Disclaimer: This fanfiction is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Harry couldn't have been any more nervous than he already was. His palms were sweaty, his hands were shaking, and his stomach felt like it had been tied in knots. Hermione was now sitting across from him in the carriage, and they were both waiting for the carriage to take off on its way to Hogsmeade. Harry was now staring down at the floor of the carriage, wishing and praying for some kind of distraction to get him out of the situation.
That distraction never came.
The carriage had finally started moving on its route to Hogsmeade, and Harry was now officially trapped in the carriage with Hermione. Just as Harry lifted his head up to look at Hermione for the first time since they got in the carriage, Hermione began to speak.
"Harry, are you alright? You seem jittery. Well, when we get to Hogsmeade we can get some butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks. That should help," spoke Hermione in a rush.
Harry simply nodded at this, moving his eyes back down to the carriage floor. He was so nervous that Hermione's fleeting words didn't even reach his thoughts. He was going numb waiting for Hermione to tell him that she knew about his reading the letter.
"Well," sighed Hermione, "let's get on to the reason why I wanted to talk to you. As I was saying before, I'm very upset that you-"
"I'm sorry, Hermione!" interrupted Harry. "I didn't mean to read your letter, I had no idea that it was yours!" he blurted. He let out a sigh of relief. Finally, the cat's out of the bag! Thank goodness! thought Harry. Quickly getting over his short-lived relief, Harry realized that he had yet to hear what Hermione had to say. He lifted his gaze from the carriage floor and met eyes with Hermione.
Hermione looked back at Harry with a sheer look of confusion. What in the blazes is he talking about?! What letter? thought Hermione. In a ball of confusion, Hermione blurted out sharply, "What?!"
"I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry! Ginny dropped it in the common room earlier today and I found it under the couch. At the time I didn't know that it was Ginny's, or I wouldn't have read it, but I did, because I didn't know, and I'm sorry! I didn't mean to invade your privacy! You have every right to be upset with me! But I haven't told a soul about the breakup, and I won't. I'd much rather have heard about it from you and not the letter - I'm really sorry, Hermione!"
Hermione had finally started to put two and two together. Ginny…letter…breakup…. Oh!!! Harry read the breakup letter that I wrote to Ginny! He already knows! And he's not mad at me?! Oh, this is going to go better than I thought it would! brainstormed Hermione. "Then you know…that I broke up with Ron?" asked Hermione, still with her eyebrows furrowed.
Harry gulped. "Yes." Harry was trying to read Hermione's facial expression, but was getting nowhere fast. Well, thought Harry, at first she seemed to be confused, then pensive, and now she looks like she does when she asks a question in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class-like she's trying to figure out a six-page-long explanation of a spell for 7th years' in the back of the book! I can't tell what she's thinking-I give up! Harry stared back at Hermione, waiting for her response. The carriage had stopped moving by now, but neither of them had noticed.
"Oh, Harry, that's the best news I've heard all day!" exclaimed Hermione, and with that she fell to her knees right in front of Harry and threw her arms around him. Just as she settled her arms around him, the door to the carriage opened, unbeknownst to either of them. Harry put his arms around Hermione to complete the hug, and at that moment, a voice sounded. They broke their hug and turned their heads in shock to look at the source of the voice - it was none other than Ron.
"I guess that I was wrong in trying to find you two, seeming as you're perfectly happy just being with each other. Thanks a lot, Harry, you really came through for me," said Ron in a disgusted voice, as he slammed the carriage door shut.
Harry immediately bolted for the carriage door after Ron, but Hermione grabbed his arm and stopped him dead in his tracks. "Harry, what did Ron mean by 'you really came through for me'? What are you up to? Did you really find out about our breakup from that letter, or did Ron tell you and send you to lie about it? You're not trying to put Ron and me back together, are you, Harry, because if you are, you've really crossed the line!" And with that Hermione released her hold on Harry's arm and jumped out of the carriage.
Harry's thoughts were whirling in his head. WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?!?!?! his mind screamed.
A/N - The fourth chapter is complete! There are many more chapters to come, and I still want to note that this is an H/Hr fanfic. Please continue reading and reviewing!