Chapter Seven: Hermione's Story 3: Liz Phair's "Why Can't I?" from Win a Date With Tad Hamilton

.:*:.

I lay in bed, with my Arithmancy book on my lap. For once I couldn't read. I was too distracted. To make it worse, N.E.W.T.s were tomorrow. I groaned, rolling over, and let my book fall to the floor. I closed my eyes, smiling as I thought of Ron. I couldn't help myself anymore. I knew i hadn't lost my love for him. Whenever I thought of him, I could barely breathe. I couldn't even talk about him anymore without choking. I missed him too much.

Wouldn't it be beautiful if we got back together? But I felt like I could never have him ever again. It was too late. We had spent too much time away from each other. I had spent too much time with Draco as well.

I couldn't stop thinking about Draco either, like I have said before. I knew something was wrong with him, but he wasn't going to tell anyone. Even me.

"Here I go." I thought. "I'm back at the beginning." I got up from my bed, and headed back to the Common Room.

*

To my shock, Ron wasn't there. I searched around the whole school for him. Out of breathe, I headed to the last place I hadn't looked. The grounds.

"Ron, I'm dying here!" I said aloud as I headed outside. I was longing to hold his hand again; to kiss him. Oh why did we ever break up?

I stumbled across the grounds, thoughts running through my head on where he could be.

The best thing about breaking up is finding someone else that you can't get enough of. Finding someone that wants to be with you too. I thought I had found him, but it was impossible. I now knew Draco had a different side to him, but Ron was meant for me, and I was meant for him.

Why can't I breathe whenever I think you? I thought, trying to speak to Ron. I had to find him. I had to discard Plan A.

*

I sat down in the grass hopelessly. He wasn't anywhere. Perhaps he was trying to avoid me. I put my face in my hands, getting ready to cry. It was too late. I'd never get him back now.

My head shot up as I heard a sound near the lake, like someone throwing rocks into it. My eyes moved to where the sound was coming from, but I couldn't see through the trees. I walked towards the sound, curious. I pulled back the branches, and my heart jumped, missed a beat, flopped into my stomach, and went back to place. Ron was standing there, skipping rocks, trying to hit the squid. I moved closer, trying to be as quiet as possible. I could barely breathe.

Now I was right behind him, and he still didn't see me. I had an erdge to touch his arm, but instead, I put my hands around his eyes like he used to do to me.

"Guess who?" I managed to say. It felt so good to touch him again. He ripped my hands off of his face and whirled around, first looking surprised, then his expression softened. Our hands were still clasped together as silence rose from the lake.

"Why are you here?" he finally asked. Oh, he was being stupid Ron again. I loved it.

Why can't i breathe when I think about you?

"Because I'm madly in love with you of course!" I said loudly, making him put his arms around me like he used to do. I put my arms around his neck, and I tried to smile.

"What about Malfoy?" he asked. I started to frown.

"You didn't think he could replace you, did you?" I asked him. Ron looked speechless, which really surprised me. I could hold it in no longer. I leaned forward and kissed Ron. It was so beautiful I could barely stand up. I hadn't kissed him in so long. We pulled back, and I tried to stay standing clumsily. We stood in eachother's arms for a while, until i asked softly, 'Why aren't you studying? Tests are tomorrow, you know."

"I'm more surprised YOU aren't studying." he smiled again, and I couldn't help but to grin back.

"I... couldn't concentrate."

There was another silence where we kissed again.

"I'm so sorry Hermione." Ron said in my ear. "So am I." i said.

"Never let me do something so stupid ever again, all right?" he told me, and I nodded, staring into his eyes.

"So...." he said, trying to sound casual. I knew what he wanted to know. He tried to make a fake cough. "What have you been up to?"

I just leaned against him, hugging him. "Horrible things." I thought I could feel him and almost hear him make a silent whoop. I smiled. I knew he'd hope I'd be miserable with Malfoy. But the truth was, I wasn't. But i decided to keep that secret.

Ron and I headed out into the grounds with Harry, Luna, Ginny, and Neville during break from the N.E.W.T.s I had my hand in Ron's, and I was truely happy again. Only one thing bothered me.

I glanced to my left, and I saw Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy with him. They weren't watching, however. Draco Malfoy, the boy who had called me a Mudblood in second year, the boy I had slapped in third year, the boy who had been turned into a ferret in fourth year, and the boy who's dad was sent to jail in fifth year glanced at me, but it was a long glance. Everyone else in the world was so separate from the rest of us. When we looked at one another, I felt like a wall had closed around us, keeping us away from the rest of us. I gave him a small smile, but then quickly looked away. The wall disappeared. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin I had always thought I hated was defiantly hiding something, and he needed help. My help. He had changed. And so have I.

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?

[Ron's Story 3 coming soon! wow I love that ending! :D]