Okay, it took me a few days to update, but here's the next chapter. This one may complicate or make things clearer, I'm not sure, but I will say this: It will get VERY interesting. And I realize that they ARE slightly out of character, but the story wouldn't exist if that wasn't true. So I apologize for any further out-of-characterizationing (is that even a word?)in the story. I'm trying my hardest.

And no, I don't own any characters. Oh well.

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Chapter 6: The Hardest Thing

Harry lay in his bed, staring blindly into the darkness. (This can't be real... It's a dream...) he thought. (It HAS to be...) He wanted to cry. But he wouldn't allow himself. Crying would mean that he had accepted what he had seen, and he didn't. He couldn't. Not Hermione, it couldn't be. She had been by his side since their first year, always helping and fighting alongside him in some way. She was a GRYFFINDOR, for heaven's sake! Gryffindor's didn't get the Dark Mark!

(But what about Sirius?) a nasty little voice in his head asked. (His entire family was in Slytherin, but he was Sorted in Gryffindor. Anything's possible, you know. They're called traitors. How well do you really know her, anyway?)

"Well enough to know she would never do this," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. But he wouldn't cry.

Harry sat upright, eyes wide. Of course; why hadn't he thought of it before? He let out a small laugh, and fell back against his pillow.

The twins. They sold fake Dark Marks! Knowing those two, they probably sent Hermione one that wouldn't come off right away. They always liked to mess with her. And she probably tried every spell she knew to try to get it off. She must have been so embarassed by it that she had to cover it up with makeup. Which also explained why her arm was sore. That HAD to be it.

Unable to contain his grin, he got up as quietly as he could and walked downstairs, intent on finding her to apologize for freaking out.

It didn't take more than a few minutes to find Hermione. She was halfway down the hall near the Pink Lady's portrait. Still grinning lopsidedly, he walked up behind her and hugged her tight.

She squeaked in fright. "Wh-what-" She whipped around. "Harry? What are you doing?" The Head Girl pried herself out of his grip.

Harry leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I figured it out. And you don't have to be so embarassed by it, Hermione."

There was shock and fear written all over her face. "How could you... I never..." How could he have figured it out? And why was he smiling so much? Her fear quickly turned to a milky anger. "Do you think this is funny, Harry? Do you?"

The black-haired boy threw his head back and laughed heartily. He actually laughed. "Hermione, come on! They're always doing this! You don't have to be so angry about it. Just talk to them, and I'm sure they'll get it off for you."

"What are you talking about!" she whispered furiously.

"You- the- the twins! Fred and George can get their fake Dark mark off of you if you just ask!"

(Oh, Harry, how can you be so stupid? So... utterly STUPID?) she thought. "Harry... look, I-"

"Headmaster, I've found them!" McGonagall's voice suddenly rang out sharply in the hall, and they watched her rush toward them, Dumbledore close behind her. McGonagall sighed with relief. "Potter, we have to talk to you." Her face was discouragingly pale and grim.

Harry was confused- and scared. He turned back towards Hermione. "Please tell me it's fake, 'Mione."

Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, Hermione has just been telling me what you've seen. And I'm afraid that the Dark Mark on her arm is entirely real," he said gravely.

It seemed as though the entire world was crashing around Harry. Eevrything felt so surreal, like he was floating along. Was he dreaming?

"Harry please, you must understand-"

"What's there to understand?" The Boy Who Lived interrupted, anger rising too quickly for him to hide it, and he didn't even know why. No, he wasn't angry with Hermione. This only gave him more reason to want to see Voldemort's death. Not just his fault, his death. He wanted him (it?) to die a slow, painful, gruesome death.

"Harry, Hermione has not turned to Voldemort's side." Dumbledore's voice drove Harry back to reality. "Please do not label her a traitor." The aged wizard placed both hands on Harry's shoulders, now, his blue eyes bright with what looked like eagerness. "Harry... she is taking over Professor Snape's duty as the Order's spy. She did not tell you of this for fear of being heard by unworthy ears... and by being betrayed by her closest friends."

He was on the verge of tears again. "Th... They'll kill her..."

This time it was Hermione who spoke. "Harry... I know that, but... Professor Dumbledore's been teaching me Occlumency so they'll never know! I'll be all right, I promise!" she begged.

"Yes, Hermione has had considerable progress in my Occlumency lessons, Harry... considering your own, if I recall correctly." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with laughter and even Harry managed to crack a small smile.

"Headmaster," McGonagall spoke, "Perhaps it best of we make Potter... if we make him..."

"A Secret-Keeper, Minerva?" he interrupted. "It is an excellent idea, but highly unneccessary. I trust Harry here completely, and I'm sure that Hermione does as well. Now, I think that, perhaps, Harry would like a better explanation. Hermione, I shall leave that to you." With a smile and a nod, Dumbledore walked away, a bewildered McGonagall following behind.

Harry, his mind working a mile a minute, turned back to Hermione. Her back was turned to him, shaking badly. "Harry, please... forgive me for this..." She turned around again, tears falling silently down her face. "... But I have no choice..." She raised her wand and, still shaking, pointed it straight at him.

His heart raced. "Hermione, what are you doing?"

"Dumbledore told me to tell you that you've got to play along, Harry... he gave me special permission to do this... will you?"

He felt as if he was going to puke. "Will I what?"

"Play along! Harry, please, if you don't, I could be in so much trouble! I could be killed, Harry, please! D-Do this for us, for everyone... y-your parents, Sirius... Ron, for m-me, even! Please!" She was hysterical. "I've... I've got to put you through p-pain to gain V-Voldemort's trust... I don't want to, but I've g-got to, please!"

He really didn't know what to do. "Put me... through pain? Pain? Don't you think seeing the Dark Mark on your arm is enough?" She only sobbed. "Please don't cry, Hermione... Just... just hurry up and do whatever it is you have to... just don't cry..."

Hermione stopped and sniffed. "Harry, piss me off."

His eyes bugged out. "What?"

"Piss me off! Get me angry, or- or something! Anything!"

"I can't do that, Hermione."

"Just do it! You said you'd play along!" she shrieked.

Harry looked taken aback. He took a tentative step towards her nonetheless. He then raised a hand... and swiftly slapped her across the face.

Shocked, she nearly fell over from the force, her face stinging. They both knew he had gone too far. She raised her wand again and cried out, "Crucio!"

Instead of writhing in pain, he was flung back by an invisible force and managed to hit a stone statue. He lay on the ground, seeing stars and ready to vomit. He heard her hysterically crying.

She ran over and helped him gingerly to his feet. "Harry, oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Hermione flew her arms around him, crying out, "Please, forgive me... please..."

"Forgive you for what, Granger?"

Malfoy stepped out from behind a nearby curtain. Harry, slightly dizzy, glared as the blond Slytherin smirked wide. "It's none of your business, Malfoy," the raven-headed boy managed to spit out at the other.

"Actually, Pothead, it is. See, I'm Head Boy..." He walked towards them and continued. "Therefore, if I want to know something, I get to hear it. Now, I'll ask again: Forgive you for what, Pothead? Or, should I say, 'The Boy Who Bled'?" Malfoy grinned wider.

Harry gently touched his head where it had hit the stone, and pulled his hand back. Blood.

"And by the way, Potter... your little girlfriend here's a pretty good kisser."

Both Harry and Hermione flushed bright red. Seeing this caused Malfoy to burst out laughing.

This was too much for Harry. All he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible. Without thinking twice, he smacked the Slytherin across his face as hard as he could, his bloodied hand leaving a red handprint smeared on his pale shocked face.

"How dare you," Malfoy said slowly, dangerously. "How dare you touch me with your filthy hands. You'll pay for this, Potter. Granger here's on our side now. You saw it, didn't you?" He snatched Hermione and pushed her sleeve up once more, revealing the horrible black mark. "She's our's, Potter. Our's... His... Mine." Malfoy suddenly whipped his wand out, pointed it straight at Harry and, before anything could be done in retailiation, cried out, "STUPEFY!"

Harry fell to the ground, motionless. Hermione shrieked yet again and made to fix the curse, but Malfoy clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away, towards what could only be the Head Boy's room.

XXXXX

Oh, I love cliffhangers. Not that this is much of one; I've done better. Oh well. R+R, please! I'd really like some more comments on this, especially on whether Hermione should go for Harry or (small gasp) Draco. Help me, I already have a few more chapters after this written and I can't decide! HELP!