November 20, 1996
Harry
He never knew how she felt. That she felt that way. The whole week, all he was able to think about was her. Her words. It was bottled up anger.
"Harry, you alright?" Hermione asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Harry shook his head and gave a small smile. Ron looked at him in worry.
Hermione and Ron exchanged glances. Harry played with his potions book. Staring at it. "Slughorn's Christmas party is going to be bloody boring" Ron said, trying to make small talk. Hermione nodded.
Harry looked up at Ron and shrugged. "It's whatever. It's probably one of the only chances I have at it. Though I still don't get why Dumbledore thinks Slughorn has the the solution to beating Voldemort".
Hermione frowned, biting her inner lip. "Maybe he has valuable information" she said, trying to keep the conversation alive- even at the slightest.
"I thought that-."
The bell rang and the Gryffindor's left the common room one by one. The sky was dark and foggy. The only source of light outside was the moon. Harry stood up and stepped out the portrait hole without Hermione and Ron.
They caught up with him and didn't break the silence. Harry was deep in his thoughts but when he heard her voice, his head sprung up. Hermione was startled.
Harry saw her. He saw her get food. For the first time- he saw her in the Great Hall. Has she not been eating this whole time? Just when Harry was going to walk towards her. He saw Malfoy step beside her and peck her lips. His jaw clenched and his hand turned to fists.
"Is that-
"That's Rye" Hermione finished. Ron frowned. Harry looked over his shoulder at the other two, with tears. He bit his lip and walked slowly to the Gryffindor table. Hermione gave Ron a worried glance.
Ron glared at Malfoy's back when he left with Rye, out the Great Hall, with food clutched in their hands. Harry sat with a distance between the others. Hermione and Ron sat in front. "I honestly can't believe she's still snogging Malfoy" Hermione furrowed.
"What does she even see in him?" Ron made a disgusted face. "Malfoy is the last person I thought she'd be with. His personality is absolute garbage. Could it be for his looks? Or his money?" he whispered.
"Ron, shut up" Harry snapped. "We know that Rye is nothing like that. She would never. Never for money. She also never cared about looks, but it can't be for his personality either. What the fuck does she see in him?" Harry stuffed his face into his hands.
Hermione and Ron were shocked by Harry's outburst. They never saw him like that. Hermione looked down, cheeks flushed with tears in her eyes. She felt like it was her fault.
She was the one who pushed Rye away. Hermione's knuckles turned white as she gripped onto her skirt. "Hermione, you alright?" Ron asked, placing his hand on her shoulder. Harry looked up.
He furrowed his eyebrows when he saw a tear fall from Hermione's eyes. "Hermione, why are you crying?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head, letting all her tears fall out.
"It's my fault. I pushed her away. I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. Now she's never going to forgive me. Or anyone of us. I miss her so much and now she doesn't even want to look at us" Hermione sobbed. Ron glanced and Harry.
"Hermione, it's not your fault. Don't say that. You just want the best for us. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll come around" Harry lied. He couldn't tell them about what happened between him and Rye. He felt sick lying but he couldn't be honest. For their own good.
Ron sighed. "Mione, trust Harry when he says it's not your fault. Cause blimey she just walked away from 2 amazing bastards and 1 incredible witch. Hopefully she'll come around".
Hermione shook her head, continuing to cry. "Now she's spending all her time with Malfoy. She doesn't know what she's got herself into. And it's all because of what I did. I'm such an idiot" Hermione slapped her forehead.
Harry grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. "She was already spending time with Malfoy, long before. Before the Hallowe'en ball too".
Ron and Hermione looked at her in confusion. "Bloody hell, Harry. That's a big assumption, don't you think?" Ron scoffed. Harry shook his head. "What do you mean?"
Harry sighed. He knew telling them would be for the best. It felt wrong but he couldn't find another way.
"I took her diary when she tried to burn it. Before our fight. After we got into it, I went through her stuff in anger- her diary. And Malfoy's name was in there from September. She's been with him since then"
Hermione wiped her tears and waiting for Harry to continue. "She's been talking about him, entry after entry. It's Malfoy. There was also a picture- a drawing of her and Malfoy" Harry's face flushed. "It was Malfoy pinning her against the wall and- um- kissing her. In Snape's classroom. I'm pretty sure it was during their detention together back then".
Ron covered his mouth. Hermione looked at the table. "So you're telling me, that has been happening for more than 2 weeks?!" Ron asked, pointing at the two who just walked in with empty plates. Harry looked away when he saw her neck. Full of love bites.
The two placed their plates down on the Slytherin's table and sat beside Nott. She seemed happy. A group of Slytherins walked by her and one slapped her head with a book. Rye winced and turned around, clutching her head. Harry stood up about to run to the guy who hit her when Hermione held him back.
Harry struggled but stopped when Malfoy stepped in. Malfoy was already on the ground, on top of the guy who hit her. He was beating the guy up to pulp. In the back, she was trying to pull him back. Malfoy didn't stop. "Draco stop!" She yelled.
He immediately got off and stepped back looking guilty. Filch ran in and scowled. The guy was taken out of the Hall. Malfoy sat back down with bloody knuckles. Rye sat beside him and comforted him.
It was then Harry realized that she wasn't the only one who caught feelings.
"He likes her too" Harry breathed.
