Harry's Conscience

Chapter 3

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. No matter how many times I wish I did, I do not own it. But anyway, just PLEASE DON'T SUE ME!

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Harry and Ron sat there, with bewildered expressions plastered on their faces. They had left Hermione alone with Evan, leaving the young mother without any words of congratulations. They were now seated on her living room couch with Harry bent over with his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. He then lifted his head, surveying the small English home and rested his eyes on his best friend, who had taken the liberty to pour himself a considerably large drink from the various bottles of alcohol from the kitchen. Then, his eyes moved to his girlfriend, who he suspected would be more hurt than they were, seeing that Hermione was suppose to have told her everything. Harry understood that a girl's heart was like a deep ocean of secrets and even though he and Hermione were very close, there were some things that she would always hide from him.

As he looked at the quiet red-head in front of him, hurt was the last expression that could be seen on her face.

Ginny Weasley was scared. Biting her nails, which was a compulsive habit she only did when she was nervous, her guilty clear blue eyes met Harry's sharp gaze and quickly turned away from him. He stood up and walked towards her. Kneeling down in front of her figure, he gently took her hands in his.

"I knew," she whispered.

Ron, who had been staring at his drink for the last hour, suddenly looked up. His blank expression took a sudden change, as pure rage was written all over his face.

"What do you mean you knew?!" Standing up, he slammed his glass down onto the wooden coffee table.

"I… I… knew about Hermione and Dr-," she softly replied.

"Just don't. Don't even say his name." Ron's fierce tone, softened- filled with frustration. He angrily sat back down and took another gulp of his drink.

Harry, who still sat in front of Ginny couldn't make any sense of the situation. How could his best friend, Hermione Granger ever have had a relationship with Draco Malfoy. When could they have done it? Why hadn't he noticed? All these questions flooded his mind as his grip on Ginny's hands became tighter.

Ginny, who was looking everywhere, but at the two, finally looked down at Harry. She knew he was thinking. She saw the bewildered and betrayed look in his piercing green orbs and knew she had to do something. She moved her hands from his, which broke Harry's concentration. He met her eyes and opened his mouth to say a few words of comfort, but she cut him off.

"The night before the Last Battle… I went to Mione's room because I needed to, well talk to her about some things… but she wasn't there, when I arrived."

----------Flashback----------

A sixth year, red-headed, Gryffindor girl was pacing around the large space of the Head Girl's quarters.  Looking at her watch, she muttered to herself.

"Bugger, it's getting late! Hermione where are you?" Running a nervous hand through her hair, she settled herself on the red and gold bed.

She stared at the ceiling and quietly hummed a soft tune. Slowly getting lost in her thoughts, she became less aware of her surroundings.

SLAM!

Ginny went rigid, sat up and looked towards the direction of the door. Her eyes widened, as she saw the distraught figure of her best friend in front of her.

Hermione's cloak was carelessly open and Ginny was fully aware that she didn't possess any clothes underneath. Along with this, was her flushed face that was covered with tears, making some of her curls stick at its sides. The girl slumped down to the floor and put her face in her hands, not once did she notice the other girl's presence in the room.

Ginny was taken aback by the behavior of the Head Girl, who rarely cried over anything, much less be caught in her present state of undress.

The younger girl ran towards Hermione and wrapped her arms tightly around the sobbing body. Only then did Hermione notice her, thus looking up at Ginny's face.

Her eyes landed upon hers and for a few moments her sobs softened, but as Ginny cracked a comforting smile Hermione let out a loud cry, full of desperation and sadness.

"Shhh…," Ginny whispered as she stroked her friend's unruly curls.

Moving from her kneeling position in front of Hermione, Ginny settled herself beside her, giving her friend the opportunity to rest her head on her shoulder. Ginny sat there and observed Hermione's present state.

 It was obvious that she had been caught up in some type of 'intimate' position, the only question was, was if it had been welcomed. It was naive to think that the boys at Hogwarts were above that level, because as the Last Battle grew closer, they seemed to be more incapable of showing any emotion, much less caring about those of others.

Come to think of it, it was primarily the male population of the Slytherin house that belonged in this category. They would taunt girls from all the houses, other than their own, about the possibility of becoming their slaves after the Dark Lord took over the Ministry. They would follow them as they passed by the dark hallways, running their hands under the victims' skirts and whispering sexual propositions in their ears. The girls ran of course, and the Slytherin boys would laugh at their frightened prey. It wouldn't surprise Ginny, if they dared to go farther, than their usual behavior. In fact, in Hermione's case, she wouldn't be surprised one bit.

But none of her accusations would be put to rest that night because she found the girl in her arms, finally calm and lost in a peaceful stte of slumber.

She took out her wand from her own robes and levitated the sleeping figure onto her bed. After pulling the thick blankets to cover Hermione's naked body, she settled herself on a chair next to the bed. Ginny stared at Hermione, for what seemed like hours, but soon found herself in the same state of sleep.

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Ginny was awoken by the bright sunlight that filtered through the open windows. She looked at the bed and found it bare. Her pulse started to race and she panicked about the numerous possibilities of what Hermione could've done to herself.

She checked the connecting bathroom, but found it empty. She then ventured into the common room and found Hermione staring into the fire, covered in a white blanket, almost hypnotized.

Ginny quickly rushed to her side and slightly touched the other girls' shoulder, making her gaze travel to her.

 Her face was blank.

"He would've never chosen me…," Hermione said, lacking all emotion from her voice.

"Who is 'he' Mione?" Ginny asked quickly.

"Heart of ice, I should've known," she whispered.

"Who Hermione?! Who?!" Ginny shook the other girl's shoulders, again daring to meet each other's gaze.

Hermione smiled, but didn't say anything.

"After all, I'm nothing more than a mudblood," she finally stated, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Ginny eyes widened, she couldn't believe the words that came out of the Head Girl's lips. Who could've done this to her best friend?! Then, the usually calm red-head felt the unfamiliar feeling of anger race through her body.

She stood up and walked right in front of her.

"What is wrong with you?! THIS is not you Hermione." The younger girl yelled. Looking at her friend one last time, she turned towards the direction of the door to leave. She was about to step out of the portrait hole, when she heard a soft reply from the couch.

"I don't know Ginny, I seriously don't know," Hermione said.

"Tell me what happened." Ginny stated, as she walked back to her place on the couch.

Hermione nodded.

"I was patrolling… and he came out of nowhere. Grabbing me, he pulled me into a darkened hallway-"

"Bloody hell…?" Ginny interrupted.

"Dra-"

"DRACO?! What did he do to you Mione? Did he take advantage of you?! My god! We have to tell Harry and Ro-"

Ginny was frantic. Standing up, she started to pace around the room.  She was full of questions and she didn't know how else to help her.

"NO!" Hermione yelled, running to where Ginny stood.

"That's-the-one-thing-you-can't-do. You can't tell Harry or Ron!" Yelling, she shook the girl's shoulders.

"But…he hurt you." Ginny retorted. She felt Hermione's grip loosen from around her shoulders.

"No, Ginny he didn't hurt me, not physically at least…" Hermione sighed. She had seated herself at the nearest chair and looked at the ground.

Ginny's eyes went wide.

"What are you trying to say?" She stared down at her, but the other girl refused to meet the piercing blue eyes that bore into her back.

"I...it started during Winter Holidays- we both resisted it at first, but I…we…" she replied. Frustrated, she put her head in her hands.

"And you didn't tell Harry or Ron?!" she yelled.

"Do you really think I could've?! The one person that they hate the most- their enemy, is the one person, right now, I could never imagine living without!"

"I…"

"Ginny promise me, please…" Hermione looked up, face and voice full of worry.

Ginny looked at the girl that sat in front of her. Only a couple of hours ago, Hermione Granger would've been described as the epitome of becoming a woman. A woman that was strong, confident, and brave. Now, she was resulted into this pathetic form of an adolescent girl, who wanted nothing more but to hide from the rest of the world.

"I promise Hermione," Ginny finally stated. She crouched down and hugged the lonely figure seated in front of her.

----------End Flashback----------

Ginny, who told her whole story with her head down, finally looked up.

"We have to tell him," Harry simply stated.

"What? Are you mad Harry?! After what that Deatheater scum did to Hermione, why should we even-" yelled Ron.

Harry, who had maintained a face of full of indifference during the night was furious. Slamming his fist down onto the nearby table, he quickly turned his gaze towards Ron.

"We're telling him. We head for Azkaban tomorrow."

The room was dead silent, no one moved. The two Weasleys present in the room knew that matters had been decided- there was no questioning Harry Potter.

{AN- Yes dear readers, this chapter was quite boring. At least, I thought so. I don't know? But this chapter was needed. It basically sets up the fourth chapter, which will be another flashback.

So here is the question, anticipating the fourth chapter: Why should Harry tell Draco that he has a son, when he has done nothing more than hurt the people he loves? (hmmmm….)

On the other hand, I actually have something important to say in this AN. I won't be able to update this story until January 16 because of school. You see, finals are coming up in a week, so I must study, study, study!!! Yes, I AM A NERD, I ADMIT it!! LOL. But, if I manage my time I may be able to get the next chapter up at the end of this coming week, but if I don't I PROMISE two chapters the next time I update! (cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye! Hehe…)

Okay, that's enough rambling for today. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOU WHO REVIEWED. I HEART ALL YOU PEOPLE! LOL! Hope you guys like this chapter. *crosses fingers* I TOTALLY HEART REVIEWS!! :-D}