A/N:This is my new story, The Other Side Of Good. This is loosely based on 'Mary' by Saving Jane (along the same lines as LMMS my LWD fic), but it went in a completely different direction that the other story. It's RHr in the beginning, but if you don't realize it by the middle of the chapter, I don't really like Ron all that much. Anyways, let me know what you think. R&R! Thanks! -Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter One

I Had A Bad Day

I have always been able to to start my day off on the right foot. I get an early start and it always put's me in a good mood for the day. It's my way of assuring that have enough time in the day to fit all of my hectic schedule in. I feel good knowing I've got a head start on the day. It's my way of starting my day right. I wake up early--before most people even attempt to get up--and I am ready to go just as the others are rising. If my alarm clock doesn't catch me, usually I can wake up on my own yet still on time.I can get up naturally. Most of the time I beat my clock, waking almost an hour earlier than my clock would go off. And I love that feeling, that rush of energy that stays with me through the day. I enjoy that feeling.

Today, I woke up late.

I never wake up late. I make it a point to never wake up late. I don't like waking up late. I hate feeling rushed, like suddenly I don't have enough time in the day for everything I have to do. I don't enjoy that feeling. I mean it's obvious that I avoid that feeling. I can't stand it. It's the wrong way to start my day. A bad omen for the day ahead of me. At least that's how I see it. My day started off bad, and I didn't want to think it was going to get worse--but I did.

My dormitory had already cleared out by the time I got up. That had never happened before. I was usually gone before anyone else was up, not the other way around. I hastily got dressed and threw on my cloak. While logically I had plenty of time to get to my first class, in my head I was drastically late. I was late for breakfast at the most, so I had to hurry if I wanted to catch even a bite of breakfast. I brushed my hair back and tied it up. I gathered all my things together--books, quills, parchment and my wand off my bedside table--and stuffed them into my bag. With a quick once over to make sure I had everything, and once assured I took off to the Great Hall.

Upon entering the Great Hall I headed toward the Gryffindor table in a quicker manner than usual. I took my usual seat next to Harry and across from Ron. I immediately began to scoop food onto my plate.

"You're a bit late this morning." Ron replied before shoving a fork full of food into his mouth.

I snapped my head up to look at him. While the words themselves may have seemed like a simple statement, but the way he said it just struck a nerve. After the fight we had the night before, him saying something with that much venom meant there was still bruised ego left over. Not that it surprised me, that was the case after most of our fights. Mostly because I'm usually right and he hates it. Our fighting really picked up after we started dating. I guess it just gave us more things to fight about.

I opened my mouth to say something but Harry interrupted, I think he noticed Ron's tone as well. Either that or he noticed the expression on my face. He just wanted to stop another fight.

"Yeah, Hermione. Ron's already on his third helping." Harry joked, his voice light.

"Really? Only his third?" I said coolly.

"Look Hermione, I know you're still mad that our anniversary slipped my mind, but I really think you could let it go now." Ron responded angrily.

"Slipped your mind? Ron you flat out forgot and you were gone most of the night. You didn't even offer an excuse as to where you were." I snapped.

"It isn't that big of a deal." Ron rolled his eyes.

"It was our six month anniversary! If I'm not mistaken that's a big deal. At least, to me it was a big deal. It was important to me." I exclaimed. "I get the feeling you didn't really care."

"What do you want me to say Hermione huh? What?" Ron scowled at me.

"I'm sorry would be a good place to start." I replied, folding my arms across my chest.

"No, I don't think so." Ron shook his head and smirked at me. "You should be the one apologizing to me. You jumped down my throat for no reason at all."

"No reason! No reason!" I called, my face red with anger.

"Yes, no reason. You were screaming at me before I even knew what was going on." Ron sneered.

"Well if you had just remembered, you would have known what I was going on about." I snapped. "I just wanted you to show me you cared and, well, you didn't

"Oh please Hermione. I care and you bloddy well know it." Ron rolled his eyes again.

"What a wonderful way to show it." I muttered.

Most of the people around us ignored our heated exchange and continued on with their breakfasts. This had become a usual occurence, especially in the Great Hall, because it seemed that meals were the only times Ron was present anymore. Pretty much everyone had gotten used to our bickering--at any degree. Even the professors had given up on mediating, or even acknowledging, our heated discussions. The only people who were watching our fight were Harry next to me and Ginny a few seats down. They knew how bad we could get into it and watched our every move. They had seen first hand over the summer, many a thing wound up broken after being flung at Ron's head. He just gets me so angry sometimes, all the time. I have had enough of it for today, so I dropped it.

"You know sometimes Hermione you can be a real..." Ron began.

"Don't finish that sentence." Harry cut in, quickly and angrily. He rarely interrupted, or attempted to break up, our fights anymore. First of all it rarely worked, and secondly rarely did it stop Ron from raving on into the middle of the night even after I've given up. Harry only interrupted when he thought something really, really bad was going to be said. I appreciated it, because it was usually Ron who was going to say it.

"Stay out of it, Harry." Ron snapped.

"Just forget it Ron. I don't care anymore." I replied and then asked politely, "Can you pass the eggs?"

"Yeah, sure." Ron replied, there was something in the tone of his voice that I didn't quite like, but I didn't really pay attention to it. I probably should have.

I felt something off in Ron's tone, and there was. I suddenly found the entire contents of a bowl of scrambled eggs in my lap. Ron smirked at me, placed the empty bowl back on the table and walked away, out of the Great Hall. I let out an angry, frustrated breath and stood. I shook as much off it off my clothes as I could, letting it litter the floor. I could hear both Ginny and Harry saying something to me, but I ignored them as I rushed out.

I headed directly, down the halls, toward the nearest girls' bathroom. They were following me, I could hear them. I was halfway there before Ginny caught up with me. She was out of breath, but silently kept up with my brisk pace. I could still hear Harry's footsteps following a few paces back. Ginny was right behind me as I pushed into the girls' room. I went to the first sink and began to wipe the remnants off of myself. I washed furiously. I was so angry and upset. Ron was so...so, I don't even know what he is! All because I as upset that he missed our anniversary. I had a right to be upset.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't even notice I was crying until Ginny pointed it out. "Don't let him make you cry. Ron is just being a stubborn arse. He doesn't want to be wrong."

"But he is wrong, right? I'm not the one making a big deal out of nothing, right?" I sniffed.

"He only did this because he knows you're right. It's his way of avoiding a fight. This way he doesn't have to deal with you proving him wrong, which you will evetually do--as always--because you're you and that's what you do."

My laugh came out strangled through my tears, "He really is just a thick headed prat."

"I'm really sorry he's acting this way." Ginny replied, "You don't deserve to be treated like this. I don't understand the things he does some times."

"I don't understand him either, Ginny." I sighed. "Sometimes I get so close to giving up on trying to work everything out."

"Maybe there's a decision you need to make." Ginny suggested.

"No, no. I can't do that to Ron. We can work through this. It we can just get past this fight we do." I shook my head.

"Look I'm sorry if I'm butting in, but I don't think you're gonna get past this fighting anytime soon."

"We have to." I stated firmly.

"I'm sorry to say it, but Ron isn't going to get any more sensitive to your feelings. He's my brother and I love him, but Ron can be a real jerk sometimes. I don't see him changing any time soon." Ginny said.

"This is hopeless." I exclaimed as I stopped my useless scrubbling, "You really shouldn't wait for me. You're going to be late to class."

"So are you." Ginny replied, "And Snape can just shove it. You need me. I'm staying right here."

Ginny sounded so much like her mother it was scary. All she needed to do was put her hands on her hips and stomp her foot, and the effect would be complete. I tried to suppress the laugh that rose in my throat.

"Thank you, Ginny." I nodded.

"It's no problem, Hermione." Ginny smiled and gave me a little hug, "That's what friends are for."

"You shouldn't have to do this. I shouldn't have to feel like this." I murmured.

"I know." Ginny nodded. "Ron shouldn't do things like this."

"Well there's not much more I can do here, so let's just go." I sighed, "I'll just have to change during my free period. If we hurry, we won't be too late."

"Come on, Hermione." Ginny smiled and patted me on the back as we exited the bathroom.

Harry was waiting right outside when we came out. It looked like he had been pacing a majority of the time. Almost immediately after we opened the door he turned and ended up right in front of me.

"Are you okay?" Harry questioned.

"As much as I can be, I guess." I answered and managed a weak smile.

"She'll be just fine." Ginny added, "Now I must be off. Snape's head is gonna explode when I walk in late."

"I told you not to wait for me." I exclaimed.

"I don't care about what the old, greasy haired git has to say. I think it's hilarious when he gets all angry, flustered and such. And I could use a good laugh. Bye Harry and keep your chin up Hermione, it'll be okay." Ginny smirked as she headed off in the direction of the dungeons.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Harry repeated once Ginny was gone.

"I'm okay, Harry, I promise. You didn't have to wait for me." I answered.

"I wanted to." Harry replied.

"I don't want you to be late." I said.

"I won't be late. I don't have a class right now, remember?" Harry responded.

"Right. It's Friday." I shook my head. "I forgot. I just have a lot of other things on my mind right now. I wasn't really thinking about your schedule."

"Look, it doesn't matter." Harry smiled, "Come on, I'll walk you."

"Thank you." I said softly.

"It's nothing." Harry responded.

Harry walked me to my classroom and then went on his way. I was still upset about Ron, but I felt good--just a little--that there would be someone there for me even when he wasn't. They cared for me unconditionally. I liked knowing that. The only thing about it is that it made me realize how conditional my relationship with Ron is. And I didn't like knowing that.

I got through my classes up until lunch as best I could. After my last class, I headed for the Great Hall. I was more comfortable now that I had changed my clothes. When I arrived at the Gryffindor table this time I sat down next to Harry but noticed the seat across from mine was vacant. It was odd. Ron was usually the first one to lunch. I ignored his absence nd went on to serve myself.

"I don't know where he's at." Harry spoke up suddenly, "He said he was goiing to talk to you the next time he saw you. I assumed he meant now."

"It doesn't really matter to me." I responded trying to make my voice sound casual.

At first it hadn't mattered to me, but by the time lunch was over halfway finished it began to matter. Ron never missed a meal if he could help it. He definitely never showed up this late. I hated it, but I was worried. I shouldn't have cared, but I did. I finished off the last of my plate and made to leave.

"Harry, I'm going to go look for Ron." I replied standing. "I don't like this. He never misses a meal. It's not like him."

"I'll go with you." Harry offered, "I'm done here anyway."

"You don't have to." I shook my head, "I'm sure I can find him on my own."

"I'm coming." Harry said firmly, following me toward the doors."Because you'll find him, and he'll say something stupid and if you're alone together you'll either find something heavy to heave at him and not miss or you'll use your wand to blast him into next month. Either way we end up with a crippled Ron and we have a Quidditch match next week."

I chuckled, most likely his intention was to make me laugh. "You don't have a Quidditch match next week."

"It was a joke. You had to state the flaw in it didn't you?" Harry smiled, "Besides we can't have a crippled Ron at anytime, it would be absolutely stressful...and annoying. Once you got through with him--if we ever let you that is--he'd be worse off than Malfoy after Buckbeak attacked him."

"I could poke you in the arm and you'd be worse off than Malfoy was after Buckbeak attacked him." I said, correcting him.

"I meant how he would act about it afterward: moaning and groaning, fainting just to get the full effect. And it was a joke if you didn't notice. You just can't let it go without correcting me, can you?" Harry replied. He rolled his eyes at me. I stuck my tongue out at him in response. "Mature, real mature, Hermione."

"Well you know me." I smiled.

"So where do you want to try first?" Harry asked.

"I was thinking we could try..." I trailed off as we came up on a halfway closed door. I could hear voices coming from inside.

After a few soft spoken words reached my ears I recognized Ron's voice. For the best of me I couldn't figure out why Ron would be in that classroom. He didn't have a class there, or anywhere near there. I frowned as my confusion surfaced. Finally I just decided to look in, there had to be an explanation--a logical one. The door was open just enought to look in, without being seen, from the hallway. I peeked my head around and my jaw instantly dropped at the sight. Harry said something quietly to me, but I didn't hear it, before he too looked around. I didn't get a chance to see his reaction because I had already darted off down the hallway in the opposite direction. I just had to be anywhere but there. Anywhere far, far, far away from there. I turned one last corner and fell back against the wall. I leaned my head back to rest, my eyes closed as I tried to regain the ability to breathe.

Harry appeared in front of me a minute later. He was out of breath and his glasses were crooked on his nose. He must have chased me the entire way. For a moment he didn't say anything. He straigtened his glasses, righting them on his face. Then he came and mimiced my position next to me.

"You run bloody fast when you want to." Harry said, trying to break the tension.

"And I can throw a decent punch." I added.

"Third year." Harry nodded.

"Third year." I confirmed, then added, "That was the year I figured out that I like Ron.

"That was the year the fighting started." Harry shook his head, "About what we just saw..."

"Are you going to try and convince me what I saw wasn't what I really saw, that I'm mistaken, that there's a logical explanation for it?" I questioned, turning to look at Harry. "Because I know what I saw. There's no explaining it away, and there's no mistaking what I saw."

"No." Harry answered, "I wasn't going to."

"Did you know?" I asked.

"No." Harry repeated.

"Are you lying to me?" I demanded.

"No...yes...No, not really." Harry stammered. "I had a hunch. I didn't say anything because if I was wrong you'd both hate me."

"A hunch? Based on what?" I inquired, it was just too much to absorb quickly.

"Based on, you don't wear perfume." Harry answered simply, "You only wear it on special occasions."

"What does that have to do with..." My voice had picked up in frustration, but then I realized what he meant and I didn't finish my sentence. "Oh."

"He'd come in smelling like some flowery perfume and I just thought there had to be some explanation for it. It just didn't sit right with me because the only perfume you own is the one Ron gave you and you never wear that, and when you do wear anything it smells like vanilla, not flowers." Harry explained, "I should have said something."

"You remember that about me?" I replied, surprised. I didn't think anyone noticed things like that about me. Ron certainly didn't.

"Yeah." Harry nodded, then looked away. He wasn't going to say anymore.

"How long?" I said quietly, looking at the floor. I needed to know.

"Almsot four months." Harry answered.

"Four months? Four months! How could he...How dare he..." I stopped suddenly, "That means almost right after we got back to school."

"I'm sorry Hermione. I should have said something about it. You shouldn't have found out like this. I could have warned you at least--that there was a possibility and all." Harry rambled.

"It's not your fault." I said firmly. "He's the one who should feel guilty. Four months, Harry. He's been playing me for four months. This must be like some game to him. 'How long can I fool my girlfriend?' He doesn't really care about me at all does he?"

I looked to Harry for an answer, but he didn't seem to have one. I let out a soft sigh and slid down the wall so I was now sitting on the ground. Harry followed suit and put a comforting arm aruond my shoulders.

"I'm sure he cares about you." Harry finally answered.

"Just not the way he should." I added.

"Yeah." He agreed.

I sat silently. I just wanted to forget what I saw. Erase it from my memory. I didn't want to keep visualizing my boyfriend practically shagging a half naked Lavender. If I had stayed any longer I probably would have had a nice view of the actual act. I didn't want to think of it. I could obliviate myself--or ask Harry to--but now that I knew I had an actual excuse to do something I had been struggling to do for months. I could break up with him and not feel guilty. So this knowledge, however sickening it was, was actually a good thing in a way. If you looked at it the right way. At the moment I wasn't looking at it the right way.

"Come on, Hermione. We have to get to Potions." Harry suddenly said, lightly tugging on my arm to get me to stand up.

"Right." I replied and stood, following Harry to the dungeons. "Work with me today, please."

"Of course." Harry agreed.

I usually worked with Ron, and Harry with Neville. Under there circumstances, however, there was no way I could handle working with Ron. So I opted for Harry instead, it was a safer choice. At least I could have a chance at not attacking Ron in the middle of a classroom. Usually I could contain myself, but right now I didn't trust myself in close proximity of him.

I was sitting next to Harry when Ron came in. Lavender came in shortyly behind him, long enough to not raise the suspicion that they had been together. I started to notice how many times they had done that, how they must plan their entrances. He caught sight of us, he scowled and walked over.

"I thought you were going to work with me, Hermione." Ron replied. His voice was so accusing that it took all I had not to say 'that was before I caught you cheating on me with that giggling twit over there.'

"I asked her to help me because I knew the potion today was going to give me trouble." Harrry lied, very well I might say. He would have convince me if I hadn't known better.

"Doesn't matter, mate." Ron shook his head. "Lavender, you want to work with me?"

"Sure Ron." Lavender giggled.

"But you work with me!" Parvati exclaimed, whipping around to look at Lavender, who was gathering her things to sit with Ron. "Who am I supposed to work with?"

"Neville is free." Lavender smirked.

"Humph." Parvati groaned and moved over with Neville.

I hadn't expected that. I figured he would just sulk and work with Neville. But to work with Lavender right in front of me, he didn't think that was a bit obvious? She was too receptive for there to not be something going on. Far too receptive. Having seen them with my own eyes, I was very aware of what he was doing.

Even after Snape came in and began the lesson, and I tried to focus on our potion, I was still aware of every move they made. At one point Lavender giggled loudly, incredibly loudly, loud enoug to draw the attention of everyone in the room. I turned to watch them and she had her hand on his arm while he smirked at her. My stomach tightened, and my concentration faltered so that I didn't hear Harry's warning or notice what I put into our potion. I didn't notice until it exploded in my face. Harry pulled me backwards away from it and I coughed trying to expel the smoke from my lungs.

Snape was at our table in less than a second, observing the mess we--I--had created. His nose crinkled in disgust and I awaited his punishment for my mix up, though I was sure it would be more severe than was deserved.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor..." Snape snarled, "For your unfinished, unfunctional potion."

"That's absurd!" I exclaimed, "It was a harmless mistake."

"I wasn't finished Ms. Granger. For the table you destroyed and speaking out of turn...detention tonight." Snape added. I scowled but remained silent. Snape turned to go back to his desk.

"Nice going Mudblood." Malfoy sneered from a table over, "Were you trying to reduce your table to splinters or are you just that stupid?"

"Bite your tongue Malfoy." Harry snapped his hand on my shoulder.

"Make me Potter." Malfoy smirked.

"I'll do more than make you." Before I could stop him, Harry had his wand drawn and aimed at Malfoy.

"Harry put it away." I replied softly.

"Yes Harry, put it away." Malfoy sing songed. "You wouldn't want to hurt yourself or your little Mudblood girlfriend...no wait, isn't she the Weasel's girlfriend? How either of you could sink so low is beyond me."

"You have no idea what you're dealing with right now." Harry said in a low voice.

"I know that..." Malfoy began.

"That's enough Mr. Malfoy." Snape snapped suddenly, "Return to your potion."

"Yes professor." Malfoy replied and turned away from us.

"Mr. Potter, please lower your wand." Snape said, and Harry obeyed. "You have detention tonight as well, to keep Ms. Granger company."

Harry was angry, I could tell, but he didn't speak and turned back to me. He gave me half a hug and whispered his apologies.

"Right in front of me. How can he?" I muttered.

"I don't know." harry responded.

"He really doesn't care, does he?"

"I don't know anymore." Harry replied.

We stayed quiet for the remainder of the class. Once class ended I stuck close to Harry as we exited. Our last free period of the day, the three of us usually spent together. Today was different though. We left without Ron and were already on our way out of the dungeons before he caught up with us.

"Hey, what's with you guys? You didn't wait for me." Ron said scowling. "I don't appreciate this whole cold shoulder."

"She's not happy with you right now." Harry replied. To put it lightly I'm not happy, I thought. "And frankly, neither am I."

"Is this about the whole anniversary thing? I was going to apologize during Potions but you were working with Harry." Ron responded.

"It's not about 'the whole anniversary thing.'" I snapped, and stopped walking. Harry and Ron did the same.

"Then what is it about? What did I do?" Ron questioned.

"Just forget it for now. I can't talk to you right now." I exclaimed and started walking again.

"But Hermione, I don't understand." Ron said walking along with me.

I stopped again. "You're not meant to understand. That's the point. God, I can't even look at you right now."

I was walking again as Ron asked Harry instead, "Harry mate, what did I do? Tell me she's just overreacting here."

"Overracting? No, she's not overreacting." Harry answered simply. "Not in the slightest."

"Tell me what I did Hermione." Ron demanded.

"Just go away Ron!" I yelled. "Just go away."

"I have a right to know." Ron snapped and grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop.

"Hands off, Ron." Harry snapped, pushing him away from me.

"What's your problem, mate?" Ron spat out the last word.

"Just leave her alone for a little whiel okay?" Harry responded. "You're just making this worse."

"How is that possible when I don't even know what this is?" Ron exclaimed.

"Leave it alone." Harry commanded. "Leave it alone."

"Fine, I'll see you at dinner." Ron replied and walked off.

"Insensitive, self-centered, cheating arse!" I called after Ron was out of earshot. "He is such a stubborn prat. Bloody hell!"

"Language, Hermione." Harry chuckled. "Probably not the right time, but when did you start cursing?"

"Tenth of July." I answered quickly. I didn't have to think about it, I knew the answer.

"The day you and Ron started dating?" Harry responded.

"Yes." I nodded. The first time I even had the urge to use such words was an hour after Ron asked me out. We had one of the worst fights ever. But I doubted it wuold compete with the one we'll have tomorrow when I confront him.

"Sad thought, that is." Harry said.

"I know." I agreed. "What am I going to do, Harry?"

"I don't know." Harry answered truthfully.

"I can't believe he did this to me. It's so hard to believe." I sighed. "He's changed so much. He's not the Ron I was friends wit, he's not the Ron I like, the Ron I agreed to date. He's not Ron anymore."

"Hermione, I..." Harry began.

"Do not apologize for him." I cut him off. I knew an apology was coming. "This is all his fault. Your guilt is misplaced."

"I was going to say 'I was thinking the same thing.' Ron really is different. But..." Harry replied.

"Oh." I said. "Well, what I said was true."

"This is his fault." Harry agreed. "And I just want to know you're considering everything when you make your decision."

"What decision?" I exclaimed, "Ron pretty much made that decision for me."

"But he doesn't know that. I want you to make a decision that is right for you." Harry corrected, "I want to see you really happy again. I haven't seen you truly happy in a long time. And I don't want you to rush into something and then regret it."

"It's over Harry. I can't do this anymore. He's hurt me so many times, but I've always told myself that he cared and if I ended things it would hurt him. I didn't want to hurt him. Now it's all I can do not to hurt him, badly." I said softly. "Funny thing is, just this morning Ginny was saying there might be a decision I needed to make and I flat out told her no. That I couldn't do that to Ron. She said we probably weren't going to get past all the fighting we do, and that Ron wasn't going to change. I just waved her off. She was right Harry. I should have listened to her."

"Sounds like you did, to me." Harry replied.

"I guess you're right." I agreed, "I do have to end this though, I absolutely have to."

"I'm here for you, always." Harry said putting a supportive hand on my shoulder.

"I know." I smiled weakly. "Can we skip dinner? I'm not ready to face him yet."

"Sure." Harry nodded immediately, "We can head down to the kitchens and get Dobby to make us something."

"I guess that's better than having to handle Ron through all of dinner." I shrugged. While I didn't like making Dobby go out of his way for us, I didn't feel like seeing Ron yet.

"Come on, let's go then." Harry suggested, "We still have detention with Snape tonight."

"I haven't forgotten yet." I shook my head, "Today really was the worst day for me."

"Things will be okay, Hermione." Harry replied.

"I hope so." I sighed.

I let Harry put an arm around me and lead me toward the kitchens. I don't think everything had quite sunk in yet. Sure I was angry and upset but it really hadn't set in yet. I was still my usual rational, logical self. It wasn't really impacting me fully yet. Ron had cheated on me. While I had come to terms with what I had to do about it, emotionally it hadn't hit home. But it would, and I probably wouldn't be ready for it. This really was a bad day.

And I had know, hadn't I?