Chapter Four- The Dursley's awaken and Harry's a punching bag

Disclaimer- If I owned Harry Potter, I would be somewhere sunny,warm, and drunk beyond belief, rolling in piles and piles of money. But I don't own him, I said it was a cruel cruel world. I was right. Read on and get a shiny new penny.

Harry came into the kitchen to see a melancholy looking Hermione. "What's the matter with Ron? He came storming by me mumbling something about decapitating someone." She looked up from her breakfast as he sat down at the table across from her..

"I told him no." This she said and nothing more. Harry was almost bursting with joy. Maybe I do have a chance after all. Poor Ron. Poor me if she says the same to me. Could she even like me?We've been friends for so long, could she see me as anything more? He calmed himself as he sat looking across the table at her. He felt he needed to say something, but what? He knew he was always rubbish when talking to girls. He had known for a while that he liked Hermione, but Hermione had seemed to like Ron. So she was off limits. But now things were different. He had never felt so tongue-tied before.

" Are you alright?"Hermione questioned his quietness.

"Er, of course I am. The question is, are you alright?"

"I suppose so. It's not like I haven't been expecting this .I've known for awhile that he liked me. I thought for awhile I could like him that way too. I just couldn't though. It felt, I don't know, wrong somehow. It was just so difficult seeing his reaction. I don't know what to do about it. I don't even think he'll be speaking with me anytime soon. If ever."

"You're being a bit dramatic about this aren't you?"Harry had the strong urge to slap his own forehead.

"Harry. You didn't see his face. He was furious. He started going on about how I had someone else."

"You don't ,do you?" He needed to know. Panic filled his heart.

"No. Of course I don't . You two would be the first to know if I did."

"Not really. I mean look at Krum. I didn't know about him at all." He couldn't help the bitter sounding words that were coming from his mouth. He regretted them immediately. The look of true hurt flashed across her face. "I'm sorry Hermione. It's just, I think that was the moment we started drifting apart."he said as he motioned from himself to her. " It never truly seemed the same since."

"Harry that was years ago. And what does Victor have to do with anything?"

"He asked." Harry didn't get to finish his statement because a very angry Vernon Dursley came through the kitchen door at that precise moment.

"WHO THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT? ANSWER ME BOY!" Harry jumped to his feet to block Hermione from his uncle's line of sight. That's what happened in this house. Out of sight, out of mind, at least as far as Harry was concerned. If they can't see you,they can't hit you. Although this didn't seem to be the case this time. "MOVE OUT OF MY WAY BOY!"

"NO."

"What did you say to me?" Vernon said quietly as his eyes squinted threateningly.

"I said no." He meant it too. His own eyes slitting.

The shouting had obviously been heard throughout the house. Petunia came marching into the kitchen. Ron followed behind her unbeknownst to her . She said a few choice words about freakish children in her house. Ron then cleared his throat.

"They've got us surrounded!"Petunia shrieked almost looking like she would pass out cold at any moment.. That had been Uncle Vernon's breaking point.

Uh oh, not good . Vernon Dursley was turning purple. That could only mean one thing.

Harry was slammed very severely into the linoleum floor. Then the fat man above him kicked him in the face. Oh well, it's not the first time my nose has been broken. He tried to cover his face so Vernon could not inflict further damage.

Harry heard Hermione call out his name as she sprang from her seat and as he lay on the floor.

"Magnas wingardum placebiousa!" She said calling out a fake spell and pointing her wand. Harry saw his fat uncle pale from his earlier color as Petunia Dursley ran to her husband's side screaming about freaks using magic on them, Hermione ran to Harry's side. He could have laughed at his relatives ignorance of the phony spell work, if his face didn't hurt so much.

"Harry, are you hurt?" He tried to tell her yes, but all he got for his trouble was his mouth full of blood. He looked around for Ron. He saw that Ron had pushed his aunt and uncle out of the room at wand point gibbering about bottoms mellow turn this fellow to jello. He made his way over to Harry once they were out of the room.

"Bloody hell, he just beat the crap out of you."

"Weally Won? I'b bin't nobice." Harry said as more blood flowed into his mouth.

Hermione reached over and pinched his nose closed, then turned towards the door wishing she could seal it closed.

"Owww! Herbione, dat hurds."

"I'm sorry Harry. I can't do the spell to mend a broken nose. We can't use magic here because you're still under age"she said pinching Harry's bloody nose.

"Dat's albight, I don't dink id's broken."

"Harry something needs to be done." Ron stated firmly. "Maybe you should go to the burrow and get mum to take care of it."

"No, we can't apparate, Ronald, there's anti apparation field around this entire block. Remember?"

Harry whipped his head in Hermione's direction. "When was dat put up?"

"Right after we apparated in. McGonagall put it up."

"Oh, was dat to keep dem out or us in?" he said referring to Death eaters.

"Bit of both I believe. Come on", Hermione sensed his anger growing at the Order "Let's go clean your face off. Ron could you clean up down here?"she said as she took Harry's arm and helped him to his feet.

"Sure." He said to her. Then suddenly he remembered he was still angry at her. "Fine, I'll clean it up."Harry wanted to tell Ron he was being a big git, but he thought if their roles reversed, he would probably act the same way. Or worse.

As Harry sat on the edge of the bathtub he felt a strong swooping sensation in the pit of his stomach. Hermione was gently cleaning his face with a warm wet cloth. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of someone actually caring about him. He felt her hands slide across his forehead and push his bangs away. She ran the cloth across his scar and then took his glasses off as she continued cleaning the rest of his face. For just a few minutes he was calm, as calm as he could ever remember being in his entire life. He let out a small sigh.

"Oh did I hurt you? I'm sorry." She stammered.

"No you didn't hurt me, far from it." He said taking her hands in his and giving them a little squeeze. It's now or never. "You've done more for me than anyone ever has or should. Or probably ever will. You cared. You cared for me when no one else did"

"Harry, don't say such things. Lot's of people care about you."

"No they don't. I know how people see me. Most see me as 'The boy who lived' or 'The Chosen One' or ' The Weapon. Some even say I'm the next Dark Lord."

"I don't. You're Harry Potter, my best friend. You could never be anything like Voldermort. It's just not you. You're someone who befriended a lonely bookworm in her first year,and made her feel like someone special. To me, you're not the boy who lived, the chosen one ,the weapon or even a new dark lord, you're the rest of my heart Harry."as she said all this her hand had found a place on his warm cheek. "You always will be."

"Harry breathed in shakily and looked her straight in the eyes. "If I asked you the same question Ron asked you, what would your answer be?" She opened her mouth to answer, but at that very moment Ron opened the bathroom door. Hermione pulled her hand away from Harry's face. She lowered her head and didn't look up.

"Every thing's cleaned up downstairs. Are you alright mate, it's not broken is it?"He said referring to Harry's nose.

"No, Ron, it's not broken. Hermione may not be a healer but she knows how to make things better." At these words Hermione looked up to meet Harry's eyes and she smiled.

Ron's eyes darkened a bit at this but said, "That she does. Sometimes" Then laughed lightly and turned around and left the bathroom.

"See, no one can stay mad at you for too long." He reached up to push a loose strand of hair out of her eyes.

"Are you sure about that Harry?" She said doing the same to his bangs.

"Depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Depends on your answer to my earlier question?"

"Um..."

Then the bottom fell out.

And that's why they call it cliffhanger i know i have an evil streak. REVIEW!!!!

I know it was quite a bit shorter than usual,and there was a long wait, but I think I said what I wanted to say. Even if it's not all that understandable. Thanks to all my reviewers. I promise the next chapter will be longer and have a little action too. It's hard to work and do school and try to have a somewhat normal perspective on life. This was all written during my lunch break. So be gentle.

Tell me what you think should happen next. I value your opinion. Visit my new myspace page also. I'll put you on my friend's list.wink, bribery , wink:)I would love to hear from critics, fans ,and other authors.

penny's found should be returned to the author, because she has no cents.

wipe your freakin' feet.