Author's note- All characters except John winston belong to J.K. Rowling. This is the happier conclusion to my "Courage" story. If my dialogue is stilted I apologize. Comments and suggestions are welcome, though flames are used in my Chemistry labs. Enjoy!

The next day, Hermione was walking down the hall near the library, her arms filled with books. She had left the common room early, so she wouldn't have to see everyone leaving in pairs.
"Oww!"
"Oh lord!"
"Sorry!" with a loud, crash, Hermione had walked straight into someone. It was a tall, dark-haired Ravenclaw forth year, John Winston, who she knew by sight. 'I'm so sorry," exclaimed Hermione as she bent to pick up her books, 'I wasn't looking where I was going."
"It's fine. My fault, really," he replied. 'Say, you're Hermione Granger, aren't you? We're in charms together."
'Yes,' Hermione said, "You're John. You answer almost as many questions as I do."

"Guilty," John agreed, "anyway, where were you going with all these books?" he asked as they stood up, "why aren't you going to Hogsmeade?"
"Oh, I wanted to do some research in the library. I don't feel like Hogsmeade today," replied Hermione with a faint blush.
"Here, let me help you with those books," said John, lifting the books out of Hermione's arms easily. 'That's a shame. It's such a beautiful day. Hey," he added in an excited voice, "lets' go now. There's a spot up by the shrieking shack that's really nice."
Hermione's faces clouded as she thought of the shrieking shack, and Harry, but then decided that she did want to go to Hogsmeade, and John seemed really sweet.
'Sure," she said with a smile, "that sounds lovely. Let me put my books back though. It's on the way."
"Of course,' John said as they continued, "so..., have you read the new book on charms?" he began as they walked down the corridor.

When they reached the common room, Hermione darted in, dropped her books, fixed her hair, and met up with John again.
He's great, she thought as the walked along the path. We have the same interests, the same views, and he understands me. Why haven't we talked before?
Because you've been too preoccupied with Harry said a small voice inside Hermione's head. Her criticizing thoughts were cut short by John's voice.
"Do you want to stop at Honeydukes?" he asked, "there's this great new candy called Bertie Bott's Exploding Every Flavor Jelly Beans."
"Sure," agreed Hermione, "sounds great."

After they left Honeydukes with a bag of candy John had insisted on paying for, they meandered along the path. As they approached the bench, Hermione noticed someone else already there. Two someones in fact, obviously absorbed in each other.
"Who's that?" asked John
"Let's get out of here." Said Hermione in a tight voice as she recognized Cho and Harry. "I want to go back to school."
"Ok," said John in bewilderment.
When they were out of the sight of the bench, Hermione burst into tears.
"What's wrong," asked John, "are you feeling alright? Wasn't that Cho and Harry…? Oh is that what's wrong?" He continued, "Harry kissing Cho? Let's go back. I shouldn't have made you come if you were upset about Harry."
"You didn't make me come,' protested Hermione.
"No, I did," he said as they approached the castle. "Of course I'd seen you liked Harry, but I thought you were over the jerk. I'll see you in class. Goodbye Hermione," he added, and left her at the castle gate.

For the second time in two days, Hermione walked slowly back into the castle. As she slipped through the portrait hole, her eyes started to blur.
"Hermione," Parvati called "Who was that cute bloke I saw you with?"
Sobbing, Hermione ran past her, and collapsed, crying, onto her bed, for the second time in two nights.

Over the next few days, Hermione became more and more depressed. She started answering fewer questions in class. In charms, she was almost silent. John hadn't talked to her since their disastrous "date", and that hurt her more than the sight of Harry and Cho ever had. She discovered she didn't even think about Harry and Cho anymore, just a small, disinterested interest in how they were getting along. The more she thought about John, the more she found that she now liked him more then she ever had liked Harry when she had been infatuated with him. He and Ron had been her best friends and her only guy friends, so she had naturally given Harry virtues he did not possess. She felt worse then she ever had, and found her only escape by throwing herself into her schoolwork.

Hermione was leafing through an old Charms book from the library when she found a faded scrap of paper. The purple writing on it read:
Dear Myrtle,
I can't stop thinking about you. You haunt me day and night. Meet me in the old Charms room tomorrow at midnight.
Yours forever,
Nick
It was obviously an old love letter written by one of the past students. Why didn't I think of that? Thought Hermione, I knew I needed more courage, this is quite a courageous act. You know Hermione, her thoughts went on, lecturing her, you really should write that note. If nothing happens, nothing happens. You'll live. You really should take your own advice.

That night, Hermione grabbed her stuff and went to bed early. After many tries, she finally came up with a note she felt comfortable sending. It read:
Dear John,
I'm really sorry about what happened the other day, and I feel really bad about it. I was stupid to be so absorbed in Harry, but now I've realized my mistake. Some things can't be learned in books; they have to be learned the hard way. Can you forgive me?
~Hermione
She sent it off with one of the school owls, marked "Open in Private." Hopefully it would work.

The next morning, Hermione didn't glance once at the Ravenclaw table during breakfast. She spent all of the meal absorbed in a muggle play, Much Ado About Nothing, that was written by a wizard. She was too nervous to pay complete attention in class. She even zoned out in History of Magic, and in Charms she kept her mouth shut. Hermione rushed through dinner as fast as possible, so she could leave and would not have to see anyone or talk to anybody,

As she approached the common room, she noticed someone standing by the portrait hole.
"Hermione," he called, "I got your note."
"Hi John," she replied nervously.
"Let's go for a walk."
"Sure."
"I wanted to apologize to you," began John "I acted hastily. I have a temper, and I don't like being ignored for another guy."
"It's not your fault. I know how you feel. But not anymore. I think Harry and Cho make a pretty cute couple."
"Really?" asked John as her led her to an empty classroom. "Well, um, then there's something I wanted to ask you."
"What?"
"Would you go out with me? I know we haven't been friends long, but…"
"Yes."
"You're amazingly courageous." He said as he bent to kiss her."

"Hermione," called Parvati again as she walked into the common room to grab her books. She and John were going to study together. "I saw you with that hottie again. Who is he?"
"Oh, John?" Hermione replied nonchalantly, "he's my boyfriend."
"Your what?" asked Harry in shock.
"Gotta go," said Hermione as she walked out. "John and I are doing homework together. I have to start that History of Magic essay on Galileo's courage."