Breaking Boundaries
By: Somewhere Sky

Disclaimer: Of course, as always - the rights to the Harry Potter realm of fiction belongs solely
to J.K Rowling and her brilliant mind. Although I may admit, I shall always be slightly jealous.

Chapter 11:
Cheaters Never Prosper

"Blimey Hermione, would you slow it down for a sec?" Harry had called behind her. The so seemingly absent Potter had finally shown up to take on his duties as Best Friend by demonstrating to Hermione that he truly was finding it in him to come around from his cave and try to help.

Hermione attempted to pester up more anger towards him for having been so distant, just when everything was in turmoil from the drama that had taken over Hermione's life - Harry had disappeared into another world. Hermione was angry yes, and stubborn maybe, but a fool she was not and that is how Harry had been making her feel. As if she didn't know he was sneaking off out of the common room at all hours, as if she didn't know that following each slam of the common room portrait were giggles that trampled after him out into the hallway.

Hermione Granger had caught Harry many times running off to meet a special female friend. She knew who it was too, who the woman was that giggled casually as he would touch her and when he brushed her cheek Hermione could recognize that exact snort in mid-laugh. Until she could prove further what was occurring before her eyes Hermione just needed to be away from Harry Potter, the golden boy who had put a stopper in their friendship.

In desperate attempt to ward him off Hermione had begun a sprint down several staircases. Her small black heels echoed loudly in the circular stairway, it was as if someone had called them from the very top moments before and the sound was only echoing into their ears in just that moment. With the clicking of her shoes, Harry was able to follow her all the way down near the entrance into Hogwart's kitchen. It was then he was able to grab hold of her arm and manage to pull Hermione to a stop.

"What the Merlin's Beard do you want Harry James Potter?" She had barked into the boy's ear. His hand still remained around her upper arm in a firm hold preventing her from attempting another escape.

"I just wanted to talk to you 'mione, there's been a lot going on and I can see how it's tearing you apart. You didn't need to run from me, you know." he told her, allowing Hermione to shrug his hand off of her shoulder.

"I'm fine Harry, not that it'd matter much to you. Considering you've been completely invisible to the world lately. I've barely spoken a word to you since the semester started three and a half months ago!" she yelled.

"I'm honestly -"

" - no, don't use that word with me Harry Potter. You have no right to stand there and look me straight into the eyes and use the word 'honest' in a sentence. No you don't Harry."

"I haven't a clue -"

"You know exactly what I am talking about and I may not be able to prove it just yet but if I find out that my suspicions are real, you will have lost an incredible friend, you hear?" her voice was filled with what seemed like a combination of both pride and venom. She was feeling incredible for finally speaking out a little and at the same time, and for the first time; she wanted Harry Potter to fear her. Because she knew what he was doing, and it wasn't like a good friend to do so.

"Hermione, wait!" he stopped her as she tried to interrupt once more, "I do not know what you are implying, nor do I wish to know. What I do know is that I care about you and with everything happening with Ron and Malfoy and Ginny, I thought you would need someone to talk to. That's all, just an ear." his smile had vanished completely, and if it wasn't for the overpowering look of sadness Hermione wouldn't have felt the slightest bit of guilt. How could she feel sorry for this boy, this boy who's been so far away, the one who's taken on a betrayal Hermione may never forgive him for.

"Granger!" another male voice called.

Where the voice rang, Malfoy appeared and never had Hermione seen such a ferocious and evil glare on his face. Many times she had seem him insulting her and on his face he wore pleasure and other times he would injure and terrify youngsters and yet he had never been seen with what looked like loathing in his eyes. She followed the staring silver glare with a fire behind tit only to watch it fall on Harry and Hermione felt her heart sink. It must be true.

"I should go 'mione... I'll see you around." Harry mumbled and scampered away like a guilty rat running from the countertop.

"Granger - "

"I already know." she told Malfoy, her voice raised.

"How can you talk to him like that knowing that he's been shagging your girlfriend?" he asked her.

"Because, well, I really don't know Draco. I feel like it's my fault, with the whole Ron ordeal I haven't been able to spend time with Ginny and in a way I've put my guard back up because of it."

"Ahhhh" he said in a whisper and beckoned for her to come sit beside him on the staircase.

"It's terrible. I can't believe she would do that to me. Wait...how did you know?" she quickly threw the question at Draco.

"I was on my way to go find you the other night, and well I found them instead. It wasn't pretty at all." he told her, his eyes to his feet and his hands squirming in his lap.

"And you're sure?"

"Positive."

"Ugh, I hate this; I hate everything that's happened to me this year. I hate that I have to go through this all alone, I hate that I can't trust anyone and worst of all I hate that I love the girl who couldn't love me enough to keep it in her pants and spare me some time." Hermione said through a sigh and the once pride lion slowly let herself fall apart on that very staircase. With Malfoy beside her, she cried like never before and what all he did was place a hand on her shoulder in comfort. They sat there for what seemed like hours just talking as if they were old friends. Hermione finally let loose about why she's found it difficult to be with Ginny, she admitted that it had nothing to do with her first girlfriend and nothing to do with Ginny but it had everything to do with the fact that she felt wrong in loving Ginny Weasley, wrong in loving another woman. Hermione understood that she would soon have to accept her sexuality but she feared it, she feared others finding another flaw in her personality.

"if it's any consolation - I don't notice any flaws." Malfoy said to her in sincerity. His voice barely above a whisper he was looking across at the witch in awe.

"None, really Malfoy? You were the one to point most of them out to me. If not you than my own friends and if not them than myself."

"You know for a fact things have changed with me, and with those changes comes a new perspective and I think that before you can love the Weasley girl you're going to have to love Hermione first."

"Ah, so wise" Hermione said with a smirk and a roll of her eyes.

"I like to think that I am." he replied with laughter. For the first time Hermione felt at ease among her stress, she no longer felt intimidated by all that she must accomplish and instead she was ready to take the dragon by it's tail and finally stand up for herself. She deserved better, Malfoy was right though too - this was partially her fault.

"Thank you" she said to him. And the two shared a friendly smile.

"Cheated? What the Bloody Hell are you on about woman?" Ginny yelled across the common room. Hermione, after visiting with Draco had found her inner beast and was letting Ginny know how she felt about this situation.

"Ginny, come on, I know you've been sneaking out to see Harry." the look on Ginny's face was inevitable, she was in absolute shock and Hermione wasn't sure if she had made a mistake or if Ginny was just surprised she found out so quickly. Slowly the young red head approached Hermione with tear glazed eyes and grabbed both of her hands. Hermione could feel Ginny's heart racing through her sweaty palms, and the smell of vanilla made her weak as Ginny drew closer.

"Hermione Jane Granger... I would - "

That's when it happened, when Harry walked through the door. The woman who followed him sported Nymphadora's ability. A Fifth Year, Terry Hatchet was her name. Harry had his arm draped around her shoulders as she continued to change her nose for Harry's entertainment. Hermione hadn't a chance to apologize, Ginny had already dragged her into one of the largest longest, most suffocating and yet incredible hugs yet. Ginny hadn't done a thing, the similarities between the two were a mistake, it was all just a silly mistake.

"Draco must have seen her as a red-head." Hermione mumbled.

"Draco? Since when - Ohhhhh." Ginny said answering her own question. "go on a date with me Hermione, it's been far to long since we've actually had some time together without interruption and I would really love for us to find some peace before we go to the burrow for the Holidays."

"I'd love to Ginny." she said, and the two girls first shared a laugh, than a small and before long that had entwined themselves in each others arms, finding each others lips and enjoying each other's presence.

Another Chapter Complete! We're almost to the end :) I felt Harry needed the spotlight for a little while so I brought him into this chapter. The whole cheating suspicion was a kind of "bump" that Hermione & Ginny's relationship needed to bring them back together. I think we have two more chapters, maybe one and we're complete! As always, Read & Review

Somewhere Sky