Disclaimer: I own nothing

Note: I know I'm always apologizing for late updates but I had a family emergency to take care of and I was in bed sick for about two weeks. There's going to be drama in this chapter and Hermione's friendships are seriously tested. I also had to edit the last chapter (only the end) to make it fit with this one. I hope you guys like it and please review.

Hermione looked from face to face feeling her nerves rise with each glance but reminded herself that this was the only solution. If she didn't get help her parents would die and while her and Draco were helping she agreed with what they had talked about the night before. They were too stressed to think straight and an outsiders perspective was the best idea they'd come up with. With time running out like this, she realized that not only did she not have another choice, but that while she had a good reason for lying to them, she should have told them the truth in the first place. Taking a deep breath she looked at Draco who nodded reassuringly and she smiled tentatively before turning back to her friends. She opened her mouth to speak but Ron had decided he was tired of waiting and beat her to the punch.

"What's this all about Mione and why is that brainless git here?"

"Ron he's not a," She began to say but was interrupted.

"In case it escaped your attention, I live here you pathetic weasel."

Ron instantly stood up and Harry followed both yelling and swearing, feeling angrier by the second because they realized that Draco was ignoring them. Until finally Draco stood up too and began yelling back. Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head before leaning over and complaining about potions with Neville while occasionally looking up when she heard a particularly nasty insult. The boys continued screaming at each other for a while longer until Hermione had had enough and finally shouted.

"SHUT UP!"

Silence descended the room as five pairs of eyes landed on her. Harry and Ron were frowning while the rest looked amused. Looking over at Draco she smiled as he raised an eyebrow before subtly nodding his head at her and she smiled again before turning back to her friends.

"Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you guys but lunch is already a quarter over and I really need to tell you guys something."

Nodding in acceptance Harry and Ron moved to the couch and Draco sat across from them earning a glare from everyone but Neville who just looked confused.

"I asked you all here because I needed to tell you guys something important." Pausing for a second she looked at her friends before continuing. "Oliver isn't the only secret I've kept from you guys. I want to tell you the rest now and if you guys hate me or don't want to be friends anymore I'll understand because honestly I should've told you all the truth a long time ago."

"Hermione what are you talking about?" Ginny asked, and Hermione felt horrible at how small her voice sounded. "Your scaring me."

Her friends nodded in agreement and she ran a hand through her hair before speaking again.

"You guys remember when we were in hiding, Voldemort went to America and attacked my parents right? They weren't sent home. They were sent to a private wing in St. Mungos where they were slowly stabilized. Since the attack I've been trying to come up with a cure and I made progress but not enough. They were starting to get better but then the injuries began to get worse. I went to the hospital with Draco."

She heard them all gasp and she closed her eyes and took another deep breath before looking up to see Harry and Ron had stood up and began walking to the door. Looking at Ginny pleadingly only to realize she was just as mad, she called after them.

"Please wait! I know that I shouldn't have lied and I should have told you. I never intentionally meant to hurt anyone. Especially not the people I love the most. I know I don't deserve anything from any of you but please come back and hear me out. I'm begging you."

Ron shook his head and began walking toward the door turning back in surprise when he realized that Harry wasn't following him. He was staring at Hermione who was on the verge of tears. He held her gaze silently for a few minutes and it became obvious by the looks that Ron and Ginny were exchanging that they were going to follow Harry. After throwing Hermione a vicious glare Harry sat back down on the couch and Ron shook his head before following suit.

"Thank you."

"Just finish your story so we can leave."

Hermione nodded and blinked back tears before looking at Draco. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped when she subtly shook her head. Wiping her eyes she began speaking again not surprised to hear her voice sound shaky.

I wasn't making enough progress so Draco began helping me. We've been up all night for the past I don't even know how long researching and we've managed to get them stabilized again but its not enough and my parents are running out of time. If I can't come up with a cure they're going to die."

She'd been staring at the floor since she began talking again, not being able to meet their gazes because she felt so guilty about lying and their reaction. It wasn't like she intentionally went out of her way to hurt them but she understood why they'd reacted that way and knew it would take time for them to forgive her. If they did at all.

Raising her gaze, she saw Neville offering her a small smile and Ron and Harry were looking less mad and more hurt than anything else. Ginny looked furious and Draco's mask was firmly in place so she couldn't tell what he was feeling. It was Ginnny who broke the silence again and asked the question the boys hadn't thought of yet.

"Why would Draco help a muggle born?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but was surprised when Draco interrupted her.

"Because she's my girlfriend."

and that's it. Promising drama in the next chapter. please review and let me know what you guys think.