A/N: Another short Half-Blood Prince moment, set at the end of Hermione's Helping Hand.

I apologise straight away and suggest you find someone or something to hug before reading!

Hermione has just been to her first Slug Club party and Ron's not happy.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Nothing More, Nothing Less

Hermione should have been back by now. It was half past eleven and Ginny had already been back an hour. There couldn't possibly be any reason for Hermione to stay longer than his sister. So where the fuck was she?

Ron checked his watch again and snorted. She was probably in the library doing homework. That was what his Hermione did. She would not go to a stupid party and stay there all night. The Hermione Granger he knew would not be the last to leave, she would be the first. So where the fuck was she?

It wasn't that he cared about her going to a crappy party, because he didn't. It was the fact that she should be here by now. It wasn't safe roaming the halls at this time of night. It was also past curfew and she was a Prefect. It was bad for her reputation to be out partying all bloody night. So where the fuck was she?

Ron had been sitting in a comfy chair, facing the portrait hole, since she had left with Ginny. He had seen them leave and noted that she was wearing a stupid flowery dress. He had known something would happen as soon as she appeared in the thing. Hermione hardly ever wore dresses and he was glad of it. All he had been able to see were her creamy legs and that just wasn't right. She was supposed to wear clothes that covered her up, not clothes that showed the world how lush she was. Anything could have happened to her in that dress.

Panic was beginning to spread through his body, and he was just about to get up and go and find her, when the portrait hole opened. The dick McLaggen came traipsing through with Hermione in tow. She looked just as lovely as when she had left. Anger began to seep into him. How dare she make him panic and worry, while she was off having fun with that twat?

Hermione quickly caught Ron's eye and said something abruptly to McLaggen, before leaving him to join Ron. McLaggen stood for a minute, puzzled by the way he had been dismissed so quickly, and then went up the stairs to his dormitory. Ron felt himself smirk; the stupid git probably thought he had a chance with her.

'Hi,' Hermione said breathlessly, sitting in the chair next to him.

Ron felt the smirk leave his face as he looked at her. What the fuck did she think she was playing at, coming back late with a twat?

'Are you still in a grump with me?' Hermione continued, looking impossibly innocent in her pretty, little dress.

'Why are you back so late?' Ron said, ignoring her question and trying to keep his cool.

'I'm not,' she replied, giving him an odd look, 'people are still there but I'd had enough.'

'Ginny came back an hour ago, why didn't you?' Ron demanded, feeling himself begin to snap. She was going to pretend she hadn't been partying with McLaggen, but he wasn't stupid.

'I was talking to Slughorn about the types of potions we would be making this year. He really is very good, did you know he once – '

'– I don't give a flying fuck what Slughorn's done.' Ron fumed, pleased to see a look of shock on her face. 'Why did you come back with McLaggen?'

'I didn't come back with McLaggen at all,' Hermione snapped, her own temper flaring up. 'I caught him snogging some Ravenclaw and told him I would be reporting it to Professor McGonagall. He was trying to talk his way out of it and followed me all the way back up here.'

Ron snorted. Did she really think he was a push-over? A sickening thought passed through his mind; what if it was Hermione that McLaggen had been snogging? Images of her naked chest came to his mind's eye. Surely she wouldn't do that with other boys?

'He's so full of himself,' Hermione continued, unaware of the disturbing thoughts entering Ron's mind.

'I don't believe you,' Ron muttered, feeling like he was going to be sick.

'I'm sorry?' Hermione said, confused, 'What don't you believe?'

'He was snogging you!' Ron exclaimed, wanting to find McLaggen and strangle him with his bare hands.

Hermione sat perfectly still, watching Ron for a minute before she laughed. Ron felt himself redden with anger and stood up to move away from her. He had to get away.

'Ron, don't be ridiculous!' Hermione said, jumping to her feet and following him towards the portrait hole. 'I don't even like him.' She grabbed Ron's arm and made him stop.

Ron spun around and looked down at her. She really did look perfect in that stupid dress. McLaggen probably couldn't get enough of her, and who could blame him?

'Why would you come back together if you hadn't been doing things together?' Ron said, folding his arms over his chest.

'I've already told you, I caught him snogging some Ravenclaw and I said I'd report him,' Hermione said softly. 'He was peeved off and followed me. Nothing happened except a few choice words and, believe me, they weren't friendly in any way.'

'You didn't snog him?' Ron asked cautiously, wanting desperately to believe she hadn't.

'I didn't,' Hermione said earnestly, staring straight into his eyes. 'I would never do that. I think he's vile!'

'He's a prick,' Ron continued, feeling himself relax slightly.

'Yes he is,' Hermione agreed. 'I can't believe you would even think I would do something like that with him.'

Ron had the grace to feel ashamed. He let his hands fall to his sides and exhaled. Of course she wouldn't do something like that; she was too pure and perfect and good for a bloke like McLaggen.

'I'm sorry,' he muttered, looking at his feet. 'I panicked when you didn't come back with Gin, and then I saw you with him and thought – '

' – I had been out snogging random boys,' Hermione said, folding her own arms and staring at him with a stern expression. 'Really Ron, do you not know me at all?'

'I'm sorry,' Ron repeated, feeling shame reach his heart. 'I know you wouldn't, I just wasn't thinking.'

Hermione nodded, 'Well next time think before you start sounding off. You know I'm not interested in that.'

She walked back to her vacated seat and sat down heavily. Ron followed, feeling confused. How could Hermione not be interested in that? After what had happened during the summer, surely she was very interested? He certainly was, so why wasn't she? Uncertainty filled him and he felt dizzy trying to work out what she had meant. Where did it leave them, if there was a them, if she wasn't interested?

They hadn't spoken about anything that had been done or said over the summer. Did that mean Hermione was no longer interested in the possibility of something else? He stared at her as she jabbered on about Slughorn's party and felt a weight settle in his stomach. Maybe she was trying to spare his feelings and had decided to pretend nothing had happened. Ron could see her doing something like that; she was too kind to say anything to him. She probably thought what they had done was a mistake. He had thought it once or twice. But then, he would relive every second of it in his mind and realise that he wouldn't change a thing. They had comforted and healed each other; Ron would never regret that.

Perhaps Hermione did regret it though.

He smiled sadly at her as she paused to take a breath.

'I really hope he doesn't plan more. I didn't like going without you or Harry.'

'I'm sure he'll do more,' Ron whispered, feeling a block in his throat.

'Yes I think he will,' Hermione said, looking glum. 'It wouldn't be so bad if Ginny and I had decent company, but it's full of idiots.'

And he would have to watch her with those idiots for the rest of his life. If she really had changed her mind about him, Ron would have to watch her with twats like McLaggen and not do anything about it. The thought made him feel ill. How could he stand aside and let her go?

But that was exactly what Ron would have to do if he was to stay Hermione's friend. As much as it sickened him, he knew that was what he would have to do. Sadness consumed him and he glanced down at her, drinking in her features as if he would never be allowed to look at her like this again, which he probably wouldn't.

'Are you okay, Ron?' she whispered, watching him and looking concerned.

'I will be,' he muttered truthfully, trying to smile at her. 'I think I just need to go to bed.'

Hermione nodded but continued to look worried. 'You do believe me, about McLaggen?'

'Yeah, I do.' Ron said. But it wouldn't be long before she was snogging some bloke and he knew it wouldn't be him. He resisted the urge to cry, shout or hit something, and instead smiled.

'Good,' Hermione whispered, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her gorgeous body. Memories swirled around his brain and he swallowed, wishing he could have her as more than a friend.

'Night,' she said, caressing his cheek with her breath.

'Night,' Ron whispered back, feeling pain stab his chest.

As Ron watched Hermione leave he noticed Lavender Brown sitting in the corner. She had clearly been watching, and when she realised he was staring, she gave him a bright smile and a small wave. Ron smiled back weakly and got up.

As he made his way up to bed, Ron felt a resolve settle inside him. He knew he would have to find a way to ignore his feelings for Hermione. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing her with another bloke. He would find a way to cope without her. He could still be her friend, but he would have to divert his feelings elsewhere. Perhaps he would play more Quidditch, or study more. He snorted, thinking of himself sitting in the library, working hard.

Ron slowly undressed and crawled into bed. Tomorrow would be a new day. He would find a way to bury his pain and be a friend to Hermione.

He would be nothing more, nothing less.