A/N: Stealing scenes from Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer. Sort of.

Ron and I met in the Great Hall, after most students had already filed out. It was October, and starting to get cool, so I was wearing a scarf. As we stepped outside, the wind grabbed our at our hair. Mine was tied back, so it wasn't so bad, but Ron's was just long enough to get completely messed up, thrown in all directions as we walked.

Ron's face held a happy smile, one that I worried about. Would he be okay when I told him I still didn't like him? I wasn't so sure. Things could easily spiral into something very ugly, and very hurtful for both of us. I didn't want that to happen. Harry and Ron were my best friends. I didn't want to lose that over misplaced romantic notions. I hoped my not being romantic at all the last few years hadn't made him like me more… the hard to get thing or something.

About half way to Hogsmeade, Ron caught my hand in his. I started to shake it loose, then decided not to. That would be rude, and friends could hold hands. I didn't want to the day to start off badly.

We held hands all the way to Hogsmeade. Then we started window browsing, so I had an excuse to free my hand to point and gesture. Luckily, he made no moves to take it back. I did need a few quills, but really nothing else, so for the most part we didn't go into any of the stores.

As promised though, we did go into the Three Broomsticks for a few butterbeers. As we drank, we might light conversation. About class, about Harry, about being free of Umbridge… Ron talked some about Quidditch, and I listened politely.

"Hey Hermione?" Ron finally asked, then swallowed, "Did you… you know… snog Krum?"

I frowned at him.

"That's not your business," I told him, being rough despite myself, then stood up, waving over the waitress to pay. However, when she got there, Ron insisted on paying for both of us.

I hurried out and when Ron caught up with me he grabbed my arm, pulling me to face him and said, "I'm sorry. You're right, I shouldn't have asked. Can we just continue the day like nothing happened?"

I shrugged and we started walking down the main street again, pausing at Honeydukes to buy a few snacks. The hours slid by, conversations slid by. Eventually we were walking along the woods between Hogsmeade and the train station, at the edge of town. Ron stopped, and turned to face me.

"Hermione," he said, very serious, "Do you still think you don't feel that way about me?"

I paused to give the impression that I was actually dedicating brain power to that question and then said, "Yes. I'm sure. I'm sorry, Ron. I did have fun today though."

Ron frowned at me, looking frustrated then said, "Well then maybe this will convince you."

Then, to my shock and horror, he took my hands in his and stepped forward to plant his lips directly on mine. Before I could push him away, his arms had slid around my waist, holding me firmly in place. To his credit, it wasn't as bad as I would have imagined. If I had actually liked him, it would have been a very nice kiss. But I didn't. So it was just a kiss.

I grabbed his arms and attempted to push him off. However, he seemed to interpret this as passion on my side, and his hold on me only tightened. Finally I struggled enough that he let go, and the moment there was enough space between us I lifted my hand and slapped with almost as much energy as I had slapped Draco Malfoy a few years earlier.

"What," I demanded, blood pounding through my veins (though not from passion), "was THAT?"

Ron was grinning, he looked rejuvenated as he directed that grin at me and said, "Great, wasn't it?"

"NO," I answered forcefully, glaring as darkly as I could manage.

"You must be joking," Ron said, looking like he honestly believed that might be the case, "That was wonderful. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy that."

"I didn't," I said, and then I was feeling so angry at him I added, "It was worse than kissing Victor Krum."

It was a low blow. I shouldn't have said it, because it was only partly true. It wasn't that much worse. Only worse in that it wasn't with my permission. But it was too late to take it back.

Ron looked like instead of slapping him, I shot him with a muggle gun. His face crumpled. He stared at me for a long moment, then he opened his mouth as if to speak, but shut it almost right away. He started to turn away, looking stunned speechless.

"I'm sorry," I said softly.

He paused, then turned back reluctantly and said, "You really don't like me."

I nodded and said, "Ron you know it's out of my control." Little did he know I wouldn't really be attracted to him even if he was the last man on earth, and nothing against him. However, if he were the last woman on earth… I shoved that thought away to stop myself from inappropriately smirking.

"Why can't it be?" Ron asked, but he didn't seem like he was arguing at me anymore, just arguing.

I shrugged, "Believe me Ron, if I liked you, I wouldn't be playing hard to get. I'd let you know. I'm sorry."

"Maybe I always knew that," Ron sighed, "Let's just go back to Hogwarts."

I nodded. Hogwarts sounded very good now. And a hot shower. Then a soft bed and a good book. A warm dinner. I wondered what Ginny was doing today. Did she go to Hogsmeade? If so, she hadn't left near the same time as us.

Ron and I walked back to Hogwarts in near silence. I hoped our friendship wasn't over now. I cursed myself for letting this happen. For letting Ron get hurt.

OOO

I was alone in my dormitory that evening, wallowing in misery. Everyone else was still out and about, as it was still relatively early, when there was a knock on the door. I stood up from my bed, already in my pajamas, and pulled it open to find Ginny there carefully, looking even more despondent than I felt. I immediately let her in, and led her over to sit down on my bed so that we were facing each other.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"I think I'm straight," she said with a sigh.

I sighed and just said, "So why so down?" For once, her problems didn't seem to matter that much. Just my own.

"I dunno…" Ginny said, pushing some hair back behind an ear, "I just… maybe I only wanted to be gay because that was exciting and new. Now that I'm leaning towards straight… I dunno, it puts me in a bad light. Am I really like that? And it IS fun. I mean stressful and stuff, but also… exciting. Now everything just sort of seems plain."

"What made you reach this conclusion?" I pressed her, gently attempting to tease out her thoughts so she could see them outside of herself. So I could go back to drowning myself with my pillow.

She shrugged, avoiding my eyes, "A couple of things. I thought maybe you were gay, and that boosted the part of me that thinks I might be gay. But you're not so… It puts things in a different light suddenly. A straighter light."

I frowned at her, then hesitated before asking, "But what if I am gay?"

Ginny stared at me, seemingly torn between amusement and sadness, "You aren't, though."

"You seemed pretty convinced of it yesterday," I pointed out.

"Um…" Ginny let out a laugh, "Why are you arguing as if you don't know?"

Hmmm.

"I'm being your subconscious, not mine," I retorted with a smile.

"Hmm," Ginny said, returning the smile. Suddenly the atmosphere changed from slightly depressing to a little more cheerful. I realized it felt good to be sitting here, with Ginny, helping her talk through her problems. I had been right to let her in. She'd drawn me out of my own depressed state.

"So," I said after a moment, becoming a little more serious, "You're straight?"

"Um," Ginny said, and I saw she was not ready yet to make the commitment. Frankly, by this point, I was fairly convinced she was completely a lesbian. Even considering her sort of attraction to Harry. Besides, she was more attractive gay. The idea of her with Harry forever, marrying him seemed kind of gray to me. Unexciting? But telling her that wouldn't convince her, only nudge her in that direction. She didn't need nudging though, she needed to know. So I didn't say anything to her.

"I guess," she ended with, then shrugged and said, "I mean if you, who seem totally gay, can end up with Ron, then me, who also seems maybe gay, but not as much as you, is probably straight."

Ah hah.

"I'm not dating Ron," I said, but maybe I sounded a little too depressed about it.

Ginny looked at me reproachfully and said, "Don't lie to me Hermione. I saw you… this afternoon…"

"You spied on me?" I asked, starting to feel indignant.

"No!" she answered, then blushed, "I was just following you and accidentally ended up spying. It's not like I was going to interrupt a passionate kiss."

"It was not passionate," I said, and some of my disgust must have shown on my face because Ginny started to look swayed.

"Then why were you kissing him?" Ginny demanded, then made a face, "Ugh, talking about my brother's romance…"

"I agree," I said, "I'd rather not discuss his romance either. Nor be a part of it. Ron was just trying to convince me that I'm in love with him or something. It didn't work." Remembering it made me mad at him all over again.

Ginny giggled, then glanced quickly at me to make sure she wouldn't get glared at again, but her amusement had brought a smirk to my face.

"Hmm," she said after a little while of quiet thoughtfulness, "HMMM."

"Sorry," I said, "For throwing you into turmoil again."

"No I think you're right," she said, "I probably AM gay."

"Um, Ginny…" I said, "I didn't say that."

"No, but you pushed me back," she pointed out. I guess I kinda of did. Not entirely on purpose, but maybe a little. Maybe.