Fireplaces, Hot Chocolate, and Marshmallows

Chapter #12

When Britney didn't show up for dinner, Hermione got worried and went searching for her. She found her in the girls dormitory, on her bed, crying. "Hey," Hermione said gently. Britney looked up at her with red, swollen eyes. "What's wrong?"

Britney sniffled. "We got in a fight."

Hermione sat down next to her, full of concern. "About what?" she asked her, smoothing her hair.

"Didn't you see the way he treated Harry?" she muttered from under her arms. "We made a promise. He promised me he'd get along with Harry," she sniffled.

"Sometimes, promises have to be broken," Hermione commented wisely. When Britney didn't say anything, she just left her there to sulk.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next morning at breakfast, Britney reappeared, looking fine and as if nothing had happened. She sat down next to Ron, and said, "'Morning guys!"

Hermione nodded, but Ron and Harry didn't say anything, and Britney and Hermione began to get suspicious...

The whole day long, Britney completely avoided Draco at all costs, to the extent of running into Filch twice, which normally could've been easily avoided. However, Harry and Ron seemed to be avoided her too. They didn't say anything to her the whole day!

Finally, after dinner, she confronted them in the Common Room. "Hey, Harry?" she asked, sitting in an empty armchair next to the couch where he and Ron were seated. (It was well past midnight, so they were the only ones in the common room.)

Harry just kept his nose in his Arithmancy book, and Ron fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Where's Hermione?" she asked, to nervous to ask them straight out.

"Upstairs. Asleep," Harry answered shortly.

"Speaking of sleep," Ron said, standing up and walking towards the stairs. Harry caught on to the hint. He closed his book and turned to follow.

"Wait!" Britney shouted, standing up also. " Why have you guys been ignoring me today? And don't act stupid, it was quite obvious."

"You're the one who's acting stupid!" Ron spit. "We know what you did!"

Britney was dumbfounded. "I... what did I do?"

"Oh, please," Harry said. " I saw you kissing Draco with my own eyes just after he insulted me!"

It took Britney a while to figure it out. "What?!" she yelled. "I didn't kiss him!"

"I saw you!" Harry snapped.

"Well, you obviously didn't eavesdrop long enough, or else you would've seen me push him off!" she snapped back defensively.

"What's going on here?" a quiet voice behind them asked. It was Hermione. All of the noise had woken her up.

"Well, Britney asked us why we were ignoring her...""She was kissing Draco after...""They were accusing me of..." they all shouted at the same time.

"Hold it!" Hermione interrupted. "Now, one at a time."

"She started it!" Harry and Ron yelled in unison, both pointing their fingers at Britney. Britney made a noise of disgust.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You are so juvenile. It doesn't matter who started it. Now," she said, turning toward Britney, "tell me what happened, from the beginning."

Britney's eyes had now begun to tear up for the second time in the last two days, but this time in anger. "All I did was ask them why they were ignoring me, and they snapped at me!"

"Well, maybe if you didn't 'encourage' Draco," Harry hissed darkly.

"Especially after he insulted Harry!" Ron added.

"I told you!" Britney yelled back. " I didn't kiss him! In fact, I told him off for you! But you didn't hear that part, did you Harry?!"

"You... you told him off?" Harry stuttered.

"'Course she did! You're her friend!" Hermione snapped.

Ron looked around, a confused expression on his face. "But, if you weren't at dinner last night," he thought aloud. "Then where were you? Surely not with Draco?"

"Oh, don't be so silly Ron," Hermione snapped again. "Of course she wasn't. She was upstairs."

"Why?" he asked.

Before Hermione could snap back another answer, Britney stared at her feet and answered, "I really don't like fighting with people, and Draco got me really upset." She grinned. "Plus I was hiding out from Pansy. All those horrible things I did to her... who knows what she would've done if I'd showed up."

Everyone smiled. "You guys should apologize," Hermione suggested.

Harry nodded. "I'msorryIyelledatyou," he mumbled quickly.

"What?" Britney asked.

Harry sighed. "I said, 'I'm sorry I yelled at you'."

Ron nodded in agreement. "And ignored you," he added.

Britney's eyes lit up, and she bobbed her head in acceptance. "Alright, I forgive you," she said.

Hermione cleared her throat to get their attention. "I don't know about you, but it's nearly one, so I'm going to bed now, if that's ok with you."

The group nodded and yawned their silent approval, and then dispersed.