A/N

Newbie - Thank you for the link.

MirokuLova, and Telephone Operator, and Lightingbolt, and UKHoney, and Hermione512, and jandl, and, and Feather0311, and Milkyway, and CliodnaHPFan, and Dan Fan, and Mella,deRanged, and PadfootsNoxed, and jenna - Thanks!

More - Okay, that's just annoying.

Sarah - Happy- B-day!

Aerin Dragon Killer, and DslGuy- Hmmm If I had to guess how many chapters I'd guess about ... oh ... somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 of so. That is a real rough estimate.

The growing number of you that are reading and don't like/think is moving to fast/don't agree with/etc. the way I am portraying H/Hr. It is my story. It is my plot. It is a H/Hr romance. There are things you just don't know about yet to be able to judge properly why things are occurring the way they are. This story is not even anywhere near finished.

It's like saying to JKR that you don't agree with the way Dumbledore treats Harry throughout OP. There is a reason ... wait for it. Or move on. It's Fan Fic people!

LinNicole and Keebler-elmo - Can you see Harry deep in the dungeon. "Hey man ... can ya spare a Galleon for a lemon drop?"

Tom_Lovers - What is your fetish with Length?

Wicked-women - I just got a picture of SpongeBob when I read that.

Gina - You tell'um girl. And no sex before the wedding, I promise. Now that doesn't mean no snogging!

American Mione - I truly believe they are drugged! Why else is Dumbledore so calm all the time. Nobody can be that calm!

weatherbee - I think that is a grand idea and as soon as I figure out what his schedule is I'll do it.

Enough yakking, on with the story!

Chapter 23

As the first Hogsmeade weekend had grown closer Ron was becoming more an more nervous; jumping at shadows and being surprised by Luna was becoming second-hand.

Harry, on the other hand, was actively pursuing his calming exercises with Hermione.

"I really don't think ...this is calming ... in the slightest bit."

She nipped on his neck, smiling devilishly. "I think it's almost as much fun than sitting here watching you exercise."

He pushed up from the floor for the umpteenth time. "How many is that?"

"Hmm?" she bit him lightly again.

"How many push up's is that?"

She came back to awareness, "Oh, um ... five I think."

"Five? More like fifty!"

Sweat glistened on his back and her eyes followed his ever increasing toned muscles. Endless hours of Quidditch training had helped his reflexes and kept him in shape, but had done nothing to expand his physique, not like what the calisthenics were accomplishing.

Professor Dumbledore had approached her the same day that Harry returned from the incident with Snape presenting her with a training manual for Harry's physical fitness. It was his opinion that without Quidditch practice to take his mind off his troubles and provide an outlet for his aggression, he needed something equally tiring.

Hermione noticed by the end of the first week that her fiancé was more firm in certain areas and he also seemed more energetic than usual. And by the fourth week he was positively developing.

"Oh, I wouldn't think fifty!" she teased. "Let's compromise, say twenty-five."

Harry stopped and flipped over. She didn't have enough time to back away before he grabbed shoulders and pulled her down. She fought back squealing.

"Harry! You're all sweaty!"

He grinned and reached up to kiss her. "I've got to take a bath."

Hermione leaned in and sniffed, wrinkling up her nose and nodded. He bounded up and wrapped a terrycloth robe around him and retired to the prefects bath.

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

"Potter, I may not be able to discipline you as I would like, at present, but you will not make a mockery of my teachings. This in an advanced Potions tutoring session and you will follow my instructions to the letter or you may withdraw from the course."

Harry looked up at the potions master and returned his sneer. He felt the familiar anger welling up inside and shoved his hand into his robes to retrieve a lemon drop of Dumbledore's creation.

After a moment he leaned back feeling the tension ease and sighed, "Where were we, oh yes. Snape," he mocked. "I think if you'll back away and let me do my work without hovering, I will be able to finish the potion. I'm sure it's the stink rising up from you that is distracting me," he smirked. "Do you ever bathe?"

The professor's eyes flashed in anger, "Very well, Potter. But I give you fair warning. If but once your potions are not satisfactory I will withdraw you myself." He stood and straightened out his cloak, "These are N.E.W.T. level potions you making..."

Harry finished, "And any deviation from the specified instructions could result in a blah, blah, blah. Yes, you've been giving us the same speech since first year."

Snape sneered, "Five points from Gryffindor for interrupting me and another five for your cheek."

Harry rolled his eyes and continued to work on. By the end of his session, Harry corked a sample and handed it to the professor for marking. Snape looked at the coloring and uncorked the vial, sniffing slightly. He grimaced and reluctantly gave Harry a E for the day's marks. "It is satisfactory. Now clean up your mess and get out of my sight."

On his way out he almost ran into Draco Malfoy leaning against the wall, too close to the door. He was wearing a hooded cloak and half his face was shadowed.

"Um ... Malfoy," he nodded once in recognition.

Malfoy nodded back and winced as he stepped past Harry into the classroom shutting the door behind him.

Once he had made it to the top of the stairs he noticed the darkened windows along the corridor and concluded that the sun had dropped and he was late to dinner. He rushed on toward the Great Hall, his school bag slapping him on the back with its weight.

When he arrived he found Hermione waiting at her usual place talking with Ginny Weasley. "Where's Ron?"

She scowled, "Off on another evening picnic. I suppose he is under the impression his life will be over with, so he's trying to 'picnic' as much as he and Luna can by weeks-end."

Ginny shook her head in disappointment. "They're going to get caught and Luna has enough to worry about with O.W.L.'s coming up. She doesn't need this distraction."

"I could use a little distracting," Harry muttered under his breath.

He thought Hermione might have heard as he had to duck a roll being thrown at him.

"More push-ups for you when we get back to the rooms." she ordered. "Apparently I'm not working you hard enough."

Ginny interrupted and bounced in her chair, "Harry, I forgot to tell you! Draco Malfoy dropped off the Slytherin Quidditch team. They have a brand new seeker!"

The news was surprising, "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday at practice. I was watching from the broom storage when I saw him catch the snitch and drop down to land. He was standing there looking at it and he suddenly he just threw it to the ground and walked away like he didn't care about playing anymore."

She looked back and forth between Hermione and Harry, "I found out later he'd quit. And only two weeks before their first game against us!"

He smiled thoughtfully and wondered if Malfoy's appearance in the dungeon had anything to do with him quitting. "That's great news."

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

The last day of the week brought with it two single sixth-year classes, two second-years, in the morning and two double seventh-year and

single third-years in the afternoon. "No tutoring sessions today, thankfully," thought Harry.

He had thought he would never keep up with the class-work and his own studies at the same time. However, with Hermione's presence and their apparent closeness due to the ring's influence, the overwhelming task set before him was almost manageable.

He yawned at the empty classroom minutes before the first bell signaled the oncoming deluge of his peers. He'd had such a long night of study and preparation for his seventh -year class that he had forgotten to go to bed and instead fell asleep at the desk in his study.

The one good thing that had come from teaching was being so far ahead in his studies for his Defense N.E.W.T.'s. It would be one less class that he would have to worry about come his seventh year.

The bell rang and students filed in and sat at their self-assigned seats.

Harry ran his fingers through his hair, "Homework to the end of the rows please."

"We'll be continuing our discussions about offensive magic against Giants. As you should be aware of from your reading, Giants are largely immune to spell-work. This doesn't mean ..."

He was interrupted, by Colin Creevey opening the door to class.

"Excuse me Professor."

Harry motioned for him to enter. Colin came to the front of the class and handed him a folded bit of parchment. He opened it up and read:

Harry Potter

Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom

Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Chief Warlock, Wizengamot

Ministry of Magic

Dear Harry,

Your presence is requested at the Ministry of Magic no later than 9:00 a.m. this morning. A floo channel has been opened for your arrival at the above address. Dress semi-formally, I would suggest that fetching cloak you wore to my office the night of the seeing. You will be here the entire day. Please be prompt.

Your friend,

Albus Dumbledore

p.s. Please bring your Firebolt along. It would be most useful.

"You're in luck," he announced. "Class is dismissed. Miss Granger would you please see to it that the rest of my classes are cancelled for the day, and homework is assigned."

Hermione nodded, concerned.

The rest of the class was in very good spirits until the announcement about more homework. Hermione came to the front of the class to retrieve Harry's scheduling book and his assignments.

"Who's the note from?" she whispered.

"Dumbledore. I'm being called to the Ministry for some reason." He looked down at his watch. "I've got to run he wants me to change and get my broom as well."

She looked a little worried, "Do you want me to come with you?"

He looked down into her face and saw her apprehension, "Dumbledore is there. I'm sure I'll be safe." He pecked her on the cheek as an entire class was still looking on, however noisily. "I love you."

She smiled at that and nodded.

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

Harry decided on dark slacks, and white shirt with a matching vest of garnet and gold to represent Gryffindor. He threw on Sirius' black winter coat and closed two of the snaps near the neck. His wand was secure in the folds of his cloak, and he pulled the Firebolt off its perch above the floo.

Considering himself in a mirror, he tired to smooth out the worst portions of his hair and gave up, knowing it was a fruitless effort. His watch showed 8:50 and he didn't want to stall any longer. With a pinch of floo powder he stepped into the green flames.

"The Ministry of Magic!"