A/N:Nervous laughter: I was supposed to post on Sunday. My apologies! But college got in the way, once more, and finals are next week so… yeah. I was able, however, to write a lot more. The story is finally taking off. This chapter is sort of the catapult for things to begin happening, so it's not too eventful. Thank you SapphireMind for the review—I will take the 'retort' thing to heart ;D

Lock and Key

Chapter 14

Things were fantastic. Harry had not been this happy since the days when Sirius was alive. He could not fully grasp the idea that he and Hermione were actually together. Yes, it was more likely than not going to be a low key relationship (an extremely low key relationship) but who cared; it didn't take away from the fact that Hermione was with him. Harry told Ron his difficult situation with her was over and this overjoyed the Weasley boy, so much in fact that he didn't care what they had been at ends about anymore. Indeed, the three of them began hanging around once more, forming the familiar trio. Ron noticed the two of them were more upbeat than anytime before but attributed it to them being on good terms after so long. (Good might have been a understatement, unbeknownst to Ron).

Hermione felt as though she was permanently on cloud nine. She simply could not get over the fact that Harry harbored feelings for her—intense feelings—or that he wanted her. She could not ever remember feeling so jubilant and did not want it to end. Whenever she saw him now, she would grin like a giddy fool and feel as though all the air had been let out of her. Hermione was fit to burst and had a nagging need to tell someone (specifically Ginny) about Harry. However, it was much too soon and new to do that. She wondered when they would come out about their relationship, for it was inevitable, but did not give it too much thought.

Hermione sat on a sofa with a book, her legs curled underneath her. Her eyes were on the page but she was not taking anything in. She was thinking about Harry and how terrifically he smelled, like butterbeer and a field of fresh grass. (It had been three days since the library incident). She struggled not to blush as she recalled how being close to his body made her own absolutely weak.

"Hey," someone said in a low voice, speaking in her left ear. It made her shiver and a smile immediately illuminated her face. Arms were on either side of her head, gripping the sofa.

"Hi," she softly replied. The person left to come and face her. Harry was grinning. He took a seat right across from her.

"What are you doing?" she asked, feeling stupid for smiling so much.

"Nothing," he shrugged, "You?"

"I'm supposed to be reading, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"My mind wandered to other… things."

"Really?" Harry said, with a wicked grin.

"Yes."

"Well, since you can't focus, would you mind coming with me?"

"Where?" Hermione wondered, suspicious but excited.

"It's a surprise." She looked at him then around the common room.

"What if—" she began.

"No one will miss us. Ron is stuck in the library, still griping over that Creatures' essay. Please?" explained Harry. She relented, one because she wanted to be alone with him, and two, because he was adorable when he begged.

"All right," she agreed, setting her book down. He smiled and took her hand to help her up, hoping it didn't come off as more than a friendly gesture to anyone watching. (They had been friends for years, after all).

They left the common room and ventured through the castle, Harry leading the way. They stole doting glances from one another and didn't say too much.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked.

"We're almost there." Harry coaxed, putting an arm around her waist.

"Harry!" she warningly hissed, although it felt fantastic.

"Relax; we're in the upper part of the school! There aren't as many people here." Not long after, they reached their destination.

"The Astronomy Tower!" Hermione remarked, laughing unsurely.

"Yes, well, I had this terrible need to kiss you and I couldn't very well do it in the common room." Harry noted. She flushed and her pulse quickened.

"Are you suggesting the Head Girl commits the most infamous, illegal school rule?"

"Yes I am," he grinned, pulling her inside and shutting the door.

"T-the Hufflepuffs have… have rounds tonight." Hermione quietly told him. He wasn't really listening. Instead, he had his arms around her middle and was caressing her face with his nose. It was awfully distracting.

"Whatever." Harry said, kissing her forehead. She shrugged her concern off, eager to taste him, and reached up to catch his lips with hers. They kissed slowly but fully, trying to come in as close as possible. Head emanated between them. His hands began to run themselves all over her back as she pulled down harder on his neck. What Harry really wanted was to snog her senseless—to be able to truly explore her body and let their tongues be introduced to one another. However, he was not going to rush anything and reasoned he could (and would) wait until they got to that point. This was all new, wasn't it?

Hermione's hands cautiously moved to Harry's hair. She had always had an affinity for his untidy hair; she thought it was darling. Now she could finally find out what it felt like. Harry grinned against her lips as she ran her fingers through it. The texture of it was shockingly soft; it was rather like silk. As they continued to kiss blissfully, Hermione contently played in his hair.

They had just pulled apart, desperate for air, when footsteps were heard. They looked at each other, panicked. Harry quickly let go of her and moved back as the door was pulled open. Hermione hoped to Merlin it wasn't the Hufflepuff prefects. It wasn't. Two sixth year Ravenclaws stood in the doorway, looking afraid and puzzled.

"Er—what are you doing here?" the boy inquired. Hermione shot Harry a look, telling him to remain silent, before responding:

"Searching for people like you, not that it's any of your business! Why are you here?" The couple looked guiltily at each other and started mumbling.

"As I thought," she said.

"Well… why is Harry Potter here?" the girl wondered. Hermione glared at her and Harry looked away.

"Are you questioning me and my actions? What are you implying!"

"Nothing!" she squeaked.

"Okay then! Return to your dormitory before you receive detention. Ten points from Ravenclaw." Hermione deemed. The boy grabbed his girlfriend's hand and they ran off. A minute or two passed before Harry snorted, silently laughing.

"It's not funny," she remarked.

"Yes it is."

"It could have been much worse!"

"But it wasn't," he smiled. He then hugged her, "That was fast thinking Hermione. You terrified them!"

"I feel horribly, like a charlatan!" Hermione admitted, holding onto his tie while her face was buried in his chest. Harry laughed again.

"They'll probably never come back again. The loss of points was a nice touch," he mused. She grinned in spite of herself.

"Let's go before we're found again." Hermione advised.

"So are you going to Hogsmeade with Bethany again?" Neville asked Dean interestedly. The five roommates were in their dormitory, lounging about. Yesterday had been a DA meeting—a noticeably good one. Everyone was in good spirits once more. Ginny had been tempted to tell Ron about her relationship with Colin, but pictured how quickly the mood would change and ended up abandoning it.

"Yep." Dean smiled from his bed.

"What about you Harry? Parvati?" Seamus inquired, eating a soil flavored Bertie Bean and spitting it out.

"No! That's over, remember, he answered, thinking stubbornly of Hermione, "I'll go… I dunno. With Ron and Hermione." Harry looked over to his best friend, who wore a strange expression.

"Unless Rebecca said yes. Did she?" he pondered.

"Haven't asked yet."

"Are you afraid?" wondered Dean.

"No! It's just… well… today, someone asked me." Ron reported.

"Who!" Harry and Seamus said in unison.

"Luna Lovegood." Harry gaped at him.

"Luna!" Neville repeated. Dean and Seamus laughed.

"Hey, she's changed! She's not as weird as she once was! Okay… she might still be a little off, but she's loads prettier." Ron commented.

"So are you going with Luna?" Harry asked, captivated.

"Dunno…" he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well, maybe you should just ask Mesh, Neville." Seamus joked, arms folded.

Hermione waited outside of History of Magic, tracing her foot along the stone floor. The class should be out in a few moments…. Someone came down the corridor and purposefully tripped over her shoe.

"Watch it Mudblood." Blaise Zabini growled at her. She glowered at him. Draco Malfoy, who was by his side, smirked vindictively and they kept moving. Hermione turned the other way, revolted by both. The next minute students began leaving the classroom and she perked up to find the person she wanted.

"David!" she called. He spotted her and smiled.

"Hermione," he stated, gently squeezing her hand. She gave him a quick hug, "I haven't seen you in a few days!"

"I know. You weren't at the DA meeting yesterday!"

"I tried, but I just had so much work to complete." David told her.

"I understand," Hermione said, "So, how have you been?"

"Fine, I suppose. I haven't had the opportunity to really speak to you, but I've noticed you've been much happier lately."

"Oh, well… yeah," she blushed, thinking of Harry.

"I'm glad Hermione," he remarked, "Whatever it is, it must be wonderful."

"It is." It was a moment before talk commenced again.

"Can I ask for your advice on something?" David asked.

"Of course."

"Well… Rebecca asked me to Hogsmeade."

"Did she? That's nice!" Hermione observed.

"Yes, and she's a great witch, it's just… I don't know."

"David, I've seen you with her. You two go well together! I really think you should give it a go. You deserve to be around someone who truly thinks you're amazing… because you are." He studied her for a second and then nodded.

"I suppose you're right." David remarked.

"Of course I am," she quipped, smiling, "Now tell me what else is going on in your life. You know, we've got to talk more often…"

The next day Hermione broke down. She decided that if she couldn't tell someone at Hogwarts why her attitude had drastically altered, she was going to go insane. Hermione told Ginny to come to her room after dinner and the redhead agreed. Ginny opened the door to see her friend pacing.

"'Lo," she greeted.

"Ginny," Hermione said, "Come in and close the door." She obeyed.

"What's up?"

"I have to tell you something, but you cannot say anything to anyone."

"What is it?" she pondered, suddenly intrigued.

"The only reason I'm telling you in the first place is because you already knew why I was upset in the first place. I mean, I told you that so I can tell you this." Hermione ambiguously blabbered.

"What is it!" Ginny avidly demanded. There was suddenly a resounding BANG, making the girls jump.

"What in the bloody hell?" Ginny muttered.

"It sounded like an explosion!" Hermione noted. They left the room and went down to the common room. A large group of onlookers surrounded a first and second year, laughing. The eleven year old had an elephant's trunk & tusks, and the other had antlers, a tail, and hoofs. They both looked petrified. Hermione groaned.

"Looks like the work of Fred and George. It's one of their newer products—Krazy Animal Kingdom Kahoots," Ginny reported.

"They're gone, have been for nearly two years, and still terrorize the school," Hermione complained, "I've got to sort this out!"

Hermione approached the younger Gryffindors and led them out of the common room; they had to find Professor McGonagall or Flitwick. She tried to pry out of them what exactly had taken along the way. Twenty minutes later she climbed back through the portrait hole, sighing. Perhaps the disruption had been a sign—maybe it was good Hermione had not been able to tell Ginny about Harry. She would have done it without his consent furthermore. She vowed not to slip up again, or to tell anyone until they had both decided to do so. It couldn't be risked at the moment; people might not understand yet.

Hermione then saw Harry coming down the boys' staircase. She felt her heart flutter.

"Hi," she said, meeting him and wearing a dazzling smile.

"Hi," he responded.

"You know, I haven't kissed you at all today." Hermione quietly pointed out, leaning in a bit to keep it private.

"I know." Harry darkly smiled.

"Maybe we could go to the Room of Requirement and fix that?" He sighed.

"I… I can't," he grumbled.

"Oh," she said in a small voice.

"I've got something to do right now." It was, in fact, a lesson with Professor Dumbledore himself, and Harry was not thrilled about it. (He never was).

"All right." Hermione stated, waiting for a true explanation.

"It's this annoying thing for Defense," Harry lied, feeling badly, "I'm sorry Hermione."

"That's fine, Harry, really. I'll… see you tomorrow then."

"I wish I didn't have to go," he remarked, meaning it. She gave a small smile.

"See you." Harry said, reluctantly walking off. He wished he could kiss her goodbye. She watched him go, put out. It seemed he always had something to do lately, and quite a few of these doings seemed to be detentions (with Snape), which was odd even for Harry.

A/N: I'm seeing Christmas coming in… Chapter 17. Next chapter… perhaps some dark magic? I'll post this weekend and this time I swear!