A/N: Hi everyone, I'm really sorry for the delay in updating but I've had so much school work.....Anyway I've written an extra long chapter to compensate. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 11

A Sleepless Night and A Secret Discovered

Harry had slept badly that night; it was almost as bad as the days not so long ago when he had continuously dreamt about the corridor in the Department of Mysteries he had thought as he groggily pulled himself out of bed in the morning. Well at least I got some sleep then he thought wearily. Pushing thoughts about all that had occurred in the last two years aside wasn't that easy now he had started thinking about it again. He had spent the whole holidays after the terrifying events of the past year trying to push any thoughts about what had happened out of his mind and now it was all coming back. Harry desperately tried to think of something else and Hermione's face swam into his mind. Although his best friend was Ron, he knew that without Hermione's common sense and loyalty he would never had gotten through last year....and now look what's happened, he thought miserably. You've let her down and got yourself into a stupid mess just because you let Lavender get under your skin. Sighing loudly Harry headed down to breakfast.

Hermione lay in bed for a few minutes after she knew it was time to get up. She had been lying there awake for the past few hours and couldn't seem to make herself pull back the covers and face the day. Her mind was working furiously trying to sort out all the emotions that seemed to be whirling around in there in a very disorderly fashion. Gilderoy, Harry, the bet, it was a jumbled confusion. Being with Gilderoy yesterday had been nothing like she had ever experienced. After they had parted at the Room of Requirement they had arranged to meet in Gilderoy's room that evening. It had been wonderful spending so much time together and as Hermione had made her way back to the Gryffindor common room later that night she had drifted through the corridors in a warm glow, not even looking out for Filch who liked to prowl the halls at that time, hoping to catch an unwary student up to no good.

Hermione's buoyant mood had been quickly deflated when she had reached the common room and seen the piece of parchment on the wall detailing the bets people had placed on her getting to go on a date with Gilderoy. Looking numbly at the parchment she had felt a cold feeling start worming its way into her stomach. If Gilderoy found out about this....Hermione didn't even want to think about that. Suddenly she was overcome with anger at Harry again for putting her in this position in the first place.

"Damn him," she whispered to herself, leaning against the wall, her hands curled into tight fists. It was for you that he did it, a little voice remided her not for the first time. Hermione pressed one hand hard against her forehead and tried to think rationally. She needed to get this bet thing over with quickly she decided. Once it was over she would act as though that was the end of it with Gilderoy and that there wasn't anything between them. Hopefully people would stop thinking about it and she and Gilderoy could do what they liked – secretly of course. The thought that the students at Hogwarts weren't likely to forget something like this that quickly passed fleetingly through her head but she pushed it aside and made her way up to bed.

Harry arrived in the great hall for breakfast a little late and looked around anxiously for Hermione. He had to talk to her quickly and get things sorted out. He could see Ron sitting next to Neville, but there was no sign of Hermione. Harry slowly made his way over to Ron and sat down, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Rough night mate?" Ron asked sympathetically as Harry tried to pour orange juice into his coffee instead of milk.

"Do I look that bad?" Harry mumbled.

"Weelll....not too bad," Ron said trying to be diplomatic. "I mean your hair never really looks like you've combed it and.."

Harry punched Ron's shoulder and tried to grin.

"The girls like it messy," he said, running one hand through his fringe so it stood up in wild spikes.

"Have you seen Hermione?" he asked.

"Nah, she probably had an early breakfast and is in the library by now studying for her NEWTS," Ron replied gloomily. "I can't get over the amount of work we're supposed to do," he said frowning. "I thought OWLS were bad but this is crazy".

Harry felt an unpleasant jolt at the thought of his NEWTS. He really wanted to do well if his was to be accepted into Auror training, but with everything else that had been going on it hadn't been easy to concentrate on study.

Ron stood up from the table.

"Lets go, we don't want to be late for Transfiguration, McGonagall's been in a really bad mood lately," he said grumpily. "Oh and I wouldn't drink that either," he added as Harry lifted his orange juice containing cup of coffee.

Harry stared distractedly into his cup suddenly realising that it didn't look like coffee should. He abruptly set it down on the table and made to stand up when Hermione flung herself into the seat next to him and started buttering a piece of toast with one hand while simultaneously trying to pur herself a cup of tea.

"You go....I'll be there in a minute," Harry said to Ron, grabbing Hermione's hand holding the teapot before she poured it out onto her plate instead of into a cup. It seemed as though Harry wasn't the only one distracted this morning.

Ron gave Harry a look that he couldn't quite decipher, but he was too concerned about talking to Hermione to give any second thoughts to Ron's stare.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked Hermione, still holding her hand.

"Uh, yeah I'm fine Harry," she replied suddenly conscious of his hand round hers.

She quickly pulled her hand away and picked up her piece of toast avoiding his gaze.

"How's your NEWTS study going?" he asked, wondering how to bring the subject of the bet. He had an awful feeling that Hermione was going to be really angry with him about the way things were turning out. He needn't have worried though because Hermione started talking first.

"Harry, about the ..er... the bet," she said hesitantly. "Well I've decided that I'm going to ask Lockhart to meet me for dinner in Hogsmeade and say it's to run through the final organisation of the charms NEWTS study group. That way Lavender can see we've gone out and this whole thing will be over".

"Won't Lockhart think it's a little strange that you want to go for dinner?" Harry asked frowning. "I thought you were just going to go for a drink after school?"

"No he won't mind," Hermione said quickly "He already mentioned that we needed to finalise all the study plans leading up to exams and that we could do it over dinner as a little celebration".

"Really?" Harry asked surprised. "That doesn't sound like something a teacher would say...especially that git," he mumbled to himself.

"Ah, yeah well," Hermione said in a flustered voice. "Besides I doubt Lavender would except a drink after school as a date," she added more confidently.

"Yeah you're right," Harry sighed. "It's just a pity you'll have to spend so much time in that arrogant idiot's company".

Hermione was silent and Harry thought she looked a tiny bit guilty.

"You don't actually like him do you?!" he asked in a louder voice than he had intended. Several people sitting nearby looked over at them. Harry suddenly had a cold feeling in his stomach at the thought of Hermione and Lockhart together. He knew that it had been him that he tried to help her get to know Lockhart better initially, but that had been in the heat of the moment when the bet had just begun. He had never considered the possibility that Hermione might actually like Lockhart seriously, or that anything would really eventuate between them.

"Of course not!" Hermione replied in a forceful whisper.

"Good," Harry said in a lowered voice so no one else could hear. "Because he is definitely not someone you want to be with, just remember what he did in second year," he added just in case Hermione had forgotten. "People don't change that much, I don't care how much 'rehabilitation' he's had, he's still an arrogant, self centered, scheming.."

Ok, ok Harry!" Hermione said getting up. "I don't like Lockhart, alright!" she said grabbing her bag.

"Are you going to ask him for the dinner soon, because the bet ends at the end of next week," Harry reminded her.

"I'll ask him tonight," Hermione said "Stop hassling me about it Harry!".

"Are you coming to Transfiguration?" she asked over her shoulder as she moved away from the table.

"Um...yeah I'll be there in a sec...." Harry replied not really aware of what he had just said.

He sat for awhile at the table after Hermione had left still feeling vaguely uneasy. True, she had said she didn't like Lockhart, but something in her tone of her voice.... Harry glanced at his watch and realised with horror that he was going to be late for Transfiguration. He seemed to be making a habit of being late he thought as he pulled his bag from under the table and left the hall at a run.

Hermione felt better once she had told Harry her plan. Get this over with she thought, and everything will be fine. Just as long as no one finds out what's really going on that annoying little voice that had been quite vocal lately, spoke up in her mind. There was no charms lesson today so she wouldn't get a chance to see Gilderoy she thought. Maybe she could sneak down to see him after dinner although she hadn't mentioned it to him. It was becoming like an addiction she realised, the need to be with him. Smiling to herself at the memory of the last time they were together she hurried towards the Transfiguration class room.

Hermione stood up to leave the table at dinner before Harry and Ron had even finished eating.

"Hang on a sec! Where are you going?" Ron asked her in a concerned voice. "Are we going to meet up in the common room? There's that charms essay that's due tomorrow...I....er... just need a bit of advice on one section of it".

"Uh, sure...later," Hermione answered. "I need to quickly go and talk to Professor Lockhart about something," she added looking pointedly at Ron.

"Oh yeah, ok. Well maybe you could ask him what questions will be on our NEWTS charms paper, seeing as the two of you have gotten to be such good friends," Ron replied looking at her with a knowing glint in his eye.

Hermione couldn't help the blush that crept into her cheeks and she turned away quickly so Harry wouldn't see.

"I'll see you two later," she mumbled and walked off briskly in the direction of the west tower.

"I wonder if they've kissed yet...?" Ron mused out loud staring after Hermione's retreating back.

Harry spluttered a mouthful of soup and started coughing violently.

"You all right mate?" Ron asked whacking him hard on the back.

"Uh, yeah fine," Harry coughed. "What do mean have they kissed yet?! Hermione doesn't even like Lockhart she's just doing this so the bet will be over".

"Oh yeah, sure," Ron said "Have you seen the way she looks when you mention his name?"

Harry didn't say anything but scowled down into his soup.

"Well I say good luck to her," Ron added "I mean half the girls are still in love with him so she hasn't done too badly I suppose," he added reflectively.

"Will you stop saying stuff like that!" Harry said fiercely, surprising himself with the emotion in his voice.

"Stop saying what?" Ron asked surprised. "I was only saying that Hermione deserves.."

"Oh forget it!" Harry spat out pushing his soup bowl away and abruptly standing up.

"See you later," he muttered and turned to follow in Hermione's footsteps of a few minutes ago leaving Ron sitting at the table shaking his head in frustration.

Harry stood in the corridor outside the Great Hall wondering why he had suddenly blown up at Ron like that for. Of course nothing was going on between Lockhart and Hermione. She wouldn't be that stupid he thought, if anyone found out she was involved with a teacher it could jeopardise her NEWTS and her whole career. Hermione would never risk something like that happening. But what if?....a nagging little voice started up in his head. Harry suddenly found his feet carrying him purposefully in the direction of his room. He knew what he had to do.

Hermione walked in the direction of Gilderoy's room her heart beating faster at the thought of seeing him again. She turned a corner into the hallway that lead to his room and walked quickly until she was standing in front of his door. She smoothed her hair, pushed a piece out of he eyes and knocked quickly. There was no answer so she hesitantly tried the wrought iron handle but it was locked. Her heart fell. He's not here she thought miserably, of course! It's still dinner he's probably still in the hall stupid.... She turned to leave when someone caught her hand and pulled her around.

"Leaving already?" Gilderoy asked with a cheeky smile.

"You're here," Hermione breathed wrapping her arms around him.

"Hi my gorgeous girl," he said smoothing her hair back from her forehead and running a finger gently over her cheek.

"I've really missed you," Hermione said looking up into his blue eyes which were a dark indigo in the dim candle light of the corridor.

In reply Gilderoy leaned down to kiss her, his warm lips pressing down firmly on hers. Hermione responded, savouring the taste of him when she suddenly remembered where they were.

"Not here!" she gasped breaking away, her heart pounding. "Someone might see us".

"They won't they're all at dinner," Gilderoy said a little breathlessly and before she could protest more he was kissing her again.

Hermione knew this was terribly dangerous to be out in the middle of the corridor where anyone might see them but she felt paralysed to do anything about it. It was intoxicating being with Gilderoy again. His kisses became more passionate and she moaned a little as he ran his hands underneath her robes. Stumblingly they moved to the wall and he pressed her against it, leaning in towards her and pushing his body against hers. Hermione moaned again as he moved his hand under her skirt and caressed her thigh. Suddenly she wanted all of him, in every possible way. Running her hands over his back and arching her hips up to press them against his she was swept away in an ecstasy of feeling. Her tongue moved in his mouth, searching out every soft corner of it as his hands did amazing things beneath her robes.

Standing by the wall near Lockhart's room under his invisibility cloak Harry couldn't move. His hands were clamped into tight fists and he was breathing rapidly between clenched teeth. He felt sick in his stomach at the sight before him.

"No!" he whispered furiously as though he could stop what was happening by speaking it out aloud. Suddenly he could bear it no longer and putting his hands over his ears to block out the sounds that were floating down the hallway from where the two lovers were locked together, he stumbled away in the direction of the Gryffindor Tower.