Blood to Love | 5th year

16- Faulty Love

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I was scared it would ruin our friendship, Y/n. You've been busy all year and it didn't seem that important."

"Hermione, you're a prefect! If anything, I'm proud of you."

Hermione's hair whipped in the wind as we walked side by side to Care of Magical Creatures where Hagrid made the lessons as boring as ever, ensuring that Umbridge couldn't fire him over showing his students a dangerous creature.

She patted down her bushy locks from her face. "I'm sorry, Y/n. I won't hide anything else."

"So you'd tell me if you sided with Harry?"

She laughed. "Harry told me what happened. As much as we all feel bad for him, he'll get over it. He has other things to worry about rather than pining after you — killing Voldemort for example."

I smiled. "I appreciate it."

She nodded and we stopped in our tracks, Hagrids voice instructing us to walking around and study the plants around surrounding us. A collective sigh echoed across the group, nevertheless, we got to work.

As Hermione and I finished studying the plants before everyone else, we approached Hagrid and noticed several more bruises scattered across his arms and face. He recognized our staring and tried to cross his arms to hide the large marks.

"We are worried about you, Hagrid," Hermione said.

"No need ter be," he replied. "I'm perfectly fine."

I cocked my head in skepticism. "What really happened to you?"

He waved the two of us off. "Yer lot best get off. Dinner is about ter start."

Hermione and I sighed, shaking our heads at his change of subject before turning around and walking towards the school, ranting to each other and coming up with a plan to find out what Hagrid has been doing to get himself so bloodied up.

"Y/n, you've got to sit with us at dinner. I've got something to tell Harry that you would probably like to hear as well."

I nodded. "Alright."

Pleased, she guided me towards the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. While taking a seat, I noticed Draco sending me narrowed eyebrows from across the room. I simply smiled at him, piling up my plate and waiting for Harry and Ron to join us so Hermione would start talking.

When the two boys arrived, I turned to Hermione, knowing that Harry wasn't even going to spare me a glare. Ron, on the other hand, was eager to speak to me, explaining his opinion on a mushroom he found outdoors during our long lesson.

Realizing he was still talking, he subtly coughed and let Hermione begin to say the things she had been waiting to say.

"Rita sent me the article she completed so I could look over it, and after some much-needed editing, I approved it. This means that the truth should be out by tomorrow morning. I have a feeling that people are going to start believing Harry now because the stories would all add up. The Prophet had several different articles that simply didn't make sense chronologically. I trust that people will stop turning against you, Harry."

He began chewing aggressively. "Brilliant." I was shot an evil glance.

"I'm just going to —" I stood up from the table, not bothering to finish my sentence.

Hermione and Ron sent me an apologetic smile and I conjured a fake smile, leaving the Great Hall to head to the empty common room to clear my head and stop myself at yelling at Harry when he had every right to be upset. I just wanted him to forgive me.