Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from the Harry Potter.

A/N: This is an AU story.

Chapter 3: The Confrontation

Harry looks like he was about to doze off when Ron kicked his foot. "Ouch!" bellowed Harry and looked at him grudgingly. Even Hermione realized she was scribbling small zigzag lines, she felt her adrenaline rush the moment she heard Harry's outburst.

"What is it Mr. Potter? I don't want any shouting inside my class if you don't mind," said Professor Binns firmly.

"Sorry Professor," replied Harry meekly and nodded and glared at Ron.

Hermione looked at them with utmost disgust and secretly smiled remembering how she saw Harry slouched at the floor sleeping.

"Okay were done for now," said Professor Binns and bid them all goodbye.

"So what are you planning to take?" asked Hermione while pretending that she was rummaging something from her bag.

"Huh? Erm---" Harry said nervously.

'Was she actually talking to me after…after what I said last night' Harry thought.

"I mean after we graduate from Hogwarts what are your plans?" she asked anxiously.

Ron's eyes were fixed on Hermione he opened his mouth but nothing came out. He looks like he's going to be sick. Harry knew what was happening. Both his best friends are having a hard time telling him about their new relationship and he decided not to make it easy for them.

"Well, I dunno… If I'm still alive maybe I want to be an Auror or something…" said Harry, sarcastically and started walking hurriedly as if he wanted to get away from them.

Ron sniggered and opened his mouth again to say something but nothing came out of it.

"That's not funny at all Harry," she said wearily and walked on the opposite direction.

"Hermione listen!" Harry called out on her and ran towards her. "I was just goofing around actually I want to talk to you alone without Ron," he said on a low tone and turned scarlet.

"Well you see Harry… uhmm okay I guess," she said weakly and look over at Ron who was walking towards them.

"What was that about? Harry was just fooling around" snarled Ron and looked stunned after talking. He blushed when he saw Hermione staring at him.

"I have to go now I need to go to Professor McGonagall's office for my career advice," he said and walked incredibly fast.

He was not ready to hear their news. He couldn't bear it at the moment. It was a good thing she was in good terms with Hermione again knowing that he acted like a jerk towards her.

Hermione and Ron went straight to the Gryffindor common room.

"I'm really sorry about the other night I didn't mean to run away like that I just---"Hermione said dimly and looked down on her knees.

"I admit I was hurt Hermione but I know that sometimes I don't treat you that well unlike Harry," Ron replied sincerely. "I thought about it and I think you deserve someone better and he'd better be."

"The truth is I did fancy you before but you were too blind to see that remember the Yule Ball?" she asked humorously.

"Oh I' m glad to hear that but why don't you fancy me anymore?" he asked sheepishly looking rather amused of himself.

"Maybe we should give this a shot then?" she asked drumming her fingers on her lap.

"Look obviously you're in love with someone else that's what you told me the other night right?" Ron asked mischievously.

"Besides I don't want to force myself to anyone else but I can't help but think who the lucky guy is, and maybe hit him hard on the face and tell him myself to ask you out," he said teasingly.

"I can't I don't want you hitting Harry on---"Hermione paused and placed her hand on her mouth. She stared at Ron nervously.

'I can't believe it came out of my mouth' she thought.

"Bloody hell! You're in love with Harry?" he asked, curiously. He looked at her intently waiting for an answer.

"Shhh… do you mind lowering your voice a bit!" she said irritably.

"Well?" asked Ron looking like he was about to throw up and turned red.

"I uhmm… honestly Yes I do Ron and I'm sorry," she replied weakly.

"But I don't think he's interested," she retorted.

After the career advice Harry went straight to the Gryffindor common room and saw Hermione sitting on the couch talking with Ron. His insides are swelling with anger again.

"You don't know that, why don't you tell him how you feel?" asked Ron seriously and jumped of the couch when he saw Harry entering the common room. Hermione on the other hand reached for a book and ignored Harry.

"What's going on? And why is there a big smirk on your face Ron?" Harry asked surly and turned to look at Hermione for an answer.

'Maybe they're officially together' he thought miserably.

"Nothing mate, Oh! I forgot something I'd better go ahead then," Ron said hurriedly and marched his way upstairs.

Hermione blushed and is now drumming her fingers on the couch and is determined not to look at Harry.

"Hermione can we talk? Outside I mean?" Harry asked tensely.

Hermione just nodded and followed Harry. It was like one of the longest walk they had ever done. The silence between them was deafening. They just glanced at each other without even noticing that they're both doing it but not on the same time.

Harry felt like there was some sort of electricity inside his body, he felt shy around Hermione. He felt this way when he asked Cho Chang out the first time. Hermione on the other hand was blushing horribly, she felt her face hot or at least she thought it was. Her heart was beating so fast.

At last they reached the lake. The warm breeze took away some of the unseen electricity on Harry's body. He sat under the tree and Hermione sat beside him.

'This is it there's no turning back,' Harry said to himself.

'I said I'd forget about you I should've have come here in the first place but I can't help it I'm happy when were together' she thought.

"I'm…I'm sorry about the other night I didn't mean to talk to you like that," Harry said tenderly.

"I felt awful after that," he retorted. He looked at Hermione and held her hand.

Hermione was shaking tears started to flow from her eyes. She looked at him longingly. She was so hurt but now the pain went away after he apologized to her.

"I know about you and Ron," he said quietly.

"What about us?" asked Hermione, slightly bemused. She stopped crying and wiped her tears away.

"I heard your conversation with Ron and you both don't have to be all worked up just to tell me I knew it's bound to happen soon," he said dejectedly.

"How come you're downstairs when I bumped into you?" she asked. "You didn't hear everything did you?"

"I don't know! What's the use of hearing it anyway?" snapped Harry.

'Was he jealous?' she thought.

Hermione was now watching Harry fuming with anger. She smiled and stood up. She went to the lake and dipped her feet on the water. Her feet were moving back and forth down the water.

"You know Harry I turned down Ron I…I said I was in love with someone else," she said briskly.

"But I heard you---"he said looking puzzled. A part of him felt like the pressure was lifted off his chest. He sat beside Hermione.

"Can you tell me exactly the reason why you ran downstairs the moment you heard me telling Ron that I like him also?" she asked teasingly.

"Er… because I was I dunno…" he said defensively.

"Were you jealous?" she asked suspiciously. Hermione was now smiling wildly and was looking at Harry avidly.

"No! I mean wait a minute then who's the guy you're in love with?" he asked shrewdly.

"Ron asked the same thing he told me he would hit him on the face and personally tell him to ask me out," she said and splashed Harry some water.

Harry was hit straight on the face. "Who is it then?" he asked finally loosing his temper.

"I told Ron I didn't want him to hit you," she said timidly. She stopped splashing water to him instead she looked at him closely.

Harry looked like he was petrified by Hermione. He didn't know what to say he froze there. He didn't even look at her. He's heart was beating so fast, the electricity he felt came back. He couldn't even think right. He felt like something was stocked on his throat.

"Did you hear what I said?" she said serenely. She was still staring at him with genuine interest.

"Ahem... Yes I did and I feel thesameway," he said hastily.

"What? I beg you pardon," she seems to be enjoying every minute of their conversation.

"I said I feel the same way I love you Hermione Granger," he said fervently and he finally looked at her. It was like a spur of the moment thing he didn't know what to do. He moved closer to her.

"I love you too Harry Potter," she said and hugged him. She never felt happier. It felt right for her being that close to him.

'Kiss her you git!' he said to himself.

He leaned closer and kissed Hermione.

-THE END-

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