DON'T PRETEND YOU LOVE ME
CHAPTER 16
SAYING SORRY TO HER
Harry and the boys went to breakfast that morning early to talk about how Harry will confront Hermione later that day. Seamus and Dean refused to come with them since they only got the chance to sleep for four hours because of Draco's sudden burst of obscenities for his father and Dolohov while he was asleep. The three of them were almost done with their breakfast when they saw Hermione enter the Great Hall accompanied with Parvati, Lavender, Ginny and Luna.
Luna saw Harry and the two besides him (Including Draco who was looking quite awestruck at her) "C'mon Hermione, let's sit down at our table." she invited Hermione.
Hermione who also saw Harry, Ron and Draco eating at the Gryffindor table accepted at once.
"She hates me." said Harry miserably.
"No Harry, she's just... well... Umm... okay, maybe she does." said Ron.
"Suck it up Potter, what the hell are you, a man or a Flobberworm?" said Draco.
"Right now, I don't think I can answer that question with my outmost confidence." said Harry.
"Potter, saying deep words like that so early in the morning is going to ruin your brain. Oh wait, you don't have one." said Draco.
"It's better not to have a brain than not having self respect, LUNA!" said Harry.
Draco stabbed his steak "Potter, I'm grateful for you letting me stay in your dorm, but don't think for one second that I wouldn't kill you with a- Hello there Professor Snape!" said Draco.
Harry turned around and saw Snape standing right behind him.
"Mr. Malfoy, I see that you have found solitude in the table of your... adversary." said Snape coolly.
"It's alright Professor, just trying out new things. Like they always say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer." said Draco.
"That is a great saying Mr. Malfoy, but I think next time you shouldn't say it when the enemies you're talking about is sitting right next to you." said Snape.
Draco glanced at Harry who was looking at him "Oh." was the only thing that he could say.
"Nevertheless, I'm here to tell you to get ready for your match against Gryffindor, since that your victory at Hufflepuff had gone extremely well." said Snape.
"I'll keep that in mind, Professor." said Draco.
Snape narrowed his eyes at him before walking off to the staff table. The Potions master reached his place at the table to see Sirius Black, the man that he cannot stand, the man that he cannot bear, the man that almost got him killed, the man that he has nothing but hate next to a man named James Potter, having a talk with Sinistra on his own chair. He immediately walked towards them.
"Black! I don't remember giving you an invitation to sit on my chair!" snarled Snape.
"Can't you see that I'm talking to Saphina? Why don't you run along and play with the other kids." said Sirius.
"Why you big bag of-"
"Severus, I want to congratulate your team for winning against Hufflepuff at Quidditch." said Sinistra.
Snape's curled lip suddenly turned into an ear-to-ear line kind grin. ""Why thank you Saphina," said Snape "Now if Professor... Black would kindly get lost from my table, I would like to have my breakfast now if he wouldn't mind," he turned to Sirius gaining back his glare "Get lost you street dog,"
"Severus! You didn't have to talk like that to Sirius, you could have told him nicely." said Sinistra.
"But-"
"Yes Severus, you're so cruel," said Sirius grinning at him
"Saphina, I didn't-"
"You should be ashamed of yourself." said Sinistra as Sirius laughed silently behind her.
Snape gave Sirius the mother of all glares; there was nothing inside but hate and the desire to curse at the man who was laughing at him right now, if only Dumbledore hadn't charmed his wand, if only Sinistra and Dumbledore where somewhere else, then maybe, just maybe... he would...
"Severus! Severus! Can you hear me? Are you alright?"
When Snape came to, he was a little curious why he was sprawled on the floor.
"Severus, are you alright? Sirius told me that you passed out of anger." said Madam Sprout.
"Oh it's on, Black! It's on!" said Snape.
After breakfast, Harry, Ron and Draco were walking along the corridor towards Care of Magical Creatures when they saw Hermione with Luna and Parvati.
"Look! There she is." said Harry.
"Yeah, darn." said Ron.
"Where? Oh there she is. Isn't she the most-"
"I meant Hermione, Draco. Who are you two talking about? Wait! Don't answer that, I already know." said Harry.
"Oh." said Ron and Draco at the same time (AN they saw Luna and Parvati from afar.)
"I can't talk to her now." said Harry.
"Why? Is it because you're a gutless English prick?" said Draco.
"Let's just go." said Harry ignoring Draco.
"Fine, Potter." said Draco.
"So where were we?" asked Ron.
"We were talking about Snape having a stroke back at breakfast. Hope he doesn't make it." said Harry.
"Oh yeah, how could I forgot about that." said Ron.
"Four words, Weasley. Short-term-memory-loss." said Draco.
"And two for you, Malfoy. Up yours." said Ron.
"Yes, yes Weasley. Whatever makes you happy." said Draco patting Ron's head as if he were a child. Ron shoved his hand away.
"Keep your hands to yourself, Malfoy. God knows what things it's touched." said Ron.
"Yeah, things that will amount more to what you'll ever have, and I mean everything..." said Draco grinning at him.
"C'mon you two, were going to be late." said Harry.
"Do you have to be so damn punctual, Potter? It's not that exciting examining Dragon dung you know." said Draco while running.
"I feel sorry for your mouth. Malfoy. I don't think it ever had a rest since the time that you learned how to cry." said Ron while running.
"Ouch Weasley, you're getting better at this. But next time, I'd watch out for that rock." said Draco.
"What rock?" asked Ron, suddenly, he tripped on a small rock and fell down face first.
"That rock." called Draco.
After helping Ron up, all three of them arrived at Care of Magical Creatures just in the nick of time. Hagrid gave them all some different examples of dragon's dung to study and differentiate. it was obvious that Hermione was avoiding Harry, leaving him uncertain to continue what he was suppose to do. Suddenly, Harry took a deep breath and walked towards Hermione while Ron, Draco and everyone watched.
"Hermione, can I have word with you for a minute."
"Oh, so you're talking to me now?" said Hermione still not looking at him.
"Please, Hermione. It's important." said Harry.
"Why don't you just bug off. Potter!" said Lavender.
Harry looked at Lavender for a second "Look, I came here for Hermione. And I'm not leaving until she talks to me." said Harry scanning at the many faces of his classmates looking at their direction, "And there's not a bloody thing you can do about it!"
"Go Potter!" cheered a voice behind him that was obviously Draco's.
The inspiring statement was met by applause by everyone.
"It's alright Lavender, it's okay." said Hermione calming Lavender down.
"Let's go over there so no one can disturb us." said Harry pointing at the tree near Hagrid's hut. The two went off.
"So what do you want to talk about?" asked Hermione with her arms crossed.
"Look, I know you hate me and all and... I just...want to say that I'm sorry Hermione. I shouldn't have gone off at you like that. I'm really sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to say those things I've said, I was just too exhausted, please forgive me." said Harry sincerely.
Tears slowly began to go down on Hermione's face, which made Harry a little bit nervous.
"Uh oh, she's crying, that's not a good sign," said Ron watching the two from afar
"No, it's good, that means she's buying Potter's crap," said Draco
"I have five Galleons that says Harry will get back with Hermione!" said Dean
"You're on Thomas," said Zacharias Smith
"Hey, I want some of that action," said Seamus, students suddenly pilled towards Dean handing him some money
"I'll completely understand if you don't ever want to see me again. I just have to tell you that you're too much to lose. I don't know how to wake up in the morning and start my day without you. You're my best friend, and you didn't deserve anything less I have to offer."
Hermione now started sobbing "Harry (Sniff) I'm sorry I made such a big deal (Sniff) I'm sorry for-"
"Hermione, don't apologize. It's my fault so it's my job to say sorry, not you." said Harry.
Hermione walked into Harry's arms and embraced him as tightly as she can. They both suddenly heard a crowd of people went to awe, followed by the grunts of disappointment, followed by the cheers of Dean.
Ron and Draco ran towards them, Hermione wiped her tears and regained her composure.
"Congratulations, now you two. You are now both officially friends and sham couples again." said Ron.
Hermione gasped at him "Ron!"
"Don't worry, Hermione. He already knows. And our secret's safe with him." said Harry.
"Really well..."
"Don't glorify me with your sweet talks, Potter. I'll stab you in the back whenever I have a chance." said Draco.
"Fine, Malfoy. You do that." said Harry.
Suddenly, Hagrid's door opened and Professor Vector went outside.
"Okay, Hagrid. I'll expect those letters to-" she suddenly stopped by the sight of Harry "Mr. Potter, isn't this a surprise. What are you doing besides Ms. Granger?" she asked dangerously.
"It's alright, Professor. We've resolved our problems." said Harry.
"Is that right? What's wrong, Potter. Need someone to do your homework?" said Professor Vector.
"What? No!" said Harry.
"I'll be watching you, Potter." warned Professor Vector. "Like a hawk with a lunarscope."
"I don't know what the bloody hell is wrong with the people whom were suppose to learn from." said Draco.
"For once, Malfoy. I'm with you." said Ron still looking at the Professor who walked away.
"So, you three seem to be hanging around each other a lot lately." said Hermione.
"Yeah, but don't mistake that as an acceptance to your little buddy-buddy group, Potter. Especially now that our little match is coming. I promise you this, Potter. I won't go easy on you." said Draco before going back to where the other students were. The three did the same.
"I think he's changed." said Hermione.
"Who? Draco? Oh, yeah, I think so too." said Harry.
"Oh shit!" yelled Draco as he looked at his foot that was now smudged on their class lesson.
"Yeah Malfoy, literally." said Ron.
They went to the Great Hall to eat lunch after the rest of their lesson was done. The news that Harry and Hermione had made up had spread through out the entire school like wild fire. They were in a middle of a conversation when suddenly… he came.
"Hello, Hermione. You're looking lovely today." he said.
"Uncle Waynard!" screamed Hermione in surprise.
"I heard a rumor recently." said Waynard "From what I heard; there's been a little trouble in paradise. Is that true?"
"Hermione he's back! What should we tell him?" asked Harry mentally using the locket Hermione had given him.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'll take care of this." she answered back "Yes uncle, that rumor was true. But everything is alright now, Harry and I are-"
"Couples again?" Waynard interjected. "Yes, yes, I know. I hadn't got the chance to brazen it out with you lately because I had some businesses to attend to." said Waynard.
"Oh, you did? That's must be why I hadn't seen you around lately." said Hermione.
"Yes well, I must go. I need to owl some associates of mine." said Waynard before walking away.
"How come we never noticed that he's never around?" asked Ron.
"I don't know." said Harry.
"I was too busy writing that 20,000 word essay that Professor Binns gave us a day ago." said Hermione.
"Well that means he's busy with his work. And that means there's a possibility that he'll go back to Brighton, and that would mean that..." Harry stopped talking when he saw Hermione look at him.
"Yeah, that means that you two would go back to your normal selves." said Ron.
"Yeah." said Harry and Hermione weakly at the same time.
"Wotcher Harry, Hermione, Ron."
They all turned around to see Tonks beaming at them.
"Tonks!" said the three.
"Hello everyone." said Bill right behind her.
"What are you doing here?" asked Ron.
"Trust me Ron, I didn't have any intention to come here. It was her idea, she's been nothing but a pain in the-"Bill was unable to finish what he was going to say because he was elbowed by Tonks on the stomach.
"A little pit stop wouldn't bother us. Bill." said Tonks.
"Did you say pit stop, might I remind you that we are supposed to be heading in the opposite of this direction?" said Bill.
Tonks just ignored him "Say, have you guys by any chance seen-"suddenly saw the man she was looking for "Remus!"
Lupin was seen while crouching below the table covering his face with his books. He stood up when Tonks (to his dismay) saw him.
"Tonks, what a pleasant surprise." he said while wiping the sweat on his face. Tonks and Bill went over to him.
"Remus, you haven't been returning my owls to you." she said frantically.
"Ah, err... well you see I was busy with things lately." said Lupin nervously.
"Tonks! Is that the only thing that we came here for, to bother someone at work? Honestly, woman you're driving me crazy." said Bill.
"Same here." muttered Lupin.
"C'mon, we've got work to do." said Bill dragging Tonks by the arm.
"Bill, just two more minutes." whined Tonks.
"Two minutes my ass. Tonks, that line isn't going to work on me. I had Fred and George as brothers." said Bill.
Before they reached the entrance hall, Bill turned around to Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"Oh by the way Harry, Ron, good luck with the match with Slytherin, okay." said Bill.
"Okay Bill, we'll do our best." said Harry.
"Just go okay." said Ron.
"Bye Remus." called Tonks before she was dragged out by Bill.
Harry, Ron and Hermione just stood there and watched them go.
The days passed by and the day that Harry will meet Slytherin for the Quidditch final was approaching, the whole team had practiced all of their available time planning new strategies for the game. It was the day before the most anticipated match.
Tension was wrapping the whole school whenever members of the Gryffindor team came across members of the Slytherin team. To avoid any fights from breaking out, Lupin told the staff to ban their wands outside classes. An idea that was much protested by the two teams.
Alright, next chapter will be the Quidditch Finals. I hope you all keep reading. Really sorry I haven't posting latrly, I'm busy with school.
Readerforlife: I know you do.
Wolfgirl666: Confetti? What Confetti? I don't know what you are talking about Mr. Guy from the Government (Hums Wendy's theme as a drop of sweat fall from forehead.
Saki-Hime: Well I like you a lot, and you'll know as soon as you finish up with this chapter.
Clovers13: I am so with you on this, Harry and Hermione has chemistry, while the canon pairings are not so much. I'm actually thinking about writing a James/Lily fic but I've got my hands full.