"I'm worried about Hermione." Ron said, sitting with Harry in the common room, "She's been gone a lot lately and rather distracted in class."
"I know, but she'd old enough to take care of herself." Harry responded. Though he knew why Hermione was distracted, he wouldn't tell Ron. If she'd wanted Ron to know, she would've told him herself. And Harry didn't have any idea where Hermione had been disappearing to.
"I have to tell you to something." Ron said quietly. His tone of voice worried Harry a little bit. "Yeah?" he asked. "I love her, Harry." Ron said, and Harry just sat there, unable to think of anything to say. "I said I love her." Ron repeated.
"I heard you. I'm just shocked. You guys decided you were better off as friends." Harry said. Ron grimaced, "She decided that, and I agreed because it was what she wanted."
"You should tell her that. If you wait too long, it may be too late." Harry warned. Ron nodded his head in agreement. But Ron didn't know that it was already far too late.
Just then, Hermione entered the common room in a much better mood than over the past week. "Hey guys." She said cheerily, sitting down at the table with them and pulling out her homework. "What are you so happy about?" Ron asked, being nosy. "I'm just in a good mood." She told him.
The three of them sat quietly working for a while, until Harry announced that he was going to the bathroom. Ron knew that this was his chance alone with her to tell her his true feelings. "Hey, can I talk to you about something?" Ron asked as soon as he was sure Harry had exited the room. "Of course." Hermione replied, not looking away from her paper.
Ron grabbed Hermiones hand, and she looked up from her paper with a puzzled expression. "You remember when we agreed that we were better off friends?" He asked. Hermione nodded. "Yeah.. Yeah, well I don't really feel that way." Ron said. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"I mean that I do love you. Everything I said about how I felt about you was real, and I still feel it. I don't want to just be your friend." Ron told her anxiously. Hermione felt a huge weight begin to crush her chest and stood up suddenly, knocking a few items to the floor. "I have to go." She said, sprinting away and up to her dormitory before Ron had the chance to say anything. Hermione sat on her bed and began to cry. As if someday telling her friends about her feeling for Draco wouldn't be hard enough, she'd also be breaking Ron's heart. She wasn't sure how to even let Ron down easily. Hermione simply couldn't force herself to feel something she so clearly didn't. It was hard to catch her breath.
The day had been so wonderful. She didn't understand her feelings for Draco, but she knew that whatever they were made her feel good and she hoped that he returned those feelings. Hermione started thinking about Draco instead, and dozed off dreamily, accidentally skipping dinner again.
"So did you tell her what you told me?" Harry asked Ron as they filled their dinner plates. "Yeah." Ron answered with his mouth full, "She just ran to her room and never came out. She's probably overcome with happiness." he swallowed his food and smiled. "Right, that's definitely it." Harry agreed sarcastically. "I'm not sure Hermione feels that way for you." Harry said, causing Ron to glare at him. "How would you know? You're probably just jealous because you want her!" Ron exclaimed. Harry just rolled his eyes. "Totally." He said, eating his dinner and ignoring Ron for the rest of the time.
Draco headed to the great hall for dinner, hoping to see Hermione even if he wasn't able to be near her. Upon entering the room, he searched the Gryffindor table, only to see an annoyed looking Potter and Weasley. Had Hermione told them, despite telling Draco she didn't want to yet? And if she had, what did she say? Draco wasn't sure about anything right now, aside from the fact that he desired Hermione terribly. She'd treated him like a human when nobody else had, and it got under his skin in the most lovely way possible, clawing at his heart. He'd felt this way for quite a while and was entirely relieved to finally admit it.
But one large problem still lied ahead. Dracos father.