If the golden sunlight creeping through the windows of the dorm on the first day back had been any sign of things to come, then Harry was sure the sun was setting out to mock him this week. His first few days of term hadn't been entirely successful, all things considered, although he hadn't exactly pictured great things to come when his first day involved a double session of Defence Against the Dark Arts with none other than the Gothic horror of Severus Snape himself. Harry had vaguely wondered, as he had settled into those first lessons of the term, if the transition to a brighter room would have a corresponding effect on Snape's demeanor. It didn't. If anything, it simply served to throw Snape's sneering, sallow face into even clearer relief, and, Harry felt, there was never a more ironic way to use the term 'relief' than in that way. It seemed Snape was intent on remaining his same old self, not surprisingly, and Harry had already taken more than his share of irritable comments and house point deductions.

Now, sitting in the middle of the Thursday lesson with Ron on his left and Hermione to his right, Harry was just doing his best to focus his attention on taking down notes, and hopefully avoiding drawing Snape's attention. He'd almost gotten away with it too, and as Snape dismissed the class he and his friends, as usual, quickly made to leave. But, like those meddling kids...

"Potter."

Ha, well, it was worth a shot anyway.

"Sir?" Harry raised his head and stared Snape down, bracing himself for the inevitable sniping comment, already taking bets in his own mind on the choice of complaint this time. His money today was on the quality of his notes.

"The headmaster has asked me to inform you he requires your presence this evening, at five sharp, in his office." Snape sniffed, no doubt irritated at being used as Dumbledore's owl for the day. Harry quickly recovered from his initial surprise, truthfully, he'd half expected Dumbledore might use Snape to notify Harry of the first of the promised sessions they'd discussed that summer, and wasn't surprised to see Snape wasn't happy with the arrangement.

"Uh, I'll be sure to be there, sir." Harry decided to take the diplomatic approach, for a change, not wanting to risk a detention so quick into the new term. Surprisingly, this actually seemed to work, as Snape simply gave Harry a final glare, before turning and moving back to his desk. Might try that more often!

As they left the classroom, Ron and Hermione quickly started chatting to him. No, at him, more like!

"You better not be late Harry, these meetings are going to be really important for you, you know!"

"Relax Hermione, I'm not planning to be late, I'll have plenty of time to get up there after Charms." Harry said, slightly miffed Hermione thought Harry wasn't taking this seriously already. Although, in fairness, he knew her well enough to know she was just prone to anxiety like that. It reminded him a little of Mrs Weasley, and it could be endearing, most of the time. Most of the time.

"Ah, give him a break Hermione, the Quidditch tryouts aren't till next week anyway, so he's not going to be doing anything else anyway."

"Hey!" Both Harry and Hermione gave an indignant complaint at Ron's joke, in Harry's case, because he felt he had plenty to be doing after classes, thank you very much, although he suspected for Hermione, she might actually be taking Ron seriously...and she might have reason to, he was somewhat ashamed to admit, although he'd never really put Quidditch before Dumbledore's summons.

"What? Geez, it was just a joke! Anyway, I'm off to see the twins, got a few 'orders' to make, I'll catch up with you both in the common room later, yeah?"

"'Orders' Ronald? Need I remind you you are a prefect! You shouldn't be 'ordering' anything from those two troublemakers, especially not when we have to be in Potions in five minutes! For that matter, how can you even see them, they're not in the school!"

"Ah, ways and means Hermione, ways and means, Harry knows what I mean, don't you, mate?" Ron tapped his nose, and before Harry could do more than splutter at the implication, Ron had turned down another corridor, leaving Harry and an irate Hermione stood together, staring at his retreating back.

"Harry..." Hermione turned to look at him, suspicion written all over her face, brown eyes narrowing, and Harry, waving his hands, cut her off quickly.

"He's just trying to drop me in it again, I haven't seen the twins since the summer, same as you."

Hermione looked slightly relieved, although he was offended to note her eyes hadn't lost their suspicion entirely. Deciding to redirect the conversation, he quickly changed topic.

"So, shall we head to Potions then?" Harry, asked, indirectly reminding Hermione they had already lingered long enough.

"Oh Merlin, yes, let's go! Ronald will just have to catch up!" Hermione was already moving in front of him towards the dungeons as she replied, and Harry couldn't help but smirk slightly. The only thing that ever throws Hermione off course: the threat of a missed lesson! As they made their way quickly down the steps off the great hall, Harry couldn't help but shake his head that Ron was already backtracking on his decision to take up Potions after all. Really, he wasn't sure why Ron took the class at all, other than to be with Harry and Hermione, as Ron was always more of a 'wands and brooms' sort of wizard anyway, and unlike Harry, didn't have the same focus on an auror career that made it such a crucial class to take.

As Harry was musing to himself, they finally reached the classroom, and, noting the relief on Hermione's face, they clearly weren't late. He moved into the room beside her, and they took their usual desk at the front. That had been another one of Hermione's ideas, what was it she said in their first lesson? "It'll be an opportunity to catch Professor Slughorn's attention more often, and he'll probably chat to you a little more with you being in front of his desk the whole time." Sound reasoning, top marks Hermione, but that was, after all, to be expected of her.

A few minutes later, Slughorn had arrived, as had Ron, for that matter, who promptly slumped into a seat with Dean Thomas. Their assignment was on the board, and Harry and Hermione had already, thanks in no small part to the annotations on the potions book he had borrowed from Slughorn in their first lesson, gotten their potion prepared and simmering, and it was just a matter of waiting the fifteen minutes it would take to stew. Harry contemplated ways to open a conversation with Slughorn, who was sat in front of their desk, but was saved the trouble after a few minutes as the professor looked across his desk and observed their potion with satisfaction.

"Aha, I see we're well ahead of the class here then, eh? You know, you've got your mother's knack for brewing lad, I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you!" Slughorn exclaimed, a glint in his eye as he positively gushed praise at Harry, who felt a little uncomfortable since it was, after all, two of them working on the potion.

"Thanks professor, but honestly, Hermione deserves most of the credit, like I said to you on the train, there's no brighter witch in our year, and I don't just say that as her friend, either." Harry said, smiling lightly at the bright look that lit up Hermione's features as he spoke, and the warm glow that he could almost see radiating from her eyes. Damn, I really am hook, line and sinker here. Could be worse fates, I suppose!

"Oho, you're a modest one lad, again like your mother, but don't think I hadn't noticed Miss Granger's efforts here either!" Slughorn chuckled, turning a smile on Hermione as he spoke, who was now turning as red as the potion in their cauldron, and muttered a quiet "Thanks!" in response.

Slughorn leaned further over his desk towards them, and speaking softly, said, "My dear, I wonder, perhaps you'd be interested in joining me and young Harry here for tea tomorrow evening? I ordinarily meet with a few friendly students for a kind of fireside chat, if you like, nothing formal really, just a social thing, you understand."

Harry raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, there wasn't meant to be a Slug Club meeting for another week yet, and if they were having a 'private' chat, it was the first he'd heard of it.

"Oh, um, well, if-I mean, that'd be nice, I guess, yeah, I'd like that!" Hermione mumbled, still blushing furiously, while Harry watched Slughorn with veiled curiosity. Perhaps this impromptu informal chat could be the opportunity he'd been looking for?

"Splendid! I'm sure young Harry here will be glad to have you with us, perhaps if the two of you come along to my office, say, around six tomorrow? I'll let the head girl and boy know you're off prefect duties Miss Granger."

Hermione gave a small squeak that could only mean, Harry knew, she had forgotten her duties would conflict with the meeting, but she seemed to be reassured as Slughorn finished speaking, and nodded with a smile to both Slughorn and Harry.

"Excellent! Well, I'd best let you get back to the brewing, eh? Should be done in another minute I'd say." Slughorn leaned back into his chair, beginning to settle back into what Harry assumed were papers he was marking, but not forgetting Slughorn's earlier comments, decided to quickly ask a last question.

"Professor? You mentioned my mum, did you know her?"

Slughorn looked up in surprise at Harry, before smiling broadly again and nodding his head, a little sadly, "Oh yes, I certainly did. Excellent brewer that one, remarkably talented for a muggleborn with no training before she came here, and a finer witch you'd be hard pressed to meet. If you like, I could tell you a few stories tomorrow, I can recall a few adventures here and there you might be interested in!"

Oh, Harry was definitely interested, and he nodded eagerly, giving a quick "That'd be great sir, thanks!", before focusing again on their now ready potion. As they finished it off and bottled the result for marking, Harry couldn't help but smile to himself a little. Hermione had been right, Slughorn seemed a genuinely nice teacher, and it seemed that connecting with him wouldn't just be easy, it might even be fun. After all, he had so many stories of his dad from Sirius and Remus, but almost none, really, of his mother. Perhaps, just perhaps, Slughorn might even turn out to be a friend, as much as a source of information, and to Harry, that was a winning result right there.

"Harry?" Hermione said, nudging him lightly in the ribs as they left the dungeons, Ron off ahead of them, chatting to Dean, "You're very quiet, I'm guessing Professor Slughorn didn't ask you in advance about this meeting?"

Harry smiled back at her, going as far as to give her a slight nudge in return.

"He didn't, but that wasn't what I was thinking about."

"Oh," said Hermione, but then, eyes widening quickly, exclaimed "Oh! I see!" She grasped his arm lightly, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Are you sure you're alright with me being there tomorrow, if you want to hear about your mum in private..."

"No," Harry said, placing his hand over her arm in turn to emphasise his point, "I want you to be there, you're my best friend, there's no secrets between us, and let's face it, sharing stories about my mum will be much lighter material than the usual topics we seem to end up sharing!"

Hermione smiled at him, and said "True, very true, I just wanted to be sure." As she spoke, she quickly checked the time with a flick of her wand, a rather useful spell, though Harry had no idea where she picked it up. No, wait, I know exactly where: the library, as always. "You'd better head up to see Professor Dumbledore, it'll be time to see him shortly."

Harry gave a start, his thoughts having been entirely on his mother since they'd left the classroom, and realising he'd almost forgotten!

"Thanks Hermione, I very nearly forgot! I'll see you later, OK?"

"Sure, make sure to pay attention!"

"Who do you take me for, Ron?" Harry asked, smiling roguishly at her, as they read the main staircase. Ron was still ahead of them, but not far enough that he didn't shout back "Am I hearing my name Harry? Don't think I can't hear you two back there!" Hermione laughed softly.

"Sometimes, it's hard to tell you two apart, you're bad influences on each other!" Hermione scolded him light-heartedly, before motioning him away, and moving up towards Ron and Dean, "Go on, get moving, I won't be blamed for your tardiness."

Harry, chuckling slightly, moved away and, with a last quick wave, began making his way up to Dumbledore's office. Or more specifically, the gargoyle which guarded Dumbledore's office. Actually, now he thought on it...damn! Snape didn't give him the password! Harry thought Snape had let him off too easily today. Never trust a snake, I suppose, he thought to himself, but it brought him no closer to an idea for getting into the office. He'd just have to try asking, he supposed, and as the Gargoyle came into view, he stopped in front of it and spoke loudly into it's ear.

"Excuse me, I'm hear to see Professor Dumbledore!"

The Gargoyle reacted immediately, shrinking back with a loud curse, rubbing the ear he'd shouted into furiously, glaring at Harry.

"Bloody hell, kid! I'm not deaf! He's expecting you, just go up!" the Gargoyle shouted back, rubbing it's ear and still cursing to itself as it moved aside, allowing Harry to move up the stairs to the office. I guess I shouldn't have shouted, how was I to know the Gargoyle was sentient? He thought to himself in embarrassment, before realising that, after all, this was Hogwarts. Everything is sentient here. As he reached the top, he knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in!" called Dumbledore, and the door swung open before Harry had even lowered his hand. He quickly recovered and moved into the room, standing in front of Dumbledore's large, ornate, and thoroughly cluttered desk. He couldn't even imagine what half of the puffing instruments on top of it did, and he suspected he really didn't want to know either. He waited patiently for a few moments until Dumbledore looked up.

"Ah, hello Harry, please, take a seat, I'll just be a moment. I'd offer you some form of snack, but since dinner is coming up soon, I won't spoil your appetite."

Harry, not knowing what to say to that really, took the indicated seat and waited patiently for Dumbledore to speak, eyes moving around the office to settle on first, the ragged sorting hat, and then Fawkes, in his usual perch, and in full-feathered bloom, it seemed. Fawkes trilled softly as Harry's gaze rested on him, and Harry smiled back, "Hello Fawkes."

Dumbledore looked up again at Harry, and then Fawkes, smiling softly to himself with his customary twinkle in the eyes, before beginning to shuffle his papers into a stack, and moving them to the side of his desk.

"Fawkes is happy to see you well, as of course am I, Harry." Dumbledore said, gazing intently at Harry as he spoke, "I admit, I was worried, after the events of last term, that you might have needed a bit more time before we met. I'm pleased to see you seem to be recovering so well, and of course, proud too."

Harry, feeling himself swell a little with pride at Dumbledore's words, could only smile back and said "Well, I've had time to think, sir, and I'm sorry for, uh, well, basically trashing your office. I promise that won't happen again."

Dumbledore's eyes only seemed to twinkle slightly more brightly at this, and he nodded, simply replying "There's no need for apologies Harry, but I certainly appreciate them. As you can see, no lasting harm was done, to either of us, so, all in the past, yes?"

Harry nodded vigorously at this, glad to have gotten that, at least, off his chest. The guilt of his behaviour had been weighing heavily on him since July. Fawkes, as though he sensed that thought, gave another light trill, before spreading out his wings and flying through the open window into the orange, dusky sky.

"Well, Harry, I wanted to get straight to business with you today, and I will do so, but one question first: what do you think to Professor Slughorn?" Dumbledore asked, eyes remaining fixed onto Harry's as he spoke.

Harry blinked slightly, surprised at the question, but quickly smiled and said "I think he's going to be a great teacher, in fact, me and Hermione are meeting him tomorrow. A 'fireside chat' he called it, I think."

Dumbledore, to Harry's further surprise, seemed both happy and, strangely, quite relieved to hear his words and, after a small pause, said "I'm very pleased to hear that, Horace is an excellent teacher, and we were lucky to retrieve him this year." He shifted slightly in his seat, and looked directly at Harry again, with a more serious look about him. Looks like we're coming onto business now, I think.

"But I must admit, I'm also pleased because I had been planning, as part of our lessons to come, on asking you to befriend Horace anyway. He has, before you ask why, had access to many students over the years, one, in particular, that he had known quite well, and about whom I had hoped you might help get us some new and essential details on."

Harry stared at Dumbledore, shocked both at the implications of what he had just said, because really, if Dumbledore has interest in only one student of Slughorn's, it could only be one person if it was relevant to their lessons, but also, surprised and slightly pleased with himself, that his conclusion that Slughorn might have information he'd need in the coming war had been correct.

"Slughorn taught...him?"

Dumbledore sighed, moving a few more trinkets across his desk, before looking back at Harry again, hands clasped in front of him.

"Yes, Professor Slughorn taught Tom Riddle, and, as you no doubt are now realising, that fact alone would have been reason enough for me to want Horace back at Hogwarts, even if he was not an excellent teacher which, to be clear, he is."

Harry, processing this information as best he could, was silent a few moments, looking at his hands, before looking back up at Dumbledore, and saying "Well, he already seems to like me, I think, " Harry smiled slightly, and couldn't help adding, "and he certainly likes Hermione too. He says he sees my mum in me, but honestly, I think he's realising there's just as much of her in Hermione too."

Dumbledore smiled at this, inclining his head towards Harry, "On that point, I would defer to your judgement, but I suspect you are probably right Harry. I'm glad to hear your first impressions have been good, and there's no need to worry too much about pressing Horace for anything. Indeed, I'd advise against that anyway, as you'd only ruin what burgeoning friendship the three of you are establishing together here. I will emphasise though, Harry, that Horace is an essential part of the plans you and I will make together this year, and any information, any at all you gain from him..."

Harry quickly interjected, "Yes sir, I'll keep my eyes and ears open."

Dumbledore smiled yet again, and nodded once more, "I'm sure you will, thank you Harry. So, to business, to the village of Little Hangleton, and a family called Gaunt..."

- Moments that define us -

The next day, Harry filled in both his friends on all that he and Dumbledore had discussed in their first lesson together. They were both suitably impressed by the new information on Voldemort's origins, and the first journey into the pensieve. In fact, Harry felt he would look forward to these lessons with Dumbledore, as it wasn't often his two friends were so quiet, and so spellbound by the story he was telling them. They all agreed that knowing Riddle's background would be vital to beating him, and Harry felt himself reassured by their confidence that, with Dumbledore backing them, they couldn't fail. In fact, Harry almost believed as he spoke with Ron and Hermione that things really were that simple, and it made a wonderful change from the sense of dread that had hung over him at his lowest points that summer.

So, it was a cheerful Harry that accompanied Hermione down to Slughorn's office that evening, having fobbed Ron off with the tried and true tactic of: "We're off to the library to finish our DADA essay, want to come?" Ron had moved over to join Seamus and Dean's game of exploding snap quicker than you could apparate, and Harry, though he felt guilty about lying to Ron, and really, he wasn't even sure why he didn't tell him where they were going, couldn't help but feel pleased that Hermione, too, made no effort to tell Ron the truth. It could be their little secret. Which brought Harry the kind of happiness that is as warming as it is riddled with guilt, but hey, he'd take what he could get!

As they arrived at the door to the office, Hermione gave a smart three knocks, but the door was already opening by the second and, being left with her first hitting thin air, she quickly shuffled into the office ahead of Harry after Slughorn greeted them, blushing furiously for what felt like the fifteenth time that week. Actually, it probably -is- the fifteenth time, come to think of it.

Harry, following Hermione into the office, was impressed as he looked around it. He may not like the trappings of wealth all that much, but Slughorn undeniably had taste, and the mural-like paintings of Unicorns, Centaurs and, fittingly for a Slytherin, a Basilisk, all looked as though they were meant to be there all along, and Harry couldn't deny the Basilisk portrait, in particular, was an exciting image to look at, even if it brought back some painful memories. He watched Hermione carefully as she too looked at the portrait, but beyond a brief wince, she showed no further reaction to it.

"Now then, get settled, get settled, no need to stand on ceremony with me, and please, feel free to call me Horace while we're together!" Slughorn was almost bouncing with exuberance as he chivvied them into their seats, pouring out what Harry sincerely hoped was Butterbeer into two glasses, handing them to Harry and Hermione before settling into his own lavish armchair opposite them, before the fireplace. Harry had to admit, he could tell Slughorn was quite the gregarious host, and with just simple gestures and smiles, both he and Hermione visibly relaxed into their chairs, all tension dissipating quickly.

"So, I take it your classes are going well Harry? Hermione?" Slughorn, no, Horace, asked, smiling at them both benignly as he sipped a firewhiskey.

"Oh, as well as can be expected, although I think Professor Snape still has a bit of an axe to grind with me." Harry said, and Horace guffawed as Harry spoke, yet somehow managed not to even slightly upset his glass as he did so.

"Aha, the old Potter-Snape rivalry is still in effect then! I daresay I'm not surprised, what with how upset Severus was when Lily married James! Never forgave that!"

Harry blinked, not knowing what to say. Why would Snape care who my mum married? He was about to pursue that thought, before Slugh-Horace turned to Hermione, and asked her how her own week had gone.

"Oh, not too bad Prof-Horace, I just hope I can do justice to my coursework now that I have prefect duties to attend to as well." Hermione replied, smiling as Horace nodded genially at her, with a knowing look in his eye.

"Ah yes, quite a responsible young lass aren't you? Why, I don't think there's any other prefect in the castle who'd think of things that way. It's a shame we didn't get you in Slytherin, the current lot need a good shake up I should think! In my day, Slytherin wasn't run by an incompetent daddy's boy with a bucket of gel in his hair, no sir indeed not!"

At this, Harry and Hermione both laughed, and Harry could only think to himself: Yep, I -really- am going to like Horace. Horace laughed too, and, refilling his already empty glass before offering the two of them a refill, which they refused politely, he slumped back in his chair slightly, before fixing an eye on Harry again.

"So my boy, I imagine you wanted to know more about your mother, eh?"

Harry couldn't help it, he perked up at hearing that, and leaned forward, eagerly nodding, "Yes sir, er, Horace, I know loads about my dad, but not much about mum. What was she like?"

Horace laughed again, deep from the belly, and then, eyes shifting to the fireplace, he spoke.

"Well, I could tell you a thousand stories, and still not really describe her to you properly. Lily was, in many ways, almost a sort of avatar for model students everywhere, much like your young friend here," he nodded at Hermione, raising his glass slightly, as she smiled widely back at him, before turning his eyes back to the fire, "but she also had a real fire about her too. Very passionate, very forceful when she wanted to be, and not one to ignore people who needed help. She even helped me once, when I needed someone to speak to, someone to give me advice and comfort. I suppose for that reason alone, I feel I owe it to her memory to offer you the same service lad."

Harry smiled slightly at this, waiting for Horace to continue.

"Most of all though, she was a supremely gifted witch. Remarkable brewer, you know, one of a kind. It was very hard when, well..." Horace sighed deeply, and his eyes moved from the flames again to Harry's, staring at him intently, "you lost your mother lad, and other than losing a child, there's not much harder than that, but we all lost something special that night in your little cottage. To think, that such a bright light in our world could be snuffed out, by a man I once thought I knew...maybe I could have done more, perhaps I should have, but, well, when you get to my age lad, you realise that you'll always make mistakes, decisions you wish you could reverse, I'm sure you understand?"

Harry nodded at this, knowing exactly what Horace meant by that. Sirius, I'm so sorry. He shook himself slightly, as Horace was still speaking.

"...wouldn't want to dwell on that tonight though, it's a bit depressing for our first chat, so tell me Hermione, have you thought about a career in potions?"

- Moments that define us -

As they returned to the common room, both Harry and Hermione were silent. Hermione didn't say anything, but Harry knew she was trying to figure out what to say to him. The talk with Slughorn, as Harry supposed he should refer to him outside of their 'fireside chats', had given him a lot to think about, and he was a swirling mass of mixed emotions. On the one hand, he was bolstered to learn just how talented his mother had been, and there was no denying the intense honesty Slughorn had shown when he described her, so Harry had no doubt she was as talented and wonderful as he'd described. However, Harry didn't fail to notice that, through their conversation, Slughorn was avoiding mentioning Voldemort, and it was clear he really had known Riddle, just as Dumbledore said.

He supposed it made sense that Slughorn avoided the topic, most everyone was afraid of Voldemort, and certainly it must be hard to know one of your students became, well, the monster that plagues the wizarding world for decades, but even so... It was clear Slughorn was hiding something about Riddle. Harry didn't know exactly what, and he'd be sure to ask Dumbledore's opinion on Slughorn's evasiveness, but it just bugged him in that way that some things do. He felt sure he'd have to get a full explanation out of Slughorn eventually, but for now, it'd have to wait.

Turning the corner, they reached the fat lady, gave the password, and made their way into the common room, before Hermione, having swept her eyes across the empty common room, turned and looked at Harry nervously, obviously worrying about what to say. Harry chose to speak first.

"It's OK Hermione, I'm fine, I just need to think about things tonight, at least. Get my head round it all."

He gave his most winning smile, and could tell immediately Hermione could see through the Gryffindor-ish facade. She shook her head lightly, frowning, moved forward a little and looked up into his eyes. Harry felt very nervous and a little exposed, and he didn't quite know how to react.

"You know, Harry, you don't always have to hide away from me, or Ron, although I don't expect you to tell sad stories to Ron, I imagine you boys don't do much of that sort of thing." She sniffed slightly as she finished, and Harry couldn't help but smile as she kept her focus on his eyes. She always knew how to diffuse awkward tension.

"No, I suppose we don't, and I don't really want to hear his stories about Mrs Weasley smacking his bum for eating from the cookie jar, either!"

Hermione swatted his arm and tutted, but he could see she was hiding a smile, and she kept her hand on his arm as she said "Oh, don't be silly, you know what I mean! Just...just remember I'm here, OK?"

Harry wasn't sure why, but the look in Hermione's eyes just seemed to fill him with a rush of affection, and he wrapped his arms around her for a brief hug, before stepping back quickly with a slightly nervous smile.

"I know, thanks Hermione, I'll see you in the morning."

Hermione just kept looking at him, surprise evident in her face, but she simply said "Of course Harry, see you then" and, to his own immense surprise, she gave him a hug in return, just as brief, before turning and moving up to her dorm rooms. Shaking his head slightly to clear it, he smiled to himself a little, relieved she hadn't pushed him away, and he made his way to his own dorm rooms. Ron had evidently already gone up, judging by the snores rolling down the staircase, and he quickly lay down on his bed, not even bothering to remove his robes. As he lay there, thoughts wandering, he resolved again to do his best to protect his friends, and he knew that he was doing the right thing. After all, he thought with a smile, it's what his mother would have done. With that thought, he quickly fell asleep.

- Moments that define us -

Hermione lay in her bed, thoughts rushing quickly from one thing to another, as they so often did in her speedy if sometimes erratic mind. Homework, prefect duties, Professor Slughorn...Harry. Something had changed in Harry over the summer, and she didn't really know what to make of it. He'd always been driven, and determined to beat Voldemort, and she'd always known that, just as she knew he'd do anything for her and Ron. It was, after all, what bound the three of them together. And yet, he'd changed, and she just wasn't sure what to make of it. But above all, it wasn't his determination to succeed, or his drive, whatever his reasons, to befriend Slughorn that confused her, it was the simple hug he'd just given her. He never initiated physical contact, that just wasn't Harry, and she knew, from what little he'd revealed over the years, that he'd had to have been very badly treated by his relatives to be so closed off to human contact.

Yet he hugged her, and she just didn't know what to make of it. But really, it wasn't that he'd done it that bothered her, it was the fact that, until now, her feelings towards her friends had always been familial, brotherly, really, and yet, in that simple gesture, she'd be lying to herself if she denied that she wanted Harry to hug her again. Above all else, that confused her. After all, she thought with a wry smile, siblings don't usually get butterflies when they hug.