The film ended quickly. During the movie, Anne behaved just as usual, quiet and composed. Every so often, she reached into the snack bag for a treat or whispered softly with Hermione about the plot.
Once the two of them stepped out of the cinema, Anne stretched with a long yawn.
"It was a pretty good movie. Just a shame about the ending, so many people died. But I guess that's just how war is," Anne remarked with a sigh.
"I still prefer the original novel," Hermione said. "Watching a movie and reading a book are really different experiences."
"You read the original too? Wow!" Anne exclaimed, remembering that the brochure mentioned it was written by a Canadian author.
The rivalry between book purists and movie adaptors really is age-old.
Hermione nodded. "I can't quite explain it, but the feeling I got from the film was completely different from when I read the novel."
Anne agreed, "Yeah, written words give a different kind of emotional weight compared to visual storytelling. Every reader has their own Hamlet, after all. The director and screenwriter probably interpreted the book differently too."
After watching My Friend Joe, Anne and Hermione walked side by side out of the theater.
"The film had some great moments. That opening beach scene was stunning. Joe's bike stunt was cool, especially when she suddenly slipped off the tightrope. That scared me half to death," Anne said, chatting about the plot.
"But that scene made sense too," Hermione added. "Joe grew up traveling with a circus, always moving from place to place, never making friends. Chris was her first real friend, so of course she'd be overwhelmed. And... I don't think Joe saw Chris as just a friend…"
Anne wasn't sure if Hermione said that last part on purpose or not, but she couldn't ignore it. "If Joe hadn't disguised herself as a boy to hang out with Chris, maybe their friendship wouldn't have even existed. Not to mention everything that came after."
"But they did meet…" Hermione said quietly. After a pause, she added, "Their matching bike-chain bracelets were pretty cute."
Anne kept her eyes on the road ahead. "A symbol of their friendship."
Hermione either didn't hear her or chose not to respond. Instead, she said, "My favorite part was when Joe told Chris she was actually a girl, in that seaside cave. Then Chris saved her from that creep, and the scene where they hugged at the circus. I loved that."
"Yeah… it was a heartwarming film," Anne said casually, steering the conversation away.
"Since the movie's over," Anne continued, "how about dinner next? I know a great place. Oh, and I also need your help going over some notes on the medieval goblin rebellions. You know how bad I am at taking notes in History of Magic…"
"Really? Which part exactly?" Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"The bit in 684 A.D., when the goblins occupied that hilltop castle in Northern Ireland. I kind of… fell asleep during class that day…" Anne admitted quickly.
One topic after another flowed effortlessly between them. By the time they finished dinner, they had discussed nearly all of the subjects from the end-of-term exams. They even speculated about what might appear in their fifth-year OWL exams.
When Hermione got out of the car and stood in front of her house, she waved happily at Anne. She had already forgotten the tension from the movie. Truth be told, she'd been waiting a long time for Anne to notice the truth. But Anne still hadn't realized it.
Still, as Hermione watched Anne smile, she thought, there's still time.
Anne waved back, said goodbye, then climbed back into the car. Once inside, she let out a breath and rubbed her forehead.
In the entryway, Anne kicked off her shoes, dropped her schoolbag onto the carpet, and collapsed backwards onto the sofa with a heavy sigh.
Orbie, her house-elf, darted out from the kitchen. He neatly arranged Anne's shoes in the entryway, then picked up her bag and hung it on the usual rack. With concern in his voice, he asked, "Miss Reeve is home? But Orbie can tell, Miss Reeve doesn't look happy. Why? Didn't you go out with Miss Granger today?"
Anne covered her eyes with her arm to block the glare from the ceiling light. "Yeah, it was supposed to be a great day, but I think I did something wrong…"
"Miss Reeve did something wrong? Oh, but it's okay! Orbie knows Miss is a good person. You've helped Orbie a lot, and you've taught Orbie so much about magical plants and ingredients. The other house-elves are so jealous that I get to go shopping in Diagon Alley!"
"But I don't think this was just a small mistake…" Anne muttered.
"But, " Orbie hesitated. "What kind of big mistake could Miss make? Maybe you should talk to Young Master Aaron about it? Though he's still at work. Should Orbie fetch him?"
"No need. I haven't even figured it out myself yet," Anne replied. Then she sat up and raised an eyebrow at him. "But you're right, maybe I do need to talk to someone. Thanks!"
Anne grabbed the cordless phone from the entryway and went straight up to her room on the third floor. She picked up the phone and dialed Fanny's house.
After two rings, a polite, warm male voice answered. "Hello, this is the Charles residence. May I, "
"Hi, sorry to interrupt! Is Fanny Charles home? This is her friend, Anne Roland Reeve."
"Miss Reeve? Of course. Miss Fanny is home. Please hold for just a moment." The man didn't seem at all bothered by the interruption, in fact, he sounded amused.
"Thanks."
Fanny was in her room, twirling a quill in boredom. Her desk was covered in thick History of Magic books and rolls of parchment. Two sheets were already full, she was doing her summer homework.
"Miss Fanny, your friend, Miss Reeve, is on the phone," the butler announced.
"Really?" Fanny tossed the quill aside, took the phone, and said, "Thanks."
Once the butler left and closed the door, Fanny flopped ungracefully into her armchair, phone in hand, her voice full of curiosity. "Hey, Anne? What made you call me at this hour?"
"I went to the movies with Hermione today…" Anne didn't know how to begin, so she just dove into the story.
Fanny nearly fell out of her chair. She laughed, "Well, well, Anne, didn't expect you to move so fast!"
"It's not what you think!" Anne said quickly. "I thought you were just teasing me back then…"
"Hey!" Fanny sounded annoyed. "Do I look like the kind of person who jokes about that sort of thing?"
"No… but still, this whole thing is just… unbelievable."
"That's only because your emotional IQ is in the negatives," Fanny shot back. "I figured it out in third year!"
"What?! Third year? Why didn't you tell me then?"
"I thought you'd figure it out yourself. But then you didn't… You're hopeless. Wait, you're not telling me you only figured it out today?"
Anne was silent.
Fanny burst out laughing. "Oh my god, Anne, seriously, I can't with you…"
"Stop laughing! I'm being serious here!" Anne protested.
"Okay, okay… I'll stop." Fanny composed herself. "So why did you ask Hermione out today? What'd you two do?"
"She gave me an amazing birthday gift, way too much for a student. She put so much effort into it… I wanted to thank her. Plus, she's helped me so much at school." Anne sighed, lying back on her bed with the phone. "We saw The English Patient and My Friend Joe. But before the movies even started, I… realized. And afterward, during our conversation… it all felt so complicated. I don't think she knows I figured it out. I walked her home, but… I can't just let things stay like this."
"Can't what?" Fanny asked.
Anne stared at the blank ceiling. "Hermione… she shouldn't like me."
Fanny sat upright in her chair. "Shouldn't? Why not? There's no 'should' or 'shouldn't' in liking someone. Besides, from what I can tell, you don't exactly dislike her either."
Anne stayed quiet, then rubbed her temples and murmured, "Yeah…"
Fanny was right. It would be a lie to say Anne felt nothing. After the Yule Ball, her feelings toward Hermione had definitely changed. Even if she refused to admit it.
During the second task, she had worried, really worried, about Hermione. Even knowing she'd be safe, she still ran down to the lake the moment it was over. And afterward, every time she saw Krum, she felt a twinge of dislike.
Emotions don't lie, and neither did the look in her eyes. After Fanny pointed it out and after seeing the way Hermione looked at her today, Anne could no longer pretend.
Fanny tucked herself deeper into her chair. "I thought you'd deny it. But hey, if you like her and she likes you, what's the problem? You two should just get together."
Anne didn't respond. One hand held the phone to her ear, the other shielded her eyes. Her thoughts were in turmoil.
Everything Hermione said and did today, the way they danced at the ball, their quiet talks in the library, those little strolls in the garden, all of it swirled through Anne's mind like a storm.
It was too much to untangle.
In her mind, this situation had never been part of the plan.
Fanny's voice cut through the silence. "Anne?"
"Hm?" she answered softly.
"What are you afraid of? That your aunt and uncle won't approve?"
"I don't think they'd strongly object…" Anne admitted.
"Then what's the problem? If you like her and she likes you, what's stopping you?"
Anne walked barefoot to her bookshelf, staring at a photo of her smiling aunt and uncle.
"Fanny," she said.
"Yeah?"
"Do you believe what Dumbledore said in the hospital wing at the end of term?"
Fanny stood up sharply. "You mean about him? But the Daily Prophet said it was all made up. They even stripped Dumbledore of his positions, they say he's gone senile."
"Yeah. Dumbledore's gone senile… Do you believe that?"
Fanny shook her head instinctively, then remembered Anne couldn't see her. "No… I don't. But even if he is back, what does that have to do with this?"
Anne took the photo from the shelf, staring at her smiling relatives. "The world's about to change. And I don't know what it means to fall into a relationship I can't control right now. Hermione's amazing… but I'm not confident in myself. If I mess this up…" She scratched her head. "It'd be a disaster."
"You haven't even tried, and you're already giving up?" Fanny sighed. "You've got to take a step."
Anne shook her head. "It wouldn't be fair to her…"
"Then what, Anne? You're just going to pretend you don't know anything?"
"I wasn't planning on that. Maybe… maybe I can talk to her. Tell her I know. But also tell her… I'm not worth it."
"What kind of nonsense is that? If she asks you why, what are you even going to say?"
"She won't ask," Anne said softly. "I know she won't."
But even if Hermione didn't ask, she wouldn't give up easily either. She wasn't the type to walk away.
The idea of falling in love with Hermione now, it felt wild. Reckless. The impact would be enormous. Anne was certain that if she did it, the story would spiral into the unknown.
And in this magical world, the only thread of control she had might vanish.
A deep fear filled her chest. That was the truth.
She couldn't get past it. Deep down, she felt like a drifting leaf. The magical world was too uncertain. Soon, Voldemort would control the Ministry. Dumbledore would die. Only Harry and his friends would be left to fight.
Anne didn't have the courage to get involved in that final battle. She just wanted to avoid it, like many other Slytherins.
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A/N:My Friend Joe really is a great movie.
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