Chapter Four: A Place to Think

Hermione knew one thing: she had to find Ron. She needed to talk to him, so she ran to the common room to see if he was there, but he wasn't, then she ran up to the boy's dorm to check in there but did not find him, she went down to the Great Hall to see if he was still eating, but she still did not find him, she then tried the kitchen but he was not there either. But then she suddenly remembered about Ron telling her and showing her a secret room on the seventh floor, so she made her way up to the seventh floor as quickly as she could before arriving in the corridor. She saw that the door was not there before she began pacing in front of it, thinking; 'I need to see where Ron is.'

To her immense relief, a door appeared, and she went inside to see that the room was completely dark.

'Ron?' Hermione called out into the darkness.

'Ron, I know you're in here, please, say something …' she said.

It was then that a small spotlight appeared over Ron's head, showing that he was sitting in the corner with his knees to his chest and with an expression on his face that was anger mixed with sadness.

Hermione ran over to the corner and sat down next to him.

'Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry,' she said sadly, 'you don't deserve this I promise you.'

'Don't care, Hermione, it doesn't matter anymore,' he croaked.

'You matter, Ron,' said Hermione.

'Not to Potter and his new friends and family, I don't, so what did he have to say to you?' Ron replied.

Hermione painstakingly told Ron what Harry had told her, even the bit with having to go out with Neville.

'So what are you doing in here?' asked Ron.

'I needed a place to think and I needed to talk to you,' she replied.

'So you can make up your mind and then tell me that you don't want me in your life either?' said Ron.

'No, Ron, I haven't made up my mind yet,' she told him honestly.

'But what about Krum, aren't you going out with him?' Ron asked.

'No, we're just friends, that's all,' Hermione replied truthfully.

'Oh,' said Ron.

They sat quietly for a moment before Ron spoke again.

'Hermione?' he said tentatively.

'Yeah?' she replied.

'Um, I know you already have a lot to think about, but can I tell you something? I mean I don't want to make things more complicated for you, but I need to say this in case you choose Potter …' said Ron.

It was strange hearing Ron calling Harry by his last name, but she had a feeling Ron had something important to say.

'Okay, I'm listening,' said Hermione.

'I'm sorry,' began Ron, 'I'm sorry I've been such an arse to you. I'm sorry I ever called you a nightmare, and that you had no friends. I'm sorry I let you go off and get petrified by the basilisk, I'm sorry I was horrible to you last year, and I'm sorry I fucked up the Yule Ball for you and for the argument we had afterward in the common room. I'm sorry for everything … I'm an idiot for not asking you to the ball before Krum, I'm sorry about the way I did eventually ask, I've always known you are a girl, I noticed the moment I met you … the skirt was a bit of a giveaway … anyway, I need you to know how much you mean to me before you make your decision, Hermione … you see, well what I've come to realise is that … you are my best friend and so much more … I … love you … I love you, Hermione Granger, and now I'm going to lose you … I think I've loved you since you told me I had dirt on my nose, I realised it when I saw you after you had been petrified … it was the worst I've ever felt seeing you lying there almost lifeless … I never said anything before because I was in denial and didn't think you could ever feel the same way, but when I saw you in your beautiful dress … I realised how badly I fucked up and that I could no longer deny my feelings for you … anyway, whatever you decide to do, Hermione, I will always love you, and if you ever need me, I'll be there.'