"Password?" ask the fat lady.
"Amora... uh no.. Termos.. uggg! it's Teamos Afora."
The portrait looked at her sceptically.
"Hermione!" Came a voice from across the corridor
"I don't want to talk to right now Ron!" Hermione yelled back trying to remain calm.
"I can't let you in with out the password." the fat lady reminded her.
"Hermione wait!" Ron called out.
"Uggg come on! Just open the God damn door!!" Hermione said exasperated.
"Certainly not! Not with an attitude like that!" retorted the portrait.
The portrait swung open, and a first year Gryffindor came out.
"Finally!" Hermione stomped into the Gryffindor common room, letting the portrait slam closed behind her.
"Not so hard child!" the muffled cry of the fat lady said from behind her.
********
"UhhProfessor Winthrop, was Hermione just here?"
Harry was at the door of the Muggle studies classroom, looking in at his professor.
"Yes she was, but then she left in the direction of the library, shortly after she stormed by my classroom door heading towards the Gryffindor tower with Ron following not so closely behind. I dare say she was rather upset." Winthrop informed him.
"Ahh, Thank you Professor" Harry turned to walk away.
"Hold on Harry, before you go, I need to tell you something. What Hermione needs right now more than anything is a friend, someone she can talk too and someone who won't criticise her. She is very confused, and hurt a great deal."
"She's not the only one." Harry admitted.
Winthrop smiled, "I have every confidence in you Harry Potter. You're a smart lad. I know you will figure things out."
"Thanks."
"Now get out of here." she said playfully.
With that Harry left
********
Hermione made her way to the dormitories, jumped onto her bed, and pulled the
curtains closed around her.
A loud knock came from the door
"Hermione, umm we need to talk."
"Go away Ron! I don't want to talk to you right now!"
"What happened?" said Lavenders voice from behind the door.
"Mind your own business Lavender." Hermione whispered to herself.
"ErrrHermione slapped me." Ron confessed
Lavender burst into the room, "Hermione! I never knew you had it in you! You go girl."
"Shut up Lavender!" Ron snapped.
"Hey you! Out of the room! This is the girls dorm! Besides, it's obvious that you're not wanted here." Lavender hissed at Ron.
"Fine!" Ron turned and left.
"Thanks Lavender." Hermione said threw her curtains.
"No problem. I wanted to change anyway, and I can't bloody well do it with him hanging about!" Lavender joked.
Hermione pulled out her diary from under her pillow, and reached out her curtains to the night table for a quill and ink.
Entry 931201
'I think the events of today are definitely ones I will remember for a long
time.
Although everything said and done today is enough to confuse anyone. I think
I came out with a clearer understanding of my feelings, and even perhaps of
what decisions I should make.
But then again, I may not.
One of the most wonderful and most horrid things occurred today. Ron gave me my first kiss. I must admit that for the longest time I wanted it to be from him. However now I'm not so sure. I shouldn't have kissed him and I shouldn't have slapped him. But how dare he? I almost feel that his intentions were not sincere.
I kind of wonder if perhaps Ron fears loneliness also? Professor Winthrop said that I do, and that is why I'm quick to confess my love. Perhaps she's right. I do agree with her that I was to hasty in professing love for Ron. After what I have heard I find it hard to believe that Ron would love me. Even with him confessing it, I have my doubts. If he really loved me he would have made an effort to make a relationship. He claims that he didn't because he wasn't good enough. Well if that is the case, why didn't he attempt to better himself? No I am positive that he doesn't truly love me. And I know I shouldn't waste my time on someone like him.'
The door of the dorm creaked open.
"What do you want?" Hermione heard Lavenders voice.
"Is Hermione here?" asked Harry's voice.
"You know between you and Ron your going to get us into trouble." Hermione said threw her curtains. She heard footsteps head towards her bed and she pushed her diary under her pillow.
Harry poked his head in threw the curtains to her four poster bed.
"You ok?"
Hermione nodded, "I think I will be. How's Ron?"
"His ego is a bit hurt, and he's a tad confused, but he will be alright. You should go and talk to him."
"I shouldn't have slapped him." Hermione confessed.
"I'm sure you had your reasons 'Mione" Harry told her.
"Damn right she had her reasons! If it were me I would have slapped him twice!" Lavander said.
Remembering that they weren't alone in the room Harry suggested they go for a walk on the grounds. Hermione agreed. Once outside Harry began.
"What happen? Did you want to talk about it?"
"I might as well tell you. If I don't I'm sure that you'd find out eventually anyway. Ron kissed me, and I uh, well slapped him" Hermione explained.
Harry was silent for a moment.
"Did you kiss him back?" He asked.
Hermione looked at Harry with near disgust, she felt like slapping him as well! How dare he ask such a question! Were all men this way?
"You don't have to answer that. It's none of my business. I'm sorry I asked." Harry said after noting Hermione's expression.
"Yes I did." She said and looked away, towards the forest.
"Oh," was all Harry could say.
There was a slight pause, while Harry tried to think of something else to say.
"A-and, and why did you slap him?" Harry asked a bit confused.
"Are all guys generally this stupid? What don't you get?" Hermione spat out, she quickly regretted her words. "The thing is Ron has a girlfriend, and even though I hate her she is still his girlfriend. What he did wasn't fair to her, he was cheating on her. I can't help but think that if he can easily cheat on her, would he cheat on me if we were together? I'm not totally innocent either; I shouldn't have kissed him back. But I did. We were both wrong." She admitted.
Hermione turned to look at Harry who was looking off into the distance as she talked. It's funny how easily she could talk to Harry about this, she thought. But was it fair to tell him about her feelings and thoughts when he felt the way he did about her? Even if he didn't love her, was it right to talk negatively about his best friend to his face?
"Look Harry, I'm sorry I said all that, I'm sure it's not what you wanted to hear."
"Don't apologise Hermione. I was the one who asked." he said with a smile.
Hermione smiled back. They continued walking along the grounds just enjoying each others company in silence. It was a crisp fall evening, the leaves had started to change colour and some had begun to fall to the ground. The sun was still in the sky but it was slowly descending to the west.
"Harry?" Hermione finally broke the silence
"Hnn?"
"W-when did you realise that you liked me more then a friend?" Hermione asked nervously.
"I'm not sure, but I think that one time in fourth year when you gave me a kiss at the train station definitely made me think about it more." Harry admitted with a bit of a blush.
"Harry that was over 3 years ago!! Why did you keep it a secret for so long?"
"I don't know."
Hermione looked at Harry, she couldn't believe that he didn't have a reason, but the expression on his face lead her to believe that he didn't want to share it.
"I guess I was always busy with homework, and you always had Qudditch. Not to mention that we always have the threat of You Know Who, how could we even think about something as silly as love." Hermione reasoned.
"I guess." Harry responded.
Feeling that he didn't want to discuss this any further Hermione tried to change the subject. "Um Harry, I want to thank you."
"Thank you for what?"
"For talking with me I guess. For being there for me even when I don't seem to realise it. Professor Winthrop told me what you did for me in the summer of 96. Thank you very much."
"I don't think I could have lived with myself if you had died. I would have done anything to prevent it." Harry admitted.
Hermione blushed.
The sun was now mostly set and cool air was beginning to set in. They walked a bit more and Hermione couldn't help but feel that she had to tell Harry something more. She very much wanted to tell him that she didn't love Ron anymore and that the feelings she had for Ron was just a crush. She wanted to tell him how comfortable she was spending time with him and how he always seemed to calm her temper without even trying.
"Harry?"
"Yea?"
"It's gotten cold do you think we can head back to the castle?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded, and they headed back.
*********
Once in her dorm Hermione pulled out her dairy again. She re-read her entry.
'It's been and eventful day hasn't it Hermione?' she said to herself.
Hermione placed her diary in its usual place between the mattresses and began to prepare for bed. She sat herself in front of the mirror in her night robe, looking at herself she smiled. "I think I will be ok." she whispered to herself. Hermione made a mental note to talk with Ron tomorrow.
Hermione brushed her hair and then turned to her bed. She fell asleep almost immediately.
*********
Hermione wasn't sure for how long she slept for or why she even woke up. The
dorm was now very dark, and Hermione guessed it must have been around 1am. She
sensed that she wasn't alone in the dark. Of course there were the other girls
in their beds, but Hermione felt like there was an additional presence in the
room. She sat up in her bed and let her eyes adjust to the dark. The curtain
on the right hand side of her bed was drawn and she saw the outline of a familiar
figure.
"Emma?"
