Flower of the Heart

'Oh great,' Ron thought. 'I'm going deaf.'

Hermione was watching him carefully waiting for his reply. Her nerves were at the breaking point. Ron was just sitting there. What was the matter with him? Did she scare him off? Oh no! She ruined things between them! But the least he could do is say something. I mean, seriously. She waited a few more moments and finally broke the silence. "Well?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, I think I misheard you," he replied. Why he hadn't said this from the start was probably because he was afraid of hearing her right. But it couldn't be. Could it? 'That would suck,' he thought.

"Well Ron, I'm...I'm still in love with you." She avoided his eyes.

Okay...he had heard right. Damn it! His original plan was working but he didn't want it to anymore. He only wanted Hermione as a friend.

"Um...right," he said lamely.

"What is this?" she inquired. "I tell you I love you and all you have to say is 'um...right'? I think I deserve more then that!"

"Well it took me by surprise!" Ron burst out defensively. "When your friend tells you they love you you're a little stirred for a moment or two!"

"That's true, I'm so sorry Ron." She was shaking a bit. "But, can you tell me if you're at all interested?"

"Hermione..." Ron began,"I'm sorry, but I'm not. Damn, this is awkward. I loved you for the longest time. But times change. If you loved me so much, why did you break up with me? I just don't get it."

"This may come as a bit of a shock..." she broke off, not knowing exactly what to say. She took a deep breath. "I broke up with you for Severus."

"Oh, I knew you liked Snape," he told her. Hermione looked into his eyes for the first time since she'd confessed. He grinned and she raised an eyebrow.

"How on earth did you know that?" she asked. "I never told anyone."

"I saw you telling him you loved him," he explained calmly. She looked scandalized.

"You didn't tell anyone, did you?" she said in a higher voice then normal.

"Well, if you don't count Fleur, no," he said. She looked rabid.

"You told Fleur?" she yelled. "Why in the name of Merlin did you tell Fleur?"

"She wanted to know why I was late," Ron whispered, cowering. "Also, I was shocked by this news. I wasn't thinking straight and I told her because I wanted her to know I wasn't jealous. I wanted her to know I had moved on." He paused. "That I loved her." He looked down and his ears turned red. "The whole reason I had gone out with her was because I was trying to make you jealous. I wanted you to take me back. But I found that I loved her now, and didn't need you to take me back. I was happy with her. I guess my plan backfired. She doesn't even love me anymore. I don't even know why."

"Ron..." Hermione touched his hand, "I've been so selfish. I guess I didn't realize how much she meant to you."

"How would that make you selfish?" he asked curiously.

"Because the whole reason she's been acting like this to you recently is my

fault." His curiosity increased. "You see.... I wanted you back. Badly. So...I kind of did something. I...I took a letter you sent me once and copied your handwriting. Once I had it perfected...I wrote Fleur a letter. It was signed in your name. Basically it said that you wanted to break up. It had also said not to talk about it with you or anybody else. She fell for it and stormed down in the Great Hall. I figured my plan would bring you to me for comfort and eventually we would get back together. It's all my fault, and I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" he said. "You-you're sorry? You think that cuts it, Hermione? You think that's good enough? You actually thought the plan would work? You thought ruining my life and making Fleur and I miserable was going to bring you and I closer together?"

"I'm so sorry!" she wailed. "It's fixable! Go talk to her right now. I never thought about it before I did it."

"Hermione not think?" Ron asked sarcastically. "What is this, the apocalypse?"

"Ron, come on.... I'm really trying to help!"

"Oh, you've been a great help. Thanks a lot."

"Ron, just go talk to her!" Hermione begged. "I understand that you're angry, but just go and fix things between you. I'm sure it will all work out."

"Uh, newsflash!" Ron replied. "Fleur isn't talking to me. You have to fix it. She wouldn't believe me if I told her what happened anyway. She'll talk to you. Get over there and don't come back until you've confessed and she'll talk to me again."

"You're right, I'm sorry Ron," she sighed. "It's my mess, I'll clean it up." She walked to the door and stepped outside.

'What have I become?' Hermione asked herself. 'Look at me. I used to be Head Girl. I was honest and kind. I was strong. And most of all, I was a good friend.' She found herself outside Fleur's office. She sighed and knocked.

"If it's Ron, I'm not opening this door," Fleur's voice answered.

"It's not Ron, it's Hermione. I have something to tell you."

The door opened and Hermione walked in. It was beautiful. The whole room was white. The walls were wooden, unlike most of the castle. Directly across from the door was a window with flowing silk drapes. On the wall to her left was an ornate canopy bed covered in lacy down pillows. To her right stood Fleur's vanity mirror. Next to the vanity mirror were two cushioned chairs. Fleur took these and sat in one, inviting Hermione to do the same in the other.

"Now Hermione," Fleur said. "What is it you wanted to tell me?"