Chapter Fourteen

Hermione stared down at Fred's sleeping form, his red hair tousled and crumpled against the pillow, the sheet pulled down to expose his chest. She sat silently and watched him, trying desperately to memorize every feature, every freckle on his face, every muscle in his body.

She shifted a little and felt an unfamiliar ache between her thighs. She couldn't help but smile a little as she recalled the events of the night before, the new feelings that had been awakened within her.

The clock on the bedroom wall chimed five in the morning and the sound struck Hermione like lead. Silently, quickly, taking care not to disturb her sleeping lover, she dressed, picking her clothes up from the floor where they had been discarded so haphazardly earlier.

She had no regrets, that she knew. Looking down on Fred, his lips curving into a small smile at something in his dreams, how could she? Hermione knew that last night was something she would always treasure. She wasn't particularly worried about the repercussions of her actions either. Hermione was too smart of a witch not to have made sure to learn a contraceptive charm. And if she got back soon enough, her friends need never know.

But the sky was lightening and beginning to streak with sunlight. Leaning over the bed, Hermione stroked Fred's cheek gently and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. She slipped one of her pearl earrings, a gift from Harry last year, out of her ear and laid it gently in his open palm. At least he'd have something to remember her by.

Fred stirred slightly and Hermione exited the room before he could wake, hurrying down the stairs and into the living room. She lit a fire and flooed her way back to the empty classroom in Hogwarts.

Not bothering to wear the invisibility cloak, as she knew no one would be up at this hour anyway, she made her way back to the Gryffindor common room, trying to avoid the realization that she and Fred were over. She gave the Fat Lady the password (kneazle), and climbed through the portrait hole.

"I was wondering when you'd get back." Hermione jumped as she heard a quiet voice from by the fireplace. She recognized Harry as he stood up and walked over to her.

"Did you wait all night?"

He nodded and her heart sank. "Ron said you probably had gone to bed early, but I had a feeling that you didn't. I checked on the Marauder's Map, and you weren't in Hogwarts. You haven't been in Hogwarts at all when you've said that you've been studying." He said it as a statement, not an accusation.

Hermione made her way over to a chair, feeling that her legs wouldn't hold her for much longer. "Why were you watching me?" She asked, her voice trembling.

Harry sighed and sat down in a chair next to hers. "I was worried about you. You seemed fine, but I know it's easy to crash after falling in love." He waited, gauging her reaction. She stared into the dying embers of the fire, unblinking. "And you look like you've crashed."

Hermione's lower lip trembled and she fought to regain control. Harry got up and came over to her, wrapping his arms around her. Secure in her friend's strong embrace, Hermione couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She began to sob, clutching onto Harry as wave after wave of tears racked her body. He waited until her tears began to slow, stroking her hair and gently rocking back and forth.

Harry pulled back and wiped the tears off of Hermione's face. "What happened, 'Mione? You don't have to tell me who it is if you don't want to," he added, even though he thought he knew already.

She swallowed hard and took a couple of breaths to calm herself. "I broke up with him."

"Why?" Harry's green eyes were full of concern. "You seemed so happy."

"I was, I was…" She blinked back tears again. "But it was complicated, Harry. I just couldn't be with him, not now."

"Did you sleep with him?"

Startled, Hermione looked at him. "How did-why-"

"You're back after five, Mione. I don't think it would have taken the whole night to break up with someone."

She nodded wordlessly.

"So you slept with him and then broke up with him?"

Hermione gave a sharp, mirthless laugh. "Other way around."

"You broke up with him before you had sex with him?" Harry raised his eyebrows and let out a low whistle. "Wow. That probably wasn't the smartest thing to do."

"You didn't have to put it like that, Harry. I don't need to feel like a slut on top of everything else." Hermione turned away sharply, not wanting to see condemnation in his eyes.

"Mione, I didn't say that. I don't think you're a slut." Harry let out a deep breath and grabbed one of her hands in his, forcing her to look at him. "Look, you love him, right?" She nodded, and he continued. "You slept with the man you love. There's nothing wrong with that. Maybe your timing just wasn't perfect." She smiled at that, agreeing despite herself.

"Thank you." Hermione threw her arms around him and held tight. She had missed this. In the last few months, what with him dating Ginny and her seeing Fred, they had spent less time together. Harry and Ron were both her best friends, but she had always been able to be more open with Harry. He always knew what to say to reassure her or make her feel better.

Light was streaming in through the windows now, illuminating the empty common room. Hermione sniffled against Harry's shoulder and pulled away. "Good thing it's Saturday. At least I get to sleep in."

"Tired, eh?" Harry grinned at her and she hit him playfully.

"Don't tease me. But yes, I am." She stood up and smiled at him. "I think I'll be going to bed now."

"I take it you won't be at breakfast?"

Hermione shook her head. "Probably not. I don't know if I could eat anything, anyway."

"I bring up something for you, just in case."
"Thanks, Harry." She started to head up the stairs to her room, but then paused. "Harry? Please don't tell Ron."

Harry gazed at her and smiled slightly. "I promise I won't." The smile began to loose its grip a little. "He's awfully fond of you, you know."

Fond didn't quite cover it, but Hermione knew what Harry was trying to say. "I know. I don't want to hurt him." Harry smiled and went up the stairs to his own dormitory. Hermione quietly made her way into her room and flopped exhausted on her bed.

But she knew she had no chance of falling asleep.