Chapter title: Of Love and Mistaken Identities

Part 2/3

Disclaimer: I wish I owned them, I really do. But, does it look like I do? No infringement is intended, and I am not making any money out of this.

Hermione stared at the red headed boy sitting in a corner of the library with amusement. Ron. In the library. Alone.

"I must be dreaming," she told herself. Ron never came to the library unless she dragged him. And even then, dragging him to the library was no easy task. Besides, she was sure he had never looked as interested in homework as he did now.

Something was wrong, something was very, very wrong.

She made a mental list of the things that could have pushed Ron towards the library and when she didn't come up with anything she panicked. Maybe it was something about You-Know-Who, maybe someone was in danger. Maybe ….

It was only when she got close enough to actually read the title of the book Ron was holding that she realized what was going on. It read: Curses and Counter-curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying, and Much, Much More)

Poor Ginny.

Ron was actually in the library, researching for ways to make Harry's impeding demise a painful one. Not looking for a way to piece together his scattered remains after a fight, or something like that.

Now that she thought about it, Poor Harry. He would probably be the one getting blamed for it all, as if Ginny had no say in the matter.

The truth was, they were both equally guilty. Ginny for making it painfully obvious she loved Harry and Harry for asking Ginny to be his girlfriend in such an outrageous way. And in front of everyone in Gryffindor, to make it worse.

Everyone except Ron.

They had all been with Harry and Ginny when it happened. Except for Ron. He had been serving a very unjust detention. All by himself.

Harry probably planned that, she thought with a grin. As soon as Ron had gotten the detention Harry had looked relieved, almost happy.

She understood why now.

He didn't want Ron to find out that way. He didn't want Ron to find out. Period.

And now, here was Ron, researching for the best way to kill Harry. And make it painful.

Well, she would have to do something about that, wouldn't she?

A gentle tapping on the shoulder made her jump and she turned around to see Madam Pince staring at her.

"Are you looking for something dear?" she asked in a very kind voice, for Hermione was one of her favorite students. Madam Pince thought she was the smartest girl in the school, always coming to the library to search for new things, treating the books right, always being nice. What else could you ask for?

Hermione smiled at her "No, thanks Madam Pince," she said and pointed towards where Ron was sitting. "I'll go join him."

"Very well." Madam Pince replied with a shake of the head. That Weasley boy, something was going on. He never came to the library.

She watched Hermione run towards her friend and turned around to check on the other students. Just in time, because as soon as she did Ron slammed the book into the table in disgust. He looked up just in time to see Hermione slip into the chair next to his.

"Did you know about it?" he demanded, his face almost as red as his hair.

"About what?" she asked innocently, trying to gain some time, needing to gain some time. She had no idea what she should say. She wanted to help Harry, but lying to Ron would probably get her in trouble. And she didn't want that either.

"About Ginny and Colin," Ron answered, almost screaming. "Did you know they were going out?"

"Ginny and ….Co –Colin?" she asked and she must have looked so surprised that Ron immediately changed his attitude.

"Yes, Ginny and Colin are going out. Can you believe it?" he asked shaking his head and Hermione had to take a deep breath to gather her senses. This was not as bad as she feared. This was worse.

"How- I mean, how did you find out" she asked, vaguely aware that her voice was shaking and her hands were trembling. Ginny and Colin? That was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard.

"I accidentally eavesdropped into a conversation Harry and Ginny were having. Can you believe it? She told him but she didn't tell me! I don't know what's wrong with her, but I intend to find out. Right after I kill that Colin Creevey."

Hermione lost her voice as soon as Ron stated his desire to kill Colin Creevey. They couldn't let him do that. But that would mean telling him …that would mean telling him that Colin and Ginny weren't going out. Harry and Ginny were.

And that was even more dangerous.

She struggled for something to say but Ron beat her to it.

"You've have to help me find some spell to put on that prat." he told her, while he opened a very large book and started flipping through the pages.

"Sure. Sure. I'll help you," Hermione said, still looking for the right words. "I just have to …I have to go look for something. Yes, I have to go look for something. In my bedroom. I'll be back soon." she told him and before he could open his mouth she was out of the chair and running towards the door.

"Hurry up." he yelled at her and she turned around and waved before disappearing, and as soon as she was out of sight Madam Pince started lecturing Ron on the appropriate behavior on the library.

The moment she stepped out of the library Hermione started to feel like everything would be okay. She would tell Harry and he would talk to Ron. Ron couldn't kill Harry. Harry was his friend. Besides, Ron would come to his senses as soon as they explained things to him. She was sure he would.

Seconds later she started to run.

She made a quick turn in the corner and bumped into Snape but she didn't stop. She could hear him yelling at her, something about detention but she still didn'tstop. She couldn't stop. She had to get to Harry and Ginny.

The Fat Lady looked at her strangely but she did not pay attention to her either. She just ran into the room, her eyes searching for her friends. When she did not spot them she panicked.

"Where are they?" she screamed to no one in particular. She surveyed the room once again and without a second thought, headed towards the Boy's rooms. This was an emergency. Rules be damned.

She stopped in her tracks when she heard strange muffling sounds coming from the Boys Room and she promised to herself she would never, ever, ever do this again. Ever.

She knocked on the door, but the sounds did not stop. Exasperated she covered her eyes with her hands and entered the room.

"Harry, are you there?" she asked, sounding a little afraid. "Please tell me you are decent and I can remove my hands."

"Hermione," a familiar female voice asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your lives," she answered truthfully. "Because just imagine what would have happened if Ron had caught you. Better yet, don't imagine. Just keep doing what you were doing. He'll come here soon enough."

"We were just eating some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans" Ginny answered, holding a package of the aforementioned snack in her hands. "Want some?" she asked, her eyes alight with laughter. "You can take your hands of your eyes now Hermione. I swear I won't bite"

Hermione slowly took her hands away from her face and opened her eyes. Harry was sitting in bed with about half a dozen packs of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans spread in front of him and Ginny was standing in front of her grinning.

"Are you all right?" she asked with a grin.

"Yes, I am all right," Hermione answered, not feeling amused in the slightest bit. "But I am afraid you won't be."

Harry's face turned serious immediately and Hermione regretted the way she expressed herself immediately. Harry was so on the edge about You-know-who lately. No need to make it worse. But she had to tell him.

"Ron overheard one of your conversations," she said, hoping that dropping the bomb quickly would somehow make it all better.

"He knows?" Ginny asked, and Hermione, excited as she was could see that Ginny's was trembling slightly and she noticed Harry's deep breath before he moved to embrace Ginny.

"How much does he know Hermione?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her.

"He doesn't really know," she answered truthfully "He thinks Ginny is going out with Colin."

She heard Ginny chuckle and she had to work hard to suppress a giggle. Ginny and Colin? Only Ron could have come up with that one.

"At least now we know which conversation he overheard" she told Harry with a grin before turning around to face Hermione again. "Harry and I were talking about how to tell Ron a couple of days ago …and Harry suggested I'd practice with him. I'd pretend he was Ron and we were talking about Colin"

"And Ron must have heard that" Hermione said, understanding completely.

"And he must have jumped to conclusions" Harry added with a smile.

"That's Ron for you" Hermione said with a grin.

She could see Ginny giggling softly and for a moment she forgot about the question. But Ron had looked so mad in the library …they had to do something for Colin.

"So, when are you going to tell him?" she asked.

"Tell him?" Harry asked, obviously confused "Why should we tell him?"

"Well, let's see," Hermione said "Because he thinks Ginny is dating Colin ..because he is mad ..and because he is in the library looking for the worst spells to put on Colin!"

"I still don't see why we should tell him." Harry told her with a smile, but Ginny elbowed him in the ribs and he quickly shut up.

"Why tell him the whole truth?" she asked Hermione "You can just tell him I am not dating Colin ..that I am dating someone else …let him obsess about it."

"You can't tell him that!" Hermione yelled, frustrated "And what's this about me? I am not telling him!"

"But come on Hermione," Harry said "You know he listens to you. You just have to tell him Ginny is not dating Colin."

"I won't do that!" she said, looking at Harry, unable to believe this was happening. Harry was not asking her to do this.

"Yes, you can Hermione," Ginny said and she could see a very familiar glint in her eyes when she said it. She looked like Fred and George when they were about to pull a prank. "Unless you want him to find out about certain feelings of yours …" Ginny stopped there, giving Hermione time to think.
She didn't even try to deny it. "That is not fair!" she yelled "This is your problem, why should I get stuck with it?"

"All is fair in love and war." Ginny recited and Hermione glared at her, before starting at Harry.

"Are you serious?" she asked, still hoping this was all a bad joke.

"It's not that difficult Hermione, is it?" he asked "You don't have to explain that much …just tell him it's not Colin. That should solve it for a while ..I'll think of a way to tell him. Please."

She sighed and Harry knew he had won. "All right, I'll do it. But you owe me big time Potter." she told him, before getting out of the room where once alone Harry and Ginny stared at each other and started kissing.

Once she realized Ron was not in the library, she started to fear for Colin's safety. Ron was not in his right mind, and he wouldn't think twice before doing something to Colin. She had to get to him. Before it was too late.

She rounded hall, after hall, looking for Colin or Ron ...and just when she was about to get desperate she spotted a small figure lying on the ground. Her heart started beating faster when she realized it was Colin.

"Dear God, what did he do?" she asked herself while she ran towards Colin. He was hunched on the floor, looking worse for the wear, but he did not look seriously harmed.

"Colin ..are you all right? She asked with concern. His eyes stared back at her and he started trembling.

"Ron cursed me," he said, like he couldn't believe what had just happened. "He was yelling at me and …I don't know why." he was shaking so badly Hermione feared he was going to break.

"It's all right Colin," she told him "Let's get you to the Hospital Wing. Meanwhile you can tell me what he did to you …"

She walked with him to the hospital wing, hearing Colin's description of what Ron did to him and fighting the need to curse out loud. What was up with Ron? She left Colin in the capable hands of Madame Pomfrey before turning around, determined to find Ron.

She didn't have to walk long because two minutes later he saw Ron heading towards the hospital wing. He didn't stop when he saw her and she almost had to run to catch up with him.

"Ron …Ron," she called him, but her did not turn around. "RON!" she yelled and he turned around and stared at her.

"What?" he asked.

"Ginny is not dating Colin," she told him and she almost laughed at his statement, but he recovered quickly. "You are lying to protect him …"

"I am not. I am serious. She is not dating Colin."

"Who is she dating then?" he asked, looking her straight in the eyes and for a moment she could not focus on what she had to say. All she could see were those eyes. But as soon as she came back to reality she saw Ron staring at her and panicked.

"Well ..it's not Colin. I am sure of that …I don't know who is it ..Ginny would not tell me. She probably knew I would tell you. You should talk to Harry, they seem to be getting close lately …maybe he knows"

Ron did not even think twice about Harry.

"I am sure you know Hermione. Is it that stupid boy that always hangs around her?"

"No. No. Of course not …Ginny is …well, of course not. He is way too young for her"

"He is the same age as she is" Ron answered, his eyes fixed on hers. "So, are you telling me Ginny is dating an older boy ….someone from our year maybe?"

"I did not say that." Hermione answered, a little too quickly. Ron caught it and smiled at her " Well, it's not me and it's not Harry. Dean is taken and Seamus has a crush on Lavander. So that only leaves ….Neville."

"Neville." Hermione crooked.

"She is dating Neville! I should have known …ever since they went to the Yule Ball together I've know something was wrong. I am going to make him pay for this." Ron muttered and with that he was off and running.

"Wait …RON!" Hermione yelled, trying to catch him but he had longer legs and he ran faster than her so he was soon out of sight.

She bit her lip and looked around. There was nothing else she could do for Neville right now. She liked Neville, she really did. And she wanted to help. But she had classes. And she wasn't going to miss them just because Harry and Ginny needed her to save them. They could tell Ron whatever they wanted …

And with that final thought she turned around and headed to the classroom.

Neville Longbottom never saw it coming. One minute he was talking to some very nice Ravenclaw girls, next minute he was moving fast to avoid being hit by a curse from Ron Weasley's wand.

"What's wrong with you?" Neville asked, while he ducked to avoid a very nasty jelly leg curse Ron had thrown his way.

"What's wrong with me? I don't know how you can look at me in the face and ask me that …you prat!" Ron said, while racking his brains to come up with another curse to throw at him

"But listen to me well," he added. "You better stay away from my sister or God help me I'll kill you!"

First he thought he had heard wrong. He and Ginny? But Ginny was going out with Harry. Everyone knew that. Harry had made sure of it when he has asked her in public. So why was Ron trying to curse him and telling him to stay away Ginny? He was too caught up in these thoughts to react quickly enough and moments later a voice yelled:

Furnunculus!

And Neville was falling to the floor in pain, all the while thinking that it was indeed very strange that Ron thought it was him that Ginny was dating. Him? Of all people. It was very, very strange.

To be continued …

A/N: Planning this was a lot of fun, but wait until you see what's coming next. Poor Gryffindors, and poor Ron when he finds out the truth! But, this is Elle's fault, as well, I swear.