"Well, Hermione? What did she say when you asked her yesterday?"

Ron had pulled me aside before breakfast, to ask me what Lavender had said yesterday. Great. What was I going to tell him?

"Well, Ron..." I started. How could I hurt his feelings like that?

"What? Come on, Hermione..." he said, giving me a pleading look.

"I...Well...She doesn't like you, Ron. Not in that sort of way," I said truthfully. There. It was out now. "I'm sorry, Ron."

"I knew it. It's okay, Hermione...I should have expected it." His face fell.

"Oh, Ron...don't be sad. I told you I'll teach you how to chase her," I said, wanting to kick myself the moment the words came out of my mouth.

"That is so cool of you, Hermione! Thanks! Hey, let's go for breakfast, I'm starving," he said, grinning.

I could feel my heart breaking. Into tiny little pieces.

'What are you thinking, Hermione Granger? You're his best friend, and you're helping him get the girl he likes...that's what you should do, isn't it?'

No, it isn't. You like him. You're in love with him.

'I am not in love with Ronald Weasley. I want to help him.'

Stop denying it, Hermione Granger.

'I'm not denying it.'

See? You ARE denying it. Wake up, Hermione.

Okay, great. Now I'm struggling with inner voices. This is so stupid.

As I sat beside Ron, eating my breakfast, I couldn't help but feel depressed. To him, I'm only his best friend, the sister that he never had. We're just friends...nothing more. What more can I expect? And Harry...well, I guess I should tell him that Lavender Brown likes him. Then we can both decide what to do.

**

It was in the late afternoon when I finally got the chance to speak to Harry alone. Ron was off playing in the snow with the twins. Harry had the flu, so he had decided to stay in the Common Room.

"Harry, I need to speak to you," I said, pulling him out of the Common Room. There were too many people inside.

"Whad? Hermione, can'd dis waid? I'm havind de flu," he said, speaking with a blocked nose.

"Please, Harry?"

"Okay okay..." He stepped out of the Common Room with me. "Whad do you wand do say?"

"You know...Lavender Brown? Ron's erm, crush?" I said.

"Yeah. Whad aboud her?" He sneezed.

"Harry, she doesn't like Ron," I replied.

"Oh. I know dat. You dold me, remember?" he said.

"Yes, Harry. But...what I didn't tell you was that she likes YOU."

"WHAD? You musd be joking, Hermione." Harry looked bewildered.

"I'm not joking, Mr Potter. And I won't be surprise if every girl in school likes you because you're so famous," I responded.

"Including you?" he said, giving me a mock hopeful look.

"HARRY...This is no time for jokes." I looked sternly at him.

"Well, you starded id," he said.

"That was not a joke. Come on, Harry. What should we do? Should we tell Ron?"

"Whad do you dink, Hermione?" he said.

"I don't want your friendship to be affected by this...girl," I said.

"Me doo. Bud den I dink Ron would undersdand." Harry blew his nose onto his handkerchief.

"Well, I don't know, Harry...You remember the Triwizard Tournament two years back? When you got chosen? Do you remember his reaction?"

"Erm. I dink we bedder nod dell 'im," said Harry, making a decision.

"Okay. Then what should we do about it?" I asked.

"Nudding. We don'd do anyding. Jusd leave id like dis. He doesn'd have do know anyding dat would hurd 'is feelings." Harry sneezed again.

"All right, then," I said, grateful that Harry had helped me make the tough choice.

Thank God I have TWO best friends.