It was Monday morning after lunch and the students were on their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ron was really excited, he was finally going to show Lupin that he had some competition to deal with. Hermione would see that she had nothing to fear and then she could finally make her own choice. Ron was sure that Hermione was going to choose for him. He was after all her friend for quite some time and he was more of her age. She had to choose him.
When everyone was in the classroom, Ron decided to sit down next to Hermione. Hermione didn't want to make a point of it, Ron had sat next to her before. It felt different somehow compared to other times. It was like he wasn't sitting next to her as a friend, but it was as though he wanted to make a point. And Hermione didn't like it for one bit.
'Ron, you have enough space, do you really have to sit so close?' Hermione asked irritated.
'What's wrong? I'm a little bit cold, that's all,' Ron said.
Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to move a little bit away from Ron. Then professor Lupin came into the classroom.
'Please open your books on page 86 about Grindylows,' he said and he sat down behind his desk.
'Hermione? Can we share your book? I left mine in the dormitory,' Ron whispered close to her ear.
'Then you should go and get it, Ronald. I want to concentrate,' Hermione snapped.
'Please, Hermione, I won't bother you,' Ron begged.
'Oh, alright. But don't forget it again,' Hermione said, slightly annoyed. She picked up her book and laid it down in the middle of the desk, so that she had to sit close to Ron. Otherwise she wouldn't be able to read her own book. In the meantime, Lupin had started his lecture.
'Grindylows are not very dangerous, unless you don't know how to defend yourself from them. This creatures have a very strong grip, which you need to break before they kill you. The Grindylow lives mainly in the lakes of Northern England and Ireland,' he said.
Ron wasn't listening at all. He was too busy watching Hermione.
'Hermione?' he asked.
Hermione decided to ignore him. She preferred to watch Remus.
'Hermione?' he tried again.
'What?' she finally said, but not very kindly.
'Do you want a Cauldron Cake? I took some with me during lunch,' Ron whispered. He came very close to her when he asked her.
'No, Ron, I don't. You've just had lunch, how on earth can you be hungry?' Hermione asked.
'Don't know, never mind,' he said as he kept staring at Hermione.
Remus continued his lecture, but in the meantime, he saw that Ron was sitting very close to Hermione. His Hermione. He tried not to look at them and to continue his lesson, but it was difficult not to look at the two. Ron was only watching her.
'Mr. Weasley, please pay some more attention to my class and some less attention to Miss Granger,' he said firmly.
Ron didn't answer, but he did look at the teacher now instead of Hermione.
'Right, now please read the text about Grindylows on page 86, 87 and 88 and write a summery for the next lesson. You can start on it now,' Lupin said. It was really only an excuse so he didn't have to look at Ron and Hermione. He was afraid that he couldn't take it any longer, so he decided to focus on the paper work in front of him.
Ron noticed that the professor was not looking at him and Hermione anymore. But he had to. Ron wanted to show Lupin that Hermione loved Ron, not Lupin. He quickly grabbed Hermione's hand in a reflex. Hermione didn't pull back, because she was too surprised.
'Professor!' Ron called suddenly.
Professor Lupin looked up from his work, he couldn't just ignore a student, not even when it was Ron. He noticed that Ron and Hermione were holding hands. What on earth were they trying to do?
'Yes, Mr. Weasley,' Lupin said, quickly looking back to his own work.
'There is something in this book and we need your help with it. We don't quite understand it,' Ron said and Hermione gave him a suspicious look, though neither Ron nor Remus saw that. She also pulled her hand back quickly.
'I doubt that, Miss Granger is a very bright student,' Lupin said, not looking in their direction.
'Please, professor,' Ron tried again and with a sigh Lupin rose up from his desk.
'Alright then, what is it?' he asked when he had reached the desk where Ron and Hermione were sitting. He saw that Ron didn't hold Hermione's hand anymore. That was good.
'It is about this part,' Ron said and he pointed at a picture in the book. 'The text says that a Grindylow has long fingers, but in this picture, it hasn't.'
Hermione sighed, it was a really stupid question. Then she suddenly felt something in her neck. Ron had put his arm around her! Why did he do that? She tried to shake him off subtly, but his arm was still there.
Remus had noticed it as well, but he decided to ignore it. He had to control his temper, it was not right to scold a student for something like this.
'Look at the caption, Weasley, I am sure you are able to find your answer there. The picture shows a young Grindylow, which means…' Lupin explained, but he was distracted once more. Ron was now rubbing Hermione's shoulder with his hand.
'Enough, get out, Mr. Weasley, now,' Lupin ordered, not able to take this any longer.
'What did I do wrong, professor?' Ron asked innocently.
'You are not paying attention to my class. I am explaining something to you, and all you can do is touching Hermione,' Lupin said. Then he realized that he had addressed Hermione with her first name and not with Miss Granger.
'So? What's wrong about that?' Ron dared the professor.
'You are supposed to pay attention and to leave Miss Granger alone so that she can do the same thing. Now get out,' Lupin said softly. His eyes were getting a little bit yellow, both Hermione and Ron noticed. That was Ron's clue to leave, but not without one last flirt.
'See you, 'Mione,' he said and he gave her a wink.
Lupin watched Ron leave the classroom. He looked calm, but the threat was there in his eyes. When he turned to Hermione, he saw that she looked helpless. Lupin ignored her and he walked back to his own desk where he tried to concentrate on his papers once more.
Hermione walked out of the classroom after Defense, she hadn't wanted to talk to Remus after this and he certainly didn't want to talk to her either. When she reached the corridor, she saw Ron. Was he really waiting for her? Even after this? He really has a problem. Why is he being so stupid?
'Hermione!' Ron called and he waved at her.
Hermione sighed and walked over to Ron.
'Hey,' he said smiling.
'Why are you still smiling? You are being so stupid and stubborn!' Hermione exclaimed.
'No, I am not. I am helping you,' Ron simply said.
'I don't need help, Ronald! How many times do I have to tell you that I am not interested? Just leave me alone and stop angering Remus!' Hermione said frustrated.
'I just want you to realize that you are in love with me and I want him to realize that he is not the only one who is in love with you,' Ron said.
'Ron, please, stop this. You have no idea what you are doing. Please,' Hermione begged.
'I know exactly what I am doing, trust me.'
Ron took one step closer to Hermione and took her hand. He wanted to be with her so badly, but then she had to break up with Remus. At this point, Ron had no idea how he was going to get her so far. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, in the middle of the corridor, where everyone could see them. Hermione tried to resist, but eventually she relaxed.
'Ron, you are ruining our friendship,' she said softly.
'That is exactly my intention. I want to be more than friends,' he whispered and he kissed her cheek. When Hermione didn't pull back, he caught her lips with his.
'No, Ron, I don't want this,' Hermione whispered back, but she didn't break the kiss.
Hermione had a double feeling. Why was she not fighting this kiss? She didn't love Ron, right? He was just a friend, nothing more. She had to stop this.
But before Hermione could break the kiss, someone else did it for her.
Hi! So I was wondering... on whose side are you? Do you want Hermione to end up with Remus or do you want her to be with Ron? Please review! I'm curious :p