Chapter eleven - Hermione's choice

Hermione's POV

"What?!" I cried. "How can you make me choose?! That's not fair!" I yelled. "It's not fair that you like both of us, you have to choose. It's the only way" Ron replied, staring at the floor. I can't believe this is happening. What on earth am I supposed to do? I can't choose one of them and not the other; I care for them too much.

"Look, can't I just have a little time to think about this?" I asked. "Yeah, sure" Ron said. Two seconds later… "Decided yet?" "Ron! You have to give me more time!" I said, slightly annoyed. "You've had plenty of time to think about this before while you've been stringing us two along!" Ron said.

I looked down, Ron's words felt like I'd been stabbed by a knife. My very heart broke and scattered everywhere beyond repair. "How can you say that, Ron? I didn't ask for this to happen, surely you can understand that". "Yeah, sorry" Ron mumbled, but he didn't sound as though he meant it.

"If you're going to take that tone with me Ronald Weasley, then I don't think I will give you an answer!" I said indignantly. Ron looked absolutely outraged. "Grow up Hermione! You can't just not give me an answer!" Ron yelled back, his ears reddening. 

"Me grow up!? What about you and the way you've been behaving recently? You ignore the fact that I'm a girl for years and then suddenly, when someone takes notice and asks me to the Yule ball, then suddenly you like me!" I replied, but I suddenly regretted my words.

Ron looked at me with a serious expression. "How did you know I started liking you in our forth year?" he asked tonelessly. My eyes shifted nervously. "I just guessed… because you were all… annoyed and everything". But my expression and voice made it obvious that I was lying.

"Is that the truth, Hermione?" Ron asked calmly. I looked at the floor and murmured: "No". "You heard me didn't you? When me and Harry were talking, you weren't asleep" Ron said. I was afraid to look up at him. "Please look at me"

I lifted my head and stared into his deep blue eyes. "I'm sorry" I muttered. Ron's whole appearance seemed to change in a split second. His face turned a dark crimson, his eyes were bulging slightly and his fingers were writhing.

"How could you!" Ron bellowed. "Why were you listening to my private conversations?! How dare you!" he yelled. "How dare I? What about you! Talking about me to Harry and not telling me why you hit Seamus and hiding you're feelings for me!" I retorted. 

"Oh! You always have to bring him up don't you? Precious Seamus, your lover boy!" Ron stated, rolling his eyes. "Don't talk about him like that!" I yelled. "Why? Does it bother you? Does it break your ickle heart if I speak wrongly of your boyfriend?"

Ron emphasised on the word 'boyfriend'. Everything went silent for a moment. "I've had enough of this; I want to go to bed!" I said with a hint of anger still visible in my voice. "We're not finished yet" Ron said. I looked at him angrily. "What do we have to talk about!?" I asked but already knowing the answer. "Who are you going to choose? Me or Seamus?" Ron asked.

"What about me?" came a voice from behind us. We both turned around and there was Seamus who seemed confused. "Seamus…" I said softly. "Are you ok, Hermione?" Seamus asked, glancing at Ron. "I'm fine" I answered.

"You're just in time, Seamus" Ron said. "Am I? What for?" Seamus asked, standing next to Hermione. "Hermione's about to choose who she wants to be with, you or me" Ron replied. "Oh… Are you sure about this?" Seamus asked me. I nodded. Now was the time for my choice, once and for all. Seamus or Ron…

No one's POV

Hermione grabbed the hand of one of the boys and lifted her head and smiled at him.

Ginny's POV

I just stood there in complete shock. This has to be some kind of joke, Harry would never like me, there have been no signs that he does. What about when he kissed you on the cheek a voice said in my head. Maybe this was real, maybe he does like me.

"What did you say?" I asked warily, walking closer to him. "I love you" Harry repeated. I looked into his amazing green eyes and believed him. I stepped closer and was only a few inches apart from him. My heart was beating rapidly in my chest as we both leaned in.

Our lips met into a long, desirable kiss. The kiss was soft at first but then harder but then soft again. Harry's hands were on my waist and mine were stroking his back. We both parted our lips and let our tongues explore the other person's mouth. It seemed to go on for centuries until we finally broke apart.

"I love you too, Harry" I whispered softly.

Ron's POV

And Seamus smiled back at her. My heart shattered and my eyes were brimmed with invisible tears. "I'm sorry, Ron" Hermione said softly. I felt a mixture of emotions, hurt, pain and anger. "How… c-could you c-choose him o-over me?" I spluttered.

Hermione bowed her head and gave no reply. I wanted to run, to cry, to yell but I knew I couldn't do any of these things while I was still attached to Hermione. "I don't want to be near you!" I yelled, controlling my tears. "I don't want us handcuffed together!" I tried pulling on my wrist, trying to get free but to no avail.

"Ron, please calm down" Hermione said. "Don't tell me what to do or how to feel!" I yelled back at her. "I think you better leave us for a while, Seamus" Hermione told him gently. "Ok" Seamus replied and he left through the portrait hole.

Me and Hermione sat down again and there was silence. Hermione looked at me as though she wanted to explain but I couldn't take it any more. "I understand" I said. Hermione smiled at me warmly. "Let's go to bed" she replied. I nodded and we walked up the staircase to our room.

When we were both ready and in bed I just lay there with my eyes open and staring. Instead of punching my pillow or cursing under my breath, tears splattered down my cheeks. That very night, I cried myself to sleep…

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A/N: *Sniffle sniffle* I'm so sorry I had to do that but I needed to. If you want to review and tell me how annoyed you are with me, I understand. Thank you.