Hermione walked into the library the next day after dinner to get a few books for some light reading over the weekend. Light meaning the book weighed less than ten pounds.
"Hey, Hermione."
Hermione swung around to find Peter behind her. "Hi Peter. What are you doing here?"
"Just hanging around. I like the library after dinner. No one's in here, they're all in their common rooms...not to say that I don't want you here. That's not what I mean at all," he finished, rather flustered.
Hermione smiled. She suddenly forgot that she wanted to pick out some books and began talking to Peter. Why did I never notice him before? He's such a nice person...not to mention cute... It turned out that Peter was Muggle-born as well. They got to talk about Muggle things like the Internet and wizard/Muggle relations.
"In a way, the Wizard World is so antiquated. They've used the same methods for hundred of years. I mean, granted Muggles can't use magic, but if wizards actually got out into the world and learned what the Muggles know, maybe it would benefit the Wizard World. But instead, they're arrogant, thinking the Muggles are stupid," Peter confided in her.
Hermione agreed with him somewhat. A lot of wizards held great disdain for the Muggles, especially the Malfoys and their bunch of slime. Yet, some wizards and witches respected them a lot and admired their ingenuities. "Well, I see your point, but not all wizards and witches are like that. Ron's dad is a great admirer of the Muggle world."
"Granted, but look where his admiration got him. Nowhere, really. He is criticized for it rather than praised," Peter replied emphatically.
They continued talking until they were kicked out of the library. He walked her to the Gryffindor tower and they said their goodbyes.
"I'll see you around. Thanks for putting up with my complaining. A lot of my friends are full-blooded wizards and they can't relate to what I say. It nice to have someone to talk to who understands," Peter said.
"I really had fun today and I didn't mind your complaining one bit. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night." Hermione stood on her toes and pecked him lightly on the cheek. Hermione! What are you thinking? He's a seventh year you just got to know today! That was stupid. He probably thinks you're a silly little girl now!
But instead, he gave her a wide smile, "Good night, Hermione. Sweet dreams."
She was so relieved he didn't laugh at her face at that moment that she quickly said goodbye and left.
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"Where have you been?" Harry asked Hermione while playing wizard chess with Ron.
"Talking to Peter," Hermione replied shortly. She blushed when thinking about how they ended their chat.
Ron's cheek color deepened and he grunted. Hermione ignored his remark and quickly went upstairs. Hopefully Ron didn't see me blush. Well, actually, maybe if he did see, he would wake up and notice that I've changed...
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Ron did notice her blush and it sickened him to the core. She's always prancing around with these older guys. Vicky and now Peter... It made him feel so insignificant, like he was the afterthought in her life. He realized early in fifth year that he picked fights with her to get her to pay attention to him. Albeit negative attention, at least it was attention. He didn't know it hurt her until last night, and he swore to himself that wouldn't purposely pick fights with her ever again.
"Checkmate," Ron said as his queen smashed Harry's king to bits.
"Good game, Ron. I almost had you there with my rook though," Harry replied smiling at his almost victory.
"Yeah..." Ron said quietly and got up to go to bed.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just tired, very tired," he replied.
Harry knew that physical fatigue wasn't the only thing bothering Ron, but decided not to press it further.
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Hermione spent a lot of time in the library, even more so than she usually did. Ron could only guess that it was to spend time with Peter, but he wouldn't say anything. It would only start another fight and he didn't want that on top of the sick feeling he got when he saw her with the seventh year.
Hermione and Peter became closer over the weeks they spent in each other's company. One day while fervently discussing Muggle pop culture, Peter kissed her. It was warm and comforting and reminded her of how Viktor kissed her before he left. It was sweet, but both kisses lacked that spark, that fire that Hermione thought should accompany a kiss. Perhaps that comes with time, she thought. There was no question that she was attracted to the Ravenclaw but she couldn't identify that small void inside of her, slowly gnawing away at her insides. We'll see what happens, she thought.
Later in the week Hermione entered the common room after her almost daily rendezvous with Peter. Ron and Harry were doing Divination homework and once again predicting their gruesome demises for each other.
"Oh, Ron, I've got a good one for you! On the fifth you will be attacked by Hagrid's freaky creatures and turn into a big puss ball!" Harry said with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Ron laughed heartily. "That is a good one!"
"Hi guys," Hermione said, walking over to the table where the boys were working.
"Err, hi Hermione. How's, how's it going?" Harry asked tentatively. Ron's gaze fell to his Divination assignment. He was still hurt that she was spending so much time with Peter and barely anytime with Harry or himself, mostly himself though.
"Very well, thanks. What's wrong?" directing her question to Ron with her eyes.
Ron felt her stare at him but wasn't sure if he should tell her what was on her mind. He had told Harry earlier and Harry had immediately talked about different ways they could die in their Divination homework to get Ron's mind off the news. "Lavender has been spreading a rumor that you and Peter are a couple now. She got the info from a Ravenclaw girl who saw you two...kissing."
Hermione didn't catch Ron's falter on the last word. She was so upset that Lavender would do such a thing. She didn't even know if she wanted to be a couple with Peter and now the school thought they were a couple. "Blast that girl!" Hermione whispered to herself.
"So it's true, then?" Harry asked, looking as Ron sympathetically. Ron resumed his attention on the papers in front of him.
"Huh? Oh, well, the kissing, yes. But the coupling, I don't know. I hadn't really thought about that until Ron just now brought it up," Hermione replied. She was very annoyed and disappointed in Lavender and whoever that other girl was.
"You mean you were kissing a guy that you didn't consider your boyfriend?" Ron asked quietly yet assertively, his eyes never leaving the papers.
"Well, kissing doesn't equal commitment, Ron. I'm sixteen years old this next week and I'm trying to have a normal teenage life, away from all the evil in the world."
"You can't hide from it, Hermione. The evil, that is. It's still gonna be there even if you choose to ignore it by kissing some guy," Ron replied. He tried to keep his voice as steady as possible even those it felt like his heart was being wrung out.
Hermione realized that she and Ron were having an argument, but they weren't yelling their heads off at each other. Progress, she thought. "I'm not ignoring it, Ron how can I? It's just that I don't think our lives should be controlled by it. We have to be careful, of course, but still live each day to the fullest. As for the whole coupling thing, Peter and I never discussed it and I don' even know if I want to make it official because I didn't...."
"Didn't what, Hermione?" Ron asked thoughtfully.
"Huh? Oh, nothing, nothing really.," she replied. She didn't mean to say the last part of her rant out loud. She stopped herself just as he was about to tell Ron about the lack of spark in the kiss Peter and she shared. That's none of his business, Hermione. You know better.
Meanwhile, Harry realized the civil disagreement between his two best friends and was quite happy with the fact that he didn't have to pick sides.
There was a lull in the conservation. Then Ron said, "Okay," in a defeated tone. "Good night Harry, night Hermione." He gathered up his homework and went up the stairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While in bed, Hermione couldn't understand why Ron acted so strangely to Lavender's gossip. He doesn't like me, he never did. Hermione had had feelings for Ron since first year when Ron sacrificed himself in the chess game so they could advance to the next obstacle and stop Voldermort. He was so brave then, I was so proud to be his friend. She had convinced herself time and time again whenever she was in doubt that Ron only liked her as a friend so she wouldn't be hurt when he didn't return her feelings. That was demonstrated when he drooled all over Fleur in fourth year, and still she was wildly jealous of the beautiful seventh year. His behavior in the common room earlier baffled her. He sounded as if he was giving up on something, though she could not figure out what. With the confusion, she fell asleep.
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Lying in his bed, Ron gave up. He tried the annoying approach, he tried the nice approach and both got him nowhere with Hermione. She jut didn't want him. Not that I blame her, he thought to himself. You're not the brightest or the bravest or the whatever like bloody Peter and Viktor are. You're just the sidekick to the Boy Who Lived and nothing more. Nothing more.