"What do you see in her, anyway?" This time it was Hermione asking the questions. In fact, it was the same bathroom. And, if Harry could guess, they were wearing basically the same clothes. It was just a week ago that Harry and Hermione had told Ron to have no contact with them. It had its good points but it had many more bad points. Harry was stuck with Neville as a best friend. Hermione was sticking more closely to Harry than ever. Oh wait, is that really a bad thing? With Hermione by his side, he wasn't nearly as angry as often. He had long memorized her face. But now, he found himself staring…
Anyway, the last meeting in this particular bathroom had been about Ron's treatment of Hermione. Ron and Hermione had been accused of cheating by Professor McGonagall. Apparently, Ron's essay on transfiguring humans into water-dwelling organisms was nearly word-for-word Hermione's essay. Hermione had gotten in trouble for it. Ron had failed to defend her. The blowout from that incident could be heard all the way in Snape's dungeons.
She had screamed, "WHY CAN'T YOU EVER SIDE WITH ME," and left the dorm. Hermione had purposefully come to this bathroom to work through her anger. She had remembered Ron claiming to be the one and only who saved her from the troll. She had questioned herself so many times during those fights. What was she missing now that Ron saw back then? Why was it always Harry from then on that came to her rescue? Last week, she found out.
Now, Hermione hated to admit it, she was sticking closer than ever to Harry. She knew she was making Ginny jealous. She knew she should find some other sixth or seventh year girls to hang out with. However, nobody knew her like Harry and Ron and Ron was out of the picture. A part of her was scared. She had been at this school for nearly seven years and Harry is really the only person she ever really got to know. It was beginning to feel like first year all over again.
"Well, Harry, what do you see in her?" She asked again.
Harry's face was scrunched in concentration for a full minute. "Um… She's pretty?"
Hermione cast a sideways glance at Harry. "That's it? You've been dating her for a year because she's pretty? You're beginning to sound like Ron." Hermione regretted saying that. She saw the flash of anger almost before Harry realized he had made it. Harry was feeling the pain of separation just like Hermione.
"Hey! I would never lie to you, OK! I may be a clod with emotions but at least I make a conscious effort not to hurt your feelings."
Hermione took his hand, gently squeezed it, and said, "Thank you, Harry, and I'm sorry." She then let go of his hand. "But we're talking about Ginny. Why did you start seeing her?"
Softened by the touch of Hermione's hand, Harry said, "Well, I first realized my feelings for Ginny on the train ride to school last year. You and Ron were in the prefect meeting. Ginny didn't even have time for me which I found odd. I had to spend the ride with Neville and Luna which was interesting but not what I had hoped for. At the end of sixth year, I realized that Ginny was just following your advice. Well, it worked-"
"Wait, wait, wait. What advice? I don't remember giving Ginny any advice."
"Huh? Ginny told me that you had advised her that the best way to pursue me would be to give the appearance of non-interest. You know, dating around and being more herself."
Without her knowing it, Hermione was pacing up and down the row of stalls and muttering to herself.
Harry stood in front of her and said, "What's wrong, Hermione?"
"Me? Give Ginny love advice? That's the craziest thing I have heard. Sure I told her to be herself but only because her fangirl crush was getting annoying. I suggested she find someone that was a little more care-free. Ginny is so energetic. And you've always got something to think about. I can tell you, I never exactly recommended you and Ginny get together. I wonder why she thought I was helping set her up with you." She glanced at Harry and grew concerned.
For the second time, Harry was getting very angry in this bathroom. For the second time, it was because someone had lied. This time it was Ginny who had lied to him.
"I'll tell you why. Because she lied to me. She wanted me to believe that since you and Ron were an item that it would only be natural that Ginny and I would get together."
"Now Harry… Ron is one thing, but Ginny a liar too? That's a little much, don't you think. Maybe you remembered wrong."
Harry sighed, "Not that again, Hermione. She only just told me this at Dumbledore's funeral which was pretty recent. Merlin, why didn't I see it before! She thinks my life is some sort of fairy tale. Damn it! That's why she keeps telling people about the Chamber of Secrets. She's always saying how it was nothing for me and flashing her hair in whoever's face. I keep trying to tell her that I almost died and it was not 'nothing' to me. Lately, I've been imagining putting her in a sewer with a hungry basilisk. In fact, that's why I'm here. I feel horrible for these thoughts. Shouldn't I want to save her from the snake, over and over again?"
"Well, Merlin knows you've saved my life enough times. Did I ever thank you, Harry? I see it in your face everyday how much the coming battle weighs on you. My grades suffer - not by much, mind you - because I'm in the Library looking spells and hexes. With Dumbledore gone, I'm the only left to search for the horcruxes."
"I never doubted you, Hermione. And you don't have to thank me, OK. Your willing to get within three foot of me without demanding something is enough thanks for me. In fact, I should thank you. I tell you what, don't thank me until it's over."
"But, Harry, what if there's nothing left to thank." Hermione hadn't meant to say it. She was just thinking out loud. Harry's cringe made Hermione cringe.
"Hey, if I know you'll still be around after the coming battle, then I'll have a reason to come back."
Harry was surrounded by another teary-eyed, Hermione bear hug. How come her close hugs never bother me but when Ginny holds my hand I get jumpy? Harry decided to think about it later. He realized that Hermione had recently washed her hair. Hmm… Apples…
************************************************************************
"Oh, there you are, Harry." It was Ginny. And she wasted no time in stepping between Harry and Hermione and clasping her hands behind his neck. She reached for a kiss but missed. Harry had escaped her embrace. He had resorted to holding her hand. Needless to say, Ginny was disappointed.
When Harry saw Ginny enter the bathroom, the room instantly felt way too crowded. Harry had trouble breathing. He could swear someone had turned up the humidity. It was almost like the muggle game "which one doesn't belong". Something in this room didn't belong but Harry couldn't imagine what it was. Here was his best friend and his girlfriend. Nothing abnormal here. Except that Harry and Hermione were just talking about Ginny. Except that one Weasley relationship had already been destroyed in this room. Was it time for another break-up?
Break-up! At those words, Harry's mind finally saw some clarity. Ginny was energetic as Hermione indicated. It was hard to keep up with her and at the same time keeping secrets from her about his training and his plans. She would never understand.
"How about a kiss, deary?" Ginny stared at him with a seeming deceptive smile. Her pearly white teeth were glistening in the light. It seemed like fire literally flowed from her head. She is pretty. But that wasn't why Harry felt smothered in this bathroom.
"Um… Not now, Ginny. I… Uh… Had one to many pieces of garlic bread. You know what I mean?" Harry looked into her eyes, seaching and hoping she would buy it. If he had to kiss her, he was sure he'd suffocate in this steam room that was the girl's bathroom.
"Harry, I'm standing right in front of you and I don't smell anything." Damn!
"Maybe another time, OK. Hermione and I have… some homework to tackle."
Ginny took a step back and clenched her fists. "I see… You don't want to kiss me. Does my breath smell bad?"
"Now really, Ginny, there are 24 hours in a day. I don't see why you're focusing on this one second."
A look of realization dawned on Ginny's face. "It's her, isn't it! Last week, Ron found you two in here and he wasn't able to speak until breakfast the next morning and I found out Ron and her had broken up. Now, I'm here and… You're not breaking up with me, are you? Oh Merlin, no wonder she's always with you! She's waiting to pounce! Maybe Rita Skeeter was right! Ugh, I'm out of here. I'm sitting with Ron from now on! You hear that! No contact!"
"Ginny, stop being so dramatic! Hermione is my best friend. It's natural for us to stick together, unless you thought Ron might steal me away too. The truth is, Ginny, in a week, I'll be gone for good. I will be mysteriously missing from class and meals. You know what I'll be doing? I'll be hunting Voldemort. I'll be facing things much bigger than the basilisk and I will be scared. To. Death. Who knows, I may even die! Why aren't you asking to go with me, Ginny? You're always gung-ho when talking to your friends. What about now? Do you want to come and hunt Voldemort with Hermione, Ron, and me?" Harry took a few seconds to calm down. A quick glance at Hermione told him he was being way too harsh. "I'm sorry Ginny. Now, I'm being dramatic. But I think you see where this is going."
Ginny's lip was quivering throughout Harry's speech. The color of her cheeks had approached the color of her hair. Her fists were still clenched, he knuckles white. She took a few deep breaths and said, "I'm sorry too, Harry. I do know where this is going. And, if it's all the same to you, I would prefer it if we didn't have any more contact. This whole thing was a huge mistake."
"Yep," was all Harry could muster. If she didn't leave soon, steam would pour out his ears. However, it didn't take her long to exit and Harry's mind was allowed to breath for the first time in ages. He wasn't tied down anymore. He didn't have to feel guilty about leaving someone behind. With a quick look at Hermione, he realized that he would have all he needed when the time came.