A/N: I am sooo sorry for not updating sooner.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize I don't own; J.K. Rowling does.

A Night Out With Dobby

Chapter 3

Hermione felt slightly better after her butterbeer. She was still immensely hurt, but she had come to terms with it. She lay in her bed thinking about what she was going to do. She would probably avoid Ron tomorrow; she might become blinded by rage, and do something irrational. Maybe she would talk to Harry before she went down to the kitchens. Dobby was known for wanting to help people, but he doesn't always help in the right way. She remembered when Dobby tried to save Harry's life back in second year. His attempts almost killed Harry and got him in trouble. But then in fourth year, Dobby helped Harry with the second task in the triwizard tournament. 'I guess it can't hurt to see what Dobby had to say.' Hermione know it was over between her and Ron. She didn't think Ron capable of doing something so hurtful. Tears were cascading down her face again just thinking about it. She turned onto her stomach sobbing into her pillow. A fitful sleep washed over her with dreams filled with Ron and Lavender.

"How could you do this to me Ron?" whispered Hermione. She rolled over and fell to the floor with a loud 'Thump' awakening her from yet another dream. She had tears streaming down her face. She hurriedly brushed them away and looked at the clock. '7:20 a.m. No going back to sleep. I could go see if Harry's downstairs after I get ready. Ron sleeps all morning as it is, but he'll probably be even more tired.' At that thought she almost broke down, but inside her head, strong Hermione came out and said 'Stop it! You've got to get over it. So stop moping around and get in the shower. Then we can go talk to Harry.' She picked herself up off of the floor and did just what the voice said.

Back in her room drying her hair she was debating whether to go to the common room to see if Harry was there or not. 'I could risk running into Ron and I could do something I don't want to like punch him and start yelling…well I do want to punch and yell at him, but that wouldn't be good. I was hoping that we might be able to be friends after this so Harry won't feel awkward. That what he was afraid of. That we would end up breaking up and ruining our friendship. Oh I should have listened to him.'

'Hermione! You've got to stop this! You'll never be able to get over it if you don't get better control of yourself. Now back to the original topic.' Chimed Hermione's inner self.

'Alright, alright. Today's Saturday so Ron usually sleeps in until noon if I don't wake him first. Harry's usually up before him. Chances are I can wait for Harry in the common room, and we can go for a walk and talk or something.' With that in mind she peeked into the common room, seeing that it was empty went and sat on the couch pulling out a book. She hoped she could drown herself in the book and forget about Ron while waiting for Harry to come down.

She didn't have to wait too long. About an hour later she was startled by the slam of the boy's dormitory door. Harry stumbled his way down the stairs rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. At the bottom of the stairs he stopped to yawn and stretch. Mid way through his stretch he spotted Hermione and a look of guilt overcame his face. He tried to hide it by grinning at her; he said,

"It's Saturday morning and you're still up early doing work."

'So he knows what Ron did to me.' She smiled sheepishly in reply. He walked over to the couch and plunked down next to her. He smiled at teasingly and ask, "Did you get that book you were looking for last night, that absolutely couldn't wait, and needed my invisibility cloak to go get it?"

At this statement tears started leaking down her face and she started sobbing quietly. Harry noticed and asked almost seriously in attempt to feel better- for he wasn't one to deal with crying women very well- asked, "You must've really wanted that book. Did someone sneak in before you and take it so you couldn't have it?"

He was rewarded with a snifflely (a/n: don't think 'snifflely' is a word. Oh well; it is now. He he!) giggle, and he smiled. Then he became serious. He had an idea of why she was crying. He had found Lavender in bed with Ron last night after going up to the dorm to sleep. He fumed when he saw them, and almost punched Ron, but held back; so he could do it while Ron was awake. Harry put an arm around Hermione and asked, "What's the matter?"

She wiped her eyes and said, "Do you want to go for a walk? I'll tell you about it, but I just don't want to see Ron right now." He agreed and they walked out of the portrait hole. They stopped in the Great Hall for some toast, then headed for the lake.

Hermione was silent all the way down to the lake, and Harry didn't push her to speak knowing it was hard for her to tell him. Finally the got to the lake, and she started speaking. Words were just pouring out of her mouth; explaining what she saw and what she did afterward. She asked for advice on whether she should tell Dobby.

"I mean look what he did to you in second year. You almost died!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, but he was only trying to help me. It came out a little strong, but his intentions were entirely good. If you tell him what happened or anything important he won't say a word if you ask," Harry reasoned.

"Yeah I guess your right…" she trailed off still sounding doubtful.

"But remember what he did for me in fourth year? I wouldn't have gotten past the second task in the triwizard tournament. Without his help I probably would have died, and then Voldemort would have won. He would have killed all the muggleborns by now ruling the Wizarding and probably the muggle world in terror."

"You're right Harry. I talked to Dobby, but what do you think I should do about Ron?"

"Well to tell you the truth and don't get mad at me, but I found out about Ron and Lavender last night. I know I should have told you last night, but I thought you were in the library, and all I wanted to do was punch Ron as hard as I could for doing that to you."

Hermione gasped and spun around grabbing his forearms, and cried, "Oh Harry! You didn't! Please tell me you didn't punch. I can deal with him on my own."

Harry was a little stunned with her outburst. 'It takes a lot to get Hermione this upset. She must really be in love with him. Arg… he's so stupid! How could he even think about doing this to her?' It took all his self-control not to march back to Gryffindor Tower and personally wake Ron up. Instead he opted to clam her down a bit. "No I didn't punch him; I decided to wait until he's awake to do it. You don't know how much self-control I had to use to stop myself. I even surprised myself. You would have been proud," he said thumping his chest hoping to make her laugh.

It worked. Hermione laughed saying, "Of course I'm proud of you Harry. There's a lot to be proud of. Thank you Harry you've helped me so much." She faced him again and hugged him. He rubbed her back as he hugged back.

"Don't worry, 'Mione I'll help as much as I can. I'll always be here for you."

As they walked they talked; they talked of everything. Harry was trying to keep Hermione's mind as occupied as he could so she would think about anything hurtful. He even found out that she wanted to learn to play quidditch but was afraid of getting picked on.

Finally they went back to the common room, - Harry first checking for any Rons- Hermione feeling a lot better. She gave Harry one last hug making him promise to not say or do anything to Ron, and made her way to her dorm to get her books and go to the library. On her way out Harry said he would keep Ron away from her.

Today seemed to be on her side because she had a peaceful journey to the library and spent the rest of the day in the library finishing her homework. She had just immersed herself in a new novel when she felt eyes on her. Her heart dropped to her stomach. She knew her luck would run out eventually and it seems like it just did. She sighed knowing it was inevitable. She looked up and saw…Malfoy? 'Damn! That's just as bad.' She went back to her book trying to ignore him. "Obviously he can't take a hint.' She sighed again and without looking up asked,

"Is there something you want? It seems quite apparent you aren't going to leave."

Instead of answering right away he pulled out a chair across from her and propped his feet on her books. He flipped open the book he was holding nonchalantly saying,

"I was passing by and decided not to pass up the opportunity to annoy the hell out of you."

"That's nice," was the dismal reply he got. She didn't even respond to the abuse her books were getting.

"So tell me mudblood, is there a book in the library you haven't read?" He attempted a little bemused by her lack of reaction.

She sighed, her shoulders slumped.

"Just leave me alone," she groaned. She tried to go back to her book but she couldn't concentrate, and an occasional tear would slop down her face and land in her lap. She made no move to wipe them away; partly because her hair was obscuring her face so she was hoping Malfoy couldn't see the tears, and also because she knew wiping them away wouldn't keep them away.

"No I don't think I will yet. You didn't answer my question." He smirked.

"And I'm not going to. Just go away," she paused and looked up meeting his eyes. She silently pleaded with him to go away. A sense of remorse washed over him, and he wondered what could have done this to her. "Please." It sounded desperate. He almost chose to let her be and leave; key word: almost. He smirked again.

"Now honestly Granger, would I do something considered," he shuddered, "nice," he spat like venom.

This time surprisingly she answered,

"No you wouldn't. Not even if you life depended on it. You're a cold, heartless bastard Malfoy, and you'll never change." With that she stood up and roughly pushed his feet off her books- which fell rather painfully to the floor, he might add-gathering them in her arms and retreating to a different section of the library.

He sat dumbfounded in his chair with a dull throbbing in his heel. 'I'm not that heartless. I only do it to rile her up.' He huffed. 'That was harsh. I am affronted.' His thoughts kept going on like this and he sat there at what seemed like hours (only fifteen minutes) pouting like a little child. Meanwhile…

Hermione, clutching her books to her chest trying to contain her tears walked as fast as she could to the muggle literature section where she knew no one would be. She sighed and leaned against the wall, sliding down to sit on the floor. Finally away from pondering eyes, he let her tears fall freely knowing it was a futile battle to keep them in. 'My heart… it hurts so much. It's like I can feel it breaking, tearing into tiny pieces. I don't know if I'll even be able to get past this. I feel like it's killing me. I don't want the rest of my life to be full of misery. I wanna be able to live…' These thoughts kept spinning through her head as time wore on. She didn't even go down to dinner and by the time her alarm sounded signaling for her to go to the kitchens, she was so worked up that she thought she might as well jump off of the astronomy tower and get it over with. But she knew she wouldn't be able to do it. So she dragged herself down there glad to get a snack anyway. She too a deep breath and pushed the portrait open. As usual she was soon surrounded by meek house-elves, but they were shooed away by Dobby who eagerly led her to a table and went to get her a snack. He came back with a heaping plate of food. She started nibbling on a piece of chicken, and asked politely, not knowing how to start the conversation,

"So Dobby how are you?"

"Me miss? Oh Dobby is good, very good. But how is you Miss Hermione. If Dobby may say so miss does not look good. What had happened to make miss this upset?"

And just like that the conversation turned to the topic she dreaded yet welcomed; eager to get off her chest. So she began talking; again for the second time from the beginning of everything to recent events.

"…and so I don't even know how long he's been cheating on me. Now it makes me sick just thinking that I might've kissed him after he's been with her. Or…or he could've gone with numerous other girls." She was starting to become frantic again and Dobby seemed to sense it. He took her arm and shook it trying to get her attention.

"Miss Hermione! It's okay. Please calm down."

The desperation in his voice snapped her out of it.

"Oh I'm so sorry Dobby. I Just started and I, I just guess it was a little hard to stop."

"It's okay Miss, I'm honored to hear misses problems."

"Now that you know do you have any advice that can help me? Because honestly I'm not sure what to do."

"Dobby thinks Weasel wasn't satisfied with hi relationship with miss so he found another miss to satisfy hi," he said rather bluntly.

"Oh," she said on the verge of tears again. The truth hit her like ten tons of bricks. If she couldn't satisfy him then how would she satisfy anyone? Just because she didn't give him that part of her right away doesn't mean he could go find someone who would.

Dobby continued,

"Dobby also thinks that miss like the idea of true love and thought it was found. Maybe that is why miss is so heart broken. And it seems to Dobby that everyone expected Miss and Weasel to get together that miss felt obligated to go out with him?"

Then it dawned on Hermione that he was absolutely right. She may love Ron, but because everyone expected them to get together. And she was a true romantic so she did love the idea of finding one's true love; soul mate. Now that Dobby enlightened her she concluded that she could get over and would. She would forgive Ron in time but he will always be the brother she never had. And she vowed she would never have a relationship with one of her best friends of 6 years. It was then that she realized just how late it was.

"Dobby you've helped me so much. Thank you so much." She hugged him tight in gratitude. "Do you mind if I were to come back next week and talk with you. I mean you've helped so much. It's so easy to talk to you."

Dobby was absolutely ecstatic. "Of course miss Hermione! Dobby would love miss to!" He was jumping up and down in happiness. He gave her another hug and disappeared to help to the other house-elves.

Hermione made her way back to her dorm. She felt so much lighter. She now had hope that she would get past this and everything would turn out alright. Slipping into bed her last thought before drifting asleep was: 'I can't avoid Ron tomorrow. I'll just get it over with and dump him. Lavender can have him if she wants him, he's not the right person for me. I just hope I find the person that is.'

A\N: Again I'm soooo sorry it so long to update. School just started and I want to keep my grades good. Thanx to all my reviewers. I shall try to update more often. I tried to make it longer. Tell if you like, and constructive criticism is very welcome. Please review! Tootals!