Disclaimer: Don't own. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~* When Hermione woke up the next morning she felt better that she had in a while. She had admitted what her 'Uncle' did and how he did it. It was off her chest and she couldn't wait to go after lunch. She went to the common room, waiting for Harry and Ron. Ron teetered down the stairs, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. Harry walked down a little later, his eyes red rimmed. Hermione was at his side instantly. "Harry! What's the matter?" Hermione asked concerned. "Tell you later." he trailed off. Hermione looked at Ron, but he just shrugged. The day flew by, and before Hermione knew it, it was third period, counselors. Hermione told the boys where she was going and gave them the note. The pair nodded and walked off to the dungeons, swearing at how Hermione got Potions off. Hermione navigated her way to the door easily and knocking on it, found Draco walking off. She did a double take and he looked back, saw her and fled. Hermione couldn't work out the change in attitude. It was then that Hermione made friends with the floor. It wasn't until she sat down that she noticed that there was a third person, Dumbledore. "Don't worry about the Professor, I called him in because I thought something needed to be done about your situation," Miss Cainbridge explained. "Well, Miss Granger, I was approached yesterday with a disturbing matter, of you being, abused. I don't think that this is fair at all, but I will not tell any other teachers, none, unless you want them to know. The only reason that I am telling you this is so that if Miss Cainbridge is not here or unavailable then you can come to me. I feel Miss Granger that, maybe you need to talk about it with Mr. Potter and Weasley, trust in them a bit more than you have. I also feel that unprecedented action against your 'Uncle' may result in him turning more violent, so I have asked the London authorities to take him in for questioning on a lie detector test. I have also discovered that you don't actually have an uncle, both your parents are only children, like yourself. So this man who claims to be your 'Uncle' isn't really. Next time anyone comes onto you, I'll let you onto some private male business. Kick 'em right up the ****!" Dumbledore chuckled. Hermione giggled, but a little scared that she didn't actually have an uncle. Dumbledore said good day and walked out which began the counseling session ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~* After an hour, Hermione had finished accounting a bit more of her life. Miss Cainbridge had asked for a bit more of her life story, rather than her 'Uncle' again. "In all honesty, Hermione, you sound like you are very much reclusive as a bookworm and someone that likes to stay on top of absolutely everything. Would I be right in saying that you don't feel like you have any real friends?" Hermione looked blankly at her. Then she summoned up and answer. "What do you mean?" it was Miss Cainbridge's turn to look at her. "Well, you see some students that, mostly girls, mind, that go up to friends, girlfriends if you like, and give them a hug. It can be the same with boys, boys need comfort just as much as us girls do. But at the same time, I'm sure that girls need boys too, don't get me wrong. But, I suppose I'm asking, do you have any friends that would come up and hug you for comfort or support?" Miss Cainbridge finished. Hermione was astonished at her answer, "No, I don't. I have people I classify as friends, and when I'm down they give me a hug or whatever, but not just in a corridor for the sake of it." Miss Cainbridge nodded and jotted this down. "Can you trust all your friends?" was her next question. Hermione had to take awhile to think about it. "When you say trust, do you mean keep a secret or to understand that I'm safe around them?" Miss Cainbridge answered slowly. "Well, you need to have some friends that can keep secrets. I'm sure you've found out that keeping secrets too long is devastating, but you have to know that they won't harm you in any way or kiss you if you don't want to be. I suppose, a bit of both." Hermione sighed, "No. I'm sure that if the secret is big enough that they would keep it, but some of them I know really like me and I suppose that in the fragile state I'm in at the moment I can't really trust anyone." Miss Cainbridge nodded again and asked Hermione to come again tomorrow. She said yes and found she was missing Transfiguration. Easier to get out of that Potions, that was for sure. Thanking the counselor, she walked out, breathing a sigh of relief. The bell went and doors began to open everywhere, chairs clattering and students yelling. As she was walking she saw Harry but he walked right past her, as if having seen something. Watching him, she saw him turn into the counselor's office and the door close. Hermione stared in shock. Harry at a counselor? Well, sure he had problems, that's true, but a counselor? Things were out of control in her life. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~* At dinner that night, Harry's absence was noted and when you say noted, everyone noticed. Even Draco realised that his prey wasn't there, but he realised Hermione was wearing a pained expression and kept throwing him questioning glances whenever their eyes met. He frowned and she frowned too. In the end, he just looked away. Dinner began to finish up and Hermione was out like a flash, a blur really. She ran the whole way to the top tower, all the way up to Harry's dorm. She didn't care whether girls were allowed in boys' dorms, she just cared for Harry. She flung open the door, yelling Harry, but stopped when she realised it was empty. She went into her room and saw a note on her bed. Recognizing it as Harry's writing she opened it.

My dearest Hermione,

Do not worry about me, I went to Miss Cainbridge this afternoon. I have been having scary dreams lately and I went to Dumbledore aswell. Both are generally concerned and have sent me to the Ministry to explain, as everyone is aware of my dreams. Do not worry about me, I am fine. I am so sorry that I didn't confide in you about my dreams, just after what you told me the other night, I feel like we have separated, our love severed by a sharp knife. I feel like I don't belong, in any way, case or form. I am considered a freak, Hermione, not by you but by nearly everyone else. Even Ron is sceptical sometimes and I can't feel like I am different from everyone else. I have considered many times to move to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang but something holds me back, something like you. Hermione, get through what your Uncle has done to you, I will watch over you from where I am.

Harry J. Potter

Hermione stared at the letter. What was going on? She sprinted to the Great Hall, where everyone silenced at her appearance. Ron looked at her, frightened by her look. Draco thought that Hermione was paler at that time than he ever was. Ginny and Lavender dropped their cutlery, the only sound from the hall. Hermione was aware that hundred of eyes rested on her. She looked at Dumbledore and Miss Cainbridge pointedly. They rose silently, their chairs scraping the wooden floor with a deafening sound. They filed slowly through the tables. Professor McGonagall got up, but Hooch pulled her back down. As soon as the two teachers were out of the hall, uproar broke out. Hermione and Miss Cainbridge followed Dumbledore to his office and he gestured at the two chairs as he sat down too. "Hermione, I saw you run out of the hall earlier. What made you return in such a way that was so important?" Miss Cainbridge asked, somewhat annoyed that her dinner had been interrupted. "This," Hermione said, thrusting the note into Dumbledore's hands. He read it and then handed it silently to the counselor.

"Well, sure, he saw be this afternoon, after you Hermione, but not about some dreams. He wanted to make an appointment with me for tomorrow," Miss Cainbridge said when she had finished reading. "Then, if not dreams then." she saw this image of Harry, pain burned through her. "Oh, my gosh! I have to go." she finished quickly and took off for the lake. Somehow she knew that he was there, she didn't know how, she just knew. As she pushed open the doors of the castle, she saw a dark shape by the lake. "Harry, no!" she screamed. The person looked at her and dove in. Hermione screamed again and she tore to the lakeside where Harry had disappeared. Harry had said there was something below the surface, other than the octopus thing, squid or whatever it was. Come on, think! Triwizard Tournament, second, pulled by something.Grindylows! Harry had jumped in, probably to be drowned by the Grindylows! She performed a Transfiguration on herself and when she flung herself into the water, not only could she sea but she could breathe too. She swam and saw Harry, floating lifeless among a group of Grindylows. Hermione yanked out her wand. The Grindylows shrunk back and Hermione hurled curses at them, getting rid of most of them. Grabbing Harry, she thrust herself back up to the top of the water, performing the counter Transfiguration on herself. Harry wasn't breathing and it wasn't Hermione that thought twice. She pinched his nose and opened his mouth, her air filling it. Pumping his chest was next, and Hermione began the laborious task of giving her best friend CPR. A few minutes later, Harry started coughing and spewed out a load of water. Hermione smiled and gave him a kiss. Pulling Hermione over, Harry wrapped himself in her warmth, feeling better and better. She struggled to pick him up, but managed and she carried him to the hospital wing, silent but scared. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~* A/N: How was it? I started thinking bad things that Harry should die, but he makes up the story, so nah.next chapter, Hermione needs support and guess which Slytherin helps out? * Hem Hem.Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, push, push * I think it was Hallie something or other (sorry, I have had a complete memory blank) said that in my last chapter, or seemed to say that Draco was going to say something similar to what Hermione is going through. Sorry to bust everyone's bubble, when I said that his mother comes in to do things, it was well, to come in and rearrange his sheets and clothes and stuff when girlfriends are over *Heh Heh * Didn't see that one? But I can say that Narcissa Malfoy in my opinion will not, and has not, abused Draco. I was going to say somewhere that Draco wets the bed, but that would cop too much laughter, so I threw that out my window quite literally. Who thinks that would be funny? Thanks for the reviews, keep 'em coming!