Fleur and Krum are one thing. Krum is a celebrity, Fleur -- part veela.
When Ron goes pink in the face around Krum, gets flustered around Fleur,
Harry barely pays attention. Ron doesn’t really know them. He’s excited
to be around them but he doesn’t feel anything for them. Harry knows this.
Last night was different. Hermione is different.
Glancing over at Ron and Hermione, Harry isn’t sure which is worse --
their open hostility after the ball or their false politeness this morning.
They both mean the same thing, whether Ron thinks it’s the point or not.
Harry knows it is.
He sneaks a glance at the two of them as he pushes his food around on
his breakfast plate. Ron’s face is expressionless. Decidedly so. Harry
wishes he could block out their pleases and thank yous. He wishes he could
take some ink and a quill and rewrite the previous night.
He would scratch out the presence of Cho and Cedric -- added humiliation
he just didn't need. He would scratch out Padma and her condescending looks
at Ron’s tattered robe. He would scratch out all of the dancing. And he
would tear up the page where Hermione walks in, radiant and beautiful like
she’s never been before.
Really, there wouldn’t be much left to the night when he finished with
it. The walk. He’d keep the part when Ron asked him to go for a walk. Snape
encounter, secrets about Hagrid... they were secondary. The important part
was being outside where it was finally quiet. Just him and Ron.
He wishes they hadn’t stumbled upon Hagrid. He wishes they hadn’t gone
back inside. They could have… they could have… what? Harry has no answer.
Not now that he knows what he knows.
“Do you need help with that?” Harry looks over to see Ron gazing up
at Hermione as she hefts her bag onto her shoulder.
She smiles sweetly, “No, I’ve got it. Thanks for asking.”
It’s not her fault, Harry reminds himself. Can she help it that she’s
pretty and brilliant and… a girl? Harry pushes his plate away, folds his
arms across his chest and sighs.
“All right, Harry?” Ron looks mildly concerned.
“Yeah. All right.”
read the companion story