"But you would," Harry said harshly. "God, Hermione, you…"

"No." Her tone was sharp. "Don't try to stop me and save me from myself - you've done enough of that in my life already." She took a ragged breath. "Even if something did happen between me and Blaise, when it all falls down I'll be in worse shape than ever. That's when I'd want you to save me from myself, Harry. Not now."

"Who says it'll fall down? Who says that you and Blaise can't have your happily ever after? You have the foundation for an amazing relationship - anyone can see that."

"Because it all falls down eventually, Harry." She wiped a tear from her eye saying, "No matter how good the foundations are, it falls down eventually."

He studied her carefully. "I thought I was supposed to be the pessimistic one," he told her.

"No," she replied, "that was Ron." She fell silent and Harry understood.

"That's it, isn't it?" he asked. "You don't want to admit your feelings for Blaise because of what happened to Ron."

"Don't," she warned.

"No," he continued. "You and Ron admitted how you felt about each other, and then he died. You're scared that that'll happen to Blaise."

"Stop it."

"I won't. You need to stop being so obtuse - telling someone your feelings isn't going to get them killed."

"It's not like that!" she protested fiercely, moving away from him.

"I think it is," Harry said, grabbing her arm.

"I ruined one friendship tonight," she warned. "Don't make me lose another one."

"That man is in love with you," Harry hissed threateningly. "I don't know why, but he is. You have to face that."