When Saturday came, Harry didn't know what to expect. He knew that this was a date. That's what he had intended it to be. But that didn't mean he wasn't nervous. In fact, Harry was currently pacing by the door. Ron was with him. When Harry had told him what had happened with him and Ginny, Ron had been scandalized. But when Harry had told him about Hermione, well, let's just say that the laughter had yet to cease.

"F-finally!" Ron said for the thousandth time. The laughter was finally starting to die down, though it was still going strong. "Y-you two have been th-thick about each other for years."

"You sound like Sirius and Remus," Harry said distractedly. Come on, he thought. Come on!

"I'm sorry mate, but we're right. It's been bloody obvious you've liked each other since…"

"Well it's nice to know that everyone knew but me," Harry retorted scathingly. Ron immediately stopped laughing. He glared at Harry's retreating back. Well it's not my fault you're so bloody clueless when it comes to women. Ron thought cruelly, but he held his tongue. He'd had his fill of Harry yelling last year, and he certainly didn't want to repeat it.

A sultry voice awakened both of them from their thoughts.

"Hi Harry."

It was Parvarti. Harry immediately stiffened. He hadn't forgotten what Hermione had told him the other day.

'She was going to give you until Christmas, and then she'd break up with you. Then Parvarti was going to make her move', those had been her exact words. And as Harry listened to Parvarti's seductive voice, he finally saw the seriousness of what Hermione had told him. Thankfully, Ron answered for him.

"'Lo Parvarti," he said, though there was a touch of resentment in his voice. Harry had told Ron about Parvarti's little scheme too.

"So Harry," she said as though Ron hadn't spoken, "are you going to Hogsmeade?"

"Yeah," he said slowly. "Why?" Parvarti seized her chance.

"Well I was just wondering if you'd like to get a butterbeer with me."

"I'm going with Hermione," Harry said curtly. Parvarti, who clearly hadn't been expecting this, gaped at him for a moment before turning on her heel and storming back to Gryffindor Tower. Without a doubt, she was going to tell Ginny, who wasn't going to Hogsmeade today, what had happened.

Not long after, Hermione came down. Harry could've sworn his jaw hit the floor. He had never, ever, seen her in anything other than her school skirt or jeans. Of course he had seen what she had been wearing at the Yule Ball, but that didn't really count.

Harry turned his head slightly and whispered, "Bye Ron." The redhead made his way out the door. Merlin knows what he'll be doing. Harry thought, rather amused. He turned his attention back to Hermione, who by now was level with him.

"You look…you look," Harry stammered. Luckily, Hermione smiled, apparently taking his stammering as a compliment. She grabbed his hand and headed out the door.

After a few minutes, Harry appeared to regain composure. He let go of her hand and, very cautiously, placed an arm around her shoulders. Hermione was tense at first, but relaxed a bit. This is the response you want, Granger. She said to herself. They just walked around for a bit. Their silence was driving Harry insane.

"Do you want to go get a Butterbeer?" he asked. Hermione nodded, clearly glad that he had broken the silence. They walked over to the Three Broomsticks, talking rather nervously. Mostly, they talked about the private lessons Dumbledore was giving Harry.

"But why does he think it so important that you learn about Voldemort'spast?" Hermione asked.

"No idea," Harry said. "He says it has everything to do with the prophecy but I'm not seeing it."

"Neither am I." There was silence for a moment.

"'Mione," Harry said cautiously.

"Yes, Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath. "How did you know what Ginny was going to do in the first place?" Hermione nearly choked on her Butterbeer.

"Why?" she asked, thought she already had a very good idea.

"No reason," Harry replied unconvincingly. Hermione arched an eyebrow, but nodded.

"Parvarti and Lavender came into the dormitory talking about you. I asked them what was going on and they told me everything." Hermione honestly looked like she was going to start crying again, so Harry let the subject drop. Not that he wasn't interested. Harry made a mental note to have a long talk with Ron about this.

Minutes later, Ron came in with Luna. Ron had broken up with Lavender (much to Lavender's shock), and had started to talk to Luna more. Harry and Hermione were very sure that they would end up together.Hopefully he'll do more than snog Luna at any given moment. Hermione had taken up to thinking.

It wasn't long before Ron and Luna were making their way over to Harry and Hermione. Hermione immediately started conversation, but Harry hung back. Everything had gone fairly smooth until Ron's arrival. Harry had wanted to talk to Hermione alone for a while, like Sirius had told him to.

He had wanted to ask Hermione how she felt. Harry honestly thought that she might fancy him, but he couldn't know for sure until he asked, and he couldn't ask until Ron and Luna left. So Harry downed the rest of his Butterbeer, kept up his end of the conversation (however small it was), and rehearsed in his head, how he wanted to ask Hermione about their friendship.

"Don't you agree Harry?" came someone's distant voice. When he realized that it had been Hermione, Harry snapped back into reality.

"I'm sorry, what?" he asked, rather stupidly. Hermione rolled her eyes in amused sort of way.

"Don't you agree that Dumbledore should never have given Snape the Defense Against the Dark Arts job?"

"Absolutely," Harry said passionately. "I used to have top marks in Defense, now that Snivellus is teaching it, my grades are rubbish."

Hermione nodded and continued her conversation with Ron and Luna. Harry resumed his mental rehearsals. Then, all too soon, Harry and Hermione were alone again. They had about an hour before they needed to be back in school, and Harry would make sure that he didn't waste it.

"Hey," he said, "let's get out of here. Let's go to Honeydukes."

"Sure," Hermione agreed. They paid for their drinks and made their way over to the sweets shop. As soon as they were inside, Harry pulled a surprised Hermione into the most secluded place in the shop (not that there were many).

"Harry what's going on?" she asked. Her forehead was creased.

"I need to talk to you, and no it can't wait," he said. His hands were trembling. He hadn't expected to be that nervous. Just don't let me screw this up, was Harry's primary thought.

Hermione noticed his hands, and felt her stomach do a back flip. She knew this reaction. She had seen him like this last year, when he had come back into the common room after his kiss with Cho Chang (Hermione still winced at the memory). Harry was either very nervous, very happy, or both. Please let it be the later, Hermione kept thinking.

"What is it?" she asked.

"'Mione I really…"

And that's when they heard Katie Bell scream.

A/N

I swear he'll tell her, just not for a few more chapters. Thanks for reading, please review