;( I barely get to update. I've written a LOT down, like the next 4 chapters during class..oops, Well, alI I got to do is type, and I'm a horrible typer. Ok, the H/her connection is not gonna be so hott lately, but never fear!! Ok, answering Q's to reviewers. 1) Good suggestion on the Snitch-whistling thing, it totally went past my head.zoom! And oh yeah about detention, yes it is harsh, and you know Snape, actually I just needed time to go by. 2) Oh yeah the whole, don't take the last chapter seriously thing, I just didn't want you guys to think Ron was really offended, more like disgusted, lol. Ok I'm shutting up..

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When Harry entered the classroom, Snape, who was at his desk, pointed to a table in the far back of the room. The smell of vile-smelling potions lingered in the air.

Harry didn't know how long his detention was, so he took out his homework from his previous classes to get it finished.

"Put that away," Snape's voice droned when he saw Harry working on his Herbology homework, "While you are in my classroom, you will work on what I assign you."

"But I already have work for you," Harry protested.

"Now you'll have more," Snape said and he pointed to a stack of old potion books in the corner, "I want a essay on Chapter 4 before you leave his room, so get to work."

Harry threw his quill down and grabbed one of the heavy books. He found Chapter 4, which the title read, 'Potions and How They Affected the Wizarding World in Ancient Greece'.

That's probably how old these stupid books are, Harry thought irritably and tried to read the tedious paragraphs.

*~*

Hermione climbed her way all the way to the Astronomy Tower. She hadn't been in Trelawney's class in years and wanted it to stay like that. She entered the room and it was barely lit by the candles bordering the room, dripping wax on the floor. She sat down at one of the small, round tables and each one had a burning incense stick in the middle.

Trelawney was studying an astronomy chart when Hermione entered. Her eyes followed her and when Hermione took notice, Trelawney reached down under her desk.

Hermione ignored Trelawney and started on her other homework. She had just headed her paper when a book flopped on her desk.

Hermione looked up at Trelawney, wrapped in her scarves and sequins, "What's this for?"

"Your assignment," Trelawney said plainly, her voice wasn't as mystical and soft as Hermione remembered.

"Assignment! I'm not even in this class!" Hermione argued harshly.

"You are now. By the end of your two-month detention, you will have read this whole book. Start at the first chapter and write a paragraph on every important subject that comes up, like mind reading or star gazing," Trelawney declared and she continued back to her desk and her star chart.

Hermione gritted her teeth, keeping quiet and started to read: 'The world of Divination is a fascinating one, where you use your Mind, Body, and Spirit.'

Oh brother, what a joke, Hermione thought and read on against her will.

*~*

Harry finished his essay and hurried out of the Potions class right when his detention ended at 8:00 PM. Only two more months to go, Harry though. He climbed up the moving staircases and saw Hermione outside the Portrait.

"Hey, did you forget the Password or you just wanted to wait for me?" Harry asked.

"It depends. Are you glad to see me?" She said smiling as they entered the Common Room.

"Of course," He said and he put his arm around her and gave her a slight squeeze, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

~*~

January arrived and the rest of the students came back from their winter vacations. Hermione and Harry's detentions still went on, every one seeming like hours. Classes went on as usual and winter still lingered. When the calendars flipped to February, the chill in the air settled. Harry was late to dinner one evening on the first day of the new month. Everyone seemed to be talking about the same thing.

Harry sat down and looked at the girls in front of him giggling and talking way to fast for him to calculate what they were talking about, "What's going on?" Harry turned to Ron.

"Hmmm, dunno. All I've caught from their conversation, if that's what you call it, is 'boys', 'shoes', and 'oh my god' about a million times." Ron shrugged.

"Where were you guys today? Under a rock?" Laughed Dean Thomas, who was on the other side of Ron, "This month on Valentine's Day, Hogwarts is having a dance."

"Oh..." Ron said disappointed, "Great, another opportunity to embarrass ourselves."

Harry listened in to the group of girls who were still talking rapidly, now understanding it was about the dance.

"Oooh! I can't wait! What should I do with my hair?"

"I already have a date, he's in Ravenclaw and----"

"I've been waiting for another dance since that on in our Fourth Year!"

Harry cut off from eavesdropping after Seamus, next to Harry, started talking, "I've heard we can sign p to help with the dance. You know, decorations and stuff. I might sign up for director of music. I've got LOADS of CD's stuffed in my trunk somewhere..."

*~*

Harry and Ron walked to the Gryffindor Tower after dinner. Tonight, Harry was free from detention; he only had it Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. He listened to Ron while they walked, looking around for Hermione occasionally. Nada.

Ron let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh, "Well, I suppose I should start asking for a dance partner before I'm the odd man out." Harry grunted agreeably and Ron continued, "You don't need to worry about that, mate. I mean---you and, hmm...Hermione---" Ron said strangely uncomfortably. He still wasn't used to his friends pairing up.

"Yeah I guess," Harry said with a dull tone in his voice when really, his insides lurched at the thought of dancing with her. He couldn't dance with his big, clumsy feet in the first place.

They walked into the portrait hole and Ron sighed again, "Well, I better go to bed before I hear the word 'dance' again," Ron said and he pretended to waltz with an invisible person until he tripped over his feet and fell. Harry laughed and Ron got red and walked up the stairs with Harry behind him.

Hermione was pulled along by Ginny back to the Common Room while she talked to her 5th and 6th year friends. In that group was Lavender and Parvati. Parvati's twin sister, Padma, was there too but had to go to her Ravenclaw Tower. Padma caught up with Cho's group of friends and Hermione's throat went dry. What is Cho asked Harry to go? Harry and Ron didn't tell her much about what happened between her and Harry and she tried not to think about it.

The girls (except Hermione) talked nonstop, all the way up the stairs, while they got ready for the night, and even when they got to bed. They say up in their PJ's talking about the dance. Hermione knew that a few months ago she would have blown off the whole thing as a childish dance party, but now she had a different look on it. She felt nervously sick just thinking about what would happen at the dance with Harry. She wanted their relationship to be sort of a secret, and she wasn't sure why.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she realized Ginny talking to her, "Hello?? Hermione?" Ginny said and all the girls looked over to see if she had fallen asleep sitting up.

"Wh---huh?" Hermione snapped back to the real world.

"You've been really quiet, you ok?" Ginny asked.

"Oooooh! Maybe she already has a date!" Lavender giggled and the rest of the girls listened intensely.

Hermione kept a straight face, "I honestly don't know why everyone is so worked up about this silly dance that's in two weeks! Oh, and no, I don't have a date for your information," Hermione said. She wasn't lying really, she suspected her and Harry would go together but they hadn't said anything about it today.

"Aww, come on Hermione! Who would you like to go with?" Lavender said stubbornly.

"Well, uh....hey! What about you, Lavender? Who would you like to go with?" Hermione asked and all over again the girl started talking about the eligible guys at Hogwarts. Hermione lay down, now that the attention was off her and fell asleep to the girls chatter.

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Ok all done!!! So was it good? Kinda boring? So exciting your pants fell off? Ok probably not that...Can't wait for your reviews, it helps a lot! :P