A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating this story sooner! Life got in the way and I seemed to lose my inspiration. But I got it back! So here is a short chapter to hold you over and I'm in the middle of writing the next one. So it should be up by Monday. I hope. Enjoy! And please leave me some reviews – I know I don't deserve them – but they help me know if you like what is going on or if you think I should go in a different direction… so here it is!
"Hermione? What are you doing here?" asked Harry confused and surprised to see her on his doorstep. She rarely showed up unannounced like this and judging by how uncomfortable she looked, he knew something was wrong.
She opened her mouth and closed it again. She took another deep breath and tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. She gave Harry a fleeting look and turned to walk away towards the sidewalk.
"Hermione! What's wrong?" called Harry, concern filling his voice. He grabbed her arm and she paused for a moment before continuing to walk on.
Harry walked out of his doorway towards her. "Hermione! Wait a moment. Won't you tell me what's wrong?"
Hermione just shook her head as she walked. "It's nothing. Never mind," she said as she struggled to keep tears back. She walked faster and as she did, she apparated home. The last thing she heard was Harry calling her name.
Hermione reached her apartment just in time – the tears began falling down her cheeks now and she slid to the floor as her knees gave out. She had wanted to apologize for talking to Ginny. She knew that they must have had a horrible fight about the discussion. Harry must be furious with her for telling Ginny that there were romantic feelings between the two of them.
She wiped her tears from her eyes and sat on the floor in silence for a while longer. She contemplated staying in this spot forever.
Then she heard a pop in the other room and she gripped her wand tightly, finally seeing Ron walk in the room. He stared at her and concern instantly swept over his. He quickly walked to her and bent down at her side.
"What happened? What's wrong?" He anxiously asked as he grabbed her hands.
She shook her head in response, contemplating what kind of answer to give.
"Hermione," he said gently. "Is it what Ginny said? Please, don't shut me out," he begged.
"Let's go somewhere" said Hermione softly, just loud enough for Ron to hear her.
"Go somewhere? Where do you want to go?" He asked confused.
"Far away," Hermione said absentmindedly. She just knew she couldn't stay here.
"Ok… Ok. Let me grab a few things for you from upstairs and we'll go anywhere you want OK?" said Ron. He was still clearly confused, but he followed her orders as best as he could.
She waited on the floor of her entryway in heavy thought. She knew that it would only be a matter of time before Ginny would break it off with Harry and everyone would know. Everyone would know that there was once something between Harry and Hermione. Once… Hermione thought. But as Harry made perfectly clear, it would never actually happen. But would that change if Ginny left him? Or would he never forgive her for telling Ginny?
Hermione's heart sank as she heard a knock on the door. She knew it was Harry and she knew he wouldn't leave until he talked to her. Not only was he probably furious with her, but now she worried him.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted through the door. "Hermione! If you're there, open the door!"
Hermione rushed to the door, opened it and pushed herself outside, quickly closing the door behind her.
"Bloody hell! Are you alright?" Harry asked, relief that she opened the door.
"Yes," Hermione answered quietly, avoiding Harry's gaze. She felt like he could see right through her.
"You show up at my door looking petrified and then just walk away. What the hell am I supposed to think?"
"I know… I'm sorry, I just lost it… and I just couldn't face you," Hermione pleaded quietly. She knew it was only a matter of time before Ron would be downstairs and she knew he would hear their conversation through the door. She was trapped and it was about to get ugly.
"You couldn't face me? Hermione…" Harry said bewildered. "What happened to us?" he said fleetingly. Hermione finally met his eyes as she tried to decode his words.
"I feel like I don't even know you. We used to be able to talk about anything and now I feel like we are walking on egg shells every time we see each other. We get in this huge argument over something I thought you wanted, and then you go and tell Ginny about us? Please just tell me what you want because all I've ever wanted was to make you happy!"
"Hermione?" Hermione hadn't even heard the front door open and just noticed Ron standing in the doorway. "What's going on?" Ron asked confused and suspicious.
Harry looked from Ron to Hermione and back. Then he looked at Hermione. "Great. Just made an ass out of myself!"
"Harry!" Hermione shouted towards him. But he ignored her calls and walked to the sidewalk and apparated.
"What the hell is going on?" asked Ron confused.
"Ron…. I… Harry and I…. a long time ago…" but Hermione's words stopped as she saw an owl flying towards the front door. Please don't let it be a letter from Ginny she thought to herself.
