AN: I am back again! Thanks to my three reviewers for last chapter, riter402, Song of Rain, and GinnyGin.

A little note to Song of Rain – you haven't read the fifth book yet, have you? The prophecy I'm talking about it the one that Harry hears at the end of OotP.

So, onto a much more promising, longer chapter!

Chapter 2: Harry's Dream

Harry was working on his homework late into the night and early morning. The common room was completely empty, and the fire had long since been reduced to coals. Now, at two a.m., he regretted saving the worst bit for last – his two-foot long essay for Snape on Scouring Solutions. He put his last sentence on and measured the roll of parchment. It was still three inches short, but he was too tired to care. He rolled up the parchment and stuffed it into his bag, then drug it up to his dormitory with him, where he dropped onto his bed, still in his robes, and fell asleep immediately.

He was sitting on a dock overlooking a lake, his legs dangling over the end. He looked to his left and Hermione was sitting next to him, and she too was swinging her legs over the water. She looked back at him and smiled, and he put his arm around her waist. After a few seconds she gently laid her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, nothing. It's just…who would have thought, that, after all this…" she trailed off.

"I know," he said simply. They were silent for a few more moments. Then Harry turned to look at Hermione again and saw that she was looking back. She made to turn away, embarrassed, but Harry held her chin in his hand.

"Don't," he said. She looked at him with questioning eyes, and he just smiled. He leaned toward her…she closed her eyes and so did he…his lips met with hers…

Harry felt the dream sliding away and clamped his eyes shut, willing it to stay. But dreams, like many other fine things in life, are too good to be true ninety-nine times out of a hundred, and Harry soon found himself staring at the back of his eyelids. He opened his eyes reluctantly and stared around at the shadowy shapes in his dark dormitory, noticing his bedside clock. It was four in the morning, now. He'd had the same dream two nights in a row, and found himself liking it even more the second time around. Last night he had resolved to not tell anyone, but this time he felt that maybe it was better that Hermione knew…she would probably find it very humorous. After all, she needed a good laugh, what with the teachers pressing down on them from every angle because of the approaching exams. Making up his mind, Harry closed his eyes again and tried to go back to sleep.

Harry was quiet at breakfast; afraid to look at or speak to anyone, especially Hermione, for fear that he would look or sound very ill at ease. Instead of socializing while eating his bacon and eggs, he tried in his mind to first rehearse his conversation later with Hermione, then, remembering that practicing a conversation beforehand often makes them worse, he tried to clear his mind of all thoughts of Hermione so he could actually concentrate in class that day.

"Are you okay, mate? You seem awfully quiet," said Ron through a mouthful of toast.

"Oh, I—I'm fine," said Harry with a small smile. Ron didn't push the matter, although he didn't look convinced.

"Ron's right, Harry, you don't look too good," said Hermione. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," said Harry again. "I'm just—tired."

If Harry was tired at breakfast, it worsened in History of Magic. He didn't usually fall asleep in Binns's class, but today was different, because of the little bit of sleep he had gotten the night before. He had his head resting on his hand, and when he finally closed his eyes, his head slipped right down his arm onto his elbow. Ron and Hermione, knowing that Harry had had a boatload of homework the night before, just let him sleep until the bell, when they shook him awake.

"Harry, Harry wake up, mate, we've got Transfiguration next," said Ron. Harry stirred sleepily.

"Wha…?" grumbled Harry thickly.

"Ron, hurry up!" called Hermione from the door. "We're going to be late!"

"It's not my fault! Sleeping Beauty here just won't get up!" he said back. This seemed to jerk Harry back to earth. His eyes shot open and he jumped up, grabbing his bag and jogging out of the room. Once they were in the corridors, he glared at Ron.

"Don't ever call me Sleeping Beauty again," he said slowly.

"Okay then, how about Cinderella?" said Hermione innocently. "It fits, doesn't it?" Harry glared at her, too.

"Or maybe not," Hermione added hastily. They made their way to Transfiguration in silence.

Transfiguration wasn't much better than History of Magic. Although Harry did manage to actually point his wand in the right direction this time, he was so distracted that, rather than turning his badger into a silk bag, he ended up with something like a furry pouch with legs. Professor McGonagall wasn't happy, and assigned another him night of practice; but thankfully, not another essay. Harry was very disgruntled by the time he actually made it to lunch, but he tried to make himself cheerful by reminiscing his dream. It worked somewhat. Or, at least, he wasn't scowling when he sat down in the Great Hall.

"Well, you seem a bit happier, now," said Ron. Harry managed a weak smile.

"Yeah, I'm a bit more awake," he said. Hermione frowned.

"Harry, you seemed so…distant…this morning. Is there anything you want to talk about?" asked Hermione. Harry's stomach jumped. How did Hermione always know everything?

"Yeah, actually," he replied. "Will you come with me a moment?" he asked her, getting up from the table. She followed his lead as he walked right out of the Great Hall and into the entrance hall.

"Harry, what is it? Why couldn't you say it in front of Ron?" she inquired.

"Just listen, okay?" he said in a hushed voice. "It's just something between you and me, but I figured it would give you a laugh," he said with a small smile.

"Okay…"

"Well, last night, I had this dream, and you were in it. You and me were sitting on this dock – I'd never seen it before – and we were just talking and then you laid your head on my shoulder." He paused.

"And…this is supposed to make me laugh?" said Hermione reluctantly.

"Oh, no, that isn't the funny part. See, after that, we, kind of, er…kissed," said Harry, forcing his face into a look of humor. "Isn't that hilarious?" he said, pretending to laugh. Hermione giggled.

"Well," she giggled, "yes, I—I suppose it is funny." She giggled all the way back into the Great Hall, but when Ron caught her eye she composed herself. She didn't need any inquiries. They sat back down at the table and quickly finished their lunches so they could go to their Care of Magical Creatures lesson.

"We've finally finished with those Blood-Sucking Bugbears," said Ron gratefully on their way.

"Yeah, how could we forget? I think I must have lost a liter of blood from those things," said Harry.

"I wonder what fascinating new monster Hagrid will have this time?" joked Ron.

"Well, whatever they are, they aren't there right now," said Hermione, looking ahead to Hagrid's cabin. Harry and Ron squinted forward and they, too, saw that there was no sign of any new creature.

"That's odd. Wonder what's up?" said Ron. They were silent until they got to the cabin, where Hagrid was standing, beaming.

"Got a real treat fer yeh today," he said happily. Harry, Ron, and Hermione gulped. The last time he had said that was back in their third year. Malfoy had gotten slashed and he had nearly gotten the hippogriff that did it executed. It was because of Harry and Hermione that the hippogriff was now roaming free somewhere in the wild.

"And what kind of treat would that be, Hagrid?" asked Ron hesitantly.

"Nah, can' say, don' want ter spoil it," he replied. Once the rest of the class had arrived, Slytherins included, Hagrid spoke up.

"All righ' now, c'mon, follow me," said Hagrid loudly to the class, and he walked toward the Dark Forest and then into it, the class following rather unwillingly. They didn't go in very far, just about as far as the previous year when Hagrid had showed them the Thestrals. "Now, I'll warn yeh, these are some angry creatures when they're mad. So don' ever make 'em mad. Fer some o' yeh, that'll be a real challenge," Hagrid said, glaring at Malfoy, "but fer most o' yeh, you won' have no trouble. I'm goin' ter go an' get 'em, so yeh just sit tigh' for a minute," he said, and he walked off out of sight.

"Oh, we're safe as long as we don't make them angry, that's real helpful news," said Draco Malfoy loudly. "They're animals, for Merlin's sake!"

"Shut up Malfoy," said Harry, annoyed.

"Oh, look," said Malfoy, turning towards Harry, "it's Potter and his faithful sidekicks, Weasel and the mudblood."

"I said shut up, Malfoy," said Harry, even more angrily.

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it, Potter? Going to get your little bookworm mudblood to hex me?" said Malfoy, sneering. Harry reached for his wand, but Hermione was quicker. She withdrew her wand before Malfoy had hardly finished his sentence, and pointed it right between Malfoy's eyes.

"Yes, as a matter of fact," said Hermione. "That's exactly what he had planned on doing."

Everyone stepped back, making a bit of a circle around Draco and Hermione. They were standing two meters apart, staring each other down. Malfoy went for his wand, but Hermione struck.

"Iverte Statura!" she said loudly, and Malfoy went spinning through the air, knocking into a nearby tree three meters away, and equally high above the ground, then falling down to the hard earth in a heap. Hermione looked livid. Her eyes danced with fire, her cheeks were flushed with anger, she was breathing heavily, and she looked ready for another attack. She was still holding out her wand. Malfoy started to move, and she tightened her grip, but she saw he was badly bruised, and despite herself, she felt a pang of guilt. This was a mistake. Malfoy, who was clutching his wand while kneeling on all fours, kept it pointed discreetly at Hermione as he shakily made his way to his feet. He glared at her, and then, without warning, he attacked.

"Volautè!" he shouted, and Hermione, caught completely off guard, flew thirty feet into the air while flipping over and over, banged her head on a branch of the tree towering above her, and lay, motionless, in a crook of the branches. Harry and Ron, who had been watching, stunned, acted immediately. Harry was more concerned about getting Hermione out of the tree, but Ron was more anxious to get revenge on Malfoy.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" he said, while pointing his wand at Draco. Malfoy, however, was looking sinisterly at Harry, who was staring up at Hermione. Ron looked over at Harry, too.

"So, Potter's mudblood girlfriend tries to stand up for him, and look where she is! Caught up a tree like a cat!" he said malevolently. Ron seized his chance, while Malfoy was sneering at Harry. Turning once again toward Draco, Ron pointed his wand right at him.

"Cadusè Gentra!" he shouted, and his spell hit Malfoy in the stomach with such force that it knocked him out. Ron then rushed over to Harry, who was pointing his wand up at Hermione, trying to get a good aim.

"What are you going to do?" said Ron anxiously.

"Levitate her down," responded Harry, as calmly as he could. He finally got his arm to stop shaking and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione then lifted off of the tree branch, and Harry slowly lowered his wand so that she would fall gently towards the ground. The rest of the class watched in stunned silence as Hermione was gently laid on the earth, and then Harry and Ron rushed over to her. No one noticed Hagrid return, but Hagrid noticed two unconscious students on the ground.

"Wha's goin' on 'ere?" he demanded. Everyone jumped at Hagrid's voice, then there was a mad rush to explain from all the Slytherins and Gryffindors, each giving a different perspective on the story. The only people who weren't talking to Hagrid, aside from Hermione and Malfoy, of course, was Harry and Ron, overlooking Hermione, and Pansy Parkinson, who was kneeling next to Draco. Harry was now pointing his wand at Hermione's forehead.

"Ennervate," he said quietly, and Hermione stirred slightly. Her eyes then slowly opened. The first thing she saw was Harry, whose nose was about a foot from her face.

"Harry?" she said quietly. Then she turned her head and noticed Ron. "Ron? What happened? Why am I on the ground? What—?" she suddenly winced, and her hand flew to the back of her head. "Oh, my head…" she moaned.

"Harry, we have to get her to the hospital wing," said Ron nervously.

"You're right, you tell Hagrid while I help her up," he said, and Ron nodded and tried to get to Hagrid through the mob of students.

"Hagrid!" Ron shouted, and Hagrid looked over at him. "Hermione needs the hospital wing, she's hurt!"

"Go on, take 'er, an' take this great lump while yer at it," said Hagrid, motioning towards Draco over the heads of the students still trying to explain.

"Okay," said Ron, and he went back over to Harry. "Hagrid says to take Hermione and Malfoy the hospital wing straight away."

"Right," said Harry, who was supporting Hermione. She was fighting to stay conscious…the pain in her head was unbearable, and she was very dizzy. "Come on, Hermione, try and walk," said Harry, and they slowly moved forward. Ron walked over to Malfoy and, with a look of deep disgust, pointed his wand at him.

"Mobilicorpus," he said, and Draco Malfoy floated into the air as if he were a marionette puppet. Ron preferred Malfoy unconscious and didn't want to have to deal with him complaining all they way up to the castle, so this worked nicely. Ron met up with Harry and Hermione a few moments later and together they slowly made their way up to the castle.

When they finally got to the infirmary, Hermione keeping deliberately silent despite her immense headache, Harry knocked on the door and Madame Pomphery opened it almost immediately.

"You again?" said the nurse in disbelief, looking at Harry.

"No, Madame Pomphery," said Harry quickly. "It's Hermione, she's got a terrible headache and she's really dizzy."

"Oh, gracious, child, what happened to you?" said the nurse, not expecting an answer, as she took Hermione away from Harry and lead her to a bed. Harry and Ron followed, Ron still holding up Draco with his wand. When Madame Pomphery turned back around from getting Hermione settled into the bed, she noticed Draco, suspended in midair.

"Oh, him too?" she said disapprovingly. "Guide him over there, to that one," said Madame Pomphery, pointing to the bed opposite Hermione. Ron did so, albeit grudgingly. When Malfoy was over the bed, Ron took the spell off him, and he flopped down onto the bed like a rag doll, a leg and an arm dangling off one side. Madame Pomphery came bustling over, her wand in her hand. She pointed it at Draco, said the same reviving spell Harry had used on Hermione, and Draco's eyes opened, and then he clutched his stomach. He didn't even notice where he was or who was there, he just retched over the side of the bed. Both Ron and Harry backed away, looking disgusted. Madame Pomphery quickly cleared up Draco's mess with a wave of her wand. When Draco registered where he was, he looked around and saw Harry and Ron standing there at the foot of his bed.

"Potter, Weasley, what are you doing here?" he spat.

"Why, Mr. Malfoy, they brought you up here," said Madame Pomphery. Behind Madame Pomphery's back, however, Harry and Ron had looks on their faces that clearly stated that if they'd had their way, Malfoy would still be back on the ground in the Dark Forest. Malfoy didn't have a chance to say anything else just then, because Madame Pomphery had pushed him back onto the bed so he was lying flat.

"Go on you two, you don't need to be here, both of these students need rest, now out!" she said, and shooed them away. Harry and Ron exchanged glances once outside the hospital wing, then headed back towards the castle doors. Neither of them spoke until they were out on the front lawn.

"Do you think we should go back to class?" asked Ron.

"No, it'll be over in ten minutes, and that's just enough time to get there, turn around, and start heading back again," said Harry, checking his watch.

"We might as well start heading for Herbology, then," said Ron gloomily. They changed their direction and turned left of where they had been heading, walking toward the greenhouses. There was a few moments of silence before Harry spoke.

"Sure hope Madame Pomphery will be able to sort out Hermione all right," he said.

"'Course she will. Wouldn't mind if Malfoy had to go to St. Mungo's, though," said Ron.

"That was some curse you sent at him," said Harry. "But Madame Pomphery will most likely cure him. She's seen worse."

"Shame. Oh well. We can always hope he gets eaten by the giant squid or something," said Ron, and they both laughed.

AN: Told you it would be longer, didn't I? That was some scene between Hermione and Draco, and I'm rather proud of it. –smiles- So, you all know what to do: REVIEW! (please?)