Author's Note: I was inspired by the song "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 because while I was writing this chapter, it was playing in the background. Please review!

I'm also thinking of writing another HGSS fan fic because they are perfect for each other. It will be really dramatic...

Chapter 4

She Will Be Loved

Snape watched Hermione flee from the idiots she called "friends". He wondered what was going on with her. He immediately stood from the staff table and followed Hermione secretly. He finally located her in the Charms corridor and he hid in a corner. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair looked bushier than ever.

She leaned on the wall and sighed. How am I going to face them? Harry especially Ron will be furious with me! She thought in despair. After a minute of standing alone in the corridor, she saw Harry and Ron running towards her. Snape sighed with relief because they did not see him.

"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Harry, his eyes full of concern.

"No, I'm not! I just lied to you about that stupid letter, I'm being inattentive, and I- I just don't know what to do! I keep thinking who would ever send me that letter and I feel stupid thinking about it! And now you're both mad at me!" said Hermione who was now crying.

"No, we're not," assured Harry although Ron was not looking at her. Apparently, she noticed.

"Go on Ron! Tell me off! Tell me I'm stupid!" shrieked Hermione.

Ron held her hands. "Listen to me! I'm sorry for what I've said, okay?" Ron said pleadingly. "I admit. I was a little angry with you for receiving a love letter. I never thought that someone would like you that much or - ,"

"So, you think nobody else can love me?" interjected Hermione. She withdrew her hands from Ron and glared at him.

"No, it's not like that!" Ron said hastily.

Hermione's eyes were now red from crying. "You're right! No one would ever love a know-it-all and a Muggle-born!" She said painfully. She ran away from the both of them.

"Hermione wait!" Ron called out. He attempted to catch her but Harry held him back. "Just leave her alone for a moment. I'll talk to her later," said Harry.

"Why did I just say that?" asked Ron mortified. "She'll hate me forever. How can I make it up to her?" moaned Ron. He bumped his head on the wall. Harry pulled him quickly before he does some serious damage to himself.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to her. Just don't hurt yourself," said Harry. "Let's go to Charms or we'll be late."

Snape seemed rooted at the corner. It was his entire fault! If it wasn't for me writing that letter, she would not have said or thought all those things. I have to stop this. I swear the next letter that I will send her would be the last! He was heartbroken at his thoughts but he was doing it for Hermione.

Hermione was a little late for Charms. Her eyes were not as red as before but they were still puffy. She sat next to Harry and ignored Ron for the rest of the period. Harry did not have the time to talk to Hermione about the incident because it was a busy day. Ron and Hermione were still not talking to each other so Harry was forced to sit between them.

During Potions, Hermione tried to be really focused on what she was doing. Now that she thought of it, maybe those letters were a joke. Maybe it was a prank done by Malfoy who would never pass a chance to hate her for being a Muggle-born. When she received those letters, she was happy to know that someone really liked her although she knew that Harry and Ron loved her but that was just a friendly love. No one would ever love her in that way, she thought miserably. She was afraid that she was going to cry again so she blinked her eyes to keep the tears from appearing.

"The finished potion should now be purple. Put it in a vial and submit it to me. After that, you can all go out," announced Snape in his cold voice.

Even though she was half-focused, she still made the potion correct. She submitted it to Snape with her head bent and left the room without waiting for Ron and Harry.

"Harry, our classes are finished. Please talk to Hermione for me," said Ron as they walked out of the dungeon.

"Sure, don't worry about it. I'll talk to her," said Harry smiling slightly.

"Thanks!" said Ron exhaling with relief.

When they went to the common room, she was not there. They even asked Parvati and Lavender if Hermione was in the girls' dormitory but they said she was not there.

"Where could she be?" asked Ron sounding worried.

"Hang on, I'll check the Marauder's Map," said Harry.

"Great idea!" said Ron.

They saw the dot labeled "Hermione Granger" in the Astronomy Tower. "I'll follow her," said Harry. Ron nodded. Harry pocketed the map and headed for the tower. When he got there, he saw Hermione standing with her back turned on him.

"Hey," greeted Harry as he got near her. Hermione looked at him but did not say anything. She was not crying but she looked really sad. Harry put his arm around her.

"Hermione, Ron did not mean what he said. He's really sorry," said Harry softly. Hermione did not say anything. She did not look at Harry and she stepped a bit from him. Then, she turned to him with her arms folded on her chest.

"I was thinking about it here. When I'm alone, I think things over better. I realized that I'm so sensitive about what Ron had said in the Charms corridor. I also realized that Ron did not really mean it," mumbled Hermione. "I guess I'm so caught up in this love letter because I didn't think that anyone would love me," added Hermione throatily. She could not hold the tears anymore so she cried in front of Harry. Harry hugged her and she sobbed on his shoulder.

"Hermione, Ron and I love you," said Harry patting her hair.

"I know but this one is different. The boy who sent me that letter told me that he really loves me. I guess that this is too good to be true," sobbed Hermione. She pulled herself from Harry and wiped her tears.

"Nonsense! Who wouldn't want to love Hermione Granger? You're intelligent, kind, brave, and not to mention beautiful," said Harry smiling.

"You really think I'm beautiful?" asked Hermione warily.

"Of course!"

"I think you're only saying that because I'm your best friend," said Hermione jokingly.

"No, I'm serious!"

"Whatever Harry! Thanks anyway," said Hermione smiling.

"You're not mad at Ron?"

"No, I'm not. Harry, I'm sorry for lying to both of you about that letter. I promise, if ever I receive another one again, I'll tell you about it," said Hermione.

"Okay. Come on let's go," said Harry.

"You go on ahead, I'll come in a minute. I just want to be alone for a moment."

"Okay then. See you," said Harry and he went down the tower and headed towards the common room.

Hermione sighed. She felt a lot much better after Harry had talked to her. Then she thought about Ron. Why was he so upset when she told him about the letter? It was clear that he was jealous. Why though? Harry did not even go ballistic about that. Could Ron be harboring feelings for her? She shook her head at the thought. She heard footsteps coming her way.

With Ron occupying her mind, she suddenly said: "Ron, I swear I'm com-," she stopped short as she whirled around and saw Professor Snape.

"The Astronomy Tower is not a place for a date, Miss Granger. Five points from Gryffindor," said Snape coldly.

"Sorry Professor, I thought you were Ron," mumbled Hermione not meeting his eyes. She felt really embarrassed.

"Another five points for that," said Snape. That caused Hermione to glare at him. "What were you doing here anyway, Miss Granger?" asked Snape.

"I just needed a quiet place to think, Sir," said Hermione. Their eyes locked for a moment and she felt as though her hatred for him would be gone but she took her eyes off him and the feeling vanished instantly.

"Isn't the library quiet enough for you?"

"Yes, but I wanted to be alone so I could think. I usually go here when I need to figure out something on my own."

Snape smirked. He could not believe that they were the same. He also goes to the tower when he wanted to think clearly.

"Professor, I have to go now," said Hermione. "I feel a lot better after thinking here." She smiled at him despite the fact that she did not like him that much anymore.

Snape just nodded and turned his back on her. Hermione went down the tower with mixed feelings and confusion. Am I falling for him again?