So very few of you reviewed for this last chapter, and I am very disappointed with you...well not 'very' disappointed but somewhat.
But I'm not gonna make you feel bad, I wouldn't want that. So just review if you want me to continue!
Rob-Girl: So glad you like it! I try to update a bunch. This one's a little late, but it's cool, so, yeah. What you should try is just picking days to update, and trying to stick to the schedule.
The title of this chapter is kind of weird—it has less to do with the story itself and more to do with the fact that this ended up being way longer than I intended, so there's virtually nothing dramione about it—therefore, the chapter is off topic. But what happens here will become extremely relevant in the next chapter, so just be patient.
Onwards and upwards!
Chapter 5: Off Topic
The next morning Hermione woke up early as usual. She thought a lot about the night before while she was getting ready—taking a shower (she tried to be quick about it) brushing her hair, getting dressed. All she could think about was how rude she had been, and how she could apologize to Malfoy. She went down to the Common Room and waited. Hermione wanted to do this as soon as possible. Then she wouldn't have to feel guilty for the rest of the day.
She sat in the common room for a full half hour, until it started to get uncomfortably close to class time. Finally Hermione resigned herself to the fact that she would have to wait until tonight, and left for breakfast.
0
Draco woke up much later than usual. He had gone to sleep so late last night that he could barely lug himself out of bed. What drove him to a standing position was that maybe Granger was still in their dorm and he could talk to her before she left for breakfast.
Draco got ready as fast as possible, but when he got downstairs, she was gone.
"Where have you been, Hermione?!" Ron said, the moment she appeared at the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ron were there—Ginny had apparently already left for class.
Hermione sat down next to him and started piling food on her plate. "I went to sleep really late last night—didn't wake up on time."
"Why'd you get to sleep so late?"
For the tiniest moment, Hermione considered telling them the truth—she never enjoyed lying. But how could they possibly understand? "Work, of course. It's been crazy lately, hasn't it?"
Both of them agreed and Harry and Ron began complaining about their tiring workload. At that moment, Malfoy walked into the Great Hall. He walked past the Gryffindor table and took a seat at his table. (A/N: I never could quite see Rowling's Great Hall, so mine is that the door is in the center of the front wall across from the teacher's table w/ 2 tables on either side and the house tables, if looked at from that position, go left to right: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw. Not how it is in the book, but oh well, it's my story) As he passed, he caught Hermione's eye, but she looked away quickly, that guilty feeling rising in her chest. She hoped he wouldn't go straight to his own room that night.
"Hermione?"
Her head whipped up. "What?"
"So can I?" Ron said.
"Oh, I'm sorry Ron. I didn't hear you. I must have zoned out or something."
Ron eyed her for a moment, before remembering that she was obviously tired from staying up. "Oh, I was just wondering if I could come over to your dorm tonight. I'm having some serious issues with the Transfiguration essay, and I could really use your help." Ron said this in a small voice, smiling sheepishly. He was obviously hesitant to ask for her help...again. Hermione was so used to Ron asking for help, she didn't give it a second thought before answering.
"Of course you can, Ron. I don't mind. It's not like I have anything else to do." It was at that moment Hermione could have slapped herself—of course she needed to do something! But it was too late—she had made a promise, and she wouldn't randomly change her mind—especially when she couldn't satisfactorily explain to her friends why.
"Yeah, I've been having problems with that too. Would you mind if I tagged along?" Harry said.
"But you've already finished that essay!" Ron said. Harry froze, unsure of what to say.
"Roommates giving you trouble?" Hermione asked. He had mentioned many times recently that he was getting more and more pissed off with their muttering.
Harry looked relieved at not having to answer Ron. "It's okay if you'd rather I didn't come. It's just that I'm used to at least being able to get away from it in my own dorm. Now..."
"It's alright, Harry! I completely understand. It would probably drive me nuts too. After dinner then?"
They both agreed and Hermione internally sighed. She would have to wait another day to deal with Malfoy.
That night Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in the Head common room, by the fire. Hermione had noticed when Malfoy had come in and, seeing them there, gone up to his room. She was annoyed that she wouldn't get to talk to him tonight. Then again, Hermione was having less and less time with her Gryffindor friends lately, now that she didn't share a dorm with them, so she wanted to make the best of tonight. They were all laughing and talking and trying to stay on topic.
"Harry!" said Ron, stifling a chuckle, "Stop that! I'm trying to get this essay done, and all you can do is distract me!"
"What can I say? I already finished my homework."
Hermione looked at him disbelievingly. "Liar"
"Okay, okay, so it's not all done. But can't a guy have some time in his life to just relax?"
"Not during NEWT year, he can't," Hermione responded. She would have gone on, but Ron interrupted before she finished drawing breath.
"Hey, Hermione, how about you actually help me?" Before she answered (slightly indignantly at that) he continued. "So how does the wand work in this spell have anything to do with the spell itself?" (A/N: Rowling never actually explained to the reader the specifics of what they learn in Hogwarts or how they learn it, so I just had to improvise here)
Hermione leaned over his essay and began to explain where he had gone wrong. However, it did not escape her notice that once there was no one to talk to, Harry would stare forlornly into the fireplace, leaning back in the armchair to her right.
Eventually Ron's essay was presentable—and Hermione hadn't even had to let him copy hers! By this time he was yawning loudly and barely participating in the conversation at all.
"Ron, why don't you go to bed? You look beat." Harry said. He had seemed eager to get Ron out of there as soon as possible.
"Yeah, you're probably right, Harry. G'night you guys."
"Goodnight Ron," Hermione said, amused by his stumbling when he stood up.
"Night, mate," Harry said.
Ron began to walk to the stone steps. "Umm, Ron? I think those are the steps to my room, not yours."
"What?"
"You're not in the Gryffindor common room; you're in the Head common room."
"Oh, sorry about that." And he walked to the door. "See you tomorrow!"
"See ya!" both Harry and Hermione said.
Once Ron had left, there was a silence.
"What's up, Harry?" Hermione said after a while with a concerned voice.
"What d'you mean?"
"Oh, please. You've been acting strange all evening. Now why don't you just tell me what's bothering you?"
Harry was silent for a full minute. Hermione was about to speak again when he said, "Ginny and I had a fight."
"Oh, Harry," she said quietly. "Come over here and talk to me." She patted the space next to her lightly.
Harry got up and as he sat down, said "I've been trying to get Ron out of here all evening. I'm sorry, Hermione, but it's not like I could really talk to him about it. She's his sister! But I just..." He trailed off.
"Needed someone to talk to," she finished. "I understand! Really, just tell me what's going on."
"Well, it was last night. We were taking a walk around the lake. Everything was fine—we were just chatting. But..." he paused and turned slightly red "...it's weird to be saying this to you, Hermione. I mean, you're a girl and all..." but Hermione's look told him to go on. "Well, she just looked so beautiful in the moonlight, and there was this breeze that made her hair fly out behind her, and she was so quiet and serene and happy..." Harry apparently caught himself before he said too much—Hermione understood, it wasn't necessarily something you could explain to with the right words. "And I just blurted it out."
When he didn't elaborate, Hermione asked, "what?"
"I told her I loved her."
Hermione was definitely surprised, but not exactly shocked. She knew how he felt about Ginny, and thought Ginny was silly not to have noticed before. Yet, the simple fact that they had fought told Hermione otherwise.
She didn't say anything, but waited for Harry to go on. "And she turned to me, and I couldn't tell what she was feeling from her face, because it was so dark. And she said that she didn't want me to say that, and I asked her why, and she said that she didn't want to complicate things..." at this point Harry started to speak in a rush, "...and I asked why love made things complicated and she told me not to use that word and she started speaking louder, and before I knew it we were yelling at each other.
"I really don't get it. I thought she loved me too..."
"Oh, Harry," and with that Hermione moved closer to him and hugged him. It wasn't a friendly hug or a romantic hug, just a consling one. Harry wasn't one for an obvious show of affection, but Hermione knew he appreciated it when he hugged her back.
They sat there in that position for a while, while Harry calmed down. At some point he moved a shoulder and let her know to pull away. Hermione knew better than to think Harry would start crying, but she could tell he was really hurt by Ginny's rejection.
"So, what do I do?"
"Harry, you know I'm not one to give out advice on relationships." Hermione knew he was feeling better when he smiled momentarily. "But I can say that I know Ginny, and she's probably just a little overwhelmed. I would give her some space for a while. Let her think it over. If she hasn't come to you in a few days, go find her and talk to her about it—and try not to have another row."
"Thanks Hermione."
"No problem."
"No, really, I'm sorry you had to hear that. I didn't mean to get all mushy on you." They both laughed. (A/N: sorry if this whole scene is a bit mushy and cliché—I'm doing my best to make it probable)
The two stared off with their own thoughts before Hermione looked up at the clock on the wall. "Harry! It's past 11! You should be back in your dorm, right now!"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley." But he was just teasing. They laughed again.
"See you tomorrow, Harry," Hermione called as he walked to the door. He raised his hand in parting.
So, did you like it? I am officially letting you know that I'm not updating until at least Friday. Exams start tomorrow, so I'm not gonna let myself get distracted. See you later alligators!
-Ginger
