Author's note: Bonjour/Bonsoir (all depends what time it is where ever you are)! I've written 3 chapters in one night. Obsessed much? Mayhaps. Also, next Monday I start school back up again and I'm trying to write as much as I possibly can before I start drowning in work. Anyways, on with the show.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but JKR does! Also, thanks to Lady GaGa & everyone that remixes her music for keeping me in a constant writing/dance party.

And also thanks to the Harry Potter wiki (for helping with some spells) and Google translator for Latin words (to also help make up some spells).

Chapter four:

You take me for granted

Hermione returned to her house hours later. The party was nice and she was happy to spend time with her second family again. She kicked off her shoes and let her hair down. She felt like she needed to soak in the tub for awhile. It seemed to be her sanctuary where she did all of her deep thinking about anything and everything.

She turned on the water and let it get the temperature she liked it at (super hot so that she could soak for awhile) and added tons of bubbles. She lit several candles with her wand and quickly disrobed. Hermione grabbed a book she hadn't finished yet and let the atmosphere take her away. She eventually set her book down and gazed up at her high cathedral ceiling.

Why had Ron been so daft and completely lie about what he wanted to talk to her about? She was hoping deep down that he wanted to tell her he had feelings for her. Maybe soon she could tell him that she has feelings for him and hopefully he confesses he does as well. If he didn't, she'd be crushed. Would that ruin their friendship? She hoped it wouldn't. It's been the three of them for 8 years. It couldn't end with something as silly as her having feelings for Ron, could it?

Hermione decided to get out of the tub since she was starting to prune. She wrapped a giant towel around her body and another around her hair. She slipped on a large t-shirt and crawled into bed. She was determined to tell Ronald Bilius Weasley she had feelings for him, no matter what. She was a smart, strong, brave woman (as she kept telling herself). She had fought a war, she could tell silly Ron Weasley she lo –liked him. Right?

"Harry! You weren't there. You didn't see how badly I fucked everything up," Ron said pacing Harry and Ginny's living room (Ginny had gone to bed).

"I doubt it was that bad. So, let's have it. What happened?"

"Well, I had all intentions of telling her right then and there. It was at the tip of my tongue when I just panicked out of nowhere. I then proceeded to tell her that we'll be walking down the aisle together at your wedding as if she had no idea. I'm such a sodding idiot. Why are you friends with me again?" Ron asked continuing to pace.

"Ron. RON! Sit down. You're making me nervous for you just by watching you pace so much. We're mates because you know too many of my secrets and if I let you go, I'd have to Avada Kedavra your ass. Only kidding, mate! Well, we're friends because you were the only one who wasn't completely obsessed with my scar. Anyways, back to the task at hand. You really said that to her? Maybe you are an idiot. Kidding, again! You were just nervous. It's understandable. You just need another go at it," Harry said encouraging Ron as best as he could.

"You're right. You're bloody right! I just need some liquid courage and tell Hermione how I truly feel," Ron said actually feeling empowered.

"That's the ticket, mate. Now, I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow," Harry said stifling a yawn.

"Mmm. I think I'm going to tell her tomorrow."

Harry nodded and clapped his best friend on the back. They said goodnight and Ron apparated home.

Hermione was standing alone on a hill. It was dusk and she watched the sun sink lower and lower. She realized it was night time now, but the surrounding area was still orange. The sun was gone, why was it still "light" out? She looked around and realized that the houses and buildings were engulfed in flames. She heard her name being called out from the darkness. She didn't quite know which way to go.

She drew her wand and shouted POSITUS. A yellow light burst from the end of her wand as the shape of an arrow to show her where she needed to go. She rushed over to a burning house.

"HERMIONE!" She heard a male voice yell from inside of the burning building.

"Aqua Eructo!" Hermione yelled to try to douse the flames. Nothing happened. She tried the spell over and over again, but the flames never went away.

She decided cast a spell to protect her from the flames and entered the house. She kept her wand drawn and her arm around her mouth and nose. She heard the person call out for her again and rushed towards the sound of their voice.

She got to a room totally engulfed in flame. She stood at the entrance of the room and peered in. That's when she saw him. She saw Draco Malfoy trapped underneath a few boards of wood. Why wasn't he burning? She found this odd and decided since she was a good person that she must save him.

She ran into the room dodging several falling boards. She reached him and said Wingardium Leviosa to levitate the boards off of him. She grabbed him by the arms and drug him outside. She tried to revive him. He eventually came to and smiled up at her.

"Thanks, Granger. You're not so bad after all," he said before he passed out from inhaling so much smoke in the house.

Hermione cocked an eyebrow and heard someone walking up behind her. She turned around to see Ron walking slowly towards them. She stood up and waited for him to get to where she stood.

"Ron. What are you doing here?" She asked confused. What was she doing here even?

He didn't say anything to her. He just stared at her as if she didn't say anything to him.

"Ron? What's wrong? You're starting to scare me," she said slowly closing the gap between them.

Ron slowly raised his wand and pointed it squarely at Hermione's chest. She looked at him completely frightened. Ron's mouth began to open when a flash of green erupted from the end of his wand. Hermione fell to the ground. Ron turned around and walked away like nothing ever happened.

Hermione awoke with a start. She rubbed her chest. This was one of the many nightmares that plagued her. How ironic to have the dream about Ron killing her when she decided the night before to tell him how she felt. Was this a sign? She didn't believe in "signs".

She got up and got dressed. She made sure that the dark circles and bags under her eyes were gone. She didn't want the other three to worry about her strange dreams she's been having. This afternoon they were to meet at Harry and Ginny's house. She locked her house and apparated to Godric's Hollow.

Hermione was about to knock on the door, when it opened for her. She shrugged and headed inside.

"Hello, hello!" She called from the hallway.

"We're in here!" Ginny said as her voice came from the kitchen.

It was a spacious, white kitchen. Hermione felt extremely cheerful. She thought it was because of how bright the kitchen was besides the fact she was surrounded by her closest friends. She sat down at the dark oak table.

"Good morning, love," Ginny said handing Hermione a cup of tea.

"Good morning, Gin. Where are Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked.

"They're in the study. Men, I swear. They were just together last night talking into the early hours of the morning, but I guess they have even more to talk about? I swear, those two should be getting married instead of Harry and me," Ginny said setting breakfast on the table.

"I think you're right. I've never seen two men together so much without them getting sick of each other. Be careful Gin, your brother might steal your fiancé," Hermione said laughing.

"Over my dead body," Ginny said in mock-offense.

The two girls laughed again at the thought of Harry and Ron getting married.

"Harry! Ron! Breakfast is ready and Hermione's here!" Ginny called to the boys from the kitchen.

"We'll be right there, love," Harry called back.

"So today's the day, mate!" Harry said sitting back in his leather chair.

"Yes, I know. Stop reminding me. I feel like I'm going to puke," Ron said turning pale.

"Oh, it's not so bad. I mean, when I told Ginny how I felt about her I was th–" Ron cut Harry off

"Mate, I don't want to hear the explicit details of you wooing my little sister!" Ron said disgusted.

"There was really nothing explicit about it, honest," Harry said looking innocent.

"I don't care, that's still my sister!"

"All right, I'm sorry."

They were quiet for a moment when Harry spoke up, "So when are you going to tell her?"

"I don't know, Harry. Sometime today. I have to. I mean, no offense to you or Ginny, but it has to just her and I."

"That's completely understandable. I wouldn't want to around when the moment strikes," Harry said organizes his desk.

"Good."

""Harry! Ron! Breakfast is ready and Hermione's here!" They heard Ginny yell from the kitchen.

Ron looked at Harry as to say oh shit.

"We'll be right there, love," Harry said back to her.

"Calm down. Here," Harry said pouring him a small glass of fire whiskey, "drink this. 'Liquid courage', remember?"

Ron took the glass graciously and drank it in one gulp. He nodded his thanks to his best friend as they got up to go into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Hermione," Harry said clapping her on the back.

"Morning Harry," she said taking a sip of tea.

"Morning Hermione," Ron said grinning at her.

"Um, morning Ronald," she said at Ron's unexpected behavior.

He loved when she called him Ronald for some reason, "How are you this beautiful morning?"

"I'm pretty good, how are you?" She said raising an eyebrow.

"I'm brilliant," he said smiling ear-to-ear.

Ginny pulled Harry into the hallway. "What's up with Ron?"

"A little liquid courage, that's all," Harry said smirking.

"Ron can't be tanked this early in the morning. Are you both mad?" The redhead asked in a fierce whisper.

"Maybe," he said kissing her on the forehead and going back to the kitchen table.

Hermione and Ron were having what seemed like a normal conversation. The other two joined in the conversation as they loaded food onto their plates. The four of them were back to normal, or at least getting there.

As Hermione was getting ready to go back home, Ron grabbed her arm softly. She turned around and looked into his brilliant baby blue eyes. She noticed there were flecks of grey in them around the pupil. She never realized how gorgeous and mesmerizing Ron's eyes were.

"Earth to Hermione," Ron said waving a hang in front of her face.

"So sorry. I must have really zoned out there," she said tucking a hair behind her ear.

"That's all right. I was wondering if we could talk. And I mean, actually talk. I was a complete idiot last night," he said scratching the back of his head and smiling wryly at her.

"I won't deny the fact that you are an idiot, sometimes," she said smiling back at him, "but we can talk. I wanted to talk to you as well."

"Really? Well, we could go to your place or anywhere really."

"All right. Well, we can go to my place then."

Ron nodded at her. They went back into the living room and said their goodbyes to Harry and Ginny, and then apparated to Hermione's together.

Hermione unlocked the door and they both went inside.

"Do you want anything? Tea, butter beer, fire whiskey, water?" She asked him heading into the kitchen.

"No, thanks," he said sitting down on her couch.

Hermione came back into the room with a butter beer in hand. She twisted off the lid and took a sip.

"So, who wants to go first?" Ron asked.

"I think I will," she said taking a deep breath.

"All right, ladies first," he said watching her.

"Well, we've known each other for almost 8 years. It's been a long 8 years," she said flashing him her sweet smile, "and I just feel that I–I've grown very accustomed to you and Harry, but especially you. I guess you can say that I have thought of you a lot. I mean, I've thought of a lot of things, but when it comes to you it's different. Bloody hell, I just want to say that I have feelings for you, Ron."

Ron's mouth was slightly agape. He continued to look at Hermione like she just said her whole speech in Parseltongue. Her face turned as scarlet as the Gyrffindor color itself. "Well, say something. Anything," she said after a long pause.

"I–I…I don't know Hermione," Ron said turning as red as his hair.

"What do you mean? What don't you know?" Hermione said clearly feeling hurt.

"I just don't know. I thought I could handle this and tell you what I've wanted to tell you for years, but I can't," he said diverting his eyes from hers.

"I don't understand, Ron. How could you not tell me now after I put myself out there? It was hard for me to do that, as well. Sure I'm clever, but this is kind of a new territory for me too," she said sounding angry.

"I know. I mean, I've fancied other girls before, but you're so different. You're much more intimidating than any other girl," Ron said taking a peek at her face.

"I'm intimidating! INTIMIDATING! I'm far from intimidating, Ronald. It just seems like you don't want to try," she said as tears welled up in her brown eyes.

"I do want to try, Hermione," he said pleading with her.

"No, you bloody well don't. If you did, you'd be able to tell me that you fancy me and want us to be together. You can tell everyone else that you fancy me, but you cannot tell me. How does that work, Ron? Oh, right. I'm too damn intimidating," she said starting to cry harder.

"No, Hermione. I–I don't me–" Hermione cut him off.

"No, Ron. Don't finish that sentence. Don't act like I'm one of those wally, dime-a-dozen girls you fancy at the moment," she said wiping her face.

"You're not! You're so much more than that," Ron said getting to his feet.

"Then prove it!" She shrieked at him.

Ron grew quiet and stared at the hardwood floor below him.

"Exactly, you can't prove it. I want you to leave," Hermione said levelly.

"What?" Ron said quietly.

"You heard me Ron Weasley. Get out of my house!"

Ron kept his head down and let without another word.

A/N: I'm fairly sure you hate me, but what is love without some kind of struggle? Boring, that's what it is. I thought Ron had a bigger spine, but I guess not when it comes to the girl he loves. Well, I'm off to start the next chapter.

Reviews are as fantastic as Christmas morning.