DISCLAIMER: Same as ever, can't be bothered writing it a hundred million times.
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Oh and by the way, I'm polite now so I'll respond to everyone's reviews:
hpROcksMYsox Thanks a lot...I really appreciate being called a thickhead
NikkiEvans blushes...Aww....thanx Nikki!
Usha88 Sorry, but I removed the other story, I guess you'll have to wait until I put it into this story! Thanx anyway!
Galadriel Evenstar Yes I know, it is very interesting
Everbloom Thanx! :D
Miss Sticky Frog Feet Aww that's so nice, but I don't think I'm quite up to JK Rowling status! She's like...the elite!!
Nexiumchick puts on sad face Yeah, poor Snape's lonely and unloved...
Dragon Blade5 Yeah I know, I was a bit random then
Akalei Yeah, but I don't like Ron as much as Harry, so Ron won't interfere!
Loveisforevermore Thanks!
AC TORPEY Yay! I love being regarded as 'awesome' and 'excellent' when I know for sure that I'm not!
And now back to the story, Chapter 4 of Slipping Away by Tigerlily Tinuviel...enjoy!
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The following week went on rather fast, much quicker than the Gryffindors would have liked it to. NEWTs were coming up ("In only 6 weeks" Hermione reminded them constantly), and they didn't feel as if they knew everything they should have done by now. Harry and Ron felt rather guilty when Hannah Abbott asked them how many hours of study they were doing; in the end they pretended to be studying seven hours a day, as they felt they lacked certain qualities Hermione had – concentration, diligence, and being able to follow their study timetable.
But Harry and Ron had much more important things to worry about. The Quidditch finals were coming up in two weeks and they had to prepare. Harry was Captain, and so the Gryffindor Quidditch Team trained six times a week, which didn't leave much time for study. Yet Harry was determined to win this year, as they had been winning for three years in the running, and this was his last chance to see the team holding the shining silver Quidditch cup again.
The Gryffindors had just walked into the Great Hall from a three hour long Quidditch practise. They were all tired and hungry, so they raced over to the Gryffindor table to eat. As Harry and Ron sat down, the noticed Hermione wasn't there.
"Wonder where Hermione is..." said Harry. Ron shrugged and grabbed a chicken drumstick. Harry frowned. Ron saw him, and sighed.
"It's alright Harry, she's probably just studying for the exams or something," he said kindly, while tearing off great amounts of chicken. "Honestly, she's so...thingy about NEWTs, studying every minute of the day." Harry bit his lip. It was just like Sirius had said, "you're in charge. You have to look after her; it's your responsibility to care for her." The words echoed in his mind, screaming them out to the world....care for her....your responsibility....look after her....
Harry leapt up so suddenly that he knocked his pumpkin juice all over the white tablecloth. He ignored it, and said automatically, "I have to go," before turning on heel and walking very fast out of the Great Hall, much to the shock of Ron, who sat there greatly bemused.
Harry turned to the nearest staircase leading to the Gryffindor Tower. He was determined to do what Sirius had said; he didn't want to lose her because he was acting poorly towards her. He trudged up the winding staircase, until he finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she asked tonelessly.
"Jitter bugs," replied Harry, and the portrait swung open to reveal the hole leading to the Gryffindor Tower. No one else was there, just himself. He wondered where Hermione was now; if she wasn't studying in the common room, where would she be?
He walked up the staircase and turned left to the girl's dormitories. He heard a moan coming from inside one of the rooms. He knocked gently on the door, but no response was made.
"Hermione?" he asked uncertainly. No answer. He reached for the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open. He gasped at the scene before his eyes.
On one of the beds were Draco Malfoy and a girl Harry didn't know under a blanket, bodies pressed against each other in the most intimate way. The girl had light brown hair and looked strangely familiar. He was just turning around to leave when he heard a voice behind him.
"Harry? Harry- Harry....what are you doing here?" asked Hermione, completely lost for words. Harry swiveled on the spot and caught sight of her. He recognised her immediately and was rooted to the ground. His jaw dropped and he gaped at her. How could she do this to him?
"Hope you're having as much fun as I am, Potter," said Malfoy maliciously. He got up and slammed the door in Harry's face. Harry ran out of the Tower.
He raced down to the Great Hall. He needed to find Ron quickly. The only thing that went through his mind was Hermione with Draco, Hermione with Draco, Hermione with Draco, Hermione screwing Draco, Hermione kissing Draco...He shook his head, trying to get it out of his memory, but it was imprinted in deeply.
She doesn't love you, you prat, he thought to himself. Why should she anyway, she's got her beloved Draco for love, she doesn't need your crummy excuse for love.
He waited outside the Great Hall for Ron. Soon enough, Ron came bounding out, looking cheery, but his grin dropped as he saw the expression on Harry's face. Pure envy, anger, and despair.
"What the hell happened to you?" asked Ron concernedly, his face twisted in an expression of complete confusion. Harry didn't answer; he just ran back to the common room, Ron at his heels.
When they arrived, a crowd of Gryffindors were there, doing homework, chatting casually and reading the notices on the bulletin board. Harry spotted Hermione instantly, who was trying (and failing) to hide behind a rather large book entitled 'Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Defending Yourself'. Harry stormed over and pulled pushed the book over, which toppled and fell on the floor.
"So. What was all that about?" he asked in his most dangerous voice. Hermione tried to look innocent, but again failed miserably.
"I – I –don't know what you mean..." she replied meekly.
"You know perfectly what I mean Hermione," he said, with the air of someone breathing fire. "Remember that certain incident before? The one including a certain someone?" Hermione trembled; she knew exactly what he meant.
"Look, I can explain! It's not like-"she began, but was interrupted roughly by Harry.
"IT'S NOT LIKE WHAT, HERMIONE? YOUR SCREWING SESSION WITH DRACO MALFOY WASN'T REAL WAS IT? JUST CASUAL WAS IT?" he yelled, and by now, the Gryffindors were all watching in amazement at this fight. Many of them gasped, since when would Hermione ever do that?
"Harry, please, just listen to me, I need to tell you the whole truth," she whispered, cowering at the sight of Harry's face as it contorted with fury.
"THE WHOLE TRUTH? WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW? YOU'RE A BLOODY WHORE, I HATE YOU! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? AFTER ALL I DID FOR YOU!?!" he shouted. She opened her mouth to protest, but Harry got there first.
SMACK!
He had slapped her across the face with all the force he could muster. She gasped (along with all the other Gryffindors). She looked as if on the verge of tears, she was recoiling in the corner, afraid of Harry and what he might do to her.
He was shaking with rage. He had never felt angrier before in his entire life. His hand was still raised, as if he was going to hit her again.
Ron moved forward and tried to pull him away. Harry broke his grip and started towards Hermione again. She whimpered, terrified of him.
"Harry, no! Whatever she's done, you can't do that to her," he said reasonably. Harry's hand quivered for a moment, and then he stormed out of the common room and raced up to the dorm.
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OMG BIG BIG BIG CLIFFIE!!! WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP? Anyway, review, review, review etc.
NEXT CHAPTER HINT: Hermione explains all!