DISCLAIMER: I think you already know that I, just another Harry and Hermione shipper, can't possible own anything of this wonderful world. Otherwise I would be enjoying the premieres of the movies with the stars. Everything in the magical universe of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

A/N 1. -  This is my second fic of H/Hr, so please be merciful; I am still learning the trade. I hope you enjoy it, and that you will give me feedback in order to improve the work. Well on with the show.

A/N 2.- Well I have to say I am a little sad right now. That is why it took so much time to upload the next chapter. I received very few reviews for the last chapter, and it is a little depressing. Still I want to thank those who special few who did review:

shdurrani, michealeena, starzsong magick, Amanda Potter, hp_4ashley2000@hotmail.com, Lozza_Babe, Angel-Wing, Kanojo Miseru-to Kurai and mikel. Thank you for reviewing.

Well now, on with the show.

While you were in a coma

Chapter Eight

A night in the common room

The sounds of shuffling and putting away of parchment could be heard, as the students began to leave the classroom from their DADA class. Only two of them were sitting patiently on their seats waiting for the rest to completely vacate the room.

"Ah, Hermione, is good to have you back in my class, your informed and precise participation was missed," Professor Lupin exclaimed as Harry and Hermione approached his desk at the front of the room.

"As I am sure the Gryffindor house missed the points it gave us," Harry put in with a smile.

Hermione's cheeks were getting that distinct pink hue, when receiving praise from a teacher, "Thank you, Profe-"

Lupin stopped Hermione with his hand and gave her a meaningful gaze, "I thought I asked you to call me Remus, Hermione."

"But…were still in the classroom," Hermione mustered, averting his eyes.

"Ah, but not in class, so…" he left the sentence unfinished, looking at her expectantly.

"Thank you, Remus," Hermione answered sheepishly.

Harry couldn't stop a smile from coming to his lips, at seeing how uncomfortable Hermione got from addressing a professor, and one she respected, so informally.

"So, Lupin," Harry spoke, purposely referring to Remus by his last name, earning him an angry stare from Hermione and a light chuckle from the professor, "Last week neither one of us got the opportunity to welcome you back to your position as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And we have come to do just that."

"Thank you; you don't know how happy I am to be back," Lupin said as he arranged some papers on his desk.

"But, what I was wondering was, why did it took you so long to arrive to Hogwarts, you just started to give your class last week," Hermione questioned.

Lupin stopped his rummaging and turned to face them, "On my way back here, after Dumbledore asked me to return, I…spotted Wormtail," he made a pause, waiting for the information to sink in. "I was hot on his trail for an entire month, but unfortunately I lost track of him right outside of Hogsmeade…I was to late. I was the one who found the three of you unconscious…" Remus dropped his gaze again. "If I would have gotten him sooner, but I was waiting to see if he would lead me to Voldemort…but if I had stopped him, then Ron-"

"Please Remus stop," Harry pleaded. "Don't do this to yourself."

"Yes, Remus, Harry and I already shared all the guilt we can handle. Please," Hermione aided Harry's attempts.

"If anything, you have done so many things to help us since we met," Harry put in as he smiled.

Lupin smiled in return as he slapped Harry's back. "Thanks, but you better get a move on, my next class is coming in."

As in cue, students started to arrive and Harry and Hermione said their goodbyes. "We have time before our next class starts, do you want to head up to the library to start our research?" Hermione asked as they began to walk through the halls.

"Sure, the sooner we get started the better," Harry answered.

"Well, okay then lets-"

Hermione was violently interrupted as Draco Malfoy appeared from around the corner and passed by. "Move it Granger," he sneered pushing Hermione hard to the side.

She was startled and almost lost her balance, but Harry's hands shot up to her shoulders from behind, just in time to stop her from falling backwards towards him. "Watch it Malfoy!" Harry shouted angrily. "Stupid git," he mumbled to himself as Crabbe and Goyle stampeded by trying to catch up to Malfoy. Harry had just enough time to pull Hermione a step towards him, preventing that they could push her to. "Are you alright?" he asked, his hands still on her shoulders even though the danger of her falling had past.

"That was strange," Hermione said, instead of answering the question. "Malfoy didn't bothered us, no sarcastic quip, no witty insulting statement about Ron, nothing," Hermione continued, preferring to analyze Malfoy's actions rather than questioning her reasons for not moving from her current position.

"You're right," Harry added distractedly. He never knew that Hermione exuded such a sweet smell. Where was it coming from? Was it from her soft brown curls? Or was it from her cinnamon skin?

Hermione barely heard Harry's answer as she concentrated on Harry's hands resting on her shoulders, applying enough pressure to hold her up, but his touch was still light.

They staid in that position until Hermione felt ridiculous of having her back to Harry all this time. She took a few steps to the front and turned to face him, "Um, let's go then," she said smiling nervously.

Harry just smiled in return, equally nervous, and they made their way to the library.

***

Draco Malfoy was seething as he paced furiously through the halls of Hogwarts, not really paying attention to where he was going. He barely had time to push Granger out of his way. The most palpable proof of his bad mood was that he didn't had any wish to bother Potter and Granger, nor any other student that scurried out of his way. Except, somebody, some Gryffindor, the reason of his anger.

Draco was so enwrapped on his own thoughts that he paid no attention to Crabbe and Goyle's wheezing after they finally catch up to him. "What's…wrong…" Crabbe asked between breaths.

Draco immediately stopped, and without even turning to him he spoke, "Who does that female Weasley think she is. Nobody insults a Malfoy, least of all a little insignificant girl."

Goyle must of known what Draco was talking about, as he began to laugh, "You were dripping."

Finally acknowledging their presence, Draco snapped his head in his direction. "Shut up Goyle!" he snapped. "Oh, but this is not going to end like this. I'll show that stupid girl; I'll humiliate her to such extent that she will wish she never had stood up and face me," Draco continued, narrowing his eyes while balling his fists.

Obviously the other two Slytherin boys weren't paying attention as their silly laughs continued. "Yeah, he was dripping, pumpkin juice all over his face."

"I told you to shut up Goyle!" Draco screamed more forcefully.

"I'm Crabbe!" replied and indignant Vincent.

Draco staid silent as he regarded the two of them. "You look the same to me," he replied as he continued his march through the halls.

Not understanding the insult, Crabbe and Goyle groaned as they saw that they had to keep up with such fast pace.

***

Harry Potter was thumping his fingers on the library table, as he scanned the other tables, wasting time. Hermione had said for him to wait here while she went to gather all of the books they could start on. The library being to Hermione like her second home, he didn't argue, knowing that she would have an easier time looking for the books. His fellow Gryffindor Colin walked by, waving energetically to him, Harry returned his wave, and then is when it happened. When his memory triggered the smell of Hermione, what was it? He couldn't pinpoint that smell, but it was sweet, without being overbearing, clean but flowery. Did she use perfume? But she never had done so before. Perhaps shampoo, or…Harry shook his head forcefully, so what if Hermione smelled nice, it wasn't any of his business, he only came here to try and find a cure for Ron.

A groan coming from his left, was well received by Harry, it served the great purpose of forgetting what he was thinking. When he turned, he saw Hermione coming, or rather he saw a huge pile of books carried by robe-covered legs. The groans must be coming from none other than Hermione, thought Harry as he immediately sprinted out of his chair to lighten Hermione's weight, taking a good pile of books, enough to let Hermione's face show.

"Thank you," said Hermione gratefully at Harry's chivalrous gesture. They both set the stacks of books at the table, and Harry began to read the spines, to figure out where to start. Hermione, though, already had her plan mapped out. "So I will begin reading with this stack first that I think are the more important, we can begin when our last class ends, you can go to dinner while I keep reading until Madam Pince needs to throw me out…although if I can borrow your invisibility cloak I wouldn't have to good to sleep so early, I could stay late after night, that would be perfect. Then I can sneak in early to read more before class, if I skip breakfast I can advance even more-"

"No," Harry said out of the blue, interrupting Hermione's fast pace planning.

Hermione was caught off guard, and took the opportunity to take a breath of air. "Come on Harry, you know I take good care of your robe," Hermione defended, thinking he was referring to not letting her borrow his dad's robe.


"I'm not talking about that Hermione," Harry said pushing his book aside. "You are not going to do it like this. Yes, we are going to do our best in helping out with Ron's dilemma," he extended his hand to place it over Hermione's trying to make his point. "We'll do all of the research we can cram in our day, we will even give up our weekends, but I am not going to let you sacrifice your well being on this…" Hermione's feminist side wanted to retort on the lines of  "you won't let me?!?" But she understood what Harry meant, but Harry had apparently not finished. "At this point you are far more important to me…I mean…" Harry cleared his throat after listening to how it had come out, "…your health is more important…after all what will Ron say if he woke up and saw in what terrible condition his 'girlfriend' was." Harry finished, ignoring the tone he had used when pronouncing the word girlfriend.

Hermione was at silence for a moment, deliberating on what Harry had said, and paying attention to how warm Harry's hand felt over hers. "Your right," she said with a sigh, "It just that this is my way of trying not to feel helpless, to not lose myself in the depression and sadness."

Harry squeezed her hand tightly. "I understand, and we just have to be strong, for Ron's sake. However we also need to take care of one another." Harry smiled, adding in his mind, I already promised myself I was going to take care of you.

Hermione smiled in return, not knowing that Harry was thinking along the same lines as she was.

***

Two days later, Harry and Hermione came through the portrait hole into the common room at a very late hour, from one of their daily camp out in the library. Madam Pince was getting ruffled from having to dismiss them everyday.

Hermione could barely open her eyes as she plopped down into one of the softest couches in the common room, Harry following her. She was so tired from reading, and she hadn't even begun with her homework. She closed her eyes as she snuggled deeper into the plush cushions, slightly leaning towards Harry.

Harry couldn't believe that he felt so exhausted from just spending his time sitting down and reading, his body felt as though he had gone through a tough Quidditch practice. As he sat beside Hermione, he leaned his head back into the couch, and spread his arms along the length of the backrest.

As Hermione was wriggling in her spot, searching for a more comfortable position, bending one leg under her body to sit over it, placing a cushion on her back; her head came in sudden contact with Harry's shoulder, it gave her such a level of comfort, she never thought she could reach. She silently waited for Harry to react, wishing that he wouldn't move away.

Harry could feel Hermione's movements beside him; he brought his hand to rub the bridge of his nose. His entire body felt tensed up, even though he was sitting in his favorite couch. Suddenly a new weight was added to his body as Hermione's head touched his shoulder, he felt her hesitate for a fraction of a second before leaning in completely. He staid still waiting to see if she would reconsider and sit back up, but she didn't move.

As if suddenly the force of gravity had possessed his right arm, it slowly began to slide down the backrest, until he was at the edge of touching her shoulder. He casually extended his index finger to investigate the territory, when it wasn't shook off the rest of his hand followed until it was resting completely on her shoulder.

Suddenly a flash of bright light went off. "Hey guys!" Colin Creevey greeted, lowering his camera, smiling at them.

This time Harry couldn't help but groan at Colin's paparazzi tendencies. "Colin…"

"I'm sorry, but you looked very photogenic cuddled to-"

Colin's explanation was cut short by Harry and Hermione's immediant movement, trying to look very casual as they moved away from eachother. "We weren't-" Harry began.

"-cuddling, it just that we are-" Hermione spoke simultaneously.

"-very tired, from reading-"

"-all the time, and we just sat down-"

"-to try an rest for a minute."

The oldest Creevey was very confused, trying to understand what the fifth-year students were saying, as they were talking at the same time, and neither one seemed to notice. So Colin decided to change the obvious awkward subject. "So, have you guys decided what classes you're going to take? I suppose you would take something exciting, eh Harry? Something to increase your abilities?"

Harry who was now an entire cushion apart from Hermione was confused. "What are you talking about Colin?"

"The extracurricular classes, you know the ones Professor Dumbledore told us about," Colin was talking slowly seeing Harry and Hermione's apparently lost faces. "Everyones talking about it," Colin continued stating it in an obvious tone. "It's why the common room is at such a freenzy, the parchments containing the classes and where you sign up for them appeared today."

That is when Harry turned to look around at his surroundings, just to see that the entire Gryffindor population was there. Students of years were talking amongs themselves, some of them grouped together at the board that had appeared at the center of the common room, where student after student went to tear off a parchment for him or herself, a new parchment growing immediately for the next in turn. Was it like this when they had entered? Why didn't he notice such craze? Where all this people here? Harry turned to Hermione and by the lost look on her face, he figured she hadn't seen anything either.

Harry, a little embarrassed for his obvious lack of attention, cleared his throat as he quickly sat up. "Oh, yes of course, well we just wanted to rest a while, before actually deciding." With that said, he made his way to the almost deserted board; all of the students have already picked up their own parchments.

Hermione made her most convincing face at Harry's statement, trying to smile at Colin, as he continued talking. "Well I finally made my choice, and I am taking professional wizard photography, it says here that they are supposed to teach you innovate forms to develop the film, so that the actions of the people in the photograph show more feeling," Colin expressed with his characteristic energy. Hermione had a more difficult time keeping a smile after that.

By the time Harry returned, baring two sheets of long parchment, Colin had moved on to his circle of friends. Harry handed Hermione her own piece as he sat down at her side, taking care in leaving a respectable space between them. "They sure are many classes to choose from," he commented as he scanned the list. "The chemistry of Potions, oh yes now that its exactly what I want to do, willingly subject myself to extra dose of Snape," he remarked in a highly sarcastic tone.

Hermione smiled in understanding as she read out loud. "The art of Herbology, the magic of beast breeding…" at this they shared a look, obviously this class would be taught by Hagrid, an they didn't even want to know what sort of creature he would be using.

"I don't understand," Harry interrupted the reading. "Aren't these the same classes we get everyday."

"No, I don't think so, look at the small descriptions given: The chemistry of Potions: learn the chemical reason and explanations, as to why certain ingredients combine to create a specific potion," Hermione read.

"Oh, let's see," Harry said as he searched for another description. "The magic of beast breeding: learn how to combine many wonderful beasts to create a new interesting species (you can keep them as pets, if the result isn't illegal)," Harry turned to look at Hermione. "This is definitely taught by Hagrid."

"Look, there are other types of classes: Wizard painting, magical musical instruments, magical confection of clothes, professional wizard photography," both Harry and Hermione looked at Colin simultaneously. "They also offer the muggle counterpart," Hermione added.

"And there are clubs to: The Quidditch club, the fencing club-"

"Maybe you should enter that club," Hermione chimed in.

"I don't know," Harry said with hesitation. It was mostly rooted on what Professor was going to teach it. He really didn't want to see Snape in hours other that the ones by obligation.

"What? You think that after your experience with the Gryffindor sword and the Basilisk, you don't need further training," Hermione taunted with an innocent voice.

Harry blushed from the look Hermione was giving him, "You wouldn't be saying that if you have seen me madly twirling the sword as if it was a baton," Harry kidded and decided to continue the reading. "The soccer club, I bet that is where Dean is going to enter, the drama club-"

"Drama club?" Hermione interrupted leaning over to Harry's parchment to verify if it was possible. "At Hogwarts?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders, "Well there is also a Magical cooking club and a Beautifying club?" Harry read the last name with doubt in his tone.

Hermione understanding his tone and sharing his doubt dutyfully read the description. "The perfect club where to share your inner most secrets of styling and beauty. Compare charms and spells to augment the outer beauty (selective membership). Well that is just great, why don't they just put 'only beautiful people allowed'."

"I guess that is where Lavender and Pavarti will be entering then," Harry pointed out, as he watched Pavarti excitedly talking to another group of girls.

"Oh so you think their beautiful then," Hermione demanded a bit more acidly that she had intended.

"No! Not because of that!" Harry screamed, trying to defend his point, he didn't want Hermione to be thinking that. "But because they seem as the type of girls who take great importance in such vanal things."

Hermione didn't answer anything, partly because she felt a little stupid of getting indignified by such issues. Seeing that Hermione didn't appear to be angry, Harry preferred to continue reading. "Modern witch club, the wizard chess club-"

As Harry read this, the two of them fell silent, "Ron would have been there…" Hermione said softly, tearing her gaze away to look at the fireplace.

"Yeah…" was all Harry could contribute. It was the truth, though. Ron would have jumped at the opportunity a chess club would provide. Harry lowered his head at the thought, gripping the parchment with more strength than necessary. The memories of Ron's passion for the game came to Harry, how intense Ron's gaze was when he was playing, how his knowledge have played a great part in obtaining the Philosopher's Stone in their first year. Unconsciously Harry turned to their usual table, where endless nights were spent as Ron pulverized Harry every single game. Harry didn't mind it at all; it was the one territory where Ron could shine above him. But he remembered with a smile, the frustrated look it gave Hermione when Ron would always call "check mate" when playing against her.

Triggered by his recollections, he turned to her, watching with dismay that that empty look, which had occupied her eyes during that dreadful first week, had returned, as she stared directly at the wall.

Remembering his promise of keeping her well, he scooted back to her. "So…what do you think about joining a club, or attending a class together?" Harry exclaimed, trying to sound expectantly.

Hermione turned to him, her eyes watery from where tears were treating to spill. "You really want to?"

"Yes, of course," Harry said brightly.

"But what about our research? Wouldn't it take to much time?" Hermione countered, slightly rubbing her soar neck.

"Hermione, if we continue with this rate of research, we are going to end up next to Ron at the Hospital Wing," Harry proclaimed his hand automatically moving to her neck, kneading the cramped muscles. "We are abusing out time and our bodies. Don't tell me you are not exhausted?"

Hermione with her head-hanging limp, basking on the feeling of Harry's hand relieving the pain, softly answered, "Yes I am. I feel like I am moving around in my sleep."

"Well, come on, we can choose something fun," Harry prodded.

Hermione lead out a soft smile, but it melted away just as quickly as it appeared. She reluctantly moved an inch away, as Harry's hand dropped onto the sofa. "Oh Harry, is just that I fell like a terrible person," she started, the furrowing of Harry's eyebrows making her continue. "Ron is so important me, and I feel like if I try to concentrate on anything else that isn't his health, that it be like he wasn't me highest priority right now," the small tears finally fell from her eyes, as they glided downward by her cheeks.

Harry finally did what he wanted to do since the moment Hermione shed her first tears the day they found out Ron's was in a coma, which was to gently wipe away her tears with his thumb. He didn't like to see girls cry, least of all Hermione. "You know that that's not true. Ron is what's more important to us than anything else right now. And it is because of this that you have to take care of yourself. Think about it this way, apart from Dumbledore, Ron's is counting on us to help, but we aren't going to help very much if we went stark-raving mad from spending our entire time reading, or if we fell ill from not resting and not eating well," Hermione who had closed her eyes the instant that Harry's thumb had touched her skin, finally turned to him sensing that he had finished talking. "So come on, lets enter a class, it doesn't have to be very demanding, just something fun and distracting." Harry smiled warmly at Hermione.

That was all that Hermione needed to be convinced. "Ok, lets do it."

"Great! Now all that is left is decide what classes to take. If you want we can take something relative to Transfiguration," Harry said the last not very convinced; it was her favorite class, and maybe she would enjoy it, even if that mean that they had to take another class, with probably more work, knowing Professor McGonagall.

"No," Hermine dismissed the idea rapidly, hearing a sigh of relief from Harry. "I really don't want anything academic-"

"What did you say? Those words can't possibly have come out of YOUR mouth? Hermione, I think you hit your head a little harder that we originally thought," Harry pronounced, trying hard not to let out a laugh.

"Harry Potter stop sounding so shocked," Hermione replied, giggling softly as she threw a cushion at Harry. "Besides, what I was thinking, was more on the lines of…" Hermione hesitated on continuing.

This didn't give Harry much confidence, but it wouldn't be worse than Transfiguration, he rationalized.

Meanwhile, Hermione was still struggling with her words. "Well…it could be fun if you think about it…and useful to, for the rest of our lives…" Hermione regarded Harry for an intense moment before letting known her choice. "Perhaps we could take Ballroom dancing lessons…" she finally led out with the intensity of a wisper.

Worse. The worst. Ballroom dancing? Hadn't she seen the complete and utter uselessness of his feet when a musical pattern is involved? He still recalled with a fresh wave of humiliation, how Pavarti had moved him (he should say drag, but why make the embarrassment greater) along the hall last year at the Champion's ball. The dance floor and Harry Potter never met eye to eye, so why don't leave the situation in peace?

Hermione, sensing Harry's vacillation, tried to give it her best convincing speech. "Come on; now think about it, do you really want to go the rest of your adult life, guided by your dancing partner?" Harry flinched at this, had it really been so obvious? "I don't. That is how it was for me last year; it was very fun dancing with Viktor," her voice seemed to go lower at his name. "But he was the one telling me the steps, moving me around, showing off moves and techniques, and I for one, don't like to enter to a field of knowlegde without any background or previous acquaintance to its subtle nuances," she straighten in her spot, so to direct her whole attention towards Harry. "And…it complies with your previous conditions, fun, stress-free, AND no homework."

Harry just stared at her for the duration of her speech, amazed at how she expressed herself. But…field of knowledge? Dancing? Did he really want to eagerly attend a dancing lesson? That wasn't exactly in his definition of fun.

Hermione let out a great sigh as he saw Harry's blank face and lack of reaction. "Well…it was just a suggestion. We can do something else, if you like," she offered sadly turning to the fire. She really wanted to learn this form of art, so that the next moment in her life, she could be proud to walk towards the dance floor, and so that her future dance partner could be amazed at her experience with dancing.

Harry also sighed, and responded as fast as he could. "No, no of course not. Ballroom dancing is fine," he blatantly lied, hoping his voice sounded as convinced as he pretended. "I was just wondering who could be our teacher."

"Really?" asked Hermione, excitement showing all through her face. "You really don't mind?"

Just seeing her face lit up at this, made the prospect of passing through the torture of ballroom dancing completely bareble. "No..."

"Thank you!" Hermione exclaimed as she streched her arms giving him a quick hug. "Thank you for doing this with me," continued Hermione, still strangely enwrapped in what was supposed to be just a second-long hug. But she now what this meant, Harry would have preferred a more exciting club or class, but he was joining this, just to help her out. He really was a good friend.

"Lets sign up then," Harry proclaimed, flustered after her unexpected reaction, as he got out his quill from his bag. He wrote, as clear as he could, his name at the right of the Ballroom Dancing Lessons name, watching silently as his name disappeared and was replaced by a Thank you for joining the class.

"Well then, we should begin with our homework. We are very behind, even for you," Hermione said as she rummaged through her school bag in search of her Arithmancy book. Harry mimicking her actions, only with his Diviniation book instead.

They spent the rest of the night together doing their homework and special projects in case of Hermione, it wasn't until the last Gryffindor had left the common room that they realised it was very late, and they should go to sleep. Harry walked Hermione until the door of her room, he knew he had gotten excesively protective, but after all, she was all that he got left here at Hogwarts, and he was going to protect her at all cost. That was the only reason.

Harry walked slowly back to his room, the rest of his dormmates had already fallen asleep, so he quietly shed off his clothes and put on his pajamas. Slipping his body into the cool sheets of the bed, he tried to find a comfortable position to sleep; but it was impossible, he twisted and turned, tucked and freed, hugged his pillow and thrown it off his bed, and he just couldn't fall asleep.  As he gazed fixedly at the top of his four-poster bed he meditated, thinking about how, from two weeks back this room, this bed had lost its comfort factor. Because every minute he spent here, he remembered that Ron was missing. That his bed was empty, that he wouldn't be walking through the door at any minute, ranting about Snape and his Malfoy adoration. Truth be told, it has been a long time since he could sleep all through the night, and that had been when he had fallen asleep on Hermione's bed…with Hermione so close to him. Harry sat up immediately, before his mind could wonder off into other unspeakable topics. He wasn't going to fall asleep tonight either, so he put on his bathrobe with his slippers and decided to take a walk.

When he arrived back at the common room he noticed that the fireplace was still burning with a soft orange fire. But there was another figure seated on the big sofa just in fron of it. "Hermione?" he asked as he walked to her. Hermione with her pink flannel pajamas stared back at him. "Couldn't sleep?" Harry continued as he sat next to her.

"No," she responded as she shook her head to back up her statement. "Dreams again."

"I couldn't sleep either," Harry confessed as he sat down next to her.

Hermione hesitated for a second before asking, "Could we read again?"

Harry slowly smiled, that was what he was going to ask her. The night before, he had been so transfixed in listening to the richness of her voice, that any other distasteful memories or ideas were drifted away. Maybe that is what he needed to get a good nights rest again. "Sure," he answered as he reached for the book that was in her hands; he chuckled as he read the title, "Hogwarts: A History again?"

"We only got as far as chapter eight," Hermione defended hotly. "Besides, its my favorite."

"I know," Harry assured as he leafed through the book to the specified chapter.

Hermione was trying to cover both of them up with her fluffy blue blanket, but discovered that because of the considerable gap between them, it was impossible to completely cover one without the others legs being left our in the cold. In order to achieve the greater good, which meant the two being warm, she scooted closer to Harry, until she could position the blanket comfortably covering both their laps. Still there was something missing.

Harry could feel Hermione's movements to try to get in a suitable position. Recalling that she had the same struggle that very day, he reached across the sofa, grabbing a cushion and placing it at her back. She leaned back and relaxed instantly. "Thanks," she replied in a soft voice.

"Don't mention it," Harry answered as he turned his attention back at the pages, and started to read.

As his strong voice filled her hearing, she unconsciously leaned into Harry, resting her chin at his upper arm, so that she could read along. Hermione spent the rest of the night fighting the overwhelming urge to snuggle deeper into Harry's chest.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Well that it is the end of this chapter. Sorry it took so long, but it is kind of hard to get inspired, with so little people reviewing and giving me feedback. I really need to know if you like how the story is going, to know if I should continue working on it. Anyway, perhaps another uneventful chapter, but necessary in the advancement of the plot. Next chapters there will be more action between H/Hr. I promise. Well, PLEASE, I am begging now, PLEASE, review. If I can get at least ten reviews on this chapter, then I will post the next chapter a lot sooner.