Chapter Three- Star

Hermione wiped away a tear that was falling down her check. Her anger was more than her sadness, but the gravity of what she had almost given into that boy made her feel overwhelmed. Taking a deep breath she looked up at Harry and said, "He accused me of being a..." she could hardly say it let alone accept the fact that she had been called such a vile thing. Finally she managed to choke out a whispered, "whore." Another stray tear fell down, she didn't bother wiping it away.

Looking back up at Harry she was surprised to see his hands clenched at the table and his face, although shadowed from the fire, was dark and angry looking.

She was about to ask if he was ok when he finally unclenched his fists saying softly, "I'm sorry Hermione. I...I didn't know that was what had happened..."

Looking down at her lap she watched as the stray tear that had begun to slide down her cheek landed on her tightly clasped hands. She nodded saying in a voice above a whisper, "I had no idea that he thought me and Krum or...you and I..." her voice trailed off. The thought of it all made her feel sick. Harry was her best friend! Never had she ever thought about him in that way. And Krum...that was nothing. Krum turned out to just be a friend. He sent her owls occasionally but he was enjoying the fame and his new girlfriend way too much to be bothered with her.

Growing silent, she didn't look back at him for a long while. It wasn't until he cleared his throat that she finally looked up and saw how sad his face looked.

Harry leaned back in his seat and rubbed his eyes, taking a deep breath he leaned his head back and nodded, "So that's it then."

"What?"

He took a deep breath as if gaining some type of courage, exhaling he began looking over at the fire, "I arrived at the Burrow a day after you had left and Ron had met me outside. When I apparated I saw that he was up in his room, but once I arrived by the garden he apparated to meet me. He looked...angry. All of a sudden he was yelling absolute nonsense, and all I could pick out was your name and my name and Krum and some other names as well. All of a sudden he then just went completely bonkers and pushed me demanding what had happened after he had left us when we were searching for horocruxes."

"What did you say?" Hermione could feel her voice weak and had found that during Harry's story she had begun to lean forward in her seat. Leaning back she placed her hands on either side of her keeping her put on the seat.

"I told him that absolutely nothing happened between us and that he was mad for thinking that we had done anything."

They sat there for a few moments in silence, taking in all that Harry said. She could feel her chest rising and falling to her quickened breathing, she couldn't believe it. Not only did Ron accuse her, but he too turned on Harry!

"What else happened?" she heard herself ask after the silence became unbearable.

"After I called him mad he took out his wand and was about to hex me. If it wasn't for Mr. Weasley and George I don't know what would've happened."

"Ron tried to hex you?!" she couldn't believe it.

Who was this person that had taken over their best friend?

"Yeah. I don't know what has possessed him, but he has changed so much."

Another moment of silence fell between them, this time both on their own thoughts and experiences with their once best friend. Both wondering and questioning just what could've happened to have made him change so much.

"Have you talked to Ginny lately?" she asked softly wanting to stop talking about Ron.

Catching on to what she was doing, Harry gave her a slight smile before saying, "We've been sending owls to each other this summer since I didn't get the chance to see her that much. I sent her an owl the other day; I haven't received an answer yet."

At that moment Tom came around picking up their empty plates and leftovers himself leaving two new bottles of Butterbeer then leaving them as silently as he had come. Pouring them some drinks, they silently toasted each other. Licking her lips she sighed as she placed the mug back on the table.

After a few more moments of silence Harry said leaning back in his seat, "I don't know about you but I think I would like to go back out to Diagon Alley before everything closes. Want to join me?"

Hermione walked again along the streets of Diagon Alley with Harry, they walked around as the early evening sun cast shadows before them, and looked through the shop windows and the merchandise being sold. Soon they had approached where they had met that afternoon, and suddenly she remembered the cat.

Not sure how to ask Harry about going into the pet store, she didn't have to worry for Harry asked, "Want to go to the pet store with me? I have been putting it off since I've arrived. I need a new owl since..."

He fell silent, and knowing his deep love for Hedwig, she smiled saying quickly, "Let's go in. I don't mind looking around. Maybe I'll find me something too."

He frowned and looked at her strangely. Looking down at the ground she replied trying to hold back a new sob, "Crookshanks died last month."

"I'm sorry Hermione."

She nodded, shrugging away the feeling of sadness, saying, "Come on lets go in."

Harry led them inside the pet store after looking around for a few moments Hermione let him wander around and talk to the store owner while she tried to look around. The cat was gone from its original spot and she was trying to find it without being too obvious. She was about to give up when all of a sudden from behind her she heard a small meow. Turning she looked towards where she heard the sound and in the corner next to the counter was a cage holding a black cat.

Walking forward she had to suppress a gasp as she caught the gaze of the same eyes she had met earlier that day. The cat was more beautiful up close as it was far away. Its coat was shiny and well kept, complete opposite from Crookshanks, and his eyes were what she had thought they had looked like from afar. Like the color of stars in the night sky, but now that she was close enough she could see the deep blue that encircled them.

So entranced by the cat she did not hear anyone approach her, until a clearing throat and a deep raspy voice said, "She's a beauty alright isn't she?"

Hermione couldn't help but to nod.

"Found her just a day ago. Has a mean temper, and claws a lot. I wouldn't give that cat to anyone unless they were up for a real challenge."

As if to prove him wrong, the cat began to rub the side of the cage purring deeply. She couldn't help it but to let her hand slip inside the sides of the cage and touch the animal's soft fur. Warm and silky soft fur was what her fingertips felt as a deep and contented purr resounded as the cat stopped rubbing the cage and let Hermione rub the cats neck and head.

"Well I'll be!" the owner sounded in such shock and disbelief.

Wanting to free the animal, she opened the cage and as soon as she did the cat jumped into her arms and resting its head against her neck gave another deep and contented purr.

"How much for her?" she asked, holding the cat close to her. After receiving no answer for a few moments she tore her gaze away from the cat and looked at the store owner who smiled saying a little choked up, "She's yours."

Hermione frowned saying skeptically, "Mine? But I must pay something."

The store owner looked down at the cat and said with that same choked up voice, "No she's yours. When I found her it took me forever to coax her to like me. Just yesterday she had stopped yapping for me and had allowed me to pet her, minus the few scratches I received as well. But for her to go straight to you like that." He shook his head and smiled at her, "She's yours."

With that he turned abruptly and went back to helping Harry, who she saw had found another white owl, but this one in her opinion, was more beautiful than Hedwig. She walked over and the warmth of cat's body against hers sent a warm feeling through her heart, and as she approached Harry she said looking at the owl,

"It's beautiful."

He smiled and had tears in his eyes and said, "Its Hedwig's sister."

Gasping she looked back at the owl and saw the one trait of similarity between the two, the eyes.

"I could recognize those eyes anywhere." He said.

She smiled at Harry saying softly, "She will be getting an amazing owner."

He smiled softly glancing back at the owl before noticing the cat in her arms. Smiling she said, "I chose her." stroking the animals ears she realized she heard no name for the animal, nor had thought of one. But after a moment it came to her, a voice in her mind said, 'Star.'

Smiling she looked back up at Harry saying, "This is Star."

He starred back at the cat and said in awe, "She's beautiful Hermione. She will definitely be loved by her owner."

Hermione smiled, but looking around suddenly and said assured the owner was nowhere in ear shot, "The owner just gave her to me."

"He did?"

Nodding she looked around once more asking in a small voice, "What should I do? I don't want to take her without paying at least something for her."

He frowned for a moment and quickly leaning in close to her whispered in her ear.
Smiling she said, "Ok."

Following Harry to the counter the owner was opening the cash register when Harry asked, "Do you think I should get anything for her? Like any supplies that might be useful?"

Just like they thought the owner came around and went to a wall filled with supplies for owls and said, "These might be useful..."

Taking this as her cue she placed her money in the cash register. As soon as put her last piece in the owner came back around and rang Harry up for the owl and some sort of packaged item. Heading towards the front door, the turned back and said their thank you's and goodbyes and left. Once they got outside a few steps away from the front of the store Hermione laughed outright asking, "What did he give you?"

Looking down at the package in his arm said clueless, "I have no idea."

They laughed as they headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. As they made it inside and went their separate ways to their rooms she and looked down at Star who was purring contently in her arms, as if she had been with her all her life. She couldn't help but to stroke the cats head whispering to her now beloved pet, "My Star."