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"He's not always been like this," he replied morosely.
But he didn't need Hermione's sad, patronizing smile to know that it was a lie. True, Ron had been their friend for years, but all he had to do was look at how Hermione joined the group in the first place to see what kind of person he really was. It because of one of his careless insults, the kind he hurled with wild abandon at anyone he thought was beneath him!
And ultimately, even that boiled down to jealousy! He was jealous of Hermione's intelligence. He was jealous of the people around him who didn't need The Boy Who Lived to make them feel good about themselves. Hell, he was even jealous of the Slytherins for the dark unity of their House! Ron was just plain jealous!
"He has, Harry," she said, echoing his thoughts. "We just didn't want to see it before."
Harry heaved a deep sigh. "So what do I do?" he asked rhetorically. "I can't keep it from him, but I don't want the whole bloody school knowing. Mr. Delacour said he'll deal with the press, but I don't see how."
"I guess you really don't have a choice in this, do you?" she asked plaintively.
Harry shook his head and looked away again. "No," he said bluntly. "She's as good as dead if I don't, and it's not like she set it up or something. Hell, I don't think she even likes me!"
Silence descended, and Harry allowed that thought to percolate. What did Fleur think of him? She had been fairly condescending to him with the exception of those moments after he saved her life, but really, she was that way with everybody! Was that really who she was? Was he going to tie his future to someone who might turn out to be as annoying as Malfoy?
He shuddered at the thought. If that was the case, then it might be better just to commit suicide! Then again, he couldn't see someone like Sebastian raising a daughter that behaved like that, and it confused him greatly. Nothing made any sense!
"I think you should give her a chance," said Hermione after a while, her voice low and thoughtful. "We really don't know her, do we? Maybe she's not as bad as we think."
"Maybe," he sighed. "But you know my luck, Hermione."
Hermione huffed, but didn't deny the charge. "Just talk to her," she advised. "If nothing else, let her know that you won't let her push you around."
Harry snorted at the thought. He was not the most outgoing or self-confident person on the planet, and he was well aware of it, but he was certainly no pushover! If Malfoy couldn't get under his skin after all this time, then Fleur wouldn't either. Still, the idea of being forced to spend his life with someone like that did rankle!
She was no Dark Witch, though, of that much he was certain, and that made all the difference. If she were, then he might have considered declining, but she wasn't. And as much as he hated to admit it, she was trapped just as thoroughly as he was, at least if she wanted to live. And who didn't?
"I guess you're right," he said grudgingly.
Hermione sighed and lifted herself off the rock, smoothing her skirt as she went. "Come on, Harry," she ordered. "Let's go back to the tower, and you can take that nap. You look like you really need it, and we can talk more about this later."
"Yeah," he sighed. "Later."
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