Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters, spells, places etc. The only thing I own is the plot of this story!

Chapter Three

Hermione grabbed Harry's hand a dragged him through the portrait, towards the Entrance Hall.

"Come on, Harry!" Hermione said. "We'll be late for Hogsmeade." Harry rolled his eyes. They weren't late, of course they weren't. This was Hermione over-reacting, again.

"Hermione, it'll be fine, we'll probably get there before everyone else anyway!"

"Don't be stupid, Harry. You know we're late!" They walked round another corner and Hermione slowed down a little when she saw that everyone wasn't there yet. A few people gave them some funny looks and Harry realised they were still holding hands. He quickly pulled his hand away and Hermione looked round and him. He smiled weakly and looked away, blushing. Hermione walked in front of Harry down the stairs and groaned when Draco Malfoy stepped on the bottom stair with his Slytherin Gang. Both, Harry and Hermione tried not to look in his direction, giving him no reason to start an argument, but it seemed that he didn't need a reason. Harry clearly saw his foot go out and trip Hermione down the last couple of steps. He went to grab her, but missed before turning on Draco.

"What is your problem?" he shouted, causing a few people to turn and look.

"Problem? I don't know what you mean," Draco replied.

"You bloody well do!" Harry cried, pointing at Hermione. She groaned and Harry looked over at her.

"You alright?" Seamus asked, appearing beside Hermione. Dean, on her other side helped her sit up and Ginny crouched in front of her. Harry turned to say something to Malfoy, but realised that he was seriously out numbered if things turned nasty, so he gave him a nasty look before turning away and bending down in front of Hermione.

"Are you alright?" Harry repeated Seamus' question.

"I think I've twisted my ankle," Hermione moaned, rubbing her left foot.

"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital wing," Harry offered, grabbing her arm and shoulder and pulling her up. Her face twisted in pain as her ankle touched the ground.

"You'll miss Hogsmeade," Hermione said, looking at him.

"I don't mind, I'd rather spend the day with you," Harry replied. Hermione turned bright red and Ginny giggled. Seamus and Dean smiled too.

"Ouch," Hermione said. Harry looked down at her ankle.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"What do you think, Harry Potter?" Hermione asked, sarcastically. Harry smiled before lifting Hermione up into his arms. She let out a small yelp and Ginny burst out laughing.

"Oh, put me down, Harry," Hermione pleaded, her face turning red.

"Looks like you have yourself a Knight in Shining Armour!" Ginny joked. Harry smiled and looked round at everyone else.

"See you all later then. Have a good time," he said. They all nodded and Harry started towards the Hospital Wing.

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"You've broken your ankle dear, just drink some of this and it'll heal itself within the hour, but it'll still ache I'm afraid," Madam Pomfrey said, handing Hermione a glass of what looked like orange juice, although Harry knew it wasn't and it would taste awful.

"Thanks…" Hermione mumbled, looking into the glass. Madam Pomfrey nodded, before hurrying of to attend to another student who'd somehow cut his head open. Harry looked round at Hermione.

"You're going to have to drink that eventually, you know," Harry said, indicating the cup. Hermione frowned before downing the whole glass in one go. Harry took it from her and placed it on the table beside her bed. Hermione shook her head.

"That was disgusting," she whispered, trying to get the taste out of her mouth.

"Well," Harry said, smiling. "For once it's you in the hospital bed and not me." She laughed.

"Do you want a drink, or something? You look like you're about to be sick," Harry observed.

"It's just the taste of the medicine," Hermione assured him.

"So, do you want a drink?"

"I can't make you run around after me. You're not a slave."

"Nonsense, now what do you want? Water?"

"Water."

"Be right back." Harry hurried out of the Hospital Wing and reappeared five minutes later with two glasses of water.

"The castle is completely empty," Harry said, handing her one. "Where are the first and second years?" Hermione shrugged and sipped her water.

"That must be the first time I asked you a question that you don't know the answer to," Harry joked. Hermione laughed into her glass of water.

"How's your ankle feeling?" Harry asked.

"A little better, it aches a lot though," Hermione replied.

"Malfoy's such a jerk, the next time he does something horrible to you…" Harry's threat hung in the air.

"Don't do anything stupid, Harry. Promise me you won't do anything stupid," Hermione whispered. Harry looked up into her eyes and sighed.

"Harry…"

"I can't promise, Hermione. If he ever hurt you really badly, I wouldn't be able to live with myself…"

"He won't…"

"But what if he does?" Harry asked, jumping out of the chair. "I care about you more than anything in the world. It'd kill me if something happened to you."

"But it won't," Hermione assured him, grabbing his hand. "Because you'll be there."

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Harry and Hermione sat in the Heads Dorm (A/N Which I realise I haven't mentioned yet) on the sofa in front of the fire, which at the moment wasn't lit. It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon and everyone would be back from Hogsmeade in three hours, so they would have to be in the Entrance Hall, helping the teacher's check everyone was there. Hermione leant on Harry's chest while he gently massaged her shoulders. She had protested at first, but Harry had finally talked her into and, and now she was glad he had.

It feels so relaxing, she thought, her eyes closed. She was trying so hard not to fall asleep, but it was difficult when she was so relaxed.

"Harry," she whispered.

"Hmm?" Harry asked, looking down at her.

"Thanks."

"What for?"

"For being there."

"I'll always be there, Hermione. Now, go to sleep, I've set an alarm to wake us up later. You need some rest." Hermione nodded and Harry slipped his arms round her neck, joining his hands together at the front. Hermione moved her hands up to take his and he smiled.

Within a few minutes, she was asleep. Harry had his head resting on hers.

"Hermione?" he whispered. No reply.

"Are you awake?" he tried again. Still no reply. Harry smiled and moved his head so that his lips were beside Hermione's ear.

"Hermione, I have a confession to make," he whispered. She moved her head slightly as Harry's breath tickled her ear. Harry smiled, and then whispered the secret he had never told anyone else into her ear.