Incidentally, I am aware these are getting progressively worse. HOWEVER, I live in hope that one of the future chapters will be spectacular... (I wouldn't hold your breath though, the way these are going... but they are vital so please read anyway... I'll shut up now, yes?)

By the time Harry got back to the common room it was well into the evening. He'd been wandering around for hours, not even able to go see Hagrid, an event that usually cheered him up. He just couldn't bare the thought of walking into the common room to see Ron and Ginny.

The afternoon lessons had been torture. Hermione wasn't at lunch with them, and had no idea why Harry and Ron were pretending that the other didn't exist. Harry didn't have the energy nor will to tell her, and so in the end she got annoyed and gave in. He had skipped dinner and had found himself contemplating how this whole affair had got completely out of hand, whilst he sat by the lake.

Everytime he thought about the day's events a new wave of regret washed forcefully over him.

He'd ended up hurting all the people he'd never have wanted to- Ron, Luna, Ginny...

The thought of her argument with him produced a fresh bout of anger and confusion, and he leaned breathing heavily against the portrait before finally muttering "Freckled toad".

The Fat Lady made a mock expression of being offended whilst the portrait slid open-

"I do NOT look like that thank you!"

Before chuckling heartily at her own joke.

Harry glared up angrily, "You know, that wasn't even funny the first time you said it."

Before she had a chance to explode with anger he had dived through the portrait.

Thankfully there only remained a few third years, and one person by the fire. For a second his stomach gave an unpleasant lurch at the thought it might be Ginny, but to his relief he recognised Hermione's bushy hair.

He went over and collapsed on the chair beside her. She surveyed him closely before sighing-

"Not you too!"

He looked up at her curiously. This silent question seemed to force her into explanation.

"Ginny sat here for a good hour fuming, unable to tell me why. From the look on your face you also have endured a horrific day- care to tell? Where's Ron anyway, don't tell me he's been a victim of whatever's putting you all in a foul mood...?"

Harry withered at her last words.

"Erm, yeah, yeah he has" he admitted, his mouth dry from shame.

"Well?" she said impatiently, "tell me what happened!"

He paused reluctantly, then began to tell Hermione everything that had occurred that day. After all, she was one of his best friends, and he was grateful to have anyone to talk to at the moment.

He did however find himself stopping at the fight between Ginny and himself. For some reason he wanted to keep it private, despite the fact that tons of people must have heard it, seeming as it occurred right outside the Great Hall.

To his astonishment, Hermione laughed.

"Ron overreacted a bit didn't he- they were only teasing! But Harry you really shouldn't make up stuff like that, you would have killed Ron if he'd said the same thing!" She took a firm sip from the mug beside her, as if this resolved the matter.

It was only then Harry realised Hermione still didn't know. He yet again faced an uncomfortable situation.

"That's the point though, Hermione..." He said tentatively- "It's, well, it's- erm- true."

Hermione's eyes bulged as she choked on her mouthful of tea.

"What?!" She spluttered eventually, still coughing heavily.

"He is seeing Luna. That's why it upset him so much."

For the next few minutes Hermione raved and ranted about how Ron was being "disloyal to Gryffindor", how Luna had always seemed distinctly odd in her opinion, and was full of useless junk.

Harry was quite alarmed at her reaction, her face was red and she waved her arms madly as she carried on, her voice getting louder and louder. Finally, she must have realised that Harry's face was similar to that of a gaping gorilla, as she stopped and took a long, deep breath.

"Well, in that case it was wrong of you to have done that" Hermione said finally, although Harry got the strange feeling she was getting satisfaction out of the fact both Ron and Luna had been humiliated.

At that exact moment the portrait swung open, and Ron walked through.

Harry's heart turned to ice. Hermione went awfully stiff. Ron froze.

"Harry's told me your, erm, news" Hermione finally said, her voice sounded strangely formal.

Ron looked at her, horrified, before staring at the floor.

They all stood in silence for what seemed like eternity. Hermione stared at Ron continuously, who seemed fascinated by a piece of dirt on the floor.

Harry found it strangely odd, that despite knowing one another for six years, at that exact moment they could not have appeared more like strangers.

Finally, Hermione almost whispered- "Well, I'm off to bed"

Ron gave her a final, almost pleading look, before she left them standing there.

After another age-long silence, Ron said quietly, yet calmly- "wow. You really have gone to town this time, haven't you?"

"Ron mate, look, I-"

"-but I don't care Harry." He interrupted, "I like her." This sounded strangely pre-rehearsed.

"I'm just sorry if you have a problem with it, that's all"

Before Harry could speak he had gone.