A/N: Hey guys! I'm back! Sorry it's taken so long, but my computer has been broken, I had finals week, and at the time of writing, I'm not connected to the internet. I'm glad you haven't given up on me yet, though! Shimmy feels that Harry and Hermione's sweet fluffy interaction is boring, and that I should kill one or both of them off in mistaken suicide, a la Romeo & Juliet. I'm not going to do this, but I figure I'll throw in a problem to get him to shut up). Just giving you a heads up. And the end of this chapter bounces a bit, but I think you'll be able to follow.
xoxo Allie
"Hermione."
Hermione groaned in her sleep and rolled over.
"Hermione."
She shook her head, eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"You slept through Potions."
Hermione bolted upright in bed. "WHAT?!?"
Harry laughed at the look on her face. "I'm just kidding. But we need to get ready, and you wouldn't get up."
Hermione smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "You prat."
"Your words wound me," he said dramatically, clutching his chest and stumbling backward a couple of steps.
Hermione rolled her eyes and got out of bed. "I'm going to take a shower...alone...and then we'll go down to breakfast."
"Yes dear."
Harry and Hermione took seats at the Gryffindor table across from Ron and Neville. They were soon joined by Luna, who had decided to forgo eating with her housemates.
"Hey, if McGonogall's Headmistress, who's our Head of House?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged. "I guess we'll find out when the schedules are passed out. It's not your mum, is it Neville?"
"I dunno," he said, swallowing a piece of toast. "She didn't mention it to me."
A tawny owl flew to Hermione, delivering her Daily Prophet. It hooted kindly as she paid it, and flew off. She scanned the cover.
"Anybody dead?" Ron asked apprehensively.
"Not today, thank goodness," she answered, sighing slightly.
She glanced up as someone sat down next to Neville. "Parvati! I thought your parents weren't allowing you to return!"
"They didn't want to, but Padma and I are of age now, and we wanted to come back. So this morning we did."
"That's great! Have you seen Lavender yet? I didn't even think about her being all alone in the dorm last night," Hermione said, frowning slightly.
"No, but I'm sure I'll see her soon. So you're Head Girl, then? Well done. Everyone knew it would be you. Don't worry about Lav. She probably enjoyed a little peace and quiet last night. At home she shares a room with her two younger sisters."
"Hey guys," a deep voice said. "I've got your schedules." Oliver Wood beamed at his old friends. "Weasley, I heard you took over for me. And quidditch captain this year...nicely done."
"Thanks Wood," Ron said, grinning. "Oh, this is my girlfriend Luna Lovegood. She's in Ravenclaw," he said proudly.
"Nice to meet you," Luna said.
"You as well," Wood smiled. "Now, Granger...Longbottom...Patil...Potter...Weasley. Where are Dean, Seamus and Lavender? I've got their schedules too."
"Lavender is probably sleeping," Parvati said.
"Seamus was still asleep when I came down here," Neville added.
"And Dean is probably snogging my sister in a broom closet," Ron said, wincing.
"Ah. Well, you lot have a good first day of classes," Wood said, preparing to move farther down the table.
"Wait, Oliver," Hermione said, grabbing his sleeve. "Do you have a free period today?"
"I'm free all day actually. The first years' lessons don't begin until Wednesday. Why?"
"I was wondering if I could talk to you."
"Sure, just come in whenever you have time," he said before bidding the seventh years good day.
They began comparing shcedules. "Okay...my schedule is the same as yours, except for Arithmancy and Ancient Runes," Hermione told Harry. "Your schedule and Ron's are the same. Neville's in all your classes except Potions. And when we're in Potions, Parvati's in Divination."
"Do you have Trelawney or Firenze this year?" Harry asked Parvati.
"Both," she said, slightly confused. "Apparently we're doing astronomical Divination with Firenze on Mondays, and tea leaves, palm reading and the crystal ball with Professor Trelawney on Wednesdays, and they alternate on Fridays."
"Sounds confusing," Neville said. "I'm glad I dropped it."
"Me too," Harry said, and Ron nodded.
"Firenze is a wonderful teacher," Luna said. Parvati agreed
"Well we've got Charms in ten minutes, so we should probably get going," Hermione said, gathering her books.
They said goodbye to Luna, who was headed to Divination, and together the five seventh-year Gryffindors walked to Charms.
After an excruciating Charms lesson, in which only Hermione had been able to make her paper cut itself into a paper doll chain, Hermione asked Harry to accompany her to Oliver's office.
"I'm not sure I'd be able to do this by myself, and I'll feel much better if you're there with me," she said.
"Of course I'll come with you," he said, wrapping his arm around her and steering her toward Oliver's office. A couple of flights of stairs and a few corridors later, they arrived in front of a large wooden door bearing a bronze plaque that read "Oliver Wood: Flying Instructor." Hermione tensed a little bit.
"It's going to be okay. It's just Wood. It's not like he'll be angry or anything. He'll probably be proud to be related to such a brilliant witch, if only for the fact that you've saved my arse enough over the past six years to keep me playing Quidditch," Harry smiled.
Hermione nodded and took a deep breath before knocking on the big oak door.
"Come in," came the familiar Scottish brogue.
Harry opened the door for Hermione and ushered her into the room.
"Ah, Hermione! How are you doing?" Oliver said, smiling broadly. "And Harry! Good to see you again! Now, what can I do for you Hermione?"
"I recently found out a few things I didn't know about myself, and it somewhat concerns you," Hermione said. Wood nodded as a gesture to continue. "Well it turns out that I'm not actually Muggle-born. My parents were killed when I was a baby, and I was sent to live with distant Muggle relatives for my protection. I met my paternal grandmother not long ago, and she filled me in. Apparently, my mother was your father's older sister," Hermione said, and she bit her lip.
Oliver looked momentarily stunned. After maybe a minute had passed, he said, "So Aunt Anneliese was your mother?"
Hermione nodded.
"My father doesn't talk about her much. I wasn't very old, but I remember her a bit. She always brought me sugar quills when she came to visit. They're still my favorite sweet today," he said fondly. "I remember a little about Uncle Gabriel too, mostly just that he knew a lot about Quidditch. I remember seeing you not long after you were born, and a couple of times after, but then they told us that all three of you were killed." His voice was sad as he continued, "But you're not dead. You've been here all this time, under my nose for three years. Here you were, not knowing anything more about our world than what you could read, and I could have taught you so much, been a friend to you when you needed one...I should have been one anyway, but at the time, I wasn't worried about the first years, I was worried about my Quidditch team. I am glad you've had Harry and Ron over the years though. I'm so sorry I haven't been there for you." Oliver seemed to be near tears by this point, and Hermione looked pretty close herself.
"Oliver, it's not your fault. It's not like you could have known I was your cousin--"
"But we have the same nose! I should have noticed. I should have looked out for you," he said despairingly.
"I wouldn't have expected you to look out for me. You had no reason to. But you're right, Harry and Ron have been there for me, and I'm very grateful for that. But even if you and I didn't have that kind of relationship in the past, but that doesn't mean we can't have one now. We've found each other now, and by the way my grandmother was talking, I've got more family than I'll know what to do with!"
"Aye, she's right. We do have a very large family," Oliver laughed. "My dad was one of eight. And you've got somewhere north of a million cousins. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration." All three laughed.
"Well I'd love to stay and talk more, but I promised Professor Deslys that I would help her feed the hippogriff, and I need to be down there in ten minutes. Don't be a stranger though, okay? You make sure to come and see me from time to time, and we'll get to know each other better. And Harry's always welcome to come with you as well," Oliver said, smiling at the pair as he opened the door. "I'll see you two later." And a moment later he had gone.
"Well I need to go to Arithmancy now, but I'll see you for Transfiguration afterward," Hermione said.
"Will you allow me to carry your books to Arithmancy, Miss Granger?" Harry said with a gallant bow, as a couple of second years giggled a few feet away.
"Well, if you insist, Mr. Potter," Hermione replied aloofly before Harry began tickling her.
"Do you need me to walk you to Transfiguration?" Harry asked after they had both calmed down and headed to Professor Vector's classroom.
"No, we have Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs this year, and Susan Bones is in my Arithmancy class. I'll just walk with her."
They had reached Hermione's Arithmancy class. "Okay, I'll see you in Transfiguration," Harry said, kissing her cheek.
On Tuesday, Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron and Luna met with Alice in her office. Frank was there as well, a file in his hands. Once suitable seating had been conjured for the group, the elder Longbottoms got down to business.
"So you just need the location of Ravenclaw's wand, and then all but the snake will be destroyed?" Franks asked.
"Yes sir," Harry said. "The snake will probably end up being the most difficult to deal with, not that you guys will have any problems, I just mean getting close to Nagini will be difficult," he said to Ron and Luna, noticing that Ron was looking a bit peaky again. Continuing, he asked, "So you have the location of the wand?"
"Yes," Alice said, "but I'm afraid it may not be there anymore."
"Why not? What happened?" Neville asked.
"It was at Ollivander's," Alice said, "but we've been told that Mr. Ollivander has vacated the premises. If we can find Mr. Ollivander, we can find the wand."
Though slightly disheartened, the teens accepted her offer of tea.
Hermione was feeling safer. By Thursday night, she had safely made it to each of her classes without incident. She and Harry did rounds at night, headed the prefects' meetings on Wednesday nights, and hung out with Neville, Ron and Luna in the afternoons. The year was beginning well.
Friday morning found Harry standing outside the Transfiguration classroom a bit earlier than usual. His mind kept replaying what he and Hermione had done in the Room of Requirement during their free period, and he was eager to see her again.
Meanwhile, Hermione and Susan had popped into the ladies' between classes. Hermione was putting her hair up as Susan used the bathroom, and Susan didn't hear a voice whisper, "Imperius."
Nothing seemed amiss as Susan exited the stall. Hermione had just finished putting her hair back in a ponytail, and she smiled at Susan in the mirror. The two girls exited the lavatory and walked to Transfiguration.
Ron had now joined Harry outside the classroom, and they were discussing when Ron would be holding Quidditch tryouts. Harry was leaning against the wall when he saw Hermione and Susan coming toward them. A broad grin spread over his face as Hermione came nearer. He started to reach for her, but she walked right past him. His smile faltered a bit, and then his face fell completely as he watched Hermione wrap her arms around a startled Ron's neck and press her lips to his.