Shattered Castle

6

i wrote this entire story at 2am and I'm just posting it day by day bc I know if I posted it all at once you guys would read it in a half hour and then hate yourselves for reading it so fast

It's two days later when Harry finally returns to the Great Hall for breakfast, his leg still a bit sore but otherwise fine. He's put his necklace around his neck instead of in his pocket, with the chain tucked under his shirt to hide it from prying eyes.

The second he comes in the door, Hermione is out of her seat and running toward him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. 

Almost immediately she pulls away. "Sorry, I'm sorry, I was just so worried-" she says nervously, and Harry can't help it; he pulls her in for another hug.

She goes stiff for a second before relaxing and hugging him back, small arms winding around him comfortingly, and Harry can't breathe because it's been so long since he's hugged Hermione and his heat hurts and he makes his decision before he can think about it too much.

She pulls away slowly, meeting his eyes sadly.

"Heya, Hermione," Harry says with a sweet smile.

"Hi, Harry," she replies, her eyes still filled with sadness and heaviness.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry says, slower this time, trying to convey meaning with his words and face. "How are you, Hermione Jean Granger, whose parents are dentists and who is the brightest witch of her age?"

She freezes, eyes searching his, wide and panicked and hopeful and her mouth falls open. "Do you- are you-"

Harry smiles again, and Hermione throws herself into his arms again. Her shoulders are shaking and Harry can feel the wetness of her tears through his t-shirt but he doesn't care because his best friend in the world is hugging him tighter than she ever has before.

"I missed you," she whispers, and Harry's heart breaks a little bit. "Don't ever do that again." Suddenly she pulls away, eyes wide. "Do you remember what happened to you?"

"We'll talk about that later," Harry promises, and she nods slowly, hugging him one more time before they go to the Gryffindor table.

Everyone is staring at them.

Harry's necklace warms slightly, and he catches Draco's eye. The boy is looking at him with a puzzled expression. Harry gives the tiniest of smiles back, and his necklace returns to its normal temperature.

"The hell was that?" Ginny says through a mouthful of toast.

Hermione meets Harry's eyes. He shakes his head fractionally. 

"I was just happy he's not dead," Hermione lies softly. "I heard the poison in the potion could have killed him, and I was so scared."

"You two hugged, like, five times," Ron says bitterly, staring right at Harry.

"She looked like she could use a hug," Harry replies, cocking his head. He can't help the venom in his voice, and he knows he'll have to explain it to Hermione later. "Do you have a problem with me hugging her? I'm of the understanding that she's my friend."

Ron's face goes purple. 

"So you'll hug her and be nice to her, but not me?" he spits. "What's so fuckin' special about her?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione says, but Ron is on a roll now.

"Why does she get to come back and be your friend now, but I don't? Why are you nice to everyone else, even fucking Malfoy, but you're a dick to me?"