In Front Of Me

Kat got the directions from another Ravenclaw on how to get up to the Astronomy Tower. She gasped when she got there. It was a beautiful tower. It was dark, but the stars radiated enough light so that it was almost well...romantic. The moon was beaming through the window, silver strands hitting her as she looked out it.

"Kat?" Ron said, appearing in the doorway.

"Yeah, right here," she said, her stomach doing flips. Ron stood beside her at the window, and looked out. He was beginning to get nervous, but he wouldn't allow himself to choke.

"It's a beautiful night," Kat said softly.

"Yeah, it is," Ron agreed, then he turned to her. She turned, and it looked like he was going to say something.

"What?" she asked, smiling slightly at the way he was reacting. She really liked him and had gotten to know him really well. She hoped he was going to say what she thought.

"I wanted you to come here because I wanted to tell you something. I really, really like you, and even if you don't feel the same, I still want you to know that," Ron said, a blush invading his freckled cheeks.

"Ron?" Kat asked.

"Yeah?" he answered, his voice shaking slightly.

"I do feel the same," she said. He smiled in the moonlight, and neither of them spoke after that. They already knew what was going on, so they stood quietly, staring at the stars.

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

Ron entered the Common Room that night. Harry looked over, and smiled, motioning for him to come over. Ron did, giving him triumphant smile. Harry noted the boy's cheeks were a bit pink still. Hermione sat in the corner, pretending to read. She was aware of Ron's presence, but refused to look up.

"She gave me a kiss goodnight," Ron said happily to Harry. Hermione was listening, but she still had that feeling. Ron decided to head up to his dorm, but Harry stayed behind. He was noticing a change in Hermione and he didn't understand it.

"'Mione? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry asked. Hermione looked up.

"Sure Harry," she said.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked, sitting in the chair beside Hermione.

"Nothing, why do you ask?" she replied.

"You don't seem like yourself," Harry said.

"I'm just a bit tired, that's all," Hermione said. Harry doubted that it was being tired that cause her sudden lack of Hermione-ness.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes Harry. I'm fine," she said. He paused, then spoke again.

"Oh, did you hear about Ron?" he asked.

"No, what happened?" Hermione lied. Of course she knew. She didn't want to seem jealous. She wasn't jealous. Of course not.

"He told her, and she feels the same way he does," Harry said, smiling.

"Oh," Hermione said plainly.

"Oh? What does that mean? I thought you wanted this. You're the one who insisted on helping," Harry said.

"I know, and I made a mistake!" Hermione said loudly. It was like she had no control over her own words.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"She doesn't know him like I do. She'll probably break his heart. I can't let that happen," she said, much quieter this time.

"Well, I don't understand what's come over you, but I thought you, of all people, would at least be happy for him," Harry said, standing to leave.

"I am happy Harry. I'm having the time of my life," she said sadly. Harry just left her there, not understanding what her problem was. Hermione picked the book up, blocking her face so it looked like she was reading, and cried.

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

Draco waited for Kat outside the hall. She breezed past him, and he had to practically run to catch up to her.

"Hey Kat, I heard you and the Weasel are an item," he said loudly. She whirled around to face him.

"Where did you hear that?" she demanded.

"It's all around school. News like that travels fast," Draco said, smirking. She continued on her way. He was beginning to notice she was paying less and less attention to him. He hurried to catch up with her again.

"What's your problem?" he asked.

"You, you're making me late," she said, hurrying along.

"Really? Well that's no reason to act like a complete snob," he said.

"Oh yeah, that's right, I have to be a snob to nice people like you. Sorry I forgot. You're very experienced in that area," she said, still briskly walking.

"What the hell did I do to you?" he asked.

"Hmm...do you want the list alphabetically, or just straightforward?" she asked sarcastically.

"Is this because of the Astronomy Tower thing? I didn't mean it," he said. Something was coming over him and he couldn't explain it. He suddenly needed her attention more than anything else.

"Well, that's nice to know, now if you'll kindly screw off, I'll be getting to class," she snapped, and left him there dumbfounded.

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

Hermione was upset. She wasn't herself. She couldn't accept what was happening around her. She walked slowly from her last class, Ron was with Kat, and Harry was nowhere to be found. She guessed he was already down in the hall eating lunch. She was on her way there. She felt incredibly lonely. Ron was gone now, no longer there for her to call a friend or anything else for that matter. When he was there, she never noticed. She was always too busy with her schoolwork and other boys to realize that what she really wanted was right under her nose. She sighed. It was too much. Harry was always there for her. He was kind and patient, and not bad looking. He knew when she was sad and he could easily cheer her up. She smiled when she thought of him. She knew she liked Ron, but she didn't like Harry did she? Someone bumped into her.

"Oh, sorry Hermione. I didn't see you there," Harry said. He noticed she looked a bit down. Instead of talking she grabbed him and kissed him tenderly on the lips.