the_debt_of_time

though he hated Potions and thought that the Slug Club was ridiculous, he was bitter
that he had not been offered an invitation. That was why she had invited him to the
Christmas Party—as a friend, of course, though now she was deeply regretting it. She had
wanted to make him feel included, introduce him to people at the party, and maybe show
him that he did have something to offer.
His temper ruined all of that.
Lavender Brown? Honestly! The girl had been doting on Ron since the beginning of
school, and her behaviour had been improper long before he had shoved his tongue in her
mouth in the middle of the Gryffindor common room. It was indecent.
Hermione would never be caught dead snogging anyone in public like that. Private
matters should be... well... private.
Not that she'd even had any offers.
Not that she'd accept any should they become available.
Hermione felt that her heart was closed off. A strange coldness had settled deep
inside of her after the battle in the Department of Mysteries. She blamed the curse that
Dolohov hit her with, whatever it was. But even if her heart was open, it would not be a
welcome place for Ronald Weasley. He was using another girl to try and make her jealous.
If Hermione was jealous of anything, it was that Lavender would likely not have to brush
her teeth on her own for some time, as it appeared Ronald had willingly taken over the job
of cleaning her mouth for her.
Still, the fact that he thought he could do something like that to hurt her on purpose,
well, it hurt.
"Avis," she whispered, twirling her wand above her and watching as a small flock of
canaries appeared.
She had spent years trying to stay friends with Harry and Ron, and somehow, she
always did something to make them angry with her. She remained ever loyal to Harry, who
at least had the grace to apologise when he was unkind. Ron, even when he knew he was in
the wrong, would blush and grin crookedly at her as though that silently made up for
everything.
"Hermione?"
She smiled sadly up at her friend as he quietly approached. "Oh, hello, Harry. I was
just practising," she added, gesturing to the birds.