Hermione Granger and the Two Lovers

Chapter Eighteen

Hermione reached the Fat Lady's portrait, but instead of entering the common room, Hermione sat down on the top step.

Where could she go? She needed somewhere quiet and away from everyone.

Then, it hit her like a ton of bricks. The Room of Requirement.

Hermione stood up and ran down the hall until she reached the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy.

Hermione walked past the wall opposite of the tapestry three times, thinking I need somewhere quiet and secluded to think.

The door appeared and Hermione quickly opened the door and entered the room. The room was completely empty, other than one sofa, and was totally silent.

Hermione opened her mouth to say, "Wow," but nothing came out. The room was completely soundproof.

Hermione plopped down on the sofa. Was Harry right? Did she really love Ron? But, why did she feel so miserable flirting with him? At least she could flirt with Ron, though. If she tried to flirt with Harry she remembered how he had broken her heart and started to cry.

A box of tissues appeared on the ground next to her. Hermione pulled out a tissue and blew her nose.

Maybe Harry was right. Maybe Ron really did love her. It would explain the way he acted around her. But if she admitted that Harry was right about that, did that mean he was right about her fancying Ron?

Hermione stared up at the ceiling and closed her eyes. She imagined Ron's face just as it had been the day that he burst into the hospital wing. She remembered each tear that had rolled down his face and the one strand of hair that hung in his face.

New, fresh tears rushed down Hermione's face. Harry was right. She loved Ron.

*~*~*~*~*

Hermione walked back to the Fat Lady's portrait with red, puffy eyes and a mended heart. She rounded the corner to the Fat Lady's portrait. "What in the world?" she muttered.

Draco was talking to the Fat Lady. Hermione dashed back around the corner and listened to what Draco was saying.

"Hippogriff, dementors, muggleborn, er- Godric Gryffindor," Draco said randomly.

He was trying to get into the Gryffindor tower. You'd think he would have learned his lesson after detention with McGonagall.

Hermione casually rounded the corner and said, "Malfoy, we wouldn't make the password that easy."

Draco spun around, a bit startled. "What are you doing here, Granger?" he asked stupidly.

"This is my tower. I should be asking you the same question."

"I was just, er- just..."

"You're so cute when you don't know what to say," Hermione complimented.

"You're quite ugly when you're trying to be smart," Draco insulted.

"I don't try to be smart. I just comes naturally," Hermione said with a smirk.

Draco rolled his eyes, turned around and headed down the stairs, muttering something that sounded a lot like, "Stupid Mudblood."

"Collywobbles," Hermione whispered to the Fat Lady, just incase Draco was still listening. The door swung open and Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room.