AN: I am updating again! Isn't it amazing? (Anyone who knows my updating record knows that the average span between chapters for other stories is around a month or more, haha). Just a note: this chapter is a bit shorter than last, because I didn't want to foreshadow too much. Thanks to my reviewers: dork1147, Margaret, Dead Red Head, Lancetree80, SmrtDancrGrl, and xxxicedfirexxx.

Chapter 3: The Fight

The exams loomed nearer and nearer, and now, with them only a week away, Hermione's carefree self had long since gone and was replaced by the Hermione that Harry and Ron knew all too well. It seemed that her short, one night stay in the hospital wing had made her even more determined to study hard, since she had missed nearly two days. She had, again, taken to drawing up study schedules for Harry and Ron.

"Hermione, come on, why do you always do this?" complained Ron, as Hermione drew a chart on a piece of parchment in the common room.

"Because, Ron, one of these days you are actually going to use them. Why I didn't draw them up sooner I'll never know…" she muttered. Harry and Ron smirked. Hermione usually drew up study schedules for them around two months ahead of time, when she did her own. But it had kept slipping her mind, apparently, and now she was frantic about it.

"Hermione, you know that the only reason we ever pass exams is because we cram from your notes an hour ahead of time," said Harry lazily.

"Be that as it may, you've still not really gotten the most fabulous grades…if you would just study once in a while…" she said.

"Hermione, last year we studied for a month in advance!" said Ron, and Harry agreed.

"Yes, but those were our O.W.L.s, they're different…when you heard that it could not only affect your next school year but your entire life, you were motivated a bit more," said Hermione, looking up from her chart.

"Okay Hermione, we'll actually study this year," said Harry half-heartedly. He was, of course, joking, but Hermione didn't seem to notice this.

"Good. About time you came to your senses," she said. "There," she added, handing them each a piece of parchment. "You should start on those right now, I would advise."

Ron glared at Harry.

"What?" said Harry innocently, as he took his schedule from Hermione.

The next day, at break, right after Transfiguration, Harry and Hermione were sitting in the courtyard, but Ron had gone back to Gryffindor Tower because he had forgotten his Potions book.

"Er…Hermione?" said Harry suddenly.

"Hm?" she said, looking up from the book she had been reading.

"Well, I know you're just trying to do us a favor and all, but…it would be nice of you would stop making Ron and me our study schedules and always telling us to study and stuff…" he trailed off.

"I'm just trying to make sure you both pass," she said stiffly, closing her book.

"Yes but we can do that on our own!" said Harry. "We don't need you breathing down our backs! If anything that just makes it worse!" Hermione stood up.

"Well, then, excuse me for just trying to make sure you two can graduate! And you haven't been all that pleasant lately, either, Harry!"

"What are you on about?" demanded Harry, also rising.

"You've been very rude and highly impolite to Ron and especially to me, and to a lot of other people as well! So, if anything, Harry, it's not me that's been making these last few weeks distasteful, it's you!"

"What! I haven't been 'rude and impolite' to anybody!"

"Yes, you have! I've heard you and it's very hurtful, Harry! So unless you can't improve your attitude, you won't be getting any help from me with exams!" said Hermione, and she whirled around and began walking away. Several people in the courtyard were watching with interest.

"Yeah, well, I don't need your help!" said Harry to her back. He knew how big of a lie this was. He knew that without Hermione he might as well be packing his bags right now. He knew that he needed to have Hermione around, even for reasons outside of school. But he also knew that right now he was mad, and that mattered right now above all else. And he also knew, though he wouldn't admit it to himself, that the emotions are a very dangerous thing and should be handled with care, which he most certainly was not doing right now.

Five minutes later when Harry was on his way to Potions, he met up with Ron.

"Hey Harry," said Ron. When he didn't get a reply, he asked, "Are you okay?"

Harry suddenly stopped walking.

"No, Ron, I am not okay, and if you have a problem with the way I act, then you can desert me, too," snapped Harry. Ron looked taken aback.

"Wow, mate, sorry…whoever you're mad at, you don't need to take it out on me…"

Neither of them said anything for a while. They were nearly to the dungeons before Harry spoke again.

"You know, I don't think I'm going to go to class," he said, and he made an abrupt about face and turned the other way. Ron had half started to go after him, half started to ask where he was going, but, remembering Harry's temper, kept quiet and continued onto Potions alone.

Hermione stormed through the castle, intending to go to Potions early. When she made it down to the dungeons, there was only one person waiting outside Snape's door already.

Draco Malfoy.

Hermione stared daggers at him but didn't say anything; she dropped her bag on the floor and leaned her back against the wall. To her immense dislike, he spoke to her.

"Well, if it isn't the mudblood—where's your little boyfriends?" he sneered, leaning with one shoulder against the wall, his arms crossed.

"None of your business, ferret," she said coolly. His eyes narrowed.

"Better be careful Granger…with no scarhead here to save you, who knows what could happen?" he taunted. Hermione's breathing became heavier.

"Be quiet, Malfoy, I'm warning you…" said Hermione dangerously.

"And what are you going to do about it?" said Draco, smirking. Hermione whipped out her wand and stood up straight again, at the very unlucky moment that Snape came around the corner.

"Magic in the corridors, Miss Granger?" he said silkily. "Ten points from Gryffindor." He then stalked into the classroom.

Hermione glared at Malfoy with such hatred that his eyes showed a sudden flash of fear, but it disappeared almost instantly. It was like she was siphoning all her anger at Harry to Malfoy…and it felt good.

Ron arrived a few moments later, closely followed by the rest of the class. They all filed into the classroom as the bell rang. Ron and Hermione were, naturally, sitting at the same table.

"Today we will be learning about Truth Potions," said Snape quietly when they were all in their seats. "You are to read pages three hundred seventy six to three hundred eighty in your books and summarize it." Hermione was hardly paying attention. She really didn't want to be here.

Then she had a sudden idea. She scribbled a note to Ron and slid it across the table to him: "Clear my stuff up for me after class." She raised her hand.

"Miss Granger?" said Snape.

"Please sir, I…I think I've forgotten my book…" she said, as innocently as she could. Ron started to protest but Hermione kicked him under the table.

"And…?" prompted Snape, as if he really could care less.

"Well, I was wondering if I could go back to my dormitory to get it," said Hermione.

"Five points from Gryffindor for not bringing materials to class Miss Granger. Very well, you may retrieve your book, but quickly," said Snape.

"Thank you, sir," said Hermione, and she got up and walked out of the room.

Once she was free of the confines of the dark, damp dungeon, she wasn't sure where she wanted to go. It felt wonderful to be out of there. She should skip classes more often. Once she was back onto the main floor of the castle, she was reminded of what a beautiful day it was, and decided to roam around outside. She headed for the entrance hall.

Harry was sitting by the lake, staring out into its glistening surface, but not really seeing it. He was deep in thought. What if Hermione was right…what if he really had been unpleasant lately? Had he really been rude to her and Ron? The last people he wanted to lose contact with was them, but already it seemed he wasn't going to be talking to Hermione for a while, and as it was he had snapped at Ron on the way to Potions. Today just wasn't his day.

Little did he know just how much worse it was going to become.

Hermione walked around the grounds, unsure of where to go. She meandered around the grounds for a while before coming within sight of the Whomping Willow. If she sat under there, no one would bother her – no one liked to come near the Whomping Willow. She walked towards it, and when she got within range of it's branches, she darted quickly under them and sat right down on the knot that froze the tree. As soon as she did, the braches that had been very near smacking her froze right where they were. As long as she stayed sitting on that spot, she would be okay. That was perfectly fine with her – it was quite comfortable, surprisingly. She started thinking about what Harry had said.

"We don't need you breathing down our backs! If anything, that just makes it worse!"

Was she really that annoying to them? She felt tears springing to her eyes as she remembered back to their fight. It had happened only a half hour before, but it felt like an eternity. She had said some harsh things…but then again, Harry had been saying harsh things to her for weeks. He deserved what he got. But still…they were both wrong. She roughly wiped away a tear from her face. She would not be the first to apologize.

AN: And there we go. I'm sorry it's shorter, but the very next thing that happens is supposed to happen in the next chapter. I put as much in here as I could without going into chapter 4. Review anyway, though!

xXx SpicySugar xXx