Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing I tell you! All the characters, places etc. belong to JKR.
A/N: Right here it is - Chapter Eight. I figure that I'll be drawing this story to a close within the next couple of chapters. Don't worry though: I already have a sequel planned and the rough idea of the name.

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SO WHAT NOW?
Chapter Eight

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Hermione could barely been seen. Several piles of books were one the tables that surrounded her, and she was reading through them at an astonishing pace. Pages upon page of notes that she had taken during her seven years at Hogwarts were strewn about the floor. The ink was still glistening on another piece of parchment, which Ron had dubbed her 'Study Bible'.

"You need to take a break," Harry told her, sitting next to her and slipping an arm around her. "This can't be good for you, can it?"

Hermione looked up at him as if he had just told her that the Earth was flat. "I can't take a break!" she exclaimed, her face paling at the prospect. "We start our N.E.W.T's tomorrow!"

"You know all these books off by heart!" Ron told her, putting some of her books on the floor to everyone's relief. Several of the piles looked as if they were about to topple over. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Ron silenced her. "No, Hermione! You have to take a rest. You've been studying non-stop for the last week. You'll make yourself ill."

"But I..." Hermione protested.

"No 'but's'," Harry told her firmly. He closed the book she was currently reading with a snap. "You're taking a break." He gave her a concerned look. "When was the last time you slept? Or ate?"

"I had a piece of toast!" Hermione told him, taking her book out of his hands and opening it again.

"When?"

Hermione looked up at him like he was mad. "Yesterday!" she told him. "Can you let me get on with this? I don't think you realise how important these tests are! They could influence our whole futures!"

"Of course we know how important they are!" Harry told her, smoothing down her hair. "It's just that you won't learn anything by just cramming it into your head."

"Fine," said Hermione with a sigh. "I'll take a short break." She cast a stern look at Harry. A very stern look. "But only a short one." She set the book down and leant her head against Harry's shoulder. "Just to wake myself up a bit."

"Of course." Harry looked down at her and smiled. She was asleep.

"I'm so glad Lavender doesn't get like that," Ron told Harry.

"Does Lavender even study?"

Ron considered this for a moment. "Yeah, kind of. She studies all the important things - her hair, her nails and, of course, her make-up."

"The essentials," said Harry and Ron nodded.

Ron leant back heavily in his chair and sighed deeply. "Can you believe it - three more weeks and we leave Hogwarts. Forever. It's scary."

Harry frowned. "I can think of scarier things."

"You-Know-Who is gone, Harry," Ron reminded him.

"That wasn't what I meant."

"What are you on about?" Ron asked, running his hand through his flaming red hair.

"Look in the front pocket of my bag," Harry instructed. Ron's brow furrowed, but Harry waved his free hand in the direction of his book bag. Ron scrambled out of his chair and picked up Harry's rather battered bag. He carefully unzipped the front pocket. He looked up at Harry.

"I see what you mean."

***

"So Ron and Lavender still think we hate each other?" Seamus asked in disbelief. Ginny nodded triumphantly. She giggled and kissed him.

She looked around. "Isn't this a bit cliché?" she asked, looking around at the Astronomy Tower. They had sneaked up there without Ron or Lavender noticing. They had been dating secretly for almost seven weeks and still Ron and Lavender hadn't cottoned on. Then again, this was Lavender and Ron.

"It's not cliché," Seamus told her. "It's just traditional." He kissed her softly.

"Right," said Ginny, "and we wouldn't want to break with tradition, would we?" She brushed some of his sandy-blonde hair away from his eyes with a shy smile.

"Certainly not!" exclaimed Seamus in mock surprise, raising his hands. "Never!"

"Don't you think it's a bit strange that the school Astronomy Tower has all these comfortable seats and cushions?" Ginny asked, stroking a peach coloured silk covered cushion. "It's almost as if they encourage these sorts of things."

"What sort of things?" Seamus asked, feigning naiveté.

Ginny put her hands on her hips in mock annoyance. "Do I have to demonstrate?" she asked in a teacherly tone.

"I think you might," Seamus told her, leaning close to her. Their faces were just inches apart and moving closer. Ginny could feel his soft breathing on her face.

"All right, I will then," Ginny said, trying to sound commanding. Their lips were just about to meet again when the door to the Astronomy Tower was flung open with a crash and they hurriedly broke apart.

***

"Harry put me down!" Hermione shrieked. She hit Harry's back but he paid no attention. When she had awoken after he and Ron had persuaded her to take a break, Harry had flung her over his shoulder and run out of the Gryffindor Common Room, ignoring all her protests. "Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere where we can be alone!" Harry told her, a mischievous twinkle in his emerald eyes.

"What's wrong with Filch's store cupboard on the fourth floor?" Hermione asked cheekily. "We passed it ages ago." Harry was almost amazed that Hermione would suggest such a thing. Almost surprised, but not quite. When the two were alone with each other, Hermione had a very rebellious naughty side - one that made Harry love her even more.

"I thought we'd go to the Astronomy Tower," Harry told her.

"Can't you be any more original than that?" Hermione asked.

"Of course I can!" scoffed Harry. Then he added, "I just can't be bothered!"

"Can you please put me down?" Hermione begged, and reluctantly Harry complied with her wish. "Thank you." She reached out and took his hand. As they walked quickly, or rather, ran, up the final staircase to the Astronomy Tower, their fingers intertwined. Harry was sure he could feel Hermione's pulse racing.

They stopped just outside of the Astronomy Tower, their faces flushed. "I really need to get fit," Hermione told Harry. "I'm totally out of breath!"

"And we haven't even got started yet," Harry said smiling. Hermione blushed then hit him on the arm.

"None of your sauce, Mr Potter," she warned.

"All right, Miss Granger," Harry replied. Before she could say anything else, he had literally swept her off her feet and kicked open the door to the Astronomy Tower.

He almost dropped her at the sight that lay before them.

***

Ginny flushed bright red, her face clashing with her red hair. Seamus on the other hand had turned a deathly white and his eyes were as wide as saucers. Even so, they were still hold each others hands.

"Oh. My. Gawd." These were the only words uttered by anyone, and Harry's voice echoed around the Tower. The four Gryffindors stared at each other in immense shock, looks of wonder, amazement and extreme embarrassment plastered across their faces.

"This certainly wasn't planned," Hermione managed to say after a moment of awkward silence. Harry set her down and she stood nervously, rather embarrassed.

"Uh, hi," Ginny managed to say meekly, mustering a small, although fake, smile.

"Hi," replied Hermione. She turned to Harry. "I told you we should have gone to Filch's store cupboard on the fourth floor!" She blushed heavily, realising what she had just told Ginny and Seamus they would be doing.

"Maybe we should go there now," Harry said quickly. The Head Boy and Girl turned hastily, but before they could leave, Seamus called out.

Stop!" he cried desperately. "You're not going to tell Ron and Lavender, are you? Please don't tell them!" he begged.

Harry and Hermione looked at each, then Hermione turned back to the illicit lovers. "Tell them what?" she asked innocently.

A large smile broke across Ginny's face and she raced across the room. She hugged Hermione tight saying; "Thank you, Hermione! You're a lifesaver!" She was about to hug Harry when Seamus cleared his throat. "Oh, sorry, Seamus," she said and she joined him back on the other side of the Tower. He drew her into a passionate kiss.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other uneasily. "This is something I really don't need to see," Harry told her and she nodded her agreement.

"Me neither," she said. Lacing her fingers with his, Hermione and Harry quietly left the Astronomy Tower. When they were far enough away, both burst into hysterical laughter.

"Ginny and Seamus?" Harry chuckled. "Has the world gone mad and no-one told me?"

"No-one told me either!" Hermione giggled. "Wow."

"It's like... I dunno." He asked Hermione seriously, "Do you think Ginny's mad?"

"Hey!" Hermione exclaimed. "Seamus isn't that bad." She mumbled something and Harry asked:

"What?"

Hermione blushed heavily. "Oh, all right! I kind of... used to... you know... had a... crush on him." She cringed. "It was in like third year!" she said, trying to defend herself. "Way before I liked Ron and well before I fell in love with you!"

Harry had burst into great guffaws of laughter at Hermione's confession, but he quickly sobered up at her last few words. "I wasn't expecting you to say that," he said quietly. Hermione smiled at him.

"Say what?"

"It's nothing," Harry said hurriedly. He grinned. "Come on! We better get up to the fourth floor before someone beats us to it."

***

A/N: Well, what can I say? How about: Can I PLEASE have 90 reviews? Please?

Here's a thanks section for Chapter Seven:
ms. potter - The good thing about minor characters is that they can be like however you want them to be. :)
Ryoko Blue - Thanx!
Holly Rachael Zintel - Thanx - that was a lovely reviw! :)
ShockoLatt - I hadn't even thought about what careers they're going to have when they leave school. I really should start thinking...
Geneathen - Don't worry - I have a lot planned for Harry and Hermione in the next few chapters.
bookworm4ever - Thanx!
Satans Little Princess - Thanx!
AznGolDragonGod - No, don't aorry. Pansy died in the conflict against Voldemort (who Harry and co. defeated in their sixth year). Pansy was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Never In Ur Wildest Dreamz - Thanx!
E. C. R. Potter - Trust me, lots more can happen...
Panny-Plan - You know, I written this chapter before you reviewed. Kinda spooky...
hudsonlv426 - Thanx!
Tom Ryddle - I'm not great at fluffy, but I'll try!

Review, Flame, Whatever.

silverphoenix