Disclaimer: I do not claim to own or to have created Harry Potter and any other related material.

If you remember, as Harry spoke with Professor Dumbledore, Hermione meanwhile visits our favorite half-giant…

"Er-my-o-ne!" Hagrid exclaimed as he opened the door to his large wooden hut, "What a surprise!"

"Listen, Hagrid, I need to speak with you about something serious."

"Well, sure! Come on in. Yer not missin' any of yer classes, are yeh?" Hagrid suddenly asked earnestly.

"Not anything pressing," Hermione quickly replied, almost wincing thinking of the lost potion lesson. The studious girl hated to think that she was getting behind with her schoolwork, or worse, putting Gryffindor at jeopardy with lost house points.

"Okay, then. Why don't yeh sit yerself down, and I'll get yeh some cake…must be 'round here somewhere…made it a few days ergo."

"No, no, Hagrid, I just ate," Hermione said with unexpected fervor.

"Well, if yer sure. Yah look as if yeh need a few hearty meals in yeh. Look much to thin, in my opinion."

"Oh, I have not lost any weight!" Hermione let out sharply. Hagrid gave her a puzzling look, but quickly lost his train of thought as Hermione added, "I need your advice, Hagrid."

"Eh? What can I do fer yeh? This isn't about them house elves is it…I won't be upsettin' them. Ive told yeh where I stand on that."

"No, no, this is nothing about that. It's Harry! Oh Hagrid, I think I have just ruined our friendship. Really, I just completely messed up. Please help me!"

"Wait! Hold on, so yeh've finally come ter terms with Harry. Aha! I knew it! Ive always thought yeh two would be tergether. So, think yeh've ruined yer friendship, yeh do?" Hagrid said with a chuckle.

Hermione replied quickly, "Oh, no, you misunderstood. Harry and I have always been just friends," Hermione sighed subconsciously before continuing with, "see, we have had a row. More than a row, I am afraid. I basically betrayed him. He trusted me with something, and I could not put the same trust in him. Oh, I am so confused, Hagrid!"

"Erm, well, that won't do the two of yeh any good. Just tell him yeh were nervous. Unless, yeh don't want ter tell him this secret of yers. Though, not ter be meddlin' in yer business, but yeh seem a lot more distant recently. He was probably just concerned with that and yer getting' sick an' all."

Hermione was disappointed with the way the conversation was proceeding. As much as she wanted to confide in Harry, she did not have the courage. Hermione did not believe that Harry could possible understand. She softly began to speak again with Hagrid, "Most likely he will think me foolish. Erm…there isn't any way you could talk to Harry and apologize to him for me? Please?"

"No, this here is between yeh an' Harry. Yeh don' need my meddlin'."

Deeply disappointed, and slightly miffed Hermione replied briskly, "Well, then, I'll be going. Thank you for you time."

Hagrid rummaged through his hut, and finally find what he had been searching form a tin of rock cakes. After this distraction, he cut in on Hermione's curtness and interjected,"Hold it, 'Ermione. Now yeh listen here: think on what I've been tellin' yeh. Talk to yer friend. Nothing's better than that. While yer at it, take a box of these here rock cakes. Yeh need some meat on yer bones."

Hermione rolled her eyes at this and made a mental note to allow people around her to observe her 'eating' more often. These constant references to her weight made Hermione more and more uneasy. The scrawny thing scampered back to the castle with less than her usual gusto; in fact, she was out of breath before reaching the southern entry into the castle.

Brilliant, Hermione thought, now I am behind in potions AND at war with my best friend. Could things get worse?

Author's Note: You bet...

Now, Summer holiday started today! Woohoo! That means, more time for writing (and hopefully finishing) this LOOOONG, drawn out fanfic. I promise that I will never give up on this story again. I hope you are enjoying it. Please feel free to leave any and all comments for me as reviews. In fact, it makes my day to receive reviews. It also makes me want to update sooner…

I am currently looking for some good stories to read myself. Any recommendations on REVIEW!