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He's Here!

That night Harry slept lightly, expecting Dumbledor to appear at any moment and explain everything but he didn't appear that night or the next. In fact they didn't hear from Dumbledor for the next three days. Instead Harry and Hermione spent their

time with Buckbeak, trying to discover some new aspect to the power they could feel, or else just enjoying the others presence and talking like they never had before. During those days Harry found out more about Hermione they he ever thought he would know. They learnt more about each other in those few days then they ever thought possible, everything from music, book and teachers to people school and life.

Two days after they had sent Hadwig to the headmaster of Hogwarts Harry and Hermione were staring into the fire, the flames flickering on their faces as Buckbeak rearranged himself next to Harrys seat. While neither had said anything, they were both wondering why Dumbledor had failed to contact them.

"Do you think he got the letter?" asked Harry absently.

"I think so," Hermione replied.

The fire was starting to dance in her vision, calling to her. She wondered if it would burn, if it would tickle. The more Hermione studied the fire, the more she thought she could touch it, she knew it wouldn't hurt her. She knew that the fire was her friend. Some part of her called to the fire as it was home. Before Harry could even think of stopping her she held out her hand, the image of the fire the only thing her mind could see.

Harry nearly fell out of his chair as a thin line of fire hesitantly left the flame and reached towards Hermione. Without thinking, he thrust out his hand as if to protect her and was just as surprised when a circle of white light formed on his palm and flew towards the flame holding it back.

Hermione looked at Harry. Then, as if a wave of air followed her hand, she blew the shield away and once again called the flame to her. It hesitated at first, slightly disheartened by its last attempt but slowly it reached out and caressed her fingers in greeting. A warm tingle spread through her body originating where the flame touched her skin. Slowly, the flame crawled into her hand to create a small ball of happy flames. Shocked but not disturbed, Hermione looked first at the flame then at Harry.

"It doesn't burn," she whispered, "It tickles, it beckons to me... its my friend."

Shocked by the sudden use of their powers, they both fell silent intrigued by the flame. Just as Hermione was trying to manipulate the flame, it jumped back to the fire and the door swung open to reveal Ronald Weasley. Smiling Grimly Ron failed to realize how his presence had disturbed anything.

"Hi." Harry said, looking up forcing a smile onto his face.

"Hi. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Ron asked, casting curious glances, first at Hermione and then Harry. It dimly occurred to Harry that his gaze seemed to linger on their best female friend a lot longer then was necessary. As his eyes darted around the room it occurred to Harry and Hermione that he looked slightly out of place and uncomfortable in their sanctuary.

"Not at all!" Hermione reassured him smiling softly at his face.

Harry smiled, leave it to Hermione to make Ron feel at ease even while her mind was yelling at him for ruining one of the best things to ever happen in her life.

"K." Ron fidgeted slightly, his ears slowing reddening with embarrassment, "So what have you to been doing up here?"

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, silently coming to an agreement.

"Talking" Harry said quickly, trying to cover the silence. He wasn't exactly lying, just not telling the whole truth.

Looking slightly confused with the situation Ron couldn't keep the hit sarcasm out of his voice, "And that requires you to lock yourselves up here all day by your selves?"

"Sorry, Ron. But we needed a place where we could talk without anyone hearing." Hermione tried to explain in a calming manner.

"In other words a place where I wouldn't interrupt you." Ron snapped, "I'm sure you two were cozy as can be. Up here by yourselves for three days and all! Sure you did a lot of talking." Ron's ears were now red with anger. "If you don't want to talk to me then why don't you just tell me, rather then leave me out." he finished, turning on his heel before storming out the room.

Harry stood up to go after him but before he could move, Hermione's hand

shot out to stop him, "Let me go." she whispered.

Resentfully Harry resumed his chair and watched Hermione walk out the room.

######

Hermione followed Ron out of the room until he came to a stop on the second

floor, "Why are you following me?" he snapped turning around, "Won't your precious Harry miss you?" he scoffed his voice full of disgust.

"Ron stop this! Harry is trying to deal with what happened last year. School had finished before he felt comfortable talking to us about it and when he finally could talk, he was stuck with the Dursleys," her tone was surprisingly calm as she neared him.taking his hands in her own.

"He's been alone for two weeks, Ron, and he's trying to deal with what happened. As for why he didn't talk to you, maybe it's because you have trouble dealing with the fact that everything always happens to him."

Her voice softened from its earlier snappiness. "He felt that talking to you would just reopen the fight you guys had last year, as much as you hate to admit it sometimes you have problems seeing past 'Harry Potter' and just seeing 'Harry'. When He fought... Voldemort..."

Ron cringed at the name.

"Things happened, things that Harry doesn't understand and Dumbledor isn't talking to him when he is the only one who might have any idea what is happening. I'm trying Ron. But when you barge in and start-saying things like that I don't think we'll get far... Why did you say those things anyway?"

"It's just that the last two weeks I've had you to myself, Harry's been here for four days and I've hardly seen you lately." Ron stepped up to Hermione, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, "What can I say when my girlfriend spends more time withmy best friend then me I get a bit jealous."

"Ron!" Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, "Harry's my best friend as well. He's the best friend I've ever had, he understands me, he understands what it's like to be misjudged bur most of all he dosen't judge me or hold me lower because of the things I believe in." Stepping out of his arms she began walking away, pausing for a moment to throw one final statement over her shoulder.

"If you're going to hold that against us then I don't know why we're together."

With that she walked back to Harry, leaving Ron to wonder how long he was going to play second fiddle to his best friend.

"I love you Mione I truly do. I just don't know if that's enough to keep you when your heart always will belong to someone else. Funny isn't it... Krum was write... hell even Skeeter was right I just whish I had of seen it before I lost my heart to you" he whispered after her, slowly returning to his room

######

Once again Harry and Hermione were sitting by the fire, Buckbeak resting at their feet. As a change they were talking adamantly about the upcoming year or, more to the point, Hermione was trying to talk Harry into dropping Divination and taking up Arithmancy.

"Come on Harry, you know that old bat is a fraud." Hermione stated for the thousandth time.

"I know, but it's easy and I've got so much on this year." Harry argued.

Hermione wasn't about to be defeated, "You have not. I'm doing twice as many subjects as you and you'll be in my class so I can help you. I promise I will."

Harry stared into her eyes as once again fire consumed them and a harsh breeze began to pick up, "Okay if I say I'll think about it will you leave me alone?" he questioned.

Slowly the wind died down as Hermione considered this option, "Maybe," she pouted, as she looked into his emerald eyes, consumed in their depths.

Harry felt his body stiffen as an uncontrollable urge to kiss her overcame him. She was just sitting there with the light of the fire dancing on her skin, her hair moving with unseen breezes, her hazel eyes boring into his soul. Harry was suddenly hit with how beautiful she really was he'd seen it before. No matter what she reckoned, he had noticed that she was a girl the very first tie he laid eyes on her. Although she chose to hide it, believing that a guy should like a girl for herself not her looks. He knew she was beautiful beyond imagination, though she hid it well, being too consumed in her work to care about petty things such as nail polish and such.

Leaning forward in his seat slightly he studied his prize intently. Painstakingly slow, the distance between them closed as he neared his goal. Just when Harry was about to

intercept Hermione in a searing kiss, he heard a door handle creak and flung himself as far into his seat as humanly possible just in time to see a tall redhead walk in the door.

"Dumbledor's here," Ron mumbled, his passive voice giving off no hint that

he was in the slightest bit aware of what he had interrupted, "He's in the

study. He'd like to see the both of you."

"Thanks." Hermione greeted him, her voice only slightly betraying her excitement, as Harry just nodded. For some reason Ron had seemed distant over the last few days.

Ron however gave a slight nod of his head before walking out the room, just catching the sight of Harry and Hermione embrace each other.

As Harry pulled away from Hermione he realized that he had lost his chance so instead he placed a friendly kiss on her forehead and pulled her from the room and headed down to the study, "Come on!" he whispered urgently, "He's here!"