A/N: Hey! Just to warn you, you may not get an update next week, I'll try but can't make any promises. I'll make it up with a big one the week after. Not much else to say, so I won't ;)
But thanks:
YourGaurdianAngel: Bob the Balrog?
Trev: did you seriously think I have enough willpower to stay out of that place?
PinkAphid: Harry and Ron were in the drawing room of Grimmuald Place; sorry I should have made that clearer.
SerenityEmrys: Hello!
SilentRaven987: glad you like Spiritus, it's really growing on me.
Meandmysharpie: Oh all my chapters are just so happy ;)
DemonofDoom: That was very nice of you :)
Natsuyori: Oh those cliff-hangers are especially for you ;)

Trading Air

"Hermione! Please, you don't have to do this…"

"Look, I need to clear my head for a while." She was standing on the steps to their flat, holding her trunk. Severus had Spiritus in his arms. "And besides, it'll give you a chance to get used to looking after him on your own. I won't be far away." She walked to the pavement and held out her hand.

"Good luck," she turned her head, curious. "For your Apparation test, try not to get splinched." He turned around went back inside, without even saying goodbye.

Hermione blinked back the tears that were beginning to form in the wells of her eyes and blew a kiss to them as they disappeared. The Knight Bus appeared in front of her and she stepped on, paid for a ticket, and found a seat near the back. Half an hour later, when the bus arrived in a small square she got off and walked to the grubby telephone box. She'd been meaning to take the test last summer, but she'd been on a six week trekking holiday in South America with her parents, and hadn't really had time.

She descended to the Atrium and waited by the newly built fountain. Ahead of her a banner read 'pro liberte debemus pugnare, help us support the Second War'. Ministry workers rushed past her, and then in the distance she saw two figures coming out of the lift. One with messy black her, the other tall with carrot hair had just tripped over and was clambering to his feet. When their eyes met hers she saw Harry grimace. They walked over to her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry growled,

"Oh, Ron! Look Harry you weren't there, I'm sorry, I would have told you. But then, things happened –"

"You could have told me when you came to see us last week."

Ron was looking nervously around, trying to seem as if he had nothing to do with it. Harry elbowed him, "back me up here Ron!"

"Oh, Harry. I thought you didn't mind about this all any more." Hermione sighed,

"Hermione, he's our teacher! He's old enough to be your father, and it's not like he's very attractive."

"Unless the whole greasy bat thing does it for you…"

"Shut up Ron!" people around them were looking at them curiously, "come on, let's sort this out later."

They went over to the lift, and it wasn't long before Harry spoke again, "when's it due?" he asked as they stepped into an empty lift. Hermione was silent for several seconds.

"He as born on the 28th of July, I'm sorry I couldn't get you a birthday present Harry, I was a bit busy." She looked down at her feet.

"Oh," Harry stared at her. His best friend, only 17, was a mother. "What's he called?"

"Spiritus Alexander…"

"Does that mean he was premature?" asked Ron concernedly,

"Yes, he's so tiny. Ron he's so fragile you won't believe it. And the Healers say he may have…problems, but only time will tell." She sighed, at least they weren't shouting at her anymore.

"How did you get away with it? I mean it must have been obvious –"

"Concealing Charm, no-one could look at it, their eyes would have been averted."

They were silent for the remainder of the journey upwards to level six. When they got off Hermione had to pull Harry and Ron away from the antique broom display which they were goggling at. They walked to the room that said Apparation Test Centre and knocked. A very tall young wizard stepped out, he winked at Hermione who blushed, and ran a tanned hand through his wavy hair. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Names guys?" he spoke in an Australian drawl, Hermione gazed up at him.

"Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter," said Ron quickly,

The man looked at Harry for a second, his eyes scanning his forehead. Harry scowled, one more person and he was going to take a photo of his scar and pin it up all over the country. But he soon turned back to Hermione.

"I'm Karl," he smiled, showing a set of glistening white teeth, "I'll be training you this morning, before Brian takes your test. Follow me." He led them inside into a small waiting room, "so, who wants to go first?"

Ron stood up, "I think I will."

"OK Ronnie, just through here then…" Ron glared and followed him into another room. Hermione giggled.

"How old do you think he is?" she asked,

"Hermione! You're with Snape,"

"I know, but I can like a boy." But inside her she was confused; sure, she loved Spiritus and Severus, or at least thought she did, but being with Snape properly was nothing like she'd imagined it. It had lost its fun, and with Spiritus now, they hardly had any time for each other. Things were getting so difficult.

They played at game of mini-Gobstones that Harry had brought along for about an hour, until there was a sharp crack and Ron appeared, Harry and Hermione clapped, before Harry got up and went in. Ron looked flustered.

"Well?" said Hermione,

"He wouldn't stop calling me Ronnie! It was so annoying."

"And the Apparating?" she asked, "how's that?"

"Oh once I'd got it, it was easy. We did a couple of easy ones, just across the room, and then down to the Atrium, then I went home for a couple of minutes to have a drink."

"Home?"

"The Burrow, yeah, haven't been there for a while."

"Wow, you mean you just went there for a few minutes?" Hermione stared at him,

"Yeah, Hermione, it's so easy, believe me. Come on then, I love Gobstones, I bet I'll thrash you."

"You probably will," she sighed and brushed the gunge off her sleeve from her last game.

An hour later there was another sharp crack and Harry appeared, he grinned. "Go on Hermione, it's easy. See you in a bit."

Hermione stood up, stretching her legs and walked though the door. Karl stood in the middle of the large plain room and winked. "Hey Hermione, come over here."

She walked over to him nervously.

"Don't worry, it's really fun. OK stand here, I want to show you the ideal position you should be in." he stood in an upright stance. She tried to copy him. "Hey, hey, keep your back a bit straighter, and your legs," he ran a hand down her thigh to position it properly, her leg tingled. He looked up at her, and put a hand on her hip. "Twist a little to the right," he said, "Yeah, just there, that's good."

"OK, that's great." He came up behind her to check her back was right; his warm breath trickled over her neck making her stomach flutter. She turned around to look at him. "Oh Hermione! You've moved," he chuckled and took her hand, pulling her back into position. Her palm began to sweat. He released her and winked again.

"Right then it's really easy…"

Outside Harry and Ron exchanged glances; they could hear giggles and laughter from the room beside them. Back inside Hermione had been proficient from her first go. Karl was testing her to see how far she could go quickly.

"OK," he laughed, "One more. Glen Mor."

"That's in Scotland isn't it? Near Loch Ness."

"Yep. Let's go."

"OK." There were two loud cracks and they both vanished.

Hermione looked around her; they were standing alone on a pinnacle above the valley. Karl appeared behind her. "It's beautiful," she said.

"Yes." He looked out into the distance, and then back at her, "Hermione…"

Suddenly his hand reached out and stroked her cheek and before they could stop themselves he had kissed her. He kissed her with a passion she hadn't felt for so long, and though her heart cried out to her, she returned it.