It was a dark and frosty night. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was covered with a fine layer of snow, making it sparkle in the moonlight. Most of the students were fast asleep in their dormitories, dreaming. However, two students from the Gryffindor tower were wide-awake.
The first was Hermione Granger. She was angry and that always made her wakeful. She tossed and turned under her blankets, trying to find a cool spot on her pillow. Agitated, she got up and drew back the curtains surrounding her bed. She grabbed a glass and her wand and mutter 'Aquas.' The glass filled with cold water. Taking a sip, she walked over to the window and leant on the windowsill, hoping to catch a glimpse of something, which might brighten up her night. Outside, she could see the boy's tower. No one was at any of the windows. Her attention turned to the lining of the grounds where the barrier between Hogwarts and the forbidden Forrest lay. After a minute, a centaur came out to gaze at the night's sky before hurrying back into the murky depths.
Hermione sighed and her attention went to the boys tower. In there held someone who could make or break her day with what he said, did or thought. A tall someone with flaming red hair, freckles and an expert at the game of chess.
This person was of course Ron Weasley. Hermione had known Ron for 5 years now, 'liked' him for the last year. She guessed that he had grown on her since Harry, her other best friend, had been busy with the Triwizard Tournament. When Harry had been taken by You-Know-Who, Ron ad been the one to comfort her, despite getting teased about it from his brothers weeks later, after the initial shock.
Hermione was one of the smartest people in the school, if not THE smartest. She was brave too, one of the qualities favoured by Gryffindor, her house. Yet she was not brave enough to confront her own feelings. Sighing and yawning, she crawled back into bed, waves of sleep washing over her almost immediately.
Ron Weasley woke from a very heavy sleep annoyed. He had been having a very good dream, involving the girl he liked. He poked his head out of the curtains and looked around the almost silent dormitory. Neville's gentle snores breaking the midnight hush. Not feeling ready to go back to sleep, he padded over to the window and looked out over the forbidden forest. A centaur appeared and then disappeared from the boarder between the forest and Hogwarts. Suddenly, he spotted a head in the window of a girls dormitory opposite him. Straining his eyes, he could make out the tousled brown hair and face. It was Hermione Granger. Ron sighed and though wistfully back to his dream which involved him and Hermione and a broom cupboard. Feeling significantly happier, Ron drew back from the window and got back into bed.
Ron had liked Hermione for about a year now, ever since the Yule Ball. She had looked so beautiful and feminine in her blue gown. Normally, she was much more of a tomboy, her hair tied back sensibly.
A quick thread of anger flew though Ron's blood. Viktor Krum had asked Hermione to the Ball. Ron, himself had tried but he was too late. Despite admiring Viktor for his Quidditch skills, the words Viktor Krum were still compared to swear words to him. Hermione hadn't visited Viktor over the past summer holidays, not accepting the invitation. Instead she came to Ron's house. Pride filled Ron as he thought of this. Hermione Granger had turned down a stay at Viktor's mansion for thre weeks with Ron, his family and Harry.
But, he thought, how could she ever like me? A red head with freckles and a flamboyant temper.
Feeling angry, Ron settled down into a deep slumber.