'Unrequited Love'
Chapter One: An Unexpected Request
The night was so beautiful. The pale yellow moon shone peacefully against the black velvet, amid a thousand shimmering stars. From an open library window, a lean, rather exhausted, bushy-haired girl sighed wistfully. Hermione wished she were out on a night like this…especially with some one special. Instead, Hermione returned to her table and plopped onto the chair. Moments before, she had been furiously reviewing her Love Potions essay for Professor Snape, but now all she wanted to do, was retreat to her dormitory and sleep. Hermione yawned, slowly arranging her papers and depositing them into her bag. She rose from her table, said a quick goodbye to Madam Pince, who currently prowling the Curses section for any 'distracted' couples. Hermione strolled peacefully through the deserted corridors, not very aware of her surroundings for once, bumping right into…
"Oh…hi Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, slight flustered, dropping her bag. She stooped down collect the few papers which had flown out. Harry, helping her, said, "What are you doing out here?"
Hermione looked up sheepishly. "I was in the library," she began.
Harry shook his head, gazing at her hopelessly. Hermione couldn't help but notice how green and mesmerising his eyes were. "But I couldn't concentrate…" Hermione continued, hardly paying attention from words coming from her mouth. Harry raised his eyebrows, wearing a mock shocked expression on his face. Hermione grinned. Harry chattered about Quidditch practice, as they set off towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Where is Ron, anyway?" Hermione queried suddenly, remembering that Ron too, should be with Harry.
Harry shrugged. "He's a bit angry with me at the moment," he answered shortly.
"Why?" Hermione persisted.
Harry heaved a sigh, "I gave him a few pointers on Quidditch, goal-keeping and some advice….He didn't appreciate my comments, so he just took off…."
Hermione groaned, "I hope you don't stay mad at each other for long,"
They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, to discover she wasn't to be seen. It was Harry's turn to groan. Hermione checked her watch worriedly, "I hope he comes back soon. We have to patrol the corridors soon," Harry didn't look particularly concerned.
"He'll be back. Don't worry."
He leaned against the wall, his messy black hair falling all over his eyes and his face splattered with mud. A few minutes later the Fat Lady came floating back into her frame. "Oh, sorry, dears. I was visiting Violet, you know…."
Harry gazed at her impatiently.
"Alright," she began briskly, "password?"
"Fedora Putenesca," Hermione answered promptly.
"Who made that one up?" muttered Harry as he followed Hermione into the common room.
"Anyway, I think I'll head to bed," Harry said, yawning. " Goodnight Night, Hermione." With that he strode towards the boys' dormitories. Hermione badly wanted to follow suit, but she thought she'd better wait for Ron.
Ron entered the warm, nearly empty common room, half-hour later, dishevelled and dejected. He gave a sudden start, when he discovered Hermione curled up in the arm-chair near the fire, fast asleep.
Someone was shaking her awake, Hermione blinked open her eyes to see a blurry Ron peering down at her, concerned.
She gazed around groggily. "What?" she croaked, rubbing her throat.
"I already patrolled the corridors." Ron said, flicking some dirt off his robes.
"Oh!" Of course! She had forgotten her prefect duties. "Thanks," Hermione replied gratefully, slightly surprised. Ron tugged on her arm. "It's midnight," he said, "don't tell me you've been studying all along," he continued, disbelief etched on his face, as he surveyed the upturned Hogwarts: A History on her lap.
Hermione rose up from her seat, "No," she replied shortly, "I was waiting for you,"
Ron glanced her, bewildered, "Really?" he questioned, a smile tugging at corners of his mouth.
"What's up with you and Harry?" Hermione demanded.
"Nothing. Kept on nagging me about my goal keeping. I think the Captain duties have gone to his head."
Hermione snorted. "I don't why you're making such a big deal about Quidditch." Ron grabbed her arm suddenly. Hermione shivered, as a tingling sensation shot through her. An image of Harry popped into her head, but to her surprise, she pushed it away almost immediately. Ron was glancing at her oddly, the tips of his ear were a bright red.
"Hermione…." He started nervously, "T-There is an H-Hogosmeade visit n-next –w-weekend," Ron stuttered. Hermione felt her heart thudding painfully against her chest. What was happening here? She wondered.
"So?" she answered as normally as possible, wrenching her arm from Ron's grasp. Ron looked extremely hurt. Hermione gazed shamefacedly at her shoes. She thought she knew what was coming, but at the same time it seemed so unreal… "D'you….d'you want to go….?" Ron trailed of uncertainly, and stared as his fingernails as if they were the most interesting things in the world.
There was a moment of awkward silence, then….
"Of course, I want to go with you and Harry," Hermione responded succinctly. Ron looked as if he'd been slapped in the face.
Hermione heaved a sad sigh. "Goodnight, Ron," she said softly, pityingly. She walked towards the Girls' dormitories, shooting Ron a faint smile.
She couldn't understand why he liked her like that. She was always brusque, curt, sometimes motherly to him. Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger could be nothing more than friends. Anyway, she couldn't possibly say yes, even if she wanted to. She liked Harry. She always had.
