"Are you alright, dear?" Hermione looked up from her notes to see Madam Pince with a concerned expression.

"Y-yes, sorry." Hermione blurted awkwardly. The librarian gave her a tentative nod before resuming her shift of returning books to their rightful shelves. Hermione sighed and realised she had been scribbling rather hard on her parchment. She couldn't help it, Ron had already annoyed her to no ends and it was barely even ten o'clock. Why on earth did he have to take that stupid Felix Felicis? Why couldn't he just believe in himself? Hermione never partook in many sporting activities over the span of her life, but she was always keen to stick to the rules and believed that everyone deserved a fair choice. But not Ron, he wasn't going to be playing fairly or complying to the rules at all. She knew he had confidence issues, and it broke her heart more than anyone to watch him become so angry with himself. But really, was cheating necessary? Hermione sighed again at the situation, before turning back to her Potions essay, which, for once, she couldn't remain all too focused upon.

She looked up again in frustration as someone appeared to be causing a lot of commotion at the desk of the library with Madam Pince. Although she was rather surprised and annoyingly warmed by the revelation of who had entered, she turned back to her homework with no desire to greet him. "Hey." Hermione didn't even glance up as she heard the somewhat guilty voice. Ron pulled up a chair next to her but Hermione tried best to ignore him. "I know you're annoyed at me."

"Well done." Hermione mumbled, betraying her own pledge to ignore him.

"I'm sorry about cheating. Might not even work. But I just can't cost the whole team a loss just cause I'm rubbish." He stated.

"You don't know that you would've cost them anything." Hermione said coldly as she remained her gaze on the parchment.

"Don't I?" Ron chuckled sadly.

"No."

Ron sighed. "Are you not coming to watch the game, then?" He asked with a tone in his voice if he knew the answer would be negative.

"Seems rather pointless, I know what the outcome will be." She replied bitterly.

Ron said nothing back to that. Moments passed until he spoke again. "I'm sorry, I really am. Please come." He pleaded finally.

Hermione finally looked up at him and noted the guilt in his face despite the liquid luck he had taken not two hours earlier. She also realised he was dressed in his Quidditch gear, seemingly on his way to the game. "Can't you find the way to the Quidditch pitch yourself?" She asked, her voice losing a lot of the coldness.

Ron shook his head with a grin. "No. You should probably take me in case I get lost or something."

Hermione rolled her eyes but the smile on her face was persistent. She gathered her work and noticed Ron's smile grow as she relented to going to the game, that she still didn't approve of, but found it less easy to be so stubborn when he offered her that goofy smile. "Come on then." She sighed as she filled her arms with books for later reading.

Ron ushered his hand at the doorway, offering Hermione to go through first. Hermione grinned warmly at the rather out of character gesture and together they wandered down to the pitch. Once they had arrived to where she needed to depart to sit and he to get ready to head off, they both stopped and turned to each other.

"Gonna give me a good luck hug, then?" Ron asked with a cheeky smile.

Hermione used her eyes to motion down at her books before teasing, "I didn't think you'd need anymore luck after your helping hand this morning."

"Ah, that wasn't very nice." Ron said, feigning offence.

"Maybe not. But it's the truth." Hermione smirked.

"Oh, come on". He insisted, opening his arms in the same way Hermione had grown so happily used to seeing, but never tired of.

"I can't." Hermione moved her arms up to gesture at the books.

"Fine." He said teasingly, before bending down slightly and turning his face so Hermione was greeted with his cheek.

"You've got some nerve, Ronald Weasley." Hermione joked before kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Good luck." She added in a mocking tone.

"Thanks." He grinned widely before running off to join his teammates. Hermione shook her head with a smile before finding her seat in the crowd.

Gryffindor won. Of course, this wasn't a surprise to Hermione who knew they were assisted by a certain pale liquid, but she couldn't deny that the atmosphere of the common room that evening was rather brilliant. Hours had passed since their victory yet the festivities were still ongoing. Chants and cheers filled the air as people drank butter beer and ate cauldron cakes. Hermione was sitting in the corner on an empty sofa, watching with a begrudging smile as Ron was now the centre of the cheers. Before long, Harry and Ginny had plopped onto the sofa next to her, who was pleased to notice the growing proximity of their relationship.

"He's never going to shut up about this." Ginny commented, watching the common room chant for her brother.

"I still think he would be a lot more excited about it if it was actually him who had won it. Fairly." Hermione stated.

"What?" Ginny asked, Hermione immediately realised that Ginny was unaware and groaned internally at herself for allowing her thoughts to slip. But before she could even fumble for an answer, Harry was pulling something out of his shirt's pocket.

"Oh - forgot to tell you." Harry said as he pulled out a phial that was full to the tip. Hermione could barely believe it.

"You didn't put it in his drink?" She asked, excitement creeping into her voice.

Harry shook his head with a smile. "He was going to drink liquid luck?" Ginny asked incredulously but Hermione was far too happy to register what she had said.

"We've got to tell him!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Why don't you?" Harry offered, Hermione tried hard not to display her smirk as she couldn't help but wonder if he was angling for more alone time with Ginny. But regardless, she nodded and shot up from the sofas and headed into the sea of Gryffindors.

Hermione scanned the room as best she could, but had no luck finding him. Rather perplexed as he was literally just at the centre of the crowd, she dismissed her difficulty to seek him as being to do with her lack of height. She pushed through groups of people, unable to contain her glee, until she bumped into Neville.

"Sorry, Neville." She said as she continued to look around the room.

"No worries. Oh, hey, Hermione. You alright?" Neville asked cheerfully as he noted her lack of concentration.

"What? Oh, yes, thank you. Have you seen Ron anywhere?"

"Uh, think he went upstairs." Neville answered unconfidently, looking around the room himself.

"Upstairs?" Hermione asked, rather surprised that he would have left the party so early.

"Yeah, the boys' dormitories, I think. Worth a try."

"Thank you, Neville." Hermione said but was still looking up at the steps. "I'll see you later." She added hurriedly before grabbing a cup of pumpkin juice from the table for Ron.

"See ya, Hermione." Neville waved off, looking a little confused.

Hermione rushed up the stairs until she was nearing the boys' dormitories, rather timidly. She had never been up here before, and therefore was quite nervous as she edged closer to the sixth year door. She stopped abruptly, though, as she could've sworn she heard a murmur of voices as she grew closer to the door. Shrugging it off, she walked nearer and began pushing the door until she realised that it was already open slightly.

And then she saw it.

Hermione felt her whole heart shatter in less than an instant as she watched the awful scene from the doorway. Losing all sense of thought, she dropped the drink incidentally and turned on her heel as swiftly as she could before running back down the corridor, needing to go anywhere, absolutely anywhere that wasn't there.

Not slowing down the stairs or even pausing for a moment when Neville and Ginny asked her if she was alright and where she was going, Hermione sprinted through the portrait hole and headed down to the nearest deserted classroom she could find. Registering that this particular room was empty, she crashed down to the floor, leaning against the wall and allowing the sobs to rack her body. Her stomach felt intertwined with her heart as she replayed the horrendous memory that would undoubtedly be the knife that was lodged in her heart for the rest of her life. She was kissing him. He was kissing her. He wanted Lavender, he didn't want her. Ron chose Lavender. Ron didn't choose her. Hermione sat with her head in her hands as she tried to compute what she had just watched. How could she be so stupid?

Finally lifting her head from her hands, Hermione reached for her wand from her jean pocket, she gave it an unenthusiastic wave and out of nowhere, a group of yellow birds started circling above Hermione. Staring into the empty darkness of the classroom, she listened to the fluttering of the birds and the small sounds that escaped them.

Footsteps drew nearer but Hermione barely noticed, her vision remained focused on the expanse ahead of her. The visitor plopped down next to Hermione but didn't say anything as they sat. Hermione could see from the corner of the eye that it was indeed Harry who had accompanied her. Harry didn't say anything for a while, just watched, perhaps not really seeing, the dark classroom, as well.

"I like the birds." He offered weakly.

"Thanks." Hermione shrugged, her breathing slowly returning to normal. "Did-did anyone see me? You know, leave like that?" She asked hesitantly, she rushed through the common room so quickly that she hadn't even stopped to acknowledge the people that had spoken to her, let alone those who had just seen her flee away.

"Uh, only a couple, I think. Neville and Ginny did. But I asked them to leave it alone."

"Thanks." Hermione replied gratefully, wincing at how dramatic the whole thing was and would've looked like.

They sat in silence but Hermione was thankful for it. Her stomach lurched at the prospect of returning to the common room, returning back to the sudden reality. But, that moment of somewhat peace, was quickly punctured by a spur of giggles that Hermione didn't have chance to register until the same two people that had caused everything, came stumbling in together. Hermione's heart felt like it had shattered even further as she watched him, with an unrecognisable smile, messy hair and untucked shirt that conveyed a story that Hermione would never have wanted to read. She shot up quickly, as did Harry. Lavender made a stupid remark about the room already being occupied, and Ron asked dumbly about the birds that still fluttered around in a circle above Hermione and Harry. Hermione didn't so much as think twice before muttering 'opugno' in the sternest of voices, the peaceful, chirpy birds suddenly stopped, darting to Ron and attacking him until he ran away from the room, leaving Harry and Hermione in silence again. Hermione felt a new wave of tears flow down her face and stumbled back down to the step, crashing against Harry as he sat back down too. He gave her a one armed hug and sighed.

"Is this what it's like?" Hermione asked, sadness in her voice, but she had at least stopped crying.

"Sorry?" Harry asked softly.

Hermione sat up properly, looking to Harry. "Is this what it's like? To see someone you lo- like - you like, with someone else?"

"I wouldn't know how it fee-" Harry stammered nervously but Hermione interjected.

"Harry, I see it. I see the way you look at Ginny. I know."

Harry sighed. "Yes." He answered shortly. "This is what it's like."

Hermione didn't respond, just looked back to the dark expanse. Her eyes stung, and she suddenly longed for her bed. She winced at the thought of returning to the Gryffindor common room, though. She had no idea of the time, but assumed it would be a long night before the party had ended. And there was a great chance, that they would be there. "Thank you, Harry." Hermione spoke softly, if she was sure of one thing it was that Harry had left the brilliant celebrations to comfort her. "You didn't have to leave the party."

"What type of friend would I be if I ignored you?" He chuckled, Hermione appreciated his attempt at levity but she was far too - heartbroken to join in.

"The idea of going back there." She groaned as she rubbed her eyes.

"If you want, I can go and get my invisibility cloak?" Harry offered.

Hermione smiled and felt relieved. "Are you sure?"

"Of course." Harry stated as he stood. "I'll be right back."

"Thank you." Hermione repeated.

Hermione walked through the corridor that she had patrolled so often with the exact person who when she though of now, brought tears to her eyes. This was already too much, she couldn't face seeing them again. Her sight focused on the staircase to the girls' dormitories as she quickly made her way through the common room. As expected, everyone was still in high spirits and the party looked far from over. Hermione didn't stop to look for any of her other friends, or even avert her gaze from the staircase, the risk of seeing them for a third time tonight sickened her. She thanked Harry quietly as she discretely removed the cloak. She bid goodnight and Harry offered a consoling smile. Hermione was more than thankful that the dormitory was empty. Closing the bed curtains swiftly, changing into her pyjamas and falling back on her bed, Hermione felt a new wave of tears emerge.

She couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened. She didn't even know where to begin. For years, Hermione had only ever been able to picture Ron with herself. The image of him with someone else, in such an intense way, it made her heart feel as though someone had taken a knife and slaughtered it. She was devastated. Thousands of emotions overcame as she replayed the scenes that seemed to be burned into her mind. Anger, hurt and betrayal were the three that played strongest. How could he do this to her after everything? Did the other night really mean nothing to him? But also, she felt just sadness. She knew she couldn't blame him. For years, yes, they had both been partaking in actions that normal friends didn't. But, and especially after their last agreement - which she initiated, he had no reason to restrain himself from other girls. Hermione hated herself for stopping the kiss, for telling him it wouldn't be the best idea if they went further than friends. What was she talking about? She clearly wasn't happy with their new arrangement. Despite how quickly they made up, the energy around them from that point had been tentative and cautious, as if they were both extra aware of each other. In fact, until the moment before his Quidditch match earlier that day, they hadn't so much as looked at each other for too long. But she couldn't hide from herself, not anymore. She loved him. But he didn't love her. He was probably snogging off the face of that awful girl, whilst Hermione was up here sobbing over him.

Her sobs subsided slightly as she tried to allow her breathing to return to normal. The faint sounds of the ongoing party didn't even bother her, like the abstract noise usually would. Hermione didn't think that anything could bother her anymore, as dramatic as the prospect was. Nothing could bother her. Not as much as what he had done, and she would make that blatantly obvious to him. He would never know how much he had truly hurt her, despite the fact he had obviously seen her run away with tears streaming down her face. Hermione rolled her eyes at how absurdly she had acted. She was deeply hurt, her heart argued with her brain, but her brain won and she had decided from then on that Ron Weasley would never know how much he had truly hurt her.