Puzzle to a Frozen Heart

Chapter 22

(Denial)

"Well? Would someone care to explain why the Head Boy is fighting with my best friend?" Hermione eyed the two of them with both curiosity, and a glint of anger in her cinnamon colored eyes. That was until her sight caught the unconscious form of Ron, fact which finished getting all the anger out of her. Nevertheless, she suppressed it when directing her next question. She knew what Harry was capable of when provoked, yet she also knew that first impressions were not always correct. "And what is Ronald doing on the floor, with his nose broken, by the way?"

"This was all Brad's doing! He punched the Weasel and provoked me by insulting you!" Harry accused, turning his lightsaber back into his wand.

"Oh, come on Potter. 'Mione', you know how much he hates Ron. I passed by and saw him cornering him and hitting him. When I tried to stop him, he just turned on me," Brad explained.

His statement made Harry's blood boil, but his Hermione would surely see through his bluff.

"Harry, you know better than to attack... less gifted wizards," Hermione affirmed while staring at Ron, who was still knocked out without movement.

Harry's mouth just opened wide then and there. This definitely couldn't be happening.

"What! You're taking his side?! I don't believe it!" he snapped.

"Harry, please calm down. Why don't we talk about this rationally? Look, I know you don't get well with Ron and that he insults you, but that's not an excuse to knock him out. You are Head Boy and you are supposed to give an example to younger students as well as... immature ones," Hermione looked at Ron once more.

"Fine! If that's the way you want to see things, so be it! Good luck with the Death Eater!" Harry took off in the blink of an eye, leaving Hermione and Brad behind with a still unconscious Ron.

Hermione just sighed, passing a hand through her face. This was not the way she wanted things to turn out. She hated dealing with an angry Harry, especially because it hurt her to see him like that. His burdens had passed on to her when she had given her heart to him 6 years ago.

"God, he really has an attitude problem. How can you be with someone like that?" Brad inquired, interrupting her thoughts in the process.

"How do you know?" she couldn't help but ask. As far as she knew, nobody knew about their relationship, except Fleur

"Aside from the fact that it's obvious, you can't hide your emotions Mione, he told me. He finally got his prize."

"What do you mean his prize?"

"Never mind. So, did you speak to Professor Dumbledore about my... you know, that thing in my abs, which is still there by the way?"

"Oh, yes I did. Don't worry about it for now. I just need to do a little more investigation on the matter and I'll get back to you."

"Fair enough, thanks 'Mione. You're the best. So, should we get Ronald to the Hospital Wing?" Brad asked, pointing at the still unconscious wizard.

"We have to."

Brad got his wand out and made Ron float all the way to the Hospital Wing, dropping him with a soft "thud" on a cornered bed. As soon as he finished this task, he grabbed Hermione's hand, leading her outside; fact which earned him a puzzled expression from the Head Girl.

"Brad, where might I ask are we going?" she chuckled.

"To the lake; I think it's time I tell you something."

****

"So, what's bothering you?" Hermione inquired after Brad had led her to a cozy spot under a tree.

"I have feelings for you. Feelings that go beyond friendship," he stated. But Hermione's reaction was not what he expected. The next thing he knew, Hermione was flat back on the grass and beside herself with laughter.

"Oh, stop it, you're killing me," she said between giggles but her face grew pale as she caught sight of Brad's serious face. "Brad?"

"'Mione, you're the girl of my life, you've always been. I'm in love with you. I have been ever since we were eleven and you got your Hogwarts acceptance letter. Don't you remember when I asked you to be my girlfriend after you returned from your first year? You said to me that your heart was already taken. Ever since then, I've known you're the only girl I want to be with." As he finished, Hermione's eyes grew wide and for once, she was speechless. Brad took this as a sign and leaned in to kiss her. Hermione froze at the feeling of his lips upon hers, and suddenly, memories of last night's dream returned to her mind. She immediately pulled back, her face devoid of all color. "What's wrong?"

"Brad, I'm with Harry."

"So? He went away once, he can do it again. I've always been here for you. And I want you to know that, heart taken or not, I'm not going to give you up without a fight," he assured her.

"I have to go." Hermione took off literally running to the castle, leaving Brad with a victory smile on his face.

****

Hermione headed straight to her room, leaning against the door just as she closed it.

"Surprised to see you alive," came Harry's voice, who was laying on his bed displaying his everyday cold expression.

"Harry, cut the crap, okay? I'm just not in the mood," she snapped, walking to the bed and throwing the yellow envelope to the floor in the process; its matter obviously forgotten.

"You know, I just can't understand why you always have to take his side. I'm your boyfriend for Merlin's sake! You're in my bed every night and you still trust him more than me. Or is it that you don't trust me at all?" Harry questioned, striding to her side and reaching a face to face position with her.

"Harry, don't do this. I'm with you, am I not?" she sighed.

"Answer the question! Would you rather be with Brad? Is that it? Is he the long awaited Heir of Slytherin?"

"I don't know! For the first time in my life I don't know something and it's driving me nuts! Does that answer satisfy you?"

"No, I don't want an I don't know. You know I don't like Brad. I don't trust him and for good reason. I'm telling you, he's no good, he's up to something and I don't want you spending time with him."

"Don't you dare ask me to choose between you and him, Harry. Don't you dare!"

"What if I do? What are you going to do about it?"

"Absolutely nothing!" Hermione challenged him.

"Why? Because you would rather choose him than me?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Then what do you want?! I'm trying to understand you, I really am! But with your little mood swings..."

"MY MOOD SWINGS?! You should talk! Ever since you arrived you've been this cold, arrogant Jedi Wizard, who thinks he's better than everybody else. Then at night, when you're with me, you turn into this sweet caring guy. I just don't know how to keep up with you!"

"Sorry! I'm just trying to keep you alive and if being this cold, arrogant jerk you speak of will do that, then it's a no brainer. I don't want to end up like my father!"

"And why is that? He found love and cherished it. He married the woman he loved and had you."

"Then he died."

"Well, if I have to choose between a long, lonely life, and a short life with the one I love, that would be a no brainer to me." Hermione sighed once more as she sat on bed and put her arms around his neck, making him look at her. "Harry James Potter, I love you. I want to be with you and I don't want your fear to stop us. So, I'm asking you, do you want to be with me?"

"Hermione, I..."

"Answer me."

"Yes, I want to be with you."

"Then that's all that matters to me."

They began to kiss ardently, Harry pushing her gently onto the bed. She got rid of his clothes as he attacked her neck. And their argument was suppressed for yet another night.

****

Oliver jumped out of bed as he heard a noise on the grounds. He turned over and saw that Fleur was still fast asleep.

"Oh, well, must have dreamed it." He got out of bed and headed to his dresser to get his water bottle. But just as he passed by the window, some dark figures got his attention. Upon looking more closely, he saw that they were Death Eaters. "Shit!"

****

Harry moaned, stretching from his side in order to hold Hermione more closely, only to find that she wasn't there.

"'Mione?" he asked sleepily, opening his eyes into a dark atmosphere.

"Good evening Potty. Had a nice sleep?"

Harry jumped out of bed in an instant. He could recognize that voice anywhere; Lord Voldemort. Just on cue, he came out of the shadows, holding Hermione by the neck, his wand pointed directly at her.