Chapter 2:
Whatever It Takes
Unexpectedly, the Yule ball wasn't called off .everyone was expecting it to be, but McGonagall said that it would be a waste of effort if they threw the preparations away and pretended that there never was.
And when the night came, before everyone else had gone to the Great Hall for the Yule Ball, Hermione approached Harry.
"I have something important to tell you."
"Then you'll call me off again?" Harry teased.
She was serious and sad… he noticed. "No, I wont," she said shortly.
"Hermione," he held her by the arm when she turned on back on him. "Tell me now."
"No… I'll tell you later. I promise." He loosened his grip and she made her way out.
He was deeply disturbed on how his best friend was acting towards him… and he didn't even know why she was like this.
"Ron, have you noticed anything with Hermione lately?"
"She's been very quiet for the past few days, but aside from that… well then, no."
"Did she tell you about this person whom she thinks she… likes?"
"Awkward…" Ron commented, "and no. She hadn't told me anything yet."
Uncertainty.
"Ron, I have a feeling that you know," said Harry.
"Well, wrong vibes, then, Harry. I really don't." Ron smiled, fixing his necktie.
After preparing for the Yule ball, they both headed to the Great hall and waited for Hermione and Ginny.
"For a moment, I thought he'd tell me that it was I whom he was speaking well of." Hermione said softly, "But it turned out he was her…"
"Pansy, that's who you mean, right?"
"He told you, too?"
"Yeah, and I felt the same way that you are feeling right now."
"I don't know why this is how I'm reacting to it. I'm his best friend… nothing more."
"Did you tell him yet?"
"I'm about to… and I am scared."
"It's typical to be…" Ginny comforted her.
After the conversation, they went to the Great Hall and joined everybody else.
At around quarter to ten, the traditional dance was performed… wherein they had to switch partners. Harry got hold of Pansy's hand and smiled.
"I'd like to dance with you later, would that be okay?" He asked, giving her the golden rose on the red stem.
"Where did you-?"
"I had it made…"
She took it and he watched her hand slipped away from his. "Outside, half-past eleven," He smiled.
She nodded, gesturing that she'd understood.
While everybody else were listening to the songs as it played loud, Harry decided to go to he open space… by the Black Lake, once more. He sat on one of the rocks by the lake. He was apprehensive and anxious. Hermione was hardy talking to him… and Ginny, too. Ron on the other hand was somewhere else with Lavender.
As he was thinking things over, he heard footsteps drawing nearer. He looked up and saw Hermione standing a few feet across him.
He stood up, "Are you alright?"
She said nothing, but she walked briskly towards him and held him in a tight embrace. All this time, she thought he felt something for her, too. All the while, it was just because he cared, nothing more.
He hardly understood what was going on.
"Harry…" her voice was weak and sad.
"Hermione… what is going on?"
"She pulled back and took a step away from him… "Harry… I'm sorry it had to be… you…" Tears fell off from her hazel brown eyes and she started running away from him.
"Wait," he exclaimed, but she did not listen. He ran after her and held her by the hand.
She refused to look at him.
"Hey, hey," he whispered, wiping her tears away… "Look at me."
"She looked up and met his gaze.
"It's alright, I understand." He embraced her.
"So… you're not angry?"
"No… just surprised." He said reassuringly.
She did not say anything… she was just happy this was how it came about.