ndthenvanishesthepotionwithonejerkymotionofthehand.hermionemakesasmallnoiseofprotestinthebakofherthroat,butdraowasalwaysmuhfastertoreognizealostausethanhermione.sometimes,therereallyisnothinglefttodobutstartover.“aboutstnight.”

“iwantedtotalktoyou,too.”shestreamrollsahead,everythingomingoutinarush.“ronhadnoright,absolutelynone,anditriedtotalktohim,buthejustan’tseemtoseesense,youknowhowstubbornheis—”

“hermione—”

“anditoldhimthatwewerefriendsandbehaviorlikethatwouldnotbetoleratedinthefuture,ihavenoideawhatameoverhim—”

“hermione—”

“itwasinexusable,andijustwanttosaythati,forone,amsorrythatyouweretreatedlikethatwhenyouwereaguestinmyhouse.”

“hermione.”hereahedoutandaughtherhandsinhisown,stoppingthemfromflyingaroundherheadalongwithherwords.“it’sfine.whathedid,isfine.iwantedyoutoknowthat.”

“it’snot.”shewasbreathingheavilyagain,angryasshealwaysisatanyhintofinjustie.“pletely—”

“don’t.helovesyou.”hesqueezedherhands,andsheughedshakily,hereyesbrimmingoverwithtears.shewasalwaysextraordinarilyeasytomakery,buthenolongersawitasaweakness.“helovesyou,andistoodbywhileyouwerehurtwheniouldhavestoppedit,andiwasruelevenwhenitwassimplertobekind.i’dhateme,too.”

“hedoesn’thateyou.”itwasapathetiandseeflimsyexuse,andshebegantofalterassoonasthewordslefthermouth.“he’sonlystubborn.he’llomearound.”