Ron sat slumped at a desk in the common room, his head in his hands. Hermione stood next to him, looking over his work, which happened to be three rolls of blank parchment. Harry watched them both.

"I can't do it, Hermione! I just can't!"

"Come on, Ron! Professor Sprout assigned this essay on Leaping Toadstoods last Friday, and now it's Thursday again! You had a week to do this; quit being so lazy!"

"I'm not being lazy, Hermione, I really can't do it!"

She rolled her eyes. "What do you mean you can't do it?! Everything you need to know to write this essay is in your books!"

"That's my point!" he replied, frustrated.

"Uuuuuurrrrrrrg! Ron, just spill it!"

"Fine! " He sighed. "I have bibliophobia. I didn't want to tell you guys, but it's kind of hard to keep a secret from your closest friends."

Hermione looked weak. "You mean... You're... You're..." she whispered before her eyes closed, and she fell backwards. Lucky, Harry caught her, and with the help of Ron, layed her on the couch until she came to.

"She'll probably be up soon," Harry told his friend as they walked back over to the desk. "She'll be furious at you for not telling."

"You mean you're afraid of books?" yelled Hermione from her spot on the couch seconds later. She hopped up and hurried over to the common room bookshelf, where she picked out a book and hugged it to her chest. "I mean, who could imagine a world without books?" She said, dreamily staring off into space.

"I could," answered Ron. "I do quite often, actually. It's quite nice there."

She spun around and bopped him on the head with the novel she was holding. Ron instantly paled. "Oh. Sorry!" she exclaimed when she remembered, and she paled too.

"Wait a minute!" harry spoke up. "Is this because of the story I told you of the screaming books in the restricted section?"

Ron gulped, and turned even paler if that was possible. He looked like one of the Hogwarts ghosts. "It's not only that," he finally managed. "All those books... All trying to cram information into my head! It's horrifying, guys! Horrifying!"

"Why on earth did you not tell us sooner?" she yelled. "We could have helped you get over your fear! Maybe then you wouldn't have failed half your classes!"

"H-how..." ron stammered.

"Ron, I've seen your grades." Hermione was now pacing the room. "You need help, and Harry and I are just the people for the job."

"I was afraid you'd say that." Ron smiled weakly, and Harry chuckled.