I Want to be Your First Choice, Harry Potter

Chapter Eleven

I walk faster and faster to the common room trying not to break out into tears. I had planned on waiting by the fire for Harry but after that I decide to go straight up to my room. I sit on my bed and look over at the rose that is now completely wilted. I stare at it and remember how hopeful I was that night. I dump it out into the garbage.

"What are you doing? I thought Harry gave you that?" Hermione asks as she walks in.

"Yeah well it doesn't matter. He was snogging Cho just a moment ago, probably forgot all about that by now." I say. I start to get choked up while I say it.

"I'm so sorry Gabriella." She says, pulling me in for a hug. I still try not to cry. I hate crying in front of other people, it makes me feel guilty.

"I hate her." I say under my breath.

"You don't mean that." Hermione says. She's right. I don't really hate anyone.

"I just want to cry but there are people going through much worse than me and I'm just so pathetic for crying over a boy." I say.

"It's ok to cry, Gabriella." She says. So I do, for a while. She rubs my back as I cry into her shoulder. I start to laugh a little.

"I messed with her." I say, sniffling a little.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"We heard something in the forest and I knew it was buckbeak but I still acted scared to see her reaction, it was hilarious of course. She proceeded to push me on the ground before running away in fear" I say. She laughs.

"She is no Gryffindor." Hermione says.

"Yeah I guess not." I say.

"You'll be ok, Gabriella. He would never forget about you. I know it doesn't seem like it but you come first in his mind no matter what." She says. Hermione doesn't ever lie about things like this so it warms my heart.

"Thank you, Hermione, you are an amazing friend. I am so lucky to have you." I say. I really do mean those words. She has always helped me when Harry hasn't been able to in the past and seeing what just happened I assume she'll be by my side a lot more.

"I'm just doing my job as your friend." She says. I look at my watch and it's almost midnight.

"Well we should probably go to bed now, it's late." I say going over to the closet to get something to wear to bed.

"Yeah, you know you can talk to me about all this Harry stuff whenever you want." She says. I nod my head.

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After last night the last thing I want to do is work on a project with Harry. I still am not really over what I saw with him and Cho. I can't stand how happy she makes him, I wish I could make him that happy. I keep trying to think of how to not make it awkward between us while I sit at the table during breakfast.

"Hey Gab!" Harry says sitting next to me. I don't even know if he knows that I saw them.

"Oh hi." I say, it comes out a little more gloomy than I expected it.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Nothing I'm just tired after last night I guess, so what did you and Cho end up doing after I had left?" I ask. I want to know if he knows I know.

"Not much, we just walked around and talked for a while." He says. It's weird that he wouldn't tell me. Maybe it's because I blew up in his face about her the other night.

"Oh nice, how's your relationship going with her?" I ask. I need to know if they're going to go any further or if this is just a fling of some type.

"Funny you asked, I was planning on going on that date with her tonight." He says. He just gave me the worst possible news I could get. I feel sick again.

"Wow, have fun." I say. I contemplate warning him about her but just can't bring myself to do it.

"I missed you last night though, what happened to hanging out in the common room after?" He asks. At least I know he still cares about keeping our friendship.

"I was too tired so I went to bed." I say. Every time I lie to him it starts to get easier and easier.

"Oh darn, we should hang out soon. I feel like we haven't hung out in a while." He says. Any time alone with Harry I'll take.

"Yes we should, we have to do our project so we could do that together tonight." I suggest.

"Yeah that sounds great." He says. He actually looks pretty excited.

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