"Ronald! Would you please slow down! We can't understand you!" Snapped Hermione, for about the fifth time that lunch. Harry had given up trying to prevent their petty squabbles. It was more than his troubles worth, and besides, he was having a much more entertaining time wallowing in his own embarrassment and trying to be as invisible as possible.

Ron paused, glared at Hermione, and continued to shovel food into his mouth with as much gentlemanly manner as a famished baboon. Hermione simply sniffed and turned to Harry.

"Are you alright Harry? You seem sort of …distant. You haven't been having any more dreams about …well, about, you-know-who, have you?" Said Hermione gently. Harry could hear genuine concern in her voice.

Nearly spot on, as always. Hermione could read his moods like a book. Except, the subject of his dreams wasn't as obvious for her to guess this time. Harry considered his reply for a moment, and forced a smile.

"No, it's okay, really. I'm fine." He said simply, and returned to shifting his food about on his plate.

"Well … if you're sure you're okay. Ronald and I have to go to the library for the afternoon. We have to get some research done for that Potions project Snape set us last lesson. I don't know why on earth Snape paired me with Ron, I really don't." Hermione said, as she stood up, collected her things and beckoned Ron to do the same.

Harry smiled as Hermione walked towards the doors and Ron grunted; "See you later mate, if I survive."

The common room was emptying, the embers of the fire were glowing faintly and Harry was sitting alone in the corner with his Transfiguration books spread out in front of him. He'd done so badly in the test that McGonnagall insisted he study hard for next lesson, when he would retake it. He was in a hideous mood, and somehow the thought of Ron and Hermione being in the library together for so many hours made him feel even more sour.

"Night Harry." Fred mumbled tiredly as he pushed past Harry's chair.

"Yeah, night George. I mean Fred. Whatever. Night." Harry grumbled, staring into his page.

An hour or so later, after staring in vain at the information that refused to process through his brain, Harry began to shove his books into his bag. Just as he was doing this, someone in a mood even more disgruntled than his stormed through the portrait hole in a flurry of curls, books, and what looked to Harry like tears.

"Hermione? You alright? I thought - " But Harry was cut off mid-sentence by an uncharacteristically emotional outburst.

"Oh Harry! Why does Ron have to be such a horrible boy all the time? The insufferable thing! We couldn't agree on a single thing, so I was trying to get the entire project done by myself and Ron wasn't helping at all and then he disappeared for ages and I couldn't manage it by myself, but he wasn't there to help and I …Oh! Why must he be so hideously difficult all the time!" Hermione ended helplessly. She collapsed into the chair Harry had vacated when she came storming into the room.

Harry moved his weight from foot to foot in a moment of uncomfortable silence, and then realised this was what he had been waiting for. After all, wasn't it written in his tealeaves? He set his bag down on the table, and slowly moved towards Hermione. He knelt down beside the chair she was sitting in and leant on one of the arms. He looked at her for a moment before speaking.

"Ron doesn't mean to be how he is. You know how awkward he gets sometimes… he can't help it…"

"Yes, Harry, he bloody can help it! He doesn't have to be such an insolent little boy all the time! Why can't he just GROW UP!" Hermione paused for breath and regained her senses. "Oh, Harry. I'm so sorry. All this arguing…I don't know where it's all coming from. Before, it was different. We just had… disagreements. Harry, you would tell me if he hated me, wouldn't you? He'd tell you. He tells you everything." Hermione ended bitterly.

A few more moments of silence passed, and Harry contemplated his reply. He took her hand gently.

"Hermione, Ron just has trouble dealing with things. He is maturing, that's the problem. He must be finding it hard to deal with all this …all this new stuff that's going on." Harry knew full well what this 'stuff' was. But he was going to do his best to keep it from Hermione.

Hermione smiled as she wiped the tears from her face with the sleeve of her free hand. "Thanks Harry." She replied simply.

Harry stood up and turned to get his bag. "Harry?" Hermione said as she stood.

"…Yeah?"

"Harry, I … well …"

"…What?" Harry urged her carefully.

"Oh, it doesn't matter." Hermione ended. Before heading up the stairs to the girls' dormitory, she turned to Harry and embraced him in a tight hug.

Harry floated his arms about uselessly before wrapping them round her. He never wanted to let go. He breathed her in, her scent, her beauty, her sensitivity. As she was pulling away, he was engulfed in a flurry of emotion and leant down to kiss her.

Timing perfect as always, a certain redheaded boy with some emotional issues came bursting through the portrait hole at that very moment.

"Harry! HERMIONE! What… what the…!" He floundered helplessly, lost for words.

Hermione pulled herself away from Harry, and with a glance of despair at Ron, hurried up the stairs to her dormitory.

"Ron, I …It's … I mean we were just …"

"I know what you were doing. I bloody saw you. After everything I've said!" And with an angry grunt, Ron stormed up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

Harry's eyes wandered aimlessly. His heart dropped into oblivion and his head pounded. He picked up his bag, and stumbled up to bed, in the vain hope that in the morning everything would be as it used to.