"Umm... I was just uhh... going for a walk, yea that's it a walk." Harry said rather too quickly. Hermione slightly raised her eyebrows at him and then accepted his reasoning knowing she had to come up with a reason as well.
"Well I thought I should come down and prepare for my first lessons, seeing as tomorrow IS the first day of class."
Harry saw the sweat that was glistening on her forehead, "So you wake up, with a rather bad sweat I might add, decide to come downstairs and all of a sudden want to prepare for your lessons?"
Hermione started digging her toe into the carpet of the common room realizing she had no way out of this. "No, I wasn't going to study actually. I had that dream again. Only this time it felt ten times worse." Hermione couldn't bear to look Harry in the eye without sobbing uncontrollably.
"Ya know, I think I know what you're going through Hermione. For some reason I think we're dreaming about the same thing." Harry didn't know what else to say at the moment being caught off guard because of his sudden revelation.
"Do you really think we're dreaming about the same thing Harry? But how is that possible, the odds of that happening are one in ten million, and we both know that that could never happen, not to mention the fact that I don't think V-Voldemort could possibly be sending me images as he does to you and on top of that....." Harry quickly put his finger on Hermione's lips knowing that she was going to be analyzing this for awhile.
"Let's go to the kitchen. I'm a bit hungry and we can talk there." Harry went back up the dorm and took the Marauders map and invisibility cloak out of his trunk. He placed the cloak around Hermione and himself as he pulled his map out. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Harry tapped his wand on the map. He looked at the map and saw that Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris were patrolling the 5th floor corridors.
"Ok let's go."
Harry led the way while holding Hermione's hand down the moving stairs to get to the kitchen. Hermione was quite aware of the proximity between Harry and her, and decided to close the distance a few inches. Harry could suddenly feel the heat emanating from the closer body of Hermione Granger but decided not to say anything except enjoy it. As they drew closer to the kitchens, Hermione suddenly slipped on something and the cloak slid off. Realizing their sudden predicament and the fact that Mrs. Norris was now on the same corridor according to the map, Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her into the nearest broom closet, which happened to be pitch black incidentally.
"Shh, we have to stay here for a few moments. By the way, nice job on the fall," Harry said while smirking at Hermione.
"Thanks Harry, you know I only do it to impress you," Hermione said as sarcastically as possible hoping Harry wouldn't pick up on the fact that she really meant it. Harry looked at what he assumed was Hermione's eyes and saw a touch of sincerity in them. Just as Harry thought he was starting to get lost in them, he mentally slappd himself and decided to leave.
"Ok coast clear, let's go."
They stepped out of the closet and ran all the way down to the portrait leading to the kitchen. Harry tickled the pair and it giggled slightly and opened. When they got inside, Hermione sat down as Harry started pulling out some bowls and spoons.
"Oh, how wonderful it is for Dobby to see you once again Master Potter."
Harry wheeled around looking for the familiar voice of his house-elf friend and started thinking. "Hi dobby, ummmm, Dobby, why did you just call me Master Potter?"
Dobby whimpered and suddenly started shaking, "Please forgive Dobby, Dobby does not think before he opens his mouth sir. I am not to be making any mention of your name in such a way good sir. Please forgive a very bad Dobby." Dobby went over to a bread roller and started rolling over his hands punishing himself.
Harry at once went over and grabbed Dobby and told him not to punish himself. "Dobby it's all right, you don't need to do that. Just promise not to call me that anymore. I am not your master. You're a free house-elf."
"Dobby is most grateful; you are most kind Harry Potter sir. Is there anything that Dobby can get for you and Miss Granger to eat?"
"No Dobby I think we can manage for ourselves. Thank you though; you can go back to whatever you were doing."
"As you wish kind sir. Please allow Dobby to come and see you more often. Dobby misses having a wizard treating him as an equal and as a friend," Dobby said almost to the point of where it looked like his eyes were tearing.
"Of course you can Dobby. Just make sure you let me know when you would like to visit and I will accommodate you as well as I can."
At this Dobby bowed as low as he possibly could before he snapped his fingers and disapparated. Harry looked at Hermione and was beginning to wonder something. "Hermione, why DID Dobby call me Master Potter?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know Harry, maybe you should ask Professor Dumbledore. He might know something."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and went to get ice cream for the two of them.
"So, why do you think we're all of a sudden having the same dream?" Harry asked seriously.
"To be honest Harry, I haven't a clue. I've been thinking about it and the only idea I can come up with is that V-Voldemort is planting images in our minds, possibly like he was doing to you last year."
"If that's the case, then maybe you should be practicing occlumency as well. I don't know if I am going to be taking any more lessons with Snape, but if I do, you should take them with me." Harry knew full well what Snape was capable of and he wondered if Hermione would be able to take Snape's mind torture as Harry liked to call it.
Hermione looked at Harry and wondered if she should take the lessons or not. Hmmm, take occlumency lessons with Harry or be stuck doing homework with Ron. Take lessons with Harry, stay with Ron. Harry or Ron... "Ok I'll do it. Just promise me that if we dream about anything else before then, we go straight to the headmaster. Deal?"
"Ok deal." Harry spit in his hand and reached across to grab Hermiones.
"EWWW, why did you just do that Harry?"
"Oops sorry, it's a muggle form of promising." Harry grinned and wiped his hand on his pants.
"Well I'm certain there are LESS barbaric ways of promising."
"Ok, then stick out your pinkie," Harry said sticking out his own. "Take it in mine and say, 'I pinkie promise.'" Hermione looked at Harry shrewdly before deciding to take him up on his offer. "Ok, I pinkie promise."
As they were standing and still holding their pinkies together, a blush crept across Hermione's face as neither of them were letting go.
"I think you can let go now Harry."
"You first." "No you first." "Ok on the count of three. One, two, three."
Neither of them had let go of one other and were suddenly starting to redden a little more around the ears. Finally Harry decided to let go as the touch of Hermione's finger was starting to make him feel as though he never wanted to let go.
As they started making their way back up to the common room, Harry noticed that Dumbledore was already standing there as if he were waiting for something.
Harry knew that it wouldn't matter if he had the cloak on or not because Dumbledore would still see them so the two continued onward and hoped that they would not get into much trouble.
"Professor?" Harry said questioningly hoping desperately not to get into too much trouble.
"Ah, young Harry and Miss Granger. So lovely to see the two of you. I need a word with the both of you, so you would please follow me inside to the common room."
Harry looked over at Hermione and raised his eyebrows wondering what it was that the headmaster could possibly want with them.
"Please, Harry and Hermione, sit down. I would just like to discuss with you something that I think would benefit you both. Seeing as how the two of you are having trouble with a certain nightmare, I would encourage you Harry to resume your occlumency lessons, and that Hermione would take them with you as well."
Harry and Hermione glanced at each other wondering how in the world that Dumbledore could possibly know about the dream they were having.
"Well sir, as much as I would agree with you on resuming my lessons, I don't think I could do it anymore with Professor Snape." Harry said looking off to the side of the headmasters face.
"Ah yes, I take it your experience with him was not so good your last time around. Therefore I must insist that you take them with me, and as soon as possible I might add."
Hermione glanced up at the thought and immediately chimed in, "Oh Professor that's a wonderful idea. I would definitely take lessons with you. What say you Harry?"
Harry grinned at the idea of not taking lessons anymore with Snape and nodded his head in excitement.
"Excellent news, then I shall meet the both of you after dinner tomorrow, in my office at 7 o'clock. Until then, sleep well." Dumbledore then got up and left the common room.
"Wow lessons with Dumbledore, I'm sure I'll start learning something now." Harry said quite excitedly.
"I know me too Harry. I always wanted to be able to learn occlumency in the first place."
"Well I guess we should get some rest tonight so we can be ready for tomorrow Hermione."
"Ok Harry, sleep well." Hermione gave Harry a quick hug and peck on the cheek.
Harry stood there dumbfounded for what seemed like hours as he watched Hermione go up the stairs. He put a hand on his cheek and vowed never to wash his face ever again. No wait, it just a friendly kiss, nothing more. Agghhh, why are girls so confusing. Harry pondered silently as he walked back up to his dorm and plopped back into bed and instantly fell asleep.