Chapter Twenty One

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That's What Friends Are For

"Nicky's your friend?" Hermione repeated.

"Actually, he was Fred and George's friend first," Ginny explained. "They were in the same class, but he helped me with Transfiguration sometimes, and we got to be friends, too."

Hermione began to giggle. "I thought he was your boyfriend!"

Ginny made a face. "I wouldn't want him for a boyfriend. I wouldn't want anyone for a boyfriend," she said. "Friends are more fun."

"Definitely!" Hermione agreed. Friendship was better than romance – at least for now. She knew that, and yet she had let herself get trapped into playing the game while Ginny had remained free. "You are so smart, Ginny," she said. "You are really smart." Then, standing right there, she told Ginny everything.

Ginny listened with interest, interjecting an occasional, "Uh-huh," or "Really?" or "That's awful!"

"We were supposed to be pretending," Hermione concluded, "only now I think Harry might not be pretending anymore and he's no fun to be with – neither am I! I keep hurting his feelings, and I don't know what to do."

"Just tell him you want to go back to being friends," Ginny advised.

Hermione thought about that. It seemed to make perfect sense. And so simple. There must be a catch somewhere. She thought of one. "How can I tell him? It will hurt his feelings."

"Just say it straight out," Ginny told her. "You're probably hurting his feelings all the time, because you're acting different. If you just go back to being yourself…" She shrugged.

Ginny had a point. Hermione was a different person around Harry these days. Where before she had been open and accepting, she had closed down and become critical. She had even lied to him today!

Being her honest self might work with Harry. It was certainly work a try. But what would the rest of the class think? If she and Harry did go back to being friends, what would they think? "What about everybody else?" she asked.

Ginny waved that away. "They'll never notice. They've got their own problems."

Hermione laughed. "You can say that again!" Straightening with determination, she added, "I'll meet Harry at Hogsmeade tomorrow."

Ginny smiled warmly. "Go for it, Hermione!"

o-o-o-o-o

Harry was sitting on a bench.

"Come here," Hermione directed. "We have to talk."

Harry shot her an angry glare. "You weren't in the common room," he said accusingly. She hadn't often seen this side of him before. He was mad at her.

"I was with Ginny."

"I know. Fred and George told me."

"It was the only way I could get away from you, Harry," she explained. "If I told you I was going to hang out with Ginny…" She couldn't talk to him like this; the whole neighbourhood would hear her. "Come here, Harry. I need to talk to you."

After a long pause, he said, "What about?"

He was so infuriating.

"I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore – pretend or not – that's what about!" She pivoted sharply and marched away down the path.

There was a shuffling sound behind her and suddenly he was at her side.

"Why not?"

Coming to a dead halt, she whirled to face him. "Because you're no fun anymore, that's why!" she shouted.

He chortled. "And you are?" He leaned in so close their noses touched. "You don't want to be my girlfriend? That's just great, because I don't want to be your boyfriend either!"

Her hands flew to her hips. "Nothing could make me happier, Harry Potter!"

"So we're both happy!"

He was so close her eyes crossed. "Yes!"

He backed off. "Then why are we shouting?"

She couldn't help it. She laughed. And then Harry joined in.

"Oh, Harry," she said as soon as she regained her composure, "I'm so glad you're not mad at me."

"I thought it would be a good idea, you and me…" He shrugged.

"You're just too good an actor, Harry. That's all. You even convinced yourself!"

"And the more I believed I really liked you," he said, "the less I liked you."

She knew exactly what he meant.

"And besides, romance just takes up too much time. Do you realize I almost failed my Transfiguration test from not studying because I was hanging out with you?"

"That's not myfault, Harry," she said. "I didn't ask you to spend all that time with me. I didn't want you to spend all that time with me."

His eyes twinkled. "Do you think that made it any easier?"

Hermione gave him a swat. "Oh, you!" she said with a smile.

As they ambled along the pathway, he said, "I'm sure glad that's over!"

Hermione cocked her head to look at him. "It was pretty awful," she said. But she felt she had learned from the experience. She'd never again try to play a role she wasn't ready for. And she would always be honest with friends no matter what.

Harry broke into her thoughts with a poke.

She followed his gaze. They were approaching the Shrieking Shack.

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

Laughing, she began to race him to the rock wall.

Though he could easily outrun her, he hung back. "You're really going to do it, huh, Hermione?" he said as she climbed atop the wall.

Standing triumphantly on top, her arms outspread, she said, "I am doing it!"

He clambered up beside her, and, with Hermione as leader, they made their way along the wall.

An almighty screech came from the house, making Hermione and Harry jump.

Giving a little squeal, Hermione leapt back down and started to run away. Harry followed quickly behind her. They fled from the shack as fast as they could, their hearts beating and adrenaline pumping. As their sprinting began to slow to a jog, they both began to laugh.

o-o-o-o-o

They were still laughing when they got to Honeydukes.

Some of their classmates waved to them from a table in the corner. They all looked glum.

"What'll you have?" Harry asked Hermione.

Just as she always did, Hermione studied the glass displays of candy.

"As if I didn't know," Harry added under his breath.

"I think I'll have Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans," Hermione said.

Harry reeled back. Then, recovering, he placed his hands on his stomach and doubled over. "Order me a doctor," he joked.

Hermione smiled. "It's worth dodging the snot flavoured beans for the marshmallow ones."

Parvati stared at them enviously. "They always have so much fun together," she said. "Why do they always have so much fun?"

Hermione overheard her. Smiling at Harry, she explained, "We're friends. Friends always have fun together."

Harry returned her grin. "That's what friends are for."

A/N: And that's the end of my little story! Hopefully I haven't angered any hardcore Harry/Hermione shippers – but they're just friends. For now. I'm toying with the idea of a sequel set after Hogwarts when they're all growed up.

Speaking of which, I'm canning the idea of the trilogy thing. I can't really be bothered.

So… yeah. I guess I'm done. Look out for the as-yet-unnamed-sequel in the works! So long and goodnight… Alex xoxo