Sorry haven't updated for AGES – have had writers block and little time to get over it. Thanks for reviews people, keep telling me stuff you liked/disliked and most importantly keep reading!

Avoidance

"Ron, I'm not in the mood for another argument with you." Said Hermione exasperatedly, edging towards the portrait.

"No, I don't want to argue with you it's just that…well I was taking to Harry and he thinks…I mean he knows…and he said that I should, and I think I should…and I think it's about time Hermione, I really do." Ron stumbled clumsily over his words, going redder and redder.

Hermione surveyed his blushing countenance with puzzlement "Ron, what -"

But before she could finish, Ron blurted out "Hermione I really like you will you go out with me?"

There was a silence as this new information took a while to filter through Hermione's brain. Ron had just asked her out. Ron wanted her to be his girlfriend. Ron had just asked her out!

Ron looked at her blank expression despairingly "I understand if you don't want to…"

Hermione knew she had to refuse him. She had never liked Ron all that much in a romantic way and so it would be unfair to say 'yes' to his proposal and lead him on. So Hermione opened her mouth to say this, but suddenly a vision of Draco's smirking face popped into her mind and her feelings did a 180.

"Yes, Ron, I'd love to go out with you." Hermione replied, wearing a forced smile. She didn't know why she did it, but she did.

Ron was overjoyed. "Oh Herm! You've just made me the happiest guy! I'm so glad you feel the same and-"

"Ron, I'm exhausted, I need some sleep, but I'll see you tomorrow okay?" Hermione interrupted Ron. Ron looked slightly hurt so she gave him a peck on the cheek and climbed through the portrait hole.

As the portrait swung closed, Ron touched the spot on his face where Hermione had just kissed him, grinning elatedly to himself.

"So, finally asked Granger out then, Weasel? Finally found your balls?" Malfoy sneered, stepping out from the shadows from where he had heard Hermione and Ron's conversation.

"What's it to you if I have, Malfoy?" Ron replied, coolly, smile fading from his face.

"Oh, nothing, nothing. Although why she accepted is beyond me. It's obvious she likes someone else. Hard luck." Said Malfoy softly, smirking at Ron's crestfallen face.

"Oh? And how would you know? She accepted ME, so she must like me." Said Ron, rage starting to bubble to the surface, but instead of staying to fight it out with Malfoy, he began towards the mouth of the corridor.

Malfoy blocked his path, menacingly. "Not so fast, Weasel boy. I just want you to remember this: Granger will never completely be yours. So I'd leave it if I were you."

Ron stepped back from Malfoy, curiosity and rage burning his features. "Who is it? Tell me." He demanded, grabbing a fistful of Malfoy's robes.

Malfoy coolly peeled Ron's fingers from his robes and replied "Someone you could never measure up to, Weasel. Don't touch me, please; my robes have just been washed."

And with that, Malfoy relinquished his cold stare from the 'sorry excuse for a pureblood' in front of him and swept up the portrait hole.

"Stay away from her, Malfoy, or I swear, your life won't be worth living." Said Ron frantically, his back to Malfoy. Malfoy simply smirked to himself and launched through the hole.

That night, a very worried Ron tossed and turned in his bed. His mind incessantly whispered things to him – was Malfoy trying to frighten him, or was there really someone? There was an answer to this question in the back of Ron's mind, but he ignored it. After all, how could someone like Hermione agree to date someone she didn't feel anything for?

That night, a very upset Hermione lay staring at the ceiling listening to the large grandfather clock in her bedroom tick loudly. Whenever she thought of Malfoy and what he had said to her, tears welled up in her eyes, trickling down her face onto the pillow. Why did she care that much anyway? Malfoy had been insulting her for years, why did he finally manage to hit a nerve? She was even unable to think clearly about Ron, and what she was going to do about him, because a blurry image of Malfoy's smirking face had begun to occupy all of Hermione's thoughts.

That night, a restless Malfoy paced his room disconcertedly. Why had he been so adamant to worry Weasley about Hermione's feelings? It's not like he would usually care who she went out with – why should he? I just didn't think Granger liked him that way he thought to himself. Why did he care so much? Malfoy knew exactly why, but his mind couldn't quite cope with the answer yet.

Winter had swept by quickly, Christmas was past, and they were approaching spring at a fast pace. Although there was no snow to be seen, a thick layer of frost had settled over the grounds, icing the leaves and the grass. Monday morning brought enormous tureens of soup from breakfast, piles of steaming pancakes covered in syrup and thousands of platters of warm, crusty toast.

Ron, desperate to show the world he was with Hermione and ward off competition, saved her a seat between him and Harry at breakfast.

"So, you're 'with' her now then?" Harry asked, ladling liberal amounts of chicken soup into his bowl.

"Yeah, that's right." Said, Ron, who was restlessly drumming his fingers on the table, staring at the Great Hall doors, waiting for Hermione.

"And you're worried, why?"

"Malfoy."

"Malfoy? What's he got to do with anything?"

Ron didn't get to answer, because just then Hermione stumbled into the Hall, trying to smooth her bushy hair into some kind of order with a small comb. Ron sprang to his feet and waved frantically to her, his arm catching Harry's glasses as it launched into the air sending them flying, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Hermione! HERMIONE!" He yelled. Harry raised his eyebrows, so surprised to see Ron acting this strange over a girl.

Hermione saw Ron waving frantically and went red. Why was he making such a scene? Inside, she really didn't want everyone to know she was with Ron. Except for Malfoy, boy did she want him to know.

Ron pulled out her chair for her and sat down next to her, and began animatedly talking to her, his face glowing red.

Hermione just nodded along, not wanting to reply to any of his comments. Her gaze slowly slid over to the Slytherin table where she caught the eye of a certain blonde boy, who was staring over at her ignoring everyone around him. No shiver went down her spine; she felt no feeling of exhilaration, just a feeling of immense satisfaction that he was so focused on her and Ron.

And so, without thinking, she leaned over to Ron and whispered in his ear "I'm not hungry, lets go somewhere a little more private before first lesson." Ron's eyes widened, but he nodded happily and got to his feet, helping her up.

"Harry, mate, see you in Herbology, eh" Said Ron, winking at Harry, a grin plastered over his face. She must like me. She MUST.

As they walked towards the doors, Ron slipped his hand into Hermione's, as if to make sure everyone knew she was his. Hermione was irritated, and knew what he was trying to do, but also knew that Malfoy was watching, so went along with it.

Draco boiled with rage on seeing this little display. He had seen it as if it had been in slow motion, Weasley's podgy hand twitching nervously before slipping into her small slender hand. And then she had taken it, entwining her hand with his.

Just before she and Ron had left the Great Hall, Hermione gave the Slytherin table one last glace, and smirked when she saw Malfoy's furious expression.

Once out of the Hall, Hermione didn't know what to do. She wasn't stupid, she knew exactly what 'let's go somewhere more private' implied, and was ashamed at herself for suggesting it to poor, mislead Ron. She didn't want to do…anything…with him, but how would she evade it? They were a couple now and that's what couples do…and Ron certainly seemed to think this.

"Where are you taking me, Herm?" Ron asked, grinning and squeezing her hand playfully, sending a disgusted, guilty shiver down her spine. She found the tone of voice he was using with her extremely creepy.

"I'm not sure…I need to go to the library to look something up…" Garbled Hermione, avoiding Ron's eyes and trying to ignore his little sigh at the word 'library'.

"Okay that's fine; I'll come with you then." He said eagerly, trying to pull her closer to him.

"Oh, but Ron, you'll find it ever so boring."

"I could never be bored when I'm with you."

Hermione was quite taken aback by this line. Since when was Ron so…cheesy? But she couldn't say no or act annoyed or he'd think she didn't like him, so she allowed Ron to tag along with her to the library. At least he couldn't try anything while they were in there.

How wrong she was.

Once in the library, Hermione lead Ron to a table right in front of Madame Pince's desk, surely he wouldn't want to do anything under her watchful eye?

"I'm going to go and browse the shelves, Ok? I'll be back in a minute." Said Hermione to Ron, who looked extremely disappointed.

Hermione went into the Herbology section and aimlessly trailed her finger over the rows of books in front of her, wondering.

Ron, however, wasn't going to wait for Hermione. He got agitated quickly, and decided to go looking for her. Maybe she had wanted him to come after her, after all, she had said she wanted to go somewhere more private with him. She can't have lied about that, could she?

So, as Hermione innocently browsed the bookshelves, Ron crept up behind her and slid his arms gently around her waist.

"Hey Herm, I'm sorry, I couldn't wait for you." He whispered huskily into her ear, attempting to kiss her neck.

Hermione didn't know what to do, all she knew is that she did NOT want Ron kissing any of her body parts, so did the first thing that sprung to mind.

"OH!" She yelled in fake surprise. "Here's the book I was looking for! Could you possibly carry it to Herbology for me, Ron?" Said Hermione, spinning to face Ron and thrusting a large book into his hands.

"Er, sure." Mumbled Ron, disappointed that his advances had seemingly been rejected, but still eager to please Hermione.

Well avoided, Hermione! She congratulated herself but knew in the back of her mind I can't avoid him forever.