Quaffles, Anyone?

Chapter Seventeen

Admitting Your Deepest Desire

“Harry?” Hermione asked “Are you alright?”

Harry shook out of his reverie and saw he was still in the Quidditch pitch, the crowd was already leaving

“Harry?” Hermione said desperately “Say something”

Harry looked at Hermione and said

“Good for you” he said perplexedly

Then he left Hermione and Ron speechless

- - -

Harry went to the entrance hall and ignored all the students congratulating him in his great victory against Slytherin. They all went to the Great Hall for the big celebration but Harry went back up to the common room.

Harry sank on the nearest squashy armchair in the common room and sank into it registering what Hermione said

“Even if it means leaving Hogwarts?”

“Dammit” Harry said covering his face in his hands

What was bothering Harry was what Hermione's decision will be… I hope she says no, Harry thought

But what if she says yes? Harry's mind replied

“No she won't” said Harry

“Harry?” it was Ron

“What?” said Harry covering his face with his hands

“Hermione is worried about you… she thinks you hate her for having quite a decision”

“It's not my fault the nerdy witch will leave” said Harry before he could stop himself

“Hey!” Ron said “Don't call Hermione like that! She means well… she really cares and she's afraid how we will react to the news”

“And I see I took it quite nicely” said Harry sarcastically and irritably

“Harry, Hermione doesn't like us to fight again. She's worried that you won't talk to her because of this”

“Thanks for the idea Ron” said Harry standing up as he climbed up to the boy's dormitories

“Harry! Hermione won't like that!” Ron followed him

“But I don't want to leave either” Harry said

“You like her more than a friend, do you?” Ron said making Harry freeze “Fred and George suspected it, Ginny suspected it, Professor Raptor suspected it hell, I bet Snape knows it”

“Drop it Ron, I don't love my best friend because” then Harry looked at the floor “it can never happened” then he entered the dormitory and locked it

“Harry” Ron said from outside “I know you are bummed down but Hermione's our friend, she made us happy. Why can't you return the favor?”

Harry just lay speechless

“I know how to do the Alohomora charm but I won't do it because I'll leave you here till you get your head straiten up. See ya”

Harry sighed and stared at the ceiling lost in thought

- - -

The euphoria of the excellent Quidditch match last Saturday hasn't quite died yet in the castle. Students would wave to Harry as he passed and some Slytherins would glare at him. But Harry was more bothered that Hermione was trying to talk him

“Hello Harry” Hermione said to Harry sitting beside him in the library “Er - what are you doing?” she asked looking at the book he was reading

Harry just ignored her

“Well, this is a library after all” said Hermione looking nervous

Harry then saw Ron

“Hey Harry”

“Hey Ron. I'm just gonna borrow this and leave” said Harry carrying his bag leaving Hermione looking hurt

Harry felt this `cold shoulder' thing quite low since he noticed that Hermione seemed quite distracted with her studies

“Hermione?” Rapticon Sr. said “What's wrong? I asked for the twelve uses of the legendary Resurrection Potion and you gave me the twelve uses for Dragon blood”

“Sorry Professor” said Hermione gingerly

“Sorry will not get you anywhere, the exams are coming next month and if you want those N.E.W.T.s then you have to work your butt off”

“I'll try better next time”

“How about `I'll try better right now'?” said Rapticon Sr. sternly

“Yes professor” said Hermione perplexedly

Rapticon Sr. then gave Hermione a fatherly look

“I don't know what you're feeling at the moment but try to be more calm next time, Hermione” he smiled which made Hermione smile back

Every time Hermione would talk to him, Harry would ignore her and would take refuge in the boy's bathroom since Hermione couldn't go inside

But what made Harry the guiltiest person in the world was when during free time he was in the lake and Hermione came to talk to him but was cut off when Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins went to her

“Hey look, it's the Mudblood” Malfoy said with a sneer

Harry looked up and saw Hermione looking at them nervously… Harry then realized that she can only stand up to Malfoy when he and Ron are with her

“What do you want Malfoy?” Hermione said defiantly

“I just want say something” he said “Ever since you gave me that Quaffle shot back at the match it got me thinking… what if I returned the favor? If you know what I mean”

Harry saw Hermione took a step back. He noticed that the lake was behind her

“Aw” Pansy Parkinson said mockingly “Wittle Miss Gwanger is scared!”

“You can stop now Pansy” Malfoy said and went back to Hermione “Why are you scared? Is it because your little friends Potty and Weasel aren't here? This is a great opportunity to show how much I feel about you” he cracked his knuckles

Harry saw Hermione look around, as if she's looking for someone to help her but Harry ignored it

“You see? You're just a weak, pathetic and puny muggle-born who only gets stronger with friends” said Malfoy walking forward to her making Hermione take a step back “And you know what? I think they are your friends because they will only ask for help in their homework.... they'll probably forget about you when you die”

“SHUT UP!” Hermione yelled shaking with anger tears going down her cheeks

“Ooooooh! The Mudblood is angry!” Parkinson said as her gang of Slytherin girls laughed

“Shut up or I'll -”

“Or you'll what?” Malfoy said walking to her so Hermione took a step back making her near the lake's edge “Use your abnormally large brain to smack us?” He snorted “I want to see you try”

“Ah!” Hermione screamed as she fell into the lake

Harry looked up and saw Hermione soak and wet as she looked up at the Slytherins who were laughing at her. Harry felt a pint of guilt in his gut when Hermione's lip trembled as Malfoy laughed

“You will always be a Mudblood”

Harry saw Hermione cry as she climbed out of the lake and run into the castle

Harry wanted to follow her but he couldn't stop looking at the Slytherins laughing

“Look at her run!” Parkinson said “What a loser!”

Then Harry saw a wet mud ball flying out of nowhere and it landed on Malfoy's back

“Argh! What?” Malfoy said looking at the mud “Who did this?”

“I did” it was Rapticon Sr. “Well, technically Figment but I told him to do it… I saw you bullying Ms. Granger and I thought of checking it out and I see you made her cry” he shook his head “If you want to take revenge Malfoy, you have to learn it from superiors. Like me”

“What do you mean sir?” Malfoy said nervously

“Figment, levitate some mud balls and Elvis… grab your water gun. Slytherin Season is open!”

Malfoy and the Slytherins started running around the lake as Elvis and Figment started hauling mud balls and water shots at them but it all turned to a fun mud and water fight because Malfoy started laughing hysterically and the other Houses joined in

“Missed me!” he said but Rapticon Sr. was able to catch him

Harry avoided the war and went to the common room to look for Ron

“What's going on?” said Dumbledore when Harry went to the entrance hall

“Er - professor Raptor started a mud war and you know”

“I see” Dumbledore smiled “I just hope they don't forget to clean up”

Harry smiled and continued up the staircase and entered the portrait of the Fat Lady, when he entered he heard crying… It was Hermione. Harry hid on the corner so she won't see him. Harry looked around the corner and saw Hermione wrapped around a towel and Ginny was there to comfort her

“I don't get it!” Hermione moaned “Why do people pick on me?”

“Stay calm Hermione” Ginny said “It'll be fine… Malfoy is just a jerk”

“It won't!” Hermione said “First, Viktor gives me this big decision then Harry is not talking to me -”

“Harry's not talking to you?” Ginny said surprisingly “Why? What happened?”

“He hates me! He was nearby when Malfoy insulted me and he didn't do damn thing about it!” Hermione covered her face with the towel “He hates me because I'm leaving him and Ron… Ron still talks to me but Harry is not”

“Just cry all you want” Ginny said hugging Hermione “Because you deserved it… the crying I mean”

Harry then sighed and walked passed by them

“Harry” Ginny said standing up “Look what the Slytherins did to Hermione!”

Harry then saw Hermione's face looking at him

“Yeah” Harry said climbing up the staircase then he heard Hermione

“He hates me, Ginny” said Hermione

“He doesn't” Ginny said

“How are you so sure? I don't want him to hate because I -”

“Hey guys” Harry heard Ron who came in the common room “I heard what Malfoy did to Hermione… Are you alright?”

“I'm fine” Hermione said

Not wanting to regret what he's done Harry climbs the staircase and took refuge in the dormitory thinking on what Hermione said that he hates her

- - -

Harry continued ignoring Hermione throughout the whole Easter Holiday. Despite what happened to her in the lake, Harry noticed Hermione trying to mend ties with him but Harry would just ignore her

“Er - Happy Easter” said Hermione to Harry in the library. Harry saw her holding out a chocolate egg which had little snitches on the surface “I made it” she said at once “And I'm sure you'll like it”

Harry just flipped the pages of the book he was reading, Hippogriff's Tail, What Are They? Ignoring her

“Well” said Hermione putting the Easter egg on the table “I'll just leave it here… Happy Easter!” then she turned on her heel and left

“Give her a break will you?”

Harry looked up and saw it was Rapticon Sr. holding a basket that was filled with chocolate eggs

“Hello professor”

“Happy Easter” said Rapticon Sr. as he took an egg and gave it to Harry “They are from my mother's”

Harry unwrapped the egg and took a big chunk from it leaving Hermione's egg abandoned then Rapticon Sr. said

“I know it's illegal to eat here in the library so -”

With a wave of his wand a nearby bookshelf slid beside Rapticon Sr. and Harry's table so Madam Pince wouldn't see them

“There, much better”

Harry just ate his egg perplexedly looking out the window

“Aren't you gonna eat Hermione's egg?”

Harry swallowed and looked at Rapticon Sr. who was giving him a fatherly smile

“She cares for you, Harry… she doesn't want you to get mad at her”

“She thinks I hate her for leaving Hogwarts”

“Oh” said Rapticon Sr. “You've heard the news already? That's why Viktor came here… to give Hermione this offer”

“I wish she left” said Harry before he could stop himself

“I sense a twinge of lie when you said that” Rapticon Sr. grinned

“I really mean it” said Harry “I wish Hermione leaves and never comes back”

“Don't say that or you'll eat your words” said Rapticon Sr. frowning “Let me see that book your reading”

Harry gave the book to Rapticon Sr. and for the next minute, Rapticon Sr. flipped through the pages and gave it to Harry. Harry saw the page was dedicated to what a hippogriff is.

“Why are you showing me this?”

“Look down in the last paragraph” said Rapticon Sr.

Harry looked down and saw a small passage:

…It is in mythology that the Hippogriff is the symbol of love…

“Don't you remember during your third year you and Hermione rode on Buckbeak?”

“Yeah” said Harry looking at Hermione's egg “But I didn't feel anything”

“And the time you isolated yourself from your peers when you found out Voldemort might be possessing you?” said Rapticon Sr. as if he didn't register what Harry has said “Where did you hide?”

“Er - at Sirius' mother's room with Buckbeak”

“And who came to you?”

“Hermione”

“Well?”

“Well what?” said Harry

“Don't you see that love is a crazy thing? It can intertwine with anything”

“But Hermione said that she and I will be friends and it will stay that way because we made a pact”

“If there wasn't a pact, what will happen?” said Rapticon Sr. wryly

“I don't know”

“Are you saying that you want your relationship with Hermione to be platonic?”

Harry looked up at Rapticon Sr.

“I don't know”

“Do you want her to forget about you?”

“I don't know”

“Then why are you ignoring her if you don't even know what your decisions are?” said Rapticon Sr. “Look, if you realized something feel free to visit me at the classroom” then with a nod Rapticon Sr. left

Harry put the wrapper of Rapticon Sr.'s egg in his pocket and was about to leave when he saw Hermione's Easter egg. He frowned at it thinking that Hermione made this egg for him. She probably spent a night doing this.

“Oh!” said Rapticon Sr. who came back “If you don't like this egg then perhaps I'll take it”

When Rapticon Sr. was about to take it

“Wait”

Rapticon Sr. looked at Harry and smirked

“I'll take this”

“Eat it, Hermione makes great chocolate eggs” and Rapticon Sr. left

Harry left the library and tried the chocolate egg Hermione gave him. He took a big bite on the egg and Harry was surprise that it was very good. Then he realized that this egg was made so Hermione can talk to him again. Guilty feelings overwhelm Harry again

- - -

Harry went to Hagrid's on the last day of the Easter holidays late afternoon

“Who is it?” Hagrid's voice said from inside the hut when Harry knocked

“It's me Harry”

“Oh, Harry. C'min”

Harry entered the hut and sat down on the large armchair Hagrid owned

“How's Grawp?” Harry asked

“He's fine, kinda misses you”

“I see” said Harry

“Wan' a cuppa?” Hagrid asked walking to the fireplace “I was jus' heatin' up for me'self”

“That would be nice” said Harry

Hagrid then looked at Harry with a suspicious look

“I sense some tension, anythin' wrong?”

“Nothing” said Harry shaking his head

Then Hagrid gave a warm smile

“Don' lie to me, I know dat you an' Hermione's fightin'”

“Who told you that?”

Hagrid then took the kettle from the fireplace and pour the contents to a mug-sized teacup and said

“Hermione”

Harry felt a feeling in his Adam's apple

“What else did she say apart from that?”

“Wha' else did she say?” said Hagrid looking out the window thoughtfully as he passed Harry the teacup “She was cryin' wen she tol' me dat”

“Did she mention anything?”

“She did mention dat she can't leave Hogwarts wid you not talkin' to her… She loves you Harry, I dunno why you're treatin' her like dis after all she's done for ya”

Harry closed his eyes and opened them again

“One more question” said Hagrid “Why are ya angry with her?”

Harry then realized… Why was he angry with her? Sure, he's angry that Hermione is leaving and Harry thinks it's selfish to do that but he had the feeling that he didn't want Hermione to leave because of his feelings for her…

“She's my best friend” said Harry “and I don't want her to leave because I'll miss her and I think that's kinda selfish”

Harry knew he didn't convince Hagrid

“I `ave a hunch der is more dan dat than meets da eye, righ'?”

Harry bit his lower lip

“Yeah. Yes there is” Harry muttered so Hagrid wouldn't hear

“Look, if ya don't wan' her ta leave den why don't you tell her?”

“But what if she doesn't want to talk to me?”

“She's bin itchin' ta talk to ya ever since. She'll be grateful”

Harry then stood up and placed the teacup which was still filled with tea on the table

“Thanks Hagrid” said Harry

“Anytime” said Hagrid happily

Harry bade Hagrid goodbye and went back to the castle. Harry entered the common room and was relieved that Hermione wasn't there except for Ginny who was just playin Exploding Snap with Mark and James

“This game's cool” Mark said “But I prefer my Playstation back at home”

“What's a Playstation?” Ginny asked “Is it a toy”

“It's a Muggle thing… you play video games in it”

“My dad told me about that” said Ginny “What games are in there? Quidditch?”

“Nope” he said

“I see” then Ginny saw Harry “Hey Harry! Mum sent these” she gestured to the basket of Easter Eggs “Pick one”

Harry took one and sat on the couch

“Where's Hermione?” asked Harry

“I thought you hated her?” Ginny asked

“Just answer the question” said Harry irritably

“She's at the library” Ginny said at once then looked at her wristwatch “Hey Mark, if you want to try that Beater move I suggest we go to the field now”

Mark, James and Ginny left the common room after that leaving Harry alone

“Hey Harry” it was Colin “Want to join me and my friends for Chocolate Card trading?”

“Er,” Harry tried to look as if this was a tempting offer “Sorry Colin but I really need to rest right now”

“Oh yeah! You just rest there and I'll be here… Just call me if ya need me!”

Harry then looked out the window and saw the beautiful sunset. Harry yawned and felt like to take a nap before dinner

Harry woke up a little later, he opened one eye slightly to find it was dark and the common room was empty except for someone who was sitting beside him. It was Hermione

Harry closed his eyes

“C'mon Hermione” it was Ron “I know you want to talk to Harry badly but can we do it when he's in the mood. He might get grouchy”

“Alright” said Hermione “You go ahead, I'll just put my bag upstairs”

Harry heard footsteps and the sound of the portrait of the Fat Lady opening and closing

“Hey Harry!” Harry heard Hermione say. He had the impression Hermione was practicing to talk to him “I wish we can talk again - no that's not right…”

Harry opened one eye and saw Hermione thinking. He closed his eyes when she went to look at him again

“Hey Harry” said Hermione “I just want to say I'm sorry and I wish we can be friends again and that…” then Harry felt Hermione's hand on his “I wish we can be - this won't work… Ron's right, Harry will never talk to me”

Harry felt Hermione leaving. He opened his eyes and saw Hermione leaving the portrait hole. Feeling bad, Harry looks around the common room and noticed Hermione's bag in front of him. It was open and a blue book was visible. Harry remembered Hermione writing in this book back in Valentine's Day. Harry's curiosity got over him so he walked to the bag and grabbed the blue book. Harry opened it and the first page had a short letter

December 25, 1994

Dear Hermione,

Merry Christmas! Let this diary be a place where you can put your thoughts and your feelings. It even has a Memory Viewer that my mum went bonkers for. To activate the Memory Viewer, just tap on the page you want to put it on and say “Memoria” then think of a memory you want to put and viola! You can view your memories in a third-person perspective like a television set. To view them just say “Memoria” again. To know if a page has a Memory Viewer, just look for a droopy wizard hat stamped on the lower left corner of the page. Enjoy!

Your friend,

Ginny

P.S.

Take really good care of this… it took me twenty Galleons from my savings to get this!

Harry's heart raced. This is Hermione's diary… He has access to all of her secrets and desires and they are all a page away but wait… Hermione has never intruded on Harry's secrets and she doesn't even try to squeeze it out of him… Will reading her diary make him satisfied and feel pathetic? Harry frowned and half-heartedly turned to the next page

December 25, 1994

Dear Diary,

What a great night! I can't believe a celebrity would even ask me out to the ball! Ron was a bit angry though, he was so jealous I nearly felt satisfied… Viktor was very nice to me and he was such a great date! I never felt so happy in my life! Well, I'm kind of sleepy now and I got to go back to bed…

Harry frowned… this wasn't juicy… Harry flicked another page and saw another entry

June, 1995

Dear Diary,

Viktor and I had a disagreement since he thinks Harry and I are going out. Hello? Rita Skeeter is such a mean woman, writing things like that… Harry and I are just friends and now Mrs. Weasley is getting edgy on me… I hope this doesn't jeopardize my friendship with Harry, I love him so much… I really love him. I wish he will be alright for the third task tomorrow

Harry smiled and flicked to another entry and saw the droopy wizard hat in the lower left corner of the page… Harry took out his wand and read the entry

July 31, 1995

Dear Diary,

Today is Harry's Birthday! I miss him so much, Ron too. I hope he doesn't get mad that we are all here while he's with his uncle and aunt… I hope those Honeyduke's sweets might cheer him up!

On the real side, we removed all the furniture in the drawing room and there were lots of things we found there… ew. Anyway, I just arrived in Grimmauld Place three days ago and it is a very sad house… Sirius isn't please to live here again. He has a house-elf and maybe I can do some S.P.E.W. activity while I'm staying here

Ron and I had the weirdest conversation and he even admitted something to me which I knew already. It made me think though so I added it on my Memory Viewer…

Harry looked at the droopy wizard hat stamp and tapped the page

“Memoria!” Harry said

Harry looked at the diary, the droopy wizard hat picture disappeared and the diary page where July 31^st entry has disappeared and just like the Penseive, the diary showed a picture of the drawing room in Grimmauld Place

“Wow” said Harry looking at the diary

Harry watched as the view of the drawing room changed to show Hermione sitting on the floor with her back to the wall, she was eating a sandwich. Harry saw she was grim… he listened closely for any dialogue in the memory. Harry watched as Hermione finished her sandwich, stood up and walked to the center of the room to grab another sandwich from a plate filled with sandwiches

“Man, you eat too much” it was Ron

“I haven't eaten since I came here” said Hermione eating

Ron then shrugged and took another bite

“I wish Harry's here… it's his birthday and if Dumbledore could just bring him over, he would be happy about it” said Hermione

“I wish he was here too” said Ron as he and Hermione walked along the room “His last owl was very angry”

“I know” Hermione said “That's why when he comes here, I'm giving him a hug… he needs one after all he's done last June”

“A hug?” Ron grinned “Whatever happened to saying `great job' or `I'm sorry for not telling you about the Order'? What's the matter? Rita Skeeter's articles made you realized something?”

Hermione blushed

“What are you talking about?”

“I noticed that you are growing-up and you know that we can get little things for each other” said Ron “Er - well like me”

“Why?”

“Er - because last year… I er - I”

“Say it” said Hermione smiling

“I had a big crush on you last year when you went with Krum last year but I got over that”

“I know that” Hermione said “And I know we can overcome these things… I know I had”

“What?” said Ron raising an eyebrow “You had a crush on a friend?”

Hermione then hid her blushes

“C'mon Hermione, you can tell me” said Ron

“No” said Hermione at once “You might laugh”

“Is it me?” said Ron

Then Hermione shook her head

“Is it Harry?” said Ron

Then Hermione paused and looked at Ron for a while and gave a slow nod

“Really? When? Where? How?” asked Ron surprisingly

“Please Ron!” said Hermione blushing as ever “Not in front of Mrs. Weasley!”

“C'mon” Ron said teasingly poking Hermione's waist “tell me”

“Stop that!” Hermione said smiling “Alright! I'll tell you!”

“So? When? Where? How?” said Ron

Hermione sighed

“Yes, I had a crush on Harry” she said then she giggled briefly “But it was a very teeny, tiny crush…”

“When?”

“First year and third year” said Hermione turning red

“How?” said Ron

“During first year… I had a little crush on him when he saved me from the troll… I was like `Wow! The boy who lived saved me!'” she giggled “Then I would sometimes try to hold his hand when he would get some food then I would pretend we were getting the same sandwich” she blushed “Then when I hugged him before he fought with Quirrel… I felt great” she bit her lower lip “But it disappeared over the summer”

“How about third year?” Ron asked

“It kicked in when Harry and I used the Time-Turner… he was so protective… he kept on holding to my hand…” she looked across the room in a dreamy stare “I remembered when the werewolf nearly attacked us, he grabbed me and hugged me so tight… I felt nothing could hurt me. I even took the opportunity to hug him from behind when we rode on Buckbeak. Then one time during that experience, we talked during that time and when he looked into my eyes when he admitted that he thinks his dad conjured the Patronus, I saw his emerald green eyes… eyes you can just swim into… it made me weak in the knees…” Hermione was staring into space in a very dreamy look

“Hermione?” Ron said

“What?” Hermione said as if someone woke her up “Huh?” she shook her head and realized what she was doing

“How about now?” Ron said

“I don't know” said Hermione “But you know what? When I get these crushes on Harry, it makes me want to have that feeling again… you know what I'm saying” Hermione said blushing “When you like someone then you get really close to him and you finally feel like you are complete…” Hermione sighed “I felt so good when I get these feelings but I don't want to jeopardize our friendship so I'm trying my best not to have these feelings for him… Just hope when Harry arrives he won't have muscle-toned arms or my life will be destroyed” she laughed

“That's cool” said Ron

“Oh and er - don't tell Harry about this okay?” said Hermione

“I'm not good with keeping secrets” said Ron gingerly

“Please” Hermione said “I don't want Harry to know”

“Why?” asked Ron

“Because if he knows then our friendship will have problems and I'm afraid he might pick some girls over me” said Hermione sadly

“Alright… I promise”

“Thanks Ron”

Hermione smiled at him and said

“You know if you had a crush on me you can overcome that by thinking that I'm ugly or something”

“I don't think you're ugly” said Ron

Hermione laughed and pushed Ron playfully as the vision disappeared. The diary pages returned and the July 31^st entry appeared

Harry closed the book and felt someone watching him. Harry turned around and saw the real Hermione looking so shocked and so embarrassed at Harry who was holding her diary that has her secrets and her thoughts

Harry dropped the diary on her bag and looked at Hermione who was as red as Ron's hair

After minutes of staring down each other, Hermione finally spoke

“Did you - Did you -?”

Harry then nodded. He didn't want to show he can get guilty easily

“You” she said her voice shaking with anger “Have no right to look through my things!”

Harry saw her walk to him

“What did you see?” she said angrily

Harry looked at her

“Nothing” Harry said and walked pass her. He was going to climb out of the portrait hole

“Hey!” Hermione said “If you can be rude to me then I can be rude to you!”

Harry sighed and left the portrait hole. He climbed down the Grand Staircase and heard Hermione clamber out of the portrait hole

“I'm not done with you yet!” Hermione said loudly

Harry quickly went down the Grand Staircase as the people in their portraits looked on curiously

“Harry! You are being a jerk!” said Hermione behind him

Harry entered the entrance hall and felt Hermione hold him by the shoulder

“Harry! I want to talk to you on some stuff!” she said

Harry shoved her hand away

“Don't touch me” said Harry quietly

“Harry!” Hermione said angrily “Why are you so angry? Because I'm leaving?”

“Yeah and you know what? I hope you're leaving because I'm getting tired of your stupid blabbing” then Harry walked across the entrance hall but was stopped by Hermione. The double doors to the Great Hall was open so some students saw them

“How dare you?” said Hermione seething “You know that all my blabbing can save your life”

“Yeah and I rather die than listen to you” said Harry feeling hot in the face as he moved into the Great Hall. Everyone in the Great Hall fell silent when Hermione yelled

“What?!” said Hermione “You mean after all I've done for you, you rather ignore me? Oh wait” she said in mock realization “I forgot I'm the geeky, nerdy witch, right?”

Harry turned on his heel when he was already in the center of the Great Hall. He looked at Hermione in the eye

“Hermione” said Harry angrily the whole school watching them “For the last time you are not -”

“OH YES I AM!” Hermione shouted making some first years jump “YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT! YOU AND RON! YOU ALWAYS THINK I'M A NERD AND A GEEK!”

“Hermione” Harry said

“AND YOU EVEN HAD THE GUTS TO GO THROUGH MY THINGS AND LOOK INTO MY DIARY! HARRY, HOW COULD YOU?!”

“I was curious I couldn't control myself!”

“Control?” said Hermione “You can control yourself from the Imperius Curse and other stuff but when it comes to these things you can't control yourself”

“I can control myself! But with you around you make me blow up! I hope you leave sooner… Viktor will be so happy he can snog you senseless!”

Hermione threw a threatening look

“Viktor isn't like -”

“ -And not just that, he gets to have my best friend who turns out to be a selfish little brat!”

“I am not a brat!” Hermione spat “And it isn't like that!”

“Whatever” said Harry defiantly “You don't know how much you tortured me when you're with Alex and Viktor!”

“Oh, now you're jealous!” Hermione seethed “Cause for your information Harry, you don't know how painful it is to see you with Cho last year! That's right! I was jealous! And you know what? I think I'll accept Viktor's offer because I don't want a grouch making my life miserable! I don't want someone who insults me behind my back, comes to me for homework, take me for granted, who hates me because I just cost him his best broom ever!”

“I think you better leave now!” Harry shouted “Because I think there are a lot of boys there to flirt with!”

Hermione gave Harry a disgusted look

“You think I'm that kind of person?” she said shaking with anger “How about you? You easily get angry and you easily get irritated!”

Then Ron stood up from his seat

“C'mon guys let's just calm down and -”

“STAY OUT OF THIS!” Hermione and Harry shouted at him making him sit in his seat wide-eyed

Harry and Hermione just glared at each other and then

“If you are going to treat me this way for the whole year then I think it's for me to leave… since you don't care for me anyway”

Harry felt offended when she said this

“Are you saying I'm selfish? Look at you”

“Well? What do you see?” said Hermione defiantly

Harry felt his anger boil inside him… he didn't want this to happened… him, her fighting in the middle of the Great Hall with everyone watching

“You know what I see?” said Harry with supreme anger in his voice “I see a stupid little ugly, nerdy, geeky, pathetic witch who thinks she's good at everything! A show-off to be exact” Harry noticed Hermione looked hurt “I see more actually. I see the worst friend in the world and you know what?” said Harry thinking of the worst thing he can call her “I was right all along, me and Ron should've left you with that damn troll! And I think Malfoy is right, you are a filthy, little Mudblood!”

Harry knew he hit the spot because Hermione's jaw dropped slightly and her eyes started to water

“Take that back” she said shakily

“What?”

“TAKE THAT BACK!” she cried tears going down her cheeks “TAKE THAT BACK! I KNOW YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT!”

Harry saw her eyes… it was true… he didn't mean it… he was so angry he blurted everything out

“TAKE IT BACK!” said Hermione “If you don't then I don't know what to do! I don't know if you've changed or you've gotten meaner when you ignored me”

“Hermione” Harry said as Hermione continued ranting

Harry wanted to take everything back what he said but he didn't think that saying it will help… he said so much mean things

“ - and what happens next? You'll start making friends with Voldemort?” said Hermione

Harry noticed some people gasped and winced at the sound of the name

“Hermione!” Harry said making her stop

“What?” she spat “Are you going to insult me more? Go ahead! I'm used to it!” she said sarcastically “Go ahead! Hermione's a Mudblood! Hermione's ugly! Hermione's a -”

Before Harry could stop himself he took a step forward, pulled Hermione to him and gave her the biggest lip-lock he could ever give… Harry heard gasps and mumbling from the crowd. Harry closed his eyes as he kissed Hermione… it took a while till he pulled back

“There” Harry said shocked on what he just did “I took everything back”

Hermione held her lips and was also shocked that Harry kissed her in front of the whole school

“Oh my god” she said weakly