So, I am terribly sorry that it has taken me soooo long to post the next chapter. As an apology I will post two! *grins* I've been super busy with college and life in general! To my readers, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE R&R! I like to know what you think!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own harry potter, but if I did, I would share them with you! ;)

Draco left me alone for the rest of the week, letting me catch up on my homework, and act the good student again. Unfortunately Ginny was become most adamant about following me around or having Ron and Harry do it for her, so I suspected that was the only reason Draco had left me alone- because I was never alone.

"So, when do you want to start that potion's paper?" Harry asked Ron as we sat down for dinner. "You know Snape will do anything to fail us, so we had better do a good a job."

Ron didn't answer, but only nodded as he frowned at his mashed potatoes. I felt my brow furrow the slightest bit as I stared at him and harry shared a glance with me. Something was bothering him, and it concerned me. If only he knew… If only he knew how much I cared about him. Sometimes I suspected he did, but he was too afraid to do anything about it, and I of course, was a ninny when it came to confessing my feelings for him.

"RON!" George yelled as he slid into the seat next him, "Now how is our baby brother doing?" He said as he wrapped his arm around his shoulder playfully.

"You ready for the match tomorrow? We're going to wipe the field with that Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins!" Fred said as he grinned at Harry.

I felt myself pale considerably at the mention of Draco and of the quiditch match. I had completely forgotten that the first game of the season was tomorrow.

"Of course I am," Ron said as he looked up, catching my eye for a moment.

I looked away and caught myself fiddling with the hem of my shirt like a silly little girl. I had suddenly lost my appetite and just wanted to go up to the common room. I had a ton of homework to do over the next two days.

"I think I'm going to go up to the common room," I said smiling at everyone and grabbing my bag.

I quickly left and practically ran all the way there, until I was safe in front of the fire.

"She sure left in a hurry," Fred commented softy to the others.

Ginny frowned. She knew something was off, but she didn't know what and she didn't want to worry the others if it was nothing.

"Have… Have you noticed anything strange about Hermione lately?" Ginny said softly as she looked at the rest of the gang, trying to sound casual about it as she poked at her food.

"What do you mean strange?" Harry asked as he eyed Ron who was looking slightly paler than normal.

"I don't know…" Ginny sighed loudly as she stabbed her fork into a piece of broccoli. "I guess it just seems like she's been acting weird. Missing meals and falling asleep in class…" Ginny trailed off…

Ron watched Hermione go, and continued to frown long after she was gone. It seemed that he hadn't been the only one to notice Hermione's peculiar behavior as the others agreed softly, while they too pondered what could be going on with her. Ron picked at his food for the remainder of the meal, as he listened to the others discusses Hermione, quiditch, and the trip into Hogsmead coming up. It was there that he made a silent promise to figure out what was going on with Hermione. If she was in trouble or something, he would make sure she got out of it.

I stared at my potions book, not really being able to concentrate on the words that were supposed to be making their way onto my parchment. Harry and Ron had come up shortly after I left supper and we all agreed to start our potions papers. The twins were in the corner as usual, no doubt coming up with some other prank that would get them in trouble if they got caught, while Ginny sat out the couch reading a book and glancing over at Harry every once in a while.

"What have you written so far?" Ron said as he pulled my paper over to 'get ideas' for his, when I knew well that he was just re-wording what I had written.

"Nothing!" I said loudly as I yanked it back.

"Hermione, there aren't even two paragraphs…" Ron said having already seen that I had written very little.

"I know," I sighed as I rubbed my arm absentmindedly. "I just can't concentrate."

I watched Ron and Harry glance at each other, silently communicating, and then look away. I contently stared at my quill, ignoring their silent exchange as I felt heat rush into my face. What if they had found out? What if they knew what I was doing?

"I'm going to bed," I said quickly as I grabbed my stuff and ran up the staircase to the girl's dormitory.

I felt myself start to go into a panic attack as I sat on my bed with my head between my knees. I couldn't even bare to think about Ron finding out. I couldn't bare for anyone to find out. They would hate me if they ever found out about any of it. The cutting… or Malfoy. I fell onto my bed as I cried slowly, fighting with the decision once again to tell and risk everyone getting hurt, or to suffer through it until I graduated. I only had a few more years left… It couldn't get any worse. I knew it was a lie as soon as I thought it. Draco could rape me…

"I won't let him!" I yelled as I hit my pillow sniffling as I tried to stop crying.

"Won't let him what?" Ginny said as she closed the door. "Hermione who's him?" She asked loudly, worry in her voice.

"What? I… Uh… I," I said as I felt my heart threaten to beat out of my chest.

"Hermione…" Ginny said as she walked towards me.

I instantly stood up off the bed, not wanting her to get too close to me, as I pulled my sleeves down quickly and rubbed my face to get rid of the tears that were still slightly visible.

"It was nothing Ginny, Honest. I was just… uh… angry at Harry for uh… borrowing a book and folding the corners down when he was marking a page and I uh… I was just saying that I wouldn't let him borrow… a… um… another book." I said in a rushed voice.

I could tell that Ginny didn't believe me and was about to argue, when I excused myself quickly saying that I had to go grab something in the common room. I ran down the stairs, and out the portrait, before anyone could stop me until I got to moaning myrtle's bathroom. I slumped to the floor as I caught my breath. As I cried I felt myself being torn apart by the lies and secrets. It was only a matter of time before one wasn't going to fit the pattern, and I was going to be found out.

I dreaded that moment…