Chapter Seven

Hermione's heart was hammering as she descended to the Common Room. She was still recovering from the iron butterflies being around Harry always gave her, but felt exhilarated too. How long he had thought she was going out with Ron? He seemed relieved just now. Maybe there was hope after all...

Her words were still ringing in Harry's mind. He'd obviously misconstrued something totally innocent. But even if Hermione wasn't with Ron, that didn't mean she was interested in Harry.

He changed into Muggle clothes and headed for the Common Room with his bag; they had quite a lot of holiday homework to make up for the missed exams. It was nice to be able to spread out over as many tables as he liked, but he kept getting distracted. What am I going to do?

Upstairs, Hermione was having an internal battle. She'd just love to swan downstairs in something ridiculously revealing, but if her hope was a blind hope, it could ruin everything. Instead she wore a figure-hugging t-shirt that showed off her curves and a pair of jeans. Now that they were alone, now that she had one end of every conversation all to herself, she could do a little probing...

Harry turned when he heard a footstep on the stairs. He cleared his throat nervously. "That's a nice top," he managed. It had been much easier with Cho. No, wait, it hadn't. He hadn't spoken to Cho much before that Valentine's Day from Hell. In his mind it had been much easier with Cho. What was he doing thinking about Cho now anyway?

Hermione smiled. "Thanks." Harry shifted some books and she took the next available desk. "So, what have you started with?"

He held up a Potions book with a wan smile.

"That was evil of him," said Hermione. "Four rolls of parchment on dragon blood!"

"We don't have enough notes to write four rolls," Harry despaired. "Why did I take Potions for NEWT anyway?"

"At least you know what you want to do after Hogwarts," sighed Hermione. "I'm at a total loss."

"I thought you were going to be an Auror!"

"Yes, well..."

"You'd be brilliant Hermione, you really would," said Harry sincerely.

"I'm not much good at fighting, though," she said. "Remember the Department of Mysteries?" she added in a hushed voice.

"Yeah." He hadn't thought a lot about how much Hermione's near-death had affected him. Sirius' death had been too raw for him to even consider anything else that happened that night. "I was terrified. I thought you were dead... and anyway, even if you were an Auror, you could do the investigative stuff, like Kingsley."

"He has to fight sometimes, though," said Hermione. She was fishing for compliments and she knew it.

"You were the best by far in Dumbledore's Army."

"No, Harry," she said, looking him straight in the eyes so that both their hearts fluttered, "I'd never have been the best. You know that."

In a vain attempt to break the tension, Harry said a little gruffly, "I'd never have been any good without you. You found most of those spells."

"But you can actually do them," said Hermione.

"Pity I can't do this essay though."

And they got down to work.