Friends Forever....Or Not?

It was now late November. All anyone was talking about was Christmas.

"So, Harry," said Ron. "Just this morning I got a letter from my mom. She wants me to come home for the Christmas vacation. She also asked if you would like to come with. Would you want to?"

"She asked me if I wanted to come?" exclaimed Harry.

"Yeah, if you don't want to, you don't have to, but she was just-"

"Are you kidding me!" said Harry. "I would absolutely love to come. It would be my best Christmas ever! I am going to go write her a letter right now thanking her and saying that I'll be there."

"Ok....Do you want me to come with you?" asked Ron.

"Sure, Let's go to our Common room. We can write her a letter together," Harry was just beaming with excitement. This is going to be the BEST Christmas ever, he thought to himself.

They walked up to their Common Room and got out a roll of parchment and a quill. They sat down together and wrote the letter.

Dear Ron's mom (Mrs. Weasley),

This is Harry. Thank you ever so much for inviting me to your house over Christmas vacation. I will definitely be there. I really appreciate your kind gesture. It really means a lot! I am going to have to great Christmas this year. Thanks.

Love, Harry

P.S.-Ron would like to add a little something.

Hey, mom. How are you? I'm fine. Just to let you know, I'm coming home too. I know you sent a letter to Fred, George, and Ginny and they already told me they were coming home. What about Charlie, Bill, and Percy? Are they going to be there? I hope so. Please let me know. Thanks for inviting Harry. This really means a lot to him. Oh, and by the way, I know you asked me invite Hermione, but right now we are in the middle of a fight, (It's nothing too big. Please don't worry about it), so I won't ask her. She probably wouldn't want to come anyway. But, I better go. See you at Christmas!

Love, Ron

"There," said Ron. "All finished. Shall we send it now?"

"Yeah, I'll go call Hedwig," said Harry. "Why didn't you tell me your mom invited Hermione too?" asked Harry.

"I don't know. I didn't think it mattered....or does it?"

"No, no. I was just wondering," said Harry.

Hedwig came flying through the window. They tied the letter up to her legs and sent her to the Burrow.

"So, are you going to tell her?" asked Harry.

"I thought we finished this conversation," said Ron, impatiently.

"No, you did. I didn't."

"Harry, why are you so interested in this topic? I thought you were mad at her. Why do you keep bring it up?"

"Curiosity?" said Harry, unsure of what to say.

"Curiosity?" repeated Ron.

"Yeah," said Harry, a little more sure of himself. "Curiosity."

"Well," said Ron, finally answering Harry's question. "No. I am not going to tell her. Why would I do that? She wouldn't want to come anyway. She'll probably be with Draco all Christmas......Harry, really, why do you care so much about this?"

"I don't know...." said Harry.

"Harry, I know something is going on. You might as well tell me now. I am going to find out anyway. There's no point in lying. What is the matter?"

"You're right, Ron, there is something I am not telling you."

"Yeah, I kind of figured that part out....."

Harry just stood there for a few moments, without saying anything.

"Would you maybe mind telling me or am I just going to sit here in suspense?" said Ron, breaking the silence.

"You wouldn't understand anyway," said Harry.

"Harry, I have been your friend for five years. You can tell me. I'll understand."

"Well, I'm not going to tell you here," said Harry. "There's too many people around."

"Then where should we go?" asked Ron.

"My room. Come on." Harry got up and started for his room. Ron followed. They sat down on his bed.

"Ok, no one's here, so tell me."

"It's a girl, Ron. I like her. No, I love her. She's all I think about. It's driving me crazy. What should I do?"

"Tell her," said Ron.

"I can't. I know she doesn't like me....and plus.....she already has a boyfriend. I can't just go up to her and say something like that. No, we've been friends way too long!"

Ron gasped.

Harry realized that he just gave it all away. He shouldn't have said that part about them being friends for so long....

"Harry!" exclaimed Ron. "Really? Hermione?

Harry slowly nodded his head.

"When? Where? How? Why?"

"I don't remember. I just-"

"Harry, how could you do this to me?! You know we're having a huge fight with her now. Or did you forget?!"

"See, Ron, I knew you wouldn't understand. It's not like what you think. I'm not going to tell her, if that's what you're worried about. I just couldn't go through with it."

"Harry, you're right. I'm sorry. It's just a lot for me to take in right now. I shouldn't be angry at you. You can't help who you fall in love with.....How long has it been since you realized it?"

"Well, that's just the thing. I've liked her ever since I first saw her. I just didn't realize it then. And I know I do. I've always thought of her as just a friend, but it was more. My heart didn't want to admit to it yet. It wasn't ready for what would have become. She's been my friend since my first day here at Hogwarts, Ron. I don't know what I'd do without her. Well, until now. She said those things about us and, well, I just....I just don't think I'd ever have a chance with her. I love her, yet I am so mad at her. I don't know what to do. I can't just go up there and forgive her. It wouldn't be sincere...I wouldn't really mean it.....I just wish we hadn't got into this big stupid fight!"

"But, Harry, we are in a fight. And not to sound mean, but you're going to have to deal with it. We can't take time back."

"Ron, I know that. But....I don't know!"

"You should go forgive her. Say you're sorry."

"What?! Ron, I just told you. I can't. I wouldn't mean it. I am still mad at her. She had no right to say those things about us, and you know it."

"I know she didn't, but, Harry, you're in love with her. You said so yourself. You can't keep this from her. Even is she doesn't love you in return....She has to know."

"No, Ron, she doesn't have to know. She's not going to know. True, I do love her....but I am still very mad at her. And that's not going to change for a long time."

Ron started laughing quietly.

"Ron! What are you laughing about. This is not funny!" said Harry very angrily.

"Harry-" he started, but couldn't finish because he was laughing so hard. "Harry, I just thought of something!"

"What?" he said, offensively.

"I'm sorry. It's just that I've never know anyone who was "madly in love! Get it! MADly! You are mad at her, yet in love with her!"

Harry just stared at Ron.

"Come on, you don't think that's funny!!" said Ron.

Honestly, Harry really didn't think it was all that funny. This was real. But, somehow, he had a feeling that all Ron was trying to do was get out of an uncomfortable situation. That's how he did it. Make a joke. It will get everyone laughing and they will all for get about what they were talking about earlier. He knew Ron wasn't the best person to talk to in these situations, but Ron was the only person he had to talk to.

After a moment of silence, Harry cracked up laughing, it wasn't real, but it sure fooled Ron. "Oh, I get it know! Very funny Ron. That was a good one!" They both laughed for a while longer and then it died off.

"Ron?" asked Harry.

"Yeah?"

"One more thing."

"What?"

"Promise me you won't tell anyone about what I just told you."

"I promise," said Ron, relieved their conversation was finally over with.

"Thanks," said Harry. "Now come on, we have to go to class."

"Oh, do we have to? I don't want to go to Potions today," complained Ron.

"Potions?" questioned Harry. "We don't have Potions today. We have it tomorrow, though.

"We do? Oh....I guess I was thinking that today was tomorrow and yeah...."

"Ron, you are way too easy to confuse."

"Just today," said Ron, defensively. "Not enough sleep....So what class do we have next?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Oh, I don't mind that too much," said Ron.

"Me neither, now come on before we're late," said Harry.

"Ok, ok, I'm coming."

They went in and took their seats. Unfortunately, they had to sit by Hermione. The first day of class, the teacher let them all pick where they wanted to sit as long as they stayed in that spot the whole year. They were friends with Hermione then. Now they regretted that, but they sat down anyways. They had no choice.

"Ok, class," said Professor Cambridge. "I would like you all to put everything away except for a quill and ink. I will hand out the test momentarily."

"Test?!" said Ron to Harry. "What test?"

"I don't know!" said Harry.

They both looked around the room. Everyone looked calm and fine. Apparently, everyone else had know about the test. Harry glanced over at Hermione. She had her things out and looked well prepared for the test as usual. She was also looking over at Harry and Ron. Harry made eye contact with her.

"Won't you two ever learn?" said Hermione to Harry in a mockingly way.

"Oh, shut up, Hermione!" piped in Ron.

"Make me!" she shouted back.

"Harry, Ron, enough talking or you'll both get points taken away. Some of the tests are already out," said the Professor.

"It wasn't just us," said Ron back to the teacher. "It was Hermione too."

"Ten points from Gryffindor. I told you two to stop talking."

Harry and Ron just looked at each other. Why did they get in trouble and not Hermione? Professor Cambridge always favored Hermione.

"Ok, class. You have exactly fourty-five minutes to complete the test. Begin....now."

The test was rather long and a little difficult, but Harry and Ron somehow managed to get through it. Shortly after they finished, the bell rang and the Professor excused them all.

Ron and Harry started walking out when Ron was something crawling on a desk. He looked closer.

"Hey, Harry, is that a beetle crawling on that desk?"

"Where?"

"Over there."

"Oh, I see it," said Harry. "Yeah, it is a beetle. You usually don't see those around this time of the year."

"That's what I was thinking," said Ron. "I'm going to squish it, ok?"

"Ok...."

"No!!" Professor Cambridge came running over to them. "Don't squish it!"

Harry and Ron just stared at her. "And may I ask why not?" asked Harry with curiosity.

"Uh, beetles are such nice creatures...you wouldn't want to harm them now would you?"

"I guess not....." replied Ron.

"Now go on, the bell has already rung," said the Professor.

Harry and Ron walked slowly out of the classroom. They were in complete and total shock.

"So you think she's a little, uh, mental?" said Ron.

"Yeah...definitely," Harry agreed.

* * *

Hermione was in the library reading a book. After a while she put it down. Her mind was somewhere else. She was thinking about Christmas. It was coming up soon. She had already gotten Draco a present. It was up in her room, all wrapped up and ready to go. She would give it to him on Christmas day. She was also thinking about Harry and Ron. She had already gotten their Christmas presents, but of course she wouldn't give it to them now. She had gotten it over the summer....when they were still friends. She had just put it away. She would decide what to do with it later. She heard from Ginny that her and Ron were going home from Christmas. They had also invited Harry and of course, he was going to go. She was positive that if they were still friends, Ron would have invited her too. But they weren't. She was staying at Hogwarts with Draco for the vacation. She was starting to get a little sick of Draco. She wished she was still friends with Harry and Ron. She missed them.....She missed Harry. She would have gave almost anything to have Draco and Harry switch places right now. She had feelings for Harry that even she couldn't describe......Hermione got up and left the library. She had lost interest in her book. She wanted to talk to someone. Anyone. She searched almost the whole school. There was no one there that she had the slightest urge to talk to. She couldn't find anyone. So she decided to go and see Professor Cambridge. She wanted to know how she did on the test. She wasn't sure if she had put the right answer down for number fifty-seven....She wanted to make sure. So she walked over to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. She peeked inside. Professor Cambridge wasn't in there. She must be in her office, she thought to herself. She walked over there. She was in there all right. She was talking to someone though. The voice sounded strangely familiar. She couldn't resist. She quietly opened the door a crack. It caught her by surprise, for she gasped loudly. She was caught in the act.

"Hermione!! What the hell are you doing in here!!" yelled Professor Cambridge. "You shouldn't be here!!"

"I-I just, I....What are you doing here?" she said, pointing to the person Professor Cambridge was talking to.

"That is none of your business!" she shouted back to Hermione.

Hermione stayed silent for a moment. She had to take this all in. She never thought she'd see her again. She just couldn't believe that she was standing there, talking to none other than.....Rita Skeeter.

"You look a little surprised, Hermione," said Rita.

"Surprised?!" questioned Hermione. "Of course I'm surprised...I thought we had a little talk?"

"Indeed we did," went on Rita. "But, Hermione, of all people....I still can't believe I fooled you. You are such a clever girl, but you didn't see this coming, did you?"

"So you lied to me?" asked Hermione.

"You didn't really expect her to listen to a little fourth year girl, did you Hermione?" said Professor Cambridge. "This is all part of a plan."

"What plan?" asked Hermione.

"Our plan," said Rita. "We knew you'd find out about us sooner or later. We're actually surprised it was so late.

Hermione just stared at her.

"Hermione, I have been working for Rita since the beginning of the year. Why do you think I took the job so easily? Dumbledore never saw it coming. I know all about almost everyone at this school now. And I have been telling Rita here all about it. She has been rather interested, if I do say so myself. She is planning to write a huge article about everything at the end of school. A little "kick" to end off the year."

"Why do you do this?" asked Hermione. "You shouldn't say things about people that aren't true....it really hurts their feelings."

"Good reporters do what they have to do," said Rita.

"Good reporter?!?!" questioned Hermione. "Good reporters don't lie about things!!"

"You have to give the readers what they want."

"They don't want lies!!" yelled Hermione.

"But they do want good stories. People are so gullible, it's unbelievable," said Professor Cambridge.

"And plus," added Rita, "who's going to find out they're lies?"

"I know now!!" shouted Hermione. "And soon, Dumbledore is going to know!!"

Hermione turned around and opened the door. Before she could get out, Professor Cambridge grabbed her shoulder and Rita slammed the door shut.

"You will not be telling anyone about this!!" said Rita.

"Oh, won't I?" asked Hermione, in a mockingly way.

"No...you won't," said Professor Cambridge.

"And what makes you so sure of that?" said Hermione.

"Because I am your teacher," she said simply.

"And what does that have to do with anything?" said Hermione.

"Well, I get to decide whether you ace my class....or whether you fail my class."

Hermione gasped. "You wouldn't!!"

"Oh, yes, I would," said Professor Cambridge.

"And just remember, Hermione," said Rita, "you can't erase the fact that we know all that stuff about everyone."

"And who knows....we may "accidentally" let some of that information slip..... Particularly stuff about you," said Professor Cambridge.

"Are you blackmailing me?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, we are Hermione....So are you going to cooperate with us....on not? And remember, there will be consequences if you don't," said Professor Cambridge.

"Is it a deal?" said Rita.

Hermione had no choice but to agree. She nervously nodded her head.

"Good girl," said Professor Cambridge. "Now remember, we will know if you tell anyone."

"Yes, Professor," said Hermione quietly.

"Now go on, get out of here. We have work to do."

Hermione walked out of her office very slowly. She couldn't believe her own teacher was blackmailing her. It was absurd. And even worse, Rita Skeeter was back.....with a spy. She started walking back to her common room, thinking to herself, I can only imagine what kind of things she knows about me.