Three

"What are you going to do if he is pregnant?" Hermione asked, as she eyed the lounging Ron, who was flirting with Lavender, over her textbook.

"Men can't get pregnant, that's why they have women," Lavender scowled at Hermione, who ignored her as she settled herself in Ron's lap. Ron simply shoved her off.

"He's not. Malfoy was just messing with him, you know how Malfoy is," Ron stated, as he eyed Lavender's ass as she stormed off.

Hermione shot a stinging hex at him, getting him right between the eyes.

"Ow. What the hell was that for?" Ron glared at the witch as he rubbed at the angry welt that was forming on his forehead.

"If Harry is pregnant-" Hermione began, only to have Ron cut her off.

"Then he'll carry it to term, and I will do whatever I have to and get full custody of it. You can blood adopt it, and then Mum can look after the thing until it's old enough."

The few people, mostly upper years, which were still in the common room all looked up at the slap that echoed around the room.

"We're done. I hope you and Lavender are happy together," Hermione sneered as she gathered her things together before she stormed up to her room.

"I don't need you or that stupid freak!" Ron yelled after her. He was hit by several hexes he hadn't seen, or heard, coming.

Hermione stopped on the third step and turned to face Ron. She studied him intently and Neville chose that moment to pass behind Ron and hit him with his school bag. "I don't even know you anymore," she offered sadly before she disappeared up the stairs.

Dropping her books onto her desk, not caring how they landed, she collapsed face down on her bed and screamed into the bedding.

"Hermione?" a soft voice accompanied the weight on her bed.

"Go away," she mumbled, not moving.

"I told Lavender that you were with Ron, but she was convinced that Ron was better than you. He isn't, by the way. You deserve someone better, someone who appreciates you; who won't cheat on you."

Hermione rolled over and was surprised to find Parvati sitting next to her, a hand on Hermione's back.

"Someone like you?" Hermione asked, slightly bitter.

Parvati blinked at Hermione, before laughing lightly, "No, I'm not mature enough for you. You need someone older. Besides I have a girlfriend," she finished with a small smile.

"Really?" Hermione asked, moving to lean against the head board.

Parvati nodded but grinned, "Ginny. We've been together for 14 months. You and Padma are the only ones that know about us."

Hermione stared wide eyed at her roommate then grinned. "She's been happier since you came around," Hermione stated. "She was so sad, and she was always staring at Harry with this sad look of resigned longing. But she's become more of a friend, a sister, to him. It's done them both a world of good. Especially since I screwed up," she trailed off, not meeting Parvati's gaze.

"You're awfully more accepting of this then with Harry," she commented, with a pointed look.

"I reacted badly to Harry," Hermione admitted. "But I plan on fixing it."

"Ginny told me what happened. Harry was hurt, but he also understood you. A muggle born who'd been taught that homosexuality was wrong, he was too and he fought so hard with himself, and then to find out that her best friend was in the love with the same guy she was. Harry is way too kind."

-.-.-.-

Hermione and Ron watched a fidgety Harry as he paced around the room of requirement.

"Harry, whatever you have to tell us, we'll support you," Hermione offered as she grabbed Harry's hand as he made another pass in front of them. She pulled him down between them.

Harry wriggled about, trying to get comfortable in the familiar spot between his two best friends. But he always ended up sitting on someone and Ron always seemed to have something in his pockets.

Once Harry was settled, Hermione shifted so she was sitting sideways on the couch, one leg tucked under her; she watched Harry in concern. Ron laid a gentle hand on Harry's knee.

Taking a deep breath, Harry slowly let out, never taking his eyes off his sneakers that were under the table he'd been using, one lying on its side.

"I'm gay," he said softly, almost too softly for them to hear.

Ron gave his knee a gentle squeeze as Hermione sprung up from the couch. She gaped like a fish for several moments and even started to say something just as often, but the only thing she could get out was a hissed, "fag," before she started to storm away.

"Hermione, wait!" Harry called, rushing after her, grabbing her arm.

"Why?" Hermione asked, sounding betrayed.

"Why what?"

"Why now? Why even tell us at all?"

Harry studied Hermione, completely baffled as to her reaction.

"You're in love with Ron!" she accused, not quite loud enough for Ron to hear.

"I'm not… I don't… I'd rather have Ron in my life as my best friend, then not at all. I'm not doing this to get Ron, I'm doing this to get over him. To find someone else," Harry tried to explain.

Hermione scoffed, "you just keep your disgusting hands to yourself, fag!"

Harry watched Hermione as she stormed up to her dorm, before turning away and heading to his dorms. A hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"When I went to meet her to bring her to the Borrow her parents were there. A gay couple walked by, hand in hand, and her father went off on a twenty minute tirade about how it was a disgusting sin. His wife rolled her eyes and told us to ignore him, but Hermione looked troubled by it. Like she didn't know if she should agree with him or her mum," his Ron offered, gentle squeezing his shoulder.

"Thanks Ron," Harry said softly, trying to discreetly wipe his eyes. "I'm going to bed, good night."

"G'night, mate," Ron offered letting his hand fall to his side.

-.-.-.-

"Ginny and Ron both yelled at me, and I realized that I was being stupid. Harry was still Harry and Ron didn't belong to me. Yeah I had a crush on him, but Harry pulled him out of a lake. I never got a real chance to apologize but when they appeared one night after a trip to the kitchens holding hands. I did the only thing I could do. I gave Harry my total support because he was who Ron had picked."

"You were a total bitch! Harry has every right to never forgive you," Ginny stated from the door way.

"Gin!" Parvati scolded as Ginny pushed herself away from the door frame.

"You're right," Hermione admitted, wiping at her tears.

"You're lucky Harry's so forgiving or I wouldn't be talking to you," Ginny stated before giving Parvati a chaste kiss. "He understands. He doesn't like it, but he understands," she offered, turning to Hermione as her girlfriend pulled her close with one arm.

"I should probably get some sleep," Hermione replied. Ginny and Parvati watched her get her pyjama's out and disappear into the bathroom.

-.-.-.-

After a trip to the owlery to send off the letter she'd written to Mrs. Weasley, Hermione finally headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning, when she got there she wasn't at all surprised to find that the Gryffindor's had given the oblivious Ron and Lavender a wide berth. The pair was too engrossed in each other to notice anyone else. It made her nauseous. How had she fallen for Ron?

All the Gryffindor's seemed to be crowded around Harry, who couldn't suppress a giddy grin even as he sported a bright red blush.

Clutching her books to her chest like a shield, Hermione headed right for Harry, who was surrounded by Neville, Ginny, Seamus, Parvati, Draco and Luna.

Four of them were glaring daggers at Harry, while Ginny and Parvati watched her carefully.

"Harry… can I… can we talk? Please?" she asked.

Harry didn't reply right away, he continued explaining something to Neville and Seamus.

She was about to go sit down, when Harry finally turned to face her. He looked at her expectantly, but didn't say anything.

"Can we go somewhere a little more… quiet?"

Harry sighed. "Nobody do anything stupid," he stated at the table at large. Ginny and Seamus looked insulted while the others snickered.

The pair walked out to the lake in silence. It was funny how even though they seemed to be on the outs, they still gravitated to their favourite place to talk; out by the lake.

"I'm sorry about everything Harry. I'm sorry I reacted badly to your coming out, and I'm sorry I wasn't more supportive about you and Ron. I wanted to be because I wanted to see you happy. I'm so sorry I let Ron talk me into a horrible one night with him, when I knew he was with you. But it was just one night, and I shouldn't have stayed with him. You're my brother, my best friend and I did everything I could to ruin the best friendship I ever had. I'm so sorry I let you down," she finished softly, her voice wavering gently.

Harry surprised Hermione by pulling her into his arms, "I don't know that we'll ever be the same but maybe we can be better."

Hermione gave a heaving sob as she clung to Harry.

"I don't deserve your forgiveness," she said a little while later as they sat throwing stones for the squid to bat at.

"I do understand, I don't have to like it, but I do understand."

Hermione snorted, "that's what Ginny said."

"She's ridiculously perceptive that one," Harry offered with a weary grin.

"Are you really pregnant?" It took a moment for Hermione's words to catch up with her brain. "Oh shit, Harry, I didn't mean to pry… I only just… Ron said he would do everything he had too to make sure you didn't get the baby. And that Molly would raise it."

Harry actually started to growl. He didn't even know for sure if he was pregnant and the bastard… he was going to castrate Ron, then shove his –

"Harry!"

Harry stopped and stared at Hermione, who was watching him with concern.

Before either one could say anything else, Harry's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he crumpled to the ground in an ungainly heap.