AN/ Disclaimer: it is the same as before. (I couldn't guess…) J.K. Rowling owns all the charcter's 'cept the *wonderful* Professor Mallony and the gobblesnaps. =) Thank u all who reviewed my story and said wonderful things. Hope that u like this chapter as well as the others!



Chap. 3

"Did I just hear you correctly?" Hermione stared at Ron. He had just asked her if she was still going out w/ Krum. Ron turned an alarming shade of red before stuttering out his answer.
"Yes." He looked at her as if he really didn't want to know.
"Why would you ask that?" Hermione gave him a puzzled look.
"I was... I was..... curious!" Ron looked up innocently. Seeing that Hermione only gave him a skeptical look, he added, "well, are you???"
"No." Her answer was so quick Ron almost jumped. She turned somewhat coldly. "Are you going to pry into my private life anymore, or are you finished."
"Jeez, Hermione, I wasn't prying!" Ron seemed indignent. "Was I?" Hermione turned towards him and smiled warmly.
"Of course you weren't. I just over reacted I guess..."she trailed off. "I'm just a little touchy on that subject..." she added apoligeticly.
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have made such a big deal about it." Ron gave a sheepish smile. "It is a big deal though... I wonder if something happened between her and Krum over the summer... I probably shouldn't ask her though, she seems to be a tad bit touchy.." Ron was startled out of his train of thought.
"No, you had every right to ask." Then as if reading his thoughts, "something happened, over the summer. I guess I'm not quite over it yet." she gave him a weak smile.
"Would I be 'prying' too much if I asked what?" Ron gave her a mischievous grin.
"No." She laughed.
"Well, what happened?" Ron added since she gave no sign of continuing.
"He wrote and told me, quote on quote, 'I'm sorry, Hermoine, but the distance is too far for us to have a relationship. Also, things just arn't working out. It's not you, it's me. No, there's no one else, that's not it. Let's just be friends.' " she frowned to herself as she repeated the words to Ron.
"You do know, don't you, that what that's really saying is that he thinks that you are being difficult, he has met someone else that he likes better, and that he really doesn't ever want to talk to you again." Ron, trying to help, only recieved a glare from Hermione.
"You don't say." She glared at him. "Then why was I so depressed over it all? I really wonder..."
"Sorry." He was sorry for repeating something she already knew, but she didn't have to be so sarcastic about it. Then the friendly Hermione returned.
"No, I'm sorry. You were only trying to help." she gave him a tired smile. "We're both tired. We should go to bed." She rose and started towards the dorm, "I'm sick of aurguing and apologizing."
"Ditto on all of it." Ron yawned and rose also. "G'night 'mione"
" 'Night Ron."


LATER:

Hermione lay awake some hours later. She kept replaying her converstation with Ron.
"I was SUCH a complete idiot. Why the heck did I tell him about Krum? I thought I wasn't going to let anyone know.... Oh why was I so grouchy...I need help.....I thought I was over Krum......but why did his name make me mad......because he's a git and hearing gits names always make me mad.......hearing Ron's name doesn't make me mad.......he's a git isn't he.......at least, he always used to be........he's really cute when he's embaressed......wonder why I never noticed that before.......what am I saying........yes, I really need help if I think that Ron is cute......oh, but he is really......really, really cute that is.......what is wrong with me???????????...he's really nice too.....nice, cute, funny, caring, loving........omigod!....do i like him?????....help....this can't be happening....anyways....how can I not be over Krum but like Ron????.....what if.....what if.....what if I'm just mad at Viktor and I am over him.........that makes more sense.........yeah.......that makes a lot of sense......but how the heck......how the heck can I like Ron????????......because he likes me........where did that just come from..........why would Ron like me?????......because you're pretty and smart and beautiful......whatever....Ron doesn't like me.....and I probably don't like him.....I'm just tired...."

Not that very far away Ron lay awake, also thinking.
"So... she's not going out with Krum....I didn't ask her out though........why can't she just be over Krum already..... He's a git......at least she's admitted to that.......I could have told her that last year.......did actually.......wish she'd have believed me........well, at least she knows now.......better late than never......right?.....oh, why did she have to be such a fool over him....he made me so jealous.....not that I realized it then, but still......oh, god, shewas so preatty in dark room....the firelight glowing off her hair.....I love that hair......and when she was mad......I think I'm going overboard here......I need some help....I'll ask her out in a few days.....yeah, that'd be good.....Give it some time...I wonder......I wonder if she'll ever like me......."

They both drifted off to sleep, unknowingly dreaming of each other.

MEANWHILE:

"Proffessor McGonagall, come in." Dumbledore stoped pacing his office to welcome McGonagall into the room. "At last, you're here!"
"You wanted to talk with me, Albus.." She glanced expectently at his unreaveling face.
"Yes." He paused and resumed his pacing. "It's about Mary Mallony."
"Oh, no."
"Oh, yes."
"Then she's..."
"These are only suspicions, Minerva, we can't jump to conclusions, but certin evidence says that she is the one we've been looking for."
"But, Albus, why would she come here?"
"That's what we need to find out."
"How?" Proffesor McGonagall looked at his face searchingly.
"Well, that's what we also need to find out..."
"How many people have you told?"
"You're the first to know. It'd probably be a good thing if you didn't tell anyone else. I don't want to raise unneccesary panic amoung the faculty or the students. We may still be wrong." He said the last part somewhat reluctently.
"Wrong? Maybe." Mineva McGonagall was doubtful.
"Who really knows?" He wiped his brow and gave a deep sigh. "Maybe it'll seem clearer in the morning."


AN: okay, there it is. sorry it' s so short, I have a very bad case of writers block. I know this one is slightly stupid. Please tell me honestly what you think about it! also, PLLLLEEEAAAASSEEEE review. I love reviews! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanza and Happy whatever holidays I'm missing (I know there is one, but I can't remeber the name through my fogged up head.) oh yeah. And Happy New Year too. Hopefully we've all made it through this one (barely =P ). sry bout the rambling on. I'll stop now. don't forget to click on the review button down there!