A/N: Okay, I may have frightened a few people by making Harry and Parvati snog. But rest assured!! This is a H/H fic FOR A REASON. They will eventually get together, and maybe sooner than you think (but not too soon)! I simply wanted to try to mix their love lives up a little, make it realistic. Just wanted to get that off my chest! :D

Lock and Key

Chapter 10

This just topped everything. Did Hogwarts' population have nothing better to do than to gossip?! Hermione couldn't believe there was another rumor about Harry & Paravtai, this time suggesting they had made out in a corridor. She thought the fact that first years started it should prove its dependability. Hermione planned to ask Harry how he felt about it Tuesday morning, but a somber mood had broken that.

The owl post arrived and Errol had a letter for Ron & Ginny. (It was a wonder the owl was still living).

"It's from mum," he declared, beginning to read it. Hermione was going to take the opportunity to talk to Harry but he beat her to it, putting forth the subject of their Charms project. He ended by asking her if she'd help him with the Potions essay, which was due the next day.

"All weekend to do it and you're beginning it now?," she critically wondered, "You'll never change Harry." He gave a half-smile.

"Bill's doing a mission for the Order." Ron suddenly said. They looked at him.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Bill. Mum wont' really say what it is, and he doesn't know how long it'll take." Ron's voice was strained. His friends looked at him sadly. They all knew of the large chance that Bill Weasley might not make it out of this ordeal alive. Things were dangerous out there, especially for those trying to bring about Voldemort's demise. Once again, the feeling of responsibility settled in Harry's stomach.

"I'm gonna go... gonna go find Ginny." Ron told them. He left the table and exited the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other and ate in silence.

Ron was subdued after receiving the letter. They did as best as they could to make him feel relatively cheerful, and it worked to some avail. But Harry understood Ron's feelings and conceded him to as aloof as he needed to be in order to cope.

In the evening Neville played Ron chess, losing magnificently. It lifted his spirits and one could atone to Neville losing on purpose, but it wasn't that; Ron was just that gifted when it came to the game. Harry sat at table, poring over homework. Hermione was working with him, to offer help if needed. They were doing their Transfiguration homework and Harry knew Ron would be copying his.

"NEWTs are near in the future," she observed. He gaped at her.

"You're kidding, right? Christmas is next month!"

"Exactly! I had hoped to have at least half of the library read by then!" Harry shook his head, writing down his unfinished answer. She gazed at the top of his messy head and then remembered something.

"So, you've got yet another rumor about you," Hermione chuckled, "They're more ludicrous with every one!" He looked at her nervously. Crap. The memory of his roommates' reactions flashed in his mind.

"Yeah... crazy." Harry said. He wanted the subject dropped.

"Though this is new. I've never heard one about you snogging a girl," she added. He wanted it dropped now. He didn't—couldn't—say a word.

"I must say Harry, if I see you kissing one more girl in the open I'll crack. It's already happened four times this week!"

"Hermione." Harry abruptly said. She looked at him, still smiling. It couldn't go on like this. He had to say something.

"Um, well... I don't—uh," the boy struggled, clearly troubled. It didn't help that at that moment Parvati waved to him from across the room, smiling seductively (in Hermione's opinion, who had seen the gesture). Harry gave a short wave, if that's what it could be titled, and looked awkwardly at his book. Hermione studied him carefully.

"Harry?," she said. He slowly brought his gaze to her face, "Th-that rumor is a lie as well, right?" He quickly glanced at Ron and, now, Colin.

"B-because it doesn't make sense to kiss someone you're not dating, or have feelings for." Ah, the accursed logic.

"Harry." Hermione stated sharply. Her voice had a pleading note to it, however. He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing.

"Well... it's sort of true, Hermione. I, er, did kiss Parvati. But, it's all complicated! I was feeling like hell on Friday night, and I ran into Parvati. She made me feel so much better, you know, and I was glad to have her around. Next thing I know, I... we're kissing." Harry confessed. She looked at him blankly, totally out of it.

"But it was a misunderstanding, sort of a heat of the moment thing! She's not my girlfriend and I just want to stay friends," he continued. Oh, that word! Friends! It had no meaning anymore! Harry obviously kissed the friends he cared for, which didn't include Hermione. She then corrected herself. From the reports, Harry and Parvati had been too into it for it to be called innocent kissing.

Her eyes began to fill with tears. She quickly fought them off and began collecting her things. She couldn't handle his presence knowing he had been with another girl; it was too much.

"Hermione?" Harry questioned, concerned.

"It's all right Harry," she remarked, "I-I've got to go to the Head Room and do this. It's... noisy in here." Hermione slung her bag on.

"But—"

"I'll see you later." She then ambled off, still not allowing the tears to come. When she was certain she was alone, a sob escaped her. Hermione had never felt so hurt by Harry in her life.

She decided she couldn't afford to appear shaken on the outside. Hermione knew she'd have to suck up the pain around others, only giving into it in the confines of her own isolation. Hermione could not, for the life of her, acknowledge Parvati and was finding the same held for Harry. The day after finding out Harry's little secret, she did reasonably well in keeping up appearances. However, as the days wore on, Hermione grew more distant with Harry. By the time Friday hit, she's only really said 'hello' and 'goodbye' to him. The weekend marked her reign of total silence. By Tuesday, Harry (and Ron) became concerned.

"Hermione's been really out of it lately," Ron remarked as they headed to Transfiguration.

"Yeah, but only with me." Harry glumly noted.

"What'd you do?"

"I don't know!" he answered, displaying his male ignorance.

"Then... maybe she's just been busy," suggested Ron.

"Maybe." Harry, however, sounded severely doubtful. He'd been in a complete rut without Hermione, but seeing as how he didn't have much of a clue as to what was wrong, he couldn't apologize (if necessary) or try to fix it. Besides, whenever he tried to speak to her, she'd just find some reason to leave.

A few students walked past them, David Rice being among them. He saw Harry and abruptly glanced away, looking highly embarrassed. Harry sighed. He had said nothing else to him since that eventful Quidditch day. Harry figured he should apologize... their second, or first, DA meeting was tomorrow.

"Er—David." Harry stated, putting up an arm. Ron looked at him in alarm while David looked appalled. It seemed as though he was going to hurry off.

"Please. I-I need to talk to you," begged Harry. Rice hesitantly obliged and they moved to a wall. Ron loomed near.

"Look, I just want to apologize for my behavior at the match. It wasn't very... kind of me. I overreacted. Sorry," he explained.

"Oh. Uh... thanks, Harry," David said, pleased and surprised, "That was noble of you."

"You, uh, y-you're a great flier."

"You think so?," he smiled, "Thanks." Ron coughed obnoxiously and Harry took the hint.

"See you tomorrow," said Harry.

"Yeah, see you."

"Why didn't you just kiss him then and there?" asked Ron when Rice was gone.

"Shove it!" Harry angrily ordered.

"What was with the nice act, though?"

"I'd been a git to him," he shrugged. Ron didn't say anything.

At dinner Harry tried a new approach to getting Hermione's attention: mentioning their project.

"It's due next week Hermione. Don't you think we should get together soon and complete it?" he remarked.

"We can do parts separately and then I can check yours and add it to what we already have," she responded, in a tone he had never really heard before.

"But everything is really hard if you do it alone, that's why we have partners." Hermione's book slammed shut and she sighed.

"I can't really talk about this right now. I've got things to finish." Hermione commented. She got up and exited the room, only have eaten three bites. Harry covered his face in his hands and groaned, shaking his head.

"See? Busy." Ron feebly encouraged.

The next day his roommates were curious of his standing with Parvati. He told them he didn't know and assured a disappointed Ron he wasn't going to ask her to be his snogging partner. But where did they stand? Harry and Parvati had yet to analyze what had happened, but he supposed he was to blame for that; he hadn't had, or made, much time for discussion with her.

In Charms Harry scribbled a note to her asking if she'd meet him at dusk near the lake. Parvati spelled out 'Yes' with her wand as a reply, a smile lighting her face. Hermione, whom had abandoned Harry to sit on the other side of the room, witnessed Parvati's spell and the bemused grin on her trampy face.

Harry stood by the beechnut tree, collar up and hands in pocket. It might be cold but thank Merlin it wasn't snowing. He thought dully of Hermione as he waited for Parvati. Would she honestly go through the entire DA meeting without so much as one word to him? Would she even show up? Parvati's voice brought him out of it.

"Hey!" He turned.

"Hi," Harry retorted, "Do you mind if we sit?"

"No." They plopped on the ground, Parvati sitting in close proximity of him.

"So, erm... about the night we..." he began.

"Snogged?" she helped.

"Yeah. Uh, I was wondering how you felt about it."

"Well, it was nice Harry—really nice—but I don't fully understand why you kissed me."

"Neither do I." Harry muttered.

"It confused me, also, on the level wheter or not it was a one time thing or if... I dunno... you'd want to do it again," Parvati explained. She looked out to the lake while saying this and then back at him, "Are you looking for a girlfriend?" Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead, thinking.

"To be truthful Parvati, I... I don't think I am," (Well, he did have a witch in mind but that road was gruesomely complicated), "I think I kissed you that night because... because I felt like rubbish and then you made me feel loads better, and I was glad to have you as a friend."

"So you decided to snog me to show your gratitude," she noted. He smiled weakly.

"It was wrong of me to do, I know. One of those sudden impulses, I guess. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression or anything. I really like that fact that we're friends." Harry said. Parvati looked out to the water again.

"I get it Harry. I was just another girl to snog that week. Another one off the list, huh?," Harry's mouth flew open in fright, "So who's the girl this Friday? You know, you've got a lot of nerve thinking you can just satisfy your little desires and disregard how your receivee feels!" His lips moved soundlessly, trying their hardest to emit noise.

"Parv—it's not—I... you've got—I would nev—"Parvati then collapsed in laughter. Harry slowly closed his mouth.

"I'm joking Harry!," she admitted, "I just wanted to see your reaction! That was great!"

"Ha ha," Harry hoarsely said, the feeling coming back to his stomach. She giggled.

"I'm sorry Harry, I just had to do it," Parvati cleared her face, "I understand though, Harry, I really do."

"You're n-not, mad, or anything, are you?" She exhaled.

"Not mad, but a little sad. I'll just tell the truth—I sort of hoped we could be more than friends. I rather fancy you, but that's probably the Potter charm at work."

"What d'you mean?" Harry inquired, blushing.

"My mum went to school with your parents and was pointlessly in love with your dad, along with half of the females there. Nothing too serious, mind you," Parvati told him. He smiled, "But I'm not too put out, no, especially since we'll still remain friends."

"Without a doubt," he guaranteed her. She smiled.

"Well, the sun has now set and I am hungry. I think I'll be going in." Parvati announced. "Meeting at eight." Harry reminded her.

"Yes, yes," She studied him for a minute then leaned over & whispered in his ear, "Just so you know, you're an excellent kisser, Potter. I'll be sure to pass it along." Parvati kissed his cheek, stood up, and walked back to Hogwarts. Harry's face reddened for the second time.

He had planned to corner Hermione at the DA meeting; however, that didn't work out well. She kept annoyingly close to Rice and Ginny, and would openly talk to anyone but Harry (and Parvati for that matter). When they were practicing their incantations, a review of the Shielding Charm & Disarming Spell, Harry was tempted to partner everyone and have Hermione as his. He erased that thought upon seeing her disgruntled face; it was if she could read his mind and knew what he was plotting. The idea came to him again when the meeting was almost over and they were practicing their final spells, though this time he acted on it. Hermione appeared very perturbed as she faced him. Harry had gotten five words out before he hit the floor, thanks to her spell. Harry had been embarrassed in front of everyone and had gotten not any bit further with her. Hermione left the Room of Requirement with David at her side, not bothering to stay behind with Harry and Ron like she usually did.

A/N: Do a monkey dance! Another chapter down! I shall post again on Wednesday. Next chapter: a confrontation with Dumbledore and a Harry who has had enough of Hermione's snubbing.