AN: Sorry it took so long to get this part out, but i was going to post it a couple days ago when i realized was down. Anyway, i worked really hard on this part and i think i've finally got it down, so let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy!

Part 3: Sneaky Glances

I woke with a start when my alarm cuts through a restful sleep. All night I was plagued (although, you might call it blessed) with dreams filled with lust potions and naughty images concerning a certain red head we all know; thoughts that really shouldn't be going on in the mind of a Hogwarts Head Girl.

Stretching, I try to erase the images from my mind, knowing they could make for an extremely awkward morning. But, try as I might, the images remain. Merlin, I'm never going to be able to look at Ron normally again

After showering and getting dressed in the oh so unflattering Hogwarts uniform (I may not be the most girly of girls, but I do care about my appearance a bit), I make my way drudgingly down to the Great Hall. I find myself hoping that as usual it will be empty, so as to give me ample time to fulfill my daydreams without interruption. Since they won't go away, there's no point in fighting them, is there?

But apparently I cannot be so lucky because when I get to the Great Hall I find Ron is already there, tucking into his breakfast. I check my watch to find that not only am I here at the usual time, I'm early, which means Ron is fantastically early.

Well, I suppose that's a second best to day dreams, actually being in the company of that whom I admire. And there go the naughty images again…

Taking a moment to compose myself, I walk over and sit down next to him.

"Did your stomach wake you up again?" I ask teasingly, reaching in front of him for the toast.

"Huh?" he asked, seemingly surprised to see me beside him. Apparently he didn't notice me come in.

"Oh, hey Hermione," he says, giving me a weak smile. "I guess I was just up anyway, so I figured I might as well come get something to eat."

His voice comes out sort of haggard, and it worries me. "Are you okay, Ron?"

He smiles again, a little brighter this time. "Yeah, just kind of a restless night. Ever have those nights where you just can't get your brain to stop thinking? And it keeps you up all night?"

"All the time," I reply softly. Most of the time I'm thinking about you, my brain wants to add, but I know better than that. That would be a great way to ruin the secret, now wouldn't it?

"Well, it was one of those nights."

"What were you thinking about?" I ask, reaching to get some fruit from a plate in front of me and starting on my breakfast.

He's quiet for a minute, and I look to him to see what has halted his answering. His face has grown unusually red and his eyes are glued to the food on his plate, refusing to meet mine.

"Oh, nothing much. Just worried about school and stuff, I guess. You know, with NEWTs this year and everything."

I don't believe him for an instant. There was a reason he wouldn't look me in the eyes and it wasn't homework.

It has to be a girl.

I knew it would happen sooner or later. Ron was going to find someone that he liked and of course she's going to love him back 'cause, I mean, what's not to love and they're going to get married and have lots of babies, if the size of Ron's family is any indication, and I'm going to be left here all alone with no one.

Tears start to prick my eyes and I have to fight to push them back. Deciding the silence has lasted far too long and that I need to say something, I decide to entertain his excuse.

"I don't know if this is any consolation, but don't worry about school so much. I'm sure you'll do just fine."

He looks over at me and smiles. Oh, that smile. The smile that's not going to be reserved just for me anymore. I think I'm going to be sick!

"Thanks 'Mione. That means a lot coming from the smartest witch in school."

And his little pet names are not helping! I need to get out of here!

I stand up from the table which puts Ron immediately on guard. "What's wrong?" he asks.

"I…err…I just realized that I forgot something in my room," I think quickly. "I'll just go get that and then meet you in class."

"But you haven't even eaten yet," he protests. What is it with this boy and his watching of my eating habits?

"I'm not hungry. I'll see you in class," I say quickly and leave before he gets the chance to say anything more.

Before long I'm back in my room, face down on my bed. And not even my dreams could stop the tears.

I spent the rest of the day avoiding Ron as best I could. Of course, we saw each other in classes, but that's not a situation where we are required to converse much. I spent lunch in the library and came to dinner late, after Harry and Ron were already at Quidditch practice.

So now, here I am, sitting in the common room as I do nearly every night, a book propped open in front of me; although tonight I find I can't concentrate all that much. I'm having trouble concentrating on anything really, other than discovering who it is that Ron fancies.

I almost thought that I was onto something, going over all the moments of our last DADA meeting in my head, when Harry and the object of my affection walk through the portrait hole.

His boots and the hem of his robes are caked with mud, while the rest of his robes are slightly spattered do to the light rain we've been having. His face is smudged with dirt and his hair windblown from flying across the pitch.

He looks absolutely adorable.

Looking around the room, he sees me and, with a bright smile of recognition, begins walking in my direction.

"Hey," he says, coming up to me.

"Hey. How was practice?" Personally, I don't completely understand the obsession with this game. If Harry and Ron didn't play for the team, I probably wouldn't go. But they're my best friends…so there you have it.

"Good. Kinda cold, but good."

"That's good," I say, smiling awkwardly. We both just stand for a moment (well he stands and I sit, but you know what I mean) and stare at each other, neither saying anything. It's times like these I wish I knew what was going on in his head.

"So err, after I get changed…do you want to play wizard chess or something?"

I bite my lip, thinking about it, but in the end I decide against it. I'm not up for games right now.

"I don't really feel like it tonight Ron. Besides, I've got all this reading to do. But I'm sure Harry will play with you."

I almost think I see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but it's gone in an instant. "You're right. I'll ask him," he says before turning and making his way up to the boys' dormitory.

I feel bad for denying him anything, but that is just not something I can take right now. The last thing I need is to keep fooling myself that every little smile is meant for me or that I even have a chance with someone like him.

Before long Ron and Harry come back down to the common room and settle into a game of wizard chess. For some reason, I can't help but watch them. Ron looks over in my direction from time to time, and even then I'm not able to tear my eyes away, no matter how hard I try. He must think me a fool for sitting here and staring at him the entire time, but even with this rationale, I'm not able to look away.

He'd turn to me and our eyes would lock for the briefest of moments. Soon his attention would be drawn back to the game, whilst I continue to watch from across the room. Harry looked over a time or two as well, probably wondering at what freak Ron kept looking at. He would smile and give a slight wave of recognition before returning to the game.

I was so engrossed, in fact, in my one sided staring competition that I didn't notice Ginny come over to me.

"Hermione?" I stop staring and look up at her, the expression on her face telling me that she had called my name at least once before I answered.

"Hey Ginny. What's up?" I ask, feigning innocence. She doesn't buy it.

"Are you okay, Hermione? Ron told me that you ran out on breakfast this morning and that he didn't see you again until class. And then you weren't at dinner…"

"I came to dinner; I was just a little late," I say defensively. Maybe a little too much so as my hasty reply seems to peak Ginny's interest, which isn't always a good thing. Ginny is the one I have to watch out for. I can get just about anything past Harry and Ron, but Ginny's smart. She notices things.

I sigh. "I'm fine, alright? It's just things…I've been…I feel like things are just a bit out of control lately," I finish finally.

She sits down next to me. "Alright, I'm listening."

I bring my hands up to my face, running them over it tiredly. How do I even start this conversation?

"Ginny," I start after a moment, "Have you noticed anything different about Ron lately?"

"In what way?" she asks.

"Oh, I don't know. Just in the way he acts. Like there's something he's not telling me. And he's studying more and getting up early. It's just different. It's not like him. He hasn't even picked a fight with me in over a week!"

"Hermione, do you miss fighting with my brother?" she asks tauntingly, and I give her a hard look as I shush her, asking her to keep her voice down.

"That's not the point and you know it."

"Alright, alright. I'm kidding. So, Ron is taking a little more interest in his studies. What's wrong with that?"

"It's more than that," I bite out, a little more exasperated then I mean to. I sigh. "Just…look at him. What's different? You've lived with him all your life; you've got to be able to figure it out."

Ginny takes a moment to look over to where her bother is playing chess with Harry. The two now seem in a deep and hushed conversation. Every once and a while Ron would glance over in our direction, take a quick glance around the room, then return to the game and dialogue.

The tenseness in Ron's body was evident, frustration showing through in his body language. Yet at the same time his face wore a tired expression, the responding look on Harry's face one of sorrow and sympathy. Every once and a while, Ron's face would screw up in concentration and the whispered conversation would heighten. But then it would stop and Ron would sit back, the tired expression again taking over his face as a parting glance would be shot in Ginny and Hermione's direction.

"He looks like he needs a good shag," Ginny commented after a few moments observation.

"Ginny!" I gasp in disbelief. There they go…naughty images of Ron back in my head. Now why did she have to go and do that?

"What? Come on Hermione. He's a seventeen year old boy. You know he's thinking about it at least half the day and probably most of the night," she says with a suggestive smirk.

"Yes…well," I start, but words fail me. Before I can gather my composure, Ginny speaks.

"He's certainly looking over here an awful lot."

"That's because we've been staring at him for the last five minutes. He's probably wondering what our problem is."

"No," Ginny corrects. "I mean, he's looking at you an awful lot."

"Wha…But…I mean…You're not suggesting that…"

"Hermione, I like to think I know my brother. And the way he's looking over here…let's just say he isn't looking at me, okay."

"No Ginny. You're wrong." Why must she torture me like this? She knows how I feel. "Ron he…he doesn't feel that way for me."

"Well, that would explain everything, wouldn't it? The getting up early so he can eat breakfast with you. The extra studying... Who else cares about his academics but you, and maybe mom? And that thing he's not telling you…maybe it's exactly what you're not telling him."

"No Ginny. You're wrong. Ron doesn't feel that way. He's my best friend. I'd know."

"Or maybe you're just being as blind as him."

For some reason what she says hits me to the core. She looks at me, imploring me to believe her. But I can't. I just can't. 'Cause if I believe in it too much, and she's wrong…I can't take that heartbreak. I couldn't deal with all those emotions. It would be too much.

"Just think about it, okay"

I don't say anything 'cause I don't want to agree, although I know that I'll think about it whether I want to or not. After a while she gives up, and sensing that I want to be alone, goes up to the girls' dormitory.

I sit, staring just as before, across the room to where my two best friends are playing. Ron looks up for a moment, sees me looking and gives a lazy smile before turning back to the game.

I can't believe it, Gin. I just can't believe it.