I'll Be There

Hey everyone, I hope you all liked chapter 1, and here's chapter 2. I hope to keep updating as much as possible, but I can't update well if I don't get a lot of reviews... Hint hint

Part 1 -- Chapter 2: I will.

The next morning Harry Potter woke to have a lot of sore spots all over. He reached on to the nearest shelf and grabbed his glasses. Harry guessed that everyone was still asleep so he tried to open his door. Harry was surprised to find, that it was already unlocked. 'That's odd.' He thought. 'I could have sworn Uncle Vernon locked it last night.' Harry crawled out of his room and stood in the hallway, listening. He didn't hear any hoarse breathing, coughing, or snoring. He walked into the kitchen to find, a bit of rotten apple that had a big bite out of it and a note.

Left early-

Is all it said. Harry turned the paper over to find it blank. After Harry ate his mouse size breakfast, Harry took a long shower and got dressed. He cleaned everything today, a little early. 'Wow,' He said. 'I didn't know I could clean so fast.'

At 4 o'clock Dudley came home. Once again Harry was beaten until he crawled into his room.

Dudley left and Harry had about 15 minutes until his Aunt came home. He seriously thought about just staying in his cupboard, but heard a tapping at the window. Harry quickly crawled to the window and opened it.

"Hey Pig." He said taking Ron's letter.

Hey Harry-

I know it's a little early, but I was wondering if maybe you would like to come to the burrow on July 6th. Me and my family are going on vacation again, and won't be back until the 6th, so we would pick you up on our way home. I'm sorry to say, but Hermione won't be able to come then, she has other things she needs to do. So she wouldn't be coming until early august. Please send your reply ASAP.

Ron-

Harry didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell about his horrid summer, but he didn't want to tell it a million times.

Ron-

I'm sorry to say to, but that is just too early for me, I think Dumbledore would like it best if I stayed here longer than 4 weeks.

Harry P.-

Harry attached the letter to pig again and told him to go back to Ron. Harry looked outside to see Hedwig in a tree almost glaring at Harry. Harry laughed, and got another piece of paper. He motioned for Hedwig to come to him. He wrote a letter quickly to Hermione and told Hedwig to stay at Hermione's, but stay hidden. He didn't know why, but something told him Hermione was having troubles. He laughed at the thought of Hermione being angry with him, for making Hedwig stay there. But there was nothing for her to do at the Dursley's.

Harry once again was beaten until he crawled to his room by his Uncle for being out of his room when they got home. He locked Harry in his cupboard.

"Aunt Marge is coming to visit again. You better behave yourself boy!" He hissed. "You will do your chores quietly after everyone is asleep. And if she finds out your still here, you'll never see the light of day again. You will stay in your room unless Dudley lets you out, and only with my permission." And with that, he left the hallway, before Dudley and petunia came in the house. Harry winced again when Dudley kicked his door and scared him.

Hermione decided to take the bus home, seeing as she still had to do chores. On the bus ride home she thought about different ways to get out of the house, everyday. She had lived with her father beating her since she was 10. She couldn't live another summer with him. But she knew that if she left, her mother would pay for Hermione's actions. 'Maybe, I could say I went to a friend's house, and just walk around.' She thought. 'Naw, Ian would find me. Hey wait a minute! Maybe Ian and I could go out every night! No, he'd get on my nerves too much.' Hermione searched through her head, for different ways. Working late, babysitting more often, and going to Ron's, 'oh! Harry won't go to Ron's until July 6th! Maybe he could come to my house until then! And we can, go walk around, and shop at places, and, and, and, I don't know. But it'd be fun!' She settled it then. While she was doing chores she would try to get her owl to Professor Dumbledore to ask if Harry could, and then she'd call, no, she'd owl Harry whenever possible.

Hermione got home to find Hedwig waiting at her bedroom window. 'Oh. Harry sent me a letter.'

Hermione-

I don't mean to be nosey, but why aren't you going to Ron's in July? And I'm sorry but I thought Hedwig might be better staying at your house, because she gets bored here, I really had to risk my neck sending you and Ron a letter. I'm sorry if she causes any trouble just let her stay in a tree at your house.

Harry P.-

Hermione didn't know what to say to Harry, she didn't want to tell him her whole summer, so far.

Harry-

I really don't want to say why. But, um, Hedwig probably isn't safe here. But I will still keep her here, since in a few days I will be righting back to you again. So once she gives you a letter, I will have her come back. No need to reply to this letter.

Hermione

Hermione attached the note to Hedwig. "Take this to Harry, and come back without a reply."

Hedwig nodded her head to Hermione, and took flight. She would talk to Dumbledore tomorrow.

Hermione did her chores, as always, and decided to take a walk instead of reading. Hermione grabbed her jacket and walked out the door. He dad would be home at 9 or 10 and it was only 8, but it was getting dark fast. She needed to think about things. If Harry couldn't come she would need another way to get out of the house everyday. And some way to save both her and her mom. As she was walking down her street she saw Ian and a few of his friends. She quickly looked away before he saw her and started to walk faster. She hoped he would just continue walking with his friends, but she soon heard footsteps behind her.

"Hey Hermione." He said softly. "Are you okay?"

Hermione didn't look at him.

"Why are you walking so late?"

"Because I want to." Was all she said. Ian walked next to her for a few minutes before saying something again. "Is something wrong?" He asked hesitantly.

"No. nothing is wrong, will you please leave me alone?"

"Okay. And no, I won't. Hermione, I don't know if you noticed, but I like you, and care about you. I know we're not that good of friends, but you can tell me if something's wrong. I'm a good listener, and I won't spill your secret."

Hermione looked at him. She had a tear streaked face, and her make up was starting to run. Ian pulled out a Kleenex and handed it to Hermione. She took it gratefully and wiped her face off and blew her nose. She pocketed the Kleenex and stuck her nose into her jacket.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you. You wouldn't understand." She said finally.

"Hermione please. I hate to see you hurt. I've known you since you were 6 and you always looked so happy. And then, you started going away every school year, and you looked like you were getting sadder each year. Where do you go?"

Without hesitation Hermione replied, "School, in America."

"Why?" Was all Ian could say.

"Because my grandma lives there and I like visiting her."

"Oh. Hermione, please, will you tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

"No, you can't help, and I won't let you try either."

Hermione turned a corner.

"Hermione, where are you going anyways?"

"I don't know yet." She looked ahead, to try and find someplace to sit and think. Maybe if she stayed quiet enough Ian would go away. She really did want to tell him. But, he wouldn't understand why. 'Does he need to know why?' She questioned herself. 'Ah, the park.' She thought. And she took another left.

"Can I follow?"

"You already are, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah. But if you really want me to leave, I will."

Hermione saw Ian turn around and start to walk back. "No, wait." He heard her call. "Please." Ian turned around to look at Hermione. "Will, you walk with me?"

Ian nodded, and followed Hermione in silence. Ian would hear Hermione sniffle or shed a small cry. And he wished he could hold her. And tell her that he loved her.

They finally reached the park and Hermione sat on the merry-go-round.

"So, do you always come here at night?" Ian asked laughing.

"No. Actually I haven't been here since I was, well last year, because I baby sit kinds and we come here a lot. But other than that, I haven't been here since I was 7, I think." She laughed.

"Ahhh. So what's America like?"

"Mmm, err. I don't really know. I go to a boarding school and visit my grandma on holidays. And we've only gone to movies, we don't do much."

"Oh. OK."

"Yeah. So, how's your school?"

"No so bad. I mean I hate school, but it's alright. I wish they had smarter teachers though. They make a lot of mistakes, but I don't care to correct them. I'm a class clown, so everyone thinks I'm dumb. I don't mind, I mean the teachers know i'm not because I get straight A's. Unless I get an angry teacher who thinks my funny business should show on my report card. But my parents don't care."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Hermione couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, you think it's funny, do yah." Ian laughed. "I bet you think that I'm stupid too, don't yah!"

"No, I don't think that at all." Hermione gasped. "Never would I think you stupid." She laughed.

They sat in silence for a while.

"Wow, the stars are beautiful, tonight."

"The street lights, are off." Hermione said. "Why are they off?"

"I don't know. Maybe the city can't pay the bills for 'em, so they shut 'em off for a night or two." Ian laughed. "I'm sure it's nothing. They night have had a short, or some dumb kid just wanted to fuck with the city." Hermione laughed a bit and sighed.

"I don't mean to pester you, but are you going to tell me what's wrong, or am I just here to comfort you?"

Hermione stared at Ian for a minute. "Both." She smiled. She looked down at the rocks. "Do you really want to know what's wrong?"

"Yes, I do. Because I care about you, even though I know I annoy the hell out of you." He laughed. "But, if you're only telling because you feel obligated, don't. I want you to be comfortable while you tell me, and I want to know that you trust me enough, that I would never tell anyone else. If that makes sense?"

Ian looked at Hermione. Hermione looked like she was in deep thought. Finally she spoke, "I don't feel obligated. But I want you to know, that I will only think of you as a friend." She paused thinking again. "A great friend. I haven't even told my school friends this. But I need someone to know, I need to get this off my chest."

"Go on." Ian anticipated. "I understand Hermione. If you only, and always, want to be friends that's okay with me. I will live. But I want you to know, that I am broken a little, and I want to be more than friends. But if that's all I'm gonna get, I won't whine about it." He smiled at Hermione and gave her a hug. Hermione was surprised a little but hugged back. When Ian let go, he saw Hermione crying again.

"Okay, well. I guess I'd better tell you then, huh?" She smiled. "Thanks, for being understanding. I'm really not ready for any kind of relationship."

"Well, when I was 10, my father started drinking, a lot. And he has an anger problem sometimes. And when they mix, the alcohol and the anger or stress, he takes it out on other people. Mostly me. He sometimes hits my mom, but mostly me. Me because of where I go to school, I wish I could tell you that part, but I can't. It's illegal." Ian looked confused, but allowed Hermione to continue. "He, he……he, err, hits me a lot and i'm forced to do chores around the house, and he um…um. He sometimes ra-" Hermione couldn't finish; she was stuttering and crying so bad.

"Oh, Hermione, I didn't know it was like that!" Ian sighed; he brought Hermione into a gentle hug and let Hermione cry into his chest. "I'm sorry, but please, finish.

"Hermione slowed her crying, and tried controlling her stutters. "Well, he sometimes gets so drunk and after he beats me until I have no strength left to fight back, he rapes…me."

Hermione and Ian talked about Hermione's life and a lot of random things for about 2 hours. It was 10:30 when Hermione finally decided she should get home, before her dad come looking for her. Ian offered to lie for her, but she told him no, and said he could at least walk her home.

: Hey guys hoped you liked chapter 2. I hope to update the next chapter tomorrow or Saturday. Or even Friday. Plz read and review! It would make me feel oh so special! ¿ ¿