A/N: In response to several reviews (thanks for reviewing!!), yes, my chapters are very short…my plot bunny muse doesn't like having to make complicated or long plots, and as I have learned, you don't bite the plot bunny hand that feeds you the story! So sorry! Part four will be posted on Christmas Day!
Disclaimer: No, I'm not JKR, I own nothing to do with Harry Potter and his universe…though I am oh so excited to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
Hermione was having a very trying hour. The day had been long enough, with rising early to fix and review Ron and Harry's homework, going to her many classes, patrolling the hallways with Ron and then being dragged out until very late, being lectured on her secret love. She really did not need to have Harry hear her declarations, nor did she really need to go skulking around the castle, trying to locate the dearest object of her affections. She didn't need to do it, indeed, yet, here she was.
Hermione sighed as she reflected on the past year. Up until the end of Sixth year, she had always thought that Ron would end up being the boyfriend, once he grew up enough to pluck up the courage and ask her. Never in a million years would she had thought that Harry would be the one winning her affections. It had all started back during the Quidditch trials of the previous year. Yes, she had stunned McClaggan so Ron could end up as Keeper, but really it had been for Harry.
She knew of McClaggan from various acquaintances' in other years, but she never really cared for what she had learned. He was a dominating creature, intent on running whatever teams, clubs and societies he joined. The Hogwarts Drama Club closed quickly after its first production because no one could get McClaggen off the stage, even when his character died.
Harry wouldn't be able to deal with such a menace on the team, she had reasoned as she jinxed McClaggen. Ron would at least listen to Harry, despite his tendency to over analyze things. Hermione had thought that no one would suspect her, but sure enough, Harry had by dinner time that night. He had whispered teasing words in her ear, making her stomach flip-flop from him being so close.
After that night, things changed; Ron no longer was the cutest boy, nor did she find their arguments filled with tension. They became siblings that year, Ron soon found Lav-Lav and Hermione started to notice Harry more and more, as did Ginny.
When Harry and Ginny got together, following Gryffindor's win of the Quidditch Cup, Hermione did her best to look pleased for them. She wasn't completely sure why she was so unsettled and upset by it, but attributed her feelings and actions to nerves over Harry's well being.
*
The real night of epiphany was when Harry went Horcrux hunting with Dumbledore. Harry had burst in on her and Ron, thrusting the Felix Felicitus and Marauder's Map into their hands, telling them that he was leaving and might not be back. Hermione nearly jumped on him to make him stay, but realized it was useless. As she watched him leave, her heart dropped into her shoes and tears began to form. Hermione realized that she loved Harry as a lot more then a friend; she was in love with him. She was suddenly overcome with emotion. What would happen if Harry didn't return? What if she never had the chance to tell him of her love? Hermione collapsed onto the closest chair with Ron comforting her through the sobs and declarations of newly discovered unrequited love.
Hermione would have never made it through that awful night of fighting without Ron. He let her cry on his shoulder, and then reminded her that they had one last task from Harry to complete. They had never fought so hard and the Felix Felicitus saved them from certain peril on more then one occasion. Ron was the particular hero of the night...Hermione had never seen him fight so hard.
Once it was all over, they were immediately admitted to the hospital wing, where Hermione immediately pounced on the still very alive Harry, refusing to let go of him, until Ron poked her to warn her of propriety. With deep regret, she released Harry from the embrace and stepped back carefully to watch from a distance.
In the months since then, she had been watching from a distance, Ron had become the brother she never had, comforting her at all times and the giver of many comforting hugs. She was so lucky to have him on her side, but he was constantly pressuring her to reveal her love to Harry. Hermione pushed that it was too soon, Ron thought otherwise, which had led to the declaration on the stairs that Harry was not supposed to hear.
Hermione stamped her foot in annoyance; if she had known that Harry had been there, she would have done things differently. She would have phrased her words so that Harry wouldn't have been shocked, she would have tried to reassure him that it wouldn't change anything and she would have done it in the Room of Requirement with a huge Unbreakable lock on the door, so he couldn't have run away!
'Where is that dolt of a love of mine?' She wondered aloud, craning her head every which way to catch a glimpse of him. Suddenly, she had an epiphany and turned in the direction of the Room of Requirement. She would get this sorted out tonight, so everything would be back to normal by morning. With her heart a little heavier, she started walking.
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