This chapter is kinda short, sorry about that but I wasn't really sure what to write for this one... however! the next one will be considerably longer and probably in Harry's pov, idk if anyone noticed the switching or stuff but yeah.. enjoy the chapter guys!

Chapter 3

Hermione frowned to herself when she, Harry, and Ron reached a small and empty area of the train. The sound of student's chatter faded into the background, swiftly become white noise. Hermione's bright hazel eyes scanned Harry's face and she flinched when she took in the look of absolute exhaustion swimming in his emerald green orbs.

"How've you been Harry?" She asked him, resting her hands on his shoulders and taking note of how he flinched. Harry shrugged and shook his head, plastering a grin onto his face.

"I'm just a bit tired 'Mione, haven't been getting that much rest." He shrugged it off, running a hand through his unkept and long locks that fell over his right eye. She cupped his chin with one hand, observing his face and taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the odd paleness that she had grown accustomed to whenever the year began. The details, however, always left a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she shook her head and pulled her hand away from him.

"If you say so Harry." She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to Ron, who was studying his friend with an expression of concern.

"Where do you plan on going after the year is over, you can't go back home." Ron asked before he turned, facing Harry with an expression of concern. "Unless you plan on going back to the Dursleys? You could always stay with us you know."

Hermione nodded in agreement to Ron's offer and studied Harry once again. She flinched when she realized how tired he must be, exhausted even. She let out a sigh before she grinned at Harry with an excited expression.

"Maybe we could find you a place of your own then! Would that be something that you would be willing to work towards?" Harry ran a hand through his hair and shuffled in place before he smiled, not as big as his old smiles, but Hermione was glad that she had gotten some sort of smile out of him. She elbowed him lightly in the side as Ron grinned. "And this'll be our first year to be normal students! No more people trying to kill us which means that I can study for tests and shit."

Harry gasped dramatically as his eyes widened. "Such profanity Hermione, you should watch your language in front of the kids."

Ron laughed and draped an arm over Harry's shoulders, sending Hermione a pointed look. "You should hear her at home, she cusses all the time. But it's not like you have any room to talk Harry, you cuss more than both of us."

Harry rolled his eyes but nodded slowly. "The only reason you don't cuss is because you censor yourself all the damn time. But this year will be great, I'm sure of it."

"And you were just talking about my own profanity Harry." Hermione tsked and waved a finger in his face, prying a laugh from the two boys. "Bad Harry."

"Shit and damn are two different words,." He told her before he frowned, "and now I've just said both, fuck okay."

They laughed once again as Harry frowned to himself. Ron eased off of the male and stretched his back.

"Maybe we should join your guy's booth, you know with Mal-Draco and Luna and Pansy. You guys looked like you were having a nice conversation." He then frowned and fixed his gaze on Harry. "I am sorry about Ginny. Mum's been so upset at her, and she's been getting worse every day. She shouts at us for accepting you and it's absolutely horrible. You're gay, it's not like you're a rapist or whatever. I mean Luna's pan and Ginny hasn't said anything about that."

"I think it's just the fact that Ginny and I dated. She must feel betrayed or something. Like upset that I didn't tell her at first, and angry that we broke it off the way that we did, disgusted because of how intimate she had been to me while I was still trying to figure out my preference. I dunno, but," he paused and shrugged, "I dunno."

"None of that is your fault Harry. She should have accepted you for who you are. Honestly, it's not like you didn't try to continue the relationship. And if you were in any way attracted I'm sure you would have told her that. She could be upset that you two had started dating in the first place but she shouldn't hold a grudge to you for something you can't control. It's not like one day you decided, 'I'm just going to be gay now', because that's not how it works. And we understand that Harry, so you don't have to pretend to be something that you're not around us." Harry nodded once again, a slight smile pulling at his lips as he wiped at his eyes.

"Thanks Ron, Hermione. I just, I still feel really shitty because there could have been all these things that I could've done instead but like, you guys have just been so accepting and I just." His voice shook and Hermione immediately moved forwards, wrapping her arms around him, Ron pulled both of them into a hug. "Ah, I'm so emotional jeez."

"There's nothing you could have done. And don't focus so much on the past because then you won't be able to look forward to your future." Hermione brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled at him, warmly.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." She pulled back and slugged him in the arm, eyes narrowed.

"Excuse you, I am always right. Thank you very much." Harry ducked away from her assault as she chased him around, Ron standing to the side and watching with a sort of this-is-your-own-fault kind of look. Harry darted away, laughing wholeheartedly as he grinned at her, using his short height, shorter than her by enough, to scramble away and down the hall. Hermione tore after him, an identical grin on her own face, as she glanced over her shoulder to see her lanky boyfriend slowly making his way behind them, rolling his eyes.

The group sprinted through the cars, laughing brightly and waving to students, Harry making sure to stay in the lead with Hermione close enough behind. Hermione watched him, giving him a sort of motherly look but still stern enough to keep him running. She studied the way that he held tight to his robe around his hands, making sure they didn't slip up his arms and reveal any skin hidden underneath. She frowned but quickly shook it off, flipping Ginny off when she made her way by the ginger's booth.. She relished in the offended gasp and stream off profanity that trailed her as she passed, eyes glinting.

"Harry!" She called, as he turned a corner, glancing at her with a smug expression. "Get back here so I can beat your ass."

"You couldn't catch up to me if you tried, and I'm not tired." He purred, pausin for a moment to give her a moment to breathe.

"That may be true, but I have other ways to get you to stop. Like another person who may be able t0 catch up to you~" Harry froze and narrowed his eyes at her. "I would do it Harry, don't even doubt me."

He shook his head once more as a slow flush rose on his cheeks. "There goes my dignity." he muttered, earning a bark of a laugh from Ron. "Fine, I yield, you suck 'mione."

"Calm down Harry, you just have to remember that I'm always right, even when I'm wrong- I'm right." Harry paused for a moment and raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.

"Did you just quote a movie? I feel like I've heard that before, maybe in something Dudley's younger cousins watched." Hermione flushed and turned away from his confused gaze.

"No…" Harry laughed along with Ron as the two made their ways over to her.

"That's actually really funny Hermione, but if we want to have any time to talk to Draco, Luna, and Pansy then we'll have to make our way back some time soon." Hermione ran a hand down her face as she tried to ease the redness but nodded.

"Yeah of course, let's head over then." She grabbed Ron's hand and began to tug him along, Harry bouncing ahead of them, a bright grin on his face.