Harry, Hermione, and I headed over to Hogsmeade after our last class was over. We headed to the Three Broomsticks to get ourselves some butterbeer. Alice was going to come along at first but now I wasn't so sure. She wasn't in several of our classes (Harry, Hermione, and I) so I think she was either sick or playing hooky which I don't think she would do. We walked inside and took a seat in the back where we could talk by ourselves, Hermione actually seemed a little sad that Alice didn't show up at the designated meeting place under one of the oak trees in the courtyard. When asked about it, she told me to shut my mouth and to leave her to her drink.
"Don't worry about it Ron. She's probably just loosing her patience from lack of sleep." Harry reassured me when Hermione left to go to the bathroom.
"Still, I mean I like Alice but I don't think I like her as much as I like Hermione. Do you get what I'm saying Harry?"
"Is that Ginny?"
"Yea, with some new boyfriend- snogging each other's faces off. It's disgusting."
"Yea...."
"Harry?" I waved my hand in front of his face, he snapped out of whatever was going on- nearly knocking the table over with how fast he stood up
"Uh Ron, sorry. I have to um... leave."
"Okay? I'll see you later than eh?"
"Yea yea. Okay see you later."
Hermione came back just as Harry left, she looked at him confused as he bustled away, "What's wrong with Harry?"
"He's just a little jumpy, especially since he saw Ginny and her new boyfriend snogging each other's faces off."
"Oh Ron, you just don't understand do you?"
"Understand?"
"Hi guys." Alice sniffed standing next to the table, her gaze drifted down from Hermione and my face to the table that had little pools of butterbeer from when Harry stood up quickly.
"Alice! What are you doing here?"
"Well Ron, I was dealing with some pretty deep stuff so I took the day off of school."
"You look awful!"
"Thanks for the observation."
"What happened?" Hermione asked wiping off the table
"Well, long story short it turns out that some really serious family matters came up yesterday- I found out some things and voila! I became a crying mess."
"I'm sorry." Hermione gave Alice a hug, I resisted the urge to join in on the hug. Two of my favorite people hugging it out and I can't even join!    
***************************
Hermione and I walked back to Hogwarts together, she asking questions all the time about what happened. I not answering a single one. It frustrated her greatly but I think she got that I needed some real good (about several continents worth of) personal, emotional, and space, in general.
"Does it have to do with Malfoy?"
"You bring up Malfoy a lot Hermione, do you like him?"
"HIM?! In all and any ways NO!" She turned to me exasperated, "I can't believe you would have the audacity to ask that!"
"Sorry, it just seems like it from the way you act around him and from the way to talk about him, how you mention him a lot and whatnot."
"How could I like that... that arrogant self-conceded little-"
"Hello girls."
"Malfoy!"
Yes, Draco had showed up at THE most opportune moment. He decided to surprise us and sneak up behind so neither Hermione nor I knew what he had heard.
"Yes, that is my last name. Pleasure to see you Alice- Granger." Malfoy smirked at Hermione who stuttered slightly
"Hello Draco. What brings you into this neck of the woods?"
"Just out for a walk, looking for you actually. Professor Snape wanted to see you, he actually snapped at me and told me if I didn't find you he'd fail me."
"We should head back."
"Are you coming Granger?" Draco continued to smirk
Hermione quickly pulled herself together, "Since when would I willingly go into a room or place where you would be Malfoy, I'll pass. Besides, I have better things to do than walk around with an egotistic sociopath and his Mistress of Darkness." She walked away and I stifled a laugh, way to go Hermione- make it completely over the top.
"Where have you been? You weren't in class at all today. You didn't even show up to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. As a matter of fact, its past curfew. You bad girl, you." He playfully jested
"Oh quit it you jokester. You didn't miss me that much if at all."
"But I did, aren't we the school's power couple?"
"Couple? I don't think so. Do you have a cold or something? You sound different."
"No, I'm absolutely fine."
I flicked out my wand, "Whoever you are, I know you took pollyjuice potion."
"Ah, blast. You must be pissing, how did ya f'gure it out?"
"You sound like a bloody Irishman and in all the wrong ways. Who are you?"
"Ronny's older brother- George."
"Who's the guy following us?"
"Fred."
"Is it true that Snape is looking for me?"
"Nah. We just want'd to see if you an Malfoy were anything. Plus this was a really great prank."
"Oh really great."
"I told you Fred!"
"Hey, why do you always hang out with kids that are younger than you?"
"We don't. We prank everyone, which includes younger kids. And new kids like yourself, muggle."
"I'm not a muggle."
"Could have fooled me. Don't you have any fun? You're so on guard."
"I've had a crazy past couple of days."
"That must be bloody hell."
"Yea, we should start heading back."
"What made it so noticeable?"
"You sound nothing like him, you don't know his mannerisms at all, and he is not romantic whatsoever."
"We really need to research these guys before we impersonate them in front of their friends."
"Bloody right."
"It was better when it was people just around the school but these are hardcore now, they're the people they spend every aching minute of their educated lives with."
"Bloody right you are Georgie boy."
We headed back to Hogwarts to where it turns out Snape actually was waiting for me. As soon as he approached, I ran.
I can't confront my past, especially not with the present in the way, and the future soon to come.