A/n: Yahoo, I'm on a roll. :D! (However, my eyelids are drooping, so I don't know how much farther I can go..... yawn) Only for my reviewers do I keep going. ;) Alright, have fun reading this one.

Chapter 3

Ron couldn't take it anymore. He'd sat there for about half an hour, no one had entered the Common Room, nor left it. He was alone, and he had no idea where Hermione and Harry were, although he could easily guess. Harry was probably at the Quidditch Pitch, blowing off steam on his broom, while Hermione was most definitely at the Library, the place where she went to blow off steam.

Ron didn't exactly have any place specific to go and calm down and think, so he usually just roamed the hallways aimlessly. He figured he might as well, since he was becoming very - he didn't know what the word was. He didn't want to sit alone in the Common Room anymore.

He climbed out of the portrait hole and began walking - more like trudging - down the hallways and stairs, with his hands in his pockets.

For a brief moment he wondered where everyone was, as he saw next to no one occupying the halls with him - but only briefly. He silently shook his head. It was Easter Break, and nearly everyone had gone home or somewhere else other than Hogwarts this year. Those who did stay behind, however, were not wandering the halls like Ron, but were out enjoying the glorious sunshine and green grass and fresh air....

He would go outside a little later, he supposed. He sighed heavily and let his feet take him where ever they decided to go. Not surprisingly, his thoughts kept centering around Hermione. He really did love her, and he admitted it. Not out loud, of course, but he did admit it.

Was it his red hair? Is that what caused him to be so unbearingly stubborn? He didn't like to argue with her, but he just couldn't let her out-argue him. She was always right, and he enjoyed sparring with her. Maybe his biggest problem was that he didn't know when to stop. She was often brimming with tears when someone stepped in to stop them from saying anymore. Would it kill him to just keep his mouth shut?

He sighed heavily again, and didn't even notice he was on the third floor. He just keep slumping along, his heart aching. She was so beautiful, and she probably hated him. He bit his lip, and shook his head. More than anything, he wanted Hermione to be his girl. He wanted to kiss her, and love her, romance her, and hold her hand, and say, "This is Hermione, the most beautiful, wonderful woman in the world, and she's my girl."

Ron knew it would never happen. The way he treated her... there was no way for her to not hate him. Harry always stuck up for her. She'd probably marry Harry. Or maybe Fred or George, just so she could stand there and look at him with those gorgeous brown eyes of hers, as if to say, "You missed out. Look at me now.... I'm happy."

But would she do that? Or would she just one day, have enough, pack up, and leave forever? What if she was already gone?

Ron shook his head and tried to force his mind onto different subject. He was just thinking in circles, and those circles were becoming more irrational and dramatic.

He sighed once again, and kept on trudging.

Hermione slowly began to make her way back to the Common Room, but thought differently. 'The Library.' she thought. 'I always feel better, when I'm around my book.'

She rounded the corner and almost bumped into a red-haired person. For a panicked second, she thought it was Ron and was ready to bolt. But almost immediately she realized it was Ginny, and was calm.

"Sorry Ginny. I wasn't watching where I was going." she smiled as best she could and tried to walk past her.

"Wait!" Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm and stopped her. There was concern washed all over her face. She didn't say anything for a moment, and look straight at Hermione. "He made you cry again, didn't he?"

Hermione suddenly felt uncomfortable under her friend's stare. She mustered another fake smile and said, "Oh, no. I just have a cold." she coughed a little and sniffed.

Ginny didn't smile or let go of Hermione's robes. "I don't buy it." she said firmly. "How long did it last this time?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to pull away again. "It was nothing.... just the usual. I'm fine."

"We need to talk Hermione."

"....now?"

"Now."

Hermione swallowed and Ginny released Hermione's sleeve. She followed Ginny into the far corner of the Library and reluctantly sat down beside her.

Hermione half-cleared her throat. "So?" she said, trying to sound non-chalant.

Ginny shook her head, and still did not smile. "This has gone far enough." she said quietly, but her tone greatly unnerved Hermione. "I promised Ron I'd never tell, but this has got to stop. Maybe if you know, then you'll have it in you to stop."

Hermione said nothing. She was frozen. W hat was Ginny about to reveal?

Ginny glanced around then leaned in close to Hermione, dropping the volume of her voice even more so Hermione could hardly hear her. "He loves you Hermione."

She felt as though she'd been punched hard in the stomach. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she her ears were ringing with Ginny's words. At that moment she couldn't speak even if her life depended on it.

Ginny leaned back in chair. "Now will you stop with the fighting?"

Hermione tried to swallow, tried to blink, tried to even look alive, but she was so frozen.... Ron loves me...... he loves me..... LOVES........me.........Ron....... I love Ron........ he loves me....... love..... love......

She was barely breathing, and finally her eyes, stinging because of lack of blinking, re-focussed on Ginny's face and she managed to blink. ".....he.....?" her voice was raspy and she was surprised her mouth had managed to function with her realizing it.

Ginny nodded. "I didn't tell you anything." she winked, stood and left the library, leaving Hermione behind to sit rooted to the chair in a complete daze.

A/n: How was that? Its getting a little lamer each chapter, I know, but that's what lack of sleep does to you. (I stay up all hours of the night because all kinds of plots are just BEGGING to be written, and then I'm too tired to write them, and then I can't sleep because I need to wrte them - its a very vicious cycle you see... anyways.... read on....) Don't forget to review! (just no swearing please!)