DISCLAIMER:  "This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended."

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Chapter One:

I Need You to Be Honest

Six months had passed since Ron and I broke up.  For the rest of sixth year, Ron and I acted like the good friends we had always been.  We didn't speak of the break up or our past relationship; it was mutually an off-limits topic.  Things were almost as good during those few months as they had been while we were together…except now we were apart.  In that way, I guess things were better than before.  We were happy to spend time together, but we were just as happy to be on our own.  I was able to focus on my schoolwork again and just barely managed to finish out the year at the top of the class. 

Then came the summer, during which we never spoke, not even by owl.  Part of me wanted nothing more than to talk to him, but I pushed out those ridiculous feelings by keeping myself busy from dawn to dusk.    When we went back to school, everything was the same as it had been the year before.  We were still great friends who had a lot of fun with one another.  When the days blended into autumn, I began to realize that I was not just friends with Ron.  My heart told me that I wanted him back…as a boyfriend. 

The last Saturday in November was a Hogsmeade weekend.  I went with Ron and Harry to the Three Broomsticks.  All month I had been thinking of conveying my feelings to Ron, but I was afraid.  I was afraid that if we got back together, it would only end in heartbreak again. 

"Hermione!" I heard as I walked into the Three Broomsticks.  I glanced around trying to see who was calling me.  "Hermione, over here!" 

I looked over into a secluded corner, and saw Ginny sitting at a table with some of her sixth year friends. 

"I'll meet you guys in a few minutes," I told Ron and Harry as I headed to Ginny's table.  I sat down in an empty chair and began gossiping with the sixth year girls.  After Madam Rosmerta brought me a tall butterbeer, I felt ready to dive into serious conversation.  "Ginny, I need some advice."

"Well, that's what I'm here for!" she exclaimed with a smile.  She looked over at the other girls who dutifully left the table to ogle over Ron and Harry.  I chuckled as the blushing girls joined the Quidditch stars, but Ginny quickly stole my attention.  "What's up, 'Mione?"

"It's…it's about your brother, Ginny," I said, a little embarrassed.  "I was sort of thinking about getting back together with him."

Ginny, who had been in the middle of drinking butterbeer, choked on her drink and began sputtering all over the table.  Once she finally cleared her airway she looked at me as if I were insane.  "Why on earth would you want to do that?"

"Well…I miss him," I said simply.  "We're such great friends now, even though I never thought we could be, and I want there to be more."

"Is it really worth it, Hermione?" she asked concernedly.  "You weren't really happy with him, after all."

"That's not true!" I protested.  "We were very happy together.  Things just sort of tapered off in the end.  We needed a break, and now we've had one.  Isn't it time that we stop denying our feelings?"

"Hermione, listen to me, will you?" she said seriously.  "I haven't said anything because I didn't want to upset you, but now I know that I have to tell you, there's no way around it." She hesitated for a moment as I sat on pincushions hanging on her bated breath.  "I think Ron has a girlfriend."

The words hit me like a bucket of ice water.  I sat in shock for a long time before I forced myself to breath.  Ron had been so sweet to me up to that point.  I had never seen another girl around him.  How could it be true?  How could he betray me like that?

"It can't be true," I whispered in denial.  "It just can't be."

"Listen, Hermione, I'm really sorry.  I wish I didn't have to be the one to tell you," she said in a rush.

"But he's been so nice to me, Ginny!  He's been just like he was before he asked me out.  He wouldn't be acting like that if there was someone else," I tried to convince myself as tears formed in my eyes.  "And if there is someone else, why haven't I seen her?"

Ginny shifted uncomfortably in her chair.  She hated having to be the barer of bad news.  I looked on her with bitterness and hatred, but I knew that I would later be glad she confronted me with the truth. 

"Her name is Sylvia," Ginny said quietly.  "She's on the Quidditch team this year—our newest Chaser.  I don't know much about her except that she is in fifth year.  She's pretty popular in her own year, according to Dennis Creevey.  She and Ron started talking at the beginning of the year when training started and they became fast friends.  I didn't think anything about it until just recently.  By the way they act around each other and how they always come and leave together, I have the feeling they are more than friends."

"You have a feeling?" I repeated, grasping for some feeble thread of hope.  "If it's just a feeling, than that means you have no proof."

"Ok, I admit it," Ginny exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air.  "I have no concrete evidence that there is someone else he's fooling around with, but I think it's important that you talk to him before you think anymore about getting back together."

I sighed dejectedly.  "I suppose you're right, Ginny."

"Hermione, I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have told you."

"No, Ginny.  I needed to know.  I will probably thank you later for saving me from making a complete ass out of myself."  I took a last swig of my butterbeer and stood up from the table.  "I'm going to go for a walk, Ginny.  I think I need some time alone.  I'll see you back at the castle."  Without another look back at her or the table with Ron and Harry, I left the Three Broomsticks and headed out into the biting October wind. 

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I stood in the cold near the end of the road, leaning against the fence that overlooked the Shrieking Shack.  I had been there for almost an hour, just thinking.  Suddenly I heard the soft tread of footsteps approaching.  I continued to stare at the dilapidated house as the person drew nearer.  Finally he was next to me, leaning against the fence and mimicking my gaze at the house. 

"What are you doing out here, Hermione?" Ron asked quietly. 

"I needed to think," I said simply. 

"Are you…okay?"

I took a deep breath and turned towards him.  I felt the same suffocating hold of inevitability that I did the night we broke up.  I was afraid of asking him about what Ginny said.  I felt like I didn't even need to ask because I knew it couldn't be true, but even as I thought that I knew I was only lying to myself.  I was afraid that Ginny spoke the truth.  I needed to know what was really going on.  I wasn't going to be played. 

 "Ron, I need to talk to you," I said quietly.  I could tell that I held his attention now.  He looked at me carefully, trying to figure out what was on my mind.  I felt a few raindrop fall on my face.    

"What is it?" he asked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

I sighed, glancing up at the sky.  It was darkening to an ominous shade of gray.  I decided I wasn't going to beat around the bush.  I needed answers.  "I need to ask you a question and I want you to be completely honest with me."

"Of course, Hermione," he said truthfully.  He stood up straight as if saying he was ready for whatever I was going to throw at him. 

I took a deep breath and, my eyes on trailing the ground, said quickly:  "Do you have a girlfriend?"

I waited for the answer with my eyes still on the ground.  He said nothing at first.  My heart started to beat faster as my mind pleaded, how long does it take to say no?  Unable to stand the silence any longer I looked up at him.  He had foregone his arrogant stance and now looked extremely uncomfortable. 

"Well?" I asked impatiently.  The tears began to fill my eyes as the unspoken truth became evident. 

"Well, I guess I sort of do," he mumbled.  "She's not officially my girlfriend, but recently we've become more than friends."

"'More than friends'?" I repeated as my eyes brimmed with tears.  "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well," he blushed his signature shade of crimson, "we've kissed a couple times."

"Oh…my…god…" I said breathlessly as the first of a flood of tears fell from my eyes.  I didn't know what to say.  I turned away from him and leaned my elbows on the fence, burying my head in my hands.  I felt the raindrops falling quicker into a steady drizzle.  He remained next to me as I gathered my thoughts.  The truth is, I had considered this outcome while I waited for him and I planned out some things to say.  It may sound pathetic, but it was the only way to ensure that I told him everything I needed to.  "I can't believe you kept this from me."

"Listen, Hermione, I'm really sorry," he pleaded putting his hand on my arm.  "I should have told you, I know.  It was stupid to try to keep it from you." 

I shook his hand away.  "It sure was.  I don't suppose you know how this feels, do you?  I feel so betrayed, Ron, you have no idea." He made a move to but in.  "No, you need to just listen for a minute before I get so overwhelmed by tears that I can't get out what I need to say.  You betrayed me, Ron.  You made me think that I was the most important person to you.  You made me feel like I was the center of your world.  Then I find out that you're making out with this other girl.  My god, Ron, do you know what that's doing to me?  I feel like shit! I feel like you don't think I am worth you time or all your feelings.  I feel like you were just playing around with me.  I have known for a long time that you had feelings for me, but I never chose to acknowledge them.  Obviously you were tired of waiting for me to come crawling back, so you wanted to get some action elsewhere.  Still, you didn't want to cut me out completely, so you left the back door open in case I sidled back in.  You pathetic, spineless bastard! You don't even have the courage to tell me that you're moving on.  That is just pathetic!"

I spat my words and spun around in a huff, heading back toward the town.  The tears were falling in streams down my cheeks.   The rain began to fall harder.  The drizzle was now becoming a heavy shower.

"Hermione, wait!" Ron called from behind me.  I stopped and turned around slowly, holding my ground.  "Do you think we can still be friends?"

At his words more a tears fell from my eyes.  "No, Ron, I don't think we can be friends, not after what you did to me."  I forced myself to turn around and walk quickly back through the vicious downpour to the busy town.  I didn't bother staying in Hosmeade; instead, I returned to Hogwarts.  I walked up to my dormitory with blinders on my eyes.  I was oblivious to everything around me except my raging mind.  I sat down on my bed and cried out all my pain.  As I wept I clutched the stick in my chest where my heart was ripping to pieces. 

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[A/n]:  (Date changed from October to November for the purpose of later chapters.)  Please continue to review! It causes a pleasant WAFF (warm and fuzzy feeling).  I appreciate those of you who have already reviewed—fanfict and blackrose1507—I love you!!  As it is 0037 it is now acceptable to wish everyone a Merry Christmas Eve!! ~M.O.E.