Hear Me Out

Chapter 7: Drama at the Gala

         Everybody looked. From Ron to Harry, from Clarity to Hermione. Hermione's insides tightened up, and she almost pounced. But, she couldn't show how she missed Ron, because truly and honestly, she didn't. Harry, on the other hand, felt intimidated and gave Ron a menacing glare.

          The four of them stood, facing each other, for a good minute. Ron looked at Hermione, and Hermione clutched Harry's arm even harder. Ron and Clarity both took off to the dance floor. Harry stared desperately at Hermione, biting his lip and hoping she wouldn't think too much of it. To his surprise, she wasn't offended or hurt. Instead she was smiling. "It's time," she said. Harry grinned back.

The two paced to the middle of the dance floor, where all the couples were. Harry grabbed Hermione by the waist, and Hermione put her arms around his shoulders. They both smiled at each other, and then Harry looked out of the corner of his eye. There was Ron and Clarity. Ron spun Clarity, both giggling. There were other unexpected couples too. He then lost it when he saw........ Ginny? With a man he never even saw before? He had dark brown hair, and glistening blue eyes. Harry felt like stomping towards her, and confronting her sorry butt. She looked happy with him. Harry loosened his grip on Hermione, and then took off running.

"Harry!" Hermione cried. He ran quickly to the dinner booth.

After about ten minutes of Hermione trying desperately to find him, she found him at a table all by himself, staring out the window, gulping butterbeer down. "Oh, Harry," she sighed. She ran quickly over to him, her heels clinking loudly on the tile below. She then sat down right in front of him. "Harry! It's ok!" Hermione reassured him, but it didn't do any good as his confidence wasn't boosted. "No, it's not Hermione! I just saw my unexpected ex with a new guy she claims to not have even existed! Not to mention they were having fun!" Harry yelled, slamming his fist into the table, causing Hermione to jump.

"Oh, come on Harry. I'm facing Ron, and he's no different than Ginny. Actually worse because Ron was cheating on me, Ginny wasn't with you!" She fired back. "At least you expected Ron to be here! I didn't expect Ginny and that.... whoever that douchebag is!" Harry exclaimed, leaving Hermione to agree. Hermione fell in arrant silence, and no words seemed to foam to the surface. "Oh, Harry! It's not your fault!" She explained. "If it wasn't my fault, then why would she be here? Why would I be here?" He asked, staring directly into Hermione's hazel and frightened eyes. He seemed to notice the apprehension destined into her eyes, so he seemed to soften up a little. "Harry, don't do something you'll regret-" "Like what? My only regret is coming here!" He yelled. He looked menacingly to the main room with the dance floor with Ginny and the unknown dude dancing away, now with a slow song, and then started to slide his hand into his suit pocket.

"No, Harry, no! I won't let you do something that will end you up in a cell in Azkaban!" Hermione said, grabbing both of his arms to avoid any contact with his wand. "Hermione—let—go!" He struggled from her firm grip, and managed to push her away, right before she grasped him into the tightest hug possible. She had her arms planted around his neck, and the warmth reflected off of each other. Harry let go of his wand, and then hugged Hermione back. Hermione closed her eyes, and hoped that this would stop him from doing something vile. As much as she hated Ginny now, she wouldn't risk Harry's eventful life that could possibly be something more if he wasn't going to end up in Azkaban. She anticipated that he would end up performing one of the Unforgivable Curses, and she would be the one to blame for not stopping him.

     Harry squeezed Hermione even harder, as he fought back tears of anger. Hermione pitied him. He's lived a harsh, cruel life. And what really made her upset was that she knew she couldn't fix it. No matter how hard she tried. Harry sighed, and then let go. "Let's get out there," he encouraged. "That's the spirit!" Hermione exclaimed, smiling. She was brightly enthusiastic that he wasn't going to let Ginny ruin his night. Their night.

     They pushed their way to the middle of the dance floor, and a hip hop song turned on with little instructions from the DJ. Everybody was just grooving and laughing, drinking and talking, eating and dancing. It was super fun. Hermione got a few moves in, before she looked out of the corner of her eye. Ron was glaring at her and Harry, while Clarity was fighting to get his attention. Ron looked deathly, like he could've murdered Harry within the fraction of a second. But, Hermione knew that wasn't true, Harry would 'Stupefy' him so fast you wouldn't be able to say the word spell.

        Noticing Ron's look, Hermione whispered to Harry, and then silently pointed to them. Harry got the cue, and then they began to dance closer. Except, almost like fate decided, a slow song played. This was one of the most perfect times to make Ron jealous, and if this wasn't the time, they didn't know what was. Harry grabbed Hermione, and pulled her close. He put one hand on her waist, and the other on her shoulder. Hermione threw her arms around his neck, and they moved to the slow beat. Ron now turned a bright red. He had his fists clenched into balls near his side, and Clarity, still trying to gain his bitter attention, and then following his gaze, found Harry and Hermione. She looked at them with mere displeasure, and jealousy.

        Hermione then looked in his bright green eyes, covered by a pair of his infamous glasses. She smiled, and he returned it. Harry started to feel something. Was it jealousy? Was it suspense? Was it sadness? Was it........ love? No, it couldn't be. Him and Hermione were only doing this to get revenge at Ron, he couldn't possibly be in love with her. Right?

         But he couldn't help but stare at her. He didn't care that all eyes were on them, that Ron would've exploded and Clarity looked like she was charged up. Just then, Ron stormed over to Hermione, and grabbed both of her wrists. He put them behind her back, and Harry didn't have a clue of what was happening. Harry grabbed his wand from his pocket, but lost it as Ron was already prepared with his in his hand, and shouted "Expelliarmus!" Harry's wand went flying out of his hands, and before he could retrieve it, Ron pointed it at him, with Hermione struggling from his grip. Everybody gasped, and took major steps back.

      "Grab it, and you're dead!" Ron shouted, pointing the wand to Harry's chest. Harry didn't show the slightest bit of fear, but he looked at Hermione, who had a desperate look of fright plastered all over her gorgeous face. Ron wasn't a murderer, nor was he ever like this. Clarity was even watching in horror, and trying to shout his name. He wouldn't listen, except yelling a "Shut up!" to her. "What's your problem? You broke up with Hermione! You cheated on her for Merlin's sake!" Harry yelled, yet again no fear in his voice. "Yeah, well— that was before you guys-" Ron trailed off. He gripped Hermione harder, and she yelped a little. Harry, and his swift moves of pace, had Hermione's wand in his pocket too. Hermione has given it to him to protect it from Ron, and better yet he needed it at this time. "Flipendo!" Harry yelled, with the wand in his hands. Ron was thrown backwards, into the table of food. Hermione ran to Harry, and jumped onto him. "Oh, Harry! Thank you! I knew that it would come in use!" She exclaimed, yet again ignoring the crowd of "oohs" and screams. Ginny and her partner were looking at them with mere jealousy. Mainly Ginny. "Should we get out of here?" Hermione asked in a panic. "Nah, he won't touch us now," Harry said sarcastically, glancing over Hermione's shoulder, at a pitiful Ron covered in punch. Clarity was running to him, and then squatted down and made sure he was okay.

      They just got their revenge. They weren't gonna leave. They weren't cowards. They weren't put in Gryffindor for no reason. Just then, Ron got up and looked at Harry menacingly. Harry didn't do anything, and Ron just clutched Clarity's hand and together they went into another room. Bingo. But now, they got their revenge. They're finished. Maybe Hermione would just forget about it. But he.... he couldn't help but admit.... he liked her. Maybe even a little more than a "friend" does.