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.
Hermione was now sitting outside on one of the wooden benches, waiting for the arrival of the carriages at Hogsmeade's gates. She had just come out of one of the shops and had purchased a new quill and ink set for herself, as hers was getting quite worn out and used up. She took the set out of the bag and looked at it. It contained a luxury eagle-feather quill and a large bottle of black ink. Hermione put her fingers over the picture of the quill on the box cover.
This is the same type of quill that I got for Harry for Christmas second year, thought Hermione. She started thinking about what had happened earlier that night with Harry, and her eyes began to well with tears again. I really hope that I'm wrong about all this, Harry. I honestly don't think that you would do something like this, especially since you knew that I only wanted to be friends with Ron. I really don't want to lose your friendship, you're too important to me. A tear rolled down Hermione's face and dropped onto the quill box. Just then she heard the lurch of the carriages halting in front of the gates. Hermione stuffed the quill set back into the bag and made her way to the carriages.
***
Harry awoke with a start. He sat up and put his glasses on, glanced at his bedside clock, and saw that it was a quarter 'till ten at night. Was that a dream?! thought Harry. He looked around at his surroundings and saw that he was still in his bed in the boys' dormitory, and that he was the only one in the room. Well, I suppose it was, but it seemed like I was really there. I could swear that I was standing behind Hermione in my Invisibility Cloak, unbeknownst to her, and that she was sitting on a bench looking at an eagle-feather quill set, one just like the one she gave me for Christmas second year. Then I heard her say that deep down she didn't think that I would try to get her and Ron back together, and that she didn't want to lose my friendship, because I am too important to her, recalled Harry.
I can't believe that that was a dream - it seemed so real! exclaimed Harry in his thoughts. Harry, still trying to figure out his bizarre dream, took his glasses off and laid them back on the nightstand. He got back under the covers and yawned. Well, one thing's for sure; I don't want to lose Hermione's friendship, because SHE'S too important to me. Harry yawned again, and he eventually dozed off in the midst of his thoughts.
***
As everyone was boarding the carriages at Hogsmeade's gates, Hermione spotted a group of Slytherins looking her way and snickering. I wonder what their problem is? Weirdos, thought Hermione. She ignored them and made her way towards an unoccupied carriage. Just as Hermione got in and had made herself comfortable, the carriage door flew open.
"Ah! There you are, Hermione, I've been looking for you," came Ginny's voice. "Can I sit with you on the ride back?"
"Sure," replied Hermione. She was glad to see Ginny; she really needed to confide in her after what had happened that night. Ginny smiled and got in the carriage. She closed the door and sat down across from Hermione. She set her bag of candy next to her on the seat. A few seconds later, the whistle sounded and the carriages took off for Hogwarts.
"I just talked to Ron in The Three Broomsticks," started Ginny. She looked up at Hermione, and upon closer inspection, she noticed that it looked as if Hermione had just cried. "Are you okay, Hermione? You look like you just cried," said Ginny in a concerned matter.
Hermione sighed shakily and looked down at the carriage floor. She brought her eyes back up to meet Ginny's and said quietly, "I had a blow out with Harry and Ron earlier tonight. I suppose Ron told you what happened?" asked Hermione sullenly.
"Yeah, he did. He was really upset. He said that he found you and Harry hugging in a 'more than friendly way.' He said that you two had hooked up," replied Ginny. She looked at Hermione's face to see her reaction.
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and disbelief. "WHAT? He said that we had 'hooked up?' How ridiculous, really! I was hugging Harry because I was relieved that he wasn't mad about Ron and I breaking up and still not being on speaking terms!" said Hermione pointedly. "What else did he say?" demanded Hermione. She was infuriated now, and Ginny had picked up on that.
"That was it, really," said Ginny. She knew that Ron had also added in a few nasty adjectives about Hermione, but Ginny didn't see the need for Hermione to know about those. She continued, "I cut our conversation short because he was making a spectacle out of us in the pub by yelling everthing out. I was so embarrased that I got us out of there as soon as I could, using Honeydukes as an excuse," replied Ginny as she pointed over to the bag of candy to her right.
"Oh, great, that's just great. Now everyone that was in the pub thinks that Harry and I are going out! Just great!" exclaimed Hermione. "As if things aren't hard enough!"
"About Harry…did he tell you what happened earlier today?" inquired Ginny, changing the subject. She was feeling Hermione out to see if Harry had told her about the letter.
"Earlier today?" Hermione asked. She thought about the question for a moment, then realized what Ginny was getting at. "Oh, yeah, about our letter? Yeah, he did. He told me that he found it after you dropped it in the common room. I guess he thought that I would be mad, though, because he apologized up and down for having read it. That's when I hugged him, because I found out that he already knew about Ron and me and he wasn't upset. Then Ron bursted in, and after seeing us hugging he sarcastically thanked Harry for 'coming through for him,'" explained Hermione.
"'Coming through for him'? What was that supposed to mean? Ron didn't mention that," pondered Ginny.
"I wondered the exact same thing, so when Ron slammed the carriage door and Harry started to go after him, I stopped Harry and asked him what Ron had meant, and-" Hermione abruptly stopped speaking. Something had just dawned on her.
"And?" Ginny urged Hermione on.
"And…I made a big mistake," said Hermione slowly. She looked really upset. She continued, "I just realized something."
"What? What did you realize?" inquired Ginny in a concerned tone.
"That I never gave Harry a chance to answer," said Hermione quietly. She thought about what she had just said to Ginny about asking Harry what Ron meant and realized something - she had never given Harry a chance to answer that question. She immediately accused him of plotting with Ron about getting them back together, then she bolted out of the carriage.
Just then the carriage came to a screeching halt. Ginny and Hermione got off of the carriage, bags in hand, and made their way into the castle. They followed the rest of the Gryffindors to their house tower, said 'goodnight,' and went to their own dormitories to turn in for the night.
Hermione changed her robes, brushed her teeth, and got in bed. She lay there in the dark as she thought about the events of the day. A wave of guilt washed over her. She accused Harry of doing something with no solid proof. That wasn't right, not at all. Now she knew what she had to do - she had to go to Harry and get the truth.
A/N - The seventh chapter completed at last! What did you think? The connection between Harry and Hermione is now starting to show through, but this is only the beginning! More chapters are on their way. Please leave a review; I would LOVE to know what everyone thinks!