A/N: I love you guys!!! Casus belli has had 210 REVIEWS now!!! Thank you so much hugs all reviewers This chapters another random one, with a bit about Erin's love life! Lol. Hope you enjoy it, as this chapters for you lot, my loving reviewers!

FAQ

Is the other trio is the Voldemort world?

Kind of. They are there, but they arn't conscious. And only7 hours has passed. It's all explained in one of the later chapters.

Is Draco Malfoy in the story again, and what about the D/Hr pairing?

Draco will be back, and is quite important to the plot. As for the pairing, i promise you that it's very mild, and fits within the context of the story. It's also very one sided...

Chapter 19- Fireworks

Harry woke up on Thursday morning, to find that it was heavily snowing again. He wrapped his dressing gown around him, and walked over to the window. Harry loved it when it snowed at Hogwarts. It made everything look so peaceful, like a fairytale.

Dean and Seamus trooped into the room, holding slices of warm buttered toast in their hands, and chatting merrily to each other. They dropped their school bags, and sat on their beds.

'No school today, Prongs.' Dean grinned. 'Too much snow again.'

'But we can't go out today.' Seamus moaned. 'Something about a blizzard…'

'Well, we'll just have to make our own fun inside.' Harry said, cheerily.

'Why are you in such a good mood?' Dean asked, chucking his toast out of the open window.

'I don't know.' Harry smiled. 'It must be the snow. I'm going to take a shower. I'll meet you downstairs.'

Harry grabbed some underwear, some jeans and a jumper, and headed into the bathroom. A shower and half a pot of gel later, Harry headed downstairs.

When he entered the common room, Harry found almost every person inside it huddling around the fire place, giggling and laughing. As it wasn't cold in the common room, Harry figured it must be something else, and he found out soon enough.

'Have you seen them Prongs?' Seamus asked, grinning.

'Sorry?' Harry said, confused.

'Over here.' Dean grinned, and pulled Harry through the crowd.

In the center of the group, sitting on a large red settee, were Ron and Hermione. They were sitting in a similar position to how Harry had left them the night before, except that now they were sleeping. In Ron's sleep, he had wrapped his arms protectively around Hermione, who had somehow fallen asleep with her head in his lap. Even though they looked rather guilty, Harry knew they were innocent. They were both sleeping peacefully, yet with the commotion around them, it was surprising that they hadn't woken up.

'Isn't it sweet.' Harry heard Skye say to Mitzi. 'I wish I had a boyfriend like that.'

'Me too.' Mitzi said. 'Most boys only seem to have one thing on their mind.'

'And you usually give it to them.' A girl behind them said, quietly.

'This is such hot gossip!' Lavender was telling Parvati, dramatically. 'Such gossip.'

'I know.' Parvati grinned. 'I wonder what her and Ron were getting up to last night.'

'It's obvious isn't it.' Lavender smirked.

'Lavender!' Another girl squealed. 'Have you seen Colin Creevy? He's been taking photos of them!'

'No way, Misty.' Lavender said.

'Yes way.' The girl, Misty, replied.

'Does anyone want a photo?' Colin asked, enthusiastically. 'For blackmail or a photo album?'

'Why don't you give them one when they wake up?' His brother, Dennis, suggested.

'I'll take one.' Seamus grinned. 'This opportunity is too good to pass up. They're going to be so embarrassed when they wake up.'

'Do you think someone should wake them?' A fifth year boy asked Dean.

'Probably.' Dean said, not sounding too bothered.

'Let me have the honor.' Harry said, and made his way to the settee.

He shook Ron and Hermione gently, and waited for signs of life. As Hermione stirred, Ron woke up too, and wiped his eyes. At almost the same second, their eyes focused and they realized where they were, and more importantly, who was around them.

'Merlin!' Ron exclaimed, and the crowd laughed before clearing away. 'Why? What time is it?'

'It's time you two got up.' Harry grinned.

'Two?' Ron asked, then looked down into his lap. 'Hermione, wake up!'

Hermione had dropped off to sleep again, but quickly woke up.

'Is it time to get up?' Hermione murmured sleepily, with her eyes half closed.

'Yes.' Ron said. 'We've got lessons soon.'

'Actually, you haven't.' Dean explained. 'Lessons have been cancelled, Padfoot.'

'Great.' Ron grinned, before shaking Hermione. 'Come on, wake up! I need to go and have a shower. Wake up!'

Ron shook Hermione, but it was too late. She was back asleep again, with her head resting in his lap once more.

'What's the matter with her, Padfoot?' Dean asked.

'She's just tired.' Ron said, wiping the hair out of her face, gently. 'We were up pretty late last night.'

'Oh really.' Seamus grinned, and Ron went red.

'Not like that, Moony.' Ron stuttered. 'We had prefect duties.'

'That's what they all say.' Seamus mocked. 'You can't deny it. We have evidence.'

Seamus presented Ron with the photo Colin had taken, and Ron smiled.

'Well I'm going to take Hermione back to bed.' Ron said, standing up with Hermione asleep in his arms.

'But you can't take her up the girls staircase.' Harry said. 'You know what those stairs are like.'

'Well she'll just have to sleep in our dorm.' Ron said, walking towards the stairs. 'I'm not leaving her to sleep on the settee. She'll get backache.'

'Since when did he care so much?' Dean asked, as Ron left.

'No idea.' Harry said, not really listening to the question, for a copper owl had just flown into the common room. Harry knew this owl. It belonged to Professor Lupin.

He took the owl's burden, and it flew off again without a reply.

Harry read the letter to himself.

Harry,

Your next lesson will be tomorrow. Come straight to my office after your last lesson. See you then.

Lupin.

Harry screwed up the parchment, and threw it onto the floor.

'Metting Lupin for tea tomorrow.' Harry lied, seeing Seamus and Dean's questioning faces.

'You seem to be doing that a lot lately.' Dean said, suspiciously.

'Well, he's an older Marauder, isn't he?' Harry said, heading towards the boys staircase. 'He's got a lot he can teach us, and I'm more than willing to learn.'

With that, Harry legged it up the stairs and into his dorm room.

The room was silent, except for the gentle sound of Ron's shower, and Hermione's light breathing. Harry found Hermione in Ron's bed, and couldn't help but think that she looked rather cute. She was curled up under Ron's sheets, and was blushing slightly. Harry was sure she'd be blushing more when she woke up and realized where she was.

Harry found the photo of Ron and Hermione sleeping, laying innocently on Ron's bedside table. Harry smiled to himself. He was sure that somehow that picture would make its way into Ron's photo album.

Ron appeared from the bathroom, and grabbed a comb off the floor.

'Dropped this.' Ron smiled, slipping the comb into his pocket. 'Is she still sleeping?'

'Like a baby.' Harry said, as Ron walked over to him.

'She looks so peaceful.' Ron said, pulling the sheet up to Hermione's neck. 'I couldn't bring myself to wake her up.'

'Don't blame you, Ron.' Harry said, looking at Hermione.

'Well I'm going to have my shower.' Ron announced. 'I'll be right back.'

As Ron shut the bathroom door behind him, Hermione's eyes opened.

'What are you doing here?' Hermione asked Harry, sleepily.

'It's my dorm room.' Harry grinned. 'Do I have to have a reason?'

'What?' Hermione questioned, yawning. 'But I'm…?'

'In Ron's bed.' Harry replied, walking over to the window. 'He carried you upstairs. You were asleep.'

'Oh!' Hermione said. 'Did we fall asleep in the common room again?'

'Take a look for yourself.' Harry grinned, and pointed to the photo on Ron's bedside table. Hermione took a look at the photo and sighed.

'We really need to stop doing that.' Hermione stated. 'People are going to start getting ideas.'

'You've given them a pretty good reason to.' Harry explained. 'You two are all over each other. Are you sure you don't really like Ron as more than a friend?'

'Oh my goodness, of course I'm sure!' Hermione exclaimed. 'What a question! I couldn't pretend to go out with him if I was attracted to him. That would be like taking advantage of him. I would never do that to Ron.'

'I guess not.' Harry said, feeling a little bit silly. He'd been sure there was something between his best friends, yet what Hermione said made perfect sense. 'Sorry for asking. I was just sure that there was something…never mind. I'm just jumping to conclusions.'

'Don't worry, Harry.' Hermione smiled. 'If something were to go on between me and Ron, you would be the first to know.'

'So you mean there is a chance something could happen between you two?' Harry asked, curiously.

'I doubt it, but then again, you never know.' Hermione said, matter of factually. 'Someday he might stop being an insufferable git, but I doubt that very much.'

'You're probably right.' Harry grinned, as Ron entered the room.

Ron obviously hadn't been expecting Hermione to be awake yet, for he hadn't bothered getting changed. He was wearing a fluffy white towel around his waist, his hair was damp and tousled, and he was considerably wet. When he noticed Hermione, he nearly dropped his towel in shock.

'I didn't think you'd be awake yet.' Ron said, blushing, and holding tightly onto his towel.

'Obviously not.' Hermione said, staring at Ron's lack of clothes.

Hermione's expression made Harry laugh. Her eyes were as large as saucers, and she was biting her lip. Harry had never seen Hermione like this before, and he couldn't help but find it humorous. He was sure that if he asked her if she was attracted to Ron again now, he would get an entirely different answer.

Ron seemed to have noticed Hermione's vague look, for he suddenly turned red.

'I didn't wake you, did I?' Ron asked timidly, searching for an outfit in his cupboard.

'Oh no.' Hermione said tilting her head to one side, staring unmistakably at Ron's chest. 'I woke up myself.'

'Good.' Ron said, choosing an outfit.

'Is it me, or is it really hot in here?' Hermione asked, fanning herself with her hand and looking rather uncomfortable all of a sudden.

'It's you.' Harry chuckled, picking up a book.

'It is a bit, isn't it.' Ron said, smiling slightly to himself.

Ron took an outfit from his wardrobe, and turned back to an awkward looking Hermione.

'Do you mind?' He said, and Hermione squeaked, before running out of the dormitory.

After Ron was changed, the Marauder's met up to discuss the days plan.

'So Prongs, my main man, what's the plan for today?' Dean asked, as they strolled down the corridor. 'We have a whole free day to do whatever we like. You must have something in mind.'

'Well first we need to eat.' Harry announced. 'So our first stop is the Kitchens. As for a prank…hmmm…'

'Can't you think of one?' Seamus asked. 'You must be sick! Someone call a healer!'

'Shut up, Moony.' Harry said, elbowing him in the ribs. 'I've got it! Fireworks! We haven't done a good firework prank in ages.'

'Sounds like a plan.' Ron said, and the others grinned in agreement.

When the Marauders entered the kitchens, they found that they weren't the first arrivals, much to Dean's dismay.

'Erin!' Dean exclaimed. 'What are you doing here?'

'Aren't I allowed to visit the kitchens in my spare time?' Erin asked, innocently.

'Err, no actually.' Seamus said. 'The kitchens are out of bounds.'

'Whatever.' Erin replied, and stomped out of the kitchens.

'What's the matter with her?' Seamus asked, picking up an apple pie.

'I don't know.' Harry said, shaking his head.

'Never mind.' Dean said, in a voice that wasn't his own. 'Why don't we talk about something other than Erin.'

'Yea, like ball dates.' Seamus grinned. 'I've decided to ask Lavender, if you're interested.'

'Not really.' Ron said, eating some chocolate cake. 'But you're going to tell us anyway.'

'Right you are.' Seamus replied, and the other boys sighed. 'I'm going to ask Lavender later today. I decided on her because she's in our year, and cause she's the only girl I like who doesn't have a major crush on me. I don't want a girl dripping over me all night.'

'Well I'm asking Hermione.' Ron announced. 'As she's my girlfriend, I kind of have too.'

'Don't let her hear you saying that.' Harry grinned.

'So what about you Harry?' Seamus asked.

'I'm still asking Ginny.' Harry said, stubbornly.

'And when she turns you down, then who are you going to ask?' Seamus chuckled.

'She's not going to turn me down.' Harry said, with no doubt in his mind. 'I've got a plan, and she won't be able to resist.'

Seamus and Dean ooohed like little girls for a moment, before bursting out into laughter.

'So who are you asking, Dean?' Ron asked casually, and the laughter stopped.

'I have selected my ball date.' Dean said, taking a swig of his butter beer. 'But sadly I don't feel the necessity to divulge such information.'

'Oh, come on Dean.' Ron sighed. 'We all told you.'

'You'll know when the time is right.' Dean said, choosing himself a sandwich. 'I'll tell you when I want to.'

After a day of pranking, and dinner, the Marauders headed back to the common room and took seats around the fire. They sat silently for some time, while their dinners went down, before gentle conversation filled the air.

'What a day.' Ron sighed. 'What a day.'

'You can say that again.' Seamus said.

'What a-'

'Shut up Padfoot.' Harry moaned. 'I'm too tired to listen to you talk rubbish.'

'Alright then.' Ron said. 'Lets talk about something else then. Seamus, did you ask Lavender to the ball?'

'Whoops! I knew I was supposed to do something.' Seamus sighed. 'Where is she?'

'Chatting over there.' Dean said, pointing to a group of giggling girls on their left.

'Oi! Lav!' Seamus shouted, and Lavender turned her head. 'Wanna go to the ball with me?'

'Sure.' She giggled, then turned back to her friends, one of which was approaching the Marauders.

'Hi.' Hermione smiled, almost shyly. 'I didn't see you over here.'

'Come and sit down.' Ron grinned, motioning for Hermione to sit next to him.

Hermione walked round the chair, and sat carefully next to Ron. Harry noticed how uncomfortable Hermione looked. She wore the same unsettled expression she's worn earlier in the morning, when Ron was wearing a towel.

Ron either chose to ignore Hermione's expression, or didn't notice, for without hesitation he put an arm round Hermione and pulled her close to him.

'So where were we?' Seamus said. 'Oh yea, ball dates.'

'Hermione?' Ron asked, turning to look her in the eyes. 'Will you go with me to the ball?'

'Sure.' Hermione said, then relaxed a little. 'I have to really. I am your girlfriend.'

The other boys sniggered, but Ron ignored them and pulled Hermione closer to him.

'Right you are.' He said softly, and planted a kiss on the top of her head.

'So all we have left are Dean and Harry.' Seamus grinned.

'Hello.' Erin said quickly, as she passed the group, on her way to the girls staircase.

'Why don't you come and join us?' Harry asked her, smiling.

'I don't think so…' Erin muttered, looking at her feet.

'Yea, we were just discussing ball dates.' Seamus grinned. 'And it's Dean's turn to tell.'

'Oh really.' Erin said, with her eyes evilly on Dean.

'So, Wormtail.' Seamus said. 'You've been very secretive about who you've chosen as your date. Now's your chance to spill. Who's the lucky lady?'

'I don't know…' Dean muttered, not meeting anyone's eyes.

'Oh, come on!' Ron exclaimed.

'I might have changed my mind.' Dean said, shrugging his shoulders.

'Just tell us!' Seamus shouted.

'Please!' Harry added.

'Yeah, Dean.' Erin said, with hurt in her voice. 'Why don't you just tell them?'

'Because I don't know.' Dean replied, looking Erin in the eye.

'You seemed pretty sure this morning.' Erin said in a sad voice, before she run up the girls staircase.

Harrysilently turned to face Dean, who simply shook his head in response.

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