Run faster run faster, bloody hell Hermione RUN!
The same thing kept running through her head over and over again as Hermione sprinted through the deserted corridors of Hogwarts. The only thing she could hear were her shoes pounding against the stone floors and her own labored breathing. She knew she should stop and try to calm her racing heart but she couldn't-- she just couldn't. Not until she got away, got far, far away from him.
Even the mere thought of him and what he was doing made her eyes sting. That made her angry and she ran harder and faster down stairs, through hallways, and until she got through the doors out of the castle. She knew she wasn't supposed to be outside, it was after curfew after all, and she should set an example, but she didn't care.
On the steps leading away from the warm haven behind her is where she finally stopped and just crumbled with her head between her knees and her back heaving trying to catch her breath. Her shoulders started to heave with unwanted tears and she shook herself mentally to get herself to stop.
Knock it off! He is just a boy. There is no use crying over him! Pull yourself together!
He's not just any boy! I love him! How could he- doesn't he know? What did I do…?
Stop! It is not your fault! He can kiss anyone he likes. It's not like I ever had a chance anyways.
Why Lavender? Why her? It's not fair! It's- it's not fair...
With that last thought she finally let the hot tears stream down her face, and her body shake with uncontrollable sobs. She threw back her head and just let a long scream be torn out of her. Her hands shook and her mind was racing, for once, she couldn't think. It was all because of him. All because of him. Him and his dumb goofy grin, or his cute nervousness, or his courage, or his love for his friends and family, or his determination. All of it was because of him, because he made her fall in love with him. Because he wouldn't love her back.
A little while later, when her eyes wouldn't flow anymore, she stopped crying. Hermione wiped her eyes and sniffed, and just looked up at the stars trying to get her thoughts straight.
Of course he never loved me…. I'm just his friend. He was only going to go with me as a favor. Only a favor. Because that's what friends do. Friends.
When she could finally get her thoughts under control, she stood up from the steps and rubbed her cold arms. She looked around trying to figure out how long she's been outside. From the feel of her numb fingers she would say about thirty minutes.
Turning around she started back inside through the big mahogany doors. She felt guilty for just rushing out like that, and for setting those birds on one of her best friends. She felt even guiltier for that. It's not his fault he found someone who likes him, who he likes back. After all it's his life. It's not like he's never allowed to have a girlfriend because his friend was in love with him.
With a sigh she continued on through the corridors on that train of thought. So deep in thought she didn't even realize she was almost to the Gryffindor common room. She stopped and tried to figure out what she was going to do. What if Ron was there? Would she walk past him to her room? Would she confront him? About what? It's not her say. Would she apologize? What was she going to do?
She sighed deeper and walked by the fat lady, deciding to go to the kitchens for a little while. Her head was pounding, so she would go get some tea, she decided. Walking along, her only company was her footsteps echoing on the stone, and her broken heart pounding in her ears.