Chapter 12 - After Christmas Aftermath
Time had certainly flown for Harry. He could remember first telling his love to Hermione about two years ago and now, here he was in the present, struggling to be her best friend.
Christmas time had come really fast and even though the mood was supposed to be cheerful, gloomy spirits followed Harry everywhere. Even though he and Hermione were broken up for about 3 months now, he still felt as bad as he did when Hermione broke up with him 4 months ago.
Ron would be spending his Christmas holidays with his family at the burrow, leaving Harry and Hermione alone, which was not a really good idea to Harry. Leaving two people alone together with a past of going out may have severe consequences. Harry didn't want to find out what they were though. He cursed Ron for leaving him hanging like that. Hermione on the other hand, didn't seem to care much.
Harry was planning on giving Hermione the original thing he was supposed to give her on her birthday. But when Christmas did come up, he couldn't find himself to do it. Something in the pit of his stomach told him not to. When he told about it to Ron through Owl Post, he ranted and raved about why Harry didn't give it to her. The pressure that Ron was giving him was convincing him ever so slightly to make him want to give it to her. Still, he refused.
***
A few days later, Harry woke up late one snowy Saturday morning. The reason was a dream that was bothering him. Someone or something kept telling to just give the gift up to Hermione. This wasn't the first time he had been having these dreams either. He was having them for the past few days now and the more he had them, the stronger the urge to just give it up. As he popped out of bed, he decided that this was it; he was going to give it to her. Ron still hadn't returned from Christmas holidays and what a surprise it would be to him when he finds out that Harry actually gave it to her. That kind of fueled him as well.
He got dressed rather quickly and fumbled in his trunk, frantically searching for it. Finally, he pulled out a black velvet box about the size to hold a small wand. He stared at it appraisingly, nodded his head and headed toward Hermione's room.
Hermione didn't answer when he knocked so, just in case if she was in trouble, opened her door and looked inside. To no avail, Hermione was not there. Her bed was made perfectly (a thing Hermione always did) and the pole that she hung her cloak on was gone.
She probably woke up hours ago, thought Harry.
He paced through the magical wall and through the Fat Lady portrait, almost walking through Nearly Headless Nick.
"Hello Sir Nicholas," Harry waved.
"Morning Harry," he smiled. He looked a bit surprised as well. "You're up a bit late to today."
"I know Nick," yawned Harry. "Have you seen Hermione?"
"I have actually," answered Nick. "She was with someone."
"Who?" beamed Harry.
"I didn't look," said Nick. "I assumed that it was you. But if you're standing here, then I guess she couldn't have been with you could she?" He chuckled a bit. Harry forced some laughter. It wasn't very funny to him.
"Sorry Harry," apologized Nick. "I honestly thought it was you. I mean, even though you two aren't a couple anymore, you still hang around with each other like you are. Broken up, but sticking together as the best friends you are. That deserves my full honor and praise."
"Thanks Nick," Harry blushed. Wow, even the ghosts knew about the relationships that went around here.
"Well anyway, I saw the two of them head outside. I'm sure that you'll find her there," Nick said. "What's that you got there?"
"This?" said Harry, referring to the block box he was holding. "I'm supposed to give this to Hermione. Well, not supposed to… I can… but I'm having second thoughts about it."
"Just give it to her Harry," Nick said, sounding a lot like Ron now, "I'm sure she'll love it, whatever it may be, regardless of your relationship status with her."
Harry nodded.
"Be off my boy, she is waiting."
After a last goodbye, Nick was gone, and Harry paced to the Front Doors. He burst through the doors and looked searchingly for Hermione, walking down the 4 front steps one by one. The day was a very beautiful one. It was snowing very softly and the entire outside was completely covered in white. Everything that was supposed to be green, was white because of the winter season; the ground was covered in snow and so were a couple of bushes. The lake was frozen solid and a few birds fluttered by every now and then. That's were he saw them, by the lake, the exact spot where he and Hermione hung out in their time of love.
The guy was leaning against the tree and Hermione was throwing snowballs at him, giggling like a little kid. He tossed one back at her. She turned to the side and it hit her dead on the shoulder, splattering everywhere. He flashed him a look and the both of them laughed it off. She then stood dangerously close next to him. During their snowball fight, Harry caught a glimpse of the guy. He assumed that this was Xavier Blake. He was handsome and about two inches taller than Hermione, where as Harry was about a head taller than Hermione. His brown hair was combed back and his build was about a bit like Harry's, maybe a little less.
He watched them sadly for a bit and looked at the box he had and twiddled it in his hands. His eyes were watering a bit as he thought whether now was not a good time to give it to her, or whether not to give it to her at all. He wiped his eyes before turning around slowly and tiptoeing up the steps. When he reached the top, Hermione must have saw him because he heard her call him.
"Harry!"
He turned around to see Hermione at the bottom of the steps with the boy she was with closely behind her.
"Hi Harry," Hermione said.
"Hey Hermione," he answered, trying really hard to smile. "What's up?" he added to the guy that was behind her.
"Hey," he waved. All in all, he seemed like a nice guy.
"Harry this is Xavier. Xavier, Harry," Hermione said, introducing each other.
Harry walked back down the 4 steps and politely shook Xavier's hand. Even though Harry felt a bit of scorn to him, he had to respect him. If Hermione saw something in him, it must've been a good soul.
"What's that you got there Harry?" Hermione asked, seeing the box he was carrying.
"Nothing," Harry lied, quickly stuffing it into his robes pocket. Hermione looked at him puzzlingly, but decided not to push it any further.
"Xavier, could you leave us for a bit. I need to talk to Harry alone," she said.
Xavier nodded. "Sure. I'll be somewhere out here. Maybe I'll build a snowman or something."
"You go do that," laughed Hermione.
When Xavier was gone and way out of earshot, Harry spoke.
"So what do you need to talk to me about?" asked Harry, making himself comfortable by leaning against the railing. Hermione joined him.
"Something important Harry," she answered.
"It must be," added Harry jokingly, "if you have to send your boyfriend away."
"He's not my boyfriend Harry," Hermione cleared up. "He just asked me if I wanted to hang out with him outside."
"If you say so," Harry grinned skeptically, looking slightly away from her. Since the break up, Harry's acting skills had greatly improved. On the outside, he may look like he was joking around and having a good time, but on the inside, he was slowing dying and fading away. He must've died already when he saw Hermione and Xavier together. Even though Hermione had said that nothing was between them, he thought so otherwise. The only source of truth was his eyes. Luckily, Hermione no longer read them.
"Well?" said Harry impatiently.
"Oh!" exclaimed Hermione, slightly dazed, "I wanted to ask you something."
"Go on."
"Have you been dating Serine?" she asked with a scared look.
"No," said Harry coolly. "I haven't seen her in forever and a day. And thank God. If I see her I'm probably going to be thrown in Azkaban with no remorse!"
"That's not funny Harry," Hermione said.
"I know it's not," said Harry. "But why so interested in Serine all of a sudden
Hermione?"
"Well Harry, I think that enough time has passed and I think that maybe we should come clean with each other," she said matter-of-factly.
"I don't understand."
"Well honestly Harry, I'm not dating anybody. But I will be honest about this: there may be something with Xavier that I haven't felt yet," admitted Hermione.
"Oh," said Harry, feeling his heart shatter, as if it didn't about a million times before.
"But I'm still curious about something Harry," she added. "If you don't want to answer then I understand."
"What?"
"Did you cheat on me at all?"
Harry felt almost as insulted as when Adelle asked him if he really loved Hermione and not only to get her into bed.
"Of course not!" Harry retorted.
"Then why didn't you get away from her?" she retorted back, crossing her arms. "When she was all against you like that?"
"I -", started Harry, thinking about what to say next. He thought that maybe he would look more stupid than clever. "I couldn't…"
"You expect me to believe that!?" she exclaimed. "I find you two in an empty corridor, you back slammed against a wall and Serine rubbing against you. And you think that I wouldn't mind and the only thing you could tell me was that you couldn't get away? Or is it more like, you wouldn't get away?"
"Why don't you believe me?" shouted Harry. He was about to tell her about how it was hard, like he was bound up in rope and feeling helpless. He didn't get the chance.
"Because it's hard to believe Harry! Plus, it defies logic Harry! I even read your eyes and there was no sense of truth there! You didn't even look like you were tempting to get away from her -!"
"Don't bring your brainy bull-crap into this Hermione!" Harry screamed, pointing a finger at her. "We were supposed to talk, not yell at each other!"
"Well one thing lend to another didn't it Harry?" retorted Hermione. "Or did your brain unsuccessfully manage that?"
"I may have an unmanageable brain, but at least I use it correctly at the right time!" insulted Harry.
Hermione stood with her mouth open, apparently insulted. "This conversation has ended Harry!"
"Good! It was pointless anyway!"
"Harry I -"
"No Hermione! I'm sick of this crap! If you don't want to believe me, then you don't have to! All I know is that I told the truth and I know I'm right! I did my part, sorry you failed to do yours."
It was Hermione's turn to look insulted. "I just don't believe you Harry…"
"I already said it! You don't have to!" shouted Harry at the top of his lungs. He was red in the face and breathing very hard. He never felt so angry in his entire life. "Good luck with Xavier, Hermione. Hope you two have a long and happy relationship together."
He turned his back rudely to her and stormed away opening the front door.
"Whatever Harry!" retorted Hermione as he walked through the door and slammed it behind him. "Some friend you are!"
***
Inside the castle, Harry didn't know whether he was furious of sad. He tried not to think about it as he raced through corridors. Then, once again, he saw a face that he didn't want to see.
"Hi Harry!" Serine waved, almost bumping into him.
"Get away from me Serine," he said. "I'm already pissed this morning and I don't need you to aggravate it any further."
"Oh!" said Serine. There wasn't a look of disguise or sexual gleam. There was, however, a look of concern. "Hermione, I'm guessing Harry?"
Harry eyed her suspiciously, if she was up to something this time, he'd be ready.
"Yeah, it's Hermione," stated Harry. "We were fighting because of you actually."
"Me?"
"Yep," said Harry, still a bit full of scorn. "What happened that day anyway? Or are you not going to tell me?"
"First Harry," she started, "I want to apologize for the way that I've been with you in the past. What motivated me to flirt with you, I wish to keep to myself, but I have learned this about you: you have the most loyalty to a girl than any other man that I've seen. And I give you my highest regards. Most taken men, when I approached them, would have suddenly become single and have sex with me without even thinking of consequences."
Harry stared at her. This wasn't the Serine he once knew. She had suddenly become… compassionate or almost… human.
"I cast a unresisting spell on you Harry," she added.
"A what?"
"An unresisting spell," confirmed Serine. "At the time, I had to have you. So, I put the spell on you so you couldn't resist. There was one thing that I overlooked: You were so in love with Hermione. Much more than I thought you did. Far more love than anyone I've encountered."
"What's the big deal in that?" asked Harry sarcastically.
"It means Harry," she continued, "that your love for her was so strong, you were able to break the spell. If there's one thing that can counter any spell successfully Harry, it's love."
Harry still eyed her suspiciously.
"The thing about this spell is that it requires no wand," Serine added. "You cast it on your hands and the minute you touch the person, it takes into effect."
"Whatever Serine."
"Don't believe me huh? Well the spell is 'Irrisistol'," pointed Serine. "Try it for yourself."
Harry eyed her continuously, looking for a hint in lying in her voice and her facial expressions. To his surprise, he didn't find it. He was starting to feel happy for once, happy that all because of his actions in the past with Serine wasn't his fault. He could tell Hermione everything! Still…
"Ok I believe you Serine," said Harry, still a bit upset with her actions in the past. "I still haven't quite forgiven you about that… but I don't want it happening again.
Understand?"
"Crystal clear!" she exclaimed. "I just hope you forgive me one day…"
"We'll see…"
"Can I have a hug Harry?"
Harry started to approach her, but suddenly felt like it was a bad idea. The thought that she could've been lying her ass off the whole time still bothered him. He did, however, embrace her, ready for anything. To his surprise again, nothing happened; just a regular, simple, honest hug. He figured that this was Serine's way confirming that she was telling the truth.
"Thanks a lot Serine," said Harry, accepting her apology. "You've… actually made my day."
"Your welcome Harry," she answered. "Hope you and Hermione get along well in the future." Harry fluttered his eyebrows.
"I sure hope so," he said, thinking back terribly at the argument he just had with her. "Some Christmas week this is…"