Title: Jealously and Good Intentions
Author: Michelle
Status: Unfinished
Disclaimer: All rights belong to J.K. Rowling and her publishers. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Two
Harry ran upstairs before either that guy or Hermione saw him. He lay down in the bed and pretended to be asleep with just seconds to spare before Hermione came through the door with a huge grin on her face. Harry opened his eyes, as if he had just woken up.
"Hey, sorry about that down there." Hermione said apologetically.
"Sorry for what?" Harry asked sitting up and eyeing here, waiting for her response.
"Well, you know. I kind of ignored you…you said that the Dursleys did something and I think it seemed like I didn't care." Hermione said looking down.
"Do you?" Harry asked darkly. For some reason Harry felt the need to say this to her. Harry told Hermione absolutely everything. She lied to him. Maybe not directly, but she had not told him the truth; and that hurt.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said sitting down beside him. "Why would you think I really didn't care??" She looked as if someone had just told her that her puppy had died. Harry disregarded her and lay back down. "Harry, I know that's not why you're mad at me." Hermione said simply.
"Oh, really? Enlighten me." Harry said, not able to look her in the face.
"I don't know what it is…" Hermione said with no real emotion of any kind. Harry couldn't stand it anymore.
"So, who's that guy, huh?" Harry asked his face red with anger. Hermione got off of the bed. "Why did you feel the need to keep that away from me? I'm supposed to be your best friend, remember?" Harry asked rhetorically.
"Well, maybe, for once, I'd like to keep something in my life private!" Hermione shot back defensively. She walked over to the wall, not looking at Harry. "This day was great until you got here." Hermione said darkly. Harry sat there, speechless, for one of the first times in his life. She didn't even take one last look back at him before she slammed the door and stomped away.
Most people wouldn't believe what they had just heard if they were in Harry's position. But the sad thing was that it was the easiest thing for Harry to believe. He worried about it every single day. The people he loved were always the ones to get hurt. She didn't need him in her life. She almost died because of him and he didn't even react when it happened. It was Neville who had been the one to check for a pulse, not him. Maybe he shouldn't be her best friend. A lot of good it was doing anyone.
Harry didn't know how long he sat there on the edge of the bed. He didn't move from that spot. To know that Hermione had a life without him; that he didn't even know about was news to Harry. As awful as that sounds it was the truth. He stared into the mirror across the room and wondered what people thought about him really. Did Ron just see him as the famous Harry Potter? Was he really just a burden to the school that he thought a home? What good was he really doing here? Hermione had made it clear that he had ruined her night. Is that what she thought about him all the time? How much better would my life be without that damned Harry Potter?
These questions were nauseating. He wasn't sure exactly what to do. Should he just leave? What if Hermione was waiting for an apology? Those same words echoed through his head. "This day was great until you got here…" Harry knew this is what she said but the words twisted around in his head… "My life was great until you got here…" And the fact that Harry was already doubting his place in Ron and Hermione's life made it all too easy to believe this as the truth.
Harry knew sleep wouldn't be easy to come by tonight. He got up out of the bed and opened the door as quietly as he could. He knew it was late so he tiptoed downstairs to see Hermione sitting on the couch staring at the wall in front of her. She didn't seem to sense that he was there at all. He stood there for a moment wondering if maybe he should let her be. He thought maybe he should and turned to go back up the stairs.
"Harry." Hermione said without turning around. Harry stopped on the stairs and swiveled around. "I know you're there." She said taking a deep breathe. He walked towards her and around the couch. He saw her face, still red from before and wet streaks on her cheeks. No one spoke after that. It wasn't a comfortable silence with Hermione that Harry had known before. It was awkward, ear-splitting silence.
Harry was the first to speak. And when he said it, he immediately wished he hadn't.
"So, who was that guy?" Harry asked. "No, forget I asked. You're right about everything. I have no right to even ask." Harry was looking down.
"Harry, no. I just…" Hermione's face got even redder. Harry wasn't sure if she was angry or not though. "He's just a guy, okay…" Hermione turned her face away, but not before Harry noticed a smile. She turned her head back with the same frown she had sported before. Harry waited for her to continue but she didn't. She looked as if she was waiting for his response.
"So, he's your boyfriend…" Harry said with realization dawning on him. He didn't look back up at her.
"I don't know if you would call it that…" Hermione said, embarrassed to be having this conversation with Harry.
"Don't lie to me Hermione. I saw you before." He said, still not able to look at her.
"You were spying on me?" Hermione asked returning to her red state. Harry didn't respond.
"Why didn't you want to tell me? No don't answer. I don't think I could sit here and listen to you tell me your life was so much better without me. You know, I think I'm just going to go…" Harry said getting up. Hermione didn't immediately object.
"It's raining." She said simply.
"I don't mind." Harry said as he started for the door. Hermione looked as if she had just heard what he had said.
"Wait, what did you say?" Hermione asked before Harry reached the door. Hermione didn't wait for Harry's answer. "Don't ever say that again. Don't think that ever again, Harry." Hermione said in a demanding tone.
Harry turned around. "You said it." He said simply.
"Harry, don't you understand? I like a guy, okay. He came over to my house and we had dinner. And just when I had forgotten about Voldemort and all the problems that our happening right now you burst though the door and take that away." Hermione said as if he should understand.
"Is that what you think about when I'm around? All the bad things that are going on…I'm just a…a burden to you?" Harry asked. He could help when a stray tear streaked down his face.
"No…no, that came out wrong…" She said in a pleading voice.
"No, I think it came out just right." Harry said angry again. He started to walk towards the stairs, thinking that he could probably get in some sleep now.
As he was walking away he heard a mumble.
"What?" He asked, turning to face her once more.
"I really like him, you know." She said. Harry didn't respond but instead continued to the bed that would hopefully get him a good nights' sleep.
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