Chapter 1

Home Again

It was the summer before fifth year and it just so happened that it was the birthday of now 15-year old Harry Potter. He sat on his twin bed, an array of gifts sprawled out around him. There was a brand new quill that changed ink color randomly from Hermoine, a tin of broom wax for his Firebolt from Ron, 10 galleons from Hagrid, various homemade sweets from Mrs. Weasly, and, now resting in the trash bin, one of Uncle Vernon's old socks from the Dursleys. It wasn't the presents that caught Harry's attention, however; it was the note attached to Hermione's gift that he found most appealing.

"Dear Harry," he read aloud for about the twentieth time, "I do hope the Durseys don't spoil your birthday. I figured you must be sick of books by now so I picked you up this nifty quill. I bought one for myself, too, so we can compare colors when we do our homework together. Well, I guess that's all for now. Oh- I haven't heard any news about You-Know-Who; I do hope we don't meet up with him anytime soon. I can't wait to see you again. Love, Hermoine."

Harry whistled. "When we do our homework together"…"I can't wait to see you again"…it sounded as if she really missed him. And then there was the clause. Not "sincerely" or even "your friend"-no, she had written "love". Harry was not sure what he meant but his heart raced at the prospect of finally sharing his feelings for Hermione with her.

Harry spent the next few months anxiously awaiting an owl from Ron inviting him to spend the remainder of the summer with his family as he had for the past few years. One never came. Harry and Ron hadn't spoken in months and Harry wondered if his friend was mad at him, but he dismissed the thought. Ron had simply been busy this summer and he would just have to see himself to Hogwarts.

On August 29 Harry and Uncle Vernon left for King's Cross Station so he could catch the 10:00 AM train to the school.

"Now, boy, don't expect to be coming home for the holidays this year," Uncle Vernon lectured Harry before they parted for the school year. "Christmas is a wonderful time of year for family to get together and I don't intend on allowing my nephew to ruin it. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry answered automatically. He was neither offended nor upset; he had no intention of returning to the Dursleys' one second earlier than planned. Uncle Vernon glared at him for another moment then turned on his heel and walked away.

Ten minutes later Harry had followed the familiar route through the brick wall and onto platform 9 ¾. He handed his luggage to a prefect to load and stepped into the Hogwarts Express. Taking his usual seat in the back Harry plopped himself onto the leather cushion, pulled a book from his robes, and began to read.

"Harry?" a familiar voice asked. "Harry, is that you?"

Harry snapped shut A Century of Quittich and turned to face Hermione Granger.

"Hermione!" he exclaimed. "It's great to see you!"

"You too!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. Harry was a bit surprised at this gesture but returned the hug.

"I almost didn't recognize you," Hermione explained. "You've gotten so handsome over the summer." Her cheeks flushed but Harry quickly answered:

"You too. Pretty, I mean. You've gotten really pretty." Now it was Harry's turn to blush, but it was true. The girl's normal bush of dry, frizzy hair was now smooth and sleek, several inches longer than it had been in June. Her face was a lot smoother, Harry noticed, her eyes sparkling through a border of perfectly applied eyeliner, and, Harry realized, her robes seemed much tighter around her chest. His blush deepened as he thought this but, he told himself, it was perfectly normal for a 15 year old boy to think such things.

The two chatted nonstop for the next twenty minutes until, as the train was about to pull out of the station, their old friend Ronald Weasly, sauntered into the compartment.

"Hey, guys! Great to see- oh, sorry, am I interrupting?" he said scornfully at the intimate conversation he had walked in on.

"Oh, no, no, you're not interrupting," Hermoine said sheepishly, quickly backing away from Harry. "It's great to see you too, Ron."

Ron, still somewhat uncertain looking, took a seat next to Harry and the three began catching up on each other's lives as the train left the station.

* * *

That evening the magnificent Hogwarts Express pulled into the great castle and the students filed out onto the grounds. As Hagrid led the first-years to the boats that would row them across the lake, the prefects helped the older students into horse-less carriages and they soon arrived at Hogwarts for another year of excitement and adventure.

Professor McGonagal guided them into the Great Hall and Harry, Ron, and Hermione quickly grabbed seats at the Gryffendor table near Ginny, Fred, and George. After the new students were sorted into their houses Professor Dumbledor stood to read the start-of-term announcements.

"First of all," he said, silencing the students, "I would like to welcome you all back and to give our first years an official greeting. Welcome. Now, as I am sure you are all curious as to Lord Voldamourt." Most present flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord. "We have no further information on Voldamort but I assure you that you will all be notified immediately. As for now, please keep your eyes and ears alert for any possible signs of danger but also be aware that the castle is incredibly well protected. Now, other announcements…as usual, the Dark Forest is forbidden to all students, as is the teacher's lounge." He looked directly at the Weasly twins, who grinned sheepishly at this.

"Also, I would like to inform those who do not already know that Professor Snape will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher-"Harry gasped and exchanged looks with Ron and Hermione-"and Mrs. Natrin will be your Potions instructor." He gestured to a young brunette sitting two seats to his left. "That is all. Please enjoy the feast." He raised his hands and plates of every food imaginable appeared on the four long tables. The students gasped and chattered excitedly.

At the Gryffindor table the Weasly's brought up the subject of Quittich.

"I really can't wait to start this season," George said. "Over the holiday me and Fred have been drawing up game plans. We'll win for sure this year."

"Don't we always?" Harry asked smugly. Fred frowned.

"Yes, that's true…however, with so many players from the house teams graduating last year there will be many new additions. Harry, even with an excellent seeker such as yourself"-Harry beamed-"We don't know what we're up against. It's best to be prepared." Harry looked as if he was about to comment, but Ron spoke first.

"Hey, Fred, George, do you think I might be able to get a spot on the team?"

"Sorry to disappoint, little bro, but there's no openings on the Gryffindor team this year. Unless someone quits or is kicked off we can't take on anyone new. You could try out for a sub though." This didn't seem to satisfy Ron but he dropped the subject.

Desperate to break the silence Harry commented on hermione's plate.

"Oh, so you really are a vegetarian now?"

` "Oh-yes, that's right," Hermione answered happily. She turned to the others.

"As I was telling Harry on the train, over the summer I've decided to give up meat. It's just not right to slaughter those poor, defenseless animals."

"Hermione," Fred said in an exasperated voice, "why do you think God put cows on the planet?"

"To be equals with us!" Hermione shreiked.

"That's stupid," George snapped.

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"There, you see? I knew we'd come to an understanding."

Hermione shot out of her seat, slammed down her napkin, and ran off.

"Hermione!" Harry cried and without another word darted after her.

The Weaslys sat in silence for a moment, then Fred said, "Ron? Don't you think you should check up on them?"

"Nah," he said disdainfully. "I'm sure they'll be fine together." Fred and George exchanged a look but dropped the subject and soon fell into a deep conversation about their business of joke and gag items. Ron tried to listen in but soon grew bored and, after a few minutes, stood up and retreated to the common room.

"Oh, Hermione, don't listen to them, it's all rubbish," he heard Harry say hoarsely. Ron tip-toed further into the room to a safe spot behind a couch and listened attentively.

"I know, I know, but sometimes it just seems like I'm being a goody-goody…I miss eating hamburgers at McDonalds with my parents, and I feel like an outcast when you and Ron are gnawing at drumsticks while I'm picking at a salad."

"Oh, Hermione…it's your choice…of course it's right." He cupped her chin in his hand and she closed her eyes, leaned in, and-Ron couldn't bear to whiteness what was about to happen.

"Hello, mates!" he chirped. He was pleased, although somewhat guilty, so see Harry and Hermione quickly spring apart to separate ends of the couch.

"We better get to bed now, don't wanna be late for out first day of classes now, do we?"

"Um…no, no, of course not," said Hermione, collecting herself and standing up.

"Coming, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Oh, right." The three of them set off for their bedrooms.

"What the hell is up?" Ron cried as soon as Hermione had gone her separate way to the girls' dorms.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, taken aback.

"You and Hermione!" Ron practically yelled. "I saw you two in front of the fire, ready to start making out. Do you have the hots for her or something?"

"So what if I do?" Harry said defensivly, crossing his arms.

"Nothing, nothing," Ron muttered. "Jut forget it. I'm happy for you two. Really." He forced a smile to his lips and they resumed their walk to the dorm.

"Hey, it's not like we're a couple or anything…" Harry reminded him. "I was just cheering her up and one thing led to another and…it just seemed right at the time. You know."

"Yeah, I know," Ron said as they settled into bed. "I know."

He had no idea what the fuck Harry was talking about. How could he see Hermione that way? It was just wrong…