I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry! I know I haven't updated in a really long time, so please forgive me! Remember I own nothing! Enjoy!

Chapter 7: A Gunshot

The next few days passed without much trouble, but Harry noticed that Harley seemed to getting angrier. Hermione said that it was just a phase he goes through every once in a while, but she admitted that it hadn't been this bad in a long time.

"I don't get it," she said, while they were washing his truck (he was still making her do chores, and Harry was only too happy to help) one Saturday afternoon, "normally his phases are over by now. I just --"

But her sentence was cut short by the drunken yell of, "Get up, you damned bitch!" from her father, and what sounded suspiciously like a gunshot.

Abandoning their soap and buckets, they ran toward the house, banging open the kitchen door in their haste.

They were greeted by a horrible sight. Harmony had managed pull herself to her feet, but they didn't know how, since her right leg was bleeding badly. They saw why in her father's right hand. A shiny, silver pistol was smoking slightly at the barrel.

Neither of Hermione's parents seemed to have noticed the two teenagers burst into the kitchen. Which Harry thought was good, because, if they did, that might have been Hermione bleeding in front of her father.

Harley cocked the pistol and aimed it directly at his wife's heart. Knowing what was coming, Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and tried to pull her out of harm's way, but she wouldn't move. Harry didn't know why. He certainly didn't want to see this. He gave her arm an all mighty tug as Harley put his finger on the trigger.

Hermione finally moved. She ran back outside with Harry at her heels. She didn't know where to go. Their house was at least five miles from the nearest town, and she was blinded by tears.

Harry grabbed at Hermione's arm again when she started to slow down, but she pulled away. Harry turned and walked back to Hermione, who was now leaning against the mailbox. He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned against his shoulder, trying not to cry, but she couldn't do anything but cry, when they heard the sound they had been waiting for. A gunshot. They were expecting it, but that didn't mean they would react any differently.

Hermione was only aware of Harry, holding her, trying to comfort her. He wasn't saying anything, but his arms were wrapped around her and she was crying into his chest.

Harry was only aware of Hermione, crying into his chest. He blocked out everything around them, only concentrating on comforting her. He didn't trust himself to open his mouth, because he didn't want to start crying, too, so he just ran his hand up and down her back. He felt like he needed to be strong for her. She needed him, and he would never leave her side.

A/N:

So sad! R&R please. I realize this chapter was short. The next one will be a bit longer. TTFN