Author's Note: I am sorry it took so long to get this chapter up, but I wanted to make it perfect, so I hope you all enjoy it. Plus, I don't own anything having to do with Harry Potter, except for the books of course. I have those. Hehe.

Chapter Seven: Hermione's Secret

Harry had always liked Chemistry class, mainly because Mr. Laene had always made the class a lot of fun. They always did lab experiments that weren't dull or boring. They mixed chemicals that could explode. Plus, Mr. Laene had always let them pick their own partners for all of their labs. That is, until he had recently discovered the beer bong in his back room that was created by a student using an Erlenmeyer flask. "I hate to do this to you all, but I'm afraid from now on, everyone will have to work in alphabetical pairs on labs," Mr. Laene explained.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the class groaned, but Harry felt the worst out of all of them. He would have to work with Draco Malfoy, since no one in their class had a last name that started with an n or an o.

"Pass me that flask, Potter," Malfoy growled as he carefully put a pair of goggles on.

"Get it yourself. You can reach it."

Draco sneered at him before grabbing a flask, setting it down on the bunsen burner after pouring in the correct chemicals. Harry carefully dropped the last ingredient in once the mixture was boiling, causing the liquid to turn green and give off green colored smoke. Now they would have to wait some time for it to cool down after turning off the bunsen burner.

"Have you fucked her yet, Potter?" Malfoy quietly asked as they waited.

Harry glared daggers at him. "That would be none of your business, Malfoy."

A wicked smile spread across Draco's face. "I'm taking that as a no, which is very surprising knowing her. I'm surprised she hasn't begged you to fuck her yet."

"Shut up, Malfoy."

"A little tense, are we? Don't like it that I'm calling your girl a whore do you? Because to tell you the truth, that's exactly what she is. A lying whore!"

BAM! Blood suddenly flew into the air as Malfoy fell to the floor, clutching his bloody nose. Harry stood over him with a victorious fist.

"Mr. Potter! Of all of my students, I expected you to be the last of them all to get in a fight. I'm sorry, Harry, but go down to the Headmaster's office," Mr. Laene roared. He looked furious, and Harry didn't try to argue back. Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione quickly before leaving. Hermione looked worried, while Ron was trying hard not to laugh out loud. He was almost doubled over, holding his sides.

The walk down to the Headmaster's office was agonizing. What would Headmaster Dumbledore say to him? What would his punishment? Hopefully he wouldn't be expelled, though it could be a possibility. Most likely though, he would receive a few detentions.

Dumbledore's secretary let Harry into the Headmaster's office where Harry would have to wait for Dumbledore to return from an errand in the school. He spent the time waiting looking around the room. Many college degrees were hanging from the walls, as well as pictures of a younger Dumbledore and his family. Headmaster Dumbledore even had a rather large bird that sat on its post in a beautifully ordained cage. Harry got up to go get a closer look of the bird when the office door opened and the Headmaster came in.

"Ah. Harry. I see you've met my bird, Fawkes."

"Yes, sir."

"Please, sit down," Dumbledore instructed. Harry did as he was told. "Now, Harry, I have spoken to Professor Laene, but I would like to know why you struck Mr. Draco Malfoy."

"He was insulting my friends, sir, using terms that are not, well, proper," Harry explained.

"And does this justify you hitting him?"

"No, sir," Harry said as he looked down at his feet.

"You will have to serve one after school detention, so you will have to inform your tennis coach that you will miss a practice."

Harry looked up, eyes widened in surprise. "Only one, sir?"

"Would you rather have more?"

"No, sir," Harry replied.

"Good. After the lude comments that Mr. Malfoy used to describe your friend Miss Granger, I personally feel that hitting him was justified, but professionally," Dumbledore said, "you shall have just one detention to attend. That should be all, Harry. You can return to your class."

"Thank you, sir," Harry said before slowly leaving the office, heading back to his Chemistry class to get his things. Second period had already started when Harry entered the Chemistry lab. Mr. Laene was in there by himself on his prep hour, carefully collecting all of the filled flasks.

"Nice right hook, Potter," he said with a smile.

"Excuse me?" Harry asked in great surprise. He thought that Mr. Laene was mad at him before.

"I said, nice right hook. Honestly, did you really think that I was mad at you? You're my favorite student, and to be honest, I've always wanted to see that little rich shithead get hit."

Harry laughed as he grabbed his books. "I'll...uh...pretend that you didn't say that."

"Good thinking," Mr. Laene replied. "I'm not too sure that the school board would like me saying such negative comments in front of students. Have a good day, Harry."

Harry left the Chemistry lab in a daze. Both Dumbledore and Mr. Laene didn't blame Harry for hitting Malfoy. What was even stranger, both Laene and Dumbledore knew what Draco had said about Hermione. As Harry walked to his locker to get his books, nothing mattered more than talking to Hermione.

"What do you think Draco said to get Harry to hit him?" Hermione asked Ron as they talked in the back of their math class when they were supposed to be doing their in class work.

"I really don't care what Draco said. Harry hitting that son of a bitch was probably one of the best moments in my life," Ron said with a smile.

"Aren't you worried? Harry could get a serious punishment. After all, he did hit the son of one of the most powerful men in the city."

"Hermione, shut up. You're ruining this for me," Ron said as he closed his math book. "I'm done with my homework. Looks like you haven't even started yours."

"I'm too worried about Harry."

"It's called being in love, Hermione."

"What?" she exclaimed loudly, gathering the attention of the rest of the class. "Sorry."

"I said, you're in love with Harry," Ron whispered once the class quit paying attention to Hermione.

Hermione suddenly stuttered as she spoke. "No, I'm not."

"My mistake then," Ron replied with a mischievous grin.

Hermione's face flushed. "Please don't tell him."

"My lips are sealed. You love him, and I can't and won't tell him."

"Can you say that any louder, Ron?" Hermione hissed sarcastically.

"Well sure I can. You love..."

"Shut up!" Hermione squealed as she clamped a hand over his mouth.

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Harry asked as he sat down right behind her, only arriving in the class seconds after Hermione stopped Ron.

"Nothing. Just trying to get Ron to stop talking so that I can do my homework, is all," she hastily replied.

"What happened, Harry? What's your punishment?" Ron asked.

"One after school detention/"

"That's it?" Hermione asked.

"Yep. Guess what the funny part was," Harry replied with a grin.

"What?"

"Both Laene and Dumbledore sympathize with me. Just not professionally. That's why Dumbledore went easy on me."

"What did he say?" Hermione asked.

"Who? Dumbledore?"

"No...Draco. What did he say that made you hit him," Hermione murmured.

"He...uh...he really didn't say anything. He was just taunting me, that's all," Harry replied.

"Well, it must have been some bad taunting if it got you to break his nose. It took Crabbe and Goyle quite awhile to clean up the blood," Ron explained.

"I broke his nose?" Harry asked, surprised.

"It sounded like it when you hit him."

"He did deserve it after what he was saying," Harry said as he opened his math book.

After math class ended, Harry made for his locker, and was about to open it when Hermione carefully pushed him so his back was against his locker. "What are you doing, Hermione?"

"Tell me what he really said," she demanded.

Harry sighed softly. "Malfoy called you a whore."

Hermione blinked. Harry could see the pain it caused her. "So you hit him to defend my honor?" she asked.

"Yes, I did," Harry replied.

One moment, Harry was looking in to Hermione's hazel eyes, before he found himself pressed up against the lockers again. This time, however, Hermione was kissing him like she never had before. Harry slowly put his arms around her waist, pulling her close. After getting several students to stop and watch them, their kissing slowly ended. Hermione's face flushed red as she realized how many people were watching.

"I'll see you later, Harry," she quickly said with a smile before hurrying off to her next class.

Harry laughed lightly when Ron approached. "Damn. Every time I turn around, you two are sucking each other's faces. Do you two ever stop kissing?"

"I think I'm in love with her, Ron," Harry said quietly.

"That's shocking," Ron replied, the sarcasm thick and heavy.

"Excuse me?"

"You've been in love with her since the day you first met her."

"Before that. I think I've been in love with her ever since she opened the door, before I even really knew that it was her."

"Yes, my friend, you are a slave to love. Kind of like how I used to be," Ron said with a depressed tone before slowly walking away. Harry moved to stop him, to possibly console him, but thought better of it and let his best friend walk away.

Draco moaned in pleasure as he continued to thrust into his current lover of the week. Being one of the richest guys in school, he could pretty much fuck any girl that he wanted to fuck. The girls would easily give in to him, not just because of his money, but also because of his good looks and "bad boy" demeanor. Cho, who was on her hands and knees beneath him, cried out loudly as Malfoy thrusted into her one last time, pulling out of her after finishing. Both collapsed on to Cho's bed, sweaty and tired.

Cho whimpered with pleasure as she rolled over to face Draco. "That was amazing," she moaned.

"Well, it's what I do best," he replied as he disposed of the condom he had just finished using. As Draco rolled back over, Cho got a good glance at his bandaged nose.

"Wow. That looks really bad. Does it hurt?" she asked.

"Not that much."

"Why did Harry hit you? It doesn't have to do with me, does it?"

Draco laughed lightly. "Why would he have hit me because of you? He dumped you and doesn't care for you anymore. He hit me because I called his new girl a whore."

"Don't tell me that you're trying to bring that up again," Cho said.

"Why shouldn't I? Harry has the right to know that Hermione is a whore."

"No, she isn't. You're just angry because she wouldn't sleep with you and then put that restraining order on you," Cho explained.

"What are you defending her for? She's the one who stole your boyfriend away from you," Draco snapped.

"She didn't steal Harry from me. It was ending long before she moved here."

"And why is that?" Draco asked as he slowly moved his hand up her leg. "Is it because he wouldn't treat you like this?" he asked again before pushing his fingers inside of her. Cho moaned softly, biting down on her lip.

"Yes," Cho managed to breathe out.

"Well, let me make up for what he wouldn't give you." Draco smiled as Cho willingly let him ease back inside of her after slipping on a new condom. It wasn't that he loved her, Draco thought as he mercilessly thrusted into her. He was only using Cho to further advance his plan. However, his brilliant plan of turning Harry's ex-girlfriend into a whore was quickly fading, and it appeared to him that he was now just using Cho for his own personal pleasure. To Draco, Cho was just another stupid girl who was very willing to let him get between her legs.

That night, while Draco and Cho were having their tryst across town, Harry lay awake at home, staring at the ceiling. Draco's words kept running through his mind. The way that he had said it made it sound like he knew Hermione well, except for the fact that Hermione was not a whore.

Harry knew that Hermione, Cho, and Draco were all friends when they lived in Boston, but that was all he knew.

Rolling over, Harry glanced at the clock on his wall. Although it was almost 10:00 at night, he was sure that Hermione would still be awake. After grabbing his cell phone, Harry quickly punched in Hermione's phone number. Seconds later, she answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Harry said softly.

"Hi," Hermione replied. She smiled as she sat back down on her bed,

"How are you?"

"I'm alright. How is your hand?" Hermione asked.

"It's fine, actually. It doesn't even hurt."

"That's good. So, what do you want?"

"I couldn't sleep. Something has been bothering me," Harry replied.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"I don't want to make you angry, but did anything happen between Cho and Draco, or, well, you and Draco when you three lived in Boston?"

"Why are you asking me this?" Hermione replied.

"I'm just curious. The way that Draco talked today...it was like he knew something that I didn't."

Hermione sighed softly. "No, Harry. Nothing happened. We were all friends, and then he became an asshole. He moved away, and then Cho did. That's about it." Her heart ached as she slowly lied to him.

"Thanks, sexy. I should be able to sleep well tonight," Harry said.

"Goodnight," Hermione warily said before hanging up.

The next morning, Harry waited in the student parking lot that was behind the school. Although he trusted what Hermione said, he still wanted to make sure, and the only way to do that was to talk to either Cho or Draco, and there was no way in hell Harry was going to ask Draco about it.

Cho usually came to school in the morning by using the subway. Luckily for many students, there was a station right next to the school, across from the student parking lot. Harry waited patiently until he finally saw Cho appear on the street, walking towards the school from the station. He quickly hurried over, intent on getting it done fast. Harry noticed as he got closer, that Cho looked very tired and she walked as if her legs were aching badly.

"Cho...um...are you all right?' he asked, not sure what he should say.

"Yes, I'm fine, Harry," she snapped softly. "What do you want?"

"I just need to ask for some information, that's all."

"Okay. Fire away."

"Were you and Draco ever involved back in Boston, or was he ever involved with Hermione?" Harry slowly asked, a little nervous.

"Draco and I were never involved, ever! We never went out, kissed, had sex, nothing!" she replied a little too fast.

Harry raised an eyebrow before motioning with his hands for her to go on. "Well, they dated for a little while but only until she put that restraining order on him," Cho explained.

But Harry only heard the first half, the half where he heard that Hermione and Draco had once dated. Cho's words struck deep as he realized the truth: Hermione had lied to him.

"Are you okay?" Cho asked softly after seeing the blank look on his face.

"Yeah...I'm fine," he said before slowly heading back towards the school, leaving Cho in the parking lot. Walking through the halls, Harry couldn't even tell where he was going, but he somehow made it to the Chemistry lab. He didn't say a word when Mr. Laene came back from the teacher's lounge and greeted him. He didn't say a word when Hermione and Ron came in. Harry even didn't say a word when Draco came back in and began to taunt Harry about his family. He just simply ignored it all, and it was as if he was not in his physical body.

"Potter, maybe you should just go home for the day and get some rest. You don't look so well," Mr. Laene said halfway through the period.

Harry momentarily came out of his stupor. "I think I will," he replied.

"Good. You look like you could use the rest a lot," Mr. Laene replied as he wrote Harry a pass. "Just check out at the office after you see the nurse, and don't worry about a homework assignment."

"Thanks," Harry said before gathering his books and slowly walking out of the lab.

"Harry, wait!" someone called behind him as he walked down the hallway towards the office. It was Hermione. "Harry, what's wrong?" she asked.

Harry paused before speaking. "You lied to me," he whispered.

"Lied to you? About what?"

"Boston. Draco. You dated him and you lied to me," Harry said, his voice filled with hurting emotion.

Hermione's heart suddenly sank. "I'm sorry...I did."

"Why, Hermione? Why didn't you just tell me the truth?"

Tears began to slip down her cheek. "I was afraid. You hate him so much, and if you knew that I once dated him, I knew that you would never speak to me again."

Harry remained silent. "Please, say something," Hermione pleaded.

"Now I'm wondering," Harry began, "if I was right to defend you when Draco called you a whore."

The palm of Hermione's hand connected with the left side of Harry's head, slapping him hard across the cheek. Harry winced in pain. He slowly looked back at Hermione, who was crying softly. She suddenly turned and ran the opposite direction. Harry moved to stop her to apologize, but again he let someone he cared for slip away.

"You know, I'm not the best person to come to for love advice, Hermione," Padma said as she sat down on her bed. Hermione had come home with her after school was over.

"I know, but for the first time in my whole, entire life, I don't know what to do," Hermione replied with much desperation.

"Go talk to him. Tell him you're sorry. Sex it up," Padma droned.

Hermione almost laughed. "I don't know if I have the strength to go talk to him. He probably wouldn't even open his door for me."

"Hermione, you love him, and if you don't go and talk to him, you're going to lose him."

Hermione suddenly grabbed her jacket and headed towards the door before turning back. "I can't."

"Yes, you can. Now go," Padma demanded.

"Are you going to be okay?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine. It's been a few weeks at least. Don't worry about me. Just go."

"You know, Padma, I'm not the best with love advice either, but maybe you should try talking to Ron too."

Padma nodded her head slowly. "Go get him."

Hermione smiled nervously. "I'll try."

"Don't try. Do it."

"Okay. I will," Hermione replied before heading out the door.

Once Harry had got home earlier in the day, he spent his time trying to get his mind off of what had happened earlier that morning. He tried to watch movies, read, and play video games but nothing worked. Harry had been looking forward to talking with his parents when they came home from work, but as soon as they walked in the door, they were leaving again. His parents had to freshen up and change before heading off to an important dinner that their law firm was holding. They had left almost two hours beforehand.

Hoping for a last chance effort to get his mind off of his fight with Hermione, Harry found the cardboard box that contained his book on Creative Writing. Just as he picked up the book, a small yellow floppy disk fell out from in between the pages. "What the hell is this?" Harry asked out loud. After examining it, Harry stepped over to his computer and put the disk in. The doorbell suddenly rang before he could open up the disk's folder. Harry quickly left his room and ran down to the first floor of the apartment. Opening the door, he came face to face with Hermione, who quickly stepped in and shut the door behind her before Harry could react.

"Please let me explain everything to you, Harry. There is a lot that you don't know. Can you sit down, please?"

Harry remained silent as he walked over and sat down on the large couch in the living room. "Explain then."

"Thank you," Hermione quickly said. "Back in Boston, Cho, Draco and I were the best of friends. When I started dating Draco, I knew that it was a bad idea from the start. But I stuck with it, because he was such a nice person back then. Cho never liked the fact that we were dating, so she began to distance herself away from us. I think she really liked Draco back then, and she probably still does have a little still in her somewhere."

"Are you going to get to a point sometime soon?" Harry asked irritably.

"Yes. Now I promise you that everything I am about ready to say is 100% true. I'm not going to lie to you ever again. Draco and I weren't exactly a couple. We never held hands, and I swear that I never kissed him. Not once."

Harry blinked. "Go on."

"It all ended in one night. He had been depressed because I couldn't go to a party with him, so he went by himself. I had to stay home and watch the house while my parents were out until they came home. Shortly after they left, Draco showed up, and he was very drunk," Hermione explained. "I only let him in because I thought he might get sick or pass out. But once he came in, it was like he was possessed. He tried to touch me and kiss me, but I fought him off. Luckily, my parents got back fast and they helped kick him out of the house. I truly believed that if I had not fought back, or if my parents hadn't come home when he did, he would have raped me."

"Afterwards, he tried to beg for forgiveness when he was sober, but my parents and I pressed charges for attempted rape. In the end, a restraining order was placed upon him. Shortly after, he and his family moved away to New York. The Malfoy's couldn't stay in Boston. Their family name was tarnished once the court case hit the news. Who wants a lawyer that is the father of a rapist, right?"

Hermione sighed softly. "That's the whole story. No bullshit. No lies," Hermione finished.

Harry sat in silence for several minutes before speaking. "So, he's only calling you a whore because of what you did to him?" he asked.

"I guess so," Hermione replied.

Harry slowly stood up before stepping closer to her. "Then it was a good thing that I hit him and defended my girlfriend?" he asked with a small smirk.

"Definitely a good thing," Hermione replied as Harry pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry for what I said," he whispered, as their faces were inches apart.

"I'm sorry for slapping you."

"You better be, because that really stung."

Hermione laughed before Harry kissed her passionately. The two stood there, kissing fiercely, not wanting to ever let go or get in a fight again. Just as Harry pulled her back down on to the couch, the doorbell suddenly rang yet again. Harry started to get up, but Hermione pulled him back down on top of her, kissing him again. His right hand slowly rested on her chest as he kissed her back. Unfortunately, the bell rang again and again.

"I've got to," Harry reluctantly said as he pulled himself away from Hermione. "It could be my parents. They might have forgotten their house keys."

After quickly fixing the messed up couch, Harry answered the door with Hermione at his side. The only problem was, it wasn't Harry's parents at the door. A member of the New York Police Department was standing there on the welcome mat instead. "Are you Mr. Harry Potter, son of James and Lily Potter?" the officer asked.

"Yes, sir," Harry nervously replied.

"Then would you please come with me?"

"Why? What is this about?"

"Young man, this concerns your parents."

"What's happened? Are they okay?" Harry asked worriedly.

"Please, Mr. Potter, come with me. Your friend can come too, but we must go now. I can tell you more on the way. Now will you please come?"

Harry nodded his head slowly. "Fine."

Chapter Eight: Seize the Night

Coming Soon!