Over and Over:
"Harry, you're gonna have to stop, everyone's beginning to notice," Hermione commented as they sat at lunch. Harry tore his gaze away from the spot over her shoulder to look at Hermione in the eye.
"I can't help it," he confessed.
"You know he'll never feel the same way about you, right?" she asked, knowing full well that bringing that up would depress him some.
"I know, Herm. But like I said, I can't help it," Harry reiterated.
They continued to eat in silence as the Hall buzzed around them. The latest gossip was that Neville was going out with a Slytherin, but all of the Gryffindors refused to believe it.
--
"Harry, seriously, you have to stop," Hermione said again. She wasn't entirely sure how many times she'd said that in as many days, but it really was beginning to get old.
"Can't help it," he confessed again, although this time, it was a little more forlorn. The fight in the hallway that morning couldn't have helped matters any.
The Hall buzzed again as the sat in silence. The latest gossip was that Snape had found love in an old school rival. The Slytherins refused to believe it.
--
Hermione didn't even comment when she saw Harry's eye wander. Instead, she left the room altogether. She didn't want to see her best friend tear himself apart from the inside all because of a boy – a Slytherin boy at that.
Harry didn't follow her.
The Hall buzzed with more gossip about Trelawney and man from Hogsmeade. Everyone laughed.
--
Hermione noticed that Harry didn't look anywhere other than the plate of food laid before him. His fork didn't do anything other than move the food around and make clanking noises on the plate. She sighed.
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked, her maternal instincts taking hold.
"Nothing," he sighed. She knew he was lying.
"No really, Harry, what is it?"
He set he fork down and looked her in the eye. "I'm trying to get him out of my head. I'm trying to purge him from every thought. It's not working. I feel like I'm empty – like I'm dead."
"Harry, he's not good for you, though," she reminded him.
"I know, but I can't help it," he replied in a resigned voice.
Hermione sighed. "Why him?"
"I don't know. I've tried not to, but I can't help it."
Hermione let Harry go back to playing with his food.
The Hall buzzed with gossip about McGonagall and Flitwick. Everyone was disgusted.
--
Hermione didn't see Harry at lunch. Ron didn't know where he was; neither did Ginny. She hoped he was okay.
The Hall buzzed with gossip about Hagrid and his Magical Creatures. No one wanted to think about that one.
--
Hermione noted that Harry was in a much better mood than he's been in a long while. He smiled while he played with his food this time and every time he looked over Hermione's shoulder, he blushed slightly.
"What's up with you, Harry?" she asked, slightly suspicious.
He ducked his head as he mumbled, "Nothing."
She didn't miss the blush.
The Hall buzzed with gossip about a relationship between two rival Seekers. No one was sure if they could believe it.
End.