Next Chapter!

Chapter 5

Hermione didn't eat much during the feast just in case she was just gaining weight. Harry seemed worried, but Ron didn't really notice (not because he didn't care, but because it's just Ron.) and Ginny already know what was up.

"Hermione, aren't you hungry?" Harry asked, but all he got was a glare from Hermione and an elbow in the ribs from Ginny.

"Ow! What?" Harry yelped, but Ginny just grinned and shook her head.

&&&&&&

Tears ran down Hermione's face as she sat on her bed that evening, head in her hands. It was all she could do to keep herself from throwing everything in her dorm against the wall.

"Hey, Mione? Ron, Harry and I were going to go sneak over to Hogsmeade and get some ice cream…do you wanna come with?" Ginny asked, but Hermione just shook her head.

"Mi, you ok?" (pause.) "Holy crap, Mione, are you okay?" Ginny sat down next to Hermione, practically close to tears herself.

Hermione rubbed her eyes, looking at Ginny, who gasped at Hermione dismal appearance. Her eyes were red and puffy, with streaks of red down her cheeks where she had rubbed away tears. Her hair was fixed to her sticky face, and her clothes clung to her body.

"Ginny, I don't feel good…I don't think I want to go out tonight." Hermione said, trying to convince herself that she wasn't lying to Ginny, because she did in fact felt like crap, and didn't want to go out tonight.

"Okay…but just be prepared, when I get back, you are going to tell me what's wrong." Hermione held her tears just long enough for Ginny to walk back down to the common room. As soon as the door closed, Hermione grabbed her wand and stood up. She waved her wand over her body so that it became invisible, and quietly padded down to the common room where Ginny and Ron were sitting, waiting for Harry.

As Hermione was about to go out the portrait hole to take a walk, she heard her name in their conversation and changed directions completely. She sat in the chair in between Ginny and Ron, listening intently.

"Ron, you can't break up with her! You can't go running scared just because things have been a little weird," Ginny said, and Ron groaned.

"Gin, it's not just that! We had that big fight, and Krum is back…I think she still has feelings for him." Ginny shook her head and leaned toward Ron, lowering her voice as she spoke.

"Just think about this, Ron: if Hermione wanted Krum, she could've had him. Harry and I wouldn't have gotten in her way, and I would've made sure you wouldn't have either. He would've had her, but for some godforsaken reason, she picked you. Now, I have no clue what she sees in you, but ever since you two have gotten together, you've both been happier than I've ever seen you."

"Gin, I…"

"I'm not done. Now, Ron, you're going to have to learn to trust. If I were you, I'd start with the woman you love."

"But I never said I loved…"

"No, you didn't say it, but I know you love her, Ron. And you would too, if you'd just take a minute to slow down and soften up to the idea that she isn't using you."

At that point, Harry was walking toward them, and Ginny and Ron stood, all three of them getting under the invisibility cloak and going through the portrait hole.

Hermione quickly followed them out, her head spinning. Ron wanted to break up with her. He was running scared. He didn't remember saying 'I love you' at the party. He thought she still had feelings for Krum. She didn't, but she still couldn't believe that he didn't trust her! Ginny hit the nail on the head; she chose him, right? Yes. She chose him.

&&&&&

Hermione wandered the halls, not sure where she was going. When she finally ended up in front of the library, she sighed and decided that if she studied some for her Astronomy test on Thursday it would take her mind off…her problems.

Hermione sat down at a table after taking off her invisibility spell, and began pouring over books. She was feeling a bit better as the night went on, but she didn't feel like going back to the common room and being showered with questions from Ginny, so she just kept reading, and eventually, between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning, she drifted off to sleep.

&&&&&

Ron found Hermione in the library, and smiled slightly when he saw her peaceful and flushed face resting on the table. He walked over slowly and sat down beside her, stroking her cheek.

"Mione? Mione," he whispered in her ear until she opened her eyes. Hermione looked around groggily, and suddenly became panicked and wide eyed.

"Mione! Calm down!" Hermione looked at him, and her eyes unexpectedly filled with tears.

"I fell asleep. I was…um…studying...and I guess I got tired." She said, sounding anxious.

"Mi, what's the matter?" Ron put his arm around her, looking concerned. Hermione paused for a minute, looking as though she was going to say something important, but then she just shook her head.

"Nothing, I just don't feel well. Sick to my stomach," She shrugged, and Ron didn't press the matter.

"Alright. Do you want me to walk you back to the common room?" Ron took her hand, and she shook her head again.

"I've gotta study some more. I'll be up in a little while, I just need to check some of these books out." Ron nodded, and stood up.

"Mione?" He said suddenly, turning back.

"Yeah?"

"I lo…I'll wait up for you, kay?" She nodded, and he walked out.

Hermione looked down at her book, trying hard to study, but her tears kept blurring the pages as she replayed over and over in her head what Ron said. He wanted to say I love you…but he didn't. He stopped.