Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, but I've been really busy lately. I am leaving for a college scholarship program in D.C. for about two weeks and I wanted to make sure that I posted Chapter 10 for all of my loyal readers as well as the first chapter to a new story. Thanks to all who reviewed and I hope you enjoy the next installment! -Artemay-
Hermione had been on verge of breaking down ever since the end of the much needed Christmas holiday. Nothing seemed to be going right for her. Nothing. Harry was constantly frustrated with her for numerous reasons; from not believing that Malfoy was a Death Eater, to refusing to patch things up with Ron. She didn't know how to help him with Dumbledore's assignment. Having already checked each book in the library twice, she had found nothing pertaining to Horcruxes. Hermione had also lost her entire reputation as the smartest in potions class because of the Half-Blood Prince. On top of that, everywhere she looked Lavender seemed to be snogging, tickling, or jabbering incessantly about Won-Won. Worst of all, Ron continued to ignore her.
It was the first day of Apparition lessons and trying to clear her head enough to concentrate on the golden hoop in front of her was impossible. Hermione looked up for a brief moment at her classmates and couldn't help but smile.
Neville had his hands clenched firmly at his sides and she could clearly see him mouthing the words, "Destination, Determination, Deliberation." Ron was concentrating so hard on his hoop that she could distinctly see sweat beading on his brow. Harry wasn't even trying to Apparate, he was too preoccupied with Malfoy. Goyle was staring dumbly at his hoop with his mouth half open; she could have sworn she saw drool coming out of his mouth.
However, Hermione took the most pleasure in watching Lavender. She had her eyes clamped shut, her face turned a light pink, and then she pirouetted clumsily. When she discovered that she hadn't Apparated she stamped her feet on the ground.
There you go, throw a hissy fit Lavender. Show Ron what you're really made of…
She sighed inwardly and forced herself to concentrate on the hoop. This shouldn't be too hard; I just have to concentrate on where I want to go. Destination, Determination, Deliberation… I want to go inside the hoop…
She spun around quickly and caught her balance before falling over like so many of her classmates did. This routine continued for about a half an hour and only Susan had managed to do anything interesting. Once Twycross had left she made her way over to Harry but swiftly changed course when she realized that Ron was speaking with him.
Unable to go back to Gryffindor Tower because of Peeves' barricade, she decided to go the library to once again look for anything concerning Horcruxes.
When she glanced up at the clock, Hermione realized that she had been there for three hours. She also became aware of her growling stomach and decided to go down to the Great Hall for dinner, where she could tell Harry that he would have to talk to Slughorn in order to find out what Horcruxes were.
Her intentions of talking with Harry were foiled, however, because when she reached the Gryffindor table she found that he was already sitting with Ron and Lavender. Hermione sat at the far end of the table by herself, pulled out her Potions book, and began to read it (for the fifth time).
After a good solid twenty minutes she shut her book, hoisted her book bag onto her shoulder, and strode to where Harry was sitting.
"Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, refusing to look at Ron.
"Sure," Harry said, looking up at her.
A deafening silence fell over the three of them, making Hermione want to throw herself off of a cliff.
Harry cocked an eyebrow to one side and said, "Well?"
"How about in the Common Room?" Hermione said through gritted teeth.
"Oh yeah, sure," Harry said coming to his senses.
Once they were clear of the Great Hall Harry said, "Why can't you just talk to him?"
Hermione stopped so abruptly Harry collided right into her. She spun around to face him, her face alight with anger and frustration. She said menacingly, "Do you want to know why I won't talk to him? Do you?"
Harry gulped. "Yes?"
"This isn't my fault! I am not going to apologize for something I didn't do. I asked him to Slughorn's party, right?"
Harry nodded.
"Now, you're a male. If I would have asked you to a party would you think of it as friends?"
"No, of course not," Harry said truthfully.
"Thank you!" Hermione said as she turned to continue walking down the hallway. "But no, he had to go and snog that thing!"
"Hermione, wait," Harry said.
"What?" she snapped as she turned to face him.
"Not to stick up for the enemy here, but Ron is a typical 'male'," he said looking into her brown eyes that were tearing.
"But, Harry, why can't he just understand? I've tried so hard…" she collapsed onto a bench a sobbing mess. It was as if a dam had been broken, allowing a flood of stress and worries from the past few months escape.
"Hermione, it's okay, he'll come to his senses. It just takes him longer than most," Harry said reassuringly.
"He's been so close. We've been so close…"
"I know," Harry said as he put an arm around her in a supportive hug. Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder as tears coursed freely down her cheeks.
I've got to stop this. Stop wallowing in self pity, you're not like this. You wanted to talk to Harry about the Horcruxes and that's what you should be doing.
She lifted her head off of Harry's shoulder and whispered, "Thanks, Harry."
"That's what I'm here for." He smiled and said, "Are you sure you're alright?"
She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "Yes, I'm fine."
They walked to the Gryffindor Tower in silence. Hermione admired Harry for small things like that. He was so loyal and trustworthy and he understood when things should or shouldn't be said. She could never ask for a better friend.
As they walked through the portrait hole Hermione said, "After Apparition lessons today, I went to the library to search for information on Horcruxes."
"And?" Harry said as he sat on the couch near the crackling fire.
"Nothing. Harry, I can't find a single bit of information on Horcruxes. I've never even heard of them before," she said frustrated. "They have got to be something to do with really dark magic though, why else wouldn't they have information in the library on them?"
"I dunno," Harry said, stifling a yawn. "What do you suppose I should do?"
Hermione drew in a deep breath and said, "Well, I've checked a billion times in the library and found nothing, so the only thing you can do is talk to Slughorn about it."
"Hermione, the man erased it from the memory he gave to Dumbledore," Harry said irritated. "He obviously doesn't want to talk about it."
"What else can you do?" she said.
"I have no idea."
She looked him over and could see one apparent thing. He was completely exhausted. Harry was pale and he had dark circles under his eyes. He looked as though he was about to fall asleep right then and there in the Common Room.
"Harry, you look tired," Hermione said. "Why don't you go and get some rest?"
"Yeah, I think I will," Harry said yawing. As he got up and lethargically walked up the boy's staircase Hermione shook her head.
He has been spending so much time and effort trying to prove that Malfoy is in allegiance with Voldemort, that he can't think straight and he hasn't had a good night's sleep in weeks.
Hermione silently stared into the crackling fire unable to keep her mind straight.
"Come off it Hermione," Ginny began. "You two have been flirting with each other ever since third year and maybe even before that. You can't honestly say that you don't have feelings for my brother."
"You act as all this I my fault. How is it my fault? All I wanted to do is have a civil conversation with you," Ron let out a fake laugh. "But I should've known, you can't have a two sided conversation with Hermione Granger."
"Hermione, you need to stop this," Ron said sternly. "You are underestimating yourself and you shouldn't. Hermione, you are one of the strongest people I know, if the time comes that we must defend ourselves against Voldemort or his Death Eaters, you'll keep a cool head, I know you will."
"You're just jealous that I'm good at something that you aren't," Ron interrupted. "If you can't live with the fact that I am better at Quidditch than you are, then don't bother trying to protect me or trying to play the heroine that saves the day."
"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF HER! DIDN'T YOU HEAR HER SAY 'STOP'?" Ron roared.
McLaggen jumped and turned around. Ron was looking at McLaggen, his eyes wreathed in fire. "Get out of here McLaggen, you bloody–"
Hermione was abruptly broken out of her reverie when a familiar giggling met her ears. She turned around on the sofa to see Lavender snogging Ron, who was trying to push her off of him. Confused at his actions toward Lavender, she decided to turn back around and listen to what followed.
"Lavender," Ron managed to say. "Come on, stop…"
"Why?" she asked breathlessly. Hermione almost gagged, she sounded as though she had been running a ten mile marathon.
"Because," Ron sounded as though he was trying to come up with an excuse. "I have to finish an essay."
"Can't it wait?" Lavender begged.
"No, it's due tomorrow," Ron said.
"Alright, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," Lavender said and then (from the slobbering noises that Hermione heard) kissed him one last time. "Goodnight, Won-Won!"
"Goodnight," Ron said. Hermione could hear the resentment in his voice.
She heard him walk over to the couch and her eyes immediately flew to the pages of the book she had been trying to read. Hermione distinctly heard him collapse on the chair next to the sofa and let out a deep sigh of relief.
Minutes crawled by before Hermione decided to say something, "You don't really have an essay due tomorrow, do you?"
"What makes you say that?" he asked.
"If you don't remember, we used to be friends," she said quietly. "I know you pretty well. I could tell by the sound of your voice."
"What do you mean, 'We used to be friends?'" Ron said.
"You don't really talk to me anymore, since you found Lavender," Hermione said.
"But, we'll always be friends right?" Ron said.
"I don't know anymore," Hermione whispered looking Ron directly into his eyes. Not wanting to stay in the deathly silence any longer, she gathered her books and headed up to the girls dormitories.