Hermione no, we mustn't," he protested, pulling her closer regardless of his own objections. Hurt and confusion flickered across her face and he found himself meeting her quivering lips. They both knew that no matter how many times they tried to convince themselves it was for the best they stopped this thing they had, they would always end up like this. Stopping didn't help so it wasn't an option. If anything stopping made things worse.

The last time it had been Hermione who enforced the, albeit temporary, split. It had last exactly three hours; and that had only been because they'd been stuck in lessons until lunchtimes, unable to escape to see each other. She'd gone to see him before their Defence against the Dark Arts lesson first thing that morning and confronted him. "This can't go on. It's getting more dangerous," he attempted to interrupt her, to stop her, but she spoke over him, "think of how much damage this could cause if people found out!" He relented, letting her hug him goodbye and leave, only to slip back in ten minutes later with Harry and Ron in tow.

She'd avoided drawing attention to herself, kept her contributions to the lesson at a minimum, but he found himself staring at her when the rest of the class were working. It was too risky to try and get a message to her now; he would have to wait until later.

But he didn't have to wait. He didn't have to find her, for at the beginning of lunchtime she ran into the classroom he was in, tidying up ready for the next class, and cast a cloaking charm on the door - concealing all sights and sounds from those outside. As far as anybody looking into the classroom was aware the room was locked and empty. Her use of spells was something that always caused him to marvel at her brilliance. But now was not the time. She was upset, flustered about something. Before he could enquire what was bothering her she'd dropped her bag on the floor and had wrapper her arms around his torso, sniffling as she held back tears. "I was wrong." Was all she said. All she needed to say as far as he was concerned. He lifted her head and waited until she met his gaze. She smiled tearfully at him, waiting for his reaction. He smiled back and slowly, gently, pressed his lips to hers. Moments later and it was as if nothing had changed. She checked before leaving the classroom. He left five minutes after her to avoid suspicion should they run into someone. A space of five minutes could be explained away much more easily than if they were caught leaving together.

Until now that was. She'd forgotten to cast the cloaking charm, and he'd forgotten to check. Their minds had been elsewhere that day. Voldermort, although now defeated, still had supporters who occasionally made an appearance and that evening she'd received news that her parents had gone missing, the dark mark cast above their home. She'd needed comfort and had gone to the most obvious person. So upset had she been that she hadn't noticed someone getting up from their chair in the common room and following her, and he hadn't noticed a face peering in through the door. As she sobbed in his arms and he consoled her. The person watching them slipped away, having seen enough to know theirs was more than an innocent friendship.

As she returned to the common room that evening, escorted by him to make sure she really was ok, someone was waiting for her in the otherwise deserted lounge. She started. "You made me jump. I thought everyone would have been in bed." Hermione managed a watery smile at the girl waiting for her. The girl smiled back, somewhat distractedly. "Is everything ok?" Hermione enquired, wondering what could possibly have prompted the girl to be up alone in the common room at midnight. Surely she couldn't have been waiting for her, they had nothing in common and weren't that close.

"How long has it been going on?" She spoke so quietly at first it took a while for the words to sink into Hermione's consciousness. She stared at the girl, stunned into silence. The girl simply watched her, waiting to hear her response.

"How long have you known?" Hermione finally asked.

"Since today. I followed you when you left earlier after Dumbledore came to see you. I saw you were upset and wondered why you hadn't gone to Harry, Ron or Ginny in the corner of the common room. I saw where you went; I saw who you went to."

The weight of her words hit Hermione and she realised she had to admit at least some of the truth. "It started four months ago. At first it was simply both of us at a low moment because of Sirius' death. We agreed it was a mistake, never again to repeat. But we couldn't help it. It's like we're drawn to each other. We've tried to stop so many times it's crazy, but we never last more than a day..."

The other girl boggled at her. "Crazy is right Hermione, do you know how much trouble you two could get into!"

Panic flooded through Hermione. "Please don't tell anyone! We're not doing anything wrong, I'm of age and I'm fully aware of my decisions."

"Hermione, I know I have a reputation for being a gossip. And to be honest it's true in a lot of cases. But I know love when I see it, and I'm not going to be the one who stops it."

"Thank you."

The girl shrugged and got up to return to the dorm. "I know it's not really my place, but I'd tell Ron and Harry soon too. You can trust them, and they might be a bit confused at first but they'd come round. Their good like that. You're lucky."

She smiled sadly and bid Hermione goodnight. Hermione watched her climb the stairs to their dorm and flopped down onto the sofa. Lavender Brown was full of surprises.