A/N: Whoa, ho, yo, yeah, hello there! I didn't post last week—sorry! That just means I'll post twice this week. So, thanks to Jensindenial3516, danrad820, and Bob33. However, I would like to address some of the reviews I got. Bob: you'll find out why Ginny is mad at them in a later chapter. Don't worry, it's all explained. Falron: so I exaggerated Hagrid's speech, huh? (Shrugs). I tried, right? I told you people I don't like writing for him…. Well, that's all for this author's note so I'll just be quiet now.

Lock and Key

Chapter 29

Harry and Hermione went back to their normal eating habits, which meant they now ate alongside everyone else at Hogwarts; early and late meals were things of the past. Harry was particularly tired of acting as if they had committed a crime and weren't fit to be a part of society. Consequently, they did eat by themselves at their own part of the Gryffindor table. In fact, they did most everything by themselves and were starting to appear in public, together, more often than not. Their initial guilt and worry had worn off thanks to the seemingly constant attention they received and if they were absent from Hogwarts' life, it was because they didn't feel like being in the midst of others—it had nothing to do with shame. They no longer cared if the Hogwarts' population thought of their relationship scornfully, especially not Harry; he had taken Hagrid's advice straight to the heart.

The issue of Harry and Hermione itself had dwindled in size, though it was still rather large and the two were still left alone in the whole. Ron was nonetheless the most resolute about the situation, and the couple still mourned his distance from them, but Harry found that even his attitude towards Ron was changing. The silent DA meetings continued, in which Ginny refused to speak to Harry and Hermione, as did the awkward Quidditch practices. Both events, however, were improving. While friendly conversation was not in the horizon for quite some time, Harry could at least talk without it being painful. He was even starting to hold three minute conversations about an assignment or the weather with his roommates, which was quite an achievement. (He had not overcome his handicap for saying Ron's name, however. He remained to be called Him, or He).

Harry continued to have his weekly training sessions with the designated older wizards and excel in them. They had heard about his situation involving his two best friends from assorted resources, but knew not to question him. (Tonks, on the other hand, merely came right out and asked him). Hermione did not enjoy when her boyfriend had Quidditch or dueling lessons because it left her alone, without her only companion. She would not admit this to Harry, conversely, for fear that she would come off as needy or desperate. But as if he understood this, numerous times Harry would return only to take her to the Astronomy Tower where they would either sit in stillness or talk.

Draco Malfoy appeared to have fallen back a great deal when it came to harassing the trio. He persisted in taunting and smirking at them when surrounded by others, but his insulting them to their faces mostly disappeared. (Perhaps he felt his previous work had done enough damage, or perhaps the boys' threats had effectively shaken him). Hermione had all but abandoned the Head Room, leaving it for him, and his rounds with her were deadly quiet. Malfoy, if anything, missed being able to torment Potter and his saintly cohorts, and knew he might not be able to ever do so again.

"The Easter holidays are this weekend." Hermione noted, leaning against one of the walls in Harry's dormitory. Her hands were behind her back and she watched him pull on his Quidditch robes. They were the only two people in the room.

"Yeah," answered Harry, straightening them. He turned around and looked at her, "Are you going to stay, or… go home?"

"I don't know," she confessed, looking down, "I… thought going home would be nice. Would you want to go to Grimmauld Place?" She surveyed him for the last inquiry.

"Not really. Not with all those Order members coming in and out, staring at me, and possibly asking questions about us," he grumbled, picking up his Firebolt and toying with it, "I'm… I'm just going to stay here." Hermione did not want to be away from Harry at all at the moment, even if it was a short period of time.

"If I do go home, I-I want you to come with me," she told him. Harry stared at her.

"You're… you're serious?"

"Yes. I want you to officially meet my parents. Mum would be thrilled, though I'm not entirely sure about my dad…" Hermione said. He continued to gaze at her.

"That's if I go. I'd be more than happy to stay here, with you," she went on, now a little unsure of herself because he wasn't responding. Harry looked away at last and put his broom on his shoulder, apparently thinking. After a moment or so, he walked over to her.

"Whatever you want." Harry said, giving her a small kiss. Hermione smiled faintly as she looked at him.

"I have to go," he noted.

"Yeah," she concurred, wishing it weren't true.

"I'll see you later." Harry quickly kissed her again before exiting his room. Hermione stayed on the wall a minute longer before sighing and then leaving, preparing to go seek out loneliness as the door closed behind her.

"Your left!"," Harry directed, sitting atop his broom and cupping his mouth. Colin and Matthew flew by him, going to stop a Bludger from striking Sarah, "Your left!" Ron, to whom Harry was yelling, paid no attention. He had his gaze set on his sister pelting towards him, and either did not hear Harry's shouts or did not bother to heed them.

"Look to your left!" the captain commanded. The Keeper still did not comply, "Argggh! Your bloody LEFT!" Ginny flew away as Lauren came out of nowhere and scored. Ron looked surprised at first, then it took on a sour .

"Stop!" Harry called, flying over to his team with an irked face. The other six hovered near the goalpost, "That. Was. The. Point! Ginny was the diversion while Lauren was the one who was actually going to score. You have to be aware of everything! We can't afford to think on one track or ignore small details, like warnings." He did not openly say anything about Ron but he didn't have to do so; they knew he was subtly berating his former best friend for not listening. Ron glowered at the captain, arms folded and mouth closed.

"Okay," sighed Harry, composing himself, "New play!"

"Which one?" asked Matthew.

"Eff." The Weasleys were the only ones who didn't grumble or click their tongues.

"That one's hard." Sarah complained.

"Do you want to win or not?" Harry questioned through gritted teeth. This practice was proving to be very trying and taut. His team would just not cooperate! Did they not understand the Quidditch final was close at hand?

"Erm… Harry?" began Colin.

"What?"

"It's Madam Hooch." Harry and all the others looked down. Madam Hooch stood on the ground with a man and was motioning for them, or him. Harry veered for the ground as the others followed. Once off his broom, he cautiously approached them with his teammates behind him. The man, quite young looking, had light brown hair and was absolutely beaming. His navy blue robes bore a Snitch and Quaffle circling a broomstick on the left breast.

"Holding practice, are you Potter?" Hooch pondered, smiling. He nodded, glancing at the wizard. She knew that-- she was in charge of the field bookings. Harry heard whispering in back of him, excited whispering.

"Potter, this is Bert Riley, an official from the Quidditch League," she introduced. Seeing it as okay to take over in speaking, the wizard did just that, and energetically.

"Bert Riley, Mr. Potter," he unnecessarily repeated in an Irish accent, sticking out a hand. Harry shook it, "I work for the Department of Magical Games and Sports. I'm basically a scout for the League." Harry's head flew. A scout!

"Very glad to finally meet you! I've heard so many stories of your flying and Quidditch talents! Seeker and captain for Gryffindor, are you? First first year in a century!" Riley remarked, grinning. There was annoyed mumbling, a scoff, and then a loud:

"You're not only here for the captain, are you?" Ron wondered. Riley looked to the Keeper and his smile waned.

"Er… no, of c-course not," he responded. Hooch frowned disapprovingly at Ron, "And you are?"

"Ron Weasley, Keeper."

"Weasley, eh? I know your father… yes, the red hair…. Also, I've heard a little jingle about Weasley… something to do with royalty." The former prefect scowled inconspicuously as all the others strained to keep a straight face, including Harry. K

"I shall be here up until the Final, watching the different Houses' teams," Riley went on, grinning once more, "Looking for potential professional Quidditch players, naturally. I've already seen Hufflepuff practice."

"Are you going to watch us? Right now?" a Chaser pondered. The scout looked at her expectantly and a small blush crept on her face.

"Lauren Chid, Chaser," she remarked.

"Why yes, Ms. Chid, I do believe so. But, please! Pay me no mind! Pretend that I'm not even here!" Riley smiled widely at Harry again before commencing to follow Hooch to the stands.

"Um… back in the air, then," the captain instructed. Ginny, Colin, and Sarah were the first ones gone, whispering intently to each other. Ron shot Harry a definite glare before taking off with Matthew. The Seeker noticeably exhaled as he mounted his broom; this was going to be interesting.

Everyone soon knew of Bert Riley and the school's Quidditch players were in a frenzy. Some resorted to trying harder to impress the scout and succeeded in either actually improving, or messing up and embarrassing themselves. Draco Malfoy was, predictably, found boasting that he'd be one of Riley's top picks, but didn't know if he wanted to accept the offer. David Rice had no interest in being a professional sports star so was not concerned about Riley in any sense. Much of the Gryffindor team was caught up in the allure of true Quidditch, but this did not affect its performance; it still played superbly. Ron undoubtedly had a desire to put his foot in the door that belonged to the League, as did Matthew Burnstone.

Harry, on the other hand, had no idea what he craved. Quidditch was clearly a pleasure of his; he loved in tremendously. The problem he had was that he had spent his last two years at Hogwarts (in reality three years) preparing to become an Auror. Was he going to give up that noble goal for the dream of a Quidditch career? How could he with Voldemort still breathing? It wasn't as if Harry's capture of the Snitch would bring the Dark Lord crumbling to his knees. But… why did Harry's life-- his wants-- have to take a backseat? Because that's the way it's always been. You'll never be happy as long as Voldemort is living, and you have to do something about that.

Harry told Hermione about his insecurity pertaining to Riley & Quidditch, and not knowing what he wanted. (He of course left out the entire issue of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named). She did not guess it completely but had a sense of the self-obligation that was confusing him. This made Hermione angry with everyone and everything that kept Harry from tending to his own needs, and believing that if he did so, it was selfish. In the end, she was about as lost as he was on the subject of advice and simply told him to do whatever was truly in his heart.

Harry sat in one of the common room's numerous relaxing chairs, with a book about becoming an Auror laying lifelessly in his hands. (It was the Christmas present from Ginny). Only one other Gryffindor occupied the vicinity-- everyone else was at the Slytherin, Ravenclaw Quidditch game. Harry could hear all of the excitement so well, it was as though he was outside with the rest of Hogwarts. Hermione was tutoring her equally brainy Arithmancy student in the library. (He did not care whether he saw the match or not). Harry's eyes drifted down to the page he was stuck on before lifting them once more to stare at the wall. His reading had ceased 10 minutes ago because his mind had begun to meander.

The previous day, Luna had divulged to Harry that Ron and Ginny were going home for the Easter holiday, which also indicated she was indeed continuing to speak to him.

"He said there was no reason to stay here," Luna had explained, while watching a butterfly through a window, "I tried to get him to talk about you, but he was spectacularly closed mouthed about it."

This revelation had gotten Harry to ponder Hermione's proposal of her parents' home. Yes, it would be nice to leave the boundary of the castle's walls, but the idea of fraternizing with his girlfriend's parents (father) was intimidating. How would Ron react if he found out Harry had spent the holiday alone with Hermione, in her house? Who cares? It's not his business.

Harry scolded himself for being so brutal to Ron and returned to his book. He shouldn't be angry with Ron; he had wronged him, at least in Ron's eyes. But it was difficult sometimes… not being fed up with his ex-best friend…. Just as he got back into the flow of reading, the portrait hole opened. Harry hoped for it to be the Head Girl, and was alarmed to see Parvati Patil. Like all others, he had not conversed with her since everyone had found them out. Why had she left the game? His attention remained fully on her as she moved, and unease settled in his bones as she approached him, enough to make him actually slouch down.

"Er, hi, Harry." Parvati nervously greeted, tucking hair behind her ear.

"Hi… Parvati," he responded, slowing closing Becoming an Auror: 'A' Is For Arduous.

"Um…" she started, staring at the chair next to his. After a minute of indecisiveness, she speedily sat down without looking at him. Harry didn't know what to make of her actions.

"Why'd you… leave the match?" he asked.

"Because I thought it'd be the perfect time to talk to you," Parvati said, turning to face him, "I knew you'd stay behind. You never go to watch Quidditch matches anymore…"

"Talk about what?" He was not sure he wanted to discuss what was on her mind.

"You and Hermione. I feel I have to." Harry's face must have visibly shown displeasure because she immediately launched into a narrative:

"I'm not going to say anything negative, promise! I'm not upset over it and don't understand why others… well, everyone except Ron, are. I mean, it's really not their concern. They act as if you two killed someone." He looked at Parvati as she went on.

"Hermione won't talk to me or Lavender about it, but… I don't know. I should have noticed something sooner. Hermione was always going on and on about you, and she had about 2000 pictures surrounding her bed. I thought it normal, if not excessive, because you've known each other for seven years, you know? But, you've known each other for seven years. That's an incredible amount of time for a relationship." Parvati stopped to sigh before plowing on, rubbing her arm.

"Hermione's good for you, Harry. She, and Ron, know you like no one else does. And even though you're being snubbed by the school, it doesn't matter."

"It doesn't?" he questioned, giving a miniscule, shrewd smile. She looked at him, shocked by his act of actually replying, then smiled faintly.

"Of course not. Look at me-- I'm dating a Slytherin!," Harry grinned shamefully, remembering this, "People are going to talk no matter what, mainly because they have nothing else to do. It does get to you sometimes, but as long as you have that other person, it's okay; you know you're not alone." He nodded, closing and opening the cover of the tome repeatedly. Parvati had a magnificent point, one that made him feel better about the situation. It was silent for a little while before the twin commented jokingly:

"But what am I talking about? You know all about being despised." Harry looked at her accusingly, and then they both laughed a bit.

"I'm glad to know I-- we-- have your support, Parvati," he remarked. Parvati could now be added to the list of the three other people whom held no contempt for Harry and Hermione. Perhaps Hagrid had been right….

"Of course. I understand," she smiled, "You know… I'd give you a hug, but I'm not sure if Hermione would appreciate it." Parvati stood up.

"I'm going back to the Quidditch match. I hope the days when you finally attend come again soon," she announced, "Bye Harry."

"Bye Parvati." As Parvati neared the exit/entrance, it opened and Hermione came in. The girls and roommates stared at one another briefly before Parvati drew Hermione into a quick embrace. After she had gone without so much as a word, the Head Girl looked at Harry, perplexed. He simply smiled faintly in return.

It was decided by Hermione and Harry that they would remain at Hogwarts for Easter. So, they did just that. (Hermione wrote to her parents and promised them that Harry would come round during the summer). Neville was the only other boy leaving in honor of the holiday and so both purebloods left together. He bid all of his friends and roommates farewell that day, whereas Ron only wished Dean and Seamus a good vacation. He left the room without once looking at Harry.

About half of the school's students opted to stay behind while the other half returned home. Harry and Hermione found this to be pleasurable; the unwanted attention they received faded somewhat, but they persisted to avoid most people overall. They spent their free hours walking the castle's geography (both inside and out) while discussing various things, until it began to grow late. Their roommates were becoming more valiant in their endeavors to break down the barrier that Hermione and Harry had been forced to put up. During some meals the couple actually sat with its old friends, even if it was occasionally silent. They even accomplished the feat of getting Harry to promise to attend the upcoming Quidditch game, or at least to stay for some of it.

On post-Easter morning Harry went down to breakfast to see Hermione already present, sitting a moderate distance away from the other seventh years.

"This Easter was a first," he began, easing down next to her, "No eggs from Mrs. Weasley."

"Yes," she sighed, as if the reminder depressed her.

"I wonder why," Harry said, pouring orange juice, "No doubt he successfully managed in getting the whole family to hate us."

"Harry," Hermione carefully started, "I doubt R-Ron would do something so intentional and… cruel."

"Yeah? I don't. He did the same thing to Hogwarts, why not his family? He's on a crusade to make everybody loathe us." She gazed at him with a bedazzled expression.

"Harry, he's just hurt, a-and I don't think--"

"He's had his time to be hurt, Hermione. He's just being stubborn now!" Harry argued, practically hissing. Hermione was now looking at him disbelievingly. He sighed deeply and tried again in a softer voice, grabbing her hand.

"If you want to know the truth, Hermione, I'm… he's beginning to annoy me-- his attitude is starting to be more than I can take. I know he's still upset with us, but it's pushing the limit. I'm around him a lot more than you are; you don't see it." She tore her gaze, and her hand, away from him and stared down at her plate.

"Hermione--" he began to plead. At that moment, however, the Daily Prophet fell down in front of Hermione. On the first page in piercing letters was the title: Goblin Attack. A picture of vandalized houses and smoke was directly beneath it. The Head Girl gasped as Harry unfolded the periodical for them both and dived right into it.

A/N: My fingers are killing me. Anyway, I have to retype (and rewrite!) chapter nine. It royally SUCKS that I have to do that but it just disappeared on me one day. It's probably gonna be shorter than the original, since I'll be composing it from memory and I don't have every single detail sketched into my brain. Don't know when I'll get it up, but hopefully by next week.