Disclaimer: The first song "Between the Bars" is sung by Elliott Smith. The second is "La vie en rose" the version sung by Edith Piaf. There's the English version of the song at the end as well, which also doesn't belong to me and has been sung by various singers. Also, the line "music leads to..." is taken from a much music commercial I saw a while back. So I can't take any credit for that one.

A/N: Okay, here's the next instalment. There's a fair bit of music in it as well, actually I hope I didn't over do the whole music thing. I find that every time I read a story I picture it as if it's a movie playing in my head, and like all movies it must have a soundtrack. So here's mine. I think that one can get into the story a bit more if it's accompanied by music, and if any of you can, maybe you can get a hold of these two songs (Between the Bars-Elliott Smith & Le vie en rose-Edith Piaf) Plus it would be more affective hearing it as well as reading the lyrics. Now hopefully I'm not rushing things as you'll see in the end. Just let me know how I'm doing, oh and thanks to all who has read and reviewed.


She awoke from a dreamless sleep. Knowing that she had gotten only about four hours of sleep at most, and feeling as if she only had two, Hermione opened her eyes groggily and rubbed every trace of sleep away. Sitting up she swallowed a yawn and stretched. Hermione blinked as she looked around blearily. Where was she? All she could remember was a jumble of sounds and pictures: stumbling around the corridors, tickling a pear and soft yet soothing singing.

"About time you woke up," a voice sounded from the portrait hole.

Hermione swivelled her head to see Ginny walking towards her with a grin on her face. In one hand she held a plate containing a muffin, some eggs and a few sausages and the other held a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Here. I wasn't sure if you were awake yet, but you still got loads of time."

"Oh my goodness, what time is it?"

"Half past."

"Seven?"

"Eight."

"What!"

Hermione jumped to her feet and made to run to the girl's dormitories, but Ginny caught her by the arm.

"Relax, you have half an hour until class starts."

"But I still have to shower, and change, and review my notes, and I wanted to go to the library and-"

"There's plenty of time."

She sat Hermione down and handed her the plate.

Now completely awake, the events from earlier came flooding into her memory. She shovelled the food in her mouth at break neck speed and chewed hurriedly while craning her neck to look around the room.

"Where's Harry?" she said, half expecting him to come through the portrait hole or pop up from under the table. "He should have woken me up."

"Harry's with Ron in the Great Hall talking with Luna," Ginny said, but her tone of voice made Hermione pause. She eyed Ginny and took another forkful of food.

"Nothing happened."

"Oh, of course not. I only found the two of you sprawled on the sofa together, obviously exhausted, though from what, is clearly none of my business," Ginny stated and Hermione noted a rather wicked look in her eye. She sighed as she managed to scarf down her muffin. Ginny seemed unfazed by the fact that at that moment Hermione looked as if she was trying to swallow the baked good whole.

"We fell asleep on the couch. Nothing happened," she said and suddenly dissolved into a fit of coughing. Ginny calmly handed her the glass and Hermione took it gratefully, gulping it down in seconds. Shooting to her feet, she hesitated, debating whether or not she should take the dishes with her. Having made her decision, she rushed to the staircase and raced up the stairs with Ginny at her heels.

"Come on, Hermione. You know you can tell me anything right?"

"And I'm telling you, Gin, nothing happened," she said as she rushed around the room grabbing her things, rand into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

Ginny fussed with her hair as she looked in the mirror then walked up to the closed door and leaned on it.

"Don't tell me that you were alone with him all night and you didn't do anything," she called through the closed door.

Within minutes, Hermione burst from the washroom, hair dripping but now dressed in fresh clothes.

"We weren't alone all night. I went to bed earlier but woke up, and besides, Ron was with us."

With a flick of her wand, Hermione applied a drying charm to her hair and shrugged into her robes.

"Yeah, but Ron wasn't there when I came down this morning."

"Hand me my books, will you, Gin?"

"Don't you dare try to change the subject. Alright, if you want to be difficult then fine but I bet you can't look me in the eye and tell me that you never did anything with him before."

Shouldering her bag, and with her hand on the doorknob, Hermione visibly froze. A split second later she was out the door and rushing down the stairs.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried out in a mixture of scandalized triumph and surprise.

Hermione winced but never faltered in her step. She meant to rush to table to pick up her dishes but was surprised to find that they were no longer there.

Wow, they're efficient.

A feeling of annoyance grew within herat the sight of the table devoid of her dirty dishes. Ginny practically flew down the stairs and clutched Hermione's arm in a vise like grip.

"When?" she said, but Hermione paid no attention to her.

"Can you believe it? I was upstairs for no more than ten minutes and already they have cleared my mess away."

"Yes, it's wonderful isn't it?" Ginny said flippantly and continued, "Now tell me, when?"

"How can this be wonderful? They're being worked like slaves! It's as if they're told to wait in the shadows for us to toss our rubbish about and then quickly dispose of it because heaven forbid any of us to clean up our own mess. I cannot believe this!" Hermione said heatedly.

"Hermione, will you leave the house-elves for just a minute?" Ginny said exasperatedly.

Hermione climbed through the portrait hole and headed to her class, still partially annoyed. Already the students were roaming the corridors, heading to their first class.

"Oh, you cannot expect me to go to class now without telling me what happened."

"Ginny,"

"No, Hermione," she said stubbornly.

Hermione sighed and turned to face her friend. "Meet me in the common room after classes are over, alright? I'll tell you then."

Ginny looked as if she was going to object when Hermione stood straighter and adjusted her head girl badge.

"You're going to be late, Ginny."

Ginny looked sourly at the badge. "Alright fine. And you'll tell me everything?"

"I'll tell you what I can."


"You did what!"

Heads swiveled in the direction of the sudden outburst.

"Oy, what are you looking at? This is a private conversation," Ginny said, oddly sounding much like her older brother.

"Ginny," Hermione hissed, eyes darting around the room. She gave Seamus and Dean a weak smile and turned back to the red head sitting before her. "You said you wouldn't overreact."

"Yeah, that was before you told me that you snogged Harry sodding Potter. Blimey, Hermione, I didn't think this was going to be bigger than Dean asking Parvati out."

"He finally did it?"

"And she finally got the chance to let him off nicely."

Hermione cast a remorseful frown in Dean's direction.

"So that's why he's been acting strangely. Poor Dean."

"Poor Dean? Um, excuse me, but are we just going to ignore the fact that you positively snogged the brains out of Harry, and almost shagged him in this very room, on that very couch?"

Hermione's eyes flared as she cast another look around the common room, looking for stray ears. Everyone seemed to be occupied with their own business, and feeling somewhat satisfied, she focused her full attention on Ginny.

"First of all, nothing happened," Ginny's eyebrows raised at this comment, but Hermione ignored her. "and second, Harry stopped everything before we could do…it."

"It? You are practically a grown woman, Hermione," Ginny laughed then said in a matter of fact tone, "its called sex. You and Harry had sex."

Hermione's eyes widened and she cast furtive looks around the room, glaring especially at Dean and Seamus. Satisfied that they were completely preoccupied with their game she turned back to Ginny and said, "We didn't have…it. We just…kissed…among other things."

"Oh my god…" Ginny groaned, as she tried to stifle her mirth.

"It sounds horrible, doesn't it?"

"Are you kidding? This is the greatest news I have ever heard since… well, ever."

"You're joking."

"You have had your eye on him for years and it's about time that you two did something about it."

"What are you talking about? We're just friends."

"With benefits?"

Ginny laughed as Hermione gave her a horrified look and playfully swatted her.

"You are horrible, Ginny."

"No, I'm just fiendishly clever," Ginny grinned at Hermione, who went back to whatever it was she was writing. The red head smiled slyly and leaned forward. "So? How was it?"

"How was what?" Hermione asked with feign innocence. At the look Ginny gave her, she said, "You don't honestly expect me to tell any of that, do you?"

"Oh, come on. The entire female population has been dying to get their hands on the illustrious Mr. Potter ever since he turned legal. You've been one of the lucky few. Now please, do us all a little favour and give us some details."

Hermione laughed at the wicked smile that graced the youngest Weasley's features. Oh, if only Ron could hear them now.

"It was…nice."

"Nice? That's it?"

"I was just about ready to go at it right on the couch. What else am I supposed to say?"

"You dry humped, Harry Potter!" Ginny said aghast, eyes sparkling in barely contained mirth, and Hermione was torn between burying herself in her books in embarrassment or swatting the be-jesus out of the crude Weasley.

"Ginny, I swear, if you don't lower your voice, I'll-"

"Sorry. Jut a bit of a shock that's all. My god, Hermione. I didn't know you had it in you."

"Yes, well, nothing is going to come of it. It was a mistake and we won't let it happen again."

"Are you mad?"

Absolutely.

"Hermione, if he likes you, I say go ahead and take him."

"Haven't you been listening to a word I've said? He doesn't fancy me. It was a mistake, and anyway, I talked to him about it and he said that it's not a problem. I bet he has already pushed it away or forgotten about it by now."

"You talked to him? When?"

"Early this morning, before I fell asleep."

"In his arms?" Ginny teased and laughed as Hermione swatted her yet again.

"Yes, in his arms. Again, nothing happened."

"And what did he say?"

"He said he doesn't regret it."

"He doesn't regret it?" Ginny repeated and when Hermione confirmed it with a nod, she said, "And you're somehow translating that into an 'I don't have any interest?' "

"And how else am I supposed to interpret it?"

"Oh, I dunno, maybe: 'I'm incredibly interested, and slightly aroused?' "

Hermione shook her head in amazement and Ginny dissolved into a fit of laughter at the look on her face.

"I cannot believe you. He has no interest in me and I absolutely do not have any feelings for him."

Oh, you are a horrible liar, and whatever happened to 'I'll tell her everything in the morning?'

Hermione wanted to stamp out the little voice in her head, but she also reveled in the fact that the voice was indeed her own. Ginny only looked at her with raised eyebrows, but not a word escaped her mouth. Hermione knew that she could see right through her lie, but Ginny only grinned slyly and brought her attention back to her books.

"So I guess you're either blind or in denial."

"Please don't tell me you've been talking to Lavender," Hermione mumbled under her breath.

"Don't tell me that you haven't noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"The way he looks at you."

Hermione froze in the action of turning a page and looked up at Ginny.

"And trust me, love, he hasn't forgotten a thing."


"You haven't forgotten a thing, have you?" Ron asked.

"Course not."

"You think this will work?"

"It has to, and if not, she needs to relax anyway," Harry said.

"You sure you can find it, mate?"

"Positive."

"Right, well. Let's get on with it then, eh?"

"Filka pod," Harry muttered and followed Ron through the portrait hole.

Seamus and Dean paused in their game of Blind Man's Bluff, and Dean, who was exceptionally good at the game nudged Seamus and motioned to Ron and Harry.

"Hey Harry, Ron! Youse wanna play?" Seamus said.

"Maybe later, yeah?"

"Right."

The two of them walked up to the table Hermione and Ginny were sitting at. Harry greeted them with a grin. "Hey. Missed you this morning."

Hermione only smiled weakly in response, and Ginny had a strange look in her eye.

"I'm sure Hermione did as well," she said earning herself a glare from the blushing head girl.

Harry looked at the two of them in confusion but instead of asking he plopped himself in a seat beside Hermione. He glanced at the book she was reading.

"I thought we were done with Dream Walking."

"Yes, I know, but I'm rather interested in the topic so…"

Harry nodded, noting the nervous look in Hermione's eyes. He looked to Ginny for answers but she carefully avoided his gaze.

"Well you missed it at breakfast," he said.

"Missed what?"

Ginny failed at stifling a laugh as she said, "Ron being prince charming."

"She said yes, didn't she?" Ron said with a glare at his sister.

"Oh, that's wonderful, Ron." Hermione said with a bright smile.

Ron looked at the table and began fussing with the pages of Ginny's book. "Yeah. Yeah it is," he said with an unconscious smile gracing his features. He then looked up at Harry and Hermione and asked, "You two still set for the double date thing?"

Harry, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of a loud pop signalling Dean's success in the game, missed Ginny raising her eyebrows suggestively at Hermione. Now beet read, Hermione stared daggers at Ron.

"It's not a double date, Ron."

Having turned back to the conversation, Harry nodded and said, "Yeah, we're still in. Not for the whole thing, mind you. We'll give you two some time alone, but we'll have a couple Butterbeers together."

Hermione's book snapped shut and she stood.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"The library. I want to get some work done before I go on my rounds."

"I'm coming too. I need to finish my essay for Flitwick," Ginny said and followed her out.

Once they were out of the room, Harry rounded on Ron.

"Double date? What's wrong with you? It's hard enough as it is to do this without scaring her away."

"Sorry, mate. Couldn't resist."

The two of them joined Dean and Seamus for six rounds of Blind man's Bluff, in which Dean (being exceptionally and frighteningly good with the loss of his sight) won three, Ron and Harry two and Seamus ("I'm better with me eyes open anyway.") with a grand total of one win.


Hermione yawned as she headed back to the portrait hole. She needed to get more reading done for Defence Against the Dark Arts. This trip around the school was quite an uneventful one save for the regular meetings with Peeves and a few run-ins with couples seeking privacy that the dark corridors and one broom closet provided. What shocked her most whenever she happened to find a couple engaged in certain illicit acts was not the fact that what her eyes witnessed was indecent and quite alarming, but instead her treacherous mind somehow managed to dredge up images of herself and Harry. For a split second these images would completely take over, replacing the couple before her eyes. Then she would mentally shake herself violently, allow a grunt or a word to escape her lips, and with a disapproving look she'd send the embarrassed couple scampering away. Three times this happened, and three times she cursed Harry Potter and the feelings he managed to invoke within her.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the portrait swung open before she could utter the password and out came the devil himself. That look in his eyes that caused her to tremble with an indescribable feeling followed the surprised look when he first noticed her standing before him.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Looking for you."

"Why? What's wrong?" Hermione said, suddenly concerned.

Harry shook his head and took her hand. "Nothing," he said as he led her away from the portrait.

Hermione look back at the fat lady as she was helplessly led on.

"Well if nothing's wrong I need to go back. I have to finish reading something for Professor Wellington's class."

"That's not due until next week."

"Yes, but I'll have loads to do next week. I may not have any time."

Harry didn't answer her and just continued to pull her along.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see."

Hermione stopped in her tracks, forcing Harry to do so. He looked back at her.

"Where are we going, Harry?"

He looked at her with that same look that dream-Harry had graced her with. Her breath caught in her throat.

"It's a surprise," was all he said before he tugged at her hand and pulled her along with him once again.

"This better be worth it, Harry. It's after hours."

"You can say that you were on official Head-Girl business."

"Doing what exactly?"

Me. Harry thought to himself with a wicked grin. Instead he said aloud, "Now that I leave up to your imagination."

Hermione grit her teeth as she tried to push treacherous thoughts aside. She definitely did not want to leave anything up to her imagination at the moment, thank you very much. Harry was too busy looking at the map in his hand to notice Hermione's moment.

"Hang on, someone's coming. You have that excuse ready yet?" he said, dropping her hand and fishing in his pocket.

"Harry!" she hissed. "You can't expect me to just-"

"Relax."

He pulled out a light silvery material out of his pocket, and in moments, Hermione found herself once again underneath the invisibility cloak, pressed up against the wall. Only this time the arms that encircled her didn't belong to Ron. They held her a little too close, and long after the teacher passed, they lingered on her a moment too long.

It wasn't long before Hermione noticed that the portrait on her right seemed all too familiar.

"Harry, we've passed that portrait already."

"I know."

She looked up at him.

"We're walking in circles, Harry."

"I know," he said, with his eyes searching the walls for an elusive door.

"Harry, this is ridiculous. What exactly is it that we're looking fo- oh."

A door appeared.

"We're here," Harry said and they stepped through. He whisked the cloak off them and stuffed it back in his pocket. "What do you think?"

Hermione blinked.

"What is this place?"

"It's the room requirem-"

"I know that. What I meant to say was what did you need?"

Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced around the room. Everything was exactly as it was when he and Ron had found it. "I thought you needed a place to relax. You know, get away from school and all. Guess, you're fine though because this a lot like the common room. With more books of course."

Hermione walked up to the couches.

"There's trays of food here," she said, looking at the coffee table.

Harry grinned. "Yeah, I, er, asked Dobby to send in something. Looks like he outdid himself."

Hermione ran to the mountains of books adorning the numerous shelves. Her eyes scanned the titles. With a wide smile she excitedly ran up the winding staircase to the rest of the shelves on the second floor. The moonlight poured through the bay windows illuminating her in a soft light. Harry stood with his hands in his pockets and watched her move from the window to look through the shelves. Everything she had ever wanted to read was right there in her reach from Muggle novels to "A Wizard's Guide to finding the perfect animagus, and other shape shifting tricks". A contagious smile lit her features and she moved to lean on the balcony to gaze down at Harry. Unshed tears shone in her eyes and they sparkled in the moonlight kissing her small form.

"This is wonderful, Harry."

"I knew you'd like it," he answered, not able to take his eyes off her. "Come down here, I want to show you something else."

She came down the stairs to meet him. Torches and candles lit the room. A roaring fire crackled in the hearth and he handed her a cup of tea before turning her attention to an object on the table by the wall. It looked oddly like a gramophone, but instead of a handle that served to wind it up, there was a hole that looked like her wand could easily fit into.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Watch," he said.

Hermione watched as he shut his eyes. He appeared to be concentrating on something and his lips moved, mouthing out words that she couldn't make out. He then opened his eyes and inserted his wand into the box saying, "Ludo." There was a crackling sound and Hermione looked at him curiously. He brought a finger to his lips. "Listen," he said and so she did. The muffled crackling continued, until soft notes playing the bars to the intro of an unfamiliar tune reached her ears and filled the confines of the room. When the artist started singing to the sweet melancholic tune, Hermione laughed softly and placed a hand on the object.

"This is a gramophone isn't it?"

"Yeah. You haven't seen one?" Harry asked and Hermione shook her head in response. Her ears picked up the words that surprisingly hit close to home.

Drink up with me now,

And forget all about

The pressure of days.

Do what I say,

And I'll make you okay,

And drive them away

The images stuck in your head…

"I'm surprised Parvati or Lavender didn't bring one with them."

"Parvati says she's always wanted one, and Lavender didn't really care much. Where did you get it?"

"Luna let me borrow it. I asked her this morning."

Hermione looked back at him with eyes bright with laughter. "Was this before or after Ron asked her?"

"A bit after. She took a seat at our table for a bit after he asked, and I took advantage of the situation."

"It's a pretty song."

Harry nodded. "I heard it two summers ago. Dudley borrowed a CD from his friend. He didn't like it much. I stole into his room one day and had a listen. Been stuck in my head ever since."

Hermione looked at him sadly. She had forgotten the life that Harry had to live with his relatives. Sneaking into his cousin's room just to listen to a song just wasn't right. He shifted his feet, avoiding her eyes, and knowing exactly what she was thinking.

In an effort to change the topic or get their minds off of his misfortunes, he started to sing under his breath the last verse along with music and she noticed that they were the words he was mouthing out earlier.

Drink up one more time,

And I'll make you mine.

Keep you apart,

Deep in my heart,

Separate from the rest,

Where I like you the best,

And keep the things you forget…

Harry wandered to the couch and picked up a pastry. The music stopped and he sat down, taking a look around the room. Yes, this definitely was a nice place. Why he didn't think of it before was beyond him. The crackling sound signalling the playing of another song made him pause and sit up.

Des yeux qui font baisser les miens
Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche
Voilà le portrait sans retouches
De l'homme auquel j'appartiens…

The foreign words reached his ears and he looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow.

"What's this?"

She only grinned and said, "Listen."

It had an old classic sound to it and oddly reminded him of an old 1940's movie he had seen in Mrs. Figg's home. Only that film had been in a language he understood. He listened to the woman's husky mournful voice singing the words and half wished that Fleur was here to translate.

"Care to explain?"

She walked over to him and pulled him up then led him by the hand to the middle of the room.

Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas
Je vois la vie en rose
Il me dit des mots d'amour
Des mots de tous les jours

Et ça m'fait quelque chose…

"My parents took me for a vacation in Paris when I was 11. It was wonderful. On the night before we left there was a ball held on the terrace. Oh, it was beautiful, Harry. Picture elegant dressed couples, swaying together to the live band. Lights strung here and there, stars glittering in the sky. Naturally, I was too young to attend, but our window overlooked the terrace and I remember perching on the sill, pressing myself up against the glass." Her eyes took on a far away look as she continued, "and if I squinted just right, I could make out my mum and dad on the dance floor. I couldn't see the people, but above the mindless chatter I could hear the music clearly."

"Let me guess. It was this song, wasn't it?"

"I absolutely fell in love it. I even opened the window and leaned out. My mum found me asleep, leaning out the window by the time they came up. They were sorely angry with me the next morning, but oh, Harry, the song was just beautiful."

"So you bought the CD the next morning, didn't you?"

"Actually, I couldn't find it. It's not funny Harry, I was devastated."

Harry quickly put on a contrite face.

"And now, after all these years you're listening to it."

"Thanks to you."

Harry bowed.

Il est entré dans mon coeur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause
C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui, dans la vie
Il me l'a dit
l'a juré
pour la vie…

"Now are you going to ask me to dance or not?" Hermione asked him.

Harry blinked. When she didn't say anything he said, "Oh, you're serious?"

Hermione had surprised herself as well when uttering those words, but there was no turning back now.

"Was there any other reason for you borrowing this from Luna?"

"Er, for you to listen to music? Come on, Hermione, you know I don't dance."

"Well now is the perfect time to learn."

"I didn't say that I didn't know how," Harry said defensively, to which he earned a raised eyebrow from Hermione.

"Alright, fine. I'm not the best dancer in the world. We don't have to do this, Hermione."

"Look, the song's starting again, now take my hand. It's not that hard. It will come naturally," she said now all business-like. Her face and tone serious, she took his arm and placed it around her waist. Harry swallowed.

Who's seducing whom now? He thought.

Just friends. It's only a dance. Was the mantra in her head.

Taking his hand in hers, she led and he followed somewhat clumsily, but getting into the hang of things as the music went on.

This was too close. What in the world was she thinking? Unbidden, Ginny's joking words popped in her head. It was the moment before the Yule Ball, and Hermione had worriedly said, "There'll be music playing."

"Yes, dear. And you know, music leads to dancing, and dancing leads to touching."

She smiled at the recollection. Just a dance, indeed.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked.

"Nothing."

"I'm not that bad am I?" he said.

"You're doing wonderfully, Harry," she assured with a smile and mistakenly looked up at him. Her mouth went dry. Yes, they were awfully close. She wondered if he could feel her racing heart straining to jump out of her chest.

"La vie en rose. What does that mean?" he asked her.

"Life in pink. It's an expression. Life is beautiful."

"That's optimistic. Too bad I can't understand the rest."

"I can't believe that this song isn't the least bit familiar to you. It's pretty well known in the muggle world."

Et dès que je l'aperçois
Alors je sens dans moi
Mon coeur qui bat…

Harry just shrugged in answer and she shook her head in amusement and said, "Well, I do know the English version-"

"Why am I not surprised?" Harry teased and Hermione slapped him in the arm playfully.

"Oh be quiet."

They fell silent. Both very aware of each other.

Des nuits d'amour à plus finir
Un grand bonheur qui prend sa place
Les ennuis, les chagrins s'effacent
Heureux, heureux à en mourir…

She didn't know that there was a space between them until he pulled her closer to him and whispered, "Lost in the music, huh?" his voice filled her ears and all she could feel was the arm wrapped gently around her waist and his eyes burying deep within her.

"You can say that," she said quietly to herself.

Unbeknownst to her, he was leaning in, eyes shut and inhaling her scent. The music enveloped them and wrapped them in its embrace. The world fell away and there was only their swaying motions and the music that beckoned them to continue and never cease.

Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas
Je vois la vie en rose
Il me dit des mots d'amour
Des mots de tous les jours
Et ça m'fait quelque chose…

"See?" she said quietly, "I told you to just let it come naturally. There's really nothing to it."

"Yeah, I guess I learned from the best."

"And who was this?" she asked curiously.

"Parvati."

"You're serious?"

"She led me most of the time. I was too busy eyeing Cho and Cedric," Harry said laughing at himself.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Was that really three years ago?"

"Last time I checked, yeah it was."

Il est entré dans mon coeur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause
C'est toi pour moi, moi pour toi, dans la vie
Tu me l'as dit
l'as juré
pour la vie…

Without realizing, she rested her head on his chest. His heart thudded in her ears and his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Everything is moving so quickly," she said with a hint of sadness.

"Change is good," he said and she looked up at him, surprised to find his bright eyes so close to her own.

"Not all the time," she whispered.

Et dès que je t'aperçois
Alors je sens dans moi
Mon coeur qui bat

She could almost feel the ghost of his lips brushing against hers, and her breath caught in her throat in anticipation. Would he dare? But more importantly, did she want him to? He let go of her hand and instead ran his thumb along the curve of her cheek, holding her gaze. He whispered her name, closing the distance between them. There was a sweet feather light brush of his lips, and Hermione soon became aware that the music had long since stopped, and the dangerous situation that as about enfold. Before anything could happen she turned her head away and stepped out of his embrace.

"Oh, look the song is over. I should stop it before it starts again, shouldn't I?" she said quickly and went on to put distance between them.

Harry's heart was racing and he couldn't help but feel cheated out of something. He was currently praising Luna for her suggestion to bring the contraption into the room when Hermione turned back to face him, cheeks aflame.

"Well, that wasn't so bad was it?" she said, flustered and Harry felt a surge of pride knowing that he had caused such a stir within her.

"Not bad at all," he said, which only caused her to flush once more and rush to the couch.

"Pumpkin juice?" she said while holding out a glass.

"I'll just have tea, thanks," he said.

She smiled fleetingly, tossed back the glass and began to refill it. Harry walked up to one of the shelves, giving her time to gather herself. He eyed the list of titles.

"Find something you like?" she asked from the couch.

"Actually, no. Not a decent quidditch book in sight."

"Well this is my room of relaxation isn't it?"

Harry chuckled at her remark and continued to study the shelves. Nothing. He walked over to the fireplace and placed an arm on the mantle, staring at the flames.

"So are we just going to ignore what happened?"

Harry turned at her words and looked at her questioningly.

"What?"

"You know very well, what I'm talking about, Harry," she said meeting his gaze steadily from her seat on the couch.

"Well, that depends on what we choose to ignore. The dance or…" and he let that hang.

"Or the fact that you tried to kiss me?" Hermione finished for him, managing to keep her voice steady though the slight rouge in her cheeks betrayed her feelings.

"Well you weren't exactly fighting me off, were you?"

Hermione looked away, embarrassed.

"Harry,"

In three strides he closed the distance between them and fell to his knees. The current tableau reminded Hermione of the dream she had had earlier. His eyes burned as they pierced her and when he spoke his voice sounded fierce and raw with emotion.

"Don't tell me that you didn't want to. Don't tell me that you don't feel the same, Hermione because I know you do."

Her lip trembled.

"But we can't."

"And what's stopping us?"

"Please, Harry."

"If it's Ron, then it's fine. He's okay with it."

"No it's not-"

"Then what is it? School? Because if you need space I'll give you some."

Hermione shook her head and looked at her hands twisting in her lap. Harry bent his head to have a look at her face.

"Look at me, Hermione. Tell me what it is. If it's because of me then I promise you I won't let anyone hurt you."

Too late.

"It's not you." Hermione said as her vision blurred.

"Then what is it, Hermione?" he paused and swallowed before continuing in a quiet voice, "Is it… is there…someone else?"

"No!" she said looking up at him and dashing her tears away. She took a deep breath to calm herself and repeated in a softer tone, "No. There's no one, Harry."

He raised his hand as if to brush the hair from her eyes but it froze in mid motion and he slowly let it rest on the couch. "Hermione," he began but she cut him off with a shake of her head and looked at him imploringly.

"Please, Harry. I can't talk about this now. Please. Just let it go."

His eyes searched hers as if they could find her answer there.

"I can't," he said finally, breaking the heavy silence.

Tears leaked out of her shut eyes and she lay down on her side.

"I won't," he continued.

She felt the shadow of his fingers pushing away the curtain of hair that fell across her face and she felt his lips on her forehead before they brushed her ear as he finished with a whispered:

"I love you."

Her eyes fluttered open at his final words, but he had already stood up; the sound of his retreating footsteps reached her ears. She shut her eyes once more as anguished tears cascaded down her features.

You don't mean that. Please tell me you don't mean that.

She could hear the song in her head. Hear the woman's mournful voice singing the foreign words. Hear the band playing the echo from the past, and like a mockery of the moment, the version she knew and understood sang in her ears and it didn't cease until sleep took her.

Hold me close and hold me fast

The magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart

I'm in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak

Angels sing from above

Every day words

Seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La vie en rose…