Chapter 11

Hermione spent the next days by herself, only attending her courses and working on her homework to restrain herself from thinking of the kiss she shared with her best friend. She didn't really succeed ; everytime she'd stop for a break, and before to fall asleep, what happened with Livia was coming back to her mind, bringing a special sensation inside. She was ashamed, yet very excited from the unexplainable happyness filling her mind and body.

She hadn't talked to Livia ever since that day, and although she tried to avoid her, Livia was not trying to get in contact with her in any way. It seemed like she had understood, and gave up, but Hermione was far from being sure that's what she really wanted Livia to do. For some reason she couldn't seem to know, she wanted to take back everything she had said, and just give in to the feelings that seemed to be consuming her. On the other hand, she wasn't ready to face the bad side that a relationship like that could bring.

It was a lose/lose situation, or she thought. She could fight Voldemort on Harry's side, but didn't have the guts to live openly a love story with an other girl, scared of the reactions of the people around her. Sometimes, she didn't make sense at all. She had never been interested in girls, and always thought it would never be the case, but her friendship with Livia turned into something she hadn't expected.

"Fear of the unknown." she whispered to herself.

Sitting at the Gryffindor's table, she sighed and put her face in her hands, tired of trying to change her mind with her school work. It clearly didn't help, and she knew things wouldn't solve themselves. It was useless to keep pretending she didn't miss her best friend, or that she didn't feel anything more for Livia. Actually, the opposite was quite obvious, she just didn't want to admit it to herself.

She bited her bottom lip as she looked subtily at Livia who got up from the Slytherin's table to leave the room. Hermione's heart started to beat quicker at the thought of getting up and running to her, but she remained motionless, holding her breath until Livia had disapeared. She didn't know what to do. Just thinking about having a discussion with Livia was making her feel nervous, and she had no idea how to overcome that feeling.

Her eyes roamed around, looking at all the students talking and laughing with their best friends. She remembered the days she'd spend with Livia, and how free and happy she felt. Now that she was back to being by herself, or to the best, surrounded by two couples, she could easily admit she missed having a best friend to share everything with.

Yes, everyone seemed to have fun with each other except one. Her glance stopped on Draco who was looking at her, something she really wasn't used to. She looked behind her to be sure she was really the one he was staring at and frowned when she noticed no one was standing there. Looking back in his direction, she saw him send her a sad smile before to get up and leave walk to the door.

Without thinking, Hermione closed her books, grabbed them and ran up to him as he was getting out of the great hall. She grabbed his arm, making him jump in surprise and pulled him to a desert corner. When he realized it was her, Draco followed without a word and waited for her words.

"How is she?"

She didn't need to say more ; they both knew the only link between them was Livia. Draco looked at her as a feeling of anger invaded him. He was the one picking up the many pieces of Livia's heart that Hermione had roughly broken, and for this reason, he had difficulty to remain nice to the girl in front of him. Sure, he had rudly disliked her in the past, and had changed to accept the fact that Livia was in love with her, but now that she was standing so close, his feelings were changing again into hatred.

"She could be better." he simply said, trying to keep in mind the promess Livia had made him do.

He had swore on their friendship he wouldn't make Hermione pay in any way for rejecting her, and now that Draco had the chance to hurt Hermione the same way she had hurt his best friend, he started regretting that promess.

"Oh."

Hermione looked away, guilt running quickly inside of her like poison.

"You broke her heart." Draco added, trying to control his tone. "All this simply because you're a coward."

"I'm..."

She was torned between the word "not" and the word "sorry" but she knew that no matter what she'd say, she couldn't make Draco understand. She didn't even understand herself, and she knew she was wrong. She was just starting to realize what Livia was living at the moment, because it seemed to sink into her, too.

"Look, Granger, I promised Livia I wouldn't do anything, so I prefer to leave right now before you make me break that promess, the way you broke her heart." Draco said rudly. "Bye."

He turned around and started leaving when Hermione heard a voice.

"Help me!"

It's only when Draco stopped and turned back to her that she realized it was her own. He came back closer to her and stared into her eyes. He was so close Hermione could smell his perfume and clearly read the anger through his pupils.

"Go talk to her, and tell her you love her, because it's so obvious it's illuminating the room right now."

Without waiting for an answer, he quickly left to go join Livia. He knew it was the only way he could calm himself, and appease his anger, and he didn't want to stay one more second with Hermione.

Looking at him leave, Hermione let out a sigh and sat on the closest stairs, once again putting her face into her hands. She needed a good rest. Maybe tomorrow, she'd find enough courage to go up to Livia and express to her what she felt.