As Hermione walked down to breakfast Christmas morning, she felt like there were thousands of butterflies flying around in her stomach. She knew that Lavender and Parvati had gotten up early. Probably to tell the whole school what had happened (Or what they imagined happened) last night.

She had done rather well, she thought, as far as presents went. Mrs. Weasley had sent a pretty blue sweater, her parents had sent her some sugar-free candy, Harry had gotten her a watch, and Ron had gotten her a pretty ring. Well, at least she thought it was Ron. There was no name attached. She supposed that was something he'd send. She really didn't know.

As she entered the Great Hall, a sudden hush came over the crowd gathered inside. Hermione had felt her stomach drop to her toes. She knew it. They had told the entire school. She had laughed weakly, turned a brilliant shade of red, and hurried to her usual table, where she immediately engrossed herself in the first book she pulled out of her bag. Unfortunately for her, the first book she pulled out was Recent Defeats of the Dark Arts. The first chapter was entirely about Harry. She groaned when people started laughing about her choice of books. She had seriously considered turning around and running back up to her dorm. But Hermione was made of stronger stuff than that. She turned to Ginny and started a conversation.

"Hey, Ginny. What's new?"

"Um. Nothing. You don't really like Harry, do yah, Herm? Do you?" Ginny replied, sounding a bit nervous, like she didn't really want to hear the answer.

"NO! I don't like him! He's just my friend!!" Hermione fairly exploded.

"Ok, ok! I believe you. The rest of the school might not…but I do." Ginny said, sounding very relieved.

"Can we please, please not talk about this?"

"Oh, all right. Oh, look! Harry and my brother. Over here, guys!"

"Ginny! They are the last people—Oh, hi Harry, Ron. Thanks for the presents."

"What presents?" Ron mumbled through some eggs. "I uh… couldn't find one…"

"Ha! Very funny, Ron. I love the ring! I have it on, see. And the watch you gave me, Harry. Did you two buy them together?"

"No, really- I didn't…"

"Hello, Mudblood, Potter. I've just heard a rather interesting story. All those years together- we should have guessed. That scar… who could resist?" Said a cool and sarcastic voice from behind Hermione.

"At least he's not you, Malfoy!" and with that Hermione had snapped. She ran to her dorm, closed the curtains around her bed and sobbed. She had missed a whole day of classes. Ginny, Harry and Ron had told everyone that she was sick, but she doubted anyone had believed it.

But that was a month ago, and with the endless protests of both Harry and Hermione, the rumor had died down, although not totally.

Hermione shook her head slightly, as if to clear the memories from her mind, and the common room came back into focus. Harry and Ron were staring at her as though she were mental.

"Hermione… are you ok?" Ron called across the tables.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think." She said, and returned to her Arithmancy book.

He was sad. So incredibly sad. He longed to tell her that he gave her that ring, not Ron. She would probably laugh. How could he possibly be in love with her? She knew nothing about him, and likewise, he knew nothing about her other than that she was the top of her class, and the love of his life. He wanted to tell her more than anything. But he was deathly afraid of rejection.

He saw her look dazed in the common room, as if she were thinking, and he wondered if somewhere, in the deep recesses of her mind, she thought about him. Most likely not.