In Front Of Me

Kat spent more time with Harry, Hermione, and Ron over the next few days, getting to know them better. Hermione was like the mother over Harry and Ron. Kat thought it was funny when she scolded them.

"Ron! You have to do that Potions essay! Snape will lay an egg if you don't," Hermione said during another occasion in the library.

"Actually, that might be a humorous thing to watch," Ron said. Hermione glared at him, and he opened his book. Hermione had noticed some 'chemistry' between Kat and Ron, but she didn't want to say anything. She knew Ron would completely deny it, and then stop talking to her altogether. She decided she would tell Harry about it instead. She was a girl after all.

"Harry, can you help me find a book over here?" Hermione said gesturing to a shelf on the far side of the library.

"Why don't you ask Madam Pince?" Harry replied. She kicked him sharply under the table and he stood.

"What did you do..." Harry started, but she cut him off.

"Come along Harry," she said, grabbing him toward where she'd pointed. Ron and Kat looked at each other and shrugged.

"Just what are you..." Harry started but she shushed him. She was peering around the side of the shelf. Kat and Ron were mildly talking. Hermione could see Ron's red ears from all the way across the library.

She turned around to face him and said, "Have you noticed anything about Ron?"

"What? I don't think so," Harry replied. Hermione was really confusing him.

"Harry, are you that dense? Take a look," Hermione said, letting him look around the shelf like he had. Ron and Kat were laughing and talking.

"So? They're just talking Herm..." he started.

"Look again!" she demanded. He peered back around, and Kat was staring somewhat dreamily at Ron. Then Harry saw Ron's ears.

"Oh," Harry said, turning to face Hermione again.

"Oh is right. That is so cute," Hermione squealed.

"You are such a female," Harry said, rolling his eyes.

"So, what are you going to do?" Hermione asked, her hands returning to her hips.

"Me? I'm not getting involved," Harry said.

"Well they obviously like each other," Hermione said.

"So what? That's Ron's thing. I don't want to get into it," Harry said.

"We could get them together," she whispered.

"But, I don't want to get involved. It's not our business," he replied.

"Harry, Ron's your friend. He's practically begging us to do this," Hermione said, peeking at them again.

"Well, if he gets mad, this was all your idea," Harry said. Hermione just smiled and led Harry back to the table.

"We're back," Hermione said.

"You guys left?" Kat asked, looking up. Hermione gave Harry a look that said 'I told you so' and nodded at Kat. She shrugged, and began to talk to Ron again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Later that night in their dorms , Harry had been instructed to ask Ron some questions. Hermione made him remember them all, but kept forgetting them, so he wrote some on his hand.

"So Ron, you seem to get along well with Kat," Harry said, trying not to look like he was reading his hand.

"Yeah, she's really funny. We share two common interests, Quidditch, and hating Malfoy," Ron said laughing.

"She's...pretty too...isn't she?" Harry asked, having a little trouble reading what he'd written.

"Well, yeah, I guess she is," Ron said.

"She has a great snail... uh...smile..." Harry said. The words were running together and getting more and more difficult to read.

"Yeah, she does," Ron said, sighing.

"Oh, sod this," Harry said, wiping his hand on his robes. "Do you like her Ron?" he blurted. Ron's eyes went wide. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Yeah...I guess I do..." he replied quietly. Now it was Harry's turn to be shocked. Ron was rather childish when it came to girls. He never admitted he liked anyone.

"Well, good night," Harry said quickly, turning off the light and trying to sleep.

"Hey Harry?" Ron said in the darkness.

"Yeah Ron?" Harry replied.

"Just how long were you and Hermione watching us behind that shelf?" Ron asked, smiling into the darkness. Harry's face tinged pink, but he didn't answer.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione woke the next morning, and went to get ready. She met Harry in the Common Room, and requested a full report of his interrogation.

"So, what did he say?" Hermione asked eagerly. She was happy for Ron, and she didn't know why, but excited also.

"Well he likes her. He told me this morning he's going to tell her tonight," Harry said.

"Really? Tonight? He must really like her," Hermione said.

"Yeah, well, he's still getting ready if you want to wait for him. I'm going to breakfast," Harry said. Hermione nodded, and watched Harry exit out the portrait hole. She smiled to herself that Ron was going to be with somebody. He'd never had a real girlfriend, but he'd had a few crushes. The feelings between the three of them had been mutual for a long time now. Hermione saw Ron come down the stairs, his red catching the light and shimmering like rubies.

His blue eyes smiled with his mouth as he said, "Morning 'Mione," Hermione could just stare at him. He didn't look like the old Ron. He looked more mature, more adult-like. He was no longer the gangly red-headed little boy with a dirty nose and a pet rat. Hermione smiled slightly, but felt as if she wasn't all there. She was so happy, but it felt as though someone had just punched her in the stomach. If everything was so mutual between them, like always, then why did it feel as though something were missing?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She was silent going down to breakfast with Ron at her side. He was talking about how he was going to talk to Kat in the Astronomy Tower that night. He was going to tell her how he felt. He admitted it was a bit hurried, but he couldn't deny his feelings. He done it before with Hermione in fourth year, and he swore he'd never do it again. He'd missed his chance with her then, because he refused to tell her how he'd felt. He knew she'd never see him as the boyfriend, but mostly the brother she never had.

"Good morning," Harry said, smiling slyly at Ron, who winked back. He headed over to the Ravenclaw table to tell Kat about that night. Hermione stared down into her breakfast, unable to identify why she felt so horrible. A few minutes later, Draco came over to Kat's table to show her to Arithmancy. He had to go there anyway, so they walked together in silence.

"Won't be long now until I'm free of this horrible punishment," Draco said. Kat rolled her eyes.

"Get over yourself," she said.

"I know you've probably grown attached to being shown where to go everyday, but it has to end sometime. I know it will be hard to part with someone as attractive as I," he said arrogantly.

"Hey Draco, do you know where the Astronomy Tower is?" she asked, deciding on not starting a fight.

"Why? Are you meeting someone there?" Draco asked, smirking.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"That's what you do there. The Astronomy Tower is the center of romance at Hogwarts. The real question is who the hell, in their right mind, wants you to go there?" Draco asked.

"None of your damn business. I can find the classroom myself from here," Kat said, hurrying up. Draco watched her go, thinking. She wasn't ugly, but she certainly wasn't good enough for the likes of Draco Malfoy.