Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Eight
Hurricane Hermione

The weekend had seemed to move farther and farther away as the week came to close but finally it's here and I'm more than grateful. All of today was spent doing paper work and catching up on stuff that I had missed while helping Harry and What's-Her-Name with their wedding plans.

It seemed that I had sulked most of the week as well. Confused thoughts whir around in my head and I can't seem to keep anything intact in my brain. Since when can't I figure things out, why am I such a mess? Why can't I get anything right?

The memories from the double date are painful in my mind and I find myself wincing every time I think about them. Have I ruined my chances with Harry completely? Have I helped them? Did Natalie figure out Robbie was gay from his sweater remark? Does she know I was using him to get Harry jealous? Can I ever get anything right? Does she know exactly what is going on?

It was early evening when Ron called me from his mobile. He sounded like he was distracted and said he wanted to talk to me, I asked him to come over and he said he'd be there soon.

The door bell rang and I answered it, Ron walked past me quickly. I took his coat and hung it up, walking with him to the living room. We sat down and he looked at me curiously.

"What is it?" I asked.

He stared at me, "I was with Harry today."

"And?"

"Hermione, he's still in love with you!" he says.

I shake my head, "That's not funny Ron."

He laughs disbelievingly, "I'm not trying to be funny."

"Did he tell you he loved me?" I ask. "Directly?"

"Well, no but he didn't have to - Why don't you just watch it?" he pulls out his wand and says a spell I can't remember. A ghostly, screen of static unfurls from the tip of the wand and hovers in front of us. It's the size of a television screen and there's only static showing up. Ron clears is throat and squints at the screen, it's not long before a picture of the two show up. They're walking from the Weasley's back field to a battered old shed with worn out bags slung over their shoulders.

They're laughing and talking about something but soon fall silent.

As they continued to trek up the hill to the shed Ron looked like he wanted to say something, but was struggling with the words.

Then, "So how are things with you and Natalie?"

"Good," Harry replied quickly. "Great."

"How are all those wedding plans?"

He sighed, "Good, a lot easier because Hermione's helping."

"Oh yeah," he replied. "You guys are getting married at Hogwarts right?"

"No," Harry sighed. "No, we're having it at The Manor, Natalie's house."

Ron stares at him, "You caved!"

"I did not!"

"You did too!"

"Did not! And what if I did? It is her wedding too."

Ron shrugged, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. He was about to open his mouth and say something but Harry cut him off, "Did you know Hermione has a boyfriend?" he sounded slightly exasperated.

"Uh - No, I guess I didn't hear about that," he looked at Harry unsurely.

"I knew you had made something up," current Ron says but I continue to watch the screen.

"Yeah she does, I can't believe she didn't tell us!" he shook his head as they came to the shed.

Ron stared at Harry, "Why does it bother you so much? She was probably just preoccupied with your wedding plans."

Harry suddenly looked shaken, "Oh, you're probably right. . . . And I'm NOT bothered by it, why would I be?"

"Because you still love her?" Ron ventured, opening the chipped door.

Harry looked as if he had been slapped in the face, "Why would you say that?"

Ron shrugged, "It was just a question."

"Of course I don't love her anymore, have you gone mad? I love Natalie," they threw the bags into the shed and closed the door, setting off for the house.

"Just wondering," Ron shook his head again.

Then there was a tense silence between them, after a few seconds of walking Ron spoke up.

"Hey, mate, don't you think you're rushing into this a bit? I mean you've only-"

"Why does everyone think I'm rushing into this?!" he barked. "Does it matter how long I've known her if I really love her?"

Ron stared at him, "How can you love her if you've only known her for such a short time? How can you love her after you felt so deeply for Hermione?"

Harry stopped dead in his tracks and Ron followed suit.

"I thought everyone would be happy that I was over her, why are you turning me against Natalie all of a sudden?"

"Just answer the question Harry, how can you love her after you felt so deeply for Hermione?" he asked again.

Harry shook his head, "I don- I just do, okay Ron?" he sounded extremely agitated. "Can we just drop the subject?"

Ron shrugged and they fell silent.

The screen fell to static again and it was soon sucked into Ron's wand, he looked at me and I just stared with my mouth slightly open.

"Did you see that?!" Ron nearly shouts.

I jump slightly and look at him, "See what?"

"That!" he points to the place where the screen had been. "Did you hear him? Did you see how pissed off he was because you had a 'boyfriend'!"

"Ron, I'm sure he was just mad because I hadn't told him properly," I shake my head.

As much as I want to believe it I don't want to get my hopes up.

He stares at me, "Have you gone completely daft over the past nine years?!" he's shouting now. "He still loves you! He just can't bloody see it, the prat."

I laugh at this, if he did love me he wouldn't know how I felt. . . . Considering the fact that he's getting married and I have a gay boyfriend..... How ludicrous is my life?

"No he doesn't Ron, if he loved me he wouldn't be marrying-"

"I told you! He's using her as a band-aid. He doesn't want to be in love with you because you tore his heart out once.... You have to tell him."

"Ron. I think you're the one whose gone completely daft!"

Ron looks at me, "How?"

I laugh, "Suppose he's happy with her and this new life? I'd just be mucking it up if I told him how I felt, then I'd need the Witness Protection Program or something!" I cry.

"It's a risk you'd have to take Hermione," he looks at me sympathetically.

I sigh, slowly shaking my head, "I don't know Ron."

He continues to look at me, "Why don't you sleep on it?" he suggests, heading for the entrance hall, grabbing his coat and opening the door. "Hermione, don't let him make the biggest mistake of his life."

Then he gives my shoulder a squeeze and leaves.

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It's almost three in the morning and I've been trying to get to sleep for nearly two and a half hours. Ron's words are reverberating through my head. What if Harry is making the biggest mistake of his life? I'm not saying that he should drop her for me (although that would be good) I just think in general she would ruin his life; I mean she's demanding and controlling and she doesn't let him have a say in anything. He can't live like that, if she keeps doing that it could all build up and he could lose his temper one day. After all he's been through she's not very consoling.

The minutes are ticking away and I just want to scream, I can't stop thinking about him. He doesn't want me, he wants that good-for-nothing Natalie. He doesn't want to hold me like he holds her, or kiss me like he kisses her, or talk with me like he talks with her, or love me like he loves her. He doesn't want me and it hurts.

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I stayed up for several hours last night, tossing and turning, thinking about him. At one point I cried silently, not a sob escaped my lips but the tears poured down my cheeks and onto the goose-down pillow. I fell asleep like that some time in the middle of the night and woke up in the early afternoon. I got ready and didn't bother with breakfast. I told Harry and Natalie that I'd help them pick out place settings or some crap like that.

I arrive at Harry's flat and the sun is bright and blinding, as far as I can tell it's giving off no heat but it doesn't make much of a difference. Natalie isn't there and yet and Harry tells me she's gone to bring some photos of The Manor so we can work out where the reception is going to be and everything.

He doesn't seem any different from the last time I saw him, except he seems like he's cooled off, like he had time to logically berate himself and realize his love for Natalie. Maybe there's a hint of agitation lingering in his eyes but I might be imagining it. He's not upset or staring at me lovingly. He's just Harry.

Maybe Ron was exaggerating.

I've only been here for five minutes when Natalie arrives, she's chipper and smiling as she places the large envelope of photos on the table. We instantly begin looking through them and I see the HUGE home Natalie group up in. It's a large gray stone mansion overlooking a bay, there's vast green laws and turrets, towers, and old paned windows. It's so beautiful, yet so damn nauseating.

I hear a flutter in the living room and Harry and I look up, Natalie's still explaining the current photo of the dining room. When she realizes we aren't listening she looks up as well. I hear the familiar call of Hedwig and Harry says, "That must be the post."

He moves to get up but Natalie stops him, "I'll get it," and she leaves the room.

My phone starts ringing and I answer it, it's Ron.

"Hermione," he sounds worried and scared. "There's something you need to see."

"Wha-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" it's Natalie's high pitched scream that emits from the other room.

Harry stands up quickly, knocking his chair backward, "Natalie?!" he sounds worried as well.

"Ron, I'll call you back," I say quickly.

"But Hermi-" but I've already hung up.

Natalie stomps into the room with a copy of the Daily Prophet in her hand, she's livid and her eyes are blazing. She stops in the door way and holds the paper up for us to read the front page. And in big, bold print it says:

Hurricane Hermione Strikes Again: Home Wrecker Granger Can't Let Potter Go!

Natalie is staring at us, her eyes wide. Under the headline there are two pictures: one still of our faces centimeters apart, and the other of us hugging by the alleyway and joking around the village. My face contorts and she is darting her eyes from me to Harry.

"Well?!" she demands.

"Nat-"

She laughs icily, "Don't you Nat me!" she points at me. "I knew you were hooking up with that whore!"

My mouth falls open, did she just- How could she- What a bitch.

"Hey!" Harry barks, whipping the paper out of her hand and tossing it onto the table in front of me. "Come here," he says guiding her out of the room. I grab the Daily Prophet and look at the article.

Hurricane Hermione Strikes Again:
Home Wrecker Granger Can't Let Potter Go!
Written By: Lena Martin

It's been years since we've seen her name in the headlines but she's back! Hermione Granger, is toying with Harry Potter's heart once again! This time it's even worse because as you know, The-Boy-Who-Lived is getting married to Ministry Secretary, Natalie Price. Apparently Miss Granger can't help but tease him for she's done it several times in the past. Hermione and Harry were seen keeping quite close as they traveled through Diagon Alley earlier this week. It's clear that the little brainy bookworm has grown up quite a bit since Hogwarts and it seems Mr. Potter is still very intrigued by her. Here at the Prophet, we're just upset to hear that Miss Granger can't quit it even when her subject is clearly in love with his beautiful fiancée, Miss Price. We send our deepest sympathy to her and hope Hurricane Granger will calm down sooner rather than later.
See more on page 7.

I stare at the article in awe. There's a cold feeling creeping over me and I slowly put the paper onto the table, rubbing my arms. This isn't good, this is very bad. What am I going to do? What have I done? Harry's going to have to take so much crap for this.

I can't think straight.

Harry's angry voice punctures through my thoughts.

"Natalie! Nothing happened!"

She laughs, "Don't even try to play that card with me! I know you two still have feelings for each other!"

There's silence for a second or two.

Then Harry says, "No we don't! That's ridiculous!"

"Is it, Harry?" she questions.

"Yes it is," his voice wavers.

There's silence again.

"Then why was she hugging you? Why did it look like you two were about to kiss?" she questions.

Harry laughs wryly, "I took her to see Diagon Alley again, it's been nine years, it was a little emotional.... Besides I hug Ron for crying out loud!"

"Not like that!" she screeches. "And why were you about to kiss?!"

"We weren't," he replies, even though we really were. "They must of changed the photo magically just to make a good article." He pauses. "Hermione has a boyfriend anyway," he answers and his throat sounds tight.

Natalie laughs, "Right."

Yet another silence, I feel sick.

"Nat you have to believe me."

She replies with a groan, "I need a cigarette, I'll be back."

There's no kiss, no I love you, she just stalks through the kitchen, past me and out the door. Harry walks up to the door way and leans against the frame, his hands digging into his pockets.

I feel claustrophobic and I stare at him. I need to say something, I need to find my voice.

"Harry," I croak, swallowing. "Harry, I'm so sorry."

He looks up at me, recognition and sympathy clear on his face, "For what?" he asks gravely.

"For that," I look at the Prophet, then back at him. "Natalie's mad, I didn't mean-"

"No," he says quickly. "I don't care about that," he waves it off. "It'll be her fault if she actually believes it."

I swallow, my throat is tight and dry.

"Besides if anyone should be sorry it's me, they're playing up the whole whore act and it's not fair to you," he shakes his head. "I'm so sorry Hermione, this is really my fault," he moves closer to me.

I shake my head, "No, I'm detached from the magical world, it doesn't bother me. It's you and Natalie I'm worried about"

And I really am.

He waves it off as well, "If she loves me she'll get over it."

I almost laugh.

There's a short silence and then he says, "Hurricane Hermione? They could have thought of a better cause of natural disasters, but I suppose the alliteration looked better. Miss Lena Martin must have gotten paid extra for that one."

I laugh, feeling slightly better.

We fall silent again, I stare at him but he's looking at the kitchen tile.

He looks up and our eyes lock, "You sure you're going to be okay?" he asks.

I nod, "I'll be fine, thanks."

We fall silent again and the minutes tick away, finally Natalie comes back taking deep drags from her cigarette, she's tapping her foot impatiently and stares at Harry, expecting him to say something, "Well?"

I find some good old Gryffindor courage and say, "Natalie it wasn't anything, I promise. Harry and I are just friends, he has you and I have - Robbie," I almost laugh. "I just hugged him because I was being dramatic and emotional because I hadn't seen Diagon Alley in so long."

She stares at me, holding the cigarette between her middle and index finger. The paper is burning slowly and the smoke is curling around the kitchen. I feel even more sick.

"And I can assure you Harry and I weren't sitting that close."

Every word that comes out of my mouth is etching away at my heart. As the paper singes off of her cigarette my heart feels as if it's fading away at four times the speed. I look from Natalie to Harry, he looks hopeful and scared. He really does love her..... I can't break them up, it would hurt him too much.

She looks at both of us, trying to see behind the masks also known as our faces.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to cause this much trouble."

She looks from me to him and takes another drag of the cigarette, blowing it out in little plumes of ashy smoke. She looks at me suspiciously.

"Nat, please believe me," Harry says.

She looks at him, takes one last drag, squashes the cigarette in a bowl of left over cereal. Her frown melts and she says, "Of course I believe you Harry-Bear!" and she latches herself onto him, giving him a quick kiss. Every motion, every gesture is tearing me up inside but my bright smile doesn't falter, not once. My eyes are swimming in misery but my smile is one of relief and happiness for the two people in front of me.

They break apart but they continue to look at each other.

"I think I've caused enough trouble for one day, I'll leave you two alone."

And I dash out of the flat before anyone can object.

And as I leave the building I realize, she never apologized for calling me a whore.

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It's the morning after that stupid article came out.

When I got home the previous day I instantly unplugged my phone. When I looked at the machine I had nearly twenty messages from random people and I didn't even want to hear from Ron or Robbie. Now I'm walking out of the lift and down the hallway towards the front door of my building. I don't have work until twelve so I might as well take a walk or do some shopping to get my mind off things.

I walk to my car and get inside, looking at myself in the mirror. I look like shit. My eyes are bloodshot and my hair just won't stay tame. I pull out of the parking lot, and down the road. Where do I want to go shopping? What would make me feel better? Books. Flourish and Blotts. I know it would be catastrophic for me to even set foot in a wizarding village, considering the circumstances, but the whole nostalgia of any magical book would make me feel better.

So I twist my hair into a messy bun, grab a newsboy cap from the back of my car and place it on my head. . . . Maybe no one will notice me.

In less then fifteen minutes I'm walking around Diagon Alley and so far no one's bothered or paid any attention to me. . . . I'm grateful. I quickly hurry into Flourish and Blotts, grab the first book I see and pay for it, leaving quickly.

Luckily the village is crowded and throngs of people are milling about. I hurry past them all and around little children, hoping to get out of Diagon Alley as soon as possible, I'm starting to feel like people are recognizing me and actually as if someone's following me. So I pick up the pace and duck around crowds and away from chattering witches.

All of a sudden I hear someone shout my name and I turn around, someone knocks off my cap and I turn around again, my bun is so loose it falls out. Oh shit.

At first nothing happens, then the person who calls my name comes up to me and shouts, "It's the woman who ruined Harry Potter's marriage!"

I whip around and notice people are beginning to stare, oh God, this can't be happening.

"Hermione Granger? That brat who stole Harry away from his fiancée?"

"What a whore."

"Hermione!" a camera flash goes off and I blink several times.

They begin firing questions at me and I feel sick, "Do you love Harry Potter because he's the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"Do you love him at all?!" someone shouts and the crowd laughs.

I try to get away but somehow they've cornered me into the side of a shop. I feel dizzy and sick, like a caged animal. The claustrophobia is kicking in and my head is swimming, I can't think straight. Their questions are like tiny knives being thrown at me and it hurts. I feel like the space is closing in on me and I can't breathe.

"Do you just want to have Mr. Potter to yourself? Or you a home wrecker?!"

I stare at them all blankly, I feel numb, I try to get away furiously but no one will let me through. I don't have enough strength to push past anyone, I'm in a panic. What am I supposed to do? I need to get out, I need to get away.

"Hermione?"

I cover my face, this is becoming too much.

"Hermione!"

"Please," I whisper.

Nobody falters.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

A hand closes around my arm and pulls me away from everyone and into a shop. I look up and my eyes meet those familiar green pools and I nearly collapse.

"Hermione?" he asks. "Are you okay?"

I stare at him in awe. I can't believe I'm even about to say this, it's TERRIBLY cliché but he reminds me of a knight in shining armor..... Uh, minus the armor. But he just rescued me from that crowd of crazed reporters. When I don't answer him he pulls me into the back room of the shop.

"Dean works here," he says. "I came to talk to him and I saw you outside."

Once we're in a cold, dark back room I throw my arms around his neck, holding back tears. There's such a mix of emotions I can't decide which one to focus on.

"Harry I-"

"What happened?" he asks, not letting go of me. "You just froze out there."

"I'm claustrophobic," I whisper. "State of panic causes me to freeze up," I let go reluctantly and look at him. "It's one of my many flaws."

He laughs, "You don't have any flaws."

I smile at him and his face falls serious.

"Are you all right?" he asks.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," my hands are shaking and I feel numb.

He takes my arm, "You're shaking," he pulls up a small step ladder and lets me down. "This is all my fault."

"No-No, it's not your fault," I reply, shaking my head stiffly.

He's about to say something but an oh too familiar voice echoes from the front of the story and I go paler than I already am.

"Dean have you seen Harry?"

It's Natalie, I'm seriously gonna puke.

"It's Natalie," he says and his voice sounds hollow.

I look up at him, swallowing hard. This is it, his decision right now determines whether or not he could ever love me like everyone is telling me.

"You should go, if she found us in here we'd both be in trouble," I say wryly.

He looks from the door to me and says, "You're probably right."

I stare up at him.

"Will you be all right?" he asks.

I can't even think, he's just going to leave me here, shaking and near tears. He's going to leave me in the back room of some shop I've never been in with a swarm of reporters outside waiting like a bunch of vultures. He's just going to leave me here, leave me alone for her.

I nod numbly.

He smiles at me, "Call me later."

I just stare at him and he pats my arm, leaving me there by myself. I want to go home so badly that I apparate to my flat and feel like collapsing. He left me there, he just left. I was weak and cornered and almost crying, and he just leaves me. Okay I get the fact that she matters more to him, he's made that quite clear, but to leave me there by myself especially when I was shaking because I was so upset. I nearly had a panic attack!

I call both Robbie and Ron and ask them to come over because I need motivation or something right now! They oblige and as I fall onto the couch, feeling emotionally drained and as if someone's slapped me in the face I can't help the silent tears that slip down my cheeks.

He doesn't love me. He doesn't even care about me. He loves her and there's nothing I can do about it. It's all slowly setting in and I'm just now realizing it. The tears spill on.