"Whats up with you?" she asked, spinning around to face him.
"I don't know." He said seriously, going to her bed and sitting down.
"Hermione stared. She had hoped to rage on at him, but that was when she expected him to fight her all the way. Suddenly, she felt an unexplainable urge to comfort him, and she went to her bed and hugged him.
"I wish I could help you. The only way I know how to even begin is to simply listen, and understand."
Harry felt a weight lifted from him.
"Do you remember the Department of Mysteries?"
Hermione would usually have made some comment about how she could possibly have ever forgotten that place, but she simply nodded. It was the shock of seeing him disclosing this information after months of his silence that made her pull away and listen to him intently.
"When Neville smashed the prophecy, I thought I had lost my chance, but I didn't care. I was glad only that Voldemort hadn't gotten hold of it. But what happened after all of that is much more than anyone except Dumbledore, me and some of the Order members know."
He paused to catch his breath.
"I ran after Bellatrix to kill her. I really wanted to. I used an unforgivable curse on her."
Hermione gasped, but Harry held up his hand.
"It didn't work, she simply stumbled and laughed" he recslled resentfully.
"Voldemort turned up right there and he tried to kill me. But, Dumbledore saved the day. I was then possessed by him and he (through my lips) coaxed Dumbledore to kill me. Next thing I knew, I was on the floor. Then I was in Dumbledores office. What I did there was unbelievable - Hermione, I almost attacked Dumbledore! I destroyed his office!"
Hermione looked horrified, but he had to finish.
"My point is, I heard the prophecy...I know what it says, and Dumbledore and I knew, now Mr and Mrs Weasely know, and Snape and Lupin.
"what did it say?" Hermione whispered, her voice high with fear.
"That one of us...must kill the other. Either I die, a victim of murder, or I live as a murderer...My life must either include, or end in murder. I am a marked man. I can't afford to build relationships and form attachments. That is the reason for my distance from you, Ron, everybody."
Harry looked up, Hermione was crying.
"I'm sorry. Sorry for bringing this burden upon you." He said pathetically.
"N-no, Harry, I am sorry for not being stronger, and I am sorry that you have to be in that skin, that you have to be you...I am sorry."
Harry sighed.
"Me too."
(((hey angel, are you not going to add anything? This is your baby afterall! LOL)))) 😄