Happy birthday...it's someone's birthday out there right. Take this chapter as a gift from me.I've got an idea readers, how about you comment your own OC and I may well bring them to life in the story at some point. Team work. I don't want huge bios though; provide a name, gender, age, house and a brief summary on their personality. I'll do the rest.We left off with me potentially breaking hearts, so here's some more...Ilena's POV (because Hermione's head is too spacey to narrate at the moment)
That makes nine minutes and twenty seven...eight seconds. Smashing the record here Hermione, just the twenty odd seconds would've done it I think. Was this silence sponsored, and if so where's the money going?
Alright, come on the kids in Africa are fed now, it's okay to talk again. "Spag Bol"
Hermione's eyes flicker to me, not quite understanding. Still no noise.
"Spag bol" I reiterate.
She's frowning, but still silent.
"Spag! Bol!"
"I heard you, what about it?" Finally, it was like drawing blood from a stone.
"What is it?"
"What is what?"
Seriously now "Well firstly what is spag bol, and secondly what's wrong with you today?"
AND SHE ANSWERS THE FIRST QUESTION. "Spaghetti bolognese"
"Oh, okay it's a trim job. Sorry it's just my mum picks up the jargon without fully knowing what it means. Apparently we'll have that for dinner tonight, as soon as she finds out what spag bol is."
"Oh lovely, I'm used to my mum's recipe, now she's got competition."
"I'll tell her that, she's competitive when it comes to cooking. And what about my second question?" After all, spag bol was just the snappiest way of getting your head out the clouds.
"Remind me what that was"
"You know"
"Ilena, I don't know what you want me to say."
"Anything will do, we've got a carriage all to ourselves, summer of our lives ahead of us, and you just wanna sit there and star gaze in broad daylight" If I sound hurt that's because I'm milking it.
"You haven't exactly engaged me into conversation until now" Hermione replies, now I know I can hear that guilt she's trying to disguise.
"I usually don't have to. Well fine then, how did your chat with Joe go?"
She immediately breaks into a smile, and now she's forcing it down with little success. "It went well I guess".
"And? What's the big secret?" If I was right all along I'll smack Joe when I see him next.
"Well, we were right I suppose" I'm warming my hand up as I speak, for maximum damage. "He was pursuing someone in The Breakfast Club...and it was me."
Shock, just pure shock. "Repeat that again."
"Joe fancies me" Hermione's sugar sweet smile couldn't be more sickening. "He broke up with Samara so he could ask me out."
Knuckles clenching. Arms shaking. Temperature rising. Blood boiling. "Really?"
"Are you okay Ilena?"
"Yes! Yes, I am" what's my excuse "I just feel very sick...er, unwell. Stomach ache."
"You shouldn't have wolfed down those pancakes then should you?" Hermione teases, not knowing how very, very unhappy her good mood is making mine plummet.
"What did you say?" I already bloody know, that smile is universal language for 'I've got a boyfriend'.
"Yes, but we're taking it slow. It's my first relationship and it was right out-the-blue, still need time to process. But he kisses good, and he is cute and smart..."
I stop listening, I cannot bear to hear any more. I wish I hadn't opened my bloody mouth to begin with. I wish I had ignored Hermione and confronted Joe myself. I wish Joe was here right now, so I could beat the living crap out of him.
This was the ultimate betrayal. Me and Joe never properly discussed my feelings for Hermione, but he KNEW ABOUT THEM. He never told me he liked Hermione either! This was a robbery! How could he do that to me?!
He was, and always has been my closest friend...how could he do this?
No, I won't cry. Hermione's right here and she doesn't know. This isn't her fault, she's never had a relationship before and Joe is handsome and nice. Or was before he decided to take his best friend's crush for himself.
Oh face the music Ilena, you never had a chance anyway. Obviously Hermione is not like you, so it was never going to happen. And even if she was, being with me would ruin her life, not fulfil it.
Face it, you're abnormal. Forever be alone. Alex and Rosie are not even a couple yet, but they have to date in secret forever. And they're the lucky ones.
Oh god, I've got to spend a week with a girl who I know now is taken, and wouldn't look twice at me even if she wasn't. Why did Joe have to ruin everything?
"...I don't know, what do you think?" Her voice filters back in.
"Oh, yeah"
Hermione raises her eyebrows, she needs more than that.
"Yeah, go for it. It all sounds...awesome."
"Brilliant, I'll owl him when we get there."
"You'll what now?"
"Owl Joe"
"Oh right, can't not hear from him for more than two seconds right?" I hope that sounded like I was joking.
"Don't be silly, Joe would want to know straight away if he's coming or not. If it's all okay then I should owl him at the first opportunity."
I wish I paid attention to what I just agreed to, can't ask her about it without her finding out I wasn't listening. Big trouble then.
"Yes, absolutely. You should definitely message him when we get home. Tell him the news."
"Yeah, he's going to be thrilled, spending a day with his girlfriend and best friend in snowy old Sweden."
Oh crud. And also not all of Sweden is cold, just pointing that out.
Well, I've said it and now I'm being held to it. He's just gotta rub it in my face, hasn't quite done enough to destroy me has Joe. He'll kiss her at every given opportunity, winking at me from over Hermione's shoulder like a sleazeball.
I hate him.
We're sitting in a compartment with Harry and Ron now. She's retelling her fairytale romance to them whilst I fake smile away. I chose the window seat so I had the chance to brood out of it on the ride home.
I see Rosie and Alex hug on the platform the other side of the glass, they spot me and wave. I don't return it, their cuteness is just a reminder of what I'll never have. Not that they even noticed, so wrapped up in each other.
Oh no, not him.
Joe just shows up with Dom on his flank, smiling away like the cat that got the cream. He joins his sister and says something to them all. His sister smiles and digs at his arm playfully. Three guesses what they are talking about.
Rosie is the only one who turns back to me upon hearing what he says, her eyes full of concern. She's the only one who understands what this means for me.
They all walk onto the train together. Joe actually spots me on the way in and his smile instantly drops. He turns his head away faster than I thought physically possible.
Well Joe Moon, if you're thinking I'm giving up so easily then you've got another thing coming. Hermione is spending the next week at MY house. You get one day at MY house, that leaves me six days to make Hermione completely forget about you. She'll have so much fun with me she'll never be able to have fun without me ever again.
This means war.
Hermione's POV
The train pulls to a stop and not a single student dawdles on the way out. Well except for Ilena that is.
"Come on Lena, you'll be travelling back to Hogwarts if you go any slower."
"There's no rush, my parents are never here on time."
"Still I've got people to wish a happy summer to, I'll be wishing them a happy Christmas soon."
She grunts as she suddenly zooms by and stomps off the train. Clearly someone hasn't got a sense of humour today.
I rush to her side "now it's my turn to ask you the same question from earlier, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing" she sighs. "I just don't feel myself today."
"Ilena it's the summer holidays, hell even I'm excited to be away from school. And we get a week to have the best fun of our lives. What is there to be gloomy about?"
She shakes her head and shrugs. "You're right, I honestly don't know. Maybe I'm coming down with something."
What poor luck that is, ill on the first day of freedom. "Come on, let's catch up with Harry and Ron. I can't go without saying goodbye to them."
She's perked up a bit at least, she gets on well with the boys to my upmost relief.
Molly Weasley is already into her round of powerful, motherly hugs. "Mum, ge' orf" Ron tries to resist but Molly is like Devil's Snare, only tightens the more you fight.
Arthur greets me as Molly moves onto Ginny. "Hermione, have a good summer won't you?"
"I definitely will Mr Weasley, this is my friend Ilena. I'm spending the week in Sweden with her" I direct him to my slightly out-of-place but thankfully smiling Swede beside me.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss?" here it comes.
"Lyomberg, and don't bother spelling it" She jokes and shakes his hand.
"Ah, you're Scandinavian, tell me...what is ABBA? I hear muggles there really love them, but I'm not quite sure what they do?" More like the entire muggle world loves them Arthur.
"They are the biggest pop band out of Sweden, possibly biggest in the world too. They don't make music so much anymore, but in the seventies and eighties they were THE biggest thing going."
"Musicians, I've always wanted to meet a muggle who can play music."
"I know one, my sister is in a band. She's actually on tour at the moment."
Are you kidding me? "You never told me that?"
Ilena gives me a look that says it's not such a big deal, but I was only joking when I thought Ilena's family were rockstars. "What are your parents?"
"My dad's a movie director and my mum's a glamour model"
"You're joking?"
"I am yes" Oh I'm so getting her back for that.
"Oh Hermione" Well, here's my turn in the Molly clutch hold. "It's great to see you."
"You too Mrs Weasley" I said from between her bossum. Molly does not hold back and faces always become accustomed with her enormous cleavage.
I'm free again and she turns to Ilena, who must've been having a right giggle at my expense cos her cheeks are rosier than usual. "And who's this?"
"Hi, I'm Ilena, Hermione's friend." Oh Ilena, Molly Weasley doesn't deal in handshakes, it's hugs or nothing.
Molly swoops in on her and I can hear the breath that was meant to be Ilena's attempt at surprise. "It's wonderful to meet you, and such a pretty girl. You just call me Molly or Mrs Weasley, not many choose the first option."
Free at last, whilst still unsettled, Ilena attempts a smile. "Right, thank you Mrs Weasley."
I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn to see Harry. "Ilena is getting the full Weasley initiation I see."
"Of course. Enjoy your summer and please stay out of trouble, especially around this one." I indicate to Ron who just joins us.
"Hey, who's the one with the attraction to anything dangerous, me or him?" Ron actually has a point there.
"I'll try my best, I'll even walk around in bubble wrap if I have to."
I move in and hug them both. "Have fun guys, but not too much we've got NEWTs next year."
"Next year is next year, the holidays are now" Ron replies.
I thump him once in the shoulder and Harry takes the initiative. "We promise to do some studying."
By now the Weasley clan are on their way out and both Ron and Harry nod respectfully at Ilena next to me.
"Well that was the Weasleys, now where are the Lyombergs?" I ask, fake impatience evident with the folded arms.
Ilena smiles but she's interrupted in mid-speech. "Herm" One bad thing about my boyfriend is his pet name for me, have to do something about that.
He approaches and immediately scoops me into his arms. Totally beats Molly's. He's soft for a guy, his muscles aren't harsh like I thought they would be. It's nice. "Joe, Ilena says it's okay for you to stay."
"Ohh, huh really? Tha-That's nice, thank you Lenny" Why's his voice all wobbly and nervous?
"Don't mention it...Joe." Very cold from Ilena there.
"Erm you two" I pull away from Joe now "is there something I don't know about?"
"No, nope, not at all. Ilena has not yet forgiven me for avoiding everyone is all, ain't that right Il's" Joe addresses Ilena, are his eyes pleading with her?
"Absolutely, there are just some things you have to share with friends, you know. What they think, who they like, that sort of thing. Keeping things from people is against the friendship handbook, amongst other things."
Whilst Ilena is right she is being a little dramatic. "Come on Ilena, Joe had his reasons. And it resulted in something good right?" I'm not just saying this because I happen to be that reason.
"Il's, I honestly didn't mean to hurt you, I just..." he trails off when Ilena looks ready to spit acid at him.
"I'm letting you stay at my house aren't I? Consider yourself lucky."
Joe gives up with a saddened sigh, and I can only watch as two very close friends turn their back on each other.
Joe's smile towards me doesn't reach his eyes. "Maybe me coming to see you isn't a very good idea."
Damn it, I hate being caught in the middle. "Give me time okay, I'll try talk her round, she'll listen to me. If it doesn't work by Wednesday then I'll come visit you for the day."
"But Mione" Ilena cries out, clearly not happy with what she just overheard in this private conversation.
"Ilena, if you're going to be so unreasonable then I'll go home now. I will not be made to choose sides in a fight that shouldn't be continuing in the first place." I don't get angry at Ilena much, this might actually be the first time, but this is where her attitude today has driven me.
"Look Herm, don't waste your energy about it okay" Joe holds me by the shoulders gently. "Don't you two fallout as well, it's the summer and we're meant to enjoy it."
His eyes are so reassuring, way to make a girl swoon. Oh, and the cupping of the cheeks, he's trying to melt me into a puddle of goo.
"I've gotta go, folks are waiting. Enjoy Sweden, and owl me later okay."
"I will" I say, planting a kiss on him. It just deepens and I cling onto his shoulders like a girl possessed. Is this what I've been missing, because I don't think I could go without it ever again.
"Alright Romeo, let Juliet go or mum and dad will flip" Alex says from out of nowhere.
Joe pulls away, squeezing my hand. "See ya later, you too Ils"
Ilena takes some attention away from some fluff on her shirt to lift a single finger and wiggle it his way.
Then Joe and Alex are gone, leaving me to stand here and share my disappointment with Ilena through a simple facial expression.
"What?" she says cluelessly.
"You were fine on the train, you didn't seem so animus towards him on the carriage either when we talked about him. You even said yes to him staying with us. All of a sudden he's like your worst enemy."
"What can I say, seeing him again just made me angry, I wanted to forgive him but I can't just yet."
I stand before her a concerned friend, knowing there is more to this story than she's sharing. "It's more than that I know it is."
"You're overthinking it"
"You're lying to me. The very thing you are angry with Joe about, is what you're doing to me right now. So I know there's more to your anger than you're letting on. Talk to me."
Ilena looks away, not even able to meet my eyes. "My parents will be here soon, we should start moving."
"Ilena, is there something I should know about? You...you don't have a problem with me dating Joe do you?" That possibility just struck me like a train. Ever since I told her we were dating she's been off with me.
Ilena is looking more uncomfortable by the second.
"You like him, and now I'm dating him. That's it isn't it?" It's a best friends worst nightmare, getting with the guy she likes. But she said she didn't, and why is she at him and not me. Did he reject her once and she never got over it?
"Hermione, I'll forgive Joe if you stop asking these questions. I promise you that's it nothing to worry about. Please." She takes my hand and squeezes it, her touch is softer than Joe's.
She hasn't convinced me, the opposite has happened, but I obey her request. More so I myself can stop feeling guilty for a while.
"Here we go, my parents are here" Ilena never lets my hand go as she leads me away from the now empty platform.
Our summer can begin finally...and at just the right time.
Two perspectives in this chapter, aren't you lucky. Whose side are you on?
Remember, send in your OCs and you just might see them feature in this story.
