A/N: Hey everyone. Well loads of you are reading my story but no one is reviewing but I'll keep putting my chapters up anyway. PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I want to know what you think.

DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot.

Chapter Three:A budding relationship.

Hermione ran into the Gryffindor Common Room, her heart pounding a mile a minute. Everything in her life used to be simple and perfect. Smart parents, who loved her, friends who truly cared for her, a loving boyfriend, excellent grades, the lot! Now it had all turned upside down with Dumbledore telling her the truth about her heritage. Why, oh why did she have too find out? Why couldn't it be kept hidden? Why did Voldemort have too exist?

"Hermione, are you okay?"

Hermione looked up from where she stood leaning against the Common Room door. Ron was peering at her with worried blue eyes, one hand resting on her shoulder. Hermione shrugged it off and walked over to the fireplace.

"Is Harry back yet?" asked Hermione to steer clear of a topic she didn't know if she could tell Ron about yet.

"No. I've been waiting up for you both," replied Ron standing close too Hermione.

Hermione stepped away a bit causing Ron too sigh.

"Hermione, why do you keep on doing that?" demanded Ron.

"What are you on about?"

"You and me! We keep on denying it, don't you see?"

"Ron, I'm tired, it has been a very… stressful night," said Hermione heading for the girl dormitory stairs.

"Hermione I love you!" cried Ron causing Hermione too stop on the first step.

Hermione's eyes were wide as she turned too look at her bestfriend, yes, she knew Ron liked her, but love her?

"Ron…" started Hermione only too be cut off.

"I love you Hermione. I mean it," declared Ron with misty eyes.

Hermione shook her head, "No you don't."

"I do!"

"NO! Don't love me Ron, don't make it harder."

"What do you mean?"

"I… I'm… dating someone else."

"What?" cried Ron his heart smashing to bits, "Who?"

Hermione paused. If she said Harry, she knew Ron would hate him and Hermione couldn't allow that friendship too end because of her.

"I'm dating… I'm dating Draco… Malfoy," said Hermione hurriedly before running up the stairs.

Ron stared after her in disbelief. Had he just heard her right? Did Hermione just say she was dating Draco Malfoy? Surely not. Ron stormed up to his dormitory just as Harry came through the portrait hole. He had been walking through Hogwarts in a daze. Dumbledore expected him to put his best friend in a deep sleep while him and Hermione were fighting in a battle that could cost him and his girlfriend their lives. He had stormed out of the headmasters office before Dumbledore had a chance to explain and Harry, who had the Marauders Map with him had avoided Dumbledore who was walking through the castle, Harry presumed that he was looking for him. He headed up to his dormitory to find Ron sitting on his bed looking extremely angry. He looked up when Harry entered and immediately started telling Harry what had just happened between him and Hermione.

"I told her I loved her and you know what she said?" Ron growled angrily.

"What?" Harry asked knowing full well what Hermione had said.

"That she was dating someone"

"Who'd she say she was dating?" Harry asked sheepishly.

"Oh…you wont believe it…Draco Malfoy" Ron spat the last part out. Harry looked at stunned.

"What! Draco Malfoy…since when?"

"I dunno man but she ran up to her room as soon as she said it…how can she do that? Date that scum? What a traitor…after all he has said and done to her she goes and dates him? Why him? What's wrong with me?"

"I don't know…Ron she isn't dating Malfoy"

Ron looked at him, how would Harry know whom she was dating? They never talked about Hermione's love life until now anyway.

"What do you mean she isn't dating Malfoy? She just told me she was when I blurted out my feelings for her."

"Because she's dating…I'm sorry Ron but Hermione and I are together."

"WHAT? YOU AND HERMIONE ARE TOGETHER? I DON'T BELIEVE IT…YOU KNEW I LIKED HER HOW COULD YOU?" Ron bellowed waking Dean, Seamus and Neville in the process.

"I'm sorry Ron but she doesn't have feelings for you…we weren't going to tell you but you told her how you felt. I didn't do this to…I didn't do it to hurt you. I really like her Ron and she feels the same about me. Would you want her to date you on false pretences?" Harry replied calmly. Ron just glared at him and drew his curtains around his bed so hard they ripped off. Cursing loudly he repaired them and left Harry sitting on his bed looking at a loss for words. Had he just lost his best friend over a girl? It sure looked that way. Harry looked over at the other three who shared the dorm with him. They were staring at Harry utterly bewildered.

"Sorry guys just go back to sleep" Harry told them as he pulled his own curtains around his bed. He fell back against his pillows and listened to the hushed voices of his roommates.

He ignored them and slowly drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Ginny Weasley sat down next to a flustered looking Hermione at the Gryffindor table. They had been best friends for the last two years. Ever since Hermione had confided to her a terrible secret. Something even Harry didn't know. Ginny looked at her friend worriedly. Hermione was extremely pale.

"Mione…what's the matter? Are you feeling alright?" Ginny asked.

Hermione didn't even acknowledge her. It was like she was in her own little world. It took three attempts at calling her name for Hermione to look up.

"Oh hey Ginny…how you been?" Hermione asked not even knowing that Ginny had asked her a question.

"Never mind me what about you? You look like your going to be sick. Has something happened? Are you and Harry still together?" Ginny had been the only one Hermione had told about her relationship with Harry. Hermione shook her head.

"No…just been up late with patrol…late nights early mornings they take a bit to get used to" Hermione lied although this didn't convince Ginny.

"You can't lie to me Hermione. I know you to well. What's really going on?"

"Nothing…like I said late nights early mornings…I swear"

Ginny gave Hermione a Mrs Weasley look and Hermione hung her head. She started crying and Ginny quickly put an arm around her shoulder.

"What is it? You can tell me I won't tell a soul." She soothed.

"I…I…my life is ruined…I don't even know who I am anymore…everything has changed now…nothing will ever be the same again." Hermione sobbed. Ginny grabbed her by the arm and led her out of the Great Hall. She didn't say anything while they were walking and Hermione continued to cry. They reached the lake and Ginny turned Hermione to face her.

"Now what's going on? Don't say nothing and don't lie"

Hermione told Ginny about the meeting with Dumbledore. She told her how Malfoy had been nice to her and how Harry had blasted the headmaster before storming out of his office. She also told her about her encounter with Ron.

"I told him I was with Malfoy…I don't know why, he was on my mind I guess" Hermione finished. Ginny looked at her in shock. Hermione was not who she thought she was and Ginny had to help her through this because she couldn't do it alone…no one could learn they were really someone else and deal with it by them selves. Hermione had been through so much already and come out a brighter person but to have this happen was just a huge blow to her mental state.

"Don't worry Herms, I will help you through it I swear," promised Ginny truthfully, "Here, wipe your eyes."

Hermione took the offered tissue and wiped her tears away, sniffling. She felt like a weak fool, falling too pieces at a drop of a hat.

"Hermione, there you are!" came Harry's voice running over too her.

Ginny stood and left the two alone. Hermione turned too Harry, showing her red rimmed eyes.

"Why on earth did you tell Ron you were dating Malfoy?" asked Harry, not even bothering too ask why his girlfriend was crying.

"I lied for a reason Harry," admitted Hermione, "I didn't want too be the reason for you and Ron to not be friends anymore… he said he loved me Harry!"

"I know… and I told Ron the truth."

"What?" cried Hermione in shock, "But Harry… no!"

"He deserved to know the truth Hermione…I don't care if he hates me…he'll get over it"

"But Harry…you two were friends before we were. Now you have lost him over a girl. That's…you should have asked me first."

"I'm sorry Mione…hang on. Why are you crying?"

"Never mind it was…because of Ron. I was worried about what you'd say when you found out I told him it was Malfoy"

"Oh Ok. Are you sure that's all? Nothing you want to tell me?"

Hermione shook her head and looked at her watch. It was almost time for class and she had to get her book bag from her Dorm. She kissed Harry gingerly on the lips before rushing back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder too see Ginny walking over too Harry from where she had been standing by the tree. Hermione stopped and turned too watch them. They seemed to be talking, but as Hermione turned too run, Ginny leant forward and gave Harry a long hug, which he returned. Hermione took in a deep breath before heading into the castle, almost colliding with Draco.

"Whoa, Granger! Sorry about that," apologised Draco before noticing the redness around Hermione's eyes, "You've been crying. Everything okay?"

Hermione nodded, and then shrugged her shoulders before shaking her head no. The Gryffindor girl pushed past Draco heading for the stairs. Draco, being as stubborn as he was, grabbed Hermione by the arm and made her sit on the Entrance Hall staircase.

"Now, I wasn't born just yesterday Granger," said Draco, ignoring the shocked looks from all the people seeing Hermione and Draco on the stairs, "Tell me what is going on."

Hermione sighed and looked at Draco too see actual care in his grey eyes,

"Everything. From what I was told last night, too Ron finding out about me and Harry and now I think Ginny likes Harry!"

"Weasley didn't know about you and Potter?" asked Draco shocked.

Hermione nodded, "He told me he loved me last night. I freaked and said I was dating someone else – I said you – I didn't want me to be the cause for two bestfriend's too hate each other. Only Harry told Ron the truth and now they are fighting. I got all upset over everything this morning, went for a walk with Ginny… Harry found us, we talked and here I am. Only when I was walking in I saw Harry and Ginny talking…. And… then she gave Harry and hug… a really long hug."

"Oh… why did you say me?" asked Draco curiously.

"I don't know… I guess you were on my mind," shrugged Hermione blushing a little.

Draco smiled cheekily, "Granger likes me!"

Hermione laughed and hit Draco playfully causing them both too laugh.

Ron left the Great Hall with Dean only too hear Dean curse out loud and nudge Ron too look at the stairs. Ron frowned and looked, almost falling over at the sight, there was Hermione sitting closely next too Draco laughing happily – she never laughed like that around Harry! And he was her boyfriend… or maybe there was some truth too what Hermione said too him last night about her dating Malfoy. Maybe she was, only Harry didn't know.

A/N: Please review...I need to know how this is going. Please. Hope you all like it.