I guarantee that your jaw will drop at the end of this chapter! Or, if it doesn't, at least you will giggle. If you don't do that either, oh well, it's no skin off of my nose. At least I had fun writing it!

25.

That week, one might declare, went by very fast. Students were bustling back and forth to find every last intricate detail about the new celebrity couple: Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and Bea, is it? That girl from Ravenclaw, was it?

Ron and Hermione had been very encouraging and had backed off numerous times. Well, Hermione had dragged Ron out of the awkward situations anyway. Soon the groups had merged, the trio and Luna, Bea, and Frankie.

Frankie had been open and easy to talk to for everyone, and she had been especially attentive towards Ron. Hermione had shot her daring looks, but it was challenging for anyone to be unpleasant to Frankie, she was always nice and cheerful. Hermione had to, in the end, give up most of her time alone with Ron, which of course he didn't observe in the slightest.

Luna and Hermione had thus formed an odd sort of friendship, one that had many arguments that ended abruptly by Luna saying, "Oh, I guess you just believe what you want then." The disputes usually were left at this, and only made Hermione long for her less amiable, but more rewarding bickerings with Ron.

And since our two key characters had landed themselves with detention, that is where this chapter reminisces:

"Are you serious?" Harry and Bea simultaneously (and incredulously) asked when Professor Krehope revealed their punishment. Krehope winced at their soliciting, he had tried to be nice about the whole punishment thing.

"Surely that isn't too harsh? All I want is the desks straightened out and the room dusted and swept," Professor Krehope thought it over aloud.

As one might imagine, this was, by far, the easiest consequence either student had received. Professor Krehope, bless his heart, always mistook his student's meanings.

"Are you kidding?" Harry began again, then catching Bea's eye, lowered his voice and finished composedly, "Yeah, it's okay. I think between us we can finish it."

Professor Krehope smiled, "Good, I didn't want to make it too hard. But if students ask, be sure to tell them how bad it was, I don't want to give out more detentions."

"Sure thing, Professor," Bea supplied as Harry tried to keep from laughing. How…contradictory Professor Krehope was from Snape…

The professor grinned again and waddled back to his office to devour his novel, he was a sap for a good book. Harry and Bea snickered quietly so as not to be heard before whipping out their wands and finishing their penalty within ten minutes. Apparently Professor Krehope had not thought to take away their wands, which was fine by them.

Only now what to do?

"So," Beatrice started ineptly after catching his stare at her, "Another walk?" He smiled and nodded.

Once they were on their usual trail, Bea asked, "Are you always this quiet? It's not what I'm used to."

"No, but I wanted to ask you something," Harry answered as his eyes eloquently met hers. "I mean, I know that you must get asked if your dating me, right?" It was obvious that Harry was having difficulty asking this as he swung her hand timidly.

"Yes," she answered, swaying his hand when he had stopped.

"Well, um, I was just wondering what your reply gen-generally is," Harry stumbled.

Bea could not resist from smiling, "Yes. Harry, is that all that's troubling you? You seem…on edge just ask me if I'm dating you which I would think is a bit evident, especially to you."

Harry smiled briefly then admitted, "No, I also wanted to ask…what your favorite color is."

Bea laughed out of surprise, "Really?"

"Yeah," Harry answered, his smile now permanent.

"Um, alright, only if you tell me yours," Bea ventured.

"Deal."

"It's blue, now fess up," Bea smiled too.

Harry grievingly sighed, "I must admit that mine is green. What's your favorite food?"

By the time Harry was done with the questionnaire, they had goose bumps on their arms from the drop in warmth and neither could remember the last time they saw anyone else's eyes.

Fred and George barged into the common room, their hands swinging with Butterbeers. "Drinks all around!" Fred yelled merrily as they tossed them to various students.

Ron and Hermione sat near the fire, Ron standing to catch a bottle, Hermione frowning. "Where did you get those?" she nagged to the twins.

"Ah, Hermione," George began as he shoved a bottle into her hands, "The difference between you and us,"

"Is that we know when not to ask questions," Fred finished as he twisted one open for a younger student.

"So what are celebrating?" Ron posed as he happily sank back into his chair.

Fred and George shared an elfin smile before joyfully announcing to one and all, "Harry's in the broom closet!"

And so the entire room gleefully chanted, "Harry's in the broom closet! Harry's in the broom closet! Harry's in the broom closet!"

Giggle giggle giggle giggle…