Uncomfortable Truths

Chapter Twenty-Five - Front Page News

Harry and Seamus enter the Great Hall. It's still early but Malfoy dragged Harry with him on another run this morning and now he's hungry.

"What would you do?" Harry hands his tutoring list to Seamus, "There's 51 students signed up and I only have an hour."

"Out of the 49 girls, I'd guess maybe two or three actually need help." Seamus smirks, "Have you shown this list to McGonagall? She might be able to help."

"I can try, I guess." Harry sits loading his plate with food.

"Hi Harry." Ernie sits down next to Seamus. "I need to talk to you about something. Do you have a minute... it's private though."

"Can I eat first? I'm starving."

"Yeah, just come over when you're done." Ernie leaves for his own table.

"Did you know he's never seen a movie? I'm going to take him over our winter break."

"That's crazy, I feel sorry for wizards sometimes, they really are missing out on some great things. So, when is this hot date planned for?"

"You have a hot date?" Ron sits next to Harry.

Harry ignores him and continues his conversation with Seamus, "I don't have anything planned yet, it's still months away."

"Can I come?"

"On Harry's date?" Ron asks Seamus.

Seamus ignores Ron. "I can bring Theo with."

"Yeah, that'll be fun."

"Good morning, Harry, Seamus." Hermione sits next to Ron.

"Harrys got a hot date planned and Seamus just invited himself along." Ron kissed Hermione's hand.

"Can we come?" Hermione smiles, "Make it a triple?"

Harry ignores her too and concentrates on eating instead. Today he's taking seconds on the bacon and potatoes.

"Harry, I'm sorry, please talk to us." Hermione tries to grab Harry's hand but he moves it out of reach. "I really am, I didn't know he would see it."

Harry finishes his food and stands, not saying a word to Ron or Hermione and walks up to the staff's table.

"Ronald, he's never going to forgive us, is he?"

"He'll come around." Ron stabs his food with more force than necessary.

"That was a shitty thing to do." Seamus glares at them, "You just couldn't leave well enough alone?"

"It's not well, now is it Seamus. I'd be more than willing to leave well enough alone IF it was well but it's not."

"And you get to decide that?"

"Just because you're dating a Slytherin," Ron whispers, "Doesn't mean that bloody Malfoy is the right choice for Harry. He's Malfoy."

"It's not about the House they're in. It's about what Harry wants, and I wouldn't make that decision for him, and neither should you."

"We only want what's best for him. You know how impulsive Harry can get. If he only sits back and takes the time, maybe he'll realize how toxic that relationship would be." Hermione watches as Harry hands the Headmistress a slip of paper and starts arguing with her.

"Yeah, mate." Ron says through a mouth full of food. "When this thing with Malfoy goes sideways, it's us that'll have to pick Harry up.

"You don't want him to try because it might not work and then you'll have to be there for Harry? So, it's not really about Harry then, it's about taking time out of your lives to support a heartbroken friend?"