Don't forget the Shield Charm, Hermione hissed as she, Harry, and Ron crept out of the castle, covered by the Invisibility Cloak.

I won't, Ron said impatiently. This is only the fifth time you've told me. Hermione reached across Harry to give Ron a good pinch.

she commanded. What bush are we dropping you at, again?

Over there, Harry said, pointing. The trio made their burdened way over to a large bush near the edge of the lake.

All right, Hermione said, checking her watch. It's eleven fifteen now, Ron. Don't let anyone see you. And . . . be careful. Her voice broke, and she quickly raised a hand to her eyes.

I'll be fine, Ron soothed, reaching across Harry to pat Hermione's back. She grabbed his hand as if she was afraid to let him leave.

Harry said finally, tired of being caught in the middle of them. Switch places with me, Ron. They carefully traded positions, making sure to stay under the cloak, and Ron was free to put his arms around Hermione.

Nothing will happen, he told her. Nobody will see me, don't worry. It's too dark out. Just concentrate on your part. Hermione nodded, and Ron reached up to wipe a tear from her cheek. He nodded at Harry and stepped out from under the cloak.

I need my hand, Hermione, he said in an amused tone, and Hermione looked at his hand as if surprised to realize that she was still gripping it.

I love you, she whispered, and finally let him go. He smiled in their direction, since he couldn't see them, and crouched down in the shadows of the bush.

We're leaving now, Harry muttered to him, and he and Hermione started back up to the castle. Once inside, they climbed into the broom closet so they could take the cloak off without being seen.

Do you think he'll be all right? Hermione asked anxiously, pacing as well as she could through the clutter in the tiny room.

He'll be fine, Harry told her. I'm only worried about you at the moment.

Oh, I'm all right, Harry, she said quickly.

I'm not convinced.

Too bad.

She stopped pacing. They were silent for a few minutes.

You know what this reminds me of? Harry said eventually. Third year. The Time Turner.

And Buckbeak and Sirius, Hermione smiled.

Harry offered.





Your Patronus.

Harry smiled at the memory.

I can't believe that we're almost done with this place, Hermione said wistfully. Sometimes I wish I could rewind time and make it happen again, slower.

Harry nodded. That would be nice. More time to complete homework.

Well, if you'd start it sooner . . .

Just because I have a small thing called a life . . .

They grinned companionably at each other.

What do you think you'll be doing next year? Hermione asked.

Harry leaned against the wall and shrugged. Quidditch, hopefully. Lots of teams hold tryouts during the summer.

I'm sure you'll get into all of them, Hermione smiled.

You're biased, Harry reminded her.

Harry, even I, who know nothing about Quidditch, can tell that you're an amazing flier.

You admitted that there's a subject that you know nothing about? Harry gasped. I can't believe it.

Oh, come on, Hermione said, looking slightly grouchy. There has to be one thing, hasn't there? And I'm sure I've said that before.

Harry shrugged. Not that I remember. What about you? What are you going to do next year?

Magus Docere, Hermione said immediately. It's a wizarding university in London.

I don't think I've heard of it, Harry said slowly, not wanting to insult her.

Yes, well, you haven't read An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe yet, have you? Hermione laughed. It's all right, I don't mind. Not many wizards go there. They only accept about one hundred students from all over, and they send letters to those who they want to apply. I got a letter last year, actually.

What are you going to do there? Harry asked.

I'm not exactly sure yet, she admitted. Lots and lots of studying, I know that. Harry was repulsed to see that she looked quite happy about that. Once you get there, they tell you all the different fields you can go into, and it's a lot of training. Graduates usually either become important officials in their country's Ministry, or things like spell-writers or researchers. It's going to be wonderful.

Harry said. Well, I'm glad you're so happy about it.

Hermione nodded excitedly. But at the same time, I don't think I ever want to leave Hogwarts, she said.

Nothing I can do to help there, Harry told her, grinning. Unless you want to become a teacher here.

I don't think I'd be a very good teacher, Hermione admitted, sitting down on an overturned bucket. I'd probably set impossible expectations for my students.

Yeah, you probably would, Harry agreed, ducking just in time to avoid being hit by a sponge. Hey, I was just agreeing with you, he protested. You said it.

Hermione sighed. I know. I'm just kind of touchy about it, because I would really like to be a teacher. I just don't think I'd be able to.

She looked so miserable that Harry felt compelled to say something encouraging. I'm sure you'd be a fine teacher, he told her. You'd just have to--um--realize that not everyone is perfect.

Implying that I am? she asked, sarcasm clearly evident. She sighed, and it seemed like she crumpled. Can we please change the subject, Harry? I don't really want to talk about this tonight. I'm upset enough already.

Harry agreed. What time is it?

Hermione glanced at her wristwatch. she gasped. I have to get down there! I'm really late!

Harry handed her the cloak. Calm down, he advised. If you're this worked up you'll be careless, and you don't want anyone to hear you. You know where you're going?

She nodded, and began to open the closet door. Don't forget the Shield Charm, she told him, smiling faintly as she did so, and left the room.

Harry sighed, and sat down on her vacated bucket, wondering what to do in the fifteen minutes he had left. It was at that moment that he realized something crucial--he had no way of telling what time it was, as he had never bought a new watch after his had broken, and Hermione was gone. He began counting the seconds as best as he could in his head, and for lack of anything better to do, began surveying the shelves of the broom closet.

The tiny room was a complete mess. The shelves were cluttered with bottles of Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover, scrub brushes, rubber gloves, broken quills, and books with stained covers. Harry was sure that if Hermione had noticed the books, she would have snatched them immediately, and he smiled at the thought. He picked up a particularly battered copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests and began flipping through it. As with most Lockhart books, it dealt mainly with the author's and only touched on household pests in the last few chapters. Harry turned to the chapter on Gagging Garden Gnomes, seeing as he had nothing better to do, and wondering if Lockhart's advice on gnomes was the same as that of the Weasley brothers. He read:


Gagging Garden Gnomes' is a difficult chapter for me to write, since I never willingly harm another living creature that is not being particularly evil towards me. By the way, I have been needing new socks for quite some time now. My favorites can be purchased in Gladrags Wizardwear, and are lavender with singing toucans on them. Gnomes, of course, never wear socks, although they are remarkably adept at telling time. Wizards, of course, are not able to do this naturally. We, although we are clearly the more advanced species, must unfortunately use the spell to learn the time. I have been trying to deduce how to suck the gnomes natural time-telling ability out of them and


Harry stopped abruptly. He had been sniggering about Lockhart's sock preferences until he had read the bit about time spells. This was beyond coincidence. How could he, needing to know the time, have happened to pick up that particular book and turn it to that specific chapter? Harry decided to try the spell. He didn't have the time to wonder and worry about strange coincidences, he had to go find Ginny.

He pulled his wand out of his robes and muttered, A golden ribbon swirled out of the end of his wand and formed itself into the numbers 11:53. Harry murmured, staring at the numbers that were floating in midair. He walked around them to look at them backwards, and watched them change to 11:54. I wonder if Hermione's learned this? Harry said aloud. This is the only useful thing that Lockhart ever taught me. He sat back down on the bucket and began flipping through the rest of the book to pass time.

He looked up again exactly as the numbers hit 11:58, and hastily jammed the book back on the shelf. he muttered, and felt a slight tingling as the Shield Charm took effect. He looked at the numbers in a sort of panic, not wanting to leave them there for anyone to find, and tried to remember that spell that Hermione liked to use. Finite Incantatum? he said hesitantly, and sighed in relief as the numbers disappeared. He left the broom closet and strode noiselessly to the front doors of the castle. Taking a deep breath, he stepped outside, and began the walk down to the lake.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Just a note, the majority of these spells are mine (or at least the incantations are). So don't go using them in your stories, because they aren't in the books, I made them up. Just for slight clarification. :)