"So all this time Harry thought I was PREGNANT?! How RIDICULOUS is that!" Hermione bellowed as she got up from her seat. Hagrid nodded his head "Well 'arry had said that Josh basically confessed it to him" Hermione was pacing, infuriated with her arms crossed. "That's ridiculous, he must've misunderstood. I was talking to Josh about the… something else. Urhg! I can't believe that Harry just believed everything Padma told him. I mean… is our relationship THAT insecure to him?!"

"'ermione I'm sure it's not. It's just that most of the signs did prove that it was in fact true-" "Except that I admitted it! And don't you even try to tell me all this, you're just trying to cover yourself, Hagrid! You believed Harry too even before asking me about it." "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I DID tell 'arry that I 'ighly doubted it but he seemed so sure and I didn't think that he'd accept it if it really wasn't true" Hagrid defended. Hermione just looked at Hagrid. "More tea?" he asked with a smile.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed as she slumped back down onto the couch. "What is going to happen now? Is it really over between Harry and me?" she asked, feeling a little less worked up. " 'course not 'ermione!" "What then?" she asked.

"You'll talk to 'arry and sort it all out" said Hagrid as he refilled her cup. "We tried that remember. He either keeps cutting me off, simply don't listen or walk away before I can say anything constructive" said Hermione in disappointment. "You want me to talk to 'im?" Hagrid asked.

Hermione bit her lip in thought "No. It's between us. I'll try talking to him again, but … I don't know. I just can't look at him when he looks at me with so much disgust" she said. "I think he was just coming across mean because he's actually deeply hurt by all of this, because think about it from his point of view, 'ermione" said Hagrid as he handed her the refilled cup "'arry thought you were going to leave him and raise a child with some random guy he didn't even know" Hagrid said as he sat back down.

Hermione took a sip as she thought "It must've been a huge shock to him" Hagrid added. Hermione looked at Hagrid, suddenly realizing that he was right "Really?" she asked softly. Hagrid half laughed "Well, what would you have thought?" he asked her picking up his own cup.

Hermione lowered her cup, her mouth a little open "You're right… it must've been..." she suddenly stood up and raised her voice a little "but why then didn't he give me aS chance to explain, Hagrid?!" she asked, but her actions surprised him a little and he tried to steady his cup "M-Maybe he was afraid of hearing you actually SAY that it's all true, don't you think? It would just break his heart" said Hagrid as he tried to keep an eye on her tea that was threatening to spill as well. Hermione noticed this and quickly steadied her cup.

"Why do you keep defending him?" Hermione asked "I don't, I would just really hate to see two people as madly in love as you two and as perfect for each other break up because of a false rumor" said Hagrid. Hermione's expression softened once again "Yeah I suppose you're right. If our relationship can't even survive this, how could we ever build a future together" she said as she put her tea cup on the table.

"It depends on Harry" she said and picked up her bag "But you are going to talk to him?" asked Hagrid. Hermione sighed and nodded "Yes." This brought a smile to Hagrid's face "Good. The next time you visit I want it to be both of you, all right?" he said sternly and

Hermione laughed "Yeah, yeah. We'll see" she said as she opened the door "Thanks for telling me everything, Hagrid" "It's my pleasure. Good luck" he replied. She smiled "Thanks. See you later" said Hermione and left.

Hermione walked up the little path leading to the castle deep in thought. She had no idea how to approach Harry. Would he still be mad? Will he just walk away? Will he hear her out? She had dozens of questions and no answers. She couldn't believe how things had changed in only 2 days between her and Harry.

Maybe it was good. It was just a test and they will pass, after all Hermione hated failing. Hermione glanced at her watch; everyone was probably having lunch right now. Harry would probably be there, but she wasn't hungry so she figured she'd go wait in their room. How she wanted to approach Harry was still unsure to her, but she would figure it out.

Ron was laughing so hard that he had to cover his mouth and swallow as quick as possible to keep himself from choking. "Ron!" said Harry half angry "I'm… I'm s-sorry" said Ron still trying to stifle his laughs. Harry sighed and put his fork down in anger.

"Okay, okay… I'm sorry. Don't get mad." "Why not? It's everything BUT a joke, Ron" said Harry and took a sip of his juice. "I know. But now that you've told me everything, it really does seem ridiculous. We should've just went with our instinct and believed that Hermione was incapable of cheating" said Ron and sat up straight again "Oh really, Ron? Who was it that reminded me of how highly Hermione thought of Josh, mm? Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm quite positive that it was you" said Harry, still frustrated.

Ron had finally calmed down but a smile was still evident "I know. But I wasn't the one who talked to Josh and thought that he confessed it and I wasn't the one who didn't give Hermione a chance to explain, no. Correct me if I'm wr- " "All right, shut up. This whole thing is just a huge mess and I'll talk to Hermione tonight, okay? It's not as if you tried talking to her either" Harry added picking up his fork again.

"I know. I think we both owe Hermione big time" said Ron "You can talk to Hermione but please don't forget my plan with Luna!" Ron suddenly realized "I won't" Harry replied but his mind was not on Ron's silly date at all. All he was thinking about was if Hermione would ever forgive him. "Well we almost have Quidditch practice, so I'm going to change and get my broom" said Harry as he got up "Sure, see you" Ron replied before taking a huge bite.

Harry was at the door of the great hall when Padma entered. She was giggling with her friends "I know!" one of them said. Harry was fuming all over again "YOU!" he said as he walked up to her "Oh hey Har- OW!" Padma said as Harry grabbed her arm and took her outside of the hall "Harry, what the hell are you doing? I'm kind of hungry, so if you don't mind I'd like to go and have some lunch" she said as she tried to get herself free from his grip.

"Actually I DO mind." said Harry as he let her go once they were a few feet away from the great hall "Unlike you who don't mind ruining people's lives with your SILLY gossip!" "What?" she asked confused "Oh you mean the Hermione thing?" she asked "The Hermione thing? That's all you can say?!" Harry asked, raising his voice. "What, Harry? Don't blame ME for telling you the truth" she said still calm.

"On what, if I may ask, did you base your 'truth'?" asked Harry. "Well I heard Hermione and Josh talk" "About?" "Something" "Did they mention a relationship or a child?" "No" "Did Hermione actually hold his hand or mention that she didn't like me anymore?" Padma was getting uncomfortable as she glanced sideways "N-not exactly" "So you admit that it was an assumption?" "Mayb-" "No. Admit it" Harry interrupted. Padma swallowed "All the signs were there! I just… I-I thought-" "What?" asked Harry still very angry. "All right, I'm SORRY. I just figured I was doing you a favor" "Where is the favor in telling me that the love of my life has cheated on me?" Padma fell silent.

Harry sighed, feeling that he had yelled at her enough and realizing that it won't make things better between him and Hermione. "I take it it's not true, then?" Padma finally asked softly. "No. But I was really horrible towards Hermione because of it and now she might think that I don't trust her and… there's just so many things I did that I regret" said Harry running his hand through his hair as he looked down.

Padma bit her lip again "Harry I'm really sorry. I probably should've thought things through a little more, or at least have gotten more facts to base it on but- I'm sorry. I got totally carried away. Lavender did try to warn me" said Padma. Harry kept quiet. "I'll talk to Hermione. Explain what happened" she offered.

Harry looked up again "Maybe you can talk to her as well, but it's mainly between us. I just wanted to let you know that you should really think about something before you go ahead and tell everybody" said Harry. Padma nodded. "All right. Well… sorry if I grabbed you a little hard." Said Harry.

Padma felt like the worst person on the planet. She had basically ruined Harry's relationship and yet he was kind towards her. "Don't worry about it" she replied. Then Harry left with a nod. She looked after him "Harry if there's anything I can do…" she said when he was a few feet away. He turned as he kept walking "No it's fine, I think you've done enough" he said and stopped, he hadn't meant for it to come out that way "I mean-" "I understand. Please let me know if there's anything" Padma interrupted and gave him a smile. Harry returned a half-smile and simply nodded. Then Padma turned and walked to the Great Hall.

"Well most issues have been settled" Harry thought as he turned, heading for his room. He had apologized to Josh, made sure that Padma knew exactly how he felt about her lies and Ron also knew the whole truth now. The only thing that remained undone was talking to Hermione and Harry couldn't help but feel like he did when he was about to play his first Quidditch match. Terrified, yet excited.

He finally reached their dorm and headed to his bedroom where he quickly changed into something more comfortable than school clothes. He came down and walked over to the closet where he kept his broom. He took it out and closed the door when the door of their dorm opened and Hermione came in. He sort of stopped his actions, surprised that she was back so early. Hermione also stopped at the sight of Harry. They both kept quiet, both feeling awkward.

She closed the dorm room which she was still holding onto. "Um, you going to practice?" she asked not looking at him. "Yeah, we're voting for captain today" he said and Hermione just nodded. "Oh all right. Well… um" Hermione was stumbling on words as she put her bag down "We need to talk when I'm back" said Harry and Hermione looked up, half surprised by his statement.

She nodded "Yes we do" "Okay, well. I really need to go now" said Harry walking closer. Hermione got nervous as he got closer "Okay, good luck" "Thanks but I don't want to be captain, I'm voting for Ron. He really wants it" said Harry and smiled and Hermione had almost forgotten what it feels like when he smiled at her. "That's nice of you" she said and Harry just nodded. "Hermione?" he asked "Yes?" she replied. "Um, the door" he said. She had forgotten that she was still blocking it. "Oh yeah, right… sorry" she said and moved. Harry couldn't help but smile as he opened it "Well see you" he said and left, closing the door.

Hermione smiled and put her hand over her face. She couldn't remember the last time she felt that silly around Harry. But she shrugged it off and took out some homework, she would talk to Harry tonight and everything will be fine. She hoped.

Well that's it for now…