Disclaimer: Okay, do I really have to write it again?

A/N: R&R. No flames please.

Chapter 11

Harry

The next morning I wandered into the kitchen in my boxers and a t-shirt to find Robert, Trina, Matt, Mike, Julianna, and Hermione Baker at the Loskis' kitchen table discussing plans with Patsy. My heart started pumping wildly and my brain went into overdrive. I ran to get changed when I heard, "Harry?" It was Patsy. "Yeah?" I replied, turning around. Whew. The Bakers had left in the short time I was running.

"I invited the Bakers over for dinner tonight," she said. "I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn't be surprised when they come and so, well, you don't come to the door like this." She smiled.

I smiled back. "Don't worry, I'll be wearing flannel pajama bottoms instead," I joked.

Patsy rolled her eyes and grinned. "You and Bryce…" She left the room.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot," she hollered. "Don't say a WORD about her mentally disabled Uncle David. My former husband made that large mistake a few years ago."

Later that afternoon, I went with Ben, Bryce's friend, to the local hangout, Hal's Diner.

"So," said Ben, grinning, "what's up with you and Hermione? Juli says it's on. Not like I talk with her much."

I put my drink down. "I don't know," I said. "She doesn't like me anymore."

"Ooh, bro, sounds like it just disappeared…fwoosh!" Ben said. These Americans and their slang…I thought, especially when they're not so bright…

"Well, kind of. I never knew so much about her, though."

"Like…?"

"Like that she has a retarded uncle."

"Oh," said Ben. "So that explains her. Get it?" He grinned.

Anger rose up in me. I felt like punching him, shoving him under the table, throwing him out the window, yelling at him… something. Instead, I did the cowardly thing.

"Oh," I chuckled. "Right."

I was anxious when the Bakers came. Anxious meaning both excited and nervous. Maybe Hermione and my relationship could rise to a new level. Maybe I could explain my dilemma to her in such a way that she'd fall back in love with me.

Yeah, right, Harry, I thought later on. You actually thought that would happen?

When Hermione came into the house she threw me a funny look and said, "I'm glad I got over you." She said the word 'you' like it was poison.

I was confused. "Hermione, wh---?"

"Let's see if this sounds familiar," she interrupted, " 'Oh, haha, right!' "

No way. She'd heard me. I was completely and utterly shocked. I really should've yelled at Ben. "I wanted to defend you, Hermione, but Ben would've thought---"

"Who cares what Ben Simpson thinks?" she snapped. "Juli says he's a stuck-up nuisance and no one cares what he thinks."

"Well, he is---"

"So you could've defended me. And you didn't. That's the story," she concluded flatly.

Hermione was right. I closed my mouth and crumpled onto the couch.

We were kind of quiet throughout dinner, Hermione and I. The Bakers and the Loskis were a lot friendlier because Bryce and Loretta's dad wasn't there (the Loskis are divorced) and because Bryce and Juli are going out, but Hermione and me… I just felt terrible.

As they were leaving, Hermione said, "Harry, I'm sorry I flipped out like that before."

I hung my head and kept silent.

"Harry?" she repeated. "I said I'm sorry."

I nodded and looked up at her, head still hung. Her face had a sympathetic look on it. Then she waved goodbye and left with her parents, Matt, Mike, and Julianna. It was then that I realized our emotions were like water and oil: they could mix for a second or tow, but one would eventually resurface.

Hermione

The next morning, my family and I went to the Loskis' to discuss things with Mrs. Loski.

"So," she said as we sat down at the kitchen table, "it's about time we got together again as two families."

Everyone murmured in agreement. I love how we have to have meetings over this.

"What shall we do?" Mrs. Loski asked.

"Dinner?" asked Juli. "I mean, we did that a while back. Why not now?"

"Yea, and Loretta can showcase our latest song," said Matt.

"And our latest CD cover idea," added Mike.

"And your latest band name," said Mom. My brothers can never decide on a band name. They've gone from Mystery Pisser to Pisser to Piss Poor to Rags… I think their latest is Rags to Riches.

"Well, then, dinner it is," agreed Mrs. Loski, "but I hope the showcasing doesn't take too long."

Suddenly, I saw Harry wander into the room in his pajamas, freeze, and then run out. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. We then left.

"I sure hope Mr. Loski doesn't say anything about Uncle David again," said Juli.

"Hasn't Bryce told you?" asked Dad.

"Told me what?" asked a puzzled Juli.

Dad and Mom exchanged glances. "Honey," Mom said, "the Loskis are divorced."

"Oh yeah," said Juli. "Well."

We were silent.

Later that day, I went to Hal's Diner with Tara Tressler, Juli's friend's sister. The second we got there, she spotted Harry with Ben Simpson.

"Omigoshomigosh!" Tara squealed. "Let's go sit behind them." She dragged me to the booth behind them, sat me down, and sat down herself. I wasn't embarrassed, though, because I knew that she had ADD and would probably miss a lot of stuff that Harry or Ben said.

"…never knew so much about her, though," we heard Harry say.

"Like…?" asked Ben.

"Like that she has a mentally disabled uncle," replied Harry hesitantly. Oh, G-d help me. He had to be talking about me.

"Oh. So that explains her," Ben said. "Get it?" Ben grinned. Why, that foul little…!

I could see Harry's ears turn red, which meant he was getting angry. I knew my ears turned red as well.

"He's gonna pummel him," whispered Tara. "He loves you. Oh, hey Sharlynne!" She ran off.

Uh, wrong-o.

"Oh," Harry chuckled. "Right."

I got up. I was dizzy. How could he? Didn't he like me? "C'mon, Tara. I feel more like having Mum's homemade muffins than Harr--- a hamburger."

And we left.

I was confident when I entered the Loskis' house. If Harry had mind enough to joke rudely about me, he sure as hell did not like me anymore.

This was NOT true.

The moment I set foot into the Loskis', I shot him what I hoped was a hostile and said, "I'm glad I got over you."

I don't know why, but he looked confused. "Hermione, wh---?"

"Let's see if this sounds familiar," I interrupted. " 'Oh, haha, right!'?"

A look of dawning comprehension crossed his face. "I wanted to defend you, Hermione, but Ben would've thought---"

"Who cares what Ben Simpson thinks!" I burst out. "Juli says he's a stuck-up nuisance and nobody cares what he thinks."

"Well, he is---"

"So you could've defended me," I interrupted for the third time. "And you didn't. That's the story."

That got him. But all through the rest of dinner, I couldn't help thinking about the I-feel-terrible look on his face. I started to feel that way, too. I shouldn't have been so harsh on him.

As we were leaving, I went up to Harry and apologized. He just stood there, his head hung.

"Harry?" I repeated. "I said I'm sorry."

He nodded and looked up at me, head still hung. In those few seconds that I looked into his yes, the past flashed through my eyes: his parents dying when he was a year old; saving the Sorcerer's Stone; rescuing Ginny from the clutches of Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets; saving Sirius Black; seeing Voldemort being returned to power; fighting Voldemort and his followers; watching Dumbledore die; finally moving from the evil Dursleys.

"Hermione!" called Mum. "Let's go!"

I waved goodbye to Harry and left.

Right then, a tiny part of my heart wanted Harry again.

A/N: Will the next chapter be up? It's up to you.

It might be if you simply review.

Hehe. No flames please.