I followed the sounds of light sobs and sniffles. I turned the corner and there was Hermione, sitting with her face in her hands on the stairs. The moonlight emanating from the little window illuminated her. She look so small, crumpled up into herself, knees tucked to her chest as she heaved in shallow breaths.
I rushed over to her, and sat beside her. We stayed like that for a few moments, silence settling between us, binding us closer somehow. Without any spoken words, she curled into me, putting her head in the crook of my neck as tears spilled down her jaw. She didn't need to say anything, I knew what was wrong. Ron has just kissed Lavender in the middle of the Gryffindor common room. Cheers and claps followed the display, but Hermione ran out of the room before anyone would notice her absence, except me.
She took in a shaky breath and looked at me. Her lips sank into her cheeks, in a sort of 'I'm fine' smile. But she wasn't fine. That was my Hermione- always covering up. I wish she wouldn't. She didn't have to be strong right now, or have a plan for this, knowing exactly how to conquer her feelings.
"How does it feel Harry? When you see Dean with Ginny? I know, I see the way you look at her." She said, sniffling.
I didn't know what to say. How could she think I felt that way about Ginny when all I could think about was her? She looked up at me, tears pooling in her eyes. How could someone so heartbroken be so beautiful? I shook my head as she awaited a response.
"What?" She asked. I wanted to say, right now I can only see you.
I settled on this, "Remember in fourth year, when you were reading some book on charms to figure out something for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament for me, and Snape asked some random question, and no one could answer? And there you were, head in your book, not even paying attention, and you just said the answer, without even a second thought. The whole class stared at you, but you just went right back to reading." I giggled at the memory, and she let out a little laugh as well.
"I suppose I remember that." she mumbled.
"And when you punched Malfoy square in the face that day in third year, something no one else in the school was even brave enough to do, but then you just did it."
"Well, I guess but-"
"Or when someone put some of Fred and George's boil-causing candies in Neville's juice at breakfast that day last year, and you just switched yours out with his, real quietly, and thought no one saw, and you never told anyone." she sat silently, looking at me with a confused expression. "And at the Yule ball, when you stood at the top of the steps in that dress. You looked so beautiful. You always look so beautiful." I said, brushing a strand of frizz from her cheek.
She stared at me, her lips parted. "Ron's an idiot if he never noticed all those things." I laughed.
"Harry, why didn't you ever. . ." she said, looking off.
"Because you're more than all that. You're my best friend, Hermione. You always get it, you can make me feel better by just being in the same room as me. I dunno, I just-you're brilliant Hermione. Don't worry about Lavender, you're a thousand times better than her in every way. And besides, Ron will come to his senses soon enough, and realize he's crazy about you." I said, trying to conceal my sadness.
"I'm not sure if I care about that right now." She whispered, her face softening as if she were thinking and finally came to a decision.
She looked at me again, our eyes locking. A smile crossed her lips, her eyes showing resolve. She put her hands on my cheeks, and pulled me into a kiss.