Harry sat up for hours after the argument and what could be deemed the end of his friendship with Hermione.
He hoped it wasn't. Their friendship meant a lot to him. She was a good person. Smart and while she kept to the rules, that was good as she could also keep him from going to far.
But Ron was his best mate and he admittedly had taken his side but he had never imagined her reaction.
Or that she would suddenly be best friends with the Slytherin's. That made no sense. Were they better friends than Him and Ginny?
Especially Ginny, she'd fallen apart after it had happened. She'd cried for hours before falling asleep on his bed.
She was like a sister to him and he hated to see her like that.
"Harry." Ron said to him as he sat down beside him next to the fire. "What happened?"
"Hermione was sitting in the three broomsticks having fun with Malfoy and that lot."
"She was having fun?"
"Seams so. She didn't want to leave with us."
"Ginny's asleep but she's been crying."
"How did you guess?"
"She looks sad even asleep and she's in your bed." Ron said the last hoping his first assumption that something had happened between his best mate and sister was wrong.
"Yeah. Ginny tried to convince her to come with us and an argument broke out. I've never heard Hermione like that. She was so angry with us. And it only got worse outside."
"How?"
"She was angrier that we followed her and she yelled more and then just walked away. After a pause he said "I think it's ruined."
"What's ruined?"
"Our friendship with Hermione."
"She'll come around." Ron told Harry nodding. "we have arguments all the time and we always make up."
"I'm not sure this time Ron. She's really angry and Malfoy isn't helping."
"What do you mean Malfoy isn't helping. What's he got to do with this?"
"He followed her and I think he's doing everything he can to turn her against us."
"Why?" Ron already knew why but he needed someone to voice what he felt.
"They most likely want her to tell them everything she knows about the order. And maybe even join Voldemort."
"She won't though…….will she?" confusion crossing his face.
"I doubt it. She might be angry but one thing she never will be is stupid."
They both nodded to themselves both sure in the fact that she would never turn to the dark side.
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She lay in bed crying. How could Hermione do this.
Choose them.
It broke her heart to think about it. She loved Hermione. She was her best friend. She couldn't talk to anyone as openly as she could Hermione.
But it was all ruined now. Their friendship in tatters. She thought she was doing the right thing by not telling her about Ron and Lavender.
Saving her from hurt.
She'd only just realised that the hurt Hermione faced finding out like she did was far more than is she'd told her.
"You ok Ginny." She heard Harry enter the room.
"No."
"It'll be ok." Harry was lying to her he knew but he had to try. Even if he'd admitted to Ron their friendship with Hermione might be over.
"No it won't. you know it won't." Ginny told him. Crying fresh tears. Harry was forced only to nod. And move to hold her. There was nothing else he could do.
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Draco sat staring in to the fire. Today had not gone well. Hermione was more broken than he'd seen her but she had stood her ground and got her feelings out there.
She'd spent hours crying outside the shrieking shack. His clothes had been soaked in her tears but he hadn't minded. It had felt good to be there for her.
She was beautiful even when she cried and he wanted her.
He hadn't known when it started. Maybe in that moment when she'd ran into him crying and he's followed her. But it was there.
A growing feeling he didn't want to name.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hermione lay I her bed that night. She could sleep.
Today's events ran through her head. Moment after moment. Every word that had been said, every look given.
God she wanted to scream.
She knew she'd hurt Ginny. She'd seen it in her eyes but she'd lost the ability to care. Her heart was shattered into a thousand pieces.
Could it be fixed maybe, But it would take time.
Harry and Ron. She'd never trust them again. Maybe she could work on things with Ginny but not them that trust was gone and it hurt terribly. They'd meant so much to her.
Now there was Draco. They last person she'd ever thought she'd trust but she was really beginning to. She didn't trust the other Slytherin's, she knew they wanted information about the order.
But She thought Draco was different. Her gut told her so.
Something in the back of her mind told her in was her heart was involved in this feeling too. But she ignored it.
Not allowing her self to think that. She'd just had her heart broken. Was it rebound? It could have been but she'd rather it was nothing.
Sure Draco was gorgeous but he was a Slytherin. And they were on opposite sides of a war. But she could help that growing feeling inside her she didn't want to name.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk. He was worried. News had reached him that there had been a altercation in Hogsmeade today between Harry, Hermione and Ginny.
"Do you think it's serious Albus. You don't normally worry of childish squabbles." asked McGonagall
"Normally Minerva, I would not worry but I feel that people have become involved who should not be."
"what do you mean."
"There are people in this school who shall wish to keep Hermione from returning to her friendships with Harry and Ginny. There are people in this school who will aim to trick her into making rash decisions from which there is no return." Dumbledore said looking worried at the thought.
McGonagall sat nodding. She could see it too but she knew that it would be up to Hermione's common sense to know the right thing to do.
It was her choice.
Author Notes.
Please review or I won't write more. I don't mind criticism as long as it's constructive.
If you have any advice then let me know.
I the next chapter there will be a focus on the development of Draco and Hermione but also The Slytherin's plan.
If you want her to turn then tell me or of you don't tell me as well.
Read and Review.
