"Hermione it's you. It's always been you. From the train ride in our first year to when you were petrified in second. Saving Sirius on Buckbeak and the time we spent training together for the Triwizard Tourna—"
"Harry, stop it." She said, wiping at the tears that had frustratingly sprung up in her eyes with the heels of her hand. "I'm with Ron and you're with Ginny now and—"
"I haven't been with Ginny since before we left to search for the horcruxes Hermione!" He shot back bitterly. "And even then, it was nothing more than spending some time together and occasional chaste kisses. I haven't even spoken to her since everything has happened and you can't tell me that you truly want to be with Ron?"
Hermione didn't answer him, and Harry must have taken her silence as a good sign because he pressed on.
"When he left us, I felt like we got closer to one another, I— I told you things I had never told anyone, and I know you did the same with me. I love him Hermione, really, I do, but surely…"
"I'm sorry Harry." She said, turning away from him and forcing down all the mixed emotions that were rising up in her chest as sour and uncomfortable as bile.
He didn't respond immediately, and Hermione chanced a glance in his direction. She saw that tears were running down his cheeks and that he looked just like the scared 11-year-old boy she had met on the train all those years ago, and not the confident man that had defeated Voldemort just a few short weeks prior.
His eyes met hers and she steeled herself, determined not to show him any of the doubt, confusion, or chaos that his words were bringing on. He studied her deeply, meeting her eyes with his own and pleading with them. She was so close to breaking her resolve and reaching for him, but before she did, he tore that thrice damned gaze away from her own and turned away.
"I understand." He said softly, his voice hardly more than a whisper. "I'm sorry to have sprung all of this on you so suddenly. I— I guess I must have misread the signs."
"Harry." Hermione replied apologetically.
"Sokay." He responded still not looking at her. A sob pulled at his lungs involuntarily and her heart shattered for him. He coughed in an attempt to compose himself, but he was only just able to get out a strained "I should go, I'm sorry."
Hermione was calling his name again intent on telling him to stay only to be interrupted by the soft pop of apparition. She didn't know where he had gone, but figured some time alone may be beneficial for him and her both. They had seen each other every single day for hours a day for nearly an entire year. Some time apart would surely benefit them and help to shake the notion that his crush was more than the result of their proximity.
Still, she couldn't help it as the guilt and pain and countless other emotions tore through her, cutting deeper than any deatheater ever could, and she began to sob. After what could have been minutes or hours, she took a deep breath and composed herself.
"A few days apart." She whispered quietly to no one. "A few days apart and he'll forget about any crush he might think he has."
AN: Angsty Harmony anyone? This was part to a much longer oneshot I was attempting to write, but try as I might I simply couldn't get the story to work the way I wanted it to so instead I tore it up for parts and this part can live here.
