Setting: Autumn, the trio's fifth school year.

Warning: Swearing

Chapter One

With a book in her lap and a thick tree shading the surprisingly bright sun and where one could practically taste the spicy autumn air, Hermione could finally begin her "light reading" without any disturbances. She could not stand being in that castle anymore. Even the study hall got on her nerves. She couldn't bear another minute in that damn common room with people who kept on talking loudly, asking for help for their homework or discussing frivolous topics or whatever Harry was up to these days.

The topic of Harry Potter had become quite a topic to bring up. Was You Know You really back? Had Harry gone mad?

Harry had been so quiet, but that was understandable considering the circumstances. He hadn't sought out for help though, as he didn't want to drag other people into his sorrows.

"Fool," Hermione muttered under her breath. She sighed and opened her book to where the bookmarker peeked out. She leaned back against the tree, relieved that she could finally have some peace and thereby finally concentrate. It was only after her eyes kept on circling the same line over and over again that she realized that her worry had exceeded her ability to focus.

Hermione heedlessly shoved her book into her bag before briskly heading towards the common room in hope to find her lost - and hopefully only in the non-literal sense - friend. Her hair bounced in contrast to how she felt.

HP – HP – HP

The cheerful common room with the loud fire and conversations met her with a jolt. How could so many people be so joyful when her best friend was hurting? She looked around the room at the few people with tense shoulders and furrowed brows, leaning over schoolbooks that they were far from finishing. She shook her head and remembered when she used to be able to sit in a lively room and still concentrate on a task. With everything going on in her life, it seemed ludicrous to even consider that she could focus in such an environment. Although maybe if she gave it another chance...

There was no time for ridiculous scenarios. Not when Harry was in trouble. Maybe not openly, but Hermione could tell that he was deeply bothered by something dark.

"Hermione!" A familiar voice called from across the room through the chatter. Hermione looked at her dorm mate who had looked up from her study book. She was, without a doubt, going to ask for help. Her toothy grin said it all. Everyone always asked for Hermione's help. Then, some of them called her a "know-it-all". It wasn't only students who called her that, one of the teachers had called her those words on numerous occasions.

No one had ever taken the words back - no one knew how much they hurt.

Why were people teasing her with her being passionate about magic? Magic for heaven's sake! The thing so many people, including her before she knew she was a witch, thought was utterly absurd to even consider to be real.

'Insufferable know it all' had been one of the many remarks that had hurt her the most. The worst part was that it had been the previously mentioned teacher who had directed the hateful words at her.

"What?" Hermione asked the girl who had asked for her help rather forcefully.

"What's does a thres… threth… threas… How do you pronounce it?"

Hermione held her breath in silent frustration. A snarky comment was on her tongue and she knew that if she parted her lips, it would fleet out and that would mean further dislike on her part.

But why should she care whether people liked her or not? That was not what she was here for. Neither was she here to teach other students, no matter how much their mistakes bothered her. Hermione was here to learn and to take care of the people she loved.

Hermione pushed her own troubles aside and turned her back on the person who asked her the question and proceeded to go up to her room, where she would lay her book and try to figure out where Harry had gone off to.

HP – HP – HP

An ominous silence greeted Hermione as she entered the Shrieking Shack through the tunnel. She was positive that this was Harry's hiding place; he was smart enough not to enter the woods alone, hadn't gone to Hagrid's as that meant talking and Hermione sensed that he just wanted to get away from that castle, much like her. He couldn't show his face at Hogsmeade either as everybody knew his face. The Shrieking Shack was also the place that Harry found out the truth about Sirius and so many other things, which meant that it held a personal value.

Hermione's heart wrenched when she found Harry on the floor with his fingers dug deeply into his thick black hair that desperately yearned for a cut.

"H-harry," Hermione whispered.

This is silly, she thought, why am I acting so cautiously, he's my friend for crying out loud! Hermione took a rather confident step towards Harry.

He remained inert.

Hermione swallowed and took a shaky breath.

This was definitely not silly. Harry was in pain and people were just talking about him saying that he'd lost his marbles or was whining whatever. It was as though people thought he could just get over watching his friend die, scratch that, be murdered by the same dark wizard that had killed his parents and many others.

Voldemort was back and there was no denying it.

Where's Ron? Hermione's thought was abruptly cut short when Harry peered at her from behind matted locks of black hair. The green eyes locked with the brown and raw grief was sent across the short distance.

Hermione tried to figure out the apt way to start a conversation with Harry. Before she could begin, his shaky voice croaked.

"I'm fine, I just need some time alone." His jaw was locked tightly with determination. A shaky breath shattered his brittle demeanour. Hermione shook her head.

"No Harry, you need to deal with things. I think you've had to much ti-"

"How do you know what's best for me?" Harry raised his voice; causing Hermione to take a step back and her face lose a bit of colour.

"I'm just saying that having all this time alone might not be the best way-"

"Shut up! You don't know what best for me, Hermione! Stop acting like such a know-it-all… Intolerable…"

"Don't call me that…" Hermione mumbled, unable to mask her emotions.

"Stop thinking you know what's best for me," Harry said sternly.

"I just want to help."

"With what, Hermione, what?!"

"If you'd just tell me – or anyone, what's going on-"

"You'll what? Pity me?"

"Help you!" Hermione shouted back, unable to keep her bear the emotions in the room.

"You can't help me! None of you can!" Harry took two large strides towards the girl. Hermione grasped her wand tightly.

This didn't slip from Harry's notice.

"Really? You're going to use magic against me?"

The silence in the room roared, raged through the space and thumped violently in Hermione's ears. Nervous sweat glistened from her brow.

"Do it." Harry said, glaring her right in the eye once again.

Has he gone mental? Hermione thought for a second. Of course Harry hadn't. He wasn't the one to blame, but then again that didn't eliminate the chance of him going a little crazy after witnessing the tragic death of Cedric Diggory. But was that the extent of it? There sadly seemed to be more.

"If you'd just understand what I'm going through-"

"That's what we're trying to do, but you won't let us!" This time it was Hermione's turn to interrupt.

"What was your exact intention of coming here, Hermione?" Harry asked. "Don't you have better things to do? I know that it's a Saturday, but where's your homework for next Friday?" Harry scoffed. "I don't need help so why the fuck are you here?"

Harry flinched at his own words. Why the hell was he taking this out on Hermione? He watched as his friend tried to regain her composure with her wand still grasped in her hand. He watched as she tried to hide the tears and emotion. Gosh, he had caused this! Harry: the asshole.

"USE YOUR WAND!" Harry burst out, regret eating him inside out by every word. "Useless."

"Well, I didn't know that you felt that way about me," Hermione said through her first tears. She turned her head and let the rest fall as she made her swift exit out the Shrieking Shack.

She thought that she could hear a faint calling of her name, but knew better and brushed it off like it was her mind trying to make her feel better.

Harry slid down the wall processing what just had happened. He couldn't believe that he had acted that way - to Hermione of all people! He wanted to punch something as his rage wouldn't cease.

To be continued...

A/N: Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding this story. :)