A/N: Hmmm, I thought the ending of this was rather awkward, but I'd like to know what you think. Review?

Disconcerting

Hermione was upset. She wasn't furious, just upset. Ron had asked her out. It's not like she didn't expect it. She had even planned what she was to say to politely let him down.

But she wasn't planning on an audience. She didn't think that he would have been silly enough to do it in front of the entire Gryffindor common room on a Friday night, which meant it was completely packed with tired, but happy for the weekend students.

He had asked her in the sweetest, most awkward way. He stuttered, he blushed furiously and he barely managed to get it out. Everyone was watching, listening for her answer surreptitiously. She hated having to say she was sorry, but she's just wanted to be friends with him.

His face had sunk, his eyes crinkled with hurt, and he stammered an apology. Everyone had a shocked face on, no longer pretending to be doing something else. Harry and Ron rushed up to the boy's dormitory while whispering broke out between all the Gryffindors.

Hermione ran out quickly, beginning to cry softly. She hadn't wanted to hurt him, or humiliate him. Being Head Girl had its advantages but she didn't want to go and face Terry Boot, the Head Boy in the Heads' quarters. Hermione ran to the only place she could think of. The library.

She had never known how to tell Harry and Ron about who she really was. It wasn't really Ron himself she didn't want. She didn't want a boy. She wanted a girl. One girl in particular. The beautiful, intelligent Padma Patil. She was Ravenclaw, and had become even more beautiful since the Yule Ball, when she had attended with Ron.

Hermione first started to feel for her when she realised that Padma was being picked on by Malfoy and his minions. She had hexed the lot of them quickly, and began to talk with Padma. They became good friends. Hermione began to like her.

Padma was equally as talented at her schoolwork as Hermione. They enjoyed reading to an extreme, had no trouble finishing homework, and seemed to have no interest in boys. Hermione had started to really like her about a week and a half ago. It was a small crush, but intense.

Running through the library doors, she grabbed Hogwarts: A History from the shelf she was certain it was on, for she had read it so many times, and settled down at a small table in the corner, lit by a solitary lantern.

She had thought she was the only one in the library, and cried for a good while, silently, as she was in a library. Madam Pince watched her, quietly, and pitied her. Hermione was her favourite student.

"Hermione? Are you OK?" asked a soft, dreamy voice. Hermione looked up at the body to the voice with a tear-stained face.

Luna Lovegood was standing there, looking at Hermione with an intense look of concern, and something else that Hermione couldn't name.

"Oh, uh, Luna. Hi. I was just having a bit of a bad day. I hope I didn't disturb you or anything" Hermione replied, her heart sinking. Luna was nice and all, but she annoyed Hermione to no end, with her constant insistence of the existence of made up creatures.

"Of course not. I just wondered why you came here. You seem to have a lot of people to talk to when you get upset. I thought you might have gone to one of them. But then, it might be something you can't talk to anyone about, and you need some alone time, because no-one understands what you're feeling. And this was the only place you could think of, because of all the people you could talk to, but just don't want to" observed Luna pensively.

Hermione was amazed at how Luna got gotten her feeling so accurately.

"Luna, that's weird. You completely just got what I am feeling! I haven't even been able to say it!" Hermione exclaimed, softly of course. Luna took a seat next to her, and replied with a smile

"Oh, well I am just a weird person, I guess. Besides, I feel like that a lot of the time. Except, I don't have people to talk to about it, so I come here anyway. I didn't think I'd find you here though. It is nice to talk to you though. Do you want to talk? It might help you feel better"

Hermione was shocked. She was no longer thinking about Ron, or even Padma. She was completely enthralled with how accurate Luna had been. All she wanted to do right now was talk to Luna all night. Which was strange for Hermione.

And so she proceeded to explain to Luna exactly what had happened in the common room.

"Oh Hermione. That would have been terrible. May I ask, though, why you didn't want Ron? I don't mean to be rude, but you and he seem close. Everyone talks about how you two should be a couple" Luna commented. The two had now been talking for about an hour.

Hermione was puzzled how to answer. She didn't know whether to confide in Luna or to keep it to herself. The thought of her secret getting out was….disconcerting to say the least.

"Well…… it's complicated. You have to promise not to tell anyone" Hermione started, looking at Luna intensely.

"Hermione, who would I tell? You and Ginny are the only ones who talk to me. And I won't tell Ginny" Luna replied simply.

Hermione smiled and began to explain how she felt about Padma, but she cut off, once she looked In Luna's eyes. They were filled with something inexplicable. A mix of happiness, and incredible sadness, with a hint of……lust?

"Are you OK Luna? You look a bit strange" commented Hermione, stopping her little explanation.

"I'm fine. Better than fine actually. I'm great! Hermione, I want to say sorry in advance" Luna replied, looking at Hermione funnily.

"For what?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"This" said Luna and leant forward, kissing Hermione passionately. Hermione was shocked at first, but quickly gave in to the kiss, moaning slightly. Hermione was pushed hard by Luna, back off her chair and they hit the floor, all the while, still kissing madly.

Pulling away, Luna looked guilty and immediately got up off of the floor, and Hermione.

"Oh Merlin, Hermione I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry" said Luna, looking the mist distressed Hermione had ever seen her. She was still relatively calm though.

"Um, Luna, I, u, don't know what to say to you" Hermione stammered. Luna looked at Hermione and said quietly

"Should I have done it? Have I scared you?"

Hermione hesitantly shook her head.

"No. Surprisingly" she said and smiled.

"Well, it must have been the Nargles in the bookshelves. They tend to let out inhibitions" Luna replied, sitting next to Hermione on the ground, putting her arms around Hermione's waist.

"I thought you said Nargles were in mistletoe?" asked Hermione teasingly.

"Oh no, they live in any type of wood too. That includes bookshelves" replied Luna solemnly.

"I never know whether to believe you Luna" commented Hermione, not unkindly.

"It's OK Mione. I know you don't" Luna replied, looking up and smiling. Hermione nervously leant down and kissed the dreamy-looking blonde girl in her arms tentatively. Screw Ron Weasley; this was better than anything she had ever felt.