Not Everything is about Quidditch

"Why is it that neither of you do your homework?" Hermione said as she walked down the steps towards Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I don't understand why we even have homework for that class," Harry said turning around to face Hermione and then back around.

Hermione looked at Ron for a moment searching for an answer, but she only received a grin. Ron seemed to have his mind elsewhere; Hermione didn't know where, but it wasn't here.

Harry walked rather quickly and Hermione and Ron struggled to keep up with him.

"Harry will you slow down?" Ron whined, "Why are you walking so fast?"

"No reason," Harry replied panting and starting to slow down.

"Hi Harry," Ginny said as she walked around the corner grinning.

Hermione and Ron glanced at each other and slightly rolled their eyes. They continued to walk to class leaving their friend with Ron's sister. Ron kept his eyes at the ground even when he noticed Hermione was looking at him. His robes were slightly falling off, his shirt wrinkled around his chest, shoes untied, and his shirt collar wrapped tightly around his neck. Hermione cursed at herself for smiling because there was something really bothering Ron. When her could feel her eyes on him, his hands began to sweat and his ears would turn bright pink; this, of course, wasn't new to him ever since their fourth year at Hogwarts.

Hermione became suddenly worried with Ron's attitude and behavior. What was bothering him? Maybe Harry would know. Ron has not been acting normally; he hadn't been complaining about Quidditch practice, he didn't beg Hermione for her homework, he didn't whine annoyingly, he didn't do things he normally did that makes her want to taker out her wand and cast Occulos repairo on his brain; if that was even possible.
Hermione caught herself staring at the quiet yet strange ginger haired boy she'd known for years and she felt as if she were just meeting him for the first time. The feelings she felt for Ron were strong and sometimes overwhelmed her completely, but something told her she enjoyed it. There were many times she wanted to tell him how she felt and tell him that she wanted to be with him forever, but that was impossible. Hermione Granger wasn't completely sure that Ron Weasley felt the same about her. There were times, when she swore he did, but he'd turn around and destroy her already torn heart. She often thought about the Yule Ball during their fourth year, when both of them almost shared their secret feelings for one another. She imagined his stunned face when she walked with Viktor Krum and the lights beamed down at them; she smiled to herself. It was wrong of her to smile when Ron was in so much pain and disgust. Hermione wanted to see if Ron would get jealous, but sometime during the night, she began to genuinely like Viktor.

"Hermione! Ron!" someone shouted from behind them.

The two of them turned around facing the famous seeker of Bulgaria's Quidditch team.

"Viktor!" Hermione screeched throwing her arms around Viktor Krum.

Ron stared at the two of them as they hugged each other tightly. His face showed an enormous amount of disgust. He saw the way Hermione smiled and looked at him; she never looked at him that way.

"ello' Ron," Krum said facing him with Hermione now standing beside him.

"Hello Vicky," Ron whispered under his breath.

Hermione glared at Ron.

"What was thats?" asked Krum who clearly didn't hear.

"You're a bit early Krum," stated Ron.

"Es' I know, but I wanted to. I likes it here in Hogwartz," he looked at Hermione, "and Hermione ez heres."

Hermione giggled as Ron stared angrily.

"The Quidditch scrimmage isn't until Thursday," Ron gritted through his teeth, "Well I'll let you two catch up. I'm going to class."

"Byes Ron. I'll seez you later," Krum said as Ron turned around and headed for class.

Hermione watched Ron walk alone to Defense Against the Dark Arts class and suddenly felt ashamed of herself.

"Hello Hermione," Harry said, "Hello Viktor. We should really get to class Hermione, we might already be late. Where's Ron?"

"Can I come?" Viktor asked the two of them, "Dumbledore said I am allowed to enter any classes I would likes."

"Of course you can," Hermione said before Harry could open his mouth.

"Yeah," Harry replied suddenly worried about his best mate.

The three friends walked in Ron's invisible trail. Harry knew this was going to be bad. It was bad when Krum came during their fourth year, it was bad when he asked Hermione to the Yule Ball, it was bad when he asked her to spend the summer with him, and it was now going to be a nightmare. Ron was going to play Krum in a Quidditch scrimmage on Friday. Even though it wasn't a real match, Ron will most defiantly take it as one.

"Hey Ron," Harry said sitting beside him where Hermione usually sat.

"Vicky is here, Harry," Ron stated, "He wanted to see Hermione."

"I know. I came to class with the two of them."

Ron turned his head and stared at Harry Potter, his best mate as if he were the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

"Why would you walk with that bloody git?" Ron said disgustedly.

"I was walking with Hermione."

"And Vicky was with her."

"You shouldn't make fun of him Ron. You're the one that was overly excited when we first..."

"He likes Hermione, Harry. He is going to distract her from school," Ron made the quickest excuse he could bring up in a whining manner.

"Stop making excuses Ron. If you like her that much, then just tell her and stop being a blood twat. And not to mention, it is her choice if she wants to spend time with Krum, not yours."

Ron looked painfully at Harry and suddenly Harry felt horrible. Harry knew that Ron wasn't completely perfect at showing his affections for Hermione and it was quite clear from her side that she liked him; he was just to bloody stupid.

"Just whose side are you on?" Ron responded rather quickly with anger in clutched in his fist.

Potter didn't answer, he simply just sighed. Ron turned his head towards Hermione who was laughing at one of Viktor's jokes; he looked furious and flinched at the sight.

"I hate him," Ron whispered under his breath, "I hate him so much."

Ron Weasley and Harry Potter dropped their books off in the dormitories and were now heading to the Great Hall for dinner. Ron has been trying to avoid Hermione in every way. He went with Harry to meet Ginny instead of going with Hermione, something he usually did. As they entered the room, Ron sighed when Hermione and Krum weren't there yet. Harry and Ron sat I their usual seats. Harry sat across from Ron, Ginny next to Harry, and Hermione next to Ron. That was how the four friends always ate their meals together, but now Ron stared at the spot Hermione sat and felt disappointment flood his body. She wasn't going to sit with him now that Viktor Krum was here. Why would she want to?

Ron and Harry sat quietly waiting for all the students to enter the Great Hall. They talked about the Divination's homework. Ginny arrived only a moment later and seated herself beside Harry. She whispered something into Harry's ear and Harry left the Great Hall; Ron looked disturbed. Harry and Ginny's relationship grew everyday and everyone could see the happiness they filled in each other. Ron was completely jealous that the two of them could be so perfect for one another and his relationship with Hermione was nearly impossible. He wanted to be with Hermione in every way possible. His insides ached in the middle of the night when he dreamed about her and he remembered the night he touched her arm while everyone was sleeping in the Hospital Wing except for him. He remembered it clearly.

Sirius Black had nearly killed the fat lady in the Gryffindor portrait hole and all of Gryffindor was forced to sleep in sleeping bags in the Hospital Wing. Everyone was asleep, while Ron laid wide awake feeling nervous that Hermione was only a few inches away from him. He wanted to touch her and pull her into his arms, but he knew that she would wake. He feared it terribly that he wouldn't even dare to admit his feelings towards beautiful Hermione. Ron checked if she was really asleep, whispering her name softly and she responded with her light breathing. Carefully, Ron slid his hand over her arm and stared at her while she smiled in her sleep. Suddenly Ron felt a huge stream of embarrassment when he noticed something happening to him and pulled his hand quickly causing Hermione to jolt in her sleep. He cursed at himself continuously for taking advantage of Hermione when she was asleep for his own sexual pleasures that lingered in his aching body. Ron realized that night; He wanted to make Hermione his.

Harry walked quickly to the Library. His hands gripped into a fist as he entered the room. He panicked when Ginny told him that something was wrong with Hermione, his sister practically, and she really needed to talk to Harry about it.

"Hermione! What's wrong? Are you alright?" asked Harry frantically checking her body for markings of violence.

"Harry I'm fine. I just needed to talk to you about something," Hermione said in a whisper pulling Harry to the back of the Library.

"What do you want to talk about? Why can't you talk to Ron?" Harry pleaded that it wasn't going to be about Ron.

"Because it is about Ron, Harry," she whined, "I don't understand what is wrong with him lately. He's acting odd and trying very hard to avoid me. He's always staring at the ground and he doesn't even look at me when we're talking. You're his best friend Harry. I'm just worried about him that's all."

"I don't know what's bothering him, Hermione," He lied.

Hermione looked at the ground with an unapproved frown.

"Harry, I know you know. Why do both of you act as if I hadn't notice? I'm not that completely stupid when it comes to boys."

"I can't tell you. I'd be breaking an unwritten rule to friendship."

"Please Harry. He can't be like this for the scrimmage."

"Since when did you care about Quidditch?"

Since Ron became Keeper of course, she thought.

"Harry..." Hermione growled.

"Think about it Hermione. What bothered Ron last year or what bothered him two years ago and still bothers him now?" Harry asked showing frustration.

"Viktor, but he has been like this all summer."

"You should really talk to him Hermione. Maybe both of you can sort out your priorities and tell each other," Harry said as he turned around and headed for the door, "Come on. Let's go to dinner. They are waiting."

Hermione followed behind Harry to the Great Hall. Her arms crossed and her strands for her curly brown hair blocked her face. She looked drained and confused as if trying to figure out a potion without a quill or a piece of parchment. Harry noticed that this was bothering Hermione more than he had expected. Just as they were entering the Great Hall, Harry turned around and faced Hermione.

"Who are you going to cheer for in the Quidditch match, Hermione?"

Hermione's lips parted as if she were about to speak, but nothing came out. She couldn't answer, she simply stood there dumb witted for the first time in her entire life.