.-.-Chapter 5-.-.

"Ow!" cried out Ron as he blindly tried to get into his bed, also managing to wake up Harry. "My head!"

"Mate, will you ever shut up?" said Harry groggily. "What time is it anyways? By the way, I'm glad that you're finally out of the Hospital Wing. There's something that I've been meaning to talk to you about.

"It's almost time for breakfast. I just wanted to take a ten minute nap before I started class."

"Yeah. Like you're actually awake in your classes."

"I am!"

"Sure."

"Anyways, what did you want to talk to me about?" asked Ron.

"Well…it involves Hermione," started Harry.

"What about her? Is she hurt? Is she okay?" questioned Ron. "Oh wait. Why do I care?"

"Um. Right. Well…I asked her about her feelings towards you…"

"And? What did she say?" said Ron, already forgetting that he wasn't supposed to show that he still liked Hermione.

"Sorry," said Harry, hanging his head. "She just doesn't like you. And while we're on that topic…there's something else I've been meaning to tell you…"

"What?" said Ron miserably. "Probably nothing worse than what you just told me."

"Actually…I know this isn't a good time to tell you this. But I think I've got feelings for Hermione too," admitted Harry.

"You WHAT?" bellowed Ron. "So are you happy now? Are you happy that she doesn't like me and that you have a chance now?"

"It's not like that Ron! And you know it," said Harry coldly. "I can't help it if Fate has decided that I should like Hermione. And I didn't do anything to change the relationship between you two."

"My foot. Why should I believe you?" challenged Ron. "Why should I believe the fact that you are telling the truth about her? How do I know that you aren't lying about what she said so that you could get me to back off of her?"

"Fine. You don't. But it's the truth, believe it if you want."

"I'll ask her myself. You'll see, she'd choose me over you any day. Just because you're 'The Boy Who Lived' doesn't give you special privileges to do whatever you want."

Harry stormed away at this remark. As he walked down to the Great Hall to find Hermione, he was still seething.

"Hey Harry!" called out Hermione from the Gryffindor table. "What brings you here so early?"

"Nothing. I just want to be able to enjoy breakfast peacefully," said Harry bitterly. "Without any gits."

Just then, Ron stomped into the room.

"Speak of the devil," muttered Harry under his breath as he slid down into the seat beside Hermione.

As Ron made his way towards Harry and Hermione, Ron started shouting at Harry.

"You!"

"Me what?" asked Harry politely.

"Get away from her!" snarled Ron.

"Why should I?" challenged Harry. "She's my friend too. Don't I have a right to sit beside my friend?"

"Really! What is the matter with you two?" asked an exasperated Hermione. "You two act more like children everyday!"

"It's okay Hermione. You don't need to listen to that loser," snapped Harry.

"I am NOT a loser!" yelled Ron. "Hermione, I told you. Get away from him! You can't sit beside him!"

"And why not?" challenged Hermione, her anger rising. "Why can I not sit beside Harry?"

"Because…because…" spluttered Ron.

"Ronald, I'm tired of you telling me what to or what not to do. You have no right to tell me these things! I can make my own decisions. I don't need you to help me make them!"

A grin slowly spread across Harry's face.

"You heard what she said, Ronald. Maybe you should just leave."

Ron just turned around and stomped away.

"Honestly, you two act so immature at times," said Hermione tiredly.

"Oh! I just remembered! I need to go research something in the library! I'll see you at class!" said Harry running off.

Hermione sighed. Sometimes, she wished that her two friends wouldn't be so difficult. Sometimes, she just couldn't understand why her two friends argue so much and still remained good friends. She got up from her seat and walked out of the Great Hall into a deserted hallway. She started making her way to class, lost in her thoughts once again. Sometimes I don't understand people. At times, they can be so nice…yet at other times, they are so much more different than you thought that they would be. Sometimes, I just wish that knowing about how someone is feeling or what he or she are thinking could be more like reading a book. But that will never be. She continued to stroll down the empty hallway.

"Hermione!" yelled out a too familiar voice. "Wait up! I have something to talk to you about!"

She turned to see Ron running towards her. Nowadays, everybody had something to talk to her about. And they weren't usually positive and happy things.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I just wanted to ask you myself," said Ron panting. "I just wanted to know whether or not you have feelings for me. And whether you would take me as…"

"As what?"

Ron said something inaudible.

"Really, Ron! What is so embarrassing that you can't even say out loud?"

"Your boyfriend," said Ron finally.

"Oh."

"Well?"

"I'm sorry Ron. I really just want to be your friend. Nothing more than that."

Ron opened his mouth to say something.

"Wait. I'm not done yet. This has nothing to do with Harry. I'm just so confused right now. I need to sort out my feelings. At times, it seems like I don't know what I want anymore. I feel so…helpless."

"Are you sure this doesn't have anything to do with Harry?" spat out Ron.

"You aren't listening to a word I'm saying, are you? This is why I never feel like talking to you! It's because you're selfish and care only about yourself! How about me? Nobody cares about how I feel!" yelled out Hermione.

"Yeah, well you don't seem to be respecting how I feel! I pour out my heart to you, and this is what I get? I—"

"Is there a problem here?" asked a very bored Draco, slipping out of the shadows. "Why are you two screaming at each other? Relationship issues?"

Ron gave him a dirty look. Hermione's expression was unreadable.

"Well then," sneered Draco. "My darling Hermione and I better get going to class now." He took Hermione's arm gently and started guiding her towards the classroom.

"Keep your filthy hands off of her!" said Ron menacingly.

"Or else what?" asked Draco innocently. "Did I happen to touch a nerve?"

Ron started fuming and walked away.

"I never thought that I would be saying this, but thanks Malfoy," said Hermione quietly.

Draco just stared at her. Hermione stared back.

"Well, I guess we better get going to class," said Hermione uncertainly.

Draco gave a curt nod and they both silently walked into the classroom and took their seats.

Throughout the entire class, Hermione struggled to pay attention. Her mind kept wandering elsewhere. She thought a bit about what Ron had told her. She knew that they could never be. Ron just…wasn't right for her. He wouldn't ever be able to make her happy. Then she thought a bit about Draco. She looked over at him. She wondered about what he was thinking at that very moment. She blinked. Maybe…

"Miss Granger? Would you care to answer the question?" asked the professor, dragging Hermione from her thoughts.

"Um," started Hermione blushing. "I don't know."

"I'm very disappointed in you. 5 points from Gryffindor."

Hermione ducked her head. Sometimes, life just wasn't fair. She started concentrating on the text and listening to the professor.

Meanwhile, Draco had turned his head to look at Hermione curiously when she didn't answer the question correctly. He didn't understand her. Sometimes she was so much like…a know-it-all. But sometimes…she could be…almost human? Draco shook his head. No. But he badly wanted to know what had distracted Hermione from her studies. Maybe it was my charming looks, thought Draco, maybe she's in love with me. He sneered, but then almost hit himself for it. What am I thinking? It must have been the episode with Weasley this morning. I wonder what happened between them…

"Okay. Class dismissed," declared the professor, forcing Draco to stop wondering and to get out of the classroom.

He walked over to where Hermione was gathering her books.

"Hermione?" he asked quietly.

"Yes?" She looked up.

"I was just wondering why—"

Just then, Pansy walked over and started tugging Draco away from Hermione.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" sneered Pansy. "Talking to something so filthy? I expect better from you Draco."

"What? Get off of me!" said a miffed Draco. Many students turned their heads towards the commotion.

Pansy just glared back and started dragging Draco towards the Great Hall. Draco looked at Hermione with a helpless look and saw that she was trying hard not to laugh. He rolled his eyes at her. She sweetly smiled back and walked away.

A/N: Well, I hope everybody has enjoyed this story so far...I'm sorry to say that I wrote this story last year around this time...and I've sorta forgotten what I wanted to happen with this story. So, to be evil and all, when this story has reached a certain number of reviews, I will post the next chapter. The one that has not been written yet. And don't worry. The number of reviews that I want is not a ridiculous amount. I just need to buy myself some time.

Also, I'd just like to take the time to thank everybody for reading my story. Yay. That makes me happy enough. And thanks to everybody else who is supporting me.

Well, have a great New Year's everybody!

Katherine