Sorry I have only just got to updating this. My muse has only struck until now so I am sorry for that. This might be the chapter that everyone has been waiting for? Maybe. So anyway I hope you enjoy it and please review.
Everything had been going great between Ron and Harry in the weeks that followed, nothing news worthy had been going on with them thankfully. They were always on the lookout for reporters wanting to get the latest bit of gossip from the boy who lived and his boyfriend but something was keeping them at bay. Harry knew this because a few days after him and Ron got together; Harry received a Howler from one of the reporters. It was one of those that he wished he never opened. It was rude and horrible and actually made Harry scared to open anymore mail that Hedwig brought him, even if it was from Sirius because for all he knew it could be more hate made to look like his godfather's handwriting on the envelope. He didn't want to take that chance.
Both Harry and Ron were sitting in the great hall next to a first year Gryffindor eating their breakfast when Hermione came running up to them with an acid look on her face, she did not look pleased. Both Ron and Harry turned around in unison and sighed deeply, they knew they were about to get some new that was bad. As soon as Hermione had reached them, she squeezed in between the two Gryffindors and placed each hand on one of theirs gently and softly, giving it a soft squeeze in the process. Harry knew for sure that something was up and he just wished that Hermione would spit it out before he shook it out of her. He was never one that could wait for something and this was showing through right now. "Will you just tell us Hermione" He snapped before apologising to her gently.
Hermione looked at the red head Gryffindor first and placed her hand on his cheek before kissing his forehead "I'm so sorry" She said quietly and with so much love in her tone of voice. She then turned to Harry and kissed his forehead "You were always like a little brother to me and I love you so much". Harry could see that there were tears in her eyes and he quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of his robe.
He wished that he had even a single idea what the bushy haired Gryffindor was going on about. Right now he was scared; Hermione had never acted like this before and there was no reason for her to be like this now. Just a few days ago she was fine, her normal book worm, happy self but now it was like she had had a personality transplant because the young adult that was sitting next to Harry was not the same girl he had known for four years, it just wasn't. Harry placed both of his hands on either side of her face and turned her to look at him. Suddenly he felt so sad, so much in pain as he looked into her eyes. He could see so much depth of pain, so much hurt and so much sadness. This was one thing that he hadn't seen in Hermione's eyes before and this really scared him to the point where he grabbed her hand and ran out of the Great hall with her. "Ron stay here and eat the waffles!" Harry shouted back to his boyfriend before turning left and going out of view of Ron.
Harry pulled Hermione up the grand staircase and through the corridors of this old school. He knew where he was going; somewhere they could talk alone without anyone finding them. He knew this was what Hermione needed to open up to him and maybe it would do her good. He turned the final corner and the few steps that led up into the astronomy tower were finally in view. He turned around just to see the fade which was Hermione's smile but he didn't take notice in it, he was too busy thinking about how he would talk to her without her going all soppy. As they entered the tower Hermione pulled her hand away from Harry's and walked away from him, walking quickly to the right hand corner and sitting down on the chair which was standing there. Harry walked over to her quickly and bent down and sighed. "What is it Hermione?" He asked her quietly. He really had no idea what she was thinking and when she looked into his eyes, he still saw that pained look in her eyes. "I want to help you". He cupped both of her hands into his own but they were quickly pulled away and shoved into Hermione's robe pockets.
For once in a very long while, Harry had no idea how to help his dear friend. He felt completely helpless and all he could do was just sit there and watch her be this upset. He wanted to know what was going on inside her head, what she was feeling but she wouldn't talk, she wouldn't even look at him for a few seconds without looking away and this was breaking Harry inside. His best friend was sitting there all alone with so much pain inside her and Harry couldn't help her release it no matter what he tried. Harry just sat there, on the cold hard floor and looked at her, waiting for her to say something, anything that would let him help her. He sighed deeply and was just about to give up when Hermione moved just a little bit and Harry saw her mouth open. "I know where he is" She muttered to herself but Harry heard her. He stood up straight away and took her hands in his and this time she didn't pull away "You know where who is?" He asked her, trying to get to the bottom of the five words she had just said. Harry had no idea who she was talking about so of course this made him more confused than he was before. Hermione looked straight at Harry and sighed.
"I know where Malfoy is, always have, since the day that Cedric died" She blurted out. As soon as she had said that to him, Harry yanked his hands away and stepped backwards, falling into the bookcase behind him in the process. When the words had finally sunk it, it felt like someone had crushed his heart with their bare hands, like there was a dementor in the room as Harry had gone cold all though his body.
"I don't believe you" He snapped back. What else was he going to say or do? Was he meant to shout at Hermione when she was in this state? No matter what he had been through, his friend was hurting and Harry knew how it felt to hurt. His eyes darted over to his robe as he saw her pulling something out of her pocket, an envelope of some sort and as soon as she had pulled it out, she chucked it to her friend. Harry ripped it open and pulled out the letter inside. As soon as he opened the letter he saw the Malfoy emblem shining on the header of the letter. His insides went cold and he felt like he was going to pass out but he read it.
"Dearest Hermione, I should be there soon with you and everything will be fine. I know this is hard for you, lying to your friends and keeping this a secret but it will all be worth it in the end. Potter will get what is coming for him. You know the reason why I killed his beloved Cedric and you understand why it is him that has to die next. I truly understand how hard this is for you but I promise you it to for the best. Potter is ripping this world apart, he may not notice it but people are dying each and every day because of him. He might think that he is doing our world a favour, saving us from the darkness but in fact we don't need to be saved. Voldermort has gone and he won't be returning. I know this because my father used to be a death eater as you well know but what you didn't know was just before his reign of terror, my father made sure that when the dark lord died he wouldn't return. Draco Malfoy"
At that moment Harry screamed, inside and outside. He chucked the letter back at Hermione and ran off, leaving her there all alone. Harry didn't know what to do. His best friend had betrayed him to the person that killed the one he loved and by the sounds of it Draco and Hermione was a couple. Harry was lactating with rage and there was nothing that could make him release it. His best friend was sleeping with the enemy. She had known all along where he was, she knew that he was going to try and kill Harry and yet she didn't say anything. Harry turned the corner, trying to get away from everyone looking at him but he turned into his worst nightmare. The castle went silent as Harry came face to face with the one person he didn't want to right now. He had come face to face with Draco Malfoy.
So that was the end of chapter 12. I will try to get this story updated as quickly as I can. There will only be one more chapter which I will try and make as long as possible and then the epilogue.