A/N It is sixth year and I'm ignoring the book. I don't own Harry Potter :(

Chapter 1

Hermione sat in a circle in the Gryffindor common room with Ginny, Lavender, and Parvati. They had all finished their school work and were now talking about boys in a corner. Normally Hermione wasn't the kind of person to share about her personal feelings with anyone besides Ginny but she was a bit curious as to who Lavender and Parvati's current obsessions were.

"So Hermione, who is it? Harry or Ron? Who's cuter? Who's got your fancy?" Lavender questioned with a smirk on her face.

Hermione blushed and quickly glanced over at the two boys who were currently playing wizards chess. Harry's hair was sticking up in all sorts as always and she had the sudden urge to want to run her hands through it. She stuffed her hands underneath her legs as she tried to suppress these thoughts. Harry's green eyes were piercing. Sometimes it felt as though he could see straight through her. His green eyes, staring into hers, as he leaned in, his perfect pink lips, falling onto hers... But Ron, Ron was completely different, Ron looked warm. Like you could just snuggle up to him and stay like that for hours. His arms wrapped around her, trapping her against him. He was, built, but then so was Harry, quidditch had been good to them.

"Hermione! Hello? Don't try to get out of this! We expect an answer." Parvati said taking Hermione out of her dreamy state.

"Oh um," Hermione mumbled. "Well, I supposed there both quite handsome if you think about it. But they're my best mates after all. So I guess I shouldn't really be thinking of them that way. I doubt they think of me that way."

"You know that's nonsense." Ginny stated. "You've got half the boys in your year looking at you. Ever since the Yule Ball in your fourth year. It's a bit frustrating sometimes..."

"Yeah they have ought to have at least talked about you when Dean and Seamus have. It's probably unavoidable,"

Lavender proposed. "I personally think Ron is better. Anyway, speaking of Seamus, he's been looking really nice lately. Think I have a chance?"

The conversation continued but Hermione's thoughts were louder than the three girls with her.

"Hah! Check mate!" Ron exclaimed with a wide smile on his face.

"I'm still waiting for the day when I finally beat you square and fair," Harry said while shaking his head.

"Keep dreaming mate." Ron leaned back in his chair and scanned the common room. "What do you suppose the girls are talking about over there?"

"I dunno. Probably Lavender and Parvati's latest victims. Figure we should save Hermione? She looks dazed from all the giggling," Harry proposed. He watched as she tucked a hair behind her ear. She had her hair pulled back into a loose bun. Harry's favorite.

"What's our excuse this time? We finished our paper's for the first time. Nah we don't need an excuse! After all it's just Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. But he was wrong. It wasn't just Hermione. It hadn't ever been just Hermione in two years! But he couldn't tell Harry that. She was our best friend. "Oi! Hermione!"

Harry and Ron both watched as she registered that it had been them that had called her name. Her face lit up and she stood and walked toward them grabbing the empty chair. "Yes Ronald?"

"Uh Harry and I finished our game and-

But right then Seamus walked up to the table. "Hi Hermione," he said while leaning against her chair. "Uh I was wondering, if maybe sometime you'd want to go down to the Three Broomsticks with me to grab a butterbeer. I'd pay of course. I thought it would be fun you know? With just you and me?" He emphasized the you and me and nodded his head a bit.

Ron and Harry glared at him. They stares were so intense it was as if Seamus was about to catch on fire. They were both resisting the urge to punch him straight on the jaw, but at the same time they were waiting for Hermione's answer. All three turned their attention to her.

She soon became very aware of all three pairs of eyes. She fiddled her fingers in her lap as she began to speak. "Oh um Seamus that's very nice of you. But, I think it would be better if we went with more people... you know as a group," she said hesitantly.

Seamus' head dropped, "Yeah yeah I, I understand. It's alright." He said and then turned to wander off.

"Gosh Hermione I didn't think he would actually do it. He's been talking about it for the past week every night before bed. It was getting a bit annoying actually." Ron pointed out.

"Ronald don't be rude. I already feel bad enough as it is. That's three boys this week that I've turned down. I still don't understand the sudden interest these past two years."

"What would be even more shocking would be if you had actually said yes. I'm a bit curious who you would say yes to anyway." Harry chuckled but was a bit curious.

"Well no one's good enough here for the great Hermione Granger. Brightest witch of her age." Ron announced smugly.

"That is so, so, unfair. And untrue! As a matter of fact there are of course people good enough for me at Hogwarts!"

"Like who?" Harry questioned secretly hoping she would say his name.

"...people." Hermione whispered blushing. If only Harry and Ron knew the real way she felt...