"Merry Christmas!"

I awoke with a start as the Weasley twins' cry filled room. I sat up, bleary-eyed in bed as Harry, the Weasleys and a few Order members entered the room carrying Christmas decorations and presents.

"Hi, everyone," I said as I rubbed my eyes.

"Merry Christmas," said Mrs. Weasley after she and Lupin placed the gifts on the table. Then she pulled out her wand. "Now, let's make this room more festive."

I laughed as the decorations hung themselves making the room look like a smaller version of the Great Hall.

"Oh, look who's under the mistletoe!" sang Fred and George.

I looked up finding a branch of green leaves with white berries.

"No!"

"Come on, Hermione," they said together as they moved one to each side of my bed.

"No!" I said again but it was too late. Both Fred and George's lips were on either side of my face. "Okay, you can stop now," I said after awhile.

They ignored me.

"Mrs. Weasley!"

They leaped back. "Okay, we're done," said Fred.

Ron chuckled. "Next." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

Now came Harry's turn.

"You don't have to do this," I told him.

He merely pointed to the mistletoe. "Tradition."

I swallowed silently as he pulled my hair behind me ear. I closed my eyes and held my breath as his lips touched mine. At first, neither of us moved, and then slowly my mouth opened at the same time his did. Once our tongues touched each other, he pulled away.

"Well, I hope you'll kiss me like that from now on, Harry."

"Cho!"

She smiled as she entered the room. Harry got up, walked up to Cho and kissed her passionately.

"That's better," she said before walking up to me and handing me a gift. "Merry Christmas, Hermione."

"Thanks," I said. "Merry Christmas."

"This was from Cedric. He wanted me to keep it so you wouldn't come across it and ruin the surprise," said Cho. Then she smiled. "He said when he read it; the main character reminded him of you."

I opened my gift, it was a book called Twilight.

"Cedric read this?" I asked as I flipped through the pages.

Cho smiled and nodded.

Once all the presents were passed out and opened, we sang carols until a Healer came in and said it was time for everyone to leave. The Healer told me I should get some sleep, but once she closed the door, I pulled out Twilight and began to read.

When I learned more about Edward, I could see so much of Cedric in him, especially when it came to his protective side. But, when it came to Bella, I don't know what he was thinking when he said she reminded him of me.

To be back at Hogwarts was relief. Being in St. Mungo's for nearly a month made me realize I missed everything, especially my four-poster bed in the dormitory.

"What do you say we have an HU meeting to celebrate your return to school?" Harry suggested as we left the Great Hall.

I shook my head. "Not tonight, Harry. It's too soon."

He nodded. "All right, then. Whenever you're ready."

We entered Defense Against the Dark Arts and went straight to work. Of course, we continued to read the useless books, but I was in no mood to argue about it.

Umbridge kept her eye on me through the entire class.

The bell rang and I silently gathered my things.

"Miss Granger," Umbridge called as I headed for the door. "Could I have a word with you?"

"Certainly, Professor," I said as I followed her up the stairs to her office. Once I was inside, she shut the door and invited me to sit down.

"Tea?" she offered politely.

"No thanks."

"So, how are you feeling after being in St. Mungo's? I heard you had a tough holiday."

"I'm fine," I said slowly. "Thank you for asking." What is she up to? I thought.

"Something secret is happening in these halls, you're behind it, aren't you?"

Oh, that's what she's up to, I thought. Quick, play dumb! "Excuse me?" I asked aloud.

"Don't play dumb with me. I know you're behind what ever is happening at this school and when I find out what it is, I'm going to expose you not only to the headmaster, but to the Minister himself."

"Yeah, whatever, can I go now?"

Without waiting for answer, I picked up my bag and left the room.

A month passed since Umbridge's threat. She still had no proof that I was behind HU.

"Great job, everyone! Good Patronus, Luna!" Harry said as he walked around room.

"Harry, what was that noise?" asked a one of the HU members.

Everyone fell silent and listened carefully. There was a rumbling noise.

The soft rumble became louder.

We all turned to face the entrance as a small hole appeared in the wall.

I cautiously approached the hole and peered through it. To my horror Umbridge, Filtch and a group of Slytherins stood in the corridor.

"I told you I would find you," said Umbridge raising her wand.

"Hermione!" Harry yelled, seizing my waist and pulling me away from the wall as it exploded. Dust and rock were sent flying everywhere.

Once it was over, I heard Ron yell, "What the hell is wrong with you, lady?"

I turned away from Harry and watched as Umbridge, Filtch and the Slytherins came into the room.

"What is wrong with you?" Harry said angrily. "You could have killed us!"

"There is no need to raise your voice, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," said Umbridge.

"Oh, I'll give you a reason," said Fred, tapping his wand in his palm.

"Fred!" said Harry, his eyes never leaving Umbridge.

"Well, it would seem my suppositions were correct," said Umbridge as she stared around the room. "I wasn't too sure of source, but now…"

"Your source?" Harry asked. "Who is your source?"

Umbridge merely smiled. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Goyle, would escort Mr. Potter and Miss Granger to the Headmaster's office.

Malfoy smirked as he walked up to me and in one swift movement, he grabbed my arm and pinned it behind my back with one hand while holding the back of my shirt collar with the other.

"Don't touch her!" Harry growled, but then he groaned as Goyle tightened his hold on him.

"Shut it!" he ordered.

Malfoy gave me a slight shove and I began to move.

None of us said anything as we approached the gargoyle to Dumbledore's office. Umbridge gave the password in her high-pitched tone. Harry and I stared at each other and shared an eye-roll before following Umbridge up the spiral staircase.

"Ah, Delores," said Fudge as we entered Dumbledore's office. "I see you found the offending students."

"Yes, Minister."

Fudge stepped up to us as Malfoy and Goyle released us and smirked. "Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, why am I not surprised you are behind this?"

Neither of us said anything as we stared at the Minister.

"You're sure Mr. Potter and Miss Granger is responsible for these classes?" asked Dumbledore calmly.

"Illegal classes," Fudge put in.

"Yes, Minister," said Umbridge, clearly ignoring Dumbledore. "My source assures me that their facts are true."

"Who is your source?" Harry asked.

"Potter!" said McGonagall.

Harry rolled his eyes, crossed his arms and grumbled.

"They should be expelled!" Umbridge said loudly.

"I agree, Delores," said Fudge.

"That's preposterous!" said McGonagall. "It was your ridiculous teaching methods that caused this!"

"They were Ministry approved!" Umbridge shrieked.

"But, we didn't learn anything useful," I said.

"You learned plenty of facts!"

"Learning only facts will not help the students in life-threatening situations. The purpose of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to prepare them for the unexpected," Dumbledore said.

"And Delores, you can not expel students, that authority lies with the Headmaster alone," said McGonagall.

Dumbledore turned to Harry and me. "Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, you're free to go," he smiled.

Harry and I turned to leave, but not before waving goodbye to Umbridge and Fudge with triumphant grins on our faces.

Harry and I couldn't stop ginning all through dinner.

"You know, if you two don't stop grinning like that, you're faces are going to get stuck that way," said Ron in a muffled voice, sending bits of vegetable soup across the table.

I wanted to point out Ron's bad manners, but I was too good of a mood to spoil it.

"I still don't understand why they made such a big fuss about HU," said Cho as we all left the Great Hall. "We were only learning what they wouldn't teach us."

"They're power hungry," said Harry simply. "They believe their way of thinking is the only way."

"Gits," Ron mumbled. "I'd sure like to know who told on us."

As we approached the Grand Staircase, Marietta stood waiting at the bottom.

"Looking for something?" she asked me.

"No," I said slowly.

She reached into her pocket. "This, maybe?"

I gasped softly.

"Where did you get that?" Harry asked as Marietta continued to flaunt my locket in my face.

"Somebody dropped it after one of the HU meetings."

I remembered putting my locket in my pocket as we ran out the door, I thought. It must have fallen out.

I reached forward and wrenched it out of her hand.

"I told you I didn't like you getting too close to Harry, so I ratted you out," said Marietta.

"And I told you, Harry is my best friend and nothing you say or do is going to change that."

Harry called Marietta something so foul; I stared at him in shock.

"You ratted us out," said Cho. "I can't believe you did that!"

"She was going to ruin your relationship with Harry," said Marietta. "I couldn't let her do that."

"My relationship with Harry is none of your business!" Cho snapped. "I don't have a problem with their friendship."

Marietta scoffed. "That's not friendship."

"Well, neither is ours," Cho said.

Marietta scoffed and then walked away. Once she disappeared down the hall, I began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked starting to laugh.

"You kiss Cho with that mouth?"

Cho laughed. "Yes, he does."

To prove it, Harry grabbed Cho's shoulders, dipped her and began to kiss her passionately.

My stomach flipped as I felt my face burn and looked away.

Cho moaned hungrily.

"Okay, okay, I get it! Get a room!" I groaned.

Harry and Cho laughed.