JKR owns.
Just Decide
Chapter Four
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[AN] Seriously, you guys are AMAZING! Thank you so much for the supportive reviews! Oh, and thank you for being patient with me. Sorry it's taken so long.
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(La Pitch Night Club; 10:48 p.m.)
The loud, toneless music that the DJ had been playing for the last hour or so, was really starting to get on Hermione's nerves. She didn't want to be at this stupid club anymore. Even though it was pretty dark in there, she didn't want to be out in public where her friends and others could see what a miserable mood she was in.
Trying to distract herself from the dancing couples and the terrible music, Hermione lifted her cup to her lips. Her face scrunched up after getting a small taste of the drink Ron had given her. He knew how much she hated vodka.
Out of nowhere, two arms snaked around Hermione's waist, and pulled her back into a hard chest. Startled out of her reverie, she turned with an appalled expression, only to see the face of her boyfr- well, Ron.
"Hey!" he greeted, clearly more drunk than he was when he left about fifteen minutes ago to go talk to some of his mates, "We're all going to go back to Dean and Seamus' flat. You're coming right?"
"Um, I-" Hermione had glanced away, trying to figure out the best way to say no, when a messy head of hair suddenly caught her attention.
"Hermione?"
Hermione's mouth fell open slightly, "Is- is that?" She was staring hard at the corner of the bar, trying to recognize the face of this person. He was turned around, facing the bar, so all she could see was his hair and the few girls hanging off his arm. Her stomach went sour.
Ron tried to follow her gaze, "Who is it?"
"Harry," Hermione answered blankly. At the bar, Harry had turned around and threw one of his arms over the skimpiest girl of them all. Her chest looked so fake, it was like she was about to tip over.
Hermione watched as Harry laughed with some of the other blokes standing around him. She could tell he was wasted.
"Oh…" Ron muttered, going quiet, "that does look like Harry."
By now, Hermione's eyes had narrowed into slits as she continued to stare up at the boy she had been thinking solely about for the past few weeks. He looked like he was having the time of his life with those slags.
"That is Harry. I thought you said he was staying home tonight?" Hermione questioned, turning her glare on Ron. The first thing she'd asked Ron when he invited her out was if he had invited Harry as well. Harry was supposed to be busy at home tonight.
He fidgeted, "Er, yeah, h-he did say that."
"Then what the hell is he doing here with all those skanks?"
Ron was silent for a moment before he let out a breath and shrugged, "I dunno Hermione… maybe he just doesn't want to hang out with us anymore." He grabbed her hand and started tugging her off in the direction of the exit. When Hermione didn't budge, he looked back.
"You coming?"
After a moment, Hermione shook her head, "I- I'm going to go talk to Harry. He looks like he might need someone to walk him home."
Ron sighed impatiently, "Hermione, he's been really stressed out. Let the bloke have his fun. I'm sure he'll come around sooner or later…"
Again, Hermione glared, "You call fun getting involved with some disease ridden slag, Ron?"
"Wha- well… I mean- not for me! For Harry."
"Goodnight Ron. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Hermione pulled her hand free and was pushing her way through the crowd, in Harry's direction. She felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back and was about to turn and give Ron the telling of his life if he didn't let her go.
Surprisingly, he looked compliant, "Here, let me talk to him."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked with a slight frown.
He nodded, but didn't look too ecstatic over his offer, "Yeah, I'll be right back."
"Get him to come with us!" Hermione shouted after him, "And don't let him bring those stupid girls!"
Ron turned and held his hands up in front of him, the universal sign for Hermione to calm down. Hermione didn't completely relax, but stopped shouting commands as Ron got closer and closer to Harry's entourage.
Finally, Ron reached them. Harry's head lolled lazily over to Ron with his acknowledgement. A few moments passed in which they shared a few words, and then suddenly, Harry turned and looked at Hermione dead in the eyes. She recoiled slightly, but didn't look away from him. It was obvious that he was glaring at her.
A few more moments passed. Harry had looked away from her and resumed the awkward conversation with Ron. Hermione could see Harry starting to shake his head, but then gave Ron a sharp look. His eyes darted back to Hermione before he nodded his head.
Hermione's heart started pounding as she watched Harry get up from the bar, say something to the group of whores, and then follow Ron back through the crowd. Hermione was focusing so hard on Harry, she ignored the unpleasant look on Ron's face.
"Hey babe," Ron greeted, putting on an enthusiastic smile. "So Harry's going to come back to Dean and Seamus' too. Isn't that cool?"
Hermione bit her lip, staring straight at Harry's face, "Yeah. Hi Harry."
Harry didn't say anything. Finally, he nodded at her.
"Well let's get a move on then. I think they're all still waiting outside the club for us…" Ron instantly took up Hermione's hand as he led them off to the exit.
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Their group of friends from the club were all crowded into Seamus and Dean's little flat. Everyone was gathered around the couch, where Hermione had prompted for Ron to tell them the story of working with Charlie and his dragon at Gringotts.
Her motive was to get everyone interested in the story, so that they wouldn't notice her slip off to the kitchen, were currently Harry was pouring himself another drink.
As soon as she entered the room, Harry's back stiffened. She sighed, but continued to move forward.
"Harry? Can we talk?"
Harry was obviously refusing to say anything, so she continued, "Look, I- I'm sorry for what I said last time. I really didn't mean it, Harry, I was just…angry…"
Harry slammed back another drink, but didn't turn to face her.
"So… have you been okay? No one's heard from you, and you didn't look too great at the club. Who were all those people anyway?"
Harry snorted. Finally, he turned around and glared at her, "You told me to find another girl that satisfied me. I found a few."
Hermione started stammering, her face slowly going red, "You- you've… did you.. W-with-" A flame of jealousy spread throughout Hermione's body. The thought that another girl- whore- had been with Harry, like the way she had, so intimately, so close- it made her curl her hands into fists.
Harry let out a laugh, "Sucks, huh?"
"What?"
He looked at her coldly, "Sucks to hear that the person you want is happy with someone else. Doesn't it?"
"Are you happy?" Hermione asked with bated breath. For the first time in her life, she honestly hoped the answer would be no.
Harry concentrated on playing with his drink, "Are you?"
Hermione sucked in a deep breath while Harry gave her a sideways glance. "No. I miss you, Harry," she took another step closer so that she was just under his chin. She looked up to meet his intense gaze, "In both ways…"
Harry didn't say anything. He struggled to keep the hard look in his eyes as Hermione opened her mouth to continue.
"Look, I lied last time, okay? It meant something to me. Means something to me…" she corrected, reaching her hand out for his, "I knew it then, but I'm admitting it now."
Harry looked down to stare Hermione fully in the eyes. He was trying to weed away at anything that might hint she was making it up.
There was a chorus of laughter from the living room and Ron walked into the kitchen a few seconds later, wearing a huge grin. Hermione quickly pulled her hand back.
"Hey you two. What's going on- the party's in there!" Ron walked up and threw an arm around Hermione's waist.
"You okay?" he asked her directly.
"Um, no actually. I was just telling Harry that I'm not feeling well. I think I'm just going to go home for the night." Hermione gazed at Harry as she said the last part.
"Oh, come on Hermione. You've been doing this all the time lately! Just stay for another hour or so…"
Hermione shook her head, "Sorry Ron. I'm really tired anyway. Why don't you go tell them about Mr. Inkwell congratulating you over Charlie…"
"Okay, well… good night," Ron leaned in with his lips puckered. Hermione quickly turned her head, while covering her mouth with her hand.
"Um, I might be contagious Ron. Night," Hermione left before she could unwillingly look at Ron's face- or worse, Harry's. Harry watched with intense eyes as she hurried out of the kitchen.
"I think she's really coming down with something nasty," Ron muttered after her. He turned back to Harry who was still staring at the spot where Hermione had disappeared down the hallway.
"You alright, mate?"
Harry jerked his head back to Ron with a questioning look. "Huh?"
"You look like your mind's somewhere else," Ron told him, attempting a comfortable smile. He was unsure how to act when Harry was like this and drinking. Sadly, the red head hadn't gotten the chance to know this side of his best friend.
Harry was dead quiet for a solid minute. His eyes had reverted back to the spot where Hermione had left, practically giving him an invitation to something that he wanted so desperately for the past few weeks. Her.
"Actually Ron," he started, setting his drink on the counter, "I just remembered I had some errands to run tonight. See you later," he finished, like it was something he was only accustomed to saying rather than a sincere departure.
"See ya," Ron replied. Harry hadn't heard him, as he was in too much of a hurry to get out of this small flat before anyone else noticed. Ron sighed as he stood alone in the tiny kitchen. He had been feeling more and more hopeless towards his best mate over the past few months. Harry had changed, but he wasn't making any effort to get his life back on track.
However sad Ron was that he had lost the male comradery, he was happy that the other member of the trio stuck with him. Since Harry wasn't around that much anymore, Hermione could direct all of her attention at him, like he deserved. At least Ron could come out of the past few difficult years with some sort of glory.
Or so he thought he had.
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Harry appeared next to the closet in his bedroom with a faint 'pop'. A hint of vanilla and mint tinged the air; automatically his back stiffened. He told himself to not breathe heavily, even though that was his natural reaction. He didn't want to let her know how much she affected him. She might just use it against him…
Composed, Harry turned around to see Hermione getting up from the edge of his bed. Since his expression didn't give anything away, Hermione gave him a cautious look with fragile eyes.
She opened her mouth, trying to find the words to say something. Obviously, she didn't realize how it tortured Harry. His face glazed over with a renewed, hardened look.
"D-did you really do anything with those girls?" she finally asked.
Harry narrowed his eyes; half angry, half happy that she was jealous, "I could have if I wanted to. You have no right to tell me I can't."
Hermione bit her lip, relieved, "I know. I'm glad you didn't though- I mean, none of them looked right for you."
"I guess nobody's right for me," he snarled at her, abruptly turning and walking into his closet. She had some fucking nerve! Now, he wished he really had gone through with the blonde one who kept throwing herself at him all bloody night long. It didn't matter that she sounded smarter than a garden hose- maybe he just needed someone new to shag. Someone who had no idea who he was or what he liked-
Harry had just started pulling off his jacket when he felt a pair of small hands on his shoulder, doing it for him. Hermione stood behind him and gently eased his coat off his shoulders, before throwing it off to the side. Harry stood frozen, facing his hung clothing, while Hermione stayed behind him, about an inch away from his skin. Her hands remained on his back.
"I'm sorry for hurting you, Harry. But I really have missed you so much…" she whispered. She paused for a second, hoping that he would reply, but when he didn't she bent forward and pressed her lips to the back of his neck. She had to get a response out of him somehow.
Harry closed his eyes at the feeling of her lips on his skin again. He was being foolish thinking that he needed to go shag someone new. They had only slept together twice, but Harry knew that Hermione would be the only woman to ever touch him like this. That's why he hadn't been able to go through with it with other girls. Internally, he would always be wishing for Hermione.
Harry turned around and stared down at Hermione with a guarded look. He wanted to know why she was doing this. Did she really miss him? Or was she only worried that he was depressed and needed a 'pick-me-up'? Would she realize after that, yet again, they had made a huge mistake and curse him for it? Would she continue to regret them?
"Did you miss me?" she asked timidly. Again, Harry didn't respond. She was wearing the 'shy look' again- the one that drove him absolutely crazy with desire.
Just as he was contemplating if he should kiss her as a response, Hermione leaned forward on her tip toes and brushed her lips against his.
Hermione only pulled away a half inch when it was over; enough space to stare Harry straight in the eyes. Surprisingly, the guarded, unsure look in his eyes vanished. Now they looked quite soft and vulnerable. Hermione was greatly reminded of the boy she had spent seven years getting to know, trust, and love. She knew that the insecurity present in his eyes was due to the hurtful things she had said to him last time, but she was determined to make it up to him.
Their lips gravitated back together and before either of them knew it, Hermione was threading her fingers through his hair and he was pushing through the seal of her lips with his tongue.
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Are things starting to look up? Please review, and let me know your opinion.
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