(This chapter takes place during the time Harry and Ron are alone in the other room.)

When they broke for lunch, food began appearing over tables, which at some point appeared behind them, no doubt the work of house elves. Hermione frowned, thinking of them slaving away in the kitchen, when she was drawn away by Ginny and Luna, Neville following not far behind.

Ron was off chatting to the twins about something; Hermione spotted Harry making a beeline for them, probably hoping to avoid the adults and their questions. If there was one thing Harry truly hated, it was people asking questions he didn't want to answer.

She raised her hand to wave him over when Ron clapped a hand on his shoulder. She watched in confusion when Harry flinched violently and began to shake. She wasn't the only one who saw it; from the corner of the room, she saw Molly and Remus making their way through the crowd towards Harry.

Ron looked quickly over his shoulder. Spotting his mother, he quickly herded Harry into the other room.

As they passed her, Ron caught her eye and smiled with a shrug.

Almost telling her not to worry, he would look after Harry. Nodding, she quickly made to intercept Molly.

"Oh, Hermione dear, is Harry ok? He didn't look well…" Molly asked.

Remus nodded in agreement.

"He's fine, Mrs Weasley. Ron's taken him into the other room just for a lie down." Hermione was lying through her teeth; she knew Harry wasn't ok but she hoped Ron could look after him.

Hermione couldn't handle Harry's violent mood swings; he never lashed out, but one minute, he could be happy and bubbly and the next, cold and distant. She never knew how to react to them but Ron took it all in stride.

He was the best person to be with Harry right now.

She knew, like Ron, that Harry didn't have a good upbringing but the scale of the abuse that was coming to light was extraordinary.

She feared for her friend.

"Should I check on him? I'm sure Severus will have some potions if he's feeling sick…" Molly chattered on.

"No, he's fine. He will rest for a little while and he will be right as rain…"

I hope so. Hermione thought to herself.

"If you're sure…"

Hermione nodded, she had faith in Ron.

Sensing her distress, Remus took Molly by the arm.

"Come Molly, let's get a cup of tea and one of those yummy chocolate cakes."

"Oh, you and your chocolate, Remus… It's bad for you, you know…"

Remus cast a glance back at Hermione whose frown had deepened.

Hermione watched Molly re-join the other adults, obviously relaying the fact Harry wasn't feeling well, and she saw the brief look of concern cross Professor Snape's face.

He cares for Harry.

That thought brought a small smile to her lips as she pondered that. Snape and Harry were such an odd pairing, but both were so broken by the lives they have lived.

Following that train of thought, the world seemed to fade around her as it often did when she was lost in thought.

Hermione failed to notice Luna and Neville waving away the others who approached her, allowing her a few minutes alone with her thoughts.

She noticed last year something had changed between Harry and Ron. When Ron abandoned Harry during the Tournament, he had been heartbroken. He missed Ron dreadfully and more than once, he cried on her shoulder, asking her why Ron hated him. None of her words had worked, she'd told him Ron was just being stubborn and jealous but it didn't seem to reach Harry. She had never seen him more depressed in that time and Ron was the same.

She saw the longing in his eye to be with his friend again but it was something more than that. Ron's eyes were loving and kind when they looked at Harry, he looked at Harry the same way Molly and Arthur looked at each other.

It clicked then.

Ron loves Harry.

Hermione realises those glances and lingering looks were Ron trying to express the love he felt for the seeker. Ron wasn't good with words like she was so he tried to let his actions speak for him. The lingering looks, the hugs that lasted a fraction too long, the way he ruffled Harry's hair or patted his back any chance he could.

There was a pang of feeling in Hermione's chest.

Developing deeper into those feelings she began to realise something that she never allowed herself to feel.

She loved them too.

What she felt for Ron was obvious to everyone except him. She loved the way he laughed right from the bottom of his stomach, the way he blushed when she told him off, the way he smiled when she beat him at chess, even though they both knew he lets her win. She loved the way his hand slipped into hers almost unconsciously, the way those arms encircled her completely when she was having a bad day. She even loved the way he whined and moaned when she chastised him about homework.

But Harry… Harry was something else.

At first, she thought she loved him like the brother she never had.

But it was more than that recently.

She has begun to see the way his eyes were warm and kind when she explained his homework to him. The way he tugged on his hair when he was frustrated. Those emerald green eyes captivated her; she loved the way he smelled of broom polish and the forest when he came in from flying or Quidditch practice.

More than one night she found him curled on the common room sofas because he'd had a nightmare and she pulled him to her, holding him close and he cried silently. Her chest hurt as his tears made her shoulder damp. She'd buried her face in his hair, hoping beyond hope that she could comfort him.

I love them both… and I can never have them.

As Hermione emerged from her thoughts, she had to stop her eyes filling with tears. She noted the chatter around her and drifted towards the room where Ron and Harry had disappeared into almost an hour ago.

She was hoping beyond hope, but when the door opened moments later, her heart sank.