A/N: Hey everyone. Well Easter is just around the corner meaning I have holidays soon – only a week and a bit. And I can't spend them writing… why? Because I have an Ancient History essay to prepare for, a Maths assignment to do and a Science one as well… joy. Well I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: Eh, you all know…

Chapter Five: A Heavy Burden

Hermione rolled onto her back a smile on her face. She stretched a little before noticing the owl tapping at her bedroom window. With a contented sigh, she rose and walked to the window and pushed it open. The owl flew in and deposited the letter on her bed before flying back out the bedroom window. Hermione shut the window, locking it, then walked to her bed and picked up the envelope.

After opening it, she removed the letter and opened it.

Dear Hermione, Gavin and Amy,

You have been invited to attend Percy's welcome home party tonight at The Burrow. The party will begin at 6:30pm. We hope to see you all there.

Love Molly and Arthur Weasley.

Hermione smiled and left her room, heading for the kitchen. Gavin was the only one up and smiled warmly at his sister when she entered the kitchen.

"Good Morning. Where is Amy?" asked Hermione handing him the invitation.

"In bed still. This is her first day off in a month… Percy is back?" replied Gavin raising his eyebrow at the invitation.

"I guess so. I'm going. Are you?"

"Probably. Anyway… so I heard from Amy when she got home that you and Draco are back together."

Hermione smiled, "Yes we are."

"Sorry to say, but I seriously thought after yesterday's big blow up between you two that all hope of a relationship was gone."

"I think we needed that. I just feel so happy to be with him again."

Gavin smiled, "I'm happy for you. Believe me."

"Hello!"

Gavin and Hermione looked at the kitchen doorway to see Ginny and Blaise standing there.

"Hey," replied Gavin, "I didn't hear you two arrive."

"Do you both always arrive unannounced?" asked Hermione as she poured herself a coffee.

"Only since Gavin said we could," said Blaise, "So, you all going to the party?"

"What party?" asked a groggy Amy entering the kitchen in her blue dressing gown, scratching her hair.

"Percy's welcome home one," explained Ginny, "It's tonight… and we get to meet his fiancée."

"Fiancée?" asked Hermione, Gavin and Amy.

Ginny nodded, "Her name is Carla Eshenour. She is German and Percy met her eight months ago. I haven't met her but apparently Mum loves her… but Fred and George think she's not Percy's type… whatever that is."

"Oh and… don't tell anyone I told you, but I think Harry has a new girlfriend," said Blaise smirking, "He met this chick last night… I think her name is Lynette… or something."

Hermione smiled, "Good for Harry."

!Z!

Draco yawned and opened his eyes, only to be startled at who was leaning over him.

"Terri! What the hell?" he gasped sitting up in his bed.

"I miss you Draco, please take me back! I swear I won't get angry at you for talking to Hermione!" pleaded Terri grabbing Draco's hand and holding it to her chest.

Draco yanked his hand back and stood up, "Get out Terri. I don't need this."

"Please Draco!"

"No. I love Hermione; you will need to deal with that fact! I don't want you. Stay away from me and Hermione."

"You and Hermione?" asked Terri her perfectly plucked right eyebrow raised, "You make it sound like you two are back together or something."

Draco didn't say anything but marched to his bedroom door and opened it.

"You are back with her… aren't you?"

"Out Terri. Out of my house and my life."

Terri glared at Draco, her anger rising, "How can you shack up with some psycho witch? I got a friend of mine to do research on her. She is a VERBATIM! Ellawise Verbatim. Her family is known for black magic. They were supporters of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"Good for you on learning something I've known for years. Now would you do me the honour of getting out of my house?"

Terri glared at Draco, "You'll regret this."

Draco rolled his eyes as the model left with a crack.

He sighed and walked into his kitchen and turned the jug on. With a sigh he sat at the table and yawned.

"You need more sleep."

Draco jumped and looked up at the doorway to see his mother smiling at him. Narcissa walked in and sat across from him.

"Morning Mum. What brings you to my humble home?"

"Oh I just came around to see my son."

Draco gave his mum the liar look, "You came to see if I followed your advice or not."

"You caught me – did you?"

"I didn't."

"And?" pried Narcissa leaning forward towards Draco.

"And we had a huge fight."

"Oh Draco! You are so stupid!"

"And later we got back together."

"Oh that's my boy!" squealed Narcissa standing and rushing around the table to her son and hugging him, "I knew you would come to your senses! This is just splendid!"

Draco smiled, "It's a change from being called stupid."

Narcissa chuckled, "Sorry. But I am your mother after all."

Draco just nodded and stood up, "But Terri knows about Hermione's real family history."

Narcissa's eyes widened, "How does she know? Nobody knows!"

Draco sighed as he made two coffees, "Well apparently a friend of hers did some research."

"But nobody apart from the normal group knows. This is just absurd. Albus needs to know all of this. If word on Hermione and Gavin's real family history gets out they will be outcasts… dear Merlin have mercy on them."

Draco nodded and sat back down with his mother.

!Z!

The day passed and soon Hermione, Gavin and Amy were walking towards The Burrow's front door. Hermione smiled at the familiar house and breathed in the fresh air. She seriously had missed this place. The house may be old and on a lean but it was still another home to Hermione.

Gavin smiled as he noticed his sister's peaceful expression as he opened the front gate.

There was noise coming from around the back meaning the party had started.

"Come on!" cried Hermione happily, "I really want to meet Percy's girlfriend."

Gavin and Amy chuckled and followed Hermione at a jog.

Hermione reached the house and ran around it to the back garden and spotted Percy chatting to his father. Hermione smiled as she walked over to Percy. Mr Weasley noticed Hermione and smiled broadly. Percy turned around and saw Hermione instantly.

"Hermione! Look at you!"

"Hi Percy," grinned Hermione hugging him, "Welcome home."

Percy hugged Hermione back and pulled away smiling, "I want you too meet my future wife Carla… Carla sweetie, come meet the lovely Hermione."

Hermione looked around her until she spotted whom she figured to be Carla, "Is that her?"

Percy followed Hermione's pointed finger to the girl with long brown hair, slim body, and big blue eyes.

"That is Harry's date Lynette. This is Carla."

Clara smiled at Hermione flashing white straight teeth. Her hair was black and fell onto her shoulders matching her grey eyes.

"You must be the Hermione girl Percy mentioned waking up," she said holding her hand out for Hermione to shake.

Hermione smiled as she shook her hand, "Nice to meet you Carla."

Carla smiled and turned to Percy, "Let go and chat with Minister Fudge."

Percy smiled and left with Carla.

Hermione frowned a little as she watched Carla walk away with Percy. Something was odd about her.

"Strange one don't you think?" said Fred walking over to Hermione.

"Something is odd about her. That and she doesn't seem Percy's type."

Fred nodded, "He's normally all for the blonde ones with brains."

Hermione just nodded, "Something about her."

Fred looked at Hermione curiously, "What about her?"

Hermione looked at Fred startled, "Nothing. So have you met Harry's date?"

Fred nodded, "Nice girl. You'd get along with her."

"Hermione!"

Hermione looked away from Fred to see Narcissa walking towards her.

"Hello Narcissa!"

Narcissa hugged Hermione in reply, "I heard about you and Draco! I am so happy."

Hermione smiled pulling away, "Thanks. How have you been?"

"Busy visiting a friend today. Draco will be here soon and isn't Carla a lovely girl?"

Hermione and Fred both put identical smiles on their faces and Hermione replied, "Yes… lovely."

Narcissa smiled and started to chat to Fred about his and George's business.

Hermione looked at Carla again and saw the girl looking at her. Hurriedly Hermione flashed her a smile, which Carla returned.

Maybe Carla was a decent person.

!Z!

Draco walked around the back to the large group of people all dressed up and mingling. He smiled at his mother who was talking to Professor McGonagall. He nodded to Harry, Ron, Blaise and Ginny and was slightly surprised not to see Hermione chatting to them.

Draco looked through the crowd, saying hi to Gavin and Amy who were dancing to the music being played.

Draco sighed and was about to give up when he saw Hermione sitting alone at a table just starring at everyone.

Worriedly Draco made his way to Hermione and knelt down in front of her, startling her.

"Hey baby," smiled Draco, "You okay?"

Hermione smiled a little, "Fine. How has your day been?"

"Interesting… you sure you okay?"

Hermione nodded, but looked near tears.

"Hermione you are about to cry. What is going on?"

Hermione stood up and walked away from Draco and into the darkness of the night. Draco stood and ran after her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around.

"Hermione…what is wrong?" asked Draco noticing her tears.

"I am the keeper of a secret so big Draco. But I can't tell a soul," cried Hermione in frustration.

"What secret? Hermione… what are you on about?"

"If you knew, you would hate me."

Draco was utterly confused, "No I wouldn't. Nothing could make me hate you."

"This would."

And with that Hermione was gone with a crack, leaving a startled and confused Draco.

!Z!

Hermione sat on her bed in tears. She knew the secret she carried was getting worse for her everyday. But if she told anyone life would get thrown upside down again. Hermione fell back onto her mattress starring at the ceiling, her tears slowly stopping, leaving her breathless.

No doubt Draco was confused with her, who could blame him? She certainly didn't.

Hermione had no idea what caused her to think of the fact that Clarissa was alive, one minute she was chatting to Ginny, the next she was walking away in silence.

Hermione rolled onto her stomach and stared out the window with a sigh.

A knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts.

"Go away!"

"Baby, its Draco… please talk to me," pleaded Draco through the door.

Hermione stood up and walked to the door and opened it. Draco noticed her tears and walked in shutting the door behind him.

"What's going on?" he asked, "You left me there."

"I'm sorry. It was nothing, honestly," lied Hermione.

"A decent secret never makes anyone cry. What is it that is so terrible?"

"Like I said. I can't tell you or anyone. It's my burden and I will deal with it… when the time comes."

"You make that sound like its something bad, Hermione. Like you are going to die or something."

Hermione didn't say anything. Instead she stood up and walked to her window looking at the dark empty street.

Draco followed her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"Promise me that when the time comes you will tell me?" whispered Draco.

Hermione nodded knowing that Draco understood that this was her heavy burden to carry… until the time came.

A/N: Not much happened I know… but anyway.

TaralynetteC: Happy to know you like them being back together! Thanks for the review!

GoldenGirl313: Will Clarissa be back to mess it up? Not saying… thanks for the review!

Emma-Lizzy-Black: Thanks for the review! Glad that you think the song suited the chapter!

RoleModelGirlie: Hopefully it will last… yeah I agree… lol. Thanks for the review!

torn to pieces: Sorry I didn't get them back together quicker, but things had to happen before that… anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter!

NicksterPotter: Hope this chapter was good! Thanks for the review!

Okay, just so you all know I have a new fic out called Everlasting Love. It is Draco/Hermione one, but I must warn you all… it's a very sad one.

Love yas!

Love Coz!