[A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update, but my family just got a new puppy so keeping track of her is keeping all of us busy. Here's the next chapter, and of course, everything that belongs to J. K. Rowling belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'd probably even give her what belongs to me too if she wanted it.]

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Throughout the rest of lessons, Ron called himself every name he could think of. How could I have been so bloody stupid? It's a new low even for me. Lavender was lying to me this whole time and I believed her. I believed down-right horrible things about Hermione, Hermione the most perfect girl in the world. I've known her since we were bloody eleven years old, I knew that the stories Lavender was feeding me weren't completely true. But Merlin, I didn't think they were that much of a lie. And Hermione never said a word. I am such a prat. How did I not notice my best friend-a girl I've fancied for sodding years-going through such bullying from my own girlfriend? He sighed. And not just my girlfriend. McLaggen deserves to be locked up in Azkaban for what he did to her.

Every now and then Ron would notice more of Hermione's thoughts, when she thought them especially loud. He has made his choice. Even if it is a stupid one. Why should it even matter to me? Because he's Ron. I suppose that will always be why. Damn him. Couldn't I have fancied someone else? Anyone else? But it's much too late for that isn't it?

Hermione fancies me? ME? Ronald Bilius Weasley? After all that? And me, being well, me? I'm a bloody idiot. I started snogging Lavender to make Hermione jealous so she would see me as a man and not the boy I was back first year. But now it turns out she liked me all along. And if I'd only looked I might have saved her all this pain. Hell, I may have been able to be snogging her instead of Lavender all these months. Merlin.

As lessons finished for the day he could hear himself trying to wheedle his way out of Lavender's clutches. "Lav, I've got Quidditch practice. And I really don't think Harry's gonna let me off today. Are you, Harry?"

Hermione took a deep breath as she hoisted her bursting bag to her shoulder. Harry absentmindedly answered, "Practice is mandatory," as he turned to walk from the room, his nose still buried so far into the Half-Blood Prince's Potion book that he barely noticed when he bumped into a chair.

Harry. What am I going to do with you? Did you even remember to eat today? You've got to stop obsessing like this. It can't be healthy. Maybe I should speak to him about it. I'll just remind him that the mission he has, whatever it is, can't succeed if he's sick in the Hospital Wing.

That reminds me, Hermione barely ate anything today. That apple she had for lunch was not nearly enough. I know she doesn't eat as much as I do but Merlin, I think an owl eats more than she does. Has that been going on long? Is she starving herself? I've heard of diseases like that, where you just don't eat. Sounds bloody horrible. Who would want to not eat?

He could see himself and Lavender walking ahead in the hallway, the portraits making faces at the way Lavender was draped over his left side. Then the image started to get blurry. Is she crying again?

Out of nowhere Parvati's voice sounded close to Hermione's head, just grazing her bushy hair. "Isn't it cute seeing a couple so much in love? I heard him ask Harry if he still had any Felix Felicis left. I think he's too nervous to propose without it! Of course he doesn't need it! Lavender is going to say yes. She doesn't want to be an old maid." And with a sneer Parvati flounced over to Penelope Clearwater.

Professor Trelawney's voice echoed in Hermione's mind, "You know, my dear, the moment I looked into your eyes I knew that you did not have the mind for the noble art of Divination. See? Right here. You may be young in years but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shriveled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books to which you so desperately cleave." I shall not be an old maid. And even if I am, what of it? I shall be perfectly happy. Ron will be happy with her and that's all I can ask for. And who knows. Maybe one day there really will be a war and I'll catch the wrong end of a curse. It would be much better for me to die than Ron or Harry. Ron has his whole family to care for him, miss him if he was gone. And Lavender too. And it would kill Harry to lose someone else in his life that he counts as family. Of course if Harry were to die, well the whole wizarding world would be lost. And it would kill Ron to lose his best friend. But me? I suppose my parents would miss me. But I've been in the wizarding world for so long now. Would they really even notice I was gone? And perhaps Harry and Ron would care on some level. Although it's been months since we've all spent any considerable amount of time together, so maybe they wouldn't miss me as much as they might have. Good, I don't want them to suffer too much if it does happen.

He couldn't believe it. How can she think no one would notice her –death? It hurts to even think of a world without Hermione. Sometimes I think my family likes her better than they like me. I know the twins do. And Percy probably. Hell, I love her. I would die too if I lost her.

She made her way to the Astronomy Tower where she curled up with Hogwarts: A History after transfiguring the pajamas she still had tucked into her bag to make a large pillow and a thick, fuzzy blanket. Not five minutes later, she was sound asleep.

Ron sighed, his shoulders slumping. Maybe this day is finally over?

"No such luck, my boy," the old man appeared before him again.

"What are you doing here?"

The old man chuckled, "Well I'm here to make sure you're learning something. Are you?"

"Ya," Ron sighed. "I'm learning I've been a total prat to Hermione and that she'll probably never forgive me."

"The prat part you've learned, good. But this day will soon come to an end. Do you know what you will do when it ends?"

"Beg Hermione to forgive me." Ron ran a hand through his fiery locks. "Even though she probably won't. I don't think I'll forgive me. I've been bloody awful to her. And she hasn't said a word. I turned my back on my best friend because I wanted to make her jealous and I ended up hurting her more than anything else. Merlin I'm an idiot."

"Yes, yes. But you are forgetting a very important piece. One that is crucial to your success. Perhaps you just need more time. Let's see if by the end of today you know what I'm talking about, shall we?"

"Wait? I can't bloody wait! Hermione needs me! She said she cares about me! She fancies me. She said all she wants is my happiness. Me. I say I bloody love her, but I make her miserable. And I don't even notice. I don't even notice. How do I not notice? How did this happen?"

"My boy, that is not the right question. Instead, think of what you are going to do about it."

What AM I going to do about it.

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[A/N: There you go. Let me know if you liked it, but as always, no judgments if you don't review.]