10.

For safe measures, Harry ran back for his invisibility cloak, then joined Hermione outside the portrait hole. It was five minutes 'til midnight when they finally started.

"Okay, Harry. Since this isn't really the most lawful thing to do, I suggest that we shouldn't talk. Also, Professor Dumbledore is very often roaming the castle at night, or so I've heard, so let's pray we don't bump into him." Hermione said rather cheerfully despite the seriousness of the circumstances. "I get it Hermione, besides, silence is good sometimes. Ya know?" He asked the gryffindor witch beside him. She nodded, and they went on down the hallway in a comfortable silence.

Just to their luck, Hermione and Harry only ran into Mr. Filch, who was rambling about Peeves.

"Oi! Granger girl! 'Ave you seen that blasted Peeves? 'E's been in my office 'gain, makin' a mess o' the place! Near scared Mrs. Norris 'alf to death, I tell ya!" He complained loudly as he hobbled towards them, his shaken up cat at his ankles, yet miraculously not tripping him up.

"No sir, but I think I heard something back near the girl's restroom." Hermione lied easily. Filch ate it up, as he was nodding thoughtfully. She continued. "I can check it for you, since you know..." He grunted in approval, then hobbled away around a corner.

"Wow." Harry whispered, mostly to himself. But Hermione heard him, and smiled. "Harry, do you think you can summon the Marauder's Map from here?" She questioned her best friend in a hushed tone. He began to nod, but stopped when he realized she couldn't see him. She was even looking in the wrong direction when she adressed him. He grinned to himself before saying, "Mhm." then pulling out his wand and casting Accio. It took the map a moment to make it down the corridor, and even longer to locate it, since Harry had it disillusioned. But it found him, all right. Smacked him dead in the head!

"Ouch!" Harry yelped when the heavy parchment collided with his cranium {alliteration}. He reached his arm from under the cloak and made the map visible again, then handed it to a his best friend. Who was having quite a laugh I might add. "That's not funny." Harry muttered darkly as he readjusted the cloak to cover his visible ankles.

Hermione walked over to the spot she last saw Harry. "Harry? Could you speak so I can talk to your face." This caused him to lightly chuckle, but it was enough. Hermione reached her arms out forward until they bumped his shoulders, and she moved her hands slowly down his arms. She didn't know it, but it sent a light buzzing sensation to his head, making him dizzy, and his stomach starting twisting. In a way, he felt sick, but in another, he felt truly alive.

She made it to his waist, then slid her hands back up, but around his torso instead, then took a step forward, encasing him in her arms. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered where she knew his ear was: "I'm sorry for laughing." Then hopped down and squeezed him so tight that he had to take off the cloak for air. "Geez Hermione! Well we're almost done anyways, right?" The teenage boy asked the prefect, quite breathlessly. "Mhm." She mocked with a grin.

"Just watch the map, Granger." Harry reminded sorely as he caught his breath.

"Just watch your back, Potter. I am very fond of secret-hug-attacking, in fact I am a master. So beware..." She warned mysteriously, which in the end, caused them to both start laughing. Hermione really loved spending time with Harry like this...alone. She had been noticing how much more she laughed around him as of late, but couldn't quite make sense of it. What has changed? She would ask herself once they made it back through the portrait hole at 2am.

Well, in many ways, we are all changing. Ron and I don't fight...as often. Ginny has gotten over her crush on Harry (Thank Gods). Neville has become much less forgetful, and is more outgoing than the shy first-year that I encountered on the Hogwarts Express. Oh! And don't forget how sweet and thougtful Harry has been! And how fanciable he's been as of late! Quidditch does the body good! And his voice! Oh, towards the end of the just-past summer at the Burrow, I was heading to Ginny's room for a 'girl talk' , so I had to pass the bathroom. I'm just striding away when BAM! the most beautiful voice hits my ears and hypnotizes my entire soul. The boy who lived's voice rung out through the sound of the shower like angels singing. I honest to God stood there for a good minute until I realized how awkward it would be if I got caught, but it was lovely, every moment of it. Mused Hermione mentally.

Oh god! No...this cannot be happening! I am smitten BIG TIME! I can't like Harry, because he can't like me. Can he? No. If he did have those 'more than best friends' feelings that I could only dream of being mutual, he would never tell me that he was crushing on Cho Chang. And, if that's the type of girl he's into, he definately doesn't feel as I do! Hermione scolded herself. Maybe all of this was foolish, and she should be glad for the relationship she has with Harry. But what is that?

Well, we are best friends. But how many sixth-year girls do I know who's best friend is a famous, handsome, and absolutely perfect male! Not too many! Ugh, this is so frustrating!

And Hermione ended her silent tangent at that, and dozed off into a Harry-riddled sleep.