Hermione sat on the edge of her bed and sobbed. How could Ron do this to her? She buried her face into her pillow. A knock came on the door.

"Hermione, can I come in?" Ron's voice sounded timid and regretful.

"Go away, Ron, just go away and leave me alone!" She turned back to her pillow. She knew that he would come in anyway.

She was right. She heard the door open and someone walk in. A moment later Ron sat down on the bed beside her and put his arm on her shoulder.

"Hermione, I am really, really sorry. I...well..." An explanation failed him. "I didn't mean to...it just happened. She came up to me when I was sitting on the couch and kissed me...I don't know what came over me, but I kissed her back...Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry!" He hesitated before speaking again. "I love you, Hermione."

"All right, Ron, I believe you. You have my forgiveness."

Ron's face lit up. "Great! So will you go to the dance with me?"

Hermione sat up. "I can't believe the nerve of some people! Do you think it's that easy for you to get me? Do you think I am some toy you can pick up at any time and play with? Well, I'm not!" The tears started down her face again. "Why can't you be a gentleman, like Harry?" With that, she ran out of the room, leaving Ron stunned.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Hermione wasn't at dinner that evening. Ron and Harry sat in an awkward silence. Something was bugging Ron ever since Hermione exploded at him.

"Harry, this morning, Hermione asked me why I couldn't be a gentleman...like you." Ron shifted uncomfortably. "Does she....fancy you, Harry? And tell the truth."

Harry looked at his best friend and couldn't help laughing. "Hermione and me? We are just friends! She loves you, Ron, not me. I don't think you should worry about it. It will work out."

"She might not love me after today," Ron mumbled.

But this little talk with Harry relieved Ron a little, and he was relaxed, at least for a few moments.

"Oh Roooooooon! Wait up!" Lavander ran up behind him and threw her arms around his neck. "When are you going to ask me to the Winter dance?"

"Me? Ask you? I never said I would," Ron puzzled.

"Well, I know you asked Hermione, but since she doesn't like you, you should go with me."

"She--she doesn't like me?" Ron's hopes fell. "Did she say that?

"Yes, last night. She told me that she was using you, to get to your brother...George," Lavender lied.

Ron was furious, at Hermione, and at himself, for not seeing this before. How could Hermione do that to him? He had to take revenge.

"Oh, well then Lavender, will you go to the dance with me?" He forced these words out with much effort. He knew he still loved Hermione, but maybe this would be enough to make her jealous.

Lavender squealed. "Oh Ron!" She leaned over to kiss him, but he pulled away, and just in time to see a girl run by with tears streaming down her face. He recognized her as Hermione Granger.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Hermione's stomach growled. She looked at her watch. Ron and Harry should be leaving dinner about now, she thought. I'll head down there now.

She got up and started downstairs, hoping not to run into Ron. She got to the common room and noticed that Neville was already there. "Oh, hello Neville," Hermione said.

"Hermione, you know that Ron really loves you? He--he was crying last night because he thought you hated him."

"Really? Um...well, thanks Neville. I am going down to dinner now, ok? See you later."

Hermione's spirits were up. Ron must really like me then! she thought. As she ran down the stairs, she heard voices. She crept closer and recognized the voice to be Ron's. It said, "Oh, well Lavender, will you go to the dance with me?" Hermione's heart stopped. Anger filled her and tears started to run down her cheeks again. She ran past Lavender just as she was about to kiss Ron, and kept running, not stopping to look and see if Ron had seen her.