Three Little Words

Hermione pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the library, making them creak loudly in protest.

She slowly shut the doors behind her, careful not to make any more noise due to Madame Pince's stern look. Then she started walking quickly towards the back of the library, her cloak swishing against her legs.

Classes were over for the day, and it was time to meet Ron again to finish their project. After what had happened yesterday, Hermione was a little nervous about their meeting today, but strangely enough, she had been looking forward to it for most of the day. Why she had no idea, but Hermione had managed to convince herself that she just wasn't feeling well, and she only felt odd because she had figured out the way Ron felt about her.

"Of course that's it," she thought defiantly to herself as she rounded a corner, feeling defensive.

The library was totally deserted. Frowning, Hermione surveyed the expansive room, her eyes darting between the many rows of shelves. Surely Ron hadn't forgotten...?

But then Hermione spied him sitting on one of the smaller couches with his head resting on his hands reading a book. Hermione stopped, taking him in.

His red hair shone softly in the dim light, and his lips were pursed with concentration. His lips... Hermione stared at them, and she found herself wondering what would have happened if she hadn't pulled back yesterday... Just then, Ron looked up.

"Oh, there you are," he said brightly, as he cleared a spot for her to sit. Hermione put on a warm smile.

"Here I am," she said, sitting down on the couch next to him. They got started looking up things and taking notes.

Things had been going smoothly for about an hour now, and they were almost finished with their report, but every now and then though, something would happen, like Ron's hand would accidentally brush Hermione's, or they would both look at each other at the exact same time, only to instantly look away. The tension (or was it electricity?) caused by yesterday was almost unbearable, and right as Hermione was going to say something, Ron did.

"So, uh, Herm," he said carefully, jotting down a line of notes and turning to face her.

"What exactly happened yesterday?"

Hermione's heart skipped a beat, but she slowly set down her quill and turned to face Ron as well. His gaze bore into her, and she seemed to be sinking into his deep blue eyes.

"I don't know, but..." Hermione searched his face. She barely even heard Ron say "But what?"

Hermione felt like she was drowning. She felt herself slowly leaning forward, and his face, it was so close, and his lips, she could almost taste them, all she had to do was lean a little bit closer...

And when Hermione looked up into his clear blue gaze she lost all self control. Their lips met once, and again, and again. She couldn't get enough of him. Sweet tingles ran up her spine as their kisses grew longer, and longer. And when she felt Ron's teeth nibble on her lower lip, white fireworks exploded behind her eyes. As Ron's hands slipped behind her neck, Hermione gasped for breath, but right as she was about to lean in again, she heard something hit the floor.

Hermione looked down, and saw her necklace glowing almost fluorescently, laying on the royal blue carpet. She stared at it.

The heady feeling was suddenly gone, and the realization of what she had done hit her. She had kissed Ron. Kissed Ron like she had never kissed Harry.

A small part of her wanted to sink back into Ron's warm embrace, but another feeling, a much stronger one was screaming at her to get away.

Now.

A rushing sound filling her ears, she pushed herself off the couch. Her feet were shaky and Ron reached out to steady her, but she took a step away from him.

"I have to go," Hermione stammered, snatching the necklace off the floor. Her breath was coming in short gasps. And with that she fled out of the library, her books lying forgotten on the table.
* * *

Ron's Thoughts:

"Damn... I-... damn..."
* * *

Hermione didn't' stop running until she had reached her dorm. She threw the necklace onto the nightstand and flung herself onto her bed.

Just remembering the taste of him made her shiver. It had never been like that with Harry. Never. Kissing Harry was enjoyable and comfortable, but she had never felt that, that, that intensity before.

Hermione sighed and opened up her diary. She began to write:

Diary-
There is really no need to explain what happened, because I know I won't be forgetting it any time soon. But now I am all mixed up. Do I want Ron? My memories of what I had with him don't lie. But as I lie here, thinking of him, I can't recapture the feeling. Right now I feel almost nothing for him. Almost. And what about Harry? Don't I still love him? I mean, of course I do, but... I don't know. I need some time to think.
Hermione

* * *

Just then, Hermione stepped off the spiral staircase into the Common Room.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry said kindly as he picked himself up and strode towards her.

"Oh, hi Harry," said Hermione, looking around a little distractedly.

"Look, I was wondering..." Harry explained his idea about Hogsmeade.

"Sure Harry, that would be fun," Hermione said with a small smile.

"All right then," Harry said as he leaned in for a quick kiss. Hermione, however, had her own ideas.

Taking his mouth firmly in hers and wrapping her hands behind his neck, Hermione kissed him passionately. Harry's arms automatically slipped around her waist as he kissed her back, but he was surprised at Hermione's sudden fire. He could almost feel the electricity coursing through her.

When Hermione finally pulled away, Harry looked at her in awe, a small smile tugging at one corner of his mouth, his hand absently rubbing the back of his head.

"Wow, Hermione, what brought that on?" Hermione smiled coyly.

"Can't a girl kiss her boyfriend?" she said teasingly.

"Uh, yea sure," Harry said in a slightly puzzled voice, giving her a small smile back.

"Well, good night then," Hermione said softly, turning towards the staircase. All the coyness seemed to have faded, leaving her instead to sound weary.

"Night," Harry called after her. Hermione stepped up the stairs and out of sight, leaving Harry to gaze at the stop she just left.

"Now what was that all about?"
* * *

Harry's eyes flew open. He was breathing hard at the memory of his dream, the pictures fresh in his mind. But as he leaned back against his pillow, Harry felt like all the air and been squeezed out of his chest.

Because it wasn't Hermione's face he had touched so lovingly.

It was Ginny's.

* * *