AN: Hehe…won't tell ya what's going on yet…this chapter is very special. This one is one of the most important chapters in this yet. This practically explains everything that has been going on. I know this has been confusing, but once you read the next two chapters, you'll totally understand what has been going on, why people did what they did. Malfoy, Ron and Hermione's secrets will be revealed soon. In fact, this chapter could be what you call the climax of the story. Happy Reading! Oh, by the way, Hagrid is horrible to write. It's really hard to teach yourself to use "yeh" instead of "you". Pain in my ass, that man is.

Disclaimer: Oh, just for fun, let's say I don't own Harry Potter. Pocket lint, anyone?

Chapter Eleven: It All Fell Apart

After Charms, Ron and Harry retired to the Gryfindor Common Room. They were quietly playing a game of Wizarding Chess, but the entire room was full of noise. Hermione, on the other hand, was in the corner, writing furiously in a book.

"So, Ron, ready to tell me what's eating you?" Harry said.

"No," Ron promptly replied, and killed Harry's Queen. Harry sighed, and moved his Knight. He picked up his goblet of juice and drank it, waiting for Ron to complete his turn. Suddenly, George and Fred appeared right by them.

"Hey, we have the perfect joke for Chess!" George exclaimed, noting Ron's sullen look.

"Yeah, you'll laugh in stitches for this one," Fred added.

Ron looked up. "What is it?" he sighed.

"One a king, always a king—" George started

"—But once a (k)night's enough!" Fred interrupted. Both erupted into fits of laughter. It took Harry a second to realize what they had said, and started laughing as well. Ron didn't even smile.

"Don't you get it?" George wheezed, clutching his stomach. "Well?"

"I get it, just don't think it's funny," he replied coolly. It had hit too close to home for comfort.

Harry's laughter died instantly.

"Ron, what is the matter? Is it National Be An Ass day?" Fred asked darkly, elbowing George for laughing at his comment.

"No, just didn't think it funny," he replied, and stood up. "I need to get some fresh air, if you'll excuse me," he snapped, and walked briskly away.

Fred and George stared after him. "Well, if he wants to be that way see if we ever care about that stupid prat again!" George muttered angrily.

Harry didn't hear a word they said. He knew he should go after Ron, but right now, he thought that Ron needed some "me" time. He was acting very strangely and Harry just didn't feel like trying to find out what was wrong anymore. He finished his juice, and walked over to Hermione.

"What're doing, Hermione?" Harry asked, leaning on the back of the chair. Hermione jumped and closed the book quickly with a loud snap.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, "don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Sorry," Harry replied, curious to see what was in the book. "What are you doing, anyway?"

"Writing my Mum and Dad," she replied slowly. "They haven't heard from me in a while. What time is it, anyway?" she asked, changing the subject.

Harry looked down at his wrist. "Er…just about four, why?"

Hermione's eyes opened widely. "Oh my goodness, I'm late!" she yelped, jumping up from her seat. She grabbed her wand and ran out the door, knocking over her books. She didn't bother to stop to pick them up, but continued to run out the Fat Lady portrait and down the hall.

Harry sighed. He bent over to pick up her things, knowing that when she got back, she'd probably need them right away. The first thing his picked up was her Potions book, which had little pieces of paper sticking out of it. He opened it up.

Instead of finding notes, for Potions, that is, he found scribbled messages. Curiosity overtook him, and he read one of the notes.

"Hermione, meet me in the library after your Transfiguration class. –DM," he read to himself. 'DM? Who's that?' The rest of the noted there were rather similar to that one. He closed the book, and set it on the table. He picked up her Charms book, her Transfiguration book, and her Aritimancy book before he reached a leather book. He recognized it as the book she was writing in earlier. Curiosity overcame him, and he opened it up.

"Dear Diary," he read. 'How lame,' he thought jokingly. It wasn't a letter to her Mum and Dad. Harry knew that he probably shouldn't read on, but he couldn't help it. How was he supposed to be her best friend if he never knew what was going on? He continued. "Today was absolutely horrible. Draco says he saw someone running away, and thinks it might be Ron. Oh my god, what if it was Ron? Would he tell Harry what he saw…? Draco told me today in Care of Magical Creatures that we're going to have to be extra careful now. Oh, it hurts me that we have to keep this a secret. He has to be so mean to me, and I know he hates to do it. He apologizes every time he sees me. He says, ''Mione, you understand. I do truly love you, and I hate that we have to hide this.' Why can't we be more like normal couples? I mean, I can't say that the whole library/closet thing isn't rather fun and dangerous, but I want to hold his hand in the hallway. And Ron! That prat, trying to pin me to the wall in the hall yesterday. I can't believe that he lied to the Headmaster and I'm beginning to wonder: is that what he feels for me, or was there another curse on top of that? There are so many unanswered questions…and Harry. He's left out of this. He'll catch on soon--I know it. He's way too observant to not notice…I keep telling Draco not to look at me during Potions, Harry might catch on…hell, what do I know? Harry may be as dense as Draco keeps trying to explain to me. All I know is that I…I think I'm in love with Draco."