Chapter 3

Harry woke up quite stiff the next morning. His face felt cold. He got up and turned to his door. There was fresh cereal there, not soggy yet. He ate it all quickly. He hadn't really ate in a few days. He had never been this depressed. His room was a mess. It hadn't ever been this dirty. Of course, it was messy when everyone came to get him right before his fifth yeah. Harry opened his door to go to the bathroom. But as he opened his door, he was thrown backwards. Someone had just tackled him and was now hugging him. Someone with long bushy brown hair.

"Hermione! What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you as soon as I heard about the Weasleys. Your fat cousin just let me in…he was gaping like a big oaf. It was rather weird. I was just about to knock when you opened your door." Hermione smiled warmly, still sitting on him.

"What happened to the Weasleys? Are they okay:

Hermione sighed. " I expect you got your letter from Ginny?"

Harry frowned. "oh…yes I did." he said bitterly and pushed Hermione gently off of him and sat down in the corner of his bed.

"Harry!" Hermione sat next to him and put her arms around him. "Its okay Harry, its okay" She rubbed his back soothingly.

"I have to tell you something." Hermione said suddenly. "Your coming with me today. Back to my house."

Harry looked at her oddly. "Why?"

Hermione sighed. "Because Professor McGonagall wants you there while she tries to talk some sense into Mr. and Mrs. Weasley about you."

Harry looked up at her. " Its no use. They wont even let me around Ginny. They betrothed her."

Hermione gasped. "Your kidding! I thought only Slytherins got betrothed! Did she say to who?" Hermione looked aghast.

Harry numbly pointed at the letter. Hermione picked it up and read it. When she was finished, she embraced Harry in a soothing hug. She knew that one a betroth was made, it couldn't be taken off unless a bunch of money was paid. And she knew the Weasleys would never be able to afford it.

"Well Harry, since your coming with me, and I'm by myself, we are going to have to apparate."

"But I can't-" Harry stuttered.

"I know you cant, but I can. And we are going to have to do side-along apparation. I know you don't like it, but unless you want to spend another month here…" Hermione grinned.

Harry frowned. "well I guess I was go…but what about my stuff? And my owls? I have some floo powder..."

"Yes, but Harry…mines a muggle house! Their fireplace…we wouldn't be able to…we wouldn't be able to get out!"

Harry sighed. "I guess your right, but still, the owls will be fine. I've already looked it up. Its supposed to work.

"supposed to? And if it doesn't? this one owl…I don't even know whose it is!"

"well we will figure it out when we get to my house." she grinned. "we will be doing plenty of things at my house. Just me and you. My parents went on vacation and wont be back till July 28. So we get to spend a whole month together. No Ron or anybody will be allowed to visit. We can still write, but no seeing until we go there on July 29."

Harry smiled hesitantly. He didn't like the way Hermione was looking at him…evil like. He turned his back on her and began to throw all his stuff in his trunk. He then had Hermione make it smaller because she was considered an adult now. He put his trunk in his pocket, then picked up his Firebolt and the cage with the three owls in it. He handed Hermione the owls and picked up the three letters he hadn't read yet and put them in his other pocket. Harry knew the perfect place to apparate: the backyard. He proceeded in walking down stairs and into the kitchen with his aunt and uncle and a dazed looking Dudley. He turned to stare at her when he spotted her.

"Erm…Uncle Vernon? One of my friends has come to take me to their house to live until I move in with Ron…so I'll be going now…have a good life without me…" and with that, he walked out the backdoor for the last time. His uncle just nodded, grinning. Hermione glanced at them and followed Harry out the door. Once out there, Hermione positioned herself next to Harry. He slowly took her hand and squeezed hard. She waves her wand and once again, Harry felt as if he was getting pushed through a tube. After a few moments, Harry landed on someone's bed. He quickly got up and took his stuff. "So where am I staying Hermione?"

"Your going to be staying in the guest room. That across there hall there." Hermione got up, taking some of Harry's belongings and walking out of the room across the hall, Harry followed her with the rest of his stuff. Harry deposited all of the stuff on his floor and headed to the bathroom. He didn't need to go, but he was curious as to who the two mysterious letters were from. He slowly took them out of his pocket and stared at them. He wondered who they were from. He slowly opened the first one. Harry gasped. It was from Draco Malfoy. He stared and quickly set it aside and opened the second one. He stared more. He couldn't believe it. The name was right there in black and white. Severus Snape.