Disclaimer: If I were really J.K. Rowling then this story would have been Harry Potter and the Order of The Pheonix. As it's not, I'm obviously not J.K. Rowling, nor am I making money off this story. I mean, you're not paying to read it, are you?

Author's Note: I'M SO SORRY!!!!!!!!! I haven't updated all summer! I'm sorry. I was at camp working as a counsellor. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I wish I could've updated but my computer was at home the whole time. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. BTW, big hi goes out to all my campers if they're reading this. Sorry again.

Chapter Nine- Sometimes You're So Dumb

Evelyn spent the rest of her time before dinner alone in the library, researching and doing homework. She had to catch up on all the History of Magic lessons she'd fallen asleep in that week. Two to be exact and it was only Wednesday. Plus they didn't have History of Magic on Tuesday. She was batting two for two. It wasn't her fault Professor Binns made Merlin the Magician sound like that guy from Crossing Over. She really thought Professor Binns should've stopped teaching when he died.

When it was time Evelyn gathered her things and made her way to the Great Hall. She walked in and found a seat with her male friends. She sat next to Harry, who was across from Ron, and she had Fred on her other side. All she wanted to do was relax and eat. However, fate didn't seem to want it that way.

"Where's Hermione?" asked Ron, as Evelyn sat down.

"I don't know. I thought she was with you," she said looking back and forth between Ron and Harry.

"I haven't seen her since Charms," Ron remarked, concern showing in his voice.

"Speaking of Charms, Ron. What was Lavender saying to you?" Seamus interrupted form his seat beside Harry.

"Yeah mate. She was all over you," Dean declared from across the table.

"Nothing important. I don't know what came over her," he sighed shaking his head. Ron obviously did not appreciate Lavender's affections.

"I do!" Seamus exclaimed. "She wanted a nice long snog session in the common room tonight."

"Seamus!" Evelyn cried. "How dare you talk about Lavender like that?! You made her sound like a hussy!" Noticing Ron's face go as red as his hair she tried to change the subject. "Anyway, Hermione wasn't in the library, that's where I was."

"She wasn't in the common room either. Ron and I were playing chess there. In the hallway after you said you were going we turned to say something to Dean and Hermione was gone. We assumed she went with you," Harry said, jabbing his thumb in Ron's direction, to signify they had been together.

Ron was starting to get worried. "Well, where is she then?"

Seamus chose this time to open his big mouth again. "She wasn't in the common room? That's funny. I saw her go through the Portrait Hole right after Charms. She looked upset too. She probably got ninety-nine percent on something and had to have a nice little cry about it," he joked.

Evelyn looked from Seamus, to the empty chair across from her, to Ron then down the table to Lavender. Comprehension dawned on her face.

"I know where she is," she announced as she rose from her seat.

"Should we come with you?" asked Ron.

"No. I think she's rather not have guys," she said off-hand. "No offense."

She rushed out of the Great Hall.

"What about dinner?!" Harry called after her, but she didn't hear him and kept going.

"We'll nick some food from the kitchen for both of them later," Ron said and started shoveling mashed potatoes in his mouth.

Evelyn raced up the stairs and through the hallway to the Gryffindor tower. She ran through the common room and up to the door labeled 5th Year Girls. She paused at the entrance and listened through the closed door. Faint sobs drifted through the wood. Evelyn eased the door open slowly and poked her head in. the room was empty except for the crumpled figure lying face down on the farthest four-poster.

"Hermione?" Evelyn whispered.

From her place on the bed Hermione stifled another sob.

"Who Who's there?" she mumbled, through the pillow.

"It's me. Evelyn. Do you want to talk?"

A muffled 'no' came from the pillows.

"Hermione, you know you can tell me anything."

Silence.

"I wouldn't tell anyone."

More silence.

"It'll make you feel better."

Even more silence.

"Hermione," Evelyn whispered. "Is this about Ron?"

At that, Hermione flipped herself over and spat, "No! This not about him."

"You know, for someone at the top of the class, you can sure act dumb," Evelyn said casually.

"What?" Hermione mumbled, her rage gone.

"Come on, Hermione. Denial's not just a river in Egypt, you know. You think I don't see how you look at him? And how you dislike Lavender for no apparent reason? Besides the fact that she's gaga over Ron, of course."

"I don't like Ron!" Hermione yelled.

"Alright, alright. No need to get touchy. I only thought that was the most logical explanation, but if you've got a better one" Evelyn trailed off, waiting for Hermione's explanation.

"I've got the painters in?" Hermione said.

"Oh no, they're not due for another two weeks. Don't lie to me Hermione. I thought we were friends."

"We are friends, Evelyn," Hermione maintained, sitting up to face Evelyn. "It's just Ron is my friend too. You're not supposed to like your best friend like that, are you?"

"Hermione. Do you think that being friends with Fred is going to stop me from asking him out for the next Hogsmeade weekend?" Evelyn asked her friend.

"That's different. You just met Fred last month, and I've been friends with Ron for over four years. It's not even like I want to like him. I just can't help it," Hermione exclaimed as she fell back onto her bed.

"You can tell me all about it," Evelyn told her.

"It's like, at first he was just this annoying freckle-faced boy, who could make me cry saying things people had said to me my whole life. But somehow when he said it, it made me cry. Then he saved me and we became friends, and he was just Ron. Harry and Ron were my best friends. Then it turned into Ron and Harry. Then it was just Ron. Harry being at Quidditch a lot, Ron and I got closer. He was just Ron for a long time. And then then he got all all all hot, I guess you would say. I don't' even know when. I didn't see him all summer so I guess it happened then. You didn't know him before but what a change. I didn't know it was possible to go from a scrawny, lanky, awkward boy to a tall, muscular, indescribably handsome almost-man, in two months. But he did. It's like he suddenly grew into his body. That sounds ridiculously superficial, I know. But he got a little more mature too. And I just look at him in a different way now. I don't know what to do with myself whenever he's around. I get all these butterflies in my stomach. Then, I keep wondering what it would be like to hold his hand or dance with him, or what it would be like for him to kiss me." She paused, thinking about that very thing. "But I probably shouldn't even have those thought," she said abruptly. "I mean he's my best friend. Besides, it's not like he'd ever feel the same way about me."

"Are you kidding me?!?" Evelyn cried. "Why wouldn't' he like you?"

"Be serious, Ev. What would a star Quidditch chaser want with a homely, pokey little bookworm like me?"

"When you put it like that you don't sound like much, Hermione, but that's not really you. You're more than just a bookworm and you're definitely not homely and pokey. You're very interesting and really pretty. Let me tell you something, it just might change your mind. Now, it might sound like I'm going off on a tangent but hear me out, 'kay?"

After Hermione's nod, Evelyn continued, "Now, the other day I hear Seamus tell Ron and Harry they were the luckiest guys in school because they had managed to get me, the prettiest girl in school according to him, as a best friend. He also asked how in the world they had managed that. The thing is I like Ron and Harry because, from the beginning, they didn't show any physical interest in me at all. Just the sort of interest they might've had if I was a boy. Seamus, on the other hand, always flicks his eyes up and down me when I approach him and spends a large majority of his time talking to my chest. Actually, most of the guys do that. But Ron and Harry never did. They never 'checked me out' while they talk to me and I guess that's part of the reason I like them so much. Not the only reason, but part of it. Sometimes I wondered, though. Why don't they ever check me out? Not that I want them to, I just wondered. Harry's reason is still a mystery to me but after two days here I figured out Ron's reason. He's too infatuated with you to look twice at me, or at any one else for that matter. For what is hair and a nice complexion compared to the glory and splendor that is you. I'm not joking, Hermione, so you can wipe that disbelieving look off your face. It's true. He's never once checked me out. Although he's spent a lot of class time sizing you up, if you know what I mean. If I had a sickle for every time he's borrowed my notes because he spent the whole class looking at you, I'd be a very, very rich girl. Probably a millionaire."

"Don't joke around, Evelyn. This is serious," Hermione sulked.

"I know. I'm being serious. I'm sure he likes you. Just tell him how you feel."

"I can't! What if he doesn't feel the same way? Our friendship would be ruined. I don't want that. Plus, I don't think I can take the rejection. I'll be humiliated."

"Hermione, he's not going to do that. He'll-"

"How do you know?" Hermione cut in. "How do you know what he'll do? You don't! So just go away and let me wallow in self pity," she snapped.

"Fine, Hermione. I'll leave," Evelyn sighed. "I just thought you were smarter than that."

With that she got up and walked out, closing the door softly behind her.

Author's Note: Please review and tell me what you think. Don't be mad that I didn't update. Pretty please don't be mad. Don't forget to review. It's that button down there. Thanks to all those who did review while I was gone. Please don't hate me. I'm really sorry.