CHAPTER 5 - RELEASED

Early September...

It had been months since the situation with Casey and Hermione was back to her normal self. Hermione woke up that morning first. She got dressed and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. She wasn't alone for as long as 20 minutes, when she was joined by Harry, Ginny, Neville, Ron, Rachel and Lavender. "Morning you guys." The all said morning. Harry kissed her on the cheek and sat down. They ate breakfast while talking quietly to one another. Soon after, Dean and Seamus joined them. Soon after that, Draco came over. He nodded 'hello' to everyone and then stopped and turned to Harry. "Harry can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry looked confused along with everyone else. "Sure Draco." He turned to everyone and got up. "Be right back guys." Him and Draco left the hall quietly without words. All the while, Harry contemplating what he wanted.

Once sure that no one was around to over hear on the confersation, Draco began. "Ok, this is going to really piss you off, but don't shoot me I am just the messanger. It already pisses me off and I'm not even her fiance." Harry nodded slowly, suddenly worried about the words that were about to come out of Dracos mouth.

"What is it Draco?"

Draco took a deep breath and looked Harry straight in the eyes. "Casey got off. He pleaded 'not guilty'" Harry couldn't believe what he had just heard! It took him a second to get his voice. "WHAT! HOW! WHEN!" Draco held up his hand to stop Harrys shouting that would quickly draw attention if he didn't stop. "Talk to Professor Dumbledore. I just came from his office. I was up there and he told me about Casey. He asked me to tell you when you were alone so that you could choose who you told about it." Harry was FURIOUS! "Thank you Draco. Don't tell anyone but Ron. Make sure he keeps an eye on Hermione please, ok?" Draco nodded in affermation. "Sure Harry. Good luck."

Harry nodded and took off at full speed toward the Headmasters office.

He finally arrived panting and doubling over grabbing his knees. He never realized just how far away the Great Hall was from the Headmasters office.

"Come on Potter! Hermione is in danger! PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!"

Harry screamed to himself. He stood back up. "Lollipop Toes!" He screamed the password at the gargoyle and ran up the stairs as soon as he could. Not even bothering to knock, and swearing at himself after he had already done so, he thrust the door open. "How the hell did this happen!" He just strode up to Dumbledores desk, completely forgetting his mannors. Dumbledore closed his eyes at Harrys rage. "Please sit down Harry. I will explain everything . Please sit." The old man really sounded old and he actually sounded angry. Harry sat reluctantly, but sat none the less, even if it was on the edge of his seat. "Well get on with it!" Harry was still angry but it was slowly going away. "Please just a few moments. We are waiting on someone."

They sat quietly and in Harrys case impatiently. Soo a knock was heard at the door. "come in." The door opened and a head popped in.

"Sir, you wanted to see...Harry? What are you doing here?" Hermione came in and sat next to Harry.

"Why are we here Professor?" Hermiones brows furrowed, and Harry knew her brain was working at a mile a minute trying to find the right answer before Dumbledore told them himself. "Well, Ms. Granger. I believe that Harry knows the answer to that question. Why doesn't he tell you." Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry who just stared back at him. Harry didn't want to but knew it would be better than anything else...he hoped. "Hermione...the thing is...I'm not sure how but...well...Casey got off. All charges...cleared." He looked at her to see her reaction. It had been difficult enough to tell her but to see the sadness and anger mixed with the understanding in Hermiones eyes was unbearable.
Harry took his hand and moved it to grab hers. At his touch, her hand flinched and moved away. She looked straight ahead at Dumbledore.

"How?" This was all she said. Dumbledore sighed. "Well, Caseys father is a very well known Auror. His father, David, claimed his son could have never done such a hideous act. He presented false evidences and the jury took the word of the successful Auror, as oppose to the 17 year old student, you Ms. Granger. He was cleared on charges and is coming back to school. Tomorrow. I have no other choice but to let him resume his studies." Hermiones face still hadn't changed. "Hermione?" She snapped out of her trance at Harrys voice. "What?" She said this quietly but even so she was heard. "You ok?" She just nodded this time.

"Miss Granger. I wish Harry or Mr. Weasley to be with you at all times. If this is not possible, have Miss Weasley with you. It this understood?" Hermione still just nodded. "Come on Harry. Let's go." Harry and Hermione stood up. "Thank you, Professor." Dumbledore nodded. They made their way to the door and left.

They decended the stairs and began to walk to Gryffindor Common Room. Harry once again went to grab Hermiones hand in comfort, but was met with the same action. His fingers touched her and she flinched away. She just kept walking without a word. They reached the Common Room without one word said. She made her way to the Godric Gryffindor painting. Quietly she muttered, "Phoenix." The portrait opened showing the Head Common Room. She walked briskly to her room. The one she hadn't used more than five times since they had come back, and shut the door. Harry watched all of this without a word.

Good thing only Ron, Neville, Rachel and Ginny were in the Common Room at the time.

"Harry what happened?"

Harry looked up and saw them all looking at him in wonder. He strode over the couch and sat. "Ron already knows this but, Casey...got off. He was found innocent." Within seconds, Harry was met with an uproar that could make someone go deaf. "WHAT!" Harry put his head in his hands. This made everyone calm down enough to sit down because they could clearly see that this was very bad for Harry to endure. "Hermione and I just came for Dumbledores office. Well...to make a long story short, he got off because his dad is famous. He will be back at school tomorrow."

No one could believe these words coming out of Harrys mouth. He was a...a...rapest. How could he come back? Everyone was deep in thought because they didn't notice Harry had gotten up until his voice broke the silence.

"I'm going to go talk to 'Mione. Night." He began to walk and went into their Common Room. He slowly walked over to his room. He opened the door. Empty. He turned around, making his way across the Common Room to Hermiones room. Knocking, he called her name. "Hermione? Can I come in?" The door opened by itself and Harry took this for a yes that he could in fact come in. He stepped in. He went over to Hermiones bed and sat down next to her. His voice was soft and caring when he began to speak. "You ok?" He asked this with great calm despite his anger. "Why would I be Harry? The guy who tried to rape me is coming back here. NO, I'M NOT OK!" Her voiced raised slightly at the last part and then broke. Harry looked down and stared at his hands. I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it." She looked at him.

"I'm sorry. I know you didn't Harry."

She took his face in her hands. They sat looking into each others eyes. He leaned foreward and placed his lips on hers. She accepted. The kiss had begun slowly. It soon rose. Harry moved his hand to her waist and softly pushed her toward the bed, never breaking the kiss. He was halfway on top of her now as they kissed. He moved his hand toward her jean button. He popped it. The zipper moved down at another move of his hand. Hermione never made a move to stop him. He took his hand and moved it toward her shirt pushing it up and off. Once her shirt was discarded on the floor, his hand made its way to her breast. He cupped it in his hand. At this movement, she moved away quickly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm..." Harry stopped. He looked at Hermione who was softly crying.

"Hermione?" He looked softly at her. "What's wrong?" He sat up and moved toward her. "It's nothing." Harry shook his head. "Don't lie to me. Just please tell me baby." She wiped a tear away.

"It's just that as soon as you did that, I got these images in my head." Harry was quite confused. He didn't understand what she had meant. "What do mean images?" Hermione let out a deep breath. "When...the incident...happened. When you did that, I saw Casey hurting me and I got scared." Harry ran his hand through his hair. He moved closer to Hermione and took her hand in his.

"Hermione listen to me. 'Mione, I would never, never hurt you. I'm not Casey. I wouldn't do anything, or touch anything that you didn't want."

She looked up at his words of sincerity and comfort. "I know you wouldn't. I just got scared." Harry smiled. "We don't have to do anything you don't want." He moved in and softly kissed her. She moved away a littly bit, but stopped. 'This is Harry. He would never hurt me.' Hermione thought this to herself. She took her hands and went down and pulled off his shirt. She ran her hands over his very toned chest and ab muscles thanks to Quidditch. She layed back down pulling Harry with her. He slowly and carefully moved hishands to her jeans and started to pull them down. She didn't stop him. He threw them to the floor and began to unbutton his own jeans. They were obviously GREAT at multitasking becuase they did all this without breaking in their kiss. Once his jeans were off and scattered on the floor he stopped.

"You ok? We can stop if you want to. No pressure." He smiled at her so sweetly she melted. "No, it's ok." She pulled him back down into another passionate kiss. His hands undid her bra gracefully and slowly slid it down her arms. He kissed her body all over. They spent the night making love...more than once.

THE NEXT MORNING...

Hermione and Harry both woke at pretty much the same time. She tunred over and smiled at him. "Morning." Harry smiled back a smile that would melt ice. "Morning." They both got up and got ready. Of course during this time, Harry just sat back admiring Hermione while she got dressed. When she was finished he quickly turned around so as not to get caught. Little did he know, that she had known the whole time. While he stood there getting dressed, she thought he failed to notice that she was just watching him get ready. Right as his shirt slid over his head he looked at her. "Like what you saw?" She blushed. "Always." Harry shook his head and laughed.

He took Hermiones hand and they went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Over the next month an a half or so the couples grew closer, if that was at all possible. Harry never let Hermione out of his sight, mostly because of the fact Casey was back. But it was also just because he always wanted to be around her. Rachel and Ron were always sneaking off somewhere...usually to a closet, much to Dracos dislike. He didn't like seeing his cousin run off with Ron, even if he 'liked' Ron. Once Draco actually caught them snogging each other senseless and all you could hear for about an hour was Ron laughing wildly down the corridors with Draco hot on his tail. Draco and Ginny pretty much because the other 'lighter' version of Harry and Hermione. They were pretty much inseperable...much to Rons dislike. Neville and Luna became like this also.

By Halloween the four couples were known for the seriousness that the relationships were in. It was known all throughout the castle, that if you mess with one of them, you get the other seven and the one who does the most of the harm is their boyfriend or girlfriend. This was displayed once...just once.

FLASHBACK...

Ginny had been walking down the corridor, toward the Gryffindor common room, when two seventh year Hufflepuffs came out of no where. "Yummy. Doesn't she look good Frank?" The other one who was obviously Frank smiled. "My, my. She does look edible Michael." Ginny wasn't at all worried about these to losers...until they got closer. She didn't panic. She remembered what all the men in her life had ever told her. 'Just remember to stay calm and attack in suprise.'

She did just that.

They got closer. She kneed one in the gut and punched the other. As soon as she had, she took off running. She got back to the Gryffindor Common Room and found Ron and Harry sitting there playing chess, while Hermione read. When she came in they saw the look on her face. Ginny was able to sit down on the couch and tell them what happened. Ron and Harry about exploded. They couldn't do anything that night they would have to wait until morning...and they did. As soon as they got into the Great Hall they made their way toward the Slytherin table and Draco. None of the table did a thing. Ginny hadn't come in yet and by the time she had it was too late. She knew it because she heard Draco yell, "WHAT! WHICH TWO!" Harry and Ron pointed to two Hufflepuff boys who had just come up behind Ginny.

She didn't know they were there.

Draco saw the two boys, Michael and Frank, give Ginnys body a few looks. He turned red. Not just any red either. Blood red. He got up and began to walk toward them. "FRANK! MICHAEL! YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO RUN!" He paused for about one second. "TEN!" Ginny just now noticed that the two boys were behind her as Draco came running at them both. Frank and Michael looked at each other and right as Draco came within 10 feet took off running.All eyes in the Hall were now on Ginny, who just blushed and went to sit down.

That was the last time anyone messed with them...except Casey.

NORMAL TIME...

Halloween was now near. This year, Dumbledore had set a Hogsmeade trip for the day. Everyone wore hideous masks and costumes. Some shops were set as Haunted Houses while others were just decorated with fake spiders and such. Soon enough that passes as did most of November. As Thanksgiving was drawing toward them people were wondering what type of food they would end up having. The week before Thanksgiving weekend everyone was at dinner and Dumbledore stood.

"So sorry to interupt your meal but I have an announcement to make. Next weekend is Thanksgiving as you all know. For this year I have decided to try something new. Over the weekend of Thanksgiving, I will allow all to go home to spend it with your families. The train will leave to go home late Thursday night and arrive at Kings Cross around 9 am on Friday morning. The train back to Hogwarts will leave on Sunday morning 11 am and get back to school at 8 pm. That is all." He sat down and everyone cheered. All but Harry. "What's wrong mate?" Harry looked up. "Nothing. Just thinking really. It will be good to spend it with Sirius, Mum and Dad." He paused.

"Hermione?" She turned to face him. "Yeah hun?" Harry thought about it momentarily. "I was wondering. Would you and your parents like to come to Grimmauld for Thanksgiving?" Hermione smiled and laughed. "Harry of course. I will owl Mum and Dad after dinner."

The week went by fast and soon everyone was boarding the train home. People arrived home and said their goodbyes and 'See you on sundays' to friends. Or in Harry and Hermiones case they just said 'See ya tomorrow love.'