Hey y'all! I've changed my name (yes, I know you're all rolling your eyes and thinking 'Not again!') to Ninita de mi Brooke. It's Spanish for 'my Brooke's little girl' or 'my Brooke's little child.' If you actually care at all about why, just read about it in my profile.

Anyways, on to what you really want me to write about: the story. Fabulous idea isn't it? Continuing stories that I've started? It took me positively ages to think it up; it's so farfetched.

Well, I took a tally of all the votes, and Option A. won (Woot! Woot! Is what most of you are thinking. But…I don't care! I'm writing Option B!)

Nah, just kidding. Though I will throw in a good deal of Option B. considering that that is really what I wanted to write. So…on with the story!

Ron just rolled his eyes again and turned back to me. "So, what we're saying, mate, is that you really like Hermione and you need to confess to it before it really gets to be bad. Because, as we all know, denial is something that can ruin your life."

"Exactly," Hermione continued for him. "So, we'll give you a few minutes, then you need to just come out and say it. It's really not that hard. Just 'I like you, Hermione,' will do." They both settled back into a comfortable position, then looked up at me in expectancy.

That settles it. All of my friends are officially insane. Now the question is…how do I deal with the insanity? Frankly, I could completely ignore them and their absurd ideas and go on with my life as if none of this humiliating experience had ever happened.

But, then again, I'm not so sure anymore that what they're saying is so totally absurd. Now, don't get me wrong, I couldn't possibly like Hermione. She's my best friend. But all this stuff about being in denial is a good thing to go on.

So hear me out. Love is like a great big burning fire; the size of the ones we build up on Guy Fawkes Day. (A/N I'm not British, but I'm pretty sure that this is a holiday in Britain involving large bonfires and burning some sort of fake man. Feel free, all you British people, to kill me if I'm wrong) Obviously, when there's a fire, your first instinct is to run and hide from it.

So, when you're in denial of your feelings for another person, you're ignoring the great big fire that's burning inside of you. By doing so, the fire will eventually burn you alive and you will be reduced to a withering form, crying in agony, only wishing that you had kept that glass of water with you when you left the office.

Okay, so denying feelings for Hermione won't do all that to me. Not even close, considering that love is not actually a fire, but a feeling. But denial could still hurt.

The problem is, I'm not really sure what I'm in denial of, or even if I really am in denial. If I did have some sort of romantic feelings for Hermione, wouldn't her saying something about it to my face cause a kind of embarrassment for me? I mean, if Cho had ever confronted me in fourth year about my brush on her I would have been utterly devastated.

But if what they're saying is true, then what I feel isn't a silly schoolboy crush at all. It's full-fledged love. But I'm not really sure if I should be ready for love yet. I'm only sixteen years old, after all. Then again, if there was anyone on the face of this earth that would drive a man to be in love with her at an early age, if would be my Mione.

'My Mione?' What the-? Where did that come from? And I just thought that Hermione could drive a man to be in love with her at an early age? Holy Merlin, maybe I am in love with her. But…but…that's absurd. I can't be in love with my best friend. That would just be weird; us walking around the halls together, holding hands; giving her jewelry for Christmas and grinning when she hugs me saying thank you over and over again; and, by the gods, kissing! Kissing Hermione Granger! Of all the things to think of.

But who's to say that she would do all of those things with me? Just because she's urging me to tell her that I like her doesn't mean that she really likes me too. Well, now, that's a scary thought. Can you just imagine it? 'Okay, Mione, I've decided that I like you!' 'Oh, wow, Harry that's great! You're not in denial anymore!' and that's it. Then I spend the rest of our days together in pain because I know that she doesn't like me and trying to come up with plans that will get her to go out with me; plans that actually work.

Wait, does all of this mean that I really do like Hermione? Frankly, it really is possible. I mean, there were all those times when she was the most important thing to me and I did everything that I could to keep her safe. Like, in first year, when Quirrel let that troll in. My first thought was to make sure that Hermione was safe and that the troll wouldn't hurt her. At the time, I had assumed it was because of my instinct to help people. Certainly not because I had any sort of affections for her.

Then, in second year, when Hermione was petrified, I was positively devastated. I constantly wished for her to be there and my first thought when I needed that alibi for McGonagall was something about Mione. Merlin, I missed her so much back then. Needless to say, I only thought it was because she was one of my best friends. How could I possibly have liked her?

And in third year, I was so worried about her in the forest. My first thought was to protect her from Grawp when he was throwing all those trees around. And it really felt good to have her arms around me when we were flying on Buckbeak. But I was sure that was just because it was kind of cold and her hold on me was warm, not because I wanted to touch her or be near her.

The list could go on and on! I guess that I really do like Hermione. I just…wow…it's weird. Somehow, it feels right to say it, but I don't know it's just…wow. It makes sense. But I don't want to admit to it. At least not to Hermione. There's no telling what she would say or do. So now I only have one choice.

"I've decided what my answer is," I said in a determined voice. Hermione jerked awake (she had fallen asleep while I was thinking) and looked up at me hopefully. Ron grinned and sighed, saying something that sounded suspiciously like "Finally." I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and said something that I should have said years ago:

"Hermione, I love you." Then I ran back up and into the castle at full speed, trying to ignore the surprised faces behind me. Tomorrow is going to be painful.

What do you think? It's a combination of both options, really. I think that it turned out alright.

I want to thank with large amounts of cupcakes all my reviewers: Shang Warrior Phoenix, scullymulder, kutekelcie, Smiley, SpellBound05, harryloveshermione-16, follow-ur-dreams, taself, future movie maker! Y'all are great!

See that little blue/purple/burple button down there near the left hand corner of the screen? If you push it, a magic genie appears by your side with a plate of mouth-watering brownies fresh from the oven. Yes, I know that resorting to bribery is a low way to get reviews, but I really want them! They feed my soul!

Much love and thanks,

Ninita de mi Brooke

Ron just rolled his eyes again and turned back to me. "So, what we're saying, mate, is that you really like Hermione and you need to confess to it before it really gets to be bad. Because, as we all know, denial is something that can ruin your life."

"Exactly," Hermione continued for him. "So, we'll give you a few minutes, then you need to just come out and say it. It's really not that hard. Just 'I like you, Hermione,' will do." They both settled back into a comfortable position, then looked up at me in expectancy.

That settles it. All of my friends are officially insane. Now the question is…how do I deal with the insanity? Frankly, I could completely ignore them and their absurd ideas and go on with my life as if none of this humiliating experience had ever happened.

But, then again, I'm not so sure anymore that what they're saying is so totally absurd. Now, don't get me wrong, I couldn't possibly like Hermione. She's my best friend. But all this stuff about being in denial is a good thing to go on.

So hear me out. Love is like a great big burning fire; the size of the ones we build up on Guy Fawkes Day. (A/N I'm not British, but I'm pretty sure that this is a holiday in Britain involving large bonfires and burning some sort of fake man. Feel free, all you British people, to kill me if I'm wrong) Obviously, when there's a fire, your first instinct is to run and hide from it.

So, when you're in denial of your feelings for another person, you're ignoring the great big fire that's burning inside of you. By doing so, the fire will eventually burn you alive and you will be reduced to a withering form, crying in agony, only wishing that you had kept that glass of water with you when you left the office.

Okay, so denying feelings for Hermione won't do all that to me. Not even close, considering that love is not actually a fire, but a feeling. But denial could still hurt.

The problem is, I'm not really sure what I'm in denial of, or even if I really am in denial. If I did have some sort of romantic feelings for Hermione, wouldn't her saying something about it to my face cause a kind of embarrassment for me? I mean, if Cho had ever confronted me in fourth year about my brush on her I would have been utterly devastated.

But if what they're saying is true, then what I feel isn't a silly schoolboy crush at all. It's full-fledged love. But I'm not really sure if I should be ready for love yet. I'm only sixteen years old, after all. Then again, if there was anyone on the face of this earth that would drive a man to be in love with her at an early age, if would be my Mione.

'My Mione?' What the-? Where did that come from? And I just thought that Hermione could drive a man to be in love with her at an early age? Holy Merlin, maybe I am in love with her. But…but…that's absurd. I can't be in love with my best friend. That would just be weird; us walking around the halls together, holding hands; giving her jewelry for Christmas and grinning when she hugs me saying thank you over and over again; and, by the gods, kissing! Kissing Hermione Granger! Of all the things to think of.

But who's to say that she would do all of those things with me? Just because she's urging me to tell her that I like her doesn't mean that she really likes me too. Well, now, that's a scary thought. Can you just imagine it? 'Okay, Mione, I've decided that I like you!' 'Oh, wow, Harry that's great! You're not in denial anymore!' and that's it. Then I spend the rest of our days together in pain because I know that she doesn't like me and trying to come up with plans that will get her to go out with me; plans that actually work.

Wait, does all of this mean that I really do like Hermione? Frankly, it really is possible. I mean, there were all those times when she was the most important thing to me and I did everything that I could to keep her safe. Like, in first year, when Quirrel let that troll in. My first thought was to make sure that Hermione was safe and that the troll wouldn't hurt her. At the time, I had assumed it was because of my instinct to help people. Certainly not because I had any sort of affections for her.

Then, in second year, when Hermione was petrified, I was positively devastated. I constantly wished for her to be there and my first thought when I needed that alibi for McGonagall was something about Mione. Merlin, I missed her so much back then. Needless to say, I only thought it was because she was one of my best friends. How could I possibly have liked her?

And in third year, I was so worried about her in the forest. My first thought was to protect her from Grawp when he was throwing all those trees around. And it really felt good to have her arms around me when we were flying on Buckbeak. But I was sure that was just because it was kind of cold and her hold on me was warm, not because I wanted to touch her or be near her.

The list could go on and on! I guess that I really do like Hermione. I just…wow…it's weird. Somehow, it feels right to say it, but I don't know it's just…wow. It makes sense. But I don't want to admit to it. At least not to Hermione. There's no telling what she would say or do. So now I only have one choice.

"I've decided what my answer is," I said in a determined voice. Hermione jerked awake (she had fallen asleep while I was thinking) and looked up at me hopefully. Ron grinned and sighed, saying something that sounded suspiciously like "Finally." I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and said something that I should have said years ago:

"Hermione, I love you." Then I ran back up and into the castle at full speed, trying to ignore the surprised faces behind me. Tomorrow is going to be painful.

What do you think? It's a combination of both options, really. I think that it turned out alright.

I want to thank with large amounts of cupcakes all my reviewers: Shang Warrior Phoenix, scullymulder, kutekelcie, Smiley, SpellBound05, harryloveshermione-16, follow-ur-dreams, taself, future movie maker! Y'all are great!

See that little blue/purple/burple button down there near the left hand corner of the screen? If you push it, a magic genie appears by your side with a plate of mouth-watering brownies fresh from the oven. Yes, I know that resorting to bribery is a low way to get reviews, but I really want them! They feed my soul!

Much love and thanks,

Ninita de mi Brooke