Everybody Hurts Sometime

Chapter Three "Thirty Sandwiches Short of A Picnic"

Hermione Granger, Gryffindor or not, felt distinctly terrified at this moment in time. Spending the majority of the past few years in the presence of boys had rendered her somewhat ignorant of the complex teenage relationship.

She had never really felt herself to be a girl's girl, not like Lavender or Parvati, who spent their time giggling and gossiping over various wizards who struck their fancy. If truth be told, she sometimes felt that Harry and Ron, lovely and sweet as they were, forgot that she was a girl. The Yule Ball was a classic example.

It came as a huge surprise, even to the two who knew her best, that she could look pretty and go on a date like a normal girl. She giggled, remembering Harry's eyes widen in shock to see her really dressed up, and without the presence of a dozen books or so slung over her shoulder.

Her brief thing with Viktor Krum had been a real eye opener in many respects. Viktor had been nothing but sweet and considerate, yet she found him dull. Ron's indignation had only provoked her into seeing him more. A part of her felt ashamed for leading Viktor on, but she found herself to be happiest when they later decided to be friends. It was easier that way.

So when Ron Weasley, one of her two "boy buds", came up to her with a face as white as chalk, her immediate thought was something's happened to Harry

But no.

Ron sat down beside her, looking seriously ill. He fidgeted constantly and gazed frantically around the library as if expecting Snape to leap out from behind a bookcase and attack him with a bread knife any second.

"Ron?" she said, with a giggle. "What's up? You look terrified." He shivered slightly and began to take deep breaths, but didn't reply.

"If you've only just remembered the essay for McGonagall that's due in tomorrow, and you want me to bail you out, then forget it. I offered you help a week ago, but you were too busy playing wizard's chess. Remember?"

Ron laughed nervously, as if in disbelief. Hermione glanced down and saw his

hands wringing together anxiously in his lap.

"No... it's not about the essay. Although, you're right. I haven't finished it yet...but that's not what this is about," he stuttered at Hermione's glare.

Hermione sat there silently, waiting for Ron to tell her exactly what it was about, but he just sat. She began to tap her fingers on her copy of Transfiguration Today, hoping that it would speed him up, but to no avail.

"Well?" Ron struggled inwardly with himself.

God, who am I kidding? I must be thirty sandwiches short of a picnic to think that anything other than humiliation will come from this. Say something, say something...

Hermione huffed and stood up to leave, seemingly irritated.

"No, wait! Hermione, I love you." He cried this in one frantic, panicked breath.

There was silence. She paled and sat back in her chair with a resounding thud.

Sweet Jesus, I hope to God I'm misunderstanding him.

"Um... I love you too, Ron. You're one of my best friends, you know that."

Ron flushed scarlet, immediately regretting his outburst. It wasn't in his nature to take risks. That was Harry's job. But now I've started... I'll finish.

Outside, the rain began to hammer frantically against the window. Stalling for time, Ron glanced outside, wishing he was out there getting soaked, instead of waiting for the words he knew would destroy him.

"But... I mean in a different way." He swallowed painfully. "I thought maybe we could be... more than... than just friends."

Hermione sat there, stunned. She forced herself to look into her friends wide, quivering eyes. Everything he had said was perfect. Rarely a day passed when she didn't imagine having those very words spoken to her.

But... but I wanted to hear them from Harry...

She was unable to speak, to move, to think. Dear God, she wasn't expecting this.

Or was I? Didn't I at least suspect he felt something like this towards me?

In all honesty, a voice at the back of her mind had suggested it to her. The way he behaved towards her when she had dated Viktor. He had been furious, but claimed it was because she was being unfair to Harry.

"Ron, I..." she began.

He stood up quickly, knocking several chairs over.

"Forget it, your expression says it all. I was being stupid to ever think I could mean more to you."

He turned to leave, but she leapt up and grabbed his arm.

"Ron, no! It's not you. You haven't done anything, and you're a great friend. You already mean so much to me."

Several people in the library looked up, and Hermione dragged him into a more secluded alcove.

"But not enough. Is there someone else? Someone better?"

For the first time in her life, Hermione looked a friend in the eye and lied. Something gnawed at her insides, and she felt suddenly felt bitterly ashamed of herself. But one look into his pained eyes told her that she couldn't bear to hurt him any more than she had just done.

"No! It's just me. I'm not looking for anyone else, and even if I was, I'd be hard pressed to find someone as loyal and sweet as you."

Ron stood back with a look of disgust which shook her a little. It was rare to see such an ugly expression on his normally cheerful face.

"I don't want your pity. Or your fake compliments. I asked you a question, and you gave me an honest answer. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?!"

And without another words, he turned his back on her, and walked out of the library, slamming the door behind him.

Hermione Granger, Gryffindor, sat down and sobbed.