Let The Truth Be Told

Chapter 4

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"Of course, I'm right," Seamus said. "C'mon Harry, tell us what you're going to do!"

"I'm not going to do anything," Harry replied with a sigh and he returned to poking his toast with a fork.

"But you have to becau-" Seamus was cut off. "OW!" Ron had kicked him from under the table and was now giving him a threatening look. Lucky for them, Harry wasn't even paying attention.

In the girls' bathroom, Hermione checked to see if all the stalls were empty. "Are you two CRAZY?!"

"What? We weren't going to say anything!" Lavender said defensively.

"We really weren't. Besides...we have much more to lose than you do," Ginny added.

Hermione looked at them with her eyes wide with horror. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE LESS TO LOSE?! He's my best friend!" Hermione shouted. "The only reason I won't admit to him that I love him is because I'm so afraid to lose him as my FRIEND! What if it doesn't work out? I'm not going to risk my best friend for some fling or something!"

"I didn't mean it like that, Hermione," Ginny said mentally kicking herself.

"You said yourself that you love him. It's not some crush," Lavender said as she shook Hermione by her shoulders. "I can tell, Hermione. You haven't eaten, slept or done anything well for the past two days. This isn't healthy!" She let go of Hermione's shoulders.

"Oh my gosh!" Ginny exclaimed as she looked at her watch. "We have to go, Lav, or we're gonna me late for the train!"

"Oh no!" Ginny and Lavender began to run towards the door. "Look, Hermione, you have to do something. Send me an owl once you have everything figured out." With that, Lavender and Ginny left the bathroom leaving Hermione leaning against the cold stone wall on the verge of tears.

Hermione buried her face in her hands and began to cry out of frustration, but more out of heartbreak.

Back in the main hall, Seamus was still complaining about his leg. "Ow, Ron...holy crickets! Look at the time!" exclaimed Seamus.

"Wow...we have to go, the train leaves for London in half an hour!" Ron and Seamus got up from the Gryffindor table. The hall was almost completely empty save some house elves cleaning the floors. "Look, mate, you have to figure this out, it's killing you. Happy Christmas." And Ron and Seamus left Hogwarts too.

Harry got up and began to walk back to the Gryffindor Tower to get his Thunderbolt. He thought he might as well get some Quidditch practice in since he had nothing else to do.

"I can't believe Ron just left like that, without warning or anything," Harry thought.

Just then, Hermione emerged from the girls' bathroom eyes puffy from crying and still breathing unevenly. She wanted to go back to Gryffindor Tower to get her diary and books and head off to the library since there was probably no one there.

Harry and Hermione were both walking with their heads down, so when they both reached the portrait hole at the same time, they didn't see each other.

"Ow-" They had bumped heads.

"Ow! Sorry," Harry said.

They both looked up, saw each other and turned away.

"I'm really sorry, " They both said in unison and managed to stifle a giggle despite their inner turmoil.

"S-so, how have you been?" Harry stuttered out trying to break the awkwardness.

"Alright, I guess. Always busy with studying and what not," Hermione replied.

"Right..." They were still not making eye contact at this point.

"Flubberbubble" said Hermione as the portrait swung open.

"Well, I still have lots of studying left to do, I'll see you around!" Hermione ran up to her dormitory without looking back.

Harry exhaled and ran his right hand through his uncontrollable hair and sulked up the stairs to his own dormitory. He took his Firebolt, opened the window, and flew out thinking he could clear his mind or at least try to.

Not wanting to run into Harry again, Hermione decided to stay in the girls' tower.