Don't Act Like You Know Me

Year 4 - Negative Gibberish

Hermione sat on a bench by herself. After her blank feelings of the night, the tears arrived in the morning. She had been crying since eight o'clock in the morning. It was now about eleven. She was positioned with her elbows on her knees. Her eyes and the area around them were faintly red but just red enough so people knew she was crying. Her nose was still clearing up and she was still sniffling just a bit. "Hermione?" Hermione didn't turn around. She didn't move at all. Warm arms wrapped around her from behind and hugged her. A chin was resting on the top of her head. The smell of the top of the Astronomy Tower wafted into her nostrils. The person released and sat down next to her. It was Harry. Hermione let out a small sniffle. She looked at him with tear filled eyes. He nodded softly and opened his arms. Hermione slowly plopped to the side onto him, burying herself in his chest. She wrapped her fingers into a fist and placed them against Harry's warmth. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione. They didn't speak for many moments. A tear slipped down Hermione's cheek and it was so cold that she thought it might freeze on her face. She looked up at Harry. He wiped away the tear with his thumb. "Let's go on a walk," he said with a smile. 

Hermione nodded and was helped off of the bench by Harry. The first part of their walk was silent as they walked through the courtyard. It wasn't until they got to the Sundial Garden when one of them spoke.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"No."

"I'm sorry that Ron is such a git."

At that moment, Hermione wanted to tell Harry about everything. She wanted to open up to her best friend in the entire world and tell him about all the things that were going completely wrong. She wanted to tell him about Draco. She wanted to tell him about how Ron kissed her. She wanted to tell him about how Draco saw her and Harry kiss and stopped talking to her for months. She wanted to tell him about her new romance with Viktor. She wanted to tell him about her longing for Draco. Her need for Draco. She wanted to tell him about the Yule Ball and the way her and Draco danced by themselves in the corridor, happy. She wanted to tell him that someone had fallen for her. Someone loved her. Love. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Okay, then. What would you like to talk about?"

"Are you nervous for the second trial?"

"Is that even a question? I haven't even figured out the egg thing yet."

"Harry, you told me you'd figured the egg out weeks ago. The task is two days from now."

"Really? I had no idea. I suppose Viktor's already figured it out."

"I wouldn't know. We didn't actually talk about the tournament. Actually, we didn't really talk at all. Viktor's more of a physical being. I just mean he's not particularly... Mostly he watches me study. It's a bit annoying, actually. You are truing to figure this egg out, aren't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, these tasks are supposed to test you in the most brutal way. They're almost cruel. And... um... I'm scared for you. You got by the dragon mostly on nerve. I'm not sure it's going to be enough this time."

Just then, Cedric Diggory approached them. "Hey, Potter," he said. "Hermione," he nodded.

"Cedric," Harry said.

"Good afternoon, Cedric," Hermione said.

"How are you?" Cedric asked to Harry.

"Spectacular," Harry responded.

"Look, I realize I never really thanked you properly for tipping me off about those dragons."

"Forget about it. I'm sure you would've done the same for me."