Chapter 2

author's note: forgive the deplorable attempt at imitating Fleur's accent.

The next day, bright and early, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ron's sister Ginny left the Leaky Cauldron, where they had been staying, and drove in the Weasleys' car to King's Cross Station. Once there, they walked to the familiar wall between Platforms 9 and 10, and passed through to Platform 9 3/4 with no trouble.

After being hugged fiercely by Mrs. Weasley, they boarded the train and found an empty compartment. Soon, they were joined by Neville Longbottom and assorted others from the D.A. that they had started last year. Harry basked in the incessant chatter of his friends, staring into space and feeling sorry for himself, but feeling vaguely glad that he not being forced to talk.

About two hours into the train ride, he noticed Hermione signaling to him. Once she saw that she had his attention, she inclined her head towards the door to the corridor outside, and stood up. He uncertainly followed her out of the compartment and over to a corner of the train car.

"What's all this about?" he asked her. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Harry, I just wanted to ask you--" She broke off, blushing. "I just wanted to tell you-- I'm going to sound like a total prat, but--"

"Go on, Hermione. It's all right," he reassured her vaguely.

"Oh, Harry! God, what can I say? I... I really like you. Really. And I wanted to know... I wanted to ask... what are your feelings towards me?"

He blinked. Then a smile began to form on his face. "Hermione, I really like you too. If you mean what you said, would you--"

After he had confirmed his affection, she had giggled. And now she leaned forward, kissing him clumsily and cutting off his sentence.

"Yes, I would," she said. They embraced, pressing close to each other. Harry could feel her heartbeat.

"I've been waiting so long for this moment..." he began.

"I have, too," she said, her voice very sweet but with a slight edge of impatience. "But we.. not to end this moment, but the others will be wondering... we should go back."

"Yes," he said. "Separately, to avoid questions?"

She nodded, and he walked unsteadily back to the compartment. She watched him go, smiling to herself and poking something on her upper arm. Then, after a few minutes, she returned to the compartment, and the journey to Hogwarts continued.

Just as the sun set behind the mountains, the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. Harry nudged Hermione to wake her up, for she had fallen asleep against his shoulder.

She woke, and she, Harry, and Ron exited the train and began walking towards the carriages that would carry them to the school. Suddenly, Ron jumped about five feet in the air, and said, stuttering, "Th-there're horses there! There weren't horses before."

"Ron, calm down. They've been there all along, but you couldn't see them because they're thestrals," said Harry.

"What?"

"Don't bother trying to explain, Harry," said Hermione, her eyes gleaming oddly. "He's Ron! He wouldn't understand." She took Harry's hand and pulled him ahead of Ron towards the carriages.

Ron glanced at the thestrals, and then hurried to catch up with his two very best friends.

At the feast that night, Albus Dumbledore stood up to make his welcome-back speech. "As all of you must know by now, Lord Voldemort has risen again, and this has been acknowledged by the Ministry officials. They, I am sure, are doing all they can to solve this problem." There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "But that is not enough. We must stay together, and we must stay alert..."

Ron, over the noise of Dumbledore's inspirational words, whispered, "When, I ask you, do we get to eat?" Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry, and Ron fell into a dejected silence.

"... but let me close on a more cheerful note. We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... the lovely Fleur Delacour!"

There was wild applause, a good deal of it from Ron.

Fleur stood up. "Bonjour. I am vairy pleazed to be here as youhhr new teacher. And I hope we'll all get along ant learn much togethair!"

There was more applause. She sat back down, and, to Ron's delight, the plates filled magically with food. Ron buried himself in a pile of palatable comestibles.

"Er, Hermione," said Harry. "Look how happy Ron is -- he's got Fleur back and food, good food!" He laughed uncertainly. Hermione glanced at him in a way that suggested she thought he was a complete idiot, but then she too burst into enthusiastic laughter.

"Good food... very good! Hahaha..." she giggled. Harry looked gratified.

When the feast was over, they walked up endless flights of rearranging staircases. Finally, they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Hermione said the password, and the Lady, smiling welcomingly, swung to let them into the Gryffindor common room.

Almost immediately, Ron said, "Well, I think I'm going to turn in. It's been a long day." He stood there awkwardly for a moment, as if waiting for Harry or Hermione to try and implore him to stay, before walking up the staircase to his dormitory.

"What a wet blanket," said Hermione.

"Yeah..." said Harry.

They say down in chairs by the fire, and talked of this and that for a few hours. Then, they kissed goodnight and went their separate ways.