Sweetest Sin

Chapter 8

The next day at breakfast, Hermione plopped down next to Ron and said, "Who has Harry slept with?"

Ron choked on his orange juice and Hermione whacked him on the back and he spluttered out, "What?"

Hermione looked at him and said quietly, "Who has Harry slept with?"

Ron looked away. "Why would I know?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Ron, I know that you know!"

Ron frowned. "I'm not telling you, Hermione. If Harry wants you to know, then he will tell you!"

Hermione slammed her hand down on the table. "God, Ron! Aren't you supposed to be my friend here?!"

Ron stared at her for a moment. "Hermione, I am your friend, I'm also Harry's friend, and have to respect the fact that it's his personal business, so please drop it."

Hermione slammed her hand down on the table in frustration and then stood up and stalked away angrily. Ron shook his head. "Girls!"

Hermione walked into the common room and walked up to Ginny. "Did you sleep with Harry?"

Ginny looked up slowly from the book sitting in her lap. "Did I WHAT?"

Hermione crossed her arms and sighed. "Does no one hear me?! Did you have sex with Harry?"

Ginny stared at Hermione and said, "That's not really any of your business."

Suddenly, Hermione felt a hand grab her and start pulling her away. Harry pulled her right out the portrait hole into the hallway. "Hermione, what do you think you are doing?!"

Hermione sighed. "It's just that...it's getting to me, I want to know who you slept with!"

Harry shook his head. "Hermione, if you don't stop this, our relationship is going to end quickly, this is just something you shouldn't know, and I am not going to tell you. Don't talk to me until you get over this, and stop harassing my ex-girlfriends!"

With that he turned on his heel and stormed away down the hallway. Hermione stared after him, shame filling her. She had acted way out of line, and she knew she had to stop. She needed to find Harry and apologize right away.

Hermione sighed and brushed the hair back from her face. Then she started walking down the hallway, wondering where Harry would have gone. She stopped at the doors to the Great Hall and peered inside. She saw Harry sitting at one of the long tables that were now cleared of food and dishes. Hermione walked over to the table and sat down next to him. He kept staring at the shiny wood surface and his jaw was set.

Hermione licked her dry lips, took in a deep breath, and said, "Harry, I'm sorry, really sorry. I really am letting it go this time, you are too important to me. I won't say another word until you're ready to tell me, should you ever choose to do so."

Harry looked over at her and searched her eyes with his for a moment, as if deciding whether he would believe her or not. He finally nodded and Hermione laid her head on his shoulder, and he gently kissed the top of her head. Hermione sighed again as they sat there in silence for about twenty minutes.

Harry finally stood up and said, "I'm heading back up to the common room to do some homework, are you coming?" He held out his hands.

Hermione gave him a small smile and replied, "Of course, how could I pass up homework?" She grabbed Harry's hands and he pulled Hermione to her feet.

Harry gave her a brief kiss before they headed back to the common room hand in hand. When they climbed through the portrait hole they saw Ron sitting on the couch holding a letter in his hands, shock on his face. He looked up at Harry and Hermione and a slow smile came across his face. "Lily...her dad got transferred back to England. She's going to be attending Hogwarts." His smile turned into a grin.

Harry and Hermione both exclaimed, "Ron! That's fantastic!"

Ron's whole face was lit up with happiness and he quickly wrote a reply letter. He turned to Harry and said, "Can I use Hedwig? She's much faster than Pig."

Harry nodded and Ron hurried off to the owlery to send his letter. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and Hermione grinned. She grabbed Harry and started kissing him passionately, backing towards the couch. Hermione quickly sat down on the couch and started laying back, grabbing Harry's shirt and pulling him with her. Harry put one hand down on the couch arm to stop himself from falling right on top of Hermione. She took his face in both her hands and gave him a deep, sensuous kiss. Hermione started sliding his shirt up to pull it off when they heard the portrait open. They looked up to see Ron and Neville entering the room, laughing about something. They stopped short and grew silent when they caught sight of Harry and Hermione. Ron tried to hide his smile. "Are we...interrupting?"

Harry and Hermione sat up quickly and Harry said, "No, we uh, tripped over a quill that was lying on the floor, we lost our balance and fell on the couch."

Neville looked at Ron and then back at them. "Yeah, yeah, sure thing!"

Hermione flushed a deep, crimson red. "So, how about that homework?"