Chapter Six

Just Smile

I was writing down the final words to my Transfiguration notes when the bell rang as a sign that the final lesson for the day has finished.

Finally. Now I can continue working on our project. It's been a week since my first meeting with Blaise (yes, I call him by his first name now. But only in private. He made me swear … Pompous git.) and he has finally conceded on my choice for the ruin resembling Earth. Yay!

I gathered the scattered parchment on my table and neatly put them in my backpack.

"I will be expecting no less than a two feet essay on the advantages and disadvantages of being an animagus on Monday."

A universal groan was emitted from the class.

"I do not want to be hearing any complaints from you people. You have a weekend ahead of you; I suggest you use it wisely."

"Considering that Quidditch season is nearing, she'd lighten up a bit." I heard Ron mutter to Harry beside me. "But nooo. She has to go and give us two feet essays every other day. Barmy."

I smiled at this. At least Ron has been lightening up a bit again. Guess he got the message that the 'serious look' doesn't suit him.

"Hey 'Mione." he called out to me. "Maybe after you've finished with whatever you do in that blessed library of yours –"

"It's research for my project Ronald. And the library is the property of the school, not mine."

"Well the way you've been going to that place it's like your already living in it."

"Don't exaggerate things Ron."

"I don't." I rolled my eyes. "So. After you've finished your research, maybe you could watch us play on the pitch?"

I groaned. "I've already seen you practice Ronald."

"Yeah but maybe …" he paused a bit. "uh … you know …"

No. I don't know.

I waited for him to say more but he stayed silent. "Ron?"

He blushed and shook his head. "Nevermind."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and looked at Harry. He gave me a pointed look, sending a message that I should just accept Ron's invite, almost pleadingly.

I sighed. "Oh okay." I spoke, saying it more to Harry than Ron. "I'll watch you play."

Ron looked at me with surprise and gave me a grin.

"Great. So uh … see you at the pitch then."

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

And then there was stillness. Well that was until Harry broke in.

"Sooo …" he trailed off; I gave him a look.

"Fine weather today." he said. I mentally snorted. "I think it's high time to start practicing Ron. With the cloudless skies, moderate light from the sun, mild wind provision. Great weather conditions over all."

"Yeah. Sure." he replied, but was still rooted to the spot. I shot Harry a fleeting look.

"Well let's not delay Hermione any longer. She needs to go to the library."

"Yeah Ron." I piped in. "The sooner I finish with some research, the sooner I get to watch you guys play." I said, flashing him a smile.

At the thought at what I said, he smiled and consented on Harry's proposal.

"Bye 'Mione." they said in unison.

"Bye Harry." I sent him a grateful gaze.

"Bye Ron." He smiled at me once again. Sigh… what shall I ever do with you Ronald? Tell me!

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I was sitting in the desk located at the back most part of the library, flipping through a book, when two large hands suddenly enclosed my eyes.

A deep voice whispered, "Guess who."

I mentally rolled my eyes. He's always like this.

"Hmmm … is that you Blaise?" I said, playing along.

"No."

"Blaise?"

"Still wrong."

"Blaise?"

"Getting warmer."

"Blaise."

"Darn it! How did you ever know that?"

I laughed a bit. "Let's just say it's human instinct."

He sighed and removed his hands from my eyes. "You win."

"Thank you." I said, looking up at him. There was a slightly red mark on his neck. I gave him an incredulous look.

"You had the time to make out with your girlfriend and yet you didn't have the time to go to the library on time?"

"Err … sorry." He gave me a lopsided grin, sitting himself opposite me. "Got bombarded by Pansy as soon as I was in the common room. Couldn't escape."

This time, I really rolled my eyes. "Whatever you say. C'mon, we need to find a potion that has a little bit of earth in it." I gave him one of the books that I've taken out from their respective shelves earlier and then took another one for myself. We sat there in silence for about fifteen minutes, just flipping through pages and pausing from time to time. I was about to close my third book when a certain page caught my eye.

"Oh here! The Elements Potion."

Blaise closed his book and slightly furrowed his eyebrows, leaning in closer to see the page that I was looking at. "What's that?"

"It's a potion consisting of the four elements in their most natural state and that if perfectly brewed, can repair a creation of nature back to its beautiful form with just a single drop."

He raised his eyebrows and leaned back. "Whoa. That's quite an ambitious potion."

I smiled and looked at him. "I know. But just think Blaise. If we do this potion perfectly, I could turn that murky river near our village into its purest form once again. And then maybe the animals that drink from it wouldn't get sick and die anymore."

He gave me a peculiar look. "You're a nature lover?"

"Yes. Aren't you?"

"No. Why do you love nature?"

"Because we live in it. And I think we should respect it."

"Why? Don't we give it enough respect?"

"No, we don't. We're abusing it."

"In what way."

"Pollution."

"Which kind?"

"Every kind."

Complete silence. Geez. What is this? An interrogation for all those who care about the world we live in?

Then ever so slowly, he smiled at me. "My little piranha is a very opinionated environmentalist."

"Passionate is a more appropriate term. And stop calling me that stupid little nickname."

"Calling you what? Little piranha?"

"Yes, that."

"Why? Don't you like it? It's quite an accurate pet name."

I shot him a glare. He gave me a grin.

"I hate you."

"Oh don't say things like that Hermione. You're breaking this poor bloke's heart."

"Oh haha." I replied sarcastically.

I just continued scorching him with my glare; he just continued smiling that stupid smile of his. Ugh. He's just like the annoying older brother I never had.

Thank Merlin I'm an only child.

I was about to give Blaise the lecture of a lifetime when I heard a cough behind me. I thought it was Madam Pince, the librarian, telling us to keep quiet for the umpteenth time this week (my record has been severely damaged because of Blaise. He's a bad influence), but before I could turn around to confirm my suspicion, Blaise had already negated it.

"Why Hannah! What a pleasure of you to join us."

'Hannah? Hannah Abbot?' I asked myself as I turn to look. And there she was, standing and wringing her hands, her hair tied in a loose ponytail.

"Oh hi Hannah." I said to her, giving her a smile. She's such a sweet person. Last year, she helped me and the other prefects decorate the Great Hall for Christmas even though she didn't need to. Sigh … If only she could overcome her shyness.

"Hi Hermione." she said, returning a smile. She looked at Blaise. "Hi."

He immediately turned to 'charismatic mode' and sent her a dazzling smile. She blushed. Rather hardly.

She was stuttering now. "Um … c-can I borrow the … the book on Ancient Potions for a while?" She gulped a bit. "You … you've got the only copy you see … and … and I …well …"

"Ancient Potions?" asked Blaise. She nodded, averting his eyes. "Wait. I was reading that just a moment ago." said he, looking underneath a couple of books in front of him. "Aha!" A moment later, he held up a slightly tattered book up in the air with triumph. "There's the nasty little bugger. Here." He handed the book to Hannah who bashfully accepted it and murmured "thanks". And with one last smile from me, she went off to a table where a certain boy with platinum blonde hair was seated, gazing through a window beside where he sat.

Malfoy.

But before I could process any further thoughts pertaining to my flaxen seatmate, Blaise's voice brought me back to reality.

"What a charming girl."

I sent him another glare.

"What?" he asked, putting on an innocent face.

"You prat!" I said, getting up slightly off my seat to hit him hard on the shoulder.

"Ow! What did you do that for?" he said, cradling the spot where I hit him.

"Because you're a bloody moron, that's why."

"What did I do now?"

"You all out embarrassed the poor little thing!"

"Me? Embarrass her? And why would I ever do that?"

"Because you can. And you did!"

"Did not."

"Did to."

"Did not."

"Did to."

"Did not."

I opened my mouth to retort when … "Eh-hem."

Uh-oh. I turned around for the second time. It really is Madam Pince this time. "May I remind the two of you, for the twenty-seventh time this week –" Oh. She keeps a record. "that this is a place of –"

"learning and solitude." Blaise finished off. "Yes, we know Madam Pince. Granger and I were just having an educational exchange –" I snorted at this. Good thing I covered it as a really bad cough. "You okay there Granger?" asked Blaise warningly.

"Huh? O-oh yeah, perfectly fine." I sent him a smile. "Please continue."

"As I was saying Madam Pince, we were just having an educational exchange and the discussion got a bit heated and we didn't notice the audibility of our voices." He gave me a fleeting look. I quickly nodded, seconding the sham Blaise has just said and gave the librarian the most innocent face that I could muster at the moment. "So terribly sorry." She carefully looked at both of us with her hawk-like eyes, huffed, and stalked away. Far, far away.

I let out a long breath. "Close call." He laughed. I returned to glaring at him.

"What?"

"You're so annoying."

He smiled widely, got up from his chair and before I even knew it, he was pinching my cheeks numb. "And you're so cute when you get all annoyed. My little piranha." He laughed once again.

"Aargh!" I got up from my chair too and started fending off Blaise's pinching fingers. He laughed a little more. I paused for a while. And without noticing it, I started laughing too, hitting Blaise lightheartedly.

And there we were, laughing like idiots, me hitting him, and him trying to get away from me … all the worries that Madam Pince might reprimand us again flying through the window.

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It was approaching sunset as I walked quietly towards the pitch. Nearing my destination, I saw blurry figures in scarlet robes, zooming from every which corner. But there was one outline that stayed still, positioned in the middle of three very high hoops, his fiery hair still visible even with the looming of darkness. And it's this particular redhead who has been giving me the headache of a lifetime.

Sigh …

Ronald Weasley. A pain in the neck when he wants to be. The laziest person I have ever met. And my best friend. But now, it seems he wants to change one of those three things. And I just don't know if I can give him what he wants.

But I guess going out with him wouldn't be that bad. I mean, wouldn't it be so romantic to end up with your childhood sweetheart? Or to tell your children that you've been best friends since the beginning of time then you started feeling something deeper and then things went off from there?

And Ron has been maturing quite a lot over these past few months. He's doing his homework regularly, studies a little more now, and even recites in class. Overall, I have to admit, he's improved a lot.

I just don't know what's wrong with me. I'm suppose to like him back. I'm suppose to feel all giddy inside whenever I think of him. I'm suppose to be like all teenage girls when they discover "puppy love". But that's not what I'm getting right now. All I feel is plain awkwardness. That kind that never seems to go away even if you keep saying to yourself that it will naturally come off, that it eventually will go away. But you know it won't.

I sighed once more as I reached the bleachers. I sat, dropped my bag next to me and brought out a book to read.

I was in total peace for about half an hour or so, reading my textbook when a figure stooped down exactly right in front of me. I looked up and surprise, surprise. It was Ron.

"Hi 'Mione." He likes calling me that now.

"Hi Ron." I saw Harry and the others going towards the showers. "Practice is finally over, I see."

"Yup." he replied, getting off his broom and sitting next to me. "Got a good feeling that Gryffindor's gonna win the Cup this year. Harry has got us practicing like mad."

I smiled a little, looking at the last rays of the sun as it makes its glorious descent. Of course Harry is making them work extra hard. It is his last year in Hogwarts after all. Our last year in fact.

I didn't need to look at Ron. I knew he was looking at me. I could almost feel the weight of his gaze. "Aren't you going to change now? To be frank, you're drenched in sweat and that isn't a nice thing to smell."

He laughed his deep laugh, patting me on the back. "Yeah. Sorry 'bout that." He stood up and slung his broom on one shoulder. Before going to the showers, he turned and looked at me. "Wait for me, won't you?"

I looked up at him with mild surprise. We've never walked from Quidditch practice together.

"Um, sure."

He smiled. "Thanks."

Fifteen minutes later, a wet-haired Ron was walking beside me towards the castle. He smelled like stale soap.

"So, how's your project with Zabini going?"

"Fine. We're gonna start brewing the potion next week."

"Next week?" he inquired, looking at me with interest.

"Yeah. Some of the ingredients are quite hard to get. We're going to ask permission from Professor Snape if he could lend us some of them."

"Oh."

We walked in silence for a couple of minutes. I was contemplating on how our conversations have become so short and so constrained. It wasn't at all like this back then. Sigh … We were about to reach the front doors of the castle when Ron abruptly stopped. I looked at him with confusion. "Ron?"

But he wasn't responding. He was looking at the ground with a firm look on his face. "Ron? Did you forget something back in the–"

"Will you go out with me?"

Whoa. What?

When I didn't speak, he looked up at me and asked again, "Hermione, will you go out with me?"

And as the stars started to pierce the black sky, I just stood there, gaping like a fish out of water.

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"Good afternoon." said Malfoy as he took his seat right next to me. It was our second period in the afternoon: Arithmancy.

"Good afternoon to you too." I replied, giving him a smile. He gave me another one of his looks. He always gives me "the look" whenever I smile at him. It's like I have a big dung beetle clinging on my forehead.

I sighed. "Why do you always do that?"

"Do what?" he asked, as he started getting his things from his bag.

"You know, giving me that 'you're a crazy person' look! Why? Am I that bad at smiling?"

"No. Well actually yes." I shot him a glare. He smirked a bit. "Just joking."

"What is it then?" I persisted, looking at him as he finished fixing his things on his desk.

He looked at me for a moment and then looked at the blackboard. One thing I've noticed about him is that whenever he gets nervous, or doesn't exactly know what to say, he looks straight ahead, staring at something other than the person he's talking to.

He has such a weird habit.

"It's just that … I'm not really used to smiles directed at me." he whispered.

I frowned at this. He had such a harsh childhood. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

"Don't be."

There was total silence between us. Then I spoke.

"Well good." I said, looking at the blackboard too with a determined look on my face. "Because you have to get used to my smiles from now on, whether you like it or not."

And as if on cue, our teacher entered the classroom and greeted us.

I glanced at my seatmate and thought I saw a little smile surface from his lips. I beamed at myself.

For the very first time, I made him smile.

It was already dinner time when I had the time to go to the library. It has become a habit for me since Ron has asked "the question".

No, I didn't turn down his request. But I didn't exactly agree to it either. All I said was for him to give me some time to think about it. And today marks the third and final day. He's gonna ask me again tomorrow. Sigh … What should I do? I can't keep him waiting forever!

I was skimming through the farthest end of the library, searching for a good book to distract me. I promised myself I won't overanalyze things that much. It gives me migraines.

After some time, I took out a random book from its shelf and just sat on the floor and started reading. I didn't realize that someone was watching me ever since I entered the library. Well, until he came out from wherever he was hiding.

"Granger."

I didn't need to look up. I knew who it was. "Seatmate."

And just like any normal day, he sat down beside me. It was natural for us to do that now. He sitting beside me and me letting him do it.

"What are you reading?"

"I have no idea." I replied, eyes staring at the open page.

He laughed a little. Then he looked at me.

"Is something wrong? You've been in the library for three consecutive nights already."

I closed the book in defeat and looked up at the ceiling. "Oh nothing."

"Oh." he said timidly.

"Just my best friend asking me to go out on a date with him."

"Oh." he said a bit rigid this time.

"And I just don't know what to do. My world has gotten topsy-turvy."

I closed my eyes and just let myself enjoy the serenity of the library. Then I heard him speak beside me.

"Why don't you just smile?"

I opened my eyes and scrunched my eyebrows in bewilderment. "Smile?"

"Yes. Smile."

"But why?"

He didn't answer my question right away. Instead, he stood up and dusted himself. He then offered his hand to me; I accepted it. And there we were, standing between high shelves of dusty books with us looking at each other and him still holding my hand. For an unknown reason, I seem to wish that he wouldn't let go of it.

"I've learned that smiles can do wonders." And with that statement, he released my hand from his touch. He nodded a bit as his sign of biding goodbye, and turned around towards the library doors.

Somehow, within those few seconds of contact, I smiled.

I have made my decision.

a/n: My mind is in chaos right now. So please, bear with the randomness of it all. So waddya think? Will Hermione accept Ron's "proposal" or not? I just quite don't know yet. Haha. Please review! Review, review, review, review, review!