Hey lovelies!
Thank you so much for your kind words and your support!
You guys are the reason this story keeps going!
It really means a lot to me that you enjoy it so much.
Here's another chapter as promised!
 I amped up the drama a little bit! I hope it's to your liking.
Also I went back and fixed the double posting.

A couple of days later found Harry and Hermione curled up together in an armchair near the fire in the Gryffindor common room. They had agreed that while they did need to consult a Medi-Witch, neither trusted the school matron not to run to Dumbledore with the news of this development. The couple wasn't sure who, if anyone they could trust. The thought that the people that were supposed to be on their side would use something that was supposed to bring joy as a means of controlling their "Savior" was a painful one to both of them.

Harry was determined to keep the two people he held most dear safe. Hermione was determined that what they had created would not be used as a pawn as her lover had been for so much of his life.

The raven-haired male tightened his arms around the girl, nuzzling into her dark brown locks. "Christmas holidays are coming up soon." He whispered for her ears alone. "We should look into finding a private Healer. One that we can trust."

Nodding in agreement, the brunette turned her head up to press a chaste kiss to Harry's lips. She knew him better than he even knew himself in some ways. This led to her ability to feel the tension in his body, even as he held her gently as though she was made of the finest china.

"Until then, I can look into the potions that may be needed and brew them myself." He continued as their lips parted. "I won't have the time we're forced to wait causing damage to either of you."

"Are you sure?" Hermione looked up at him, worry creasing her brow slightly. Much like her, Harry knew her better than anyone else. He could read the lines and shadows of her face as easily as if it were a book open only to him.

"I'm positive. My brewing has improved greatly these last few months." He reassured her. "I should be able to find what I need in the library and order any ingredients needed by owl." Pressing a light kiss to her neck, he slipped a hand down to stroke lightly over her flat belly as he had grown prone to doing as they sat together.

"I don't doubt your abilities." She said with a smile. "I just don't want to put any more stress on you." She whispered.

"It would stress me more to think that you going without necessary potions could cause damage to you… either of you." He said firmly. "I will take care of you." He finished, his words almost sounding like he was making her a solemn vow.

At that moment the portrait hole swung open and in stumbled Neville.

"Harry!" the round-faced boy gasped. "I'm glad you're here!" He said, bending over to rest his hands on his knees to support himself as he attempted to catch his breath. "Ron is on his way up."

"Okay…?" Harry said, the question as to the relevance of this statement clear in the tone of his voice.

"He…" Neville started but didn't quite finish before the portrait hole opened again, the red-head they had just been forewarned of stomping in.

As Ron's eyes landed on the two people who had once been his best friends, he almost snarled. "Well if it isn't the Golden Couple!" He sneered in a way reminiscent of Malfoy.

"What do you want Ronald?" Harry said in exasperation.

"From you, Potter? Not a thing." He almost spat, his eyes turning to Hermione. "I want a word with 'Mione." He said, his face flushed with what seemed to be anger. "Alone." He emphasized.

"Not likely…" Harry said, his arm tightening around his girlfriend reflexively and his eyes darkening dangerously. He didn't want to come to blows with Ron again, but he wouldn't back down. He had known this was coming since the underhanded comment Ron had made about getting Hermione's 'help'. The third to their supposed 'Golden Trio' had fallen into disgrace after that night. No one else in Gryffindor wanted much to do with him either from fear of Harry's temper or the simple fact that they thought he was scum. He had single-handedly gotten himself ostracized from his fellow lions and he had been licking his wounds ever since.

"Why don't you let her speak for herself?" Ron almost roared. "You don't fucking own her!"

"No Ronald, he doesn't own me." Hermione snapped out, her own eyes flashing dangerously. "He just knows me well enough to know that I wouldn't want to be alone with the likes of you." She finished with a huff.

"I said I wanted a word with you." Ron said before making a fatal mistake.

In his frustration and determination to get the girl off somewhere away from prying eyes he had reached out and taken ahold of her arm. "Come here!" He yelled, attempting to roughly pull her from the other boy's lap.

As Harry heard the pained yelp leave his girlfriend's lips as the redhead's grip dug painfully into the flesh of her upper arm he saw red. That one small sound, that one action would cost their former friend much more than his pride.

Without warning Harry lashed out, his hand wrapping around the other boys wrist as he slid himself out from beneath Hermione. He applied pressure to the nerves, forcing the hand to relax enough for him to pull her arm from the grip. Once she was freed he increased the strength of his hold as quickly as possible, twisting viciously until he heard a series of sickening pops and crunches. Ron howled in pain as his wrist was not only broken but the tendons torn.

"She said no you piece of shit." Harry snarled, his teeth bared as he held Ron up by his injured wrist. Locking eyes with the boy he let him see the malice in those deep green orbs before suddenly surging forward and bashing his head into Ron's face, shattering his nose.

Ron dropped but that didn't stop Harry. Keeping a tight hold on that mangled wrist he shoved the boy around, forcing his arm up his back hard and fast until he heard a pop signaling the dislocation of a shoulder and possibly an elbow.

Leaning down to crouch behind Ron, the raven-haired teen whispered into his ear. "You're getting off easy." He stated, his breath ghosting menacingly down Ron's neck. "If you ever lay your fucking hands on Hermione again I will gut your worthless carcass and toss you out for Aragog and his children." Harry continued. "Do I make myself abundantly clear?" He asked only to receive a panicked nod from the boy.

"Good." Harry said, giving the broken wrist one last cruel squeeze before using it to shove him away. The smell of urine permeated the Common Room and all that could be hear was the panting and sobbing of the injured Gryffindor on the floor.

No one moved to help Ron, no one even dared to breathe too loudly. No one had ever seen Harry in such a state, they had never seen him go so far. Sure there had been scuffles with the Slytherins over the years but nothing like this. The attack on the redhead had been swift and brutal with no trace of remorse showing on the pale features of the boy standing there, his aura radiating anger and his magic crackling in the air.

Ginny had seen the whole ordeal and while Ron was her brother and she should feel for him, she knew better than to cross Harry. Hermione was his and the moment that her brother had touched her he had almost invited the boy to harm him. The youngest Weasley had heard her brother's grumblings about the couple and about how they had tossed him aside; how they had turned the whole of their house against him and he would have to deal with them. She didn't know what he had had in mind when he demanded to speak with the bushy haired girl but she had known from the moment Ronald had open his mouth that this interaction would end very badly. If she was honest, if only with herself, she was almost surprised that her brother was still conscious and breathing. She was thankful Harry hadn't done worse damage because while Ron was a fool, he was still her brother.

Looking over to Harry almost pleadingly as he met her eyes he nodded curtly to her. "Ginny take him. Get his sniveling ass out of my sight." He snarled.

Nodding nervously she moved forward and grabbed her Ron by the bicep of his uninjured arm. "Up you moron. Get up!" She hissed. "You're lucky to be alive, don't push his patience." She said under her breath as she got him to his feet and hauled him out of the common room and toward the infirmary.

With a sigh, Harry seemed to slump slightly, turning and reaching out questioningly to Hermione. She moved into the circle of his arms without a moment's hesitation, burying her face into his chest. "I have to get you away from here." He whispered. "We're in as much danger here as out there."

"I know…" Hermione whispered against the folds of Harry's shirt. "We will leave tonight." She said, not needing to look up to see the agreement written all over the boy's face.

Everyone in the common room stood frozen, not daring to move lest they bring the boy's wrath down on them as well. None could hear the whispered conversation and none cared to.