A/N: Wow! Thanks to all of who've reviewed! I never thought I'd get this many people reading my sory! Over 12,000 hits! (I don't know if that's good or bad, but it's good enough for me!" Now, for being such good reviewers, I have and teeny bitty slice of Pumpkin Pie for all you Harmonium shippers out there. Now, when you read the ending, remember what the theme is: people make wrong decisions that affect the rest of their lives. I'm pretty proud of this chapter, we've got some ass kicking in here. Now, read, review, and enjoy.
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Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and walked up and down the halls of Hogwarts. Ginny and Hermione had been gone for a couple of hours now. It seemed that he was the only one left in the castle at the moment. Either everyone was in their designated common rooms or else out buying useless junk at Honeydukes or Zonkos's in Hogsmede.
He sighed and shook his shaggy black hair out of his emerald eyes
. A girl walked by him and shyly smiled at him. He didn't even acknowledge her. He needed a haircut. Maybe he'll leave to go to Hogsmede and meet up with Ron and Luna and get it cut then. But not before Hermione comes back. Hermione…
How had it ended up like this? Why would she do this? Harry let out a growl of frustration and walked down one of the halls leading to Ravenclaw. Just a few months ago it seemed Hermione's life was on track. Now…
Harry had to go pee. He walked towards the nearest bathroom and opened the door.
He stopped when he saw who was in there, then went to the urinal a few spaces down from him. Terry didn't even acknowledge him. He just shook his light brown hair out of his brown eyes. Harry looked at Terry and Terry looked at him. Terry nodded, and Harry nodded back. Harry looked at Terry. He couldn't blame Hermione for falling for him, he was a pretty decent-looking guy, and they did look pretty good together, but she still shouldn't have-
"What are you, gay or something?"
Harry looked at Terry in surprise. "What?"
Terry zipped up. "Why are you staring at me like that? Am I giving you a hard-on or something?"
Harry scowled at him. "Shut the fuck up dipshit."
Terry laughed. He went to the sinks and turned on the faucet. Hot water came streaming out and he slowly washed his hands.
"You know, I'm not a bad guy. I actually feel bad for 'Mione."
If Harry hadn't been doing his business, he would've ripped Terry's fucking throat out. No one called 'Mione 'Mione but him! And besides, how the fuck could he feel bad for her?!
Harry zipped up and turned around.
"No, you're not," he said, each word dripping with menace, "if you felt bad you would help her out." He turned on the faucet.
Terry turned the faucet off and shook his hands. "It's her own fault she got knocked up. She should've taken precaution." He ripped a paper towel of the rack and dried his hands. "I really liked her you know. She was a good fuck."
Harry's blood boiled, but he kept his eyes trained on his hands. He wanted to punch Terry in the mouth, but he couldn't afford to get into trouble, especially with Snape and what happened with Malfoy. He'd get expelled. Terry threw his towel out and leaned against the sink. He smiled, with his straight white teeth, obviously enjoying Harry's hands shaking from the anger he could do nothing about.
"Yeah, I'm not gonna lie. Hermione fucked good. Shit, I still think about her sometimes. Maybe after she gets rid of the baby, I'll fuck her again…and again…and - "
Harry finally exploded and Terry's jaw met Harry's fist. Terry dropped from sight and hit the stone floor hard. He breathed in sharply and swore. "Fuck!"
He stumbled up wiped the thin line of blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. He was breathing deeply and looked at his hand, the blood smeared on it. Terry scowled. Blood slowly poured out of his mouth.
Harry was shaking and breathing hard. It took all his self-control not to just strangle Terry. The lights in the bathroom began flickering. They stopped when Harry felt hard pressure hit his stomach and he lost his breath.
Terry punched Harry in the stomach. Hard. Fuck, he thought. Terry was a beater, and he was pretty strong. But shit. Harry felt like he couldn't breathe. He grabbed his stomach and doubled over. He crashed to the floor on his knees.
"Fucking pansy..."
Terry's voice sounded far away. Harry gasped as he felt a knee bash his jaw. Blood gushed out of his mouth and he fell flat on his back. He felt a sharp pain to his side and he realized Terry had kicked him. Harry rolled over, but Terry kicked him again. He coughed and blood spurted all over the porcelain floor. He could vaguely hear Terry telling him something, but another sharp kick to the ribs and Harry mercifully, finally, blacked out from the pain.
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"What was he even doing there?"
"Taking a piss. Fucking Terry beat him up."
"I can't believe it."
"Believe it, Mione. Your fucking boyfriend beat up your best friend!"
"Ronald -"
"No, Luna! Listen to me Mione! You gotta dump this guy. Who beats up someone taking a piss?!"
Harry could hear the argument as though it was far away. He opened his eyes, and closed them immediately. It is way too bright in this room, he thought. What room is it anyway? Oh yeah, the hospital wing. So that must be…yep, Ron and Mione, fighting as usual. Who else is here? Luna? Hey Luna. And hey look, my girlfriend. Hey Ginny. Ow. My jaw.
Harry opened his eyes. Everything seemed blurred; Madam Pomprey must've taken his glasses off. (Why does she always do that? I'm blind without them!) He shifted in the bed to get Ron and Hermione's attention. It worked.
"Oh Harry! Are you okay? What happened?" Hermione knelt down and put her hand on his forehead.
"He doesn't have a fever Mione." Ron was still scowling. Hermione blushed and stood up.
Ginny came over to Harry's other side and held is hand. Harry smiled. "Hey Ginny," he said softly. Ginny smiled and patted his hand. "Are you okay, Harry?" Harry laughed. "Are you kidding? With you here I'm 100% better already."
Ron pretended to gag. Hermione felt her stomach drop. Ginny handed Harry his glasses while Luna smiled serenely and linked her arm with Ron's. Ron looked down at Luna and winked at her. Luna held her head high and said, "Harry, are you all right? You looked rather bad when Professor Flitwick found you."
Harry looked at Hermione. "I saw Terry in the bathroom. One thing lead to another and…" He shrugged. "It's no big deal." Hermione felt sick.
She said, "Not a big deal? Harry, this is all my fault! Oh Harry, I'm so sorry. I'll talk to him, I promise." Tears welled up in her eyes.
Harry laughed. "Mione, don't cry. It'll-" he stopped and his eyes got round. Today was - Oh Merlin. Did she do it?
Hermione smiled sadly and shook her head ever so slightly. Only Ginny and Harry would know what that meant.
Harry's eyes, if possible, got even rounder. Ron noticed this and said, "Whoa, Harry mate. Are you okay? It looks like your eyes just might pop out. What is it?" Harry looked at Ron with his eyes as round as saucers. He shook his head and said, "Nothing, just, just remembered something. Uhhhhhh….." C'mon Potter think of something you dope. "……uhhhh I uh uh for-forgot to SHIT!"
Harry leaned back in his pillows and shut his eyes tightly. "Crap. What's gonna happen to me? Will I get expelled or something?" Ron's eyebrows came together. "Harry mate. What are you talking about?"
Harry groaned in frustration. "For fighting! Ah shit. Snape's going to expel me, especially after what happened with Malfoy. Aw man."
"Mate, don't worry. Look. Terry beat you up. Not the other way around."
"Yeah, but I started it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well - I -" But he stopped. He looked at Hermione. She looked miserable, with tears staining her cheeks. Harry's face softened. "Mione, are you okay?" Ron looked at her hard. "She better be, she's breaking up with that prat as soon as she gets out of here. In fact, I'm going with her to make sure she actually does." Hermione sighed. "Ron." Ron scowled. Ron didn't know.
He turned back to Harry. "So, what did Terry do then?" Harry averted his gaze away from Hermione. "Well, he was saying some pretty nasty things about Mione," he mumbled. Hermione blushed.
She stood up from her chair. "Harry, I'll talk to Terry." Harry whipped his head at her. "NO! I mean," he blushed. "Don't worry about it Mione." Hermione shook her head. "Don't worry Harry. I'll be right back." She smiled and walked out of the infirmary.
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Hermione had been walking down the halls not two minutes when she saw Terry. He was strutting down the halls with his chest puffed out. No one else was in the hall. She could see his lip was a busted. Hermione walked over to him and slapped him as hard as she could.
SMACK!
"OW! Bitch! What the -" Hermione slapped his other cheek. Terry backed away. "Bitch, what the fuck!" His cheeks both had red handprints on it.
"What the fuck Terry? What the FUCK is your problem!" She pushed him. Terry stumbled.
He said, "If you fucking do that again I'll push YOU!"
"I fucking dare you to. Why the fuck did you do that!"
"Do what?"
"Don't act like an idiot Terry. Why'd you beat up Harry?"
Terry rubbed his cheeks. "I don't know if what I did constitutes as beating up. Harry just laid there. Weak ass."
Hermione took a deep breath. "Okay, whatever."
"Besides, he hit me first." Hermione rolled her eyes. "God forbid he mess up you fucking…" she hit him "…. perfect…" she hit him again "…..face!" She kneed his groin. Terry doubled over. "Bitch," he wheezed out. He took a couple of deep breaths and slowly stood up. He swallowed before he spoke.
"Okay, that was just fucked up."
"You're fucked up."
"No, you're fucked up." He laughed. "So how's that baby doing sweetheart?" Hermione blinked. "Are you getting rid of it or what?" Hermione turned around and started to walk away.
"Hey sweetie pie!" he called out to her retreating back. "Make sure you name him after his daddy!" He laughed uncontrollably as Hermione broke into a run and disappeared as she turned a corner.
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Hermione stopped in front of the hospital wing. She caught her breath and entered it. Harry was the only one in it. She walked slowly and sat down in the chair next to him. She scooted closer to his bed. Harry opened his eyes and looked at her. "Hey," he said, smiling. "Hey," she said softly.
He sat up. "Are you okay?" he asked. Hermione smiled sadly. "Look at you, asking how I'm doing. You're such a good guy Harry." Harry grinned. "I try."
He looked at Hermione. "So you didn't do it?" he asked seriously. Hermione looked at him. " I couldn't. It was…scary, you know? And what if….what if I had made the wrong decision." She shook her head. "I couldn't go through with it." Harry nodded and took her hand. He rubbed his thumb over it.
Hermione breath hitched when this happened, but she didn't think Harry noticed. A couple minutes of comfortable silence passed. "I'm gonna drop out," she said finally. Harry started. "What?!" He couldn't believe it. "What do you mean, 'drop out'?" "Exactly that, Harry." She pulled her hand away from Harry's. "I don't think I stay in school pregnant, right?" The look on Harry's face would've been hilarious in any other situation.
"No…." Harry said slowly. He sighed. "But where are you going? You said your dad kicked you out? Where will you live?" Hermione shrugged. "I don't know." She looked so sad. Harry felt tears welling in his eyes. He blinked them back. Harry grabbed her hand again. "Yes you do," he said. He smiled. "You'll live in Grimmauld Place." Hermione's head shot up. "What?" Harry's smile grew larger. "Yeah. Look." He grew serious. "Lupin and Tonks are staying there for the Order. They practically live there. So, you'll just live there, with them." He smiled broadly, like he was a little kid who had finally figured out the answer. Hermione opened her mouth, but Harry was faster. "Look, you said it yourself. Where else are you gonna live? This is the best place so far."
Tears fell down her cheeks. "Oh but Harry-"
"Don't worry about it Mione," he interrupted. "You've been worrying way too much this year."
Hermione sighed and rested her head on his chest, listening to him breathe. Harry played with her hair. "Don't worry Mione, it'll be okay, because no matter what happens, you'll always have me. I don't care what you've done in the past. What matters is now, and how we're gonna deal with it."
Hermione looked up. "We?"
Harry laughed. "Yeah, we. What, you think you would do this alone? Look, I know you're smart, but you're a mess with kids."
"How do you know?"
Harry laughed again. He shrugged. "Just have a feeling." She looked suspiciously at him as she rested her head on him again. She traced the outlining of the pattern on his clothes.
"Where's Ginny?"
"I told her and Ron and Luna I was feeling tired."
"Are you?" She heard the pillow rustle. He shook his head. "Just wanted to be alone…and it was getting pretty boring, with them talking about Terry and what an asshole he is. I already know that. I mean, look what he did to you." Hermione looked up at him.
"Harry…what do you think of me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you…think I'm a slut, or an idiot or...what? I know all Ginny does is pity me. Truth be told I'd rather her be anything but. I feel like she thinks she's better than me."
Harry sighed. "No, I don't think you're a…slut. It never even crossed my mind. Ron slept with Luna, and I don't consider either one of them sluts. Well, maybe Ron. All I hear now is how fun it is." He laughed.
He cleared his throat. "Look, the point is, when I first heard you were sleeping with Terry, I was real disappointed. Real…disappointed. I think I told you that, right? Yeah. Anyway, I…well…" he drifted off.
"What?"
He sighed. "Stop sighing," she murmured, "I don't like going up and down."
Harry breathed in deeply, and let out his breath quickly. Hermione smiled.
"I love you Harry."
"I love you too Mione."
The rest of the evening past with them in comfortable silence. The hospital wing grew darker and the only sounds were Madam Pomprey's shuffling feet from her office. No one said anything, and soon Hermione fell asleep on Harry's chest . He looked at her breathing deeply, asleep and away from all the troubles she'll have to face in the morning. He closed his eyes and before he fell asleep whispered,
"More than you'll ever know."