Hermione shook her head.

"No, I wanted to talk to you first; I would have felt even worse otherwise. I still don't know what Ron will say, I only hope what Harry told me is true. "

"Well, I think you should try it. Good luck! "

It is Only Sensible

Chapter 6: Changes for the Best

Hermione came up to Ron after lunch, no longer able to stand the uncertainty. As Hermione approached Ron, she tried to figure out his expression which seemed to switch between the joy of seeing her and the wish rather not to see her. Once again, she realized how little she could guess what Ron felt.

"Hi Hermione, what's up? " Ron asked nonchalantly.

All the words Hermione had wanted to say were wiped away by the coldness of his voice.

"Well… I just wanted to… oh, never mind! "

"Just say what you wanted to say! Or is it your idea of fun to ignore me for weeks and then come over only to walk off again leaving me standing here like an idiot? I'm sorry, Hermione, but I'm sick of it. If that's all I mean to you, just leave me alone."

Hermione felt her temper rise. Why had she broken up with Ernie if all Ron would do was to insult her without even listening to her?

She opened her mouth to retort when she noticed Harry on the other side of the Entrance Hall watching them and everything he had said came back to her.

Hermione groaned inwardly. Why did she and Ron always have to start fighting whenever they wanted to say something important?

"Look Ron, I'm sorry for the way I've acted during the last few weeks and I came here to apologize and explain it. I know it sounds ridiculous but I did all those stupid things…well… because I'm in love with you."

"I told you to leave me alone! It is bad enough as it is, without you making fun of me. You don't love me, you're going out with Ernie. So why can't you just leave me be!"

"Ron, I am not making fun of you. I know the whole thing sounds strange but I thought you would never feel the same way so I tried to forget my feelings for you by finding other friends and well, by going out with Ernie. I didn't realize until yesterday that everything I was doing was a lie, that I still love you. I thought it would ruin our friendship if you found out how I felt about you but I guess everything I did to prevent that from happening just destroyed our friendship more than anything else could have. I'm so sorry; Ron."

"You're not joking?" Ron asked.

Hermione shook her head.

"And what about Ernie?" Ron inquired carefully.

"After realizing that I couldn't go on like this, I broke up with him this morning. It wouldn't have been right to keep pretending I like him like that even if there is no chance you like me back."

"Hermione… I do. I have since… I don't know when, I think some time in fourth year. I just never dared to say anything: as you like to remind me, I'm a catastrophe concerning emotions."

"Well, I guess if you look at this whole story, I am too," Hermione laughed and Ron joined in.

Their laughter slowly faded as the distance between them closed and they kissed.

----------------------------

"So what's going on with you and Ron?" Lavender asked that evening during another of their dormitory parties. "I can't believe what I saw during dinner tonight."

"You can trust your eyes. It is what it looks like; we are a couple now," Hermione answered with a small smile.

"But what about Ernie? You were such a cute couple!" Parvati exclaimed. "And then Ron! I mean, there's nothing wrong with him but he is so awkward! I ought to know, Padma was at that Yule Ball with him, she told me what it was like. He didn't dance; he never even said anything. He really is a bit strange and the two of you keep arguing. I can't understand why you left Ernie for him. Just look at the difference between them! Ernie is handsome, charming and I think he would give you anything you want. I really can't understand why you did that."

"I guess I just don't want somebody who gives me anything I want; I prefer keeping some of my independence. I don't know, I think I just need somebody I can disagree with sometimes; I think I would be bored otherwise. I don't care if you think he seems a bit 'awkward', at least I feel like I am myself when I'm with him. That's something I never did with Ernie; it felt like I was trying to be someone else. I didn't want to keep up that lie any longer so that's why I broke up with him."

"Philosophical words from our thinker," Parvati giggled. "Well, if that's what you want… I won't stop you."

"I think you looked happier and more comfortable with Ron than you ever did with Ernie, Hermione," Ginny put in. "I think I know best what an annoying prat Ron can be but I can really imagine the two of you together and if you can be who you really are around him, that makes it perfect. Only one more thing," Ginny added with a twinkle in her eyes.

"And that is?" Hermione asked.

"When the two of you marry, I get to be the bridesmaid!"

"Of course you do," Hermione answered and joined the laughter, understanding that she wouldn't have to pretend to be somebody else around this new group of friends either.

Well, that's it. My first chaptered story is posted, so tell me what you think.

Oh, and by the way, thanks to Natural-181 for the review on chapter 5, as you can see, I did finish the story.Also thanks once again to all the others who reviewed the other chapters.

Just some background blah-blah, I began this story while I was trying to get over somebody and the story kind of changed when I noticed I wouldn't manage. Not that anybody really wanted to know this bit of information, I just felt like writing it.