A New Friend or Foe
Chapter Nine
"What's up with you and Erica?" Ron asked Harry at breakfast the next morning.
Harry looked up distractedly from his toast. "What?" he said, completely oblivious as to what was going on around him.
"Is your toast really that entertaining?" Ron muttered doubtfully.
"Sorry," Harry said. "I was...erm...thinking. Now, what were you saying?"
"You and Erica," Hermione put in, not even bothering to look up from her book.
"Me...and Erica?"
"Yeah," Ron said. "I heard you guys down there talking last night."
"Oh, you heard?" Harry said, face turning red.
"Yeah. Couldn't sleep."
"Me neither."
"Ah. So, what's up with you two?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Oh, come off it, Harry. I couldn't exactly make out what you were saying from our dormitory, but you talked for quite a while."
"Oh, yeah, it was loads of fun," Harry said sarcastically. "Until she ran off for no reason whatsoever."
"What?" Hermione finally looked up from her book. "Why?"
Harry stared at her, unbelieving. "Hermione, I just said she stalked off for no reason what-so-ever."
"Oh, come on, Harry. There had to be a reason. What happened right before she ran off?"
"Well..." Harry hesitated, suddenly embarrassed.
"Well, what?" Ron urged.
"She was upset about her mum's death. I mean, she was crying and everything. So I hugged her."
"Ohhhh..." Ron breathed.
"Well, there you go," Hermione said, slamming her book shut.
"What do you mean, there I go?" Harry inquired, looking at Hermione in bewilderment.
"She left because you hugged her."
"Ohhhh..." Ron breathed, "this just gets better and better."
Harry's face turned a more brilliant shade of crimson. "Come off it, Hermione. It was a hug. A friendly hug. You know, between friends."
"Maybe so," Hermione said, "but the reason behind her sudden departure is probably that she is confused. And depressed. And doesn't know which way to turn. Think about it. She grew up so close to her mother. Then she lost her so suddenly. Then she finds out she is a witch. After that, she meets some guy-"
"Hey-" Harry began to protest at being called "some guy", but stopped when Hermione completely ignored him and went on, unphased.
"-who shows signs of affection-"
"I didn't-"
"-come on, wouldn't you be confused as well?"
There was a moment of silence, then all three got up.
"All I know is," Harry said, "you're confusing me right here, right now."
Ron snickered as Hermione tossed her bushy brown hair and rolled her eyes. "Boys. Honestly."
"C'mon, guys," she said, "we'll be late for our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class."
"Oh goody," said Ron.
"I wonder who the new teacher is," Harry put in thoughtfully. "And I wonder where Erica is-I haven't seen her all morning."
As if on cue, at that very moment, Erica brushed by, face an unreal shade of pink, and muttered, "G'morning, Harry." Then she rushed off.
Shaking his head in confusion, Harry left the dining hall and joined Ron and Hermione on their trek to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
~Emachinescat ^..^