Authors Note: This story will contain strong language and sexual situation. If this offends you, then may I kindly suggest you read something else? Or ditch your beliefs and read my story instead.

I still don't have a beta, so sorry for any mistakes.

Love & Betrayal

Chapter 7 - Apologies

Harry had walked behind Hermione all the way to the Great Hall. There had never really been any periods of time where they hadn't been speaking to each other. Her long strides and heavy footsteps that rebounded off the stone walls made Harry feel even more aware that he had angered her. It was almost as if she was trying direct her anger to the floor instead of turning around and hexing Harry.

Reaching the packed Great Hall, Harry and Hermione quickly scanned the Gryffindor table for Ron. Spotting him sat in the middle of the table, they strode forward until they were stopped when someone stood from the table and moved into their path.

It was Jess Volpes.

Harry glanced sideways at Hermione and then back at Volpes. She was looking at the floor and was twisting a ring on her finger.

"Is there something you wanted?" Hermione's voice was harsh and full of anger. Harry new that if Volpes said one thing wrong, Hermione was very likely to explode and the whole student body would turn towards them.

Ever so slowly Volpes raised her head and her eyes found Harry's for the briefest of moments before flicking away to roam the area over his shoulder.

"Um, Harry, I just wanted to say-"

As soon as she mentioned Harry's name, Hermione roughly pushed past her and walked briskly to Ron. Volpes did not seem sorry that Hermione had left, and looked at Harry more confidently.

Harry was still very angry that she had fed him amortentia, but he had already decided to let the matter drop as long as she didn't come anywhere near him ever again. Although he was still going to tell Ron, and get her kicked off the quidditch team. Shoving his hands into his pockets he looked at her,

"What did you want to say?"

His tone was not as harsh as Hermione's had been, but it was in by no means delicate. The anger was still burning like a phoenix inside of his chest, and he had only stopped noticing it when Hermione had become angry earlier.

"I just wanted to say sorry-"

Harry raised his eyebrows and without raising his voice, which had acquired an ice cold tone, said, "Sorry for what? Poisoning me with love potion? Because if you're expecting me to forgive you-

"I'm not Harry, I-"

"Good, because if you were I'd tell you to fuck off."

Harry was rather pleased when his words had the required affect on her. She faltered, before regaining her composure.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry."

Starting to walk off Harry turned his head and said,

"Yeah, well... you still did it."

With that he left her standing, and joined Ron and Hermione who were in the middle of a discussion about that days DA meeting. Well, Hermione was talking at Ron whilst he ate. Sitting down next to him, he pulled the nearest platter of roast chicken towards him and filled his plate.

Hermione had left the Head Tower, with a towering temper. She had set the pace for the walk to the Great Hall, and Harry was not keeping up with her. Whether it be on purpose or accidental, she didn't really care.

'I don't want to talk to him, not after what he did to her. Now he's had her maybe he's got a taste for the sluts, and he's going to be bringing a new one back to the Tower every night. All the while I'll be in the common room trying to work, and all I'll be able to hear is them going at it. He clearly doesn't know when it's appropriate to use a silencing charm. He hadn't earlier. Well maybe he wants me to hear, maybe he thinks I'll get jealous and throw myself at him. He must know I have slept with Ron. I mean Ron would be bound to tell everyone that he'd had sex, even if it was with me.'

'And that's exactly why I'm not going to have do it with him.'

Hermione had nearly arrived at the Great Hall, when she had this thought. Immediately a debate started within her head.

'But if Harry doesn't want me then who would. I'm just some mudblood know-it-all. No one would want me. I'm sure even Ron would rather have someone else. He would probably only have may for the sake of it. But I haven't really talked to many other guys, so my options for other potential boyfriends are limited...'

Hermione's inner monologue had taken her into the Great Hall. She quickly scanned the Gryffindor table, and finding Ron started to make her way towards him, Harry in tow. But before she had moved more than ten feet, someone stood in her way. Looking at the person, she recognised the girl in front of her.

The girl had the audacity to stand in her way. Hermione watched as the girl twisted an ugly ring on her finger and, with a harsh tone and her voice full of anger, said, "Is there something you wanted?"

'If she says one thing about how amazing earlier was, I will hex her into oblivion.'

Hermione watched with some satisfaction as the girl slowly made a pitiful attempt at eye contact, deciding at the last minute to look over their shoulders. Hermione waited for the words to come from the girls mouth.

'The mouth that's probably been full of Harry's dick no doubt.'

"Um, Harry-"

At the sound of Harry's name Hermione blocked out anything the girl had said after his name, and pushed past her, stalking off to where Ron sat on his own at the Gryffindor table. Sitting down with him and filling her plate with food, Hermione chanced a quick glance at Harry. He had raised his eyebrows and his hands were deep in his pockets.

Turning back around, spearing a potato with her fork and take a bit out of it, Hermione's intelligent mind started to analyse what she had just seen.

'The way he had his hands in his pocket, and the raised eyebrows means the bitch has probably done something wrong. Yes, that would be nice but I wonder what she's done wrong. In fact knowing my luck, she was probably apologising for accidentally biting him when she sucked him off. He probably told her to make sure it doesn't happen again.'

Letting out a dejected sigh she turned to Ron and said, "You know, you shouldn't eat so much. We have the DA meeting tonight, and you'll make yourself sick."

Ron simply looked at her.

"Hermione, I'm not gonna be sick. And since when has there been a DA meeting?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Since it was decided yesterday in Defence Against the Dark Arts," she said with exasperation. "Professor Magna-Conis asked us about it."

Ron's brow furrowed and he tried to remember the conversation that had taken place in the class room. Very slowly he said, "Yeah... I do remember something about the DA. I guess I just kinda zoned out, you know?"

"Ron there are posters all over the castle!"

'And no, you didn't zone out. You were just too focused on Magna-Conis' tits!'

However Hermione didn't voice this thought as Harry had just arrived. She watched him as he filled his plate, and began eating slowly. He hadn't said a word since suggesting they should go and get some dinner when they were in Hermione's bedroom.

As Hermione continued to eat and watch Harry, she noticed he seemed, sad. He was not sitting up like usual, but slouching and looking down at his plate. In fact, he was hardly eating. Just pushing his food around his plate. His eyes looked drained and empty. Gone was the dishevelled Harry that had walked in on her and Ron. He had been replaced by a Harry that would have been present after Sirius' death.

Trying not to think about Harry for a few moments, Hermione turned back to her food and stared absently into the distance.

'Okay, first DA meet tonight and we need to set out what we will be studying. We'll do patronuses, because no one really get to practice them last time, what with Umbridge bursting in. We'll do basic duelling techniques and spells.'

Harry hadn't noticed everyone departing the table around him. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

'I just wish that Hermione had listened earlier. I don't want her thinking a had sex with that girl. I don't even know her for god sake.'

Harry's thoughts were interrupted when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Turning his head he saw Hermione was the owner of the hand, and that she was wearing a small, apologetic smile.

"Harry we should get up to the Room of Requirement. People will start turning up soon and we need to be ready."

When Harry had seen Hermione's smile, even if it was small, a glimmer of hope shined within him. Maybe she would listen to him after all. Getting up from the table, Harry walked with Ron and Hermione up to the seventh floor.

Walking backwards and forwards in front of the familiar wall three times, the trio found themselves staring into the room they had used previously for the DA. It was identical to how Harry remembered it. Everything was there, the bookshelves and dark detectors.

Walking in Hermione went over to a blackboard that had materialised before her, and began writing in her neat script. Harry watched as she wrote:

DA Meeting

Focus points: Expecto Patronum, Duelling Techniques and Useful Spells.

Harry looked away from Hermione, as he became extremely conscious of the way her jeans hugged her bottom, and saw Ron lounging on some of the soft cushions that had been used for practising stunning holding his stomach.

After Hermione had bustled around making sure all the books she needed were piled on a small table next to the blackboard, the door opened and the students filed in. The group was not as large as Harry had anticipated. Many of the seventh year had decided not to return as they were too distraught with grief and the summer months had not been enough to sooth their pains. Or they had got jobs that didn't require any N.E.W.T.'s. The group was mostly made up of younger students, from third years to sixth years.

Once everyone was settled on the cushions, the ones that Ron wasn't taking up, they all looked to the front of the room where Harry stood by the blackboard.

Harry was suddenly very uncomfortable with all the eyes in the room staring at him. Hermione noticed this and moved to the front to stand with him. After Harry still didn't say anything, Hermione spoke first.

"Thank you all for coming to the first DA session everyone. First off are their any questions?"

Hermione looked nervously around the room, as if seeking some kind of approval at her introduction. Then a voice shouted out:

"Where were you last year?" A boy from Ravenclaw had called out.

Hermione's skin turned pale, and she cast Harry a sideways look as he stood up a little straighter. She didn't want the people to be asking painful questions she knew would bring horrible memories of the last twelve months back to the forefront of Harry's mind. Hermione glared at the boy, and answered scathingly, "What happened last year is private, and you have no right asking questions like that."

"Yes I do. I deserve to know how You-Know-Who was killed as much as the next man."

Hermione stared at the boy.

"Excuse me, but if all you're going to do is ask questions, then you can leave because you're not going to get any answers!"

Harry stared at Hermione. She had shouted at the Ravenclaw boy. Nobody said anything, and everyone turned to stare at him. His eyes darted around the room, as if looking for a way to escape. His confidence from earlier had dissipated and he stood up. With one last look around the room, he rushed to the door and exited, the door slamming behind him.

Hermione looked around the room, "Does anyone else have any question?" she said sharply.

When no one answered her she relaxed. She didn't really want to have to duel anyone for real anyway.

"So, today we'll be going over the Patronus charm, duelling techniques and useful duelling spells," Hermione continued. This news was met with an outbreak of whispering from the group sat at Harry and Hermione's feet.

"Okay then. Now over to Harry who will explain the basics of the Patronus charm." Hermione stepped back slightly and looked at Harry expectantly. Thrown by the sudden change of speaker, Harry took a moment to gather his thoughts. Once he began speaking he fell into a rhythm that felt natural. It was almost like he was back with the original DA.

"So, Patronuses," Harry started, the attention of everyone in the room on him. "A Patronus is basically a shield that keeps a Dementor away from you. The Dementor feeds off of the energy produced by the Patronus. This is because the Patronus is made up of entirely happy thoughts. To cast a Patronus, you need to think of an extremely happy thought. You need to allow it to fill you up. Allow the happy memory to consume you.

Now there are two types of Patronuses, a corporeal one and a fully formed one. The corporeal will hang in the air, like a silvery mist, and will stop a Dementor. A fully formed Patronus will take the shape of an animal, and can drive Dementors away. Does everyone understand that?" Harry asked the group at large, and was met with nods of comprehension.

"Okay. Now we're going to practice the incantation. So, repeat after me. Expecto Patronum." The Room of Requirement reverberated with the sound of the students repeating the incantation after Harry.

"Good. Okay everyone split into groups of four, and then pair up within your group."

What ensued was like a stampede, as friends tried to get into groups with each other. Neville was swamped by admirers he had gained during the battle, whilst Harry spotted Ginny and Volpes standing with another two girls.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren't in a group as they were instructors. Well, Harry and Hermione were, Ron just tried to help. However no one else seemed to realise this, and they were swarmed buy a group of boys.

"Hey, Hermione! Will you be in my group?"

"Shut up! She's going to be in my group!

"Why don't you all shut up! Hermione, do you want to stay here after the meet and we could, er, get to know each other a bit better?

The voices had shouted all at once. The Hufflepuff sixth year that had asked Hermione to stay after the meeting was quickly grabbed by Ron, who hissed angrily at him, "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Hermione is my girlfriend."

Hermione started blushing profusely. The people that had surrounded them stared at Ron, who had let the Hufflepuff go, with surprise. Then they stared between Harry and Hermione. Then Hermione and Ron. Harry started to worry. He had quickly deduced what the boys were thinking.

'Shit, they thought Hermione would be going out with me. Well they would be right if I'd had my way.'

Ron however didn't pick any of this up and was silently fuming, stood by Hermione's side.

Harry cleared his throat, and spoke loudly, his voice bouncing around the room, "I just want to let everyone know, Hermione, Ron and I are instructors. So we will be moving around the room helping the groups."

The boys shuffled off, and split into their own groups.

The first hour went well. Several corporeal Patronuses were cast, whilst others were nearly there. The second hour was spent learning duelling techniques.

"Okay, now the spells I would say are important for duelling are, Expelliarmus, the disarming charm, Protego, the shield charm and Stupefy, the stunning spell. Everyone got that? Good make a note, these spells are vital."

Harry then paired everyone off and they began with the basic casting of the spells. Stupefy and Expelliarmus were both aimed at a wall, before the students started practising on each other. The group spent approximately an hour on the duelling before it was time for everyone to leave, as it was getting late.

The Room of Requirement was empty, except from Harry, Ron and Hermione. They were staying behind to magically put everything back into place, and clean some of the burn marks left on the wall by some of the more duelling spells the DA had used.

Harry was on the opposite side of the room when he heard the unmistakeable sound of an argument starting.

"...Well Ronald I'm sorry those other boys found me attractive but that really isn't my fault, and it's also not my fault that they didn't know you were my boyfriend. And the way you're acting now I'm not surprised!

When Harry turned to watch the almost daily event pan out, he saw Ron becoming his trademark shade of red at Hermione's words.

"Just because I didn't want to go around advertising our relationship!" Ron shouted back at Hermione. Harry moved closer to the couple, ready to intervene if either of them tried anything with their wands.

'Who am I kidding, if anyone was going to do anything it would be Ron. And if he tried I'd be forced to hurt him. Badly.'

Deciding to step in before Hermione or Ron was hurt, Harry said, "Come on guys, this was our first meeting. Let's not argue."

Now Ron glared at Harry, "Harry, it's not me that's the problem. If she didn't think she was so bloody superior and better than everyone else, then I wouldn't have a problem." Ron had put a lot of emphasis on the word 'she' and Hermione let out a small sob. Turning to her instead, Harry saw the tears already running down her cheeks and sticking her eyelashes together.

"Fine Ron, if you don't even respect me enough to use my name then why should I make an effort to even be your girlfriend." Hermione hadn't screamed or shouted at Ron, but there was a forcefulness and an ambiguity to her words. Turning on her heel she ran out of the Room and disappeared from sight.

"Harry," Ron had spoke and it took all of Harry's strength to not punch him as he turned. "Could you see if she's okay?"

At Ron's question Harry lost his temper. "Oh I don't know Ron. Did the fact that Hermione just ran, crying from here not register with you?" Harry's voice was dripping with sarcasm, and Ron looked angry again. Harry almost wanted him to swing at him, just so he'd have a reason to punch him back. Ron had upset Hermione right in front of Harry. And that was not something anybody, that wanted to keep there nose how it was, should do.


Authors Note: That was the longest chapter so far, and I added some more, so if some of it doesn't make sense or fit I'm sorry. I hope you enjoyed it and that it wasn't too long.

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