**Chapter 10: An Uninvited Arrival**

Just as Harry and Pansy were settling into a comfortable silence, a knock at the door broke the stillness of the morning. Pansy's eyes widened in alarm as she quickly glanced down at her half-dressed state, her silk robe loosely tied around her waist. "Harry, I think I'll just...go hide in the bedroom," she whispered, already scrambling off the couch. Harry nodded, getting up to answer the door. He opened it to find Hermione standing on the threshold, her eyes fixed on his with a forced smile. She looked...different, her usual composure slightly ruffled. Harry's instincts immediately kicked in, and he could sense that something was off. "Hey, Hermione! Come on in," Harry said, stepping aside to let her enter. As she walked past him, Harry caught sight of the faint marks on her neck, and his heart skipped a beat. There were dried tears on her cheeks, and her eyes looked red-rimmed. She was trying to hide it, but Harry could see that she was hurt. "Hermione, what's going on?" Harry asked, his voice soft with concern. Hermione shrugged, attempting to brush it off. "Oh, just a little argument with Ron. I needed to let him cool down, you know?" Harry's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. He excused himself and headed into the bedroom, where Pansy was waiting for him. As soon as he entered, Pansy's expression turned knowing. "The Weasley, I presume?" she whispered. Harry nodded, his eyes locked on hers. He could see the concern etched on Pansy's face, and he knew that she understood the situation. Harry took a deep breath, weighing his options. He could play ignorant, pretend that he didn't see the pain in Hermione's eyes, or he could go out there and offer her the comfort she so desperately needed. The question was, what would he choose? With a quiet determination, Harry made his decision. He walked back out into the living room, where Hermione was sitting on the couch, trying to look nonchalant. "Hey, Hermione," Harry said, sitting down beside her. "Can I get you a cup of tea or something?" Hermione smiled, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, Harry, I'm fine. I just...needed to talk to someone." Harry's heart went out to her, and he reached out, taking her hand in his. "I'm here for you, Hermione. Whatever you need, I'm here."