A Little White Lie
By: lockedinaroom
A/N: This was supposed to be a snarky piece with subtle hints at H/G'ers and such. However, it turned angsty. I'm surprised at myself. I've never been in a serious relationship and yet I can write angst…
I just realized that I'm a sprinter. I can only write short bursts of inspiration. Here's the latest. Enjoy. Please R&R! Thanks!
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"What do you see in him?" Harry asked Hermione.
"I honestly don't know. I guess it all started in first year when you guys saved me from that troll. Ron told me all about it later. He said that he didn't see me in the crowd and became worried and that he had begun to feel sorry for some of the comments that he said that made me run to the bathroom in the first place. What is it, Harry?"
With every word Hermione said, Harry got paler and paler. So, this was it, was it? It was a relationship built on a lie. It all made sense. The incongruity made sense. He had been harboring a small crush for nearly seven years and the reason she didn't reciprocate was because she thought it was Ron that saved her. Without realizing it, Harry had been pacing back and forth across the bathroom floor.
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked. Her face, surrounded by curls, was touched with worry. Harry had seen it all too often. It often had a sobering effect on his anger. OK, maybe not this time.
Harry let out a grunt of rage and said, "I'll tell you what it is. I had to drag his sorry ass in here. I was the one who noticed you were missing Halloween of first year. Ron was perfectly content to let the teachers handle it. The only thing that Ron felt sorry for was that he missed the last Pumpkin Pasty."
"Harry, maybe you remembered wrong. I remember that Ron finally mastered the levitation spell when facing the troll. He told me it was because I was in danger."
"Oh, I'm sure it worked in his favor. I was still getting used to the magical world. Sticking its nose was all I could think of."
"But Harry, do you realize what you are suggesting? You're suggesting that Ron lied to get close to me. Ron is many things but a liar? Harry-"
"Look, I don't know, OK! All I know, all that I remember, is that I noticed you weren't in the line to go the dorms. I became worried. Neville said something about you crying in the bathroom. I had to convince Ron you were worth the trouble."
"But… but… Oh my goodness! It makes sense! Ever since the troll incident, I've been looking for Ron to save me. But it was always you. Sometimes I got mad that you were always there but Ron wasn't. Instead of drawing closer to you, I resented you for it. Especially after the Department of Mysteries adventure when I heard it was you who carried me out. That's why I was distant from you last year. That's why I finally hooked up with Ron. Oh no! That must've been why we had that huge fight during the Yule Ball. I expected him to naturally ask me first. Oh Harry, I feel so stupid."
Harry immediately felt the brush of curls against his face. This was an infamous Hermione bear hug. However, this one was filled with tears.
"Hermione, no matter what, you'll still be the smartest witch of our age."
"Oh sure, books and cleverness. There are more important things--friendship and bravery and… uh…"
"Love?" Hermione's hug tightened. Harry was sure he'd suffocate. He thought to himself. What was I thinking? Since when did I become so poetic? He looked down to see Hermione's eyes wide with shock.
"Does such a thing exist, Harry?"
"Well, I hope so. Professor Dumbledore always said that it was my parent's love for me that kept me alive all these years."
"There's no book for this, is there, Harry?"
"I don't think so, Hermione."
"Friendship and bravery I know about. Can you teach me about love, Harry?" Hermione said as she returned to Harry's wet shoulder.
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"Oh, there you are, Hermione." It was Ron. Harry and Hermione slowly turned to glare at Ron.
Hermione quickly let go of Harry, seemingly embarrassed. Then, "Ooh! There you are!" She said in a sing-song voice. "Don't pretend to be concerned for me now after all the BS you've fed me since first year."
"Wha… Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you, saving me from the troll! Oh wait! You didn't save me from the troll! You saved yourself after Harry dragged you in here!"
"But… But that was seven years ago! A little white lie seven years ago shouldn't matter now should it?"
"No Ron, this is not just a little white lie. That lie was the reason I started going out with you. Harry and I have had an enlightening conversation. Even your friendship is a lie to me now!"
Ron went to grab her wrists but was met with a sharp, stinging sensation in his left cheek.
"Don't touch me again! I'm sorry I ever kissed you! You make me sick!" Hermione screamed. After a few seconds, with eyes averted, she said, "Oh Ron, I'm sorry. But… Uh… We can't see each other anymore. Don't talk to me. Don't touch me. Don't sit anywhere near me during class or during meals. You got that. No contact. See you later, Harry. Ron." Hermione then straightened her shoulders and proceeded to walk promptly out of the bathroom.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with her?! Every guy tells little white lies to their girlfriends. I often tell her that her hair is pretty even though it looks like a porcupine is sitting on top of her head."
Harry, without Hermione's look of worry to sober him, grabbed Ron by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall. "You try being lied to for nearly seven years. I know. I was lied to for nine of my life. You try being told you're one thing when you're the exact opposite. I believed I was a good-for-nothing little runt but I wasn't. Hermione believed you were a hero when you're the farthest thing from it. By the way, the same goes for me. No contact. And if I see you anywhere near Hermione, I will hurt you. I know how. I'm not a silly first year anymore."
Harry pushed him into the wall one more time and left. Ron slumped to the floor, mouthing "What have I done?" He spent the night in that bathroom mouthing those words. It would take him longer to finally realize that he had lost Hermione's love forever.