Author's notes: Writer's block struck again! Something in my head hates this pairing, I think!

Oh well, the chapter's here at last.
Thanks so so so so so so much to everyone who reviewed, favourited and alerted this, really. The response overwhelmed me! I hope I can live up to your expectations :)

Please remember to feedback from this chapter too!

Chapter 1

The cold spring rain hammered against the tower window. Hermione flopped down on her bed with a tired sigh.

Ron and Lavender had been at it again in the middle of the common room. Hermione had wanted to leave but something, probably pride, had kept her sat in her seat until she nearly exploded with frustration, born from feelings of rejection and envy.

She had convinced herself just that morning that she would not let Ron and Lavender's activities drive her from the room again. Yet here she was, just a few hours later, having just broken that promise to herself.

It must be the hundredth time.

It was possible for Hermione to hold back her tears now. When Ron had first kissed Lavender they'd erupted in a flood, like some great damn breaking…

…like her heart had cracked right down the middle.

Now she didn't shed a tear, though she couldn't sit in the same room as him as he wound his arms round another girl and stuck his tongue down her throat.

Despite her hatred and despair, Hermione knew that Ron wouldn't have hurt her so badly deliberately. He was ignorant and stupid, not heartless. Deep down, she didn't blame Ron at all, so it was really the terrible self-pity that was gnawing away at her.

With a flick of her wand Hermione drew the curtains around her bed. She curled up into a ball on her side, holding her knees to her chest.

At least Cormac is making things a little easier, she thought to herself.

Whilst Ron Weasley persisted to be an annoyance, it seemed that Cormac McLaggen had become annoyingly persistent.

Hermione hadn't meant anything romantic in the least when she had tricked him into asking her to Slughorn's party. In fact, she had chosen him because he was one of the more irritating people she could think of.

He had insisted, nonetheless, on being the sweetest, kindest, most patient boy Hermione had ever had the pleasure to spend time with, and this was after he'd found out that she'd only asked him out to irritate Ron.

Cormac McLaggen was determined to become her boyfriend.

At first Hermione had doubted his sincerity, and it hadn't taken her long to jump to the conclusion that he wanted a way to get close to Harry. He must have figured it was one way to get the place he so desperately desired on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Yet as time went on Cormac's words and actions had grown more and more gentle, more and more determined, more and more focused. The look in Cormac's eyes every time she forgot to look away as he gazed at her burned. It hurt just a little to see someone love her so much, when she did not love him in return. Ron had made sure she knew how that felt.

Hermione wanted to let the guilt eat her up. She closed her eyes tightly.

Cormac had his hands in hers, and was smiling. She was kissing his cheek. He told her, honestly, that he thought her beautiful.

Recently, despite her guilt, it was memories of Cormac that Hermione had been visiting at night, in place of memories of Ron.

Harry continued to alternate between spending time with Ron and spending time with Hermione as the term progressed.

It was because of this that Cormac and Hermione's relationship was able to progress in complete secrecy with next to no effort on Hermione's part. Cormac's best friend was aware of the situation, but Cormac had assured Hermione that Kurt was too arrogant to talk about somebody else's life.

Hermione was content in the knowledge that no one had to know she was spending so much time with a person who she had despised weeks ago, purely on principle. He was arrogant and he was Ron's rival. She had found him repulsive.

When she looked back now, she wondered why. The only conclusion she could come to, was that she disliked him because Ron and Harry disliked him.

But a mild dislike and annoyance on her friends' part was no reason to despise someone.

Leaning against the windowsill in an empty corridor, Hermione stared out over the grounds, but didn't see them. "I think I may have a problem," Hermione muttered to herself.

It was difficult to find space to think these days, what with McLaggen wanting to spend every spare moment with her.

Her time was divided more or less equally between Cormac and Harry.

She didn't mind overly, as she had to admit that she liked the company a lot more than the empty rejection she had felt surrounding her when Ron and Lavender had first started dating. Nevertheless, it was nice to steal a few quite moments to organise her jumbled thoughts. She was always very confused lately.

"My problem is," she told nobody, as she continued to stare into space in the empty, upstairs corridor, "that I like McLaggen a whole lot more than I ever thought possible. Yet no matter how much I know that I like him, and that he likes me more than could ever be reasonable, I'm still going to like Ron."

Hermione sighed heavily and rested her chin on her hands. "Sorry Cormac," she whispered into the wind.

This wasn't the first time that Ron had ruined a relationship for Hermione. She'd had feelings for the dense red head since second year. She'd broken it off with Victor because she'd known that she loved Ron more.

First Victor, and now Mclaggen.

All for one Ronald Weasley.

Who was most likely currently eating Lavender Brown's face in a corner of the common room. She knew, because she'd seen them at it some twenty minutes ago.

"He isn't worth it," Hermione whispered in shocked revelation. "My life, yes. My happiness…no. He's not worth it."

"Who's not worth what?" said a cheerful voice behind her.
Despite her best efforts, a small smile crept onto Hermione's face at the sound of that voice. He'd found her, again. She had wondered briefly if he'd found a way to follow her.

"Hello Cormac," she said simply, not bothering to turn around, as he came to lean against the wall next to her windowsill. "I see you managed to find me again."

She could hear his grin as he spoke. "Are you avoiding me, Hermione Granger? Is it I who's not worth your time?"

Grinning too, Hermione replied, "No, I was just pondering out loud. I was also wondering when you managed to put a tracking spell on me."

He laughed. "I was worried," he confessed. "Potter was in the common room with some other friends, and I didn't think you were up in your dorm. It made me worry that something had upset you."

Hermione turned her head away from Cormac slightly so she could frown without him seeing. He'd obviously figured that she'd have been upset by seeing Ron and Lavender making out in public view again, and had come to find her in concern. He also knew not to mention that that was what he knew.

Cormac was getting good at figuring her out.

"I just wanted some time to think. It's rare that I get the chance to just sit alone," she explained.

Hastily Cormac stood up straight. "Good, I'm glad you're okay. I'll leave you to your thinking." He began to walk away.

"Wait!" Hermione called.
Cormac turned around, looking confused. "What is it?" he asked simply.

Hermione blushed slightly. "You can stay if you like…I mean, you don't have to go…I was done thinking anyway."

Cormac smiled. "Sure, I'll stay if you want me to." He perched on the edge of the windowsill she had been leaning against previously. "Don't feel obliged though, I know you're not totally comfortable around me yet."

The "yet" resounded in Hermione's ears. It amazed her how persistent Cormac was. Ron was never so persistent, even with a girl he really liked. He just seemed to take the path that was easiest. Cormac seemed to take the path that he thought would make him happy in the long run, even if that path were a difficult one.

"I'm actually very used to you being around now," Hermione confessed. "It's…nice. I like having the company."

He grinned broadly. "Me too."

Hermione stood in the corridor feeling quite at ease. Cormac was wrong. She was perfectly comfortable in his presence.

"Hey, Hermione," he said eventually, breaking the silence. He seemed somewhat nervous. "We've been spending time alone together for a while now, and I was wondering…just pondering, so don't feel forced…but…can I kiss you?"

It was blunt. McLaggen had obviously had that offer accepted many times before, as he seemed to have no subtle way of putting it. Either that, or he was as nervous and apprehensive as Hermione felt, and thus incapable of using his imagination to come up with better.

Hermione swallowed before replying, to give herself time to stall. "On…on the lips?" It sounded so lame, that she could have kicked herself.

"Well yeah," answered Cormac, looking sheepish and running a hand through his curly hair distractedly.

Knowing she didn't have much time to come to a decision, as standing pondering awkwardly for hours was just not an option, Hermione kicked her thoughts into fast forward.

To kiss Cormac was to put a definition on their relationship, and to make it official. It would be romance then. The idea had some appeal. There was one thing holding her back…

"Yes," she answered simply.

Cormac slid off the windowsill and landed agilely on the floor. "What…seriously?"

"Seriously," she replied, sounding a lot more confident than she felt.

"Well…cool."

He moved towards her, and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. Hermione looked up at him. Cormac's smile was tentative. His eyes looked apprehensive.

He placed his other hand behind her head ever so carefully, and began to move closer…

Hermione could see red hair and blue eyes and a long nose. Ron was kissing someone, but it wasn't Lavender. It was Ron's hand in her hair and Ron's hand on her shoulder and…
Desperately, Hermione struggled away from Cormac before their lips met.

"I'm really sorry Cormac," she whispered as she backed away down the corridor. "I'm really, really sorry."

And with that said, she turned and fled.