Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 8-

Harry sat, confused and shocked. A part of him wanted to go Hermione and apologize for being so inert, but another part of him wouldn't allow him to move. The common room door opened, and a red headed girl stepped in.

"Ginny? Is that you?" Harry said blankly.

Ginny glared at Harry and stalked over towards him. She slapped him hard across his face. Harry's head snapped to the side.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER, GET OVER YOURSELF, AND GET YOUR SORRY ASS UP THERE AND APOLOGIZE!!" Ginny shouted. She sounded exactly like her mother, and was louder than any howler her mother had sent Ron. Her arms were crossed, and she looked furious.

Harry's eyes narrowed. WHY THE HELL was every female he encountered today slapping him? And how could Ginny know about their fight?

"If your wondering how I know about this, I happened to have been outside behind the fat lady's portrait when I heard shouting, and I decided that I did not want to get caught in the crossfire. I wasn't evesdropping, and it was hard not to hear how twiching mad poor Hermione must have been!" She continued hotly.

"Do you even know how much she cares about you? Did you know how much you hurt her by ignoring her, wallowing in your own self pity, while her parents just died? You weren't there for her in her time of need! She was always right by your side, but instead of being thankful, you were being a bloody git, and thought of yourself! She spent the past few weeks crying herself to sleep! Can you try to understand how she's feeling?!"

"Ginny, you know I cant get up there," was all Harry could manage to say.

"GOOD EXCUSE POTTER! Give her tonight to rest. In the morning, wait for her and make her feel special! Just do something, ANYTHING. Honestly, you men are hopeless,"

she said, exasperated.

Harry looked back at her, fuming, and nodded. He got up, and trudged up the stairs to bed.

Hermione lay on her side, crying; yet again. Tears flowed freely from her brown eyes, hitting her pillow. She wiped them away and sniffled. Yes, it was true that Harry had no idea that her parents died, but he had been so insensitive and selfish. It torchored her to know she had lost everything. She had no family, and she no longer had Harry. Sure, she had Ron and Ginny but they had their own family. She didn't belong anywhere. Hermione closed her eyes and let sleep take her away.

Hermione tossed and turned in her bed.

She was running up the many stairs of the Hogwarts castle in tears again. She arrived at the room of requierments, and of course it was filled to the brim with anything she needed; tissues and a pillows to lie on. She closed the door and walked over to a table and grabbed the tissue box, but when she turned back to sit down, she found Harry with his wand pointed at her. His eyes were filled with mirth, and for some reason, revenge. She took a tentative step back, frightened. This wasn't the Harry she knew. All she could think to do was get her wand. She slowly reached into her back pocket and gripped it tightly. If she could just stall Harry long enough, maybe she could catch him offguard with a binding spell. Harry snicked and slowly, his snicker turned into a malicious grin. His brilliant green eyes turned into red slits.

'Voldemort' Hermione breathed.

"Good, good, bookworm..." he hissed.

A dozen Death Eaters appeared, wands surrounding Hermione, leaving her in the middle of black circle. Voldemort transformed back into Harry.

"Avada Kedavra.."

"Hermione!"

"Hermione!" a voice called.

"Hermione wake up!" Ginny stood over her and shook her out of her sleep. Hermione slowly opened her eyes.

"are you alright?"

"Yes, I'll be fine," Hermione forced a smile. It seemed almost impossible to smile any longer now that her whole world had come crashing down upon her."I'll meet you at breakfast," She added, hoping Ginny would leave.

Ginny nodded and headed downstairs. 'god knows that girl needs some time alone..' she thought.

She headed downstairs and found Harry gazing at the girls dorms.

'He must have heard my footsteps and thought it was Hermione,..'

"Harry its Ginny," She called out. Harry nodded half-heartedly and turned away.

"I think she just needs some time alone right now,..I'll see you later Harry,"

Harry sat up from the couch and decided to go out for a walk to Hogsmeade. It was a Saturday after all, and at least he'd be able to get some time alone to think things over.

Ron came downstairs just as Harry left. He had heard everything that happened last night between them. He felt like cursing Harry for hurting Hermione.

"Good morning Ron,.."Hermione murmured as she stepped into the common room. She looked like she had been studying everyday without sleep for 5 months.

"morning 'Mione" Ron said with a frown.

He walked over to embrace his friend. She tried to hold back her tears, and buried her face in Ron's jacket, hugging him tightly. Ron was furious with Harry for being such a prat. He stroked her hair and gently kissed her head. The voice in his head came back.

"Cranious control" he heard it whisper. Ron's eyes turned a deep brown.

Hermione lifted her head and met Ron's gaze for a moment. He bent down and kissed her.

Much to her surprise, she didn't pull back. She didn't respond at first, but slowly gave in. She pulled away after a minute.

"You shouldn't have done that,.."She breathed.

Ron looked directly into her eyes. He was scared of what he had just done.

"I...I shouldn't have done that..." He confirmed with much difficulty.

He was screaming inside for the voice in his head to leave him alone and not hurt his friends. It was true he had wanted to be with Hermione, but not like this. Hermione was still in his arms. He couldn't move. He now had no control over his body. He was terrified. She looked away and back at him again. Ron tried to open his mouth to speak; to profusely apologize and run far away from her, but the voice wouldn't let him. It now controled his every move. Ron's lips met Hermione's once more.

"NOO,Noo.no...STOP IT!!!! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" his brain screamed."She's your best friend, and your best friend's girlfriend!"

"You can't escape it, no one ever can... and besides, I'm doing you a favor boy," it snapped.

Suddenly, it dawned on him. The voice's owner was none other than Voldemort.

Harry ran up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower. He had forgotten his jacket. It looked sunny outside, but it was strangly bitterly cold and cloudy when he arrived outside. Perhaps Hermione would be awake by now, and willing to at least hear what he had to say. He opened the door and found Ron standing over someone. He stood there for a moment before he saw Hermione's side profile. His eyes bulged out, and his breathing was becoming laboured and ragged. He couldn't move, he was frozen in horror and in anger. Mysteriously, winds began to pick up around Harry's body as he shouted beyond his tears.

"HERMIONE!! RON?? HOW COULD YOU???"

Hermione pulled away while Ron seemed not to notice that Harry had just yelled at him. The binding voice in Ron's head would not allow him to stop and look up.

"STOP CONTROLING ME!!" Ron yelled as he pushed himself away from Hermione. He had finally managed to break free from the voice.

Harry charged at Ron tackling him to the ground and punching him square in his face. Hermione was shocked to say the least, but within seconds she snapped back to her senses.

"WINGARDIUM LEVIOUSA!! EXPELLIARAMIUS!" She screamed.

Harry floated into the air still kicking and punching. Hermione promptly caught Harry's wand with her left hand. This would have made her laugh had it been in another situation; he looked like a mouse someone had just caught, still trying to scurry away in the air. She glared at Harry.

Ron stumbled to his feet, blinking and touching his nose to reveal blood all over his face. He had a bloody nose and he was sure Harry had knocked out a tooth or two. He spat out blood clotting in his mouth, and looked fearful as Harry hovered above him mad with rage.

"Put me down Hermione!" Harry said threatningly.

" Do you think I'm dense Harry?? Of course I'm not going to let you go so that you can tackle Ron again and beat him senseless!" She snapped.

"Why Hermione?! WHY in god's name where you,..you..with HIM??!!"

He struggled with his words. He was going to apologize and make it all up to Hermione today. Instead, he had his heart broken into billions of pieces by the one person who's heart he was going to try to mend. He felt betrayed. His body went numb, he was losing control of all common sense by now.

"We are over HARRY!! We are THROUGH! Get that into your thick, selfish skull! I don't care about you anymore,...I..I just cant! You cut me too deep for me to love you any longer. It shouldn't matter to you who I like, and what I can or cannot do! You cant run my life for me! Yes, It just HAPPENED! Ron kissed me and I didn't pull away, but that was my choice!" she screamed.

"Harry, I'm sorry.."Ron began

"SHUT UP!" Harry fumed.

"PLEASE YOU HAVE TO hear me out! It wasn't.."

"DON'T TRY TO MAKE EXCUSES!! YOU FANCIED HERMIONE ALL ALONG, AND WHEN SHE WAS VULNERABLE, YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT!"

"IMPEDIMENTA!" Hermione shouted. She was furious. Harry should know she had more respect for herself than that. Harry flew across the room and hit the wall. He fell to the floor wincing in pain as he looked up to meet Hermione's glare.

"LET ME EXPLAIN! I didn't want to kiss Hermione! It's not my fault, nor is it Hermione's fault!" Ron was trying desprately to tell Harry it was Voldemort who had him under his power.

"SHUT THE HELL UP YOU TRAITOR! Accio wand!" Harry roared. Harry caught his wand and pointed it at Hermione.

"Protegous Domes!" Hermione yelled. Two protective bubbles appeared, one covering Ron, and another covering herself.

Harry stood up defiantly. His breathing became more ragged than before, and his hand shook as he pointed his wand at Hermione. He suddenly realized this was exactly what his vision looked like. With great effort he cried out,

"NOO!!"

and hurled his wand to the floor. He tore out of the common room, running as fast as he could. He didn't know where he was running to, but he needed a place to get away from everyone.

Three hours later, Harry woke up in the Room of Requierments with a severe headache and sharp blade in his hand. Memories of what he had done to himself came flooding back.

Ohhh....cliffe!! so, did u like this chap? huh?(nudgenudge) well now that i have written for 4 hours, and my gluteous maximus (otherwise known as "ass") is flat, i'm hoping to get some reviews,..(hint)(hint) lol okok, i'm just kidding, I'm wondering, should make this story a trilogy? or just leave it as one story?...hm...if neone has ne suggestions on what i should add or leave out, please review, and btw, DRACO is gonna mix things up a bit in the next few chaps... thx 4 reading!