Hermione left the dungeons quickly after potions, so nobody could follow her. Unfortunately for her, Harry did.
I should have known. Hermione thought as she turned round to Harry tapping on her shoulder.
"Are you okay? You seemed a bit hassled when you stormed into class? Did you go to the hospital wing?"
"I'm fine, well, I'm not. But…" Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione's rambling, "It's Ron."
"Ah. I thought so,"
"You did?" Hermione's tone hit Harry.
"Well, you burst into the room with Ron shouting after you." Harry raised an eyebrow with a 'duhh' look written upon his face.
"I guess," The two turned and started to walk towards the great hall, Hermione telling Harry about what happened yesterday in the common room, and today in the corridor.
"That's bad,"
"Yes I know that Harry, thank you," Hermione snapped.
"Sorry,"
"Yeah. Me too,"
"Hermione…"
"Mm?"
"It seems that ever since Ron and Lavender actually got together you have been, well, no offence. But you have been very snappy, very tired, and very moody."
"I haven't had a lot of sleep. Because of…revision."
"Hermione, don't give me that rubbish. We haven't got exams for another 8 months. And I know you don't even revise from that early stage,"
"Listen Harry, if you don't mind I'm not that hungry. We haven't got any lessons this afternoon so I'm gonna go up to the common room and have a sleep. Is that okay?" Harry was a little upset that Hermione was leaving him for the second time that day, but he didn't want to tell her that.
"Okay, if you need to talk though I'll either be down here or out of the quidditch pitch, okay?" Hermione nodded before walking off swiftly.
"Hermione?" Angelina Johnson knocked on the dormitory room door after she saw Hermione storm into in and then heard sniffles from inside, "Hermione? Are you in there?"
"Go away!"
"Hermione? Come on, let me in,"
"Why should I?"
"We can talk about it," The door opened and a tired looking Hermione stepped from behind it. Her hair was tied back in a scruffy pony tail, and her eyes were blood shot from tears. In her hand there was a grubby tissue. Angelina walked forward into a hug with Hermione and let her cry on her shoulder. "What's up? Hey? Come on, sit down," Angelina invited Hermione to sit on her own bed.
"I'm just being stupid…" Hermione wiped away her tears, wanting to walk out of this room, out of Hogwarts and back into the muggle life. But she stayed where she was. Sitting next to Angelina, crying on her shoulder.
"No you're not. You're far from that, so come on. Tell me."
"Ron,"
"Ah,"
"What?"
"I had an idea it was about him,"
"How?"
"After you went through the common room, just now. He came through asking for you,"
"What did you say to him?"
"I said that I didn't know,"
"Thank you,"
"That's okay. So. What has happened between you?"
"I'm…" Hermione shook her head, "I'm fed up of feeling, what I'm feeling for him."
"Do you like him? I mean, like, like him,"
"Angelina?"
"Yeah…"
"I think I love him" Hermione broke down and shed her tears into Angelina's shoulder.
"Awwhh…come on Hermione. I'm sure he feels the same,"
"But he doesn't Angelina! He loves her. He loves Lavender…"
"You think? Do you really think that?" Hermione nodded. "Pfft. I doubt it personally," Angelina crossed her legs and crossed her arms across her chest and looked up at the ceiling,
"Wh? What do you mean?"
"He came looking for you, while Lavender was in the Great Hall. He feels all nervous around you. He looks guilty whenever he is curled up with Lavender and you are there. Plus, he always talks about you at home…"
"What? How do you know?" Hermione sat up and brushed her hair from out of her eyes,
"Fred told me," Angelina answered casually, whilst pretending to check her nails,
"Ooh. So, how are you and Fred?"
"Just friends,"
"Yeah. Of course. Stupid of me to think other wise," Hermione sarcastically answered.
"Okay fine. I like him. He likes me."
"So…"
"We are taking our time,"
"I guess. Lucky you…"
"Hermione. Listen to me," Angelina turned to face Hermione and put her hands on the younger girls shoulders, "Yours and Ron's time will come. Just, leave it for a little while, give it some space and I promise you it will work out. Pretend you don't like him any more. Make him jealous. Be confident of yourself. And also, pretend you like Lavender,"
"What!? Okay the other things I can do, apart from being confident, but liking Lavender?"
"Come on Hermione. It will break up tension, yet create confusion…on their half."
"Thank you, Angelina,"
"Any time," Angelina stood up, "Oh. And keep me updated," She winked as Hermione nodded to her request.
""Ang?"
"Mm?"
"Good luck with Fred,"
"Thanks. Good luck with Ron. And just think. In ten years or so, we could be related through them,"
"Thank you,"
Angelina gave one last wink and walked out of the dormitory, leaving Hermione feeling more confident and more excited about the next day to come.