A/N: Oooo. I like this chapter (well, this and the next chapter). Hope that you do too. It (they) has/have a lot of foreshadowing clues, and I hope that it'll make all my shippers happy. Just remember, the relationships in this story are very complicated, and right now, nothing is as it seems. Hint hint. Oh, and remember to Read, Relish, and Review!

Chapter 10: Chasing Fog

The next week at Hogwarts was uneventful. They began studying dugbogs in Care of Magical creatures. Dugbogs were creatures that lived in marshes, living off mandrakes and disguising themselves as floating pieces of wood. The first lesson Hermione had helped Hagrid organize turned out to be a success, and though it did seem moderately gory to feed the dugbogs mandrakes, it was interesting to watch them swim around in large tanks.

Defense class continued with a lesson on blocking and a demonstration of advanced Karate between Professor Ronin and Alexis, in which they both covered a large range of punches and kicks that none of the 6th years would probably be learning. The week passed smoothly and everyone was happy at the beginning of their first Hogsmeade weekend.

Saturday the fourteenth of September dawned foggy, waking the Hogwarts students in a blanket of mist. Harry rose from his four-poster and walked over to Ron's bedside as he pushed on his glasses. After he waited for his vision to clear he ripped open Ron's velvet curtains and prodded his fellow pupil in the chest.

"Rise and shine mate." Harry grinned as Ron jumped and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "We've got a big day ahead."

"If you thought that was funny, you belong in an insane asylum," Ron grumbled, sitting up in bed and pulling off his covers. The redhead grunted as he stretched. Harry grinned once more.

"I wasn't trying to be funny." He pulled off his pajamas and replaced them with his quidditch robes and gear. "We need to set a good example. Quidditch tryouts, remember?"

Ron groaned again, trying to find the sleeve in his own robes. "You aren't going to make the team members work too, are you? I mean, we aren't the ones trying out are we?"

Harry slipped on his shoes. "Chaser tryouts are different. You'll be stopping a lot of quaffles today." With this Harry pulled the drapes on his bed closed, grabbed his Firebolt from under his bed and walking from the room, Ron quickly following with his shin guards, arm guards and Cleansweep under one arm.

"So you don't have to do anything today because you're the seeker, but I have to work my behind off trying to stop quaffles coming form all directions?" Ron pulled on his robes as they walked down the dormitory steps.

"You're catching on, my friend." Harry said, laughing at Ron's expression. "You'll be doing most of the exercise, but I have to organize the whole thing." Ron's grumpy mood suddenly changed when they met Hermione, Alexis and Ginny in the common room. Ginny was carrying a Cleansweep, though it was an older model than Ron's and Alexis carried a Nimbus 2000, the same model of broom Harry had until third year, when his was smashed to bits by the whomping willow.

"Good morning." Ron smiled mainly at Hermione, but didn't have any more time to say anything, for both Harry and himself were suddenly swamped with questions from Ginny and Alexis, who were both going to try out for the team. The five walked down to breakfast talking about Quidditch. As soon as they got to the Great Hall Harry quickly grabbed a stack of toast and prepared to depart.

"I'm going to get down to the pitch early," Harry said, having finally caught the jitters himself. Ron looked up from the seat he had taken at the table.

"I'm staying here with the others," he said. "I already poured myself some milk." Alexis glanced at Ron.

"Yeah," she obviously wanted to stay as well. "I think I'll sit down and have some bacon. We aren't really supposed to go down for another half an hour are we?" Harry grimaced, not feeling like talking.

"I guess I'll go alone then: Ginny's already sitting down as well." He gestured to Ron's sister who was sitting with some of her 5th year friends. Harry turned to go but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll come too." Hermione said, picking up a piece of toast as well. "I was going to come watch anyway." She smiled sweetly at Harry, making Ron look alarmed.

"Well, since you're going too Hermione.." Ron pushed back his chair and drained the rest of his milk. Alexis grabbed his wrist.

"Stay here with me," she pleaded, pouting. "I don't want to be left all alone." Ron had no choice other than to stay, letting Harry and Hermione walk out of the Great Hall together.

The two nibbled on their toast as they walked out onto the grounds, The fog had enveloped them, creating an earie scene as the two heard geese honking above them.

"I'll just sit in the stands while the tryouts are going on, there isn't really anything else to do." Hermione said. Harry smiled back at her, grateful that she was coming with him, but having no idea whatsoever why she didn't stay behind and eat breakfast, at a table, with Ron.

Hermione interrupted his thoughts with a tug on his Firebolt. "Will you let me ride? I want to go up and see the geese." Harry grinned down at her, swallowing his last bit of toast.

"Why do you want to launch off all of a sudden?" Harry teased, "you didn't seem so eager when we were practicing at Grimmuald Place."

"At Grimmuald Place I was afraid one of the twins would come in and intentionally knock me off to be funny. Ron could have been a prime suspect too, as a matter of fact. He's starting to act like them, even though his features aren't as adorable."

Harry laughed at this.

"So, the twins are adorable, and Ron isn't as adorable. Wow. 'As.' that would mean he's sort of adorable, wouldn't it?"

"Ron may be, I don't know.. red haired and.. well.. Just because I like his hair doesn't mean.. Oh Harry!" Hermione gave her friend a light punch in the shoulder.

"Ow! That hurt." Harry grinned but Hermione looked at her feet.

"Sorry- it was just a-"

"No! Hermione; I was joking. You couldn't hurt me! You're a girl!" Harry laughed and Hermione's mouth dropped open, her expression slightly hurt.

"That was sexist! Harry-"

"I'm sorry. Look, I didn't mean it that way."

"Harry- that's like something that- that Ron would say. I didn't think that you were like that."

"Wait- Ron and I are different?"

"Harry! He- he's totally critical; and he never gets anything- but- this isn't really the topic I want to talk about."

"But- so I get things!" Harry stopped dead and stared at her. "I don't get this."

"Well- maybe you just understand more than he does Harry. Really- let's not talk about him behind his back."

"Is there something you want me to tell him for you?"

"Harry!"

"Alright." Harry sighed. "Are you going to eat your last bit of toast? 'Cause, well, if you aren't.." He grinned, as did Hermione.

"Bottomless pit," she handed it to him.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"I- I don't know. Maybe." She looked at him, suddenly slightly shy.

Harry grinned. "Do you want to take a ride or what?" He held out the Firebolt as he ate Hermione's toast.

"Please!" Hermione smiled grabbing the new topic by the horns. "I promise I won't get hurt. You know I'm not such a bad flier.."

Harry changed his expression to one of concern. "You promise not to go that far? I mean, because of the mist-" he gestured around them. "I can barely see twenty feet."

"Oh don't be such a worry wart Harry," Hermione seized the broomstick and mounted. "I have to go further than twenty feet!" There was nothing Harry could say before she kicked off and rocketed into the air.

"Hey!" he shouted after her, trying to sound stern, even though he was grinning. "Come back here!" The fog had swallowed her and everything around him. When nothing but the muffled swoosh of trees in the forbidden forest answered his call. Harry's smile vanished as he looked around him, trying to get a glimpse of his friend in the thick mist.

"Hermione?" He turned and walked in the direction that he thought was the Quidditch Pitch. "Come on, really!" He tried not to sound nervous. He couldn't see much parallel to the ground in any direction, and nothing upward seemed to make sense.

"Hermione?"

Suddenly a sound like a speeding car came from far above Harry.

"Woo hoo hoo!" Hermione's voice came from somewhere behind the thick layer of mist. It changed pitch as she zoomed back and forth in each direction. "This is so much fun!"

"Merlin! I thought you were going to creep up on me Hermione!" He turned in circles, trying to pinpoint the girl somewhere above him.

"That might be a good idea!" Hermione yelled, somewhere to Harry's left.

"What would be a good idea?" Harry spun around once more. When she didn't answer he turned and searched for her in the other direction, thinking she had moved. "Look, maybe we shouldn't do this anymore."

Harry turned in circles, trying to figure out in which direction he had come. Suddenly he heard a wiz from above him. Looking up he dove aside just in time as Hermione dive-bombed him, pulling the broom to a shaky stop approximately fifteen feet away. Harry lay on the dew-covered grass, shocked and thoroughly wet.

"See; it was fun," Hermione grinned.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" Harry was amazed. The last time he had seen her on a broom she had been a very insecure flier, only just barely able to make the broom go fifteen miles and hour.

Hermione directed the broom in his direction, moving slowly as she spoke. "I don't know." She cracked into a grin, possibly surprised herself. "It scared you though." Her smile widened.

"It did n-" Harry stopped as he picked himself up. "Look, you probably shouldn't do that; Wood taught me and he said it's very easy to loose control of a broomstick when you're in a dive."

"Oh!" Hermione laughed. "Look at you. You're the expert!"

"No, really-" Harry tried to smile. "Come on," he said. "Let's walk the rest of the way."

Hermione studied Harry as he held out his hand to help her dismount the broom. She smiled once more, not accepting his hand but flitting several feet away to his left. "How about 'Catch Me If You Can?'" Hermione lurched up into the air and Harry, his mouth open in disbelief, lost sight of her completely.

"Hermione! Where did you go?"

"Right here!" She teased as she dropped the broom bellow the fog, just so he could barely distinguish her shape. Within five seconds she had disappeared again. Harry ran towards where he had seen her form, trying to figure out where the heck he was.

"Hermione, if you're going to make me move any more it better be towards the pitch!"

He heard Hermione's laughter form somewhere off in the distance. The mist was starting to clear and he could just barely make out Hogwarts castle behind him.

"Catch me!" He once again saw his friend emerge from the mist, gesturing teasingly. "It's this way." Hermione pointed forward, away from the castle. That seemed right. Harry sprinted towards her, only to have her disappear once more. This time she rose up.

Harry halted where he had last seen her, bending and clutching a stitch in his side. "Hermione, come on, let's walk."

"Okay!" came her voice from above. "I'll be down in a second." Harry tuned around once more, seeing the lights of the castle in the distance. Rotating he also just barely saw the metal bleachers of the quidditch pitch, wet and dewy about one hundred feet to his left.

"I've found-"

He was interrupted by a whizzing sound and a shrill scream.

"HARRYYYYYY!" He looked up just as Hermione came pelting down at him, the look of fear on her face saying that she had lost control of the broom, her hands wildly trying to make it turn as she plummeted towards him at great speed. Before he could do anything, Harry was hit full in the chest with the tail of his broom, Hermione being able to stop it from gutting him at the last second.

The air was knocked out of him as Harry hit the ground, wheezing.

"Harry! Make it STOP! HARRY!" Hermione screamed louder than ever, whirling off towards the bleachers.

"HER-" Harry tried to yell but he ended in several wheezing coughs, not being able to catch his voice.

"HARRY!"

There was an earsplitting crash, the sound of something wood clattering on metal, and the thump of a lightweight object hitting the grass.

Then everything was silent.

(Oh; about the cliffie; Mwahahahahahaha! I am evil!)
Next Chapter coming in the next few days.. or hours..