A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! Thank you to my beta Twilight Elena

Harry just smiled. It was all worth it to see her smiling again. Even if he got in trouble for leaving school grounds without permission. He wouldn't care because Hermione was smiling again. After about an hour they flew back down to the grounds. Hermione jumped off the broom. "LAND!" she cried out.

Harry laughed at her. "It wasn't that bad. You enjoyed it, just admit it."

"That was worse than when we were flying on Buckbeak."

Harry just laughed. "Oh come on you enjoyed it."

"Ok, fine you win yes I enjoyed it. You made me feel very safe up there and the view was breathtaking. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Come let's go back inside."

They made their way back into the room and cuddled back on the bed.

"Thank you Harry I really enjoyed that."

"I'm glad. How is your arm?"

"Better. It doesn't hurt."

"Good."

Just then Professor Dumbledore walked in. "Did you enjoy yourselves?" he asked.

"Yes Sir." They both answered.

"Good, I'm glad. Now there is something I must speak to you about. I am aware of your discomfort about the starting new year Ms. Granger and although I cannot give you all the details now I do not want you to worry. I have a very secret way for both of you to be together at night and still be in your dorms at the same time. I cannot tell you right now, just come find me after our supper the first night."

"Thank you Professor."

"You're welcome Ms. Granger." Dumbledore left.

"What do you think he has planned?"

"I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see."

"Harry?"

"Yeah baby?"

"I…I miss them."

"I know you do and that ok. You're allowed to. I miss my parents every day."

"How did you get over it?"

"I didn't. You never get over something as horrible as losing your parents but you learn to cope with it."

"I don't know if I ever will."

"You will. Trust me, I know losing a loved one is never easy but you learn to cope with it after a while." Harry said.

Hermione gasped. "Harry I'm so sorry. I'm so stupid. I'm going on and on about me. How are you after Sirius's death"

"I'm hanging in there. I used to have nightmares every night but they've stopped now. I'm coping with it."

"I'm always here you know."

"I know and I'll always be here for you."

"I know…I love you."

"I love you too."

They both slowly leaned in and shared a kiss on the lips. Before either of them knew what was happing they pulled away. Hermione blushed.

"I-I'm sorry." She said quickly.

"It's ok…I'm sorry too."

"Don't be I…I like it."

"Me too."

"Harry I…I think I'm ready."

"Are you sure, cause we can wait."

"No, I'm sure. I feel safe and comfortable with you Harry, I love you and I trust you and I want you to be my boyfriend."

"OK, then I guess we are a couple."

"I guess we are."

They both smiled at each other.

"Maybe this year won't be so bad." Hermione said.

"That's my girl. Don't worry if anyone bothers you I'll make them pay." Harry told her.

Hermione smiled and they shared another kiss. Things were looking up, she just hoped it stayed that way.

After a few weeks it time for school to start. Hermione and Harry couldn't wait to see Ron again.

"Harry, what are we going to tell Ron about us? He could get mad that we are together."

"Look, he will be mad if we hide it from him. We just need to be open and honest about it. If we are….hopefully he won't get mad."

"Hopefully?"

"Yeah….guess I'm not helping am I?"

"It's ok I get your point. You're right. We just have to be honest with him and hopefully he will support us."

"I like the sound of that."

"What?"

"You tell me I was right." Harry teased.

"Hey, I'm still the know it all here." Hermione teased back.

They both just laughed. Just then Dumbledore walked in "The students should be arriving any moment now if you two would like to go meet in the main hall."

They both climbed off the bed and headed to the main hall. They sat down across from each other and took hands.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked.

"I'm just nervous about seeing everyone again. I don't want them to know what happen."

"No one knows anything and if anyone says anything about it I'll make sure they pay ok. I promise. Everything will be fine."

"I trust you."
"Good now let me see that smile." Hermione smiled at him and he smiled back.

The doors opened and students started to walk in. They let go on their hand and sat back.

"Harry, Hermione there you are, we thought you missed the train." Ron said as he walked over to them.

"Hermione being late…you're kidding right?" Harry asked.

"No, where were you I didn't see you on the train?"

"We got here early." Harry said.

"Why?"

"Because living with Dursley became unbearable and I couldn't take it anymore so Professor Dumbledore let me come and stay here for the next few weeks, and he didn't want me to be alone so he allowed Hermione to join me."

"Oh...well what about me? I'm you friend too."

"It was Professor Dumbledore's idea because I also needed some help with my studies."

"Something sounds fishy about that story." Fred said.

"Yeah, maybe you two started a romance or something." George laughed.

"Yeah like that would ever happen." A voice said.

Everyone turned and saw Malfoy heading towards them.

"Potter would never be with some like Granger."

"Why not? I think they make a cute couple." Ginny said.

"Because he is a Wizard, and she is a wannabe witch. She will never be a witch because she is a good for nothing mudblood."

Hermione's arm instantly went around her stomach again. Harry stood up.

"Back off Malfoy now."

"What are you going to do Potter curse me? Go ahead."

"Don't test me Malfoy."

"Since when do you stand up for Granger anyway?" Malfoy looked at Hermione. "Your very quiet today Mudblood. What is it? Cat got your tongue?"

Hermione opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. What was wrong with her? She never had problem standing up to Malfoy. Now all of sudden she felt defenseless and powerless and she hated it. It reminded her being with Bellatrix and the murder of her parents.

Malfoy laughed at her. "I guess so."

"No, she just is tired of always fighting with you so she isn't talking back. So go to your own table and leave us alone." Ron said.

"This is going to be a fun year." Malfoy smirked and walked away.

Ron looked back at Hermione. "What was that? What happen to the girl who went right over to Malfoy and punched him in the face?"

"I just…I'm tired Ron. I didn't sleep well last night."

"Yeah Ron just leave her be. Let's sit and eat." Harry said.

Everyone sat back down as Dumbledore started his welcoming speech. As they were eating Ginny noticed the white band wrapped around Hermione's arm.

"Hey Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"What happen to your arm?"

"Nothing."

"Why is it wrapped in a white band-aid?"

"It's just a cut no big deal."

"Hermione cut herself the other day while we were fooling around nothing major she is fine." Harry said.

"Oh…ok." Ginny went back to eating Hermione and Harry looked at each other.

"Thank you." She mouthed.

"You're welcome." He mouthed back to her.

Everyone continued to eat. Finally Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only ones left.

"Ron, we need to talk to you about something." Harry said.

"I knew you two were up to something."

"Hermione and I…well we sort of…we are together."

"Right, good one Harry, what is really going on with you?"

"We are together Ron. Harry is telling the truth. It won't change anything though we are all still friends."

"You got together without discussing it with me?"

"It just sort of happen. Neither of us planned it. Please understand Ron."

"Oh I understand."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I understand you betrayed me."

"What?"

"I thought we were all a team and now you two are dating."

"Ron it's not going change anything between us. We are still a team." Harry said.

"Hermione I thought…I thought you liked me."

"I do like you Ron but as a friend not romantically."

"Wait I know what this it."

"What?"

"You are using Harry. You want to be popular so you figure going out with 'The Chosen One' will help you achieve that."

"Ron I love Harry."

"Yeah because you know no one can love you as a mudblood."

Hermione gasped.

"RON!" Harry yelled.

Everyone froze.

"Her-Hermione I'm sorry I didn't mean that." Ron said quickly.

"Yes you did. Come on Harry, Dumbledore needs to see us before we go to bed."

"Hermione wait I'm sorry it just slipped out I was mad and I said it without thinking I'm sorry please forgive me."

"You know Ron you've said a lot of stupid things in your life but this is the worst I've ever heard. I understand you were mad but that doesn't give you the right to say something like that to me, especially after everything that has happen."

"What happen?"

Hermione froze.

"Look, Hermione and I gave you some big news today and it needs to sink in, so why don't you head up to bed and Hermione and I will meet you there." Harry said pulled Hermione into his arms.

Ron walked away. Hermione sighed. "That was worse than I thought it would be."

"He didn't mean it. You have to understand that. He was in shock."

"I know and it wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't marked in my skin."

Harry kissed her head. "Come on let's go see Dumbledore. We can talk to Ron tomorrow."

"Harry I can't sleep without you tonight."

"Hopefully you won't have to."

They both headed to Dumbledore's office. Life had changed so quickly and now they were both worried they'd lose one of their best friends.

A/N Sorry Ron fans but I promise Ron is a good guy in this story and there will NOT be Ron bashing. They will make up in the next chapter. Also Hermione and Harry find a secret spell that helps their sleeping dilemma. Thank you to my beta Twilight Elena.