"Ron, I have to talk to you." whispered Hermione.
"Sure Hermione, what's up?" Ronald looked concernedly at the small insecure figure of hers.
Hermione was standing a few paces away from him. Her arms were hugging her story books and she didn't seem to look up from the floor. Ronald heard her sniff.
Ronald and Hermione are best friends. They became close after knocking out a full grown mountain troll in their first year at Hogwarts. They've been sending owls to each other every day. However, it was a bit awkward for them to speak face to face, at least, when Harry wasn't there.
After a few moments, when Hermione didn't look up, Ronald became slightly worried. He started carefully towards his best friend and gently lifted her head by holding up her small chin.
His soft brown eyes met her dark brown eyes and Ronald was taken aback to see that there were tears pooling at the corners of Hermione's eyes. His eyes wrenched slightly when he saw that she has pain written in the shadow of her eyes.
The school were deserted because half the school has gone back for the holidays and they were the only who standing alone in the corridors to the pitch.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" asked Ron urgently. And when she didn't reply, he asked again. "Are you ill?" He questioned. "Do you need to visit the hospital wing?"
Still no answer. Then, after what seemed like a lifetime to Ron, although in truth it was just a few minutes, for he hated to see his best friend in pain, Hermione spoke. Though her words were very much unexpected.