Disclaimer: Only own the plot.

A/N: Ha! I did 2 chapters in 2 hours!!!!

Its been a month since the Hogsmeade trip. In that month Harry and I went everywhere together holding hands. Ron didn't look to pleased. We had a lot of fun, a whole lot of fun. Yesterday Harry told me he loved me. And yesterday, I had to tell Harry that I couldn't be his girlfriend anymore. It was a conscience thing:

Harry: "I really love you Hermione."

Me: "Uh, Harry I have to say something...."

Harry: "Yes?"

He squeezed my hand and smiled.

I let go of his hand. He frowned.

Me: "Harry, I don't think I can be your girlfriend anymore..."

Harry: "What did you say?"

Sounded hurt and shocked. Disbelief.

Me: "I can't be your girlfriend. I have something to explain."

He narrowed his eyes.

Harry: "Go on."

Me: "Well, when you asked me to be your girlfriend, I didn't really like you that much."

He looked at me weird.

Me: "Well not in that way. I was and am in love with someone else. I went out with you so that I could take my mind off of him. I know it's wrong, that's why I had to tell you."

Harry: "Do I know this person?!" he demanded.

-It's Ron, your best friend, you dolt!- I said in my mind. But to protect Ron's identity:

Me: "Uh, no. He's in Ravenclaw." I said quickly. Maybe a little too quickly.

Harry: "I can't believe you'd do this to me, Hermione."

He looked upset. I tried to hug him, but he pushed me away.

Harry: "I need to be alone."

Me: "I'm really sorry..." I said quietly.

I felt really really bad, but he needed to know the truth. I couldn't live a double life. Since yesterday Harry hasn't really spoken to me. I did walk in on Ron and Lavender snogging though. Felt like I was going to vomit. Love sucks.

On a happier/worse note, the Christmas Maquerade Ball is tomorrow. I don't want to go. I feel miserable. Harry has a right to hate me. I think I'll go to bed now.

I woke up the next morning with a little stream of sunlight coming through the windows. Lavender and Parvati were all ready opening there presents. What???-you say. Back up, it was Christmas morning. Now I can go on. My little pile of presents beckoned me. I got up and began to unwrap one. It was a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans from Hagrid. I smiled in appreciation. The second one I opened was from my mum and dad. They gave me a book, along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. They are dentists. The third one I got was a big slab of Honeydukes Chocolate from Harry. I hope he forgave me. Ron gave me a book of spells. I'm going to cherish this one. How thoughtful of him. I smiled. Then I saw Lavender rip open a present.
"Oh! Look what Ron gave me!" Lavender squealed.

"What is it?" Parvati asked.

Lavender showed us a beautiful gold ring in a small red velvet box.

"Said he's been saving up all year," Lavender boasted.

I frowned and decided to go down for breakfast. I ate some scrambled eggs and pumpkin juice while reading the Daily Prophet. Everyone was chattering about the big ball that went from five o'clock to ten o'clock. Ron sat with Lavender at breakfast as usual and Harry joined them. Probable still mad at me. Ron beckoned me to come over, but I shook my my head "no." I didn't want to see them together. I stood up and left the Great Hall for one of my favorite places in the world. The library. I took a copy of Hogwarts, A History off of the shelf (one of my favorite books) and sank down into an armchair in the back of the library. I was singing softly to myself, but didn't realize it until I saw a fourth-year staring at me. I stopped. Hermione doesn't sing. How embarrassing. A few chapters later, I fell asleep in the armchair with thoughts of Ron in my head.

After a few hours, it seemed, I woke up. I went to the Gryffindor Common Room to sit by the warm fire. When I heard a bunch of fifth-years come in excited, I remembered. The Christmas Masquerade. Sounds odd put together, but Hogwarts was having one. I didn't feel like being around so much happy energy, so I decided to leave and go to the prefect's bathroom so I could take a nice, long bath. I didn't know if I should go. For one thing, I don't want to see Ron and Lavender together. For another, I hadn't a date. After an hour of relaxation, I got out, dried myself, and threw my robes on.
When I got back to the common room, I saw Ginny still there. I thought everyone had left by now. I sat down.

"When did everyone leave?" I asked.

"Five minutes ago," she said.

"Who are you waiting for?"

"You."

"I'm not going."

And it's true. I wasn't.
A/N: Please review. I've reviewed myself, and that's quite sad.