Hermione was the only one, except for Harry, who noticed the change in Tom. Tom wasn't smiling often, unlike before. If he wants to go to the library, but Hermione is there, he would walk back. It's like he's avoiding her.

One time, Hermione went to the library, and he was already there, but when he saw her, he gathered all his things and walked out. Hermione followed him. She had enough of his insolence. She ran to reach him and she grabs his arm and turned him around.

"What's your problem!" she whispered. He was about to answer when she added, "And don't tell me it's nothing because you wouldn't be like that if it is."

He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out and he closed it. Hermione saw how nervous he was so her look softened, "Do I have something to do with it? Was I rude or something? Was I--"

"No!" he yelled, "You're nothing like that. You're not rude, as a matter of fact, you're perfect." He closed his mouth when he realized what he said.

Hermione blushed and she cleared her throat, "Was it Ron? Did he do something? Did he--"

"No," he chuckled, "That git didn't do anything," Hermione glared when he said 'git' so he shut up.

"Then what's your problem? Is it Harry? He's the last one you talked to." He shook his head. Hermione was now really impatient. "Then what is it? Really!" Hermione was about to shout when he blurted, "I love you!"

"That's my problem." He walked out leaving her flabbergasted.

Now a week passed since he confronted Tom. She finds herself staring at him when he's not looking. She waits till he arrives at the Great Hall before eating. When he answers a question in class, she stares. She even sometimes chooses the hallway that has more chance that they walk pass him.

Harry noticed it all, and so did Ron.

Ron noticed it all and he haven't said a word to her.

She didn't notice how jealous Ron is. And how angry he was when he realized she didn't notice that he wasn't talking to her.

Ron had enough. He couldn't sleep at night thinking when Hermione would leave him. The next day he walked alone, and he saw Riddle. He was too angry to get his wand. He punched him. Riddle didn't fight back as Ron punch and kicked him. All Ron could think about is that, how long it took him to make Hermione love him, and that this guy, it only took him weeks to make Hermione look at him. What does this guy have that he doesn't? Ron left him there, bleeding.

Tom didn't fight back because he thought he knew. He thought he knew about everything he did, or didn't. He thought it was about Voldemort. And he knew he deserves it.

When Tom walked to the Great Hall, still swollen and dried blood all over him as he tried to wipe it, almost everyone looked. Pansy, who thinks Tom's handsome, helped him and healed the minor injuries. She cleared the dried blood and she smiled at him.

Hermione looked at Tom. She wanted to do what Pansy was doing.

But that's when Hermione noticed. As she looked at Tom's beaten face and Ron's bandaged hand. She knew what happened. She grabbed Ron and dragged him to an unused classroom.

She just glared at him, waiting for him to talk and explain, but he didn't say anything so she asked, "Why?"

Ron, who is still pissed said, "Oh, so now you notice me! I had to beat up a slytherin for you to notice me! But he's not just a Slytherin, is he? Do tell me Hermione, did you ever love me?"

"Of course Ronald, I love you. I--"

"Really? You dare say you love me when this pass few weeks all you think about is Tom Riddle. You stare at him all day, for Merlin's sake! You ignore me when I try to talk to you! So I stopped." Tears are running down their faces. Ron sobs as he tried, but failed, to stop crying. "I stopped talking to you. But you didn't even notice that."

"Ron--"

"You only noticed me when I beat him up. You won't even notice me if I beat everyone up. You only noticed because it's him. What does he have that I don't?" his voiced cracked.

"Ron I love you. Don't ever think otherwise. I--"

"Maybe you did. Let's be honest Hermione. You don't love me. I'm not even sure if you ever did. Or did you only said yes because of pity. Or maybe you didn't want to reject me. You didn't want to break our friendship." Ron runs his hand to his hair in frustration.

"I love you Ron!"

"But now you don't!" he cried, "Because if you do, you would notice me, you wouldn't ignore me, you wouldn't forget about me."

"I didn't forget you, Ron."

"Yes, it wasn't only me, was it? When was the last time you talked to Harry? To Ginny? To everyone except Tom?"

Hermione tried to answer. But she couldn't remember. Was it yesterday, no? It was a week ago. Before she went to the library. When she realized it, she cried. And Ron left. He left her crying.

Hermione cried as she realizes what she did. She ignored Ron. She ignored Harry. She ignored Ginny. She ignored everyone.

And why?

Because of three simple words, words that Ron tell her every second of the day. That Ginny tells her when she feels like it. That Harry tells her, as a sister. She ignored them.

Because Tom said he loves her.

But that wasn't the only reason, and she knows it.

Tom saw Hermione drag Ron out the Great Hall. Then Harry and Ginny followed them. Tom looked at the time, it was time for potions.

He went to the dungeons, expecting them to be there, but they weren't. The only Gryffindor there was Dean Thomas. Professor Snape walked in and he looked around.

"It seems, that three dunderheads, decided that they don't need this class. Mr. Thomas, where are your fellow Gryffindors?"

"I don't know, sir."

Harry and Ginny followed Ron and Hermione. Harry already told Ginny everything. At first she was mad at Harry but she got over it. They waited outside the room when Ron walked out. Harry followed him and Ginny entered.

Harry stopped Ron.

"Harry, I know you heard everything so I won't say anything."

Harry bowed his head, how would you comfort your best friend who broke up with your other best friend, when you don't even know if you're happy that they broke up because you think your other best friend deserves someone else, or sad because your best friend is heartbroken?

"Mate, I don't--"

"Harry just, let's go to class okay? Professor Snape won't be happy if we're late. And we already are."

When they entered the classroom, Professor Snape glared at them.

"Weasley, Potter, twenty minutes late."

"Sorry Professor." Harry muttered.

Ron looked at Harry, trying to ask him to say their excuse.

"Where is Miss Granger?"

"She's, she's at the Hospital wing sir." Ron answered.

"We were at the library when she was reaching for a book and a huge book fell on top of her. She has a mild concussion." Harry backed him up.

"Sit down. Twenty points from Gryffindor, for your idiocy."

Ginny entered the room and she saw Hermione crying.

"'Mione?" she knelt down to face her.

"Sorry Ginny. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault 'Mione."

"No. it is my fault. I ignored all of you. Just because Tom told me he loves me. But, that's not it. Ginny, I love Ron, but," Hermione cried.

"You like Tom." Ginny finished.

"Yes, and I don't know why."