"Ron," she asked. "Do you love me?"
Taken aback, Ron hurriedly replied, "Yes, of course I do! Why do you need to ask? We are best friends Hermione."
"Okay." She whispered, turning her back on him and starting to walk back to Gryffindor tower.
"Hermione, NO." Ron said firmly, grabbing her petite hand and pulling her closer to him, making her drop her books. And also she attempted to wrench her hand away from his, he proceeded to bravely put both his arms around her and hug her as tightly as he could. He felt his heart crack with pain as he heard her sob quietly into his Quidditch robes.
"Hermione, please, don't be like this," He pleaded. "At least, tell me what's wrong, please," Ron struggled to keep his voice from breaking as he too felt tears spring to his eyes as well, although he did not really know why this was happening. "You're breaking my heart." He whispered, cradling her in his strong arms.
He heard her gasp softly and felt himself being pushed away from her. He allowed himself one moment to grudgingly respect Hermione's sudden strength. "Your heart Ronald?" she asked viciously. "What about MY heart?" Choking back tears, she folded her arms and glared defiantly into his eyes, the very same eyes that she fell for six months ago.
"What… What about you heart?" stuttered a very bewildered Ronald.
"You get jealous when you see me with Viktor," Hermione lashed out. "Don't you?"
"Hermione, I don't really know where this is going, I-"
"Well what about me Ronald? I have feelings too!" Hermione said, her voice rising dangerously.
"I really don't see what does this have to do with anything Hermione, please-"
"EVERYDAY I SEE YOU SNOGGING HER!"
The pin dropped, Ron knew at once what this was about: Lavender. But this still made no sense to him, why does Hermione care? She was just his friend, why should she be bothered?
"I've not been snogging Lavender." argued Ron. Hang on, he thought, why am I denying it? Does it really matter to me what Hermione thinks? "Stop it, you're being.."
"Stupid? Is that it?"
Ron cursed in this mind; there is really no arguing with this girl. "Look Hermione, can we please not fight? I really don't fancy it when we fight." Sighed Ron tiredly, "I don't even know why you're acting up."
"If that's how you want it then fine Ronald, I'll go then. I'm done okay?" This time she didn't try to fight it, the tears came, threatening to overflow.
"What?" asked a really confused and wide-eyed Ron. It was hard for Hermione not to feel a little sorry for him. He really has no idea, doesn't he? She mused.
"You heard me," she sniffed.
"Wait, hang on, just hang on one second," Ron was desperately trying to clutch on to whatever they had just for the second, as long as Hermione doesn't go. And so he voiced out the suspicion that was already starting to form inside his head, "Wait, is it… because you like me?"
"HOW THICK CAN YOU BE RONALD?" Hermione yelled. Pausing to take a deep breath, she broke, and words that she's been holding back for years flowed out, and so did the tears. "I just don't think I can do this anymore. Being just a friend to you and pretending I don't feel anything for you." She hiccupped. "I tired, I really, honestly, have tried, but I just can't, after a while, it just gets harder." Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks but she kept on talking. "And I get hurt every day, when I see you with Lavender, snogging like no one's there." another hiccup. "Look, I know you like Lavender, and I know that it's seeing you and her that I can't take." She paused, obviously saying the words she's been dreading to say. "So I'll do us both a favour, I'll stay out of your life, and, you just have to stay out of mine." Her heart lurching because of the last words she said.