The Contract
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in anyway, shape, or form (though I wish I did because J. K. Rowling has to be one of the richest people in the world by now).
Special Thanks to: Everyone! I really enjoyed reading your review(s)
Chapter 18
Hermione stared at the fire as the papers quickly turned to ashes. She turned back to Oliver to see him smiling at her, his face almost as pained as hers.
"See," he said clearing his throat. "See there? You're free. Now you can go get your boyfriend." Hermione frowned as she felt her tears building up. She took a deep breath to calm herself. She wasn't going to cry. Not in front of him.
"Oliver, let me explain-"
"Explain what?" Oliver asked her blandly. "There's nothing to explain."
"Oliver-"
"Hermione, there's really no need. We don't owe each other-"
"Shut up, you egotistical, hardheaded wanker!" Hermione shouted suddenly. She'd lost her temper trying to explain to him what he'd seen in the library. He was just being so annoying. "I don't want Malfoy! I don't like him that way." Oliver just stared at her, his eyes and face void of any emotion.
"So what?" he asked. "You changed you mind and now you want me instead?" Hermione threw him a disgusted look.
"Of course not."
"Good 'cause that's not how it works," he told her angrily he stood.
"Oliver Wood, you are the most idiotic person I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with!" Hermione shouted at him. "I've been trying to tell you that there's nothing going on between me and Malfoy! What has gotten into you?" Oliver shrugged.
"I've just realized that us being together doesn't work for me. I'm young, I'm cute, and I've got a fan club. I've got too much going on to give it all up now." Hermione shook her head at Wood.
"If you want to go back to the way you were," she gritted through her teeth. "Then go ahead. I want nothing to do with you. I can't even believe that I started to fall for you." Hermione looked away from Wood and entirely missed his look of shock. She turned back to him and her icy eyes cooled off any thoughts of the heated reconciliation Wood was envisioning.
"I hate you," Hermione told him coolly. "And I would appreciate it if you never spoke to me again." She brushed past Wood and stalked into her dormitory.
"I…am such…an idiot!" Wood whispered as he watched her leave.
"We agree," came two voices from the doorway of the fat lady's portrait. Wood whipped around and saw a stormy looking Fred and George entering the common room. Their expressions suggested that they were not happy with Wood and he couldn't blame them.
"Wood," Fred said in an obviously controlled voice. "What the hell-" George held up a hand and cut Fred off.
"Wait Fred," he told his brother. Without warning he turned and punched Oliver in the jaw. Oliver reeled from the contact, but pushed the angry knot in his belly away by telling himself he deserved it.
"You deserved that," Fred said honestly before turning to George. "Good one."
"Thank you," George said glaring at Wood. "Now you may continue."
"Right then," Fred said turning back to Oliver who was rubbing his sore jaw. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I don't know," Oliver admitted dejectedly. "I saw her kissing Malfoy and I just…snapped I guess." George shook his head.
"Dude, that's no excuse. If you even knew half of what we know about Hermione, then you'd know that she is obviously crazy about you."
"Yeah, well," Oliver grumbled. "How was I supposed to know?"
"Have you kissed her?" Fred asked with a knowing sigh. Oliver nodded.
"Did she tell you to stop?" George asked. Oliver nodded again.
"Did you ignore her?" Another nod came at Fred.
"Did she curse you?" George asked and waited for Oliver's answer.
"No," Oliver said slowly.
"You know what?" Fred said looking at Oliver with disgust written plainly on his face. Oliver shrugged. "You are an idiot."
Hermione sat on her bed breathing deeply. She would not cry over that jerk. She wouldn't waste precious bodily fluid on him. It his was his lost if he wanted to be that way. She sighed. Maybe she should've fallen for Malfoy after all. He seemed to genuinely like her.
Hermione pushed the thought away almost as soon as it entered her mind. She wouldn't do that. She wouldn't use him to make herself feel loved. She couldn't do that to Malfoy. She couldn't lead him on like that; knowing that she really didn't like or love him in that way. She sighed in frustration and buried her face in her pillows.
"I think I hate my life," she whispered to herself.
"Harry," Ron said as they got up from their table in the Great Hall. They were headed to the common room to check on Hermione and then go to bed.
"What Ron?" Harry asked tiredly. He looked over at Ron warily, waiting to find out what his friend would say.
"I think I'm exhausted." Harry blinked.
"Okay," he said slowly. He shrugged his shoulders as if to ask what that had to do with anything.
"I'm tired of this whole situation," Ron elaborated. "I mean, who really goes through this much drama if they like each other? Come on, this is too much like a muggle drama. I feel like the comic relief."
"Ron," Harry said with a shake of his head. "We are the comic relief. Well...us and the twins."
