Disclaimer: Harry Potter is a property of JKR.

WHITE LILIES

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: UNEXPECTED GUESTS

Ginny accompanied me to the Great Hall to have some supper. I pulled all the plates that I could reach towards me and loaded them all on my plate. I ate like I have never eaten for days and everyone stared at me.

"Bloody Hell, Hermione," Ron said, his mouth hanging open as I cram lots of food into my mouth. "I never knew you could eat like that!"

"Hafnifferitenshinsbrefash," I mumbled. It was a great achievement for me to even make a sound. Ron just stared and Ginny laughed. I swallowed hard and faced Ron. "Where's Harry?"

"I don't know," Ron said, sadly. "I've never seen him since breakfast. I thought he was with you all day because he also missed lunch. Was he?"

"No." My face fell and stopped eating. Where could he be? "Do you have any idea where he went?" I asked.

"None at all."

"Oh...thanks," I said and I stood up.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked me.

"I'm going to look for him and apologize," I said as I walked away from the table.

"But are you done eating?" he called after me. I just waved my hand and left.

I went to his room at the top of the Gryffindor Tower, rehearsing what I was going to say to him. I know he was there – where else could he be? I stood before the door, my heart pounding in my chest and my hands shaking. What would I do? What would I tell him? Would he accept my apology? Would he forgive me?

I grasped the doorknob and was about to turn it. Maybe I should knock, I thought and so I did. No one answered.

I knocked again, louder, and I called out. "Harry, it's me. I want to talk to you."

Silence.

Then a thought entered my mind. He's avoiding me. I fought back the tears that were forming in my eyes and said with a quivering voice, "Please, I need to talk to you."

But not a sound was heard.

"Harry, I know I've been awful to you this morning and –" I took a deep breathe. "– and I just want to apologize. Sorry."

Silence.

Wait a minute. What if he's not in there?

"Harry?" I said. "Are you in there?"

No one answered. I took a deep breath and turned the knob. I went inside.

Harry wasn't there. I stared all over Harry's room for about two minutes, standing on the doorway. Then I started laughing. He's not in here! All that drama for nothing!

I closed the door behind me and gazed around. Harry's room was a mess. Pieces of parchment and broken quills litter the floor. School robes and muggle clothing hung behind chairs and cabinets. Books were scattered on his bed and on the floor. I shook my head and smiled. Boys...

I began cleaning his room, throwing those broken quills and parchments, folding his clothes and piling them neatly on his bed, and arranging his books. And when everything looked fine, I sat down on his bed and waited for him to come.

Then I noticed something under his pillow. It was a journal, Harry's journal. I never knew he had a journal. I know I wasn't allowed to see what was inside but curiosity urged me to read it. I took it and randomly opened it. It was Harry's handwriting, alright.

Hi. Harry here. I had a hard day today because it was our match against Slytherin. We won but it was terrible. Slytherins were clearly using violence to win the match. I sprained my wrist but it was nothing compared to my teammates' injuries. The Slytherins were attacking my Chasers! Those gits...

Ron. He was...like the Ron back then. He didn't save a single ring. He started playing like that when Hermione started receiving lilies. Do you think I should stop –

Then I dropped Harry's journal when I heard a sudden movement from outside the balcony. Then Hedwig flew inside, a dead mouse in her mouth. She was clearly looking for Harry.

"Hey, Hedwig," I greeted her. "Are you looking for Harry?"

Hedwig blinked and I took that as a yes. "She's no here yet and I don't know where he is," I told her. "You can come back later."

It seemed like she understood because she blinked at me and flew out again. I took the book from the floor and opened it. I lost the page that I was reading and decided to look for it. As I turned the pages, something caught my eye. I stopped and read it.

It's me again. My plans for today were ruined, thanks to her. I never knew she was planning something like that. What a sweet, clever girl. That's why I like her so much.

Now I need to formulate another plan. It was not that difficult. I used the barn owls up at the Owlery. She didn't mind it. Actually, she's beginning to like me. Thanks to my good friend here for her advice! She never knew she was the –

I was interrupted this time by the sound of the doorknob being turned. I immediately closed Harry's journal and placed it under his pillow. I held my breath as the door opened and there was Harry, swaying at the doorway with someone. They staggered forward and landed on the floor.

This person was on top of Harry, her lips glued to his.

It was Ginny.