Chapter 2

Feelings for Another Can't Live without Each Other

The next morning Ron found himself lying on the couch of his small house, three empty beer bottles rolling around on the ground. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Another day as Ridiculed Ron…" he sighed drearily, he made his way through the beer bottles, chip bags and TV catalogs to the bathroom.

He used the toilet then took a brief shower, he stood in the tub, his eyes closed letting the water cascade over his face.

Sigh, why does she want that Malfoy? When she could have me? Ron asked himself selfishly while he scrubbed shampoo into his messy red hair.

Wait, I shouldn't get so emotional about this like I'm some blubbering girl! Just find another woman, there are plenty around anyway. Just go ask one out and then I'll definitely forget about Herm-bookworm! Ron decided, he didn't even want to use her real name; it went straight to his heart and whenever he thought of that bushy brunette his heart started to pound and his mind began to swirl.

After his shower he stuck a white towel around his waist and stumbled to reach his room, he went through his closet and settled on a blue shirt and jeans. He changed in a hurry and then towel dried his sopping hair before he grabbed his wallet and rushed out of the door struggling to put his sneakers on as he walked to his car.

Ron desperately wanted to talk to Harry, Harry might be acting like a selfish prat at the moment, but he was the only one who didn't walk away, or yell at him. He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out his mobile comfortably seating himself on the leather interior.

"Harry? Harry? Hello, Harry?" Ron yelled into the phone, worried that his friend might be dead. (Worry wart that Ron…)

"RON! Stop yelling, or else you're going to bust my eardrums out. What do you want?" Harry finally replied. Ron felt his ears go red.

"Sorry mate, but uh, could we talk today, I really need to talk to you, I'm going to kill myself seriously, I've got to talk to you." Ron said solemnly.

"Uh, sorry Ron, but since Hermione and Draco are staying at my place I can't really leave them while they're here, alone in my apartment, you never know what they might do on my couch…" Harry whispered.

Ron laughed lightly, but then returned to the conversation.

"Oh, um, they can come, but make sure they rush off somewhere, after all, Malfoy loves to shop doesn't he, so Herm-bookworm and him will definitely find something to do at a muggle mall. What do you say Harry?" Ron pleaded.

"Fine mate, but if Hermione and Malfoy end up snogging on a cafeteria table, I'm going to kill you!" Harry hissed. Ron chuckled; Harry was acting like Hermione's guard and it was definitely amusing.

"Ya, ok, then, I'll meet you at the Central muggle mall in about 10 minutes." Ron ordered, and then switched off his mobile.

Great, so now Herm-bookworm is going to be there, and along with that beautiful figure of hers…Ron though dreamily, thinking of Herm-bookworm and her glistening smile.

"BLOODY HELL! Not again!" Ron roared, as he awoke to find himself sprawled across the chairs in his car. He snatched his wrist up to his face and hollered. "It's been at least 20 minutes, I'm late!"

He jabbed the key into the car, and drove as fast as he could to the mall in his sleek new sports car after his piece of junk failed upon him the day before. He saw the couple and Harry standing by a table in the mall and quickly walked over to them.

"Hey Harry, hey…" Ron muttered, not saying Hermione's nor Draco's name."

"Hi Ron! Um, excuse our rude intrusion but we were about to check out that store down there, if you don't mind." Hermione said, indicating a cute little boutique near the end of the walkway. Ron shrugged and turned away from them to face Harry as they walked away, hand in hand. As soon as he was sure that they were far enough, he began his talking.

"Ya, so, um, well, remember when I was out cold that day when Herm-bookworm and Malfoy told us that they were um, getting hitched." Ron murmured to Harry, sitting down at one of the tables.

"Uh huh, it scared the heck out of me mate." Harry said back, taking out some muggle money.

"Ya, well, um, I had a dream while I was out cold. It was um, about, um, H-H-Hermione." Ron said, stumbling on saying her name finally.

"What happened?" Harry asked, standing up to get some giant pretzels from the stand.

"Well, um Hermione and I we sort of…"

"Kissed, made out, went out, which one?" Harry interrupted; he looked oddly calm and interested. Ron didn't like how casual Harry was being, but he couldn't yell at him, because too many of those blundering muggles were sitting around.

"Harry!" Ron hissed, glaring at him furiously. Harry backed away, and motioned for Ron to say whatever he wanted.

"We kissed, fine, ok, but I think I'm even more attracted to her, she's just so…pretty now!" Ron said, breathing hard and rugged.

"Oi, well Ron, maybe you should tell Hermione, because, what if she turns out to love you too, then at least she won't be getting married in a month." Harry said, staring into Ron's blue eyes.

"But…" Ron had nothing else to say, there was no excuse, and if he hid his feelings for Hermione anymore, he was sure that he'd end up concocting a death potion and commit suicide.

"Well, Harry, ok, fine, I'll do it, but if she doesn't return the feelings that I'm feeling, you will pay for the humiliation that it's going to cost me!" Ron said, taking a giant bite of the pretzel.

"Ick, what is this!' he asked, a look of disgust spread over his face, staring at it.

"A pretzel." Harry said, aiming his thumb towards the shop where they sold the salty concoction, stuffing the strange shaped bread into his expanded mouth.

"Honestly, muggle food…" Ron grumbled, tossing it into a nearby garbage can.

(Hermione)

"Hermione, love, look at this, what do you think?" Hermione heard Draco call to her, she walked to the end of the clothing store and looked at the blouse that Draco held carefully. She nodded wearily, and then looked out the window, she saw Harry eating a pretzel and Ron talking continuously and looking rather serious at one of the tables, she was dieing to know what they were discussing.

"Mione', what's bothering you?" Draco asked, walking by her side.

"Huh? Oh nothing, oh, this is nice." Hermione rushed out of her mouth as she grabbed the closest hanger near her.

"Uh, dear, are you sure, I don't think feathers are your thing." Draco chuckled.

Hermione looked down, her face flushed; she had un-knowingly picked up a chicken costume from the Halloween rack.

"Oh, um, oops. Oh well, doesn't look too shabby on you though darling. Hmmm?" Hermione giggled, putting it up to Draco's chest.

"Perhaps, but if I'm wearing feathers, you're going to wear fur. So come on, there is something I want you to try on in the dressing room." Draco said, giving Hermione one of his mischievous grins.

"Right…what do you want me to try on?" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"I want you to try on me." Draco whispered inside of Hermione's ears. She tingled, his breathe caressing the side of her face, she giggled, and pushed him away.

"Ok, but, if I get to try on you, you have to try on me!" she burst out in giggles, and rushed to a dressing room, Draco closely behind her.

"Hee hee!" Hermione laughed, as Draco tickled her to slow her down. He hugged her around the waist.

"Is this too tight?" he asked, "I can always make it a size 6." He chortled.

Hermione giggled and stared into his eyes, but Ron's face when she announced her engagement came back into her mind.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Draco asked her, lightly playing with her hair.

"Uh, oh, um, its Ron…" Hermione began.

"Ron?" Draco said surprisingly, letting go of Hermione.

"Ya, oh um, do you mind if we get out of here? Its uh, sort of stuffy." She commented, flipping up the latch and quickly walking out of the store, giving a quick glance at Ron before retreating to the coffee shop beside the food court where Harry was.

"What's going on?" Draco asked seriously, sitting down in a chair.

"Uh, I don't want to say it…" Hermione said, sticking her head into her small hands. Groaning loudly.

"Just say it Hermione. I can help you." He said, putting his hand on Hermione's shoulders.

"Well…" she started, peeking out of her hands.

Don't do it, he's definitely going to be ticked off if he find out that I'm having feelings for Ron, especially because were engaged! But I haven't seen Ron for so long, now I have this sudden urge to hold him. Like almost as if, my heart feels like he's my soul mate…but that can't be true, he's just a friend, just a good friend, nothing more, and nothing less! Hermione decided, confirming this thought. But her heart pounded instantaneously when she only thought about that redhead.

"Hermione? Wait, let me guess, you are having feelings for Ron, am I right?" he asked quietly, taking his hand away from Hermione.

"No, I, um…" Hermione looked up startled to be found out.

"I can't believe this Hermione, bloody, I thought that we were sharing the same feelings and now you tell me this crap?" he said, standing up and out of his chair, knocking it over. Several muggles turned to stare at him.

"Draco…I…wait…" Hermione whispered, trying to stop him from finding her out completely.

"You know Hermione, I'm sick of this, and I'm sick of waiting, I'm so sick of dreading that this would happen, I'm leaving, don't call me, because I won't answer." He forced out his mouth coldly, storming through the halls and out the entrance door, a gust of wind blowing him back as he left.

Hermione sat at the table, sobbing terribly.

I can't love Ron…I just can't. How do I know if he even has the same feelings for me too?

She thought.