No one seemed to notice the new atmosphere surrounding Hermione and Harry, except for Ron and Lavender who were told as soon as the two got back to their rooms. Lavender knew that Hermione was out thinking, and since she didn't come back to the room until the next morning, she knew something was up. She kept pestering until Hermione finally broke down. Ron was the same way with Harry, and when the morning came, they went to tell each other about their best friends' midnight meeting.
Hermione and Harry didn't talk about it much. When they would see each other in the hall or in the common room they would smile and mouth 'I love you' to one another. Lavender and Ron's relationship was out in the open now, the new couple would go around holding hands and have little snogging sessions in the corner. Hermione and Harry would only give each other kisses when they were alone in the common room, so no one would see. Since the uproar a couple of years ago, with Rita Skeeter writing all that stuff, they wanted to be careful.
Soon enough it was Christmas, and Hermione passed up the invite from her parents to come home, so she could spend Christmas with Harry. Ron and Lavender had also stayed behind since both of their family's decided to go on vacations. They were the only ones in Gryffindor left except for a couple of first years that walked around the common room every once in a while, but usually stayed up in their rooms.
The couples spent most of their time by the fire, cuddling up with one another, trying to stay warm, since there was a huge draft in the common room. Hermione was on the couch with Harry and Ron and Lavender were able to squish into the chair next to them. "So when are you two going to tell everyone about your relationship?" Lavender looked over at the two who were whispering things to one another. "I don't know," Hermione tore herself from Harry's eyes, "From what happened in our fourth year, I don't want it to happen again." Harry nodded his head, "No way am I going to let rumors spread around about us. Especially Hermione." She smiled up at him and intertwined her fingers with his.
"So what are you going to do? Just go around in secrecy, hoping no one will find out?" Ron brought up a good point. Hermione and Harry looked at one another, and then back at Ron and Lavender, "We don't know yet. It's easier for you two, since you didn't have all that publicity about your relationship. We've got to give it time, Ron."
"Give it time?" Ron started to raise his voice, "Harry, you're the most known wizard in the world! It's not going to keep secret for very long! I mean, it might even be out now, and we don't know it!"
"Ron, calm down."
"How can I? My best friend's reputation can be at stake!"
"What could be ruining my so called reputation, Ron? Hermione and I being in love? I don't think that matters to the pubic that much. Especially since they read it before."
"Harry . . . if you don't get it out soon, then it will seep out sooner or later and people will start to think up things."
"Why?"
"Because you kept it a secret! People don't keep secrets for nothing, Harry."
"Calm down, Ron," Lavender placed her hand on Ron's shoulder, "It was only a simple question, I didn't want it to become a full fledge debate." Ron started to simmer down; he knew that he was starting to over react. "Sorry. It's just that, I don't want this to end up front page news, you know?"
"We know, Ron," Hermione snuggled up closer to Harry and he put his head on the top of hers.
After a few minutes of silence Ron spoke up, "Hey Harry, you up for some wizard chess?" Ron was back to himself, bond and determined to prove he is the best player. "Sure Ron," he got up from beside Hermione and walked to the corner of the room. Ron set up the board and brought out his prized pieces as Harry tried his best to remember his moves from the last game they played.
"That's all he ever does. Play wizard's chess," Lavender watched the two boys in the corner. "Maybe it helps him take his mind off of things," Hermione got up and walked toward the window that she and Harry sat when they had their first kiss, 'That's what I need from every time and again. . . to get my mind off things.'
"Maybe, but he still needs to keep his feet planted on the ground. I mean he can't go and play a game whenever, just to get away from the world. I mean it isn't possible. Am I right?" Lavender turned her head toward Hermione when she didn't answer, "Hermione?" Hermione was looking out the window, almost seeming to be totally spaced out. "What's the matter w-?"
"Shhh," Hermione looked through the glass with intensity burning through her eyes. 'That isn't what I think it is. Is it?' Lavender sat by her on the window sill and tried to follow her gaze down to the grounds, where the forbidden forest meets the grass. She finally saw what Hermione had her eyes on, "That can't be." Her eyes widened and she looked at Hermione, then back at the ground, "But Harry killed that monster in our second year."
Harry turned toward the girls with the mention of his name. "What was that Lavender?" Ron asked with his main focus still on the chess board, trying to find a way around Harry's knight and to his king. Harry got up and walked over to the window and to the girls. He looked down at the ground to find a giant snake slithering across the grass toward the forbidden forest. "That can't be," he looked down at the snake, just as the reptile was turning its head back toward them. "Get down!" Hermione pushed the head of her boyfriend and her room mate down.
"What did you do that for, Hermione?" Lavender rubbed her head. "That giant snake has the power to kill you by just looking at you. It would only paralyze you if you saw it through a mirror, or another type of surface. But when you see it face to face, it has the potential to kill." Lavender gulped as Ron finally made his way over, "You're not talking about what I think you are, are you Hermione?"
"Yeah Ron, I'm talking about a basilisk," Lavender got up from the floor and wrapped her arms around Ron, looking for comfort. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and tried to get another explanation, "But Harry killed the one that was in Hogwarts years ago, right Harry?" Ron looked down at his friend. Harry didn't answer as he held his head in the palm of his hand. "Harry, what's the matter?" Hermione knelt down next to him and touched his hand with hers. "I think he might be coming." Hermione looked up at Ron with terror in her eyes.
"Who might be coming?" Lavender looked down at him.
"Voldermort." Ron and Lavender shook at the name, "Harry, I told you not to use that name."
"Sorry Ron, but this pain is very strong." Ron looked out the window and looked at the grounds below. "I don't see anything, must have gone off. I have no doubt that you must have seen it though. He has been back for a year and a half, but no attacks or any attempts on your life have been made, Harry. I think it was only a matter of time." Lavender looked over his shoulder and nodded her head in agreement. Harry eventually took his hand off his head and looked at Hermione, "Harry, your scar . . . that can't mean that. . ."
"It could only mean one thing," Hermione could sense the fear in his voice and her face was immediately flushed with worry. She hugged Harry close, "It can't come true, can it Harry? It was only a night mare."
"But a nightmare that we both had. I don't know what to think of it," she held him tighter. They stayed on the floor near the window, as Ron and Lavender tried to find where the snake went, hoping that it didn't find a way into Hogwarts.