Embarrassing Secrets

Chapter 3: Gossip and Guy Trouble

The trio made their way through the seventh-floor corridor to the Great Staircase, and started to descend the stairs to reach their destination of the Great Hall, where Hermione's plan for revenge on Ron would be carried out. The only girl of the group was unusually silent, as the two boys had noticed her to be all day. The males of the group, however, were, at the moment, unconcerned for their friend.

Of course, this wasn't out of indifference for the girl's feelings; Ron and Harry were simply too busy talking about the League's latest Quidditch match that they hadn't noticed.

Boys, Hermione thought to herself, how is it that bloody Quidditch runs their lives? Maybe, instead of surrendering to the fallacy that girls are too confusing to figure out, they should be paying less attention to sports and more attention to people's feelings!

And with those thoughts, ad the boys' continuing conversation about how the Chudley Cannons had been crushed by the Tutshill Tornadoes, their feet had carried them, only one floor down the staircase. Hermione started thinking about the task at hand.

This could ruin our friendship. Should I really jeopardize what we have just to make him pay for what he's a little too thick to figure out for himself? But another unbidden voice popped into her head, and she started arguing with herself. But he hurt me. If he wanted me to go with him to the Ball, he should've realized that I am a choice and not just a last resort because we're best friends. I mean, we are best friends and all, but I'm a girl, too! I mean, hello, I'm not Harry, for goodness' sake!

Her thoughts ceased, though, when she thought she heard her name. She quickly looked up to see if Harry and Ron had addressed her, but apparently they hadn't; the topic of Quidditch was still pouring from their mouths. They also hadn't seemed to hear her name being called.

Then Hermione heard her own name again, less distant this time, and noticed it was being pronounced incorrectly, by someone with a strong accent...

"Herm-own-ninny?" She looked downward in the direction that she had heard it, and she saw Viktor some two flights below her on the stairs, obviously searching for her.

Oh no, what am I to do? She thought. Once again, I forgot about poor Viktor. I know he fancies me, or he wouldn't try to spend so much time just to be around me. He's been so kind, and I have been avoiding him. I can't just let him follow me around anymore. As much as I can't stand Ron, he just knows so much more about me than Viktor, and we've been close for so long now...I don't know how in the world this could have happened, but as much as I am flattered by Viktor, Ron means more to me. She started to panic now. No, I can't be thinking this right now. Ron hurt me, and I am getting him back for it. The rest can wait. I will find Viktor later and explain why we won't work.

She heard Viktor call her once more, and decided this situation needed to be avoided if possible. She didn't want to come into contact with Viktor just now, and especially not at Ron's side.

"Um, guys?" Hermione addressed her friends. She hoped they hadn't heard her name being called as well. They looked up.

"You go on ahead. I just have to nip into the loo for a sec. I'll be right behind you."

They nodded their understanding, and continued down the stairs. For once in her life, she hoped the boys would keep talking about sports, and not run into the Bulgarian a floor down. She hurried down the fifth-floor corridor, and stopped at the girl's bathroom, where, thankfully, no Durstrang boys, or any boys for that matter, could follow her.

As she walked through the door, however, she regretted her decision at once. There were the "Girls of Gossip" themselves, Hermione's fellow dorm mates, Parvati and Lavender. She thought about turning right back around and out the door again, but it was too late for that; they had already seen her come in. They swooped down on her faster than basilisks' venom penetrates a body. And before Hermione knew it, she was besieged by questions she wasn't sure she should give up the answers to.

"Oooh, how was it?" Lavender started the informal interrogation.

"How was what exactly?"

Hermione replied as politely as she could, even though she knew exactly to what Lavender was referring, and was not t all comfortable with the situation she was currently stuck in.

"The Ball, silly" Parvati filled in.

"Oh it was-" Hermione was cut off.

"It must have been wonderful."

"Yes, it must have been, wasn't it?" Parvati agreed.

"Oh, well, I suppose it was rather nice. I had a good time."

"I'm sure," the two girls replied in unison, then started giggling girlishly.

"We did notice that Ronald didn't look too happy, though. My sister wasn't pleased. But she managed to make up for the disappointment with that Durmstrang boy she met. Was Ron upset because of you and Viktor?" Parvati said.

Hermione was annoyed by this comment, and shot right back,

"Well, if you don't mind me saying, Harry didn't look too happy either. Maybe he would have rather gone with someone else, seeing as how he didn't seem to content with you as a date. Anyway, Viktor and I are none of your business, and Ron and I have nothing out of the ordinary going on between us."

Hermione thought that might make the two happy. Indeed, Parvati and Lavender looked surprised that the little bookworm they knew could come up with a spectacular comeback such as that one. Parvati made a little "hmpf" of displeasure, and the two stalked off, out the door and out of sight.

That will teach you, she thought proudly. Viktor should be gone by now, I think. Now, it's dinnertime, she thought.

She left the bathroom and once again descended the staircase, this time all the way down to the Great Hall to meet Ron and Harry.