Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I won nothing, and if JK sues, I am even more skint than I am now.

(Ron's pov)

"How dare you bring that up at a time like this?" Hermione's voice cracked like a whip through the empty room.

I stared down at Harry's lifeless form, determined not to look at her in the eye. We were in the hospital wing at Hogwarts; so many people came here, as there was a shortage of beds at Mungo's, after the final battle. We had won, but we had lost so much. Harry was unconscious, like he had been for the past four days.

And... And Hermione had... well; she fell in love with Malfoy. Stupid, ugly, horrible, manky haired git. Hermione says that he changed, but I know he hasn't. She doesn't deserve a bloody idiot like that, she deserves someone generous, loving, loyal, kind, and someone that really truly loves her.

Someone like... me.

"I'm not brining it up, you're the one snogging it every chance you bloody get!" I snapped back, a little later than I probably should have. I never should have said anything.

"How dare you!" she shrieked again, turning a bright red, "you horrible person!"

It hit through me like an icy knife. Person. Not friend, but person. I was really mad, now.

"I'm the horrible one? Who's side are you on, anyway! Malfoy's? Huh?" Smart going, dumb-ass, I said to myself.

"You know perfectly well whose side I'm on," Hermione yelled, though we were only four feet apart. "And you know Draco's on our side too!"

"Ooh, little Dracie-wakie's side. Betcha love being there, eh? Bet he's always what you wanted, eh? Answer me!" Ok, I knew I was losing it, but I couldn't leave the argument. This was probably the most I would talk to her this week.

"Yes," Hermione said quietly, with a small smile on her face, "He is what I want. Because he is kind, loving, forgiving, generous, and a better person thanyou have ever been to me! So you cannot talk about being nice, because you have to be the most selfish,most rude, most incompetent ape I have ever had the bloody misfortune to meet!"

I gaped – Hermione swore!

"And don't look at me like that! In fact, I'm going right now, I can't stand the sight of you!" And she took off to the door.

Don't go, I love you so much, don't leave me here, all alone, I love you, I love you, I love you...

Tears sprung into the corner of my eyes, and I was glad Hermione was going, 'cause there's nothing worse than seeing a man cry. Before she got to the door, it opened, causing her to go "Oh!"

"Good morning to you too," Malfoy said with a grin, and have her a good-morning hug, with a long kiss to follow. It made me sick. It should be me holding her, me kissing her, me being what makes her smile. But I'm not. I'm the most heart-less person she's ever met. She doesn't even want to be in the same room as me.

They broke apart when Hermione said "Stop it" in a girly voice I had only heard her use around Malfoy. And me. But seemed like a long time ago. And the irony was, it was only last week.

FLASHBACK

I gave Hermione the biggest hug I could muster, and we broke apart only when I felt my shirt getting wet from tears.

" 'Mione, what's wrong?" Mione was my nick name for her. No one else called her that, but me. I liked that.

"Are we all going to... die?" she asked fearfully. She had her arms around my waist and I had my arms around her shoulders. I heard her question, but all I could think about was kissing her, running my hands through her hair, which only I loved. But I didn't.

"I don't know. But I promise I'll see you afterwards."

"After what?" she said, another tear falling down her cheek. I took my hand off of her to wipe it off.

"The final battle. I'll take us all out for dinner after it, and you'll be my star guest."

"What about Harry?" she giggled. It was the first time she had smiled in weeks. And it was me who did that to her. I smiled too.

"Oh, Harry'll be there, somewhere" I said, dismissively waving my hand. We both loved Harry like a brother, and I'm glad she saw the funny side of the joke. I kissed her on the forehead, and we had another, brief hug, and she said "thank you" and skipped off somewhere.

A NOTHER FLASHBACK

I hadn't seen much of Hermione since the day I told her I'd take everyone out for a victory dinner. I knew the final battle was only a few hours away, and I wanted to see her so much. I knew this might be the last time I might ever see her, the last time I could ever tell her that I loved her. And, boy, I did.

We were camping in some forest somewhere, in the m9iddle of someplace, and I walked over to the girls' tent, wanting to see Hermione. I could see 2 shapes in there, sitting close.

Probably her and Ginny, I thought. Until I got closer. I heard voices.

"Look, listen, I don't know," That was my Mione. But what didn't she know? I stepped a little closer.

"I know," said the next voice. That wasn't Ginny's! That was... dare I say it... Malfoy's? What's Mione doing with Malfoy? "I like you a lot," Malfoy said. I couldn't believe my ears. Maybe it wasn't him, I fooled myself. I peeked into the tent, only to see them kissing.

Everything in the world stopped for that few seconds. Time ran slowly, as I realised the incomprehensible truth; she loved Malfoy. I knew I was going to faint, so I apparated to get out of that place as quickly as possible. I stumbled into the boys' tent, where Harry, Bill, Dad, Hagrid and George were, and crumpled right onto the ground, the last image in my head Hermione kissing... him.

END OF FLASHBACK

I was brought back to reality with a crash, and started to feel sick again.

I gotta get out of here, I thought, and ran past them to the nearest place I could puke.

What do you think? Any good? Should I do the next chapter? The story has 5 in it. Review!

Autumnlover