Chapter Five:

The next few weeks went by as if no time had gone by at all. Paige had become friends with Harry and Hermione, and grown closer and closer to Ron. She knew her feelings had become more than just that of a friend but still could not gain the courage to confess how she felt to him. So, a few days before Halloween she did the unthinkable and went to ask her dad about it.

The clock had just struck the hour of 5:00 meaning that her father was most likely to still have himself locked in the dungeon while preparing some more simple potions at the request of the school's mediwitch, Ms. Pomfrey. As Paige walked down the stairs towards the entrance she couldn't help but notice the dark and eerie feeling that reeked from every crack in the wall. 'This is definitely not something I want to make a habit,' she thought as she began to quicken her pace. Suddenly she stumbled and would have toppled down the stairs had it not been for the fact that her father had just been on his way up from his classroom. He held out his arms and caught her before she could completely fall.

Severus looked down at his daughter who was fuming with embarrassment. She pulled away and regained her balance while brushing her silky hair away from her eyes. At that moment he realized why Draco was continuously looking at her and begging for notice. She greatly resembled her mother and his wife. Yet as soon as thoughts of his late wife entered his mind he tried to push them aside and remain focused. "Why were you in such a rush?" he asked her as the pair walked up the stairs.

Slightly nervous Paige was silent at first with every dreadful thought going through her mind. At the end of the stone staircase Paige halted and turned to face her father, knowing that she had to speak with him. "Well…," she started unsure of exactly what to say. "I was hoping that I would be able to pilfer some words of advice from you."

A small wave of curiosity swept through Severus' head. After all, it's not a frequent thing when teenagers are looking for advice from their parentals. Without words the potions professor beckoned for his daughter to follow him and the two walked briskly to the professor's private living quarters. Upon entering memories of the night she had arrived at Hogwarts plagued her mind but she stubbornly shoved them aside in order to focus on what she was about to question her father about. Letting out a small sigh of frustration she gently sat down on the smooth, forest green material of the sofa. Once she was positive that her dad was settled she began.

"Now dad…promise you won't be upset," she said nervously. Severus quickly nodded in order for her to continue. "Well…I know Draco is your student…one of which you tend to favor above many others actually. The thing is…well, he likes me, like like's me, as in more than just a friend. But I don't like him back and he won't stop bugging me."

Before she could finish Severus interrupted her. "Paige…that's perfectly fine. Just because I appear to love that little brat doesn't mean I really do…but I know you know that too. Anyway…Mr. Malfoy is a very persistent person, and probably will continue to seek you out. Don't worry though…it's fine not to like him, or anyone for that matter."

"But I like Ron!" Paige suddenly blurted out. As the words flowed from her mouth she gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth staring at her father with her eyes widened.

Her dad could only laugh at her expression and shake his head. "That my dear, is quite obvious to pretty much everyone I'm sure, except Mr. Weasley himself," he stated as a matter of fact;ly. "I myself have known it would occur since about the first day of class. Did you honestly think you could hide it from me? I am you're father after all, and a very perceptive one at that."

The girl's emerald green eyes gawked at her father in pure shock and amazement. Then her pale cheeks were washed in bright red embarrassment. "Is it really that obvious?" she asked curiously and despairingly.

"I'm afraid so." was her father's reply. "To all those…except Mr. Weasley. He seems to be the only one too oblivious to the fact that you…like him."

Paige studied her father's face and expressions, yet she couldn't quite make them out. It was as though he was masking his true intent and she had not the power in her to crash through the barrier to see. Her heart told her she liked Ron and wanted more than anything to become more than just friends, yet her mind scolded her saying that it was not her place to disappoint her father and associate with Gryffindors. Yet…he didn't seem upset either, she simply could not tell. "Dad…what do you think of all this? I've been trying to figure you out, but I simply cannot do it. What would mom think? I just…I don't want to let you down, or do something you wouldn't like."

Severus sat for a moment to completely take in the questions and formulate a fair and honest answer. "Well…" he started. " I cannot say I truly love the idea of you having close relations with Mr. Weasley, if I did it would be a lie. However, it is for petty reasons that do not matter nor involve you in any way, and what I care for and want most is your happiness. If that includes Mr. Weasley, then so be it. I still can't understand it though…the clumsiness and such." With a warning expression on Paige's face, he moved on quickly. " As for your mother…well that should be quite obvious to you. She would want you to be happy, and would probably come back and kill me if I did anything to prevent that."

Paige sighed for a moment, but then a small smile formed on her pale pink lips as she hugged her father tightly. "Thank you for understanding," she stated happily. "Though, what I wanted to ask you was…do you think I should tell him? I want to…but I don't know if he likes me back. Besides…I think Hermione likes him too, she's been acting really strange whenever we're together. She even messed up her assignment that day in your class. I don't want to cause any trouble between anyone…especially since they've been friends for so long."

Severus looked down at his daughter who was still in his arms and smiled. "Yes…Ms. Granger does seem to have an interest in Mr. Weasley, however you must not ignore your own feelings. You should speak from your heart and tell him how you feel. Besides…it seems pretty obvious to me that he likes you too.," he answered with a witty smile. Then his smile faded and formed a more serious look. "Speaking of honesty….have you told him about your mother? About what happened that day?"

With this the young teenager's eyes dimmed and her smile faded as if it were never existent. She had grown so much since she had started school, and become able to bare with her sadness, but never since that night had she spoken of the events that occurred. After all, it is not often that one wishes to speak of how she witnessed the death of her own mother. "No…I haven't. He's asked a few times why I was crying the day we met, but I have yet to tell him…" Soon after her cheeks began to be stained by small, crystal tears that unwillingly had formed in her eyes. Quickly wiping them away she stood up and looked at her father who had a regrettable look on his face. She then smiled and shook her head. "I'm okay now though, things have been better. I suppose I should tell him, eventually I will."

Severus sighed and stood up giving his daughter one more hug. "I'm sure when the opportunity presents itself you will do the right thing. Now go on, get back to your common room."

Paige nodded gently and walked towards the door, but before she left she turned around the threw her father a smile. "Thanks for the advice," she said in a slightly more cheerful mood. Then, before he could respond she closed the door and walked off towards her common room.

Meanwhile, as she had left to talk to her father, Ron had some talking of his own to take care of. He, Harry, and Hermione sat down in the empty common room in front of a blazing fire. Ron stared into the flames with uncertainty in his eyes. 'How am I supposed to ask them?' he thought to himself. 'Should I just go right out and say it? Well…I guess there isn't much else I can do.'

Harry sat patiently waiting for his best friend to say something, anything really. Although a small smile plagued his laps as he had a pretty good idea of what Ron wanted to ask them about. He had been acting very strange the past few weeks, always turning red when Paige was around or when someone mentioned her name. It was almost as if Ron was screaming out to Hogwarts that he had a crush on the potions master's daughter. Snapping out of his thoughts Harry glances over at Hermione.

'Hermione is going to be pretty upset,' he thought as he began to fully go over the situation. 'Ron likes Paige….Hermione likes Ron, not good. It's pretty obvious that Hermione likes him to, almost everyone knows, except him that is. Then throw Draco into the batch and you've got a real life soap opera.' Sighing slightly he looked at Ron and then lifted his head. 'Better get this started…' he thought with worry and anxiousness. "Ron, what did you want to ask us about?"

Harry stifled a laugh as Ron began to blush again from his cheeks to his ears, wearing a shy, sheepish smile. "Well…I guess, I was kind of hoping I could ask you guys for some advice. I know you two are both way better at this kind of stuff than I am anyway…" Ron said slowly in a small voice.

Hermione looked over at him nervously. 'What in the world is he talking about?' she wondered silently. However, she knew in her heart that he was most likely referring to a particular girl who had long black hair and emerald green eyes. For a moment Hermione narrowed her eyes in envy but quickly shoved her feelings to the back of her mind. 'This is no time to think like that. Besides, he hasn't confirmed my assumption yet, and it is not good do ever assume anything.'

Ron began to fidget around a little, lightly tapping his hands on his lap and looking down at the ground. "Well, I always screw up when I try to talk about how I feel, but I don't want to do that this time. You see…well…I like Paige, and I want to tell her," he finally confessed. " I mean…she's so kind, and wonderful and nice. Ever since I first met her I guess I've kind of liked her. She's always willing to help people out, and she's been someone I could talk to, not that I can't talk to you of course…you know what I mean, I hope. And she's very pretty…her eyes, I could drown in them!" By now he had a huge smile on his face and wore a bright expression.

"She's never declined a request for help, I mean, she's skipped two grades after all! And she's told me stuff…stuff that only I get to know. She's slowly become closer and closer to me and I just can't help but like her. Everything about her is well…perfect. She's funny too…you know, she always has a story to tell. It's even given me another way to look at Professor Snape. Granted in class I still think he's an oily git, but I also know that I don't really know him personally. She's helped me out in so many ways…I just…simply like her. Don't get me wrong, you two are my best friends, so I don't mean to offend you…she's just, well, different I guess."

As Ron was blabbing on about how wonderful the young 6th year Slytherin was Hermione was barely listening anymore. Each sentence that came out of the red head's mouth seemed to pierce through her heart. She could only stare at the ground and try to block out her secret crush's voice. 'Paige…ugh, it's not fair!' she thought to herself bitterly. Anger, sadness, and jealousy were all present in her heart. 'I've been there for him since our first year. Whenever he needed help I was there. Besides…she's two years younger than us, and in Slytherin…it's just not fair.'

Suddenly Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts at the sound of her name. "Earth to Hermione," Ron called out waving his hang in her face. " Are you alive?"

Hermione slowly raised her head and slowly pushed Ron's hand back away from her face. " I most certainly am," she snapped. With that, not wanting to stay and listen to more about how wonderful his little Paige was she got up and stormed up the stairs to the girls dormitory.

Ron sat there staring at the now vacant chair, both shocked and speechless as to what had just occurred. 'I wonder what that was all about…I was really hoping for her help," he thought to himself troubled and saddened.

Harry too glanced over at where Hermione had once sat but was neither shocked or speechless. He was well aware of what had just taken place even if his best friend was not. Sighing to himself he turned back to Ron. " Ron…don't be upset with Hermione, that's all I ask. I myself think she's being a tad bit overdramatic but still…I guess it's understandable," he stated. As Ron's expression changed from shocked to utterly confused Harry went on. " Hermione…she likes you Ron. It started last year, but she was too nervous to ever tell you. That's why she got all upset when you verbally declared that you like Paige.."

The red haired prefect slid back into the chair he was sitting in and sighed. 'How could things be any worse? How could I not have noticed?? Hermione must hate me right now…how can I confess my feelings to Paige now?'

Sensing Ron's hesitation Harry quickly spoke up again. "Don't second think you're plans to tell Paige Ron." he stated. " I know you don't want to hurt Hermione because she's your friend, but I know her, and she'll get over it. Believe me,, if you don't tell Paige how you feel you'll end up regretting it, trust me. Besides…I think it's pretty obvious that a certain Slytherin has feelings for you too," Harry added with a knowing smile."

With the last of Harry's statements Ron turned beat red once more and smiled happily. "Do you really think so? But…how am I going to tell her? And what if you're wrong and she doesn't like me? I don't know what I'd do…" Ron said rushed.

Harry smiled to himself, a plan formulating in his head. "I'll just have to help you out then," he replied smiling wittily. "Besides…I've got the best idea in the world."

Ron was about to ask him what it was but instead let out a long drawn out yawn. Harry laughed once more and then stood up pulling Ron up with him. "Come on, I think we both need some sleep. We've got a few days to set the plan into action."

Ron gave him a questioning look but only got a smile in reply. Knowing that he was in good hands Ron just shrugged and the two went upstairs to get some sleep.