Defense Against the Dark Arts...

E.N.- There is reference to the fifth book going on in this chapter, so please, whoever has not read the 5th book, don't come back to this story. I have actually buried myself into it and couldn't believe that I had time to come back here and write. I read the 870 pages in 13 hours...Thanks for the reviews!!! Keep them coming or NO UPDATES!!!!!!

-Ron's POV-

'If I could only be brave enough to ask her to the Halloween Ball,' Ron thought to himself, 'I'm such chicken shit.'

Ron was inside Three Broomsticks with Hermione and Harry. He had just ordered three butterbeers and was enjoying his thoroughly.

"Ron, you there?" Hermione laughed. "You always seem to do that!"

"Do what," Ron snapped back into reality.

"Doze, day dream, whatever you people call it," Harry finished Hermione's statement.

They were right, Ron had made a habit of wandering his mind while important conversations were going on.

"As I was saying," Hermione shot a teasing glance at Ron, "I think for the Halloween Ball we should have one of the Witch groups play as our band, you know, Gretchen Grendelen and the Goblinets?"

"Oh, come on Hermione, you know you should really discuss this with the 'Head Boy'," Harry told her sufficiently.

"But you know he wouldn't listen to me," Hermione went on talking about the Ball while Ron and Harry were mouthing things to each other while Herm wasn't paying attention.

'You should ask her,' Harry mouthed through a full smile.

'No way, I'm too nervous,' Ron mouthed back. He had this planned over since the announcement at dinner.

'Fine, I'll do it...'

'NO!' Ron turned towards Hermione and smiled.

"What, Ron?" Herm looked confused.

"Want to go to the ball with me?" Ron cocked his head and smiled a fake, but charming little smile.

"You know, Ron, I'm supposed to with Malfoy," Hermione began.

Ron put on a pouty face, as if he wanted something really bad.

"Fine, Ron, I'll go with you," Hermione smiled and Harry nudged Ron in the ribs.

"Oy, you little bugger," Ron smiled and poked Harry back.

"Will you two stop that?!" Hermione said sternly but playfully. "I'm trying to get your opinion and al you two do is play around!"

"Sorry Hermione, dear, but we have a right to play around," Harry said in a sophisticated yet sarcastic manner, "we are not part of the Hogwarts staff."

"Cut it out," Hermione said.

"Come on, Hermione," Ron stood up, "We need to get you out of here," He pulled her hand and got her out of a booth.

"Yes, let's go," Harry stood up also, putting on his jacket.

It was in the middle of October, where the weather is warm one day and freezing the next. Today, it was cold enough for a light coat, but warm enough to leave it un-zipped. Harry and Ginny had been broken up for about 2 weeks now, and Ron and Hermione were still in the state of "shy love," as Harry had named it.

The three of them had been walking around Hogsmeade, Ron eating a chocolate frog and Harry chewing on some of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"Ugh, disgusting, a sour kraut tasting one," Harry chewed and swallowed it with much difficulty, making Herm laugh at his antics.

"You know Harry, you always know how to brighten up a bad day, don't you?" Hermione smiled.

"Well, I've never noticed, have you Ron?" Harry nudged him.

The Trio had already reached the train leading back to Hogwarts, they boarded it and found and empty compartment to sit in.

"Yes, on some days there is the perfect timing for some of Harry's jokes, but other days, Harry's jokes just aren't funny."

"What is the matter, Ron?" Hermione put on a stern face and looked at him.

"Oh, nothing, just thinking." Ron put his head back down and looked at his feet.

'Harry needs a girlfriend, why is he doing this?' He thought, 'Does he like Hermione?'

This thought put Ron in a sour mood. Just thinking about someone else loving his "one and only" was just unthinkable.

"You know, Ron," Harry began, "You're too serious all of as sudden, what is the matter with you?"

"Blimey, Harry, nothing! You always know how to get under everyone's skin, don't you?" Ron got out of the compartment and went to another empty one.

-Hermione's POV-

"Harry," Hermione said, "I've been wanting to talk to you."

"Yes?" Harry sat next to her.

"I think Ron is really protective of me," Hermione swallowed hard and started up again, "I love him, Harry, you know I do, but I don't know how to start a relationship with him."

Harry completely understood Hermione. "Mione, I've known Ron an awful long time..."

"So have I..."

"...And I think that he does really love you a lot, but, you need to make the first move, let him know how you really feel. That first kiss you had..."

"He told you?" Hermione exclaimed.

"...You need to embrace that love and lust you two had when you kissed, and make it last," Hermione knew he was right.

The train stopped and the two of them exited, walking up the lawn to the huge castle waiting for them.

"Hermione, I really need to talk to you," Malfoy had caught up with them, and was walking beside them, without them knowing it.

'Now what?' Hermione thought

Malfoy and her made their way up to the Heads' Common Room. Malfoy sat Herm on a couch and confronted her.

"Hermione Granger, I think I am in love with you," Draco took a deep breath, "Not like one of those school girl/school boy relationships, It's the real deal..."

"DRACO MALFOY, you of all people, you practically raped Ginny, you have made my 6 and 1/2 years of Hogwarts a living hell! You, you, I hate you!" Hermione ran out of the room and into the Girl's Dorm.

As soon as Hermione was in her room she began thinking, 'Malfoy, loving me! Hah! He doesn't even know me. He calls me names, he's despicable, then he comes out and says he loves me! What bull! I was a bit harsh though...'

A few moments later, she heard a soft knock at her door. "Malfoy, I know it's you! Go away!" Hermione screamed.

"Well, that explains a lot," Ron said staring to come inside.

"Ron! What are you doing in the Heads' quarters?!" Hermione exclaimed, half excited, half stern.

"Malfoy, of all people, came to me, asking for help!" He laughed and took a seat on Hermione's bed.

"What?"

"He wanted to know stuff about you, he fancies you!" Ron chuckled.

"Ron, he told me he loved me, he said this was the real deal. But, it's Malfoy, Ron, it's him, he's horrid!" Hermione collapsed into Ron's arms.

"Sssh, it will be alright, Hermione, don't worry about him," Ron stroked her hair.

"I love you so much Ron, I really do, you cannot believe this, I've fallen in love with my best friend," Hermione sat up and looked into his deep blue eyes.

"Mione, I love you too, I have been waiting to tell you this since our fifth year," Ron kissed her softly. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and fell back onto the bed, suddenly aware that Ron was slightly heavy, him being 175 pounds didn't help a bit.

"Ron," Hermione said, Ron turned on his side and grinned at her.

"Can't deal with the fat?" He patted his stomach.

"What about Malfoy?" Hermione said, as he began kissing her neck.

"Forget him," Ron said bluntly.

"I'm serious," Herm pushed him off of her.

"Explain to him what's going on," Ron got up and walked to the doorway, "I love you,"

"I love you too," Hermione sighed when he left the room.

'God, I love that man,' she thought with delight.

Hermione decided to go talk to Malfoy. When she opened the door to his dorm, she found him on his bed. His usually mussed hair was all messed up and he was in his boxers.

"Ahem," Hermione pretended to be peeking in, 'We need to talk,"

"No kidding," He managed a weak smile and invited her in.

"What you said was flattering and all, but I don't love you, for god's sake, you have been calling me mudblood for years, and now you love me!" Hermione sighed and went on, "I'm in love with Ron. And serious love that is. You're great and all," She snorted, Malfoy put on a grim face, "But I just don't have feelings for you. I bet you could be another good best friend."

Draco smiled and nodded. Hermione left soon afterwards.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Hermione met up with her two boys for breakfast. 'Tonight is the Halloween Ball,' Herm thought.

"Hermione, did you notice that I, Harry Potter, have no date for the Ball tonight?" Harry smiled and winked at Ron.

"Taken, try someone else," Hermione laughed at Harry.

"You don't have a date simply because you've put every girl that asked you down," Ron scoffed.

"But...well, I'm picky," Harry put on a funny face and Ron laughed.

"You know what, Harry," Ron began, "I know someone who hasn't asked you yet."

"Who?" Harry said with a mouthful of toast.

"Swallow, please," Hermione said with disgust.

Harry swallowed and repeated, "Who?"

"Ginny," Ron grinned, Hermione kicked him under the table.

"We've been through this," he said, and immediately stopped eating.

"But---"

"No more discussion about Ginny...what about Cho?"

"We don't associate with her crowd," Hermione said defiantly.

"ANYWAYS," Harry said trying to break the tension. "Quidditch season is coming up."

"I tried out," Ron said quietly.

"For what position?!" Harry smiled and slapped him on the back

"Keeper," Ron said, blushing. "I probably suck."

"Perfect, you'll be great!" Harry reassured him. "How come you didn't tell me?"

"I thought you'd laugh."

"No! Never," Harry grinned.

"Well, that settles that, now you two will be discussing Quidditch for the rest breakfast, so I'm going to go and talk to Professor Flitwick about my Essay about Silencing Charms," Hermione stood and left the table, leaving Harry and Ron looking very abashed.

-Harry's POV-

Harry was seated at the breakfast table, chatting way with the one and only Ron Weasley, when he noticed something very peculiar going on at the teacher's table.

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts position had been filled, Miss, I advise you to leave this school at once," McGonagall was shouting at a younger woman who had practically pranced her way up to Dumbledore's seat.

"With one of your previous students, he has no training!" The woman was shouting as loud as she could, staring right into McGonagall's face.

All Ron and Harry could do was stare, which was most of what all of the other students were doing also.

'It was true, a man whom nobody knew the name of had applied for the job, and when the hour of D.A.D.A came up, they would stay in the class they were in for the previous hour, because he never showed up...' thought Harry.

"Minerva, let me see this young woman," Professor Dumbledore stood, and everyone had gotten a clear look at whom was standing there.

"TONKS!" Harry shouted, and everyone turned to look at him, he flustered and took his seat once again.

"Hullo, Harry," Tonks had bright pink hair that flowed to her heels today, he hadn't heard from her since Sirius' funeral.

"I haven't seen her since..." Ron's voice drifted off because he knew it was diffcult for Harry to remember.

"I know," Harry silenced.

"All in favor of Tonks, ex-auror, ajoining the Hogwarts staff, say I," Dumbledore spoke clearly in front of the teachers, most of them raised their hands, including McGonagall, reluctantly.

"Welcome, Professor Tonks," He smiled at her, and turned to the other Professors, "I know I have no clue of her background in education, but we are extremely desperate."

"I understand," McGonagall seated herself once again and Ron and Harry turned towards each other.

"Odd, slightly odd, she'd just storm into the place and apply isn't it?" Harry asked Ron suspiciously.

"There's something going on, Harry, I just cannot figure out what," Ron sat, staring at Tonks as if she was the weirdest person on Earth, "I don't know."