AN: Hey everyone! I'm sorry that I've taken so much longer than usual to get my chapter up.  but I spent spring break in Switzerland, with no internet, and the jetlag is evil.. to answer your question Sam, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are a kind of American chocolate; peanut butter (extra sugary peanut butter) surrounded in chocolate like a cup, with a layer of chocolate over top, in a paper cup-like wrapper. They are VERY good. The exact kind of thing that Alexis (major candy fan) would have her friends in the US send to her once in a while. I hope that answered your question Sam, and if anyone else has any questions about the story, I totally don't mind you asking them in your reviews. It makes posting more exciting. 

Chapter 9:The Secret to Muggle Defense

On Friday morning at 10:00 A.M. the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs filed into the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom for their first lesson. Everyone was excited about meeting the new teacher. They were all confused however, when they found no desks in the classroom, but a large quantity of mats placed all around the room. There was a huge clear plastic container at the front of the room that looked like it held several dozen white robes. Harry and his friends looked around with awe. Hermione and Alexis were both wearing spaghetti-strap tanks and loose, baggy, gray sweatpants. Harry had donned a dark blue, Old Navy sweatshirt that he had received as a hand-me-down from Dudley. Standing next to him, Ron had pulled on an old T-shirt and red basketball shorts.

Still confused, but happy they did not have to wear their uniforms, the group of four grabbed mats and sat down in a square shape near Neville and Dean. For the first time since they had entered Harry heard music playing in the background. It sounded oriental. When he pointed this out to the others Alexis' face lit up in understanding.

"Oh my God!" She gasped. "It's so obvious! Why didn't I think of it!" She looked down at her clothes. "If I'd have known I would have brought my own robe from home!"

The other three looked at her, having no idea where the exclamation was headed.

At that moment the room seemed to quiet down considerably. Harry looked around at his fellow students and realized that their eyes were all focused in the same direction. Following their gaze he saw that a man had seated himself at the front of the room on a mat that was larger than the ones everyone else was sitting on. What amazed Harry was that he had entered silently and no one had noticed that he was there.

"How'd he get in here?" Harry whispered to Hermione, but she shushed him without taking her eyes off the mysterious teacher. Harry quieted and followed her example. This must be professor Ronin, the teacher Dumbledore had been talking about. The man was definitely Asian in race, wearing a snow-white robe with a black belt strung around his waste and tied at the front. His salt and pepper hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the back of his head and he looked very serious as he sat cross-legged in front of the students. There was a strong and wise tone in his voice when he spoke.

"In this class, we will be studying Karate, an ancient form of Japanese muggle defense. Most of you, when I say muggle, think of something inefficient and unworthy of your attention. I believe that you are wrong and if you decide to contradict me, you may leave at this time." Professor Ronin paused and his eyes swept the faces of his silent crowd. His voice was clear, loud, and serious, echoing slightly off the stone walls of the chamber. Though several of the students had shifted on their mats, none of them seemed to want to leave. However, they did all seem slightly uneasy.

Next to Harry, Hermione raised her hand high into the air. Ronin pointed towards her, asking for her to state her name before she asked the question. "Hermione Granger," she said briskly. "Does this mean that we aren't going to be doing any magic in the class? That we'll be learning um... Karate all year long?"

Ronin watched her as she said this. And seemed to be lost in thought for several seconds after she finished.

"Yes Miss Granger," he replied slowly. "You and your fellow students will be studying muggle defense for the rest of the year." He paused and looked around the room for more questions. When there were none he continued. "Now, I will proceed to talk of the martial arts while you take notes. After this class, all sessions will be practical and we will be learning different ways of blocking and attacking an opponent." There was a scramble for quills and parchment and several excited murmurs about the classes to come as Ronin returned to his solemn lecture.

"'Kara' means 'empty' in Japanese, while 'te' means 'hand'. 'Karate-do' means 'The Way of the Empty Hand'. In this room you will learn to defend yourself using nothing but your body. No wand, no weapon. Karate's purpose is not to win, the purpose is to defend, and to defend only. To study this branch of the martial arts the student must accomplish perfect balance, self-control, and self-discipline. These are characteristics that many of you are lacking, but you must all try your best and practice your hardest."

Professor Ronin continued the class for the next hour in the same manner, lecturing them on the history and use of karate while they scribbled as fast as they could. Quills scratched and flashed across paper as he talked about Japan and other Asian countries where the martial art had originated. Everyone was disappointed when the class finally came to an end. They had thoroughly enjoyed the speech. It was much more interesting than Professor Binns' way of addressing the class, for Ronin would stop every once in a while for questions. The new teacher put life into his talk, varying pitch and tone as he walked around the room, reading his student's writing over their backs.

Alexis was one of the few in the class who knew anything about Karate. She answered questions that Ronin asked the class while Ron stared open mouthed at the information that poured out of her mouth. Harry tried not to grin at Hermione, who looked disgruntled at the thought of not being the best. Though she was muggleborn, Hermione didn't know anything about karate. She had never taken interest in defense classes.

In the last ten minutes of class, Ronin handed each student a white

robe from the plastic container and directed them to bring it to class every day for the rest of the year. He then assigned them a scroll of parchment on the lecture and dismissed them several minutes early.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked out of the classroom dazed and speechless while Alexis chattered nonstop about how interesting the lesson had been. But Ron stopped her jabbering in mid sentence as they walked through the entrance hall.

"How did you know all that stuff!" The other two seemed to come out of their daze and turned to Alexis as well. The girl ran her fingers through her hair and pushed the Great Hall door open for all of them.

"My sister, err, wanted me to take classes. I've been taking them for three years." She seemed hesitant when she said this and quickly increased her walking pace, moving ahead of the others to take a seat at the Gryffindor table. Ron, skipped to catch up with her and the others followed suite, wanting to know more.

Ron seated himself next to Alexis, who avoided his gaze. She busied herself pouring pumpkin juice from the pitcher into her goblet. There was several moments of silence as Alexis filled her plate with food. Ron stared at her expectantly, his plate and goblet untouched. As the others sat down across from the two he finally broke the silence.

"Why?" He asked.

Alexis finally looked up from her turkey sandwich.

"Why would you want to know. It isn't important."

"I- Well- why won't you tell us?"

She then placed down her food and pushed herself back from the table.

"I'll go get the lemonade." With this she walked over to the Ravenclaw table and leaned over to talk to a bunch of seventh years.

Ron stared after her. "Lemonade? Hogwarts serves lemonade?" He continued to look after Alexis till Hermione reached over and slapped his wrist.

"You're being too intrusive Ron. It was obvious she didn't want to talk to you about it." Ron turned his eyes to Hermione with the same blank expression.

"Huh?" He said dumbfoundedly.

"You are so shallow." Hermione shot at him as she returned to her green beans. "It doesn't really matter, does it?"

Harry looked from Hermione to Ron and then to Alexis, who was still at the Ravenclaw table. He obviously didn't understand why Hermione thought Ron was being shallow.

"He has a point you know," Harry defended the read head. "Hogwarts doesn't serve Lemonade." At this Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and pushed her chair away from the table.

"Well, I'm off to the Library." She grabbed a roll and carried it with her as she left the boys and the rest of her food behind.

Harry groaned, why did she have to leave too? "This is stupid," he voiced out loud. "Are we just thick or is it them that have weird complex minds to confusing for anyone to understand?"

Ron shrugged. "All I know is that I am not shallow, how Hermione likes to put it." He reached over and took Alexis's unfinished sandwich, cutting off the bitten part and beginning to eat the rest.

"That reminds me," Harry said, taking another bite of his roll. "We should tell Alexis that Hermione's birthday is the 19th. Maybe we can all go to Hogsmede this weekend and get her a present."

Ron grinned. "Yeah, we could get her something together."

Just then someone pulled out the chair next to Ron and sat down. Harry glanced at the person and groaned inwardly. Luna Lovegood had curled he arm around Ron's wrist, snaking over his bent elbow, which was on the table. Ron looked sideways at the girl in her purple mushroom earrings and really groaned.

"Hello Ronald," Luna said, ignoring Harry and not noticing Ron's obvious look of great disgust. She massaged Ron's wrist with he thump. "I see you all over the halls but you always seem busy. Are you always drowned in work?" She put on a concerned expression.

Ron stared at her, revulsion all over his face. "No," he said with his mouth full.

Luna sighed. "Don't talk with your mouth full Ronald, it's impolite." Ron gulped and stared at her. Harry laughed.

"Hermione tells him that enough!" Harry said under his breath, just to be ignored.

Luna just smiled and continued. "I was wondering if we could get together sometime."

Ron looked alarmed. Harry politely took the pitture of pumpkin juice and placed it between himself and the other two, trying hard to hide his face, which was in danger of cracking into an overly large grin.

"You know," Luna said to Ron as she curled a wave of hair around the index finger of her free hand. "Just you and me, the lake, the stars." She moved closer and put her cheek against the side of his hand, her face inches from his. Ron gave a large fake sneeze and pulled his arm away from Luna, dropping the sandwich and putting his hands over his nose and mouth.

"I've got to go get a tissue." Ron excused himself. "Come with me Harry?" Harry followed Ron to the Boy's bathroom, laughing all the way.

"It isn't funny you know." Ron glared at Harry. Harry couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Walking up to a mirror he tried hard to flatten his hair.

"I always knew there was something between the two of you." Harry leaned against a stall door and studied himself in the mirror.

"Oh yeah." Ron said huffily, leaning against a sink. "Well, whatever's going on is in her head alone."

"She wanted to go to the lake in the moonlight, Ron. She's serious about you."

Ron snorted.

"Maybe you should go out with her," Harry continued. "It might work out, you never know. I mean, she isn't all that bad." Ron raised his hand high as if to slap Harry.

"Okay, okay." Harry surrendered. "Comon, let's go finish our food. She'll have left by now."

After lunch Ron and Harry ventured outside onto the grounds. Hermione was probably still at the library and as much as they knew, would spend the whole afternoon there and though they tried to find her, Alexis was nowhere to be seen. She had left the hall with the seventh years and the boys guessed she was now doing homework in the common room.

Sighing, Ron dropped himself heavily under the beech tree at the edge of the lake. Harry walked along the rocky shore, stooping to pick up several smooth and flat stones, which he stuffed into the pockets of his robes.

"I don't know what offended Alexis so much!" Ron exclaimed, glaring at one of beech tree's uncovered roots. "All I asked was why her sister wanted her to take muggle defense. I don't see how that's such a touchy subject." Ron looked down at his hands.

Harry turned away from the lake to watch Ron, his face thoughtful. He then moved back to the edge of the water, skipping one of his rocks across the glistening surface. Harry brushed his bangs aside with the back of his hand, leaving a wet streak across his forehead. Still looking out over the water he began to speak.

"I don't know," he said. "I've read about New York. It's a huge city. Her sister might have been scared of Alexis getting mugged." With this Harry threw another rock across the lake and handed one to Ron as the other boy joined him at the edge of the water.

Ron threw it and sighed again when he couldn't get it to skip. "I guess that could be it. But really; if her sister was scared for her safety then why didn't she just say so?"

At this point Hermione came walking across the lawn towards them. Waving, she raised her voice so that they could here. "Are you two still talking about that karate thing?"

"Oh look, she's come back from the Library." Ron said somewhat sulkily. "What fun."

Hermione made a face at Ron and walked over into the shade of the tree.

"So, were you?" She ripped a leaf from the beech tree and began shredding strips from between the veins with her fingernails.

Harry shrugged at the girl's question and threw the last of his rocks into the lake.

"It's her business what she wants to tell you, you know." Hermione said quietly, looking across the sparkling water as it lapped the shore. She then walked several feet away to watch a dragonfly on a nearby boulder.

Harry sighed, wiping his wet hands on his robes. "We should try to get started on that martial arts essay."

Ron grinned. "You're getting to be too much like Hermione," he said jokingly. "Turning into a total homework freak!"

At these words Harry opened his mouth wide, letting his eyes expand in a surprised expression. Hermione turned around and glared at Ron.

"Is that supposed to be a bad thing?" She demanded, moving back over to the two boys. They ignored her.

"I am not!" Harry exclaimed, jokingly.

Hermione turned her attention back to Harry. "I can't believe you just said that." She gave him a playful shove, which pushed him several feet to his left, leaving him standing in several inches of clear pond water.

Harry looked down at his feet as he felt cold water soak through his trainers, washing over his socks. Next to him, Ron bent in half with silent laughter.

"Well I can't believe you just did that." Harry said. He kicked hard at the shallow water, splashing the all three of them from head to toe. Now they were all laughing outright as Harry tried to wipe off his dripping glasses. Ron stooped low, cupping his hands and bringing up more water to throw at Hermione. Seeing, his intentions, the girl turned and tripped headfirst into Harry, sending the two of them reeling into the pond.

"Arghhh!" Harry jumped up as quickly as possible.

"I am so sorry." Hermione pulled herself out of the water, hanging on Harry's arm as she stabilized herself. "Oh- aww-" The girl moved out of the water and tried to squeeze the water from her soaked sweatpants. "I'm really sorry Harry."

"That's alright." Harry pulled his sweatshirt over his head to reveal a white t-shirt. "It wasn't your fault. Ron- on the other hand." Harry grinned. He pulled off a shoe and dipped it into the water, filling it.

"You wouldn't dare-" Ron finished just as he got a shoeful of water in the face. "Aww- that's disgusting. Harry-" But Harry just grinned and filled the shoe again, this time aiming at Hermione.

"Harry! Don't!" The girl ran off towards the castle, glancing backward as she went.

Harry followed Hermione to the castle, throwing the water in his shoe at her but missing by several feet. Ron sprinted after them, having filled his cupped hands with water, but the water trickled out long before he got anywhere near enough to get them wet. Once they reached the castle the threesome continued up to the Gryffindor common room, laughing and dripping all over the marble staircase.

"Look at how wet I am," Ron said, his voice loud and happy. He stomped his feet hard on the marble tiles, and leaving wet marks as his steps echoed through the hallway. Harry walked in his drenched socks, holding his dripping trainers far out at his side and trying not to get his sweats and t-shirt any wetter. He his sweatshirt was draped over one of his arms.

Ron pulled off his shoes as well, grabbing Hermione's arm and pulling her as he slid back and forth across the slippery corridor floor.

"Don't!" the girl said, prying Ron's fingers loose. "We'll get in trouble if anyone finds out. Filch hates the floor being wet anyways. He'll end up considering sock sailing a dangerous thing that we aren't allowed to do between corridors."

Ron stared at Hermione. "Hermione- party pooper," he said as he ran and slid across the hall once more, almost running into the wall but catching himself just in time.

Hermione quickly remembered what Ron had said to her in front of Hagrid's cabin almost a week before. She gave in.

"Oh I guess. Wait for me," the girl said, bending down to untie her own shoes. When she had successfully untangled the laces and pulled them off she tied the strings together and slung them over her shoulder. Laughing, she grabbed one of both Harry and Ron's hands and the threesome pulled each other through the halls. They slid, dripping, all the way through the 4th floor corridor, where their smiling stopped just as they ran into the arms of Filch, the castle's caretaker.

Twenty minutes later the trio entered the Gryffindor Common Room, having dried, but also been thoroughly shaken.

They ran into Alexis, who was sitting, as Harry had predicted, doing homework, by the fire. She had changed from her Defense clothes into a very ratty, though acceptable, pair of jeans and a graying NYU sweatshirt, whatever NYU stood for. When they neared her seat she lifted her head and smiled, obviously putting everything that had been said about Karate behind them. Her expression changed when she saw the looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" She asked Ron, who looked as if his eyes would never return to their usual size.

He shuddered and took a seat next to her on the couch. He placed his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, burying his head in his hands. Harry threw himself onto the floor in front of the fire, placing his shoes near the heat to dry as Hermione took the nearest armchair. Ron sighed again as Alexis looked around at the rest of them questioningly.

"All three of us just landed in detention with Filch. We have to report to his office at three, that's in twenty minutes." Ron took his face out of his hands and leaned back on the stuffed armrest of the couch, looking tiered. Alexis moved her eyes from Ron to Harry, who was staring into the fire but she finally focused on Hermione, who still looked utterly shocked.

"I don't believe it," she said, "not you too Hermione?"

Hermione sighed. "We were being stupid," she admitted, "We skated in the hall and got the whole place soaking wet." Hermione flipped her head upside down and quickly refastened her pony-tail holder. "I lost control. I should have thought before I acted."

"It wasn't your fault Hermione."

"Yes it was," Hermione stabbed back. "I usually keep you and Ron out of trouble, but this time I acted immature. I should have seen it coming."

Ron let out a sigh. "Why do you always have to act so frigging better than the rest of us Hermione? We know you wanted to have fun just as much as we did."

Harry stared at his hands, silently agreeing with Ron but not wanting to say so in front of Hermione.

The girl glared at Ron. "I do not!" Hermione looked like she was about to erupt. Alexis saw this as an excellent time to get up.

"Look," she said to Hermione and Ron. "Don't start throwing daggers at each other over one comment. I'd take one of you out of the room, but I have detention with Snape and I'll be late if I take any longer."

Ron tore his eyes away from Hermione long enough to shout "See you at dinner!" to Alexis as she disappeared through the portrait hole, then he resumed his position glaring at Hermione.

Harry shot a glance at his watch, which he had bought in Diagon Alley at the end of the summer holiday. "We ought to go too, don't want to be late." With this he fastened himself a firm grip on Ron's wrist and tugged him out of his chair, breaking the death rays between Hermione and him. The girl got up as well, still looking angry and following them from the common room.

The two sulked on either side of Harry all the way to Filch's office, which took them a good ten minutes to get to. Once they arrived they found it locked and deserted. Ron grumbled something about 'setting a date and not coming himself' and sat down on the hard corridor floor. Hermione took a seat huffily next to Ron, crossing her arms and glaring at the wall opposite.

Harry dropped himself on Ron's other side, silently hating both of them for starting a fight. He really didn't want to have detention now. They'd probably end up having to clean something.

"I don't get it." Ron burst out. "You think you're so much better, so much more mature."

Hermione shot a sideways glance at him, grinding her teeth. "Everything I said was totally true Ron."

Harry glared at the two of them, bickering away. "Can you guys just cool it?"

Ron looked at Harry. "No, we can't," he said forcefully. "She's calling us idiots, don't you get it? She thinks she's so-"

"Will you just shut the f up, Ron?"

All three students leaned against the wall, stiff and totally shocked at what Hermione had just said. Hermione herself looked near tears and Ron stared at his hands.

"Look, Hermione, I-"

"Don't"

Ron tried to say something but Hermione stopped him. Her voice shook. The three sat still and quiet for several minutes until the silence was broken by Filch's shuffling footsteps coming their way.

Harry quickly got to his feet and dusted himself off, the others following his example. They stood in a group, still feeling shocked and nervously awaiting the arrival of their detention master. When Argus Filch finally rounded the corner they were surprised to see that he had Alexis in tow.

Alexis walked up to them and stood next to Hermione as everyone else stared at her. "Snape didn't have anything for me to do. I got 're-positioned,'" she whispered as Filch unlocked his door. He returned with four buckets of soapy water and several brushes and sponges all placed on a metal cart. Alexis looked extremely unhappy when she saw the materials but none of the other three students said anything. Filch began to speak.

"This young lady," he said, jabbing his finger in Alexis's direction. She glared back at him. "Will be joining the three of you to scrub the fourth floor hallway." Alexis groaned but the others just looked at their feet. Filch ignored their reactions. "You aren't to use magic other than to refill the water buckets or to conjure more soap. You're not going to dinner until the job is done. If I come back, and you've left a grimy mess; then the headmaster will have to think of something for you to do during your free-time for the next month. Understand?" They all nodded simultaneously except for Alexis, who glared at one of the soapy buckets. When Filch was done he returned to his office. As soon as he disappeared from view Hermione grabbed both Alexis's wrist and one end of the cart, moving briskly along the corridor. Alexis followed her, confused. She sent a backwards look at Ron and Harry, but the two boys seemed to be refusing to look anywhere other than their feet.

Because of their fast pace, Hermione and Alexis arrived several minutes before the other two, at which time Hermione grabbed a brush and quickly began angrily scrubbing the corridor floor. Alexis stood silently, watching Hermione clean with her arms crossed.

"I don't get it," she said after several moments of silence from both of them. "Why'd you pull me away like that? I've barely talked to Ron and Harry all day.." Alexis stopped when she realized that Hermione had begun to cry. "What's wrong?" she said, concerned and kneeled down beside Hermione, who was still attempting to brush all the color out of the hard, stone floor.

Hermione dropped the brush and sat on her heels, tears streaming down her face. "I-I" she began, sobbing harder than ever. "I swore at Ron. I feel so awful." Crying into Alexis's shoulder she tried to explain. "He just gets me so frustrated sometimes. Now I feel embarrassed for coming out at him like that." Hiccupping, Hermione pulled her uniform tie out from under her robes and used it to wipe her eyes. "I don't know what's gotten into me lately. I just- I just can't handle it when he keeps throwing words at me.. Especially- especially when other people are there.." Alexis shushed her, pulling her close and letting her recuperate. Hermione sniffed and continued, "I never used to fight so much with him. It just used to be a bit of bickering here and there.."

"Is it because you still like him?" Alexis whispered into Hermione's ear. The girl hiccupped.

"I- I-"

"It's alright."

"No, Alexis, it really isn't. We had that agreement, didn't we? We both said that we'd never make any move towards him or show that we liked him while the other still felt the same way." Hermione hiccupped.

"You haven't broken it then." Alexis murmured into Hermione's ear. "And look, he'll forgive you, Hermione. He owes you, right?"

Hermione's lips twitched in a slight smile as she sniffed.

"Thanks."

"It's fine." Alexis pulled a two brushes and a bucket from the cart and separated herself from Hermione. "Now let's get to scrubbing; you don't want them to think we're lazy, do you?" She joked. Hermione smiled as well and wiped her eyes.

"I guess so."

They began to work as if the had been scrubbing for the past ten minutes, Alexis sending a weak smile towards Harry and Ron as the two rounded the corner, but not saying anything, thinking that they should best keep quiet; for Hermione's sake.

If the boys could sense a change of mood in Alexis they did not mention it, silently getting to work on their own parts of the floor. The quiet was only once broken by Ron, who, obviously trying to cheer Hermione up, threw a rag in the girl's direction, expecting her to smile and throw it back. Hermione ignored the rag and continued her scrubbing, though her eyes became wetter and her face more blotchy at his unsuccessful attempt. Feeling embarrassed, Ron then pushed himself up from the floor to get the rag, almost running to the other side of the corridor and back to retrieve it. No one said anything for the few hours that followed, by which they had finished scrubbing.

"Well, I think we're done," Harry said to the other three, trying to push through the awkwardness that seemed to be choking all of them. Alexis gave a weak smile but Hermione and Ron wordlessly began putting away their cleaning supplies. Harry looked around at the spotless corridor and heaved a sigh of relief. He rotated to crack his back, let out his breath slowly after he heard the satisfying crunch. Just at that time the distant clanging of the dinner bell sounded, calling everyone in the castle for supper. Alexis jumped with surprise, slopping dirty water down her front. Harry laughed but stopped immediately when he saw the pained expressions on Ron and Hermione's faces. Alexis sighed and pointed her wand at herself, muttering a quick cleansing spell to rid her sweatshirt of the water. She then walked over to Hermione and put a hand on her shoulder, smiling reassuringly.

"Why don't you and Ron take the cart back and leave it in front of Filch's office?" she said, sending a grin in Ron's direction as she gave Hermione a quick one-armed hug. "Harry and I will go and save some seats in the Great Hall."

Hermione gave Alexis a look that said there was nothing she'd rather not do, but it was already too late, for Alexis had given Harry a light tug on the arm and they were both walking away.

Harry looked at the ground as he walked towards the Great Hall with Alexis, feeling exposed. After several long moments he decided to break the silence.

"Did she tell you what happened?" he asked, glancing up from the floor and stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah." Alexis bit her lip. "Well, not the whole thing; what did she say?"

"The "f" word." Harry's face cracked into a grin. "Yeah, I know," He added when Alexis's mouth opened in awe. "You wouldn't think that she'd say that-"

"No wonder she was so upset. Saying that to the guy-" Alexis cut off.

"What?"

"Nothing." Alexis couldn't hold back her grin. "I still can't believe she'd say that though."

"Wait- there's something that I'm not supposed to know here-" Harry smiled. "Tell me. Really."

"You wouldn't understand."

Harry looked at her, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Alexis, I'm not that stupid. Why are you smiling?" Alexis bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"You are so dense Harry! So if I told you- then- I dunno. I'll talk to you later." With this Alexis opened the doors to the Great Hall and walked ahead of Harry to take a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Lavender and Parvati.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry shouted at her back, but she was out of earshot.

Out of nowhere, Harry immediately became distracted by Ginny who was a nervous wreck about quidditch tryouts, which were to be held a week from Saturday.

"I know that I tried out for seeker when you weren't playing last year, but I just need to know how tryouts are going to be different." Ginny was wringing her hands hysterically and walking backwards in front of Harry, making their trip to the Gryffindor table frustratingly slow.

"Ginny," Harry tried to reassure his best friend's sister. "You'll do fine. I bet there isn't going to be much competition." Harry took a seat at the dinner table and began helping himself to Shepard's pie, Ginny standing at his shoulder. "I've already seen that you're an excellent flier and that you work well with the team." Ginny looked like she wanted to start begging Harry on her knees to tell her she was on the team, but at that moment Dean Thomas, her boyfriend for several months, interrupted their conversation.

"Ginny," he said looking concerned. "Are you worried about quidditch tryouts again?" He kissed her on the cheek and steered her away to the other end of the table to sit with himself, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Alexis and several other people Harry did not know. Before he left he whispered something to Harry. "You will put her on the team, won't you?" Harry winced, knowing Dean didn't mean it as a threat, even if it did come out like one. Harry knew there was a ninety percent chance that Ginny was already on the team, all she had to do was show up at tryouts.

He had just begun to eat when Ron and Hermione entered the Hall, both of them looking refreshed. It was obvious that their friendship had been renewed. They strode up to him, Hermione looking relaxed and Ron wearing a grin of huge proportions.

"Well," Hermione beamed at Harry without sitting down. Ron took a seat across from Harry. "We've made up."

Harry smiled back at her. "That's great. I knew you would."

Hermione's smile widened to show almost all of her teeth. "I'm going to go sit with Alexis, do you mind?"

"Of course not." Harry wondered why she would ask such a question. Hermione walked off with a wave to the two boys, sitting between Alexis and Parvai Patil. Harry bent over his food, marveling at how Ron and Hermione could be biting each other's heads off one second and be totally tranquil the next. He bit off a roll and chewed, gazing into space, still trying to figure out what Alexis had said.

Ron gave an obvious cough from the other side of the table and Harry looked up, having forgotten that the redhead was still there.

"What?" Harry asked, knowing Ron had coughed to get his attention.

"Hermione hugged me when we were bringing the cart back." He sighed and stared into space.

"So?" Harry wasn't catching Ron's radar.

Ron looked at Harry, frustrated. "Isn't it obvious that she's starting to feel differently about me? I've paid extra attention to her since third year and she's actually beginning to understand that we're made for each other."

Harry stared at Ron. He had thought that Ron had feelings for Hermione, but that had been the year before. "What about Alexis?" Harry voiced his confusion, talking in a hushed voice so that only Ron could hear him.

"Alexis!" Ron seemed utterly surprised.

"Yeah, you said she was- well- that she was "hot" on the first day of school.."

"No.." Ron seemed to think very hard before continuing his answer. "Alexis is.. Alexis is hot. That's true. But she's way too short for me. I mean, she's probably a whole foot shorter." Ron pushed his beans around on his plate. "I bet she has guys chasing after her all the time and she'll probably be asked out any day now. That's the sort of girl everyone else gets jealous of, you know. But, Hermione, wow, she's a whole 'nother universe, except no one can tell. It's like she's sexy but doesn't know it.." Ron propped his head up on his hand, still pushing his beans around. "And, well, she's real fiery, you know? And I dunno- her temper turns me on."

"I don't think Hermione likes fighting with you," Harry stated the obvious. "She gets pretty upset."

"Yeah!" Ron seemed quickly alert. "That could be another reason that she likes me! I mean, when she fights with you, she doesn't get upset- does she?"

"When's the last time that we had a major argument?"

"You have a good point, but I still think that- well- I mean, my parents have their little quarrels; what married folk don't!"

"So, you're saying that Hermione treats you like you're married?"

"Harry- you know what I mean." Ron returned to his beans, leaving Harry to his thoughts.

He studied Ron's face for several moments. He had known the other boy had feelings for Hermione, but he had thought that that had changed several weeks beforehand. He had also never thought of Hermione liking Ron. That particular thought had never come across his mind.

"Are you sure Hermione feels that way? I mean, she's hugged both of us before, she does it regularly." Harry didn't want Ron to convince himself of something that wasn't true.

"I'm positive," Ron said, grinning ear to ear and taking a large bite of his green beans. "One hundred percent positive."

Harry shrugged. It was possible, and it would be a fun thing to follow. Why not believe it?