Harry and Hermione: A Coincidental Love
Chapter 7: The Letter
Hermione's POV
I slowly opened the letter, almost afraid of what I was about to read. I stopped halfway in opening it and looked up at Fred and George. "Did you guys read it?" I asked, curiously. I wouldn't be surprised if they did, and that would give me a reason to be mad and storm away, leaving the letter, and maybe being able to forget about it for a while. "No," they both stated solemnly. I nodded and opened up the letter, looking down at the nice, neat handwriting that either wasn't Ron's or had taken him hours and hours to do.
Dear Hermione,
I think that it is time that I tell you something, something that has weighed on my heart for a long time. I hate to have to say this to you, especially through a letter. You see... I think I am in love. My heart feels as light as feather, I get nervous and I can't get mad when I am around her. She is the girl of my dreams. I used to think it was you I truly loved. But, somehow I think we will be better off as just friends. I still love you, but somehow, it feels like the same kind of love I have for Ginny. It seems sudden, I know, especially since we have been going together for a few years. I even know we were thinking about marriage at one point. I just don't think we should be together, however. It doesn't feel... right. The sparks, the love, the magic, it is just gone. I want you to know that no matter what; I will always be there for you. I will always care for you. I will always be your friend, one of your closest. As you read this, Luna Lovegood will be reading a letter as well, except her letter will be a little different, since I am finally confessing my love to her as well. The love I truly feel towards her, and you. I wish you only the best in your life, and I hope that you find the right man, and live happily ever after. Everyone used to think that you would with me, but, well, obviously, I am not the right man for you. Go out there and find your true Knight in Shining Armor--one who can love you with more than just a brotherly love.
Your friend,
Ron
Weasly
I let the letter float down to the ground. "My god... he was going to break up with me anyways. I feel wonderful. I loved him, and he acted like he loved me. Perfect. I was a distraction from Luna." I said bitterly, wiping away the tears that were forming in my eyes. George or Fred picked up the letter, and read through it. "Hermione, this is actually a perfect reason for you not to be as upset about Harry. If Ron were still alive, you would probably go out with someone else, anyways. Harry is as good a choice as any," said the one without the letter nodding. "Yes, but how do I know now that Harry doesn't love me with a brotherly love as Ron does?" I shouted. I ran out the room, trying to get away from the letter, my thoughts, the world, and the memories of Ron. It had to stop.
I don't know why I was running exactly, or where to at first. I then realized I was running back to the place Harry and me went to. It seemed odd, that I went there only twice with him and subconsciously I was running off to it. I let my feet dangle off the cliff. It was dark out, but surprisingly, no one had seen me run out of the castle and into the night. I heard a rustling noise behind me, but didn't pay much attention to it. "Mudblood. Didn't think you would go out here unprotected, or at least without Potter." Drawled the voice of Draco Malfoy.
I turned around to see him smirking. He was alone; he seemed to be alone for a while now. WHY he didn't have his cronies with him constantly anymore, I didn't even want to know. All I knew was that he was coming to me with a malicious grin; the grin that made me realize something was about to happen—something bad. He grabbed my wrists and threw me hard against the ground. I got up on my feet and got ready to punch him when he kneed me in the shin. I bent down in pain, which a mistake. He hit me hard the stomach, knocking the wind out of me. I fell to the ground, knowing I was going to be bruised. I was on the ground now, and I was weak.
He pinned me to the ground and leaned down to whisper in my ear," You took my father from me. Now I have the right to take something from you. And I have always wanted to tear the virginity from someone." I cringed. He was going to rape me. And I was vulnerable to his attack. I began to cry, something I noticed myself doing so often nowadays. He ripped off my shirt, and I gasped at how cold it was outside. I shivered, and he just laughed. He kissed me, biting my lip so hard that it began to bleed. He pushed me harder to the ground, and I thought all hope was lost.
"MALFOY! GET YOUR ASS OFF OF HERMIONE!" Screamed a very irritated Harry. I looked up to see his face as red as Ron's got, and he pulled Draco off of me by his hair. Malfoy yelped in pain, and Harry pointed his wand to Draco's neck. I knew he was going to say Avada Kedarvra, the Killing Curse, until he dropped him, and kicked him over a rock. "Touch her again, and I will kill you. Make no mistake of that."
Harry picked up my torn shirt and gave it to me. I wrapped it around me as best as I could, to help warm me up a little. I looked at him and said, "Harry… thank you. SO much." I began to cry, and I threw my arms around his neck. He looked surprised at first, but then he put his arms lovingly around me and whispered, "I am just glad he didn't hurt you. Why in the world did you come out here, anyways?"
I explained about the letter, and about running out here. He just nodded through the story, and said, "I am sorry about all of this." "You didn't do anything, Harry. Unless you knew of course." I said. He shook his head. "The problem is, I SHOULD have known something about it. There were a few signs about Ron maybe liking Luna, but I guess I was oblivious to them. I wanted you and him to be together, and maybe she knew, but didn't know how to confront you. I should have paid more attention, I could have STOPPED this!" He hit his head against a rock.
"C'mon Harry. I expect it is about 12. We had better just go the Common Room." I said. He nodded and picked up the Invisibility Cloak off the ground, something I didn't notice he had before. We walked silently up to the Common Room, avoiding all of the teachers and students on our way. We finally got there after almost thirty minutes of travel. "Night." I whispered to Harry when we got into the Common Room. "Night." He replied. I walked up to the Girl's Dormitory, thinking of one thing: The rage that was apparent on Harry's face earlier. Why did he care more now than before, in the years before now?
Harry's POV
If Draco ever pulls something like that on Hermione again… I will kill him. I thought over and over again, not being able to sleep. Thoughts kept racing back and forth through my mind as soon as I put my head on my pillow, and I couldn't get them to stop. They were all revolved around Hermione, and the note, and Ron, and Ginny, and my life in general. I never thought about Ginny this much when we went out… Maybe there is something more between Hermione and me? Wait, no, that is impossible. I loved Ginny more than I had any other person in the world. Except Hermione, said a voice in my head. What the bloody hell! Don't worry. I am… Hmm… Your conscience. Yes, that is it. I am telling you some of the deeper thoughts inside your head. I will be until you don't need me anymore. Go away. I don't need a crackpot voice of mine telling me what to do. It makes me think I am crazy. I won't be long, I promise. Just tonight, if you really are the smart boy everyone makes you out to be. FINE! I still can't help but think I am crazy, though. All sane people think like that at first. Gee, thanks.
So... What are you here to tell me about? Hermione. You love her. No, we are just good friends. Uh-huh, right. NO, I really believe you! Trust me, you love her. No. I don't. It would be like betraying Ron and Ginny's spirit. In case you haven't noticed, it isn't a rule you can't love someone who was your dead best friend's girlfriend. Deep down inside, you know you love her, Harry. Go away. You'll never sleep until you agree with me. You'll never rest. You just get seemingly crazier and crazier, until POP you just kill yourself. I hate you. Would you rather live a life of loneliness or a life of happiness with the one you love? I don't know anymore. Here, let me help you.
FLASHBACK 1
Suddenly, I was outside on Christmas of our 3rd year. Hermione and I were outside, while Ron was stuck inside doing detention. "Harry, you have got to study for these tests," said Hermione. "I understand it. It is Christmas break, let's just have fun while we can," I said—me from the past, not I presently. "Oh, Harry," said Hermione as she shook her head. Suddenly, she had a grin on her face, and looked down at the snow on the ground. She picked up a handful of it and began to chuck it at me. "How's this for fun?" I laughed, and we kept throwing snowballs at each other, still walking along. We tripped over a log, and tumbled to the ground together. I ended up rolling on top of her, in a compromising position. I got up quickly, and I was keeping Hermione from seeing me blush. I remember feeling a pang of well, a pleasant-nervous feeling. I smirked at the scene as we changed places.
FLASHBACK 2
This time, it was spring of our 2nd year. Ron was inside, doing a make-up Charms test, one that Hermione and me both passed with flying colors, thanks to an all-night study session. We were just walking along, talking about Ron's test, when Draco came up and began taunting Hermione. I threw him into the lake for calling her a Mudblood, something that got me a detention, but he got off scot-free, since Snape was the one who found out about it. I remember how mad I got at him, and I remember feeling like I wanted to kill him, though it was miniscule to how I felt tonight.
FLASHBACK 3
It was the Yule Ball this time. Hermione looked perfect in her dress, and her hair looked great. I remember avoiding her eyes just to make sure she didn't notice me staring at her. I just remember thinking about her while I was talking, eating, everything. I regretted not asking her out, something I had secretly wanted to do. I was a little flushed when I saw her with Krum, but Ron was worse. I suppose he was just used to the idea of Hermione being his that he got mad whenever he saw her with another girl.
Back to the Present
I was back in my room, lying on my bed. How did you do that? I accessed your memories. A lot of them were easy to find. Does this give you any proof that you love her? Well, maybe a little. Aha! A break through! Shut up. Ooh.. Testy today, Harry? It isn't right, me liking—loving the girl that went out with my dead best friend. A lot of things in the world aren't right. You just have to get used to going with your feelings. I still don't feel right. You won't feel right until you tell her you love her, express your feelings to her, and you have her in your arms. I suppose you are right. Yes, you are right. I love her, and there is no stopping that. The only thing I can do is go with it. Very good, Harry. Now, I can leave you. But, if you don't do what I told you, I will nag you until the day you die. Fine, I get it, just leave so I don't think I am crazy. Oh, if it helps, tons of brilliant people have voices inside their heads. Don't worry too much about it. Bye. Bye. I replied, and then slapped myself for actually saying bye to him.
I laid my head down against the pillow, still thinking about Hermione. Now the thoughts were stronger, and more revolved around her. I still couldn't sleep, though. "I'll just read for a while, that makes me sleepy," I said. I didn't know what exactly I was going to read, but it would be something. Reading for a while always put me to sleep, especially if it was a book about history. "Yes, my history book will do," I said decisively. I walked downstairs, and I grabbed my history book out of my bag. I flopped down on my favorite couch, and began to read. Within about five minutes' time, I fell asleep there on the couch, reading about the Giant Wars.