'Bout Time!

Harry sat in his favorite chair in the Gryffindor common room, working on his Potions essay when the portrait hole opened. Hermione burst into the room, face blood shot from crying. Harry jumped up from the chair and ran over to Hermione grabbing her shoulders.

“Hermione! What happened? Is Ron alright?”

“No Harry, it’s not Ron. I was actually looking for you two. We really need to talk. So you haven’t seen Ron lately?”

“No, not since after class.”

Hermione thought for a moment. “Did anything happen, was he acting strange?” Hermione knew her friend all too well. She could tell when he was in a mood.

“No, nothing…Wait. We walked out of class looking for you, and instead we got to see Malfoy snogging this girl.”

Hermione could feel herself go rigid as a board. “What’s so different about that? Dra-Malfoy does that all the time.”

“Yeah, but it looked like he was about to shag her senseless right there in the hallway. He’s never done anything with a girl in public like that. For once, he didn’t care about reputation, he didn’t care who saw them. He actually looked like….”

The room was quiet. “What?” Hermione was almost breathless.

“He looked like he was in love with her.” Hermione quickly clasped her hand over her mouth, startling Harry. “What?” Harry was truly worried about his friend now.

Hermione stood from her chair and walked around the room. She was sure to check the stairways to the rooms to make sure no one was listening. Quickly and quietly she returned to her seat next to her friend.

“I need to tell you something very important Harry. I realize that you are going to hate me for it, and I can understand if you never want to speak to me again.”

“Hermione! It’s alright, just tell me what you need to say.” It can’t be that bad, thought Harry.

Hermione sat fidgeting, trying to choose her next few words carefully. “It’s just this Harry…Earlier, it was me.” Hermione sat back, face clenched, waiting for the fireworks.

“It was you? When?” There was a long pause as Hermione looked at Harry and noticed him putting two and two together. “No. No. I refuse to believe it.”

“Harry…” Hermione reached out to touch his shoulder.

“No!” Harry jumped back, almost like he was afraid her touch would burn him. “Why? Why did you-how could you? You know Ron-Ron! He noticed it was you!”

Hermione let out a loud gasp, tears now pouring from her eyes. “Oh God Harry! What have I done? I need to find him! I have to explain what happened!”

Harry slowly stood, not daring to look into her face. “No,” He said quietly. “I think it would be best if I found him. Right now he needs a friend. Maybe if you just keep your distance for a while, I can calm him down.” With that Harry left the dormitory leaving Hermione alone in her grief.

The next morning, Hermione walked down to the Great Hall to try and find Harry and Ron. When she entered, she noticed Harry sitting by himself. Just by the look of him, she could tell that he was still angry.

“Hello Harry.” Hermione said quietly behind him. Harry didn’t reply, he didn’t even acknowledge that she was standing behind him. “Were you able to find Ron? I was worried about him all night. Harry I realize you hate me, and I understand why. But there is nothing I can do about it. What’s done is done. There is one thing I want both of you to know. I care deeply for both of you. If anything were to ever happen to ether of you, I don’t think I could bare it. No mater how much you both hate me for what I’ve done, I will always love the both of you.”

Harry turned just in time to see his friend leaving the Great Hall. He was still in shock about the news. Draco was his enemy, even now after Voldemort’s death. Now he was sleeping with Hermione. Harry could only guess how his best friend was talking the news. He had spent all night looking for him. He was kicking himself for letting Ron borrow the map earlier that day. Ron knew Harry would look for him, and he knew he didn’t want to be found.
After leaving the Great Hall, Hermione decided to go to the library so she could be alone for a while. The closer she got to her destination, the more she didn’t want to be there. She knew that the library was the last place she was going to get peace and quiet.

Hermione turned, deciding to go send her parents an owl, and that’s when she saw him. Ron had just walked out of an adjacent hallway and was waling fifty feet away from her. Before she had time to address him, Ron was being pushed forward twenty feet ahead of him.

“Ron!” Hermione ran for him, not even caring to see who the culprit using magic was. Hermione was about two feet away when Ron stood and turned. Ron’s face was winced up in pain as he looked for his attacker. “Ron, are you alright?”

Ignoring her, Ron yelled to the third person, “You’ve taken everything from me! My dignity, my pride, and,” Ron paused and glanced at Hermione, then back to the other. “the only woman I’ve ever loved.” Hermione’s mouth hung open, trying to form words. Finally noticing that the third person was in fact Draco, she tried to say something. “Just leave me alone, the both of you.”

Ron turned as Draco shot another spell at him, sending him flying another twenty feet. Hermione screamed and ran toward Ron, trying to make sure he wasn’t hurt.

“That’s right Granger, check on Weasley. So predictable.” At this Ron gave a puzzled look. “Don’t you get it Weasley? I never touched Granger. I mean, sure we snogged a few times, but that’s it. No, she’s always been gah-gah over you. Even if she didn’t realize it. I thought that maybe I could make her forget about you, or maybe she could love me second best.”

“Draco, please don’t do this! It’s not worth it. Just leave Ron out of this. It’s me you’re angry at!”

“No. I can’t just let it go. You’re right Hermione, I am angry with you. I mean, you said his name while you were with me!” Hermione could hear Ron’s sharp intake of breath. “Weasley is just an obstacle in my way. A very small, pest of an obstacle, I might add.”

Draco raised his wand to shoot a curse at an unsuspecting Ron.

“No!” Hermione screamed.

“Sectumsempra!” Draco’s face, which had been in a cold sneer, now was wide with horror.

Hermione had jumped between the two wizards, blocking Ron completely from the curse. She was now facing Ron, body shaking with pain. Draco watched as blood oozed out of the many cuts in her back. Ron looked into Hermione’s eyes, lost for words.

Chocking, Hermione smiled and whispered, “I love you Ronald Weasley.” Collapsing onto the floor.

Ron ran to her, grasping her face. “Hermione?! Answer me! Please, wake up!” Ron’s entire body shook with anger. He looked up at Malfoy, tears sliding down his face. Ron held Hermione up against him with one arm while the other had a wand pointed at Malfoy.
“If she doesn’t make it…If you ever come near her again, so help me! You will wish it was Voldemort who’s after you! I will make you beg for death!”

Now covered in blood, Ron carefully picked up Hermione’s limp body. Turning away from Malfoy, Ron started to run toward the Hospital wing. Ron was almost to the hospital when he heard a scream.

Ginny ran up to Ron, not knowing what to think. “Oh my God! Ron, what happened?”

Fury still on his face, he could only choke out one word, “Malfoy.”

Ginny froze in mid step. She knew how much they had hated each other over the years, but she was still shocked that he would try something like this. “I’ll run ahead and warn them at the Hospital wing.”


A/N-I know it's a short chapter. So what! Thanks for the reviews. I need more before I post the smut! Thanks for the review Seiryu_Chojin69! Because of you, I put this chapter up!