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"What? It's not like we were serious or anything."
Those words sting as they replay over and over in her head. Tears threatened to fall free as the image of him pressed against some other woman in a booth of the Hog's Head. Not only did he stand her up for their date, but he did it because he was with someone else.
"What a fucking jerk! I'm so done with men."
She swings open the door to the 8th year common room, and slumps down hard onto the couch near the fire. Dropping her head into her hands, she took a deep breath. Willing herself not to cry, he's not worth it.
"What's the matter, princess? Date not show?"
Before she could respond, a voice booms from across the room, "Fuck off Malfoy, she's obviously upset."
Malfoy stands and raises his hands in surrender, "You figure out what her problem is then."
She raised her head slightly to see Malfoy walk towards his room, and spots Harry leaning against the brick of the fireplace. Were they already there when she had stormed in? No wonder Malfoy made a rude comment, she must have interrupted them.
" 'Mione..." Harry started, taking the 2 steps to where she was sitting on the couch. He makes a gesture as to ask if he could sit, which she responds with a nod, not trusting her voice.
"Can you tell me what happened? You look as if you're about to cry, and your clothes look as if you walked all the way back from Hogsmead by yourself. Please tell me you didn't."
She takes a deep breath to try and calm herself, but when her breath stutters, Harry quickly pulls her into his lap and wraps her tightly in his arms.
Tears began to fall freely, "I-I-I can't believe I'm cr-crying right now, I'm more pissed off at him than anything!" She says, swiping the tears roughly off her face.
"Shhh..." He shushes gently, "He's a right arse for whatever he did."
She snuggles in closer to his chest, feeling the comfort in his warmth. This was how her day was supposed to end. In the warm arms of a man, just not the man she expected.
"I-I-I..." She stutters, taking in another deep breath while Harry patiently waits for her to continue, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
She frowns and looks up into his deep green eyes, "I waited for Cormac for over an hour, and then I find him with his tongue shoved so far down some other woman's throat at the Hog's Head." She starts, more tears stream down her face, magic sparks at the ends of her curls.
"OH! Then he had the audacity to tell me that what we had was nothing serious. Ugh! He practically mauled his date before I could even walk away from their table."
She sighs deeply, placing her head back against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat and matching her breathing with his.
"Do you want me to handle it?" He asks sharply, the rage seeping into his words.
She wraps her arms tighter around his waist, shaking her head. "No, I'll take care of him later. Right now, I just want to stay right here with you... if that's okay?"
He drops his head gently on top of hers, breathing in his favorite scent, the lavender and vanilla smell of her shampoo.
"Of course that's okay. I'd do anything for you 'Mione, anything."
Her breathing slows, and her eyes droop shut. Fighting the exhaustion from the long walk back to Hogwarts and all the crying she just did. Harry noticed, laying both of them down onto the couch, wrapping Hermione in the blanket that was laid over the back of the couch.
Minutes pass by, and her breathing slows to a steady rhythm so much that he believes she's fallen asleep. He took his free hand to gently brush the hair that had fallen onto her face.
"You are so beautiful Hermione, I know we say that we see each other as siblings, but that hasn't been the case for me... for many years." He chuckled softly to himself. Unaware that she's listening to every word he's saying.
"It should be me taking you out on these dates, strolling around the lake, holding your hand and kissing you every chance I get." He continues, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
"I bet I can do it better, way better than any of them can 'Mione." He breathes, "You deserve so much better than Cormac or Ron. I wish you could just give me the chance."
His thumb wipes away a stray tear from her cheek, and she feels him press another soft kiss against her curls as she slowly drifts off in the comfort of his arms.
Before her body fully drifts off, she whispers so softly that she's sure he can't hear her, but he does.
"Now's your chance, Harry