Author's Note- Woowww! Two Chapters in one day! And this one's a REALLY long one too:D ('Least it looks like it in Microsoft Word) Lucky you!

Chapter 10

Previously on Dumb Love…

Ron's ears turned tomato red and he shook his head.

"You don't understand Hermione. I do love you. You're my world. Without you, it's like I can't even breathe. You-You're everything to me." Tears trickled down his face.

Hermione glared at him. "Ron, do you really mean that? Don't say it to make me feel happier, don't say it if you don't mean it.

"I do Hermione, I do." Ron cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her, long and hard. Then he broke off, and with one knee, he kneeled on the ground, holding her hand in his.

"Hermione…I don't have a ring right now, but…" Ron started.

Hermione gasped.

"I have my love and my heart. I'll love you to the ends of the heart and beyond. So… will you marry me?" Ron asked, looking up into her shining brown eyes.

- - -

Hermione gaped. She tried to speak, but no words came out. Ron's facial expression was obviously edging her on, waiting for an answer.

"Oh, Ron, I-… I dunno. Marry? You? Now? I can't-… There are things I want to do- I- things I want to see!" Hermione cried, looking away.

"Hermione, I know! I know you do, and I don't mean to get married right away! I don't even want to get married now."

Hermione turned her gaze onto Ron.

"Then why," Hermione began, her voice turning cold, "do you ask now?"

Ron realized what he had just revealed.

"I-I just want to make sure that you'll say yes." Ron's face was getting redder and redder.

"Oh! You wanted to make sure I said yes?" Hermione asked sarcastically. She seemed to be trying very hard to resist the urge to yell her lungs out at Ron. "I wonder why that would be."

"Hermione, look-"

"Weasley!" Hermione snapped, apparently not wanting to wait for Ron to finish. "How stupid do you think I am? I know you've always been jealous of Harry! He's got the money, the intellect, and all the damn fame that he doesn't even want but gets anyways-"

"Stop it!" Ron's ears were furiously red. Hermione continued on like she hadn't even heard him.

"And he's got a good heart, Ron! You-You've been jealous of him for 6 years! And now you want the only thing he hasn't got!" Angry tears flowed down her face. "Me!"

Ron snarled. "How do you know that Harry fancies you?"

Hermione had no idea Harry fancied her. She just meant to say anything that would push Ron's buttons. Hermione's eyes widened, but only for a millisecond, which was still time enough for Ron to catch it.

"You didn't know, did you?" Ron muttered. In his mind, he began slapping himself, but then stopped.

Hermione looked curiously at him, for he was grinning.

"What?"

"You didn't know… That means, you also didn't know about what Harry and Ginny did." Ron was beaming. "Remember a few days ago, when we were happy?"

Hermione scowled. Ron took that as a yes.

"Well it seemed, that Harry and Ginny were planning something," Ron said maliciously, "and that plan included Alana."

Hermione's eyes widened. "What about that-that minx?"

"Well, apparently, Ginny had planned for me to meet Alana. She had hope for me to at least take a liking to her, so you could be jealous, and then Harry could make a move…on you." Ron smiled evilly.

Hermione couldn't believe it.

"Harry…did that?" Hermione gasped out.

Ron nodded. Evilly.

"He did that… for me?" Hermione smiled evilly too. In her head of course. This would push Ron's buttons. "That is so sweet!" Hermione pretended to beam.

Ron stared at her, dubious. "You think that was sweet?! That was what made us break up!"

"All for the better right? Ginny could see right through you. She knew you wouldn't be faithful to me. That's why she used Alana. She knew… that you could never be like Harry."

Ron couldn't take it anymore. He slapped her smartly across the face.

Hermione grinned.

"I'm proud of you Ron. You showed your true colors."

Ron didn't appear to hear her. His eyes were wide, staring at his hands, as if someone else were controlling them, and back at her face, where a red hand print had appeared.

"Hermione-I-I didn't mean to-" Ron gasped. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't worry Ron. Go find Alana. Make it up to her. I'm sure Alana and you will be forever happy," Hermione said gleefully, as she walked out the door and shut it softly behind her.

Ron would never know, but right when she shut that door, she had dissolved into tears she thought had gone away…

Harry sat, staring dully at the blazing fire in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was about 8:00 PM, and the sparkling stars, which usually bring people much happiness, only reminded Harry that he had just lost it. Even though the "great plan" was over, and its burden was lifted from Harry's shoulders, a new one had just arrived; one that was heavier.

Hermione. What would Hermione think of this plan? No doubt Ron told Hermione about it to get her on his "side." Did she now hate him?

As his thoughts continued to drift about, Hermione came through the door.

"Oh!" Hermione's eyes, once so happy, were now puffy and sad, and had lost their shine. "Harry. Hi." Hermione's didn't look at him. She continued to look at the floor.

"Hermione…" Harry wanted to speak of the "great plan," but decided on a simple, "Hi."

"So…What's up?" Harry asked hesitantly, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to anger her. But it seems it was the wrong thing to say.

"What's up?" Hermione said tensely. "What's up? I just spent at least half an hour arguing with Ron."

"About?" Harry asked, already knowing (and scared) of the answer.

"You." She turned her full gaze upon him. "Do you love me Harry? Do you even like me?"

"What?" Harry asked stupidly.

Now, Harry, was a bit taken back from this question. It was the complete opposite of what he imagined (Which was full of swear words and Hermione throwing and breaking things. Oh, and some hexes aimed at him of course).

She looked away, hurt.

"Hermione, wait, no, I do! I do love you!" Harry said quickly. "Do you love me?"

Hermione looked at him again, beaming.

"Oh, yes! Harry, I do!" She hurled herself on top of him.

Harry positively grinned as she kissed him on the cheek and mouth. But then Harry stopped himself.

"What about Ron? Don't you love him?"

"No! I-I just- I tried to convince myself of it. You-you never showed me any of that type of affection. And I didn't want be hurt. So, I tried it out with Ron. And when I asked you if I thought Ron and I would be good together, I just wanted to see if you were jealous. And when you weren't… well…There was Ron, absolutely happy to be with me. Or so I thought," Hermione said, muttering the last part. She hugged Harry. "He proposed to me Harry. I of course, said no. I just- I don't want this insanity anymore. It's too much!" A few more tears spilled out of her chocolaty brown eyes.

"Hermione…I'm-I'm sorry. I feel that this is my fault. You see, I was the one who made you and Ron break up. I-" Harry was about to go on, but Hermione put a finger to his lips.

"Harry, it's alright. I know already. Ron told me. And, I don't mind. It brought you and I together didn't it?" She gave him another peck on the cheek. "Now stop worrying about it. Tomorrow is the beginning of Christmas break. You are going to stay at Hogwarts I suppose?"

"I guess so. Seeing as Ron is probably as mad a hat at me right now. I don't think he'd be welcoming me to the Burrow with open arms just yet," Harry mumbled.

"Well, then I'll stay here with you Harry," Hermione smiled. Then she stood up. "I'll have to owl my parents first… I guess I'll do that right now. Want to come with me?" she asked, heading toward the door.

"Er, it's alright. I think I have to go speak with Ginny. I'll meet you back in the common room later?"

"Sure."

Harry had no idea where Ginny was. After being freed from Madam Pomfreys unwavering care, Ginny had left Harry in the common room to…well, he didn't know. Harry was so wrapped up in his thoughts about Hermione; he didn't even notice that Ginny had left.

Harry checked the library, and asked everyone he knew about the whereabouts of Ginny. No one knew.

His long search for Ginny made him have a desire to go to the bathroom. So, as he was heading to the Boy's Restroom, he heard a few unrecognizable sounds coming from the Prefect's Restroom. Curious, he ventured future. (The password was not "pine fresh," but "minty freshness.")

What he saw inside was not what he had expected. Harry felt blood rushing to his head at speeds he never thought possible.

Ginny Weasley and Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw were apparently having a nice snog-fest.

Harry coughed. They didn't hear.

Harry coughed even louder. They didn't hear.

Harry bellowed a cough. They heard.

Ginny gasped. "Harry! What-what are you doing here?" Anthony just kinda glared at Harry for ruining his fun.

"I was looking for you. I needed to talk to you about Hermione."

"Oh! Well, alright. Sorry Anthony," Ginny added, giving Anthony an apologetic look. "I'll be right back."

"So, what's up?" Ginny asked, when they were out of Anthony's hearing range.

"Hermione and I-, well, we're together!" Harry told her ecstatically. He told her about what happened in the common room. Ginny grinned.

"That's great! What about Ron? I feel really bad about that…" Ginny said. In his mind, Harry grimaced. Talking about Ron was making his good mood fade.

"Yea…well, I'm sure he'll be great with Alana," Harry said, trying to brighten his mood. "Turns out he proposed to her (Ginny scowled. "The fool!"), but she declined, and now she's with me! So, I guess your plan worked after all. In a way. Now I just need to win Ron back!" Harry said brightly, then waving goodbye and going off toward the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room.

Author's Note- For those of you that don't know, Anthony Goldstein is in Harry's year, and was a prefect for Ravenclaw in the Harry Potter books.

This chapter isn't exactly one of my favorites... I don't think I did it all that well. So if you're confused about the whole Ron and Hermione thing, sorry about that. Just review and hopefully I can clear up any of your questions. :D