Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Summary: Harry and Hermione find comfort in one another as the war rages on and when trouble occurs at Hogwarts Harry is determined to set Hermione out on her own, but obstacles in his way bring Harry and Hermione together nonetheless. But can one part of the relationship survive?

AN: Yes. BEWARE THIS CHAPTER. Things get ugly. It's a SHORT chapter. Not for the light-hearted, I told you that before, so… It's true. R&R or things get uglier. In the story, I mean. I can make them worse because of YOU!

Chapter 3:

It's been one week since February 14th at Hogwarts for Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, meaning it has been exactly one week since their relationship took off.

Hermione's cheeks are nipped pink from the cold, her brown hair peeking out from under her hood as she draws her coat farther around her. Harry is by her side with his own scarf and hat in seconds. "Got it." He mutters, holding up the marauders map momentarily.

Hermione stares fondly at the map. "Do you have to carry that thing everywhere you go?"

"Can't be caught, 'Mione." Harry says logically.

"We're only outside walking by the lake, is anyone going to be there at this time?" Hermione asks skeptically and Harry unfolds the map.

"Fine," He says rather bitterly, stomping on the snow. "No one's there."

"But that's lovely, isn't it?" Hermione asks him, giving his gloved hand a squeeze. He looks at her. She looks back.

"Harry! Hermione! Come here, hurry!" An urgent voice calls, and Hermione's hand freezes inside Harry's as they turn around.

Ernie Macmillan and Susan Bones are hurrying towards them, Ernie dragging along a rather limp looking figure. Hermione's insides deflate. She points at the limp figure in horror as Ernie drags it along.

"What – what… what is it?"

"It's Hannah Abbot." Susan says quietly. There are tears running along her face silently.

"Is she – is she–?"

"No, she's breathing – but come on, Death Eaters–"

"Death Eaters?" Harry says sharply.

"They're in Hogwarts–" Ernie explains breathlessly.

"Again?"

"Yes – they're destroying, killing–"

"Is anybody dead?" Hermione asks quickly, and Susan wails.

"We don't know, but you've got to go back to your common rooms."

Harry nods curtly to Susan and Ernie and the grip on Hermione's hand tightens. "C'mon." He mutters. Hermione has two single tears on her face but is refraining from wiping them off.

"Harry, I–" She stops herself shakily, following him through the massive amounts of snow back to the castle.

There is blood. A pile of blood is on the tile in the entrance hall and on the stairs as Harry pulls her along. A jinx misses her by inches and she shrieks, nobody turning to look since everybody is screaming – Harry is still pulling her along.

Hermione catches a glimpse of flaming red hair on the floor and gasps –

"Ginny!" She exclaims, her knees giving way as she fell onto the floor.

"No, Hermione!" She looks up at Harry's urgent face – his wand is out but his entire body looks stiff and stern. She sits up, trembling.

"Are you coming?"

Hermione nods shakily, following him out of the great hall and stumbling down the stairs – tapestries are ripped off and spells are ricocheting off the walls. Hermione screams and ducks almost every second.

"Potter, Miss Granger – what are you still doing here–" McGonagall rounds the corner, seeing both of them scrambling up from the tile.

"We just came from outside–" Hermione explains quickly, but McGonagall is already rushing past them at a body lying on the ground.

Hermione can only pass blood – the only remaining trace of wizards and witches in Hogwarts at the moment. Where could all of this blood come from, she thinks unpleasantly. She is completely crying now, the image of Ginny and Hannah fresh in her mind and burning all other thoughts out of her brain.

"C'mon, we got to get out of here–" Harry says shortly, but before Hermione can say anymore, a jet of red light zooms across the hall and hits her squarely in the arm.

"No!" Harry yells, but she is already falling.