Ron was trying to help Hermione hear what he had to say, but she wouldn't listen.
"I let my guard down for one moment...Ron Weasly, I trusted you! I tried to trust you more than I ever had in our friendship and I cannot believe how quickly you betrayed that trust! It's through, I'm glad I got to know this soon," Hermione shouted. Only the blissfully stupid were not staring at the scene that was going on in the library. Hermione began speaking to Ron in harsh whisper. Harry glanced at Ginny and she nodded. The both got down on the floor and crawled behind a book case so that they could hear better. Everyone else in the library turned back to whatever last minute homework they had and just tried to listen to whatever they could hear from their seat.
"Hermione, please, just listen--" Ron whined desperately. Hermione shoved her hand in his face to shut him out. She turned away and sat down in a seat. She thrust out a few textbooks and rolls of parchment, tears streaming down her face.
"Fine, what, what explanation could you possibly have?" she asked shortly. Ron slowly stepped forward and then sat down in the seat opposite her.
"I didn't kiss her!" he said simply. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Right, I suppose I just imagined you too in the common room," she spat. Ron shook his head.
"No, she kissed me...Hermione, you've got to believe me!" Ron said. "Whatever happened in the summer...I liked you so much, I didn't know what to do. How was I supposed to know you felt the same way? She had a crush on me, and I was flattered...I liked that someone cared about me."
"Thanks, I forgive you now," Hermione muttered sarcastically. "I've heard enough. Ginny, Harry, you can come out now." Ginny and Harry stood up slowly from behind the bookcase and smiled sheepishly. Hermione stood up and was putting her books in her messenger bag when the cause of the problem walked in herself. Lena was standing in the doorway, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. Hermione's back was turned away from the library door and did not see her. However, with one look at Ron's horror-filled face she spun around in her place, dropping her bag back on the table. Lena, even trying to keep her confident stance, looked down to the ground in embarassment. She took in a deep breath and walked toward them. Hermione straightened up and crossed her arms as well.
"Hello, Lena," Hermione said threateningly. Lena glared at her and shrugged. "I'm sorry, it's just..I didn't quite recognize you? Well, it's just last time I saw you, Ron's head must've been in the way." Lena stomped her foot at the insult. Everyone was standing still, watching the two girls. Lena and Hermione still stood locked with their angry stares.
"I guess I deserved that," Lena said after a long silence. "But it's not like you didn't interfere in the first place!" she then yelled. Hermione scoffed.
"Me? How did I interfere? In what?" Hermione asked, flustered. Lena laughed at Hermione as if she were stupid.
"You were there! Ginny's birthday, Ron and I were a couple. You knew what was going on. Suddenly, you swoop in and take him away!" Lena shouted, waving her arms about. "You interfered!" Hermione turned around so that she was now facing Ron, who was watching the fight intently.
"Yeah, Ron didn't quite mention that yet," Hermione said as she gave Ron a cross glare. Ron, who's expression was now desperate again, threw his arms up in the air.
"I didn't start out the year with her, Hermione!" he said. Ron ran forward and stood between Lena and Hermione. "You! You stop, you've done enough damage, Lena, you..."
"Little prat," Ginny whispered to Harry. Harry stepped back a little, surprised. He'd been watching the fight too long, almost like a show. He'd forgotten where he was.
"Oh, we never broke up. You never said anything to that letter I sent you through the Owl Post!" Lena cried. Ginny spoke up.
"Then he doesn't obviously want to be tied to you, bloody hell Lena! Get a clue!" she shouted, adding a laugh at the end. Lena crossed her arms.
"Then you're a coward. You couldn't say anything to me?" Lena whined, now walking up to Ron. She rest her hand on his arm. Hermione looked like she was about to strike her when Ron pulled away. "This has just been a humiliating experience..." Lena mumbled.
"Lena, you're very nice but...you're a little bit of a nutter, and annoying, and your hair is deeply black," Ron explained. Hermione and Lena were confused about the comment about Lena's jet black hair. However, Ginny and Harry had to cover their mouths to stifle a laugh. Ron whirled around and shot Ginny a look. "My point is, whatever we had or you thought we had...I don't want it." Lena's mouth dropped slightly and everyone just stood there. Harry was surprised no teachers or any other adult had come in to stop the racket. Ron stood there, awkwardly examining his robes. Lena sighed and made some kind of noise as tears started to stream down her face. She wiped them away and snifled. She slowly backed away from the group and darted out of the library.
"That was harsh, Ron," Ginny scolded him, running forward.
"What? I thought you were just cheering me on a little bit ago!" he asked. Ginny shook her head.
"No, I was just saying she was really mental. You were just being shirty," she said. Ron ignored her and stood next to Hermione, whose arms were still crossed. She tried to turn away but Ron put his hand on her shoulder.
"Hermione, can I just try to explain this mess?" Ron pleaded Hermione sat down in the seat beside her and let Ron sit next to her. He glanced at Harry and Ginny. They took the hint and walked away, but sat at the table just behind the bookcase where they could hear with the most efficiency.
"Okay, we just got back from Hogsmeade, right?" Ron started, and Hermione nodded, "I went to the common room when you were on your way to the library. Lena ran in, and I was just sitting there by the fire, trying to fall asleep. I was really tired after that long walk you made us take. I mean, blimey Hermione, you didn't even let us stop to get some sweets or something from Honeydukes! Well, anyhow, Lena came in and shook me awake. She started asking me where I'd been away from her so long. I shrugged, and I wanted to leave, Hermione, I really honestly did. But she grabbed me and kissed me. Then you interrupted." Hermione crossed her arms once again.
"I interrupted? I apologize," she said sarcastically. Ron sighed at his stupidity and shook his head.
"No, I mean...you stopped it, and you flipped. And I'm glad you did," he explained. The two sat in silence, when Hermione finally spoke up.
"How long before I came in did you kiss?" she asked quietly. Ron shrugged.
"I don't know, but not long at all," Ron said. She nodded silently. He took her hand and held it. Hermione pulled it away, and Ron bowed his head in hurt.
"Can I trust that you have nothing going for her?" she asked, now looking him in the eyes. Ron nodded quickly. Hermione slowly leaned in to hug him and then kissed him on the cheek. Ron hugged her back as they sat there in the now silent library.
"That's so sweet," Ginny whispered, smiling. Harry nodded slowly.
"Aren't you the least bit jealous?" he asked. Ginny dropped her pen that she was writing with.
"Of course. I want that. But I won't have that," she complained, still in a whisper. Harry shrugged.
"Maybe not this moment. I think we all will, someday," Harry said. He now, more then ever, wanted a family. A sister like Hermione. A brother like Ron. Parents like...parents. He hoped that maybe this year, the world could save itself. He wanted something that the evil he'd been fighting all these years had taken away from him. But maybe, provided nothing else get in the way, he could find something to help him this year. A shoulder to cry on. Someone to see in a whole different light.
A/N: WOHOO, the end. Six chapters, I don't know how long that counts for but I'm not writing any novel so I think I'm good for now. My next story will probably be acompanion to AWhole NewLight.I know that me using British terms sounds...what's a stronger word then pathetic? Well, then pathetic, but I don't want anyone to forget where these characters came from. I'm not really continuing a part of the books, I'm kind of making a new story here (except for the fact that I think Hermione and Ron are headed somewhere), so I have to do something to keep these characters the same. I also haven't read the books in a while...I plan to, you know, to refresh my memory. The third and fourth are the only books I read twice. But please remember - I'm trying here! Happy Holidays, and I hope to get the first chapter of "Tell Me" (name subject to change ) ), another Harry Potter fic, out before Christmas...or at least before the end of the holiday break. Happy Holidays!