A new chapter is up, so enjoy! Thanks again for your support!

DISCLAIMER: You know it.


For several minutes there was just an embarrassed silence in the living room of the Weasleys. After Hermione had left quickly - not without a reason, all other pairs of eyes were fixed on this very reason. Ron. Once again, a perfectly innocent situation had escalated. But why? This was exactly what went now through Harry's and Ginny's heads, but they wouldn't find an answers, let alone get one. Ron was silent, and acted as if it wouldn't concern him at all.

Actually the opposite was true. In his head was intense activity. Of course, he felt all eyes on him, but he didn't look up. He didn't want to deal with the comments of the others. Harry was less the problem, but Ginny...

"Ron, you're such an idiot." With that Ginny stormed out of the room. As he thought, a reaction was to expect.

'But I never would've expected that kind of behaviour of Hermione. What was wrong with her today? Since when ... she smiles ... like that? Just when I decide to step back she almost clings to me. I could not remember, that she was that way yesterday?' Ron pondered and pondered, but his thoughts were confused.

'Why the hell she just ran off that fast? I can't remember saying something wrong. Since when she is that sensitive? Argh! Those women!' Ron sighed noticeably. He has always had problems understanding his friend. Sometimes she laughed heartily at one of his jokes, only to nag at him shortly thereafter.

'Just like tonight. First, she smiles at me continuously, and then ... Her smile ...' Again, the familiar tingle surged through his body, but he suppressed any further emotion. No, she was forgotten, at least as a potential girlfriend. He had already made his desicion a few hours ago, but still his body was reacting in that way, why? The longer Ron was thinking about it, the more confusing it got. He had to stop it. When he was looking up, he just saw an empty chair in front of him. Apparantly, Harry must've been gone a while ago, and he didn't even noticed. Ron sighed again. After he had put away his chesspieces, he went into the kitchen. Maybe a cold drink could help him to think more clearly.


"You're ok?" Ginny looked at Hermione, who was going back and forth in the garden of the burrow.

"I'm such a fool." That was the only thing Ginny heard.

"You? Probably my dull-witted brother."

"Ginny!" Hermione indignantly stopped. "Ron is not stupid. ... Maybe I did something wrong?" With that Hermione began to walk again.

"You did nothing wrong." Ginny tried to encourage her friend. "He's just blind and ignorant."

"Or he doesn't feel the way I thought...but I was so sure ... the pictures ... my feeling ... maybe ... he was just overwhelmed? Certainly I would be unsettled when he suddenly appeared with a bouquet of flowers in front of me. That can't be it."

"What? ... Hermione?" Ginny felt somehow out of place. Hermione didn't listen at all. Continuous she muttered something to herself.

"I need to do something different. Just what? I could ... ... no, that's not it."

Ginny's attempts to say something were either stopped immediately or not heard. Hermione was concentrated and deep in thoughts.

"Maybe I should just talk to him?" Suddenly Hermione stopped in her tracks. Her eyes met Ginny's. "What do you think, should I just talk to him about it? I think I already made my intentions clear."

"Well, I ..." Ginny couldn't finish her thought.

"Then I'll know."

"Yes, but ..."

"And if I was wrong, then ... well then ... then it'll be a little uncomfortable. Do you think our friendship would cope with that?" Even before her friend had even opened her mouth, Hermione went on.

"But I can't change it anymore. I do have different feelings now. Not, that I wanted them to appear, they just were there and now... The more I think about it, I'm sure it will be the right thing to do. I'll talk to him." Hermione looked one last time to Ginny and smiled at her.

"Thanks, Ginny."

"Uh, you're welcome. I wish you ..." Hermione had already turned on her heel and was running to the back door.

"... good luck." Ginny shook her head a little confused. That was never the Hermione, she knew. But she liked what she had just seen. When she had followed her friend after what had happened in the living room, she assumed to meet a crying Hermione, who needed some support and soothing words. She had been wondering what she could say. But she never met a sad friend. Hermione was neither depressed nor disheartened. She had definitely developed a fighting spirit. That impressed her. For Ginny that was the only right way, when it came to her stubborn and dense brother. She strolled to the garden bench, which stood only a few steps away. Her curiosity pushed her towards the back door, but she wanted to give her friend enough time to clarify all the details. She would find out anyway.


When Hermione opened the door, her eyes fell immediately to a person in the room. Ron leaned with his head down to the kitchen counter. When he heard the door, he looked up briefly, but when he saw Hermione, he straightened his shoulders. Both kept the eye contact. Hermione felt now nervous. Her fingers were very sweaty, while her heart beat wildly. Never had she felt so anxious before a test. There, she always knew what was at stake, she could prepare. But here everything was uncertain, Ron's behavior, his reaction ... Even her counterpart seemed uneasy. Maybe he knew what was coming. Hermione closed her eyes and breathed deeply. When she opened them again, her eyes remained attached to something, and she almost forgot everything...


Oh oh, don't be too harsh on me, because I did end it with a cliffhanger - again. But that's my stile. So a review would be sooooo nice. See you, Quen