Title: The Next Step
Sub-Title: Open and Closed Doors
Version: 1.9
Author: Xuqra
Date: 12.01.02

Ron heard Harry slam the door on the way out, he didn't do anything about it but kiss
Hermione more passionately. Hermione was deep into the kiss, she pulled back, "This is wrong,"
she exclaimed.
"He's already gone," Ron let it roll off his tongue, pride was overwhelming.
"He's gone?" She looked deep into Ron's eyes, and for once in his recent past he
wasn't lying. He took a breath and leaned in for another kiss but this time his lips met
something else, the palm of her hand as it swept across his face.
"Ouch, why'd you do that?" Ron spat.
"I can't believe you," she looked at him shocked then looked at herself in the
mirror, "I can't believe I did that." She looked at herself with disgust.
"Am I really that horrible?" his venom struck deep.
"What?" Hermione almost screamed, "How can you say a thing like that! You're my
best friend, its not supposed to be like…"
"Like what? Like that bloody good for nothing that just walked away when he saw you
kissing another guy?" Ron bellowed.
"You mean he saw you kissing me!" She yelled back.
"No, think about it… He saw YOU kissing ME, because that is the most treasonous thing
that was going on." She looked at him with contempt.
"no, No, NO!" She screamed, "GET OUT!" He was out of the room before Hermione had
finished her command.

Harry ran from the room, his eyes balling from the scene he had just left. Several
people looked up, in the common room, when he blew through and up the stairs to the boy's
dormitories. He reached the top in just a few seconds; slamming the door behind him he
locked it.
Harry jumped onto his luscious large bed, and began to stain it, his tears leaving
marks on the pillow and sheets. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door, "Go
away," Harry's yell was muffled but audible to the person outside the door.
The door was knocked on again; Harry quickly wiped his eyes and got up. He unlocked
and swung open the door, his hand raised across his chest.