Contemplating Confusion

by ©SimbiAni™ and SweetieK

Summary: A joint effort between two dream-dazed fans, one who can't get enough sappiness, and one who has a tendency to surround herself in drama. In this episode of our adventures, Hermione realizes she has a crush on both Ron and Harry. How will she come to terms with this new issue, and who will she choose? No specific year, and complete AU.

Warnings: This fic is not to be taken seriously. It is the result of a non-HP-writing fan (well, who admittedly dreams HP though) reluctantly bribed into RP-ing HP with a drama princess. Although this has been edited to fic form (meaning, minus all the zany chat inbetween each other's posts), you must still expect to encounter lots of randomness, sillyness, grammatical errors, repetitiveness, loss of sense of time, probly OoC-ness too, and extreme lack of plot. Once more, this fic is here purely for your amusement. You have been warned. Enjoy! Hopefully it brings a smile to your face, hehehe...

Chapter Eleven:

Notes and Compromises

Hermione wanted badly to tell Harry what was wrong- and she was about to when he left. She looked outside and saw owls fluttering about. Hedwig was near the window! Hermione called softly to the white bird and wrote a letter to Harry, explaining everything. She gave it to Hedwig and the owl took off, hooting.

Hedwig being the smart bid she was, knew Harry had just gone up to his room, and wondered what on earth Hermione had given her a letter for when Harry was so close by. But she did her job anyways and flew up to Harry's window to give him the note...

Hermione sat back down silently and wondered what Harry's reaction would be.

Meanwhile, Harry was trying to think of something to say to Ron, anything, that could possibly make him feel better, while Ron was pacing in front of his bed. Finding out someone you really, really like, can't even tell you if they like you back or not- heck, he wouldn't even mind being her 2nd choice at this point, if only she'd just talked him! It drove him mad (now would have been a real good time for a quidditch match- he'd definitely show those Slytherin cheaters a thing or two! that's how angry he was)... and why was Harry up here anyways?

"Harry, shouldn't you be downstairs, waiting for Hermione to finally get her voice back? I can't believe she would just- ugh! I actually told her! And what does she do? Get all weird and distant on me!" he plopped down on his bed. "Well?"

Harry watched him, and spoke carefully. "Ron, I think she just taken by surprise. I mean, she is Hermione, things need to be done by the book with her an all..."

Ron scoffed. "That's no excuse. A yes or no answer was all I asked for, and I didn't even get a maybe. And... why did I kiss her? Now I'm gonna have that haunting me everytime I see her! No wonder you made that pact! And aren't you lucky you're not the one who ended up getting feelings for her anyways!"

Harry said nothing, and continued sitting there quietly.

Hermione had a slight feeling Harry would at least talk to her.. or owl back at least. But nothing! Damn bird takes forever, she thought, still waiting.

Suddenly a tapping sound entered the boys' room- Hedwig was at the window. He wondered why she'd be delivering at this time, but retrieved the note from her leg and gave her a treat anyways. Once she was off, her unfolded the note and began to read.

Dear Harry,

I want you to know, seeing how I doubt very much Ron would speak to me, there is a very reasonable explanation for what happened downstairs. See, I thought I liked Ron and yourself both, but when he kissed me I somehow realized that its not him I like at all. I've had this problem for a while now and I thought I should tell you know. I truly am sorry for hurting Ron but its hard to be with someone you don't love.

Love from, Hermione.

Harry felt his knees begin to buckle, and he luckily landed on his bed, sitting back down heavily. Whaat? Is she kidding or what? This can't be- oh no, it is... It was. He was gonna be hated by Ron for sure now. Just great. How can she possibly call this anything resembling reasonable? That very thought itself was laughable, if one was being callous with the issue. She liked both of them? But no, she only loved... him- Harry. He tried to breathe through the amazement of realizing this, the knowledge still sinking in.

Ron finally noticed he'd been too quiet. "What's that note say, Harry? Hmm? Anything... important?"

Ron sounded desperate for a distraction to his feelings. Well, Harry thought, he was gonna find out one way or another, might as well be as gentle as possible, and just let him read the note for himself. Yes, that was the only way. And if he turned on Harry becuz Hermione couldn't control her own feelings, well, Harry would have to live with that. Or rather, without. Without Ron... his best friend... gahh... Harry shook his head and felt like he couldn't handle this drama anymore. Just end it, please... he thought, weakly. He handed the note to Ron.

Hermione silently waited for any noise from the boy's dorm.. or anything at all. She wrapped her hands around her stomach, almost feeling sick with nervousness. She vowed silently that if she made a fool of herself she would get the time turner and go back to day one to where she didn't know Harry and Ron at all. Ron read over the note in silence. A minute later a hushed "Bloody hell..." could be heard slightly. Then, another one, louder this time.

"Bloody hell!"

Harry winced.

"Harry! Harry! Why didn't I see THAT coming!"

Hermione shook, hearing Ron. She was positive now that Harry had let Ron read it. Uh-oh. She hoped Ron wouldn't hate her. And Harry. She wondered what Harry's reaction was.

Ron looked at Harry. "You couldn't tell? You never had a clue?"

Harry shrugged. "Not a clue!"

Hermione had an idea, and used a spell so she could hear every bit of their conversation clearly.

Harry was regarding Ron warily. Was he gonna freak out anymore?

Ron gazed at the letter, seemingly re-reading it over and over like he still couldn't believe it. It was definitely her handwriting, of course... Well, she better be up to talking face to face, cuz that's exactly what he planned to do. No paper was gonna wipe away the possibility of love like that... no way.

"Harry," Ron began, "what do you make of the part where she says she like-likes both of us? Or rather, liked, but, I don't believe it. I think she just made herself choose. Of course, that's probly our fault a bit too... we did start pressuring her to tell us who her crush was... hmm.."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She thought she had made that obvious enough! Oh well. She hoped Harry would say something. She cared more about his reaction than Ron's.

Harry shrugged. Ron then remembered something. "Harry, if she likes you.. you don't like-like her too, do you?"

Hermione held her breath, waiting to hear Harry's reply. All her thoughts were what-ifs.

When Harry said nothing, Ron got up and walked over to him. "Harry, DO you fancy Hermione?"

Hermione got up and sat in the chair closest to the dorm so she could hear them even better. She would probably bust her eardrum.. but oh well.

Ron was right in front of Harry, and looking at him with pleading eyes. But of course when Ron thought about it, how could Harry not? They both should have seen this coming eventually, and now the moment was here. They both liked Hermione, but she was only gonna choose one of them. Correction- she had chosen, and that was Harry. Ron felt sick...

Harry tried to speak as soft as possible. "Yes, Ron... for a while now too. I'm- I'm sorry."

Hermione could have got up right then and skipped for joy but she was so shocked she was nearly froze to her seat. All she could do was wait and hear the rest of the conversation and hear what Ron had to say.

Harry was gazing at Ron cautiously, with concern clear in his eyes. Please, please don't let him be too, too mad...

"Ron?" He couldn't possibly ask if Ron was okay, becuz it was plenty clear that he was far from it. "Ron, I.. I..."

Uh-oh, Hermione thought, biting her lip so hard it nearly drew blood. She paid no attention to that.

Still no response from Ron.

Ginny walked out of the girls' dorm and Hermione motioned for her to be very quiet. She nodded and sat down, confused.

Ron let out what sounded like the most painful exasperated sigh, and in a small voice he said only one word. "Okay."

Harry lifting an eyebrow in question. "Okay?"

Ron sighed again. "Okay."

Hermione finally started breathing again. Ron was okay with it? And Harry liked her back? A big grin spread over her face and she silently wondered if Harry was going to talk to her.

Harry fidgeted on his bed. What the heck did that mean? Okay? Huh? He was gazing at Ron, waiting to see if he was gonna look him in the eyes.

Ron then got up, came over and sat down next to Harry. "Let's, accept this and move on. Alright?"

Harry gaped. "You're not... gonna hold it against me? Hate me for at least a long while?"

Ron smiled softly. "I'm not as immature as I used to be, you know. I can accept the things I can't change... she doesn't love me, so, well pouting over it isn't going to do me any good. And, of course, I still want to be friends, I mean, You're Harry. My best friend, hehe." Ron hugged Harry just then... and Harry could only chuckle in surprise.

Hermione grinned. Everyone was happy. Ginny, getting fed up of Hermione sitting there, being quiet intent for no obvious reason, went back into the dorm, rolling her eyes.

Harry then hugged Ron back, and Ron said they should go downstairs quick to see if Hermione was still down there. He watched Harry go down first, and thought to himself, If you don't love me right now Hermione, its only a matter of time, anyways, till you fall again...

RP Disclaimer: Hermione is all SweetieK. Harry and Ron though, are SimbiAni's sappy expressions. Other chars' usage are varied, depending on whose RP turn it was, hehe.

Movie/Book Disclaimer: JKR and WB own the books and movies. I make no money off this zany sappiness, none at all. Honestly.