Fragments of a Love Story

A/N: So. I have been completely obsessed recently with reading fanfics, especially the ones that are love stories. And I have decided I want to do bits and pieces of Ron and Hermione's love story. Because I love them and think they are wonderful. I feel that there is no need for me to put a disclaimer on every single chapter because I am obviously NOT J.K. Rowling. I only wish I could write a series of books that the world would fall in love with.

I'm about to go to college to work on my English degree, so I figure this'll be some good practice, and it'll also be a slightly more productive way to spend my summer since I do pretty much nothing all day every day. And just so you all know, it has been a while since I read the books, and I am trying to do my research, but I do not own the books. So please forgive me if I make mistakes!

Here we go!

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Ron was lying in his bed, glaring up at the ceiling, reliving the awful night he'd just had. It was the night of the Yule Ball, and nothing had gone right for him, from the awful dress robes his mum sent to a date who wanted nothing to do with him. Then, to make matters worse, he had to watch Hermione with Krum. He didn't know what it was that had made him start hating Krum so much, but he knew that watching that prat twirl Hermione around the Great Hall all night had made him want nothing more than to run over and punch the guy's teeth out.

The end of the night wasn't any better, either, involving a huge row with Hermione, ending with her in tears. He hated making her cry, and never did it on purpose. They were just both so stubborn and had such bad tempers that their fights would never end well.

As he thought about their fight, he kept coming back to one part that he didn't quite understand. What had Hermione meant when she said that he was supposed to have asked her? Obviously, he thought, it doesn't really matter. She's just my friend, after all. But still. What did it mean?

While he continued to puzzle over her statement, he closed his eyes, hoping sleep would come so he could stop thinking about it and put an end to this awful day. But every time he did, all he could see was her, walking down the stairs, looking more beautiful than anyone Ron had ever seen. Or he saw her twirling in front of him, laughing, her face lit up and glowing. Whenever he thought of how pretty she looked, his palms started to sweat again and his heart skipped a beat, just like when he first saw her that night.

He shook his head and turned on his side, looking out the window. This is silly, he thought. It's Hermione. Yes, she did look bloody gorgeous tonight, but most of the girls did, right? And the only reason her being with Krum bothers me so much is I'm concerned he's after her for the wrong reasons. It's nothing more than that; just one friend watching out for the other.

But deep down, Ron knew; it wasn't just friendly concern. He was falling in love with Hermione Granger.

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Across the tower, Hermione, too, was lying awake, unable to sleep as she thought about the night. She had been having a great time with Viktor, and although there was that tiny voice in the back of her mind telling her that this was the wrong guy, she continued to laugh and dance, ignoring the feelings she knew were there. The night seemed like it was going to end well after she said goodnight to Viktor and headed back to the common room; she couldn't help but be excited that such a sought after wizard was into her.

But when she arrived at Gryffindor Tower, Ron ruined it all. She was usually up for a fight with Ron; they did make up a big part of the friendship, and she loved a good debate, so long as it didn't end badly. This one, she didn't want. She wanted to stay happy for just one night and pretend that Viktor was truly the boy she wanted so that she didn't have to deal with the hurt she felt when Ron only just realized that yes, she was indeed a girl, and then the shocked expression on his face when she told him she had already been asked to the ball. As if the idea of a boy liking her was so surprising, even though she herself was quite surprised. But, with both of them being too stubborn to give up, they did end up fighting, and it ended in her hurt and frustrated tears as she went up to her room. Luckily, none of the other girls had been back yet, so she was able to cry in peace for a little while before faking sleep when they finally did get there.

Ron just didn't get it. He was a stupid boy, not seeing what was right in front of his eyes, even though Hermione had made the fact that she had wanted him to ask her to the Ball very clear in their argument. Although she hated admitting it to herself, she knew it was true; she was falling for him and, try as she might, she couldn't stop the feelings from growing stronger. Ronald Weasley was arrogant, obnoxious, stubborn, and ridiculous. But while the intelligent part of Hermione knew it was silly for her to feel this way for him, her heart spoke differently.

She knew she'd have to be honest with Viktor and, hard as it may be, she couldn't spend her time pretending to like him even if he was sweet.

She just hoped Ron would hurry up and come to his senses and stop being an idiot so she could stop hurting so much.