It felt like a slap in the face. A hard slap in the face, from someone like Draco or Snape. Now HE couldn't believe this was happening. How could she like him and be dating Ron? How could she be dating Ron in the first place?

"I don't understand Hermione! For how long? Why wouldn't you two tell me? How can you like me and be dating Ron?" He was pacing now too. He could not really think, his thoughts were scrambled and confusing. He sat down. He stood up. He felt like punching something. "Hermione! Tell me what's going on!"

Hermione sat in a chair and motioned for him to sit too. She wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and starred into his eyes. For a minute, Harry forgot about the entire situation and could only look into her eyes. They reminded him of chocolate and just looking at them gave him the feeling of warmth all over. Then she spoke...

"Harry, I am so sorry we didn't tell you. Ron wanted to keep it a secret. He thought you would be upset, I don't know why, but that's what he said. It has only been a few weeks Harry, he asked me one night when we were in the library..., and well, I knew he liked me already. To tell you the truth, I liked him too. He is so sweet to me Harry, I fell for him. But I didn't feel for him the way I feel for ...for you Harry. I always thought that you didn't like me. Always. When I would look into your eyes, you looked at me as a friend. Nothing more, and I didn't want to ruin the great friendship we have." She stopped. Harry took a deep breath, trying to comprehend the things she just said. Why wouldn't she think he liked her? He felt exactly the opposite, she was wonderful. Why hadn't he ever told her how much he meant to her, and now she was Ron's. Now it was too late. He wished that he hadn't woken her up, and for the first time he felt complete jealousy and anger towards Ron. "How long have you liked me Harry?" Hermione said a moment later.

"A...a...long time Herms. Too long." He looked into her eyes once again. He hesitated, but took her hand. "I'm happy for you and Ron. I guess he got to you first..." He tried to say it with a chuckle, but it came out like a sniffle. "I'll always be here for you Hermione. Please don't feel like you can't tell me ANYTHING." He held her hand for a few minutes, then stood up and kissed her forehead. She was not smiling. She did not move. He did not know what else to do, so he walked up to his dorm, without saying a word.

Harry lay in his bed that night without sleeping. He knew he would not be able to sleep anyway, so he didn't even try. He thought about what he had told Hermione. "It was the right thing to do, it doesn't matter who she's with, as long as she's happy." He told himself. He thought of what Hermione might be doing right now. He wondered if she was awake too, thinking about Ron, or maybe thinking about him. Maybe she was fast asleep. He tried not to think about it, it just made him sick to his stomach, thinking about someone who he could not have. "As long as she's Happy, that's all that matters!" He told himself, aloud this time. He turned on his side, facing the window. Then suddenly he heard a noise. A soft turn, then a creaking noise. A door. He turned over again and saw a figure standing in his doorway, a figure with bushy hair.

He rolled over and turned on his bedside lamp.

"'Ello Herms." He said softly. He looked at her in the light. Her face was red with tears again and she looked confused and sad. Without knowing anything else to do, he stood up, and hugged her. He held her close, and she did the same, but weakly. "I'm so sorry..." He whispered into her ear. That was all he could say. He did not really understand why she was upset; she did have a great boyfriend. Ron was awesome. She had said that she liked Harry, but more then Ron? Was that why she was crying?

"Hermione, do you want to sit down?" She simply nodded, and he pulled away from the hug and they both sat down on Harry's four-poster. He put his arm around her, for no other reason but that it felt right. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and tears were streaming down her face. He wiped them from her eyes. "Why are you crying Hermione?" He asked gently.

She looked at him. "You," was all she said.

Harry felt horrible. "Herms, I'm so sorry, it's OK that your dating Ron, I UNDERSTAND, please don't cry, I'm not mad."

"That's not it Harry." She said, "Harry. I like Ron..."

"I know, I know, its fine!"

"Harry! Let me finish!" she said, looking him straight in the eye. "I like Ron, but I LOVE you...I love you Harry."

Harry froze. Everything started to make sense. He could not believe it. For the hundredth time that night he looked into her eyes and for the hundredth time they made him feel warm and happy. Hermione started to talk about how she was sorry she had not told him sooner, and something about Ron; but he wasn't listening. It wasn't important. Nothing else was more important then the feeling he had right then. He loved her, and for the first time he realized it was completely true.

"Hermione, shhhh." Harry said, as he put a finger on her lips. She stopped talking, and looked up at him. He smiled. "Hermione, I love you too." And with that, he leaned in to kiss her, and this time she didn't say a thing. He wrapped his arms around her, and she did the same to him. It was a long kiss, and when it was over, they touched foreheads, and they both smiled. He took a strand of her hair, and put it behind her ear. She took off his glasses and set them on the bed stand. They just looked at each other for a long, long time. They kissed again, this one more passionate then the first.

Harry looked at the clock in his room. "Hermione, its 5 o'clock."

"Did you have something you had to do today?" She said, giggling.

"Well, not really." He said, and stroked her face with his hand.

"I'll be right back Harry..." Hermione said. She stood up, kissed him, and left. Harry didn't know what she was doing. He was tired. He hoped she had not gone to get dressed for the day, because he wanted to sleep right about now. He took of his shoes and lay down on the bed. The light was hurting his eyes, so he turned it off again. Hermione pushed the door open. He looked at her. She had not gone to get dressed for they day, instead she was wearing a nightgown. It was blue, and long, and not at all revealing, but she looked beautiful. She was smiling, He didn't say anything, and neither did she. Harry moved over a little, and Hermione lay down next to him. She pulled the covers over them, and wrapped her arms around him.

"Hermione, why have you climbed into bed with me?" Harry said, he chuckled. If someone walked in right now, this might be somewhat of a compromising situation.

"Oh shhhh, I don't want to DO anything, I just want to be with you. Aren't you tired?" "yeeaaah..."

"Then don't talk anymore..." Hermione said, as she took his arms and wrapped them around herself. She kissed his cheek and closed her eyes. "Goodnight..."

Harry was not exactly sure of what was going on, but he didn't really care. He was tired, and now this beautiful girl had her arms around him. He cuddled with her, got comfortable, but before he closed his eyes, he kissed her once more. She smiled, and they both fell asleep, in each other's arms.