Note: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is the official writer of the books, as you all know.

Hey! I finally finished the 6th Chapter! Hope you like it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- CHAPTER 6: Only Now

It was a cool Thursday afternoon. Snow started falling from the sky as a sign of the nearing Christmas holidays. Their Divination class just ended and Harry and his friends headed for the Gryffindor Tower.

GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM

The Gryffindor Common Room was quite boisterous that day. Everyone was rushing because they have to finish their end of semester projects. Hermione hasn't talked with Harry ever since the agruement and Harry was quite guilty for answering back rudely at Hermione. As for Ron, he's been hanging out with Sally more often, which makes Lavender so disappointed of him.

"I don't know if I'm the only one who noticed this but, Ron has been hanging out with that Sally girl all day. It's like he's no longer one of us anymore." Parvati said as she sat on the couch near the fireplace.

"You're not the only one who noticed, Parvati." Seamus answered as he sat beside her. "He even joins her in breakfast, lunch and dinner!"

"Yeah..the both of them got along pretty quick. I wonder what Ron has in mind.." Neville said with his arms crossed. Lavender stared at him curiously.

Soon, Ginny entered the common room.

"Hey Ginny!" Dean greeted nicely.

"Hey!" Ginny looks around the room as if looking for someone. "Where's my brother?"

"Obviously, he's with Sally." Seamus said irritably.

"Again? He's being obsessed with her already." Ginny said as she sat beside Seamus.

"Yeah and who knows the both of them might end up into a boyfriend- girlfriend relationship at the end of the day!" Dean said harshly. Lavender stayed silent.

"Well I hope not. 'Cause if that happens someone will surely be upset!" Parvati said teasingly as she looked at Lavender. Lavender looked back at her best friend with narrowed eyes and her lips motioned the words "Shut Up".

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Meanwhile, Ron, as expected, is with Sally. The both of them were walking down the snowy grounds of the castle. Ron never felt this comfortable around a girl aside from Hermione.

"So..what are your plans for the Yule Ball?" Sally asked Ron nicely.

"Uh..I don't know..I still don't have a date." Ron said quite disappointed.

"Really?!" Sally said excitedly but suddenly changed the tone of her voice into a more serious one. "I mean, really? That's sad."

"It's Ok with me."

"It is?"

"Y-yeah..why?"

"You're going to look like a total loser if you won't take someone with you. I mean, you're the Gryffindor quidditch captain! you certainly wouldn't want to look like a dork around your friends.." Sally said casually. Ron stared at her clueless.

"But I'm not quite sure who to ask.." Ron said slowly, having a sudden thought of Lavender.

"Well.." Sally paused, had a deep sigh and continued. "If it's Ok with you...we..we can go together..I mean, I also don't have a date so..we might as well...like..go together." she finished the statement with great difficulty.

Ron's blank stare was suddenly wiped off by a really huge smile.

"Sure! I'd love to go with you!" Ron said happily. Sally started to blush. "We're going to have so much fun!"

"Yeah..I hope so." Sally answered. The both of them were so happy. Ron took Sally's hand and together, they walked back inside the castle.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- LIBRARY

The library was packed with busy students. Not to mention that it was the only time wherein Madame Pince experienced lack of books due to a lot of students from 1st-7th year borrowing them for researches. It was already 7:30 in the evening and the students didn't even bother to go down and eat dinner. Harry and Hermione were quietly doing their Transfiguration homework to be passed the following day. Harry felt awkward. He wasn't used to Hermione being so silent. Come to think of it, it was his fault that she got angry with him. After an hour, the library started to empty except for Harry and Hermione who was still doing their very long research and unfortunately, Hermione still wasn't saying a single word to Harry. Soon, Harry decided to grab Hermione's attention. He coughed slightly to see if Hermione would notice, but she didn't even lift her head from the book she was reading to look at Harry. Harry coughed and coughed this time a bit louder to the point that Madame Pince had to call his attention to tell him to keep quiet. Hermione was aware of what Harry was trying to do but still, she didn't mind him and continued working. Getting impatient, Harry decided to get this over and done with by speaking up.

"Hermione..look, I'm sorry." Harry said sincerely. Hermione stopped what she was doing but still wasn't looking at Harry. Harry continued. "I shouldn't have been rude."

Again, both of them were silent. Harry looked at Hermione with full sincerity. Still, Hermione refused to respond.

"I mean it. I promise not to do anything like that again." Harry said sounding a bit desperate. "Please."

Hermione slowly lifted her head and looked at Harry. Harry didn't take his eyes off her. Hermione stared at Harry's beautiful green eyes, so long that she almost felt like she was melting. Harry gave her a faint smile, which made Hermione feel like melting even more. At long last, Hermione spoke.

"You promise?" Hermione said gently.

"I promise."

Hermione stared blankly back at her book, then back to Harry.

"Fine." Hermione said flatly giving Harry a faint smile. Harry smiled back.

Again, Harry's adorable green eyes caught Hermione's attention. The flame among the torches reflected a peaceful glow on his eyes. She stared so long that she didn't realize that Harry was telling her that they should go.

"Hermione, we better get going it's getting late...Hermione? Hello? Hermione?" Harry snapped his finger at her and finally, Hermione got back to her senses.

"Y-yes?"

"I said we have to go. It's 8:45. The library will close in fifteen minutes."

"Right." Hermione stood up and got her stuff, Harry did the same. They walked towards the entrance and noticed that Madame Pince was no longer in the reception.

"That's odd..Madame Pince is always the last to leave the library.." Hermione wondered. Harry walked towards the door to open it but to his surprise it was locked.

"Madame Pince left already. The door is locked." Harry said as he tried to pull the door hard but still it won't open.

"Harry.." Hermione called. Harry looked back at Hermione with both hands still on the door handle. Hermione held her wand up with her right hand. 'Now why didn't I think of that!' Harry told himself. Hermione walked confidently towards the door, pushing Harry gently out of the way. She pointed her wand towards the keyhole but before she could cast a spell, Harry interrupted.

"Uh.Hermione..the door is actually locked from the other side."

Now Hermione definitely didn't think of that. She got quite embarrassed of herself, although she didn't show it. Instead, she tried to act bossy so that Harry won't notice. She surely doesn't want to look stupid in front of Harry.

"Look I know what I'm doing. Now stand back.." Hermione said with her usual bossy tone. She pointed at the small keyhole and muttered "Alohomora!"

They waited but nothing happened.

"Alohomora!" Hermione repeated but still the door remained unlocked. "Alohomora! Alohomora!" she muttered the words once more, now with an irritable tone.

"Let me try." Harry got the wand from Hermione, pointed it once again on the lock and muttered the words "Alohomora!"

Once again they waited in silence but still, nothing happened except for bright spark, which came out of the wand.

"So...how are we going to get out?" Harry asked scratching the back of his head.

"I have no idea..." Hermione answered as she sat on the floor, feeling hopeless.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Back in the common room, Ron together with his "friends" was also finishing their Transfiguration assignment. But everyone seemed cold and quiet, Ron noticed. They didn't even greet him when he came in the common room, except for Ginny who gave him a slight smile but still full o awkwardness.

"Uh...so...where's Harry and Hermione?" Ron asked feeling a bit stupid. No one tried to answer except for Ginny.

"I think they're at the library." Ginny answered without taking her eyes off the Defense Against the Dark arts book she was holding.

"Oh."

Ron looked around at his friends who remained silent. They actually just pretended to be reading something just to avoid a conversation with Ron. They were still irritated with his actions. Ron, totally unaware of what was going on, tried to begin a conversation again.

"So..any.plans for the..upcoming ball?" Ron asked but still none of his friends answered. It was like talking to a wall, he thought. Being nice as she was, Ginny answered her brother.

"I'm going with Neville again. Right, Nev?" Ginny said cheerfully as she looked at Neville whose face is covered with a huge Transfiguration book. Neville put the book down gently and nodded awkwardly at Ginny. "How about you? Who's your date?"

Upon hearing this, Lavender started to listen although she still kept her head down. She wanted to know if Ron asked someone already.

"Ah.." Ron moved her eyes toward Lavender who was now looking at him with raised eyebrows. He quickly moved his eyes back at Ginny but before he could answer, Dean immediately spoke.

"You don't have to ask him, Ginny. It's quite obvious that he's already going with the oh-so-beautiful Sally!" Dean said irritably.

"Yeah. Hermione was right! I really have no idea why guys love girls who are good in Quidditch! It breaks friendships!" Parvati said at the same tone as Dean's.

"Why are you all so angry?" Ron asked with full curiosity.

"It's because it seems that you're no longer our friend anymore!" Neville said angrily.

"Why?!"

"It's because ever since you and Sally got along well, you've been hanging out with her all day for 2 straight days already! You don't even care to stop by and say hello to us!" Parvati answered back.

"You don't even join us during breakfast, lunch and dinner anymore.." Seamus said as quickly as possible.

Everyone fell silent. Ron thought about it. It was only that time he realized that his friends were right. He never had time for his friends ever since Sally came along. He suddenly felt guilty thinking about it. He decided to apologize.

"I'm sorry." Ron said. "I feel so stupid. How can I not realize that not until now. C'mon guys, I'm sorry! I really mean it."

Everyone remained silent. Ron looked at them with great sincerity. Parvati, having noticed Ron's heartfelt apology, decided to accept it.

"Oh.alright! Apology accepted!" Ron smiled at Parvati. "But I don't know if the others will.."

Ron glanced at his friends. They were staring at him as if having second thoughts about forgiving him. Lavender kept her head down, not daring to say a single word.

"C'mon guys! You're certainly not serious about not talking to Ron forever!" Parvati said trying to convince her friends.

"Fine! Just make sure you won't forget about us the next time you want to make new friends." Dean said casually as he offered Ron a handshake.

Seamus and Neville gave Ron a friendly hug and soon everything was back to normal again.well.except for Lavender. Everyone motioned Ron to talk to Lavender, but he actually doesn't know the exact words to say to her. Everyone started talking about the Yule Ball again.

"Mom already sent me the dress I'm going to wear just this morning." Parvati said excitedly.

"I'm sure you're gonna look good on it.." Seamus told Parvati, winking devilishly at her. Parvati shrugged.

"How's your relationship with Padma?" Ginny asked Dean.

"We're doing good." Dean said confidently. "How about you Ron? Who's your date? You haven't told us yet."

Everyone stared at Ron. They were pretty much curious about Ron's date. Lavender lifted her head up to listen to what Ron has to say.

"I..ah.." Ron glanced at Lavender who quickly turned away, avoiding his eyes.

"C'mon Ron, spill." Neville said, moving closer to Ron.

"I.. have.I have.a.date already.." Ron said with great difficulty.

"Let me guess... It's Sally, isn't it?" Ginny asked.

"Ah.y-yeah."

Lavender felt disappointed. A lot of boys in different years tried to ask her if she could be their date. She didn't accept their offer because she was waiting for Ron to ask her, but unfortunately, he already asked someone else. Feeling a bit sad, she decided to just go back to the girls dormitory.

"Hey.. I.. I have to go.upstairs.. now.I'll just..see you tomorrow.. Goodnight." Lavender said as she gently picked up her books and walked toward the spiral staircase leading to the girls' dormitories and out of sight. Ron felt bad. It was Lavender whom he wanted to ask in the first place.

"I was expecting that you would ask her.." Parvati told Ron irritably, went to the spiral staircase and out of sight. Meanwhile, Neville started looking around the room.

"Hey.. where's Harry and Hermione?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

LIBRARY

It was already 10:00 in the evening and still, Harry and Hermione was still inside the library. They tried to unlock the door several times with magic, but still nothing happened. They tried to look for a key, but the couldn't find any. Feeling tired, Hermione sat on the floor beside the door with her head leaning on her tucked knees.

"We are so doomed!" Hermione said hopelessly. Harry sat beside her. "Are you sure there's no key?" she added.

"I've already looked everywhere." Harry said as he leaned his head on the door behind him. "I just wish that Nearly Headless Nick or any other ghost would pass by and let us out."

Hermione lifted her head up. "I can't believe Madame Pince didn't even care to check if there were still people in here before she left!" she said angrily.

"Chill out, Hermione.It's as if something bad is going to happen to us here."

The both of them fell silent. All they could hear is the sound of the flickering flame on the torches. Soon, Harry once again spoke.

"So. did someone ask you to the ball yet?" Harry asked.

"Oh.um.y-yeah. someone.did.." Hermione answered, but the truth is no one asked her yet. She thinks that she would look stupid if she told Harry that no one asked her. She knows that Harry would ask Cho and there's no point hoping for him to invite her to the ball.

"Really? Who?"

"Oh.ah.. some.Hufflepuff guy.. 7th year.." Hermione lied.

"Oh." Harry said. Once again both of them fell silent. After a few minutes of staring on the ground, Harry moved his eyes back at Hermione and suddenly he realized something. He stared at Hermione's profile as if trying to figure out something in his head. It was only then that he realized how pretty Hermione was. Hermione noticed Harry's stare.

"Is there something wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing." Harry said as he stared a little longer at Hermione's face without even blinking.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh.ah.sorry." Harry finally came back to his right mind. "It's just that.you. you look nice." he stuttered.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione said blushing a bit. "I know. you must be sleepy. You better---"

"No. it's true. you look. nice tonight." Harry said without letting Hermione finish. He now felt his heart beat so fast which never happened whenever he talked to Hermione. Hermione tried so hard not to turn red.

"But Cho looks nicer." she said.

"You.you think so?"

"Yeah..I mean. everyone admires her. She's pretty and smart. But look at me. I'm just the same old know-it-all girl who thinks she knows everything in the entire universe. Not to mention the ugly hair." Hermione said as she stared on the floor.

"That's not a bad thing." Harry said nicely. " Being a know-it-all is not bad. Everyone is beautiful in his or her own way. You.. You're beautiful because you are intelligent and you're always there when Ron and I have something we can't solve by ourselves. You're beautiful not only at the inside but also physically." Harry smiled at Hermione. They both turned a bit pink. Before Hermione could respond, a familiar hoarse voice spoke. It was Peeves.

"Aww. how sweet!" he said as he moved closer to Harry and Hermione. "What are you doing here in this time of night?"

"None of your business!" Harry said as he stood up.

"Ooh. a little hot headed today eh, Potter?" Peeves said provokingly. "Maybe this can cool you down!" Peeves started throwing snowballs at Harry.

"Cut it out, Peeves!" Harry shouted. Peeves continued throwing snowballs at Harry but soon stopped when he heard someone call.

"PEEVES!!!" a deep voice bellowed.

"Yikes! Gotta run!" Peeves floated as fast as he could, then out of sight. Soon the Bloody Baron showed up.

"Ah excuse me, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger but have you seen Peeves?" the Baron asked respectfully.

"He went that way!" Harry pointed at the very direction where Peeves floated away.

"Thank you.PEEVES! Come out, Come out, wherever you are!" The Baron said as he glided through the wall leading to the other room, then out of sight. "I wonder why Peeves is so frightened of the Bloody Baron." Hermione wondered as she remained seated on the floor.

"I have no idea. It must be serious, though." Harry answered.

"Hey are you Ok?" Hermione said as she stood up and walked towards Harry. Suddenly, she stepped on a piece of melted snow left from Peeves' snowballs, accidentally slipped and almost fell face flat on the floor. Harry caught her with his arms. Harry's arms were around Hermione's waist. Their faces were just inches away from each other. They glared at each other's eyes. When they realized what was happening, Harry quickly let go of Hermione and both of them turned away from each other shyly.

"Ah.. be. careful." Harry said with a shaky voice.

"T-thanks." Hermione answered awkwardly.

"We should. rest now."

"Y-yeah."

Harry and Hermione sat on the floor with their backs leaning on one of the shelves. Hermione leaned her head on Harry's left shoulder, closed her eyes, and slept. Harry stared at Hermione for a while. He still couldn't figure out how he feels right now. All he knows is that he's happy and for whatever reason, he still can't tell. 'How come it's only now that I realize how beautiful you are?' Harry asked himself. He, then, closed his eyes to sleep, with Hermione's face still floating around his head.

End of Chapter 6

~ Well.. What do you think? Watch out for the 7th chapter.

Lots of Love: Kathleen (thekey)