Chapter 1 - Learning A Secret

Hermione stood off to the side of the room, not noticing the crowds of people rushing past her, or the many people who were kissing beneath the mistletoe. All she could think about was how while everyone else was falling in love with perfectly acceptable people and here she was thinking about a handsome Slytherin who would never look at her, let alone love her.

She didn't understand where the strange attraction for Draco Malfoy came from. It had to be from some deep part of her that didn't understand just how wrong that was. "Hermione?" Turning around, Hermione smiled at her red headed friend.

"Hi," She smiled at him, secretly wishing that he wouldn't give her a gift, one that she knew meant more than just friendship.

"I have something for you." Ron was twitching his finger, nervously watching Hermione, trying to read her body language. She could tell that he was going to do something special, and she scowled inwardly.

"Oh. Well let's save it for Christmas Ron! You only have to wait another couple days. I mean after all, that is when you are getting your present!" She gave him a playful push, and then she smiled as she danced away.

"Hermione! Wait up! Where are you going?" Ron ran after her, and she kept ducking and dodging around people in the common room.

"Oh Ronald!" Hermione ran a hand through her hair, sighing as she leaned against a cold window. Ron had caught up to her, and now he stood by her, nervously.

"There you two are!" Harry came running up, his face was flushed and it was obvious that something eventful had happened.

"Harry! What happened?" Hermione was staring at his lips, which were bright red, and around his mouth had a reddish tint to it.

"Oi! Mate! Have you been snogging my sister?" Ron nudged Harry in the side, eyeing him up and down. "Just keep it to snogging." Ron then snorted at Hermione's facial expression and wandered away.

"So were you with Ginny?" Hermione studied his reactions. She almost felt as if Ginny wasn't the girl that he was crushing on anymore, but no one else wore such bright red lipstick…unless that was just a cover.

"I was snogging Ginny." He looked down, almost scowling at his stupidity.

"So who is the girl you really want to be snogging?" Hermione watched his face turn a bright pink, and he looked around the common room nervously. Probably looking for any of the red head clan that would beat him if he said anything against Ginny, Hermione figured.

"Hermione you can't tell anyone." Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her towards a deserted corner, checking around and making sure that no one was watching them.

"Harry this is almost too private, we are in the common room, but we are in the snogging corner." Hermione gave a nervous chuckle; she didn't want any rumors to start about them.

"Oh…yeah. But where else would be empty on Christmas break?" Harry glanced towards the doors out of the common room, he was probably thinking about an empty classroom, or one of his secret tunnels. Hermione had a better idea.

"Follow me silly!" Hermione stepped out of the corner and into the light of the fire, and headed towards the door out of the common room.

Hermione walked quickly, making sure that no one would be able to notice them sneaking out after hours. The corridors were mostly deserted, and even in the dark the castle provided a homey feeling, a calm feeling. Her shoes made a soft echoing sound, and she ignored the feeling of the rule breaking she was up to.

By the time she made it to the library, she was almost worried that Harry hadn't kept up. Whispering a small spell she opened the door and walked into her second home within her second home. The smell of books filled her nose, and she could imagine all of the stories that filled the shelves in the room. She darted down a few shelves, all filled with dustier books that weren't the normal reading material for many students.

"Harry! You keeping up?" She laughed as she finally ended up in a small corner; it had a couple chairs, well worn armchairs that served as the most comfortable reading chairs she had come across.

"Geesh Hermione. You think that you were racing against time or something." Laughing Harry peered over her shoulder, checking and making sure that no one was waiting around the other shelves.

"No one would be here silly!" Hermione laughed, she felt giddy with all the excitement of running to her favorite room in the castle after hours.

"Alright Hermione! You think we were going to do something!" Harry stuck his tongue out, and Hermione smiled, Harry was like a brother to her, and she would never imagine them being anything more than best friends.

"So who do you like then Harry?" Turning around she plopped down into the closet chair, she knew this was going to be a long story, at least with all the questions she was thinking of.

"Well you know when you introduced me to Luna?" Hermione nodded, she couldn't imagine Harry having a crush on Looney! She loved Luna to death, but she knew that Luna was odd, and she couldn't picture serious Harry going for Luna, instead of ambitious Ginny.

"So you like Luna?" Hermione wondered if the silly blonde girl had known all along. Or maybe she was still wondering if Harry liked her. Somehow Hermione figured that Luna would know about Harry liking her long before Harry knew himself.

"Yeah. I do. But I think it is more than that, I think I love her." Harry stared at his best friend, hoping she could understand his feelings, and she would be able to support his choice.

"So what are you going to do about Ginny?" Hermione nervously picked at her nail, wondering how he planned on ending the relationship with his best mate's younger sister. Ginny wouldn't take it well either, especially since Luna was one of her best friends.

"I don't know yet. That is my problem right now; I have no idea what to do. At one point I would say just tell her, but now I don't want to hurt her. She knows that I am sneaking off already, and she knows that I am keeping secrets from her with my stupid potions books, but she doesn't need to flat out know that I am in love with her best friend."

Hermione nodded, it would be hard telling Ginny that Harry didn't want to be with her anymore, but now it was more than that, now she had to tell Ginny that Harry was in love with Luna. "Maybe you should tell her before New Years, you know the whole kiss the person you love thing .Silly muggle tradition, but it would mean a lot to Luna, and you know how she is with that." Hermione gazed back at her friend, hoping that he would understand to do it with niceness.

"I'm not sure, but I know I have to do it soon. We should get back; someone is going to notice we have been missing for almost an hour." Harry stood, reaching his hand out to aid his best friend in standing up.

Hermione watched Harry head back; with the promise that they would talk more later that week. She had decided to stay in the library and find a new book. The library was quiet, and she scowled at the thought that someone could be lurking around, watching her. She knew that a thought like that might be stupid, but she still could feel her hair standing on end.