Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter... If I did...well...LOTS of things would be different... But, I DO own this plot and the original characters, so please don't steal them!

Warnings: hmm....mostly Ron's stupidity and language

Chapter 5: Trip Down Memory Lane

Hermione, annoyed with Ron's interruption, finished what she was doing before she walked over to the fireplace once again. As she prepped the floo powder, a memory invaded her consciousness.

Hermione entered the common room, slightly ruffled by the thought of never seeing her beloved library again. Truthfully, she knew she'd see it soon enough, if her plans went the way she hoped they would, but it didn't stop her from being bothered by the notion. She paused when she saw Harry, snuggled close to Draco, and Ron sitting in the chairs closest to the fireplace. It wasn't seeing Draco in the Gryffindor common room that caused her to pause; in fact, Draco had been a common sight in the common room since the start of their seventh year. What gave Hermione pause was the insanely jealous look Ron was sending Draco and Harry.

Actually, Hermione had been wondering about Ron for days. He'd grown distant with her, and then he told her that he had been wrong about his feelings. She understood, because she had felt the same way. Hermione had thought that Ron would try to seek out Lavender Brown again, she thought that perhaps he'd still had feelings for her. And then she noticed the looks Ron would send Harry and Draco. She couldn't figure out if Ron wanted the blond, or Harry. Honestly, she didn't think it mattered either way. It seemed like Harry and Draco were already in a relationship. It still intrigued her, and she wanted to know which of the two Ron seemed to want.

Ron looked up at her, his eyes still filled with the seething anger that had been directed at Harry and Draco. The two seemed oblivious, mostly because Harry (Hermione suddenly noticed) was incredibly upset. Hermione walked over to her friends, ignoring Ron to see what was bothering Harry.

"The realization finally hit him; you know…that he won't be coming back to Hogwarts next year…" Draco explained when Hermione asked. Harry sniffled and snuggled into Draco even further. Hermione watched, and suddenly realized that Draco and Harry were merely friends. She didn't know how to explain the realization; she just knew it was true.

"Hermione, could you walk Draco back to his common room?" Harry asked in a meek voice. Hermione could hardly refuse Harry; he looked too cute to. She nodded and took the Marauder's Map from Harry before leading Draco from the common room.

They snuck through the corridors, dodging Filch and Mrs. Norris. Soon, to Hermione's chagrin, they were in the dungeons. Draco led her to the common room entrance. They heard steps coming towards them, and they knew the footfalls belonged to Snape. Draco yanked Hermione into an alcove. She blushed, pressed against him. Snape passed, but Draco did not let go of her. Instead, he lowered his lips to hers, and they kissed.

After a few minutes, Hermione was on her way back to her common room, dazed. She couldn't stop thinking about Draco, or the kiss. When she walked into the common room, she hardly noticed anything. She sat on the chair across from Harry and Ron, her thoughts swirling around her. Several moments passed before Hermione was able to notice, or comprehend, anything around her.

Normally, Ron would have been trying to convince Harry to play chess, or exploding snap, but this time he wasn't. Instead, he did something he'd never done before. He was stretched out on his back, and Harry lay on top of him. Harry's head was resting over Ron's heart, his face buried in Ron's neck. Ron's hands were laced together, resting over the small of Harry's back. Harry's glasses lay folded on the arm of the couch.

As Hermione watched her two best friends, she realized quite suddenly that this was the only chance Ron would ever have to hold Harry that way. (Or so he assumed, she believed.) She also realized that Harry was the one Ron wanted, and she understood why Ron hadn't bothered to reveal his feelings. Ron had to have realized, for whatever reason, that Draco and Harry were not in any way a couple. So, Hermione reasoned, Ron must have concluded that Harry was just a cuddly person and would cuddle with any of his friends, and that Harry must be straight.

"Ron, your logic makes no sense to me," Hermione whispered.

Ron turned to stare at her, and there was a warm glint in his eyes. She smiled, and resigned herself to watch her friend act like an idiot until such a time that he realized he was an idiot.

"Oh, bloody hell Ron, what have you done now?" Hermione sighed. She tossed the floo powder into the fire and soon arrived at Harry's and Ron's flat. She went over to Ron, who was sitting on the couch, pressing her hands to her ears. The music emanating from Harry's room was brilliant, but deafening.

"Ron, what exactly happened?" Hermione demanded. She crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly remembering what Draco had told her last night. Her glare intensified at Ron's stupidity.

"I came home with one of the magazines that had done an interview with him… I read some of the quotes from it… Then I saw something that made me pause, and I handed it to Harry to read. He was incredibly angry… We fought, and he stormed into his room…and here we are," Ron explained dejectedly. He had sobered up as soon as Harry had slammed his bedroom door.

Hermione picked the magazine in question up and skimmed through the article on Harry. Her face turned red in anger, and she threw the magazine across the room. Ron's eyes widened, the blue orbs filled with confusion. Hermione turned her glare to Ron, and then she punched his arm.

"Ow! Bloody hell, Mione! What was that for?" Ron demanded as he held the arm she hit.

"All of that is rubbish, you twit! Harry's never actually been with any of those girls!" Hermione growled.

Ron rolled his eyes and leaned against the couch. "Yeah, Hermione…just keep thinking that Harry's still that sweet and innocent seventeen-year-old who you saw me snuggling with because he couldn't stand the idea of never returning to Hogwarts!"

"Are you implying that Harry did sleep with all those witches?" Hermione asked incredulously. Ron nodded, and she punched his arm even harder. "You're a right foul git, Ron! You just called Harry a sodding slut, and you're so full of yourself to realize the only people he talks with are us, Draco, his band, and his manager!"

"You don't have to talk to get into someone's pants," Ron growled. Ron was too pissed off to notice how thin his ice was.

"You blithering idiot! If Harry did fuck random people, it would be guys!" Hermione screeched.

"Harry isn't gay," Ron grumbled with a frown.

Hermione stared at him, like he'd grown a second head. "How bloody thick are you?" She finally demanded.

"I'm not stupid!"

"Well, obviously you are," Hermione replied venomously. She swirled around and stalked to the book shelf. She scanned the shelves, looking for the copy of Harry's music video. She found it and carried it over to the telly. She put it in the VCR and pressed the play button.

Ron watched in fascination as the music video played. He had a hard time believing Hermione, but the silhouette of the man forced him to. He looked up at his friend, but she was staring at Harry's bedroom door in concern.

"If you weren't such a slut, you would have noticed that he fancied cock," Hermione muttered.

Ron scowled. "I'm not a slut!"

"Really? Then tell my why you fuck any willing girl whenever you get the chance!?" Hermione turned to glare at him. "Is it because you can't get over him and you need to fuck everyone because you're afraid you might do something to push him away?"

Ron froze, the look on his face full of horror. "How…when?..."

Hermione smiled triumphantly. "When I saw you holding Harry the night before graduation." Hermione replied. Her face softened as she thought about it. "It was like you were afraid he would disappear…"

Ron's face crumbled, bitterness consuming him. "I thought he was going to… I thought he and Draco were together, and that they just weren't saying anything…"

Hermione chuckled, despite the situation. "That was the night Draco kissed me…"

Ron blinked in surprise. "Really?"

Here's chapter five for any who've been anxiously waiting for it. Actually, I'll be posting chapter six in a few minutes...so...YAY! :)

Please read and review!