Chapter Eleven

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Losing His Mind

"Were you serious when you asked me about boyfriends?" Hermione asked Harry on the way to class. She had thought a lot about that conversation and the one with Parvati. Everyone else seemed suddenly interested in this boyfriend/girlfriend thing; maybe Harry, too, had actually caught the fever. If so, she wanted to know.

There was a long pause during which Harry eyed her warily. Finally, he asked, "Why?"

"I think I should know, that's all. I mean we're friends and friends let one another know when… they… change about things."

A light went on in his green eyes. "That's exactly why I asked you about it," he said. "I figured maybe you'd picked someone out, and you didn't think you could tell me."

"Why would I think I couldn't tell you?"

He shrugged. "It happens," he said. There was a wise certainty in his tone as though he spoke from experience. "Liking someone of the opposite sex changes things."

Hermione thought she knew exactly what he meant. Parvati's crush on Malfoy had affected their friendship. Sure, Parvati has apologized for her insensitive behavious, but before Malfoy, there would've been no need for apology. "You have nothing to worry about," Hermione assured him. "I am not about to pick anybody. There is no way I want a boyfriend. And I know you're not going to be silly enough to get a crush on some girl."

Harry didn't respond. Instead, he took out his wand and began practising some more spells. He twisted his wrist and shot out a plume of purple flame. He cursed softly, and tried the same thing, but with more violent arm movement this time.

Hermione knew that spell, and she also knew how to get it to work correctly. She stopped and, sighing, turned to watch him. "Har-ry," she said. "How can we talk when you're doing that?"

He didn't seem to hear her.

She glanced at her watch. "We're going to be late," she called over her shoulder, speeding up.

He caught up with her. "You worry too much," he said.

"It makes me nervous being late."

He laughed. "How can it? You've never been late!"

The corridor outside the classroom looked different. Usually, the boys huddled together near the wall while the girls crowded around the door. Today, the groups had disbanded into loose clusters of both boys and girls.

Malfoy lounged against a tapestry under the adoring eyes of Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkison. Lavender, Parvati, Ron and Seamus sat on the staircase, talking and laughing. Everywhere, the scene was the same.

Things might have changed in the third year, but Hermione had never expected them to go this far!

"What is going on?" she said as she and Harry approached the class.

"The guys think that if they talk to the girls they'll look popular," Harry responded.

"Why would they want to do that?"

"So Ginny'll notice them."

Glancing around, Hermione said, "But Ginny isn't even here!"

Parvati ran up beside them. She smiled at Harry. "Hi," she said. "Is that a new jumper?"

Harry glanced down at the 'H' embroidered jumper he had worn since first year and his tattered old jeans that he had worn every day for the past month. "No," he said, a mystified note in his voice.

Parvati giggled. "I guess I never noticed it before," she said. "It sure looks good on you."

Harry rolled his eyes and backed off towards a couple of the boys who were standing alone together far away from any of the girls.

Beaming, Parvati waved to him. "Bye, Harry. See you later." Without taking her eyes off him, she said to Hermione, "He is so cute!" and giggled again.

"Harry?" Hermione responded. She had never before thought of him in those terms. To her he was just plain Harry, her best friend. She had never given his looks a second thought. She glanced at him over her shoulder. He caught her eye and smiled. He had a nice smile, she had to admit, and even features. His green eyes were large and expressive behind his round glasses.

When Neville, who was standing beside Harry, smiled and waved at her shyly, she realised she was staring. Blushing, she turned back to Parvati. "I suppose he's all right," she conceded.

"All right? He's positively handsome!" Parvati exclaimed.

Hermione shifted from one foot to the other. For some reason, this conversation was making her very uncomfortable. "I thought you liked Malfoy," she said.

Parvati waved that away. "I didn't like him, Hermione. I've never liked him. Picking a boyfriend has nothing to do with liking."

"Oh," Hermione said. "I thought it did."

"Besides," Parvati went on, "you know what he did after class yesterday? Malfoy held the door for Pansy – of all people! – and Millicent. Can you believe that? And he smiled at them just exactly the same way he smiled at me!"

Hermione didn't know what that proved. "Maybe he's just getting some manners finally," she said.

Parvati glanced back at Harry, saying, "Would you be mad, Hermione?"

Hermione's forehead creased with the effort of understanding. "If Malfoy held the door for Pansy and Millicent?"

Parvati laughed. "Oh Hermione," she said. "Sometimes, you are so funny. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about…" She pointed toward Harry, covering her extended finger with her other hand.

Hermione's forehead relaxed. "Would I be mad if Harry held the door for Pansy and Millicent? No. It wouldn't bother me at all."

Parvati laughed harder.

Ignoring her, Hermione continued, "Actually, I'd think it was very nice."

Parvati doubled over. "No, no," she sputtered. "I mean Harry and me! Would you be mad if - "

"Oh," Hermione interrupted. "Now I get it." Parvati was asking her permission to choose Harry for a boyfriend. Everyone made it sound so simple: A person just decided they wanted another person to be their boyfriend or girlfriend, and it happened. Hermione knew better. Harry wasn't interested in having a girlfriend. Hadn't he said as much on the way to class? And even if, by some remote chance, he lost his mind like everyone else had, what difference would it make? Certainly it wouldn't affect their friendship. They wouldn't let it.

"No," she said. "I wouldn't mind. Why should I mind?" She meant that sincerely. Still, her ears burned as if she had just told a big, fat lie. She reached up and pulled her hair down over them.

o-o-o-o-o

A/N: Wow. Is this the first time I've written an author's note in the whole bloody story? Ah well, it's just review mooching. start rant So… GIVE ME REVIEWS! All in all there are now eleven chapters and… like… 20 reviews! If you read this story, review! It takes about 20 seconds of your time! As soon asyou've finished reading this, review! REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW/end rant -ahem- So, I won't refuse to update or anything but… do it! 3 from… a very disgruntled Alex