Deals with Devils

Chapter 1

She was so silent that for a moment he thought she hadn't heard him.

Then she closed her eyes and took in a sharp breath. He fumbled with his hands awkwardly.

"I'm…I never meant to hurt you…it just kindda happened, she…I mean, I…you and I never would have worked anyway, right? But she and I….I'm…I'm sorry." He finished lamely, willing her to just slap him and be done with it. He'd even welcome a curse or two, anything except her just standing there like he had just killed her.

"'Mione, say something. Please."

She drew in a ragged breath. Her eyes flew open, and with obvious effort she flashed him a weak smile.

"I wish you the best." She said.

Harry blinked. Whatever he had been expecting, this wasn't it.

"Wha-what?" he stammered.

She exploded. "Well what do you expect me to do, hex you?"

"Yes," he said in his head.

"Harry, I'm not going to play the part of the bitter, psychopathic, betrayed lover. I've been dumped before. It's just…I thought this time it was going to work."

Harry stared at the floor, not wanting to meet her hurt-filled eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione, but…I love her."

Hermione felt sick. He had never been able to say those words to her, but they came so easily to him now. She stared at him, him with his messy hair and wrinkled robes, looking as always like he had just rolled out of bed or stepped off a broom. He had been her best friend for six years, and her one true love for this past year. How could he just forget all of that?

But she couldn't lash out at him. Not like this.

"I know." She said. "You can't help loving her, and I can't help loving you." She blinked back tears. "So…I guess this is the bit where you ask me to stay friends, I agree even though it's killing me, we shake hands, and you walk away, out of my life."

"'Mione…"

"Goodbye, Harry."  There was finality in her tone even Harry couldn't mistake. With a final apologetic look at her, he walked off.

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and dug her nails into her palms. If she concentrated on that pain, she could almost forget the pain she was feeling inside.

Almost.