This chapter was way longer than I expected and since it took so long to write I have a proposition: shorter chapters- quicker updates or stay with the pace now? Let me know. This chappie pics up where the other left off.

Standard disclaimer and all that. Enjoy.

Harry's hand crept down to her waist and pulled her snug against him as he continued to kiss her. She pressed herself against him desperately. There was something she needed. Something that seemed unattainable but was gleefully hanging just out of her grasp. If she could just reach that forbidden fruit than she knew, she knew, knew knew things could go back to the way they were. She pressed urgently, suckling his tongue, his neck- any part of him that she could reach, in pursuit of their future. She needed this, she stretched against him poised to capture their happiness; she could almost see her hand closing around her safety net- almost….

She jerked away from him. Pushing frantically at his chest and scrabbling as far from him as she could get, which wasn't very- the table blocked her escape route.

She sat there panting, one hand braced against the table, the other pulling her shirt back to a presentable position. Harry was no better. He was slack-jawed, back against the couch and just staring, just staring…

Who was she fooling; she could never be happy again. Not with this secret weighing on her, and there was no way she would tell. It would hurt Harry, and she couldn't bring herself to be responsible for his pain. Couldn't bear to be the object of his hate. Hadn't she suffered enough? Hadn't they all been through enough? Why couldn't they just get this? Just this one thing? Just for themselves? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY?

"BREATHE! Hermione! Breathe for me!"

She jerked her head up and saw him kneeling in front of her. Idly she felt his hand pressing harshly into her back as black spots danced before her eyes. Whack!

She blinked in surprise but took in a harsh breathe as he pounded her on the back.

"Good! Good Mione! God….. It's ok. Your gonna be ok, it's alright. I'm sorry I took it that far- I shouldn't have. I'm sorry. Just breathe. Breathe."

He pulled her into his arms stroking her back as she took giant gulps of air, whispering sweet nothings into her hair. Apologies, even though she didn't think he had anything to apologize for; Compliments, she didn't feel she deserved; and promises…. Promises she didn't think he should have to make. He soon drifted into silence, though he continued to rock her and gently stroke her back and arms.

It was a long while later when he finally spoke.

"Mione?"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm uh… sorta starting to cramp. D'you think we could move towards the couch?"

She nodded and let him up to move towards his desired destination, before being gently pulled back into his arms. She pressed her face into his chest and shut her eyes tightly, wishing fervently for everything to just go away.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

She shook her head. No she did not want to tell him…. But she did- she couldn't. He sighed.

"Was it me? Did I go to fast?"

She shook her head again. He'd been perfect. It was her- all her. Another sigh.

"Hermione…." He cupped her cheek in his hand and gently forced her head up. "Did I hurt you?"

Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head again. He tightened his grip and angled his head so that he could see into her eyes.

"Did someone else hurt you?"

She tensed and tried to pull away but he held fast.

"How?... I mean –what…?"

He shook his head, "Hermione…. Love you can't be this arrogant. You are my best friend. I love you. You and Ron are my only real family. There's no way that you could have believed that you could hide something that's hurting you this much from me." He raised a hand to brush a stray curl from her face as a tear fell slowly down her cheek. He shook his head and wiped it away with his thumb.

"Mione…. I've memorized your heartbeat. I know you better than I know myself and I know- without a doubt I know that something is wrong. That something bad happened between you and Ron and neither of you wants to tell me. Maybe because you're scared I'll over react or that I'll be angry but Mione-….. I am begging you to let me in. Tell me what happened and I promise I will do my best to stay calm."

She smiled at that, "Harry you couldn't keep calm if you tried."

"So you're not denying it."

She looked down to her hands and thought her next words out carefully. "Harry…. What happened between me and Ron needs to stay between me and Ron." His cheeks colored and he opened his mouth to say something but she beat him to it.

"I love you too Harry. And what happened is so miniscule that it doesn't warrant repeating. It would only end with a lot of people hurt. I know that you're worried and frustrated and angry but I can't tell you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Harry for everything but I promise you that aside from some hurt feelings what happened isn't important. Its not-"

"Not important? Mione you haven't slept in weeks! You can't even let me touch you! You-"

"I'm not ready!" He paused to look at her. "I'm not ready Harry. And I overreacted yes but I'm just- I don't want to be with you like that…. And when I ….felt that you did I freaked out. I thought you'd be mad or upset and try- I'm sorry. I over thought the situation and had a panic attack. I never meant to worry you…."

Harry had leant back against the couch and was staring at the ceiling. As the silence grew to an almost uncomfortable pause, he ran a hand through his hair.

"You don't trust me."

She swallowed, "it's not that and you know it. I trust you with my life, but this- it's not necessary for you to know. And I promise you that whatever your overactive imagination is concocting it's not as serious as you think." She turned so that she was straddling his waist and put her hands on either side of his face to pull him down. "Please Harry… Please just let this go. Let this one go."

"Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head. "I'm not the one who was hurt."

He frowned and went to ask another question but stopped at the pleading look on her face. He sighed and pulled her into a hug.

"Ok. You win."

Ronald Weasley was exhausted. He had never felt this exhausted in his entire life. Or this hungry. Man he was hungry. He rubbed tired hands over his tired eyes and looked across the table to Hermione. It had been a week since they had started to work on the potion ingredients and so far all the ingredients they had found were used in healing potions and the like. Whatever Malfoy was making it was something good. Which made Ron believe that he was up to something bad. Who knows? Maybe he was just trying to distract them. He was evil like that.

He was evil period.

He looked back up at his best friend diligently taking notes as Harry did his best to distract her. He smiled slightly; he remembered when they had first started showing an interest in each other that one of Hermione's main reasons for wanting to pursue a relationship with Harry was that he wasn't a distraction. 'He appreciates good study time' were her exact words and now the blighter was doing his utmost to pull her away from her beloved books. Not that he could really blame him. If he, Ronald Weasley: man, who has the emotional capacity of a teaspoon, could see that she was falling apart than it was no wonder that Harry could. He'd always been able to read her. Heck, before they'd even befriended her, he'd known where she was and that she was in danger. They were weirdly freaky that way.

As he watched Hermione swat Harry's hand away from her hair, he realized that she was right. If Harry knew, no matter whose mindset he saw it from, he'd be hurt. What had happened was literally eating Ron away from the inside out, he could only imagine what it would do to Harry; Harry, who felt things so much more deeply than he or Hermione; Harry, who blamed himself for everything. He'd do it now too. And in the mist of all the self-recrimination he'd piss away any happiness he'd managed to find, namely Hermione.

Ron couldn't let that happen to his friends but he was at a loss as to what to do. He couldn't break his promise to Hermione. He couldn't tell Harry…. But he couldn't live like this either. Staring him in the face and lying to him, keeping the truth from him- Harry would go ballistic when he found out. He hated it when people tried to protect him. There was no winning in this situation. And he had promised. Harry was singing some muggle song horrendously off key and Hermione was trying to keep a straight face.

They deserved a happy ending. He didn't know two people who deserved it more. He could not tell Harry.

Hermione sighed and hoisted her bag of books higher onto her shoulder as she waited for Harry outside of her Arithmancy class. He'd been insisting on picking her up after her classes and she, not wanting another run in with Malfoy, hadn't complained. If he noticed anything odd about that he didn't say anything.

It had been a little over a week since their 'fight' and Harry had not asked about her or Ron again. It seemed he really was putting it behind him and she had been trying to too. The only thing was she was beginning to see what would happen if he ever found out from someone else. If her or Ron told him then there was a chance that they're friendship would survive; at least somewhat. As much as it would hurt him, Harry wouldn't throw their entire friendship away because of a one night fling. Especially if he heard the details. He'd at least forgive Ron. She couldn't see how he would forgive her but maybe…..

If he found out from someone else, namely Malfoy- it would kill him. Especially knowing the way that Malfoy would gloat about it; would lord it over him. He wouldn't survive that.

"Excuse me, are you the Gryffindor perfect?"

She smiled and turned around.

"It's prefect Harry. There is a difference."

He smiled cheekily and gave her a small kiss on her cheek before taking her bag. "Not when it comes to you there isn't."

She laughed and slipped her hand into his. "How was divination?"

He shrugged as they made their way to the Great Hall. "Oh you know the usual: I'm in grave danger, I'm going to die soon, or my personal new favorite, 'the people I love most are going to lead to my defeat.' Daunting isn't it?"

She felt her heart stop, "Trelawney's prediction?"

He shook his head as they turned a corner, "Lavender's. It was weird- she went all glowy and everything. Trelawney is tremendously proud though; couldn't stop smiling the whole class. She didn't even blink when Ron said I'd die. Usually she loves that."

She frowned, "Ron shouldn't have said that….. And you shouldn't have let him. You both should just drop that joke of a class. She's a fraud. A crazy one at that. You don't need to be told that your going to die every other day- especially not by your best friend- and especially not so the two of you prats can get good grades- and especially not with Voldemort on the loose. You're just perpetuating the cycle! Honestly if you'd just- mmmhmhmm"

He smiled as he pulled away to a still irate Hermione Granger. "That was very rude Harry!"

"Well what'd you want me to do? I didn't know how to shut you up otherwise."

Her frown deepened and she stormed off the rest of the way to the great hall, taking a seat next to Ginny. Harry took the seat across from her, shooing a third year away in the process. Hermione scowled.

"Mione? Mione I love you, you know that right?"

Ginny shook her head as the brunette steadfastly ignored him. "What'd you do this time Potter? You'd think with two heads you men would be a bit smarter."

Harry stuck his tongue out at her as Hermione choked on her Pumpkin juice.

"Don't be jealous Gin. I'm sure there's some spell that will make you women equal one day."

Harry started to laugh at Ron's joke but quickly thought better of it and instead hastily stuffed a roll into his mouth. Hermione eyed him with distaste.

"Oh Ronald dear, you are living proof that a human can live without a brain."

Neville rolled his eyes as the two siblings argument steadily turned heated. It got worse as Ron quickly ran out of comebacks and fell back on juvenile insults.

"You're just mad because Harry never looked twice at you! No guy has except Neville! So why don't you go hang out with guys your own age who actually think your worth spending time with!"

Hermione's jaw dropped. "Ron!"

"Alright you two, why don't we stop before this goes too far." Harry looked between them worriedly, hands raised in a placating gesture.

Both Weasley's were as red as their hair and Ginny's eyes were slits as she delivered the final blow.

"Well you're just mad because the only way you'd ever get a girl was if you forced her! Go to hell Ronald Weasley!"

Hermione closed her eyes as Ginny's words came out and she knew exactly what each word had done to Ron. Stupid boy. When she opened her eyes she noticed that everyone in the near area had gone silent and they were all looking at Ron. He was pale and his jaw was clenched but he looked lost- like he was about to cry and didn't want anyone to see. Harry reached out to him tentatively, calling his name, but he jerked his shoulder away, gathered his things and hurriedly left the great hall. It was clear he didn't want to be followed.

Everyone's eyes went to Ginny, some sympathetic, most disapproving. The remaining red head glared at them all before she too packed her things and left.

Hermione sighed. Some things were better left unsaid, but looking across at Harry, at his worried expression, she knew they couldn't continue like this. She had to fix them. She needed a plan.

The rest of the day went by quickly for Harry. Hermione had stopped being mad at him after the whole Ron/ Ginny fiasco which admittedly made things a lot easier. Ron had been absent from classes the rest of the day. He also hadn't come to quidditch practice which hadn't helped Harry's concerns about his keeper abilities. But he understood- having two angry Weasley's on the pitch would have been a disaster, Ron had done them a favor- Ginny had been crazed enough. By the end of the day he was exhausted both emotionally and physically and barely had the energy to give Hermione a nice goodnight kiss. She seemed distracted but he was too tired to ask why. If it were important she'd tell him. When he got up to his dorm he tried talking to Ron but his hangings were sealed and he decided against opening them magically. He finally collapsed into his bed and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow was a big day. He had a quidditch match to win.

Hermione stared into the fire in the common room of Gryffindor tower. Behind her were three fourth year girls giggling behind their hands and looking in her direction intermittently. But they weren't gossiping. Now that was ridiculous. She scoffed at the thought and decided to ignore them. They weren't the first and they wouldn't be the last. Hopefully the talk about the posters would be over with by midterms. Or at least by the time they returned for Christmas break. If it wasn't done by then she resigned herself to pack up and leave. Doomed forever to live the life of a muggle; a dark, bleak, lonely existence… Hopefully they'd stop by break.

She turned her attention back to more important matters.

They needed help; they needed as little people to know as possible; and somehow she had to make it so that Harry wouldn't leave. Immediately Dumbledore came to mind, but as great as the Headmaster would be at helping, he had this nasty habit of telling Snape everything. Even knowing that he was on the good side or that he was helping Harry, didn't make her want him to know anything. McGonagall would tell Dumbledore…..

Sirius…. He would have been perfect. Once again she felt a pain in her heart over his 'death'. Voldemort was a coward and a cheater for what he had done; and Bellatrix Lestrange was just as bad, if not worse. She sighed. If she could figure this thing out on her own….

She'd have to. She'd find out what the potion was that Draco wanted, figure out why how she fit into his grand plan with Voldemort, what exactly said plan entailed, and then take everything to Dumbledore. In exchange for his secrecy she'd tell him everything. It wasn't the most honorable move she could make but she was desperate. She rubbed her eyes. This was going to be a long night, and she'd have to be supportive girlfriend/ best friend in the morning. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin was always the most anticipated quidditch match, and Harry, Ron and Ginny would need all the support they could get.

Harry was pumped. He felt the adrenaline coursing through him and funneled it all into his game plan. He was a simple sort, catch the snitch and make sure his team survived the game. Ron was the one who came up with the extravagant plays. He frowned as he thought of his friend, they were less than thirty minutes to the match and he was no where to be found. He hadn't been in bed that morning or in the great hall for breakfast. Harry had even checked the loo!

Trying to regain his focus, Harry barely noticed when Hermione and Luna walked into the locker room. All eyes turned to them however, as they had been the ones who had been sent to find Ron. Harry finally looked up when he noticed Hermione in front of him with a worried look on her face.

"Did you find him?"

"No we- Harry we looked everywhere, we even went up to your room and …borrowed your Hogwarts map. He wasn't anywhere."

Harry scowled and started to pace. Ron had pulled some stunts before but this was unacceptable. Unless he was hurt…

"Did you check the Lake? I saw him this morning with some girl walking down that way."

Well that settled it then.

"Harry."

He ignored Hermione's plea and furiously thought up a plan. He scrubbed a hand over his face, McLaggen would have to play. It seemed he too had figured this out as he was standing quite smugly against his locker, slicking his hair back.

"McLaggen you're in. Gin, I'm gonna need you to watch out for him- do the best you can. Ok guys, I know this isn't the most ideal situation but we just need to push forward here and make the best of what we have. Remember the goal here is to kick Slytherin's ass so stay focused and help each other out. Hands in. On three "team"- 1-2-3 TEAM!"

The Gryffindors dispersed, Ginny looking especially pissed and Luna joining them as she went to continue her search for Ron. It looked like someone else would have to be commentator. Harry ran a hand through his hair and took a deep calming breath before moving to leave the locker room.

"Harry. Stop it. He's your best-"

He whirled on her, eyes alight with fury. "No Hermione. Best friends don't pull this crap. Best friends don't-" He stopped and shook his head, turning away for a second. When he turned back around he looked weary and she wanted nothing more than to hold him.

"This is my first game back. I never thought I'd ever be able to play quidditch again, and it's my first game- …. It still feels surreal, and this will finally make it official and he's not here. He knows how important this is to me and he's not even-"

He swiped at his eyes and Hermione finally gave into temptation, wrapping her arms around him solidly.

"It's ok. It's ok Harry. I'm sure Ron has a great excuse and even if he doesn't, you shouldn't let him ruin this for you. I know it's not the same but you'll still have me in the stands. I'll be here for you, I promise."

He nodded against her head.

"Harry! Games startin man, we gotta go."

Harry looked up at Dean and nodded before turning to Hermione and giving her a gentle kiss.

"For luck."

It was a disaster. A train wreck in slow motion. Slytherin was already up 120-50 and Harry still hadn't spotted the snitch. McLaggen was a horrible keeper and Harry was thrilled that Hermione had 'confunded' him during the trials. The git was too busy trying to teach the beaters their position to even begin to operate in his. Harry scowled as he flew down to them.

"McLaggen get back to your post, Slytherin's ahead!"

The poncy git scowled at him before leisurely making his way back to the goal post. He frowned, Ron was so dead.

He ducked as a bludger flew past his head and took to higher grounds again, scanning the pitch for the snitch.

There!

He dove towards the Gryffindor stands, barely acknowledging that Malfoy was on his tail. The golden ball was floating right beside Seamus' ear and he was jumping up and down and pointing behind Harry's head at something. Harry didn't have time to look as the snitch took flight into the air and Harry made a sharp pull up, his broom narrowly missing connecting with Seamus' head. He stretched his hand out as he gained on the golden ball.

Suddenly something flashed out of the corner of his eye. He barely heard the crowd shout in warning before he threw his body to an upright position as a bludger smashed into his broom handle, snapping it in half! The snitch was diving now, and he had a choice to make. He jumped. He spun through the air thinking that Hermione was going to kill him something awful, before his fist finally closed around the snitch. Soon after two solid forms thudded into him as Ginny and Dean caught him between them. When they reached the ground he saw that his entire team was livid and glaring daggers at Cormac.

"What...-"

"He's the one who hit that bludger Harry! He could have killed you!"

"I was just trying to teach that idiot how to hit properly-"

"Who're you calling an idiot McLaggen?"

"Quiet!" They all turned to him with barely restrained anger. Harry shook his head, "I'm sorry Cormac but you're off the team. This whole game has just been- pack your stuff."

McLaggen scowled and stormed off as the field was flooded with well wishers. The Gryffindor seeker barely had time to turn around before his arms were full with his girlfriend and his lips were quite busy.

She pulled away and punched him hard in his arm.

"Ow! Hermione!"

"That's for scaring me like that! You jumped off your broom Harry! You jumped! You could have died!"

"My broom was destroyed mid flight. It wouldn't have held me up for long anyway."

That was apparently the wrong thing to say because she let out a sob and threw her arms around him again.

"Hey… stop that. You know Ginny and Dean would never let anything happen to me. They're way too scared of you."

The brunette sniffled and pulled away with a small smile.

"Yea, I probably would have he-"

"Potter. Granger. Weasley. Come with me."

The three students in question turned to their head of house and followed her as she began walking away. They continued in that vein for awhile before the silence finally got to a very confused Ginny.

"Did we do something wrong Professor? There's nothing in the rule book that says-"

"No Ginevra you did nothing… There's been an incident… With your brother."

Ginny stopped abruptly and they all turned to face the very angry Weasley girl.

"What did that prat do this time? Whatever it is I'm not-"

"Gin! Stop it. He's your brother."

"I don't care Hermione! He-"

"That's enough all of you." The matron of Gryffindor house paused to collect herself before continuing. "Mr. Weasley is in the hospital wing. We've already called your parents Ginevra. Now if you would please?" And she gestured towards the corridor.

Nobody moved. Hermione seeing the guilt laced expression on Harry's face squeezed his hand. She didn't dare look at Ginny.

"I-i-is Ron ok? I mean- He's gonna be alright though. He probably has like a stomach ache but he'll be-"

"Ginevra. We do not know. We are hoping for the best but-….. You should prepare yourselves."

Dum. Dum. Duuuuuummmmm. My first "real" cliffie. yay me. I so wanted to bring Sirius back but I decided that there was only so much artistic license that one should be allowed. Anyway remember to answer in a review or pm if you want quicker updates-shorter chapters or are fine with the way things are now. Thanks for reading :) Review!