A/N: Thursday, Friday… same thing! Maelgwyn-violetstar, I am flattered that you enjoy my story although you hate H/H fics, though the fact that you hate them saddens me. I am a hopeless H/H freak! (Invader Zim!)

Lock and Key

Chapter 17

Horrors in Hogsmeade

Last Saturday, a colossal army of dementors invaded the village of Hogsmeade. Consequently it was also the day of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's trip to the small community, meaning every student third year and up was present. Extraordinarily, every single young witch or wizard escaped with his or her soul intact. (The dementors were ruthlessly attempting to perform their ghastly kiss). Harry Potter and his group of dementor-fighting peers known as the "PA" warded the dark creatures off until true help arrived, led by Albus Dumbledore. (For more information on Potter and the PA, see page 4). A theory has risen stating that the dementors were on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's orders.

Ron stopped reading the Daily Prophet and snorted.

"Bunch of morons," he remarked, "The PA!"

"They'll find a way to incorporate it with my ego or something… say it stands for Potter's Army." Harry said. (He had read the paper right before Ron). The redhead laughed.

"At least they don't have our names." Ron observed.

"They have mine!"

"But you're always in the news, always being hassled."

"Gee, thanks." Harry tonelessly said. Ron looked out of the compartment's window, smiling sheepishly. They were on the Hogwarts Express and riding to Platform 9 and ¾; their winter vacation had begun. During dinner on the night of the snow wars, Harry's scar burst with agony. He had frightened everyone by sending objects flying off the table, with his arms, due to the pain. He was rushed to the hospital wing by Hagrid, with Ron and Hermione right behind him. Harry knew that it had been because of Voldemort's anger over the dementor loss.

"What do you reckon the chances are of there being any more Hogsmeade visits?" Ron questioned.

"Slim to none."

"Does it bother you?"

"Not really. It wouldn't be the end of the world," shrugged Harry. Ron nodded and then changed the subject.

"Tomorrow we can go to the joke shop, first thing in the morning," he suggested.

"Sounds good," smiled Harry.

"Ginny'll want to come, naturally. So… Hermione's really not coming until the 25th, huh?"

"Yeah," he said, trying not to dwell on that fact.

"Good," Ron stated, stretching his lanky limbs, "We'll be harass-free for a few days." Harry didn't respond.

Hermione came in just as Ron threw Pig and Hedwig Owl Treats.

"I miss the days when I could sit the entire train ride without having to get up," she sighed, plopping down on Harry's side.

"When do you go patrol again?" he wondered.

"Hour and a half. Ron, you've got duty in 15—"

"I know, I know!" he answered, sitting again, "Have you read the Prophet?"

"Yes. The PA, honestly…," Hermione mumbled, rubbing her eyes. Ron grinned, "And there are about four lines regarding the DA on page four! I'm not complaining, mind you. It's good they don't know much about us. I just find it humorous… they swear as if it's the greatest discovery on Earth or something."

"You always complain about the way every article is written, Hermione. Why don't you work for one of these periodicals once you leave Hogwarts?" Ron commented.

"I wouldn't flatter them! I'd rather start my own!" Harry smiled, loving how ambitious she was. Not long after, Ron was walking out of the compartment.

"This prefect business is really starting to wear on my nerves," he grumbled.

"See you in half an hour!" Hermione merrily called. It was quiet, besides the zealous chirps coming from Pig. Crookshanks doze lazily under a seat. Harry looked at Hermione—she looked at him. Hermione stood up and casually walked to the door. She locked it and pulled the shutter down. When she turned around, Harry was on his feet. They met in the center of compartment, lips crashing together. She lost her fingers in his raven hair and he held her waist so tightly that it bordered on squeezing. The train shook and they stumbled back, lips still locked. They did nothing but kiss for five straight minutes, denying themselves words or even oxygen. (They hadn't really had any alone time since the dementor invasion).

"Don't go," he said, when the five minutes were up.

"Where?" she wondered, reeling from his kisses.

"Home."

"I have to."

"Why?"

"Because I live there."

"Minor detail." Harry began kissing her everywhere on her face that wasn't her mouth.

"I'll see you on Christmas." Hermione reminded him, closing her eyes.

"That's too far away and you know it," he said.

"Yes," she pouted. He went to sit down and pulled her with him. She curled up in the space under his right arm.

"When are we going to tell everyone about us?" Hermione asked. He sighed.

"I don't know. Maybe we should do it before we go back to school. It's just, I know some people are going to be… shocked." Harry replied.

"And maybe less than understanding?"

"Yeah," he murmured, thinking of Ron. He had no idea how his best friend would react but was a little frightened to tell him.

"I… I almost told Ginny," He glanced at her, "Thank God for the Weasley twins." Harry sighed again.

"I don't know either, Harry," Hermione softly said, "The time will just comes when it comes." She reached up and kissed him tenderly. He kissed her back and they became absorbed in one another once more.

For the rest of the train ride their compartment was full. Various friends, DA members, and housemates came one right after the other, paying them a visit. (Harry took the opportunity to thank the DA for their efforts against the dementors while they all had a laugh over the article). Ron only had one more quarter of an hour round through the entirety of the ride, whereas Hermione left quite often. Seamus and Dean were in the compartment about half of the journey, and Ginny & Neville became permanent residents. Exploding Snap and Gobstones were played, while Chocolate Frogs were eaten, as they talked about the holidays and the new year. When the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, the students cheerily said their farewells to one another and departed with their families.

Harry struggled with his trunk and Hedwig's cage as he tromped to one of the train's exits. He hoisted the cage up his side, with a squawk from his owl, just as he stepped in front of the exit. At the same time, he bumped into someone on his left.

"Oh, sor—" he started. But upon seeing the person, his sentence died in his throat. Malfoy looked deeply annoyed and had his usual troupe behind him. (They, however, did not have the customary smug, menacing expressions on their faces, nor did Draco).

"Watch where the hell you're going Potter," he deemed viciously. Harry was a bit surprised by the tone of his voice and couldn't snap back or glare in response. Malfoy shot the others behind Harry a dirty look and got off the train without looking back.

"I… that was, odd," Harry noted, turning around, "I mean, the fact that Malfoy was a prick wasn't odd, it was that he did it without any—"

"Glee? Pleasure?" Ginny helped.

"Exactly!"

"He's been like that since the dementor attack," Hermione quietly revealed. Ron arched an eyebrow, "His normal mean-spirited contentment is gone. Now he's just… genuinely nasty." Harry sighed and got going again, wanting to forget the fact that he was wasting perfectly good brain cells thinking about Draco Malfoy.

Waiting for Harry, Ron, and Ginny were the Weasley parents, Tonks, Dedalus Diggle, Charlie, and Mundungus Fletcher; the Grangers stood near them. Neville had just gone to find his grandmother as the four approached their party.

"Oooh!" cried Mrs. Weasley, grabbing her youngest children into a rib-cracking hug. Harry saw Hermione greet her parents before he said hello to Mundungus.

"Harry!" said Molly, pulling him into a tight embrace before he could even get the first syllable of "hello" out to Charlie Weasley. (Ron took Harry's place and greeted his older brother as Ginny hugged her father and Tonks).

"Ghastly! The whole situation! Absolutely horrible! Dementors! And you children!" Ron snorted at the last word as Arthur pried his wife off Harry.

"Really now Molly, let him breathe! I'm sure he doesn't want to think about that at the moment," he laughed, "How are you Harry?"

"All right Mr. Weasley," he answered.

"So, how was the dementor bombardment?" Mundungus "whispered" to Ron. Molly let out another wail and grabbed her children again.

"Mum!" hollered Ron.

"I don't even know if Hogwarts is safe anymore! How can I let you go back!" she said.

"WHAT!" Ginny and Ron shouted in unison. Tonks and Charlie smiled.

"D'you think we should return to headquarters," asked Diggle, "Perhaps we've lingered for too long?"

"Yes, yes, of course," nodded Arthur.

"We're off then." Mr. Granger loudly announced, his family turning to face them.

"Oh, Hermione dear," Molly stated, going to hug her, "We'll see you on Christmas, yes?" Hermione nodded, smiling.

"Bye Hermione." Charlie waved.

"I'll see you in a few days!" Ginny said.

"Later then!" grinned Ron. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were moving towards the barrier and the Order was preparing to leave as well. Hermione glanced at her parents and then frantically back at Harry. He looked at his own group and then sadly at her. What were they going to do? Give a personal goodbye right here in the open?

"Bye," he murmured, not daring to move towards her. Behind him Ron laughed.

"Hermione," her mother called.

"I—" she began.

"Hey Harry!" shouted Tonks.

"Bye Harry." Hermione quietly bid him, dejectedly turning to catch up with her family.

"Hey dad—is Bill back yet?" Ron questioned as they walked through Grimmauld Place's front door. They were the last ones to enter. Mr. Weasley sighed heavily.

"Not yet, Ron," he told him.

"Oh," he said in a small voice.

"Dinner! I'm starved! Should I start making it?" Tonks commented from ahead.

"No! I-I mean, I've got it, dear. We've got to settle everyone in first." Molly responded.

"I'll be off then. Got my business to attend to. Everyone, Harry." Mundungus remarked, giving a mock bow. Harry was snapped out of his almost mournful daze, having recollected memories of Sirius.

"Ginny, Ron, same rooms. Go on, take everything up," Molly commanded, when Mundungus had left the house. Harry made to follow them before she added, "Oh Harry, your room is on the third landing. Arthur will show you where." Harry looked swiftly at Ron, who was on the third step of the staircase.

"Yes boys, separate rooms. I know it's a new concept for you." Harry started up with Arthur behind him. (Moments later Elphias Doge entered the house).

"Remus isn't here at the moment, as you've probably guessed." Mr. Wealsey pointed out.

"Would it do me any good to ask where he is?" Harry wondered.

"I'd say no, though it's not because I'm not at will to tell you. It's that I don't know. It's rather hard keeping up with the Order's whereabouts." When they reached the third landing, Arthur led him to the very last room. He took out a key to unlock the door.

"I'm up here with Remus." Harry mentioned. (Lupin's was the first room on the landing).

"Yes. It was decided you should have your own room, permanent room." Arthur pushed the door open.

"Permanent?" Harry repeated.

"You're here enough." Mr. Weasley smiled. Harry walked inside. It was a spacious, exquisite room. A large window covered one wall, and there was a black fireplace directly across from the king sized four poster. (The bed was noticeably missing hangings). There was a grand bookshelf, dazzling desk and chair, and three doors, one near the mantel, one near the bed, and one near the bookshelf.

"I know two lead to a bathroom and closet. Which ones they are is a different story."

Arthur mentioned.

"It's… really nice." Harry lamely finished, still gazing around.

"It was Sirius' old room," he quietly reported. The boy looked at him.

"We thought you'd…." There was silence for a moment.

"I do. Thanks, Mr. Weasley." Harry said, running a hand over the bed.

Harry walked into Ron's room some minutes later.

"Can't say I'll miss you too much Harry. I'm going to enjoy having all this to myself!" Ron announced, arms crossed and grinning. The twin beds were gone and replaced by a much larger one.

"Did you—" Harry began.

"Make them into one? Yep!"

"Wow. McGonagall would be proud," he smiled. Many voices then floated up from downstairs.

"Sounds like more company." Ron said. Ginny strolled in.

"Do either of you want to play chess until supper's ready?" she pondered.

"No," Ron scoffed, not bothering to even look at her, "So Harry, we'll see your room, yeah?"

"Well if you're going to be an ass Ron, then I might as well just leave! I'll go ask Charlie!" huffed Ginny, balling her fists. She turned sharply on her heels and two distinct pops were heard: two new figures had appeared.

"Leaving so soon Gin?" asked George.

"What did our younger, dumber brother do now?" Fred inquired.

"M-me," sputtered Ron as his siblings quickly hugged, "Dumb!"

"Great to see you too, bro!" grinned Fred.

"Ah, Harry," said George, walking over and clapping him on the back, "The dementor slayer!"

"Oh God." Harry mumbled, turning a bit red.

"Hey, that's big news, that is! You shouldn't be ashamed!"

"I'm not. It's just I don't want to be made out as some fantastic hero," he explained.

"Well, you are. You should be used to it by now!" said Fred.

"Yeah, and once again I had help!"

"He sure did!" Ron added.

"Of course Ron. And what was your patronus? A spider? Maybe a butterfly?" Fred remarked.

"Piss off!" The others all laughed.

"Only joking, ickle Ronnie!" grinned Fred, hitting his brother on the shoulder.

"Can we come to the shop tomorrow?" asked Ginny.

"We'd be offended if you didn't," replied George.

"Cool."

"Wood came in the other day." Fred noted.

"Really? Oliver Wood?" Harry questioned, smiling.

"That's the one," confirmed George, "He said it was about time he stepped foot in our infamous shop! We also told him about you making captain, Harry. Right proud, he was."

"Said he expected nothing else but the shop to come out of the likes of us. He congratulated us on the genius of our products though." Fred remarked.

"Did he buy anything?" Harry wondered.

"No, but we gave him a lovely parting gift."

"A tail," said George. They laughed.

"Who'd you come in with?" Ron asked.

"Lupin, Vance, and the new one, Priggs." Harry gladly noted that Remus was back.

"Is there gonna be a meeting tonight? Because if there is, we can sit in on it! Of age and all that!…" Ron excitedly pointed out.

"Speak for yourself," grumbled Ginny.

"Happy to burst your bubble Ron, but there was a meeting yesterday." Fred told him.

"Damn."

"Face it—they schedule the meetings around the times you lot aren't here," said George.

"One day, I swear…" vowed Ron. It was quiet for a second before Harry's stomach growled. He gave a nervous chuckle.

"Too right Harry! Let's go eat! We can entertain the undoubtedly full kitchen!" Fred commented. The five walked out of the room.

"Hermione not here?" George wondered.

"No. She'll be here on Christmas," answered Ginny.

A/N:Gasps: My Lord! Why did this chapter seem to take forever to write! WTF man? My frickin' fingers hurt! Anyway, I'll post again on Monday. I think there will only be 3 or 4 chapters when they're out of school; I hate writing for them when they're out of school. -- FOOD!