HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! GO FILL UP ON TURKEY!

Max Lonewolf: Awwwwww! Poor you! I thought you had the chance to escape the common sibling annoyance! Oh well… just think that the work will only pile up more often in University, and with our freakin' government… *sigh* Anyways, I thought the sword should have been wider too, but I kinda like the 'Harry Potter saves the day' comment they put in. And there's supposed to be another trailer coming out! It has Harry speaking Parseltongue… he sounds REALLY creepy, I've heard. Like and exorcist. (Caution: Long reply!)

xT-Zealot: C'mon, now, it's not that far away! Only about 35 days left! (I've been counting down, obviously. 30 days until the soundtrack, too. That's a month!)

E.C.R Potter: I'm sorry about my mistakes, Mr. Edwards, sir, I'll never do it again. *puppy dog eyes* Oh! I'm sorry, I thought you were my English teacher! But yes, poor Hermione. Well, it gets better, I tell you! Thanks for your review!

Dragonblond: H-homicidal? *gulp* I hope y-y-your not suggesting… I, er… uh… gotta go! *WOOSH!*

Thefly: Okay, buster, just wait a moment. I'll make you a deal… you read this next chapter and take that 'they didn't get together' comment in your review back. Deal? *Grin*

…~'*'~…

Okay… this is the moment you've been waiting for… are you ready for this? Are you sure? Are you positive? Are you- *whack!* OUCH! OK, go ahead and read it ---

…~'*'~…

"You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall?" the voice hissed.

"His mother died in the attempt to save him – and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen… I could not touch the boy."

Hermione awoke, hearing the same voices and the same cruel laugh. She sat up, trembling from head to foot and sweat wetting her back. With a dawning realization, she thought so this is what it's like to be Harry, waking up and being scared of nightmares. But she was sure that he hadn't felt so exhausted; it took great effort for Hermione to open her eyes. They felt like bricks.

She wiped her face with the back of her hands and leaned back in her pillows again, steadying her breath. The dream wasn't as bad as she thought, but seeing that face over again… it was just too much. She had gotten her mark from going too far in her nightmare: a large gash on her shoulder. Hermione could see that someone had bandaged it under her nightdress and it was feeling a lot better now. But… how did she get it?

There couldn't have been anything sharp around her and she didn't feel anything pierce her when she woke up. Maybe it was when she fell to the ground. But there was no way that it could have bleed so much from that time to when Harry appeared. Then Hermione gasped. Harry!

She was about to climb out of her bed, but realized that she wasn't alone in the infirmary. She stopped in an awkward position, half off the bed and one foot touching the floor, and listened. There were voices, but they weren't coming from the room she was in. It was coming from the door to the left of her, with the morning light spreading across it. Straining her ears, she realized… the voices were coming closer!

Hermione scrabbled to her feet and hurriedly pulled the curtains around her hospital bed. Hearing the voices getting closer, she got back into a sleeping position, grinding her teeth with the pain from her shoulder.

The door burst open and what sounded like three or four people stomped inside. They were arguing, but with the loudness of their voices, Hermione couldn't tell who they were. She could see their shadows stop at the end of her bed.

"Gentlemen, please," said a familiar voice that was trying to be heard over the rest, "We have patients in here."

It was Dumbledore. The voices stopped all at once and someone made a disgusted noise.

"As well there should be!" said a very aggravated voice that sounded immensely recognizable, "Dumbledore, this has gone far enough. I don't think that he is… suitable to be here!"

"He's perfectly well enough," said Dumbledore's voice, "and there's certainly nothing dangerous about him. You and I both know that, Cornelius."

Hermione couldn't tell what they were doing, but their shadows were slowly moving more to the right of her. With her eyes watching them, she carefully sat up on her knees to peer out of a small hole in the curtains. There, she could just see the back of someone's robes, which were bottle green. She tried with all her might to recall them…

"He may be a tad on the misguided side, but he's doing an excellent job here," said Dumbledore's voice calmly, "But if you dare put the boy's life in jeopardy, you may take him if you wish."

The three shadows were coming very close to her now. She saw a hand seizing the curtains drawn around the hospital bed next to hers, which she hadn't noticed was occupied until now, and they were pushed aside. Stunned silence followed.

"He's recovering very well," said the third voice, which was squeaky. Hermione realized it was Siamoen, "He's had most of his burns cleared up… and his legs have recovered, as you can see. He'll take another week mending."

More silence. Hermione tried to listen and squint at them more clearly, but she needn't strain herself for telling whom the other person was when he spoke. "Mending? Why did the fool agree to this? When did his head leave him?"

It was Lucius Malfoy, the same man Hermione saw in her dream as a Death Eater. Her stomach disappeared in a wave of fear.

"I asked him about a job here, Lucius, and he solemnly swore that he'd do whatever it takes to keep it in order," said Dumbledore coolly, "As I said, he's doing an excellent job. If he wished to discontinue his promise, don't you think that he would have left already?"

Lucius seemed to be fighting for something to say, for he stuttered a few times and growled before saying, "Come off it, Dumbledore! I don't see why he can't take care of himself for a change. He can't have people running around for him, with his pathetic… followers, if you'd like to call them, trailing him wherever he goes-"

"They are all he's got at the moment, Lucius," said Dumbledore, "Surely you've had some good, faithful friends in your time."

Hermione would have said something, anything, but she knew she couldn't say a word. Lucius Malfoy was getting angry, and Siamoen's shadow was cowering in the corner. Just when Hermione leaned in closer to the rip in the curtains, the voices stopped. All of a sudden, Hermione found a hand on the curtains drawn around her bed. With a scream, she watched as they were viciously pushed aside.

She found herself face-to-face with a furious and red-faced Mr. Malfoy.

"And why are the likes of you listening to us?" he hissed at her.

Hermione screamed again, her eyes widening with fright. She tried to get up, but her shoulder hurt too badly. Instead, she flattened herself against her pillows, eyes watering.

"Miss Ganger, you're not healed yet," said Dumbledore, "Lucius, that's quite enough!"

But Mr. Malfoy didn't stop. His blond hair had fallen into his eyes as he watched Hermione with dangerously narrowed eyes, his right hand trembling to his pocket for his wand. Siamoen closed the curtains around the hospital bed they were inspecting at once.

"She heard everything! Stupid Mudblood friend of Potter's," she hissed, but only Hermione heard him. She shrunk into her pillows further, on the verge of tears.

Suddenly, the door burst open, making everyone in the room jump. Hermione peered over her covers to see who it was. She thought she was dreaming it but… she thought it was… Harry, Ron and an enormous black dog?

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore, "It's your visiting time! Slipped my mind, I must say."

Harry (with the black dog trotting alongside him) and Ron walked inside, but saw Mr. Malfoy. Harry stopped dead in his tracks, looking startled. The black dog, which Hermione realized was Sirius Black, growled.

"Lucius is here on orders form the Ministry, Harry. He's here to inspect the strange incidents occurring," Dumbledore told Harry, smiling.

Hermione had never seen Harry looking so… angry. He followed Ron across the room, but his eyes, which were narrowed, were still fixed on Mr. Malfoy.

"Maybe you should escort Miss. Granger to her dormitory. She's had enough in here, I would say." suggested Siamoen, whose hands were twisting the sleeves of his robes.

Ron nodded. He and Harry went over to Hermione, with all eyes watching them (apparently waiting until they left), and Hermione climbed out of her hospital bed. She put on her robes, which were sitting on a stool next to her, as carefully as she could without hurting her shoulder. Then, with the support of Harry and Ron, Hermione left the Infirmary.

Harry shut the door once Sirius had trotted after them, and as he did, Ron made a noise.

"Malfoy," he growled, "Why is he still working for the Ministry? My Dad would sack him so quickly, if he were Minister-"

"Sirius said that he needs to speak to us," Harry said to Hermione, looking at her, "It's something important."

Hermione nodded, but then made a funny squeaking sound; she wasn't watching where she was walking for a moment, and tripped on a crack in the stone floor. It wasn't the trip that hurt her, but the fact that for a instant when her arm bent slightly back, her shoulder burned like it were about to burst into flame.

"Uhrm," she murmured, closing and opening her eyes, blinking tears out of her eyes. Harry propped her elbow up with his arm, gave her a reassuring shake and looked at the black dog sharply.

"Hurry, will you?" he said.

They followed the dog down one corridor, past the classrooms Hermione and Harry were looking for Marindernia (and one of them which, no doubt, actually had her inside it that night,) down one small set of steps until they were in a landing with one single door. Sirius pawed at the bottom panel of it.

"In here?" said Ron with eyebrows raised, "OK." He opened the door and followed the black dog inside, Harry and Hermione behind them.

They emerged inside what must have been a classroom only it looked well used. It was some-what like the Potion's dungeon, with its enormous cauldrons and shelved bottles lining the walls. There were several dozen desks and chairs facing the front of the room.

Hermione sat at one of the tables with Harry. There, she, Harry and Ron watched as the enormous black dog transformed itself into a fully-grown man, with long, matted hair and a gaunt face. He looked a little less groomed than the last time Hermione had seen him.

"I apologize for putting you through this, Hermione, but I need to tell you something," he said to Hermione and looking as though he meant it, "Has Silversmith been back yet?"

"Yes, he came back at the Christmas feast," said Hermione. Sirius looked up thoughtfully.

"A boy from Nockdernia told us that he was at the Ministry when we couldn't find him," said Harry, referring to Wade, "He said that he caused a stir."

"Yes, yes, I know all about that," said Sirius in a passive manner, waving his hand.

"Well we don't," said Ron, "Care to tell?"

Hermione could tell Sirius was estimating the time they had alone; he glanced anxiously glanced at the door and said, "He's been to the Ministry before. In fact, he used to work for Fudge about three years ago."

"You mean…. Silversmith had worked with the Ministry before, but he was… sacked?" said Harry in disbelief, "Then why would he go back there?"

"Who cares about that, who'd be nutty enough to let that bloke in the Ministry anyways," said Ron, "I mean… I know why they sacked the bugger, but why they hired him in the first place…" he shrugged and sighed.

 "So the question is," said Sirius, "Why is he here and what is he up to?"

A few minutes passed as Sirius paced the room, a hand scratching him gruff chin. Ron has sat on a desk, twisting his sleeves and Hermione was slowly sinking lower into her seat, her back leaning heavily on the desk. Her eyes were getting heavy.

"Maybe," said Ron, "Mr. Malfoy hired him to make himself look better. Or maybe so he could sack him himself. Or maybe-"

"Sirius, I think Hermione needs to go to her dorm," said Harry's soft voice. Hermione, whose head was slowly lowering again, looked up at him and blinked.

            "Yes, I apologize," said Sirius, "I should have waited until you were better, Hermione." looking slightly ashamed, he glanced at Hermione with a frown. Then he took another look. His eyes grew wide, staring at her.

"That's a very… beautiful necklace, Hermione," he said to her.

He looked very strange; his mouth was slightly open and his eyes were filled with what must have been alarm or even fear. Hermione reached up and took the pendant in her hand protectively.

"It might have been a good thing you told us now," said Ron, who was already at the door and hadn't noticed what was going on, "Who knows what we'll run into."

            Harry helped Hermione to her feet and they walked back to the door. They snuck all the way to the end of the corridor, until Sirius stopped them.

            "Ron, take Hermione to her dorm. I need to talk to Harry alone for a moment."

Harry looked at Sirius curiously, but nodded, "I'll see you later."

Something wasn't right; Hermione knew, for a fact, that when something went wrong or if something is out-of-place, Sirius would take it all very strictly. But his face… it was like stone. Ron and Hermione found it best not to argue and started up the corridor, looking back at them.

"What d'you think he wanted to talk to him about?" said Ron as they walked up a staircase. They had finally met students roaming the halls; Hermione was beginning to think that the castle was deserted. They watched them pass, whispering behind their hands. It was obvious that what happened to Hermione traveled around the school like wildfire the next day.

"Bugger off," said Ron angrily, and they scampered away.

Soon, students were passing them from both sides, and some of them, mainly the Hogwarts students, tried to talk to Hermione (to ask about what happened, most likely, thought Hermione.) They were getting close to the common room.

"Hermione! How're you doing?" said Neville, who was walking with a Hufflepuff boy Hermione didn't know.

"Fine, thanks," said Hermione.

"But…where's Harry?" Neville called after them.

"He'll be back in a while, Neville," said Ron, and they started walking faster lest he questioned them further.

The common room wasn't very busy, but some people stayed back, exchanging their own stories about what had happened. A few people pointed at them when they entered.

"What're you doing here?" said Lavender, who was sitting at a table with Parvati.

"Shouldn't I be here?" said Hermione, sounding slightly offended.

"She needs to go to her dormitory to rest," said Ron, "They couldn't have her at the Infirmary anymore."

Lavender approached them, frowning, "But, your shoulder… it's not finished healing yet. Even I can tell and I don't work there!"

"I don't want to go to my dorm anyways," said Hermione, "I feel fine. Really." They were looking uncertainly at her, but to make her point, she marched over to one of the armchairs and sat in it, folding her arms and looking at the floor. Ron grinned.

"She's waiting for Harry," he told Lavender quietly, "Who else?"

Lavender went pink, but smiled and nodded. He watched her walk back to Parvati at the table.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who has a personal fancy," said Hermione teasingly so only Ron could hear as he sat in an armchair too. His ears turned red, but he didn't say a word for a moment.

"You're wrong," he managed to say (his face was so red that Hermione thought it might prevent himself from speaking,) "And… at least I wont do something that you would."

Hermione looked at him, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Hermione, you know what I'm talking about."

"No I don't."

He coughed in his hand, and Hermione swore he murmured something.

"What was that?"

"I'm talking about what you did to Harry at the ball!" he half shouted, his face reddening not with embarrassment, but with anger.

Hermione certainly didn't expect that. It was so long ago, Hermione had almost forgotten. But Ron obviously had not.

"Listen. I've cleared everything up with Harry. He accepted my apology and everything's OK with me and him now," said Hermione. Ron narrowed his eyes at her.

            "Everything might be OK with him and you, but you didn't tell him everything, did you?" he snapped at her.

            "Ron, what're you-"

            "You bloody well know what I'm talking about! You didn't tell him the real reason you were ignoring him like he didn't exist!" Ron interrupted her, "I know it and you know it! Why didn't you tell him?"

            Hermione stared at him, her mouth hanging open.

            "Why do you think that?" she asked him, "What do you know?"

            "It was something Marindernia said that made you act so foolish. I saw her talking to you when I left to go to the garden," said Ron as-a-matter-of-factly, "I have a hunch it was something about Harry and you believed her."

            Hermione furiously shook her head, "You're wrong! It wasn't about Harry!"

            "Will it make you stop lying if I tell Harry everything?" argued Ron.

            "OK, I get it," said Hermione in a hurry, her face red, "I'm really sorry. You know the real reason…" she lowered her voice, "just don't tell Harry."

            Ron grimaced. "You have a real knack of not telling him anything that concerns him."

            Hermione speechlessly closed her mouth and leaned back in her chair. Ron stared at her.

            "You look exhausted," he said, "That's funny… so was Harry. I was up long before him. What were you two doing while I was gone?" His mouth broke into a foolish grin.

            Hermione didn't have the energy to retort. She sank lower into her seat and folded her arms again.

"Uh huh," said Ron, his face turning red with mirth, "Look, Harry said I can go for a ride on his broom, since I haven't in a while. If you still don't feel well, you should-

"I feel fine," said Hermione sternly.

            Hermione left the common room when Ron went up to his dorm for Harry's broom. Her legs ached tremendously with every ginger foot she placed on the ground. Suddenly, the thought of going to her dorm wasn't such a bad idea.

            When entering the Grand Hall, Hermione realized that almost everyone had left had already left. The tables, four of them now, were almost empty, but Ginny was sitting with the twins at the Hogwarts one.

            "Hey, you're better!" exclaimed Ginny excitedly as she approached. Hermione carefully sat down next to her without hurting her shoulder and sighed.

            "Not quite," she said heavily.

            "I've heard that you were sleepwalking and you walked into a wall," said Fred, "Is that true?"

            "No!" said Ginny fiercely, putting a finger to her lips, "She had a dream, that's all!"

            "It must have been some dream," said George in disbelief. Hermione rolled her eyes and groaned.

            "Has Harry been here yet?" she asked, looking around impatiently, "He was talking to someone."

            "Yes, he's right over there," said the twins in unison, pointing across the hall. Hermione looked and saw that Harry was walking towards them, and he looked very startled to see Hermione watching him.

            "What're you doing here?" he demanded, "You're supposed to be in your dorm!"

            "But I'm not tired and I feel perfectly fine, Harry," said Hermione earnestly, "Honestly."

            Harry stopped at their table, looking worried, "You do realize that you'll be too tired for your detention, then." He took something from his pocket and held it out to her: a green envelope.

            "Oh dear," she exclaimed, taking the letter and staring at it with dread, "My detention!"

            "You're in for it now!" roared George, his face red with mirth as he laughed, "When you're cleaning the toilets… imagine if you fall asleep in mid cleaning and your head falls into the-"

            "Let's go for a walk, Harry!" she said angrily, getting to her feet and marching to the Grand Hall door, pulling Harry along with her.

            "Hermione… we were only joking!" Fred called after them, but as soon as he said it, they both broke into a wave of laughter. Hermione pulled Harry through the door and slammed it shut, fuming.

            "Calm down," said Harry in disbelief as she dropped his wrist and angrily sat on the steps, "It's Fred and George, remember?"

            Hermione sat on the steps, folding her arms like a child. She wished the weather was horrible; then she could have stayed angry for longer. But Harry sat down next to her, and her anger melted away. With him there and the cold air whipping at her hair, she felt at peace. The snow-covered trees were swaying slightly and the sun, was bright and sparkling. It felt nice sitting in such a place after being in the Infirmary for a night with an injured shoulder that you couldn't move. And Harry was there too, his head tilting to the sky and a smile playing on his lips.

            "D'you think we should met Ron? To give him the letter?" Hermione said, referring to the letter in her pocket (which she dreaded to take out.)

            "You don't want to open it, huh?" said Harry amusingly, looking at her, "Lets go then."

            The snow-covered slope was a little slippery as they walked down it (it must have snowed last night, thought Hermione as she almost lost her footing) and once they walked its lengths, the Quidditch pitch came into view.

            "Ron would be down there," pointed Harry.

            He and Hermione walked to the Quidditch pitch, passing through the barriers and setting foot on the long stretch of unspoiled ground. The green flags circling the pitch were barely fluttering, as it wasn't very windy.

            "What… who're they?" said Harry, pointing at the pitch. Hermione looked and saw Ron with Harry's Firebolt, only there were a few people with him, and worst off, they looked like they were questioning Ron… in a wicked way.

            Harry and Hermione ran up to them, wondering what was going on. The closer they came, Hermione could make out their faces. It was Tisroc and what must have been his friends.

            "Hello, Harry Potter," said Whin, noticing them approach, "I was just talking to your dear friend, here."

            "Talking?" shouted Ron, whose ears were red, "Talking? You were harassing me! You've been chatting with Malfoy, haven't you?"

            "What's it to you?"

            "Malfoy's not better than the hag I saw in The Leaky Cauldron," said Harry to Whin, who grimaced. His friends, who were just behind him, did also. Hermione noticed they all looked like Crabbe and Goyle replicas.

            "Your cheek, Harry," said Whin, "My father told me your father had plenty of that ridiculous cheek too," he grinned, but in a impious way, "Malfoy has been useful. He told me many things about you, Harry Potter."

            Harry narrowed his eyes, "What're you talking about?"

            "Your abilities, your troubles, your strength," he laughed, "and all those harmful things you've been running into over the years. And… your recent encounter."

            "Resent encounter?" questioned Hermione. He looked at her.

            "What, didn't famous-boy tell you?" he told her, "In the third task? When Potter killed his friend-"

            Ron's face turned purple and his freckles dissolved. Hermione hadn't seen him look to furious.

"HARRY DIDN'T KILL ANYONE!" he roared at Whin, "YOU DIRTY LITTLE-"

He stopped, just in mid-leap at Whin, when suddenly, Whin took his wand out of his belt and pointed it at him. Hermione gasped.

"Temper, temper," said Whin with a sneer as his friends behind him chuckled, "Let's not get out of hand."

"Listen, I don't know what Malfoy told you, but you're as wrong as he is," said Harry, whose face was burning and voice trembling, "You don't know what happened. You weren't there, and neither was Malfoy."

"That may be true, but who says that I wasn't there?"

Harry watched him carefully, "You weren't. I would've seen you."

Whin laughed again, and put his wand back, "Watch your back, Harry Potter. Something may just happen to you sometime."

Then, they vanished. No, they apparated, all of them.

"T-they can apparate?" said Ron with a mixture of hate and envy, "How'd they manage that?"

Hermione looked at Harry, and noticed he looked a little defeated. She was just about to ask him what Whin was talking about, but… it must be really dreadful. So she walked back up to the castle with Harry and Ron once she had given Ron the letter and kept her questions to herself… for now.

…~'*'~…

The common room was completely empty that night. Harry and Hermione sat in armchairs around the crackling fire, playing chess, and Ron was talking to his brothers. They were huddled in the corner at a table they dragged across the room just so they could be alone. They were writing, reading books and talking in secretive whispers… Ron hated that.

"So…" said Ron, tottered back an forth on his heels as his edged his way to them, "Care to tell what you've been doing?"

"No," said Fred flatly.

"Not to a bugger like you," replied George, but they didn't look at him.

"Could you give me… a hint?"

"No!" said the twins in unison. Ron's ears turned red.

"Why not? I'll write to Mum and tell her what you've been doing!"

Both Fred and George's shoulder's shook with laughter, "But you haven't any idea what we're doing because we're too stubborn to tell you, Ronniekins!"

Ron made a noise of defeat and grumpily slouched over to Harry and Hermione. He tossed himself into one of the armchairs.

 "Who's Mr. Hullith, anyways? I'll bet he'll be sure to give us something disgusting to do, whoever he is. Like clean the bloody toilets." Mr. Hullith was the caretaker that was supposed to meet them in the Grand Hall for their detention.

"He probably works for Dryconderoga, Ron," reasoned Hermione as her queen dragged Harry's bishop off the board, "What time is it, anyways?"

Ron looked at his watch, "If we stay here for any longer than five minutes, we'll be late."

Hermione sighed, and she and Harry started packing up his chess set.

"Looks like you wont be back until a while," said Harry heavily.

"Tell me about it."

Hermione and Ron bid their goodnights to Harry and left for the Grand Hall, Ron dragging his feet. They speechlessly walked down the corridor and once the entrance to the hall came into view, Hermione's stomach fell to her feet. The question finally dawned on her: what would this Mr. Hullith make them do?

In the middle of the hall was a flickering lamp, telling Hermione Mr. Hullith, whoever he was, was waiting. Hermione and Ron both sighed, shook their heads and stumbled down the marble staircase.

They approached Mr. Hullith… and Hermione realized that even if she did have a wisp of an idea of what he looked like, she was sure it wasn't compared to what he really looked like. He was only a few feet tall… three feet, at the most. He wore a long overcoat with an orange-ruffed jumper and tiny buckled boots. He was bald, but he had a very strange mustache. It was very long and twisted and to the sides of that was his pointy ears. Hermione had never seen anything like him before.

"A-are you Mr. Hullith?" Hermione asked the small man carefully. The man squinted at her with his beady eyes, blinked and chuckled.

"I would be at that!" he said with a toothless grin, "And you be Weasley and Granger?"

Hermione nodded a reply

"Good. Well, you're in for a job t'night!" chuckled Mr. Hullith cheerfully. He started walking towards the door of the Grand Hall and Ron and Hermione awkwardly followed.

            By the light of Mr. Hullith's lantern, the three of them walked down the slopping lawn on the other side of the castle from the Quidditch pitch. If it weren't her detention, Hermione would be cooing at how beautiful the grounds looked at night; here were fireflies everywhere and the moon was extra bright. Mr. Hullith stopped and faced them at the edge of a dense thicket. The castle was a few yards away.

            "Your job," he told them, "is to get rid of these filthy bugs." He pointed at the bushes, where the fireflies were most numerous. He summoned a few cages from the tip of his wand, and it was then when Hermione realized… the little lights flying around weren't fireflies; they were fairies!

             "They've been a hazard for the house elves in the kitchens, you see? They're most afraid of these little devils," said Mr. Hullith as one fairies stuck its tongue out at him from behind. Ron tired to fight his laughter, "Fill the three cages, and you can leave. Give the cages to me once you're finished… and no magic!"

            And he left them, leaving behind his lantern so they could see. Ron swore badly.

            "Ron!" Hermione warned, "Don't complain. This is better than scrubbing bedpans."

            She bent down and opened the cage. Just then, right when a particularly pestering fairy was poking Ron and flying away in fits of high-pitched giggles, Ron leapt up in a roar of frustration and trapped one between his fingers. No sooner was he howling in pain. He dropped the struggling fairy into the cage, holding his finger.

            "Watch out, the little buggers bite," he said, trapping another as they all giggled madly. It seemed as though it was for revenge, though, because he snickered once he dumped that one in the cage too.

 "I can see why the house elves don't like them," said Hermione as she seized two by the feet and dropped them into another one of the cages, "They're a nuisance."

"I'll bet you a galleon that I'll catch more than you," challenged Ron, grinning madly as he clapped his hands together in front of him. A few legs and arms were poking from his between his fingers. Hermione rolled her eyes.

There were a few good minutes of solid fairy catching, but the fairies were getting smart and knew not to come near them. In fact, some of them flew away, screaming shrill gibberish. But there were the select few that felt it was their duty to pull faces. Hermione's fingers started to bleed in a few places from bites already, but only one of the cages were full by the time they had to move to find another place that was crawling with fairies.

Ron was leaping anywhere and everywhere, looking like a child at Christmas. He was laughing insanely, eyes flashing, but didn't mind that he got bitten. It was just another excuse to howl, leap on a fairy, trap it in his hands and throw it into the cage. He finally found an excuse to look like a silly fool.

After a while, when Hermione was getting a little sick of catching the flying menaces, Ron said, "So… d'you still fancy Harry?"

Hermione was so taken aback by his question that she accidentally let a fairy escape her grasp, "W-what?"

"Harry? D'you still like him? You know what I mean!"

"Oh. I forgot you knew," said Hermione sadly, "But yes, I suppose."

He grinned widely, but Hermione couldn't see it.

"That's good."

Hermione fell to the ground, trying to catch one fairy. Grunting, she got up and dropped that one into a cage as well.

"What're you talking about? What's so good about it?" she asked him.

"What's so good about it?" repeated Ron, panting as he looked around him, "What you mean is what's bad about it?"

Hermione shook her head in confusion, "I don't understand. What's bad about it?"

"Exactly!" said Ron with an insane look in his eyes, turning around and pointing at her, "Good question. I wonder how you thought it up. I don't think there's any answer to it, by the way," his eyes grew, looking meaningfully at her, "It's-not-a-bad-thing. Don't you understand? It's a good thing that you like him, for both of you!"

Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"Don't you get it?"

She shook her head, "Should I?"

Ron looked incredulously at her, as if the answer was so obvious, "Yes! You're the smartest witch in our year, yet you don't know-"

"Know what?" Hermione inquired, not realizing that a fairy was dancing around her head, making shrieking noises to get her attention.

Ron looked surprised. Then he noticed the cages on the ground, "Oh look! We're almost done!" he said, looking around for any fairies. He caught five in has hands and dumped them in the cage.

Finally, about an hour later, all three of the cages were full. They started up the lawn to the castle again, Ron carrying two full cages and Hermione carrying the lantern and the last cage.

Mr. Hullith just walked into the Grand Hall at the time Ron and Hermione arrived.

"See, that wasn't so hard, now, was it?" he said as they put the cages on one of the house tables, "I do say, you did an excellent job! You may return to your common rooms now."

Ron and Hermione gratefully agreed. They stumbled up the marble staircase, dragging their feet, exhaustion finally settling in.

"That… wasn't so bad?" muttered Ron, "Hermione… what her you thinking when you said that?"

Hermione didn't answer. The door to the common room appeared into view, and it was like a beacon of hope to her. She could finally get some sleep in her dormitory.

It took great effort for Ron to push open the door, and once he did, Hermione noticed that the fire was still roaring. And in one of the armchairs was-

"Harry!" gasped Hermione, "What're you doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep," he answered simply, putting down the book he was reading, which was about Quidditch, of course. He looked up at them, "You look a wreak. What did he make you do?"

"Catch fairies," muttered Ron, who was tottering back and forth on his heels, "loads of… fairies."

Harry raised his eyebrows, "Maybe you should go to the dorm," he suggested. Ron nodded thankfully, a very tired smile on his lips. He left through the corridor that lead to the boy's dorms, though it looked like it took him great effort. Hermione, meanwhile, collapsed into an armchair.

"What're you doing?" Harry asked her, "You should go too, I'm just reading-"

"No, I'm not that tired," Hermione said.

That was the biggest lie she had ever made. Her eyelids felt like bricks, yet Harry was there. Alone. While everyone was sleeping. She had to stay with him.

"You just haven't been reading, have you?" Hermione asked him. Harry watched her, the corners of his mouth quivering.

"Not really. I was just talking to Sirius a moment before you and Ron showed up. I thought you were someone else."

Hermione looked at the fire, supposing that Sirius and Harry talked through it, "Is he still there?"

"No."

There was a very odd silence between them after that. Hermione was watching the fire burn. She wished Sirius were there now.

"How's your shoulder?" Harry asked her finally. Hermione watched him for a moment, not having much of an idea to what he was talking about, then gasped.

"Oh! It's much better, thank you. It didn't even hurt when I was catching fairies."

Harry nodded and said a very quick 'that's good'. Silence again, and Hermione really needed to find something to say. Anything to make the butterflies in her stomach disappear.

"Harry," she said carefully, "My dream I had yesterday… you seem to know what happened in it," Harry looked at her, his green eyes wide, "I know you offered to tell me all about it, but I've decided… I don't need to know."

He gave her a puzzled look, "But I though you wanted to know since last year."

            "Well," said Hermione with a shrug then a yawn to follow, "Excuse me. I did, but I've decided that I don't need to hear it. I mean… I don't want to be a reason for you to feel badly again. It must be hard for you to relive it all." She yawned yet again and blinked.

            Harry watched her for a moment, as though hardly daring to believe what she told him. Then he nodded. Silence again, and Hermione was starting to nod off. She hoped she didn't look tired at least, but it took great effort to keep her eyes open and she was slowly slipping out of her seat.

"Hermione, you're falling asleep, did you notice?" Harry asked her, sounding a little amused. Hermione shook her head.

"No, I'm no-"

Flump! She fell to the floor, her legs in a very odd position and her head falling onto her chest. Harry chuckled and got up to his feet.

            The fire died to a soft glow at once. Just as Hermione was topple over, she felt an arm around her waist and someone brought her to her feet. Harry helped her over to a sofa just a few steps away and gently laid her down on it.

            "Uhmm," Hermione muttered. Harry draped a blanket over her, which he had found lying across the bottom at her feet.

            He watched her nestle up to the covers for a moment, smiling. "G'night, Hermione," he said quietly.

            But Hermione moaned softly and took his hand before he could turn to leave.

            "Don't go."

            There was nothing for it. She wouldn't possibly go to sleep unless Harry was with her, and he knew, just because he had known his best friend so very, very well. He nodded slightly, turned around and crouched next to her head.

"I wanted to tell y-you," said Hermione sleepily, her eyes fluttering to stay open, "You've been upset for a while, and I wanted to say that… You-Know-Who can't get to you," Harry watched her, "As long as Dumbledore's around, you can't be touched. Y-you know that. I think you're stronger than him. It didn't take me long to notice to n-n-n-" she yawned and covered her mouth with her hand, "notice. And…I'll always be there for you."

Harry smiled knowingly at her. "You always have been there," he said.

He stroked her hair gently, watching as Hermione closed her eyes in comfort, a smile playing on her lips. It took great effort for him to stay awake, in point of fact, but what was in front of him was enough to keep him awake for the entire night. He was sure of that.

            It seemed like Hermione had finally fallen asleep. Harry's hand stopped just above her head and he drew it back slowly, trying his best not to wake her. He stood up and was about to leave… until he heard the faintest murmur from Hermione, who was still awake, but only just.

            "Harry… I-I love you."

            He didn't move a muscle. He didn't even seem mildly surprised. If Harry Potter hadn't known what his friend felt about him, his mouth would have fallen to his feet and his heart would have stopped. Even the glow of the fire wouldn't arise any astonishment on his grinning face.

            "I know… I love you, too."

            He bent down, kissed her cheek and watched as Hermione smiled in her well-deserved sleep.

…~'*'~…

A/N: *giggle!* *Teehee* Awwwwwwww! Cute, right? Anyways, have you read my reply to Max Lonewolf? I mention a new trailer, and there's something in it you H/H fanatics must see… here's a link --- http://www.mantissa.org/~lcauldron/images/2002/10/NewTrailer/hug2.jpg

            Click it if you dare… it's what I like to call 'The Hug'. I think it's when Hermione comes out of the Infirmary, because during the feast, she comes out running across the Great Hall into ______'s arms! Harry looks a bit happy… no, way happy. *sigh* It's all in the trailer! Chris Columbus has to know something about the future books and who gets together, because he's adding a load of H/H moments. But they're friendly, of course. *Devious grin* And there's another pic with Hermione watching Lockhart (I think) rather dreamily, and Harry's watching behind her. Let me tell you, he doesn't look pleased. --- http://www.mantissa.org/~lcauldron/images/2002/10/NewTrailer/class3.jpg

            So the new trailer should be coming out in a WB movie soon! Look out for it! By the way, Happy Halloween! It's early, I know, but I'm in the mood because I just finished stuffing a pair of my old overalls with rags to make a pretty convincing dead guy. I call him Bob. So I put Bob on my front lawn with a several head and an axe. He's surrounded with 'Caution: danger' police line too! Oh yeah… Halloween, baby! Time to scare the little ones!

By the way, I'm writing a new story called 'The Road to Reality', and it's positively wicked! It wont be posted until a while, but I'll tell you when. Here's a tiny snippet of the first chapter ---

"That can't possibly be! They haven't given up for years! This must be another attack out of many to come." Hermione argued, "Our fellow Aurors haven't penetrated their strength or defenses at all. They must have some sort of power to do what they have been doing, or else, how could they manage to reduce London to what it is now?" she sighed, "They haven't suffered at all. We are the ones suffering."
            But nobody took her seriously. Every member of the meeting glared at her.

            "Finally decided to show, have you?" said one of the men sitting across from her, whom she recognized as the ignorant man called Arlo Aldhelm, "Already as clever for your age… yet you can't apparate like the rest of us."

Like the hooded men at the start of the road to the castle, the man laughed, and so did the others. It sounded horrible. But there was one attendant, a tall lad with a head full of think, red hair and one that she had recognized right away, who spoke up.

            "You're lucky she turned up, Arlo. With the absence of your wits, she'd make a brilliant addition to this meeting." he smiled and leaned back in his seat, "And I mean that in the most kindest, possible way."

            The room went silent. Arlo Aldhelm scoffed.

            "I disagree, Miss Granger." said the Minister loudly, "There hasn't been a bystander who spotted them after the recent series of attacks. They haven't been seen. The only building left standing for several kilometres," he waved his hand in a suggestive manner, "is this Ministry castle."

"He must be searching for something." said a woman called Ethelreda Gail, "Perhaps if was, he would, in all likelihood, leave with something in return."