September 25… After Care of Magical Creatures (Break)

Dear Luke,

Oliver lent his time to me yesterday after dinner. I asked him about what he said about letting go and facing my fears. It's not easy to understand in a day but I did. Harry just told me to be positive and open my mind.

"It's like this, Ron," Oliver started. "As we've heard last practice, you like Hermione. In fact, you do love her, don't you?" I nodded and let him continue. "This infatuation you're feeling goes in over your head. Around and around it goes. I do think sometimes you lose your concentration." I nodded again. "It troubles you."

"A little bit, Oliver," I answered thinking hard. "It troubles me if someone bothers her. And as much as possible, I want to be there to protect her. That is the closest I could get with her."

"Well, you see…this will end in regret if you don't do something," he said. "You've got to let it out. Tell her. Tell the whole world even if it kills you. If you don't do it, she might find someone to love then your chance will never come again."

"But what if she doesn't like me?" I asked worried.

"Well, if she's not the right one, maybe you'll find another one."

"That's certainly impossible!" I half-shouted. "I have these feelings churning since…well…third year. How can she not be the right one?"

"Maybe you're right," he laughed. "I had the feelings for Mafalda like that also. I never thought we could be together. But we are. Still, look at the bright side, Ron. Maybe she'll like you back."

"Oh I hope so," I said slowly. "I sure hope so. Thank you, Oliver."

"Any time, my friend," he answered.

Luke, he's right. It's really into me. This Care of Magical Creatures class, I've been out-of-focus. I haphazardly fed Bilygourd some red cabbage. It threw up on my robes.

"What are ya thinkin', Weasley?" Hagrid said cleaning me up. "Yer supposed tah feed it green not red."

I was thinking about what Hermione said the night she read the letter. Lavender said to Harry that she slept 1 am that night because she was re-reading it over and over. Then what Oliver said…she liking me back. All the time I thought she liked that Viktor. She spent her summer with him in Bulgaria.

Harry said, "She enjoyed the summer with you anyway. That's something." Yes, but then she met Viktor. That Bulgarian Seeker and Dumstrang champion Viktor Krum…is a total opposite of me. He has a nice build, good family background, high academic marks and definitely the one the women most likely will run for.

I don't believe that Hermione doesn't like him at all. On the first place, why would she go on vacation with him? Don't tell me that she went with him because she wanted to learn more; that there were more interesting than spending it with me and simply having fun. No!

She likes him…not me. Sigh, how on earth could I ask her now? Worse yet, tell her how I feel. Luke, right now, I feel like I'm in shreds. So in the dark, I am. I can't tell my mother about this or I'll be in bigger trouble. She wants everything perfect. She might even write to Hermione and explain it herself. I'll be so embarrassed; I'll never show my face ever again.

I seriously need help. But I don't know who to go to. Help me…

Got to go,

Ron

DIARY POV

Well, Ron's having problems alright. But what Oliver said has a point. There is a possibility that she might like her back. I mean, it's not impossible and maybe she's feeling the same way as Ron. And like him, she's scared to tell him or others. Uh, that makes them soulmates.