Chapter 21 – Secrets are revealed
HG
An hour later the Gryffindors said goodbye to the still partying Hufflepuffs, Cedric had just said goodbye to Hermione before his date pulled him in for a kiss, turning his attention back to her. The others looked at the pair with a scrunched-up nose before the walked out of the yellow filled common room.
"That girl sure got his claws in him." George whistled in the silent and dark lit corridor.
"And she's quite jealous of our little Granger."
"Why would she be jealous of me?" Hermione whispered as they walked through the empty hall past curfew.
"Because you're the only girl that keeps his attention." Hermione frowned as she looked at George. "Cedric got lots of guy friends, but girls are mostly interested in him for ... other things."
"First, Cedric only has two real guy friends, all the others just want to befriend him to get a more popular status. But that still doesn't explain why she would be jealous of me."
"Oh, come on little Granger. We know you're just friends, for now." He whispered the last thing to his twin. "There are a lot of girls that think you two are... and well let's just say they would like Cedric for themselves."
"But we are just friends." She huffed. "I'm only twelve, why does everyone think I'm dating Cedric, or anyone for that matter. Why can't a girl and a boy just be friends? I'm friends with you two and Lee, and no one says a word."
"Actually..." Fred started, but George nudged his ribs hard.
"Hey." Katie placed a calming hand on her arm. Hermione turned her head to her best friend. "Just ignore what other girls say, you know what's going on and Cedric knows, that's the only thing that matters."
"And why would you pick Cedric when you can choose one of us." Fred said with a cheeky grin and a wink.
"Well, who could resist a Weasley twin." Hermione winked at Katie. "Oh, wait...
"We can!" The girls laughed and sprinted over to the other side of the corridor. The twins stopped in their tracks as they looked at the sprinting girls before them, before they jogged after them, laughing.
HG
Hermione was just about to step on the staircase on their way to the Gryffindor tower, when she heard footsteps come closer, she turned to the others wide-eyed as the shuffling came closer.
"Cupboard, now." Hermione hissed, her eyes going to the cupboard behind them. The twins pushed the girls first into the cupboard before following themselves. Fred heard the girls' gasp and when he locked the door and put a silencing charm on it, he turned around and saw why the girls had gasped. Angelina and Oscar were kissing in the cupboard. it wasn't like they were snogging and groping each other, just small kisses and Oscar hands high on her waist but they pulled apart the moment George cleared his throat. The pair didn't even notice them hurry in or Hermione and Katie gasp. Hermione felt Katie next to her tremble and she subtly took her hand in hers, giving it a squeeze.
Angelina's eyes where wide as she looked at the four of them in front of her. Her eyes found Katie's, who's eyes shined with unfallen tears.
"Katie." Angelina's voice so quiet no one heard, their eyes still locked on each other.
"Oh, uhm. Hello." Oscar rubbed his neck nervously, a blush on his cheeks. "We were just -"
"Shh." George hushed him, his ear against the door.
"No one is here, Mrs Norris." Filch's voice carried through the empty hall on the other side of the door. When the footsteps died down, George went to grab the handle to open the door.
"Wait!" Fred and Hermione hissed, both reaching their hands to the door. George looked confused between the two as he let his arm fall. A second pair of footsteps came by, and a shadow formed under the door for a few seconds before it disappeared. "Snape." Fred and Hermione sighed in relief.
"Let's just wait another few minutes before we leave." Hermione looked at Fred. "Do you have the map with you?"
"No, didn't want to risk losing it at the dance."
"What map?" Katie asked looking between the three of them, not really surprised that she didn't get an answer, she asked. "Speaking about the dance. Got lucky?" Katie wiggled her brows at the twins as she blinked away the tears. She couldn't look at the two behind her anymore, still glad Hermione was holding her hand steady.
"We don't kiss and tell." Fred gasped.
"Since when?" Hermione chuckled.
"We had a kiss or two." George shrugged, a small smile on his lips.
"Just be careful." Hermione looked meaningful between the two.
"We will." George whispered as he pulled her in a side hug. "I think it's safe for us to go."
"Let's go then." Katie pushed passed the twins, ready to get out as soon as possible, dragging Hermione with her. Hermione looked over her shoulder and saw that Angelina and Oscar followed them out behind the twins. Oscar tried to hold Angelina's hand, but she was wringing them together as she looked at her feet.
They all made quick work climbing the stairs and ignored the fat lady as she commented at their tardiness. When they entered the common room, Katie past Alicia and Lee who called them over and walked straight up the stairs. The twins looked confused as the young girl disappeared from view.
"Uhm, she's tired. Drank a little too much butterbeer." Hermione tried to explain as she looked at the others, trying to avoid Angelina's gaze. "I'll go make sure she's okay." Hermione turned and followed her best friend up the stairs.
HG
"Katie?" She asked as she closed the door behind her. Katie was curled up in her blanket, with her back to Hermione. Hermione walked closer and sat down next to her best friend. "Talk to me."
Katie uncurled herself and pushed herself up against the headboard. Hermione shuffled so she could sit next to her and draped the blanket over the both of them. Without another thought she took Katie's hand in hers.
"You can tell me anything, you know that." Her whispers sounded loud in the room.
"I know." Katie took in a deep trembling breath. "Hermione... I- I'm gay."
"Okay." Hermione squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Okay?" Katie turned her head to look at her, eyes wide.
"Katie, you're my best friend and I love you. I just want you to be happy."
Katie slung her arms around her and buried her head in her neck, the tears made Hermione's sweater wet. She hugged her friend tied and let her cry on her shoulder. Katie pulled away about ten minutes later, wiping the last tears away.
"Want to tell me about Ange?" Hermione asked, her voice quiet as she observed her friend.
Katie pulled her knees to her chest as she rested her head on them, staring forward. "This summer, my first kiss was with a muggle boy I met during my stay there. That's when I knew for sure, I was gay. That's why I didn't tell you."
"It's okay." Hermione gave her a small smile.
"And when I saw Angelina this summer, things changed. I didn't know for sure it was because I liked her, so I just pushed the feelings aside. But we've been becoming closer and a few weeks back when we went training together, we almost kissed. We never talked about it afterwards. I thought she liked me too, but that she thought it was too soon or I was too young."
"I'm so sorry." She put an arm around her shoulder and let her head fall on her once again.
"I really like her, Hermione."
"I know." She squeezed her shoulder. "I think she likes you too. Maybe you should talk to her."
"No." Katie shook her head. "I'm not ready for that. Keep this too yourself, please. No one knows, not even my parents." She pulled away from Hermione and let herself sink in her bed. Hermione looked at her best friend as she turned her back to her. Her heart broke for Katie, for the pain and confusion she must go through. Hermione stayed seated right next to Katie until her soft snores filled the room.
Hermione changed into her pyjamas before she headed back down in her fuzzy slippers. The others were all still sitting in front of the fire, in the otherwise empty common room.
"How is she?" Fred and Angelina asked in unison.
"She's asleep, she felt a bit queasy." Her eyes flickered to Angelina for a split second. She rounded the couch and flopped down between the twins.
"So, Hermione." Lee looked at her, he was still wearing his clothes he wore for the dance, although they looked a bit ruffled. "How did you like the surprise?"
The corner of her mouth twitched up in a smile. "We had fun; it was a good surprise. But I want to know about your night. How did it go with Lena?" She turned to Alicia. "Or Gavin? We didn't see them at the Hufflepuff common room with the others."
"It went great." Lee smiled shyly. "Lena and I are going on another date soon."
"That's great, Lee." Hermione's smile wide as she looked to her friend. "She's a sweet girl."
"Hot too." Fred grinned as he chewed on a liquorish, he nearly choked on a piece when Hermione jabbed her elbow in his ribs.
"What about you, Alicia?" George asked as he tried to hold back his laughter.
"Oh, Gavin is so dreamy." Alicia said with a goofy smile.
"So, there was chemistry?" Hermione cocked an eyebrow with a grin.
"No doubt about it. And he's a great kisser too." Alicia giggled as she had a dreamy look on her face.
"So, everyone got their goodnight kiss then?" George grinned at Angelina, leaning back against the couch, his hands tied behind his head.
"You kissed Oscar?" Alicia squealed as she looked at her best friend.
"Snogging more like." Fred chimed in as he copied his brother's movements.
"It wasn't snogging." Angelina grumbled
Hermione let her slippers fall and tucked her feet under her as she rested against the couch. She glanced at Angelina, who was looking back at her, her eyes sad before she turned to Alicia with a fake smile. The others talked more about the dance, and Hermione started to fall asleep as the events of the day finally hit her. She made herself more comfortable on the couch and leaned her head against Fred's shoulder. Fred, who had his arm draped over the couch, let it fall around her shoulder as she dozed off, pulling her close to him as he talked to the group.
