All's fair in… LOVE AND WAR

CHAPTER 2

As Ron and Harry went to the dining hall for breakfast the next morning, they automatically spotted Hermione sitting and talking with Stanley Moorburg. "I don't like that guy." Ron gritted his teeth. "You haven't even met him yet! Hermione seems to have quite a thing for him!" Harry joked. "Oh shut up!" "What's the matter, Ron, not jealous of the new boy already, are you?" He looked at Ron, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, Merlin, you still have your strong thing for Hermione, even though you break up every ten seconds!" I can't believe that Ron still has his thing for Hermione. Their relationship is doomed. Shouldn't tell him that now should I? Especially with the way I feel about her-oops, better not mention that either. I feel like just yelling, "You're not alone" but instead I have to pretend to get along with this guy. Ron's face grew paler. "I think I love her." LOVE HER! How could Ron say he loves her! He doesn't love her he's just jealous…what an arse he can be sometimes. "Love her!" Harry exclaimed letting his feelings slip out a little bit, "A little too extreme, don't you think!?" "Oh! Shut up!" "Harry! Ron!" Hermione shouted gesturing them toward the table. They smiled, forgetting they were arguing and joined the two at the table. "Stanley and I were going through our schedules, And guess what?! He has a lot of the same classes as us!" "Perfect." Ron muttered. "What?" "I said, Perfect!"

Days passed by and Harry and Ron grew sicker each time they saw Hermione and Stanley together. Ron, because of his new-found undying passion for her, and Harry, because he sensed Stanley was up to something. Though he was unsure of what. Harry watched as Stanley left Hermione with a smile. "Well you two seem to be getting along well." Harry said from behind her. She rolled her eyes. "He's a nice guy." "Maybe, so." Harry smirked. He glanced behind him, and saw Stanley spying on them from behind a near-by pillar. That's odd, why is watching us?? "Just keep your eyes open for trouble, Mione, okay?" "Okay." She agreed with a confused look on her face. "I don't need you hurt." She smiled, as did Harry. Ron approached them. "Hello, love…" He kissed Hermione lightly on the lips. "Oh...umm…hi, Ron." She looked flustered. "So what are you guys talking about..?" "Oh...umm...just, Stanley. And-" "What about him?" "Ron, just let's not talk about it…" Ron looked at them confused, as they begin to walk back down the hall.

Harry spent the day with Ron and at Quidditch practice. He returned late from hanging out with some guys from Quidditch, and attempted sneaking in. "You know-its way past curfew." A familiar voice said from behind him. He smiled and said, "Merlin, Hermione, you scared me!" She laughed, "I scared the boy-who-lived, wow, major accomplishment." He laughed and walked over to her, finding her bookless. "What are you doing?" "Thinking." "About..?" "Stanley...he...he's a little strange isn't he? Transferring here in the beginning of the year, getting into Gryffindor. He seems he's well, up to something. Don't you think?" "I've been thinking the same thing; actually, he seems well, I don't know, weird. But I wouldn't worry. I won't let him do a thing to harm you." She blushed slightly and smiled. He walked closer to her. "You know that, don't you?" "Yeah. I do." She smiled again. "Hermione… I need to tell you something…" "Tell me…" She urged him on sweetly. "You know you can tell me anything." She added. They looked directly into each other's eyes, she almost felt weak and it was torture for him to be so close to her, to feel her almost against him, to smell her skin, and her hair. "Harry, I…" But before she could finish, he had his lips against hers. She pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped his hands across her waist. They pulled apart. Little did they know, Ron was in the doorway watching them entire time, and continued to watch them in anger. "Harry…" "Hermione, I love you. I always have. I can't imagine living a day without you by my side." She looked into his eyes and a tear swelled in one of her eyes. "You do?" "I do." "Harry, I…I love you, too. I suppose I always have. I'll never leave your side, Harry, ever!" She smiled, and he smiled back at her. And at that moment, an unspoken promise was made. One that lied so deep inside of them, that no one else could understand. They began to kiss again. "What about Ron?" Harry asked, pulling away from her, "I feel wrong doing this to him. He says he loves you" Her facial expression dropped from a smile to a frown. "Harry, right now I don't care. I'm not going to through away everything I want hell- everything I need for a relationship that's doomed! I mean I felt like I liked Ron a lot, but Harry, I certainly don't love him like I love you!" She finished with a smile lifting his head up to her. "I want you, Harry." "I want you, too."

"Well, I want to kill you both!" Ron shouted angrily, as they jumped away from each other and turned fast to see Ron standing in the doorway. "Ron!" Hermione yelled. He just looked at them with rage in his eyes and walked away furious. Hermione looked down, "Oh…" "Merlin!" Harry yelled in his own anger. He turned away from her. "I told you he'd be upset." Hermione sighed. "Hey…" She started, "It'll be okay. I'll talk to him tomorrow, okay, I mean, he'll understand if I explain this, right?" "Hermione… I'm not so sure. I mean, it's Ron. He's been crushing on you since day one. He thinks he loves you! I just can't believe as his best friend I did this to him. I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning." "Um, Okay. Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. Are you…Are you mad at me?" She looked at him with those eyes that said so much. He leaned in and kissed her quickly. "No. No, I'm not." And with that, he left her standing there, staring at the ceiling, wondering how he life could change so quickly. She shook her head and stared at the bookshelf. For once, the worst possible thing in the world seemed like reading. She frowned and went to bed. She had just gotten what she had just wanted for so long, and she couldn't understand why she wasn't happier about it. Maybe it was because she just ruined her friendship with Ron, or maybe it was because Harry went to bed mad, or maybe it was because of the thousands of other reasons she could think of. Maybe that was why. She slowly started down the stairs to the girls' dormitories. Climbing in the bed, she found it hard to sleep. Her mind wouldn't rest, she ached for that feeling of happiness she had just had only ten minutes ago. Eventually, she closed her eyes and fell to sleep.

Harry had trudged up the stairs with a feeling of regret weighing down his heart. He had just betrayed his friend. Basically stolen his best friend's girlfriend, whom Ron thought he loved. He had loved Hermione for a long time, he felt anger and hate toward anyone that hurt her. When Hermione suffered, so did he. He would do anything for her, and he protected her whenever she needed it. In, fact some times when she didn't. But this was different. He had finally got what he wanted, but he lost Ron when he gained Hermione. As he slipped into bed and under his covers, he realized that tomorrow was going to be a difficult day, as well as many others would be in the future.

The next morning, Harry woke up a bit later and he raced downstairs, making sure Hermione didn't have to endure all the pain by herself. After all, he was responsible for Ron's hurt, too. He walked to the table where Luna, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco sat in silence. Hermione looked up and gave him a look that cried out for help. "Hey Ron." Harry said "Can I talk to you for a moment?" "Whatever." He hastily got up and walked with Harry. Draco looked at Ginny, who looked at Luna, who looked at Hermione. Then all four of them proceeded to whip their heads around to watch the two storm out. "Ron, I know you're angry… about last night." "Damn right, Harry." "Okay, that's fair. What if I promise not to pursue anything with her at first? You know, give you some time?" "You'd really do that." "Ron, I don't want to loose you as my best friend, and Hermione doesn't want to either." "Fine. As long as you promise to wait a while." "I…I promise." "Thanks, Harry. But that doesn't solve everything. I still love her." "No, Ron you don't. You have no idea how it feels loving her the way I do! I know I told you that I had no feelings for her. But that was a lie. I feel everything for her. I love her. And last night, we both realized the way we each felt. Don't blow me off because you didn't get what you wanted! And don't you dare yell at me for loving the woman I'm meant to be with!" Harry walked away, fists clenched. Everyone in the hallway stopped and stared in awe, watching the historic trio fall apart, as Ron punched the wall in anger.

Meanwhile, Harry walked through the dining hall, and all four turned their heads to watch him storm through the opposite entrance. After he was out of sight, they turned and looked at each other. In unison, the girls sighed, and Draco just shook his head.

Harry was walking with Neville, asking him a question about the herbology essay due the next day. When suddenly, he stopped, seeing Hermione cornered by Moorburg. He rushed to her side. "Hey, Moorburg." He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Potter." Stanley looked conspicuous. "Um, Hermione, Professor Snape said he needs to see you a moment." "Uh, Okay," She smiled, "Guess I better go!" She shrugged her shoulders at Stanley. She grabbed Harry's hand and walked away fast. Stanley watched the two as they stopped a little ahead and laughed, holding each other in their arms. "Thank you for saving me!" "Of course." "I was cornered." "I saw that. Are you okay?" "I am now," she said, "But he's been bugging me a lot lately-making me feel uncomfortable. He asked me out earlier, of course I said no, but he asked me why... I didn't have time to answer him, you came." "What an arse….you want me to…" "Don't kill him! Just…do something." She laughed. His face didn't look humorous. "Trust me, I will."