It Was For The Butterbeer

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize, J.K. Rowling does.

The Beginning

Hermione ran down the hall, not paying any attention to where she was going, with tears streaming down her face. She just kept running, away from what she saw, hoping that somehow she was mistaken. That she didn't just see her boyfriend of eleven months cheating on her with one of her best girl friends.

flashback

Hermione came through the portrait hole, her bag slung over her shoulder, and a small pile of books in her arms. She set her bag on the floor and the books on the table. She found Harry by the fire reading a book on Quidditch, and went over and sat by him.

"Hi Harry."

"Hey Herms, back from the library so soon?"

"Yeah, Madam Pince closed the library on me, and I only needed one more book, but she wouldn't let me get it."

"Oh…Well if you really need the book you can get the invisibility cloak if you're careful."

"Really Harry? Oh thank you so much!" She jumped up and gave Harry a bone crushing hug, then dashed up the stairs to the boys' dorm.

"Yeah no problem," Harry called going back to his book.

As she neared the door she heard strange noises emanated through the door. 'Hmm…Maybe Ginny's in there with Dean. I better be quiet; I don't want to disturb them.' She opened the door and silently walked over to Harry's bed. She had the trunk open and was digging for the cloak when more strange noises emitted from the bed right next to Harry's. She looked up thinking 'that's not Dean's bed. That's Ron's!' At this revelation her started racing and she suddenly felt nauseous. As if to confirm that it was indeed his bed, someone called,

"Hmm…Ron-"before she was silenced by what Hermione assumed were a pair of lips; Ron's lips. Ron. In bed. With Lavender.

She didn't bother getting Harry's cloak; she just ran, not caring about making any noise with one stream of thoughts running through her head: 'Oh my God! Ron, Lavender, in bed. Together. He's cheating on me!'

flashback

When she felt a particularly painful stitch in her side, she had to stop to catch her breath. She still tears running down her face, but she wiped them away to see where she was. She found herself in the corridor that led to the kitchens. She suddenly felt very drained, from crying and running. 'Why not get a butterbeer or better yet, a big tub of chocolate ice cream. It'll help me sort out my thoughts.'

Hermione stood in front of the portrait that led to the kitchens trying to compose herself. She brushed away yet another wave of tears, and tickled the pear. She walked in and was immediately surrounded by a dozen house-elves all wishing to server her.

"May I please just have a bottle of butterbeer," Hermione said softly, her voice quivering slightly. The elves all rushed at once off to comply.

She sat down at the nearest table, waiting, while sorting through her thoughts. She was not usually this emotional, but what she witnessed broke her heart. It tore her heart into pieces, and she wasn't sure if she could recover. 'How could he do this? Why would he? Did I make him angry? Or did I just not give him enough? I loved him with all my heart; I would have done anything for him. Maybe he doesn't lo-' she was startled out of her reverie by a sharp poke in her side.

"Ow! Oh…hi Dobby," said Hermione faintly.

"Hello misses. You is Harry Potter's friend. Here is your butterbeer miss."

"My name is Hermione, Dobby," said Hermione through a sniffle. "Dobby, do you think I might be able to get a tissue please?"

"Oh yes! Of course Miss Hermione. Dobby will be right back."

Dobby came back a minute later with the much needed tissue. "Dobby has you tissue. It there something wrong miss Hermione? You seem upset."

"Oh it's nothing, Dobby," said Hermione as she wiped her face with the tissue.

"You can tell me miss. I will to tell no one," Dobby said brightly beaming at Hermione.

"It's alright, I don't really want to talk about it," said Hermione. "But I could come to talk to you tomorrow night if you really want me to," she added after seeing Dobby's crestfallen face.

Once again Dobby beamed and threw his little arms around her neck. "Yes Miss Hermione. You came back tomorrow and tell Dobby all your problems." Dobby let her go and went back to work leaving Hermione with her thoughts once again.

Hermione sat there for more than an hour sipping her butterbeer think of all the reasons why Ron would cheat on her. At first she was upset and heart broken; now as she finished the last of her butterbeer she was angry. She got up and put her bottle down on the table with more force than necessary. She said a hurried good bye to Dobby reassuring him to be there tomorrow. She paused before going out of the portrait to compose herself as much as she could in her situation. Back straight, no tears, a look of indifference on her face, Hermione continued on her way to Gryffindor Tower unaware that somebody had been watching her the whole time, and was determined to find out what was bothering the Gryffindor Princess.