Hermione Granger climbed into her four-poster bed and draped herself shut. This was her sanctuary—the barricade to the outside world.
She curled her legs to her chest and hugged them, staring grimly at the drapes around her.
'It's okay,' she told herself. 'It's nothing. Ron can snog other girls if he likes. It's his life. No big deal.'
But inside, Hermione found it hard to accept. Yes, it was Ron's life. Yes, he could snog other girls if he very well pleased. But that didn't console her in the least.
She loved Ron. She'd known it ever since the beginning of this year. And even in the past, she'd always felt a subtle difference between him and Harry.
And he liked her too, didn't he? Didn't he always get jealous whenever she complimented Harry? Wasn't that a sign?
She'd never said anything aloud about it, in case she was mistaken. But of course, she never truly believed she could be wrong. She loved Ron and he loved her back. Plain and simple.
'But if that's true, why is he always out there snogging Lavender Brown?' she asked herself. 'And it's been that way for weeks!
'It's because he doesn't like you,' the honest, impossible to silence voice inside answered. 'You convinced yourself he did for the past two years, but in reality, you were wrong.'
'Wrong.' Hermione Granger loathed that word. 'You're wrong, Miss Granger… No, sweetie, that's the wrong way… Well, that was the wrong thing to do…'
Life didn't have time for wrongs. Life was about getting things right! So how could the one thing that meant most to her be a mere mistake?
The dormitory door swung open, brining Parvati and Lavender with it.
"Oh yes," Lavender giggled airily. "Won-Won is absolutely perfect for me."
"You guys are so in love," Parvati supported her. "Anyone can tell just by looking at you two together…"
'Well that's only because they give off the impression they've been magnetized by the mouth,' Hermione thought bitterly. She was thankful for closing her drapes earlier; she did not feel like talking to either of them now.
'Just let it go,' she told herself. 'You'll have to let it go eventually.'
But as Hermione lay down, head nestled on her curled-up arm, she thought of Ron again.
'He isn't just another guy!' she told herself defiantly. 'I love him!'
And that was when she realized silent tears were once again rolling down her face.
