Hey hey again! I've posted this chapter quickly because I finished a school assignment early and had an hour to spare. Hope it's alright!

Disclaimer: I may not own Harry Potter but I own this plot which is at least *something*!

You're going places, Hermione

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Chapter Four: The mistake

Hermione opened her eyes. She smiled and stretched, feeling relaxed. She hadn't had such a good sleep in a long time.

Hermione pulled a face as she felt something move beside her. Slowly she looked down, frowning for a moment at the arm slung casually over her stomach. It took only a second for her to replay all of the previous nights events over in her head.

"Oh no," She gasped, "Oh no!"

"Something wrong?" Ron mumbled, waking up next to her.

Hermione had tears in her eyes. What had she done? What had she let Ron do? She turned around and shoved him.

"Damn you Ronald Wealsey!"

Ron's eyes shot open at the sudden contact and he fully came to himself.

"What the bloody hell…" He grumbled as he sat up.

"What the bloody hell?" Hermione wondered, "Oh that's very clever Ron. Act innocent. Act like you don't know why you and I lying down on the Astronomy Tower floor together!"

Ron frowned, "I'm not acting innocent. I know…what we did…"

"Well I hope you're happy, taking away my innocence like that." Hermione sniffed, trying to keep herself from crying.

"Taking away your…what? What the hell is wrong with what we did!" Ron demanded.

"Get dressed and I'll tell you," Hermione snapped, "And turn around while I get dressed."

Ron blushed furiously; his eyes going down to look at his naked torso. He covered up and turned around, while Hermione was already throwing on her clothes at admirable speed. When they were both done they faced each other. Hermione was looking furious while Ron was looking a little sheepish, and a little proud, which just made her angrier.

"I don't see anything wrong with it," He said stubbornly, "Why are you so angry?"

"Because we're too young! And because we've only been together for a month!" Hermione shouted.

"But we've known each other for seven years nearly. And it's what people who love each other do isn't it?" Ron said quietly.

Hermione's iciness melted slightly, "I know that Ron, but we still shouldn't have!"

"So you regret it all then? You think it was a whole big mistake?" He said, sounding hurt.

Hermione did actually think that it had been a mistake, and she did regret it. But she wasn't going to say that. Ron was already looking at her like a kicked puppy.

"No," She said levelly, "I'm just saying that I'm not ready for something like that, that's all."

He crossed his arms over his chest, "Fine. We won't go out anymore."

"What?" She gaped.

"You heard me. If you aren't ready for us, then we won't go out anymore."

"That is not what I said," Hermione glared at him, "Don't you twist my words around. Or is that what you want? You got what you wanted from me so now it's over?"

Ron was horrified, "Merlin no! That wasn't why…you can't say…that's not why!"

They stared at each other in a state of befuddlement, neither knowing what to say.

Hermione looked away first, "Okay. Let's work this out rationally. We are adults after all."

"Okay. Sure." Ron agreed.

"Good," She sighed, "I'm not ready for something as serious as this. I need to concentrate on my study earnestly because if I falter even a little, it could jeopardize my Sister Salem scholarship. And I'm willing to do anything to stop that from happening."

"So you want to break up then?"

"No I don't," Hermione said fervently, "I meant it when I said I loved you Ron-"

"So did I!" He interrupted.

She smiled softly, "I know. But you have to understand that I wouldn't be able to handle something so serious. Not when I'm focused on Sister Salem."

"But we're still going out?" Ron asked, unconcerned about her emphasis on her scholarship.

"If you want to."

"I do."

"Then we still are," She smiled in relief before flushing slightly, "But maybe we shouldn't really mention what we did to anyone. You know how people talk."

Ron nodded and she could tell he was mulling over everything she had said. Slowly a grin spread across his face.

"But you haven't to admit, it was good wasn't it?"

Hermione laughed, "Yes Ron. It was nice."

He grinned appreciatively and slowly took her hand. They didn't speak much as they journeyed back up to the Gryffindor common room and the little conversation they did have was somewhat halted and uncomfortable.

"Well," Hermione said slowly, "I guess I'll see you later then."

Ron frowned slightly, "Oh, yeah. Alright then."

He bent down and kissed her briefly on the cheek before he headed up the spiral staircase to his dorm room.

She sighed and began to ascend to her own dorm room when a flurry of red hair came into view, blocking her way.

"Hi Gin-"

"Where were you last night?" Ginny demanded instantly, "You didn't come back from studying and we waited up all night nearly. Where were you?"

"You waited? With who?"

Ginny waved her hand nochalantly, "Harry and myself. Dean was with me for a while at first but he went to bed around eleven. Where were you?"

Hermione lowered her gaze, "In the Astronomy Tower."

"All night?"

"Well yes…" She was blushing now.

"With my brother?"

Hermione nodded.

"Where is he?"

"He went up to his dorm room I suppose."

"What did you two do?"

Even though Hermione had been expecting the question, she was still caught off guard. She forced herself to look up at Ginny. Her friend was gazing at her intently, her eyes going back and forth across Hermione's face as though studying her. Suddenly Ginny gasped, placing a hand over her mouth in shock.

"Oh you didn't?" She demanded.

"What?"

"You and my brother! You had-"

"Sh!" Hermione snapped, "I don't want everyone knowing! I'm ashamed enough as it is!

"It's no big deal Hermione," Ginny said consoling, "A lot of girls you know aren't virgins anymore. Like Lavender and that other girl in your dorm. You know, the one with the curly blonde hair. Luna isn't surprisingly. I'm not sure if Pavarti is or not. Actually I think she might not be-"

"How can you treat it so normally?" Hermione demanded before it was her turn to gasp, "Oh Ginny! You haven't, have you?"

Ginny rolled her eyes; "Well I have been going out with Dean for over a year."

"You never told me!"

"Well it's not as though I could walk up to you and say, 'Hey Hermione, I have sex' because that wouldn't be very proper would it? Oh stop blushing, it's no big deal."

Hermione's face was beyond red, "I can't believe this."

"Well believe it. What-what's wrong?"

Ginny frowned in concern as her friend suddenly started crying.

"Oh Ginny, it is a big deal to me. I don't want to do it again. I'm not ready. But now that I have done it I'm worried Ron wont want me anymore if we don't keep doing it."

"Oh," Ginny said softly, "Oh Hermione don't worry about that. Ron may be a git at times but he wouldn't do something like that. Here."

She reached into her robes and pulled out a tissue. Hermione took it gratefully and blew her nose loudly before handing it back.

"No Hermione, you keep it." Ginny told her, regarding the tissue with restrained disgust.

"Oh th-thanks Gin. I kn-know I shouldn't b-be such a baby b-but I can't help h-how I feel." Hermione muttered.

"And you shouldn't but listen, I know you feel dreadful about everything now but sometimes that happens afterwards. Merlin, my first and second time, I bawled like a baby afterwards," Ginny shook her head, smiling faintly, "Poor Dean. He was always so good about it."

"Wh-what do I do?"

"Whatever you want. It's your choice."

"I don't want to do it again. I want to focus on my schoolwork so I can keep my scholarship." Hermione stated firmly once again in control of herself.

"Then you do that," Ginny said gently, "And don't let anyone else make decisions for you."

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A/N: Hey, I know I've said this heaps but drama is coming up…just slowly!

Have you guys seen the Harry Potter 3 trailer? How awesome is it! Hermione grabs Ron's hand and it's so cool! I can't wait till the movie comes out!