Finally!

A/N: Finally! I updated! I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I CANT BELIEVE HOW LONG ITS BEEN! IVE BEEN REALLY BUSY LATELY, BUT THATS STILL NO EXCUSE AS TO WHY I HAVENT UPDATED! REALLY SORRY GUYS, I HOPE YOU CAN FORGIVE ME!

This chapter isn't very long, or very good, but I NEEDED to get something to you guys. The next chapter will DEFINITELY be better. I promise!

PLEASE REVIEW!

Please.

Chapter 9: Confused. Very Confused.

Ron was confused. Very confused.

Lying on his bed, he remembered the previous night. He was trapped in a bunch of thoughts.

Why did she break the kiss off? She didn't like it...? Or she doesn't like me? And why did she say everybody's watching? So what? If she did like me, she wouldn't care, right?

And so Ron thought Hermione didn't like him. If she had sometime in the past, she didn't anymore. And so, convinced that this was why Hermione had broken off the kiss, he became indifferent towards her. He felt his heart crack at the sides and become encircled in ice.

Hermione was confused. Very confused.

It was two weeks after they had played truth or dare, and Ron was giving her the cold shoulder. She didn't know why, and it hurt her inside. She decided she would find a way to get his attention. She told her plan to Ginny, who agreed to help get her ignorant brother's attention back on Hermione. As the middle of November approached, Hermione made a drastic change in her wardrobe. She bought more skirts and heels, and de-frizzed her hair, thinking that it would help impress Ron. Many people changed their opinion of her as she walked into the Great Hall at breakfast the next day.

Hermione sat down in front of Ron. "Hi Ron," she said sweetly. "Hermione," he said civilly, finishing up his food. He looked up at her, and his brain stopped working as he scanned her up and down. On the outside, he showed no difference to the change that she had made. Hermione's heart plunged. He hasn't noticed any change...

Quite the opposite. She looks...beautiful. But I like her better when she's dressed up as herself. What caused the sudden change? He stood up. "See you later," he grunted out. Hermione sighed, watching him leave the Great Hall. There was no point in me doing this. He doesn't care about me either way.

Ron walked out to the lake, stopping by the small tree. He laid down on the ground next to it, thinking. He stayed out there all day, watching the sky slowly turn dark. The breeze gently played with his shirt as he stood up. He felt miserable. Why isn't anything ever simple? He knew he still loved Hermione, no matter what she did to herself. He was convinced, however, that she didn't like him back. What am I supposed to do?

He went back into the castle, entering the common room. Maybe I'll have a talk with Hermione... He scanned the room, and saw her encircled by a group of Gryffindor guys. He heard her laugh, and felt his stomach heave sickeningly. She looked up, and their eyes locked for a few moments. He looked away, and walked up to his dormitory.

Hermione sighed. Were things going to get fixed between them? Would they EVER get together? The month of November flew by as things between them remained the same: distant and cold.

Freezing temperatures brought forth the first of December. Harry, Ginny, and Ron were eating breakfast. Ron played with his food, sighing and breathing in deeply.

"She likes you, you know," Ginny began. "Ginny, quit it. She doesn't like me," Ron said softly, looking up. Ginny noted the bags that had appeared under his eyes. "Yes, she does. She told me," Ginny said slowly, awaiting Ron's reaction. Harry watched the scene unfold quietly.

"Don't lie. If she liked me, why would she have broken up that kiss last month? I thought things were going along fine, and she broke it off. She doesn't like me." He nibbled on a piece of toast. "Ron, listen to me. She told me she likes you. And she broke it off because she was embarrassed, you git!" Ron scowled.

"So, she likes me, huh?" Ron said, raising his voice slightly. Harry and Ginny nodded. "Is that why whenever I see her, she's surrounded by guys? Oh yeah, she really likes me," he said sarcastically.

"Ron, she's only doing that to make you JEALOUS! And she changed the way she dresses to IMPRESS you! Ron, she REALLY likes you. I can tell from the way she talks about you, or the way her face glows when your name is mentioned. She thinks YOU don't like HER," Ginny said. Ron looked at her, dumbfounded. "What? That's ridiculous! Of course I like her!" He was about to say more when Dumbledore tapped a glass and cleared his throat, standing up.

"May I have everybody's attention, please? I would like to announce that on December 24th, from eight PM to midnight, there will be a Christmas Dance for the sixth and seventh years. It will not be supervised, seeing as you're all mature and I trust you, but if anything happens, we will all be here in seconds and will punish you. I wouldn't like to do that. I'd rather you enjoy your night." He smiled. "Everyone must wear proper attire, of course. I have decided that the attire shall not be formal robes, but instead suits for the males and dresses for the females. You may come alone or bring a date. That is all!" The students began to talk amongst themselves.

Ron stayed silent for about five minutes, thinking. "That's it. I'm going to ask Hermione," Ron said, standing up. "Do you know where she is?" Ron asked Ginny. "I think she said she was going to the library to check something," Ginny said, smiling that Ron was finally going to take some action. "Thanks, Gin. See you guys later." "Good luck!" Harry and Ginny yelled as he left.

He walked quickly to the library. One corner of the library was unusually full, and he headed toward it. As always these days, Hermione was surrounded by a group of guys. He stepped through them. "Hermione," he said, smiling, "Can I talk to you?" "Sure," she said.

They stepped a safe distance away from the guys, who glared at Ron with distaste. "Hermione, um...Dumbledore just made an announcement about the Christmas dance. Would you go with me? As my first option. Will you?" He smiled at her. He was surprised to see her frown. "I'm sorry, Ron. I can't," she said softly. Ron's heart throbbed painfully. I knew it. She doesn't like me.

Ron sighed heavily. "She doesn't like me," he whispered. Hermione, who heard this, gave him a weird look, which he saw. "It's not that I don't WANT to, Ron. It's just...somebody already asked me," she said with pained eyes. She looked up at him and he mirrored her expression.

"Again? Already? Oh, um..ok," he said in a hoarse voice. "I'm really sorry, Ron," she said. "Yeah, so am I," he grumbled, and left, an indifferent look on his face. But Hermione knew he cared. For he had failed to mask the pain in his eyes. What am I going to do? She thought about getting out of the date with the guy who had asked her and going with Ron. But that would be rude. She sighed. This is all my fault. Somehow. Meanwhile, Ron was wandering the grounds again, thinking the same thing.

The last dance had been a disaster, seeing as neither Ron nor Hermione had even gotten to go to it. Would this dance be a disaster as well?

A/N: Well, that's my chapter! Hope you liked it!

Next chapter: I'll skip the whole month of December, and fast forward to the day of the Christmas dance, following with Christimas, or something like that.

PLEASE REVIEW! Be honest. Was it good, or bad?