A/N: I've had a hardd time picking songs for the last few chapters: especially this one, though, because I want it to describe how Hermione and Draco's relationship deteriorated, but how it's also happy in Hermione's eyes, because of what happens at the end of this chapter (no spoilers here, sorry, haha). Read my author's note at the end for a full description.

And revieww, please!

Chapter 14

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Perhaps youll receive invitations for tea.
Perhaps youll laugh and make them all smile.
Or maybe youll join them cause it had to be.
Perhaps youll forget you forgot for awhile.
Birds of a feather are flocking outside.

-Birds of a Feather-

.Phish.

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"Hermione!" A male voice called as she made her way to Potions.

She turned and smiled. "Hey."

"How's Head Girl treating you?" Harry asked, falling into step beside her.

"Wonderfully!" Her features darkened slightly. "If only Malfoy weren't Head Boy. He's perfectly dreadful!"

Harry scoffed. "The Amazing Bouncing Ferret? I'm surprised Parkinson let him off his leash."

Hermione smiled gratefully. She had confided in Harry about his recent change of heart; Harry had also known of the summer happenings. She was putting off telling Ron, for fear he might go try and murder Malfoy while he slept.

Harry's features turned serious. "Dumbledore escorted you two to your common room, right?"

Hermione nodded.

"And he didn't make his usual speech this year, did you notice?"

Hermione tried to remember it, but the night came to her as a huge blur. She remembered being upset about Malfoy, and not very comforted by seeing her friends, but everything else was so vague she almost couldn't place it. "Can't say that I did."

Harry shook his head. "He wasn't at any of the meetings this summer, either." He paused. "Hermione…no one besides you and Malfoy have seen Dumbledore in a year."

--

The Potions classroom was eerily silent as Hermione and Harry entered. Every student was already there, and they hastened to their seats.

There was no Snape.

Class began, and ten minutes passed. No teacher arrived.

"I must be dreaming," Seamus Finnigan, Hermione's table partner, muttered. "No, I must be in heaven."

Hermione had to agree. "I can deal with this instead of Potions." She glanced over to see how the Slytherins were taking it; not badly, it seemed. They were caught up in discussions as if they were in the Great Hall.

Ron turned fully around so that his elbows were on Hermione and Seamus's table. "What's going on?" He asked.

Hermione was surprised he could talk through the grin he sported. "I haven't the foggiest idea," She admitted.

Seamus gasped and clutched at his heart. "What? You don't know?"

"Ha, ha," She quipped dryly while the boys laughed. She looked around the room again. Her eyes briefly caught—his. They stared back, unblinking, full of…ice. She forced her gave to keep traveling.

And then a man walked in.

He stood well over six feet, just short of giant proportions. He looked like a Norse warrior, with his long braided dirty-blonde beard and long hair. His eyes were wide and fierce, a piercing blue that was almost painful to look at.

When he spoke, it was in a thick Icelandish accent. "Hello. I am Vlad."

And then he began the lesson.

--

Everyone was still discussing the weird new Potions professor—or barbarian—after dinner. Hermione couldn't take part in the discussions; she stayed at the Gryffindor common room for a while, but then she had go to patrol.

With Malfoy.

Gag.

He was waiting by the portrait that led to the Heads' dorm. "You're late."

"You didn't have to wait for me." She retorted, turning down a corridor.

"Would you rather I left you alone in the dark?"

"Since when are ferrets chivalrous?"

"Since know-it-alls started going in the wrong direction."

Hermione glanced down the corridor—and abruptly turned to go the other way as Malfoy snickered.

Fully ignoring the ridiculously annoying Slytherin behind her, Hermione continued on. "Lumos," She muttered as the corridor lamps magically extinguished themselves. She swore softly. "I left my wand in the common room."

"That was inappropriate language," Malfoy told her, and even in the dim light radiating off of Malfoy's wand, Hermione could see his wicked smile. "Inappropriate, coming from Head Girl. And I suppose you'll have to stay close now."

She snorted. He led, strolling along with the only light source in the near pitch darkness, and she, slowly but surely, melted into the shadows.

He continued on, talking, thinking she was still angry and refused to answer.

The moon glittered through the window she made her way to. Outside, the lawns were bathed in an eerie, almost angelic light. She leaned her elbows on the ledge and gazed out the window.

Hermione was so lost in thought that she jumped and nearly screamed when a hand lay on her shoulder.

A few, long moments later, Malfoy snarled, "Care to join me?"

"No." She replied, and headed off again. She lost herself in thought again as she left—what was up with Malfoy? She couldn't decide how to act around him. Well, aggressive, obviously, but it seemed like their relations had gotten even worse than before the summer, if that was possible.

--

"The Prince of Darkness spreads night once more," Harry read aloud from the Daily Prophet. "While not so much targeting Muggles as his predecessor, the Prince has managed to wipe out 13 wizards and witches in an explosion on Knockturn Alley. Dozens more were injured…."

Hermione's lower lip quivered, and her expression conveyed her rage. "That insufferable git! He thinks he can do whatever he pleases…. When do we get to have another go at him?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, and gestured between them. "We? They're saying next summer, if it lasts. They're not letting us leave Hogwarts during the term."

"Are they completely mental?" She cried indignantly. "If the Prince wins, nobody will even need schooling."

Harry's smile was tight and grim. When he spoke, his voice was foreboding. "Nothing's going to happen until they realize that."

Hermione audibly sighed and looked around the room. They had gotten themselves a private common room out of the Room of Requirement—just her and Harry. Hermione was sprawled out on a couch, hands behind her head.

"Listen, Hermione…." Harry began hesitantly. "What would you say…to dinner…this Friday…in Hogsmeade?"

Hermione sat up abruptly. "Harry James Potter, are you asking me out?"

Harry raked a hand through his hair, a gesture Hermione knew meant he was nervous. "Well…erm…to get our minds off things…I mean….."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at his distress. "I'd love to, Harry."

A/N: The song is talking about how Hermione gets asked out by Harry, hence the invitation to tea, and how even if they have a good time, because maybe it was meant to be between them, but then it talks about how she 'forgot' for a while… forgot about Draco, that is. And the birds of a feather part is supposed to mean Harry and Hermione, 'flocking together,' so to speak; they are birds of a feather because they are both Gryffindor, and best friends, etc. So, surprisingly enough, I think I picked the perfecttt lyrics for this chapter.

Anyways, tell me what you think. :)