Author's Note: Hey everyone! This is my first attempt at a fanfic! I've been reading everyone else's wonderful work for such a long time and I figured I should try one out. I hope you enjoy it. It starts out rather slow, but picks up later. Please read and review, I'd love any feedback anyone could give me. Thanks!
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Hermione rushed through the halls caught up in her own thoughts and not minding where she was going. Stupid Ron, why does he always have to be so stupid? Hmp, I don't know how I've managed to be friends with him this long. So stubborn, thinks everyone is out to get him, thinks he's always right....UMP!!
Books fell from Hermione's hands as she collided head-on into a tall boy in the hall.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there. Here, let me help you with those," the tall boy said. Hermione recognized him as Peter Rusim, a Ravenclaw seventh year.
"Uh, thanks. It was my fault, really, I wasn't watching where I was going," Hermione replied. See Ron, I can admit when I'm wrong, she thought. Peter smiled at her while placing her books delicately back into her arms. A few stands of dirty blond hair fell forward when he looked down to her, covering his eyes. Hermione suddenly had the desire to reach up and brush the hairs away from his dark blue eyes, but the books stopped her and she was sucked back into reality. She blushed.
"No problem, really, Hermione," Peter replied.
"You know my name." She blushed even deeper.
His smile widened. "Of course. Smartest girl in the fifth year. I'd be a fool if I didn't know you."
"Well, thank you, Peter. I really appreciate that," Hermione said, gazing at his blue eyes. Being smart is a good thing. Finally you get recognized for it positively, instead of being teased by Ron...
"Anyway, I have to go to Quidditch practice. Hopefully I'll see you later." He didn't want to break the lock he had on her eyes, but he really needed to go. Ravenclaw had a match tomorrow against Gryffindor.
"Okay...." was all Hermione could say before he walked away.
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Hermione walked into the Great Hall for dinner still warm from the compliment Peter had given her. She sat next to Harry and proceeded to ignore Ron, who was sitting across from her. She was still upset at him. It was stupid, really, she thought, Ron just can't admit that I am right. He doesn't want to lose face. That boy has too much pride.
"Someone is happy," Harry said. The comment to her mood just made her glow more.
"Well, I received a wonderful comment regarding my intelligence. It's nice to feel appreciated," she replied.
"Must have been from a guy," Ron replied grumpily while stuffing chicken in his mouth.
"Peter Rusim is a very considerate person," Hermione continued, trying to hint to Ron that he was being the exact opposite.
But instead, Ron practically chocked on his food. "Peter Rusim?!?! He was the one that complimented you? Geez Hermione, wake up! Ravenclaw's got a game against us tomorrow. He probably just wanted to be nice to you so you'd tell Harry and Harry would be easy on them tomorrow! Honestly Hermione....."
Hermione was infuriated that Ron would suggest such a thing. He always does this, always ruins my nice moments. Krum and now Peter..... "Just because Peter is mature enough to give a girl a compliment while you act like an eight year old who can never admit that he is wrong, doesn't give you the right to taint everything that is good in my life!"
Hermione gave him a disgusted look and stormed out of the hall without having eaten anything. Deep down, she didn't mean the last thing she said to Ron, but she was so angry with him and those words just came out. But she didn't regret it.
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Gryffindor won the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw and Hermione and Ron were still not speaking to each other a few days afterwards.
One night, Hermione stayed up in the common room rereading Hogwarts, A History.
"Whatcha doing?" a voice asked her thoughtfully.
"Reading. Do you want something?" she replied curtly. She didn't want to look at him. She was now ashamed of what she said to him before, but she still felt that he deserved a piece of her mind.
"Hmm, I guess I deserve that. I just wanted to say that, um, well, that I'm sorry for um, what I said before. I forgot what we were fighting about initially and a I don't want to fight anymore. Can we be friends again?" Ron asked tentatively.
His apology surprised Hermione, but she concealed it as best as she could. "Ron, you'll always be my friend. I just wish you would think before you say things. They hurt. But I'm sorry too. I didn't mean it when I said that you tainted everything good in my life. I was just...upset."
Ron smile and his freckles showed up a bit more. "Well, I'm glad that you didn't mean that. I should go up to bed, I'm pretty tired." He turned from the couch Hermione was sitting on and walked toward the boys' dorms. He paused at the staircase and turned around, suddenly becoming fascinated with the floor. "Um, I uh, just want you to know that whatever stupid things I say, I, I never mean to hurt you. Ever. That's the last thing I would want to do. Goodnight Hermione." With that Ron turned around and headed up the stairs, leaving a stunned Hermione sitting on the couch.
She didn't know how to assess the situation. She was mad at Ron, but it all seemed to melt away into a puddle of confusion. Just when you think you have them figured out...boys will surprise you. She smiled and went up to bed.