Easy Mistake ; Harry Potter

E I G H T Y T H R E E | Fancy You

Harry trudged out of the Great Hall not long after Ron had left for Quidditch practice.

He walked out of the castle with a heavy heart. He was already anticipating the disappointment when Eleanor refused to pick up the phone.

On the other hand, a small part of Harry was glad that Hermione and Ron had convinced him to go to Hogsmeade because it meant he had time alone.

Lately, Harry felt distant from Ron and Hermione or anyone for that matter and often had the urge to be alone. If he was in their company he would notice he became waspish and snappy. He was always filled with an anger that he couldn't explain. It slightly scared him.

Harry noticed the stares he was receiving as he made his way into Hogsmeade and cursed himself, he had forgotten to grab his Invisibility Cloak.

Harry quickened his pace and soon reached the Three Broomsticks. He kept his head down as he made his way through the crowds of people and luckily no one recognised him or at least no one stopped to talk to him.

Harry heard a passing conversation as he walked past Madam Rosmerta who was preparing drinks for a group of older looking wizards. "Can't they do something about that bloody phone-thingy, it's been going off all morning now!"

Harry was reaching the back of the bar now and sure enough he heard the shrill ringing of the telephone. Harry was momentarily confused as to who would be ringing the phone none stop and also slightly amused at the fact that no one in the bar seemed to know what the phone was used for and that the only way to make it stop ringing was to pick it up.

Unsure of who was calling, Harry waited until the phone stopped ringing and quickly dialled Eleanors number which he knew by heart before the person had the chance to call back.

Harry, expecting to hear the same old drone of the dial tones, was taken by surprise when Eleanor picked up the phone after the first ring.

"El?" Harry said wearily. Now Eleanor had finally picked up, Harry was at a loss for what to say. He hadn't expected this.

"Harry! Thank God!"

"Er, is everything alright?" Harry asked, concerned by Eleanors slightly panicked tone.

"Yes it is. Well now it is. I've been a prat and I'm sorry. I've been ringing this damn phone all morning hoping you would pick up. God knows what my phone bill is going to be like this month."

"I'm sorry. I can help pay for it if you need me too."

Eleanor stumbled over her words. "Pay for- oh no, don't worry about that. Why are you being so nice?" Relief, gratitude and uncertainty laced Eleanor's words.

Harry was once again struck with confusion. "Er, am I not normally nice?" Harry asked this carefully, not wanting to sound arrogant, but worried that Eleanor thought badly of him.

"Yes you are. I mean, I thought you would be mad at me. If I was in your position I would be mad at me. I acted like a right bitch. I shouldn't have ignored you. I'm really sorry-"

"Don't worry about it. I was never mad, just scared that I had messed things up. I'm sorry I never meant for things to turn out like this."

"Oh Harry," Eleanor's voice came out soft and gentle and unlike anything Harry had ever heard. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. You've been nothing but sweet and funny and sarcastic. I was the one who got scared and chickened out."