Chapter 6: Unrequited Love and Revealing Secrets to Others

Hermione again woke to sunlight streaming onto her face.

'I really need to learn how to shut my curtains'

When she looked at the clock however she saw that it was already 7:00. She was then grateful for her good luck; if she hadn't woken soon then she would have been late for breakfast. She hurried into the bathroom, noticing the definite decrease in the temperature. Winter was creeping upon her once again, she didn't know why but she had a certain urge for a sunny Christmas BBQ in Australia, just like she'd read about. When she was older she was certainly going to spend a Christmas somewhere bright, clear and sunny. She didn't necessarily dislike the snow, quite the contrary, White Christmases were special to her, but she just wanted a change from her old life.

Twenty rushed minutes later she was stuffing books into her bag as she ran down the stairs into her common-room. She was still trying to cram Standard Book of Spells, Grade 7 into her bag when she collided with something hard and went flying, landing hard on her tailbone. She winced as she stood and came face to face with the thing she had collided with. As she looked into those grey eyes, she saw the hurt that he felt, if only for a moment, before it was hidden expertly. She then turned on her heel and strode out of the common room leaving Draco to dwell on his thoughts. She had long given up on the blonde, he still hadn't talked to her and she was sick of trying to make friends, he was too stubborn for his own good.

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"Hermione, can I talk to you for a moment please?" Ron asked oddly sheepishly.

"What...Yeah sure"

Hermione was sitting in the Great Hall for lunch, cramming in last minute revision before a charms test when Ron, red eared had asked to talk to her privately.

When they were out of ear-shot of Harry or anyone else Ron started...

"Mione, you know we are best friends right?"

"Yeah, of course" She replied wondering where this was going.

"Well, a year ago my feeling for you developed and Hermione I really like you, I-I think I'm in love with you"

Hermione stood there shocked for a moment before replying.

"Ron, Y-you can't, how can you?" She finally managed to spit out going red in the face.

"'Mi", He then took her hands in his own before continuing; "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Hermione didn't know what was happening it was like the planets had moved out of alignment or something, Ron liking her. That was absurd, absolutely stupid, he was her friend.

She untwined her hands from his hung them loosely at her sides.

"Ron, I'm really sorry, but I- I can't, I am under to much pressure at the moment I don't have time for a relationship"

She had broken her best friends heart as soon as she looked into his eyes she felt the hurt that he did, she fainted.

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Hermione opened her eyes and found herself in the pristine white of the hospital wing. She groggily sat up and regretted it in an instance, her head throbbed and she felt like she was going to throw up.

"Miss Granger, you finally awake" She heard an old voice from behind her, she turned to see an aging Professor Dumbledore smiling at her.

"P-Professor, w-what happened?"

"I am not sure what to tell you, as I do not know myself, we will run some spells and see if you have any medical illnesses other than that, unfortunately there is nothing more that we can do"

Hermione looked around noticing that Harry and Ron weren't there.

"I had to result to threatening them to make them go off to class, after all it is their final year here" Dumbledore smiled as her said this.

Hermione simply lay down and promptly fell asleep once again.

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"Well Miss Granger" Started Madam Promfry, "I cannot find a single thing wrong with you, it appears that you are in perfect health, apart from the fact that you are not, perhaps we will soon find out but for now off to class"

Hermione was then shepherded out of the hospital wing. She had been in there for a week, being prodded and poked with various instruments but to no avail, they couldn't find the cause to her sickness. Although she was now feeling almost normal she had a continual bussing nose in her head that was rather off putting especially when trying to study. Harry and Ron had been coming in after each lesson and bringing her notes from the class with them.

She hadn't told them about Draco's problems and she didn't know who she could tell. If Draco found out he would literally murder her slowly and she didn't want that to happen as N.E.W.T.S were coming up at the end of the year.

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By the end of the day Hermione had decided that she could tell Ginny. Ginny was always there for Hermione when she had a problem and Ginny wouldn't break her trust and tell others.

"Oh 'Mi you should have told me sooner, no wonder your so stressed lately" Ginny exclaimed after Hermione had revealed her troubles.

They had found a quiet corner of the common room and Hermione had talked for twenty minutes straight on Draco, Ron and her unknown illness.

"I knew you'd understand" Said Hermione sweetly.

"Seriously Herms, don't stress out over Malfoy, if her wants to talk to you he will when he's ready, as for my brother, well you let him down easy, apart from the fainting bit, he was just slightly stressed after that but you shouldn't feel forced into anything and well I bet your illness is just something small, but while you don't know don't stress" She then winked and turned around to see Harry striding over and Ron shuffling over to them.

"Hey Gin" Harry commented, pecking her on the lips before turning to Hermione, "Hey 'Mi"

"Hey Harry, Ron" She said.

Harry smiled but Ron's face went his trademark tomato and Hermione decided it was time to leave.