FicWad: fresh-picked original and fan fiction

Ron smiled with a wistful look on his face, "To talk to Lavender." He gave a big smile and threw the powder in the fireplace, "The Burrow!" he yelled. In a flash of green flame Ron disappeared.
Tonks sat patently for Harry’s reaction. The conversation in his mind kept echoing in his head. Harry seemed to square his shoulders, “Tonks?”
“Would you like to take a trip to the Burrow Harry?”
Harry paused and then nodded his head. His eyes went to tonk in a look of worry, “Will it be safe, me going to The Burrow?”
Tonks smiled already making her way to the fireplace, “sure Harry already only a few people know where you are. And the only way they know of getting here is by floo, except for Remus, and Dumbledore.”
With a look of relief he followed her to the fireplace. Tonks held out the floo powder to him, “Want to do the honors?”
Harry stepped into the flames and yelled “The Burrow!” The world spun and disappeared as he watch the open fireplaces spiral before his eyes. It seemed like an eternity before he landed with a thud in the living room covered in soot. There was no one in the living room as he stood and brushed himself off. For a moment he wondered how he missed Ron, but realized he was probable on the way to Lavender’s. He did not notice Ginny come in behind him with a stern look on her face. He was caught of guard as he turned. His cheek met full force with the flat of Ginny’s palm. He instinctively grabbed his cheek as the imprint of her hand now appeared on his face.
In anger, “What was that for Ginny?!”
Ginny’s face turned red. In a dangerous whisper she responded, “What do you think it is for?”
Harry yelled back, “Ron already talked to me!”
“I did not want him to talk to you. I wanted him to pound some since into your selfish ass!”
The two glared at each other. It was broken up by a quiet voice that made both of them jump, “Ginny…” They both look to the kitchen to see Hermione standing there. Harry’s heart plummeted at the look of Hermione. Ron was not lying when he said she did not sleep in days. Her face was pale with dark lines under her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from what looked like crying.
Ginny immediately made her way to Hermione. In a soft tone, “I am so sorry for disturbing you,” She shot a icy glare at Harry, “Why don’t you go up and I will take care of him.”
Harry gulped nervously waiting for Hermione to speak. “No,” her voice forced out quietly, “I will take care of him.”
Ginny reluctantly took her leave of the two. The room was so wrapped in silence that Harry for a moment thought he was going deaf. Soundlessly she approached Harry, her blank stare seemed to look straight through him. Harry opened his mouth to say hello when Hermione cut him off, “What do you want?”
Harry was scared at the way her voice was toneless and seemed almost dead, “I wanted to talk to you.”
“What for?”
“I miss you.”
Hermione let out a strained chuckle, “For what? Can’t do your homework with out me?” Her voice did not waiver from the dead calm, “I only help my friend with their homework.”
Harry winced as the words cut him to the core. He whispered, “I thought we are friends still.”
“Friends still!” her voice seemed to echo off the walls. She closed her eyes and seemed to be fighting to keep calm, “Come with me,” she commanded as she started toward the door, not looking to see if he was following.
They made their way the door Harry keeping a safe distance between him and Hermione. She led him out beyond the garden wall where it was tall enough to block out sight of the burrow. Picking up her conversation as she turned and face Harry, “You were the one that pushed me away, Remember!”
“I know it was wrong of me,” Harry said not looking at her feet, “I am so sorry Hermione”
Sarcastically she retorted, “Harry Potter is so sorry. That makes it all better now doesn’t it!”
“No, it…”
“Hermione cut him off, “When have I ever pushed you away? When have I ever not supported you?” She did not wait for a reply, “I needed you and you threw me away!”
“I wanted to keep you from getting hurt.”
“Keep me from getting hurt!” Her body seemed to shake in the emotional strain. It looked like her emotions were about to break when she turned away and reset her face in her hands, “You failed. You hurt me Harry.”
Harry slowly made his way to the crying form. There was not sound from her but she shook in silent sobs. Harry reached out to tough her shoulder, but Hermione sensed it. Her fast movement shocked Harry. She had turned face to face with him and pounded her fist into his chest. As her fist pounded she cried out in anger and sobbing, “Why weren’t you there for me Harry? Why did you let me leave? Why did you not follow me? Why Harry? Why?”
She crumpled into him, her face buried in his chest. Harry instinctively wrapped his arm around her waste to support her. Harry’s realized he was crying too. As hen felt the tear run down his face. Slowly Harry sat down and cradled Hermione in his arms. After a time Hermione was able to clam down to where her breath only came out in hiccups. His voice cracked as he asked, “Hermione… Can we still be friends?”
Hermione seemed to ponder for a moment, as Harry continued, “I know I have been selfish and I am sorry,” Hermione was going to protest but was cut off by Harry, “I want to be a better friend to you and support you. I hope you will let me. I pushed you away I know I need your permission to come back.”
With a watery smile, “I really need you as a friend right now.”
Carefully Harry helped her to stand up. It was a tuff call since she was still clinging to him, with her head buried in his chest as if she was afraid to let go. There were storm clouds beginning to form overhead. Harry spoke to the top of her head, “Would you like to go inside and talk?”
“No.”
Confused he asked, “You don’t want to go talk?”
Shaking her head, “I want to talk. I have shut myself off to the world. The same way you shut me out.” Harry mentally hurt but realized he had better take it. She continued not seeing his face, “I want to go somewhere and talk. Somewhere public so if I do get mad at you again… I won’t do something to hurt you.”
“Where would you like to go?”
Reluctantly she broke her embrace with him and pondered his question. “I want to eat. I am suddenly feeling very hungry.”
Harry pondered for a moment, “Do you want to go back to Tonks’ place and we can make you our famous pizza?”
Hermione Smiles a warm smile, “I really want to talk to you alone, Harry. I know Tonks already knows the situation but she is the best at taking over a story and telling it herself. There some things other than my problem I want to discuss with you.”
He looked at her worried, “How can we when I am suppose to be under her protection?”
“We will have Tonks take us to a nice place. She will place a privacy charm on where we sit and she would be with in sight.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go to Tonks’ place and decide where to go from there.” He stopped suddenly, looking sheepishly to Hermione, “Do you know what her Floo address is?”
Hermione Chuckled and took his hand, “Ah little Harry is lost. Don’t worry I’ll help you find your way home.” Harry tried his best to make a mean face, this only made Hermione laugh, “That is the best pout I have seen.”
Harry followed unimpressed by her gentle ribbing, “Yeah, yeah get me back to my place.”
Harry was relived to not have any red head in the living room of the burrow when they left. Hermione simply said, “Tonks’ place,” And was whisked away in a green flame. Harry came sliding into his new place to be met by Tonks and Hermione waiting. He gulped at the sight of both of them waiting with arms crossed.
Nervously he tried to keep them from yelling, “S-s-s-so, where would you like to go eat, Hermione?”
They both rolled their eyes, for him trying to avoid the subject. Hermione answered with a small smirk on her face, “Let’s go to the ‘Bar Meze’ in Oxford.”
Tonks for a moment had a surprised look on her face, but immediately went stone faced again. Harry didn’t notice Tonks and asked, “I never heard of it. Hermione you really like it?” She smiles and nods. Harry smiled, “It must be safe if Hermione likes it.”
Harry swore to himself that Hermione seemed to bristle at that comment, but as soon as he noticed it was gone. Harry did not realize they we already in Oxford. They had taken a cab over to the restaurant/bar. When he entered the Bar Meze he was apprehensive. The room was large and very dark. The tables were about a meter wide and round but they were only two feet off the ground. All the patrons were lounging on pillows around the tables. Tonks took her leave by sitting across the room from them. As Hermione and Harry sat at a table Tonks place a privacy charm on their table.
Hermione saw the nervous look on Harry’s face, “relax Harry. Besides if I like the place, it must be safe.” Before Harry could protest she cut him off, “mind if I order for the both of us?” Harry only shrugged his shoulders. The waitress came and left quickly. Hermione’s pleasant look went cold.
Looking at her, “Would you like to talk about what is going on with you?”
“No.”
“But I thought we were here to talk about… What ever it is you want to talk about.”
Hermione’s face darkened, “I will be talking to you, but first you had better have a good explanation for trying to end our friendship. I have always been there for you. Why now?”
Harry’s face was a look of anguish, “I can’t…”
Hermione was not seeing his face her vision was now clouded red, “Cant what can’t talk to me?”
“No, I am not strong.”
“So driving me away will make you stronger?”
“No.”
“Then what Harry!” She started to yell, “Speak this broken English you are doing now is just pissing me…”
“I can’t lose you!” She immediately stopped yelling as Harry continued quietly, “I can’t lose you. I am not strong enough. When you fell to Dunlov’s curse, in that eternity before we found you pulse. I had resigned myself that since you didn’t make it out, I was not going to either. I was going out guns blazing though.” Hermione was speechless, so Harry continued, “Everyone in my life, that I cared for, has died. I could not handle loosing you. It scares me how much…” he trailed off realizing he said too much.
“How much what Harry,” She pressed him again, “it scares you how much?”
“It scares me how much I care for you,” he swallowed a large lump forming in his throat. “I have never felt like this for anyone before. I can’t describe it. When I pushed you away you were always on my mind. What is she doing? Is she better off without me? Is she safe? I never want to see you get hurt. Now I know by pushing you away I hurting the both of us.”
“It hurt you to push me away?”
“Yes,” he replied adamantly. “I thought my tough choice was cutting you out of my life. I was wrong. I do need you, I think as much as you need me. By pushing you away it was the easy way out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dumbledore told me that I would have to make hard choices and the easy way was not always the right choice.” Harry saw a tear slip down her face, “I need you so much Hermione. I am so sorry, Hermione. I will prove that I do care for you.”

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