Dating Regulus is a risk that Hermione isn't sure she wants to take. Her best – only – friend seems perfect for her, but she knows that that doesn't guarantee long term compatibility. It's like Schrodinger's Cat; relationships either crash or soar, and she won't know which way this one will go until they open the box and let everything play out. So long as they don't act on their feelings, the idea of them as a couple is both beautiful and melancholic, everlasting and non-existent. The line is a difficult one to walk, prolonging both the pain and the hope. She isn't used to taking the safe route, but the part of her that is terrified of losing her friend – and she's not yet sure how large that part is – would rather hold onto the bittersweet idea that he might be 'the one' if only she took a chance than risk it all on a pipe dream.
A/N: Prompt: box
