9.
Interlude; friends
HARRY: Might we ask?
HERMIONE: Ask what?
RON : Oh come on, you're not fooling us, not after this long. What's the matter?
HERMIONE: Nothing, of course. What's the matter with you?
HARRY: Guess we miss you.
HERMIONE: Hmmph.
RON: No really. You haven't been out to the Burrow since Dad's birthday. You apparate into the Order meetings then leave in a rush. You stay in your flat...
HARRY: Yeah, It's almost like you have a secret.You working on a new potion, or have you maybe...got company. If you know what I mean.
HERMIONE: Harry Potter, you know perfectly well that I do not keep secrets from the two of you. and I never have company. Of any sort.
HARRY: Yeah, that's your problem.
HERMIONE: What?
HARRY: Nothing, I was just agreeing with you...
RON: So you are just practicing to become a hermit then?
HERMIONE: I just enjoy my solitude sometimes.
HARRY: For three months?
RON: C'mon Hermione...why don't you come out with us for awhile?
HARRY: Yeah, that would be great.
HERMIONE: Out where, exactly?
HARRY: Uhh...I don't know...maybe someplace to get a drink? Meet some people?"
RON: Right...that would be brilliant. You haven't gone with us for ages...!"
HERMIONE: Imagine. Well, I do think it is sweet of you both to offer...even though it has been four years since you remembered to ask, but I think I'll decline.
HARRY: Come on Hermione, come out with us, have a drink. It would relax you to get drunk you know...cheer you right up.
RON: Right..then I'll give you a ride on my broomstick.
HERMIONE: What?
HARRY: He didn't mean it that way!
RON: NO...I didn't...
HERMIONE: Well, the answer is still no. Nothing personal, I just don't need any cheering up. I promise. Or relaxing...
RON: But Hermione...
HERMIONE: Ron...I'm warning you...
HARRY: Okay Hermione...don't lose your temper.
HERMIONE: I never lose my temper.
RON: HAH!
HARRY: We'll leave you alone this time...but I still think you need to relax. One day...we just might decide to help you...
RON: That's right, 'Mione, we could really help you, you know. And one day...we might.
HERMIONE: Thank you.
HARRY: For what?
HERMIONE: For caring. I do appreciate it.
RON: Uh-oh,she has gone nice...that means the conversation is at a close.
HARRY: That it is. Well, if you never need to talk Hermione...you know where I am.
RON: Me too.
HERMIONE: If I ever need to talk, I'll keep that in mind.
They parted in good humor...Harry and Ron had still not gotten her to confess her feelings, nor had they found out why she had been in such a gloomy mood lately. Or why Lupin had been as well. Had they quarreled? Was the bet off, because of some unknown event that transpired between the two? They were none the wiser as they left...but they had gotten Hermione to smile, something she rarely did anymore. She had also forgiven them for trying to trespass across her privacy, which was amazing...a triumph in itself. She hadn't been that secretive since the time-turner episode in her third year.
Hermione was amused at their attempts to cheer her. She felt sorry that she could not ease their minds, but there was no way she was going to reveal the true cause of her gloom.
She had only just admitted to herself what the true cause of her gloom was. It was embarrassing to have to admit, even to herself, what the cause of her suffering was...after she had ignored it for so long. So ,she only admitted it occasionally. And then she did not always believe it. But she knew what she had.
She had, what some would crudely call a ' crush'. She preferred to call it a fascination, as ' crush' sounded so juvenile. Regardless of it's name, it hurt, like bloody hell. It made her want to laugh and cry simultaneously...She wanted Lupin. Since the moment she had seen that blonde woman in the shop flirting so out-rightly with him...but she also wanted to not want him. Because that would be easier. She was confused, frustrated, and just the tiniest bit scared. And for the first time in her life...Hermione Granger was absolutely clueless as to how to handle a situation...
And in a situation like that, there was only one person a girl or woman could go to for advice...As soon as Harry and Ron were gone, Hermione picked up the telephone, and, taking a deep breath, she dialed the most important phone number in the world...