A/N: prompted by the lovely otterandterrier-

Ayurnamat - The philosophy that there is no point in worrying about events that cannot be changed.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Ron couldn't help but gawp slightly as Hermione droned on and on about her latest exam. Apparently she was worried she'd mistranslated a rune or something, he wasn't really paying that much attention to be completely honest. Worrying was what Hermione did. Besides it was one bloody question- like that was going to make a difference. Over the years, Ron had learnt the best way to deal with Hermione was to just let her have it out- at least it wasn't him she was shouting at, right?

But there came a point, almost three hours later sat in the Gryffindor commonroom, when he came to the conclusion that she was just not letting it up. Maybe she was looking for an argument? Who knew what went on inside that head of hers anyway? He certainly didn't.

"Hermione, give it a rest. It was one bloody mark. It doesn't matter."

Hermione stared at him like he'd just grown a tail and proceeded to slap her with it, "Doesn't matter? Of course it matters! That one mark could be the difference between a pass and a fail grade, Ron! I've messed it up. I know it."

This time, he just couldn't hold back the urge to laugh. The idea of Hermione failing anything was so absurd to him, it was almost like a reflex. He regretted it almost instantly as, to his horror, her eyes began to fill with tears. This wasn't good news. Angry Hermione he could deal with; teary Hermione was a different matter altogether.

"It's not funny." She snapped at him. He guessed she was trying to sound aggressive, but the slight wobble in her voice when she spoke ruined her frosty exterior.

"No! I didn't mean to- I know it's not funny, okay? Please don't cry, Hermione." Ron didn't know how to deal with crying.

"I'm not." She replied automatically, despite the tear making its way down her cheek. She angrily wiped it away and stared back up at him defiantly.

"Listen, I didn't mean to make you upset or anything. It's just, you're brilliant, yeah? There's no way you'll have failed." He tried desperately to sound sincere, but Hermione's expression told him she didn't believe it.

"What if I did though? It was such a stupid mistake. Utterly stupid." She buried her face in her hands and Ron felt awkward again. What was he supposed to do? Comfort her? Having had no previous experience in the art of reassurances, Ron opted for a new tactic.

"It's not like there's a point in worrying anyway though, is there? I mean, think about it: what's done is done, it's not like you can go back and change it. Worrying isn't going to solve anything. Just- try to forget about it for a while, yeah?"

The incredulous expression was back, but this time there was a deep rooted sadness mixed in with it. "It's not that simple." She said quietly. And then, abruptly, she stood up to leave. "Goodnight Ron." Was added almost as an afterthought as she made her way up the girl's dormitories.

As Ron stared after her, the thought came to him that he would most likely never understand Hermione Granger.