Oh yeah, I'm on a roll. –A little hyper– Guess who? It's Hermione

.x. Doubt .x.

Why was he always late? He was always making me wait; today, yesterday, the day before… I glanced at the clock hanging innocently on the wall, just above one of the statues lurking in the hallway. Here I was again, sitting quietly on a bench in the hallway, completely alone and furious… Typical Erin.

This was our fifth or so date and I couldn't help but get the feeling he was standing me up again, like he had yesterday. I could see it now: Early next morning he'd be trailing after me, telling me how sorry he was, how busy he was, why he hadn't been able to meet me. Excuses, excuses, excuses! I was sick of them!

"Maybe we should just break it off right now," I whispered to myself, rising to my feet solemnly. "It's not like he was a suitable boyfriend anyway…"

I didn't know why, but the moment the words were out of my mouth I felt a sudden pang in my heart and thought of Ron. He was quite upset with me when I finally told him I was going out with the new exchange student…today. He was especially angry when I told him we'd been dating for a week or so and I hadn't said a thing the whole time.

"It's nothing to get made over, Ronald! It's my life," I had said, but he just shook his head, his ears turning a deep shade of crimson with anger. Cute. He was jealous.

"You don't think I should know these sorts of things?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"No, because I, unlike your sister," I retorted, stomping a foot to the ground, "do not need your permission to be happy!" I stopped myself from shouting out another retort, seeing as we were attracting unwanted attention from the others hanging around in the Gryffindor common room.

"I just—"

"Just what, Ron?" I asked quietly, calming down a little. "Why are you getting so worked up anyway?"

I hadn't thought it was humanly possible to turn that shade of red, but Ron proved me wrong. We both had started to blush, avoiding the other's eyes. After a brief moment of nothing but the oblivious chatting of nearby friends, I cleared my throat and made for the door. "Anyway, I'm meeting Erin near the Ravenclaw corridor, so don't wait up for me…"

It was strange having him staring at me that way as I walked out, but I just ignored him with an air of defiance about me.

All of that led up to now: Me slowly walking away aimlessly around the halls, furious beyond all reason. Erin. I couldn't stop thinking his name. Why was he doing this? Wasn't he happy with me?

Good ol' Hermione Granger, always scaring the boys away… What is it about me that—

I wasn't the only one wandering around the corridors that night; I looked up only to see an aloof looking Harry quickly making his way down the hallway. He looked distraught, as if he'd seen a ghost. Okay, not so strange at Hogwarts, but he looks shocked about something.

"Harry?" I slowed down a bit, waiting for him to reach me. But he didn't seem to even hear me and was about to walk past had I not grabbed hold of his arm. He flinched slightly.

"H-Hermione?"

"Harry, what's wrong? You look so pale… Is it…is it your scar again?"

He was quick to shake his head, avoiding my eye. "No, I was just… Why aren't you at dinner?"

"Oh, it's nothing… Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah."

We were silent for a while, walking around the corridors without any true destination. I continued to wonder aloud what had Harry so shaken up, but dropped the subject when he snapped at me. Anxious but irritated. Not a good combination.

"You should go get something to eat at least," I started to say, and before he could give a comeback, I added, "I mean, you just look like you haven't eaten yet, is all. Come on, Harry, we'll go together. It shouldn't be over yet."

"Not in the mood…" he sighed, staring around blankly…

We came to an intersection on the hallway, and I was about to continue forward towards the Great Hall, but when I looked over at Harry, he was heading the other way.

"Harry?"

"See you in the common room."

I watched after him, still worried. What was wrong with him? Shaking my head, I went on alone, still thinking about Erin. And Ron…

-----

The crowd hanging around in the Great Hall was still dispersing, heading back to bed or to stay up a little longer. Unsure of what it was I was looking for, I passed by several students heading for the exit.

Where is he?

There he was.

At the table.

With another girl.

Kissing.

But no, it wasn't just any girl.

It was Ginny.