"Did you hear what they were talking about?" Ginny asked as Ron returned to his seat, his face slightly pink.

The red headed teen didn't answer immediately, he watched, anger pulsing through his veins as Malfoy stalked back to his seat giving him a cocky smile as he did.

Ron knew what was brewing in that evil little head of his. No matter what he wasn't going to let Malfoy blackmail him, as he'd done Harry. And he was going to find a way to stop Harry from acting on Malfoys demands. So caught up in thinking of ways to kill Malfoy without being caught was he that he didn't hear when Ginny asked her question, or when Hermione repeated it.

"Ron WAKE up!" Hermione shouted waving her hand in front of the teen's face.

"Huh? What?" he asked snapping back to reality.

"We've asked you about a million times did you hear what Harry and Malfoy were talking about?!" Hermione asked perturbed

"Oh . . ." he said looking the anxious witch over

"Well?" Ginny asked

Ron lowered his head, and he couldn't look at her anymore. Harry's words rang in his ear.

'I love you '

Now that Harry had accepted that he was gay, and that he did have feelings for him, he felt his feelings for Hermione changing.

"Um . . . no" he said softly

"Oh" Ginny sighed "I wish you had, its not everyday Malfoy asks Harry to talk"

"He kinda demanded it" Hermione pointed out

"Still" Gin continued "Malfoy never speaks to Harry"

Hermione picked up the book she and Neville were reading and added in "And Harry's never accepted . . . so quickly at that"

"It was like Malfoy said 'jump' and Harry said 'how high'"

"I think you're reading too much into this" Neville piped up. Getting a look from Ron. "Can't two people talk?"

"Sure" Ginny said

"Just not when they're Malfoy and Harry"

Th discussion died down a bit after that, Ron stayed silent the whole time gnawing on a piece of toast that had long gone cold. The rest of the day was spent out on the grounds. Ron walked slowly in the shade, watching as some Ravenclaw first years attempted to go near the giant squid which was lounging in the shallows. He'd been weighing the options of not telling anyone, and letting Malfoy rule his every move while walking on egg shells or telling people (including his parents) on his own and risk being and outcast, hated by wizards and muggles alike. Just because of his sexual preference. The decision making, though he said he'd never let Malfoy get to him proved easier said than done. All of this wasn't made easier by the fact that people were constantly coming up to him, and asking him what was it that Harry and Malfoy had spoken about. Or by Hermione's constant hovering over him asking him why he wouldn't talk to her. Though it was true, he hadn't spoken to her since breakfast, she was another "problem" he had to sort out. Harry had told him he loved him. He. Loved. Him. And of course Hermione had told him that she loved him on many occasions (he never said it back) but it never made him feel the way he did when Harry whispered it to him. That tingling feeling you get, only when it is said by someone you love too. He loved Hermione too . . . just not in that way. And so he came to a crossroads on his right was Hermione, to his left was Harry. Which would he choose? He didn't know, he stood in that position for a very long time until his concentration was broken by the familiar voice of Hermione.

"There you are" She said sitting beside him "It's getting quite late" she informed.

He had been so deep in thought that he didn't realize the sun was now going down and the giant squid had retreated to the deep end of the lake. "We missed you at lunch, we thought you were with Harry but Neville said he's been asleep all day"

"Hmm" he responded

She picked up a piece of grass and twisted it through her fingers then sighed. "Ron are you upset with me?"

Ron finally looked at her. He felt in the pit of his stomach that he was going to hate himself pretty soon. "No" he managed to say also picking up a piece of grass and using it as an excuse not to look at her again.

"Then why have you been so distant from me . . . you and Harry both, but you know Harry has his days but you . . . you've never avoided me like this" She sounded hurt, it wrenched at his heart but he gave no response so she continued on. "I just wanted to know if you were mad or . . . did I do something to piss you off because if I did I'm sorry"

"No" He croaked again

"Can you at least put the grass down and look at me?!" She pleaded tears filling her eye's.

Sullenly he looked at her, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.

"Are you pissed at something?" she asked desperately grasping for something to hold onto. Their relationship hadn't been the same not for a few months now, not since he knew and accepted that he couldn't change himself . . . the way he was. He was and would always be attracted to men, never women and he felt an overwhelming tidal wave of shame flood him. Because he'd brought a girl so far into this sham of a relationship, using her to figure himself out, and worst of all the girl he'd brought in was his best friend.

Tears soon filled his eye's, he lowered his head down and began to sob. Hermione, confused by the sudden out burst pulled him into an embrace.

"What?" she asked "What is it?"

"I'm sorry Hermione, please don't hate me" he choked out

"Why would I hate you?" she asked

"Because I'm gay Hermione. Gay, gay, gay" he let out a cry that had been inside of him for so long, the cry of relief.

All was quiet except for his incessant sob's. He could hear Hermione sniffling softly and feel her tears on the back of his neck.

"I . . . I always knew" she shuddered after 10 unusually long minutes passed. "I mean I always suspected . . . and deep inside I knew"

"I'm sorry Hermione . . . you must think I'm disgusting"

"I don't I just wished you would've told me earlier . . . but I understand you couldn't"

She gently ran her fingers through his hair. It was as soft as the fuzz on a baby chick. She often referred to it as Ronnie's chicken fluff. She gave a little chuckle at that then wiped her eye's. Ron looked at hers. She could see the shame in his eye's.

"Don't be ashamed" she instructed understandingly

"But I hurt you, used you to figure me out. If you don't want to still be friends with me I understand. I wouldn't wanna be seen with a flamer myself"

Hermione wiped his eye's, seeing as she'd always known she'd prepared herself for this. So the hurt want as intense as she thought it would be. "Don't say that about yourself. It took courage to tell yourself, let alone me . . . it's ok"

He hugged her as they stood up, as tight as he could. He had a feeling that somehow they'd remain friends after this. "I do love you Hermy" he sniffled

"I know you do" she sighed. They made their way into the castle, no words were uttered though, silence just seemed best.

"I hope you don't mind if I go upstairs . . . I mean I know I prepared myself but it still hurts like shit"

He nodded "I'm gonna go up too"

"See you tomorrow?" she asked tears already sliding down her face

He gently wiped away a stray tear "Of course"

They separated at the stair's, Giving each other one last look and ascended. Dinner would be over in about twenty minutes and Harry wasn't in his bed. Ron just sighed and got into his own. A few tears sliding down his face for their lost relationship. He knew though that the path on the left was the best for him. The bell for the end of dinner sounded and he heard the rush of students going back to their tower's Neville returned to the room first, followed later by Seamus and Dean, yet Harry did not.

"I see you showed up Potter, I like a man who's punctual" Malfoy said cockily

"Let's just get this over with Malfoy" Harry said detest in his voice

Draco went up to him a sly smile on his face "Let's" he whispered closing the door behind him.