Anyone But Me

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A few days later Hermione waited for Ron in the common room. It was about time to head down and if he didn't show soon she planned to leave without him. She should have stuck with walking to the class with Harry, but he had gratefully bowed out when she had told him that Ron wanted to speak with her. It seemed that he wanted their relationship mended more than either of them did. Of course, she couldn't blame him. The tension caused by his two best friends' fight was mighty awkward for him...

Her annoyance had started to turn into actual anger before he finally made his appearance with Lavender tucked under his arm. When he saw her sitting there waiting for him, he leaned down and whispered something in the girl's ear. Her eyes found her too and gave an exasperated roll before she stomped off to join Parvati. Ron watched her leave before coming over and she almost felt bad for the git from how dejected he looked. Must be a hard life choosing to be with someone who threw a fit anytime you spoke to one of your friends.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked her.

"Are you sure you're allowed?" She countered.

Looking over his shoulder at his girlfriend and her friend, he sighed and shook his head. "No, but it doesn't matter. Let's go."

"Alright." Her response was simple as she stood and followed him from the room. She could feel the glare on the back of her head but didn't give the witch the pleasure of turning around to look.

Once they were out in the corridor Ron sighed heavily again and started along the way to the Great Hall. They were supposed to gather outside but the melting snow and unexpected drop in temperature caused a freezing swampland which necessitated a move indoors. She waited for him to start, nibbling on a sore that had formed on the inside of her lip. He knew the conditions for the conversation and she could walk the whole way in silence if she had to.

After a few moments of the unpleasantness caused by the difficult strain between them, he caved. "Look... I'm sorry, okay? I should not have said anything 'bout you takin' McLaggen to that party."

"And?" She asked. Her neutral expression gave nothing away on whether she accepted his apology or not.

"And not writin' back over break." He mumbled.

"You know... That is what hurt the most. I could have let your overstepping boundaries go and I tried to! I told you that I understood you were caught up in the anger of the moment and we had both said some awful things... But you decided to ignore me... For over a month!" She rushed out in her typical manner as she fought back tears. The sting caused by the all too familiar feeling of ostracization was still fresh.

His gaze fell to the ground as they walked and he started to shuffle his feet, slowing their progress down considerably. "I am sorry! I was just... I don't know..."

"Jealous?" She supplied easily.

"Yeah... I guess." He said with a shrug.

"Why would you be jealous when you have Lavender, Ron? That doesn't make any sense!" She asked, annoyed with not being able to understand his logic.

Ron fidgeted for a second and started to turn red before meeting her stare. "I guess... Because I like you too."

"And what? Just because you suddenly discovered feelings for me that means you have any right to tell me whom I can, or cannot, spend my time with? Even if I had decided to start dating Cormac... As ludicrous as the idea is, that doesn't mean you have any sort of claim on me." She told him bluntly. It wasn't the time for treading lightly and being concerned over hurt feelings. The new development of them both finding someone had put new boundaries up that had not been previously needed. From either side...