A/N: Italics are Hermione's flashbacks, unless specified as someone else's flashback.
Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at his back walking away. She made no move to wipe them away, and they dried there, leaving two salty streaks on her blank face. Hermione had suffered many taunts before, for being smart, for not being of wizarding blood, for not being what teenage society deemed as attractive. But she had never felt scorn like this.
Ron had been "hers" since the end of the summer of their 6th year. Then, seven months later, they had broken up. He had given her feeble answers, which she accepted at the time, only to find the real answer. He had fallen for Padma Patil. Of all the girls Ron had liked or been with in the past, Padma was the least likely for him to end up with again (or so Hermione thought). He didn't even care about her when they were together; how could he dump Hermione for her? Thinking about this, Hermione could feel the tears well up again, so she rushed to the bathrooms.
Hermione remember bitterly the three month courting period she and Ron had spent just playing with the thought of "itemhood." Now, only weeks after their breakup, Ron was not only in a new relationship, but also "in love."
His arms closed around her tightly. Nothing felt so good as the comfort of a loved ones arms. She pulled back to get a good look at him. She couldn't imagine her fortune at being with him. Even if he never asked her out, she'd be happy just to feel his arms around her whenever he was near. She opened her mouth to ask him something, but before she got the words out, his mouth was there. She had never been kissed before, and she didn't know how to react. When he pulled away, looking at her nervously, she just blushed. With a quick peck on the lips, she turned and walked away. She strode briskly, calling over her shoulder, "Come on, we have to meet Harry at the Three Broomsticks."
Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at his back walking away. She made no move to wipe them away, and they dried there, leaving two salty streaks on her blank face. Hermione had suffered many taunts before, for being smart, for not being of wizarding blood, for not being what teenage society deemed as attractive. But she had never felt scorn like this.
Ron had been "hers" since the end of the summer of their 6th year. Then, seven months later, they had broken up. He had given her feeble answers, which she accepted at the time, only to find the real answer. He had fallen for Padma Patil. Of all the girls Ron had liked or been with in the past, Padma was the least likely for him to end up with again (or so Hermione thought). He didn't even care about her when they were together; how could he dump Hermione for her? Thinking about this, Hermione could feel the tears well up again, so she rushed to the bathrooms.
Hermione remember bitterly the three month courting period she and Ron had spent just playing with the thought of "itemhood." Now, only weeks after their breakup, Ron was not only in a new relationship, but also "in love."
His arms closed around her tightly. Nothing felt so good as the comfort of a loved ones arms. She pulled back to get a good look at him. She couldn't imagine her fortune at being with him. Even if he never asked her out, she'd be happy just to feel his arms around her whenever he was near. She opened her mouth to ask him something, but before she got the words out, his mouth was there. She had never been kissed before, and she didn't know how to react. When he pulled away, looking at her nervously, she just blushed. With a quick peck on the lips, she turned and walked away. She strode briskly, calling over her shoulder, "Come on, we have to meet Harry at the Three Broomsticks."