Tell Him

Hermione sat alone in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, watching the darkening grounds below. Ron, Harry and Ginny were making their way up from Quidditch practice. Ron and Harry were deep in conversation, as they so often were these days. Hermione wondered, yet again, what they were talking about. She saw Ron look up towards the Tower, and she quickly looked away, even though she knew Ron couldn't see her.

She was pretty sure Ron couldn't see her even when she was standing right in front of him. At least, he couldn't see her that way...

Hermione turned back to the window. Harry, Ron and Ginny had already entered the castle. Hermione sighed. She wished Ron knew what was in her heart, but she also knew she could never tell him. Ginny knew, but Hermione had forbidden her to say anything.

The door swung open and Harry, Ginny and Ron entered.

"How was practice?" Hermione asked, using as normal a voice as she could. Whenever Ron was within sight, her knees went weak, her hands grew sweaty and her voice trembled.

"It was great," Ginny said, taking a seat across from Hermione. "Ron made some spectacular saves."

Harry sat next to Ginny, leaving the seat next to Hermione open. Ron sat down with what seemed like hesitation, and sat up so straight that Hermione was sure he was completely uncomfortable. "Yeah," Harry said. "We're definitely going to beat Slytherin on Saturday."

"Good." Hermione smiled. Ron smiled back, and Hermione seemed to melt into her seat. "Well, I better be getting to bed. See you in the morning." Hermione walked upstairs, pausing once to look back at Ron. He was slumped down in his seat, and, for some reason, looked thoroughly depressed.

The next morning, Hermione Harry, Ron and Ginny were at the Gryffindor House Table, finishing breakfast, when the Owl Post arrived. Hedwig flew in, but had no letter: she was just hungry. However, Pigwidgeon had a letter for Ron.

Ron tore open the envelope, quickly scanned the letter and soon grew extremely pale. "Ginny," he whispered. "Bill..."

"Bill what?" Ginny asked. Ron shook his head and handed Ginny the letter. She too turned pale, but, unlike Ron, burst into tears. Ginny passed the letter across the table to Harry and Hermione.

"Oh my..." said Hermione, placing her hand over her mouth. "I'm...I'm so sorry." She moved around the table to give Ron a hug. A little color came back to his cheeks.

The students were starting to leave the Great Hall for lessons. Draco Malfoy passed the Gryffindor Table and his eyes lit up with glee when he saw Ron and Hermione hugging. "Wow, Weasley, I knew your family loved Muggles and Mudbloods, but this is going a little too far, isn't it?"

"Shut it, Malfoy," Harry said through gritted teeth.

"Sticking up for your Mudblood friend again, Potter?"

"She's a witch, Malfoy," said Ginny drying her tears.

"I can stand up for myself," Hermione said, facing Draco. She was a good deal shorter than him, but her anger made her look very menacing. "Malfoy, one more crack out of you and I'm likely to burst."

"Ooh, I'm very frightened of a little Mudblood like you," Draco sneered.

Hermione slapped him. This wasn't the first time she had done that, but it had been a few years. He glared at her and turned away.

"Let's go to class," she said. "I'll see you at break Ginny."