A/N – It's a short chapter, I'm sorry about that but I thought all of this needed to be said. We are doing a bit of exploration about how Hermione is dealing with Draco's death and so I thought I would include this chapter. Please continue reviewing because I love it.

"Hey, 'Mione" Ron came running towards her the next evening as she made her way towards the library. He grabbed her by the wrist and had an intense look in his eye. Hermione gave him a confused look and he simply dragged her into an empty classroom.

"We haven't talked" he explained, taking a seat and expecting her to do the same. She did but only out of curiosity. Ron had never wanted to talk before, not in a serious way. What could he want to talk about?

"I made so many mistakes" he began, as if her curious look had been a signal to begin. "I knew how I felt about you but…I ignored it. Last year, at the ball I wanted to go with you but I felt stupid and I didn't want to ask. And I guess I sometimes thought you had a thing for Harry but you were always so supportive about the Cho thing and that didn't make sense but then…then you changed houses" he looked down at his hands. "I thought you were going to turn into them. I guess I kind of blamed you for the change. It was stupid, I know but…you were gone and we hardly spoke and then you started making friends. I knew them, or I knew Scarlett but I started to hate them because they were Slytherins and I thought they meant more to you than me and Harry. And then…Malfoy." He stopped there, not quite knowing what to say.

Hermione had listened quietly through all this simply because she wanted to see where he'd end up. When he faltered she took her chance to speak.

"They never meant more to me! How could they? You and Harry were my first true friends and I was so hurt by everything you said. And then when you just believed the rumours about me and Draco without even listening to my side of the story. I got so angry. You have no idea, Ron!"

"I know, I know" he said quickly, standing up. "I was being stupid, I said that already. And I could see you liked Malfoy, that you cared about him and I did help when you needed me. I stopped Malfoy from killing you!" Hermione raised her eyebrows and Ron quickly explained about his interruption of Malfoy's killing curse. "I couldn't let you die that way" he said, shrugging. "Or at all"

Hermione just folded her arms, unsure of how to react to all of this. What exactly was he saying?

"I don't normally say this stuff, I don't get all serious, you know?" Hermione nodded. She knew. "But I have to say this because otherwise you won't really know." He took a deep breath, held it for a moment and then let it out. "I love you Hermione" he said.

Then he did the unexpected. He leaned forwards and kissed her. Boys were always doing this these days it seemed. But…she remembered her first kiss with Draco.

"Well, that's fine!" she snapped, causing him to pause in his tracks. "I'd rather have Ron than you any day!"

Her words hung in the air and Malfoy turned his head, staring at her. It seemed like Singlia was holding her breath. Then within seconds Malfoy had turned back around and was moving towards her, looking irritated.

Then a surprising thing happened. Hermione found her vision blocked by Malfoy and suddenly his lips were on hers and everything stopped, changing in a moment. It took her several seconds to come back from the shock and attempt to shake him off.

Before she had a chance to speak he turned and headed towards the door again. When he reached it he turned one last time, looking pleased with himself.

"Say that now" he said, before sweeping out the door.

She remembered how her blood had boiled at his touch and how she had responded even for only a second. She had felt the passion; she knew he had felt it. The feel of his hands on her waist and the knowledge that this was so completely wrong had kept her going. Now she regretted pulling away and leaving her instincts fighting to pull him back and continue kissing him. As much as she had hated to admit it to herself, she had felt the chemistry in that moment.

And it didn't compare with this one…

Ron's lips found hers and his hands were placed on her waist but the passion wasn't there. Maybe from his end but not from hers. It seemed she had thrived off the forbidden love she had with Draco, the passion and imperfection. With Ron it was just too easy and comparing it to what she had just lost…

Hermione pulled away and Ron was left staring at her. "I can't" she told him, apologetic but honest. "Not now, not after he's just gone…maybe not ever. I'm sorry Ron." It was all she could bring herself to say and she ran from the room as fast as she could, leaving Ron to stare at her retreating figure.

Dear Draco,

It's Hermione…I figured there are some things I should say to you now—things I was too scared to say to you before.

I love you. I guess I didn't tell you this because I was waiting for you to say it, hoping you would say it. I loved you, and I still do. I wanted to save you, in fact I tried but you never saw me. I didn't get there in time.

I wish I was angry at you, I wish I could hate you for trying to kill me but I can't. I know why you did it. You didn't think I would die for you. I remember that conversation by the lake. You said that you don't believe in dying for people who would never die for you. I've forgiven you Draco and I'm sorry that you did have to die for me.

And now I'm going to end this letter…I thought it would help but to be honest it's just making me feel worse to know that you will never read it. I'll end this letter the way I started it.

I love you.

Xoxo Hermione

A/N – HAHA, I'm still here. Sorry, I don't normally do author's notes at the end of a chapter but I'd like to ask you all to do something. I have written other fanfiction's or I am writing other fanfiction's since this is the first one I have finished. There is a Fanfiction on my page called 'Scarlett Lies'. This story is centred on Scarlett and the Slytherins. Since you have all been introduced to Scar and Amber-Rose in this story I would really love it if you read 'Scarlett Lies'. The story is about Scarlett and her journey through love and such, there are some great characters that I wish I could take credit for and I'm really enjoying writing it. So I would love you to read it and give me your feedback on that. So, again I love you all and thank you for reading.