The whole Gryffindor common room was rocking to the clanking of butterbeers and an enchanted gramophone playing the Weird Sisters very loud that night.

Luna, Hermione and Lavender were all snickering at Ginny, she was already chomping at the bit to get down to see a certain Gryffindor beater.

"This is a night for staking our claims in public girls!" Ginny said, smoothing the front of her top down and playing with the top of her low cut jeans, observing the results of her efforts in the mirror. She thought she was showing just the right amount of skin to stun Timmins into insensibility!

"How's this?" Hermione said in a questioning tone to no one in particular.

"Oh. My. God." Ginny hissed dramatically. "We're going to a p-a-r-t-y. Not a nunnery! A p-a-r-t-y, come on girl!" Hermione looked on in horror as Ginny was suddenly arm deep into her trunk pulling out loads of her things.

"No..no..h-m-wh well no.. definitely no.. no.. hell no!.. no.."

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed in frustration seeing her things flung all around her bed.

"Hermione?" Luna said softly next to her, Hermione looked at her

"You know the Jameson girl in sixth year?" Hermione nodded at Luna still looking at Ginny tearing through all her stuff

"She seems to have a thing for Harry.. what do you think she'll be wearing?" Luna asked trying to sound innocent, as Hermione's head snapped around with wide eyes as horrible thoughts ran through her head of Jenn and Harry together snogging.

"Stake my claim, Ginny!" Hermione said in a loud voice, as Ginny was pushed out the way, Hermione grabbing a small box at the bottom of the trunk and ripping it open

"Find something that will go with this!" she said as a challenge, holding up the smallest scantiest bra and thong set the girls had ever seen. A burning red colour with very intricate lace patterns holding the small item together with spaghetti straps on the bra and thong.

"Oh my.." Luna said blushing

"Nyughhh.." Ginny said slapping her hand to her forehead, "You do know the object of the evening is not to give him a heart attack?.. you can't show him this, he'll.. you'll.. both be in St Mungo's by morning!"

Hermione was blushing but had defiance written on her face, "You said stake your claim!"

"I said stake your claim not bag it, tag it and shag it!" Ginny always had a way with words. Hermione blushed deep red as Ginny gave a wicked chuckle. Ginny took Hermione aside and whispered to her,

"Look Herm, I know you're in love with Harry and he is head over heels in love with you. The question is how far do you want to go?"

"I don't know.. I mean I lose all thought when we kiss, but its still a bit awkward. I.. well we haven't really got a lot of experience if you know what I mean.." Hermione whispered to Ginny blushing furiously.

"Okay, the fact that you haven't done it yet is special Herm, and because you are still unsure means you're not ready yet. You guys need to be comfortable with each other and a little frustrated before you know you're ready. Just don't push it beyond what you or he is comfortable with. But don't let him get too comfortable if you know what I mean, you need to keep him on his toes. Tease him a bit!" Ginny grinned wickedly at Hermione

"T-t-tease?" Hermione squeaked, looking mortified

"Oh come on Hermione!" Ginny said in desperation, "Flirt with him a little bit, stroke his ego a bit, hold onto him and get close, brush your breast against his arm, bend over him a bit, get him to do things for you, flick your hair, give him the eyelash treatment, bend over in front of him.. You Know!" Ginny was becoming really frustrated with the cleverest witch in Hogwarts, knowing next to nothing about coming on to Harry. "Just don't make him too uncomfortable."

"Oh right." Hermione said sarcastically, putting on the clothes Ginny had pulled out for her. She cast a Beautify charm on herself, not being bothered about having to actually put on the makeup and all that nonsense. "I am so going to make an arse out of myself tonight I just know it."

The chants were getting louder from the common room as the boys were impatient to get the girls down there with them. Ron and Timmins were leading the chant already a couple of butterbeers, an by a couple we obviously mean ten or so, for the worse.

Ginny opened the door slightly at the top of the stairs and heard a few familiar shouts, she winked at the girls as she stuck her arm out and waved. A roar went up from the Gryffindor males.

"Come on Herms, we're ready and you look gorgeous." Ginny tried to give her best friend a confidence boost.

Ginny held on to the door and stuck her leg out of the door bending it at the knee trying to ooze sex appeal. All the girls giggled when they heard the collective sigh from down below. After a few more shouts the girls filtered down into the common room and mingled.

Hermione was uncomfortable feeling so many eyes on her for the first time and stayed close to Ginny. She had never really felt this nervous, probably because she had never gone out with the intention of making sure someone knew how she felt by publicly staking a claim, as Ginny put it. If she kissed him in front of everyone how would he react? Hermione felt embarassed as Ginny swayed her hips as her heels clacked on the stone floor making a beeline for Timmins.

"You!" she said loud enough for people to turn to where she was pointing at Timmins. Timmins looked shocked as he looked at her with surprise and a mouthful of butterbeer, pointing his finger towards himself as if asking her was she mad.

Ginny nodded, and desperately tried not to laugh at his genuine surprise.

"Yes you.." she said in a sultry voice, giving him the full brunt of her lashes and devastating smile. Timmins was putty, and he knew it. Seamus and Dean were sniggering at him, but Ron clipped them thinking they were leching at his sister.

Ginny closed the space between them and took his butterbeer from him taking a swig. Timmins was still in shock. The big Gryffindor beater, who was known by fans of the game, scouts and players as merciless on the pitch and generally feared; gulped, not being able to move a muscle but stare at this vision of beauty, even though he thought she was going to shout at him again.

"You fantastic.." Ginny took a step closer

"Brilliant.." Another tiny step

"Marvellous hunk of a beater!" she was right up against him now

"You're mine!" she pressed herself up against him and flung her arms around his neck crushing her lips to his as a roar of applause and shouts went up in the room.

"Oh Tim.." Ginny whispered, "Thanks for everything you've done over the past few weeks.. you're brilliant..I love you.." she whispered into his ear a bit breathless

He pulled back from their embrace and looked her in the eye with a piercing look, his head clearing from the delightful fog. She saw the welling up in his eyes and was shocked by how much her comments had meant to him.

"Don't say that if you don't mean it, don't tease me!" he whispered fiercely at her with a look of hurt on his face.

Ginny started to tear up as she hugged him fiercely as he held her, she put her lips to his ear

"I love you Tim.. I love you so much.." she started to say then squealed for joy as he swung her round in the air with a great shout

"I LOVE GINNY WEASLEY!" he shouted over the whole common room, looking the happiest anyone had seen him as everybody clapped and cheered.

Hermione brushed a tear away seeing two of her friends so happy. She only wished that would be her and Harry. She wished for the confidence to do what Ginny had done. Before she could think about anything a big cry went up from everyone.

"Harry!" "Potter!" as nearly everyone mobbed him with butterbeers, congratulations on not being dead, winning the right to the Tower and his discovery of his animagus form.

Hermione turned to see him looking magnificent in his black silver trimmed robes, his hair as unruly ever, green eyes sparkling. Her breathe caught in her throat as Jenn walked straight up to him her top almost undone, her bra clearly on show for him, as everyone in the room looked at them.

"Hello Harry.." with a purr that could have woken a dead stick and this had Ginny, Luna and Lavender all looking at Hermione then back at Harry worriedly.

"Hi Jen." he said airily with a very platonic smile, "You'll catch cold, you should get a jumper on.. seen Hermione?"

WHACK!

Harry just stood there goggling in shock, holding his hand to his face in the aftermath of a huge slap from Jenn who was now storming away, furious.

"What I do?" he said with a shocked look on his face, the whole common room instantly fell about laughing.

Luna dragged Ginny off Timmins to go over to Hermione. As she put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. She felt great that Harry had done that. Then Ginny snickered and somewhere a damn broke. The girls fell about laughing so hard they were crying.

Harry had just been handed another butterbeer by Timmins and saw the girls look at him and laugh. Hermione had pointed and then Ginny had snickered then they were all killing themselves laughing. The colour of shame ran up Harry's neck into his face. She thought he was stupid, naive, a kid.. a loser. Fine. FINE! he shouted in his mind gripping his butterbeer tighter.

Hermione turned laughing to look at him again and saw shame and hate plastered all over his face. She stopped instantly and started over to him, worried. He looked at her and the bottle shattered in his hand cutting him but he didn't flinch.

"Harry?" Ron questioned standing next to Timmins and Harry as Hermione came over.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, a bit afraid of the look she was getting

"GO AHEAD JUST LAUGH.. MAKE FUN OF ME AGAIN!" he shouted at Hermione and brushed past her up the boys dormitory steps, absolutely fuming. She couldn't stop the tears welling in her eyes. She was happy a minute ago, now she felt like she had just stepped on Harry's heart, and she couldn't bear it.

Ginny wasn't about to let this go though.

"No more stepping around each other!" she said as she gripped Hermione and marched up the stairs to the boys dormitory to Hermione's weak protests.

"HARRY POTTER YOU.." Ginny never got to finish her tirade as both her and Hermione saw him huddled behind the door crying his eyes out trying to force his way back into the corner.

Hermione knelt down next to him and tried to put her arms around him and he flinched. Oh god he flinched! All the horrible things that the Tower had done to him while wearing her face assaulted her mind and her heart broke for Harry.

Harry didn't understand, couldn't get even a tenuous grip on his emotions at this point still crying for his own feeling of loss as Hermione fell into his arms in a very submissive gesture not knowing what else to do.

"I don't know what to do either Harry, please hold me.." her tears matched his on the floor, he could never deny her anything and they both huddled together in the corner and wept. Ginny put a reassuring hand on both their shoulders and left them.

"I was laughing at your innocence Harry. Not AT you, I just felt so good that you didn't want Jenn. I did everything tonight for you."

"What do you mean? You were laughing at me.." he tried to clear his throat but it still felt like he had swallowed a snitch.

"I love you." she said simply, holding onto him, burying her head deeper into his chest thinking he was going to reject her and not being able to look him in the eye.

"You what?"

"I got dressed up tonight to try and tell you.. tell you that I want to go out with you, I want to hold hands, I want to be your girlfriend, I want you, I love you Harry Potter." her tear stained face was his undoing as she looked up at him.

"I love you too.. I.. I don't know how to do this.. I cock everything up.. I really hated you for laughing at me, thought somehow that you didn't like me.." he was blabbing and he knew it, he just didn't know how to tell her.

"Kiss me.."

"What?" he squeaked, it sounded like she had said kiss me.

She carefully, tenderly pushed their lips together hoping she could physically tell him everything was okay through the kiss.

White lights were going off behind his eyeballs, fireworks were happening and he was just a spectator. Then she moaned. Oh Merlin! A sweeter sound he had never heard. Then he felt her hands and finger start tracing his shoulders and arms and he didn't know what to do! He knew he was becoming aroused and had moved so that she was straddling him still on the floor and the bulge in his pants wasn't exactly subtle. She moved in his lap and rubbed her entire body against him and then he felt himself moan. Things were rapidly going downhill as their tongues explored each others lips, and mouths for the first time as their simple kiss had turned into something more passionate.

He was still holding back though, not knowing whether she would hit him or whether she expected him to do stuff. Oh god he felt like the village idiot!

Hermione's eyes were drenched in passion though and she just moaned her discontent with being disturbed from her position of pleasure, as Harry gently pulled her back to look at her.

She snapped out of it seeing him grab both her shoulders and then they appeared in the Tower, Harry went back to pacing up and down like a madman. He walked through the big common room of the Tower waving his hand to decorate the room instantly. Hermione was shocked and walked behind him. They walked through a library which was instantly populated and restored into a hallway that seemed to come alive as Harry walked through it until he walked through the large door at the end into the biggest bedroom she had ever seen. He waved his hand around again not saying a word and a huge four poster appeared setting the room off in a lovely white pearl and wood effect with the bedding and the sofa right in front of the largest bay window framing the deep wooden colored floor.

"We're.. we're at the top of the Tower!" Hermione whispered in awe, looking through the window and seeing the rest of Hogwarts and the lake from their high vantage point.

"The window's not too big is it.. I can.." Harry still looked a little wide eyed to Hermione.

"No Harry it's.. it's beautiful." She said to him, her gaze going back to the resplendant view from the massive window.

"I don't know what to do Hermione. I'm afraid." he said very unsure of himself, of them, of everything at this point in time.

She turned around quickly and went to him, sitting next to him on the chest taking his hand as he refused to look at her, focusing instead on his feet.

"Harry?" she asked softly

"Harry, what are you afraid of?" she asked holding his hand more firmly now.

"I'm afraid of myself. I can.. do things now without thinking. Power is not a problem anymore, spells I don't have to think about them now, whatever I want seems to just happen. What.. what if I hurt someone? If I hurt you.." he said, his voice breaking softly. Hermione thought he just needed some reassurance, and softly put her hand on his cheek and lifted it up to look at her.

She wasn't prepared for what gazed out of his eyes. She bit her breathe back sharply.

His normally playful green eyes were gone. The tears brimmed threatening to spill any second, the look of absolute dejection and torture in his eyes threw her emotions to the winds.

"Oh Harry." her words were laced heavy with heartfelt reassurance as her eyes welled up now as well. She turned and wrapped her arms around him in a great hug as his head fell onto her shoulder as she felt more than heard the first contraction of his chest. Quickly she gripped him tighter as his emotions burst out of control, great heaving silent sobs as his cries were caught in his throat.

"You'd never hurt me would you?" she whispered, feeling his shaking head

"I'd die before letting any hurt come to you Hermione.." he said between the sobs. She fought the tears spilling down her cheeks,

"I know that Harry, I know you'd never hurt me.. You know I would never hurt you? Harry?"

She felt him nodding and sniffing as they broke apart.

"You think I'm pathetic now don't you.." he said moving to turn away.

"HARRY POTTER!" her loud angry rebuttal looked like it physically hit him as he jumped a mile back on to the bed, looking her in the eyes with a shocked expression.

She crawled up to him her face softening,

"You.. how could I? I love you Harry." she said softly, resting her body next to his her head tucked into his neck her arm over him.

"I.. I love you too Mione." said an exhausted Harry, his eyes closing against his will.

"Please.. never leave.." he whispered falling asleep, safe for the first time in a long time.

Hermione Granger looked up and saw Harry asleep without a worry in the world, peaceful as a sleeping baby. She brushed the tracks of her tears out of her eyes and laid her hand down as she rested her head on his warm chest, happily listening to the rhythmic thud of his heart.

"I never will, Harry Potter." she said succumbing to sleep herself.