(I don't own any of JKR's characters. I don't own the song Number One by Skye Sweetnam)

Chapter 6

From that day forward Ron and Hermione were inseperable. They were the 'It' couple of the school. Every couple wanted to be like them. Romantic, sweet, happy...perfect together. But there was one key ingrediant the two were missing...Harry. He was gone, he ignored them in the halls, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in the common room. Everywhere they went he ignored them.

This began to take it's tole after awhile. Ron would snap at Hermione when she was out with friends or she wasn't with him at a meal. Hermione would get protective when Ron would talk to another girl. There was no Harry to calm the two of them down or to assure the other that nothing had happened, they just assumed. Harry wasn't there to clear it up.

One day after a particular rotten day, double potions with the Slytherins, Hermione ran into some of her friends who acted strange. Hermione and Ron had planned to take some snacks down to the lake to talk over how they'd been acting. They both wanted to apologize and keep what they had together.

Hermione went to the common room looking for Ron but he wasn't there. She looked everywhere and he was no where to be found. Then she decided to look int he one place he was sure to never be found unless Hermione dragged him; the library.

She pushed open the door to the library and quietly walked in. The sight in front of her was a scene she had never thought to come upon. There was Ron sitting at a the table with Pansy Parkinson, of all people to be found with. But he wasn't just with her. They talked for a moment and suddenly their lips were together before Hermione could blink. She rushed out of the library so she wouldn't make a scene in front of the rest of the peoplet there.

She ran to the place where they had agreed to meet. He was smiling as if nothing had happened. He sat down next ot her and took her hand. She jerked it away and put her back to him. Avoiding tears she them under anger.

"Hey, sorry I'm late." He said pecking her on the cheek. "Hermione what's wrong?" He asked, concern evident in his voice.

-I saw my boyfriend hanging with this girl that I hate, he didn't have to tell me why last night he was late.-

"How could you!" She shouted out, turning to face the boy whom she thought had loved her.

"What are you..." She cut him off.

"Pansy Parkinson? Kssing? Library...any of this ringing a bell?" She felt a tear fall down her cheek. "How could you?" She asked in a barely audible whisper.

"Pansy? Oh that ummm look Hermione it's not like that I promise it's..."

"What is it then? Huh? Tell me please, why you would do that." Her tears swiftly turned to anger.

"What are you talking about?" He quickly asked, hoping she'd drop it knowing she wouldn't.

"Ronald, you are despicable. Ugh, you sicken me! I don't want to even look at you!" She stood up, grabbed the nearest goblet of pumpkin juice that they had brought and dumped it over his head and stormed off swiftly.

-I can't believe what you tell me. Your lies have come undone. Now I'm living on the run lookin' out for number one.-

Ron sat there, sticky pumpkin juice all over him. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Hermione had dumped him, she'd seen him and Pansy. How could he explain kissing her? He didn't know why did it anyways. This had to be worse than losing Harry and if not it was a dead tie.

-I took a ride to the city. Had to get out of this place. I just can't stand the pity when the tears run down my face.-

Hermione rushed to the castle. She ran to the broom closet and pulled one out. She ran outside and kicked off the ground, soaring into the air. She needed to clear out her head. Not only had he cheated on her he had lied too. This day was ending everything. She'd already lost Harry and now she had lost Ron. This day couldn't get worse. She circled the grounds and flew loops, makiong figures in the air. Thinking all the while how could he do that to her?

-I used to think it was over. But it's only just begun. Now I'm livin' on the run lookin' out for nuimber one.-

Silently Hermione hung in the air. Breathing in and out, trying to concentrate on only breathing, or else she might forget to do it entirely. It was bad enough that she had lost a very dear friend but her boyfriend who was also a very dear dear friend. Her world was coming undone and she could do nothing to stop it. She began realizing that right now Ron probably regretted what he'd done. He would make up excuses and apologize continuously. He woud come to her begging for forgiveness but she wouldn't give in. Not now ever. She couldn't risk him hurting her again.

-One day you'll see me but only when you're dreaming. One day you'll say I was the one.-

She sat in the air waiting for the anger and hurt to subside. But she soon realized that she was going to feel like this for a long time and there was no way that she would be able to stay here until she died. She had to continue living and she had to forget Ron. She would concentrate on her work and on her new friends she was determined to make with or without those two. Maybe now also she could make ammends with Harry and maybe just maybe just maybe have the one that she was apparantly supposed to be with. She could never be sure though. She thought about when she was six, she had gotten on the train and traveled across London and back. She wished she could do that now.

-I used to ride on a Greyhound, stashed away on a train. Bought a ticket for the subway, played guitar in the rain. I wanna follow the rivers to an island in the sun. Now I'm livin' on the run, lookin' out for number one.-

Hermione sat for a few more seconds and took off through the air, never realizing how good she could really fly. Smiling to herself she decided that she was looking out for no one but herself not matter what the cost. Even if she did end up getting together with Harry she would always be looking out for herself...no one else. She would make Ron wish he had never done what he did.

-Late at night start a fight. I just figure out that, right now I'm feeling fine. I'm better off without him yeah.-

As the clouds covered what was left of the sunset Hermione ran inside. She looked aroundher hoping that Ron wouldn't be around. But there he was waiting for her. She looked at him with a defiant look. A 'you're going to wish you hadn't done that' look. She walked past him without taking notice after that.

"Hermione, let me explain." She turned to him. Looking him straight in the eye which she knew scared him she shoved the broom in his hands and walked away. Smiling inside on how she had handled that.

-One day you'll see me but only when you're dreaming. One day you'll say I was the one. I know that one day you'll see me, I'll haunt you when you're dreaming. One day you'll say I was the one. I'm number one.-