Chapter 4

(the next day)

Harry, Blaise, Draco, and Hermione had decided that they should all go out for the night. They had already had several nights in, as well as some in Hogsmeade. Hermione and Blaise were still the major issue. She was unsure about if she should continue with Ron, or make it official that she was going with Blaise.

"Where are we going anyway, Harry?" They were at lunch discussing what they doing later. Ron was currently talking with one of his brothers. They were on slightly better standing with him these days. When they weren't with sneaking off to be with Draco and Blaise, they were with him. Ron had also taken the hint and stopped asking about what was going on, even if he was still a little suspicious. Things were better this way.

"The Magic Cup."

"That club! It's on the corner between Diagon Ally and Knockturn Alley! Are you serious, Harry?" She hissed.

"It'll be fun!" Harry smiled at her at her. "Just come. It'll be fun, I promise. And you'll have I-told-you-so rights if I'm wrong! Besides, Draco wouldn't have suggested it if it wasn't. Also I'm sure that Blaise will keep you company, since he has developed a liking towards you." She caught herself before she smiled at this. She knew that she would have to do something about that... eventually.

"By the way, did I tell you about what happened yesterday?"


Fred had grabbed him away from Hermione and Harry on the way down to lunch.

"Ron. Stay up here."

"Why?" He glanced down and saw that they were waiting on him.

"I have to talk to you! It's important." He flicked a glance at Harry and Hermione. The two were beginning to look a bit impatient.

Ron sighed. "Guys I'll see you later, ok?"

"Yeah." Hermione walked up a couple steps and planted a light kiss of his lips before she and Harry left, without looking back.


Ron and his brother made their way back up into the common room. He collapsed in the couch beside the fire.

"Ok , Fred. What is it?" He was a bit irked about being separated from his girlfriend, especially when things where going so well.

"Ron, I don't know how to tell you this." Fred was looking surprisingly unsettled.

"It would help if you would actually say it, so that I can get to lunch."

"Last Friday... me and George saw Harry and Hermione headed towards the dungeons."

"Yeah? And why were YOU down there?"

"We where going to play a 'small' prank on Malfoy. But, that isn't the point. They didn't come back out until late night. We think that they're up to something."

"I doubt it. This is Harry and Hermione, Fred. We've know them since my first year. Sure, they've been a little different this year, but it's still them."

"More than a little, Ron. Harry's pierced and dresses in black, plus he's acting odder than ususal, and Hermione is actually dressing like a girl. And I don't think it was your influence that got to them. I think it's the slytherins."

"They probably had the same thing in mind that you did. Or they possibly just had detention with Snape, or something!" Ron didn't like having these things pointed out to him. Especially when he was just starting to not notice as much.

"Ron. They are two of the smartest people we know. I really don't think they're dumb enough to get a detention with Snape! At least not Hermione. Harry can get a detention out of Snape if he did a potion perfectly. There's another thing! Before this year Harry almost had the worst grades, barely above Neville! Although, that was understandable, considering that he hasn't had a break since he started at hogwarts, but now he almost aces POTIONS, for Merlin's sake! And what type of detention would Snape give them down there. They actually went down into the common room. Not just into the dungeons! They knew the Slytherin's password, also." /...just too bad I didn't hear it!/ Fred stopped for a second to slow his breathing.

"They haven't said anything about playing any pranks on them to me." Ron looked puzzled.

"That's what I thought. I don't know what's going on exactly, but I know that I don't like it."

"I'm sure it's nothing Fred," he snapped. Fred may be his brother, but he still didn't like him talking about his friends like they were involved in some big conspiracy. Never mind that he had been thinking that they were keeping something from him only days before.

"If you're so sure then come with me and George tonight. Prove that there isn't anything going on."

"What?" He looked at his brother incredulously.

"We asked Harry to go down to Hogsmeade with us and he said that he had plans with you and Hermione."

"But we don't have any plans. They told me they weren't feeling well and would probably be going to bed early." He looked puzzled, and suddenly interested in where this was going.

"Exactly! Why would they lie?" Fred looked triumphant, though a little sad about being right.

"Fine. I'll come." He grumbled. It was time to get to the bottom of this.

"Good. Just be ready to leave tonight."

"What if we get caught?"

"We'll use his map."


Hermione chose to wear the black and blue silk tank with the kanji along with the leather jeans. She had her hair braided back into four braids that went to about the middle of her back, and had left some of her bangs down. She then applied dark red eyeliner and laced up a pair of black boots.

As always, her and Harry met in her room before leaving. "You look good, Hermione."

She looked him over before replying. "So do you. Black. Well at least you know it matches." And it was true. He had chosen loose, only slightly baggy, black pants that had a thin silver chain-belt around the waist. He also had on a black button down shirt that revealed another thin chain that rested at the base of his neck. On his wrist there show a couple of silver bands that showed slightly through the sleeves. To complete the outfit were the silver earrings, which Hermione hadn't given to him until the last moment. "They really do look good on you." She reached up to touch the light metal. "Sort of exotic."

"So I've been told." He smirked slightly. "We still have 10 minutes until we have to meet them." He sat down in the chair by her desk. She sat on the bed.

"You seem pretty comfortable. Happy, even. I'm glad."

"I've been with Draco for over a year. We decided long ago that we should do things together. What type of relationship would it be all we did was have sex? Sure, it would be fun... very very fun…" His eyes glazed over while he trailed off.

"Harry!"

"Huh? Oh! But there are other things. Besides, we still have fun, just the two of us. Blaise just hangs around half the time. And now so do you."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't think that I was interfering or anything." She looked a bit mortified for a second. She never realized that she might be taking up some of their alone time.

"You aren't. We get together on our own, whenever you guys aren't around." He gave a toothy grin to show just how much he enjoyed the get aways. All four of them had actually on gotten together only a couple times in the last month or so. Draco no longer insulted her and they even had a couple of civilized conversations. You could imagine Ron's reaction when Draco actually nodded at her in the hall. He had decided that he liked Hermione enough to stop outright insulting her. Ron now got the majority of the taunts and jibes that were thrown their way. He still insulted them a bit so that they wouldn't be seen as the almost-friends, in Hermione's case, and lovers, in Harry's, that they were. As to not raise suspicions.


Fred had been listening behind closed curtains for when Harry left. He then climbed out of bed and made his way over to Ron's. Even though his brother was already dressed as promised, he had dozed off under the covers.

"Hey, Ron!" Fred shook his brother until he was awake.

"Uh... I'm awake. I'm awake!"

"Come then! They've left already!"

"Huh? Who left?" Ron looked confused.

"We're following Harry and Hermione tonight. Remember!"

"Oh yeah." He frowned for a second. He was still unhappy about having to do this.

"Ron! Quit dawdling and get out of bed! George is waiting for us in the common room with the map." They quickly snuck down the stairs to meet their brother.


"You look lovely this evening, my dear Megami (1)." As always, he kissed her hand when they arrived, causing her to blush.

She had asked him one time why he kissed her even though she had a boyfriend; she had also slilently asked herself why she let him. He had said when he knew what he wanted he did his best to get it, and that there was nothing Ron could do about it. She didn't want to cheat on Ron. It went against her morals. But, Hermione just couldn't get Blaise out of her mind. He was so sweet, even though he had gained a reputation of playing around with the girls, throughout the other houses. Although he wasn't really accepted among most of Slytherin, he had still been sorted there for a reason. That was all they were concerned with. Maybe he had changed, or everyone had been wrong about him?

"Thank you."

Harry entered the room once Hermione cleared the doorway. "Where's Draco?" He had yet to show.

"He's still finishing up. You know how he is. Takes longer to do his hair than most females."

"Is he really that bad?" Hermione asked. She had decided that it was useless to take offence.

"He spent a full hour on his hair one time." He smirked. "That's Draco with all his prissiness."

"I'm not prissy, just thorough." Draco came down the stairs dressed in black and silver with another invisibility cloak draped over his arm. The silver shirt clung to his body like a second skin; the unbuttoned collar came to just below his collar bone. It wasn't hard to see what Harry saw in him, as far as his body went, anyway. Draco was like a Greek Adonis transported into modern times. Harry immediately approached him and gave him a full kiss on the mouth.

"Are you ready to leave now?" Draco said after a moment when they broke away.

"You're the one we've been waiting on." Blaise said, a bit irritated.

"Well then let's go." He put his arm around Harry's waist and they made their way out.


"Shh! They're coming out!"

"Where! I don't see anything."

"They're under an invisibility cloak, you idiot! Look at the map."

"Oh, there! Why are Malfoy and Zabini with them?!"

"How should I know!?"

"That's what we're following them for, you dolt."

"Quit calling me names!"

"Quit being so stupid!"

"Damnit! Will you guys be quiet before they hear us!"

"We are being quiet!"

"Fred, they're heading out to Hogsmeade."

"Ouch! You tripped me on purpose!"

"Where's the light?"

"It wasn't me! It was Fred!"

"Put you wand over here so I can see."

"No it wasn't!"

"Forget it! Just look at the map and follow them."

"But-"

"Stupify!"


"Did anyone hear that?" Harry stopped for a second, listening.

"Just a couple of red-heads and a Weasel." Draco quipped.

"Can you please not him that." Harry pleaded.

"And he can call me ferret-boy without you telling him to stop it?" Draco actually sounded hurt.

"I think you're mature enough to not say it first first."

"Harry, that sentence made very little sense. How about this. I'll only call him a weasel to his face, which he his by the way, and a fat idiot with a fat ass too, now that I think about it, if he calls me ferret-boy. Happy now?"

"Yes." He squeezed his boyfriend before he let him go, smiling.

"Now what are we going to do about the Gryfs? Present company obviously accepted." Blaise came into the conversation.

"We could stun them." Hermione said. She didn't feel right using anything stronger and decided to speak up before someone else did. She was already a bit sorry about the Ron situation.

"That'll work." Draco nodded, although no one could see him. On the count of two."

"One..."

"Two..."

"Stupefy!" After that came the sound of three bodies hitting the floor.

"Will they be ok?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. They'll just be knocked out for a couple of hours." Blaise smiled as he looked down at the unconscious boys on the floor. He was a Slytherin after all. Just because he wasn't evil didn't mean that he didn't like having one up on people.

"Why two?" Harry asked as a last minute thought.

"Because, everyone else counts to three."

"Oh."


The night was amazing.

Blaise spent the whole night by Hermione's side, aside from a few exceptions. They were currently holding their table for when Harry and Draco actually made it off the dance floor. The club was packed.

"All over each other, aren't they?" Draco currently had his hand up Harry's shirt. The other was making its way further down the back. "I'll just love it when get all sexy on the dance floor," Blaise whispered. "They're perfect for each other. Draco has the moves and Harry has the perfect grace. Or is it the other way around?"

"I think they're about equal." They had been watching Harry and Draco for about half an hour. They had only come back for minimal breaks or a drink. A couple of time's Harry took Hermione out on the floor, though it was much, much tamer. Draco and Blaise even had a go at it, just for fun. Currently they were dancing to Toxicity by System of a down. The club alternated between wizarding bands and muggle bands to keep things interesting. Although, whether System of a Down were wizards or muggles, it had yet to be decided. The music was kept interesting though. You never knew what to expect. "They certainly have a passion."

A slow song started up at that second. "What do you say, do we loose the table and go dance... or sit here and drink till' we drink ourselves silly?" Blaise asked Hermione. He had stood up and was holding his hand out to her.

"Dance." She put her hand in Blaise's and they made their was onto the floor.


Harry and Draco held each other as they swayed to the music. They liked the slow dances as well as the more up beat ones. They like having the chance to just hold each other as they danced slowly.

"They seem to be getting along."

"Who?" Harry lifted his head from Draco's shoulder.

"Blaise and Hermione."

Harry looked over to the other couple on the floor. Blaise was holding Hermione close and they slowly danced. "Think he really cares about her? I may like Blaise but I will not allow him to harm her." Harry bit his lip for a second, before he put his head back down.

"I think he does. He hasn't allowed anyone but us around her all night."

"And you have?"

"I simply don't find most people worthy of her attention." He looked flustered.

"You really do like her, don't you?" Harry teased.

"She's ok."

Harry simply smiled and pulled Draco close. They danced the night away.


Across the floor Blaise pulled Hermione into their first real kiss. And she let him.

-,---, -,---, -,---, -,---,
look around, wonder why
we can live a life that's never satisfied
lonely hearts, troubled minds
looking for a way that we can never find

many roads are ahead of us
with choices to be made
but life's just one of the games we play
there is no special way

Make the best of what's given you
everything will come in time
why deny yourself
don't let life pass you by
like winter in July

future dreams can never last
when you find yourself still living in the past
keep moving on to higher ground
looking for the way that you thought could not be found
-Sara Brightman
-,---, -,---, -,---, -,---,

Later, they had to go their separate ways, as much as they hated to part. On their way back Hermione and Harry retreived the Weasly brother from the broom closet where they had left the. Once there Harry lowered them into their beds, he then went to bed himself, exhausted.


(next morning)

"Harry. Where's Ron?" Hermione was concerned when she had noticed that he hadn't come down for breakfast.

"He was still out when I went to wake him up."

"That's strange."

"Yeah, I know. You would think that one of them would have woken up by now. They never miss breakfast and that charm isn't that strong."

"Maybe they'll wake up later."

"Yeah."


(Monday)

Draco sent him a note in class through one of the Slytherins telling Harry to stay after class.

"So, where are the Weasly's?"

"Worried about them?" Harry teased.

"No. Just curious. I don't have any reason to worry. I could handle them. It just wouldn't be good for my image if I had the likes of them as my personal stalkers. We forgot to obliviate them, Harry."

"You're just paranoid. They'll probably just write the whole thing off as a dream. They've had joint dreams before. Which is easy to understand since Fred and George are twins, but that doesn't explain Ron. It just something weird that happens sometimes."

"Strange friends you have."

"No stranger than you, Drake."

"I'm not strange!"

"Yes you are. You're just the only one who doesn't realize it."

"..."

"Sorry." Draco wouldn't look at him. Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's waist. "I didn't mean to insult you."

"I know." Draco began to lean into Harry.

"Don't you two have somewhere to be?" Snape glared at them. He came in just before they were about to kiss.

They stayed where they were. "Not really. Why, have a problem?" Harry replied.

"We do have better things to do Harry." Draco said suggestively. "As much fun it is to torment Snape."

"Well, we could just stay here and I could have my way with you."

"But we did that last week." Draco whined.

"Maybe we could make him faint quicker this time." Harry smiled slyly at Draco and pulled him closer.

"Sadist." But that's part of what he loved about Harry.

"Only when it comes to you, love." Harry proceeded to show him.

"I'm still here." Snape had to stop this before it got any further. He was already a bright shade of red and he felt the blood rushing to his... face.

"We don't really care." Draco then continued in kissing Harry senseless.

Snape ran out of the Potions classroom. He had enough of them to last him a lifetime. And he needed a shower.

"He fell for it." Draco pulled out of the kiss a little bit.

"I wasn't kidding." He lightly bit Draco's earlobe.


"Maybe we should take them to Madam Pomfrey." Hermione was really starting to get worried. They were looking at Ron. Him and his brothers were still unconscious.

"Possibly." Harry said quietly. It wouldn't be good for them for the teachers to find out. All four of them had broken several rules. Breaking curfew was just one of them.

"This isn't good, is it? We're really going to be in trouble." Hermione looked up at Harry. They had tried everything that they could think of to revive them once Harry had made it back. The rest of their house was at dinner.

"No. It isn't. Feel like backing out now?" He looked down sadly at Hermione. She was sitting on Ron's bed while Harry was leaning to the post.

"No. I've decided to break up with Ron." She looked a little embarrassed to be telling him this now, with said boyfriend lying unconscious right in front of her.

"Really." He was a bit surprised that she had decided this soon. Her and Ron hadn't been going out for very long.

"It isn't that I don't like him. I... just... he's just Ron. That isn't a bad thing. It's just that Ron won't ever change. I already know exactly what will happen if I stay with him. He'll grow up and join the ministry, I'll become a professor at Hogwarts, and we'll have a ton of kids. The end. I'm not saying that I won't be happy. I just want more."

"Ron won't be happy." He looked at Hermione in sympathy.

"I know. This doesn't make me a bad person, does it?"

"No." Harry hugged her. We've simply out-grown him, Harry thought sadly.


Chapter 3
Chapter 5