A/N- Since I am so so so so so so so so so so nice, I've decided to post two chapters today. The title of this chapter should give you a clue what's going to happen. ;) [ Also, I have included some bits in here to do with the fifth book so if you haven't read it yet, then this chapter may contain some spoilers. ]

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Chapter Nine: An Apology and an Explanation

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Love is like quicksand, the deeper you fall in, the harder it is to come out …

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Hermione quickly stuffed her pasta into her mouth, taking gulps of pumpkin juice. Dinner had started 10 minutes ago and she was eager to meet Ginny again tonight.

But she didn't know that Draco, being the curious person that he is, read the note and remembered everything that had happened the night before and was prepared to do another good eavesdropping session.

5 minutes later, she had finished her dinner slung her bag over her shoulder. Quickly rushing out, she didn't realize that R&H and Ginny were absent during dinner.

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Draco was again, picking at his food. He seemed to be having a very little appetite lately.

"Draco !!!"

He turned up and groaned in his head. Blaise was walking up to him, smiling her bloody face off.

"Guess what?"

"What?" he asked, glancing over at Hermione. It was weird; lately he seemed to be looking over at Hermione, as if wondering how she was coping without friends.

"Since the Christmas Ball is just around the corner …" she began.

No, it's not. We have like 3 months till Christmas.

"… me and Terry want all the couples to come dressed in the same colour. Isn't that a great idea?"

"Yeah," he said, not caring what she said.

"I knew you would like it !!! Anyway, how are you doing with the Valentine's Day Ball?"

"Erm …"

The truth was, Draco didn't have any idea what Hermione had thought up of. He could barely remember what she had said to him that night.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. You're working with that mudblood, Granger. I feel so sorry for you. I wish we were working together."

"Yeah …" he muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He felt a piece of parchment in there and remembered it was the note that Weasley had sent Hermione.

He looked at her again and saw her throw her bag over her shoulder and almost run out of the Great Hall.

He quickly stood up and dropped his fork.

"Huh? Why are you standing up, Draco? Don't you want to talk to Dumbledore abut switching partners?"

"What? Why? I mean, no, I'll manage. If you'll excuse me …"

He walked towards the Great Hall door, leaving a confused Blaise behind him.

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Hermione stood next to the statue of a young-looking wizard. He was smiling and Hermione assumed it was the statue Ginny was talking about.

I should stop coming early, she thought to herself.

But she had barely waited for another two minutes or so, she heard footsteps approaching. They then died down and stopped. Hermione looked around but did not see Ginny or anyone else. Feeling she had better check it out, she heard someone call her name.

"Hermione!"

It was coming from the opposite direction so she turned around and dismissed the sound she had heard earlier into the back of her mind. She didn't know that Draco was hiding behind that corner, ready to listen to another private conversation.

Ginny was walking over to her, and behind her was …

"Harry?" she managed to splutter.

Harry slowly walked to her, as if the days they had spent apart were years.

Actually, it's been months since I last talked to him like a real friend. I never had enough time to meet with him during the holidays.

Hermione immediately realized that R&H had grown closer together while she was shunted away.

"Hermione …" he said, reaching out.

He touched her arm and pulled her into an embrace, not a 'romantic' one but more of a 'best buddies' one.

"I'm sorry for what happened that night," he whispered.

The night he was talking about seemed like ages ago.

She pulled back and looked up at him, feeling tears in her eyes.

"No," she whispered back, "it's my fault. I should've made time for you guys, but I didn't."

Harry just smiled a little bit and Ginny broke them up.

"Well, now that's out of the way, come with me, Hermione."

She pulled Hermione's arm and tapped the statue's head.

"Fungus flavored bloodpops," she whispered.

The statue moved over and a door appeared on the wall behind it. It was made of oak and looked very plain.

"Come on," Ginny said quietly and the three of them trooped in.

It was a beautiful room, furnished fully red. Silk curtains, plush carpet, soft couch, redwood table. It was simply divine.

After they had gone in and the door had closed, the statue remained where it was and the door remained visible so Draco pulled something out of his pocket. No, not the note but a pinkish-colored string. An extendable ear. He managed to nick one off the Weasley twins last year by saying he confiscated them, but kept it to himself. They finally proved to be useful. He stuck one end into his ear and the other under the door.

"Wow," breathed Hermione, "how did you two ever find out about this?"

"It was on Harry's map, the Marauder's one," said Ginny.

"Oh, does Ron know about this?" asked Hermione suddenly.

"Not that I know of," answered Harry, "I was just looking at the map, because Ginny had told me she wanted a private room, one that would never be discovered by someone else so I decided to help her find one. I saw that this statue led to a secret room, and it was weird, I had never seen it before. So the next night, we crept out and came to the sixth floor. The map said to tap the head and say 'Fungus flavored bloodpops' so we did and yeah, that's basically it."

"Did she tell you what she needed it for?" asked Hermione.

"No, I didn't," spoke up Ginny, "I couldn't. If I did, he would've told Ron."

"But you can trust him now?" asked Hermione.

"Well, I have apologized to you. I don't apologize without meaning it, Hermione," said Harry defensively.

Hermione still looked skeptical.

"I'm loyal to my friends, I would never judge them from what happened in one afternoon," replied Harry.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," sighed Hermione.

"Now that you two have finished, Harry, explain to Hermione about Ron's feelings," commanded Ginny.

Harry sighed.

"Well, I guess I'd better start from 1st year. I don't know if you knew this, but Ron has had a crush on you ever since he laid his eyes on you. The expression on his face on the train, I had only known him for a couple of hours but it was more than obvious to me he liked you."

Hermione was taken aback. She had never realized this.

"And then at the end of the year, when I was in the hospital wing, you two had some time together and I assumed Ron had told you but he didn't, you two were both normal. Then in 2nd year, when he got so mad about Malfoy calling you a mudblood, I had never seen him more defensive. But possibly the most obvious one was in fourth year. The Yule Ball, when Krum asked you. Ron wasn't happy about it."

"Oh yeah," breathed Hermione, "I remember, he kept trying to get me to tell him who I went with."

"Yeah," grinned Harry, "and then you got really pissed at him and told him if he had wanted to go with you, he should've asked earlier."

"I didn't know he liked me, I thought he was just really desperate," said Hermione, grinning back.

"Well, Ron took that pretty harshly and I thought that finally, after four years, he would tell you. But he didn't. Finally, last year. All that time you two spent alone during the holidays, I was almost definite that he was going to tell you. And once again, he had failed to reveal his feelings to you."

"We were too busy in the holidays to talk about things like that," defended Hermione.

"Yeah," said Harry, "and I don't know if you've noticed, but we sort of drifted apart back then, with you busy with S.P.E.W. and taking different classes. And I assumed Ron had gotten over you then after five years, but no. I asked him about it and he confirmed it, yes, he had started liking you ever since first year and he still does. He said maybe the feelings have grown over last year because he missed you being around him."

"Yeah, well if he wants me around, than maybe he should pay attention to those people who mean more to him," said Hermione angrily.

"That's the problem," said Harry sadly, "he can't get over you and Malfoy. Ron is being too overprotective. I keep reminding him he's not your girlfriend but he never listens. He thinks you're as good as his."

"As if I'd ever go out with him," sniffed Hermione.

Draco smiled to himself.

Harry laughed.

"I guess not, but still, you've cut him deep and he's disappointed. He just liked you too much, took you for granted. He never thought you would leave but you did. After four years. And that's why he won't talk to you, he thinks this is your fault."

Hermione felt herself get angrier. How dare Ron think that??? This is all his fault !!! Not mine !!!

"But I-" Hermione started to protest but Harry cut her off.

"I know, it's not your fault, but you know Ron, he's like that," he said gently.

"Well he can just forget about me then, he's already got Lavender," said Hermione savagely.

Harry looked uncomfortable.

"Ron's only leading her on, he's hoping that you'd become jealous and beg for forgiveness," said Harry.

"Hmmpf," sniffed Hermione, "as if. He can go out with all the girls in this school for all I care. How'd he get her to go out with him anyway?"

Harry suddenly became interested in the carpet.

"Well, he got me to bribe her to act like it every time they're in public," muttered Harry.

"What?!? Harry !!! How could he do that ???"

"Well, Hermione … that's not the point … you know Ron's family conditions … "

"And did you bribe Parvati too, I suppose?" said Hermione angrily.

"No, she asked me out again, for a second chance, after what happened last year, she said during the Yule Ball we were too young and stuff. But the only reason that Lavender's doing it is for the money and because Parvati is always with me and I'm always with Ron. It makes it easier for her to be with her best friend."

"Oh," said Hermione.

She still couldn't believe it, how could Ron use Harry like that?

"Well, I guess we'd better get back, he might get suspicious," said Ginny.

Harry and Hermione jumped a mile, they had forgotten she was there.

"Yeah, you're right," said Harry, checking his watch.

"We'll meet here again, on Friday night," said Ginny, "same time."

"Alright then," said Hermione.

"Yeah, Hermione, it's been great talking to you after so long. Good night," said Harry.

"See you," said Hermione.

"Bye," replied Ginny.

They started to walk towards the door so Draco quickly retracted the extendable ear and ran down to the end of the corridor and a flight of stairs. He had to pretend he was in their common room all along, so she wouldn't get suspicious.

Five minutes later, he was sitting on the couch, reading his transfiguration textbook, when Hermione came in.

"Where have you been?" he asked, looking surprised.

"What? Oh, just out … walking …" she said, a bit breathless.

He turned back to his book and heard her walk over to her room and close the door.

He threw his book on the couch and lay down, his thoughts still on what he had overheard and he fell asleep in that position, having the dream he was having every night.

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A/N- DONE!!! Two chapters in one day!!! Woohoo!!! I Rule!!! Lolz!!! Anywayz, please review everyone!!! Oh, and, erm, I have a confession to make, I don't like Ron. I personally think he's quite annoying. But don't flame me about it, this is my story and I want Ron to be like that so yeah … sorry if you love Ron.

Keep the reviews coming!!!