Ron and Padma sat at a table in the library, eating lunch together. Ron gazed lovingly at her as she giggled.
"Ron, please don't look at me like that. It makes me feel..." Padma's voice drifted off. The look actually made her feel special, but it was in an uncomfortable way, as she wasn't used to boys gawking at her.
"Makes you feel, what?" Ron replied with a smirk, "Beautiful? Because you are."
By great unfortunate timing, Hermione walked into the library just in time to hear this. Ron and Padma looked up at her in surprise. Padma ducked her head down again, embarrassed, whereas Ron just stared, not knowing what to do. Hermione turned on her heel, and rushed back to the Gryffindor commons.
"Hermione?" Angelina Johnson had entered the room so quietly, that Hermione hadn't heard her over her own sobs. Quickly, she dried her eyes and turned to Angelina.
"Hey, Angelina," Hermione said feebly, "What's up?"
"Mew, feeling pretty crappy myself," she replied. "Need someone to talk to?"
"Well, I'm sure you hear the stories. Gossip isn't exactly uncommon at Hogwarts."
At this, Angelina nodded. "So, you're bummed to see Padma and Ron together. Didn't Ron take Padma on a couple dates in your fourth year, and she hated him for a while after?" This time, it was Hermione's turn to nod.
"Hermione, even you can do better. Ron is rude and immature. He's going to end up a prat, trust me. Remember how he treated me at the Yule Ball 4th year?"
"Thanks, Padma, but I love him. I remember the Yule Ball, and I'm sorry he was an asshole to you, but he's not like that with me."
"Err...Hermione? Still there?" Angelina's voice brought Hermione back to reality.
"Yea, sorry. Spaced out, I guess," Hermione stuttered. "So, what makes you feel crappy this fine day?"
Angelina sighed. "Well, since you ask... George told me he's in love with me. He won't hang out with the gang after Quidditch anymore, because he says it's too hard for him to see me with his brother. Hermione, what am I going to do? I don't want to come between two brothers, and George is one of my best friends, but Fred and I really love each other." She started to weep, something very rare for Angelina.
Hermione didn't know what to do, so she just rubbed Angelina's back, smoothed her hair. They just lamented together, two friends in need only of a shoulder to cry on.
"Hey, 'Mione," ventured a voice. Hermione and Angelina looked up with a start. It was Ron. Hermione quickly looked away, and, as if no one was even there, she gathered her books and left the dormitory. As she exited through the painting, she could hear his nervous giggle. She looked back to see Angelina shake her head, causing Ron to simply shrug and walk into his room.
Down in the dining hall, Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table, not really paying attention to her friends around her. She felt oddly groggy, as though her tears had completely drained her. She wasn't even hungry. She was just going through her daily routine, just continuing to pull herself through the day.
"Hello to you, too, Sunshine," chirped Katie Bell. Hermione looked up at her and forced a smile at Katie and Lee Jordan. They were the epitome of happy couple. So, of course, Hermione walked away from them, mumbling about having to eat in the library, to get some work done. She hated how she couldn't even stand to be near her friends. She glanced over at Harry and Ginny, holding hands at the table. It seemed as though everyone had a special someone.
Everyone except Cho Chang, that is, who was coming up to Hermione. "Hey, Hermione," she said with a sympathetic smile. "I know we're not exactly close, but according to rumor, we've found ourselves in a similar predicament." Hermione looked at Cho questioningly. Cho nodded towards Harry and Ginny forlornly. "I know I messed up my own chances with Harry, but I still love him."
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Hermione replied. "Well, you just gotta hold up your head. Force yourself to think about other boys, other subjects. Just don't think about the hurt and the lies that caused it." Cho nodded with a smile. The same smile Hermione had just given Katie. They did seem to be in a comparable dilemma, but Cho had brought hers on herself. What had Hermione done to deserve this anguish?
She walked away from his open arms. Why was she acting this way? Even she couldn't answer that question. She hated drama queens, and yet, even as she did it, she knew she was being one. She simply waved to her boyfriend and continued to amble toward down the school grounds.
"'Mione!" He called, but she just kept going.
"Ronald, if you would like to go play against George in chess, then go. I'm not stopping you," she said, coldly. "But I'm continuing with my plans to sit by the lake and look at the stars." What a bitch she was being. Yet somehow, she couldn't stop herself. She felt he was just brushing her off again, and wanted to inflict the same feeling.
Sighing, Ron ran after her. He gave her a big hug. "I'll see you later," he whispered. He leaned in for his goodnight kiss, but she turned her face away. Giving him another quick hug, she left and walked to the lake.