Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. And again I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: This a bit sad, sorry. This is somewhat an AU story.
CHAPTER 2: Misunderstandings
It was a bright day. Harry woke up feeling light headed. He didn't sleep well last night. He thought about Ron's sudden confession and how Hermione reacted. He kept denying the fact that he got jealous and though he hates to admit it part of him is praying that Hermione really doesn't see Ron more than just a friend.
"Morning 'arry…" said Ron, yawning wildly.
"My head feels like it's about to crack open." Ron was massaging his head randomly.
"Can't go to Madam Pomfrey, I'll get into trouble for sure, what do you reckon?" asked Ron.
"I guess… don't you remember anything? I mean what you said last night to---"
"Nothing much, why did I do something shameful?" asked Ron, dismissively and he crossed his fingers that was hiding from behind.
"I dunno…it depends by what shameful really means to you," said Harry sheepishly. He was relieved that Ron forgot about it or at least pretends not to remember.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were eating breakfast. The sound of the spoons and forks turned out to be so irritating both for Harry and Hermione. They kept glancing at each other while Ron was busy eating.
"You know Hermione you don't look like you slept well last night your not way behind homework, I don't see you knitting." Ron said sounding like he's interrogating Hermione.
"I guess your studying in advance for the O.W.L.S. "Everybody seems all worked up because of it especially you I reckon." said Ron and continued eating again but was eagerly waiting for Hermione's reply.
'Yah Everybody but I don't see you two studying!!!' Ron thought.
But to his surprise Hermione didn't even looked at him in fact she appeared like she never heard him talking.
"Anyway Harry what kept you up last night?" asked Ron, teasingly.
Harry looking alarmed and surprised said. "I... Erm… Nothing much, just thinking," He looked at Ron and then to Hermione who suddenly pretended that she didn't hear their conversation.
"I suppose it's about Cho, I mean you told me she left you at Madam Puddifoot's," Ron said while he was staring at Hermione and then he looked back at Harry.
"Its okay mate you'll make up soon," Ron said reassuringly.
"Yeah… I guess you're right," Harry said pretending to look sad and was glancing at Hermione who was about to get up.
"Is it me or you two just had a row?" Ron finally asked both of them. He was massaging his forehead again.
"No!" They both chorused.
"You don't mind if I go first right? I have to take care of something." Hermione said irritably and started walking briskly.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked Harry.
"I dunno... She looks upset though," said Harry, wearily.
"I really hate it when she does that," Ron said, heatedly
Ron and Harry both went straight to class after eating breakfast.
Harry seems to be dreading the day that Ron would finally confront Hermione about what he said. He knew that Ron was drunk but knows perfectly well what really happened and was only pretending not to remember.
He kept on cornering Hermione about Ron and she just kept on avoiding him. What his doing is just the opposite of what he really wanted to happen. He didn't want Hermione to think it over. He wanted her to forget about what Ron said that's why he keeps on opening it up to her so she would forcefully tell him if she feels the same way or not.
Harry was about to head for his Occlumency lesson with Snape when he saw Hermione walking.
"I…Uhm… I wanted to tell you something Hermione but it seems like your avoiding me," Harry said casually.
"No I'm not Harry," Hermione said weakly backing away from him.
"I'm just thinking… I mean I was busy…busy studying that's all," she said and turned her back on him.
"Please don't go Hermione I need to tell you something before… before I loose my ---"he said looking dumbfounded.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to talk about Ron right now!" Hermione said tears streaming down her eyes and ran like she was some prison trying to escape from Azkhaban.
Harry was about to run after Hermione but he hesitated he didn't know what's happening between them and why she cried like she was suffering for so long and burst into tears right in front of him. He wanted to tell her how he really feels about her
"Hey Harry!" yelled Cho. The least people he hoped on seeing especially when he finally realized something.
"Hi Cho!" Harry said still looking to where Hermione had gone.
"Was that Hermione Granger?" Cho asked Harry and looked at the direction where he was looking. "I'm really sorry. I didn't know Marietta would do that."
"But what Hermione Granger did was nasty Harry, Marietta is still in the hospital wing" Cho said briskly. "She didn't mean to get everyone in trouble, she just got scared."
"She just got scared, she sold us out! You shouldn't have brought her in the first place if you knew her mother was working for the ministry!" Harry said looking really annoyed.
"Hermione did that so everyone would keep their mouth shut!" he was now fuming with anger.
"So you're saying Marietta deserves what she got and Hermione's actions are reasonable?" she said heatedly.
"Fine defend her all you want and maybe…maybe ask her to go out with you and then meet someone halfway like what you did to me!" she said and marched her way upstairs.
When Cho left he stared again at the direction where Hermione went. 'It's no use running after her now' he thought.
Harry went straight to Professor Snape's office. Before they could even start the lesson Draco burst inside the office and according to him Montague was found because he had gone missing for ages.
And Harry knew exactly why but didn't dare to react upon hearing Draco's news. Harry was left alone in Snape's office. Seeing the pensieve just like the one he saw in Professor Dumbledore's office makes him feel uneasy.
Curiosity is one of Harry's distinct characteristics hesitating for a moment but still he couldn't help but to peek at Snape's memory. He didn't liked what he saw there and unfortunately Snape caught Harry and sent him outside. He was so furious he said that he won't be teaching him anymore.
"I can't imagine being like that; I didn't know Dad was like that!" Harry said angrily.
He didn't know whether he'd go back to the Gryffindor common room and tell it to Ron and Hermione or just keep it to himself. Harry decided to go back even though he knows Hermione would interrogate him for going back early or avoid him again. He remembered what happened on his way to Snape's office. He was so confused.
"I don't fancy Cho anymore, I feel like I'm starting to like---"Harry stopped talking he could clearly hear Ron's voice.
"I remember what happened the other night, I just didn't want Harry around while I confront you and I wanted to give you time to think about what I said," said Ron sternly.
"Why won't you stop writing to Viktor!" he asked fiercely. "You know that I'm jealous of him!"
"Ron, just like you and…and Harry he's my friend. " Hermione said repentantly. "And right now I'm confused, please don't make things complicated."
"Confused about what? I just need an answer from…from you." he said weakly.
"I'm sorry Ron but can we just get back to the common room and forget about this!" she said forcefully.
"You were drunk the other night that's why you think you like me," Hermione said coldly turning his back to Ron.
"No! I know what I said and I mean it. I really like you Hermione!" Ron said fervently.
"Look I like you too---" she said softly and hugged him.
Harry almost fell down on his knees when he heard what Hermione said. He ran back downstairs. He didn't want to hear it anymore. His heart was beating so fast. When he realized he was in the Great Hall he stopped. He knew exactly how he feels about Hermione.
'I'm in love with my friend Hermione!' he thought. A single tear fell from his eyes and he laughed.
'I thought that you wouldn't say yes Hermione' turns out you just don't want me around when you say yes to him' he thought.
"I'll go back upstairs and pretend surprised and…and happy for the both of them," he said to himself.
"As a friend Ron and…and nothing more," Hermione said backing away from him and turned her back again.
"I'm…I'm so sorry Ron but I'm in love with someone else ---"She said and ran downstairs crying.
Ron was shocked. He didn't even moved at all. He stood there in the dark. He felt like he lost everything. He didn't want to run after Hermione. He was too hurt.
Harry was slowly walking upstairs when Hermione came almost knocking him over.
"He-Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Harry?" Hermione said weakly.
"What…what are you doing down here? I was just about to go upstairs when---"
Hermione hugged Harry tight. She didn't know what to say anymore or do. All she ever wanted was Harry. She was still crying.
Harry suddenly pulled off from Hermione's hug. Hermione was surprised and laughed wiping her tears away.
"I must be mad, falling in---"
"Look…" Harry interrupted. "I don't know what you mean but I'm not in the mood to talk right now!" said Harry, superficially.
He didn't want to hear her saying how happy she was because Ron finally had the courage to tell her how he really feels about her.
Hermione looked taken aback she was trying to say something to Harry but now she lost her courage to even continue talking to him. She just stared blankly at him.
"Snape threw me out of his office so I…Never mind, Im sorry but I'm really tired I have to go to bed now," said Harry, coldly and went upstairs without even looking back.
'I thought I could face you and tell you that I'm happy for the both of you but I can't because I care about you more than just a friend and it's no use telling you now,' he thought.
Hermione look like she was about to faint as she sat there at the stairs and burst into tears, pursing her lips and placed both her hands in front of her mouth, she didn't want anyone to hear her crying.
'I was trying to tell you how I really feel Harry but I guess your not interested at all, I love you and it's clear to me now that your heart really belongs to that Ravenclaw seeker,' she thought.
Harry lay awake on his bed thinking. He was imagining Hermione and Ron holding hands telling him that they're an item with a huge smile on their faces.
"Blimey!" he mumbled as he sat bolt upright in his bed. He looked around nervously as he saw Ron and Dean move in their beds but is still fast asleep.
'I'm going mental, I never thought I will end up being like this but I have to keep this all to myself now, I don't want to end up competing with my best friend over my other best friend. Right I mean there's no competition she likes Ron' he thought desolately.
He placed his hands on his face like he was wiping away everything that was on his mind. He stood up and decided to go downstairs maybe he could sleep on the couch by the fire, his favorite couch.
He was about to jump on the couch and lay there lazily when he saw a bushy haired girl fast asleep with a cloth on her hand.
"Hermione I can't believe you're still knitting," he said quietly with a broad grin on his face. He went upstairs and took his blanket and placed it over her.
He was reaching for the cloth when she suddenly moved and faced Harry. A single tear fell on her right cheek. He almost fell over when he accidentally tripped on the side of the table. He cast a nervous look at her and fortunately it seems like she didn't hear any commotion because she just lay there quietly.
He leaned closer and wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry…"
He sat there quietly on the floor watching her sleep. He thought about all the times he spent with her, like on their 3rd year when they used the time turner, and on their 4th year when he and Ron fought, how she never doubted him, she stayed with him, helped him through the tasks and never left his side. He smiled at the thought of being with her all the time but never actually noticed how lovely she is and how lucky he is to have her as a friend.
"I wish I could use the time turner again and tell you how I feel right before Ron got drunk, but I guess I have to let you go now, especially now that I know where your heart belongs to, " he said weakly while he carefully leaned over and kissed her on the cheek softly.
He blinked as tears start to flow from his eyes. He sat at the back of the couch; he bit his hand so he would not make any noise while he's struggling to stop himself from crying.
The cloth fell from Hermione's hand and she suddenly woke up and realized she fell asleep while she was knitting. And then she remembered Harry, how he reacted towards her, how hurt she was and could not sleep that's why she decided to knit some clothes for the house elves. She took the small cloth, stood up and the blanket fell off.
"I don't think I brought a blanket when I went here," she said to herself.
She was about to go upstairs when she saw Harry slouched on the floor. She smiled and sighed. She wanted to wake him up so he could sleep on his own bed but a part of her wanted to watch him while he was sleeping. She watched him while he lay there motionless. She thought about all the times she spent with him and smiled. She felt contented and happy whenever she was with Harry. She is also happy when she's with Ron but it feels different when she's with Harry. And then she thought about Ron's confession and frowned.
'What will I say to Ron? I love you Harry but you don't feel the same way, do I have to let go of you and maybe give Ron a chance?' she thought.
She took the blanket and placed it over Harry. "Tomorrow everything will be different, I will no longer hang on to these feelings," she said fervently.
She leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek, and ran upstairs. She was crying again. The minute she entered the dormitory, she wiped her tears away and tried to stop herself from crying. She didn't want to be bombarded with questions when someone accidentally wakes up and see her crying so she laid on her bed placed a pillow on her head and covered herself with a blanket. She closed her eyes with tears still trickling down her cheeks.
Harry on the other hand woke up because he's back is aching; he didn't realize he fell asleep. He was surprised to see a blanket over him. He stood up and looked at the couch.
"Hermione," he said quietly and proceeded upstairs to the boy's dormitory.
Well there. Hope you like this second chapter. Please, please review.
