There he was, Ronald Bilius Weasley, in all his crowning glory. I clenched my teeth, squeezed my eyes shut, and

formed my fist into balls. I inhaled deeply and then exhaled. I opened my eyes, unclenched my teeth, and released my fists.

I stood for a moment, just looking at him. There he was laughing with Harry and Ginny as they came back from the

Quidditch pitch. I sighed. I was just so happy to see him. I was happy just to see him smile. Oh, that smile. That lopsided

grin that made my insides flutter. He looked so happy there with Harry and Ginny. I was glad that Ginny had convinced

Harry to wait one more year before the search of the Horcruxes. Besides, Voldemort was laying low for the moment, and no

one could find him. I smiled seeing Harry so happy also. Laughing at whatever Ron had said, his and Ginny's hands

interwined. Oh, how Harry deserved such happiness. And it made me ecstatic that he could find this happiness with Ginny

whom was perfect to help him in his time of need. They seemed so right together. But, my eyes found their way back to

Ron, and once again, I sighed out of exhaustion of wanting and waiting. I took a step forward, getting that much closer to my

goal. 'No! No!' I thought. I can't do this. Not here! Not now! I turned around and ran as fast as I could. My slender frame

was shaking as my long legs carried me swiftly through the grass towards the castle. I could feel the tears filling my eyes

slowly. I continued running until I reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. I knew that I must go to the Head Girl's room or I

would get no privacy at all.

"Darling, what's a matter? Are you okay?" the Fat Lady asked kindly.

"I'm fine," I said stingily. "Blasted boombox," I said, dying to get to my Head Girl's room.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" she asked again.

"Yes, I'll be alright," I lied. The portrait hole swung open, and I ran up the girls' staircase to my normal dorm, where I

usually slept. I checked to see that no one was looking and slipped into the bathroom. I opened the bathroom's closet door

and crept to the back of the closet, tapping on the wood. I uttered, "Livid lizards." and the door came to life. I walked

through, hearing the door shut behind me. I ran up another flight of small stairs, the tears now threatening to spill over my

face. Once I came to the next door I said the password that McGonagall had allowed me to make up. "Woodlyn Oak," I

said, thinking of my two younger cousins, Evelyn and Woody, whose names I had combined to form the password. I missed

them dearly. I remember seeing them when I was younger, before Hogwarts. My mother had said that maybe this

Christmas they would come over and that I could invite Ron, Harry, and Ginny over to my house, but I focused on the present

, seeing as it was only three weeks into the school year. After reciting the last part of the password, my favorite tree, I ran

through the door. I ran up yet another flight of small stairs and came to an abrupt stop at the last door. "Onion roots

crabgrass," I said thinking of the password that the door had originally been given by McGonagall herself. I burst through the

door and flopped onto my bed. Grabbing my pillow and hugging it close, I began sobbing. Why, oh why hadn't I told him

yet? It was worthless, completely worthless. I wanted so bad to just hug him close, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. It was

impossible for me. So hard. 'When did all this start?' I asked myself.

I remember in first year that I was so fed up with his and Harry's teasing. Although, Harry only did it under Ron's

influence. But after they saved me from the troll, I was so ecstatic to have friends. It wasn't that I hadn't had friends before.

It was just that I'd only had, let's say...acquaintances? So, I had never had the kind of friends that invite you over and whose

parents treat you like a second child. Never that kind of friend. Then, soon after, something happened I got this new feeling.

A crush, perhaps? At first, I thought it was Harry. Because whenever I was around him I'd act giggly and girly, but I soon

realized that it could just as well be Ron since the three of us had become inseperable. I didn't even realize where the feeling

came from until second year.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the bathroom door. 'Oh no!' I thought, knowing it had to be Ron, entering from the

Head Boy's room. I held my breath and was about to respond when Ron walked in. I stood up quickly and walked towards

him.

"Hermione, are you all right? Is something wrong? What happened? Did someone hurt you? Because if they did

then I'll hurt them!" he exclaimed, looking suddenly angry. "Who hurt you?" he asked.

"You!" I said, slamming the door in his face and locking it to where no charm could open it.