Hermione awoke with a start

Harry?

Hermione awoke with a start. She was crying, and gasping for breath. But this time it had been all a dream. A dream. A figment of her imagination, but sparked by her thoughts. Her fears. Harry.

She still hadn't seen him since that night, but the slightest thought of him would bring her out in tears. It was horrible to think that someone she knew so well could do something so awful, so inhuman. Which was why she had led herself to believe it wasn't Harry. She lived in a world of magic, a world where everything seemed impossible, where the impossible frequently came true. So how likely was it that Harry had been the one to… she couldn't even think it… do that to her? Not very. Harry had many enemies, all of whom knew of her connections with him, and so it only seemed right that they would pull a trick like this, however disgustingly atrocious, to get him out of the way. Who wouldn't believe what Hermione, the angel, would say?

Which was why she had decided to tell Ginny the truth. And, well, together, they would get the creep that was guilty locked away forever, and prove to the world that Harry was innocent. Because he was. She had to keep telling herself that. Like, she'd spent the past two days being scared stiff of the guy, but now she had to face him. So that was why she was dressing for breakfast. So what if it was… 5-30am! Ok, maybe later!

She picked up a book and began to read about the reason Hogwarts was called Hogwarts, for the sixth time in the past two days.

* * *

Neville drew the drapes around Harry's bed, and threw a pillow at his face, but missed, so instead, Ron yelled, "Harry! Breakfast!"

He murmured in reply, something along the lines of, "What time's it?"

"It's seven, and we're supposed to be down there, so get dressed!" Ron laughed. "It's the third time this week you've slept in, what's up?"

"I don't know." he replied as he clambered out of bed, amid applause from the other four. After splashing cold water on his face and pulling on some black robes, the five of them ventured down to the Great Hall. A few people stared as they entered, as they were over fifteen minutes late, and they heard Draco Malfoy hiss something that had the Slytherins in hysterics. They took their places at the Gryffindor table, and Harry jumped when a voice next to him asked him if he wanted the Pumpkin Juice. When he turned round, Hermione was smiling at him.

"Where've you been? And what's been wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing much. Girl stuff." she replied.

"What did I tell you?" Ron hissed to Ginny, who looked mad. She knew Hermione was lying. Even if Ginny's theory was right, Hermione had to get on with life. And she obviously knew it, why else would she be there?

Harry and Hermione continued to chat, talking about the exams she'd missed. She wouldn't listen to him tell her the questions, as she was planning on still doing them, but in her own time so as not to risk dropping behind.

"The hardest one of course was Potions, and Snape was not happy you were missing it! It was so hard! And McGonagall was worried about you, did she come and see you?"

"No, luckily!"

"Well anyway, she said she would, but we didn't believe her."

"Are you alright now though Hermione? I would hate to think you were going to be ill, as I really need help with Potions, I can't do it!" Neville said, trying to join in.

"Sure, I'll help you! Just, not in a test, alright!" Hermione said, and then they got on with the food.

* * *

The day went Ok for Hermione. Everyone was happy to see her back, apart from Malfoy of course, as when she took the Transfiguration test her mark doubled his, which had previously been top.

She sat in Gryffindor common room that night, trying to explain to Neville why Mango root must be diced, not sliced, when Ginny came up to her.

"Herm, can I talk to you, like, alone?" she said, looking at Neville, who was gazing at Hermione's sketches, obviously not taking any of it in. Hermione left him, and the girls went into Ginny's dorm, which was full of her roommate's artwork.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"You have to tell me what's going on."

"Ah." she said, and turned away.

"Herm, I'm not gonna let you go until you tell me what's up. The act you put on was good, but I could see through it, and I want to help."

"I want to tell you. But first, promise me that you'll listen to the whole story, before you do or say anything."

"I promise, but I think I already know the problem. And well, if I'm right, then although I haven't been through it myself, I know somebody that has."

"You do?"

"Yes, she's one of my friends that are in Ravenclaw."

"No, I mean you know what happened? About Harry?"

"Harry got you pregnant? Hermione, you're with Vik, and, oh my god, no!" Ginny sat down on the bed, and turned away, in shock that the guy she loved would do such a thing. Hermione giggled.

"No! I'm not pregnant! I don't think…" Her laughter didn't last long, as she realised the possibility. She could be. "No," she said, shaking it off, "but it's big." she said to Ginny's relieved face.

"But what's it got to do with Harry?"

"No questions, just listen. I was in the common room the other night, and I was assaulted." her voice shook. "I was raped." Ginny gasped. "By Harry. Or so I thought at the time. But it couldn't have been. It was someone disguised as Harry using Polyjuice potion, because Harry wouldn't do that. He just wouldn't."

"I believe you, it wasn't him. And, well, if you say it, then of course it's true. Oh my god Hermione, are you alright?" And with that Hermione dissolved into tears.

* * *

"I trust the deed has been done?" asked a commanding voice.

"I wouldn't back out now, of course it's done." replied a less powerful voice.

"You have been good to me."

"I'm in this for myself."

"Still, you have been much more faithful than I expected."

"You didn't think I could turn evil?"

"No."

* * *

McGonagall entered Gryffindor tower, her face showing no emotion. As she climbed through the portrait hole, she caught sight of the person she wanted to see, and, as usual she was helping another to learn.

"Hermione, may I have a word?"

"Of course." she replied, and looking over at Ginny, she beckoned for her to follow. The red-haired girl did just that.

"Alone, if that's possible?"

"No professor, I would prefer if Ginny joined us."

"If you must then Ginny. Come along!"

They made their way along various corridors and down a staircase or two, before stopping outside McGonagall's office. The door was open.

"Who's been in here?" the teacher asked furiously. As they walked inside they could see that papers, parchment, quills and ink had been thrown all over the desk. Ginny, who had never been inside this room before, didn't think anything of it, it just looked like a normal office to her, but Hermione gasped with shock. Professor McGonagall was also not expecting to see the mess, as her papers were always arranged neatly in piles.

"What happened?" asked Hermione stupidly.

"How should I know?" snapped McGonagall in return. "Now, I'm going to get Dumbledore. Girls, please return to Gryffindor tower."

"But…" Ginny began.

"Now! I'm not letting the vandals get away with this!" And they left.

* * *

News got round quickly that people had broken into McGonagall's office. Well, actually, things had broken into her office.

"I heard it was a troll! Apparently someone saw Quirrell the other day, and we all know he had a way with them!" Ron said to Harry during their Divination lesson the following afternoon.

"Ron, don't be stupid! Quirrell's dead!"

"Well, I was only saying! But personally I think it was Snape trying to find –"

"Class! I've never heard such a racket! It doesn't matter what broke into Hogwarts, all that matters is that you learn to read Tarot cards!" Professor Trelawney shouted, and automatically the gossip stopped.

"You'd have thought it was her from that outbreak." hissed Lavender to anyone listening.

* * *

Fred sat next to Ron, who muttered in disgust.

"Wotcha doin?" Fred asked, grinning.

"Tarot readings. Or trying to anyway."

"What's the prob?"

"I keep getting something along the lines of 'don't trust your friend', but I can't get any details."

"It's made up anyway!"

"Oh yeah. Well, it's still annoying. I've got to do an essay on what I find out, and them four words aren't going to fill two rolls of parchment!"

* * *

Hermione was sat in Professor Flitwick's office, with Ginny on her right, and her head of house opposite. They weren't using her office for security reasons.

"Are you going to tell me what's been up?" McGonagall began.

"Yes, but you have to promise to keep it down as much as possible. Please."

"Of course Hermione! Though it's been a long time since I followed instructions from a pupil!"

"Yes, well anyway. Umm…"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"I do, and I need to get it out. You can thank Ginny for making me come to you."

"Do you want a drink?"

"No, I just really need to tell you this. Professor, I was raped."

"Hermione? You must be joking! Not in Hogwarts!"

"Yes professor." Tears had started to form in her eyes, and as the first few fell from her face, Ginny squeezed her hand.

"By who?"

"Harry."

* * *

De de derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! Ok, process that should be going through your mind, she said she knew it wasn't him, so why was she accusing her friend of this??? Ok, yeah, I go too deep sometimes, but what the hell! I'll put up the next part soon if I get enough reviews wanting it!!!