Disclaimer: Still Not mine, Still don't sue

A/N: Woot! I got about 3 reviews on my last chappy…keep them coming. ~*Luvs to My regular reviewers!!!*~ *teehee*  I love it when you guess things…but you'd be surprised at how far off you are…*Food for thought*

Chapt. 9- A second chance at second glance

            Harry walked by himself down to breakfast the next morning. He had gotten barely an hour of sleep, as he was still thinking about what the day might have in store for him. Rain poured from the gray-black sky in the empty Great Hall. He stared at all the wonderful food in front of him longingly.

            "No" He told himself as he placed a book, a quill, some ink, and a blank sheet of parchment on the table. "I have to get this done," He began scratching away at the old parchment, making up reasons why he agreed with the second statement on Harper's board. He actually found the assignment rather interesting. It got him thinking in ways he hadn't before. He wondered silently whether this was Harper's intention. That assignment was finished in no more than fifteen minuets, and to Harry's great surprise, it was nearly a full foot of writing.

            Next was a Transfiguration assignment about the history of human transfiguration. Harry sighed deeply as he opened his rather thick transfiguration book. He found some information about the first wizard to transfigure his arms into wings, and some information about animagi, but he couldn't bring himself to read it. It reminded him too much of Sirius. He ran his fingers through his untidy hair and settled on writing his essay on the witch who invented the charm that allowed you to transfigure your hands into sets of claws. It was a very boring essay, and Harry couldn't bring himself to make a point in his writing. He gave up. It had no point, was very uninteresting, but he was sure it would draw at least an acceptable, so he rolled it up and placed it in his bag.

            He turned his eyes back on the food, but unlike the first time he found his appetite had left him. Instead of staring at the bacon, eggs, blueberry muffins, and other wonderful smelling things he didn't want, he began to search the room with his eyes. There were only a few others in the Great Hall. Professor Flitwick was resting his head in his hands, obviously exhausted, and Snape, whom Harry was very surprised to see in the Great Hall, was bent over a solid black book, his hair hiding his face. Harry shuttered at the thought of his coming lesson, which was sure to be a disaster. He had done no practicing, no anything, since the day that Snape had caught him lurking in his pensieve. Other than the two Professors, there were a few Ravenclaw girls talking in low whispers a few tables over, and a couple of first year Slytherins snickering in the far corner of the room.

            There was nothing else for Harry to do. There was no point in heading back to the common room, for hundreds of people would be filing into the Great Hall very shortly. He simply folded his arms on the table, and lay his head on top of them.

            He was in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. He had no idea on earth why he was here, but there he was, standing right outside the ward where they had seen the Longbottoms, and Lockhart last year. He pushed open the door to an empty room. A bed was neatly made in one corner, and two woman were in the other. One was wearing a healer uniform, the other was crouched on the ground rocking back and forth singing some Irish drinking song in a shaky voice.

            "Come on now Miriam, to bed, to bed," The healer reached down to lift the woman up, but every time her hand got anywhere near the woman's arm, she would let out a blood curdling scream. "Okay, okay. I'm only saying you'll be more comfortable in your bed," Another scream as the healer tried once again to lure the woman to the bed. "Fine, as you wish," the healer left the room, locking it behind her. Then it hit Harry. He knew this witch. He had seen her name on one of the pieces of parchment back at the Order. She had been a spy, but had been driven insane.

            "So that's what it's like to be mad," Harry found himself saying this out loud to a confused Ron and Hermione who were standing over him. Also to a few third years who were exchanging confused glances.

            "Who's mad mate?" Asked Ron, placing his books down beside Harry who was rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He looked up at the staff table. Snape had gone.

            "Nothing, No one," Harry pressed the heel of his hand to his scar, that felt as if thousands of tiny needles were tracing the outline of it.

            Ron noticed this. "A likely story. Come on mate. Out with it."

            "No-one. It-was-just-a-dream." Harry wasn't only saying this to Ron, but to himself. After all, it had seemed so real. The screams had forced Harry to cover his ears. The smell of stale, hospital air made him cringe. "It was just a dream," he repeated.

            Hermione took her seat beside Ron and began surveying the food. "Well, if you asked me, I would tell you to get over yourself and ask Dumbledore for lessons." Hermione obviously didn't know that he was already set to have 'lessons.' That night, no less.

            "I already have." Said Harry as plainly as he could, although it really was difficult to think about at the moment.

            "So Dumbledore is going to teach you?!" Hermione sounded extremely excited.

            "No," Harry once again glanced at the staff table. The only people there now were Professor Sinistra, Professor McGonagall, and bruised Hagrid.

            "Oh," Hemrione said this with a shrug of her shoulders. Harry had kept his promise. He had told no one of the pensieve incident, his friends were completely clueless. "Well, it won't be that bad. If you keep your mouth shut and have a little respect." Harry squinted his eyes. That was completely unlike Hermione. She was starting to—

            "Remind me of my mother!" Snapped Ron. "Besides, the only ones who show Snape respect are Slytherins," He paused and seemed to be thinking extremely hard, "And maybe fleas," He shook his head, "But that's beside the point,"

            Harry couldn't help but laugh as he gathered his books and headed to his first class with his two best friends.

            The room was as strange as ever, as was the teacher. She stood like a statue in the corner watching her class file in, arms folded neatly across her chest. She stared deeply into the eyes of any person who was brave enough to look at her. Hermione was the only one out of the three who did.

            "Hermione," Whispered Ron.

            "What-" She snapped impatiently.

            "How are you going to replace those pictures?"

            "Relax, it's already taken care of." And sure enough, there were the two photographs, placed neatly on the desk among the others.

            "Brilliant Hermione," The three went to their separate desks and waited for class to begin.

            It was a 'wands away' day in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which was never a good sign. They spent most of the class reviewing material from the previous years and going over scenarios where you may have to fight the Dark Arts while Harper rubbed her arm absently. She seemed to know what she was talking about, but Harry didn't pay much attention. He wanted to know the statement that she believed. However, she did not say. She simply collected the homework and released the class after taking up their exit passes, which was a page of notes.

            "Well that was pointless," Said Ron. "Didn't even tell us which one was the right answer."

            "Maybe they are both right." Hermione said as she placed her Defense Against the Dark Arts book in her bag.

            "My bum. One of them has to be right. They can't both be right. They are completely opposite of each other. It's like saying the sky is blue, but the sky is green. It doesn't work." He rolled his eyes.

            "Look I'm not going to argue with you, I was only saying."

            "Well, personally, I believe the second one. But I'm willing to stake Malfoy's life on her believing the first one. She just seems like that sort of person." Ron's timing was absolutely horrible.

            "What did you say about me Weasel?" Malfoy's voice made them all turn on their heels.

            "Oh nothing," Malfoy smirked a little at this response, "Other than you are an annoyingly ugly git who spends way too much time on your hair. Honestly, I've seen the cover of Witch Weekly, it seems the whole white, old man, comb over look went out decades ago." Malfoy's smile faded and Harry had to bite his fist to keep from laughing. Even Hermione was trying to hide her laughs.

            "Well at least I can mount my broom without being thrown off first, Weasley." Said Malfoy as he walked away.

            "Oh, mount this Malfoy!" Ron held up a single finger on his right hand that made a few passing first years giggle. He then clenched his fists as Malfoy began to descend the stairs. "I swear, one more word, one more bloody word and I will curse him into next year!"  For a second, Ron's face matched his hair, but then he cooled off.

            Potions was horrible as well. Harry couldn't bring himself to face Snape as they took notes on hallucinogenic potions. However, Gryffindor only lost five points when Ron was caught sleeping. Harry begged the clock to speed up, but like the previous day, it teased him by stopping completely. Finally, Just as Snape assigned a foot of parchment on the uses of hallucinogenic potions, the bell rang and they were released to lunch.

            "Potter," Harry was about a foot away from freedom when he was pulled back into the classroom by the voice of Professor Snape. He turned around, fists clenched tightly around the books in his arms.

            "Yes," He paused, "Sir," he added quickly.

            "Do not forget about tonight Potter. If you waste my time by showing up late you will be sorry. Leave." How Harry wanted to slap his snarling face. He thought back to what Tonks had said the first day he had seen her all summer. She told him that it took about five or more people to convince Snape to do this. Even Dumbledore himself. Then he had received a letter from Dumbledore telling him that he would be free for five minutes. Only five minutes in an entire day.

            "He's busy," Said Harry under his breath, "He thought about me, but he is just too busy," He had to keep telling himself this in order to keep himself from becoming angry with Dumbledore. He had said that Harry wouldn't need Occlumency, that the ancient magic inside him would protect him, but he never thought that Voldemort could order one of his followers to play with his mind. So he was stuck having to take Occlumency again, with the one he despised.

            "Yes sir," said Harry as coolly as he could through gritted teeth, and he turned and headed out of the classroom.

            "Good afternoon class," Professor McGonagall's voice was soft and fragile. It echoed with fatigue.

            "Good afternoon Professor McGonagall," The entire class said this simultaneously.

            She smiled a bit as she examined her class. Though she was strict, you could always tell that she cared deeply for her students. Unlike Snape.

            "Now today we will be learning about transfiguring various objects into useful tools. For example," She waved her wand in a circular motion and jabbed at a quill as she spoke, "Domingo Daio" The quill quivered, then folded in on itself to become a small, silver, dagger.

            "Cool!" Ron's eyes widened. As she changed it back into a quill and wrote the spell and the wand movements on the board.

            By the end of class, Harry and most of the others had managed at least a dagger with feathers. That was the best class of the day.

Finally, dinner rolled around, and Harry decided to tell his friends about the Occlumency lesson with Snape. 

"Domingo Daio," Ron pointed his wand at his fork. It wobbled and turned into a dagger with four prongs at the end.

Harry laughed, "Bad luck mate,"

"Oh well, worth a shot." He got Hermione to change it back into a fork. He plunged the fork into some pork chops and began eating like a mad man. Harry knew he ought to eat as well, but he couldn't bring himself to. He already felt as if he was going to throw up at any second without anything present in his stomach. Though it was probably just nerves, he dare not tough any food.

"I was thinking. If we hurry, we can sneak out and visit Hagrid after dinner." Ron said into his glass of water.

"No Ron, not unless Hagrid comes to get us. You know the new rules.  Besides I still have three subjects of homework to do! Why don't we go to the library and get it over with."  Ron rolled his eyes.

"Bully for the new rules! We never follow the rules anyway! What do you say Harry? We haven't seen Hagrid in ages." Harry read Ron's eyes. They seemed to be saying 'Anywhere but the Library.'

"Can't." Harry said it softly.

"What?" Ron cupped his hand over his ear sarcastically.

"I said: I can't!" Said Harry again, this time irritably.

"Well why not? You're not worried about the rules now too are you?" He smacked his forehead.

"No, I have Occlumency." Ron choked on his dinner roll and Hermione's eyes widened when he said this.

"Oh. Well. Okay."

"When Harry? We'll need to take you there." Hermione closed her book and put it back in her bag. Harry didn't want to look at the time, but he did. It surprised him.

"Well, in about ten minutes actually," At first it didn't sink in when he said this, but then it hit him. He needed to be down in the dungeons in ten minutes. They needed to book it to keep Harry out of trouble. The three quickly jumped up from their seats, Ron a little too fast, as he fell on his knees.

They raced through the corridors, down stairs, and through secret passageways that Harry remembered, until they reached Snape's door, panting, three minutes before he had to be there.

"B-B-Bye Ma-Mate," Ron was doubled over.

"D-Damn-" Panted Harry, remembering something important.

"W-what is it Harry?" Hermione was leaning against the wall, fanning herself with a thin book.

"I forgot my Pensieve." Harry took a deep breath, and finally stopped panting.

"B-bad luck," Ron took a deep breath as well. "You had better get in there." He paused, "Good luck."

Harry walked into the Dark Room and was hit almost instantly by a spell. He could feel memories being summoned that he never wanted to think of again. He was up against a headstone as the arm of Wormtail was lopped off. Then all was black.

"That simply wont do Potter," Snape grabbed Harry by the arm and pulled him rather violently up. "Do not think of coming in here unprepared again. You have not practiced, you have no idea as to how to defend yourself, in fact you have no idea what is going on at all." He shoved Harry's books into his arms roughly. "So, that means good night, and get out," Snape hissed as he calmly moved back to his desk.

"What!?" Harry could feel it. He was going to lose it. "You are mad! Dumbledore told you to teach me. I hardly think hitting me when my back is turned with a spell that you haven't taught me how to resist counts as a lesson!" He had gone too far. Snape's face looked almost as cold as his eyes.

"How dare you. Do you honestly think that attackers are going to wait until you are ready Potter? Do you think that just because cursing someone when their back is turned may be cowardly that people are not going to do it? Let me tell you Potter, there are some people who don't give a damn who they curse or when just as long as they get what they want out of it. Information, or entertainment, it doesn't matter." Harry could practically see the stream coming from Snape's ears, and he could practically feel the steam being emitted from his own. He knew Snape was referring to his father and he was ever-so-close to putting every jinx he could think of on Snape. Snape Continued, "And How dare you say I never taught you how to resist the curse! I told you every lesson. Clear your mind Potter, clear your mind Potter," Snape's words were growing more and more harsh as they went on, "But you NEVER did it. Not only did I get stuck having to do something that I did not care to do, I got stuck teaching someone who never tried to do a damn word I said, so you can leave now." This was the angriest Harry had seen Snape be since the Pensieve, but he himself was equally angry.

"If you didn't want to teach me, then why did you do it!" Harry's words were threatening.

"I did it Potter, because unlike some, I follow orders, and because of that," He motioned to himself, "Here I stand, living"

Harry's hand was about an inch away from his wand when Snape had let the last blow fall. Harry needed no one to tell him twice that Snape was talking about Sirius, and he wasn't going to let him do it. He wasn't. "DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT-"

A low whistle came from the door way causing both Harry, and Snape, who had been almost nose to nose turn around.

"What the hell do you want," snapped Snape, clearly not over his rage.

"Well, first, I would like for you to address me decently if you would like an answer." Harper stood, leaning casually against the stone, one hand on her hip, and the other one dangling at her side. Harry was panting with anger. She was the last person he needed to see. Now, his scar would be burning while he was trying to please Snape.

Snape flicked a piece of hair out of his face while Harper watched him. "Okay, what the hell do you want, Professor Harper."

She smirked. "Now, now." She peeled herself off the wall inch by inch, moving in that mysterious way. She made her way down between the two, facing Snape. "To be honest," There was a long pause. "Nothing," She whispered.

Snape gave a loud tut. "So get the hell out. I'm trying to teach this boy some sense."

Harper looked utterly bemused. Harry tried looking at his and Snape's fight from her point of view. He would probably be amused as well. "So I don't get a 'Hell it's good to see you. How the hell are you? What the hell is new?' before I get the hell out?" She circled Snape, obviously mocking him. If Harry hadn't been fuming at the moment, he would have laughed at this, however Snape did not seem to find it too funny, but it did shut him up for about two minutes.

"May I ask, what are you doing here Naomyn?" He said finally through gritted teeth.

Her semi-evil grin showed through. "Better. Much Better." She walked to the back of the classroom, her long velvet robes dragging the ground as usual. She sat down. "Dumbledore has asked me to sit in on your meetings when he himself cannot. Seemed to be under the impression that there may be some sort of trouble between the pair of you." She looked directly at Snape. "Now I can't imagine what that trouble might be,"

"No," Snape's words seemed to be long and drawn out, with a hint of sarcasm. "I don't think you could imagine."

"Right, well carry on. I'd hate to interrupt your childish-" She pretended to cough, "Excuse me, I mean your intelligent conversation," She folded her arms and leanded back in her chair.

So Dumbledore was planning on sitting in on some of their lessons. That was a very good thing, as Harry felt as if he may curse Snape any second. No wonder his father cursed him for the fun of it. He had no sympathy for the one he faced. He took out his wand and held it at the ready.

"Are you ready Potter?"  Snape had every intention on throwing him out, Harry could tell, but thanks, or no thanks, to Harper, he was forced to stay and be made to relive his worst memories. Before he said he was ready, he noticed something glowing on the table. It was Snape's pensieve. Snape must have noticed him eyeing it, "Don't even think about it Potter."

"I'm ready sir," Harry concentrated hard on shoving all of his thoughts to the back of his mind, but he couldn't. It was like they were stuck in place. He couldn't make them go anywhere or do anything. He braced himself as he was hit with the spell.

He was running from the basilisk in his second year. Then he was fighting the boggart/dementor with Lupin. Next, the boggart/Snape stood in a dress and strange looking hat during a third year Defense lesson.

"UP!" Snape once again heaved Harry to his feet. He could have sworn he had a bruise on the place that Snape grabbed already. "I don't know what else to do. You do not try, and so I decipher that you do not want to learn, and you do not care whether or not you are possessed. Fine." Snape moodily stomped over to his desk and began to shuffle some papers. Harper was leaning forward on her elbows that held her head. Her eyes were squinted.

"Potter," This time it was not Snape who spoke to him. Harper was now on her feet, rubbing her arm distractedly. Snape, Harry noticed was still cursing under his breath. "Sit down," She continued. Harry was not about to argue with this character, he found a desk in the front row as Harper passed him on her way to the front of the room. As she passed, Harry caught a close up glimpse of the wand at her hip. It was very intricately carved. The handle was that of a dragon's head with an open mouth, and the shaft was in the shape of a flame. He did a double take.

"What the hell is going on with the dragons?" He asked himself, looking at the circlet on Harper's head. He waved it off and waited for what was about to come. 

She suddenly drew her wand and held it at the ready directly in front of a cursing Snape. He his nose directly into her eyes. He rose, but very slowly, and very cautiously. He did not take his eyes off hers. He snatched his wand and held it up to his face. They circled around a couple of times and then held their wands in front of them. It was very much like a theatrical production. Very controlled movements. Harry wondered if this was a special kind of dueling. He continued to watch as Snape and Harper sized each other up.

"LEGILIMENS!" Harry jumped as they shouted the spell simultaneously. Within minutes, both of their pallid complexions were turning red. They had not lost eye contact either. Harry remembered Snape saying something last year about eye contact. They both began to sway, and Harry even thought he saw a drop of sweat roll down Snape's forehead. This was all very strange to Harry. What was happening? Were they reading each other's thoughts or—

Crash. Both Harper and Snape hit their knees at exactly the same moment panting somewhat uncontrollably.

"Whoa-" Harry said this very softly as to not let either of the teachers think he was remotely interested. It took the two Professors about five minutes to get back on their feet after the whole ordeal. Neither spoke. They just looked at one another in complete surprise.

"I didn't think-," Snape snapped harshly.

"Maybe you don't think enough," Harper turned on her heel and this time took a seat beside Harry, who was still utterly perplexed.

"E-excuse me," He turned to Harper, as he would rather ask her than Snape. "What just happened there?" She arched her brow at him, "Ma'am" He added quickly.

"It is not my lesson to give Potter," She looked back at Snape who started speaking immediately as to save himself the displeasure of hearing Harry's voice.

"I knew you were dense Potter," He sighed. "That is what you call a double double."

"What's-"

"If you would keep your mouth shut, then I would tell you! Interrupt me again and it will be points!" He inhaled deeply. "A double double is exactly what it says. A double attack and a double resist. In other words, as I'm quite sure you still have no idea. Two people attack using Legilimency, and both opponents resist using Occlumency. Neither is able to retrieve anything from the other."

"But why did you both fall I mean, I only do that when I've done something wrong."

"Quite right you are. You do, always seem to do that," Snape smirked and Harry could feel the anger rising once more.

"I only do that because you never tell me what I'm doing wrong,"

"Potter! Points! Ten, and next time it will be fifty!"

"Children!" Harper stood up. "Bloody hell!" She grabbed at her head. "The moment two people hit the ground is the moment that the minds come to a mutual agreement that neither is going to give up anything or get anything, thus breaking the charm. Okay? Next time," She turned to Snape. "Just say that." She sat back down. Harry could tell she wanted to be somewhere different by the way she nervously rubbed her arm, or looked at the clock every few minutes.

Snape scowled. "Now, do you think you can actually get somewhere?" He raised his wand again, but this time, to his temple. A stream of silvery-gray liquid dropped into the pensieve.

            Harry stood up, but within a few moments, was on all fours on the cold stone floor.

            "Brilliant Potter! You did it WRONG again!" Snape was extremely irritated. So much so, that Harry was expecting him to explode any second. "Clear-Your-Mind. How many times do I have to TELL you?!" He was fuming once again.

            "I can't!" snapped Harry! "I don't know how!" Harry flicked his wand towards the ground in an act of rage; accidentally blackening the stone with the blue sparks it emitted. He sat down and huffed in self-pity.

            "I've told you! Close your eyes! Let go of all emotion! And call me sir!" Snape glared at his now blemished, stone floor.

            "Yeah well that is insanely difficult! I would-" Harry was going to say something very rash at the moment he was cut off.

            "Lay down Potter." Harper stood up and moved just opposite Snape.

            "What? Why?" Snapped Harry angrily.

            "Yes, why?" Snape was back to glaring at her while she wasn't looking.

            "If you are not going to teach the boy, then I will. Besides, we wouldn't want the Dark Lord," She glared back at Snape and paused for about a minute, "To get inside his mind. It would be a real shame if I had to report back to Dumbledore that he hadn't learned anything." She raised her brow. The two were nose to nose, the way they had been a couple of nights ago. The suddenly, something hit Harry, like a brick falling from the sky. He watched the two very carefully from then on

            "Are you threatening me, Harper?" Snape's voice had become nothing more than a low hiss.

            "I suppose I could be," She rubbed vigorously at her arm now, as if it was cold and she was trying to warm it up. "It depends on how you look at it, really." She stopped and draped her arm around her waist, grabbing it with the opposite hand, which also held her wand. She gave Snape no chance to snap back with something. "On the ground Potter!"

            Harry didn't resist. He dropped to his knees and laid on his back, fearing what she might do to him. He felt it then. He was not afraid of Malfoy, and as much as he hated him, he was not afraid of Snape, but he, at that moment was afraid of Harper. Afraid of those hypnotizing eyes. Afraid of that ornate wand, and of that soft whisper of a voice. Afraid of the circlet she wore on her head, but most of all he was afraid of what he had come to realize in just those past seconds.

            "Close your eyes Potter" He did. He could feel his stomach turning over as her voice floated into, and nested in his ears. She had a way of making her voice flow melodically. He wished she would just stop talking as he was becoming more and more interested in the sounds emitted from her mouth. "Listen to my voice," He did. Listened to every sound, every click of the tongue, every noise of the teeth hitting the lips. "Get lost in it," He was now finding it very hard to concentrate on anything but the voice. It was a feeling unlike anything he'd ever felt. He felt nothing. No emotion, no memories, and no pain, except that of his scar.

            "Legilimens," The voice was that of Snape. Harry had not been ready, but Harper kept speaking, and he kept listening, kept concentrating, and instead of being flooded with memories, he felt the same nothingness, until Harper's voice faded and Harry opened his eyes.

            Both he and Snape looked at Harper with equally questioning glances. She just smirked and walked to the door, stopping briefly to adjust her circlet.

            "That will be all Potter. Next week. Same time." Snape paused as Harry rushed out of the classroom. He heard the last words Snape said, "Naomyn, a word?"

            Harry realized he should have asked one of the Professors to escort him. He knew he was breaking the rules by walking around by himself, but he needed some time alone. Some time to think.

He had done it. He had resisted the Legilimens charm with his mind, and not his wand. He was thankful for this, but he couldn't seem to duplicate the feeling. It had felt similar to the time he had resisted the Imperious curse, only more empty feeling. He tried and tried out side the Gryffindor Common room to go back to that feeling, but he couldn't. He could get close, but never actually there. The common room door swung open and somebody pulled Harry inside.

"Well, how'd it go mate? We've been waiting on you forever." Ron's voice was a low whisper as Harry took a seat by the fire. Harry didn't know where to begin. He told them everything he could remember, about the fight and the feeling he got when he resisted it. The common room was empty now except for the three, so they could talk openly.

"Harper? She's awfully meddlesome isn't she?" Hermione's face was screwed up, obviously trying to figure Harper out. They had only known her a couple of day. Harry doubted very seriously whether anyone, let alone one of his best friends could figure her out.

"She didn't act like she wanted to be there. Dumbledore sent her." Replied Harry.

"Do you know that for sure? Did he tell you that he was sending someone?" Hermione seemed eager to hear this answer.

"People don't have to plan things a week ahead of time Hermione. Sometimes you just wake up and say 'you know what? I'm going to do this today'" Ron snapped. She let out a resentful tut. "So how'd Snape take it. Didn't seem too happy about her showing up to save us did he?" Ron laughed at the memory.

"No, not happy, but I think I've realized something," Harry paused, thinking back to about a half an hour ago when it had first come to his attention.

"What, Harry?" Hermione stared at him through narrowed eyes.

He took a deep breath, hoping he had read the signs correctly, "They know each other,"