Several nights later, Hermione was making her final prefect round of the night. She was nearly back to the common room and was relieved there had been no one to write up. It was just so much paperwork! But it was her duty as a prefect and she was more than proud to do it. It was then that she walked around a corner and bumped into another student. Hermione's eyes widened with anger when she saw Cho Chang's face.

"And just what do we have here?" Hermione asked smugly. Suddenly, the idea of extra paperwork didn't bother her at all. Cho Chang let out a long, exasperated sigh.

"I'm going back to the common room. Just write me up and let that be the end of it." She said as she pushed past Hermione. Her voice was sad. She had been beaten; she lost Harry. And she certainly wasn't in the mood to converse with her defeater.

"Fine." Hermione shrugged. Her distaste for the Ravenclaw was common knowledge and it had doubled that night in library. She had nothing to say.

"I know you hate me." Cho said, the two girls still standing with their backs to each other. "And I know you like to think you're above the rest of us because you know everything. But there are some things you'll never know." She said sadly. "In fact, there is one thing that every girl in this school knows, except for you. They know what it's like to see someone perfect, and know that they could date him… But he'll never theirs. You don't have that problem… He's already yours." Cho breathed out the last sentence. "You judge me for my actions but you'll never know what I'm going through. You'll never know what that feels like to lose him to someone else because he'll always choose you. No matter who else he appears to be with, he'll always be with you. . And the part that kills me…" She turned around slowly, walked over to Hermione, and after getting as close to the Gryffindor's ear as she possibly could, she whispered, "You'll never know what it feels like to not… be… his." Her voice shook as she struggled to get out that last sentence. All throughout her speech it had been low and bitter. It was as if she poured all the anger and hatred she could muster into a few simple sentences. After Cho had turned and walked away, Hermione tried, but couldn't remember even Malfoy talking to her in such a cruel tone.

Speechless, she slowly walked back to the common room. The room was dark, everyone had gone to sleep. She peered over and noticed a candle burning on the other side the curtain dividing Harry's room. She walked over and slowly pulled the curtain back.

"Knock, knock." She said, poking her head in. Harry was buttoning the top button of his nightshirt and smiled at the sound of her voice.

"Big day tomorrow." He said nervously. "Finally get this blasted thing off." He said, motioning to the bandage.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice cracked as tears flooded her eyes. She needed to talk to him about what Cho said to her.

"Please don't do that." Harry stepped towards the sound of her voice. He could tell she was about to cry. She stretched her hands out so he could find her and when he did, he placed a hand on her head and stroked her hair. "Don't cry." He pleaded. "I'm nervous enough." Hermione bowed her head in embarrassment. It was selfish of her to talk to Harry about this now. It could wait until morning.

"I suppose we should get to sleep." Hermione said softly. She lifted her head back up, leaving her face very close to his.

"You could stay." His voice was low, very powerful and, although not his intention, very seductive. Hermione's mouth quivered as it was dangerously close to his.

"I'm not sleeping in that chair again." He leaned in closer, so his lips were almost touching her ear.

"I didn't mean for you to." Hermione took a deep breath. Together, without even realizing it, they moved up next to the bed. "Hermione," Harry said, pulling her closer. "Just lie with me." Without a word, Hermione leaned forward, gently forcing them onto the bed. Still in his arms, she lay down. Still in his arms, she fell fast asleep.

Early the next morning, Hermione awoke in Harry's arms. She jerked away at first, needing to give herself time to register what had happened the night before. Once she had, she smiled and snuggled closer to him. There was no need for her to get out of bed yet.

"Good morning." She heard him whisper. He felt her smile against his chest.

"How long have you been up?" She asked, her eyes still closed.

"Around half an hour."

"What have you been doing for half an hour?"

"Holding you." He answered, pulling her even closer. There was a comfortable silence between them for a few minutes. She hated to break it, but now seemed like as good a time as any.

"Harry?" She began slowly. "Do you… Cho got me thinking yesterday."

"Cho?" He asked, sounding very surprised. "How so?"

"I'm yours." Harry was somewhat taken aback by her response.

"Uh huh. Isn't that kind of common knowledge?" He meant it as a joke.

"Actually, apparently it is. You and Ron are mine. No matter who else I meet, you and Ron are always going to be the two most important guys in my life. One no more important than the other; but so much more important than anyone else."

"And you'll always be the most important girl to Ron and me."

"I know." She paused. "But how can we expect any romantic partner we may have, to except coming second? Or in my case, third! Would you want someone who couldn't put you first because of another guy?"

"Ron doesn't see it that way." Was all Harry could think of to say.

"I love Ron." Hermione said comfortably. "But I don't think he'd ever think to look at it that way. I don't think he'd ever put you and me, and romantic intentions in the same mind frame." Harry smirked. Hermione obviously was unaware of Ron's crush on her third year. That's alright. He understood what she meant. "But you didn't answer my question." Hermione said, rolling over onto her stomach. "How do you feel about it?"

"The question here is how to bring other people into our lives, in this case in a romantic sense, who will be ok with the friendship that we share." He paused and continued comically. "You realize what we're doing don't you? We're inviting the problem. It's our own fault really." Hermione looked at him puzzled.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm being totally serious." Harry answered, although still talking in his same comic tone. "We're trying to bring other people into our lives to give us a sense of romance. The problem is, none of these other people seem to accept our situation. So I say- who needs them?"

"What are you saying?" Hermione felt her heart beat faster.

"I'm saying… Why look to other people for something only we can give each other?" Hermione felt her jaw drop. He was really going to do it. He was going to suggest that they--"

"GOOD MORNING!" A cheery Ronald Wesley chose just that moment to whip the curtain open. His grin changed to mischievous smirk when he saw Hermione. "And just why are you two always lying together when I do this?"

"Because your timing is horrendous." Hermione whispered so only Harry could hear. He laughed at her statement, causing Ron's ears to perk up.

"Now, now, just because you're sleeping together doesn't mean you get to leave me out of the jokes!" Hermione and Harry laughed even louder at their friends comment. Hermione rolled out of bed and gave Ron a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll change be right back down." She told them. "Then we'll go see Madam Pomfrey."

"Don't be long." Ron called after her.