A/N: My birthday's coming up soon; I'll be 17 on the 28th! This is why I worked really hard to finish this chapter (you won't believe how many times I read it through!), as a treat for all my readers. Hope you guys'll like it!

I LOVE you guys for giving me so many wonderful reviews!!!

KcluvsMl: It's no problem at all. I'll make sure to read this story of yours… J

Roe Merrifield: Maybe, maybe not. J If the story's about to be over, I'm definitely not telling!

Just Playin: Of course they'll get back… eventually…

quizgirl: Don't worry, Harry will eventually learn the art of proper complimenting. Belated Happy Birthday!

blue3ski: Girl, you know very well that I'll never rival 'Come Together'!

SplishySplash: Of course I can end right there, I'm the author, therefore I have the power!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!!! (hacking cough) J

nanaluv56: Hannah… I can't write a Draco/Hermy fic yet! I still have to finish 'Career Week'!

TooSweet4Words: You got it!

DisorientedBallerina: I am happy to comply. J

Silver-Silhouette6: I still don't know how many chapters this story will have… sorry.

meagz: Thank you for you're patience, if you read on, you will find that it has been rewarded. J

Hermi De Harry: I hope you're not having a hard time translating… anyway, thanks! J

dandillilion: Wow, you think I write like JKR? That's so nice of you, even though I think that I still have a long way to go before I get to her level.

A Reserver: Draco, as answer to your question, is currently single. But its really not that important.

pottersweetie: Don't worry, you'll see some 'lovey-dovey' in this chapter, promise!

jnmoonprincess: Sorry, is the only site that I post my chapters on.

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Thanks also to VictoriaM2006, Ashley Potter13, darknd-wrtr-w/-a-heart-of-gld, Long-tall-texan, PruePotter, fierysoulgirl, allstarplayer324, wockygal, the-power-of-love, dragonsteeth, Icy-Wind88, blonk, Laen, BrennaM, Ashley, Hermione Graner Potter, agaxris, carey, LaYdEE SiLVeR, AJ the Ass Slayer, Emma Laraliean, Jewel, squeak-the-soprano, Sasami Tombo, Book Lover990, Marauder-Magick33, Alexian-Goddess, Emerald Icicle, jenn, Angel of Ravenclaw, Hermzee14, meaka, Autumn Darkness, char225, TribalGrl79, sundaym0rning, Pottersbiggestfan, KidWonder:TheCrashTestDummy, sally, LiLaZnBrAt07, fanjimmy, silver gaze, cooli, HarmonyRonita, Emily, kate, Baseball Fanatic, leolilly, Serenity-Hermione Angel, diddly day, Granger-gurl-rox, blackkodachimolko, cactus, and Ashes.

And now, the update you've all been waiting for…

Chapter 11

Hermione almost lunged at Hedwig, but controlled herself. Nevertheless, she practically sprinted across the room to untie the parchment from the snowy owl's leg. She shoved her wand in her coat pocket and the spell holding Harry was broken. Fortunately, Dottie, with a gasp, snapped her fingers just in time and Harry remained suspended after only dropping a few inches from the air. Hermione ignored all this and fumbled on the knot of the string holding the parchment in place. Soon, she freed the paper and read…

Can't get yourselves out of this, hmm? Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron in three days, noon

The note was unsigned, but it was pretty much obvious who sent it. Hermione crumpled the parchment in her fist, and threw it in the rubbish bin, which clamped its lid shut and burped. Three days… three more days and they could go back to their normal lives.

"Shall Dottie take sir upstairs?" Dottie asked.

Hermione smiled. "No, I'll do it. I'm going upstairs myself." She waved her wand and went out of the kitchen and up the stairs, keeping Harry floating ahead of her.

Harry woke up again when they reached the bedroom.

"Lemme down." He muttered to Hermione as she closed the door behind her.

Hermione did so and said, "Hedwig's back. Vablatsky's meeting us at the Leaky Cauldron in three days."

"Isn't too long…" Harry replied, his voice still slurred as walked unsteadily towards her. When he was standing right in front of her, he blinked, then looked up.

"Hey, mistletoe." He murmured.

Hermione looked up as well. How did that get there?

But before she could do anything else, Harry was leaning down… and in a moment, his lips were on hers.

Eyes widening in shock, it took a second for Hermione to realize that Harry was kissing her. Harry, the boy she fancied, her best friend, was kissing her, and rather enthusiastically at that. Hermione's heart pounded against her chest and her legs felt weak, as though they weren't used to supporting her body. She soon regained control of herself, though, and without further ado, started kissing him back.

Harry pressed closer against her, deepening the kiss. Hermione would have sighed had her mouth not been… well, occupied. Her first and only kiss, a brief one with Viktor Krum, which involved him accidentally stepping on her foot in the process, was nothing compared to this. This was… there was no other word for it… amazing. Really, Cho Chang was an idiot for breaking up with Harry. Or was it Harry who broke up with Cho? Hermione wasn't really sure; her brain wasn't functioning very well at the moment, what with certain… distractions.

Hermione pulled back slightly for a moment, as she was running out of air, and caught a whiff of alcohol from Harry. That brought her crashing back to earth. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she placed both hands on Harry's shoulders and pushed him back.

"Wha's wrong?" Harry mumbled, blinking at her.

Hermione gently guided him toward the bed. "You're drunk, that's what's wrong. You need to rest."

Hermione's lips tingled and her whole body felt as though it were on fire. She was surprised that she could still speak, much less move after what happened.

"Oh." Harry said meekly.

"You… get some sleep now." Hermione told him.

"Okay, 'Mione." Harry murmured, then sat down on the bed and started taking his robes off.

"What are you doing?!" Hermione asked in a strangled voice, her eyes wide.

"Undressing so I can get into some pajamas…" Harry answered in a faraway, dreamy manner, as he pulled the t-shirt he was wearing underneath his robes over his head.

"Oh!" Hermione squeaked. She hurriedly turned around to give Harry at least some bit of privacy, though, she thought guiltily, as her cheeks flamed, that she really wouldn't mind seeing Harry… well…

"Are you… erm… done yet?" Hermione asked a few moments later.

"Hmm…" Harry murmured.

Hermione turned to glance at Harry just as he was laying his head on the pillow and closing his eyes.

In moments, Harry had drifted off and Hermione started changing into some night clothes, her thoughts focused on only one thing. Harry had kissed her… and she had kissed him back. She sat down on the bed and closed her eyes, remembering how good Harry's lips had felt against hers. Even now, her pulse was still racing. She glanced at Harry's sleeping form. He was the one who had initiated the kiss. That had to mean something, right? Okay, so he was drunk, but maybe… just maybe… it wasn't entirely the alcohol's doing. With that in mind, Hermione sank into the soft mattress and closed her eyes.

Sunlight hit Harry's eyelids and he groaned. It felt as though a Bludger was beating repeatedly against his skull. No, make that a dozen Bludgers.

He pulled the blanket over his head to block out the light, and bullied his brain to recall how he came to this particular predicament.

He and Hermione were still stuck in this… whatever reality. Yes, that much he was still aware of.

They went to a party. He had drunk some champagne. Correction, a lot of champagne.

Harry squeezed his eyes tighter, willing himself to sift through the jumble of images in his head. Every thought seemed to increase the pounding pain in his head.

How did they get home? For he was definitely home, unless he was in someone else's house and in someone else's bed; he really didn't care at the moment.

There was something else, something important… Hedwig was back! That was it! Was it Hermione who told him that? Wait! Hermione… something… something to do with Hermione. A memory was tugging at the edges of his brain. Come on now, think! He… he… BLOODY HELL!

Harry's eyes flew open, sending a fresh surge of pain to his temples. He'd kissed her! He was certain he did, well, at least… mostly certain. It seemed as though the only way to make sure was to ask Hermione. He felt his face warming up at the thought. His groped blindly for his glasses at the bedside table and sat up, squinting at the other side of the bed. It was empty.

She was probably downstairs. He put on his glasses, rose unsteadily from the bed, and feeling as though his legs were made of jelly, stumbled for the door.

Hermione was waiting for Harry at the breakfast table, with Dottie and Lily nowhere to be found.

"Hi," Hermione said to him when he stepped through the door.

"Hi." Harry returned, as he sat down at the table, massaging his temples.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not that well."

Hermione tapped the side of a small bottle on the table, beside a plate of bacon. "This will help, but I think you should get some food into your stomach first."

Harry wanted to nod, but decided against it. Too much movement made the room spin. He quickly bolted down some breakfast and drank the potion. His headache eased almost immediately. Feeling much better, he leaned back on the chair and surveyed Hermione, who had been quiet the whole time he was eating.

"Where is everyone?" he asked.

"Dottie gets a weekend off every month. I think she went to visit some friends. Lily's in her room playing dolls." Hermione informed him.

Harry cleared his throat. It was now or never. "Did I do anything… odd while I was drunk?" he managed to croak out.

Hermione turned red. "Er… not really." Did he remember their kiss? Should she bring it up?

"Er… Hermione…" Harry started. How could he say this?

Hermione looked at him expectantly.

Harry decided to just plow on. "Did I… did I… er… ahm… kiss you?" he asked, saying the last part quickly. His face felt like it was burning, so he stared down at the plate in front of him, in hopes that Hermione wouldn't see.

"Ahm… yes… you did." Hermione said in a small voice, also looking down at the table.

"Oh," Harry didn't really know what to say next. He chanced a look at Hermione. She didn't seem angry about what had happened. In fact, unless his eyes were deceiving him, she was blushing furiously, and had a small smile on her face. He considered admitting to Hermione that he was glad he'd kissed her… that he'd wanted to do so ever since he saw her in those robes, and that the only downside of the whole thing was that he didn't remember much of it. Stupid champagne. He opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it again. How could he possibly tell Hermione how he felt? He was never good with words; just look at what happened every time he opened his mouth with Cho.

They remained silent, not looking at each other. The fire crackled. They could even hear the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room. Just then, a yell came from the fireplace, making them both jump.

"Oy! Anyone there?"

Harry and Hermione stood up at the same time, hurrying towards the voice. Anything to distract them, anything at all. They kneeled down against the hearth and faced Ron's head in the fire.

"Morning, Ron." Hermione said. Harry nodded, but did not say anything. He was still a little preoccupied, after all.

"You two look a bit red in the face, but maybe that's just the flames." Ron commented with a snigger. He then said teasingly, "What have you been doing?"

"Nothing." Harry and Hermione said at the same time.

Ron gave them both a sly look but dismissed the topic. "Mum wants to invite all of you over for Sunday lunch. The whole family's going to be there. Even Percy's coming." He made a face, not hiding his displeasure at the thought. Ron, apparently, still wasn't too fond of his brother.

"Alright, what time should we get there?" Hermione asked.

"The usual; whenever you're ready." Ron said nonchalantly.

"Okay, see you." Harry told Ron, standing up. Ron grinned and, with a soft pop, vanished from the flames.

Harry helped Hermione to her feet unconsciously, but then reddened again when he realized he was holding her hand. Reluctantly, even though he really didn't want to, he released her hand and looked at his feet.

"Um… shall we go and get ready? I still have to help Lily dress." Hermione said, her face flushed as well, determinedly staring anywhere but at Harry.

"Yes, let's." Harry replied, starting for the stairs.

Awkwardly, the two of them left the kitchen and made to get ready, both carefully avoiding the each other's eyes.

A/N: Hope you guys liked this chapter. For those who wanted me to write about Ron's date, there will be a brief "discussion" about it in the next chapter. 'Til then, ciao!