Disclaimer: None of the people, places, or things surrounding Hogwarts and the wizarding world are my creation; they belong to the wonderful Ms. Jo Rowling.

A/N: I would like to apologize for the way I messed up the order of events in the last chapter. I was simply going based on the way things made sense to me—and I thought that the order I had was logical, but apparently, I had totally messed things up. I'll try to never do anything like that again.

This chapter is something that has been formulating in my head since I read HBP. What exactly did Ron and Hermione do during their Prefect duties while they were "fighting?" Read on to find out… :-)

DCoD: Your comments always make me smile. Yes, I do think that the "symbolic door" was one of my more brilliant ideas,lol.I don't know where that came from; it just seemedto fit. I love that you can "see" what is happening in the story...I've always thought that Missing Moments were supposed to read like if you just panned the camera away fromHarry for a minute, this is what you wouldsee.

Phillyactress: You remind me so much of myself. Whenever I criticize someone (even in the nicest way, like you did with me) I always feel guilty and end up apologizing five seconds later. I want to thank you, really, for your comments. I should have had HBP sitting right next to me while I was writing Ch. 4. I messed the order up, and for that, I'm really, very sorry. (See the Author's Note above.) You are now one of my favorite reviewers, for bringing that mistake to my attention.

RonMione4eva: Tee hee. Thank you so much, as usual, my darling. :-D

suckr4romance: Yes, sometimes I too wonder how I make my chapters so long. Babbling is the key I've found...that, and having Ron go on with his funny, yet ignorant, comments.

sam250505: Thank you so much for you dilligent reviews for each and every chapter. Not many people read the story and review after each chapter. It also means a lot that you're British. (Actually, you said "English." Do you not refer to yourself as British...I'm not prying, or trying to play the stereotypical role of the ignorant American...I'm just curious.) That means I have to try harder to not sound stupid. And I promise that I will never use the word "guys" in any of my stories.

squeeky-toy-123: Lol. :-) I love Ron and Hermione ships too!

Broken Rain: I found myself also wondering why Ron is so dim while reading HBP. He's a boy, plain and simple. But, yes, I do think that he should have realized that he was making a mistake. Ah well. Hermione sort of latches on to your point in this chapter... Read on!

hogwartsgirl52: I'm trying for ASAP. I want you guys to read it as much as you want to read it. :-D

legolascrazy17: You're going to run out of adjectives! Awww, that made me smile so widely when I read that! I love you, I honestly do...seeing a review from you makes my day (whatever crap I've gone through) just...happy. How many more chapters? I really am not sure at this moment. I write as the ideas come to me. After this chapter, though, you'll see that there isn't much more to do before they come to their senses. I'm thinking two or three more chapters...perhaps more. I don't like seeing the tension between the two of them strung out to the point where I get bored with the story. Though I think I can safely say that you, at least, won't get bored with this story. I really liked how I made Ron describe what kissing Lavender felt like--I really wanted to show that there wasn't anything more to the relationship than Lavender allowing Ron to "practice" snogging with her. Amusing and sweet...yes:-D Thank you once again for your comments. You're my most loyal and favorite reviewer! Until next time. Sugarquill

Chapter 5: Revelations

Hermione took a deep, steadying breath as she made her way from her dormitory to meet Ron in the Common Room before patrol. Since the incident at Slughorn's party and the canaries, she and Ron had avoided each other with success. She knew it was wearing on Harry, and tried to let the two boys have their time together. She instead was spending more time either on her own, or with Ginny. At times, Ron wasn't the chief thing on her mind; she always thought of him, of course, but with Ginny's distractions, it was easier to forget, even momentarily, that Ron was no longer talking to her.

But at the Prefect meetings and duties, there was no avoiding Ron. Things between them were more awkward than ever, but they couldn't simply avoid each other like people in a fight usually would. It was even worse because they were in the same house, and therefore, more often than not, shared those duties.

Like tonight, when they had to spend three hours together, patrolling the corridors and making sure no students were wandering out of their house Common Rooms. Through some sort of miraculous luck, she and Ron had not shared patrol since before their argument. Hermione had managed to trade duties with a Ravenclaw prefect the last time she and Ron had been scheduled to patrol together. Tonight, however, there had no been no avoiding it, especially after the strict talking to Professor McGonagall had given them the week before about responsibility and never backing out of duties.

With another sigh, Hermione turned the corner and tried not to gasp when she found Ron waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. For the first time since their fight months ago, Ron didn't look angry or disgusted at the sight of her. That thought gave her hope. However, nor did he look happy to see her, allowing the small burst of hope to die just as quickly as it had come. Ron simply appeared…indifferent, as if seeing her had no effect—physical or emotional—on him. Seeing that was perhaps harder than seeing the anger; at least with the anger, she knew he still felt something for her.

"Hello, Ron," she said quietly, brushing past him and going over to the portrait hole. She waited hopefully for some sort of reply, but was greeted only with tension-filled silence. This was going to be a long night. "Shall we go, then?" she continued bravely, congratulating herself when her voice didn't crack.

Behind her, Ron sighed and she heard his footsteps padding over to join her. Hermione didn't stop to turn around, instead going out and starting down the deserted hallway. Ron joined her and a self-conscious silence continued to reign over them.

Finally, Hermione couldn't handle it any longer. If she and Ron continued to walk these silent corridors without saying a single word to each other, she was going to lose her mind.

"Ron—" she began uncertainly, then stopped when she realized she had no idea what she was going to say.

She was encouraged, however, when Ron didn't groan in repulsion, or hurry his steps so that he could avoid her. He was looking back at her with…was that interest? Hermione wondered with joy and hope. Maybe tonight was the night…the night when things finally started getting better between the two of them.

"I—I just can't stand this anymore," Hermione continued. "This…us. What we've become. We were BEST FRIENDS, Ron, and now…now we never speak anymore! Don't you hate it?"

Ron didn't say anything. Though he continued walking, he was now staring straight ahead and avoiding Hermione's eyes at all costs. She was just about to give up and make do with the silence when Ron's voice broke the quiet.

"I wouldn't think you'd notice," he said gruffly. "You and Harry seem pretty—"

"Don't even finish that thought, Ronald Weasley," Hermione cut in sharply. "If you're insinuating that my…that Harry and I are anything more than friends, then you're even thicker than I thought."

There we go, she thought gratefully, watching Ron's blue eyes snap with fire. Though a part of her would probably always hate the fights she and Ron had, she was more than grateful for this row. At least he was talking to her.

"Well, then I guess if I'm so thick, I should wonder why you even bothered with me in the first place," Ron retorted. "I s'pose I bloody forgot. You only like 'good Quidditch players.'"

You are a good Quidditch player, Hermione answered silently, but she refused to let her anger dissipate. "And I suppose you think you make wonderful choices."

Ron's eyebrows lifted. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, honestly, Ron," Hermione scoffed. "Lavender Brown? What could you possibly have been thinking?"

"I was thinking that she's easy!" he yelled, then reddened when he realized what he'd just said. "I mean, she's not…that is, she's…"

Though she was fighting the urge to giggle, Hermione blazed onward. "No, I think that might have been the right word," she quipped, not feeling the least bit guilty for say something mean about her roommate. She and Lavender had never gotten on well together; they tolerated each other because they lived together, but Hermione would never call Lavender her friend.

Ron was silent. "And you—you're not even going to defend her! Some boyfriend you are!" she shrieked.

Ron visibly flinched at Hermione's use of the word "boyfriend." Attaching a label to what he and Lavender had was exactly what Ron was avoiding at all costs. It made it seem…personal. And his relationship with Lavender just wasn't. At least, not to him.

"You shouldn't say those things about her," he responded dully, knowing that his voice didn't have any emotion in it.

Hermione didn't say anything in reply. They continued walking for a few minutes before she spoke again. "Ron…can I ask you something?" she ventured, anxiously wondering if the fight they'd just had meant they were speaking again. When he simply glanced over at her, she found the courage to continue.

"Why Lavender? Why not someone…better?"

"Oh, so now Lavender's not good enough? Though I bet you're not surprised. After all, who'd want poor, pathetic Ron Weasley? It's a miracle Lavender even wanted me. Is that what you mean?"

Hermione groaned. Why did things between them always end up like this? She'd tried to have a civilized conversation and already he was twisting her words to create tension. "I didn't say that, Ron," she said demurely, choosing not to react to his anger. "I was merely asking why you picked her to…well, you know."

"You make it sound as if that's all she and I do."

Hermione raised an eyebrow and Ron blushed. "Well…" he said nervously. "It's not like…I mean, we could talk…if we wanted to."

"So it's just…snogging…then?" Hermione asked. "That's all you want out of a relationship?"

"It's a hell of a lot easier than dealing with emotional girls who cry all the time!" he roared, and Hermione jumped back, as if his words had scalded her.

Don't start crying, Hermione, she told herself, swallowing hard. Just don't start crying. "At least emotional girls HAVE feelings, Ron!" she screamed. "You—you could tell Lavender you…love her, and she wouldn't care! She'd simply grab you and continue kissing like nothing had happened."

"I don't love Lavender!" Ron snapped, then stopped short when he realized what he'd said. Interesting, how the first thought that came to mind was the need to reassure Hermione that he didn't love Lavender.

"Well, I should certainly hope not! We wouldn't want you to waste the few emotions you have on someone like her." Hermione was seething, unable to decide if she hated Ron or Lavender more at that moment. She knew, deep down, that none of this was Lavender's fault and that blaming her wasn't going to solve anything. But somehow she couldn't make herself stop.

"You don't know what…things I can feel, Hermione!"

"Oh, don't I? Ron, who was so disgusted with the idea of Cho Chang crying that he wondered how a person could feel multiple emotions at once? Who's the one who is TERRIFIED of girls, especially when they're sad? Who is so petrified of comforting a girl that he—"

"I held you, Hermione!" Ron broke in angrily. They had now stopped walking, and stood still in the middle of the corridor, faced off, both with their crossed defiantly over their chests. "That night after Slughorn's party. You were crying and—and I bloody HELD you. And you…you…" His voice faltered as if he was fighting for words.

Hermione felt herself softening. "I know that, Ron. I'm sorry. I know you have feelings. I didn't mean what I said," she apologized. "It's just…Ron, why won't you talk to me?" There it was. It was the most open she'd been with Ron since he'd stopped speaking to her. But she had to know.

But, as she expected, Ron looked away from her, refusing to answer. "Just tell me," she prodded gently. "It can't be that awful, I would think."

" 'I would think,' " Ron mimicked suddenly, and just like that, the serious mood was snapped like a twig, once again. "That's just it, Hermione. You seem to think you know everything. If you can't figure this out, then I'm not going to tell you."

"Again, with that! Honestly, Ron, just TELL me." Hermione wanted to tear her hair out.

"No," he responded rudely.

That was it. Hermione suddenly lost the will to fight. With a tired sigh, she turned away from Ron and began walking once more down the corridor. "Forget it, Ron. You're right. Maybe we're just not meant to be friends anymore," she said sadly and resignedly.

"I didn't say that!" Ron called after her, hurrying to catch up. "I'm not the one who—who…"

"Who what, Ronald! Honestly, if I knew what I've done, then I would apologize."

"So apologize," he said slowly, as if he was talking to a small child.

"No!" Hermione stamped her foot on the stone floor. "Not until you tell me what is the matter."

Ron threw his hands up in disgust. "See, this is why being with Lavender is good. She doesn't talk all the bloody time. She's so—so much…" Once again, he trailed off.

Hermione stepped closer to him, eyes blazing. "She's so much what, Ron?" she asked softly, yet Ron could clearly tell her that tone was menacing. How do I get out of this one?

"Easier to deal with," he finally answered quietly. "Sometimes," he added as an after thought.

Hermione nodded and stepped back from him, trying not to show that her heart was breaking. "And I suppose because of that, you don't need to worry about comforting her. I would think Lavender never comes to you because you are the one person who no matter what, can make her feel better. Lavender probably doesn't talk to you because she actually wants to hear what you have to say."

Ron couldn't deny what Hermione had just said. Those were things about his relationship with Lavender that made it uncomplicated… But that didn't mean that he preferred it over what he had—used to have, he corrected with a grimace—with Hermione.

"Fine then, Ron. Be with her… I don't care anymore. I—it hurt, Ron, it truly hurt me, seeing you with her." Hermione sighed, figuring that, as this was the last time she could see herself making any effort to talk to him for a long time, she might as well lay all her proverbial cards on the table.

"But then, I suppose that's what you wanted, wasn't it? To hurt me, though I can't imagine why…I would never hurt you, Ron, not on purpose."

His eyes shut tightly at hearing her say that. If only she knew… "Until now, that is," she continued and Ron forced himself to look at her.

But she wasn't looking at him, Ron realized in confusion. She was not looking him in the eye.

She couldn't do it, Hermione thought. She couldn't say what she was about to say and look at Ron…because what she was about to say wasn't the truth. It was, in fact, the exact opposite of the truth.

"Now, I think I might just want to hurt you. Like you hurt me," she continued crisply, steadily avoiding Ron's hard blue gaze. "I never needed you, Ron. Or—or wanted you. That night after the party…you were just the first person who found me. I—I would have latched on to anyone, I suspect. You were just convenient. It didn't mean anything."

Lies, all lies. Hermione wanted to take everything back the moment she said those awful words. She peered at Ron out of the corner of her eye, and nearly physically cringed at the pain she saw crossing his face. She knew this was hurting him, and hated herself for causing the hurt… But hadn't he done the same thing to her?

She sighed. "Look, Ron, I think all this mess with the party has shown us something. We weren't meant to be—" Her voice faltered and she had to draw a steadying breath before she could continue. "Weren't meant to be…friends, let alone more than friends. If—if you can't even trust me enough to tell me when I've done something wrong, then where would we be if we were in a relationship?"

By now, she had turned to fully face him, somehow knowing that in order for Ron to completely process what she was saying, she had to be looking directly at him. "I'm sorry, Ron. I really thought that—that we had something. Something deeper than friendship." Her brown eyes were cast downward for a moment as she struggled for her next words.

"But maybe, for the first time since I can remember, I was wrong."

Ron gritted his teeth, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. Remaining silent through all this was going to kill him, he was sure of it.

"I could have loved you, Ron Weasley," Hermione said seriously, and his heart stuttered, skipping a beat. Even though he knew that he had bungled things to the point where he honestly didn't think he could ever fix them, hearing Hermione make such an open, honest admission filled him with such honest to Merlin happiness that he thought for a moment he would actually burst.

"Hermione, I—" he started, but she waved him off.

"I could have loved you, but you simply refused to give us a chance. You jumped into Lavender's arms the moment you decided I had done something wrong, and there was no turning back." She shrugged sadly. "I'm so tired, Ron. Attempting to figure out what I've done has exhausted me."

I never wanted to do that to you, Ron thought. "So…I'm finished, Ron. Perhaps it would be best for both of us, not mention Harry and all the worry this fight is causing him, if we just…that is, if we were nothing more than acquaintances. Fellow Prefects, nothing more."

"But…er. Hermione…" He had absolutely no idea what he was trying to say.

She smiled sadly, then slowly came closer to him and reached up. She laid a gentle hand on his cheek and stared into his eyes. "You're not—" His voice squeaked and he coughed. "I mean, are you angry?"

Hermione did not release her soft hold on his face, but something in her eyes hardened. "I am not going to lie to you, Ron. Yes, I am angry. I've known you for six years, and while you sometimes make unwise decisions, you aren't stupid. At least, I never thought you were stupid."

Ron couldn't say anything, couldn't swallow past the lump growing in his throat. He avoided looking down at Hermione, throat working to control the sting of tears.

"Are you going to say anything?" he heard Hermione ask quietly. He steeled himself against her voice. If she was going to completely cut their friendship off, well then…

Hermione sighed. "All right then, Ron." She glanced down at her watch. "Patrol's over. I'm going back to the Common Room."

She turned slowly, as if waiting for Ron to stop her. Merlin knew he wanted to, more than anything. But something—stupid pride that he would probably hate himself for later—made his feet stay rooted to the ground.

Blast you, Ronald Weasley, she thought angrily as she walked away from him. Blast you for…for being you; for being the one person I could hate and love all at the same time. Making her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, she wished with all her might that something might happen, something to make her forget that Ron ever existed. At least for a little while. Just until my heart can heal.

If that could ever happen.

A/N: I'm so sorry about the delay in posting this chapter! Things were so unbelievably insane last week that I didn't get a chance to even start writing until Friday afternoon. I hope this chapter was all right—I must confess I don't much care for it. I don't know why. I think it's too fluffy, perhaps? It was supposed to be serious…setting everything up for the next chapter, where Ron is poisoned. (Cue the dramatic music!) Just when Hermione cuts herself off from Ron, and wishes that "something would happen" to make her forget… Anyway, as always, please review! I hope that the delay and my uber-huge mistake in the order of events in the last chapter didn't completely kill any love for this story…