sorry I know it's been quite a while.

'Cidrick rules, Potter stinks' The pins were everywhere. Almost every Hogwarts' student had one.

"I need your help," Hermione was on her way to class when Harry grabbed her hand and pulled he into an abandoned hall.

"Harry, I can't."

"Because of Ron?" His pain was clear. How could she tell him she wasn't choosing Ron over him? She would do anything for him.

"No, it's not just Ron. It's everything. The whole tournament." With a sigh she looked into his green eyes. He looked sad, lost, and the slightest bit hurt. She lost herself. The whole world stopped, it was just her and him, nothing else mattered: not the tournament, not the test they had in potions, not Ron, nothing. She would do anything to make his eyes shine, say anything. With out thinking she replied,

"What can I do to help?" With a huge smile, he pulled her into a hug. Soft, warm, and so wanted. She took a deep breath; he smelled of soap, dust, pine, and something that was just him. Carefully he pulled back, he looked deep into her eyes.

"I...have no clue!" Typical Harry!

"Accio book" the book came flying over to him and landed in his hands, just like it did the last twelve time. It only took him four times to get it right.

"Again" She managed to say through a stifled yawn.

"Hermione, I've done this like sixteen times. I've got it, I'm going to sleep." Harry was on his way to the door when he felt a tug at his sleeve,

"Harry, tomorrow you'll be much more the three feet from your broom and a broom is much bigger then a book. You need to be sure,"

"I'll also be battling a dragon, I need sleep. I'll be fine Hermione, thanks for your help. Good night." He gave a half wave and drowsy smile as he left. She was worried. Sure he could call a book from across the room, but would he be able to call his broom? She cleared the table they were at of books. With nothing left to put away she headed for bed. On her way to the common room she saw Ron walking the corridors. What was he doing up? She didn't really feel like talking right now, maybe she could avoid him if she

"Hey Hermione, wait up." He whispered loudly and nearly ran up to her. She gave him a tight smile, not knowing what to say.

"Were you helping Harry? How's he doing? Is he ready? I'm really scared, some of those dragons can have a temper. My brother Charlie told me" she started to tune him out when she thought of something.

"And they never had a chance to even get the guy back."

"Hey Ron, can I ask you something?"

"Sshhhhh," one of the portraits woke up and gave them a glare.

"About the story? I don't know much about it,"

"No, no. It's about Harry," his face fell. Was that regret? What did he have to be sorry about?

"What about him?"

"Why did you want Ginny to give him the message about the dragon? Wouldn't it have been easier if you told him?"

"I guess, but I don't know" he stopped walking and leaned against the wall. She turned to look at him. He seamed so small and venerable. "I kind of over reacted when his name was pulled from the goblet. I realized only someone that's completely mental could put his own name in, or have someone else do it. I knew if I told him he wouldn't believe me." He looked her dead in the eyes, "did I ruin my friendship with him?" She didn't know, they both had been completely horrible to each other.

"I don't know Ron, maybe." She didn't want to give him false hope. She did believe their friendship could be fixed, but not without both of them giving in a little more. They've been through so much together. She knew Harry felt alone, what he needed right now was a few more good friends. "Let's get back, before we get caught." So them fighting wasn't because of her. They walked in silence for what felt like ages, why was this castle so big? Not even five minutes into the walk Ron tried grabbing her hand. She folded her arms across her body. Giving her a tight smile, he dropped his hand and continued walking. At the bottom of the stairs he tried again, once more to no avail. He said good night and went to bed. She watched him enter the boys dorm. Why couldn't she just have feelings for Ron? It would make things so much easier. When this whole year is over would they be able to get back to the way things were? All she could do was hope.