Secrets

Chapter Seven: A New Side of Harry

(Disclaimer: I own no HP titles- they all belong to the talented J. K. Rowling)

(Hello once again, I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter! Ooh, don't yall just love cliffhangers? They're just sooooo exciting! Anyway, I'm only going to put down Pen Names from now on to save room and time, okay? Just thought you all should know! Oh, be prepared for an OOC Harry, so sorry to say! If you don't like it, no rude comments please! P.S. Sorry this chappie's

so short, next one will be juicy!

Thanks to Krista!

On with the chapter!

XxX

"You're what?" Harry said, dumbfounded and shocked.

"Draco and I are going out." I said, looking Harry and Ron right in the eyes and giving Draco's hand a little squeeze.

"Well, that explains a lot." Ron said, knitting his eyebrows.

"I-It does?" Harry stammered.

"Well of course!" Ron cried. "The detentions, her sitting by Malfoy in Potions, the giggling- it all makes sense!"

At first Harry didn't say anything, but then he stood up and looked at me. "Hermione, may I speak to you in the corridor for a moment?"

I looked at Draco nervously. He nodded discreetly. "Sure."

Harry quickly walked out of the Great Hall with me on his heels, taking huge strides to keep up with his quick pace. We soon reached the corridor, and Harry grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me against the wall.

"Ouch, Harry, you're hurting me…" I said, wincing as he tightened his grip on my shoulders. "Please let go."

"Hermione, you were cheating on me?" Harry said, a fire roaring in his eyes.

"N-No…" I lied, avoiding his eyes. The back of his hand met my face.

"Don't lie to me!" He snapped, returning his hand to my shoulder.

"Yes! I did cheat on you! I've no regrets either!" I yelled, feeling tears of pain and anger flood my vision.

"With Draco?"

"YES!"

"What did he give you that I didn't?" Harry snapped.

At first I didn't answer, worrying that it would only anger him more, but then he shook me violently, causing me to hit my head harshly on the brick wall behind me. I screamed out in pain loudly, my voice echoing through the hallways. I vaguely heard footsteps and voices coming closer, which I'm surprised I could, considering I was on the edge of consciousness. Harry immediately grabbed me into a carrying position and ran off towards Gryffindor Tower.

MEANWHILE AT THE DANCE

"Hermione's been gone for a long time, I'm gonna go check on her. Be right back." Draco said, standing up and gulping down the rest of his non-alcoholic apple martini.

He trotted into the corridor, finding it empty. First he thought that Hermione and Harry were off somewhere having sex or something, but then he saw the blood on the wall. He walked over to it and put a finger on it- it was still fresh.

Draco heard panting from a few corridors away and chased after the sound, breaking into a run. He finally found the source; Harry Potter was hauling a bleeding Hermione up to the Fat Lady and was muttering the password.

"Potter!" He roared. "Put her down and leave her alone!"

Harry's head shot up towards him, not waking the sleeping Fat Lady.

"Malfoy, go away!"

"No! I'm not going to give her to you! You abusive scar boy!" He snapped, spitting out the last few words.

"Draco…" I muttered, my head spinning. Colors… everywhere…

"See what you've done to her, Potty boy? She's bleeding! You hurt her worse than she hurt you!" Draco said, taking a few steps closer.

Harry dropped me, allowing me to go crashing onto the cold, unwelcoming stone floor, sending jolts of pain echoing through my body. He descended into a corner sobbing and muttering occasionally. Draco walked over to me, gently scooping me up in his arms.

"Hermione, you can go to sleep, everything's all right." I heard a calming voice say. I didn't know or remember who that was, but all I do remember was falling into a welcoming and peaceful sleep.

XxX

When I opened my eyes, the first thing that happened was pain. Pain all over.

"Ow…" I moaned, rolling onto my side. Well, that didn't help at all, seeing as it felt like I cracked all of my ribs. I sat up and looked around, realizing at last where exactly I was.

I was in a bedroom decorated with emerald green and silver everywhere. I was lying in a bed with green silk sheets that lay snugly over my body. I immediately pulled them up to my chin when I realized I was in nothing but my bra and underwear.

"Hermione, you're awake." I heard a soothing voice say from a connecting bathroom.

"Hmm? Where am I, Draco?" I asked, yawning and stretching my arms out, only to yelp in pain and clutch my sides. Draco ran over to me.

"Easy there, Hermione, you got quite a beating." He said setting me on his lap. "You broke several ribs, your wrist and you suffered a minor concussion to your head. And what's with these bruises on your shoulders?"

I suddenly remembered everything- Harry, beatings, the floor, the voice, and darkness. It all came flooding back to me at once. Tears started pouring down my cheeks, like endless rivers of sorrow.

"I didn't mean f-for this to happen, l-love, I'm s-so s-sorry." I said between sobs.

Draco held me close to him without hurting me and cooed me until my crying subdued. "Hermione, you're at the Malfoy Manor. Only for the Easter Holiday, of course." He said, looking me in the eyes with a look of softness.

"B-But what about your father?" I asked, remembering how I was a 'mudblood' and how Lucius Malfoy had this grudge over us…

Draco looked down, softness still on his face. "My mother killed him a few weeks ago. I know I should've told you, but I-I couldn't find the right time."

"But aren't you happy? You can live your own life now! We don't have to keep 'us' a secret anymore…" I trailed off, smiling at him, wanting to kiss him so bad. I started to lean in, but Draco put a finger to my lips.

"Hermione, forgive me, I want to, but I might hurt you… I don't want you to go through any more pain." Draco said, stroking my cheek.

My stomach growled loudly, signaling it's time to eat.

"Draco, do you have any chocolate?"

XxX

The next week went by slowly. I slept in the same bed with Draco every night, but, seeing as I was still healing, we didn't do anything. (But that doesn't mean we didn't want to… ; -)) I got to know Draco and his mother better, but I began to get homesick, and I missed Hogwarts and Ron so much. Finally Draco and I went back, hand in hand, ready to face the world. When we first came crawling through the fireplace in the Slytherin common room, everything seemed normal, but then I realized that all of the Slytherins must hate me for stealing away their icon. As we walked through the room hand in hand, I received glares and harsh words from everyone. Everyone except Blaise, that is. Blaise followed us out of the common room up to Gryffindor Tower, where we found Ginny and Harry on top of each other… naked.

"Good Lord, you two! Get a room!" Blaise said, covering his eyes. Harry's head shot up, and for a moment his glance landed on me, but then he picked Ginny up and carried her to his room.

"I thought someone had some class, but I guess I was wrong!" I said, saying 'someone' meaning Harry.

I lead the two boys up to my room and sat on my bed while the other two sat in chairs across from me.

"So, how're you healing, Hermione?" Blaise asked, resting his elbows on his knees and looking at me oddly.

"Could be worse, these bruises on my shoulders-" I pointed them out "- won't heal back up. It's really weird… But that's about it. I'm allowed to start class tomorrow, too."

"Oh, Dumbledore let Pot- Harry off the hook with just a warning." Draco grunted. He looked terribly mad at this.

"And where'd you hear this?"

"Blaise and I have been owl-ing each other, you know."

I smiled. "I should've known."

"Oh, Ron also sent me something to give to you. He said that Harry was awfully depressed about us dating, and started writing… poetry…" Draco said, looking at the ground with interest.

"I'll be right back." I said, standing up. I left the room without a word, and before anyone could protest.

I trotted through the common room and to the fireplace, muttering 'the Burrow' and throwing some Floo powder inside. I jumped into the flames and landed in the Weasley's kitchen on my bum.

I quickly got up and noticed how dark it was. There were no lights or candles lit, which was odd, considering it was about noon. "Lumous." I said, holding my wand at the level of my eyes. I walked cautiously around the house.

"Ron? Fred? George? Mrs. Weasley?" I called through the darkness.

When no one answered, I thought of turning back to Hogwarts, but then remembered that Harry had been at the Burrow over Easter Break. I silently waded through the blackness until I found Ron's room. I opened the door and almost screamed when I heard it creak loudly. I slipped through the cracked door and inside, guided by the light of my wand. I went over to Ron's desk and pulled open a drawer. Inside it was a mess with papers and quills everywhere. I pulled out a piece of parchment and read what was written on it;

No, I knew it.

I shouldn't have given you my mind.

But I had to go and blow it,

And let you waste my time.

Now that I know, though,

Everything makes sense.

I now come to understand

Why you were so tense.

I've opened my ears to everything,

Taken a breath of reality,

Opened my eyes a little,

Let my feet fall into gravity.

Oh, how lonely I feel,

Knowing your feelings were never true.

Alas, why do I feel this way?

For I never truly loved you.

-Harry Potter

I could feel tears creeping into my eyes, warm and unwelcoming.

"Hermione?" I heard a startled voice ask from behind me.

I whirled around to find Fred Weasley standing in the doorway of Ron's room, looking at me in a state of utter confusion.

"W-Where's Ron?" I asked, wiping away tears.

"Right here." I saw Ron emerge from behind Fred and walk over to me, wrapping me up in a tight hug.

"Everything will be okay, Hermione, I promise." Ron stroked my head as I sobbed into his chest.

"I promise."