My Heart Remembers Differently

Behold Pride and Jealousy

Harry and I kept our relationship quiet until the following Saturday.  Ron was suffering from a cold and had spent a night in the hospital wing.  Ginny was busy with Quidditch, though I had heard she seemed to have lost her edge as Seeker and as Quidditch captain.  On Saturday, Harry invited Ron and Ginny on a picnic near the Black Lake.  I had stayed away from the three of them, except when Harry came to the common room right after classes to steal a few minutes together despite Draco's grumbling. 

Some evenings we spent with Draco, Luna and Professor Tonks working on spells, counter spells and physical fighting that she assured us we would have to use.  Usually, she assured us this after she had knocked Draco on his bum.  On top of the secret society, I still had N.E.W.T. studies to finish.  Draco begrudging helped with some of the more confusing potions that I begrudgingly begged his help on. 

It was time.  The truth had to be told.  Harry and I knew that they would be angry.  Ron's pride would be pricked, but Ginny had seemed to become more possessive over Harry the past two weeks glaring at anyone who talked to him.  I watched from afar and noticed that Harry did nothing to encourage Ginny.  Her erratic personality was so strange. 

I met Harry with the picnic basket on the little null by the lake we had chosen.  I noticed a mermaid flip her tail in the water.  I don't remember my time I was put into the Black Lake during the Tri Wizard Tournament, but I had read up on mermaids.  They were not friendly creatures.  I went through all of the facts I knew about them as I waited nervously for Ron and Ginny to appear. 

"Relax."  Harry urged, though I could see the tenseness around his eyes.  "You and I are hurting no one.  We fell in love when neither of us were spoken for.  Remember that."  He reminded me.

"I don't fell guilty for loving you, Harry.  I just wish this was over with and we could stop hiding how we feel."  I tell him. 

"After today, we will not have to hide again.  Here they come.  Great, Ginny already looks angry."  He muttered.

"Is she really acting like herself?"  I asked him.  Harry frowned at my question.

"She is acting a bit out of character, now that you mention it.  I thought it was just the war, but Ginny has never been as high-strung as this, has she?"  Harry said.  I shook my head, but said nothing more as Ron and Ginny approached.

"Hi, Hermione."  Ron said giving his sister a stern look.

"What is she doing here?"  Ginny demanded. 

Yes, this was a brilliant start, I thought to myself.  I didn't say anything, just sat down on the huge pillows that I had conjured as a comfortable seat for all of us. 

"I asked her to come, Ginny.  Would you like to take a seat?"  Harry asked.  She glared at me and sat down on the other side of Harry.  I sighed and wished the butterflies in my belly would calm down.  Ron sat down and perused the meal that Harry had gotten from the kitchens. 

"I am starving."  Ron claimed.  Harry and I exchanged glances.  We had decided to eat after we told them, but perhaps this would be better on full stomachs.

"Let's eat."  Harry invited. 

Ron talked about the upcoming Quidditch match between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.  He was talking to a sixth year Ravenclaw and hesitated after he said her name as if he thought it would bother me.  I was trying to listen and swallow the bite of meat pastry I was eating.  Everything tasted like sawdust.  A large splash in the lake caught my attention and I noticed two sets of eerie black eyes staring at us from the middle of the lake.  I frowned almost sure I could hear music.  I looked up at Harry who was listening intently to Ron.