Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the Characters.

A week had passed since James had arrived. Thankfully, Malfoy had not called Hermione again.

James spent most of his time watching. He noticed how Hermione would get closer or hold tighter to Ron when Malfoy was around. He noticed how she buried herself deeper in her studies to avoid her friends and questions she didn't want to answer. He noticed how Harry, Ron, and Ginny just passed it off as normal Hermione.

All this time he was watching and interacting with them, there was one thing he could seem to understand. Why had her friends not noticed her changes? Did they not see the dead look in her eyes? Or how she spent more time away from them with every passing day? It seemed like they were all too caught up with their problems to notice one slipping through their fingers.

James, of course, knew that Ginny had just found out about her prenancy and was worrying about what was going to happen next. He knew that Harry had his worries about Voldemort. Then there was Ron, who was, well, Ron. He was oblivious to everything unless it was thrown directly in his face. It seemed with everything they had to worry about, they forgot to worry about a friend who really needed him.

These observations helped James understand Hermione's actions of his past a little better. She seemed to have lost faith in her friends ability to save her because they couldn't even see how much trouble she was in. He now knew he had to do something to to restore that faith. In order to do that, he needed to get her to open up to them but the question was how.

"James? Are you listening?" Hermione's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Huh?" James said.

"I was just asking if you needed help with any of your work." Hermione said laying her head on Ron's shoulder.

The five had been sitting in the common room enjoying a relaxing Saturday evening.

"No, I think I'm catching on very well." James responded. It helped that he learned everything he was learning now, a year ago.

"Good. If you decide you need help, I'll be more than happy to help."

"That's our 'Mione." Ron said. "Always willing to give a helping hand."

Too bad no one here can see she needs the helping hand. James thought as Ron kissed Hermione's head.

A couple hours later, Hermione had fallen asleep in Ron's lap. Ginny was dowsing in and out in Harry's arms, while Harry, Ron, and James chatted about quidditch. All of a sudden Hermione's eyes snapped open and she almost toppled off the couch trying to get up.

"What's wrong, babe?" Ron asked.

"Bad dream." she replied.

James was pretty sure it wasn't.

"What time is it?" Hermione asked.

"Nine thirty, why?" Harry responded after checking his watch.

"Damn it!" she cursed. "I was supposed to be patroling a half hour ago."

She headed toward the portrait hole.

"Would you like some company?" James asked.

"No, it's alright. I'll be fine." she responded crawling out.

James wasn't gonna sit there and let it happen again. He was gonna do what he could to stop it. He wanted five minutes and announced that he was going to bed. He walked to his room, opened and slammed the door without going in, put on his invisiblity cloak (inherited from his father) and went after her.

He caught up with her in the Entrance Hall, as she, visibly shaking, walked down to the dungeons. He noticed to pairs of arms grab her and pull her into a room. He, of course, walked in behind them before the door shut. He found the arms belonged to Crabbe and Goyle. They had already pinned Hermione to a wall. Standing in front of them was none other than Draco Malfoy. Hermione let out a small whimper and Malfoy smirked.

Malfoy walked toward her until he couldn't get any closer.

"So, mudblood," he said. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

He ran his finger down her jaw line and she let out another whimper.

"Just leave me alone, please?" she cried.

Draco backhanded her.

"That wasn't an answer." he said. "Once again, is there anything you want to tell me?"

"No." she said, tears streaming down her face. She tried to squirm out of Crabbe and Goyle's grip.

"Liar." he yelled and back handed her again.

"I'm not lying." she pleaded.

"Really?" Malfoy smirked. "Then would you care to inform me why I overheard, Pomphrey and Dumbledore discussing your prenatal care and doing what they can to find the father, even if they have to question every male in the school."

Hermione whimpered again.

"So I'll ask one more time." he moved his hand to her throat. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"I-I-I'm pregnant." she began to sob.

"And when were you planning on telling me?" Malfoy asked moving his hand to her stomach.

"Please, don't hurt it." she begged.

Malfoy nodded to his cronies to release her. He cupped the hand that wasn't on her stomach around her face.

"Why would I hurt my child?" he said in a sickeningly sweet voice. "I created it so all have to take care of it."

James noticed that Hermione was so focused on Malfoy that she didn't see his hand move from her stomach and ball into a face. James saw it though, and as Malfoy pulled his arm back, James swung out his foot, tripping Malfoy and causing him to fall. The cloak had fallen off him in the process but he didn't care. Hermione stared at him in utter shock.

James reached out his hand for her to come to him but Malfoy, still on the floor, grabbed her leg as she stepped and tripped her. Crabbe and Goyle raised their wands preparing to fire spells at Malfoy's command. James stunned them both with a quick flick of his wrist. Malfoy in the meantime, had gotten up and was holding Hermione by the hair with his wand pointed at her chest.

"Drop it or I'll kill her!" Malfoy said.

"Kill her and I'll kill you!" James responded calmly.

"You don't have the guts." Malfoy stated.

"Don't try me. You've screwed up my life so much, just killing you would be generosity on my part."

"What are you talking about?" Malfoy asked confused.

"I really hope you never find out. Now, let her go.'

Malfoy pondered the situation for a moment and apparently decided, it wasn't worth it.

"I'm not finished with either of you." he said, shoved Hermione to the floor and stalked out.

Hermione began to sob. James scooped her up and carried her back to the common room. Thankfully, they met no one along the way. He sat on the couch with her and let her sob it out.

"How did you know?" Hermione asked.

"I didn't. I fancied a walk and heard you whimpering so I went to see what was going on." James lied.

"I'm not stupid. I know that you aren't who you say you are. And I know that you knew what was going on since you got here." she said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You are the only person to look at me as if you see deeper than anyone else. And that stuff you said to Malfoy. There has to be some thing else."

"I can't tell you. It risks changing too much. But I think you need to talk to your friends about this."

"I can't. If I tell anyone, Malfoy will kill them."

"I think we both know he's too much of a coward to do that."

"I can't take the risk."

"So what happens when you can't hide your secret anymore?"

"I'll figure it out."

"Hermione, you can't let Malfoy have this much power over you. It'll destroy any chance, any of us have for a happy future."

"What?"

"Never mind."

"I'll make a deal with you," Hermione stated and James had a feeling he was about to get himself in trouble. "Tomorrow after breakfast, I'll come clean if you will."

James pondered for a minute. He he agreed, he would put the future at risk of turning out bad again but if he disagreed things would happen exactly the same way as before.

"It's a deal." he said, deciding he could tell his story without revealing too much. "We better get some sleep then, tomorrow's going to be very draining day for all of us."

He got up to go to his room.

"James, I always have terrible nightmares after being with him." Hermione said. "I think he does something to my head. Will you sleep on the couch with me?"

James smiled, and nodded. He sat back down and patted his lap, Hermione laid her head down and he began to stroke her hair, while whispering everything was gonna be okay. She had fallen asleep within minutes.