Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Ok? Get the message? Nothing, nana, zip, zilch, zero. And thanks to those reviewers out there – you made my day! Keep reviewing and I'll love you forever!

...and a note for lilacbookstar – OOC means out of character. Silly.

(Ron's pov)

"What do you want?" she hissed, and I looked strait into her eyes for the first time in days. And all I saw was hatred. For me.

And, I'll tell you now, I really wanted to just tell her I loved her, and to get it over with. But I didn't.

"Mione," I began, but she cut me off.

"Don't call me that!" she snapped, and I could feel by broken heart being torn even more.

"Her-mione," I corrected myself. "The thing is that..."

"That what?" she said, still struggling hard against me.

"If you interrupt, it makes it harder for me to tell –"

"Good." She hissed. She really didn't like me. I couldn't think of a way to tell her.

"Err... Ok, let me put it this way... how far have you and him, you know... gone?" As soon as it was out of my mouth, I knew it was a very stupid thing to say. I winced as she wrenched from me, and before I knew it –

SLAP!

I staggered backwards a bit, careful not to fall down the staircase. Man, she can pack a slap.

"You disgust me! How could you even say that? Have you no respect for anyone?"

"No... It's... I had, um... No!"

SLAP!

You had to be kidding me! I had to say it now, or never.

"Heonlywantstohavesexwithyou," I said in one breath, rubbing my cheek – she used the same side twice!

"What?" she said and she looked genuinely shocked.

"He... He... only wants to have sex... with you. That's why he's going out with you, that's why he –"

SLAP!

How many times? This one knocked me off of my feet, probably because I made her blow. I had never seen her this angry before – and I caused it all...

I looked up at her from the bottom of the staircase. If my cheek stung before, it had to be bleeding now. Oh, that was going to show tomorrow...

"You... despicable, wicked, jealous, horrible person! How could you... what would posses you to say that? I know... he loves me, and you know very well that I love him too!"

The words went through me like an icy knife, and I swear I stopped breathing. I could see her still yelling; her hair was tangled and wild, and her face looked like the ripest tomato, and her hand gestures were getting wilder, her wand nearly flying out of her hand. I couldn't hear anything she said. None of it. I heard it over and over again.

I love him too.

I love him too.

I love him too.

I had to say something. She had to believe me, she had to.

"He doesn't love you!" I cried out, and I know it made her stop. Her hands went to her side, and she swelled up with anger.

"And how do you know, smart-arse?"

Wow, two curses in the last week.

"I, er... I heard him say it... to Goyle and Crabbe, in some classroom, somewhere, when I was going to the –"

"Well, you didn't, I know you didn't," she said, and I wanted to let her believe me, and so I opened my big mouth again.

"Hermione, why would I lie to you?" I tried to say it in my most earnest voice, but she took it the wrong way.

"Why? I don't know, because you're jealous of me being happy with someone? Because you don't want me to be happy with anyone? Because you just don't like me? I don't know, Ronald, I don't know. But I do know that seeing you now only makes me angry and upset, so just get out of my sight."

"Wha–?" I said, more hurt than I had ever been.

"Just get out!" She shrieked, slowly descending down the stairs. I knew there was nothing more I could do. "Get out! Now! Move!"

I looked into her eyes, and I knew she was serious. Then she raised her wand at me, but she wouldn't curse me, would she?

"Why aren't you moving?" she yelled now, and I scampered up, and ran through the portrait, and dashed for the loos.

A full half-hour later, I resurfaced form the toilets, wiping my face on my sleeve as I went. (A/N: Yes, I know this is a quote from the book, but I love it! And, yes, I don't own this, either!)

(Hermione's pov)

"So I was thinking," Draco said, stroking my hand lovingly, "how about me and you, alone, tonight in the room of requirement?"

I froze when he said this. My thoughts raced to Ron and what he said. Was he right? Draco obviously felt me freeze, because he laughed.

"For a date, darling," he explained. Ooh, I loved it when he called me darling. It made me feel so... special.

"Oh," I said, rather stupidly. "I guess I could do that." I added with a smile.

"And you wear your best dress," he said. I knew just the one.

"Only if there are candles and classic music in the background," I said, teasingly.

"Done and done," he said, and my heart melted. Who would have known he could be this... nice? How could I ever have hated him? He flashed me a huge grin, "you look beautiful, today."

It only took that, as I was wrapped in his arms and he sealed the deal with our most passionate kiss yet.

(Ron's pov)

I walked slowly to the Hospital wing.

"Hi Harry," I said to his lifeless form. "I know I said I'll always be here, but I won't lie now. I'm going to leave Hogwarts now. I'll be... be... gone for good. You're all better off without me, anyway. I, er... you don't know this, so I'll tell you now. Hermione... Hermione's... she's in love with Malfoy, and I can't... I just can't deal with it. I know this is the wusses way out, but I... You've been in love. You know what it feels like. Well, you don't, do you? Ginny still loves you. You're all happy... you don't know rejection. The girl you love doesn't hate your guts. I'm just not good enough for Hermione. I know I'm not, and I never will be. One of the last things she said to me was... was to 'get out of her sight'. I mean, I can't ever see her again. The only thing that's keeping me going is that... that she's happy. You should see them together, smiling and laughing. It pains me so much, but, yet, she's happy. And that's what counts, isn't it?"

I smiled unwillingly and looked at Harry's bloodied face.

"But you can't hear me, anyway, can you?" I said, and made my way to Gryffindor tower to pack my worthless belongings.

Well, that's chap 3 done. What do you think? Sad enough? Have I categorized it right? I've put it as a Romance/Drama, but could it be a Romance/Angst? I don't know, but I do know that you should review, and make me happy! Go on... review!

autumnlover