While the Daily Prophet reported such troubling facts as Death Eater sighting and Muggle disappearances to name a few, it was the news that Ron Weasley had dumped Lavender Brown that occupied the minds at Hogwarts. Ginny was pleased that her brother had finally managed to get rid of the blonde but she had already ran into her in the common room , shooting Hermione filthy looks.

From her perspective , girls like Lavender couldn't be trusted .

Hermione acted as if it wasn't anything of importance or worth worrying over at all.

" I just think you should watch your back is all I'm saying, Hermione "

" Just because Lavender is a cow ," says Hermione , taking a nibble of her toast ," it is hardly my fault Ron ended their relationship. She's a tart and quite uncouth but I honestly don't see her resorting to desperate measures involving myself..its ludicrous, Gin "

" Which is exactly why she would try something " amended Ginny ," that and the fact that she has to be pissed . You are the reason my brother broke up with Lavender in the first place , Hermione .."

" I doubt very much that is true " said Hermione , stiffly

" It is true " agreed Harry as he bent down to kiss his girlfriend ," hi Ginny "

He slid down to sit beside her and began to fill his plate as he observed his best friend .

" You're both mental and crazy for each other , Hermione "

Hermione fixed him with a dubious look. " Just because you are blissfully happy with Ginny, Harry ," countered Hermione ," doesn't mean that there has been or..ever was anything more ..than friendship between myself and Ron "

" Really, Hermione ?" asked Harry as if reminding her they were best friends .

He knew what was in her heart .

" I might have ..misinterpreted my feelings is all but I am past that, Harry "

Harry made a face ," Bollocks "

" You know I agree with Harry on this, Hermione " informed Ginny, simply.

" You've all had your say in my love life and now I am moving on with it "

Parvarti tried to steer her rather put upon and furious best friend away from the table that seated Hermione but to no avail. Lavender was on a tear and nothing that she said to her seemed to be getting through , which was unfortunate .

" You just need to have a good cry and forget about Ron Weasley " Parvarti changed tactics ," he wasn't all that great of a boyfriend to you in the first place "

" We were in love until she butted her bookworm nose into our business " Lavender shot a glare at Hermione ," he wanted me until Granger did her little innocent crying thing and my Won Won is too sensitive ….she destroyed us on purpose "

" Lav, I know your heartbroken ," said Parvarti," but you knew going in that Ron had feelings for Hermione . Everyone in Gryffindor knew …except probably Hermione "

" Why are you defending her , Parv ? You're supposed to be my best friend "

" I think you are better off without Ron ," tried Parvarti ," and I am your best friend . I just think that your hurt and upset and not thinking clearly about this break up .."

" It isn't over ," stated Lavender ," he may think it is but Won Won has another thing coming to. I saw our names written in the stars ..Ron and Lavender together "

With a filthy look at both her best friend and her enemy , she flounced off .

Parvarti stopped in front of the Gryffindor table., an apologetic expression across her face.

" Hermione ," approached the Indian girl ," for what its worth, it bothers me that my best friend is hurting. She really does love Ron in her own way but I think maybe you should steer clear of Lavender until this all dies down …."

" Fine " agreed Hermione," whatever . If it will make all of you happy, then I will gladly give that daft dimbo wide berth "

" Yes " chorused her friends at the table.

" Now that this illuminating conversation is over ," says Hermione ," I am going for a walk …I will see you guys later "

" Ginny and I are going to be hanging out in the common room with Neville and Luna later ," added Harry ," you should join us "

" Lovely " says Hermione ," so I will be the third wheel ..maybe later "

Harry started to protest but Ginny silenced him with a look. " Let her be "

Hermione waved and left the Great Hall and Harry looked with confusion at his girlfriend .

" I would have thought she would have been overjoyed that Ron got rid of Lavender "

Ginny reached for his hand to hold. " She probably is secretly to herself , Harry , but knowing Hermione , I am sure she is still processing everything "

" What is there to process, Gin ? Seriously, she's been wearing her heart on her sleeve since whatever happened or didn't happen between her and Ron at the battle of the Ministry ," said a frustrated Harry ," Hermione should be dancing . I was doing the damn congo in my mind when I heard you and Dean split up…. "

Ginny pressed her lips to his, kissing him, warmly. " That never gets old "

Harry grinned like a fool. " No, it really doesn't , Ginny "

He paused to reconsider ," I just want them to stop fighting or whatever it is they are doing now and get on with it, you know "

" They are both stubborn and passionate " agreed Ginny ," but lets see if maybe we can help nudge them a bit in each others directions if my moron of a brother doesn't make a move on Hermione first …."

" I haven't even seen Ron since this morning …" commented Harry .

Meanwhile Ron was staring at the frozen lake below and wondering what was the best way to approach Hermione . He had seen her several times in the common yesterday but she had barely spoken and things still felt really tense between them.

Harry swore that she knew about him chucking Lavender so it wasn't as if she hadn't heard the news. It was all over the school and some Slytherins had even given him some fresh hell over dumping a fine girl like Lavender .

Ron didn't regret his actions but he didn't know how to proceed either .

They needed a guide or a book on how to handle witches you liked .

He felt another presence and then the soft sweet scent of roses from the perfume he had given her for Christmas assaulted his senses and Ron found that it was Hermione .

" Mione , hi " smiled Ron, blue eyes meeting the depths of her brown eyes ," I was, uh, just thinking about you "

Hermione stopped and nodded, politely. " I'm sorry about you and Lavender "

" I hope not ," stammered Ron , moving closer to her ," I mean, I was kind of hoping you would be happy I got rid of her ….I should have earlier "

" It isn't any of my business ," says Hermione, coolly, " I ..I don't have an opinion one way or the other , Ron "

Which was a bald-faced lie but she wasn't about to admit that to him.

" That isn't like the Hermione that I know ….." teased Ron," she would have told me exactly what she thought of …..things "

" I think it is best if we not get involved in each others love lives as it was, Ron "

" Your still mad at me then ?' realized Ron, trying to read her .

" No ," says Hermione , not quite meeting his adoring gaze that had her knees trembling ," and I ..I still think its pointless for us to discuss it. I would feel more comfortable if you shared this with Harry …..seeing as Lavender and I are hardly friends "

" I hurt you " brought up Ron, quietly ," when I hooked up with her instead of you . "

" You could hardly hurt me, Ronald, when there hasn't ever been anything more between us ," says Hermione , the words feeling wrong on her tongue ," I suppose I got caught up in ….the romance …the idea of it…I was fragile after the ministry and I mistook you ..you holding me for something else "

Ron grasped out , hands on her shoulders and longing for her to read what he was so openly trying to show her .

" We've never just been …friends, Mione ," whispered Ron," and I ..I didn't know what the hell I was doing that night but you were hurt. Holding you like that , holding you in my arms felt so right ….."

The air whooshed out of her lungs at his confession and his touch was like magic.

" You just broke up with your girlfriend a day ago , Ron ," Hermione managed to find her voice ," you shouldn't be saying these things to me. It isn't right …..you clearly are still reeling from the break up and I wouldn't want you to say things to me that will make our friend ship more awkward …..please, stop "

" I'm not reeling from anything ," stated Ron ," I'm being truthful to you "

" You need time , Ron, to get over Lavender " Hermione moved from his loose embrace," and whatever is making you say these things to me, umm, I meant what I said the other day. I know you sometimes don't always grasp things right off but I refuse to be the rebound girl …..please don't keep saying these things to me "

" What the bloody hell is a rebound ? Hermione, I know I have been a git and a prat but I know exactly what I am saying to you. I am not lying about how I feel for you "

" I think you just enjoyed having a girlfriend, Ron "

" I only went for her because of you and Krum ," admitted Ron, ashamed ," okay, it was fun and all for awhile but it wasn't real. It ..she could never be ..you "

Why did he have to be maddening and sweet all of the sudden ?

" Please, Ron, stop," pleaded Hermione ," I don't want to hear anymore about this "

" I need for you to believe me, Hermione ," implored Ron, brushing a loose curl from the side of her face ," its too important for you not to believe me, love "

Her lips quivered and she struggled with her own feelings for him . " Don't "

" Not telling you got me in this bloody mess in the first place " replied Ron," so I'm done with avoiding it and us. There is an us, Hermione "

" This is too soon, Ron ," declared Hermione , afraid she was going to hurtle herself into his arm and kiss him like she had dreamed of doing forever ," I need to think "

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her wrist ." You think too much, Mione "

" Someone has too ," whispered Hermione ," this is craziness"

" I wont rush you then ," Ron stepped back , being the gentleman that he was raised to be ," I reckon I owe you that much, sweetheart . I want to be with you, and I know you have feelings for me too so I guess that means I need to start showing you I fancy you "

" Fancy ..me "

" Since Third year I reckon though I didn't dare admit it to anyone ," conceded Ron ," when you held onto me for dear life when they chopped off Buck beat's head and I really liked it . Specially since you held onto me, not Harry "

Hermione couldn't even find the words ," Third year "

He was sheepish ." Plus you were really attractive when you punched Malfoy "

She felt color rise in her cheeks and couldn't prevent the tiny smile from winding around the edges of her mouth. " I feel safe when you hold me , Ron "

" Isn't this all interesting ," conceded Lavender ," a Lovers moment so soon ? You certainly don't waste anytime , Won Won, or was this little tramp seduce you into dumping me ? Is that how it was planned out ? "

" Ronald and I aren't lovers " spat out Hermione ," and this is none of your business "

" This is a private conversation ,Lavender ," Ron stepped forward ," please don't cause a scene . I never cheated on you when we were together . I just wasn't honest about my feelings so you can take that out on me but not her "

" Snogging Granger the day after you chucked me like a broken piece of glass ," said an enraged Lavender ," you will regret choosing her over me "

" I wasn't snogging her ," corrected Ron, feeling his anger flare up ," we were talking "

" Right , you would save the snogging for later " tossed out Lavender," though I don't see the attraction. You know Granger is too much of a good girl to let you touch her …..and I know what an ardent lover you are , Ron "

Hurt flashed in Hermione 's brown eyes and she turned away from them, hiding it .

She didn't want to believe that Ron had slept with Lavender as if it somehow would taint things or perhaps it was more of the hurt and her spinning emotions .

Hermione was beginning to think her bloody feelings were clouding everything these days . Usually her resolve was so much stronger .

" Stop acting like a scarlet woman, Lavender ," accused Ron," I don't find it attractive. "

" I hate you, Ron " Lavender slapped him," I hate you ! You will see how much you miss me , miss us ! Soon you will realize your mistake and come crawling back to me begging for my forgiveness …..I know this "

" I think you should just go now, Lavender " stated Ron , softly .

With tears shimmering along her lashes, his ex-girlfriend ran away from him and Hermione , much to his relief. He made a move and simply pulled Hermione in his arms, just holding her and felt her shiver as their eyes locked and held.

" How could you ..date such a vile girl, Ron ? I don't understand it at all "

" It was chemical " mouthed Ron, aware of her chest soft against his and the feel of her curls tickling his neck ," and your shaking "

" I am trying very hard not to stupefy her into the lake " murmured Hermione, honestly.

Ron chuckled ," That's my Mione "

" I need to think about this ," says Hermione , very softly ," about us, Ron . You do understand why I need to be sure ? I ..I leaped and you went for another girl…I need some time to figure this out now .."

" I can do that I suppose ," agreed Ron ," but I am still gonna court you , Hermione "

She nodded ," Let go, Ronald "

Hermione moved out of his arms, feeling bereft and a bit cold away from him.

Ron pressed a kiss on her forehead ," Believe me "

" I want to ..more than you could ever know, Ron ," muttered Hermione , softly.

Luna let out a dreamy sigh and watched as Hermione walked away from Ron .

" That was lovely " murmured Luna ," she wants to believe him, you know "

" Lun, I really don't think we should have been spying on them " said Neville ," I feel like we invaded their privacy or something . I mean, I would be a bit embarrassed if one of our friends caught us snogging or something .personal "

Luna leaned in to kiss him, tenderly. " Well, I was merely checking their auras and we needn't tell them we were watching them, Neville "

" So their auras ," inquired a curious Neville, despite his own reservations ," better now "

" Hermione's is still clouded a bit ," answered Luna ," and Ron's is surprisingly clear. He is focused on Hermione ….like you are on me, Neville "

" Cool " Neville took her hand ," come on, lets get inside . We stay out her much longer and we will both turn into icicles , Luna "

" I don't think it is cold enough to do that " muttered Luna as they headed for the common room and their friends .," though it might be a fascinating test "

" Your funny, Luna " Neville said, affectionately ," but I don't think we should "

Draco Malfoy stepped out from behind a pillar and a pleased expression crossed his face.

His task was going to be much more easier since Potter was hooking up with the Weasley girl, the Weasel was busy groveling to the Mud blood , and even Loony and Lovegood were preoccupied in their own pathetic love lives .

Things were finally going to go his way and he wouldn't have to worry as much .

He nodded at McLaggen who had missed the touching scene earlier involving Granger and Weasley and headed down to the Slytherin dungeons .

Cormac had decided a different approach would be more suitable with Granger - she was too independent thinking of a witch for her own good. He had no doubt this would be a plus in the bedroom but he would have to mold her to his liking first .

Take the time to make things work in his favor and help Lavender in the process .

He knew exactly what his first move would be and Hermione would be none the wiser .