AN: As always, I don't own the world of Harry Potter or the characters created by J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. I only own this story that they take part in. I am sorry that is has been such a long wait for an update, a lot has been going on. This chapter has now been edited and updated by my beta Mionellsparlockineco I hope you enjoy and I will try to update again soon. On with the show...

The next afternoon following his first Arithmancy class, Harry sat quietly in the Library with Hermione, pouring over the charts and symbols that helped to explain the numerical formula for the most basic test to find the sum of the spell Lumos. Harry had been surprised when Professor Vector had the class up on their feet, working together to determine the main causes for why the spell had so many varying effects. It had only taken him a few minutes to learn how to calculate his personal magical strength, though it had not surprised him when he learned that the only equal he had in the class was Hermione.

"So, if you follow the equation to the third portion, dividing both your magical ability and the total strength of your strongest casting," she said, writing the formula out as she talked, showing him how to make sure each of the numbers were matching what she was saying. "You will come to your average total for the median amount of what you could expect most of the time when casting."

Harry, watched and listened as she continued to work through the other portions of the equation. It had been awkward when he first entered the class, many of the other students had seemed unaware that they could simply change a subject, especially this far into the semester. Parvati and Padma Patil both had been supportive and helpful, assisting Hermione in catching Harry up to what was needed for the lessons activities. It was beyond fascinating as he had watched the numbers and equations swirl through the air, calculating the sums of each casting with varying results.

"You did well today," she said as she sat back to rest her eyes for a moment. "Most of the class struggled for the better part of the first three lessons on just working out the first part of the equation to determine your magical strength." She continued, opening her eyes and letting them rest on his. "You actually had the second highest mastery of the equation in the entire class. I beat you by one try. It took me three."

He smirked at the idea that it had taken her more than one try to master anything, especially a complex equation. She sighed and looked back down at the work they had been doing. She shook her head and began to pack up.

"I think that is enough Arithmancy for now," she said as she finished stuffing things into her bag. "How about a walk around the lake before dinner?"

He nodded, it did seem like a nice change of pace. "Sure, it's still fairly warm out in the evenings." He said as he quickly packed his own things to join her. "A nice walk and some good company wouldn't be too far out of the way to making this a great evening."

She smiled, and he thought for a moment that he saw something cross her face, almost the lightest hint that something more could be said. However, it was gone before he could determine the meaning of the moment, and he let it drop, not sure how to inquire about something that could easily have been a trick of the light or some other random happenstance.

They exited the Library and headed toward the marble staircase, talking as they walked about the things that had been going on over the past few weeks. Hermione kept up a steady stream, ensuring to keep the conversation both light and at times still educational. For the most part it was just the two of them- a few groups of students still lingered in the grounds, but the lake was fairly quiet when they reached its shores.

Harry looked out across the water, finding himself thinking about everything that was going on. He had changed classes, opting to take subjects that were more advanced than he had expected but he liked the challenge. He, for the first time possibly, truly understood why Hermione was so intrigued by learning. It was an odd feeling, enjoying something more then he normally would have.

He looked back to Hermione and found her watching him, the light evening breeze stirring her cloak and hair. He smiled back as she smiled up at him, the light glimmering off the lake casting a few of the last rays of the day back toward them. She shivered slightly as the temperature fell a little, and he promptly pulled her close wrapping his arm around her.

She smiled again and wrapped her own arm around him, he could feel her tremble slightly as he held her. He continued to watch her as she watched him, neither saying anything until finally she broke the silence, glancing away to look back toward the forest and the lake.

"This is nice." she remarked quietly, still held close to him. "If I were an artist, this would be one of the most beautiful sunsets to paint," she continued, tilting her head slightly to rest on his shoulder.

"It is," he said, watching her, his mind wandering at how close they were to each other. He again thought of his hidden feelings for her, though again he didn't know how to approach the subject. He knew that eventually he would have to decide what to do, but for now he was happy with the way things were and terrified that trying to change things might ruin one of the best things in his life: his friendship with her.

She sighed again, "Well, I guess we better head back," she said, as she raised her head to look up at him.

He sensed the surprise when she saw that he had been watching her, a slight change in their positioning telling him that it was time to let go and wander back to the castle. He wondered at how quickly things had changed, going from comfortable to a feeling of awkward tension.

"Yeah, dinner won't be long now," he said, as she stepped out of his arms and began to walk toward the castle.

She smirked. "Is that all boys think about after the sun starts to go down, dinner and food?" She asked, teasingly, as she knew that he was not that shallow.

"Not all of them." He said, smiling as she moved a little closer, though not as close as she had been while they were watching the lake.

She nodded. "I know." She said as she met his gaze again. The fleeting look she gave him caused his stomach to flip, her eyes lowering back to look where she was going as they started to tread back up the hill toward the castle.

They continued on in silence, neither speaking as they crossed the lawns and entered the castle. Heading toward the Great Hall, they met Ron at the Gryffindor table and joined him for dinner. It was a mostly quiet affair, as Ron still not over what had happened a few days before alongside Harry's decision to leave him alone in Divination in exchange for classes with Hermione. Harry sensed that somewhere a small rift was forming between him and Ron, and he knew that he would have to patch things up soon, else their trio could potentially face a larger problem.

"Have you seen the Prophet today?" Seamus asked them, as he sank onto a bench near the trio. He had just come from Gobstones club, holding up a copy of the newspaper as he waited for them to speak.

They answered that they had not, and Seamus quickly showed them the article that had made it to the front page. They read over the article, taking in the information as quickly as they could. Hermione set her fork aside as she turned from the Prophet to Harry and then back again.

"Well, that puts things into perspective." She said as she turned to reread the article. "Black believed to be hiding in the mountains near Hogsmeade. Sources unable to confirm the identity of a mysterious figure in the Hogs Head pub in the early hours of today." She broke off looking away in thought, as if something might come to her if she thought hard enough.

"A lot of people are startin' to question why Black would be coming this far North." Seamus said, as he folded the newspaper up and placed it back in his bag. "Some are wonderin' if it ain't Hogwarts that he's targetin', or perhaps someone in Hogwarts." He continued, looking directly at Harry.

Harry shrugged, he had only told Ron and Hermione what he had learned from Mr. Weasley. They alone of his friends knew that Sirius Black was after him, determined to seek revenge for the fall of his Master. It sounded so preposterous that one man would put so much effort into wanting to kill him, though Harry knew all to well that he had been marked his whole life. Ever since the moment he had entered into the Magical World, he had been a target for Voldemort - why should the Dark Lord's followers be any different?

"Well, I just figured you all would want to hear the news,'' Seamus said as he turned to rejoin his friends, filling up a plate of food as he did so.

"This is getting bad,'' Hermione said, as she looked up toward the staff table. Harry followed her gaze and noticed with a start that Dumbledore was absent this evening. It was not like the Headmaster to be away, though it was not the first that they had eaten dinner without him present.

"I am sure with this new information, the security around the school will be tighter," she said as she returned to her plate. "At least, I am sure with everything else that is going on Professor Dumbledore will have his hands full this evening, dealing with any new measures being added to the wards around the school."

Harry nodded, it was beginning to feel like Sirius Black really was breathing down his neck. Despite the closeness of the threat though, he doubted that Black would truly stand a chance of getting into the castle to come after him. Besides, as long as Dumbledore was here then Harry knew that all would be well. Dumbledore was not only the most intelligent wizard of the day, he was also one of the most powerful wizards that Harry had ever met.

"I am sure that everything will be fine,'' he said, though something in the pit of his stomach felt off as he said it. The last two years at Hogwarts had already proven to him that with enough time, determination and patience, those wishing him ill would indeed find a way to him.