Disclaimer: see the first two chapters. I don't own Harry Potter or any of its components.

I would like to thank my two wonderful reviewers! I would name you here, but I can't remember your names, and I am too lazy to go look for them. If I am terribly offending you by not naming you, please tell me and I will name you in the next chapter, though I may do that anyway. Thanks!

Gryffindor's Lioness

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Harry and Hermione left the library quite a while later, after both of them had gotten over the breakup Hermione had with Ron.

"Do you know why Ron broke up with you?" Harry asked hesitantly, because he didn't want her to start crying again.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't allow them to fall, or for Harry to see.

"He-he has a crush on someone else. I am almost positive its Lavender, and I think that they are already going out, he was just going to wait to break up me."

"That little rat! I can't believe you would do that to you! That's it. I'm never going to speak to him again. I'm going to punch his brains out and then I am never going to look at his ugly face ever again!" Harry screamed, outraged that someone would do that to his precious Hermione.

"Harry! Please, Harry, don't! Really, I'm fine. We would have broken up anyway. Besides," she continued a bit more calmly and quieter, "I've already shown him what I think of what he did to me. Lets just say that his nose has been replaced by something… less pleasant."

Harry winced, knowing very well Hermione was capable of inflicting pain, even without touching her wand, as she had done something to Malfoy before. Suddenly mad, he thought to himself, 'it's not like he doesn't deserve it. If anyone does, he does. NO ONE should make Hermione. I'm going to have a little "talk" with him later, to let him know exactly what I think of him.' Smiling to himself, he continued to escort Hermione to the Common Room.

When they got to the Common Room, Hermione politely excused herself to the Girls' Dormitories. Just after Harry had cleared his head from watching her ascent up the stairs, who should walk in but his best ex-friend, Ronald Weasley.

"Hey, mate, what's new? I haven't seen you in a while." He obviously didn't know that Harry knew he had broken up with Hermione.

Harry strode towards him, eyes blazing with hatred.

"Harry, mate, are you okay? You've got the scariest look on your face. Its almost as if you were… mad at me." Ron must have realized why Harry was so mad, but he didn't get a chance to explain it to him, as Harry had just punched him in the face.

"HOW COULD YOU?! HOW COULD YOU BREAK UP WITH HERMIONE? SHE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE HURT LIKE THAT! YOU WORTHLESS SCUM!" breathing hard, Harry took another breath, prepared to rant at Ron some more.

"Mate, stop! Okay? I had to break up with her. I-I have a crush on someone else." Ron whispered the last part, almost afraid to tell Harry.

"WELL, THAT'S NO SURPRISE! EVEN HERMIONE KNOWS! AND NOW I FIND OUT YOU WERE GOING BEHIND HER BACK? THAT'S LOW, RON. EVEN FOR YOU." At every word, Ron winced.

"Harry, you really are being strange," Ron said, giving Harry an odd look. "If it was anyone else, you'd be on my side, telling me how I was right to dump her. It-it's almost as if you have a crush on her."

Harry was quiet for a moment; afraid his voice would give him away. He then said (very quietly), "I think of her as a sister, nothing more. She's just like a sister to me. That's all we will ever be."

After he said this, Ron smiled. It wasn't a shy smile, or a fake smile. It was a full out grin from ear to ear.

"Its true, then, what they say. The Famous Harry Potter really has been stricken by love. And to his very own best friend, too. Oh, wait till I tell Ginny. She has a bet going on how long it will be before you two hook up." Harry stared at him in shock. Obviously, his brain wasn't functioning right. He could NOT have just heard that Ron knew he had a crush on his ex-girlfriend, and that Ginny had a bet on them getting together.

"Ho-how do you know? Am-am I re-really that obvious?" Harry stuttered. What if she knew, and was laughing at him this whole time?
            "Oh, don't worry, mate. You haven't been obvious, and I doubt Hermione knows. I didn't know, and wouldn't have, except for right now. I sort of added up all the things you do for Hermione that could be considered something a boyfriend would do for a girlfriend. So," he said, rubbing his hands together, "when ARE you going to ask her out?"

Harry just stared at him, not knowing what to say.

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Gryffindor's Lioness