Chapter 2

Hermione woke up the next day, more than a little wary. She sighed at the prospect for spending another day of classes with the Gryffindors, who seemed to have somehow believed the illogical rumours about her.

Fine, she could play this game too, at least, until they wised up to the truth.

After a while though, she had calmed down and thought it through properly – there was no way Harry and Ron could continue ignoring her. They would fail without her help in class.

Content with that fact, she headed off to class, making a conscious effort to avoid Draco – it wasn't like she wanted to spread those rumours.

Sure enough, by 3rd period, which was coincidentally Potions, they had yielded. Or more like, Hermione couldn't bear to see any more points taken from Gryffindor for their ineptness.

Upon seeing Snape turn away, Hermione had yanked the knife from Ron and started cutting the ingredients properly. When Ron rebuffed her, she turned around with a furious look on her face, "Look, I know what you're doing, I know what rumours are being spread about me, and if you're going to be that immature, I don't care. But I will not let Gryffindor lose the House Cup due to your inability to turn a rat into a bird or brew a proper Polyjuice Potion."

Hermione knew that would strike a chord with Harry and Ron. In truth, she still cared for them, and couldn't really care less for the Cup. Nevertheless, Ron and Harry muttered a half-hearted 'sorry' as Snape turned around again. "10 points from Gryffindor, for the insufferable know-it-all's attempt to help what she should know, are two lost cases."

Hermione reddened a bit at the fact that she did know that but it was lost by Ron and Harry, who were back to muttering curses about Snape.

It seems like all was well again… but somewhere in a corner of her mind, Hermione wondered if she could still talk to Mal-no, Draco. After all, death eater-to-be or not, she still needed someone of her intellect to converse with once in a while.

So, things were settled, the rumours had died down after the Chosen One made a firm order that it should and would. Biased or not, it was good to be on Harry's side.

But the boys were back to doing everything together again…. Hermione had always known that they were much closer to each other than her. She? She was the one that they just needed to form the magical Trio. Truth is, without her, they would have all failed their exams and gotten kicked out of Hogwarts. Not only that, they would probably have died every single year if she wasn't there to help them. And yet, she was still the unappreciated one.

It was more than obvious, especially after they refused to listen to her in their 3rd year and it had taken Hagrid to get them to realize what jerks they were being.

But Hermione knew better than to complain – her hidden ounces of resentment, which had long built up within her, she kept safely. She should be honoured just to be a good friend of the Harry Potter, able to help him in his quest to defeat the Dark lord.

Myabe, just maybe, she should have let them suffer more without her, to make them realise her importance. But she dismissed the idea almost immediately. She still loved Harry and Ron – one platonically, one maybe a little bit more.

Once again, bored out of her mind, she contemplated her relationship with Ron… maybe they should take it one step further? They were both legal, for goodness sake, maybe not in the Muggle world, but definitely in the Wizard one. And besides, with all the extra times she had spent on the Time Turner in her 3rd year, Hermione knew that she was now 18, older and more mature than the rest of her peers, which might explain why their immaturity annoyed her so.

Either way, the most they had taken it was snogging, which Ginny had done with about half the school already.

Maybe if she took it one step further (she was already planning on pretty much staying with Ron forever), he would learn to appreciate her more, giving him something that he would never forget…

"Oh, just come on, Ron…" Hermione urged him, as he stood warily outside her room. Hermione had told Draco to politely 'shove off' this evening, and Draco had made a grimace, saying that he wanted no details of whatever sings she was going to commit that night. When Hermione pointed out that half the 7th years were already past that stage, including him probably, Draco just grinned.

But Ron just reluctantly stopped at the edge of the door, as if expecting a hex the moment he stepped in. Hermione dragged him in and started kissing him. Ron willingly kissed back – that much he could handle.

Hermione, grasping the chance when Ron was still into it, carefully led them to her bed, and-

Ron broke off immediately. "No, Hermione."

Always. He always did that. "Why, Ron?"

"I… I don't want to commit myself to this." Ron stared at his feet, refusing to meet her gaze.

"For Merlin's sake Ron, it isn't a marriage, it's just lying on the bed. Ginny's done that with about half of the guys in this school already!" Hermione just couldn't understand why Ron was so… unwilling.

"You're…. too good for me." For a moment, Hermione thought Ron was complimenting her, a first, definitely. "No, really. You're too good. You keep overshadowing me, I don't need someone like that. I want someone who complements me, or make me look better. Someone like… what Ginny is to Harry or something! Why? Why do you keep making me look worse!"

"Ron!" Hermione blinked rapidly. "You're saying that you don't like me for who I am? You want me to change? You know who I am, who I've been since 1st year. I want to grow up, get a job and marry you, Ron. That was long settled. I love you, and you love me."

"I know that, but… I can't love someone who isn't willing to sacrifice something for me." Ron bucked up his courage to look at Hermione.

"And what are you sacrificing for me?"

"Trust me, my reputation, just by being with you."

Hermione bit back tears. "What are you trying to say, Ron?"

"Do you know what people are saying? They're saying that you'll be the one who earns money for the poor family of Weasleys, and I'll be the one staying at home with the 7 kids. I can't do that, Hermione. I can't have my life reduced to just that. I've decided, Hermione. Either you get a job, or you stay with me. I can't have you doing both. I can't."

"Fine, Ron. If you can't take me for who I am, this relationship is over." Hermione wondered why she seemed almost like she had been expecting this. Maybe her subconscious knew that it wasn't possible between them.

As Ron turned to leave, Hermione, in an uncharacteristic fit of spite, played her trump card. "You know what, Ron? The Sorting Hat considered putting me in Slytherin. I said Gryffindor because I knew Harry and you were going to be there. Maybe I chose wrong after all."

Leaving Ron stunned just outside the door, Hermione swung it shut in his shocked face.

A/N: This chapter was to fulfill the send highest number of votes for a bit of Romione… or more like the end of it. Also, for the votes that Hermione should forgive Ron, then break up with him later. Go to .com/pages/SSFanfic-You-choose-I-write/101007143333284 to vote and help decide the direction of this fanfic! ~Scarfy