Chapter 43 :
Hermione carved her way through the corridors with a mighty stomp. Her anger had yet to abate. The students didn't have the courage to breath when she was passing by, too scared of bringing attention to themselves. It went to the point where Neville fainted in his porridge when she sat in front of him at breakfast. And even Ginny, the usually imperious Chairwoman of the Potterhearts, didn't dare to interrupt Hermione's furious rant at the last gathering. Most of the fanclub's members had made themselves scarce in front of her, though that one Slytherin who was never seen without Firewhisky nowadays had tried to pour her a glass.
Harry, the sweetheart that he was, had tried several times to mend the bridges between her and Ronald, but nothing worked. Hermione wasn't usually one for grudges, but there was one thing she needed to forgive : an apology. It was a simple and easy thing, not too hard nor too dreadful... And yet, she was still waiting. Ron hadn't apologised. On the contrary, whenever he saw her he fled the other way like she was some kind of hideous monster. He didn't even say « good morning » anymore !
But Hermione wouldn't take it standing down, no. Ron wanted to treat her like an abomination ? So be it ! She would show him the horror of the World !
Cho Chang wasn't having a good week. As a fair gentlewoman in a school soon organizing a ball, she should have plenty of suitors and hopeful admirers. For her who needed the ego boost after the debacle with Diggory spoiled her reputation, the attention gathered by simply being her beautiful self would be a great help. So she just needed to wait for someone -preferably a handsome girl- to ask her out and everything would be perfect... right ?
Heck no ! With Diggory still stalking her and creeping out every enventual darlings, how was she supposed to land a date before the Yule Ball ? She even tried asking a cute girl out herself, but the poor dear was terrified by the conspicuous shadow hiding in the corner with begging eyes !
Enough was enough ! Cho lost all restraint and reason, she grabbed Diggory by the throat and pulled him into a random closet to thoroughly educate him. Barely had she opened her mouth to threaten him that the older boy sank to his knees :
"Please ! Be my pretend girlfriend ! Go to the ball with me !" He begged pitifully.
The Ravenclaw couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"What do you not understand in the answer « NO ! » you indubitable dumbass !? I told you that Harry already knows that you are a jerk ! It's no use hiding anymore ! At this point you should know better than persisting with this harassement. Why don't you !? You- !"
"I'M NOT HIDING FROM HARRY !" Shouted the Hufflepuff out of despair.
"What."
"I admit that I was at first, hiding from Harry I mean. I pretended to be going out with you to reject him because I panicked when he told me he thought I was gay ! -I was soo not ready for that!- But all that is in the past ! I have way bigger problems now !"
"What is it ?" Asked a slightly curious Cho with a subtle face.
"I accidentaly k-k-kissed my crush and I'm worried he will ask me out ! I don't want to leave the closet just yet ! I'm scared ! Help me, please !"
"You whaaa... ?"
"Please, don't make me say the « K-word » again."
Completely bamboozled, the girl sat in the middle of the closet and took a deep breath.
"So..." She started. "The reason why you chase my every potential dates with your insistent staring is because you are gay and not ready to let others know... ?"
"Yes... ?" Tried the boy with a wince and a hopeful glance.
"Urg ! Fine..." She sighed in aggravation. "I'll let you take me to the Yule Ball. But you better stop stalking me like a creeper or I will kick you !"
Ron didn't know what was wrong with Hermione lately. She was way too scary. Sure he had been avoiding her because he wasn't ready to face his feel- reality. He wasn't ready to face reality. But nowadays when she looked at him, he felt like prey. She snarled and glared and her Hair was so freaking threatening in the way It rippled like angry waves... What was he supposed to do? He wanted to apologize -wanted to from the beginning-, he knew he did her wrong, but he was really scared.
He couldn't ask Harry. Harry was all that was good in the world, he couldn't ask him to choose a side, it would be unfair to him. But he couldn't ask his family either. Ginny was a sister and the Twins were the most unreliable beings in the Universe. Maybe he should ask Malfoy ? Their Alliance didn't include their personal problems but... He was pretty desperate, wasn't he ?
AN : I'm not really writing this fic lately, but I'll publish another chapter after this one, just because. See you next week!