Again, same old lame excuses. Please review, I need a solid reminder to post chappies. Lol.

In response to: Li-Chan, I most certainly have not abandoned it. Usually. I liked your review it made me happy. Thank you.

I'm going to be starting a serious fis soon,. I expect ALL of your support. xD

Aha

Hermione stepped into the musky smoky diner of the Christmas hotel and held the door open for Sean, who blushed and shot her a shy smile. Or at least she thought it was shy.

"While we are here…." He trailed off suggestively, so Hermione punched him in the chest, grinning and feeling a heat rising inside of her stomach. She frowned slightly and turned into the restaurant and away from Sean's gaze.

"Kate must be here somewhere." Hermione whispered more to herself than to Sean. Thoughts whirled about in her mind like a non-stop turmoil. Was she so fickle to turn straight to Sean after she had felt so close to Harry only hours ealier? Or was it more the shock of being confronted with a male who seemed less testosterone driven then anyother within the vicinity of her age.

Sean nodded, his face seemed pinched and his lips were white from being pursed. Hermione, disregarding her initial feeling to console him, turned away and headed to the front desk, where she was greeted by a pale man with the largest grin she had ever seen. By his huge, genuine smile you would only have assumed he would be large and jolly, but he was a stick thin, wrinkly old bat with a smile like a million dollars.

"Now, I'm willing to place a heck of a lot more money than I have on the fact that you two are either related, or close to, or cause of the lovely young lady who came bustling in here earlier, crying, sniffelling and rented a room all by her lonesome." He smiled at our confused, nodding faces. "Go on up, I was expecting someone to be hurrying along after her. She's in room 16." Hermione tossed the mana grateful smile and darted for the stairs, followed by Sean.

It was a weird feeling, it made her antsy, to be so closed to where Harry and Kate had spent their intimate moments. She knew they had slept together, but finding out it was more than the once made Hermione's stomach turn. She knew she had been manipulated, not just Kate, but no one seemed ot be on her side, except Sean.

'I'm whining!' Hermione scolded herself and she reached the door, tentively reaching out and turning the handle.

The light inside the room was dim, and Sean pushed ahead of Hermione, bustling towards the sound of Kate's snuffles.

"Kate?" His voice was soothing, Hermione felt calmer just at the reassurance that strung through it.

There was no answer, just a new wave of sobs.

"Come back to the castle Kate, everyone is worried." Sean's voice sounded a little more desperate now. Hermione rushed to his side, kneeling behind Kate. She rested a hand on his shoulder, the spark that went shooting up her arm nearly stuned her. He was either lathered with a protective spell, or Hermione was feeling a sudden, extreme attraction.

Hermione shuffled a tad closer to Kate, leaning forwards, her kness scraping thr rough wood of the floor. She could only imagine how Kate felt. Like the small castle of herself had been torn apart. Laid bare for the world.

"I wish I could tell you it was all my fault. Or all Harry's. But it isn't. It's everyone's fault. I shouldn't have trusted him. He shouldn't have lied, you shouldn't have believed. It goes on. You can't take it back. What you can do is remember the good times. The times when he told you he loved you and meant it with all his heart, and when you did the same. You can use this and learn from it. Remember how much it hurts and not let it happen again." Hermione's voice became stronger as she understood she needed to use her own words, not just Kate.

She felt Sean's hand in the small of her back, radiating heat ina reassuring, supporting way, the way that told her he knew the hurt she was expressing.

"Although it would help if Harry wasn't a man-whore, there are better guys out there for you Kate. Guys who deserve you." Kate turned around and buried her face in Hermione's shoulder, crying her wounded little heart out.

Sean, unsure what to do with himself hugged her back, wrapping his arms tightly around both Hermione and Kate. The tickle of wetness on her face was a sudden reality. She was crying aswell. Crying for Harry, and for being lied to, and for the los of trust.

When the three of them finally dragged themselves from the room each was a little puffy eyed, and they all knew they had shared an intimate moment, far more intimate than anything sexual.

Mind you at the age where boy call themselves men sexual is more just horny. But that's thew ay it goes.

Back at the castle Hermione and Kate headed to their room. Hermione felt a little light headed from so much emotion. And probably PMS too.

Sean grabbed her arm as she turned towards the girls dorm. Hermione glaced at him then back at Kate, who had already dissapeared behind the door.

Sean correctly read the question in Hermione's eyes and pressed his lips against hers. It was a connection beyond anything Hermione was used to. It wasn't just a kiss. It was Sean sharing himself with her. Letting her have a piece of himself. Hermione kissed him back, tasting the salt from his tears. When she pulled away his eyes answered her question.

He leaned forward and whispered very quietly in her ear. "Thank you." Then turned, and padded quietly to his own dorm.

Hermione stood momentarily speechless before a small smile spread and a fire of trust was light within her. Harry sat on the couch to her left with a catty grin on his face.

"I guess I'm not the only one who gets around, eh?"

read angelanimefan. She's my best friend.