"She asked McLaggen to Slughorn's party?" Ron hissed, his ears bright red with anger.

"You shouldn't be upset, after all, you're with Lavender now," Harry reminded.

"But I said that I would go with her!" Ron said.

"Did you really?" Harry asked as his eyebrows rose.

"Well I never said anything. I was going to go with her, but I never told her yes," Ron retorted.

"Okay, fine," Harry said, humoring his enraged friend. "If that was the case, why did you snog Lavender when you weregoing to say yes to Hermione?"

"Like I said before, I'm free to snog anyone I want. If I did go to Slughorn's party with Hermione it was just going to be as friends. She didn't ask for–"

"Ron, she asked you to go to Slughorn's party! Doesn't that qualify as more than friends?" Harry said, trying to keep his nerve. "If you want to go with Hermione go head McLaggen off!"

Ron immediately shut up. Of course he had thought about it the way Harry had. He knew that Hermione wanted him to go with her "as more than a friend", but didn't want to admit it.

Ron sat down on a couch in the Gryffindor common room and tried to figure out why Hermione asked Cormac McLaggen, of all people, to the party. She was only trying to get him back for snogging Lavender the other night; there was no other explanation for it.

Maybe I should go head McLaggen off…

Ron, however, was momentarily distracted from all thoughts of Hermione when Lavender sat down next to him and planted her lips on his.

When they had to surface for air, Lavender bit her lip nervously and said, "You aren't jealous of Hermione for going to Slughorn's party with McLaggen, are you?"

Ron could see Harry eyeing him from a chair across from the couch. He put on a fake smile and said, "No… no, of course not."

"And it doesn't bother you that Hermione made that crack about him being a better Keeper than you?"

Ron's eyes darted back toward Harry, who was trying desperately not to laugh. He clenched his teeth together and said grudgingly, "No, why would it?"

"I was just making sure that it didn't," Lavender said with a smug smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Rising up from his chair, Ron said, "I have to go, Lavender."

"Where?" She asked suspiciously.

To go and pound McLaggen into the ground, he thought silently.

"To the–"

Ron was cut off short when Lavender's lips latched onto his again; this put the sight of Harry's retching motions and the thought of heading off McLaggen completely out of his mind.

> > >

Later that night in the girl's dormitories, Hermione got ready for Slughorn's Christmas party.

She slammed her wand on the table and let out a huge sigh of disgust.

"Hermione, you look fine," Ginny said.

"Do I really?" she said exasperatedly.

"Yes, you do," Ginny said firmly. "Would I lie to you?"

"No," she said bitterly, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Come on," Ginny said tugging on her arm. "The more you look at yourself in the mirror the more you will want to change something."

Ginny was right, and Hermione had to admit that she did feel stunning. The lilac silk dress that she had chosen to wear exposed her shoulders as well as accented her curves, and her hair was similar to the style she had worn at the Yule Ball in fourth year. She took a deep breath and confidently walked down to the common room to wait for McLaggen.

Much to Hermione's delight, Ron was sitting near the fire writing a paper for Potions class. When he gaped at the mere sight of her, she couldn't help but smile satisfactorily.

I guess Ginny was right…

"Hermione, there you are!"

She hadn't even noticed that McLaggen was sitting near the opposite side of the room.

"Hi, Cormac!" Hermione said sweetly.

"Shall we?" he asked, hooking his arm around hers.

"Of course," she said as she managed to sneak one look back at Ron. His face was glowing with anger and jealousy.

Their eyes met for one brief second. Hermione wanted to scream at him, "If you would have just said yes and kept your hands off of Lavender you would be the one taking me to the party, not this big ugly prat!"

She was forced to look away from Ron when McLaggen started to drum up conversation about Quidditch.

This is going to be a very long night, Hermione thought as she tried her best to keep interest in a subject that bored her death.

When they arrived at the party, McLaggen was still droning on about his tryout for the Gryffindor team. To Hermione's dismay he wrapped his arm firmly around her waist and directed her to a group of his friends who were near mistletoe.

Joy. More people who talk of nothing but that pointless sport…

When they reached them, Hermione didn't even have time to introduce herself because McLaggen had decided to kiss her. In disgust, Hermione tried to back away, but he wouldn't have it. Using more force she managed to push McLaggen off. He grinned at her and then introduced her to his friends.

For the rest of the time he rudely continued to blab about Quidditch and Hermione had lost count of how many times he had kissed her with his foul mouth.

"McLaggen," Hermione said angrily. "I'm going to get something to drink."

He nodded and waved a hand at her, as a king would do if he were to dismiss a servant. She rolled her eyes in repulsion and went to the door. If Harry wasn't going to help her fend off McLaggen, then there was no point in staying.

She slowly made her way to the Gryffindor common room. Her heart felt heavy as she dragged her feet up the stairs.

I probably ruined any chance I had with Ron, and for what? What was the point in asking McLaggen to the party? To make him jealous? Well it certainly worked, but at what cost?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard her name being called from down the Gryffindor corridor.

It was McLaggen.

"What?" she said roughly, once he had caught up to her.

"Why did you leave?" he asked breathlessly.

"Because you were completely ignoring me and acting as if I was your property!" she hissed waspishly.

"Well I can fix that," McLaggen said, and without permission he kissed her again, his hands firmly placed at her waist. She tried to pull away from him and get out of the tight grip he had on her.

Pulling away from his lips she managed to say, "McLaggen, stop." He was still attempting to kiss her when she said it louder, "McLaggen, stop!" Unable to escape his hold, she was forced to allow him to continue to kiss her.

From the distance she heard footsteps approaching. She couldn't see who it was but she recognized the voice.

"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF HER! DIDN'T YOU HEAR HER SAY 'STOP'?" Ron roared.

McLaggen jumped and turned around. Ron was looking at McLaggen, his eyes wreathed in fire. "Get out of here McLaggen, you bloody–"

Ron wasn't able to continue because McLaggen had punched him square in the nose. His knees buckled, but he was able to maintain his balance. Ron came back in fury and punched him back harder, making him fall hard to the ground.

"You're gonna get it Weasley," McLaggen said furiously.

"McLaggen," Hermione said stepping between them. "Get out of here. I never want to see your revolting face again. You're a–"

Ron was shocked. He had never heard Hermione swear so much before in his life. McLaggen shot a death glare at Ron and then finally spun around making his way down the corridor.

Once McLaggen was out of sight, Hermione slowly turned around to face Ron. He was breathing heavily and blood was still pouring from his nose.

"Are you alright, Ron?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said quickly. "What about you? You were the one in trouble not me."

"Yes, I'm fine," she whispered, not looking at him.

He placed his hands on her bare shoulders comfortingly and said, "Hermione, are you sure you're okay?"

This time she looked up at him and smiled weakly, "Yes, I am. Thank you for that." She jerked her head to where she and McLaggen had been moments before.

"Don't mention it," Ron said smiling at her.

"Here, let me fix your nose," Hermione said as she hastily got out her wand.

"Episkey."

Ron felt his nose as Hermione asked, "Does feel any better? That's the first time I've used that spell."

"It feels fine," he said. "Do you want to come with me to the common room, because I have to go and meet Lav–"

He broke off abruptly when her face fell. She looked up at him, desperately fighting back the burning in her eyes, and said, "No, I'll be okay. You go on and meet Lavender."

"You sure?" Ron asked nervously.

"Positive," she smiled faintly.

"Okay," Ron said. "I guess I'll see you after Christmas break."

She nodded and then watched him take off down the corridor. The burning sensation in her eyes had disappeared. They were dry, as if parched of tears forever.

It doesn't matter what I do. No matter how many uncomfortable situations we get into, no matter what he saves me from, no matter how he comforts me. He is never going to see what I feel for him. Never.

So why am I still trying?

Author Notes: Sorry it has taken me so long to update, and sorry if this chapter is a little boring, I had no clue what to write for this one:) I hope I don't offend anyone with the evil McLaggen, but personally I hate him, so I wanted him to look like a giant prat in my fic. (Not to mention have Ron punch him out!) Thank you to all who have reviewed so far, I really appreciate it!

Artemay