Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is all J.K. Rowling's. Don't sue me.

A/N: Alright. Getting the chapters up faster. And thanks to all my reviewers! Oh, quick note to JustMe- lol, I could have changed it, but sadly I'm already done.... Maybe that will be my next project though...

Re-cap: After coming back from Hogsmeade with seemingly nothing to fear, Harry and Ron are just about to make a clean get away, when suddenly Ron spots something across the lake...

Chapter 9: Caught

It was Hermione and Krum.

They were walking around the lake. They hadn't spotted Harry and Ron yet because they were too involved with their own conversation, but it was only a matter of time before Harry and Ron would be in their view.

Harry wanted to run but was rooted to the spot. His legs seemed to have turned to lead. He was frozen in shock and time seemed to be going in slow motion.

"She'll kill us," he thought weekly.

Harry jumped as a white faced Ron grabbed him by the arm.

"Move!" Ron hissed, and dragged Harry after him into some bushes.

"That's it then," Harry moaned. "We're done for. She'll catch us then we're done for."

"Shut up!" Ron snapped. "Hermione won't catch us. Just shut up and keep out of sight."

As Hermione and Krum came nearer to the bushes, Harry was able to make out some of their conversation.

"Thank you for walking back to the castle with me," Hermione was saying.

"It vas nothing. I don't haff to be in the village yet," Krum responded.

"How are you getting home?"

"One of my professors is coming for me."

"Oh. Well, maybe you can stay for dinner..." Hermione voice faded as the couple passed the bush where Harry and Ron were hiding.

It was quiet for a moment then Harry let out a low whistle. "I thought we'd had it," he said. "C'mon, Ron. I'm starving. Let's go and- Ron? Ron, what are you doing?!" Harry exclaimed as Ron began to follow Hermione and Krum from behind the bushes.

"Shhhhh! I'm going after them," Ron said, crawling through the brush.

"No! Are you mad?! Get back here!" Harry said, scrambling after Ron and grabbing the back of his robes.

"Get off Harry!" Said Ron, as he tried to get away from Harry.

"Aren't you satisfied yet? We've been following them for hours and we haven't seen a thing yet. I doubt anything will happen now," Harry said, trying to get a firmer hold on Ron.

"Maybe, maybe not. We won't know unless we go after them!" Ron snapped as he gave a final pull and slid out of Harry's grip.

"Ron!" Harry yelled, but it was too late Ron was crawling through the bushes after Hermione and Krum.

Sighing, Harry sat down and rested his chin his hands. He didn't know what to do. Should he go after Ron? Harry looked up at Hogwarts. It was so close. It would be so easy to just go up for dinner. Ron could spy by himself and Harry could go to the castle and stay away from trouble.

"But Ron's your friend," said a voice in Harry's head. "You can't let him go alone."

"Sure you can," said another voice. "So what if he's caught? Hermione can get mad at him. It was his idea after all. Why should you risk it?"

"Because he's my friend," Harry said aloud. Heaving another sigh, Harry got on his hands and knees to crawl after Ron.

"But," he said," after this, he owes me big."

Harry didn't have to do far before he caught up with Ron who was crouched behind another bush and peering through its leaves. Sneaking behind him, Harry reached over and prodded him in the back.

"Calm down. It's just me," Harry said, for Ron had jumped in surprise.

"Geez! Don't do that to me!" Ron hissed at Harry. "I nearly wet myself!"

Snickering, Harry crept up next to Ron and pushed some leaves aside. There he could see Hermione and Krum. They seemed to just be talking, although Harry couldn't hear what they were saying.

"Anything interesting?" Harry asked, looking over at Ron.

"Nope. Couldn't get close enough to hear them because there's no place to hide."

Harry shook his head.

"What?" Asked Ron.

"Nothing. It's just that I don't know whether to be glad or upset about that," Harry said, looking back through the bush.

As the two boys watched, it seemed that the couple's conversation was changing. Harry noticed that it was now Krum doing all the talking and Hermione was just listening to him with a small smile on her face. Suddenly, Krum reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand. Ron seized up, but Harry leaned closer. He knew something was coming. Krum said something else to Hermione, and she smiled then looked at the ground. Shaking her head, Hermione looked back up, let go of Krum's hand then said something to him. Krum nodded, spoke again, and both he and Hermione began to laugh. As they laughed, relief swam over Harry. He didn't know what it was, but he felt as though there was nothing left to be worried about.

Harry looked over at Ron. He looked utterly bewildered and had his eyes glued on the couple.

"Ron? I think it's okay," Harry said timidly.

"No. Not yet. Not quite," Ron whispered back.

"What do you mea-?"

"Shhhh! Shut up and watch. It's not over yet and we're not leaving 'til it is," said Ron.

Harry looked back through the bush. Hermione and Krum were still talking and laughing. He and Ron had watched them all day. What could possibly happen now?

The answer came almost immediately.

Hermione had reached out and pulled Krum into a hug. Ron went red in the face and Harry's eyes grew wide as Krum pulled back...then bent down to give Hermione what was unmistakably a kiss.

Ron was on his feet. He whipped out his wand and pointed it at Krum. And before Harry had time to stop him, Ron had cried "Expellarimus!"

Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Each second that passed felt like a year. As the light from Ron's spell moved towards the couple, it illuminated Krum and Hermione's faces. In shock, Harry realized that Krum had merely given Hermione a light peck on the cheek. However, at the cry of Ron's disarming spell, they had looked up to see the light coming towards them. Had they not leapt aside, the spell may have hit them. From the ground, Hermione looked up in the direction of the spell...right where Harry and Ron were. Their eyes met. Even as they ducked back behind the bush, Harry knew that the damage had been done. Hermione had seen them.

As the light from the spell faded, Ron and Harry were still behind the bush, white faced and staring at each other.

"She s-saw us," Harry croaked.

""M-maybe not. She could've just thought it was a trick of the light or- or something,"
Ron whispered.

Suddenly, they heard a shout. A loud shout of a spell.

"REDUCTO!" Hermione screamed and the bush where Harry and Ron were was blasted apart. Looking through the scattering twigs and leaves, Harry saw Hermione with her wand out, marching towards them.

Now, Harry had seen Hermione angry plenty of times before. Besides the constant fights between her and Ron, in their third year, Hermione had slapped Draco Malfoy in the face and had even walked out of their Divination class. Just last year she had her battle against Daily Prophet reporter, Rita Skeeter. So Harry had seen Hermione angry...but all that was nothing compared to now. Because Hermione wan't angry. She was furious.

Hermione stopped walking and stood in front of Ron and Harry. She had her arms crossed tight. She glared at the two of them. They could almost feel the heat coming from her obvious rage.

"Uh-h-hi, Hermione," Ron said nervously.

Hermione didn't move, but her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Hello," she replied in a voice so cold it sent a chill down Harry's spine

"How-how you doing?" Ron asked, grinning weakly.

"I was doing pretty well," Hermione said raising an eyebrow. "That is before I found my two best friends spying on me."

Ron didn't have anything to say to that, so Harry decided to try.

"Hermione, just let us explain wha-"

"An explanation?" Interrupted Hermione. "Great, can't wait to have one."

She looked between the two boys on the ground. Then she sighed.

"Go up to the castle. Wait for me in the common room. And don't even think of hiding."

"O-okay," said Harry, as he and Ron scrambled to their feet.

"Um...then we'll talk?" Ron asked timidly.

"Oh, you can be sure of that," Hermione said. "We'll talk." She paused before adding, "One of us no doubt in a very loud voice."

A/N: Dun, dun, duuuuun. Okay, so I stole the last line form a TV show...I thought it was too good to pass up. Anyway, how's Hermione going to react to Harry and Ron's spying? Think she'll kill them? LOL, well, you'll see. Remember, tune in next time...and keep reviewing!