A/N: Sorry for the long delay guys, but I have good news! You know that competition that I mentioned? We got first place in the nation!!! So ya, I'm uber happy... and now, for once, I will actually have some free time in which to write.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter...I just wish my mind worked like JKR's...

Chapter 3

The next week was difficult for Harry as the young girls, heartened by his break up with Ginny, revived their desperate attempts to catch his attention. They had tried flirting, love potions, and on the weekend, some of them even tried some particularly revealing tops, which Harry had to admit tempted a certain excitable part of him.

The much anticipated Hogsmeade weekend had finally arrived, and despite the attentions of all the single Hogwarts girls, and even some with boyfriends, Harry was going without a girl on his arm. Ron and Hermione had decided to start with some tea at Madam Puddifoot's, while Harry did any shopping that he wanted to do, and that they would meet up soon after. This suited Harry just fine. He didn't particularly want to see his two best friends snogging each other senseless. He wandered aimlessly about Hogsmeade, buying some more supplies such as quills and ink. When Ron and Hermione emerged from Madam Puddifoot's, they soon spotted him trudging slowly up the street.

As they joined him, Harry looked up, "Oh, hey, it's you."

Hermione grabbed his arm with her free hand (the other was caught up in Ron's hand). "Where should we go now?" she asked.

"How 'bout we go to Honeydukes?" asked Ron. This was met with an exasperated sigh from Hermione.

"We just had a whole bunch of sweets Ron!" she replied.

Harry shrugged, "Why not? It's okay, I don't mind." So the trio turned towards Honeydukes. The smell of chocolate reached their noses as soon as they entered. Ron ran off to find a bunch of sweets, and Harry and Hermione were left to browse more sensibly. Ron returned with an armful of stuff, while Harry had grabbed a package of dark chocolate with raspberry, and Hermione had found some appealing chocolate mints. The two had already paid, but waited for Ron to pay for his pile.

They walked out of the shop and, without really deciding upon a destination, ended up at The Three Broomsticks. Harry went to buy the butterbeer, while Ron and Hermione found a table in the corner. When he returned with the glasses carefully balanced, he found Ron and Hermione kissing. He sat down and placed a butterbeer in front of each of them firmly, before taking a swig of his own. They seemed to hear this, and took it as a cue to stop. Harry glanced at Hermione and noticed a bothered expression on her face. A moment of silence followed. Ron finally saw someone that he wanted to talk to, and jumped up, muttering incoherently something about being back soon.

"Are you okay Hermione? You look troubled and preoccupied somehow," Harry questioned quietly. Hermione just shrugged in response, but Harry was insistent. "Come on Hermione, I want to know why you look so unhappy, you know you can trust me." This obviously wasn't the right thing to say, because a tear slid down Hermione's cheek. Harry looked around at the crowded bar for a moment and then said, "How about we head back to the common room?" Hermione's eyes met his for a moment, and locked. She nodded slightly before lowering her gaze again.

They finished their butterbeers and stood up and made their way over to the door. As they passed Ron, Harry muttered, "Hermione's not feeling well, I'll bring her back up to the castle."

Ron turned briefly and said, "Okay, thanks mate," and turned back to the conversation. Harry just shook his head and put his arm around Hermione, guiding her back up to the castle as tears continued to run down her cheeks, blurring her eyes. Shouldn't he be doing this? Harry thought. He didn't mind taking care of Hermione, of course, but if she was his girlfriend, he wouldn't think of letting another guy comfort her instead of talking to her himslef.

When they reached the common room, there were a few first and second years hanging about, so Harry asked in a whisper, "You want to go up to my dorm room? I doubt there is anyone there right now." Hermione nodded, and managed a grateful smile as Harry steered her up the stairs.

Harry opened the door and stepped aside to let Hermione in and then closed the door behind her. He plopped down on his bed and then, noticing Hermione still just standing there, he patted the bed beside him, meanwhile searching her face for clues as to what could be wrong. Hermione sat down next to him, after a moment, leaned towards him, placing her head on his shoulder, just feeling the warmth of his body flow into her own. Harry closed his eyes, but then remembered why they were upstairs sitting on his bed. "Hermione, what's the matter?" he asked her, trying to fill his voice with all the emotions that he was feeling all of a sudden.

Hermione was silently for a while. After a few moments, she mumbled softly, almost inaudibly, "I can't keep lying to Ron."

Harry could barely make out her words as she mumbled them into his shoulder. "What do you mean Hermione?" he asked gently, unconsciously stroking her hair.

"Harry, I don't love him. He's a great friend, and he seemed to love me… I couldn't refuse. Besides, I didn't see why it should be a problem. But now," she paused. "I can't handle it. He wants me to go further with him, and I... I don't want to. You saw him at The Three Broomsticks today, he was all over me. I can't deal with it." After a moment she added almost inaudibly "... and anyway... I want to be with someone else."

"Well then Hermione, I think you need to tell him. Try and make him realize that it isn't working," he suggested in a wavering voice, his emotions tumultuous.

"But he won't get it Harry!" Hermione exclaimed almost in tears as she bolted upright. "He loves me… or at least he thinks he does," Hermione conceded after a moment's thought.

Harry listened quietly to Hermione's outburst. "Well, we'll just have to show him he's wrong, won't we?"

"We?" Hermione asked meekly.

"Of course Hermione," he said with a smile, "I'm always here to help."

Hermione threw herself into his arms. "Thanks Harry," she said through slowing tears. He just held her for a while, pulling her close. He set his chin on her head and reveled in the emotions that were surging through his teenage body.

Bang! The door flew open and Harry and Hermione jumped apart. It was Ron.

"Have you seen…" he started. "What the hell are you two doing?"

Harry whispered something to Hermione, and she got up and left wordlessly, tears still staining her cheeks.

Ron's gaze followed her as she left the room and headed towards her own room. "What was that Harry?" he exploded, expecting the worst.

Harry sat on his bed calmly and responded, "Geez Ron, calm down. Hermione was upset about something, I brought her up here to talk, and I think she really needed it. Unfortunately, however, I don't think she was done yet either."

"Oh," Ron said abashedly after a moment's hesitation. "I'm sorry."

"It's not me you should say sorry to Ron," he responded, noting the slight hint of suspicion that remained in Ron's eyes. "Anyway, it's dinnertime now. Maybe you can apologize to her then." Ron nodded and walked out the door with Harry following. They made their way down to the Great Hall, and found Hermione just sitting down. They sat down, one on each side of her. Harry nibbled at his food wondering when Ron was going to apologize, but he never did. He merely sat and ate his way through the huge pile of food on his plate.

Hermione finished her food quickly saying, "I'll be in the library." It was Harry that she was actually talking to, but it was Ron who finished and followed her to the library. He found her on the floor in front of a bookshelf at the back and snuck up on her. He kissed her on the neck simultaneously sliding his hands under her shirt and clasping her around the waist. He started to slide one upwards, and one downwards, pulling at the waist of her pants, but Hermione had already pulled away forcefully, startling Ron with her ferocity.

"Look Hermione," he said in something close to a whimper, "I'm really sorry."

Hermione, however, saw her chance to at least put the relationship on hold a bit. "Ron, it's not just the fact that you would assume that," she started after a pause, "it's also the reason why it is even an issue. I don't feel like we understand each other well enough Ron, and yet you want us to be, well, so close already,' she said, squirming uncomfortably. "I'm not ready for that Ron," she stated, forging ahead. "I think that maybe we should break up for now and go our own ways. If in a little while we feel more compatible maybe we can try then."

Ron watched Hermione and saw her sincerity in her expression. He was hurt by her pushing him away, but realized at the same time that hurting him was the last thing she wanted to do. Ron nodded and merely walked away, his dignity injured, but intact. It would be awhile until he would talk to her in anything but formal terms.

A/N: Hope you guys liked it! Sorry again for the wait, and please R&R!