Love And Loyalty
Chapter Four

"Ron Weasley, studying on Christmas Eve. Well this is a first."

Startled, Ron looked up from his books spread out over the library table to see Hermione smiling at him teasingly. He just scowled at her and turned his attention back to his books hoping Hermione would just go away. Under normal circumstances, he would have welcomed her but things being what they were he wanted some privacy. Either way it didn't seem to matter what he thought. She took a seat at the table right across from him. She waited for him to look at her. When she realized what he was doing she unceremoniously took the book he was reading.

"Hey!" exclaimed Ron in protest.

After looking at the title, "Prophetic Dreams," she quickly glanced at the other books Ron had spread out on the table-"Unfogging the Future," "Your Dreams and You," and "Predicting the Unpredictable through Dreams." Hermione handed "Prophetic Dreams" back to Ron. The two just stared at each other a few moments until Hermione finally said quietly, "So are you going to tell me about the dream?"

"No," said Ron firmly. "And for your information, this has nothing to do with last night. This is just some holiday homework for Professor Trelawney."

Hermione just looked at Ron sternly. Since she had dropped that fraud Trelawney's classes she couldn't rightly accuse Ron of lying to her. She knew it was a lie though. There was no way Ron would be doing homework on a holiday. It was hard enough to get him to do work during the term.

But her expression softened as she thought about the reasons behind Ron's lie. Obviously, he had had a dream, a bad one at that to be waking her up in the wee hours of the morning. He thought she was in danger. The thought warmed her heart and she was torn between smiling and blushing. Seeing Ron, despite his annoyed, stern demeanor, she knew he must be really worried about her to be doing research on Christmas Eve. When in doubt, she always came to the library and here was Ron, too stubborn to talk to anyone, doing the same thing.

Hermione had had more than a few arguments with Ron to know that he didn't like to talk about his feelings and that she couldn't rush him. As frustrating as it was, she would have to let him come to her. She stood up and said quietly, "There's nothing to worry about Ron. Nothing bad is going to happen to me." And with that she left the library.

Ron watched her go. He wanted to leap up. He wanted to run and tell her about his dream. But it seemed so foolish. And the last thing he wanted to do is look like a fool in front of Hermione. It was just a silly dream, wasn't it? It had just felt so real. Every time he thought about it he wanted to cry. It was like he was back there, holding Hermione's dead body in his useless arms.

She told him she loved him. Did she love him romantically or just in friendship? He knew his own feelings toward her had grown and deepened over the years into...into that word even he was scared to think let alone utter.

Ron slammed his book so violently that the librarian gave him a scowling look. He managed an apologetic look to her as he placed the books back in the return shelf. Hermione was right; it was just a silly dream. Nothing was going to happen to her, he thought as he too left the library to join his friends in Christmas Eve celebrations.