Hey! Thanks for your definition of 'fluff'. Yes, thanx so much for the great reviews!! I must be doing something right LOL---yeah, I know, I've always had a problem with grammar---I think it's amazing when people are bilingual and more so. I know about .8% of French.. LOL! I usually don't talk the same way I write; I use my 3rd grade vocabulary in my conversations hehe, ok not really. ;)

Onward to the next chappie...hopefully this does the end of the dance justice. ;)

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The dance floor slowly emptied its self when the clock chimed consistently on the hour. The sky got immensely darker and the marbled tile below their feet reflected the shining stars. Harry and Hermione lingered around the whole time, not particularly dancing at times. They'd sit, joke around, talk, and occasionally someone would come over and join them.

"Alright, late-nighters, here's the last song to wrap up the night. Personal favorite of mine, hope everyone will come dance one last time. Here's 'Lights' by an 80's muggle group who goes by the name of Journey. Goodnight," Seamus announced and popped the CD in. He then left the table to go dance with his date for the last song.

"One last dance?" Harry asked and Hermione accepted immediately.

They moved to a dark corner of the floor and held each other for the final song. Hermione rested her hand on his shoulder and supported her weight on his body. He swayed rhythmically with her, recapping the wonderful night in his memory as the song started.

~`+`~

When the Lights go down in the City,

And the Sun shines on the bay,

Ooo, I want to be there in my City,

Ooh, Ooh

So you think you're lonely?

Well, my friend I'm lonely too,

I want to get back to my City by the bay,

Ooh, Ooh

It's sad, oh, there's been mornings,

Out on the road without you.

Without your charms.

Ooh, My, My, My.

When the Lights go down in the City,

And the Sun shines on the bay,

Ooo, I want to be there in my City,

Ooh, Ooh

~`+`~

The crickets' chirping rang like wind chimes and all Harry could think about was Hermione's heartbeat next to his. If only everyday could be like this, he thought. If only I could keep this sweet bliss for everyday to come. No, it could never always be like this---there is too much agony and pain everywhere.

"I don't want this song to end," Harry said. He did not want to let her go and being in love and being loved cleared his mind from the hurtful past. He wanted to forget.

"Neither do I," Hermione whispered and looked up into the deep, hidden emotions etched in his eyes.

It was unavoidable now and they kissed lightly on the lips, just barely. Then Hermione buried her face in his neck and Harry rested his hand against hers, closing his eyes.

~`+`~

When the Lights go down in the city,

And the Sun shines on the bay,

Ooo, I want to be there in my City,

Ooh, Ooh

~`+`~

Harry looked up at the dancing couples around him, "We have an audience," He spoke in her ear.

She looked up past his shoulder, hoping they weren't the center of attention, but there were only a few couples, like Ron's and Ginny's, who had looked over. She grinned out of embarrassment and tried to nonchalantly resume dancing.

Ron turned quickly towards Lavender, humiliated that Hermione saw him looking at them. He figured as much that Harry and Hermione had kissed before, most likely more than that, but now that he saw it---it still gave him a funny feeling seeing his best friends like that. As for Ginny, she found it pretty adorable.

The song ended with its final note and slowly everyone walked back to their dorms. Harry and Hermione procrastinated their way up, being the last people in the Common Room. They purposely 'lost' themselves on the staircases and in the halls. There was even a time when they had to dodge Ms. Norris. All they didn't need was another month's detention.

The Common Room was pitch-black of looming shadows, all except for the fire burning fiercely in the fireplace. It was quiet and empty and the wood snapped with sparks. Harry had his hand on the back of Hermione's dress and guided her through the dark room. The clear window framed the night sky and the full moon was shrouded in the blackness. Harry's mind slipped to Lupin and wondered where he was now, alone. His mind went astray and his hand glided down to Hermione's side.

"Ah! Don't, don't!" She shrieked and jumped back.

She broke his train of thought and he smiled curiously, "What? Are you ticklish?" Harry asked and tried to grab her sides again.

He chased her around the Common Room and she dodged him by running in- between tables and chairs. He caught her by the arm and she fell back on the couch. He sat down next to her and she looked out the window. She thought of Lupin as well and they sat in silent thought.

"I should probably get to bed," Hermione suggested sleepily and tried to keep her eyes open by focusing on the flickering flames.

"Yeah, me too," Harry mumbled, "I had a great time tonight."

"So did I," She said slipping into slumber.

------

Hermione shivered from the cold and looked straight up at the ceiling above her. It was late, or at least early in the morning before the sun rose. She grabbed blindly in the dark for any covers but never found any. The remaining log in the fireplace glowed weakly and she knew she wasn't in her bed. She struggled to get up and saw Harry still upright on the couch, his head back and his feet on the coffee table. She lay back down for a brief moment and Harry stirred from his uneasy sleep.

"Good morning...night, whichever," He slurred sleepily.

She rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "I better...better get back up before, you know," She stood up but Harry straightened up abruptly.

"Please---stay here," Harry said. She wasn't sure if this was his innocent way of seduction but it worked. She sat next to him and leaned back also to look at the ceiling.

"Someone might see us. You know what people think," She pointed out, the energy draining from her again.

"Well, a lot of people see us and I don't care about what people think. They saw us at the dance, so I don't see the difference," He whispered and went back to sleep.

----------

The morning came quick and Hermione felt like she only got a few minutes of sleep. It was past nine o'clock and Hermione forced herself to get up. She shook Harry awake, "We've missed breakfast---classes start soon," She mumbled groggily and Harry groaned, "I know, but we need to get up." She said and when Harry had gotten up finally, she went to go get ready for the classes.

Harry stumbled up the stairs and he flopped on his bed. He hated not getting enough sleep; it affected his mood. He was tired but knew he couldn't get back to sleep. He lay there for a few minutes, struggling to stay awake when Ron and a couple of the 6th year boys came in.

Harry got up and started to look for his robes for that day. Ron sloppily made his bed and got his books, "You weren't at breakfast." He pointed out obviously.

"Yes, I know. I slept in," Harry said annoyed, trying to find a clean pair of pants. He got dressed quickly and looked frantically for his Charms book, his first class starting in twenty minutes. He looked in his trunk, wondering if he might have thrown it in there at one time. He found it finally in there, but came across a folded piece of paper stuck in the corner of the book. He unfolded it away from Ron's view, the paper already showing signs of yellowing. He tried to hold the note still and blinked his blurring eyes, trying to read Sirius's handwriting.

Ron was sitting on Harry's bed, waiting for him so they could walk to class when he said, "So how was last night for you? I mean, I wasn't the only one who saw you two on the couch. Anything happen??" Ron hinted teasingly.

"You know, I have more respect for Hermione than to see 'how far' I can get with her!" Harry snapped and shoved the note carelessly into the bottom of his trunk. He grabbed his books and headed for the door. He tried to blank out memories of Sirius but they kept coming back, almost haunting him. He hadn't forgotten Sirius and knew he never would. Almost everyday he remembered watching his death and keeping the anger in was torture. And why can't Ron leave me alone? He thought and his temper rose just thinking about his 5th year.

Ron followed and stopped him on the stairs, "Look, that's not what I meant. You didn't need to take it that way."

"Well maybe you should keep out of my business," He spat and in no time he was in the halls, Ron no longer following at his side. He got to Charms fifteen minutes early and was the only one in the classroom. He buried his face angrily in his hands, trying to calm down. Something's wrong with me, he thought. I blow up when anything reminds me of my dead godfather. Maybe I shouldn't have snapped at Ron, but he doesn't know me. He doesn't know anything about me. Then he slammed his hand on his desk thinking about how stupidly selfish he sounded. How could things go from so good to so bad? Why did Sirius have to die...why can't I live like everyone else? He didn't need to ask these questions, he knew the answers to them already.

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Hmm, the ending sort of twisted there. I can't write this story without mentioning his 5th year and Sirius, I mean it was a huge event. So things might be changing from now on (you'll have to wait and see)--- Reviews are always great. ;)

Oh yes, and that song in the beginning, it's a great song. I didn't want to pick anything with a particular love theme or whatever, but if you can, try to see if you can listen to this song. Kazza, some music download website, whatever. :)