Chapter Thirteen
She heard a scratching at the window.
Deciding she was in no mood to get out of bed yet, she rolled over. The scratching continued annoyingly. Hermione sighed, and glanced at the clock. It was already noon. Growling, she got out of bed and opened the window.
Hedwig soared in, and then landed gracefully atop a pillow.
She blinked at the snow-white bird for a moment before approaching her. She took the letter from the owl's leg tentatively, and opened it.
Hermione
You didn't give me a chance to explain last night. But I can understand your anger. Please, let me explain what happened. Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron at two. And if you don't show up, I understand. I won't try to contact you again.
Harry
So the filthy bastard wanted to explain did he? Anger awoke her quickly, and she crumpled the letter in her hand.
So what was she supposed to do now? Let him explain? She was still thirsty for an explanation, but could she tell him now, after all these years what he'd done to her? Could she tell him now that she still loved him? Shame filled her now as she carefully opened the letter again. It was a shame even after all the hurt he'd put her through that she still loved him. She took a deep breath and looked back down at Hedwig.
The owl blinked up at her.
"Good to see you again, Hedwig." She smiled, and stroked the bird. Hedwig hooted happily and took off through the open window.
She bit her lip in thought.
She went to the nightstand and picked up the ring. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and thought about it.
And then, suddenly deciding, she put the letter on the nightstand with the ring and headed for the shower.
She had a very important meeting at two, and she didn't plan to be a minute late.
~*~*~*~*~*~
As she finished up getting ready, she wondered if she should back out. But then there would be no resolution to the pain she'd been suffering. No, really there was no choice. She had to get answers.
She strode over to the nightstand and picked up the ring again, wondering if she should take it with her. She had questions about this too, and what had caused the sudden change to the once beautiful band. She pocketed it, pulled on her cloak, and took out her wand. She'd passed her apparition test only months earlier.
She thought hard of the atmosphere of the Leaky Cauldron and felt suddenly very light. Then she felt a hard rush of wind, and heard the own echo of her bang as she landed carefully just inside the Leaky Cauldron.
Not seeing Harry immediately, she checked her watch. She was perfectly on time.
"Tom, have you seen Harry?" She asked politely to the toothless bartender.
"Why yes Miss Granger, this way." He showed her to a private booth, where Harry was slumped over, toying with an empty glass.
"Hermione." He said, surprised.
Hermione nodded to Tom, who left them with a toothless grin.
"I can't believe you came." He said.
"Well Harry, I'm really not here for chit chat." She wouldn't let her emotions come through. This was going to stay as a business meeting and nothing more. If it did become more, she'd be in even more trouble. She sat across from him.
"Um, alright," he answered tentatively.
"I'm waiting," she said after a moment of awkward silence.
"Oh, well, um," he rubbed the back of his neck.
His green eyes looked pleadingly up and into hers, and she felt the familiar melting sensation. She shook herself away from it, and hitched her chin higher.
"Fine, I guess I'll start." She said. "I want to know what the hell happened."
"When?"
"When you wouldn't return my letters!" She said, trying to keep her anger at bay.
"Well, see, the thing is, Dumbledore contacted me shortly after I returned to the Dursley's. He told me to go to the Order right away. Voldemort had been spotted," he said, "or so we thought. I had moved into Gimmauld Place, by the order of Dumbledore."
Her heart had, of course, skipped a beat as he mentioned the sight of Voldemort.
"During that time, I was forbidden to contact anybody. Including you and Ron."
She nodded.
"After a week or two of being locked up like that, we discovered it was a false alarm. Now I had no place to go, so I owled Ron, and of course he invited me to stay."
"But why didn't you tell me where you were going and what you were doing?" She asked, and tried not to sound pleading.
"I-" he hesitated. "I don't know."
"I don't believe that for a second." Malice crept into her voice.
He sighed, "Alright."
"So tell me the truth." She demanded.
"That is the truth Hermione."
"Bullocks." She spat.
"Why don't you believe me?" Finally life came into his voice. The monotone was gone.
"Because I know you. I can see it in your eyes when you're lying." She knew it because he didn't make that contact as he spoke. And after, that his eyes became shifty.
"You think you know me so well?" Anger was rising in him as well, and Hermione was suddenly afraid.
"You know I do." She snapped.
"Fine. I was lying. You know what I was doing Hermione? I was trying to protect you."
"More lies." She muttered.
"It's not." He said simply. "Since that false alarm, I'd be afraid that he'd actually be spotted, and I did not want to put you in danger."
"How would you put me in danger by telling me where you were? Sounds selfish to me." She muttered.
"It wasn't." He growled.
"Then explain this to me." She said, digging out the ring and tossing it on the table.
It clattered on the table, the only sound in the heavy silence.
He stared at the ring for a moment and then looked back up at her stern face. It was set in irritation, and he noted it as he carefully picked up the ring.
"You...you kept it." He said quietly.
"Of course I kept it. It was supposed to stand for the promises you made." Her voice was quiet and easy now.
"I'm... I'm sorry Hermione."
She didn't say anything as she watched him play with the ring, as she had done not to long ago sitting all alone in a bar.
"I-" he took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "I'm not sure you want to hear this."
"I want to hear everything."
"Alright."
He looked up at her, and she noted several emotions shining through...and none were good. She swallowed hard.
"Well, during my stay with the Weasley's..." he began, but stopped.
And it suddenly hit her like a punch in the stomach. Ginny.
"Hermione, I-"
"You and Ginny." She said in a whisper, not breaking eye contact with him.
"Yes." He said, wishing he didn't have to tell her, knowing it would only hurt her more.
"How-" Oh the pain, she thought as her breathing became uneven, and she felt sobs starting to rise.
"How?" she repeated.
"I still don't know Hermione." He muttered shamefully.
Tears welled. She couldn't control them. They made their way peacefully down her face as she stared at the table with blank eyes.
"How could you do this to me?" She said in barely a whisper.
He didn't say anything...he didn't know if he could.
"But," she said, trying to find her courage again, "that doesn't explain the obvious change in the ring." She looked up at him, holding in all the tears she could as she met his eyes.
"It was a promise ring Hermione. I broke the promises."
She didn't say anything more. She looked back down at the table, and then rose from her seat. Her legs felt unbelievably shaky as she stood.
"Good for you." She said softly, "I'm glad you're happy."
And she fled again, before Harry could tell her he wasn't.
A/N: To all who have dirty minds:: No, Harry and Ginny didn't "do it" lol. You all find out what really happened later. Again, Harry and Ginny didn't shag.
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