AN: Thanks for the reviews and such.

Oh and beware. There is quite of bit of punching and yelling and name calling in this chapter.

Three weeks later-

Hermione knew something was up the minute she stepped out if the floo at the ministry. People were staring at her as she walked by and whispering. But it wasn't until she walked into her department that she had any clue what was actually going on.

Hermione put her briefcase down on her desk and saw that her cube mates were staring at her. "What?" she asked. "What is going on?"

"Have you seen the Prophet this morning, Hermione?" Ernie McMillan asked.

"No," Hermione said. "I don't read the Prophet. Why?"

Ernie walked over and handed the paper to Hermione. She took it from him and clicked her tongue in irritation. Hermione looked at the paper and gasped. There was a picture of her and Harry kissing. The picture had been taken the last time they went on a date. They went to muggle London to see a movie. Hermione's hand flew to her mouth as she read the article beneath the picture.

BUSTED!

By: Rita Skeeter

Secrets out! This reporter has recently discovered that Harry Potter (19) and Hermione Granger (19) have been in a secret relationship. The details are scant as they have done their best to hide their liaison. But a source close to the couple reveals they have been together at least a month.

Faithful readers will recall that Ms. Granger moved in with Mr. Potter after the demise of her relationship with Ronald Weasley (19) earlier this summer. The Prophet reported rumors of a relationship at that time though it was vehemently denied by the pair. But a picture speaks louder than a thousand words and the picture above (taken last weekend in muggle London) tells a story- a story of people with little regard for the feelings of their best friend.

How does Mr. Weasley feel about this? He has been out of the country for the last three weeks and was unavailable to comment but a source close to the couple states that Mr. Weasley is completely in the dark about the Potter/Granger romance.

How long did they intend to hide this? Well, cats out of the bag now. This reporter wishes them luck.

"Oh no," Hermione breathed. She thrust the paper back at Ernie and ran out if the room. She took the lift down to the second floor and got off. Hermione rushed into the Auror's office. She found Harry having an argument with Neville and Draco. All three men stopped talking when they saw her.

"Harry, can we talk?" Hermione asked.

"No need to play coy Hermione," Neville said harshly. "Everyone knows."

"Are you going to stand here and be a dirty hypocrite Longbottom?" Draco drawled. "Because that's so Gryffindor of you."

"Don't take this out on her," Harry snapped at Neville. Then he looked at Hermione, "Are you alright?"

Hermione felt tears sting her eyes, "It wasn't supposed to be like this. We were going to tell him and ..." Harry moved forward and wrapped his arms around her. Hermione didn't care that everyone was staring she just sobbed into her boyfriends shoulder.

"How sweet."

Hermione pulled away from Harry and whipped her head around. She felt her heart race when she saw Ron leaning against the doorframe. "Ron-" Hermione started.

"Shut up Hermione," Ron shouted. "This is between him and me." He pointed at Harry. He came into the room.

"No, it's between all of us, " Hermione corrected him. "Let's do this somewhere else."

"Why?" Ron sneered. "why not do it right here? You obviously didn't care about making a spectacle of yourself with your-" he broke off and looked away. "I see no reason why I should I should take your feelings in to consideration when you didn't do me that curtsey."

"I tried to tell you," Harry explained to Ron. He positioned his body in front of Hermione.

"Did you, now?" Ron asked. "Must not have tried to hard considering I had to read about it in the paper."

"I did," Harry told him. "The day Charlie got hurt. That's why I asked you to the Leaky that day. I was going tell you. But you had to leave before I could say it and then you were gone."

Ron looked over Harry's shoulder at Hermione, "I guess you didn't think this was something I should hear from you, huh? You didn't think I deserved that."

"Ron, I-" Hermione started, tears were falling down her cheeks.

"She wanted to be the one to tell you. I wouldn't let her." Harry interrupted.

Ron snorted, "You wouldn't let her? Have you even met her? Hermione does what she wants, Harry, she always has and always will. " Ron shook his head and started laughing. "This is -I can't-" He nearly doubled over with laughter. "You and Hermione? This just absurd."

Hermione and Harry exchanged a worried glance. Hermione felt a strong arms grasp her shoulders from behind and pull her back just as she heard the cracking sound.

Ron wasn't laughing anymore as his fist connected with Harry's face. Hermione screamed as her boyfriend hit the floor. She struggled against whoever was holding her back. "Stay back Granger," Draco said against her ear. "You don't want to get caught in the crossfire."

Harry was pulling himself up when Ron reared back and punched him again. "Do something!" Hermione screamed at Neville. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand. "Put that thing away," Draco told Hermione and he released her.

Neville grabbed Ron's arms. "Don't do this mate. You will wish you hadn't later."

Ron shrugged him off and glared at Harry, "Aren't you even going to fight back? Or do you not love her enough to fight for her?"

"I love her enough not to dump her so I can shag every slag we went to school with," Harry replied after Draco helped him to his feet.

"Don't you put this on me! This isn't about me. This is about you. You lied to me," Ron shouted. "You were my best friend. You knew I still loved her. You knew I wanted her back. You-" He shrugged Neville off and reared his fist back to hit Harry again but was stopped by a loud baritone voice.

"That's quite enough," Kingsley said as he entered the room. "Now, everyone just calm the hell down. This is the ministry of magic not the Hogshead." He glared at Harry and Ron, "You two are training to be Auror's. I allowed you into this program thinking you were adults. So act like it." The minister crossed his arms and spoke again, "Weasley. Potter. Take the rest of the day off and deal with your personal business. When you return tomorrow I expect you to behave like professionals. Am I clear?"

Harry and Ron both mumbled, "Yes sir."

"Good. Now, get out of my sight." Kingsley snapped.

Ron threw Harry and Hermione a hateful look before he stormed out. Hermione and Harry followed him into the corridor but he was gone.

"We have to find him," Harry muttered. "it can't end like the."

"Harry, wait," Hermione said. She pulled him around to face her. His glasses were broken and so was his nose. Hermione pulled her wand out and said, "Oculus Raparo."

"Thanks," Harry mumbled. He started to pull away but Hermione held tight to his arm.

"I need to fix your nose and the cuts on your face," Hermione told him.

"Why?' Harry asked. "he is probably going to break it again when I find him so-" he shrugged.

"Harry, please?" Hermione said. She was crying again.

Harry softened, "Hurry up. We need to find him."

Hermione waved her wand again and this time muttering, "Episkey." Harry groaned as his nose healed itself.

"Can we go now?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "Where do you think he went? The Burrow?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "That or George's shop, I guess."

"Let's try George's first," Hermione suggested. She didn't want to face Mrs. Weasley yet if he didn't have to.

"Ok," Harry said.

Hermione followed him to the lift. He was silent as they made their way to the atrium. Hermione didn't care about the people staring or gossiping. She was worried about Harry. Was he rethinking things? Would she and Harry be able to salvage their relationship if they couldn't salvage their friendship with Ron? Would he blame her?

Hermione pushed open the door to Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. The shop was empty. In fact Hermione didn't think George was even there until she heard raised voices from the office.

"You broke up with her Ron," George reasoned. "You couldn't expect her to wait for you."

"This isn't about her it's about him," Ron bellowed. "He was supposed to be my best friend."

"He is your best friend. He made a mistake. You need to give him a chance to explain." George argued.

"Hell no, "Ron said. "I am done with him. I am done with both of them. They can have each other."

Hermione almost choked as a sob escaped. The door to the office opened and George looked at Hermione and Harry. "Now may not be the best time," he told them. Hermione was glad to see he didn't look angry just worried.

"What the hell do you two want?" Ron demanded. He pushed George out of the way. "Need me to break your glasses again Potter?"

Hermione moved forward and placed her hands on Ron's arms. "Please. Just let us explain, Ron-"

He shoved Hermione off of him roughly. Her back hit the display of daydream charms and knocked them over. "Don't touch me whore," he hissed.

"Ron!" George barked.

"Hey!" Harry yelled. "This isn't her fault. It's mine. I started this. If you need to be mad at someone then be mad at me but don't push her around and don't call her names."

"I will call her whatever I damn well please," Ron raged. "She is sleeping with my best friend. She doesn't get to play the innocent little flower anymore."

Hermione didn't correct his assumption. It didn't seem like the time and it wasn't the point.

"If you say one more word about her I am going to deck you," Harry told him. "You're angry and I get that but you're not going to take your anger out on her."

Ron smirked and looked right at Hermione when he spat, "Slag."

Crack

Hermione gasped in shock as Harry's fist made contact with Ron's jaw. "Harry ! No!"

George took his wand out and put a shield between the men. "Stop it," George shouted. He looked at Ron, "Don't do or say something you can't take back. Go home. Cool off."

Ron glared at Harry and Hermione, "I hope you two are happy together because you're stuck with each other now. I am done with both of you. Forever." Then he disapparated.

Hermione sobbed and wiped the tears from her face. George holstered his wand and slumped against the wall. "He didn't mean it," George said. "He is just mad about how he found out. He is hurt but he will get over it."

"I don't think he will," Harry said.

"He will," George replied. "Just give him time. This isn't something he is going to get over in a day or two. He just needs time."

"I am sorry," Harry told George.

George grinned, "Why are you apologizing to me? You're not shagging my ex-girlfriend."

Hermione glared at George, "I am not shagging anyone."

George held his hand up, "None of my business," he said. "You are single consenting adults."

"George, we didn't mean for this to happen-" Hermione started.

"No one ever means for something like this to happen. You don't choose who you fall in love with." George sighed. "Though it might have been a little better for everyone if you had told him yourselves rather than let him read about it in the paper."

"I tried to tell him before Charlie got hurt," Harry said. "But it didn't work out."

"I understand" George smiled at them. "it will all work out. Go home. I am sure Ron will feel like an arse later and you three can work it out. You have been through hell together. Ron isn't going to throw all of that away over something like this."

Hermione was so glad that George wasn't angry. "Please, tell your family-"

"I will," George said. "You two should dissapparate from here. I am sure everyone out there is talking about you and there is no need to add fuel to the fire."

Harry took Hermione's hand, "See you George."

"Later Potter," George said and he went back into his office.

Hermione felt the pull as Harry apparated them home.

"Are we going to be ok?" Hermione asked when they arrived at Grimmauld Place.

Harry looked at her, "Why wouldn't we be?"

"I don't want to be what ruins your friendship with Ron. I don't want you to resent me." Hermione said.

Harry pulled Hermione to him and hugged her tightly. "I love you. I don't resent you. I couldn't."

"You love me?" Hermione asked. She pulled away to look at him.

Harry laughed, "Now is probably not the best time to discuss that. But, yes, I love you."

It wasn't the first time Harry had told her that he loved her but it was a different context. This wasn't her best friend telling her he loved her this was he boyfriend telling her he loved her. "You're probably right. This isn't the best time to get into it but for what it's worth, I love you too."

"Then one way or another everything will be ok," Harry said. He kissed Hermione chastely on the mouth.

"What if he doesn't forgive us?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"He will," Harry assured her. "He has too."

Hermione hoped he was right.