Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Ron sighed, and tossed another pebble into the depths of the lake. He needed to be alone. Away from Lavender Brown. And away from Hermione Granger. Especially away from Hermione Granger. Hermione… He let his thoughts wander, then shook his head and brought himself back to reality. He was stuck snogging a girlfriend he had never wanted, and was stuck wallowing in jealousy. Jealousy and anger at himself. If I hadn't been such a prat…He thought miserably. If I hadn't been such a prat, it could've been me with her at that party, and not that McLaggan bloke. He buried his face in his hands.

Hermione Granger rolled her eyes. Honestly, she thought, is all he ever thinks about himself and Quidditch? But Cormac was a petty annoyance compared to the heart-wrenching pain she was experiencing right now. Why'd I have to lose my temper with Ron? She thought despairingly. Why couldn't I have just ignored his pig-headedness, and waited to ask him in the Common Room that night? And now Ron was with Lavender Brown. And she was alone.

Ron had liked Hermione since first year, even before she had been his and Harry's best friend. Sure, she was a bit of a know-it-all, but she was a good person. And if you could get past her buck teeth and bushy hair, she was pretty okay looking. He had harbored unsure feelings about her since they had first met, and they had drifted just beneath the surface, visible yet out of reach, and distorted. It was in their fourth year that he had become completely sure of his infatuation. He kicked at the dirt. Damn that Krum! He thought angrily. What does 'Mione see in him? What does he have that I don't?

Hermione could still feel the ache in her heart. It had been there for years, but never did it dwindle. Surely, it seemed to increase with every passing day. Well, it was obvious that Ron did not like her, not with the way he stared at Fleur Delacour, or Madame Rosmerta, or sucked face with Lavender Brown. But she knew she had been entirely too obvious about her feelings towards Ron. She thought back to the day she had first found out about him and Lavender…

And Ron could still remember the day when he had started to snog Lavender, just to spite Hermione after what he had heard about her and another bloke…

"Hey Hermione!"

"Yes, Ron?" she answered coldly. He didn't even notice her icy tone..

"I've got my first girlfriend."

"That's…"

"Great, I know!"

"Yeah. Funny, isn't it?"

"What's funny about it?"

"Well, I've got a boyfriend"

"You…what?"

"Yes. That's right. I've got a boyfriend."

"C-congratulations."

"Yes, we – we're very happy."

"I—I see. Well, so are Lavender and me."

"That's...great."

"Yeah."

"Well, goodnight."

"'Night."

Hermione went up to her dormitory, a single tear trickling down her cheek.

Ron flopped into the over-stuffed armchair, gazing aimlessly at the fire.

"I guess we just weren't meant to be…" they both whispered.

Fin.