Chapter Three: What To Do?
At dinner that night, Harry knew there was something up with Ron and Hermione. Both seemed distant and preoccupied, not speaking, seemingly lost in thought. Harry and Ginny exchanged bemused glances.
"What d'you reckon's up with them?" Harry whispered, jerking his head towards Ron, who was staring blankly at his food, and Hermione, who had a very slight smile on her face.
"No idea," murmured Ginny. Harry did not realise that Ginny wasn't being exactly truthful; she did know what was going on, Hermione had told her and made her swear not to tell anyone else – yet. "Not even Harry, ok?" Hermione's voice echoed in her head.
Thankfully, Harry had seemingly given up on finding out what was going on, and was now vigorously finishing his shepherd's pie. Ginny smiled, and returned to her dinner.
Later that night, Hermione sat in the common room with Harry and Ginny. She was still thinking about the words in that letter … she's one of my best mates, but I think I fancy her … it's Hermione …
Hermione had been in a state of disbelief all night. Ron fancied her. However, the more she thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense … he had burped slugs for a day, just because Malfoy insulted her … he had gotten detention for defending her when Snape had criticised her … and after the Yule Ball, hadn't he basically said that he had wanted to take her to the ball?
"What are you smiling about?" Harry asked Hermione curiously. Hermione realised she'd probably had a stupid grin on her face for at least five minutes.
"Oh, erm, nothing," she said, glancing at Ginny and trying not to laugh. "Just thinking."
Ginny knew about the letter, of course; Hermione had told her right away. Ginny's reaction had been somewhat amusing; she had rolled around on the floor, laughing fit to burst and screeching, "I knew it! I knew it!"
Presently, Hermione was wondering what to do. She fancied Ron too, of course; she pretty much always had, but she had been unsure whether her feelings were mutual until now. But how to tell him? Harry and Ron had always said that she was "good on feelings and stuff", but at the moment, Hermione had no clue as to what she was going to do.