However, she was who she was, and somehow he stuck around, not so much minding what was said at the end of the day, as long as they were still friends.
As long as one day there could be hope that there could someday be more.
Was it a foolish thought? He watched as she dated those better than him, celebrities and guys who looked a lot better than he did, and all he could do was pretend it didn't matter, because there was no way in hell that he could let her know his real feelings. She'd do nothing but laugh and be disgusted all at the same time, and then she'd avoid him and then he'd lose her friendship. If he couldn't have anything more, at least he had that.
He knew it was nothing but a fools dream, but it was all he had. It kept him going when everyone else laughed at him or when he felt alone in the crowds, because he had the hope that one day she would be his, and that's all Ron Weasley cared about at the end of the day.
He was so infuriating at times! But then again he could be so lovely, and he was always there for her as well…When Harry was in a mood he'd stay by her side and keep her company on the sofa in front of the fire, not teasing her about her knitting for once, just plainly keeping her company.
But then at other times he could just be so hurtful, saying the stupidest things and then not even realising what a blunder he had just made.
On the other hand though…sometimes late at night after she had gone to bed, but then sneaked down to check whether some of her knitted wears had disappeared she found him in an armchair with Crookshanks in his lap, patting his fur gently.
Sometimes she wondered exactly how much of his actions were simply an act. Was he afraid of letting anyone get close to him? Why?
Either way, he didn't have to be so mean at times! Especially when he would say things just to get a reaction from her!
At the end of the day though, it didn't really matter. Because she had the hope that one day he would be hers, and that's all Hermione Granger cared about at the end of the day.
It was a balancing act between Ron and Hermione with their love and friendship, tipping into tears and the feeling that everything was unfair and that the other didn't care and never listened.
One day though, they'd work out how to live together in a perfect balance though, and they'd beat the act that they didn't love each other at all. They'd win, just you wait and see.