Author's Note: I'm so sorry everyone that I took such a long time to post this new chapter. Truth be told, I got lost reading some fanfiction and got busy with work. When I looked back, two weeks had flown by, and I knew I had to get my ass to work. Thanks everyone for your patience and great reviews.

Harry rubbed his eyes as he rolled out of bed. After a quick shower, he slipped into his robes. Ron had finally gotten out of bed and was eyeing Harry with a suspicious look.

"So . . . you and Hermione, huh?" the ginger boy asked uncertainly.

"Yea."

"You really do like her, right?"

"I already said that on the train, Ron."

"I'm just making sure that you're not going for her just because she's the closest girl around. She's helped us out of some tight spots. She can be annoying and a menace, but I don't think she deserves that."

Harry gripped Ron's shoulder, proud of his friend looking out for Hermione. It was so unlike Ron that it created a sudden thought that made Harry's stomach lurch. "You're not jealous, are you?"

"What?" Ron burst into a short fit of laughter.

"Well, it could happen. Hermione's great. Any bloke could like her."

"Me and Hermione? Seriously? We'd kill each other."

Harry flushed. "She's brilliant. You two could get along better than you did, you know."

Ron shrugged. "She starts a lot of stuff too. She doesn't have to go mental about schoolwork and feelings and stuff."

"Well, maybe you both could try a little harder to get along this year."

"Yea." Ron's face fell. "Wouldn't want to ruin the little bit of time we hang out."

Realization dawned on Harry's face. "You think we're just going to abandon you because we're dating now? Ron, you're our best friend too. We're not going to just cut you out."

"But it won't be the same. Will it?"

Harry frowned. "Probably not exactly. I think it'll mostly be the same. You'll just have to see us do couple stuff."

"Like kissing?"

A light flush crept up Harry's neck as he thought of things that he was definitely sure he and Hermione weren't ready for. "Well yea, and holding hands. Everything else should be exactly the same. We're still three best friends."

Ron nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, as long as you don't snog right in front of me, it should be ok."

"Well . . ." Harry gave him a cheeky grin.

"Oi!"

"Come on. Let's get to the Great Hall. Breakfast, remember?"

A wide grin split Ron's face. "Now you're talking."

Disaster. That was a perfect word to sum up the first class of the day: Divination.

It had taken Harry, Hermione and Ron nearly 15 minutes to climb the North Tower and find the strange silver ladder that led them into the even stranger classroom.

Professor Trelawney, a woman doing her best to look like a glittering insect, welcomed them to Divination with a misty voice that made Harry question her sanity. Did seeing the future make people insane?

Neville seemed to panic when she asked if his grandmother was well. His panic only increased when she implied that she might not be. What was the teacher playing at? Neville had issues as it was without having the added worry about his Gran. No small wonder that Neville broke his teacup that sat on his desk.

For the next ten minutes, they consulted their Divination books to read the tea leaves in each of their teacups. Ron and Harry were stumbling through theirs which were increasingly sounding like Harry was going to be in danger again this year.

No great surprise there, he thought.

Trelawney gave Harry's cup a final turn and gasped, followed by a scream. When she had finally calmed down, she looked at Harry in exaggerated horror.

"My dear," she said. "You have the Grim."

Harry, Dean Thomas and Lavender Brown gave her a bewildered look.

"A giant spectral dog that haunts churchyards. It is an omen of death." Her eyes widened.

"I should've seen a Grim my whole life then," he said, trying not to laugh.

"This is no time for foolish words, my dear. You must very careful. You are in grave danger."

"I'm always in danger, Professor. This isn't anything new. It's probably just Voldemort."

Everyone but Hermione gasped and Neville fell off his chair.

Trelawney clutched her chest as if she had been hit with a curse. "Oh, my dear. So horrible, truly horrible. Now more than ever you must realize that you must look into the future for guidance on your dangerous life. The Inner Eye is your true guide."

"Professor?"

"Hmm?" She turned with wide eyes which seemed to narrow slightly at the sight of Hermione.

"Could you give us an example of a prediction?" the bushy-haired witch asked.

"Certainly. They are to be found in your books if you would open them."

Harry thought that would be the end of it. Books were the final answer to Hermione.

"No, I meant one of yours."

Trewlaney clicked her tongue and shook her head. "My dear, you have continuously shown me today that you will forever have trouble perceiving the Inner Eye. It comes as it will and you cannot force it."

"She wasn't asking for a new prediction, Professor," Ron spoke up.

Neville asked, "Could you tell me what you saw about my Gran?"

"You all have misunderstood but do not fret. I will be your guide along this new journey into the future which you have not stepped foot before. Trust in that."

"So are you saying that you've never made a successful prediction before?" Harry asked before he could stop himself.

You could have heard a pin drop.

"W-what?" Trelawney stuttered.

Harry hesitated.

"Have you ever made a prediction that came true?" Hermione asked.

"Are both of you so blind to the Inner Eye that you cannot see that I am one of its principal channels? Oh, what a shame to see it. The-Boy-Who-Lived unable to see the Inner Eye. Tragic."

Harry stood. "The Boy-Who-Lived is a fantasy, just like this class. I'm leaving."

Hermione was on his heels, stopped and looked back at Ron. "Are you coming?"

"I'm, uh, gonna stay," the ginger boy mumbled. "Figured I'd make it up as I go."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione hurried to catch up to Harry.

"I can't believe anyone would actually believe that bollocks," Harry said.

"Language," she chastened half-heartedly. "I do agree though. The sad thing is that I think most of our year believed her. Poor Neville."

"We need to be a better friend to Neville."

"Well, I suppose you're right. We could be better with him. Maybe he'll have more confidence if he had closer friends."

"Yea. It'd be rubbish around here without you and Ron."

"So what are you going to do?" Hermione asked.

"If I want to see the future, I'm going to take a look at a better class."

"Really?" Hermione's eyes shone with pride. "Oh Harry. Of course I'll take it with you so you won't have to worry about doing the homework alone."

Harry gave her a grateful smile as he pushed open the doors to McGonagall's office.

"Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger," Professor McGonagall greeted. "What can I do for you during one of your scheduled class hours?"

"We want to take Arithmancy instead of Divination," Harry announced without preamble.

McGonagall was silent for a moment. "I take it that Professor Trelawney made a prediction of your death?"

Harry nodded.

"Well, I can assure you that she makes at least one a year and all of those students are still breathing. This doesn't get you out of any homework. If you die of course, you are excused."

With a small smile at her joke, he tentatively asked, "So is that a yes?"

"As long as you can keep up with the subject material, Potter. Otherwise, you must return to your Divination . . . studies." The last word seemed to leave a foul taste in McGonagall's mouth.

"We will, Professor," Hermione promised. She gave Harry a look that let him know that he would have to keep his word about doing better with keeping up with his homework. Or else.

"Yea," he agreed with a touch of nervousness. "You've got nothing to worry about."

"If anything, that makes me worry all the more, Mr. Potter. But you've wasted enough time here. I shall inform Professor Vector to expect both of you. Off you go."

"I'm really proud of you, Harry." Hermione kissed his cheek.

"Well, don't be too proud. I didn't do that well in maths when I was younger and I think Arithmancy takes a lot of maths to understand."

She squeezed his hand. "It does. I already have the textbook so we can share it until you get yours."

"Why would you already have the book if you didn't know that you'd need it?" he queried.

Hermione's cheeks turned pink. "I'd rather not say, Harry."

"Why not?"

"I'm embarrassed."

Harry frowned as they returned to the common room. No one was there so they both sat down on the love seat. The warmth of her body felt great but something still bothered Harry too much to keep quiet.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?" She met his eyes.

"Is this about what you mentioned when Tonks pulled the prank on you? There was a letter from the Ministry. I also offered to help you when I tried to make things right."

Her lip trembled. "Promise you won't think badly of me?"

"Well, unless you killed a man, I think I can safely promise that."

"I . . . McGonagall and I asked permission for me to take extra classes this year. To do that, I'd need to use a time turner."

Harry's face scrunched up. "A time turner?"

"It turns back time for a few hours."

In a flash, it all hit Harry. That was why she was so upset, why she had the textbooks and why she had been devastated that she hadn't gotten accepted.

"I'm really sorry I made that all worse," he said as he gave her a hug.

He rarely initiated a hug so her reply leaked surprise. "It's alright, Harry. I already forgave you. Thank you for not thinking worse of me."

"Why would I? Maybe they'll let you use it next year."

She shook her head. "The letter stated that it has been denied to all students for a long list of reasons and that no special circumstances even from an exceptional student would cause them to amend that. So even if I was a seventh year, they would deny me."

"We could sneak into the Ministry and borrow one," he suggested with a smirk.

"Harry!"

"What? I was just kidding . . . mostly."

"You're the reason students aren't allowed to have time turners."

"Me? I'm innocent. I'd only use it for small things . . . like playing jokes on Snape."

"I'm surprised you're not trying to make amends with him as well," she laughed.

He chuckled along with her, but the comment hurt a bit. It hurt because she was right. The same reasons that he had chosen to be civil to Draco in Flourish and Blotts could still be applied to a certain greasy-haired professor.

They stayed in the common room for a while before joining the others in the Great Hall.

"You missed some great predictions," Ron told them as they sat down.

"Oh?" Hermione had already retrieved her Arithmancy book and was leafing through it.

"Yea. Apparently, Lavender and Padma are both going to get bad news in about 3 months."

"What kind of bad news?" Harry asked.

"Well, Trelawney didn't say. It was just sort of implied that they would get bad news."

"Real specific," Harry commented with a roll of his eyes.

"Hey, don't sell her short. You should be watching out for the Grim too. My uncle saw one once and died in 24 hours."

"Well if I drop dead suddenly, you'll know that you were right, and I just couldn't admit I saw a mangy black dog that looks like every other mangy black dog."

"Mangy dog?" Ron's eyes bulged. "You-you've seen one?"

"Yea, I saw two when I was at the park near my house. Well, maybe it was the same dog."

"The point is," Hermione interjected. "Harry saw that dog weeks ago. Why didn't he die in 24 hours? Why has the Grim not come to kill him?"

Ron's ears turned pink as he stammered, "That's not . . . you . . . it's just the Grim is a bad omen, ok? You're just mad that you don't get Divination."

Hermione huffed. "And I suppose Harry should be mad that he doesn't 'get' Divination?"

"Well no. I reckon he's just mad because she insulted his stupid title."

Harry gripped the edge of the table and was very much aware that every goblet trembled slightly for a few seconds. He thanked Gruknot again for all the hours mastering his temper.

"You think I actually care about the title of being the Boy-Who-Lived?" he asked coldly.

"Well, I know it's not great most of the time but, you know, at least you're famous." Ron seemed oblivious to Harry's tone.

"Yea, Ron. Being beaten, starved, abused and having my parents murdered is so worth it when I get the title of the bloody Boy-Who-Lived."

Ron gulped. He realized that he had crossed a line and started muttering under his breath.

"Got something to say, Ron? Go on." Harry's eyes could melt lead.

"I didn't mean it like that," Ron said finally.

"So?"

"Um, yea?" Ron said uncertainly.

"It doesn't matter if you meant it like that. You don't get to shoot your mouth off and just think I'll sweep it under the rug like always."

"Look mate, I know you're really stressed right now, what with the Grim and all, but—"

"I don't give a damn about some stupid spectral dog or Trelawney's made-up prophecies!" Harry snapped. "All I care about is that my best mate doesn't know me at all if he thinks I like my fame in any way shape or form."

Ron stared down at his stew. Seconds ticked by and he said nothing.

Harry finally stood. "I'll see you both at Hagrid's."

"How can you be so thick?" Hermione snapped at Ron before grabbing her bag.

Ron was left to sit and think about all the things he shouldn't have said and should have said. Both lists were long.

The trip down to Hagrid's hut was done in silence. Harry was glad that Hermione was respecting his privacy. He still felt angry but the comfort of her hand in his was by no means small.

"Ooh, look here," Draco said with a sneer. "Looks like Scarhead and Mudblood finally are taking their little romance out into the open. I thought you had more self-respect than that, Potter."

"I thought I asked you to call me Harry."

Dead silence reigned in the group of students. Crabbe and Goyle kept glancing at Draco who looked like he'd been clubbed over the head.

"I don't have to be friendly with a Muggle lover," Draco snapped.

"Did you give any of what I said any thought?" Harry asked, hoping to keep his old school nemesis off-balance.

"What?"

"About blood status and how it doesn't really matter," Harry reminded him.

"I talked it over with my father and he pointed out how you were just trying to make a fool of me. Well, joke's on you, Potter. I'm no fool."

"Anyone who takes the word of someone else when everything else points the opposite way is a fool, Draco. Hermione here beats you in every subject. If her blood is so dirty, how does she keep doing that? If your blood is so pure, why aren't you at the top of your class? From what I understand, you're not even in the top of your year in Slytherin."

"Who told you that?" Draco spluttered.

"You just did." Harry shrugged. "It was a guess."

The blonde boy flushed red. "You won't win with these petty games, Potter. I'm a Malfoy. When I come of age, I'll be a lord and you'll be nothing."

Harry was so tempted to let Malfoy in on the secret that he had a lordship too. He realized that if Malfoy knew, he was just baiting him to tell everyone. If he didn't know, the look on Draco's face when he found out would be priceless.

Taking his cue, Hermione said as they walked by, "It's a pleasure to see you as always, Draco. I hope you enjoy our first lesson with Professor Hagrid."

The Malfoy heir's eyes bulged as angry words warred with each other on which wanted to come out first.

"Welcome everyone!" Hagrid's voice boomed. "Got a real treat for yeh. Everyone here? Good. Follow me for yer first lesson."

After a short squabble about the new Monster Books which seemed to be creatures of their own, they followed Hagrid to where he stood next to a magnificent hippogriff.

"Beau'iful, isn't he?" Hagrid patted the back of the hippogriff's head. "Name's Buckbeak."

Hagrid went into a short explanation about hippogriff's but Harry wasn't listening. He was shocked to find a strange spark of magic that seemed to be lit within the creature. When he realized that Hagrid was asking for who wanted to ride it first, Harry quickly volunteered.

"Harry, what about your tea leaves?" Lavender asked.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Then I guess Voldemort will get to thank Buckbeak for doing his dirty work." He winked at Hermione who held a worried expression.

Following instructions from Hagrid, Harry bowed until he was close enough to touch the magical creature. After petting him a little, Hagrid hoisted Harry on top of Buckbeak. In seconds the creature took to the skies and Harry felt the rush he hadn't felt since the first year he rode a broom. Buckbeak circled the paddock before returned to the ground

Malfoy strolled up to Buckbeak. "Of course this is easy. It has to be if Potter can do it."

Buckbeak bowed.

Draco simply sneered as he advanced. "Stupid beast."

With a squawk, Buckbeak lunged at Draco, talons extended.

Harry reached for his magic and wandlessly banished Draco out of the way. A second later his wand was in his hand so anyone watching would think he had done it using his wand. He silently congratulated himself and wondered if anyone had noticed.

Hagrid grabbed Buckbeak and was dragging him away as Harry reached Draco.

"Not so easy, is it?"

"P-Potter?" Draco's voice sounded unusually scared. "You saved me? Why?"

Harry helped him up. "Because you needed it."

The Slytherin's eyes narrowed. "This creates a debt between us. What do you want then? If you were Weasley I'd offer you gold."

Harry opened his mouth to tell Draco that he didn't want anything from him but suddenly a brilliant idea blossomed in his mind.

"Okay, you want to pay me back?"

"Yes. It's a matter of family honor. Not that you would know anything about that."

"Fine. You're no longer allowed to say Mudblood anymore. If you do, the debt is reinstated and I'll exact another favor from you. If I even hear from anyone that you've said it, the debt is reinstated."

"I'll never agree to that, Potter."

"You will if your family honor demands it."

Draco shook his head. "It has to be a one-time thing. It's not like you saving me from that beast is going to be an everyday thing."

Harry nodded. "Okay. I'll let you know."

"What?" Draco paled. He had obviously expected an immediate demand.

"Yea. When I need to recall this debt, I'll let you know. I'll make sure it's one you can't wiggle out of." Harry walked back to Hermione with a smirk.

"Do I really want to know why you look like that after talking to Malfoy?"

With a shrug, Harry said, "I think I'm growing on him."

"Yes, and I'm sure he's going to give Hagrid a hug for pulling Buckbeak back too." She leaned in close to whisper. "I know how you saved him by the way."

"Figures you'd notice."

"Well, I tend to watch my boyfriend closely."

Harry grinned and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I hope you don't stop. I need you to keep me in line."

After the commotion died down, half of the class ended up being able to ride the other hippogriffs in the paddock. As they filtered out, Harry couldn't help but wonder how he should exact this strange honor debt from Draco. Would it be null and void after a while? More importantly, if there was something that he absolutely needed, could he trust Draco to follow through?

"What're you thinking about?" Hermione asked him.

He took her hand. "The future I guess."

"Anything good?"

"Well, yea. But there's always something bad to go with it."

"Sounds like every year for us," she responded.

"How was last year good for you?"

"It helped bring us closer together," she pointed out. "We might still be dancing around each other, both of us unsure of how the other felt."

"I guess you're right. Remind me to thank Tom Riddle for that when I see him next."

"You're impossible."

"That's part of my charm." He gave his best lopsided grin.

She shook her head but held a smile of her own.