Chapter 2: Truth or Lies?

Harry looked at the now empty corridor. If he hadn't waited so long, maybe he would have seen who it was instead of part of a robe. He was angry at first with himself, then with Hermione. Why wouldn't she tell Ron and him about whom she was meeting? They had been friends since they had first come to Hogwarts. Did all those years mean nothing? Harry was confused and angry, two things that he hated to be. When he got back to the common room he found Ron in an armchair by the fire.

"So?" He asked.

"Nothing," Harry sighed. He had gone all the way down there for nothing.

"Well maybe next time," Ron said encouragingly.

"Yeah but next time you go!" Harry looked over at Ron.

"Well… I'm not as good at sneaking around, as you are Harry. I'll trip or something," he was right of course. Ron had a tendency to trip over his abnormally large feet. He probably would blow it.

"I don't get what the big deal is. I mean why not just tell us?"

"Because…" Ginny said, she went over and took the seat next to Ron. "She is afraid of what you might say."

"She doesn't know what we'll say," Ron said indignantly.

"Do you know what she is doing?" Harry now directed his question to Ginny.

"Of course I do!" Ginny said exasperatedly. "Why wouldn't I?"

"You didn't know before."

"I did, but Hermione said I shouldn't let you know I knew." Ginny acted as though she were saying something that made complete sense.

"But now?" Ron asked eagerly.

"Now I think you two should know." They all leaned in together as she spoke.

"So?" Harry asked, he could no longer hide his excitement.

"The reason Hermione always goes off is because…"

"I'm tutoring," Hermione cut in, she had come from no where.

"Where did you come from?" Ron asked.

"The reason why I'm always gone is because I'm tutoring," she said again ignoring Ron's question.

"Is that right?" Harry asked Ginny.

"Yeah," Ginny said. Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Ginny shake her head slightly.

Harry looked over at her uneasily. He had a feeling that Hermione wasn't being honest. But why would she lie?

"Who are you tutoring?" Harry asked looking Hermione straight in the eyes.

"I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone," she muttered dropping her gaze to the floor.

Harry looked over at her. From past experiences he knew that when Hermione dropped her eyes it meant that she wasn't being entirely truthful. In fact, both girls looked a little bit edgy as they muttered excuses and headed up to their rooms.

"I don't know." It was the next morning and Ron and Harry were on their way to the Entrance Hall. People were gathered up as they got onto the line to go to Hogsmead.

"Why didn't she want to come again?" Harry asked Ron.

"She said she wanted to get a head start on her homework," Ron said dolefully.

"I don't believe her," Harry said. He said it with so much conviction that Ron stared at Harry. "Well… I mean… Come on. When has she ever missed a Hogsmead trip?" He waited for an answer, when none came he went on. "It just so happens that she doesn't want to go to Hogsmead around the same time that this mystery guy shows up."

"Well you do have a point," Ron said.

Snow fell dully around them as Harry and Ron went about the village. Harry pondered possible people she could be with, while Ron looked around at the shops.

Harry went and stared at a window, not really seeing the whirling and spinning toys. That's when a movement caught his eye. He spun around in time to see Hermione enter a building, which Harry recognized as one of his favorite places to get butter beer. The person she was with obviously didn't want them to know who he was because he was wrapped tightly in a cloak.

"Here!" Harry said grabbing Ron's arm, leading him towards the building.

"What?" Ron looked back at the store.

"I saw Hermione go in here with someone!" Harry muttered in a low, urgent voice to Ron.

"Oh," comprehension dawned on his face and he followed Harry willingly.

The pub was bright and even though happy music played all around them, Harry had a sense of foreboding, but he plowed forward through the crowd. Harry spotted Hermione out of the corner of his eye and headed toward her table.

"Hey! Hermione!" Harry shouted when they were close enough.

"Oh, hey guys," Hermione said. She looked startled.

"Why didn't you tell us you changed your mind?"

"Well… You had already left… And I decided to go… and…" She trailed off nervously.

"Mind if we sit down?" Harry said.

"Well…"

"Sit down Potter, you're in the way!" Someone drawled from behind him.

Harry spun around and found himself face to face with Draco Malfoy. "What do you want?" Harry spat at him.

"Just trying to get to my seat," he said. He pushed past them to take a seat right at the next table.

"Great!" Harry muttered as he and Ron sat down across from Hermione.

"So…" Hermione said nervously. She wasn't off the hook yet.

"Where is the person you came in with?" Harry asked her, yet again looking straight into her face. She looked down and he inspected the surrounding tables.

"What?" Hermione was taken completely unaware.

"Where is he?"

"No one… No one was with me!" Hermione stuttered.

"No one?" He stared at her smiling. "Then will you please explain something to me? Why are there two butter beers on this table?"

"Well… It was there and…" Hermione looked lost for words.

"Hermione, they never leave a butter beer on a table. They clear it before you get seated. I come here all the time." Harry looked her in the eyes and smiled. He had caught her.

"Got to go!" Hermione said suddenly and, leaving a few galleons on the table, she jumped up and left.

Harry followed her all the way to the post office, but then lost her in the rush of people heading back to Hogwarts. He was mad that he hadn't caught her, but she couldn't hide forever.

With that, Harry and Ron joined the line to the carriages. After waiting what seemed like forever, they finally hopped into one. A few minutes later, they were warming their hands in front of the Gryffindor fire. Hermione was nowhere to be found.

Ginny found them sitting by the fire. Harry looked up as she crossed the room. He was determined to find out what Hermione was doing.

"Hey guys!" Ginny said, sitting down next to them.

"Hey," Ron and Harry chorused.

"Ginny, will you please tell me where Hermione is?" Harry asked.

"She still hasn't told you?" Ginny looked shocked. "Well you can't really blame her can you?" She said., sighing slightly.

"Why not?" Ron asked rudely.

"Because if I was in her situation, I probably wouldn't tell you two either," Ginny said, she looked sleepy.

Her eyes fluttered up and down.

With that she stood up and walked away, leaving the two boys confused. Harry scratched his head. It had seemed so easy. Just find out what Hermione was doing and who she was with. Now everything seemed so much more confusing. He sighed. He wasn't going to get anything done just lying about.

Harry found Hermione in the Library. She was reading one of her favorite books. Hogwarts: A History. He sat down next to her and waited until she realized he was there.

"Hey, Harry," Hermione said.

"Hey."

"So…"

"I have some questions," Harry said looking over at her.

"Listen Harry," Hermione said. She put down the book and looked at him. "I don't want you grilling me about everything and…"

"Hold on a minute!" Harry said cutting her off. "I know I've been asking you a lot of questions, and I came here to apologize." He gave her a minute and then continued. "It's just that you have been so preoccupied with something that… Well I got curious."

"Harry you are always curious," Hermione sighed.

"I know," he said patiently. If he did this, he would have to do it right. "But, you have been acting strange lately."

"I've just been preoccupied with… Um… homework and school you know." She said nervously.

Harry shook his head. "Come on stop lying to me. You haven't been paying attention in school. It isn't that. What is it?" He waited.

"I have to go," she got up to leave.

"Wait!" Harry said, he grabbed Hermione's arm.

Just then there was a crashing sound coming from the bookcase in front of them. Harry got up just in time to see two eyes move from between two books. Someone had been watching them. Harry went over to the bookshelf.

"Harry! Wait!" Hermione said from behind him.

He ignored her and went over to the shelf. Books were heaped about and pages fluttered around the area. Harry turned around when something caught his eye. He bent down and picked up a Prefect Badge. Someone was missing it, and who ever it was had just been spying on them.