AN: thank you to all the people who read the first chapter! I know it's not the usual HP fanfic story but I still hope you enjoy it. Feel free to leave a review or PM and let me know what you think of it.

The first few chapters are going to be a bit dark as may have already noticed but I'll make sure that there also will be some chapters about recovery and more positive stuff.

Now enjoy this chapter!

Harry was still staring at the now cold fire place in front of him when he felt Hermione starting to move. She slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head from his to look at him.

"Hey there," Harry said softly as he brushed away a lock of her hair from her head and tuck it behind her ear.

"Hey," she whispered as she sat up and stretched her legs in front of her to get the blood flowing again.

Together they sat in silence, but just like the day before they both felt comfortable with each other's presence. The both didn't know how late it was but they sun was already peeking to the windows and they could hear some birds outside.

"You want to go get breakfast early?" Hermione asked softly after a while. She knew that Harry understood what she meant when she asked this. They both didn't want to see too much people at the moment.

Harry nodded in agreements before stretching his body as well. He could feel every muscle in his body being sore. Hermione slowly got up and offered her hand to Harry, who accepted it without saying a word.

Together they walked down to the Great Hall, both hoping they could avoid as much people as possible. And they were lucky. When they entered the Great Hall there were only a few Ravenclaw's and a handful of Hufflepuff's awake. Harry though still felt very uncomfortable when he spotted the headmaster sitting at the staff table.

As Harry sat down with Hermione next to him the next challenge came. Harry hadn't eaten in one and a half day, but still he realized that he would not be able to eat anything.

Hermione saw Harry struggling and without asking or saying a word she made him a cup of tea and gave it to him. After a second of staring at the cup, Harry accepted it and gave Hermione a small smile. She made herself a cup as well and managed to eat some of the eggs she had on her plate.

After Harry had finished his cup of tea he saw professor McGonagall approaching. Since there were still no other Gryffindor students down in the Great Hall, Harry knew who she was coming for.

"Good morning Harry, Hermione," the professor said with a much smaller voice than usual. Harry who had nothing against his transfiguration professor slowly turned to her and Hermione did the same.

"I guess asking how you two are doing would be stupid," the professor said. "I'm afraid that I have no good new though, Dumbledore has given me the very unpleasant task to inform you that tonight there is a memorial service for Cedric. He also wanted me to tell you that your attendance is mandatory."

Harry fell his mouth fall open after she had said that. How could Dumbledore possibly do this to him?

Harry felt the anger raging inside him and before he knew what happened some of the glasses on the table exploded in to pieces. He felt Hermione's hand taking his and he slowly calmed down again but when he opened his eyes he saw all the people that were in the Great Hall staring at him.

Harry slowly got up from his place and without saying a word to anybody he left the Great Hall.

OOOOOOOOOO

For the second time in the past 24 hours, Hermione was looking for Harry. After he had let the Great Hall she didn't see him walk outside so she started where she started yesterday as well, with checking classrooms.

After a while she finally found him in an empty Charms classroom. He sat there in the windowsill, knees pulled up against his chest and staring outside the window.

Silently she walked over to him and when she stood right next to him, she pulled his body against her, embracing him in a hug. She knew he needed her right now and for a reason she didn't understand herself she knew she would always be there for him.

OOOOOOOOO

Together Harry and Hermione spend most of the day inside of the classroom. Hermione had performed a quick locking spell on the door and a few privacy charms on the room, so they knew that they wouldn't be disturbed.

Hermione had taken one of the books she found in the classroom and was reading while Harry was still staring out of the window.

'Again, she is here, and I want her here. I want her here even though I don't want to see anybody else,' Harry said to himself and he thought about Ron, who he hadn't seen since he had entered the maze.

Harry turned his face away from the window and looked at Hermione who was sitting on the old desk in the middle of the classroom, reading her book. He found himself staring at her but for some reason he couldn't stop.

OOOOOOOOOO

Hermione looked up from her book and saw Harry looking at her. Even though she didn't feel uncomfortable with him looking at her, she felt a slight blush coming to her cheeks.

"You want to go for a walk?" she asked as she stood up from the desk and walked over to him. Again she offered him her hand and she felt a short moment of happiness when he closed her hand in his and got up from his place.

As they left the classroom Hermione felt Harry leading her and she let him. Soon she found herself walking through secret passages she had never knew they existed. Within minutes they left the castle through a small door at the back of the building.

"You know Harry, I've always admired your knowledge about the castle," Hermione said in a soft voice. "You know so much about this place."

Harry gave her a little smile. "Let's not forget who is the smart one here," he said before his face turned back to the emotionless expression.

OOOOOOOOOO

Together the two Gryffindor's walked and walked and walked, until they realized it was already five o'clock.

"I guess that means we have to go back to the castle," Harry whispered as he had looked on his watch and saw the time. He felt extremely uncomfortable about going to the memorial service.

Hermione gave his hand a little squeak. "I'm going to be right beside you Harry," she said softly before giving him a small hug.

Arm in arm they walked back to the castle. For the first time they came across a lot of students and they could feel the staring looks everywhere they went.

When they entered the common room the entire room fell silent instantly. Everybody was staring at the two fourth year students. After a few seconds the room came back to life and everybody was whispering about something, Harry and Hermione both knew about what.

"I'll meet you in your room when I'm finished," Hermione said before giving Harry's had a final squeak and walking to her dorm.

OOOOOOOOOO

When Harry entered his dorm he sat down on his bed and stared to the wall in front of him. For the first time images of the maze flashed in his mind. He feared what was going to happen when he would be at the memorial service.

Harry didn't move from his place and after a long while there was a soft knock on the door and Hermione came in.

As soon as he saw Hermione, Harry snapped out of his thoughts and he just stared at her. Hermione had changed her school robes for a long, tight fitting, black dress. 'Oh my god she looks so beautiful,' Harry thought to himself.

Hermione had seen the look on Harry's face and cursed to herself when she felt a blush coming to her cheeks for the second time today. She walked over to Harry and saw that he hadn't changed his clothes or anything yet.

"Is it alright if I look for something for you to wear?" Hermione asked softly and after Harry had nodded his head she started looking in his trunk.

After a few moments she found a nice pair of black jeans that looked so new that she was almost sure that Harry had never wore them. She also found a black shirt that she had given him for his birthday last summer.

"Thank you," Harry whispered after Hermione had laid the clothes on the bed beside him.

Harry though didn't move at all and made no approach to change his clothes. Hermione saw that Harry was struggling with himself and decided to help once more.

Hermione loosened Harry's robes and softly pulled them of Harry. Harry did look at her for a second but he let her continue, and she did. Soon Harry was bare chested. Even deep in his thoughts Harry managed to avoid Hermione seeing his cuts on his arm.

'Okay damn he looks good,' Hermione thought after giving Harry's upper-body a scan. She quickly started to put the shirt on Harry though and after she had closed the buttons Harry again was fully clothed.

Hermione didn't hesitate when she pulled off Harry's pants next and again Harry didn't protest. There was nothing sexual in this situation, just a friend helping a friend.

After Hermione was done changing Harry's clothes she took a moment to give Harry long and warm hug before she stood back in front of him.

"It's time," she sighed and took Harry's hand. Together they left the room.

OOOOOOOOOO

As Harry and Hermione walked in to the Great Hall to their frustration they saw they were one of the last students to arrive. Just like the common room earlier, the entire Great Hall fell silent as the two walked in.

Harry hoped he could sit in the back row, as far as possible from the front but he saw the headmaster pointing to two chairs on the first row. Harry and Hermione looked at each other for a second before they walked to the front.

Harry sat down next to Luna Lovegood, a third year Ravenclaw student while Hermione sat on his other side, on the last chair of their row.

Harry's hand was holding on to Hermione's hand as if his live depended on it. A second later he was happy that he had her hand in his to draw comfort from. The doors of the Great Hall had opened and six people in black robes walked in, six people with a wooden box on their shoulders.

It was only a few moments later when Harry felt a tear rolling down his face. He also noticed he was shaking a bit. He hated this. He hated Dumbledore for doing this to him, for making him relive everything. And he hated himself for crying, again…

OOOOOOOOOO

Only a few minutes in to the memorial service Harry had spaced out. His thoughts were wandering back to the night in the maze once again while he heard Dumbledore talking in front of the school.

After what seemed like ages Harry heard music playing and for the first time this service he looked to Hermione and what he saw crushed his heart. Next to him Hermione was quietly sobbing, her head hanging down and tears falling on her dress.

Harry softly let go of her hand and put that arm around her, a move that cause Hermione look to him for a second in surprise, before she laid her head on his shoulder. Harry gently rubbed her shoulder while she was crying, trying to comfort her at least a tiny bit.

Hermione felt very thankful for Harry to be next to her. She had not expected herself to be this emotional but she was glad that when she was, Harry was there to hold her. She knew he was going through a lot more than she was at the moment.

'Again even in his darkest times, he is here for me, ignoring his own hurt,' Hermione thought to herself as more tears made their way down her cheeks.

OOOOOOOOOO

After a long while Harry and Hermione both shocked out of their thoughts when they realized everybody was standing up from their places. Hermione and Harry looked at each other for a moment but stayed right where they were.

Everybody had left the Great Hall by now, but Harry was still sitting in his chair, holding his friend close to him. He was staring at the wooden coffin right in front of him while he absently played with Hermione's hair.

They sat like this for almost two hours before Hermione saw that Harry was struggling with staying awake.

"Let's go to the common room," she whispered as she slowly got up.

Harry nodded but as he stood up from his place he found himself walking to the coffin of Cedric. Hermione didn't follow Harry, deciding that he might needed a moment alone to say his goodbye to Cedric. But Harry wasn't saying goodbye.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered as he laid one hand on top of the coffin. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." Harry kept repeating this sentence and was soon saying it out loud over and over again. Before he realized it he was sitting on the floor sobbing and still repeating the sentence.

Hermione who had seen Harry break down quickly made her way to him and sat down next to him on the floor before pulling him close to her. She laid his head on her chest and wrapped her arms around him like a mother would do with her child.

It took almost an hour before Hermione had managed to calm Harry down. Slowly Harry managed to stand up and with the support of Hermione he slowly walked out of the Great Hall.

Once Hermione and Harry arrived in the empty common room, Hermione lay Harry down on the couch. She took off his glasses and his shoes and was slowly stroking with her fingers through his hair.

After a few moments Hermione realized that Harry wasn't responding to her touches anymore. He had finally managed to fall asleep.

Hermione felt a small moment of happiness when she saw Harry sleeping and decided she didn't want to spend the night on her own. She kicked of her own shoes and crawled in front of Harry on the couch. After a while she felt his arm slipping around her, holding her against him and slowly she fell asleep as well.