Chapter Two

The following day, Harry expected his two best friends to quickly make up and forgive each other, but they refused to so much glance in each other's direction, unless it was completely necessary. Breakfast was really tense between the two and sadly Harry was caught in the middle. He didn't like to see his two friends fighting like this.

"Ron," said Hermione, emphasizing his name sarcastically, so as to make sure he knew she wasn't calling him, "Ronald", "could you please pass the porridge?"

Ron – deep in conversation with Seamus and Dean about the Chuddley Cannons latest game – acted completely oblivious to the fact that Hermione was speaking to him.

"Did you see Galvin Gudgeon's flying? He's absolutely amazing!" Ron boasted about the team's Seeker.

"Ron," Hermione said again, "I'm speaking to you."

Ron turned to Harry and said, "Would you be so kind as to tell Miss Granger that I do not wish to speak to her nor do I wish to be spoken to."

Harry, looking quite shocked at Ron's tone, simply stared back at him. When Ron had turned back around to continue his Quidditch conversation, Harry looked at Hermione and gave her a hopeless shrug.

Hermione gave a loud and noticeable sigh, stood up and retrieved the porridge herself. As she sat down, she heard Ron spit in her direction, "Now, how hard was that?"

Hermione stopped, looked at Ron, her eyes red with anger, or sadness – Harry couldn't tell – and turned around and ran out of the Great Hall, attempting to muffle her sobs as she went. Harry, worried for her friend, started to get up and go after her when Ron caught his arm.

"Gerroff me, Ron!" Harry said angrily. "Hermione's right, you are being rude and she doesn't deserve to be treated this way!"

"What! You're taking her side?" Ron accused. "Some friend you are!"

"Well, you're not exactly such a good friend either. Just stop and look at how you're treating her, why don't you? Stop being so selfish!" And with that, Harry left Ron at the Gryffindor table, with a look of astonishment on his face.

When Harry reached the Fat Lady, he quickly said the password, "Bubotuber!" and clambered into the Gryffindor common room as soon as the portrait hole was revealed.

"Hermione!" Harry called desperately.

"Go away!" An oppressed voice spoke from the shadows in the corner of the common room.

"Hermione, I'm really sor – " Harry began.

"Don't worry about it, Harry," Hermione stood up, sniffling, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her robes. "It doesn't bother me. That's just the way Ron is."

"Well Hermione, you don't deserve to be treated that way."

Hermione stepped forward, until she was right in front of Harry. Their eyes met and she said, "Thank you, Harry. It's good to know there's someone who I can count on to be there for me." And with that, she kissed him quickly on the cheek and walked around him, and up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.

Harry watched her go, and gently touched his cheek where she had kissed him. His spine was tingling, but he didn't know why.

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That night, Harry lay in his four-poster bed, staring up at the ceiling. He heard someone outside the draperies and pulled them back slightly to see Ron silently slipping into bed.

"Hey," Harry whispered, "where have you been? I didn't see you at dinner."

Ron did not answer.

The next morning, when Harry woke up, he sat up in bed and squinted, putting on his glasses. He opened the draperies surrounding his bed and glanced over at Ron's empty bed. Harry silently left the boys' dormitory and went down the steps to the Gryffindor common room. Still in his pajamas, Harry saw Ron sitting in an armchair, by the fireplace, his head in his hands. Harry sat down in a chair next to him, and when Ron didn't notice his presence, he cleared his throat.

Ron looked up, his face stained with tears. Harry was very surprised, for he had never seen Ron cry before. Harry didn't even have to ask him what was wrong; Ron spoke up and told Harry what was on his mind.

"I've been thinking a lot about what happened. I don't know why, but this time, I really regret the things I said to her. I wish it didn't happen and everything would be as it was." Ron laid his head in his hands once more and was silent. Harry waited a few moments before speaking.

"You could always apologize. I'm sure she'd like that."

Ron removed his head from his hands and looked at Harry. Wiping the tears from his face he said, "But this time, Harry, an apology doesn't seem good enough."

Harry looked at Ron, his eyebrows raised. Ron, seeing that Harry was confused, continued.

"I mean," Ron began, "I think she means more to me, than I thought she did."

Again, Harry looked confused.

"I want to go to her and tell her how I feel, but I hurt her and I don't feel like I can face her right now."

Harry was shocked. He didn't know what to say. This was the last thing he expected to happen. Ron and Hermione were always fighting; Ron couldn't possibly feel for her in that way.

"Well, I don't know what to say, Ron."

"I know," Ron chuckled. "Quite shocking, isn't it?"

"A little," Harry admitted.

"Well, I need to go think about some things," said Ron, as he got up and started heading towards the boys' staircase.

"But Ron," said Harry, "what about breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry," Ron replied. "I'll see you in Potions." And with that, Ron headed up the stairs while Harry made his way through the portrait hole, out into the corridor and down to the Great Hall.