After All, Harry

wish i was

Hermione peeked in the mudroom of the Burrow hesitantly, and she smiled sadly at seeing Harry crouched on an old bucket, his head in his hands. She shook her head.

"I'm fine, Gin," He mumbled quietly, not looking from the floor, his voice strangely not himself.

Hermione sighed, conjuring a small pillow and sitting gently upon it, her legs crossed primly on the floor, "It's Hermione this time."

Harry looked up, surprised, "Oh."

Hermione tried not to find hurt in the statement, reminding herself that Harry didn't prefer Ginny over her, he just loved them in different ways. She'd been feeling distant from Harry recently, and this particular situation worried her, so she figured it'd be a good time to talk with him.

"I told Ginny to wait back, she's waiting for George to come back out," Hermione explained, trying to lighten the mood, "I could go get her if you'd like."

Harry stared into Hermione's eyes, his green eyes dim and a bit embarrassed, "No, it's all right."

"So, do you want to talk about it?" Hermione tried, not really expecting him to say yes. Harry was a rather personal person, even with Ron and Hermione they could never really get him to talk about his feelings. In their sixth year, Hermione definitely tried, but Harry could tell she was feeling bad for him, and it ended up pushing him away more. The only person Harry would ever really talk and open up to was Ginny, and that took about five years.

Harry rose an eyebrow, his hands still in his hair and his elbows resting on his knees, "Not much to talk about, is there?"

"There's always something to talk about." Hermione reasoned, setting a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to be comforting.

"Well, if you're here to 'comfort' me about what George said, don't bother," Harry said dejectedly, his voice quiet, "He wasn't exactly wrong, was he?"

"Of course he was," Hermione protested, her eyes begging Harry to look at her rather than trace the scar on his hand. The conversation was already going into a direction she didn't like.

"You don't understand." Harry bit his lip and looked away bitterly. Hermione sighed, shaking her head at Harry.

"Enlighten me, then," Hermione replied coolly.

Harry paused, his face hesitant and a bit taken aback. He chewed the inside of his lip before looking up and meeting

"It's just - I know that everyone was already thinking it, I didn't need George to say that for me to realize."

Hermione sighed, she wasn't surprised or anything, she knew that he was upset over that, but she didn't exactly know how to convince him otherwise. Harry was almost as stubborn as she was.

"No one thinks that, Harry, it's never your fault," Hermione reminded him, and she knew that Ginny had already told him this many times, for Harry barely reacted at her words. Hermione sighed again, thinking of another approach.

"Just because you said so doesn't make it true." Harry looked bitterly at the door, shaking his head forward so his hair fell over his eyes and his scar.

"I could very well say the same to you." Hermione quipped, and Harry looked back at her, shaking his head and laughing softly.

"It's so bloody hard to argue with you, you know that?" He slightly grinned, and Hermione bit her lip to not do the same, "I mean, with Ginny I don't even try it because I know I'll lose, but with you it's because I'm too stupid."

Hermione rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, "Actually, it's because you're scared of Ginny, but back to more pressing topics." She grinned.