"Can We Still Be Friends?"
Chapter 2: "Consequences"
by: Gwendy
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all its characters are the property of author J.K Rowling. This fanfic uses but does not stake claim upon any of the characters so don't sue me!
Warning! This fanfic depicts a Harry/Hermione ship or Harry/Hermione love team so if you're not comfortable with this couple, please discontinue reading.
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"Harry? Are you okay, mate? Hey, Harry!" Ron reached out and shook Harry's shoulder.
"Huh? Wha--oh, yeah. Fred and George's joke shop is doing very well. Okay."
"I was talking about the new Nimbus 2004 model up for display in Diagon Alley," Ron's freckled face was stretched by his frown. He ran his fingers across his fiery red hair to smoothen it. "What's wrong with you, mate? You haven't been listening to a word I was saying!"
Harry simply shrugged and looked out of the car window, his green eyes settling over the fields as they zoomed past. Bill and Ron Weasley had come to pick him up two days after he arrived at Grimmauld Place. Even as the Weasley brothers talked to him animatedly about their summer, Harry merely nodded from time to time, giving out weak or forced smiles.
"Really, Harry. What's the matter?" Ron asked again, while opening a box of chocolate frogs. The muggle car they were using suddenly bounced so hard, that the chocolate frog Ron had gripped tightly slipped away from his fingers and jumped on Harry's arm.
"Bloody frog! Catch it Har--ah! You let it get away!" Ron cried exasperatedly as the frog made its way out the window and on to freedom.
"Easy, little brother," Bill chuckled from the driver's seat. "There's still a lot in the bag. Enough to have you full for three whole weeks in fact."
"Yeah..." Ron muttered, opening another box for himself. "Everyone's been acting very weird lately. I mean, I'm the only one here who's noticed it!"
"Maybe you're the one who's acting weird, Ron," Bill replied, a smile spreading across his good-looking face. Harry had always thought that Bill was the coolest of the Weasley brothers. Even though he worked at Gringotts Bank and was expected to be more formal, he wore cool outfits, dragon claw earrings and kept his red hair long, a fact which always gets into his mother's nerves.
"Oh, come off it, Bill!" Ron rolled his eyes. "You've been acting all gentleman like ever since you worked with Fleur! Would you believe he's using Dad's perfume now?" Ron snickered, nudging Harry's arm with his elbow.
"W-well I...I'm just trying to appear nice for a change," Bill stammered. Harry could see Bill's beet-red reflection in the rearview mirror.
"Right..." Ron moved closer to Harry and whispered, "Fleur's been calling day and night for him with that sickly sweet voice: 'Good day! Zis is Fleur Delacour. May I zpeak to Bill Weazley pleaze?'" he rolled his eyes again. "Fred and George are thinking of using those extendable ears the next time she calls. Maybe you could--"
"You better not be whispering about me," Bill called as he took a right turn.
"You? No...no...I...I was just telling Harry how strange Ginny's been lately."
"Ginny?" Bill raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah. She's been using Errol more often than Mum and Dad. Poor bird."
"And she's always writing these long long letters. I think it's a new boyfriend," Ron took a bite from his chocolate frog. "I snuck up from behind her when she received a reply last night. Something about keeping it a secret. I only managed to see the letter 'D' before she saw me and told Mum. Boy...if I find out it's another Michael Corner..."
"Hermione's been acting weird too, hasn't she?" Bill interjected.
"Hermione?" Harry swallowed hard, suddenly looking terrified. "Don't tell me she's at the Burrow too?"
"Of course she is," Ron answered, giving Harry a perplexed look. "She came there yesterday and she wasn't talking as much...just like you. Ginny's been sulking around 'coz Hermione wouldn't listen or tell her what's wrong. Is there something that I ought to know?"
Harry quickly shifted his eyes away. The thought of telling Ron what had happened that night never really occurred to him; and now, when the opportunity presented itself, he couldn't bring himself to tell his best friend the truth. Harry knew that somehow, Ron had taken a liking to Hermione even though they fought like cats and dogs. As for Hermione...
"What if she likes Ron?" Harry squirmed in his seat. It disturbed him more than he had thought it would. What if Hermione does like Ron better than him?
"If so, why did she kiss me?" Harry wondered. That thought made him relax a bit until a realization occurred to him. Was it really Hermione who kissed him or was it him who kissed her?
"Harry! Harry!" a hand waved in front of Harry's eyes.
"W-what?"
"We're here," Ron gave Harry a funny stare from outside the car. "Come on. Bill's already got your luggage."
With great effort, Harry pulled himself away from the seat and slowly trekked towards the Weasley's home. No sooner had he set foot on the doorstep when Mrs. Weasley came bounding towards him with wide, open arms.
"Harry, dear! It's so good to see you!" she gave Harry one of her motherly hugs which unfortunately for the young wizard, can cause quite a discomfort. "Oh, Harry! You've really grown! And I see that those dreadful relatives of yours finally took our advice on giving you a bit of nourishment. I don't think I've ever seen you so healthy!"
"C'mon, Molly. You're crushing the boy," grinned Mr. Weasley, reaching over to ruffle Harry's already messy, dark hair. "How're you doing, Harry?"
"Fine," Harry breathed heavily when Mrs. Weasley let him go. He didn't exactly enjoy being treated like a child, but being treated like family more than made up for it.
"Let's go in and have a spot of breakfast then, shall we, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley gave out a warm smile and ushered Harry in the house.
The kitchen was a buzz of activity when they arrived. The ladle was stirring itself in a pot of hot soup. The toaster kept popping out toasts and flying them across the room towards a large plate where a bread knife scraped the burnt parts off the bread. A jar of honey was flying over piles of pancakes and pouring itself on it.
"Harry! I see you got here in one piece," George piped up as he and Fred entered the room, both wearing identical silk robes. It was only then that Harry saw the changes in the house. Everything seemed brand new. The kitchen utensils, tables, chairs, table cloths, the Weasleys' clothes...even Mr. Weasley's pipe looked fresh from the store. This sight made him eager to visit Fred and George's joke shop.
"Yeah. I managed to take off the Perky Jerky you stuck on the car dash," Bill held up what looked like a pink bandage with purple colored polka dots. "This is the third time you turned me into one of your guinea pigs."
"Did it really work?" Fred asked eagerly.
"Yep," Bill beamed and winked. "Save me a dozen of these. I want to stick it on some chairs at Gringotts."
"No wonder the car was so jumpy!" Ron stated as he took a seat. Harry did the same. He reached for his plate only to grab at thin air.
"Mrs. Weasley! I just got the plates from the cupboard."
"Thank you, dear. Just distribute them on the table."
CRASH!!!
All heads turned to the direction of the noise including Harry's. That's when his eyes met those all to familiar hazel brown ones. Hermione stood stiffly, her hands clamping over her mouth as she stared with wide eyes at Harry. She quickly shifted her gaze to the floor which was littered with pieces of broken plates.
"I...I-I-I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, Mrs. Weasley! I'll go get my wand!" Hermione dashed towards the staircase.
"Hermione, dear! I'll do it! Her---oh well," Mrs. Weasley sighed and took out her wand. "Reparo!"
In an instant, the pieces of the plate came together and fused. With another wave of her wand, Mrs. Weasley made the plates distribute themselves on the table.
"Hi, Harry," Ginny entered the room, smiling widely. She flipped her long red hair and continued to read a length of parchment while stroking her chin with a quill. "Dad, have you seen Errol?"
"Probably hiding from you, dear," Mr. Weasley teased, sipping from his cup of coffee. "I haven't seen him much lately. Who are you really writing to?"
"Just friends," Ginny replied quickly. Too quickly, Harry thought.
"Yeah right! You're only writing to one friend!" Ron retorted. "Who's this 'D' anyway?! Dean Thomas?!"
"I don't ask you who you fancy...even though I know!" Ginny giggled and ran out of the kitchen, leaving Ron to blush heavily.
"Girls..." grumbled Ron, reaching for a toast. "It really might be Dean Thomas. She mentioned that in the train a few months ago, remember?"
"If it was Dean, he would've been comfortable calling on the felytone. He's your friend after all," said Fred, taking a seat on Ron's left.
"It's telephone, Fred," George made a grab for three pancakes while sitting himself beside Harry. "And besides, I haven't seen Ginny using the phone or anything. Hmm...a 'D' you say?"
"It might be 'D' for Draco," Fred spoke up. A moment of silence fell upon the table. Then, the twins burst out laughing. Even Harry managed to let out a chuckle.
"Funny," Ron let out what seemed like a nervous laugh. "She'd never go out with that git...right?"
"Well, we never thought Cho would be interested in Harry either. Oh, sorry mate," George gave Harry a pat on the back.
"No, that's okay," Harry smiled. He could care less about Cho Chang now. Not ever...after his and Hermione's kiss two days ago...
"Ginny dear, could you please call Hermione? She's been gone quite a while," Mrs. Weasley finished serving the soup just as Ginny re-entered the room. She nodded and skipped merrily towards the stairs.
"Boy...she's in a good mood," Bill smiled and sat beside Mr. Weasley. "Oh, by the way Dad, Mum, Charlie called on the phone. He's sends his regards."
"Isn't that sweet of him? Remind me to call him back, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley took a seat beside her husband, which was right across Bill.
"Come on, Hermione. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! You mustn't miss it," Ginny called, slowly making her way down the stairs while pulling on Hermione's hand. Harry nervously nibbled on a piece of toast while watching Hermione's slow descent at the corner of his eye.
"Come now, dear," Mrs. Weasley crooned. "The plates are alright. Go on. Take a seat."
Hermione didn't move and Harry knew why. There were two empty seats: one on his side, and one on Ron's side, which was right across Harry. He swallowed hard. It seemed like an eternity before Hermione finally took a seat...beside Ron. Harry's loud intake of breath caused Pigwidgeon, Ron's tiny owl, to wake up and start flitting about in his cage.
"Bloody bird!" Ron cried before standing up to remove the cage from the kitchen. He came back as quickly as he went, plopping down excitedly on his seat.
Breakfast went on as usual. The Weasleys were having a casual and jovial conversation. It seems that now, they were being very careful not to mention anything about Percy, the Weasley brother who had moved out in disapproval of his parents. Everything was normal except for Harry and Hermione's silence and the way they avoided each other's gaze. Once in a while, Ron would try to engage Hermione in small talk only to end up frustrated by her silent nods. Meanwhile, Harry continued to sip his soup with obvious disinterest.
"Needs a bit of salt..." he thought, and reached across the table, only to wrap his fingers around Hermione's hand. She had also made a grab for the salt shaker. His emerald eyes shot up and met Hermione's golden brown ones. Hermione immediately jerked her hand away and put it under the table. Her bangs concealed her eyes just like two nights before but Harry could clearly see her flushed cheeks.
"G-go ahead, H-Hermione..." Harry struggled to talk casually and held the salt shaker up for Hermione.
"Uhmm...uh..." Hermione bit her lip, still avoiding Harry's gaze. "Th-thanks, but no thanks," she turned her attention to Mrs. Weasley. "Mrs. Weasley, I don't feel like eating much. May I be excused?"
"Why? What's wrong, dear? Are you coming down with something?"
"No, I just feel kind of full."
"Well, okay. But if you're not feeling well, just let me know."
Hermione gave a quick smile and stood up from the table. Her eyes lingered on Harry for a split second before she exited the kitchen.
"What's with her?! You think she'd--you alright, Harry?" Ron questioned.
"Huh? Uhm...yeah," Harry pushed his plate away. "Mrs. Weasley, I'd like to be excused from the table, please."
"But Harry, dear, you barely touched your food!"
"I've had a bit of snack before the trip," Harry lied.
"Alright dear. Feel free to come back if you get hungry again."
"I'll be in your room," Harry nodded at Ron, stood up and slowly walked away from the table. He trudged up the stairs and in to the second landing. The door to Ron's room was only a few distance away but he went past that and stood in front of a door which led to a room he had never set foot in: Ginny's room. From behind the door, Harry could hear Hermione's soft whimpers. It brought back bad memories of the night he had hurt her, making him grimace. He wanted so much to comfort her...to tell her that everything was going to be alright. He took a deep breath. This was his chance. He had to confront her about what happened. They have to discuss it...or risk losing their friendship. But then he wondered: does he really want everything the way it was...before their kiss? Yes, he would have liked it better that way. But when the memory of Hermione's lips against his own replayed in his mind, he realized that he wanted something else. His heart beat maddeningly against his chest. He had felt this way before, but never as deeply as now. He was falling in love with Hermione.
"But what if she doesn't feel the same for me?" Harry's hands balled into fists. There was only one way to find out. He raised his hand and curled his fingers around the door knob. He held his breath as he slowly turned the knob open.
"Harry? What are you doing?"
In an instant, Harry's hand was off the knob and into his pocket. He turned to face Ginny, who was still clutching her length of parchment only this time, Pigwidgeon was sitting on her shoulder.
"Nothing," came Harry's quick reply. "What are you doing with Pig?"
"Oh," she looked at the tiny owl and blushed. "Don't tell Ron, okay? I couldn't find Errol so I'm kind of borrowing Pig to send my letter," she then turned serious. "Now, can you tell me what you're doing in front of my room?"
"Th-this is your room?! I thought it was Ron's!" Harry gave out a fake chuckle. "I must've gotten confused. See you, Ginny," he walked past the red-haired witch and opened the door to Ron's room.
"Something's going on with you and Hermione, is there?" Ginny called, stopping Harry in his tracks. With frightened eyes, Harry stared at the youngest of the Weasleys while swallowing a huge lump in his throat. Does she know? Certainly, Ginny and Hermione had become quite close for the past few years. Who's to say Hermione wouldn't confide to her?
"Look. If you're having a fight, you should patch it up quick," Ginny stated with an air of knowledge around her. This made Harry sigh loudly with relief. She doesn't know a thing after all. Of course! Hermione's smart enough to keep that matter to herself.
"Oh my! You were going to patch up with her!" Ginny gasped. "I'm so sorry! You go ahead. I'll go to Fred's and George's room to send Pig off instead," and with that, she dashed towards the Weasley twins' room.
"Right then..." Harry whispered to himself and took another huge breath of air. He stepped in front of Ginny's door again but this time, he didn't put his hand on the knob. It would be rude if he suddenly burst in. It's better to announce his presence first.
"Her--Ooof!" Harry was cut off by a strong force hitting him on the chest. He had pulled his foot back just in time to stop himself from falling. He lowered his eyes to a head of brown curls buried on his chest. Hermione immediately looked up at him, her red-rimmed eyes full of shock and surprise. Apparently, she had dashed out of the room for reasons unknown...right into Harry's arms.
An awkward silence came upon the sunlit hallway of the Burrow's second landing. Harry could practically hear his heart beating, almost in a drum roll. He could even feel Hermione's, being that she was still pressed against his chest.
"Hermione..." Harry begun, his voice strangely soft and mellow. "Hermione...I'd like to ta--"
"Let go of me!" came Hermione's shrill cry, making Harry step back in surprise. Breaking away from the young wizard's embrace, Hermione quickly ran down the stairs, not daring to look back at a stunned Harry.
Harry didn't know how long he stood on the empty hallway, still staring blankly at the stairs. Finally, he leaned on the wall and almost dramatically, slid down to the floor. He felt weak...but it wasn't because he didn't eat breakfast. It was because of what he saw flickering in Hermione's tear-filled eyes: anger.
"Why?!" Harry slapped his hand against his forehead and ran it along his dark hair. "Why would she be so angry at me?! I didn't do anything to..." At that moment, Harry's eyes widened as a horrible realization dawned on him. He had done something to her. He had kissed Hermione...and by the looks of it, it had been against her will. Harry bent his head down, concealing his eyes behind the strands of hair that fell on his face. He had never felt so low in his life. How could he have done what he did without even thinking about Hermione's feelings? But still...he wasn't sure if he had been the one to make the first move. Either way, the effect was the same. He and Hermione will never be friends again...
**********Author's notes************
I'm finished with the this chapter! Will Harry and Hermione patch up their relationship? Find out more and click to chapter three!