Chapter5 – Pairing Up – Hermione's POV

It sounded as if Ron was choking behind us. I turned and say that he was coughing and spluttering.

"What's going on, Ron?" I asked.

Harry and I had both sensed danger when we saw Zabini sitting with Ron.

Ron cleared his throat. "Ahem, oh, it's nothing. Don't worry, Mione. I'm fine…" He turned back to Zabini with his mouth hanging open. Harry cocked an eyebrow at me and I shrugged. I'd get it out of him later.

I turned back to my tea cup, flicked my wand and said the incantation. The mouse nearly ran off the edge of the desk before I caught it by its tail.

I looked over at Harry to see that he was concentrating hard. He whirled his wand and said the incantation. Nothing happened.

"Harry, like this." I put my hand over his on the wand and moved it in the correct flicking motion. "You try it."

He flicked his wand and it flew from his hand and landed on the floor in front of the table. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Oh, excellent job, Miss Granger. First in the class to succeed at this spell," said Professor McGonagall. "Ten points to Gryffindor."

Harry slumped back in his chair. I summoned his wand and gave it back to him. "Try it again, one more time," I encouraged him.

He flicked his wand and a wiggly tail grew in place of the handle.

I laughed. "It's a start," I said.

Then the bell rang to signal the beginning of lunch break.

"I want you all to read the chapter on Reverse Transfiguration! Test on it next class!" McGonagall called over the rustle of closing books and the clang of chairs being pushed under the desks.

Harry slipped his hand into mine as we left the classroom.

"Do you want to go put our bags away before we go to lunch?" he asked.

"Yeah, ok," I replied.

When we reached Gryffindor tower, I noticed a crowd around the message board. I pushed up onto my toes to see over their heads.

"Oh, Harry, there's going to be a Halloween ball next Saturday!" I said excitedly, reading the poster on the board.

"Oh really?" he asked.

I nodded.

"So, do I have to ask you to go with me, or is that a given?" he asked.

I laughed. "I suppose it's a given," I said.

He smiled and leaned down to kiss me lightly. "Let's go to lunch, I whispered against his lips.

"Ok." He took my hand and we went down to the great hall for lunch.

We were sitting with Ginny and Ron at lunch. Out of nowhere, Ginny yelled, "Ouch!" She looked down at the ground, rubbing the back of her head, and picked up a large pebble. She looked around behind her for the person who threw the pebble.

I spotted Draco standing behind the next table looking at her, and pointed him out to her. He signaled towards the doors to the entrance hall and headed out there himself. She rolled here eyes and got up to join him.

"I'll be back in a minute," she said.

She returned a few minutes later, her hair slightly messed up and her cheeks pink.

"What did he want, Gin?" Harry asked.

"Well since we can't really go to the ball, he asked me to hang out by the lake on Saturday," she replied.

"That's nice," I said. "Be careful not to be seen, though…" I added.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "As if every single person that knows about us hasn't told me that about fifteen million times already. I get it," she said.

"Ginny, come on. You don't need to be rude…" Ron started.

"Just making sure," I said before they could start bickering.

After dinner that night we were in the library studying and doing homework. It was empty other than us, as it was a Friday night and most people were relaxing before their weekend. I had convinced everyone to get their work done now so they could relax all weekend.

I was getting kind of tired. I closed my book to take a break and leaned my head on Harry's shoulder. He capped his ink bottle and slid his arm around me, pressing his lips to my temple. I was just about to turn and kiss him when I heard someone clear their throat loudly. I looked over and saw Zabini standing by Ron.

"Mind if I borrow him for a moment? I'm sure you two won't miss him," he winked. Ron blushed slightly, his ears turning pink.

I raised my eyebrow. "Um…go ahead," I replied, turning back to Harry.

But Harry no longer wanted to kiss. "What's with them? He's been acting really weird lately."

I sighed. "I know. But he'll tell us when he's ready. If we try and force stuff out of him he pulls in farther."

"You're right. I just hope he's not going to get hurt before we find out what's going on."

"He can take care of himself," I said, pressing my lips lightly against his.

"Come on," he said, packing up his book bag. "Let's go back to Gryffindor Tower."

I picked up my books and followed him out of the Library.

I was lying on a sofa in the common room, my head resting on Harry's lap, when Ron came in.

"What did Zabini want, Ron?" asked Harry.

"Huh? Oh…He um, had a question about that reverse transfiguration thing we were doing in class today," Ron stammered.

Harry cocked an eyebrow but did not press any further.

"I'm going to bed. I'll see you two in the morning." He disappeared up the stars to his dorm.

I slid up the sofa and into Harry's lap, kissing him deeply.

"Mmmm," he moaned softly, sliding his hand into my hair. I slid my hand under his t-shirt and lightly stroked is hard abs.

He pulled his lips about an inch from mine. "You want to come to my room?" he whispered nervously.

I thought for a moment before nodding and kissing him again.

(A/N - Thanks for reading. Please review!