Default- someone (presumable one of those loonies who never read Harry Potter and thought I owned everything instead of J.k Rowling) dumped a load of lollypop sticks on my doorstep so now I have a nice fire too keep myself warm.

Chapter 5

In Which Krum Causes a Row

Or

Hermione Granger the Independent Book Hermit

Ron, who had gone to bed as soon as he returned from the prefect meeting, went straight to sleep. Ron had dreamt about his brown haired best mate and himself being more than just mates, but was oblivious to it when the sun rose…

Before anyone knew it Harry, Ron and Hermione found themselves in their third week of Hogwarts. The teachers had been relentlessly giving homework, and Snape had already given Harry three detentions for "disrespecting" his superiors. The new teacher Elair was fairly good, although she was definitely bested by Lupin. The trio was surprised that everything had gone by so fast.

At about 8 o'clock Ron and Harry walked into the library in search of Hermione. They had just returned from Quidditch tryouts, Harry, the caption, was not sure what to do with the Gryffindor team, it had gone downhill since the twins had left and now they needed to look for a new chaser. Ron and Harry found Hermione in the back of the library at a table scatered with books, parchment and quills.

"Hermione what are you doing here? It's Friday. We have the whole weekend to do homework," Ron said.

"Exactly! I only have two days to write a three-foot essay for potions, a foot and a half for history of magic, making a star chart, and practicing for transfigurations and charms. Oh and there is a prefects meeting, and bother I have to tutor two first years," Hermione said.

"Hermione come on look at Ron, he is doing the same things as you, minus the tutoring bit and he has Quidditch and an extra 2 feet on his essay for falling asleep in potions."

"Harry you know that is was cause of that ruddy sleeping potion we where brewing and you were the one who said it looked like jell-o."

"Falling asleep in Snape's class is sure death. You were lucky you only came out with only an extra 2 feet."

"Well Ron should have been paying attention, I herd a rumor that sleeping potions were going to be on the NEWTS this year."

"The NEWTS are months away!"

"Well you both better start studying. They will determine our future."

"Oh bloody hell, Hermione. You sound like McGonagall," Ron said.

"Keep it down Ron. This is a library and stop cursing it's improper."

"Ok, ok. Can we go somewhere else?"

"Fine, but you two have to help me with my books," Hermione said gathering together her books. She gave a large stack to Harry and Ron and had an equally large stack for herself.

"Hermione I thought they had a limit on how many books you could check out of the library," Ron groaned, trying to carry the books more comfortable.

"Dumbledore gave me a special exception because I am Head Girl."

"You are really abusing you privileges Hermione, before you know it you will have checked out the whole library!"

"Well it would be nice to have my own library in my dorm," Hermione joked, Ron and Harry laughed. They finally made their way to the common room and Hermione brought her books to her room and bounded back down the stairs almost running into Ginny on her way down. When she made her way back downstairs she found Ron and Harry in a corner. Ron had his wizard's chest, and Harry was deep into a book labeled Quidditch Captions of the Middle Ages.

"Hermione, Come play chess!" Ron said, a big grin plastered upon his face. In his opinion there was nothing better than seeing Hermione lose against him in chess, because frankly it was the only time he ever won against Hermione.

"No, you only want me to play because you will win."

"Please Hermione, I know you want to, and I will even go easy on you," Ron said playfully giving Hermione puppy dog eyes, which sent Harry rolling off the couch laughing.

"Fine, but I don't see what satisfaction you get playing against me, its not even a challenge," Hermione finally agreed as she plunked down in a large red armchair and Ron set up the pieces.

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When Ginny came down she noticed the trio at the far side of the room, not having seen them for a while, she walked over to them. Harry moved his feet from the far side of the couch so Ginny could sit down, giving Ginny a little butterfly in the tummy. She couldn't help herself there was just something about Harry that made her fancy him. She of course had tried to get rid of the crush because Harry had no interest in her and it had worked for a little while, but now it was back. She turned her attention to the chess game where Ron was creaming Hermione. Hermione was deep in concentration, and it seemed that she was mentally trying to use some math system to calculate the next moves. Ron was staring at Hermione watching her every expression and move.

Hermione finally moved her last knight, and said, "Your turn."

He quickly took his queen moving it, "Checkmate! Ha! Take that, I win!" he said getting up and doing a small victory dance. Ginny and Harry began to laugh and Ron's ears began turning red. " Hey. Its not funny," he pouted.

Hermione began laughing as well and said, "Well its not every day you see a full grown 17 year old dancing around the common room, it is quite a feat."

"Any yet he somehow was made a prefect, Pitiful really."

"You two are so mean. I am mature right Harry?"

"Sorry mate but I have to agree with the girls here," Harry said through fits of laughter.

"Harry stop laughing like a little school girl," Ron responded who did not take well to being laughed at.

"Ron, don't get angry. It's just a bit of fun," Ginny said as they all quieted down. Suddenly they heard a large rapping on the window, outside there was a large school barn owl. Ginny got up and opened the window taking the letter from the bird she looked at the name printed on the letter, it said Hermione. "Hermione were you expecting mail?" Ginny asked handing the letter over.

"Nope," she replied opening the letter and beginning to read:

Dear Hermione,

I know that you don't want us to be seeing each other in Hogwarts, but I can't help it. All I can do is think about you. Please give me a chance. It's not like I am actually one of your teachers, just an intern in a subject you don't take. Meet me at the Quidditch field tomorrow at five so we can talk.

Love,

Krum

Before Hermione had time to think, Ginny who had been reading over her shoulder, gasped and said, "Hermione, you have to do something about him. He is obviously over the moon about you!"

"Who, is crazy about Hermione," Ron said grabbing the note from the girls grasps and reading it quickly. "Hermione was their something going on between you and Krum," Ron said loudly.

Peoples head's navigated towards the four, "Ron, I would have told you and Harry if there was something going on with anyone and me," Hermione said in a quiet tone.

"Well you didn't tell me who you where going to the Yule Ball with, Ginny did."

"Only because you where being a complete prat. I can't believe it took you four year's to notice that I was a girl and then have nerve to ask me out because everyone you thought was pretty was gone!" Hermione said her voice rising to match Ron's loud tone.

"Hermione you know that I know you are a girl, after all you never sleep in the boys dorms."

"Well then I guess you never thought anyone would fancy me, just because I am not pretty right?"

"Hermione stop putting words in my mouth, no matter how bloody smart you are, you don't know what I think," he yelled.

"Ok, then tell me what you think. Why was it so outrageous for me to be asked out?"

"Because, because…" Ron stumbled angry.

"Out with it!" Hermione shouted angry.

"I don't know why!"

"So it's true, you think just because I am ugly people won't fancy me. I have news for you! People do fancy me because of my personality, but then you never noticed it did you because you are so vain that you think more about what's on the outside than the inside."

"So that's what you really think of me? Well I have got bloody great news for you, your just a know it all, teacher's pet, who spends more time with books than people, you're a book hermit!"

"Fine, if that's what you think of me I know who my true mates are and you are not one of them. If you think you can dictate whom I decide to date and what I want to do you are sadly mistaken. I am an independent person!" Hermione said, storming up to her dorm, tear threatening to spill, and seconds later Ron stormed up to his dorm.

Harry looked at Ginny and said, " I was afraid this would happen."

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When Hermione entered her room, she flopped face down on her bed without even turning on the lights and started to sod. After about an hour, Hermione found her diary and opened to a clean page, eyes puffy and still sobbing, she began to write:

Dear Diary,

Ron Weasley is a complete git! Now I know what he thinks about me and I shall never talk to him again. I don't see why I ever considered him my best mate; I should have never befriended him in first year. I heard what he used to say behind my back about me having no mates and being a know it all. Apparently he has never thought of me in a different light. He probably just pretended to be my mate so he could get help in subjects, that prat. Why did he always have to be so astonished and accusing whenever Krum was mentioned anyways? That is what started the whole row, right? I can't even remember. All I can think about is what he said, and the fact that he couldn't deny thinking that no one would like me because I am not pretty. Even Ron has to be deeper than that! Wait what am I saying? I heard every word that he said, and he meant it. I might as well start dating Krum; he is the only one who seems to see me as something. God, I am drowning in my own tears. I better just go to bed. I don't want Ron to think that I stayed up half way through the night crying because of him.

Hermione

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Ron startled Neville as he angrily threw open the door. Ron angrily grabbed his broom, mounted it and managed to fly out the window (which is quite a feat because the window was rather small and he was rather large). Nothing calmed Ron's mood like flying aimlessly at high speeds, given it wasn't in an important Quidditch match. Unlike Hermione, Ron did not cry, 16 years of living with older brothers insured that.

Furiously Ron began thinking; why did Hermione always assume things? And why did she always know just the right way to push his buttons? She really was so much like his bloody teachers and mother sometimes, always telling him off and putting word in his mouth. But it was not like he actually had to talk to her; after all they weren't mates any more.

Thoughts such as these ran through his mind for a few hours before the cold finally got the better of him and he returned to his dorm, where everyone was already asleep. He changed into his pajamas and curled up in bed, not able to fall asleep till the wee hours of the night.

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Note- thank you reviewers and my beta another chapter up (sorry it took a whole week but the Honors Program in high school is rigorous). I just though I might tell you that my cat's tummy was making some pretty dam funny noises just so you know if you were wondering. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I really like the beginning personally. Sorry I had to make Ron and Hermione get in a fight, but its important to the plot, needless to say the next chapter looks like it is going to be good (and just between you and me, Ron will make up for his jealousness which we all know really started the fight). Ok I don't want to spoil it, but my fingers just keep on typing (bad finger bad, stop typing and go update I say but they just keep going). So remember to review and if you really like me add my to your favorite stories and authors lists!

Reviewers:

Bhekie- you honestly are amazing! You're my favorite reviewer! I am very glad you like that chapter. I was hoping that it did give insight in to Hermione's character (you know what is funny my bf thinks that I am molding Hermione after myself). I think that this chapter is a bit more interesting, even if Ron and Hermione's fight was a bit dramatic.

Ezza- Thank you! Sorry about my lack of time to update, but I don't have school half net week which means more and more chapters Yay!