A/N: Terribly sorry for the long delay in updating – I am really really busy with study atm....This is a short chapter because of that but I thought a short one was better than no chapter at all....hope you all keep reading (and reviewing!)...I'll do my best to update soon....

Chapter 14

A Mistake and A Revelation

Harry stopped and turned to face her.

"Ok what?" he asked tiredly. Damn this he thought, why did I have to run into Hermione now?

Hermione's hands were clutching under her robes frantically searching out her wand which seemed to have disappeared. Her heart was beating frantically and she could feel a light sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead. Just when she thought she would have to say something soon before Harry became too suspicious her fingers closed around the smooth and familiar wood of her wand. Letting out her breath she carefully slid her wand out of her robe, making sure she was side on to Harry so he couldn't see what she was doing.

"Look....about last night...," Harry started to say when Hermione surprised him by smiling.

"That's ok Harry, but there's something else I wanted to tell you," she said carefully.

It was ok? Harry had been meaning to tell her that he wasn't going to tell McGonagall, but for some strange reason Hermione seemed to be quite calm about things.

Hermione held her wand tightly and tried to focus her thoughts. Don't tell anyone about Gilderoy and I she thought fiercely to herself as she prepared to cast the spell. She looked up at Harry and opened her mouth to speak but suddenly she was caught by the intensity in his vivid green eyes and no words seemed able to come out of her mouth. There was something about Harry's gaze that disconcerted her, a peculiar intensity and....something more. She tried to focus and opened her mouth again to speak when Harry stepped forward, close enough to her so she could see the long dark eyelashes that framed those startling eyes. Flustered, Hermione took a step backwards as she started to speak.

"Aperio a...a..." Hermione whispered. No! that wasn't right! What came after Aperio?

Her heart beating furiously again Hermione waved her wand and said more loudly

"Aperio Apprime!"

Harry had been in the process of reaching out a hand towards Hermione when he stopped suddenly. His hand fell to his side and he stood still. Hermione's heart felt like it was about to fall out of her chest as it pounded against her rib cage. What had she done? The unexpected encounter with Gilderoy moments before, and Harry's intensity now had unnerved her.....she hadn't practised the spell enough, and now she knew she had got it wrong.

Harry seemed to be saying nothing and she risked a quick glance at his face. In the instant that their eyes met Hermione felt like she had suddenly been assaulted by a whirlwind, but one that was in her mind. A stream of impressions and images that were not her own rapidly filled her head.

She and Harry were standing in a garden together, it was a warm sunny day and a light breeze blew through her hair. She had never been here before...but it was so beautiful. Harry moved towards her and folded her into his arms, pressing his lips against hers kissing her passionately and she felt herself responding.....suddenly she was no longer in the garden, she was in Harry's room, walking towards his bed wearing only a short stain night dress. Harry was sitting on his bed, his chest bare, waiting for her. As she approached he looked up at her and smiled. She could feel his love for her, feel his need...Then abruptly she was on a balcony, Harry was sitting alone tears running down his face. She looked at him with concern and in an instant knew that he would never have told McGonagall about her and Lockhart, that he was just hurt so deeply by her being with Gilderoy when he loved her so much....

"No!" The word flew out of her mouth as she broke her gaze away from Harry's. She felt weak, unable to walk away like she wanted to, to get away from Harry. His thoughts, I was experiencing his thoughts, feeling what he feels....It was too much. Hermione bent over, her head nearly touching her knees and tried to breathe deeply. The intensity of the feelings she had just experienced had left her mind numb, in shock.

"Hermione?...are you all right?" she heard Harry's voice ask as though from a great distance.

"Ahhh, uh....," she gurgled, trying to stand up. Why was Harry still here talking to her?

"You went all funny all of a sudden," he said looking concerned. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Hermione straightened up. Why was Harry talking to her as though nothing had happened? Surely he had experienced something too? She risked a look at his face but it showed no outward sign of having had an unusual experiences in the last few minutes, just a slight worry line on his forehead.

"Er...um I'm fine," she said still trying to work out why Harry wasn't reacting more strongly.

"So what was it you wanted to tell me?" he asked.

It was amazing, but it seemed as though Harry was totally unaware that Hermione had just experienced his feelings.

"Just, just that Lockhart and I will be going out tonight," Hermione blurted out.

Harry's eyes suddenly went cold.

"Right," he said, brushing his hair out of his eyes in an attempt to appear unconcerned.

"I'll give you the details so Dean can be there to confirm I went," Hermione said gently. Dean was going to take his girlfriend out to the same place as Gilderoy and Hermione to be witness to their date.

"Hermione...uh...er I was never..er never really going to tell McGonagall you know.." Harry stumbled out, not looking at her.

"I know you weren't Harry," Hermione said softly and then turned and walked away, leaving Harry staring at her retreating back, a deep sadness in his eyes.