Disclaimer: I own nothing .:sniff:. Rated for possible future 'chapters', FUTURE SLASH WARNING!

THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS IMPLIED SLASH! Don't like, don't read.

A/N This is the seventeenth of the series of drabbles and one-shots I'm writing for the 100 Times Challenge

Set about half way through 5th year.

17. Communicated

Hermione was bored, which was unusual considering she was sitting in a Transfiguration lesson. However, Professor McGonnagal was revising what they had done in the last class, a chapter which Hermione already knew by heart. So she sat at her desk beside Ron and attempted to look like she was paying attention. In reality however, she was looking intently at the back of Harry's head. She and Harry had always been close, lately however, something had changed: they were drifting apart. Hermione was worried about her friend, it wasn't like him to be this detached from everything, he wasn't even going to Quidditch practice. He was eating less that normally, he wouldn't talk to her or look her in the eye. Ron, true to form, had not noticed anything out of the ordinary, but others had. Hermione was pulled from her musings by a small piece of parchment that had landed on her book. Without looking around she unfolded it, she knew who it was from.

"He'll be fine. He's just having trouble dealing with it."

Hermione sighed, she should have known. Harry had recently started seeing someone, who this person was remained a mystery, although it was widely believed to be another guy, but when the rumors started Harry had begun acting strangely. Hermione thought she knew who the guy Harry was seeing might be, but Harry would not talk about it. Hermione picked up her quill and wrote her reply;

"I know he will, I know you're taking care of him, but I can't help worrying about him. He has enough trouble dealing with the staring and rumors already, without the 'Harry Potter is gay' gossip."

She didn't have to wait long for a reply.

"I've tried talking to him about just going public, but he wont listen."

Hermione nearly gasped as she read this;

"You'd be willing to do that?" she replied

"I'd do anything to keep him safe and happy." came the reply.

"I wouldn't have expected that." Hermione replied, "Not from you."

"You don't know me as well as you think. I love Harry more than anything, I just wish he could see that."

Hermione really did gasp when she read the reply and quickly covered it up with a cough. She knew the relationship Harry was in was serious, but she never imagined that 'love' was in the equation, she had thought the relationship was purely physical.Now that she knew however, it all made sense.

"He wants to go public" she wrote, every fiber of her being told her that what she said was true, "he's just worried about you; about protecting you."

"Over-protective git" came the reply. Once Hermione would have taken this as an insult, but armed with the information she had just gained, she was able to see the affection behind the comment.

"Harry would freak out if he knew you were talking to me."

"He knows I am. He's watching me write this now, he knows you know. He looks relieved."

Hermione, once more, glanced at her best friend; he certainly seemed more relaxed.

"He told you to talk to me, didn't he?" She wrote.

"Of course."

Hermione nearly laughed, Harry was brave and the world knew it, but apparently he still remembered the numerous hexes Hermione had thrown at him over the last few years.

"You know, most people would have me checked for the Imperius Curse for thinking this, but; you are a very cute couple."

"I'd thank you not to refer to my boyfriend and I as 'cute'. It's rather insulting."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "No offense, but you are. Cute. It's the only way to describe it."

Draco shook his head as he read this; Harry would have to have a word with Granger about her terribly limited vocabulary.