“I promise to not keep secrets, Harry. I’ll tell you anything important from now on ok?” she smiled and let him go.

They had reached the great hall by then and Harry’s stomach grumbled at the smell of food, “I didn’t notice how hungry I was ‘till now. Come on!” he quickened his pace.

“Boys and their food,” she muttered under her breath as she followed him to their usual spot at the table.

She had just taken a mouthful of scrambled egg and nearly choked when draco Malfoy walked into the room. A sliver of fear mixed with her amusement as she watched him walk brusquely to where Crabbe and Goyle were seated. His jaw was, if possible, even bigger than yesterday and had turned a lovely shade of purple. The fear expanded though when he caught her watching him. He made to pull his wand but seemed to think the better of it and just glowered at her while mumbling under his breath.

Harry didn’t even realize he had stood up, or pulled his wand until her felt Hermione’s hand on his arm. “Sit down, Harry! This is neither the time nor the place!” she hissed at him through clenched teeth while eyeing the teachers’ table.

Dumbledore caught Hermione’s eye. He had surveyed the incident and, with a furrowed brow, nodded at her in acknowledgment. Hermione felt her face turn scarlet. ‘Professor Dumbledore always seems to know what’s going on!’ she thought.

She began brooding about the entire situation. It didn’t seem fair to her that this conflux of events had to happen. If it weren’t for Malfoy, things would be so wonderful right now! She finally realized that she liked Ron and Ron liked her back. Well, he seemed to at least. Did he? Or was he pitying her? A thread of doubt was slowly woven into her consciousness.

****************

Harry attempted, unsuccessfully, to break her melancholy mood several times throughout the day. They ended up back in the common room where Hermione kept forgetting her homework and, instead, sat staring into the fire.

“All right Hermione! Maybe some food will break you out of your bad mood,” Harry was tugging on her sleeve.

“What? Oh, I guess I am rather hungry,” she stood from her seat and, leaving her books behind, followed him out the portrait hole.

She sat down at the table, her back facing slytherin. The food smelled so good and she was really quite starved, having not eaten much at all both last night at dinner and this morning at breakfast. She began piling her plate with food and her spirits seemed to lighten considerably now that she was thinking with her stomach instead of her heart. She was almost back to her old self when the doors opened again, revealing Ron.

The whole of Gryffindor house started clapping as they saw him. He made his way towards his two best friends, stopping quite often to receive the claps on the back and congratulations of his house mates. “The way you saved that last goal even though you practically had your head knocked off by that bludger--” Ron was only half-listening, he had spotted Hermione and the smile that had been as broad as ever lessened slightly. Why did she look so sad? Wasn’t she also happy to see him? He managed to separate himself from the throng of people who had attacked him with well wishes and sat down next to Harry.

“All-right everyone?” Ron said as he began spooning mashed potatoes on his plate. He attempted to catch Hermione’s eye but she suddenly had become immensely interested in her piece of chicken. Ron sighed and began eating.

Harry was very happy that Ron was back but noticed Hermione was now back in a foul mood and was dragging Ron down with her. ‘What is with those two?’ he thought slightly perturbed.

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, aside from the occasional person who came up to pat Ron on the back and ask how he was.

****************

Back in the common room, Ron gaped at the pile of homework that had accrued while he was out of class. “Are you kidding me? Im only taking four classes!” he stared, wide-eyed, at the stack of books and papers Harry and Hermione had handed him.

“Oh, don’t worry Ron!’ Hermione said in exasperation, “Harry’s just about caught up with his, for once, and I can help you as soon as im done with this arithmacy essay.” she gestured to the book and parchment she left behind to go to lunch.

Ron looked dubious but shrugged and settled down at one of the tables in the corner, as much as he liked it, he was hoping no one would come to congratulate him or wish him well until he got this cursed worked done.

****************

The rest of that day, with the exception of dinner, was spent working on homework. It took Harry longer than he thought to finish his potions essay but, he didn’t dare complain about it. He had just barely got enough points on his OWL exam to make it into the class and he knew he had to work extra hard if he was going to earn a NEWT in it.

Hermione, however, had finished her essay in what was probably record time. She rushed through it, hoping that if she was to help Ron with his work, she might get a chance to talk to him about what was going on with them. She was mistaken though, as soon as she finished her essay, Neville sat down--directly across the table from Ron. She still helped him though, lending him her notes and explaining things he’d missed in class.

When they got back from dinner, wich was spent discussing general topics like the weather because Neville and Ginny (who had joined them on their way out of the portrait hole) were there and they had no clue about the Malfoy situation, Hermione and Ron continued with his homework. By the time they were both too tired to stay awake any longer, the common room had emptied almost entirely. Only Harry, Ron and Hermione were left and Harry was dozing in his favorite chair by the fire.

“No, Ron, that should be advantium,” Hermione touched Ron’s hand to point out his mistake. He looked up at her and it was like an electric shock running through him. The soft light of the common room made her look...he didn’t even have words for it.

Ron took her hand, his homework forgotten, and lightly kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for all your help today, Hermione,” he said giving her hand a squeeze.

“Oh, Ron, of course I helped you, you are my friend, after all,” Hermione regretted saying this as soon as the words left her mouth. The look of hurt that crossed Ron’s face at the word friend was almost too much for her. He shook it off though and yawned.

“Well, thanks anyway,” he said icily as he let go of her hand and got up from the table.

“Ron! I–“ Hermione began, reaching out for his hand. She needn’t have wasted her breath, as it was no use, Ron’s temper, while hard to prick, was only going to be softened by time so she let him go with a sigh

“Harry? Are you going to bed sometime tonight mate?” Ron was nudging Harry with his toe and doing a good job of ignoring Hermione.

“Wha? Oh yeah, must have dozed off!”

“Something like that” Ron practically spat. Harry took no notice though as he was still half asleep.

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