Unofficial Portkey Archive

The Price of Truth- Chapter 1

Hermione Granger was sitting in her favorite arm chair by the window in the lounge room, the evening broadcast of WWN barely a whisper in the background. She was hiding her face behind a book Harry had recently given her for her birthday with a mug of tea perched on her knee.

With a tiny but startling pop!, said best friend was now throwing himself on her couch across from her. She peered over her book curiously and watched him lay there with an arm draped over his face. Hermione quietly set her book and tea down on the table and went over to him. Harry could feel her warm weight sink down next to him on the couch. She began to rub his leg, an unknown habit of hers to let him know she was there.

"She said she 'just wants to be friends'," he said not needing her to ask in the first place. He was still covering his eyes with his arm. "I'm ready to drop to my knees and ask her... And she says she just wants to be friends," he said with a heavy sigh.

Hermione leaned on his shoulder and hugged him around the waist for comfort. A few moments of silence passed by until Harry finally brought down his arm and pulled her closer to him. She leaned back to look at his face and felt her heart instantly shatter. His face was one of pure heartbreak. His eyes were glossed over and darkened to a deep green. A battle between anger and sadness was taking place, she could tell. He was beginning to worry her. 'Exactly what did she tell him?' she thought. Another brief silence.

"What do you think-"

"I don't know," he snapped before she could finish. "I don't know what could have made her say that all of a sudden."

Hermione did. But she didn't want to say. If he knew just why Bianca Grinwald broke off their relationship after nearly two years it would kill him- and he'd probably kill Hermione. 'But he'll have to know sooner or later,' she thought to herself as Harry rested his chin atop her head. 'It's best I tell him now. Mentioning it later will be disaster.'

"Harry," she said pulling herself out of his arms. She took his hand in hers and stared into his eyes full of pain, preparing herself for the worst. It was now or never. She took a deep breath. "I know why Bianca broke up with you." Harry sat up, anxious for her to continue. "She broke up with you...err..." His eyes bored into hers expectantly.

"Yes?"

"Oh, Harry," she burst, squeazing his hand tighter. "Harry, I told her to end the relationship. I told her that if she knew what was best to end it now... Before it was too late."

Harry was dumbstruck. Did he just hear what he thought he did? Did Hermione just say she's responsible for his heartache?

"I'm so sorry," she whispered letting his hand drop and looked away. "I had to. I couldn't bare seeing you get hurt even more than you would be now."

Harry stood up, an unreadable expression on his face. She watched as he went to stand at the window, his back flexing as he crossed his arms. Wordlessly she followed. She watched his reflection in the window and was too frightened by those eyes to say anything, let alone move.

"Why, Hermione?" he asked, startling her yet again. The pain was obvious in his voice. She stayed silent, all of a sudden very interested in the cream carpet. Even through the reflection, she could feel his eyes on her.

"I had to." Her voice was very soft. "I didn't want her to hurt you. Harry, she's-"

"Mission accomplished, Hermione," he spat. Harry turned around to face her. She dared to look up at him and instantly regreted it. If looks could kill, she'd be six feet under right now. "I've finally found the one woman who loves me regardless of who I am. This is the first time in my life that I have everything and everyone I love around me- And you ruin it all for me!" She stayed quiet, trying desperately to avoid those intense eyes. It was bad enough that his words felt as if someone was punching her chest repeatedly. "I thought you were better than that Hermione."

"But you don't understand," she squeaked. It was too difficult to speak with an uncomfortably large lump in her throat.

"Oh no, Hermione, I understand completely. You're jealous."

"I'm what?" This was not what she expected. Anger, a feel of betrayal- but not jealousy!

"Your jealous," he said as if it were obvious. "The best and- unfortunately- the worst always happens to me. You felt as if Bianca pushed you away from me and you wanted to get even- Bianca hurt me, but not as bad as a supposed best friend." And with that he disapparated.

"Way to go, Herm," she said to herself, still watching the spot where he was standing only moments before. "You try to spare a friend some heartache and he hates you in return."

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A/N: Chapter 2 on the way...