Hermione went up the stairs after dinner, knowing very well that if she went up to the Common Room, she wouldn't be able to bear the sight in front of her. It was the same since the past few weeks: Ron and Lavender snuggling. They hadn't spoken to each other in two weeks, and frankly she did miss him, but she wasn't going to tell him that. No. Sitting there, at the Astronomy Tower and crying seemed like a better option than admitting she missed him.

She knew how childish she was looking like, but she couldn't help it. It really hurt her every time she had to see them together. Thinking about that bitch near her boy just broke her heart.

Of course she couldn't express her feelings out loud or everyone would think she was going mad. And she would be laughed but she couldn't deny them anymore. They were getting stronger each day and she just felt him further and further.

She looked at the sky, trying to stop her tears. It was hopeless, anyway.

They were running down her face like the world was about to end and she didn't know how to stop them.

Harry: "Hermione... You need to stop doing this to yourself."

Hermione felt two arms hugging her.

Hermione: "I can't! Do you seriously think I haven't been trying?"

Harry: "You're much stronger than this..."

Hermione: "I'm not... I'm... I'm just not..." she was crying so much.

Harry: "Look at me." he was serious.

She lifted her head and looked at him.

Harry: "You are strong and you know it. So, stop trying to convince yourself you're not."

Hermione: "It hurts too much..."

Harry: "You know I understand you. Very well." he sighed. "I just started to accept that, if they are happy, we should be happy too. Even though it kills us."

Hermione: "We can't be happy if we are dead!"

Harry: "Hermione, don't be so spiteful... You really love him, don't you?"

Hermione: "I... I do... Since the beginning..." she said with a tear streaming down her face.

Harry hugged her tightly.

Harry: "Since the beginning?"

Hermione: "In third year I was totally sure of it..."

Harry smiled, thinking about all the drama she made because of Crookshanks.

Harry: "Now I understand!"

She just gave him a small smile.

Harry: "Hold on!" Harry just realized a lot of things. "That entire scene at the Yule Ball!" he couldn't help laughing.

Hermione: "It's NOT funny, Harry!"

Harry: "I'm sorry, Mi, I really am!" but he kept laughing.

Hermione: "Harry!"

He did his best to stop laughing.

Harry: "Sorry... I thought it would make you laugh either. Sorry."

Hermione: "I'm..." she smiled "I'm the one who should be apologizing..."

Harry: "What for?"

Hermione: "I'm a bit moody with all this. It's just... They don't even hide it! And it seems they are everywhere! And I haven't been sleeping well, so... Sorry, Harry."

Harry: "You don't need to apologize. Not with me, and you know it. You're my best friend." he smiled. "And you're always there when I need you."

Hermione: "That's what friends do..."

Harry: "So never say sorry to me again, Miss Granger!" he joked.

Hermione: "I promise!" she smiled.

Harry: "And, since you are promising things, promise me you won't let them bother you."

Hermione: "I can't promise that... You know I can't."

Harry: "Yeah, I know it... However, you could make them believe it doesn't. Don't let her win, Hermione."

Hermione: "I'll do my best. But it's stronger than me!"

Harry: "Hermione, nothing is stronger than you, and even less that blonde girl!"

Hermione: Hermione smiled. "That's what I need to think!"

Harry: "Show her you're way better!"

Hermione: "By don't giving a shit?"

Harry: "By being a better human being, by being smarter and prettier." he smiled to her. "Well, and for that too!"

Hermione: "Will you help me?"

Harry: "Are you seriously asking me that?!"

Hermione: She laughed "I would say I'm sorry, but I can't really do that, so..."

Harry: "So, shut up and tell me, how can I help you?"

Hermione: "Every time you see I'm about to cry, call me and take me somewhere else."

Harry: "Your wishes are orders!" he joked.

Hermione: "And that's what it should be!" she laughed at him.

He looked at her, smiling.

Harry: "Now I like."

She smiled.

Hermione: "Let's go to the Common Room?"

Harry: "Are you sure?"

Hermione: "Yes. I need to do my homework."

Harry: "Oh, I thought we could just sit there and talk about useless things." , he smiled.

Hermione: "That would be a waste of time, but somehow, much more interesting!" she said holding Harry's hand and starting to walk.

Harry: "I know it would! But sometimes, the smaller things make life bigger."

Hermione: "You are always right!"

Harry: "That's you, silly!"

Hermione: "No, it's not!"

Harry: "Oh yes, definitely. And don't make me say all those times when you were right, please!"

She rolled her eyes.

Hermione: "The two of us, then!"

Harry: "Oh, yeah, right!" he answered in disbelief, right before he stopped in front on the Fat Lady. "Well... Here's your prove." he said, looking at her.

She laughed.

Hermione: "Seriously, Harry? Fortune cookie." she said looking at the Fat Lady.

Harry: "I told you! I'm almost worse than Neville!" he laughed with her, while walking in the Common Room.

Hermione: "Neville is lovely!"

Harry: "But he never knows it!"

Hermione: "You usually know it, so, don't compare yourself to Neville!" she said sitting in the sofa in front of the fireplace.

Harry: "Yeah, I suppose I'm not that... What was it? Oh, right, lovely!" he laughed, sitting next to her.

Hermione: "Are you making fun of me, Harry Potter?" she asked, trying not to laugh.

Harry: "Not at all, I would never do something like that!"

Hermione: "Don't mock me!"

Harry: "Never! I love you so much, I could never, ever, mock you!"

Hermione: "I'll pretend I don't know you are lying and just say I love you too!"

Harry: "You know I'm not lying! I love you, silly!"

Hermione: "Right!" she smiled.

And then they walked in.

Harry was still laughing when he looked at the door and saw them getting in.

"Hand with hand, laughing and looking happier than ever." Hermione thought.

Harry grabbed her hand.

Harry: "Keep strong, Hermione. Come on, you can do this."

She closed her eyes focusing and said:

Hermione: "I'm strong and beautiful and intelligent."

Harry smiled.

Harry: "Oh, don't forget cocky!"

Hermione: Hermione couldn't help it but smile "You told me that!"

Harry smiled back to her and, then, looked at Ron and Lavender. How couldn't he understand that he was hurting his best friend?

He seemed like he didn't care anymore and that was not what Harry expected from Ron.

He wanted really bad to stand up and call Ron to reason. But he knew Hermione would never forgive him.

So he just stood still, where he was, mentally screaming at Ron.

When Harry thought it couldn't get any worse than those kisses completely unnecessary, he heard that shrilly voice.