AUTHOR'S NOTE: Long time since I updated, I know. But I'm back now, ish. Have fun! It's short.
The Day You Lost Me
CHAPTER 7
This is will all be new. All of it.
Hermione found her way into Flourish and Blott's. Her fingers traced over the hardbound titles, looking through the selection of latest reads. She eventually came across a more recent version of Hogwarts: A History, and she smiled faintly. By now their adventure and the defeat of Voldemort would have been written in, so it made sense.
It was already nine in the evening and the store was relatively empty aside from one couple, the store clerk and a middle aged woman. Hermione found her peace in the quiet and the books, tugging one after the other out and scanning quickly through the pages for something interesting. She finalized her shopping list with the updated version of Hogwarts: A History, a book of runes called Tales of Tablets, and a book on magical creatures called Young and Wild. She would keep Hogwarts: A History for herself, study through Tales of Tablets, and send Young and Wild to Hagrid.
He still sent her his treacle fudge during the holidays, and sent her hard and sweet cakes during important dates like her birthday. She hadn't talked to him in a year, and it refreshed her guilt.
That was the problem with running away, she decided, that the past really does have a way of dragging you back home eventually.
She turned the books in and paid. The clerk, looking bored, searched behind her desk for a moment, before saying, tiredly, "I'm sorry, Miss, but we seem to have run out of bags – oh my Merlin, you're Hermione Granger!"
Hermione's eyes widened in shock at the recognition. Back in America, people knew her story, but she was usually just regarded with respect and the occasional awe. The clerk, on the other hand, looked like a fan. She began mumbling words which sounded like "amazing", "brave", "sad" and "Harry Potter" while searching in vain for the last of the paper bags.
"Oh no. Oh dear. I've really run out of bag. Oh my –"
"It's all right," Hermione said immediately, hoping to get her to stop fumbling around. She was already pulling various materials out and onto the floor in an avid search for a paper bag. The mess was starting to accumulate, and the other three customers were beginning to stare, both curious and reproachful. Other than that, she had a small migraine that was slowly growing into a big headache.
The clerk looked at Hermione with embarrassed eyes. "I'm truly sorry, Miss Granger –"
"No. No need to be sorry. I really don't mind," Hermione insisted, taking the books in her arms. She felt a little lightheaded by then. "Thank you."
She turned around and left as quick as she could before the clerk could break into tears or endure a panic attack.
By the time she was outside, she took a deep breath, and began a slow walk past all the shops in Diagon Alley. The brightest shop was obviously Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which she eagerly wanted to enter. She was already thinking up a way to avoid entering the blasted shop when George Weasley poked his head out.
"Hermione?" he gasped.
Hermione was about to respond when a crack of thunder echoed. She stared at George, before more voices from inside the shop came calling out.
"Who is it, George?"
Ginny.
"Oy, stop letting the cold in!"
Ron.
"Ron, don't be rude now."
Luna.
Hermione felt as though her head was beginning to spin. She wanted to assume that it was the same feeling she had gotten when she first saw Luna, Ron and Harry, but this time it felt different. This time her ears were ringing, her head was buzzing, and her chest was thumping. She could feel all three interactions at once, her body suddenly overcome with a warm feeling.
"George?"
Harry.
Hermione smiled weakly at George Weasley, who only grinned and called out those inside, "It's Hermione!"
Bodies piled at the entrance of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. First was Ron, who slammed into George, the two of them knocked into the street. Then Ginny and Luna. Then Harry. He stepped around George and Ron so he was at front.
Any other time, Hermione would have run by now. But she was done running. In addition to this, she wasn't sure her legs could take it. She stared at the group before her and they stared at her, happy and unsure, just as she was.
Her eyes found Harry's, and he looked at her with a level of emotion unlike any other. He looked scared, almost terrified. He looked sad.
"Hi," Hermione managed.
Harry turned around to face Ron and said something Hermione couldn't quite catch. But Ron only nodded, and the Weasleys and Luna went back into the shop. Hermione caught Ginny's eyes at this, and could see that tears were beginning to spring into her bright eyes. Hermione almost choked back her own emotional sob. She was so happy to see Ginny, and yet so pained.
Once they were gone, Harry stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked towards her determinedly.
They were standing in front of each other then, not close enough but not far either. He looked at her and smiled slightly. Hermione thought he looked like he was in pain.
Her ears were ringing so loud she could barely hear what he had to say. Her head had gone from buzzing to throbbing, and she had to keep her feet tightly planted on the ground to avoid falling. Her whole body almost shook with each thump of her heart.
A flash of lightning followed by another crack of thunder broke the awkward silence. Harry finally met her eyes, and then it all just came out.
"Y-you chose the wrong girl," she finally stammered out.
Harry's sad look turned into one of surprise.
"You chose the wrong girl," Hermione repeated once more. Drizzle began hitting the two of them then, but Harry only continued to look at her quietly.
She stood there, feeling increasingly stupid by the minute as he looked at her blankly.
"Say something," she finally said as the drizzle soon turned to rain.
Her books were about to be soaked. She wiped at the rain that hit Hogwarts A History until Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket, gave a tap and summoned an umbrella out of thin air. He held it above the two of them, inching closer to stay dry.
"I have loved you more than I have loved anyone else…ever," he finally said.
"I know, Harry. I love you too. I've even loved you, you know," she said, shrugging her shoulders to emphasize her point.
Her head was really starting to hurt her. She avoided cringing as much as possible, and hoped that any look of pain could be connected to the words she was saying instead of the ache she was feeling.
She caught a look at his expression. He looked concerned.
"What?" she snapped. "What?"
Harry reached out, his hands touching her arm just as her legs began trembling.
"You're bleeding."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Leave me a review. I will try to revive this story to the best it can be.
