They made the trip to Dumbledore's office in silence. Professor McGonagall's back was rigid, a sure sign that she was fuming, whether it was because of something Harry and Hermione did or because of the Headmaster was anyone's guess. Hermione decided to go for it and break the uncomfortable silence.

"Professor, will you be joining us in the Headmaster's office? You are our Head of House after all."

McGonagall snorted. "I wasn't invited, Miss Granger."

"All the more reason you should join us, I'd think. It's not long until curfew on our first night back. You wouldn't want us to get detention and lose points on our first night would you?"

Pausing, the stern witch frowned slightly. "While I'm certain the Headmaster will take that in mind, perhaps I should join you."

Harry bit back a chuckle. "The Headmaster never bothered before if he kept me after curfew. I think he enjoyed seeing if I could get back to the common room without being caught."

Pausing before the giant gargoyle, McGonagall gave the password (sugar quills) and they started up the winding stairs. Before she could announce them, Dumbledore called for them to enter his domain.

"Ah, thank you Minerva for being so prompt. I can take things from here," Dumbledore said warmly from behind his desk. Two comfy looking armchairs sat before it. Minerva saw this and conjured a third chair a bit away from the other two.

"Actually, Albus, I think I will stay. If you don't mind, that is."

"No, no, I didn't want to take you away from anything important is all." He gestured to the glass candy bowl on the corner of his desk. "Lemon drop anyone?"

After everyone declined, Dumbledore popped one in his mouth and leaned forward, elbows on his desk.

"Harry, Miss Granger, I find I must once again stress the behavior the two of you indulged in this summer was most reckless…"

Minerva turned to her two lion cubs with an angry glare. "And what did the two of you do this summer?"

It took the two a minute to realize why McGonagall was looking at them with that particular expression. Once it did dawn on them, they both turned a dark shade of red.

"It's not what you're thinking, Professor!" Hermione groaned. "I was sent back home by the Weasley's after the attack at the Quidditch World Cup. Harry knew my parents were on holiday so he decided to come with me. We ended up in a safe house with Remus Lupin and…er… Padfoot." She met her Head of House's gaze. "Nothing like what you're implying went on and I'm a little insulted that it's the first thing you thought of."

This time Minerva flushed. "My apologies Miss Granger, Mr. Potter but surely you can understand how I came to that conclusion."

Harry answered this time, "Really, Professor? You've known Hermione and I for three years now. Have we given any indication of being…well, THAT sort of reckless?"

"I sincerely apologize again. There are times I forget to look at my students as individuals rather than as a whole."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Quite right."

He was a bit miffed at Minerva accepting the two's explanations and being reasonable about it. He was hoping to have them segregated and watched a bit more. He needed to make sure that the volcano known as Ronald Weasley stayed on Harry's good side. Harry was thinking a bit too rationally for his plans at the moment. Though it never occurred to the old wizard to try and compel Mr. Weasley to act like less of an arse and be more loyal himself.

"As I was saying, what you two did was dangerous. It placed not only your lives but the lives of several members of the Order of the Phoenix at risk looking for you."

"Order of the Phoenix? What's that?" Hermione, ever curious, couldn't help but ask.

"They are a group of individuals, Miss Granger, who are dedicated to the destruction of the Dark Lord."

"Isn't that what the Aurors are for?"

"True, but the Order works outside the…restrictions…of the Ministry. The Order originally formed when Voldemort first rose to power. I asked several members to make discreet inquiries about your whereabouts once you left the safety of the Burrow and its information discussed by the group is not for the ears of children and that is all I can tell you."

Harry snorted. "We were perfectly safe as you found out, Professor. No one could get into where we were. Hell, no one can even talk about it unless they already know about it. Lupin and Padfoot were way better than staying at the Weasleys. Don't get me wrong, it's great there, WAY better than at the Dursleys but sharing a bathroom stall with a troll is better than the Dursleys, but I don't do anything useful there. We aren't allowed to use magic, we clean the muggle way, weed the garden, I do get to fly my broom but that's it."

"Be that as it may, Harry, you must understand that I have your best interests at heart when I ask you to go somewhere." Dumbledore continued, totally ignoring the problem of Hermione.

"Do you place this much interest in all your students' safety, Professor? Where was this concern when the basilisk was loose?" Harry crossed his arms and glared.

"Now, you're being deliberately obtuse, Harry," Dumbledore stood. He needed to do a cursory look into the boy's mind. Something very wrong was going on here. Harry was never this unmanageable.

Harry rose as well. "I don't think I am, Headmaster," The honorific dripped with sarcasm. "I am one person. One out of hundreds. What gives you the right to decide where I go once I leave Hogwarts? What gives you the right to decide who my friends are?"

"Because you are special, Harry, and like or not there are people out there who would see you used…"

"Like you?" Harry narrowed his eyes. He felt the brush of magic against his mental shields and felt both his and Hermione's magic shift to block it.

"MR. POTTER! You will apologize to the Headmaster at once before I have points removed and detentions given." McGonagall stood as well, angry but also confused as to why Harry was deliberately being rude to the Headmaster. The press on his mind eased. It was time to leave.

Harry shook his head. "I don't think I will, Professor. Do what you feel you have to. I'm tired and it's been a long day. Hermione?"

She nodded and rose to her feet. Glancing at McGonagall she nodded once and turned her back to Dumbledore as they left the office. They barely got halfway down the hallway before the sound of rapidly clicking heels caught up with them.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, my office if you will."

Harry sighed. "Professor, I really am exhausted. Can it wait?"

"No, it cannot." She swept by them and to their surprise continued along the 7th floor to the other side of the castle rather than moving down stairs to the office by the transfiguration classroom. She moved past the portrait of the Fat Lady and led them to a door on the opposite side of the wall.

"This the Gryffindor Head of House office. I don't spend as much time here as I should but seeing as it's past curfew for the two of you, I thought we should have this meeting close to the Tower." She sat behind an elegant wood desk piled high with parchment. "Now, Mr. Potter, care to explain to me your attitude towards the Headmaster this evening?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged a look. "Is that a request or a demand, Professor?"

Minerva sighed and a tea set suddenly appeared. Pouring three cups, the delicate scent of chamomile filled the room. She motioned towards two of the cups. She took a sip before speaking.

"Mr. Potter…Harry, Hermione, I will admit to having no idea what the Headmaster is referring to. Perhaps you can elaborate on what happened? You ended up spending the summer with Mr. Lupin and Mr….I mean Padfoot?"

Hermione let out a sigh herself, picking up a tea cup and examining the brew. "Yes, we stayed in a safe house for most of August." After a moment she sipped.

"Bollocks to that!" Harry growled. "Mrs. Weasley was totally out of line. She wouldn't even listen to us! Wanted to sneak Mi out before any of us woke up."

McGonagall's eyes narrowed as she glanced back and forth between the two fourth years. "And is that the end of things?"

Harry got up and began pacing behind the chairs. "Look, Things happened over the second half of last term and over the summer that has made me - us - wary of some of the staff here. I don't know where you stand, Professor, and I don't mean that as an insult. I meant it when I said that Dumbledore has taken too much interest in me. To find out this Order was looking for me, ME, when two of us were missing. What would have happened if they found me and not Mi? Would they have taken me and just stopped looking for her?"

"I'm certain they would have continued searching for Miss Granger."

He stopped and turned, leveling those emerald eyes on her. She was strongly reminded of Lily Potter when she was passionate about a perceived injustice.

"Are you really that certain, Professor? Take a minute to think on it."

Minerva sat back in her chair and watched the two while she thought. Hermione gestured for Harry to sit. He shook his head slightly. She took up his tea cup and handed it to him, indicating she wanted him to take a sip of the calming brew. He sniffed it and looked at her. She smiled slightly and nodded before he drank.

She nearly fell backwards out of her chair. They were telling each other the tea was safe to drink! What had Albus done to make the two so wary of not only him but her? Did they not trust any of the staff now?

"Let me help you here, Professor." Harry said calmly, handing his cup back to Hermione and standing behind her chair, his right hand on her left shoulder.

"Like I told Professor Dumbledore second year, students petrified…Hermione petrified… did he inform any of the parents of what really happened? No. He didn't send any information to their parents - "

"But Madam Pomfrey personally sent out letters explaining…"

Harry shook his head. "They never went out. Hermione's parents knew nothing. They only knew that Hermione stopped writing to them all of a sudden. As non-magical parents, they had no way of sending letters to Hogwarts without owls so they just had to wait."

McGonagall turned to Hermione. "Miss Granger, is this true?"

"Yes. My Mum and Dad are … a bit odd. They didn't worry over much, just thought I was caught up in studying but they were…unnerved…when I told them I was in the hospital wing for the majority of the second term."

Harry continued. "Plus, the Headmaster decided to wait until student raised mandrakes were ready for harvest rather than looking into finding and purchasing mature mandrakes for the cure. Months, Professor. Hermione was petrified for months because to Dumbledore she, and the others, weren't the important ones. And I strongly suspect he left the grounds on purpose. What headmaster leaves during a crisis instead of having the ministry coming to him? How does such a dark object get through the wards in the first place? Not to mention he missed a 60 foot snake roaming the halls of a castle. One with magical paintings lining the halls that report directly to him.

"Professor, students could have died and as long as I wasn't one of them, he didn't care. My godfather never got a trial. Never. And who could have gotten him one? And don't get me started on Snape and potions."

Paling, Minerva poured herself another cup of tea, though she wished for something a bit stronger. Albus rarely shared his plans with her, just his directions and the need to follow them for the greater good.

"I see, Mr. Potter. You bring up some interesting points and I feel like I must apologize to the both of you. I don't believe I ever looked past the end results of your…adventures, not the reasons behind them in the first place. Also I would like to apologize again to you and Miss Granger for my initial reaction in the meeting with the Headmaster."

Hermione smiled. "It's not really necessary, Professor. I have a feeling Professor Dumbledore phrased things exactly that way in hopes you would have a blow up. We just ask that you think about what you're told versus what you see happen."

"I will think about what you've said. Now, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, it is late and you both should be in bed. Do you think you can make it down the hall to your common room without my assistance?"

She was rewarded with a lopsided grin from Harry. "Professor, we've been sneaking in and out of the Tower for years."

Watching the two leave her office giggling, Minerva grabbed a fresh sheet of parchment and began thinking of all the times she questioned Albus but she listened because of who he was, what he represented to the wizarding world. Starting with that night nearly thirteen years ago.

Stepping through the portrait hole, Harry and Hermione entered the deserted common room. They didn't really expect anyone to be up and it was actually a relief to just drop onto one of the couches and relax completely for a few minutes.

Harry repeated the position he had on the train only this time he dropped his head onto Hermione's lap with a sudden exhale of air. She laughed and began carding her fingers through his disheveled hair, using her nails to scratch at his scalp. Just a year and a half ago he would have never welcomed the physical contact but after she was petrified Harry became more…touchy. Not necessarily initiating the contact himself (though that increased after they rescued Sirius) but not shying away if Hermione were to hug or lean on him with other people around. Laying like this in the common room would have been unheard of even at Christmas last year, if he had been speaking to her then that is.

"You do realize we aren't going to be able to do this come tomorrow right? Can you imagine the gossip that will fly around?"

"Sod 'em." Harry mumbled, closing his eyes and turning his head into her stomach, silently directing her fingers where he wanted them.

Chuckling, Hermione tugged a chunk of hair. "Normally I would agree with you but you ARE the boy-who-lived. You are the most gossip worthy person in the castle even when nothing else is going on. Love you or hate you, they just HAVE to talk about you."

"I'm sick of it. One minute I'm the hero of the wizarding world and next I'm the Heir of Slytherin. You would think if everyone wants me to be the hero and save them from the return of Voldemort they wouldn't try and piss me off all the time."

"But you're thinking logically. They want you to be famous. You don't strut around like Lockhart, or give interviews,or take pictures with 'your public'. So they have to make things up. And it seems like the wizarding world believes whatever they read." Continuing her ministrations, Hermione tugged off Harry's glasses and handed them to him so she could rub his forehead and temples.

"Did Professor Dumbledore try anything with you?"

Harry barked out any angry burst of air. "Oh, yeah. Right after I called him out on only wanting to find me, I felt it. Not only did my shields hold but I felt the protection spell kick in. Anything with you?"

"Not really. I think I was there more to get you to come and meet with him. I don't think Professor Dumbledore was really interested in me and what I was doing as much as my ability to lure you into his office. If I came you would follow. I do think Professor McGonagall was concerned though. She genuinely seemed shaken before we left."

"Okay, so neither of us goes to meet with Dumbledore alone and we keep an open mind with Professor McGonagall. It'd be nice to have a professor on our side. I'll write to Moony and Padfoot in the morning and let them know Dumbledore met with us and was up to his usual tricks."

He crossed his ankles and arms and got more comfortable. The fire was the only light in the common room and the crackling of the logs was almost as soothing as Hermione's fingers.

"So, on to brighter subjects. You really think we should have pickup quidditch games?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I do. I see no reason why everything should be put on hold for a Tournament that is only happening AFTER Halloween. Maybe we can include players from the other schools, too?"

Harry snorted. "Ron will die. I don't know if he could handle a game with Viktor Krum playing against him!" He paused for a moment. "Though seeing what shade of red Ron can reach could make a great betting poll. Or if he can even speak to Krum or just makes noises and walks away."

"My vote is open and closes his mouth a few times and walks away. Possibly drooling. I wouldn't mind seeing if we could get two full teams for a footy match or two. I like playing and I don't think I'm good enough to play quidditch with you guys."

"Mi, you did well enough with me, Remus, and Sirius in the back garden once you got over your fear of falling. Did you bring the broom Remus and Sirius got you?"

"Yes, but I know I need more practice. I'm sure Professor McGonagall will sign off on the idea if we need staff support. Even Professor Snape can't oppose it if we include Slytherin. They might say no but we can ask."

"Well, that's what these games are for! If we're going to play potential new players you can play then." He shifted a bit to look up at her. "And since it's your idea, you are asking the Slytherins. I don't care who you ask, but you're asking them."

Hermione sniffed. "Well, I can just ask Professor Snape directly then. If anyone complains I can just tell them that their Head of House said no. Malfory can tell his daddy and he can yell at Snape."

Harry tried to hold in his chuckles but ended up snorting. "You are evil, you do know that, right?"

"Hmpf. I know Ginny wants to play, too. Her brothers never let her at the Burrow. They just don't want their little sister flying with them. She's pretty good at seeker but she makes a decent chaser as well," Hermione said tiredly.

Harry stretched and sat up, his messy hair now sticking up at all angles from Hermione's fingers. He ran his hands through it a few times to try and get it a little flatter. "I'm not looking forward to Ron's snoring tonight. It's like having a chainsaw in the next bunk over."

Hermione laughed. "Well, at least tomorrow is a Friday. Granted we start the year off with History of Magic…"

"Which is basically nap time…"

She playfully swung at Harry but he jumped out of the way and retaliated with a pillow from the couch.

"Anyway, are you planning on sneaking up or are we going to try a silencing charm and see if both of us sleep?"

Hermione tilted her head as she studied him. One side effect of the protection spell was giving her a better idea of how Harry was feeling, which helped since 'fine' was practically a four letter word for him. And right now she could just see that Harry was overly tired. And that was all he needed for nightmares to crop up.

"I have the cloak upstairs. Leave the door open a crack for me and the curtains on the opposite side of the bed from Ron open. That way if he's awake I can sneak in on that side. I'll be up in about 15 minutes."

Harry nodded and started for his dorm. Pushing the door open to the Fourth Year dorm he noticed the lights were dimly lit by his four post but out near the other beds. He could hear Ron's glorious vibrato echoing outside his curtains with Trevor the toad sitting on the footboard trying to find a melody so he could croak in time to the snorts. Shaking his head, Harry grabbed his pj pants and headed to brush his teeth. Since Hermione already knew about his scars he didn't bother with a tee shirt to sleep in anymore, just pj pants. He still kept a shirt under his pillow so he could toss it on in the morning so the rest of the dorm weren't traumatized (Hermione gave him a smack with a pillow for that one).

Once he was comfortable and had the curtains shut he heard a rustle and felt the bed dip. A whispered silencio followed by a sticking charm to the bed curtains and then Hermione appeared.

"I think that's a new record for volume with Ron's snoring. He might need to have that checked out by someone."

Harry turned to the side and wrapped around Hermione, oddly glad for the extra warmth even though the night wasn't that cold. "Maybe we can get extra credit in charms or potions for coming up with a solution for chronic snoring? Think about it, if it's not out there already we could make a fortune! Not to mention sleep through the night."

Hermione looked back over her shoulder. "I don't snore, do I?"

The crooked grin was back.

"Harry James Potter." She whispered despite the silencing charm.

He gave her a squeeze to keep her in place. "Not really. You make noises, like squeaks and little huffs of air but you don't snore. I'd keep you even if you did because I can actually sleep with you here. Even when I was in the hospital wing I could sleep when you were there." He yawned.

"You're forgiven. This time. 'Night Harry."

"Night, Mi. For once we can worry about quidditch, football, and classes and not this stupid Tournament thing."