Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter or anything from the magical world. However, I own the plot of this story!

Chapter Eleven

As Harry and Hermione stepped into the Hall, every head turned to look at them. None of them were sure whether they should cheer or glare at them. Harry looked at Gryffindor table for Ron, careful to avoid him. He sat about half way up the table and was the only one not looking at them. Harry felt Hermione tense up next to him and grabbed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Without a word, Harry pulled Hermione along, almost to the end of Gryffindor table and sat down, taking her with him.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," he whispered in her ear. Draco Malfoy, of course, was the first one to make a remark.

"Finally taken time to come and eat with the rest of us instead of alone in your private dorms? I'm sure a nice broom closet would do though. There's a brilliant one on the third floor!" A few of the students sniggered and Hermione turned bright red, laying her hands on the table and fiddling with them. "Or then again there's one on the fifth floor that's exceptionally good too! Can't believe you'd want to go out with that Mudblood in the first place!" Harry jumped up to say something, but Hermione grabbed his shirt and pulled him back down.

"Just leave it," she whispered. Draco Malfoy laughed and Harry glared at him. Dumbledore finally entered at the end of the hall, and normally would have commanded silence, but as it turned out, there was nothing to silence.

"I'd just like to say that what happened earlier in the Entrance Hall between Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Granger has been sorted out and I don't want to hear any talk of it. If word gets to me that anyone has said anything, they shall receive a detention with myself or Professor McGonagall. Now, enjoy your dinner." Even when Dumbledore said that not many people talked and those who did stopped when they realised that they were the only ones. For the first time in almost seven years, the only thing that Harry could hear in the Great Hall was the clattering of knives and forks. Hermione threw hers down and looked like she was holding back tears.

"I can't do this," she said, looking round at him. "I'm going upstairs."

"I…Right…I-I'll come with you," Harry replied, taking one more bite out of his chicken. "Come on, let's go." Harry stood up and took Hermione's hand, leading her towards the doors, and they almost got there.

"Careful what you do up there with him, Granger, might regret it later!" Malfoy called. Harry had, had enough. He let go of Hermione's hand and before she could grab him, stormed over to Slytherin table to where Draco was sitting and lifted him out of his seat before slamming him violently into the wall and pulling out his wand. He rammed it into Malfoy's throat.

"You say one more word and I'm not going to restrain myself any more from doing something to you that I'll regret. You leave her alone, because if you say one more word, I swear to God I'll kill you," Harry hissed. He dropped his wand down to his side and turned away. Malfoy laughed behind him and without thinking, he spun round and punched him full in the face. His head snapped back and banged into the wall, and Harry walked off.

"Lets go," he ordered, grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her out of the Great Hall. As soon as they were out, Hermione burst into tears and turned round to face Harry.

"I-I can't do this, Harry. I don't know what to do," he sobbed, into his chest.

"Shh," he soothed, running his hands through her hair. "Don't worry. I'll look after you. I'll always be here for you." Footsteps behind them made Harry turn around. Luna and Neville stood there. Neville was staring at his feet.

"We just wanted to make sure you were alright, Hermione," Luna said.

"I-I fine," Hermione sobbed, although her tear-stained face said otherwise. Harry looked from Hermione to, apparently, their two remaining friends.

"Luna, Neville, you take Hermione down to the lake and I'm going to go and get some food from the kitchens so we can have a picnic or something. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's starving." Hermione seemed reluctant to leave him, but let Neville and Luna take her outside. Harry dashed off to the kitchen and found Dobby there.

"Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby cried, surprised.

"Hi, Dobby. Look, could you get together a picnic basket or something?" Harry asked.

"Anything for Mr. Harry Potter." The little house elf hurried off and reappeared a few minutes later with a basket full of food.

"Dobby heard about Harry Potter's Mistress. Dobby hopes that she is ok and so do all the other House Elves. Harry Potter's Mistress is nice to us House Elves and us House Elves, we got her a present, sir. We asked Mr. Dumbledore what we should get her, sir and he took Dobby and Winky shopping to get a present. It's for both of you, sir." Dobby finally reached into his pocket and pulled out an untidily wrapped present and handed it to Harry.

"Thank you, Dobby. I'll make sure she gets it."

"Good day Mr. Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby called after Harry as he left. No one had left the Great Hall yet and the noise in side told him that everyone had started their normal conversations again. He found Hermione, Neville and Luna sitting by the old oak tree waiting for him. He sat down on the blanket one of them, Hermione, had conjured up and put the basket of food in the middle, then held out the present to Hermione.

"This is from the house elves. They said it was for you and me," he explained. Hermione took it before tearing off the wrapping gently and laying it down on the floor. A small jewellery box now sat in Hermione's hand. She looked up at Harry before opening it and gasping.

"What is it?" Harry asked, looking over the top of the box.

"Love bracelets…" Hermione replied.

"You what?"

"We both have to wear one and when it breaks, you have to show your undying love for the other person." Hermione took out both the bracelets and handed one of them to Harry. The letters hanging off it spelled out Hermione's name, and at the moment, Harry didn't care that he was wearing a bracelet. Neville did Harry's up for him and Luna helped Hermione. Hers obviously spelled out Harry's name.

"Can't wait 'til it breaks," Harry said, grinning and twirling his wrist round. Hermione blushed.

"Who wants some food then?" Neville said, looking into the basket. Harry laughed and handed out all the food.

Harry and Hermione ended up under the tree, with Harry leaning on it and Hermione leaning backwards onto him with her body in between his legs and her head on his chest. Luna and Neville were skipping stones across the lake. Harry absentmindedly twirled Hermione's hair round his finger.

"I love watching the sun set," Hermione said, looking up at the sun that was disappearing behind the hill.

"I've never watched it, set," Harry replied.

"Never?"

"Never."

"Then we'll watch it now." Hermione began to close her eyes.

"What's that?" Neville asked, looking up at a shape in the sky.

"I think it's an owl," Luna replied. It was, and it had a letter for Harry.

"It's a howler," he said, sheepishly. "From Mrs. Weasley." Hermione leaned her head backwards to look at him. He put his finger under the seal and pulled it up. The letter instantly started shouting, but it wasn't what he'd expected.

"Harry Potter, you tell Ronald that if he does something like that ever again then we'll disown him. I don't blame you if you never talk to him again, dear, but please do try to rebuild your friendship, we'll miss having you here over the summer. And as for you Hermione, I can't believe that Ron would do something like that. I'm sorry, both of you and we all hope you are very happy together." The letter ripped itself up and Harry smiled as all the pieces landed in Hermione's hair. Harry took Hermione's hand in his and the two bracelets tinkled as the letter hit each other. And that's how they sat to watch the sunset.