Unreasonable Boys

Hermione was sitting on her bed in the room she shared with Ginny at the Burrow, thinking. What had gone wrong? She thought things were working out fine. She thought he would return her love...

The last slow song at the dance party given by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in honor of Ginny's becoming Head Girl was coming to a close. Hermione and Ron were dancing together, as well as Harry and Ginny. Hermione's head was resting on Ron's chest, his arms wrapped around her, head against her hair. They swayed gently in time to the music, the soft notes swirling around them. The lights were dimmed. Hermione could hear the gentle beating of Ron's heart, and wished the moment would never end. The last notes of the song faded away. Ron and Hermione stood still for a moment, locked in their embrace, not wanting to break the spell. A few yards away, Harry lifted Ginny's chin and kissed her. Hermione raised her head and smiled at Ron, the lights reflected in her eyes. Ron suddenly looked nervous and uncomfortable. He led her outside and seemed on the verge of telling her something, but looked as though he did not know where to begin.

"Hermione, I... I know we've known each other for a long time and you're one of my best friends, but... I don't really know how to say this... I can't be, well... romantically involved with you. You're sweet and wonderful and... but, it's just... I don't love you, not like that. I mean, as a friend... I... I'm really sorry Hermione, but... I can't."

Hermione stood there, stunned, not really taking it in. Ron turned and went back inside. All those years she had hoped and prayed; they had even had something at one point. But now all hopes were tossed out the window, borne on the wind out to nothingness.

She rushed back inside, avoiding the party, going upstairs to the room that she shared with Ginny when she stayed at the Burrow. She suddenly felt very empty, and did not even have the strength to throw herself down on the bed. So she simply stood there and cried, for how long, she did not know. Bitterly, she thought of Harry and Ginny, of how it had worked out so perfectly, like a fairy tale. She wished with all her heart that her story would have a fairy-tale ending, too.

Hermione came out of her reminiscence abruptly as the door opened. Ginny entered the room, followed closely by Harry. Ginny's eyes were very red, as though she had been crying hard. Hermione felt a certain pity for her. Had they broken up? She knew that they were perfect for each other, unlike, she thought, me and Ron. But that couldn't be, because why would they come to tell her about it? This must be something else... something that looked much more sinister than a breakup between two soulmates.

"We have something to tell you, Hermione..."