A/N:
I'm back with another update! Yey! Hopefully, this one won't sound as forced as the last one.
Enjoy the chapter!
---------------------------------------------------
"Hermione, dear, you look like you've seen a ghost," Molly's voice was the first to penetrate the waves of shock that had rippled in Hermione's mind the moment she saw who was causing the commotion.
From Harry's cool gaze, Hermione slowly shifted her eyes to settle them on Molly's warm ones. She looked helplessly at no one in particular, but nobody noticed her expression, save for the last person she wanted to alert.
Unfortunately for her, he was not going to stay idle.
"Hermione," Harry stepped away from the huddle and approached Hermione, leaning over to give her a peck on the cheek.
She wanted to step away, she really did, but Harry's eyes were boring into hers rather threateningly, warning her not to say anything, so she didn't bother. But still, it didn't keep her from throwing him a scathing look.
The Weasleys were, in the simplest of terms, doubtful about the truth of his gesture. Even though they weren't really vocal about it, their lack of words said it all. They were practically gaping at them, with wide eyes, still and unblinking. A gush of wind could have tried to knock them over, but even then, they wouldn't have stirred.
Hermione gave a hiss under her breath, making sure that it was soft enough not to carry across the room, but clear enough to let Harry hear. He was pretty sure she had said "Lucas."
Harry gave everyone a brief shrug. His plan was officially on the go. He hadn't been planning to start if off so soon, but he hadn't counted on seeing her here either. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation with her, but fate was really having a blast pissing both of them.
His coming to Ron's had been an impulse. Warren had convinced him, with few but chosen words, that the only way they could work things out was to have him and Hermione pretend they were really a couple.
Of course, Harry had been adamant at first, explaining that there was no way anybody would believe they were lovers since he just broke up with Sophia, the breakup being a public event that hadn't been missed by those concerned.
But Warren convinced him that something like a secret affair was better than the humiliation of being branded a man whore who randomly picked up someone right after a relationship.
It was a lame excuse, but Harry, with no other explanation to offer himself, reluctantly agreed.
He just hoped by the end of the day, he'd be able to convince the entire family that he and Hermione had been sharing an affair for almost a year now. Perhaps, the only person whom he will not be able to convince would be Ron, who knew what happened the night before, and Luna, who had most likely been the mastermind of that dare.
Luckily, the doorbell rang, snapping everyone out of their entranced state. They scrambled to ready everything else that didn't even need another check. They constantly looked at where he and Hermione were still standing but almost immediately shifted their gazes somewhere else.
It was just as he remembered the Weasleys, Harry thought to himself, amused. They stuck to one another during crisis, so it wasn't really surprising that even in skepticism; they were still willing to go along with whatever harebrained idea Harry had in mind.
Hermione, on the other hand, stood there, still partly surprise, partly nervous of what just happened. In spite of her docile stance, she was fuming inside. Earlier, she had wanted to apologize to Harry for the wrong number, but now that he was here, she couldn't think of anything better to do than toss him out of the Burrow.
She had been prepared for anything but him.
Sadly, even if all she desired was to get away, a hand suddenly clamped down on hers, surprising her into following as she was dragged away from the thickening crowd.
Harry was pulling her towards the stairs, and once they were on the second floor, he threw open the door of one of the rooms and shoved her inside. Hermione looked around.
When the door had been slammed shut by the lord of discretion, Hermione couldn't help but feel a little warm. She should be shivering from the chilly air in the room, but something about the way Harry's eyes were boring into hers took away the coldness and replaced it with something else.
"You little sneak," he murmured in a low mocking voice, but it was devoid of all accusations.
Hermione's forehead crinkled into a frown. "What are you talking about?"
"The number you gave me; it's not yours, is it?"
Hermione huffed out a breath, rolling her eyes at him. "That was a mistake, really. I forgot that I had changed my number and that the calling card I gave you was an old one."
She could tell by the way he kept changing his stance that he was struggling not to believe her. The sudden appearance of a gleam in his eyes told her he did, but was not about to treat her any better.
Well, Hermione had just had about enough of his temper for one day, and she wasn't going to stick around for another display!
With nothing more than a deliberate shove on his shoulder, Hermione walked past Harry and grabbed the doorknob. Before it could rattle over and give her the escape she desperately craved, Harry's hand clamped rather tightly on the crook of her elbow, pulling her back.
She winced at the discomfort, but didn't bother to fight.
"What are you doing here?" she burst out. "How did you find me?"
Harry simple lifted his brow. "You think I planned this?"
"How else?!"
"Hell, I'm not that desperate," he muttered, although if you were counting the plan he had officially begun, you would actually say that he was more than just desperate. "Besides, you should have realized the answer by now."
"You mean to tell me you know the Weasleys?" Hermione looked at him with disbelief.
"And why is that so hard to believe?"
"I've known the Weasleys for a long time; I don't recall them mentioning your name even once," she crossed her arms and gave him a challenging stance.
Harry imitated her and stood straight, all six feet two inches of him staring down defiantly at her. "Why would they talk about somebody who's not present?"
"That's such a ridiculous excuse," she huffed out. "If you are that important to them, they would be constantly saying things like `I wonder what Harry's doing now' or `maybe we should give Harry a call.'"
"It's a long story," Harry muttered. And then held up one finger when she opened her mouth to speak. "Don't bother saying we have time because we don't. We still have a party to attend, remember?"
Hermione's eyes widened at the thought of facing the Weasleys. Even until that moment, she still had no idea why Harry kept on ruining things for her. She began to pace.
"What?"
"Is it your habit to go around kissing people whenever you feel like it?" she blurted out.
Harry expected her outburst so he didn't show any surprise when she questioned him about his motives. "If I tell you about my plan, would you actually listen?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"None whatsoever," Harry shrugged and took a deep breath. "My agent came up with an idea to get rid of the gossips that would soon be formulated about the two of us."
"Which you had initiated…" Hermione couldn't help but add.
Harry shot her a look. "If my memory serves me correctly, I believe you were the one who initiated it."
"All right, maybe I did," she pouted her lips, the little move forcing him to lower his gaze and stare at her mouth. Luckily, she was too busy trying to look dignified and shift the blame to him so she didn't notice that his attention was elsewhere. "But you didn't have to goad them!"
"Do you want to hear this or not?"
"Whatever."
Harry sighed and wiped his face with his hand in impatience.
God! This woman was impossible!
"Well?" she pressed.
Harry shot her an annoyed look and opened his mouth to speak but then he paused just as he was about to explain, suddenly unsure of what to say.
A few more seconds passed by when he heard Hermione annoyingly tapping her foot on the wooden floor. She looked at him impatiently. "What?"
"Right now, I'm hearing the plan in my head and I'm just beginning to think it's stupid."
"If it's that bad, I want to hear it."
Harry looked at her for a long time before giving in with a resigned sigh. "Warren said that our behavior could be reasoned with if we tell the press that we are actually going out," Harry said, his eyes looking straight at hers, gauging her reaction.
The look on her face would have been comical, had it not been for him also wearing the same one.
"How can that be reasonable?" Hermione nearly shouted.
"Don't ask me, ask him," Harry waved to no one in particular. "It was his idea."
"I'm asking you now how you could have agreed to such an excuse. You and I both know that we just got out of bad relationships. You broke up with your girlfriend two days ago. And I broke up with Lucas just yesterday," Hermione said. "No one would believe us! Not even the Weasleys do!"
"That's because they know us."
"And nobody knows you?!" she cried out. "Harry, we're in this mess because people seem to never get tired of following you around, taking pictures of you. You're a celebrity --- I'm sorry I don't know which kind --- but it's pretty obvious you're famous."
"If I'm famous, then how come you don't know me?" Harry asked.
The question slipped easily from his mouth because he had been pondering on it since the night before and up until now; he had no idea why she didn't know him. Granted that no pictures of him were on the billboards and he hadn't played a game in Europe as of yet, but still, there must have been some leak from the media that would have been enough for her to know what he did.
"I'm not much of a celebrity fan."
"Whatever." Harry crossed his arms.
"That is not the point, Harry." She started to pace. "I apologize for stepping on your big head as well as your over-inflated ego, but the problem here is not whether I know who you are."
He looked at her as if she'd grown three heads.
Hermione shook her head at him. "You say that we should pretend we're really dating, but that's just not right. Even if people would believe us, would it actually matter? That explanation is not only be stupid, but it would also drag us deeper than where we are already."
"Who said anything about being right?" Harry interrupted her before she could take another deep breath and continue her tirade. "I just said we would have a reason to give them."
"And that's it? That's your reason?" Hermione asked. "Couldn't you have come up with another one? One that does not seem so---"
"So what?"
"Awful?" Hermione supplied lamely.
"What's so awful about having a secret affair?"
But even as Harry said this, he had to admit that the taste of the word didn't seem too sweet for him. He abruptly wondered again why he had agreed to this lame-brained excuse Warren had given him, but found nothing worth remembering.
"My point here, Hermione, is those people already believe that something's going on between the two of us," Harry said. "They just don't know what the story is. They know and would only believe one fact: that we are dating."
"I don't know, Harry, this is not a good idea." Hermione shook her head. "And I really don't think people would buy it."
"The people who bother our lives with petty matters, such as this, are pretty shallow. They'll believe anything, and thrive on the more scandalous."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "If it's such a petty thing, then why are we even having this conversation?"
"Because, like you Hermione, I've found something that I could use to get even." Harry's eyes glazed and he looked quite murderous, Hermione shivered involuntarily. "And I'm not about to let that go just because it is not right."
"I am not trying to get even with Lucas. I told you that."
"You wanted to change so he would know what he missed out on. Trust me, Hermione." Harry wiggled his brow at her. "It's the same thing."
"But you and I are so different."
"Opposites attract, don't they?"
"That's just ridiculous. We don't even have one thing in common!"
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked her, eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Yes, we do."
"Huh?!"
"We've both been dumped unceremoniously by people who turned out to be not even worth one second of our time. We've been thick enough to do unnecessary and stupid things in the past 24 hours. And," Harry wagged a finger at her. "We're both stuck in the mess we've created for ourselves. I'd say that's more than one thing in common."
"You know that's not what I mean," Hermione said, and then her eyes turned weary. "Besides, who would believe you preferred me over---"
"Sophia?"
"Right---Sophia." Hermione nodded. "I'm nobody."
Harry chuckled. "Well, lucky for you, I'm somebody."
Hermione was almost sure her jaw dropped.
"See?" He gestured towards himself and then to her. "Opposites attracting."
Catching her scornful look, Harry threw back his head and laughed, although it did sound a bit hollow. "You know I'm kidding, don't you?"
"Secrets are always revealed, Harry." She reminded him, ignoring his previous remark.
Harry looked at her over a long period of time before taking a deep breath. He reached out and took her hand. "What have you got to lose, Hermione?"
And it was in this position that Ron suddenly chose to open the door and poke his head in. The corner of his mouth lifted when he saw the two of them, but he didn't look as if he found anything unusual.
"What?!"
They both snapped.
"What are you two doing?" Ron asked. "Whatever you're planning, conclude it now. Luna's beside herself."
"Worrying?" Hermione looked at Ron in disbelief, oblivious to the fact that Harry was still holding her hand.
"No," Ron said, looking thoughtful. "She's actually excited."
"Over what?"
He shrugged.
"Right." Hermione slowly nodded, suddenly feeling she'd been duped by a certain blonde and a devious red-head last night.
"Give us a second, mate," Harry murmured in a clipped tone.
"Okay," Ron said briskly. "I'll go do something."
Both of them turned to watch Ron as he removed his head between the door and its frame and shut the door with a loud bang. When they heard his footsteps retreating, Harry turned to look at Hermione.
"Now, Hermione," he began again. "What have you got to lose?"
Actually, was she to actually think about it, she would nothing else left to lose. But to admit that would mean conceding to his idea, and she was not going to allow it.
"Well? What would you lose that you haven't already lost?"
"Something!" Hermione exclaimed when she couldn't find any answer to his question. "Harry, listen to me. Deceiving everybody---"
"Except for three people---Warren, Ron and Luna know."
"Yes, and I suspect Ginny knows, too," Hermione muttered, raking a hand through her hair. "But deceiving the rest would include a lot of consequences. Especially when people discover what a hoax our relationship would be. Do you know what we'd do when that happens?
"If they find out, Hermione." Harry corrected. "After the scandal dies down, we'll have a nice, clean break up." He caught the look Hermione gave him. "What? You didn't think we'd continue to date after everything's settled, did you?"
"N-no." Hermione's answer faltered. She hoped he didn't hear the tentative note in her voice.
Harry was not sure whether he had offended Hermione or not. But knowing that they'd only met last night and she had not harbored any positive feeling for him just yet, he suspected that it was nothing.
"Well?" Harry prodded.
Hermione bit her lip.
She's thinking again, Harry thought.
"What do you say?" he asked.
She seemed to be looking everywhere but at him. He reached over and caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger.
"What do you say?" he asked again.
She was staring defiantly at him now, her eyes cutting him open. And then she turned her face away. "No."
Harry frowned.
"What? Why?"
"As much as I would like to help you out of this mess, Harry, I can't." Hermione walked away from him, increasing the distance that was suddenly suffocating her. "Your plan is too absurd and I---I don't think I can keep it a secret."
Harry sighed.
He wasn't surprised that she did not agree as readily as he wanted her to.
Hell, he didn't even give in the first time himself.
If she had accepted immediately, Harry believed he would have been more shocked. Perhaps because though he knew little of her, he knew enough to expect that she wouldn't do things that were totally out of her control---except perhaps the dare she had ridiculously done.
But seriously, Hermione didn't strike him as the type who made decisions irrationally.
She must have been desperate the night before to have suggested to her friends---whom he was now quite sure was Luna and Ginny---that a dare might be enough to change her into something she wasn't.
And if it weren't for her vulnerable state right now, he would have continued to change her mind. But since, he knew that she not up to the task any more than he was, he let it go.
"I have to go back to the party," Hermione muttered. "Luna's waiting for me."
Harry sighed.
Now what was he going to do? He asked himself as he saw Hermione clutch the doorknob. Immediately, he grew weary.
Was he going to run after her? And why was he even considering that, after deciding he was read to let her go?
Besides, their conversation had put an end to any possibility that she would be doing her part anyway. So, it wouldn't matter if he caught her, she would just simply turn herself away.
Except, because she's the key to the solution, it would not work if she didn't cooperate. But how was he to make her understand that?
He was saved from answering his own question when his phone rang. Out of annoyance, Harry didn't bother looking at who was calling him, He simply flipped the phone open and answered.
The last person he was expecting to call was on the other end of the line.
"Sophia."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hermione was in the process of turning the knob open when she heard Harry's voice behind her.
He wasn't speaking to her, nor did she think for one moment that he was. It was another name she had heard him call. And it was more than enough for him to stop.
Sophia.
The way he had said the name, almost as if he was caressing a favorite toy or a long lost pet, caused a pang of regret in Hermione's heart. Not because she was jealous, but because she did not know what else to feel.
She might have left him to speak to his ex-girlfriend in private, but found out that her curiosity was strong enough to make her abandon courtesy and stay.
She slowly turned around to look at Harry. She was taken aback by the sudden change in his face. It was as if a different man was standing before her. He looked to have age ten years in just the extent of one second. If this was what a phone call could do to him, how much more when he had seen Sophia with that husband of hers.
Harry's face was taut, his expression guarded. She had never seen him like this.
Lost and uncertain.
He had been trying to mask away his feelings by being aggressive and bright. He had been able to fool her in the beginning, but each minute spent him with revealed what he had been trying hard not to show.
Even now, when it was clear that he was affected by the call, Hermione was unsure whether he could deal with it on his own.
But then his eyes, the ones she could clearly read in heartbeat, although she had no idea nor any intention of finding out why, were as vivid and as plain to understand as ever.
She didn't know what made her do it, but in the next instant, she was beside him, lightly rubbing his back.
If he was surprised by the touch, he didn't show it. He merely glanced at her absentmindedly, tilted one corner of his lips and then resumed his conversation.
She couldn't hear what either of them was saying, but she could hear the anguish in his voice. Immediately, her heart went out to him a thousand times stronger than before. She had no right to judge this Sophia, but the woman did not have the right to do what she did to Harry either, so she might as well say, in her mind at least, that the woman was a bitch.
When the call had ended and Harry had closed his cell phone, Hermione retreated, staring at him with uncertainty.
Strangely enough, Harry found himself longing for her comfort a little bit longer. But he didn't make a move to indicate what he desired in fear of scaring Hermione. So he just rubbed his forehead to ease the ache that had made its way to his head during the conversation.
He felt he owed her a little bit of explanation.
"That was Sophia."
As if he needed to tell her.
"I know."
The question hung in midair. She didn't ask because she knew the heavy feeling in his chest would compel him to say.
"She said she'd dropped off some stuff at my house."
Hermione nodded, knowing full well how that signified the finality of their break up. Not that his ex marrying the guy was not already a symbol.
"I'm really sorry, Harry," Hermione muttered.
"Not your fault." She heard him mutter.
Now what was she supposed to do?
She couldn't very well stay here even though she knew he was in need of company.
It was not her place to do so.
They'd only met last night and during that short span of time, had managed to trouble each other out in more ways than one. Although that gave a slight connection to his life, it was not enough to consider her his friend and to give her that obligation of staying until he felt better.
"Would you be all right by yourself?"
Harry nodded, without a hint of hesitation, before flopping himself down onto the bed nearest him.
Hermione gave him a worried look one last time and stepped out. The door closed behind her, lightly blocking the sound of a cell phone that was just starting to ring.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello?" Harry answered, although truth be told, he had no idea how he even got to flipping it open. All the energy had been drained out of him because of the call he had inadvertently taken without looking at the one who was calling.
But then, even if he had been able to see, wouldn't he have answered her anyway?
He had to admit.
He missed her.
Everything about her, he couldn't help but think about. And just the thought of her, with somebody else, still hurt. The memories he had been so adamant in concealing had come rushing in just because he had heard her voice.
Despite the fact that he was having this unusual attraction for Hermione, Sophia was still the one plaguing his thoughts every now and then.
He'd nearly gone insane the moment he heard somebody talk in the background. It was a simple but direct reminder of what happened between the two of them. And he couldn't have been angrier at her for that!
There had been no doubt who the guy had been.
Anybody in their right mind would have guessed correctly.
Of course it was Greg!
Why wouldn't Sophia be with her husband?
God!
Just the word had him wishing he had a knife in his hands. Not for him, but for the two of them! He needed to release his anger, but at the same time, he wanted to calm down. He would have, had it not been for Hermione's reluctance. He would have asked her to keep talking to him, but that would have just made her more hesitant. That was the reason he let her leave. He didn't want her to feel as if she were obliged to keep him company. But then, if his phone hadn't rung, he would have called her back and asked her to stay.
The reminder that he still had somebody on the line caused Harry to jerk out of his stupor.
"What happened?" Warren's voice came when Harry answered. "Shall I call for the press meeting now?"
"No." Harry shook his head regretfully, although he didn't know what exactly it was he was lamenting about. "I don't think that would be necessary."
"She didn't agree?"
"I told you she wouldn't," Harry mumbled.
"Can't you talk to her a little bit more?"
"There's nothing more I can do." Harry shook his head. "She's made up her mind."
"You do know that because of this, you'd have to explain to the press what happened."
"Yes, I do." He rubbed his eyes sleepily. "I'll come up with something once I've got a good night's sleep."
"You don't intend to tell the press the truth?"
"Why should I?" Harry asked, straightening. "It won't do anybody good if I tell them what really happened."
"It was a dare, Harry," Warren said matter-of-factly. "If you tell this to the press, you won't have a hard time convincing them you were the victim this whole time."
Harry frowned. He wasn't exactly the victim, was he? The scandal was as much his fault as it was Hermione's.
"No, Warren." Harry switched the phone to his other ear. "She's got too much on her mind right now to deal with this. Let me handle it. I'm used to critics anyway."
"Why are you defending her? She's the one who brought all these to you. Shouldn't she be the one having a hard time saving herself?"
"Look, when I say leave Hermione out of this, leave her out of it, understand? I can fix this by myself."
"Whatever, Harry." From the indifferent tone his agent suddenly used, Harry could tell Warren didn't like being told what to do. "But just so you know, the sports commissioner has seen the videos and the pictures. He already called me to say he is expecting your explanation within the next 24 hours. And, Harry, he emphasized the word "good" when he was asking for your reasons."
"And if I don't present him one?" Harry asked, although he was already sure what the consequences would be, having been warned before what one more scandal could do to his career.
"You know what will happen."
"Yes, I know," Harry sighed. "I'm off the team."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a half hour later that both Harry and Hermione were seen mingling with the guests at the burrow. They weren't together, of course, nor had they shown any sign of actually wanting to even stand beside each other.
Both were trying hard not to even breathe the same air that everybody else did.
The whole thing must have been a trivial matter to everybody, more specifically the Weasleys, who had witnessed earlier the affectionate greeting that Harry had bestowed on Hermione upon his arrival.
What had caused the sudden disposition of the two had heads leaning in and mouths whispering. However, these actions were only done by the Weasleys, not by the rest of the visitors, who were completely oblivious to what was happening.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After talking to some people, explaining in very few words his sudden disappearance, Harry excused himself from the crowd and chose to stand at the farthest corner of the room where the gifts were stacked. He had been content in his position, sipping beer, until people he did not know suddenly started to come, asking him for an autograph or requesting for a snapshot to be taken with him.
Even without his image up on billboards or his face flashed on screen, it was little wonder how people knew him.
The team he was in, or had been in, considering that he was about to be evicted, was very vocal about who they were recruiting. For months now, they had been allowing the press to take pictures of Harry for a monthly update on his training.
But the publication in which his images were printed was only disseminated in some chosen parts of England. His training took place outside London, and the only reason he had come back the other night was because he couldn't stomach staying with the rest of his team members, who had clearly sided on Greg the moment Harry took a swing at him.
It figured that they stuck to him because he was their teammate longer than Harry was.
This reminded him that his first game was tomorrow.
That was, if he could come up with a good explanation to give to the commissioner before the game began.
He no longer harbored any hope that Hermione would come up to him, accepting his proposal. Hell, he didn't even believe himself that they could have pulled it off together without either of them giving in at the end.
Perhaps it was better that they just let each other be.
Out of the corner of his eye, and despite his intentions, he saw her talking to some of her friends. She was smiling, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Why, he almost asked, but stopped himself before he could concern himself over her any further.
Why the hell should he care?
It wasn't as if she couldn't handle herself alone.
Shaking his head, he looked away and decided to spend his afternoon outside, but was waylaid when three pretty but too aggressive women came up to him, cornering him with their giggles and suggestive eyes.
He inwardly sighed.
This was only one of the prices he paid for having entered such a chaotic world!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Behind her, Hermione could hear some women talking rather loudly to Harry. It wasn't as if she had been watching him, but one cannot simply ignore his presence when he's there.
That was one thing that infuriated and thrilled Hermione at the same time.
The man exuded such masculinity, that forgetting he was there would seem so much of a crime.
And the gossips roaming around were not helping her either.
Though they were not about her and just about Harry, how could she not think about it or about him when secretly, she knew that somehow, sooner or later, those gossips would involve her?
Thankfully, the news of their escapade last night and this morning hadn't reached her acquaintances yet, or she would have had a hard time dealing with them now. But, with the way their conversation was suddenly going, Hermione almost wished that they knew so that they would stop pestering her about her relationship, and not only the one that had recently gone wrong.
She would have preferred spite over their pity, but the problem was, her "friends" were completely oblivious to the idea of subtlety and sensitivity.
"She is pretty. Yes I remember her. She is a model, right, Hermione? I remember seeing her in one of the fashion shows I attended last week. That reminds me. I saw Lucas there as well. Hmm. I thought something was going but then, who would have guessed I was right?" Lavender Brown, a long time friend of Luna and Ginny from Hogwarts University, said. Her eyes were full of pity as they shifted to rest on Hermione. "What was her name anyway?"
Hermione pretended to look confused. "I don't remember."
"And that would be for the best, Hermione. And if I were you, I won't even pay attention to the guy. He is such a git." Padma Patil, another friend, said loyally.
"But a good-looking git," her twin couldn't help but interject.
Even Hermione had a hard time denying that.
It was true, after all.
Of all the guys she had dated, Lucas was by far the better looking. Perhaps it was because he made so much effort over his looks more than he had ever made time for her that he came out looking the way he did.
He was tall, handsome, and educated. Everything she wanted for in a man. It was almost as if she had purchased him from dreamland. If only he didn't turn out to be such a nightmare.
"Seamus told me he overheard him talking to his friends, about you not---you know."
"Uh-huh." Hermione nodded her head absentmindedly. She was so not in the mood to talk about her inactive sex life with these people.
Yes, yes, they were being overly concerned over her, but the fact was, she didn't want nor did she need sympathy.
She had had enough of those to last her a lifetime.
Who wouldn't?
Every break up she had had to endure over the years had entailed a lot of sympathy cards, sensitive smiles and pitiful company. She didn't need anymore to prove how unstable she was when it came to relationships.
It took her a while to realize that it wasn't her or her relationships that was the topic of the conversation. It was only when somebody mentioned Harry's name that she became fully aware of what they were talking about.
"He sure has changed." Lavender piped in, looking very much charmed as the rest of the women who had suddenly acknowledged Harry's presence. "I remember him running around Hogwarts with Ron. They used to get in so much trouble; I always wondered when they would be expelled."
"Yes, well, the headmaster was very much fond of Harry, if you could also recall that." Elizabeth Fielding managed to say in a breathless whisper.
"I hear he's playing soccer now."
Hermione's head whipped about to look at Harry herself.
Oh, she thought, that's what he's famous for.
"Is he any good?" Lavender asked.
"He wouldn't have been recruited if he weren't."
"That's right. Carter told me about it." Julia Shepburn inched closer. "He's subscribed to this sports magazine, and they feature Harry every month or so. I think it's been a year since he was recruited and they'd been training him for the playoffs. There's a game outside London. Tomorrow, I think. And it would be Harry's first game ever."
Not that he will ever get to play, Hermione thought tearfully.
Now that the conversation had been shifted to another topic, she couldn't say she was very pleased at where it had ended. It did nothing more than remind her of the conversation she had inadvertently heard when she left Harry earlier.
He had defended her against his agent, and had acquitted her from the fault that should have been hers to admit. All because he knew she was having a hard time with her break up with Lucas.
She shouldn't have been moved, perhaps because he was a gentleman and it was expected of him, but she was.
He was willing to risk his career for her, when she was the one who should be taking the risk. He didn't ask for her to come into his life; it was she who came barging in. That fact had been staring at her face the entire time; it was a shame, really, that she was just able to see it now.
If she had realized it sooner, she could have still saved him from the trouble that he was facing now.
But the question was, did he even care whether he would lose the contract? How important was soccer to him anyway? Maybe it wasn't that important, that's why he was willing to keep her uninvolved with the scandal.
"Such a sweet thing, really."
"I agree."
"What?" Hermione had caught the end of the sentence, but had been completely unaware of what had preceded it. "What's sweet?"
"Why he's playing soccer now."
It was an ironic thing, to have an answer for a question that she had not even dared to ask. Hermione merely inclined her head, feigning indifference, certain that the pure desire of a gossip would make anybody talk.
"His father was also soccer player. But Harry never knew him. Both his parents died when he was younger, murdered by some robbers." Parvati had still not taken her eyes off Harry. "In one of his interviews, he was asked what made him decide to play. Harry said that it's the only way he could be closer to his father than he could ever hope to be."
Drat.
What was she supposedto say to that?
She felt sick and dazed, unsure of what to do.
"Would you excuse me for a minute?"
She muttered before walking away.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry had just about enough squeals and giggles for the day and excused himself from the women who had cornered and had sucked the breath out of him. Only, he wasn't that lucky.
"Ladies, would you excuse me for a moment? I feel the need for some fresh air." Then, thinking that he might have sounded as if he was suffocating over their presence, which he really was, but was too kindhearted to let them know, he added. "It's been a while since I've been back and I've missed this place."
A hand grabbed his arm, forcing him to look back.
"Would you like me to keep you company?"
One of them batted her eyelashes at him, smiling invitingly.
He was not really foreign to such advances, but there was not enough energy in him to think of a gentle set down. He had tried everything he could to show them that he was not in the mood for company, but they had stuck to his side like leeches.
He had given all the innuendos he could come up with, and had even resorted to a direct `no' to an absurd request, but it seemed that the more he hesitated, the more aggressive they became as if he were a conquest to be won.
And in the end, when all he wanted was to really get away, he did the only thing he could do, which was invent an imaginary person whom he could conjure in the next minute or so, for as long as he could get away without any harm.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I'm meeting someone."
Now all he had to do was find that someone.
The one who had asked him, pouted, her full red lips displayed for any person to see, bright enough to shock anyone who would look. Harry vaguely wondered whether Luna was really friends with her or she was just one of those party-crashers he saw in movies.
But then again, it wasn't really that surprising, since Luna seemed to have a penchant for oddities, not that he will ever mention that to Ron without getting himself kicked in the butt.
"Oh?" She purred, almost as if challenging his word. He couldn't blame her though, he didn't look like a man besotted. He simply looked like a man who wanted to get away. "Would you like me to get her for you?"
Harry opened his mouth to speak, but a different sound came out.
"That won't be necessary," a voice behind him said. "I'm already here."
He turned around, knowing full well who had spoken.
There wasn't any time to react to his savior, however, because she had closed the distance between the two of them in a span of heartbeat.
His hand was tingling from where she had laced their fingers together.
"Where have you been?" she kissed him on the cheek. "I've been waiting for you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N:
Wow, a long chapter! I didn't expect this. I hope I didn't bore you or anything. I hope you like where things are going. Hahaha! Now that I'm done with this, I'll have fun writing the pretend part. I've always wanted to do that kind of scene. Ooh, I'm getting excited.
Tell me what you think. Thanks for the reviews, and I hope you leave another one after this.
Wait.
I have another thing to say.
I've recently posted another story, Twist Through Time, and it's the first story I've ever finished in my entire life. It's already on its fourth chapter, and so far, it's not rating well.
I have an idea why, though.
The plot's a bit immature and not well-written. And the characters seemed to have interchanged personalities.
But the fact is, I know it will get better. I sincerely hope you give it the support that you have been giving my other stories, most especially Dare Me.
I'm not asking you to like it, but please check it out. If you don't find the story favorable, that's all right. I won't mind.
Anyway, this is all about I can say for now. I'll be updating Caught in the Past next. That should be an easy one. This is all for now. See ya!
-->