I don't own any of these characters!

Chapter Three (The Truth)

Harry woke up really early the next morning. For today he would be

going back to Hogwarts. They quickly ate breakfast and then gathered

all their school supplies and put it in the back of the Weasley's new

car. It wasn't that great of a car, but it got them to Kings Cross Station

on time. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley said their goodbyes and they were

going through the platform before they knew it.

While on the train the three of them found their way to the back of the

train to an empty compartment. Ron slapped Harry on the back as to

usher him into the compartment. Harry cringed as Ron's hand

smacked him on the back, Ron didn't notice this, however Hermione

did, but she kept her mouth shut until Ron left the room to go get

something to eat. "Harry I know something is wrong with you, I just

don't know yet. If you don't tell me now I will find out!" "Hermione

this is too hard for me to tell you, especially you!" Hermione was

now confused, and Harry just blushed. "Well the thing is Hermione,"

he paused, "the thing is, I sort of like you!" Harry was surprised by the

reaction he got, she was just smiling at him. "Hermione are you okay,

you've been looking at me like that for five minutes now with out

saying anything. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It's just too hard

telling you something, you're always stuck in a book." "Oh Harry you

made my day!" She went up to him and hugged him, at this Harry let

out a little yelp. At this she was taken aback, she looked at him. She

looked into his eyes, she could tell he was in pain.

"I can explain," she looked at him with open ears, "well you all know

that I was having a bad summer, but this summer was worse that all

the rest. You see I tried minding my own business and ignoring my

cousin Dudley and his gang, but they just never let me alone. I

couldn't get mad though, I would have accidentally done something to

him and then I would've gotten expelled from Hogwarts. I couldn't let

that happen so I just kept my mind busy when they cornered me and

gave me my daily beatings." She looked at him in awe, tears falling

from her face. "This is why I didn't want to tell you. "Are you sure

you're alright Harry?" "Yah it used to be worse, but I'm okay."

"Maybe I can help you, I might know a spell that could help stop the

pain" "Okay, what do I need to do?" "All you need to do is lift of the

back of your shirt so I can see where the bruise is." As she said this

Harry turned around and lifted the back of his shirt. Hermione stood

there just looking at his blue and purple back. 'When he said he was

beaten he sure meant it.' She slowly walked up to him and muttered a

couple of words that sounded a lot like "healaro decento" at this

moment Ron stepped into the room, his mouth dropped at the sight of

this, "Ron I can explain, Hermione is just helping me get rid of" Ron

had cut him off "Took you two long enough to get together!" Harry

and Hermione looked at each other in amazement. "So you're not

mad?" "Why would I be mad? I finally get to see my two best friends

in the whole world that belong together finally realize it. I just have

one question. Why do you have your shirt half up Harry?" "Well she

was trying to make the pain go away" "From what?" "Well Dudley

and his gang beat me while I was there over the summer." "Why didn't

you do something to him?" "Because I didn't want to get expelled!"

"Oh well that was smart then I guess but you shouldn't have to deal

with that. You should've owled me." "I didn't want you guys to worry

about me" and at that final statement they all began talking about

something else. Hermione started reading and Ron and Harry started

talking about Quidditch.

A couple hours later they found themselves stopping, which made

them very exited. Once they got to the castle, they immediately went

to the Great Hall. They watched and waited for the sorting of the first

years, and then they ate. Harry and Hermione were to be Head girl and

Head boy so after they ate they had to go up to Dumbledore and ask

them about their duties. Around an hour later they left the Great Hall

hand in hand walking towards the Gryffindor common room. Once

they got there they said the password 'Bugbear' (which Dumbledore

had told them) and walked in. By the looks on everyone's faces they

knew that Ron had told everyone they were dating. They came up to

Harry and Hermione with reassuring faces and compliments like

'Took you guys long enough,' and 'Congradulations". This made the

two of them feel really good.

They stayed up talking with old friends for a couple of hours before

making their way up to their own dormitories. Harry had felt his luck

was changing. And it was. But not for long.

Thanks for the Reviews. I really appreciate them. I will post the

fourth chapter as soon as I can.