Almost a week had passed since Ron served his detention, and Hermione was becoming increasingly sour towards him. Malfoy had somehow wriggled out of her anger and was back on her sweet side. He was constantly flirting and flashing her smiles, and at the same time, angering Ron beyond his limits.

"I can't take it anymore, Harry, I just can't take it," Ron growled one day, watching Hermione giggle at one of his jokes. "That uptight, greasy, pompous git is going to get it one of these days. I won't even bother with a wand. I'll just grab his neck and wring it like a towel."

"You know I don't like it anymore than you do. I've tried talking to her, but every time I mention your name she glares at me and changes the subject. I wouldn't expect her to be mad this long. She's never held a grudge this long before, has she?" Harry said.

"Never, I don't know what's gotten into her," Ron put his head in his hands and ran his fingers halfway through his hair. "What in the bloody hell am I going to do?"

(A/N: POV changed to Harry's)

Harry was sitting at the lunch table one Saturday, when he saw Hermione walk out to the grounds with Parvati and Lavender. He left quickly and when Ron objected, he pointed at Hermione and winked. Harry walked out onto the stone steps and tried to spot where she had gone. It was a sunny day late in October, and there were many people out on the lawn, trying to enjoy the last of the sun. He noticed a brown bushy head sitting amongst two others, one black, straight and shiny, and the other, dirty blonde and wavy. He made his way over and sat down.

"Hello ladies!" he said, grinning hopefully. Hermione and Lavender smiled and returned the greeting, but Parvati barely lifted the corners of her lips. Apparently she was still angry about the Yule Ball. That girl could sure hold a grudge; he sorely hoped she wasn't rubbing off on Hermione. "Do you mind if I spoke with Hermione alone for a second?"

Lavender said, "Not at all," and grabbed Parvati's arm and led her over to another tree to talk.

Hermione's smile had vanished on the word "alone." She gazed at Harry accusingly with her lips pursed.

"I'm not talking about Ron," she said with a tone of finality in her voice.

"Look, Hermione, just listen to me all right?" Harry said aggressively. "Would it kill you to listen for a minute?"

Hermione folded her arms and cocked her head to one side, but she was silent and waited for him to speak.

"Why are you mad at him?" he asked.

"He fought over me. I don't want to be considered like a material possession that he can win in a duel!" she said, her voice rising with each word.

"Malfoy did too, but you aren't very angry with him I noticed," Harry said quietly.

"Look, Ron attacked Draco. He told me himself," Hermione said argumentatively.

Harry resisted the urge not to laugh. "There was no attacking to be done in that duel. It was proper and they both pulled out their wands at the exact same time."

"I don't believe you," Hermione said quickly, her eyes narrowed.

"You'd believe that slimy piece of dung and not your best friend?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione in amazement. "What good would come of me lying to you? How would I benefit from that? I'm not trying to do you in, Hermione, and neither was Ron. He was trying to protect you!"

"Protect me from what?" Hermione asked. "Draco isn't trying to do anything, Harry. He's changed, he really has. He's so caring about me. When he looks at me, I feel like I'm the only girl in the world."

"That same person, for the past five years, has been secretly hoping you would die in some freak accident. He hated you so much. He called you a mudblood. He made your teeth grow to the size of an armchair. Do you really think someone like that is going to change? Poisonous mushrooms don't change their spot, Hermione," Harry said, He was halfway between getting to his feet and remaining where he was he was so frustrated.

"That may be true, but I don't think Ron would give a damn if I died. He doesn't care about me, he's always bickering at me," Hermione reasoned.

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You know when you were petrified, second year?" He asked after a slight pause. She nodded. "The only reasons Ron left your bedside in the hospital wing were lessons, food, and sleep. He did his homework next to you, he asked me to bring up food whenever he didn't want to leave. He almost cried one time from worry for your well being."

Hermione blinked a couple of times and stared down at her hands. "He-he almost cried?" she asked uncertainly.

"Tears were welling up in his eyes, the only reason he didn't was because Fred and George walked in," Harry said softly.

Hermione's eyes were filled to the brim with tears. She looked over the grounds and recognized Malfoy's platinum blonde head next to the lake. It seemed as though she was actually seeing him for the first time. "He lied to me," she finally said. "He lied to me to get on my good side. He's nothing more than a worthless piece of pond scum."

"Now you sound more like Hermione," Harry said, grinning.

Ron tottered out of the castle doors, looking for Harry. He looked a little uncertain, like a child that didn't know if they were allowed somewhere, but they went anyways. Harry waved him over and he came slowly, watching Hermione hesitantly. She stood up and pulled him into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry Ron. I feel absolutely horrible," she said, her voice muffled by his shoulder. Ron embraced her back, and mouthed "thanks" to Harry, who was still grinning broadly.