AN: Good to know so many of you are concerned about Hermione, but don't worry it will all turn out well in the end, trust me. She maybe pregnant with Malfoy's baby, but I never said she was going to have it. I'm sorry, again, that has taken me so long to get this chapter up, but honestly I forgot for like two weeks that I was writing this story. Well hope you enjoy.
Thepaxilfairy - He is a prick isn't he, but don't worry they'll get him in the end. Sorry about the long wait.
Teresa Bell – Now come on Teresa you know me am I one to seek revenge … *blinks eyes innocently*… of course there will be revenge on Malfoy. But thanks I'm glad your enjoying hope everything is going well.
Fear Mage – Thank you; it does doesn't it.
Spazzz12 - I promise you spazz no one wants to see little Malfoys and we wont, well except perhaps once, but that's only during the magical pregnancy test I though off.
Madlilcaptor696 – You will not die I promise, it will all be alright it just doesn't seem like it will be.
Alastar – First off I'm sorry I didn't update sooner. Secondly the revenge on Malfoy only starts in this chapter there will be more latter I promise so don't hurt me.
Observer – Dumbledore explains why he didn't do anything and you know if he had kept her away from everyone she never would have gotten her memory back at all.
Realbluelightsaber – like I told Fallin' for Felton such is life.
One-winged-angel-mimi – Sorry can't tell you that, I wouldn't want to lie to you. Glad you like the story though.
Amy – I'm glad you liked it, sorry I didn't update soon.
Fallin' for Felton – sorry, but such is life. Keep reading thought it will be okay.
Fatima – tanks I intend to
Inuyashaslovergirl – it is a sick thought isn't it. Thanks.
Jessalae – But you got to admit my cliff hangers keep you interested – lol. Thanks and I do need a beta reader and I'm going to send chapter eight to you if you are still willing to help me, but I figured people would want the chapter asap since it's been so long. Let me know though if you don't want to anymore. Okay?
Silverwand13 – I know some of it is graphic, but that's what others seem to want, there's another paragraph or two you might want to skip in this chapter too, but don't worry it's not to much.
Jaime – Yes he is evil, that's what makes him Malfoy. Don't be concerned about Harry, he'll be alright.
Ramy – Thank you that's what I was going for.
Robaatsu – Thank you I thought it would be. I'm not sure if castrating Malfoy would be punishment enough, but I promise he will pay.
Steph – I'm so glad I've got you hooked, I hope this new chapters and all that fallow aren't disappointing. Thank you, I'm glad you like it so much.
LiL PeTiTe – I know he is evil and thanks
Red Harring –I know I am but I love it. Thank you, I've been spending more time working on them, making sure they are exactly what I want them to be.
Issa – Thanks and Malfoy will get his.
DD – yes I just had to end it with a cliff hanger. :p
Piper-h-99 – sorry it took so long.
Coolone007 – No it wouldn't exactly be rape since she didn't say no.
o_O – yeah your summaries right, I know it's a fast plot, sorry, but I can't help it. Thanks though
Becca – thanks
Chels – thanks, sorry it took me so long to update.
Soccer-wizard – I'm trying to make them longer, but it's like I know what is going to happen in each chapter and when all of that stuff has happened the chapter is over no matter how long it is, but I'll try, promise.
Cool brat – sorry I didn't update sooner, I forgot with the new book being out and all. Thanks though
Vegetto – you I knew the 'whish' and 'latter' things were wrong, but I forgot to change them, sorry if they bothered you. I'm glad you like the story though.
Flare – Thank you, as I do want to be a writer one day I really appreciate the complement.
Jenna Potter – Sorry I can't change he plot know, but I promise it will be okay.
Kings-coco04 – well it will turn out to have a happy ending, but it's not the end yet so just keep reading.
Bugbug – I know I am, but it's so much fun. I can't help it.
Vanyar – I know it is but I love ending my chapters in nasty places. Thank you for all the information, but I already had a clear idea of what I was going to do with the plot. But thanks again. I'm glad you liked my story enough to give me so much advice.
A true Harry Potter and Hermione Potter Fan – okay don't cry I promise it will be okay, like I said she might be pregnant with Malfoy's child but I never said she was going to have it. Read the chapter, you'll see what I mean. Don't worry I'm evil, but I'm not that evil.
Sai – Thank you
Ashley Coffman – I'm glad you love my story, sorry I didn't update sooner for you.
Teja – don't worry the story is about Harry and Hermione. Draco is just and obstacle they have to overcome. Oh and if he does I really don't want to know about it - lol
MuchoSugar – I know I am, and I love it. I'm glad you'll forgive me; I would hate to lose one of my best readers before the story is even over.
Sally – thanks, that's what I've been going for. I think stories should get more interesting as they go along.
Mr. Flibble – please don't hunt me down, no I promise to make everything alright in the end.
Ilukaiba – Well don't stop with the first chapter, read, read, read
Yelhsa – thank you, thank you very much
SpawN - thanks
Spell – Don't worry Harry will be the good guy we all know he is. And I know I need to work on my spelling, but I figured since I haven't updated in over a month you might not mind a few spelling errors so that you can have an update. I promise I'll update sooner next time.
Anarane Anwamane – I know, isn't Malfoy an ass for putting them through this.
Sas – I'm glad you like the story and I want you to keep in mind that everything will turn out well in the end.
Harry just stared at Hermione. He wasn't sure what to say.
"What do you mean not my child? Hermione, did you sleep - with Malfoy?"
"Yes. I didn't want to; he kind of forced himself on me."
"You mean he raped you?"
"No it's not that. I didn't actually object. In my head, I didn't want it, but something told me it was something I had to do. Remember Harry he had me convinced I loved him." Harry just stared at her. While he sat there stunned Hermione quickly dressed and ran outside. She shouldn't have told Harry until she was sure.
"Hermione, come back." Harry yelled as he came running out onto the field after her.
"No Harry, I shouldn't have told you. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'll just drop out of school and raise my child by myself. Maybe when it's old enough to come to school I'll be able to come back and finish." Harry caught up to her while she was ranting and grabbed her wrist to make her stop.
"I won't let you do that Hermione. You're not leaving school and you won't be alone. I'll never let that happen to you. Hermione don't you understand. I love you. Nothing that happens will ever change that."
"How can you say that? Malfoy is your worst enemy, our worst enemy. How can I have his child? How could I live with myself? How could you ever look at me the same way again?"
"We don't have to have all the answers now. It's not your fault this happened and I'll be here for you. So what if the child isn't biologically mine? That doesn't matter. The kid will turn out just find because we'll raise it together."
"Do you really mean that Harry?"
"Of course I do. You mean more to me then anything else in my life." Harry and Hermione were now standing face to face, foreheads touching, with their fingers intertwined. It started raining and all Hermione could say was:
"Oh great, this is exactly what we need now." They both laughed.
"It's not too bad Hermione. At least it's taking your mind off other things."
"I guess."
"Come on Hermione lets not think about this tonight. Let's just enjoy being together."
"Okay Harry."
"Well we should be getting back, it's late."
"Wait what about your dad's cloak?"
"I'll get it tomorrow during practice. It'll still be there then."
"Do you think we could go get my stuff now, while everyone is sleeping? I don't want to face those people while they're awake. At least not until I have to."
"I guess so, sure." They walked back up to the castle holding hands and didn't even worry about the water that was dripping off of them onto the floor. When they got to the Slytherin common room Hermione said the password and they slipped in. The entire house was still asleep.
"There is my bag on the couch, with Malfoy's."
"Okay I'll grab it. So where is the girl's dormitory?"
"I have no idea. I've been sleeping…"
"Okay I get it; you don't have to spell it out or anything." Hermione led the way into the boy's dormitory.
"Wait here while I pack." She moved about the room quickly, gathering up her cloths and school books. All she left were her Slytherin uniforms, folded up neatly on Malfoy's trunk. As she finished packing Malfoy woke up.
"Hermione love what are you doing up and dressed?" He said as he got out of bed, completely naked. Harry wanted to make a move, but Hermione put up her hand to stop him. "You're soaking wet Hermione, where have you been?"
"Outside, it's pouring."
"We can talk about it in the morning," Draco said pulling Hermione into his arms. "Come back to bed."
"Not on your life, Malfoy." Hermione snapped pulling out her wand. "Get away from me! You'll never touch me again. Unless of course you'd like to loss that." Hermione pointed her wand down at his crotch.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong with me anymore. I'm finally myself again. I don't know how you got me to forget everything, or how you made me believe you, but that's all over now."
"Well fun while it lasted, but I don't think I'm ready for it to be over." Before she could defend herself Malfoy picked Hermione up and through her down onto the bed. He leaped on top of her and Hermione screamed.
"Harry!"
"Oh your hero isn't here to save the day this time."
"I wouldn't bet on that Malfoy." Harry came out of the shadow by the doorway. He had his wand raised and pointed directly at Malfoy. "Rictusempra," Harry called and Malfoy went flying across the room. Hermione jumped up from the bed and she and Harry grabbed her trunk and hurried down the stairs. Before Malfoy could comprehend what had just happened Harry and Hermione were out of the common room and quickly moving towards Gryffindor Tower. In their hurry to get to their common room they made a great deal of noise, but they were lucky enough not to run into Filch or Mrs. Norris. When they walked into the Gryffindor common room most of the house was still up; including Ron who was slouched down, asleep in a chair facing the door.
"I told him I was meeting you. He must have been trying to wait up and see how everything turned out."
"Do you think we should wake him?"
"Ehh, what's the point?" Suddenly Ron sat straight up in his chair.
"I'm up, I'm up."
"Okay Ron." Hermione said trying not to laugh.
"Hermione is that you?"
"Yeah."
"You're back?"
"Yeah."
"Oh that's great Hermione." Ron said bouncing out of the chair and hugging Hermione tightly. "We've missed you so much around her. Gryffindor Tower hasn't been the same without you." Hermione smiled. "Oh here let me help you with that." Ron said taking the end of her trunk she was holding out of her hand.
"Let's just take it up to our room Ron. There is no reason to wake the other girls."
"Good old Harry, always thinking of other." They laughed as they took the trunk upstairs and dropped it down on top of Harry's.
"Goodnight Ron." Harry said taking Hermione into his arms.
"Yeah, goodnight, I get the hint." Hermione waved at him slightly as he turned and closed the door.
"You know," Harry said kissing Hermione as she turned around in his arms. "We have the dormitory all to ourselves."
"I know, but it won't stay that way for long."
"Who says it needs to take long?"
"Harry we can't. What if they hear us? What will they think?"
"They'll think we're lucky." Hermione gave into Harry's kisses as he pushed her gently towards his bed. They kicked off her shoes, she got on the bed, and Harry claimed up on top of her. Sitting up on his knees Harry pulled the curtains closed around them.
"Just in case" Harry said moving back down to her neck and covering it with kisses.
"I understood." Hermione said holding on to the back of Harry's neck.
"You know," Harry said laughing slightly, "this is the first time we've ever made love in a bed."
"Well it's good to know we are the kind of open minded people who can deal with change as it comes." Harry sat up on his knees again, this time to take of his soaking wet sweater and throw it over his shoulder. He then helped Hermione off with hers.
"Now comes the tricky part. How do we get our pants off with out getting out of the bed? 'Cause if we have to get out of bed then I give up."
"Here let me show you a trick. Get off me for a second will you."
"What if I don't want to get off you? Maybe I like it here."
"Well let me put it this way. If you don't get off me so I can show you what I was going to show you that movement in your pants isn't going to do either of us any good." Harry raised his eyes and then rolled off her quickly. Once Harry was off her Hermione arched her back, so that her butt was in the air, and pushed her pants down to her knees. Then she put her back down on to the bed, lifted her legs into the air, and kicked her pants to the end of the bed. Harry just looked at her in amazement.
"I can't do that, I'm not that flexible."
"Harry it doesn't take flexibility. Now come on I'll help you." It was quite difficult to get Harry in the position Hermione had just been in. He kept laughing and twitching, but eventually Hermione got his pants down and he kicked them off. Hermione claimed up on top of Harry and sat down on his chest. The only thing she was wearing now was her bra. It didn't take long for that to join the other wet clothes that were gathering on the floor around Harry's four-poster.
"I could get use to this," Harry said running his hands up Hermione's sides.
"Me too." Hermione said leaning up slightly and moving back onto Harry's waiting erection. They moaned in pleasure together and Harry's hands came to a rest on Hermione's hips as she moved slowly up and down. Harry moved his hand up her chest, caressing her breast gently and she tried to control her moans. They both erupted in orgasm and Hermione lay down on top of Harry breathing heavily. He took Hermione in his arms and kissed her, over and over again.
"I love you."
"I love you too Harry."
"I missed you so much this last month Hermione. I missed your skin, your lips, the smell of your hair; the feel of your body in my arms." Hermione laid her head on Harry's chest and rubbed her hand back and forth as Harry gently rubbed her back.
"I didn't realize how much I missed you until tonight when you made me remember, but I did Harry, I really did. In the part of my mind Malfoy locked away I was screaming for you to come and find me; and you did. You didn't give up on me when I snubbed you. How can I ever thank you for doing that?"
"You can lie on top of me some more, this is working out well for me."
"Come on Harry, I'm being serious." Hermione said starting to move off him.
"So am I." Harry said raising his eyebrows and pulling her back.
"I think most of all I've missed your sense of humor."
"Well what is that supposed to mean? You didn't miss what we just did?"
"Of course I missed that, even if we had only done it once. It's just no one laughs in Slytherin, unless it is at some one else. It was driving me nuts."
"Well I'm glad I make you laugh." Harry said putting fake hurt in his voice.
"You know you make me do more than that; or did you miss my moans."
"No I didn't miss those." Harry said rolling Hermione over so that they had successfully changed positions. "So you want to see if I can make you moan some more?"
"Not just yet. Maybe in the morning, or in a few hours, or in a few minutes." They started kissing and getting worked up again when they heard the door to the dormitory open.
"You two better not be doing what I think your doing." It was Ron. They could hear him enter the room and walk in the direction of his bed.
"Whatever do you mean Ron?" Harry said pushing himself up by his arms and looking at Hermione with his eyes wide open, as if he was in shock at the idea. Hermione tried hard not to laugh.
"You know exactly what I mean." Harry pulled on his robe, which had gotten tangled up at the bottom of his bed, and stepped, out of the hangings.
"Ron, I'm insulted that you'd even imply Hermione and I would even consider partaking in such an indecent act." Ron just rolled his eyes and quickly changed into his pajamas before crawling into his bed.
"Well now I'm here and I don't want to hear any moaning or groaning coming from over there. I intend to sleep."
"You could always go back downstairs and sleep in one of the chairs; that seemed to be working out well for you." Harry said as he gathered up their wet cloths and draped them on the rack around the heater. He then opened Hermione's trunk and grabbed her robe for her. He threw it to her as he claimed back into bed.
"Oh what, you want me to wear cloths now."
"Not really."
"Well then why do you go to all the trouble of getting my robe?"
"I though you might need it, in case you get cold later."
"Oh I'm sure you'll keep me warm enough."
"Okay you can stop that now. I mean Hermione, put on the robe don't put on the robe, it doesn't really matter. I would just really prefer not to have to hear about it."
"Okay Ron, we'll work on keeping it down." Hermione said. "Though Harry might have a problem with that."
"Oh now you're just sharing way too much."
"Goodnight Ron."
"Goodnight Hermione."
"We probably should be good Harry." Hermione whispered in his ear.
"You were being very good." Hermione laughed.
"So were you, but what I meant was so that we wouldn't be disturbing Ron."
"Yeah you're right."
"Goodnight Hermione, I love you."
"I love you too Harry." The tucked themselves under the sheets and Harry pulled Hermione into his arms.
They slept late, when they got up the dormitory was completely empty. Harry got out of bed first and grabbed their now dry close off the drying rack and through them in with the other laundry. He then dressed and pulled open the hangings on his bed so that the sun would hit Hermione's the face.
"Oh Harry, do I have to get up?"
"Yes Hermione. We need to go talk to Dumbledore about you switching back to Gryffindor and then we need to go see Madam Pomfrey."
"I guess your right, but I don't want you to be. I didn't want last night to ever end."
"I know how you feel, but it did end and now we have to face the new day." Hermione reluctantly got out of bed and dressed. They didn't even bother with breakfast; they just went straight to Dumbledore's office and were in luck because the stairs were already up. When they reached the door to his office Filch came barging out muttering about stupid kids tracking mud into the castle. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, realizing they had been the ones who had tracked in the mud last night. But the trail stopped at the Slytherin common room so there was nothing to connect them to it.
"Come in." Dumbledore called to them as the door was closing behind Filch. Harry quickly caught the door and they walked in.
"Ah Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter; I thought I would be seeing you two soon. Tell me, what can I do for you?"
"Professor, I want to go back to Gryffindor. Malfoy put some kind of spell on me or something and…"
"Please Ms. Granger, no explanations are necessary. I knew when Mr. Malfoy came to tell me you wanted to switch houses something was wrong. That's why I went to see you."
"Wait Professor," Harry started looking confused, "if you knew something was wrong, why didn't you help?"
"Because Harry, nothing I could do would help Hermione. She needed your love to show her who she was. I'll have your things moved back into Gryffindor Tower immediately Ms. Granger."
"Oh you don't have to do that, Harry and I went and got my stuff last night. I just wanted to make it official that I had switched houses again."
"Very well, unless there was something else you wanted to speak to me about?"
"No Professor that was all, thank you."
"You're welcome." They hurried out of his office and down the stairs before it could sink into the floor.
"Now what do we do?"
"We go to Madam Pomfrey so she can tell us if your pregnant or not."
"Oh yeah, I kind of forgot about that. Do you think we could forget about it a little longer? I'm scared to know the truth."
"I know your scared Hermione. Honestly I'm scared too, but we need to know for sure."
"If we're both scared, we don't have to do this."
"Yes we do. Come on Hermione." The walked to the hospital wing and paused just outside the door.
"What will I say?"
"You'll ask her to give you the test, she never asks question."
"She might ask some this time."
"Come on Hermione." Harry opened the door and they walked over to Madam Pomfrey's office.
"Yes can I help you?" Madam Pomfrey asked and Hermione mouthed her request without actually making a sound.
"What Ms. Granger?"
"I think I might be pregnant and I was wondering if you could give me a test."
"Come along with me. You'll wait here Mr. Potter, while I have word with Ms. Granger." She led Hermione out of the office and to a small room Hermione had never seen before. "I must tell you the school does not tolerate such irresponsible behavior. I would have though you and Mr. Potter would be smart enough to use protection."
"Oh no Madam Pomfrey, it's not with Harry." This was not what Madam Pomfrey wanted to hear. "Let me explain."
"Please. I know I'm known among the studenst for not asking questions, but I would like to understand."
"For the last month Draco Malfoy had me convinced I loved him and he loved me. I didn't want to have sex with him, but I felt I couldn't object to him." Madam Pomfrey nodded her head in understanding.
"Well that's an entirely different matter isn't it? Would you like Mr. Potter to be here?"
"Yes."
"Very well sit down on the bed. I'll be right back with him." Hermione did as she was told and sat nervously on the bed looking around, trying to keep her mind off what was about to happen. When Harry saw Hermione he rushed to her side and took her hand. Madam Pomfrey smiled briefly and then took out her wand.
"Exstare" She said as she pointed her wand at Hermione's stomach. In front of them appeared a picture of a small child. It was a girl, she looked just like Hermione except she had white-blond hair. Madam Pomfrey removed her wand and the image disappeared.
"Well there's your answer Ms. Granger. I would say congratulations, but I must say you probably didn't want it to be true." Hermione nodded her head slowly up and down. "I'll leave you two alone now." Once she was gone Hermione started to cry.
"I don't want to be a pregnant fifteen-year-old Harry. I don't want to do this." Harry claimed onto the bed and pulled Hermione into his arms.
"I know you don't Hermione, I don't want this for you either, but we'll get through it together. I'll be here for you and you'll have your family and your friends. You won't have to do this alone."
"What if my family abandons me? What if they won't love me anymore because of this?"
"Hermione they'll always love you. They may not know how to deal with it at first, but they'll manage to somehow." Hermione nodded her head; Harry always knew what to say to make her feel better. "Now come on, let's go down and get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."
"Yeah okay Harry." Harry smiled at her and whipped the tears off her check. They got off the bed and Harry led her down to the Great Hall. By the time they got down to the Hall it was lunch and everyone was there eating. Harry and Hermione took seats next to Ron and everyone welcomed Hermione back to Gryffindor.
"It's great to see you back Hermione." Ginny said as everyone went back to eating. "I've missed you."
"I missed you guys too. It'll be nice to have my real friends around me again."
"Should we tell them?" Harry whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Who? Ron and Ginny?" Hermione whispered back.
"Yeah."
"Later Harry, when were not surrounded buy the entire school.'
"Well I know that but I meant eventually." Hermione nodded her head.
"What are you two whispering about?" Ron asked.
"We'll tell you later." Just then Malfoy came hobbling into the Hall. Apparently being slammed into a wall caused him some discomfort. Hermione put her face against Harry's arm, trying to hide her laughter while Harry just smiled broadly.
"Wonder what happened to him?" Ron said, not sounding the least bit disappointed.
"I flew him across his dormitory and into a wall."
"When did that happen?"
"Last night, we went to get Hermione's stuff and he tried something." Ron started laughing.
"Okay it's horrible he made a move on you Hermione, but that's just funny. I wish I had been there to see that."
"No you don't Ron," Hermione said through her laughs. "You don't want to see him naked; it's not a pretty sight."
"Oh, he was naked. That was not a mental image I needed."
"At least your image is only mental." Harry said with a shutter.
"Can we stop talking about this, please? I'm trying to eat." Ginny said shuttering worst than Harry.
"Oh Ginny it is so disgusting, he's so pale he's nearly see through." Everyone within ear shot shuttered that time except Lavender.
"Please stop Hermione."
"Okay Ginny, I'm done talking about that." After they were done with lunch Harry, and Hermione led Ron outside.
"So what were you two whispering about?"
"I'm pregnant Ron."
"You are, oh congratulations you two."
"Thanks, but there is a problem."
"Yeah your way to young to be parents, but you'll still be great at it."
"That's probably true put that's not what I meant. I meant that Harry's not the father."
"What?" Ron said in shock. "But who else is there? Oh no, you don't mean Malfoy." Hermione nodded her head. "Well," Ron said "I'm sure the kid won't turn out to be like him if you two raise it. Just because it has Malfoy blood init doesn't mean it will turn out like an ass."
"Thanks Ron I'm sure your right. She'll turn out okay."
"You already know your having a girl?"
"Yeah the test Madam Pomfrey gave me showed the child as a two-year-old. That's how we knew about Malfoy. The little girl had his hair."
"Let me get this straight Granger. You're going to have a kid and Potter isn't the father." Malfoy said walking down the steps and looking Hermione over. "Well that puts us in an interesting position. Doesn't it?" He reached out his hand to Hermione and she pulled away.
"It doesn't put us in any position Malfoy. I don't want anything to do with you."
"We'll just see about that. I could give you more then Potter could ever dream of."
"I don't need things, just love. You could never love me Malfoy, you don't even like me and I sure as hell don't like you."
"Well that's true, but this past month was fun. I got to tell you Potter she may be a mudblood, but she makes up for it in all the right ways."
"Get away from us Malfoy."
"One last chance Granger, come with me and leave these two losers behind." Hermione walked over to him. "Good to see you've come to your sense." Harry's mouth dropped as Hermione let Malfoy take her in his arms. But then Hermione did something Malfoy obviously didn't see coming. She kneed him in the crotch.
"Like I told you last night Malfoy, I never want you to touch me again." She walked over to Harry and Ron and the three of them went back inside; all of them kicking Malfoy slightly as they passed.
"For a second I thought you were actually picking him over me."
"Now Harry, you know I'd never do that. Besides I couldn't let him think I was going to do anything to him, he would have backed away."
"Alright well what do you figure we should do now? Work on the project maybe."
"Sounds good to me."
"Oh," Ron moaned, "do we have to do school work on the weekend?"
"Come on Ron it won't be that bad."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Ron said reluctantly fallowing them back to the common room. They went up to the dormitory to get there books out of there trunks and found Hermione's wasn't there.
"Oh, they probably moved it back to the girl's room. I'll meet you two downstairs in a few minutes." When Hermione had left Ron dropped the books he had grabbed from his trunk and stared at Harry.
"How you holding up mate?"
"How would you be holding up?
"Bad."
"Well now you've answered your own question."
"So we're going to kill him right?"
"I say we chuck him through the trap door on the third floor and let him fend for himself."
"The Devil's Snares probably been removed by now."
"Even better he can be dropped onto the stone floor, maybe even crack his skull open."
"We could always jump him in the halls."
"No that wouldn't work; we would have to deal with Crabbe and Goyle too."
"True."
"Harry, Ron I've figured it out." Hermione had come running into the room holding a music box.
"You figured what out?"
"How Malfoy tricked me. He got this music box to my room. It was full of some kind of powder. It's the last thing I remember before I woke up in the hospital wing. I didn't think anything of it, but looking back it just seemed so strange."
"Sometimes Hermione, I think you are way to smart for your own good."
"But don't you see what this means?" Harry and Ron looked at each other and then slowly shook their heads.
"It means," Hermione said sounding frustrated, "A Gryffindor helped him put it there."
"What proof is there of that?"
"Only Gryffindors know the password. No one else could have gotten in."
"But you knew the Slytherin password last night."
"Yeah because last night I was a Slytherin, I bet you anything they've changed the password by now."
"But who would help Malfoy?"
"It has to be one of the girls. The guys all hate Malfoy."
"Hang on Hermione, it was Lavender." Hermione looked at Harry in surprise.
"How do you know?"
"When we were talking about Malfoy this morning she was the only one who wasn't disgusted when we talked about him."
"Well that doesn't necessarily prove anything. Maybe she just didn't hear us."
"Maybe."
"Well why don't you just ask her?"
"Don't be thick Ron, she'd never tell us the truth."
"I guess, but could we test her someway? Couldn't we use a spell to get her to tell us the truth?"
"No there are no truth spells, only truth potions and I don't think Snape is going to lend us some anytime soon."
"Well I'm not up to working on this project anymore, let's just go downstairs and worry about it tomorrow."
"Okay." Hermione said putting the music box down on Harry's bedside table.
"Yeah sounds good; hey Harry, how about a game of chess?"
"Yeah alright." Harry agreed and they headed down to the common room together. Harry and Ron spent most of the day playing chess while Hermione watched. Harry even nearly beat Ron once or twice. They stopped playing only to go to Quidditch practice. Like Harry had said it would be the Invisibility Cloak was there waiting for him. He brought it back with him and stored it safely in his trunk.
On Sunday they reluctantly got to work on their essay. By that evening Hermione had copied down all their notes and formed them into an essay inches longer then Hagrid asked for. The only thing left for them to think about was which Gryffindor had betrayed Hermione. They were sitting in a quiet corner of the common room speaking in whispers. They debated for sometime who it could be and then decided they have to watch all the girls closely.
"But we can't possibly watch all of the girls; we only have lessons with two of them not including Hermione."
"Well we'll just have to watch them in the common room."
"None of them are going to be dumb enough to let anything slip in here."
"We've got no other choice."
"Yeah I guess."
"But the real is question is how we're going to get Malfoy?"
"We'll worry about that later."
"I say we just kick his ass – that's always fun." They laughed together and went back to whispering quietly. In no time at all Sunday was over and it was time for them to sleep. Hermione, not wanting to lay alone slept in the boy's dormitory with Harry.
In the morning they reluctantly went down to breakfast before lessons, just like every other Monday. The day went by fairly normally, minus the fact that Hermione had to keep dashing off to deal with her morning sickness, until they were waiting in the hall outside Snape's dungeon and Harry noticed something. He elbowed Ron in the side and nodded in Malfoy's direction.
"What?" Ron muttered under his breath not seeing what was so strange.
"Watch Lavender," Harry said nodding at Malfoy again. Ron hadn't noticed her before because she was behind Malfoy. But she had become visible again when she put her head on his shoulder and her hands came snaking around his waist.
"What is she doing?"
"We can see what she's doing, we just don't know why." They watched them for a while longer and Harry distinctly heard Malfoy tell Lavender "not here, not now" and Lavender reluctantly let Malfoy go.
"Maybe he's got her under that spell he used on Hermione." Ron suggested as Snape appeared to let them into the dungeon.
"I doubt it, I mean if he had used the spell on her why would he not want to hang all over him like Hermione did." Harry whispered as they took their seats at the back of the classroom. They fell silent as Snape closed the door and took his place at the fort of the class. He described the potion they would be working on, put the instructions on the board with his wand, and sat down behind his desk as they started working. When they were sure Snape was busy at his desk Ron and Harry told Hermione what they had seen in the hall and she too voiced doubts.
"But Hermione it doesn't make any sense. What he did to you he did to hurt you and me. He doesn't gain anything from bewitching her. See, watch her." Harry whispered stirring his potion and Hermione looking over towards Malfoy saw that Lavender was hovering near him again, pretending to get ingredients from the cupboard.
"She's not acting strangely." Hermione said returning to her potion.
"Keep watching she hasn't gone back to her cauldron yet." Ron said looking up as well. And sure enough when everyone moved away from the store cupboard Lavender had her hand on Malfoy's arm and was whispering in his ear. Malfoy wasn't looking at her; he was pretending to concentrate on his potion. But Harry could tell he was listening to everything she said. When Snape started walking through the classroom Malfoy pushed Lavender away and said, probably louder then he had meant to, "Tonight, midnight, we'll talk then." Lavender returned to her cauldron just in time to be told off by Snape for not even starting her potion yet. Harry was afraid they would get yelled at too since they weren't much further, but Snape seemed not to notice. He glared at Harry in his usual fashion and moved on.
"I wonder why they're meeting. What have they got to talk about?" Ron said as they sat down at the Gryffindor table for dinner.
"I can tell you one thing; if it has anything to do with me, Lavender won't be on my side."
"What makes you say that? She was just excited to see you as the rest of us, even more so."
"Well I don't know; she just seemed really angry at me. Yes she was excited when I came back on Saturday, but she got really mad at me yesterday for no reason and hasn't spoken to me since."
"So fare the only person we think could have gotten the music box in your room was Lavender right?"
"Yeah."
"Well this doesn't exactly make her look innocent, does it? I mean it's not likely to be a coincidence, is it?"
"I guess not Harry."
"Maybe we should follow her and find out what they need to talk about." Ron suggested through his dinner.
"I don't know if that's a smart idea Ron, what is we get caught?"
"We'll have the Invisibility Cloak Hermione; as long as we stay under it we'll be fine. This is the only way we'll know for sure."
"But what if we're just being paranoid and what they are meeting about has nothing to do with us."
"Then we'll be able to jump Malfoy without his cronies around."
"I still don't think this is a good idea."
"Then you can stay behind, because I agree with Ron. And if they aren't talking about you or us we'll leave. I just can't shake this feeling that she is involved somehow. She use to hate Malfoy like the rest of us, but now she hangs all over him. It just doesn't seem right."
"Fine if you insist on going I can't stop you, but I'm going with you to make sure you don't get into any trouble."
"Hermione, sometimes you do a perfect impression of my mother." Ron said looking disgusted at the thought. Hermione raised her eyebrows in response, but didn't say anything.
That night they sat in the common room trying to work on their homework, but their eyes kept darting to the clock on the wall and they found it impossibly to get any work done. With twenty minutes to go before midnight they left the common room with the cloak behind their backs so no one would see. They had decided to wait out in the hall for Lavender. They were waiting barley five minutes when Lavender came through the portrait hole and rushed down the hall. Harry, Ron, and Hermione couldn't quite keep up with her because they had to stay hidden underneath cloak, but they managed to keep sight of her the entire time. When she reached the dungeons Malfoy was leaning against a wall waiting for her. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped just within earshot.
"Well we're here Lavender, what do you want?"
"You know what I want Draco."
"Oh God your not still on that are you. Look you got the music box to her and I appreciate it. Can't we just leave it at that?"
"But why Draco, baby? You spent two weeks with Granger and she's not even that attractive."
"I only did that do get at Potter. Now I want you to stay away from me during lessons and in the halls, it doesn't look right."
"If you only did it to get to Potter, why did you sleep with her?"
"Well the public appearance was to annoy Potter, but why shouldn't I have fun with the opportunity? We're done now." Malfoy started to walk away, as did Lavender, looking very disappointed. But as Lavender walked past Harry, Ron, and Hermione she tripped over Ron's foot. Malfoy turned around, but instead of looking concerned for Lavender he looked directly at Ron.
"Potter," he whispered moving towards where the three of them stood stunned. Harry had completely forgotten that Malfoy knew about the cloak. Lavender got up, looking for what she had tripped over, but then decided it was nothing and walked up and out of the dungeon. Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried to sneak down the hall backwards but they were quickly running out of hall and Malfoy was catching up.
"I know you're here somewhere Potter, with that cloak of yours." Malfoy said reaching his hands out in front of himself, feeling the air around him.
"Since when does he know about the cloak?" Hermione breathed glancing over at Harry. Just as Harry was shrugging in response Malfoy caught the cloak on his fingertips. He smiled wickedly and tugged at the cloak to reveal the three of them standing against the wall looking shocked.
"Well, well, well, what an interesting situation we have here. The three of you sneaking around the school at midnight, that doesn't look to good for Gryffindor."
"It looks about as good for us as it does for you." Harry said straitening up and pulling out his wand.
"I suppose you'll want us to get into a fight over your pregnant Mudblood now, wont you?" Harry didn't bother answering him, he just lunged at him. Dropping his wand at Ron's feet he grabbed Malfoy's and chucked it down the hall. He didn't want to worry about magic now he just wanted to hurt Malfoy and hurt him badly. This fight was even more brutal then the one they had in the locker rooms. Hermione could tell Ron wanted to get into the fight but he was busy standing in front of her, making sure she didn't get hurt. He stayed out of it fairly well until Malfoy grabbed his legs and forced him to fall down to the floor. Now it was two on one and Malfoy was putting up a spectacular fight. He kicked at them both, but concentrated on hurting Harry. There were black eyes and cut lips all around before long. It looked for a while that Malfoy might just overpower Harry and Ron, that was until Ron pinned Malfoy down and Harry stood up to kick him. But Hermione pulled him back.
"No Harry you've done enough, you've proven your point. Let's just get out of here."
"Yes listen to your Mudblood Potter. Be a good boy and walk away." Malfoy breathed through Ron's armed trying to force himself off the floor.
"Come on Ron, Hermione's right." Harry said looking down at Ron. Ron looked at Malfoy and elbowed him hard in the chest before getting up. Smiling with satisfaction Ron started to walk up the corridor towards Harry and Hermione; he had never beaten anyone up before and, given the circumstances, was very happy with the results. Harry bent down to grab his wand and the Invisibility Cloak as Malfoy got up of the floor and with one last burst of energy lunged at Hermione. Before anyone could stop him they were both on the floor. By the looks of it he hadn't meant to get her, he tried to get off her and get to Harry, in the process he stepped on Hermione several times. Before Malfoy could reach Harry Ron grabbed him and kneed him in the stomach hard enough to force him back down to the ground.
"Harry," Hermione moaned grabbing her stomach. "Harry something's wrong." Harry's eyes widened as he watched blood begin to stain the crotch of the jeans she was wearing. He scooped her up into his arms and hurried as fast as he dared to the hospital wing, Ron fallowing closely behind.