The first week at Hogwarts passed rather quickly, considering the more than ample amounts of work they were receiving to do in and out of class. By Friday, Ron and Harry were nearly in hysterics because of the joy and freedom the weekend was sure to bring. However, their last class of the day, Potions, dashed all their hopes for a relaxing weekend. A few minutes before final bell, Snape set them an essay on the preparation, storage, effects and illegal uses of Rajaton Powdered Snail Repellant, as well as announced they will be sitting a very long exam; both due on Monday.

"How could he do it? Doesn't he know how much homework we've gotten already? Especially from that damn Erosa!" Ron was lumbering towards the Great Hall for supper with his head hanging in his hands.

"It's our N.E.W.T year, Ron! They have a lot of material to cover before June. And you shouldn't be so hard on Professor Erosa, she's only just starting out. Besides, I'm really enjoying her lessons, she really knows what she's talking about!" Harry smiled warmly at the shine in Hermione's eyes when she thought of their last lesson. He'd never known anyone to enjoy learning like that.

Ron only moaned louder and plunked down on his seat, and started heaping mashed potatoes on his plate. He always ate when he was stressed. But half way through his plate of potatoes Ron froze and his ears blushed crimson. Elspeth, the Canadian, was walking steadily towards him, a warm smile planted firmly on her lips. Hermione sniggered and quickly moved from her spot next to Ron, and squeezed herself in between Harry and Seamus. Harry felt his face (and other bits) grow hot as he felt the warmth of Hermione's thigh against his and her soft breath on his cheek. Elspeth greeted everyone with a pleasant howdy and asked if the seat next to Ron was taken?

Hermione leaned in close to Harry to whisper something. Her soft waves graced the back of his neck and he breathed in deeply. She smelled very faintly of ink, but there was something else-something new. Or was it he just hadn't noticed it before? It was rather like the snapdragons Aunt Petunia grew in her flower garden, but softer. He smiled, and leaned closer.

"Looks like Ron made a new friend. I do hope he doesn't screw it up, I rather like her," Hermione gave him a coy look and gathered her things, then stood up briskly.

"I'm going to the common room, I've got a lot of reading. Coming, Harry?" Hermione pressed down very lightly on his foot.

"No, I thought I'd have another treacle-ouch! What!" Harry exclaimed as Hermione stamped down hard on his toes, and made subtle, but frantic motions from Ron and Elspeth to the door with her eyebrows. Harry nodded his understanding and excused himself. As they walked by the Slytherin table, Harry heard the familiar voice of Malfoy, but not what he was saying. It was followed by a shriek of laughter he had never heard before.

It came from a girl sitting very closely to Malfoy, twirling her blond hair and looking shyly at him from behind batting eyelashes. Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically and fixed the girl with a cold look, but she took little notice. As soon as they were out of earshot, Harry inquired about the girl. She was a new student, from London, and her name was Limby Malsain. Harry shook his head, just what they needed, another Pansy Parkinson.

They found themselves in a nearly empty common room, everyone was still at dinner. The only other occupant was a first year girl curled up on one of the cushy chairs by the fire, fast asleep. Hermione gently shook her, and the girl, looking mortified, hurried off to the Great Hall.

"Remember our first year? I was petrified! I was so certain I'd stick out, having Muggle parents." Hermione sat on the other end of the couch Harry was sitting on. Harry often forgot Hermione also came from a Muggle family, like him. Everything came so easily to her.

"I remember when we first met. You came into our carriage and asked us if we'd seen Neville's toad. Then you told Ron he had dirt on his nose and bustled away," Hermione laughed.

"Oh, god. I was awful then, wasn't I? It's no wonder you two couldn't stand me. I'm not still like that, am I?"

"Well…." Hermione threw a nearby pillow at him.

"Oh, stop! I am not!" Harry shrugged and Hermione promptly threw another pillow. He made as if he was going to get up, but then threw himself on top of her and began to pummel her with the remaining pillows on the couch. She shrieked and pushed Harry to the side but he caught her when she tried to get away and pulled her on top of him. They were laughing rowdily and the effort caused them to roll off the couch onto the floor.

They lay on the floor for a moment gasping for breath but did not let go of each other. Their breathing slowed, and Hermione touched one finger to his scar.

"Does it still hurt sometimes?" Harry could feel the electricity from her touch.

"Sometimes. I just try to think of other things," His heart was racing, her hair was tickling his neck and face and he breathed in deeply. She traced his scar with her finger and ran it down his jaw. Very gently, she tipped up his chin and brushed her lips against the corner of his mouth and his jaw. He placed his hand on her cheek and pulled her lips to his. She tensed, but then relaxed into him. Hermione deepened the kiss and brought herself closer to him, but then she made a tiny noise in the back of her throat and pulled away quickly. Harry looked at Hermione with surprise. She blushed and stood up hastily, hurrying over to her books near the fireplace. He caught her hand in his.

"Hermione, please….what is it? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?"

"No! Nothing wrong, we just……we shouldn't……I should go," She struggled to free her hand from his but he held it tightly.

"Hermione…."

"Oh, Harry! What are we doing?"

"What…"

"This! I mean, this is too complicated! Ron…."

"What about Ron?" Harry relaxed his grip on Hermione's hand, but she didn't try to pull it away this time, "This is what I want, and what I thought you wanted too."

She smiled and moved closer to Harry, "It is what I want." She snaked her hands up Harry's shoulders and kissed him softly, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. They stood there in front of the fireplace for a long while, lost in their embrace. It wasn't until they heard the soft gaggle of student voices outside the common room door that they broke apart and took seats opposite each other.

They were sitting like this, pretending to read the books in their lap, but unable to sit still or focus, when Ron and Elspeth returned from supper. Elspeth caught the flush in Hermione's cheeks and asked coyly,

"What have you two been up to?" Hermione's cheeks flushed a deeper crimson and she cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Uh….homework. Well, I'm off to bed. Up early tomorrow! G'night!"

"Tomorrow's Saturday!" Ron called after her, but she had already disappeared up the spiral staircase.

"That Hermione, what a character….." He turned towards Harry and Elspeth but also caught their backs running up to the dormitory.

Harry had already pulled the curtains around his bed, so Ron said goodnight to them and crawled under his own covers, and fell asleep almost instantly. Harry, however, couldn't keep his eyes closed, but instead listened to Ron's snores and thought of the kiss he shared with Hermione, and the many more he hoped were to come.