Well, well, well. Most of you seem thoroughly put-out with me from my most recent threat. What you didn't know is that it was really a clever ploy to get more reviews. And it worked. HAHA. Okay, but seriously, I'm glad most of you do realize that this is my story. I do love constructive criticism…if I didn't, I wouldn't be running to starrymoonmaiden every time I had a brainstorm. But yes, so, I have still not decided whether or not to kill someone. And I already know the ending to this story. It's probably going to make a lot of people angry. Oh well. That's my job! Special recognition to Maria. She sent me a wonderful review telling me how she put off studying to read my story. She was also the 100th reviewer of my story. YAY!!! So thank you to all of my reviewers, this is the most successful story I have put out to date.

Recap:

"I had. It was hard Harry. It was too hard. I've fallen for him." Hermione said softly, folding her arms across her chest. Ron felt his blood begin to boil with anger. He had no idea what was going and he wanted to find out. He stayed where he was though, fighting every instinct to burst into the room in fury.

"BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SHAG HIM LAST NIGHT DID YOU!?!?!" Harry shouted at her. That was it. Ron had heard enough. Calming time was over.

Someone was going to get hurt.

Chapter Eight

Riders on the Storm

Ron threw open the door to the dorm looking furious. Hermione lost all color in her face and her eyes widened to the size of saucers. She stepped back away from the door as Ron took a step into the room. His face was red with fury and both Harry and Hermione looked a bit afraid.

"Ron…what did you hear?" Harry asked carefully, his voice shaking slightly with fear. Ron rounded on him, eyes alive with fury. He grabbed the collar of Harry's shirt and slammed him into the wall by the door.

"HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME!?!?" Ron screamed, raising his fist to punch Harry. That was when it happened.

That was when everything fell apart.

A pleading scream.

A flying fist.

The agonized cry as the head hit the edge of a bed.

The thump of an unconscious body hitting the floor.

"RON!! WHAT DID YOU DO!?!?" Harry shouted as he ran towards Hermione's unconscious body. Ron backed up slowly. When his back hit the wall, he slid down it, his eyes never leaving Hermione. She had come up behind him, trying to prevent him from striking Harry. He didn't realize it was her. He threw the punch intended for Harry backwards. It hit her and she fell backwards. Her head hit one of the bedposts. Her eyes weren't opening.

Harry got his Invisibility Cloak and scooped Hermione up in his arms. He threw the Cloak around them, wanting to avoid questions as he took her out of Gryffindor Tower. Ron sat frozen on the spot, never moving, never blinking.

He had hit Hermione. She was unconscious. She was sleeping with Malfoy. She had betrayed them all.

Harry was moving as quickly and silently as he could with Hermione in his arms. He stopped at a stairway. Going up would lead him to the Hospital Wing where questions would be asked, explanations required, reputations ruined. Hermione had once told them how to get to her Head Dorm and Harry had watched her on his map. He opted to go straight, leading to the Head Dorm. He didn't know the password. He grimaced as he realized he actually wanted Malfoy to be there to let him in. He found the portrait to the Head's Dorm, Hermione had described it to him quite well.

Harry pulled off the Cloak and merely held it in his hands under Hermione's body. His hands were full so he had to kick the portrait frame to simulate a knocking sound. To his horrible relief, he heard Malfoy's voice through the Portrait.

"Who is it?" He asked, his voice unsure. No one had ever knocked before.

"It's Potter. Open up!" Harry called back to him.

"Hermione's not here." Malfoy responded simply.

"Malfoy, she's hurt. I have her here open up!!!" Harry called louder.

"Why would I care if she was hurt?" Malfoy asked, arrogance dripping from his tongue. Harry was sure that if he could see Malfoy's face, he would be smirking. Harry was through playing games.

"MALFOY OPEN THE GODDAM DOOR!!!" Harry shouted, kicking the portrait frame again. Malfoy pushed open the Portrait, granting him access. Harry walked in quickly, not bothering to look at the ornate décor. He set Hermione down on a couch and turned to leave.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Potter, what happened?" Malfoy asked gesturing towards the unconscious Gryffindor lying on the couch.

"Ron found out about…your relationship with her. And, he found out that I knew beforehand and didn't tell him. Hermione tried to stop him from hitting me and got in the way." Harry explained with a sigh. Draco's expression hardened.

"So Weasley hits girls now? I didn't think even he would sink that low." Malfoy spat. Harry's eyes narrowed.

"I don't know what got into Ron. But if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make sure it doesn't ever happen again." Harry said, walking back towards the Portrait.

"Wait! What do you want me to do with her?!" Malfoy asked, pointing to Hermione's still unconscious body.

"Just watch her. Make sure she wakes up soon. If she doesn't wake up in the next hour or so, take her to the Hospital Wing." Harry said quickly, wanting to get back and yell at Ron.

"Why didn't you take her there in the first place?!" Draco exclaimed. Harry rolled his eyes slightly.

"Because too many questions would be asked. They would ask what happened, why we were fighting, and I was trying to protect her reputation." Harry explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Before Draco could respond, Harry was out the Portrait Hole, leaving Draco and Hermione alone.

"What am I going to do with you?" Draco muttered to himself before going into the bathroom. He grabbed a clean washcloth and turned on the cold faucet. He soaked the washcloth in the cold water before ringing it out slightly. He carried it back to the Common Room where a fire was roaring in the fireplace. He laid the washcloth across her forehead and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Nearly an hour passed, and Hermione wasn't waking up. Draco decided that it was time to take her to the Hospital Wing. He would just make up some lie about how she had slipped and hit her head. He mentally scolded Potter for not thinking of that. But if it had happened in Gryffindor Tower, there would have been witnesses. He scooped Hermione up in his arms, holding her close, trying not to hit the lump on the back of her head. He was making his way to the Portrait Hole when the beautiful Gryffindor princess in his arms began to squirm.

"What happened? My head hurts so much." Hermione moaned, readjusting herself in Draco's arms and wrapping a hand around to feel the lump in her head.

"Careful now. You got hit, thrown into a bedpost. You've been out for about an hour." Draco explained, turning away from the Portrait Hole and walking towards Hermione's bedroom. He nudged the door open with his foot and walked inside. He set Hermione down on the bed, sitting down next to her.

"What do you mean I was…oh Merlin. Ron found out about what we were doing." Hermione said softly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"How does your head feel?" Draco asked. Hermione didn't answer him. Tears spilled over her eyes as she realized what had happened. She sat up and wrapped her arms around Draco's neck, crying into his shoulder. He went rigid for a brief moment before relaxing ever so slightly and wrapping an arm around Hermione's back, comforting her.

Well…that was intense. And no, Draco is still not in love with Hermione. Sorry to disappoint you all. Well, please continue with your lovely heartfelt reviews. They really put a smile on my face.