Chapter 31: Harry is Confused

"Are you sure, Harry? I feel like I'm taking advantage of you."

Harry waved Hermione off, only paying her the barest of attention as he kept an eye on who entered the library. He was starting to get nervous that he had overestimated the Greengrass family's resolve to get Thompson away from Astoria.

It wasn't the end of the world, but getting an unplottable property on short notice would not be easy, and even if it was, it certainly wouldn't be cheap. Harry estimated that his savings would be cut in half if he was forced to take action himself.

"Alright, that's enough! Come on, let's talk about what's bothering you."

Harry blinked and looked up slightly to see Hermione standing with her hands on her hips while staring at him with a slight frown. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to suggest that they research the Melody Flower when he had other things on his mind. Still, he figured it would be the perfect time to expand on his 'friendship.'

Though, Harry was starting to realize that instead of friendship with quotation marks around the word, it was more authentic than with most. No contracts, no expectations, and no hidden agendas with Hermione. Only Lovegood and Longbottom could be placed in the same category.

Of course, Hermione was the only one that actively tried to be friendly.

Harry stared into her brown eyes, remembering what he thought of them when talking with Ashwood in his manor. Maybe he stared for too long since Hermione gained a flattering pink blush on her face.

Bringing another realization that smacked Harry in the face today. One that was rather unwelcome. Hermione Granger had a rather massive crush on him.

It was more than a little flattering, and perhaps in a different world, one where the sorting hat put him in Gryffindor instead of Slytherin, Harry might have even acted on it. However, it would be unfair to Hermione if he showed her even a hint of interest in their situation.

Harry didn't want her relatively comfortable social life to be upended when she was already hanging around Longbottom and his annual death-seeking shenanigans. Which meant that he had to shut down any chance where Hermione might increasingly feel that way.

Even if it was simply being worried about him.

"There really isn't anything, Hermione. I'm wondering where Longbottom is. I would have thought he wouldn't have let you out of his sight."

"Neville… we aren't really on speaking terms at the moment."

"Really?" Harry asked with raised eyebrows, "What brought this about? I hope it isn't anything serious."

"I wouldn't say serious," Hermione's face grew a little more pink, "I guess awkward would be more accurate? I'm sure everything will be fine in a week or two."

Harry now wondered if he inadvertently sent Longbottom on a quest that never could end in success. He would have crowed about it before the Fleur-shaped mess he had on his hands.

Longbottom getting rejected meant that it was possible that Hermione might get ideas about him. Since she seemed to be a proactive girl, he had to head off this headache well before it could ever happen.

"I see," Harry said with a wince, "So I'm guessing Longbottom did something other than looking at you sneakily. You rejected him, then?"

"No! Well, I wouldn't say that…"

"Hm, sure. Then not a rejection, but might as well be?" Harry pretended to think after seeing Hermione's embarrassed look. "I suppose Longbottom was always a little chubby, but I can see he's growing into his own."

"It's not about looks!" Hermione yelped before looking around to see if someone had heard her raised voice.

"Then if it's not that, it must be that you like someone else, but who else do you talk to that often…." Harry suddenly frowned, "Weasley? Hermione, I might need to rescind our friendship if that's true. You're far too pretty of a girl to get stuck with that."

"Ron's not that bad," Hermione automatically went on the defensive before her eyes grew wide, "You think I'm pretty?"

"Do you not?" Harry stared at Hermione like she was the odd one, "I wasn't joking when I said there were plenty of blokes that were interested in you. There's a reason Longbottom must have mustered the courage to do something instead of just staring at you."

"Thank you," Hermione squeaked out.

Harry almost felt sorry that he had to do this, but there was a reason he lifted her up before crushing her hopes.

"I guess you must think like me. I can't see myself starting a relationship while in Hogwarts. The prospects in Slytherin are honestly terrible, and the less said about the other houses, the better. It would be laughable to even try."

Harry changed his mind at the last second about how he was going to go about it. The original plan was to casually mention Fleur in a vague way to shut himself out as an option, but that seemed too obvious.

Going by the actions of Goldstein, Zabini, and recently, himself, he suspected that Hermione would go over his words endlessly in private and study the intention of every word.

Harry didn't want it to seem like he was indirectly telling her he wasn't interested. Perhaps it would be kinder to do that instead of leaving the barest hint of hope, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Besides, Harry wished she would move on from this crush to someone else. In the meantime, if possible, it might be necessary to keep some space from Hermione to lessen whatever positive view she had of him.

When Hermione quickly returned to her seat to hide by looking down and shrouding her face with a curtain of hair, Harry felt a pang of regret. Would it have been so bad to avoid the subject?

He opened his mouth several times before looking down at the book before him. He didn't even know what it was about, having spent most of the time in the library waiting for Greengrass to enter.

Harry felt he had spent far too much time recently dealing with emotions. While it was a nice change, he quickly became tired of it. Who knew that caring about people as more than simple clients was exhausting. He would welcome a return to normalcy, where all he had to deal with was idiotic Slytherins and nothing else.

The next few minutes were spent in silence, with Harry pretending to read by occasionally flipping a page while glancing at Hermione every few seconds. The only thing that registered in his mind was that she hadn't turned the page in over a minute.

Harry already knew he was no good at this, and he certainly didn't know how to pull her out of this mood.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione suddenly looked up with bright eyes, "I found the perfect passage!"

Harry blinked owlishly at her nonplussed expression. Perhaps he had read the whole situation wrong. "Passage for what?"

"About the Melody Flower!" Hermione jumped off her seat and moved to his side of the table with the book in hand, "Read for yourself."

Harry mutely skimmed over the page, and indeed there the passage was. It looked like Hermione was just concentrating on her reading instead of being terribly sad about what he said to her.

… It was strange that he could feel some disappointment at that.

"That's brilliant, Hermione," Harry said with a wry smile, "I suppose this was a successful study session."

"I guess it was!" Hermione almost skipped in happiness back to her seat before jotting down notes on parchment.

"I hope you can lend me the flower for a day, here and there. There's no doubt you will be the winner." Harry watched the ink fill the parchment with the speed of Hermione's writing.

"Of course," Hermione gave him a quick smile before returning to her writing.

Around thirty minutes later, Harry left the library filled with confusion, wondering what had just happened. He had never made such a horribly wrong assumption before, at least not one that he acted on.

Harry shook his head and figured the original goal had been accomplished. He spent time with Hermione to further their friendship. Next time he wouldn't make such ridiculous speculations and almost make a fool out of himself.

"About time, Potter."

Harry's eyes darted to the voice, surprised that he missed seeing Greengrass waiting for him to exit the library. Something he made a note of not repeating. The little groups of Slytherin trash traveling together could have ambushed him.

"I thought you would never leave Granger's presence. If you need to stoop that low for friends, it could be better to be alone."

Harry stopped a few feet away from Greengrass and ignored the barbs. "I'm guessing you have an answer I want to hear since you went to the trouble of waiting for me."

"… It's a deal," Daphne said reluctantly, "As long as she is out by tomorrow."

Harry flicked his wand to create some privacy and replied, "Tomorrow is too short of a time. I'll need two days to make sure I can sneak her out of Hogwarts."

He held the glare he got in return before finally getting a slight nod. He quickly changed the parameters of their original deal and put out his hand. When Greengrass took it, Harry almost thought she was about to demand a change with how long she held his hand, and just when he thought that was indeed what was happening, she spoke.

"Done."

Harry gave her a brisk nod when he felt the new contract coming into effect. "I'll have good news for you soon. I know this isn't necessary to say, but have the warder meet me at the property tomorrow."

"You're right. That wasn't necessary."

Harry paused at the cold reply, but it should be expected with his accusation. He might have tried to make amends if he wasn't so sure about Davis being the rat. A thought he had multiple times before and one he was sure to have again in the future.

"Very well. Then our business is done." Harry brought down the spell and started to walk away. He had an appointment to keep.

"I found proof. My sister wasn't the one."

Harry froze, hands clenching out of sight of the girl behind him.

"If you want to see what I found, perhaps you should think about what to offer as an apology."

Harry glanced at Greengrass as she walked past him, head held high with confident steps. He still didn't believe it. He was so sure that Davis was the girl Fleur mentioned. If he wasn't, he would never go to the lengths of accusing her with such brashness.

His eyes trailed to the ring he was again rubbing with his thumb. His automatic reaction from seeing the gift was to blame all of his missteps on Fleur.

Harry wasn't sure if he had ever made such blunders in quick succession before. And the only thing that had changed was meeting Fleur, after which everything seemed out of his control.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered when he would stop using Fleur as a scapegoat. So what if she was far more attractive than anyone had the right to be? So what if she claimed she was utterly devoted to him? Why should those be reasons for Harry to lose such control over himself to commit all these mistakes?

In fact, it was a boon that this happened so early in his life. At the very least, Harry knew that he should have all these impulsive decisions based on suspect emotions under control in the near future. He now had the Book in his possession, and on top of that, he also had one of the greatest wizards in the world willing to be his tutor.

If Fleur could make him impulsive after all the expected improvements, then perhaps Harry would simply accept that he wasn't destined to be one of the great ones. Or maybe the opposite. Fleur was one of the great ones mentioned in history.

Harry stared at Greengrass's blonde hair flutter as she turned the corner and decided that there was no point in delaying any longer. He had a detention with Dumbledore, and being late on the first day would not be a good look.