Hermione sat quietly in her favorite overstuffed chair in the Gryffindor common room. The light from the crackling fire cast shadows over her soft, pale face. She pretended to read her book, while she was actually staring at Ron, the ginger-haired boy who currently owned her heart. He was playing Wizard's Chess with Harry, and currently winning, as always. She smiled a bit at this.
"Checkmate! Sorry, mate, you lost again." Ron smiled triumphantly.
"Ah, well, it figures. Nobody's beaten you since…well, ever. It's getting late, though, don't you think?" Harry yawned.
"Yeah, I'll be heading up, then. G'night, Harry, Hermione." Ron replied.
"Good night…" Hermione bid him. She bit her lip as she watched his lanky, well-built figure climb up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. Another day gone, and she still couldn't tell him how she felt. It was getting to be too much. Every look he sent her made her heart race, and every small, insignificant, accidental touch would send her flying high. She loved him so much, it hurt…and some days, it was all she could do to keep from kissing him. But every time she thought about his fun, charming personality, and that lopsided grin that made her melt under those crystal clear blue eyes…it always came back to one thing. That she couldn't have him. And it was too much for her heart to bear. So she kept her feelings quiet, and tucked all thoughts of him away into the back of her mind, though, somehow…they always resurfaced.
Being the boy wonder that he is, Harry somehow noticed this. And he especially noticed the look of longing in her eyes tonight, which he recognized from a Mr. Weasley, if you catch my drift. And he decided to help his best friends out a bit.
"Harry…aren't you going off to bed too?" Hermione inquired.
"Not just yet." He sat down next to her on the huge, squishy armchair. Now, he hadn't prepared a speech or anything, mind you. So, he decided it was best just to come right out with it.
"I actually wanted to ask you something. About those feelings you have for Ron…"
Hermione looked flabbergasted and almost dropped her book. Her cheeks flushed pink. "My what? For WHO? Harry…what in the world are you talking about?"
He chuckled at her sudden lack of composure. She obviously did not expect anyone else to find out. "Hermione…I'm one of your best friends. I'm also Ron's. And I'm not stupid. I've seen how you two look at each other. How much longer are you going to hide your feelings for each other?"
She sighed softly. "Okay, fine. It's true. But it's not that easy. He doesn't feel the same about me, I'm sure of it. Why would he?"
Harry snorted. "The cleverest with of all time can't even see what's right in front of her? Sorry, Hermione, but you're a bit dense sometimes."
She huffed a bit. "Well, what do you want me to do?"
Harry rubbed his eyes under his glasses, and let out a big puff of air. He turned to face her. "Just…tell him," he said gently. He got up to go, leaving Hermione all alone to ponder this. "Yeah, just tell him…" she thought. "Maybe…I will."