Disclaimer: I wish Harry Potter belongs to me but sadly it doesn't

BITTER BETRAYAL

A/N: Things will maybe start to make sense now for you guys. Hope you enjoy it!

The following day Draco couldn't wait to see Hermione to tell her the good news but he was sworn to secrecy. They had a fantastic evening planned. He still had to get some things ready and put everything in place just in time for the date. Hermione knew of nothing. Draco was very excited and was whistling while getting ready for the day.

Over at the girls' dormitories at Gryffindor Tower Hermione could sense that Ginny was keeping to herself and avoiding eye contact with her. Hermione had an inkling that Ginny was still wondering what had happened the previous day but was too afraid to push it again. Hermione sighed and turned to Ginny.

"Ginny, listen I'm sorry about last night. I was just so frustrated and I took it out on you. It was wrong of me. Will you forgive me? In turn I will tell you the story." Hermione figured that Ginny might know the truth behind what happened. But then again if Harry was indeed behind it she wouldn't tell on him. She will choose to be loyal to him. But trying couldn't hurt.

Ginny smiled at her friend. "It's fine Hermione, I was just worried! And you're forgiven. Now let me hear the story." Ginny got comfortable on her bed and patted the spot next to her to indicate that Hermione must come and sit down. Hermione sat down and began her story from the right beginning when Ron came to her in the library.

Ginny was white in her face and her mouth agape after the story. "Draco said all that?" she asked flabbergasted. Hermione nodded her head shamefully.

"Yes, he did. It is still hard for me. I don't understand, I don't… I don't know what went wrong! Or was it all a setup from the beginning? It always felt so right and we were always so real with each other. He told me his secrets! Why go through all that trouble if he just wanted to humiliate me? I don't know what to believe." At this point Hermione was crying. She couldn't bear the hurt anymore. Ginny was reaching out to Hermione to give her a hug but Hermione stood up instead.

"Ginny, you have to tell me. Did you know Harry went to meet Draco at our offices?"

Ginny looked sympathetic when she answered Hermione. "I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't know. But I do know that Harry was very cheerful the whole of yesterday. And you said Madam Pomfrey saw Draco and Harry together – and that they were civil. So something is not adding up. Hermione, you know I have good instinct about certain things. I was right about you and Draco in the beginning and I saw the way he handled you and looked at you. That wasn't fake. Talk to Harry, I think he will have answers for you."

Draco was so happy that he was humming while he walked to Muggle Studies. Not only was it a lovely day but he was also going to see Hermione now. When he entered the classroom Hermione wasn't at their table yet. He found it strange. Choosing to ignore this strange occurrence he went to sit down so long. A minute before class started Hermione jogged in and quietly came to sit next to him. Draco knew that Hermione was aware that he was already there. He was still attending this class with a Disillusionment charm cast on himself. Unfortunately he couldn't whisper anything to her now because Professor Cotterbee was already busy with the lecture. Throughout the lesson he glanced her way every now and again. He could tell something was bothering her because her brow would furrow every few seconds and she would purse her lips. After what seemed like forever, Professor Cotterbee finished the lecture and the period was over. Draco grabbed the opportunity to find out what was bothering her. He chose to push gently.

"Hermione, hello." He whispered. No answer. "Hermione, I know you can hear me. Tell me what's wrong; I can see something is on your mind."

Hermione's mouth twitched and Draco could swear she shook her head a little while putting her notes in her bag. He put his hand on her thigh. She quickly shoved his hand away and huffed. "Did something happen since we last saw each other?"

"Yes, I heard a big piece of your mind!" she hissed angrily and stood up. She threw her bag over her shoulder and walked out with the rest of the class to go to Arithmancy. Draco quickly jumped up and pushed his way through the crowd to get to her. Luckily he caught up in time.

"Hermione, will you just wait!" He called to her.

"I am not going to do anything for you anymore Malfoy." He took hold of her arm in an effort to stop her. He took off his Disillusionment charm in the process.

"Hermione, what have I done to make you so angry at me? Did Ron get to you? Tell me what's wrong." He had a pleading look in his eyes. "Please," he added a bit quieter and took a step closer to her. Hermione's chest was heaving and she looked him straight in the eye with disdain.

Hermione looked at his hand around her arm. "The only thing wrong is that I trusted you. You will always be a vile Malfoy." She noticed that a large group of students were listening to them now. She chose to defeat him in his purpose. "Whatever this was" she indicated between the two of them, "it's over! Now you can't do anything to me anymore, Malfoy. Now let me go!"

She turned round quickly and left with the rest of the crowd, leaving a gobsmacked Draco behind.

Instead of going to Arithmancy Hermione rushed to the Library to give herself some breathing space. For some reason she felt incredibly sad and started to cry uncontrollably. She needed someone to talk to, to comfort her. To her utter surprise she wished Draco was there with her to tell her that everything will be alright. She became angered at this very thought. After a few minutes she managed to calm herself down. She found herself a nice novel and went to sit on one of the soft high-backed chairs to read for a while. From the corner of her eye she caught a redhead entering the Library. It was Ron. She sighed; she really wasn't in the mood for people.

"Hermione," he greeted her stiffly. "Glad to see you're out and about again. How are you feeling?" He stood there awkwardly, not really knowing what to do with himself after he spoke.

"Hello Ronald. I feel my old self again, thank you." She looked down at her book again.

"And how are you dealing with everything?" He shoved his hands in his pants' pockets.

"If you're referring to the perfectly orchestrated betrayal by either you, Draco or Harry then I am not going to answer." Ron shifted uncomfortably.

"What do you mean, Hermione?" He asked sounding surprised. His expression didn't match his tone.

"It means I know one of you set it up. So tell me Ron, did you know Draco and Harry would be there when you suggested we go there to talk?" Hermione fumed.

"Of course I didn't! Harry hardly speaks to me nowadays, he tells me nothing anymore." Ron defended.

"Okay, why is Harry not speaking to you anymore?" Hermione enquired.

"Well, because… because he… because we differed about something." Ron couldn't meet Hermione's eyes.

"I don't want to see you Ron. You may be the one who helped me but at this point in time I don't feel friendly towards either one of you. So leave me alone!"

Ginny was still thinking about Hermione when she was on her way to the last class of the day. She was so in thought that she didn't look where she was going and bumped into someone. It was no-one other than Draco himself.

"Sor…" She only saw who it was mid-sentence. "Oh, it's you! Now, I'm not so sorry." Draco had a question mark all over his face but overall he looked weary.

"What on earth are you talking about Little Weasley?"

"I don't appreciate what you did to Hermione. In fact, I don't even know if you really did it or not. But if someone set you up you better get off your high horse and explain to Hermione what happened and go fight for her! That girl has been going crazy all day and night. She really does care for you, Malfoy. Don't mess with that or you will have me to deal with!" That is all she said and as she walked past him she bumped him hard on the chest with her shoulder, enjoying it all the way.

Draco had no idea what just happened or what she was referring to. The day that started so wonderful just turned very bizarre. She probably knows why Hermione is so angry at him. By the time he thought to ask Ginny about it she had already disappeared.

Hermione was working on an Ancient Runes essay in the common room when Harry entered through the portrait hole with his broom in his hand.

"Hermione!" Harry sounded almost friendly.

Hermione looked up and narrowed her eyes. "Harry." Why was he smiling at her? They haven't spoken in days! He was supposed to be angry at her.

"How have you been?" He asked politely. Hermione put down her quill and turned completely to Harry.

"I have been better, thank you. And you?"

"I am fantastic actually, thank you. Listen Hermione, I know we haven't been talking lately but I have something to tell you, or to ask you rather." Harry looked hopeful at her.

"Yes, we haven't really talked because you said you were lost to me. So don't think you can ask me for favours now. I know you talked to Draco and I heard everything. You had no right to go behind my back Harry!" Hermione was standing now and she could feel the anger build up inside her.

"You were there?" Harry put his hands in his sides and looked disappointed. "Wait, why are you angry? I thought you'd be happy!" Harry didn't understand.

"Happy!?" Hermione asked scathingly. "I collapsed! I couldn't handle it! Ron had to take me to the Hospital Wing!" Hermione cried exasperatedly.

"Wait! Ron was with you? What was Ron doing there with you?" Harry asked. Something didn't make sense. When he told Ron what he wanted to do Ron wanted no part in it. That was the reason they fell out. Maybe Ron changed his mind and took Hermione there to listen. But why did she collapse?

"He asked to see me somewhere private to talk about everything and to apologise so he suggested my office. Little did we know it was already occupied by the two of you nearly at each other's throats!" Hermione didn't know how to feel. Should she be thankful towards Harry for exposing Draco or should she be mad that they played her?

"Hermione, I don't know what you and Ron walked into but it wasn't the way you just described it. And Ron knew I was there with Malfoy. I think he had a change of heart and took you there on purpose. I honestly thought you would be happy." Harry couldn't understand why Hermione described their conversation as aggressive.

"So then you are the one that betrayed me Harry! Ron must have taken me there to show me what you were doing behind my back. Ron only wanted to help. I can't believe I didn't see this earlier." Hermione shook her head in disbelief and turned her back on Harry to go stand by the window.

The whole situation angered Harry because something was going on that neither of them understood. So when he spoke next it was not gentle. "I wanted to ask you to meet me at the Dark Tower tonight at 7. Ginny and I will be there. Just show up please, Hermione. I beg you! Everything will be clear then. This is the only way I can think of to show you that you still matter to me a lot. I hope we see you then."

Harry didn't wait for Hermione to respond. Just when Harry disappeared at the top of the stairs leading to the boys' dormitories Ginny descended the stairs from the other side.

"He is telling the truth, Hermione. Harry told me everything earlier. Most of your answers will be answered tonight – I promise! Just be there."

Hermione didn't turn around and she didn't even reply. She just stared at her reflection in the window. She hardly recognised herself. Her eyes looked dull and her face white. At that moment she felt alone in the world.

A/N: Please review, friends! I really want to hear what you think. Lastly I would like to apologise that I always take so long to update. I write all my chapters now from scratch as I didn't originally plan to make this story so long. Thus, ideas and any constructive criticism or comments are welcome. Thank you!