One day not long after, Hermione went shopping in Hogsmeade. She'd just apparated and had started putting things away when she thought she heard a sound coming from down the hall.
"Bret?" she called softly.
No answer. Curious, she followed the direction of the sound to the bedroom and found the door slightly ajar, so she pushed it open. There on the bed was Bret, and he wasn't alone. Wrapped up in the covers with him was a woman. They were both giggling…until they saw her. The woman, who had just a second before been all smiles, went pale. Bret opened his mouth, but Hermione didn't even wait for him to speak. Suddenly, the mirror on the dresser shattered. She charged out of the room in a rage such as he'd never seen her in before. As she ran down the hall and into the living room, picture frames and glass objects were bursting into pieces all over the place. Bret quickly pulled on a pair of shorts and ran after her.
"Honey, I…" he began.
"Don't you dare call me that! Whatever you've got to say, I don't want to hear it!" she shouted, her eyes flashing so menacingly that he actually took a step backward. After all, she had her wand on her and he didn't.
She opened the front door and found that the weather matched her mood; it was pouring down rain outside and lightning. Without a look back at him or a single bit of hesitation, Hermione went outside and slammed the door behind her.
Ginny was startled by a soft sound at her bedroom window. A pretty little falcon was on the ledge, tapping the glass with its beak. Ginny jumped up from her seat and ran to open the window. The bird, drenched from the rain, flew inside. A second later, Hermione stood where the falcon had been.
"Hermione, what were you doing out for a fly in this weather?" Ginny asked, horrified.
Hermione looked extremely upset and took a while to answer.
"Bret…" she trailed off.
"What? What happened, Hermione?" Ginny asked, looking worried. She took out her wand and said a spell to make her friend's clothing dry.
"Thanks," whispered Hermione.
"Would you feel better if we talked about it over a cup of hot chocolate?" Ginny asked.
"Hot chocolate sounds good," she said, and they both headed to the kitchen.
Ron was sitting at the table at the time, took one look at them, and knew that something wasn't right.
"Hi Hermione. Are you ok?" he asked softly.
When all she could do was look at him with forlorn eyes, he thought it best to leave them alone.
"Well, I'll let you talk to Ginny. Just remembered I have something to do anyway."
With that, he got up, patted Hermione's shoulder, and left.
When Hermione told Ginny what had happened, she couldn't believe it.
"Guess he wasn't everything we'd thought he was," she said sadly. "I'm so sorry, Hermione."
"It's ok. I just can't believe I chose that jerk over Harry," she said, lowering her head.
"Hermione, it's not too late you know," Ginny said as she lowered her mug. "Harry's not taken."
"I know, but I just feel so bad, Ginny. Harry could've died and…" she stopped short.
"What is it? You want to tell me something else. Go on," she urged gently.
"When he was there in that hospital bed and I was looking at him so helpless," her eyes got a soft far-away look, "I don't know, I thought I felt something…and it wasn't just concern. My biggest worry was for his life, of course, but it was like I just wanted him to wake up so I could kiss him and tell him that I lo..."
Hermione went a little pink.
"You loved him? There's nothing wrong with that. You were starting to realize just how much he meant to you. Maybe you've always cared about him more than you thought you did. It can be easy to get confused sometimes when it comes to guys who are adorable and also happen to be one of your best friends," Ginny said sweetly.
Hermione smiled.
"Yeah, he is adorable, always has been," she said and a tear glistened in her eye. "He's wonderful. I don't know why I didn't go for him right away."
"Oh, Hermione, it was only fair for you to give yourself other options. Maybe you were afraid of ruining the friendship if you'd gone out with him and it didn't work or something. Those things happen. And it's not like you ever treated him badly or anything. He always knew that you valued him."
"We've known each other since we were children. I can't imagine my life without him in it; it was just a little hard to picture him filling a different role," Hermione said.
"Well, now that you've figured things out, I think you should tell him how you feel," Ginny told her boldly.
"Oh no…I couldn't possibly! What if he laughs at me or turns me down? I can't risk it, Ginny."
Hermione looked horrified and took a large gulp of her chocolate. Ginny shook her head.
"Then give it some time if you must, but I think he needs to know that you're not with Bret anymore. I can make sure he finds out for you," she said with a little grin.
"Well, I suppose that would be alright," Hermione said as she attempted a smile.
-->