Fragments of the Sea

Manifestation Mayhem

~1 Month Later~

Harry adjusted his Hogwarts robes as he waited for Ron to catch up to him. Most of their bags were already in the Gryffindor house dorms, but they had brought a few items home for Christmas, which had also been sent back to their bunks before their arrival. Their unplanned hassle made it difficult to return, resulting in the boys' extended stay, and Harry had started envying Hermione's decision to stay behind. He was excited to see her again, but was also slightly nervous about her reaction to Ron, who he knew was regaining his old interest in Lavender Brown.

Harry sighed. He was taking up his old role as the moderator between the two, though this time, it wasn't because of getting off on the wrong foot, but because of a heavy strain of their breakup last summer on their relationship. He knew that Ron was never good with emotions, and he was just as bad with words, so it would be totally plausible that he let her down with what he thought to be a gentle comedown, but actually turned out to be too casual for the situation, was utterly mortifying for Hermione, and all in all, could only be described as an incredibly blunt breakup. The fiasco had actually taken place with other people in the room, increasing the chances of her not expecting it tenfold.

He'd had the decency to pull her aside first, but that was where his awareness of her feelings ended. Harry sighed. He'd overheard his best friend saying some words that sounded too similar to 'I just don't like you that way anymore. I'm not sure I ever did,' and Harry wasn't sure that Hermione was overreacting when she brought up her hand to undoubtedly slap Ron, before stopping herself and running out of the room, especially with his uncaring expression. The look on Ron's face was just...confusion, so Harry wasn't particularly worried about him. 

When he'd chased after the brave bookworm though, he hadn't been able to approach her, but he managed to catch a glimpse of red eyes and tears running down her cheeks. She was stumbling a bit as she left, displaying how blurry her vision really was. Loud sniffles and heart-wrenching sobs were the only signs of emotion about the topic around people. Hermione hadn't spoken to Ron, and barely spoke to Harry, since. Harry jumped when he realized Ron was talking to him. 

"Mate! You alright, Harry?" he asked. Harry swallowed and forced a weak smile. "Fine," he said, "Just worried about seeing Hermione again. Do you think we'll be able to see her today?" he asked. Ron shrugged. "Dunno. It's pretty late, but she might be in the library. She's stayed out there later than midnight before, so why not today? Speaking of 'Mione, what was up with her a few months ago? She kept making this weird face whenever I talked to her." Harry just ushered Ron inside the massive castle and refused to say anything else on the subject.

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"Shut up! I'm not!" A girl's laughter echoed in the cold, dark, empty library. Harry knew that voice. Hermione? A guy's voice responded, chuckling slightly. "Admit it! You're a bibliomaniac, Leonela," he was saying. Harry frowned. he knew that voice, too...but it couldn't be. Hermione wouldn't let anyone call her anything but her name and 'Mione', and even that was just Harry and Ron. And...he wouldn't be associating with her, he wouldn't be laughing or joking with her, or anyone for that matter.

Malfoy wasn't even a possibility- but regardless, the voice was smooth and elegant, indicating a pureblood, though it could just as well be someone who'd been raised in a well-off family. It had also been deep and melancholy, but that was covered up with a playfulness- something Malfoy would never be able to display. Harry didn't think he'd felt a single drop of emotions in his apathetic existence.

There was some shuffling, and Harry realized that he'd missed out on the rest of their conversation, and that they were leaving. His eyes widened and he stood up shock straight, preparing to bolt, when a certain bushy haired girl ran into his chest.