Someone wanted to clear up why Harry's being such an ass... in curtesy of my reviewers; I'm doing this in Harry POV. Thanks for the idea WWRYbabe! (Just giving you the credit)

(Dances merrily to herself) YAH!!! 100 reviews... wow! Thanks you guys! No wonder this story's so good (lol, wow, can I be more modest?) loving the FEEDBACK!!! (Whoever it was, don't dis my use of the word)

By the way, I just wrote my first one-shot... maybe some of you might like to check it out? I'm not really sure about it though... I'd love to see how it compares with this!

Harry's POV

This was so stupid. Everything is so stupid.

.:: Flashback ::.

"I love you," she whispered unexpectedly to him, and brushed her flame coloured hair that hid her eyes, to gaze in mine. She was expecting an answer. All she received was silence.

"H-Harry," she called "do you... do you love me?" she asked. We both knew the answer. At least I did. She received only silence but again. Her hands cupped my face and gently held me in place; my face was unable to move and I wasn't allowed to flee.

She sighed. It was a lovely sigh, a caressing sigh. I'll be damned if I know how sighs can be caressing. I cared for her, yes... definitely. I probably loved her, yes... but not that way.

She was like a sister to me. Rather unbearable to kiss her. Let alone in front of my One True Love. I couldn't believe it was turning out like this. I was never meant to start another relationship so soon. I was just fooling around. For Hermione's sake.

"Hermione," she stated, I tensed up just hearing the adorable name. I closed my eyes; I didn't want them to betray anything. 'Why did you break up with her then?" she asked.

My eyes fluttered open. None of you fucking business. I wanted to reply. But I didn't. "If you still... love h-her," she choked out.

"I don–" I began to start to deny any knowledge of why me and my soul mate ever broke up.

"Don't deny it," shrieked Ginny, "you do love her," she accused, "I see the way you look at her when you think no one's looking. I notice the way you tense up every time either of you is near each other. I thought it was because you just broke up. But... I guess not."

Well, blimey, I wasn't going to deny that. That girl's got problems if she thought I was.

"Just tell me, why? Why her?" she asked of me, the second meaning was too obvious; why not me?

"You're like... a sister to me," I cooed, "In that instance I do love you," I tried to coax away the tears brimming in her eyes.

"A sister?" she asks, her voice wavering,

"Uh... yeah, I – I thought you knew, like you felt the same!" I tried to reason,

"For god's sakes, Harry, those weren't brotherly and sisterly Kisses and Hugs we shared! No to mention..." Ginny exploded; I looked down at the floor. Bloody hell, the patterns at the moment we so interesting. Couldn't really blame me for not look away, can you?

"I – I" I began, not knowing how to explain, "I'm sorry," I offered, I didn't really want to admit I've been using her. What happens if she blabs to Ron?

"Is this because of Hermione?" she asked, flying into a fit of rage, "I don't see why, aren't you two over now? Isn't she getting all cozy with Malfoy now?"

Well, that does it. Didn't need to bring him into this now! But no... she wasn't finished,

"HERMIONE HAS MOVED ON!!!" she stated very loudly for me, "Don't you think it's time you do too?" she asked again, now in a quiet voice, her I'm-deadly-serious-so-don't-fuck-with-me voice; too quiet.

"I love her," I admitted, I owed Ginny at least this much. She was clearly shocked at my confession, "I always will," I proclaimed, in a voice that tried to duplicate hers... but failed miserably making me sound like a rodent on laughing gas.

"Then why did you dump her?" she asked venomously, "Or did she get rid of you? Is that why you're moping around like a ghost?" she tried jeering, "And WHY ON EARTH did you ever go out with me, or even kiss me if I was like your sister?" she asked, I remembered why.

I saw Hermione storm across the Great Hall the day after our break up, I flew into a panic frenzy.

I couldn't think of anything to do; I wanted to grovel at her feet and make her take me back. I couldn't. No. So, instead, I grabbed the person next to me, THANK HEAVENS it was a girl. That girl was Ginny. Big surprises on what we started doing. I'd have to confess, it was horrible; but I wasn't such a complete sod to tell that to her.

"Hermione," I began explaining, I started flushing at the name, it had been so long since I said it aloud... too long; I sighed. I owed Ginny an explanation; I might've well started from the start.

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to face her anymore.

"Hermione and I... we were very close," I stated dully, "She was my best-friend and girlfriend... everything: my whole world," I continued in a similar fashion, the monotony of my words still cut her, I could feel it in the air, "I had a dream," I continued, but paused remembering the dream, the unpleasantness, "basically," I recapped for her, not wanted to elaborate, "it told me that all the people I loved most would die. My parents... already ticked off. Sirius... gone," I couldn't bring myself to say the word dead about either of them, "the person I care about the most next to them is..."

"Hermione," Ginny finished for me, beginning to understand. I think.

"So, I had to do what was best for her. What would I do if she was to suddenly get murdered ... because of me?" I explained "I thought about it for a month or so... and, I finally brought myself to do... what I never thought I would."

"Then, why? Why fool me? Why feed me with fantasies, tempting me and showing me what I can never have?" questioned Ginny further,

"I wouldn't have gone through with it, if she felt the same way. She's too smart. She would've known something was wrong. Hermione... she would never have stopped she thought it was something like this. That's how you helped me." I stated simply, "she thinks we're involved, and...and now we've fallen out. She's not speaking to me."

Ginny now understood. I never loved her. Thank god that was clear. But, I think, something else dawned on her. Bugger.

"You used me." She stated simply.

Shit. What the hell was I supposed to say to that? No I didn't use you... I just encouraged your whimsy illusion of us being together so I could protect, yet hurt, Hermione.

As I pondered on this, I didn't even notice her slip out of the door.

.:: End of Flashback ::.

I was so caught up in my sudden flashback that I almost collided with Ms McGonagall.

"Harry, please, watch where you're going," she began "and be careful as to not run down the hallways," she continued "or I'll be forced to take points from Gryffindor," she finished, and walked away.

McGonagall and Hermione seem to have a lot in common, certain strictness about rules for one thing. Both have been described as being particularly clever. Strange. I can't stop thinking about her now more than ever.

Right on cue she came prancing down, hand-in-hand with the git Malfoy. What does he think he's doing with my girl? Sod.

"Potter," he said as a greeting, flaunting Hermione's hand in his,

"Malfoy," I replied, through gritted teeth. Hermione never lifted her gaze of the despicable Malfoy, she looked totally smitten. Did she ever look at me like that? God, I couldn't handle it.

I grabbed her arm, the free one. Bad idea.

"What do you think you're doing?" I hiss at her. That definitely came out wrong. Man; that made me sound like the insensitive bastard she thinks I am. Crap.

"What do you think you're doing, Potter," asserted Malfoy, gliding Hermione away from me; gently. Well done, knight in shining armor.

"He's... Malfoy Herms! He's dangerous." I whined, couldn't she see that? She penetrated me with a cold glare. Big surprises where she got that from. "Look, what's he done to you?" I ask her, "What have you done to Hermione?" I ask of Malfoy,

"You want to know what I've done with her. Hmm... let's see... let's start with the things I haven't done to her," drawled Malfoy. Screw him. What was he playing at? "I haven't messed with her mind, eluded her with false promises... and I haven't broken up with her," he began.

I fumed. Bastard.

"Not to mention I didn't get jiggy with her best bud, totally eating the Weaselette's face in public," he made a face, "honestly Potter," he sighed, how fake, "I haven't been ignoring her for Merlin knows how long!" he continued "but, I have been, faithfully loving Ms Granger," he bows "showering her with complements and gifts she so rightly deserves," he kissed her hand, "and..."

"ENOUGH!" I shout, "Enough," I whisper, "Hermione, can I talk to you... alone," I emphasized the last word.

I walked towards the nearest empty room. I expected her to fallow me. She didn't. I waited. Until the moment I began thinking she wasn't coming; Hermione entered hesitantly into the room.

Next: Confrontation between Harry and Hermione.