Hey guys! Sorry this is a day late. I had to study for my Spanish conversation exam yesterday. Not an easy task and I sort of wasn't finished with the chapter. I hope you enjoy! As always, I love reviews. I don't think I'd keep writing if I didn't get any. They keep me motivated!

Nerd and 1/2

Hermione kept her eyes shut. Her heart thumped loudly in her ears as she remained perfectly still. She had heard someone come into Ron's bedroom about five minutes ago. At first she had thought it was Ron returning from when he left earlier but as the footsteps came closer she soon realized no way was Ron wearing boots. These footsteps were careless, as though the person did not mind whether or not they woke Hermione. This terrified Hermione even more. This person, whoever it was, came with a purpose and that purpose had something to do with her. Where is Ron? Thomas? Are they hurt? An image of the man she loved and her former roommate laying on the ground dead from Avada Kedavra, flashed in her head. No! Get a grip! First things first. How am I going to get out of this?

Hermione immediately searched her brain for where she had left her wand the night before. Nightstand, she thought, has to be. If only I could just get to it without moving. Wandless magic maybe? But Hermione knew that wandless magic could not help her now. The intruder would be able to see the wand flying and would immediately act. But what can I do? Hermione thought desperately. She wasn't used to not having a plan. She was naked and she could tell that this trespasser was definitely watching her. Hermione flicked through all the possible situations that could occur. Maybe I should pretend to wake up naturally. I could stretch nonchalantly and then maybe grab my wand quickly and stupefy them. If only I could get a peek at what I am dealing with. Hermione began to open her eyes just a little bit, praying that the intruder couldn't tell what she was doing. Yet, just when she had barely moved the muscle in her lid, she heard an unexpected voice.

"Hello, Hermione." Harry's voice was flat, not embarrassed or angry. It was completely emotionless.

"Harry!" Hermione bolted upright, clutching the sheets around her. She was becoming extremely uncomfortable and annoyed with how much Harry had seen of her lately.

"Don't worry I didn't see anything." Harry said warily, reading her mind. "Not that that makes much of a difference. From what I hear the two of you have been putting on quite a show." Harry sneered condescendingly. His tone indicated disgust and Hermione's face flushed with embarrassment and rage. What's his problem? Hermione thought, irked.

"Fuck you, Harry! Too bad no one asked your opinion."

"This is purely fact. Not opinion." Harry seemed a little less rude now. He must have picked up on the fact that he was being an ass for no reason.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Hermione spat irately.

"Whoa! Calm down."

"How am I supposed to act Harry? You come in here, no sneak in here and scare me half to death and then you basically accuse me of being a scarlet woman and I am supposed to, what? Be nice to you?" Hermione stood up, wrapping the sheet around her like a toga.

"Look. I'm sorry, Hermione. I just got in a fight with Ginny, our first real fight. I'm sorry I took it out on you. You're not a scarlet woman." Harry laughed at her and she rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile. It was nearly impossible for her to stay mad at Harry.

"You are patronizing me." She replied sitting down at the edge of the bed and motioning for him to sit down.

"A little." Hermione smiled at him before becoming serious.

"So you and Ginny had a fight?"

"Yes, in front of all of the Weasleys." Hermione put her hand on his knee in a very motherly fashion, attempting to comfort him. Whatever had happened it couldn't be good. The two of them never fought.

"Wha-" Hermione was interrupted as Ron and Thomas burst into the room, wands out. They both looked worried. Hermione burst into laughter at their appearance. Ron was dressed in only boxers with his wand out and Thomas stood still dressed from earlier, his mouth half open in surprise while still biting down on a cigar and clutching his wand in the wrong hand. What an apt rescue crew. The whole situation was too much for Hermione not to be amused.

"What's going on here?" Ron asked as his eyes flickered back and forth between Hermione wrapped up in a sheet sitting at the end of the bed touching Harry's knee, who was leaning close to her, fully clothed.

"I just wanted to talk to Hermione." Harry pointed out.

"While she was naked!" Ron shouted. "Oy!" Ron looked at Thomas who was still staring at Hermione with his mouth slightly ajar. "Stop ogling." Then he turned back to Hermione who was a bit taken aback. "Hermione! Dress yourself!" Ron looked at her anxiously.

"Yes master." She said sarcastically standing up and expressing her annoyance. "Should I leave so the men can talk too?"

"Hermione-"

"Well, turn around then." She snipped. Thomas and Harry turned quickly away from her but Ron walked forward. "You too!"

"Hermione." Ron reached out to her and lowered his voice. "I'm sorry, okay? I just don't like people leering at you."

"Oh, please." Hermione whispered harshly and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I don't want anyone to get any ideas." Ron spoke through his teeth so he was almost hissing.

"You're jealousy is really starting to get out of control." Ron clenched his jaw to keep in his retort that went something like 'Well maybe if you weren't always in naked…' And then she said something unexpected she leaned forward. "But you know. It's kind of sexy." Hermione murmured into his ear. Ron opened his mouth to respond but stopped when Harry spoke

"We can hear you…" Harry sighed warily before the conversation went any further causing Hermione to giggle abashedly. She bit her lip flashing a sly smile at Ron, who winked suggestively at her. Then she turned around to grab her clothes.

After about a minute she turned toward the men again and exclaimed, "Okay I am decent." She noticed Ron had tossed on a sweater in the meantime as they turned toward him.

"So…" Hermione began. "Um, Harry and I sort of need to talk."

"About what?" Ron raised his eyebrows.

"It is sort of personal." Hermione replied, trying to respect Harry's privacy.

"Its okay, Hermione. Thomas already sort of knows about this and Ron should probably hear about it. Considering it has to do with his family." Had it been such a short time since he had sat in Thomas' room and told him about his problems. It had felt so great to be able to get everything off his chest but he now wished he hadn't. Seriously, how trustworthy was Thomas?

"Thomas knows?" Hermione thought aloud.

"My family?" Ron asked at the same time.

"I sort of told him some stuff that I've had on my mind." Harry looked at her sheepishly.

"No offense to you Thomas," Hermione said looking at him, "but why didn't you come to me, Harry?"

"You were sort of, um, indisposed." Harry added not meeting her eyes. Hermione looked agitated. This is getting out of control. Hermione thought, irritated but added mentally, but I don't really want to stop.

"Well, I'm here now. So, why are you and Ginny fighting?"

"You're fighting?" Ron was aghast. Ginny and Harry never fought.

"Oh no, Harry. You told them?" Thomas asked sympathetically.

"You told who, what?" Ron asked.

"Sort of. You see-" Harry started.

"What the hell is going on?" Ron yelled breaking the chaos around them.

"Let me start from the beginning. Your father sort of saw something I didn't intend."

"What does that mean Harry? Stop being cryptic." Ron felt his voice getting louder but didn't care.

"Go on." Hermione urged nervously. She thought she could guess what he was about to say but she was hoping desperately that she was wrong.

"He, sort of went into the Ministry surveillance room and happened to see, um, the two of you in a sort of, er, compromising position."

"What!" Ron roared at Harry. "How could you let this happen?" He clenched his fists together and looked over at Hermione.

"How embarrassing." Hermione sighed. She had seen this coming.

"So, he sort of freaked out." Harry interjected, ignoring Ron's accusation and blame. As if this is all my fault.

"Naturally." Thomas interjected. Ron tossed him a dirty look. "Hey, it is just the truth."

"We're never having sex in this place again." Hermione groaned.

"What?" Ron asked nervously, hoping he hadn't heard her correctly.

"I'm serious, Ron. This is ridiculous. I could deal with strangers but your family? You're father? Harry has seen me indecent twice in about two days. That's too much! I hate this. It's embarrassing. When we get out of here, fine. But until then-"

"You're not serious. Please tell me you're not!" Ron's face looked as though he had just been told the worst joke of his life.

"I am, Ron." Hermione looked him directly in the eye.

"Can you maybe have this conversation later?" Harry asked.

"Look what you've done now, Harry. Thanks a lot!" Ron huffed.

"Very mature Ron." Harry stated. "Now can we get back on topic?"

"Yes, please." Hermione and Thomas said at the same time. Ron didn't respond he was sitting in a chair, visibly fuming.

"Anyway, your dad saw and he came to my office. He was furious over the fact that Hermione was back no one had told them. He was also pretty upset that you were in a safe house Ron. He sort of, forced me to go to the Burrow earlier tonight and explain everything to the family. Of course, there was information that I couldn't give them because I could lose my job." Harry took a huge breath and continued, "Well, that didn't go over very well. Oh god, you should have seen their faces. They looked like I had slapped them. I never planned to tell them by myself. I always imagined that at least Hermione would have been there to tell her side. Everyone was so disappointed in me and Ginny. Ginny was furious. She told me to 'just go.' I don't know what to do. I've never had to deal with anything like this before. Especially with Ginny and at this point I'm not sure she'll ever forgive me." Harry put his face in his hands, obviously distraught.

"Of course she will, Harry." Thomas patted him hesitantly on the shoulder.

After everything that had happened Ron hadn't thought that he could ever feel sorry for Harry ever again. But right now Ron felt like his best friend again, if only for a moment. Harry really didn't deserve to face the wolves alone. He shouldn't have had to tell them alone.

"I should have been there." Hermione whispered looking at Harry. "What can I do?"

"I don't know."

"I bet they are furious with me."

"Actually they weren't even mad at you really. They sort of understood but me. They are disappointed that I didn't tell Ron. They weren't even mad that I left them out. They were just concerned about Ron. I'm so sorry." Harry looked at Ron who swallowed and just nodded in response.

"It's not all Harry's fault. I should have told you." Hermione looked at Ron too. "I shouldn't have expected him to keep this from you. I hadn't realized you'd react this badly."

"What?" Ron had found his voice again. "You really don't think I would have been hysterical when you left? That'd I would just get over it? Come on Hermione. Give me a little more credit."

"I'm sorry Ron." Hermione said quietly.

"Me too, Ron." Harry added.

"Just stop! Both of you! You are acting like naughty children who are being punished. This isn't about me. This is about Harry. We can't change the past. It's over. I'm not mad anymore. Really…" He added at their suspicious looks. "I'm done being mad. It's not worth it. I get it okay? I understand what you did and why. And although I am a little annoyed that neither of you gave me very much credit, I get it. We all make mistakes." Ron looked at Harry and Hermione and smiled. "Some of us bigger than others." The two of them laughed nervously, not sure whether or not Ron was being honest with them.

"Stop acting like scared bunnies. Stop tiptoeing around me for god sake. I can't stand it. I'm telling the truth. Okay?" They both nodded causing Ron to sigh impatiently at their timid response.

"So how are we going to get Harry out of this mess?" Ron asked at the two of them and raised his eyebrows at them conspiratorially. They both grinned at Ron who rolled his eyes. "What?" Ron asked. Harry and Hermione shook their heads. As upset as Harry was about Ginny he was relieved and actually happy because Ron had finally forgiven him. He had his best friend back and somehow that reassured him that everything would be okay. And just like that there they were: "The Golden Trio." Back together at last, plus Thomas.