Chapter 9 - The Seed of Doubt
Headaches… You've got to hate them. They have a tendency to attack at the worst moments…
Currently, I am rubbing my temples, trying hard to focus on the new assigment Mr. Weasley had given me. I had tried a few painkiller spells, and none of them are working. I suspected that it is because the source of my headache wasn't really physical...
It was Tuesday, three days had passed since that awful party. Nothing had really changed between Harry and me. I hadn't talked to him about what was bothering me, and he was acting like he always does, but my sixth sense told me something was going on.
It will get better, I kept repeating. It was just a stage in our relationship.
The door opened and Ginny popped her head inside my office. I immediately grinned at her. I didn't want another lecture from her, so it was for the best to pretend that everything was perfect.
"Am I bothering you?" she asked.
"Not at all. Come in," I said. She did and sat down on a chair. "I was wondering when you'd come to tell me all about Saturday," I added. I hadn't seen or talked to Ginny since the party and was eager to hear what had happened with Alan.
"OK," Ginny said. "What exactly do you want me to tell you?"
She didn't seem very happy, so I guessed things hadn't go as she had planned. "I take it you and Alan are still in the same place."
She snorted. "I don't think we are in any place at all. He's a git. And of the big ones."
I dropped my quill and gave her my full attention. "What happened?"
"Nothing! Nothing happened. That guy is annoying! He doesn't even talk! You know, we danced like ten minutes and the only words he directed to me was actually one question... About you."
"Me?" I blinked.
"Yeah. He asked if you were a good friend of mine. I mean, how stupid can he get? He has seen us together thousands of times!"
"Maybe he was just trying to break the ice," I suggested.
"Don't think so, because after I told him you were one of my best friends, he said he was tired and left the party," Ginny explained, slightly upset. Then, she glared at me. "I think he likes you."
I laughed. "Are you kidding me?" She shook her head. "Ginny, don't be ridiculous. He barely knows me. Besides, he knows I'm with Harry."
She shrugged. "I still think he likes you." She looked at the clock in my wall. "It's getting late. I should go. I only came by to say hi to my dad and to you. See you!"
She left my office and I sighed. That girl was getting crazier everyday. I tried to go back to work, but half an hour after Ginny had left, I received another visit, this one much less expected or wanted.
"Good day, Granger," Malfoy sneered, entering in my office without even knocking.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, not hiding my disgusted expression.
"Just visiting a colleague," he replied, sitting down.
"I don't remember offering a chair to you."
"That's OK, I don't need you to. We've known each other for too long to bother in those formalities."
I narrowed my eyes at him. What was he doing here? He couldn't have good intentions, that was for sure. The last time I had talked to Malfoy had been the previous year, when he had offered his 'advice' to stop Ron's wedding. That memory haunted me until this day.
"What do you want?" I asked rudely, after a whole minute passed.
"I was just wondering..." he said, folding his arms behind his neck. "How are you doing?"
"That's so sweet of you," I said, making a face.
"I'm a sweet guy. But I'm serious. I've noticed that lately you've been in a bad mood. Something I hadn't had the chance to see in a long time. What is it? Getting bored of Potter already?"
"You wish," I said, going back to my work. I wish I could hex him. But certainly, Mr. Weasley wouldn't approve me cursing one of his employees.
"But it has to do with him, doesn't it?"
I did a huge effort to remain with my head down. How come Malfoy always knows what nerve to hit?
"You know Granger, no matter how much people say that you two are meant to be... I don't think so. In fact, I believe that you and Potter are totally wrong for each other."
"Well, thanks for your opinion, Malfoy, not that I asked you for it."
"I mean, he's Harry Potter after all... He's famous and popular - not that I understand why people like that whiny scarface so much - while you are not... Well, you're not even pretty. You don't help his image too much."
My hands gripped the quill so tight, that my knuckles turned white. I was furious. But I wasn't going to let him know that.
"He'd look much better with... I don't know. Cho Chang, maybe."
I couldn't help to look at him this time. He was smirking, analyzing all my moves. I was about to reply, when the door opened and Harry appeared. His smile faded when he noticed who was sitting in front of me. He frowned, and gave me a confused look before turning to him again.
"Malfoy," he muttered.
"Potter," he replied with a smirk. He didn't budge from his seat.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, slowly.
"I do work here, for your information," Malfoy said.
Harry turned to me. "Is he bothering you?"
Before I could say anything, Malfoy stood up with a smug smile plastered on his face. "Of course not. Granger and I are just having a little conversation. For old time's sake. Aren't we, Granger?" he asked, looking at me.
I glared at him. "Sure," I said, not hiding the sarcasm in my voice.
"I think you should leave, Malfoy," Harry said.
Malfoy made a face. "Should I? I don't think that Granger minds my presence here, after all, we've had our friendly moments, haven't we? I have been kind enough to provide her some help, when she needed it..."
I gave a sideway glance to Harry, who looked at me puzzled. I had never told him that it had been Malfoy the one that gave me the idea of how to ruin Ron's wedding. He would've freaked out that I had actually been willing to listen Malfoy before him. And I was too embarrassed of my weakness at that time.
"What is he talking about?" Harry asked, when he noticed my face.
"Nothing, Harry. Malfoy, get out."
Malfoy was about to comment something else, when my office's door opened again. This time, it was Alan's head that popped inside. Harry and I looked a him with surprise. Alan spotted Harry, then Malfoy, and finally turned to me.
"Uhm, hi," he said, not entering. "I see you're a little busy. I can come back later..."
What was Alan doing there? And where was my secretary when I needed her?
Malfoy laughed softly. "Well, well, Granger, it seems that your office got a little crowded. I'd love to stay and watch this, but I have more important things to do. Bye Potter, have a nice day," he said, passing beside Alan, who looked at him, not really understanding.
"Hello, Alan," Harry said. He was still frowning, probably because the encounter with Malfoy. "What are you doing here?" he asked politely, although I could heard a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Hi Harry," Alan said, looking nervous, "I didn't know you'd be here."
Harry turned to look at me with a questioning look and I shrugged. "Come in, Alan," I said.
Alan hesitated and finally stepped inside the office. "I wanted to talk to you about something, Hermione," he explained, "but I don't think this is the right time," he added, giving a quick look at Harry. "I'll come some other day, OK?"
Before Harry or I could stop him, he left quickly.
"What was that about?" Harry asked, finally, sitting down. "First Malfoy, then Alan Wagner in your office?"
"I don't know," I said.
"But why was Malfoy here? This is the first time I've seen him in your office."
"You know how he is, Harry. He always finds an excuse to bug me."
"And Alan?"
"What about him?"
"Why did he come here?"
"I have no idea. He didn't get to tell me, you heard him. He wanted to talk about something..."
"About what?" Harry pressed.
"How am I supposed to know that?"
"I don't know. You tell me."
For a second, I thought he was joking. But when I saw his serious expression, I frowned.
"What are you trying to say?" I asked.
He remained silent for a moment and then shook his head. "Nothing. Nevermind."
* * *
Cho observed Harry polishing his broom in the corner of the Pitch. It was getting late, he should be heading home by that time.
But no. He was there. And the frown in his face told her that something was bothering him. She didn't need to be a Seer to know that it probably had to do with Hermione.
Cho was very surprised that they had reached this point so fast. She had expected it would take her much longer to start the trouble between the so called perfect couple. She knew she couldn't feel victorious yet, though. It seemed that neither of them was facing their doubts, as she had realized when she had seen them together in Oliver's house. They probably believed that they were facing only tiny troubles in their relationship.
She would make sure that those tiny trouble became huge turmoil.
Besides, some unexpected ally had come into the game: Alan Wagner. Cho had never talked to him more that a few lines, and she wasn't even sure what his motives were, but her intuition told her that he could be a useful element. She had commented iy with Malfoy. Wagner was going to be observed by Cho, and she would find out what he wanted.
She approached to Harry and sat down beside him.
"I think that broom is shiny enough," she said, softly.
"I know," he replied, and kept polishing it. "But it's kind of relaxing."
"Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that you need to relax because of Wood's training."
Harry looked at her. "You're not wrong," he said, after a pause.
Cho held her breath, waiting for him to say something else. She didn't want to be pushy. She knew that Harry wasn't very open with people apart from Ron and *grunt* Hermione. It would be up to him if he told her or not what was going on.
Harry remained silent. Cho accepted the defeat and was ready to change the subject when he surprised her.
"I think... I think I have a problem with Hermione," he said, slowly. The expression in his face made Cho guess that he had actually reached that conclusion while he was polishing the broom.
"You think?" she repeated, knowing that she had a big chance in her hands.
"Yes... It's not something we've noticed... yet. I don't know, but things have been weird between us lately. I know that she feels it too, but she hasn't said anything."
"How weird?" Cho asked, deeply interested.
Harry sighed. "It's hard to explain. You see, Hermione and I have always connected in some special way, even when we were kids. She understands me like no one else... But lately... I don't know, but I keep having this feeling that we aren't communicating like we always have." Harry scratched his head. Cho arched her eyebrows, inviting him to continue. "I think we want different things, but we are both trying to do what the other wants and... This is getting really confusing, isn't it?" he asked with a smile.
"Not really. I understand what you mean. You are both doing what you think the other wants. And do you know what she wants?"
"She doesn't want to get married," Harry said.
If Harry hadn't been looking at her, she would have grinned of satisfaction. But somehow, she managed to keep a straight face. Now she definitely had to know more.
"She told you that?" she asked. She couldn't believe that girl was so stupid. Who wouldn't want to marry Harry Potter?
"She didn't tell me, that's the worse part. She said so to the whole Weasley family and her parents during a dinner. You were right when you said I should know how she felt about the proposal thing. I would have made a fool of myself if I had asked her."
Cho couldn't help but thinking that this was too good to be true. When she had suggested to Harry that Hermione might not be ready for marriage yet, she hadn't believe it for a second. It was just a statement to gain some time until she had a better plan. But, if she had said so in a family dinner, it had to be true... She would have to investigate further on the matter.
"I don't know why I'm telling you this," Harry said then. His comment wasn't rude. To Cho, it looked like he was actually surprised that he was confiding in someone.
"I'll tell you why. You're telling me this because, right now, you need a friend. Considering that all your friends are also Hermione's, it's hard to get an opinion from the outside. Everyone is too involved in your relationship to be impartial. And since I'm an outsider, I can offer you a more practical advice." She was good at this, that couldn't be denied.
Harry listened to her and finally nodded in agreement.
"So, what are you planning to do?" she asked.
Harry considered the question for a moment. "I honestly don't know. I suppose that the best course of action is to forget about it and keep going..."
"I guess so... But you shouldn't let it go that easily, Harry."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know if I should say this..." Cho started, putting her best doubtful expression.
"Please, go ahead."
"Fine. Something similar happened to me in China. I was involved with this guy... Everyone said we were the perfect couple. I loved him and he loved me. Everything was so perfect... But after a while, I realized we were going in different ways. I wanted a family and he didn't. He always said "later, now it's not the time." At first I tried to be understanding. I thought that, as long as I had him, everything would be alright. But after two years together, I understood that we would never move forward. There was no way we could be happy together like that. So we both decided we should stay as good friends and find someone with whom we could share what we really wanted..." she made a pause, studying Harry's reaction. She had made up that story a while ago, in case that she ever got the chance to tell it to him.
Harry seemed very impressed. "Wow, I had no idea... But I don't think that's what's happening with us, Cho. I know that Hermione wants to start a family eventually. There's no rush."
"That's what I thought for a long time too."
"Well, maybe, but... I know I couldn't be with anyone else than her, Cho."
"That's okay," she said, sweetly. "I'm not saying anything. Just wanted to tell you my experience so you'd have a point to compare. I'm sure that you and Hermione are different."
Harry sighed. "Maybe I should talk to her about this."
"No, that's not a very good idea," Cho said quickly. As long as Harry and Hermione didn't talk to each other, there would be better chances to confuse them more. "Hermione could think that you're being pushy, and believe me, we women don't like to feel under pressure. Trust me, leave things like they are for now, and you'll see that everything will fall in its right place soon. You are meant to be after all, right?"
Harry didn't say anything, but Cho was sure she had won a few points with their conversation. She couldn't wait to tell Malfoy.
* * *