Harry and Ron trudged down the stairs towards the Great Hall, Ron muttering under his breath and Harry shooting him encouraging looks. "Look, you're going to be fine, what's the worst that can happen?" Harry asked suddenly.

"That Hermione hates me for the rest of my life," Ron said, his face turning grey.

"Why would she hate you? Hermione's not like that, she wouldn't hate you because you love her. You already said this morning that you're going to tell her today, and by god, you're going to," Harry said with a tone of finality in his voice.

Ron, who had suddenly lost his voice as they entered the Great Hall, nodded glumly. He stared at the ground as he walked, his insides twisting, and his mind working furiously. He became aware of how stupid he looked walking like that, his arms swinging wildly at his side and his large feet flopping around. His eyes were darting around the hall, drinking it all in, wide with nervousness. What if she didn't like him back? Would this ruin their friendship? He had almost made up his mind to turn around and run out of the Hall, when they reached Hermione.

"Hey you two, eat something, you look dead on your feet," she said cheerfully, smiling warmly.

Ron opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He couldn't do it, not here, not in front of all the Gryffindors. Hermione looked concerned at his sudden loss of speech.

"C-can I talk to you for a minute, Hermione? Alone?" He managed to choke out.

"Sure," Hermione said and led the way to a corner of the hall. She turned around and faced him, still looking mildly worried. "Well, what is it?"

"Hermione, we've..ah..we've known each other for a while now..and..erm.." Ron lost his nerve. He couldn't tell her. But then he'd have to come up with some lie. He was extremely aware of how blood was rushing to his face and ears, and how his hands shook as he held them at his side. His knees were beginning to shake, and he desperately tried to hold them steady without her noticing. Sweat began to form along his forehead, and he opened and closed his mouth hopelessly.

"Hello, Hermione," a voice suddenly came out of nowhere. Malfoy was standing right by them, smiling. Ron was stunned. It was strange to see something other than a sneer on his face. "I've come to tell you something. You know your secret admirer? Well I'm him, and I do hope you feel the same way," he said smoothly. Hermione's jaw dropped. Hers wasn't the only one.

"Erm, well thank you..er..Draco," she said after a moments pause with a strained smile. Malfoy smiled again and strode away, winking at Hermione over his shoulder. Hermione, obviously shocked by this pronouncement, starting walking back towards the table. Ron's jaw still hadn't closed.

How dare he. Malfoy didn't only take away all the work Ron had gone through, but his special moment too. And since when had he begun to fancy Hermione? Ron always thought Malfoy regarded her as nothing but a disgrace of a witch. He might even win her over, and then, what would he, Ron, be able to do. She would be lost to the enemy. It was a thought Ron could not bear to face.

Realizing he had been standing in a corner by himself for about five minutes, Ron walked back over to the Gryffindor table, slightly dazed. He found Harry and Hermione deep in discussion.

"I don't believe him. It's probably some scam to humiliate you in some way," Harry said grimly. When he spotted Ron, he shot him a worried glance and returned to his conversation with Hermione.

Ron composed himself, rearranged his features, and hoped he looked normal when he sat down next to Hermione at the table.

"Oh, I hope so. But what if it isn't? What if he really does like me?" She said. Her eyes kept straying towards the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was talking with Crabbe.

"Well do you like him back?" Ron said slyly, knowing the answer. He was rather proud of his ability to cover up his scrambled emotions.

"Of course not, but that was the Malfoy who thought I was a worthless mudblood. I mean, what is he like now?" Hermione replied, biting her lip.

"Look, Hermione. Malfoy's not going to change. Just because he happens to fancy you now doesn't mean he's any different. That is..if he truly does fancy you," Harry said. "I'm going to be watching that git, he's trouble and he's cooking up something."

Ron and Harry were walking along the halls after Quidditch practice, deep in discussion about their upcoming match. As they turned a corner, Ron's eyes caught sight of a robe whipping around a corner. He hurried to the corridor and saw Malfoy strolling along, obviously on prefect duty. Harry joined him a second later and looked at Ron warningly. Ron, however, cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled down the hall.

"Oy, slimeball!" he said. Malfoy jumped slightly and turned around. "Yeah, I'm talking to you. What do you think you're doing with Hermione, huh?"

Malfoy arranged his face into a cool expression that so clearly said that Ron was wasting his precious time. "Well, Weasley, you gave me the perfect opportunity to tell her that I love her, which I do. I didn't even have to do anything!"

"Why you uptight, greasy, ugly piece of dirt," Ron muttered and ran down the hall towards Malfoy.

"Ron, RON NO!" Harry bellowed and sprinted after Ron. Malfoy had drawn his wand and a flash of light lit the corridor brilliantly.

"You stay away from Hermione, do you hear me?" Ron growled at Malfoy, who was on all fours on the ground, his face even pastier than usual. Suddenly, he gave a loud belch and several slugs fell out of his mouth and onto the floor with a loud plop. "I finally got you with that curse. I've waited four years and I finally got you."

Malfoy unsteadily got to his feet and burped again. Wiping his face with a shaking hand, he tried to sneer. "I'll get her, Weasley. You know I will." With that he turned and walked shakily towards the Hospital Wing.

"You know you just started something nasty, right?" Harry said, but he couldn't help but smirk.

"Yep, but I can take Malfoy," Ron said firmly, and led the way to the common room.