Chapter Seven – Their Place

Harry was surprised that it took several days to spread that he had been kidnapped on Saturday night. He kept being asked genuinely what had really happened, mostly by those in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw; the Slytherin's on the other hand, were quite the opposite. They did not let chances go begging of bringing up the subject of someone bothering to kidnap Harry, Malfoy among them, who in particularly took time out in corridors when they passed to bring up the subject.

'Too bad Potter can't cry to his loving mummy,' Malfoy would say happily, his stupid crones snorting with laughter as usual, 'because apparently, he hasn't got one-'

Hermione kept muttering things like, 'ignore him,' and, 'don't let it get to you,' but it was no use, even Hermione, Harry saw, got in particularly annoyed when her name was mentioned.

'Oh but he has Mudblood,' Malfoy continued, his large stupid thugs sniggering, 'then again when would she come in handy-?'

'If I were you, Malfoy,' Harry found himself saying that one Thursday afternoon after he had just had a particularly long History lesson that was not helping the circumstances, 'I'd wish my parents were dead. Your dad's a Death Eater and your mum actually likes you – hell that's fucked up.'

'What did you say about my mother!' Malfoy hissed, furiously pulling out his wand instinctively.

'Mr. Malfoy!' Professor McGonagall came striding up the corridor, Malfoy mouthed at Harry, "you're dead," before stuffing his wand back into his robes, 'what in Merlin's name do you think you're-'

'He insulted my parents, Professor!' Malfoy said, pointedly at Harry.

McGonagall looked at Harry, who looked darkly and Malfoy.

'That is no reason to resort to your own actions,' McGonagall said, 'now, unless either of you want detention you will call it even and both walk away; Mr. Potter?'

Harry glared at Malfoy and continued down the corridor, closely followed by Hermione while Malfoy scowled and yelling after Harry that he can't be protected by the teachers all the time.

'Mr. Malfoy!' McGonagall hissed, 'anymore of that and you'll have detention!'

Harry hoped Friday would be a little less stressful; it turned out Snape had an infection and was not taking class today ('He's been bitten by a vampire, I know it!' Ron said hopefully) so they had a double free that afternoon.

Hermione mumbled something about going to the library and disappeared, Ron didn't have Luna to make out with so decided to go along with Harry down to Hagrid's during their free who was happy to see them. In an ironic circumstance, Hagrid had no class either and wholeheartedly shuffled them in for a cup of tea.

'Where's Hermione?' Hagrid said as the kettle boiled loudly.

'In the library,' Harry explained, rolling his eyes, 'doing who knows what-'

'An' how's yer relationship goin'?' Hagrid asked happily, passing them a cup each, 'yer haven' broken up now have yeh?'

'No,' Harry said quite firmly, 'although- I shouldn't really be saying this but she wants more in our relationship, I think she wants… sex-'

Ron, who had just taken a replenishing gulp of his tea Hagrid had made, spluttered and spat all over the table and the rock cakes Hagrid had neatly set down.

'What!' Ron said, quite alarmed.

'Yeah, she talked about it briefly,' Harry said, 'she wants me to start thinking-'

'You mean you two haven't yet-?'

Ron started to break into laughter, Harry and Hagrid looked sideways at each other awkwardly.

'Why? Ron?' Harry said, 'what's wrong with that?'

'Nothing it's just that Luna and I have been together what a week and we've already-' Ron stopped short, looking up at Harry and Hagrid's blank faces, as if they knew also what he was going to say next, 'never mind.'

'Well, I was ganna offer yeh cakes bu',' Hagrid looked down at the wet solid munches of cake, 'don' worry.'

They sat in very cold silence following this, listening to a small breeze gather breath outside; Hagrid kept glancing between Harry and Ron until a much muffled bell for the end of the day.

'Yeh'd better get goin',' Hagrid said, grabbing their mugs, 'I'll see yer at dinner.'

Harry and Ron left Hagrid's and upended their collars through the cold blizzard, that had suddenly brewed within the hour and headed up to castle where a third year Herbology class was fighting against the wind. When they got to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, Hermione was already there, a pile of books beside her which she moved for Harry to sit down and give him a peck on the lips.

'Figured you'd be at Hagrid's,' she said as the plates filled with food just as Ron sat down ('Service!' he said) and warm muttering conversations broke out into the hall, 'I just got some books to read over the weekend- some of these are pretty good you should-'

'Ok, Hermione,' Harry butted in; he didn't feel he needed a lecture from her just at the moment, 'oh look who it is-'

Malfoy had just entered the hall; he spotted Harry, smirked, and took a seat with his fellow Slytherin's. He had said merely a sentence when they all roared with laughter, making Harry dig a fork into a roasted chicken particularly harder than he usually would and tear it open.

'I know what will get your mind of him, Harry,' Hermione piped up as she pulled some potatoes towards herself, 'Hogsmeade trip tomorrow – you haven't taken me there on a proper date since last term.'

'We'll go then,' Harry said suddenly feeling happier, as yet another roar of laughter initiated from the Slytherin table – Harry didn't look up on the count he was afraid they'd be looking at him, 'with any luck, I'll meet Malfoy.'

And for a shining moment he pretended the chicken he was currently slicing was Malfoy's face. He laughed; Hermione felt oddly towards him for the remainder of the night.

Saturday morning brought snowy, white, thick snow from overnights blizzard; it severely boarded up the windows and gave Filch trouble at the Entrance Hall as the many students lined wishing to visit Hogsmeade. After a quick swish of her wand from McGonagall that could have saved ten minutes of Flich's life, the door was managed to click open and the students piled out into the cool November air. Harry noticed briefly out of the corner of his eye Malfoy walking with his goons, laughing happily, but not at Harry for apparently he hadn't spotted him. But hysteric laughter never usually emphasized from that group unless they were talking about Harry.

When they descended the slopes of Hogwarts, Hermione kept pointing out things in the snow, one in particular that was the shape of a male reproductive organ near the edge of the forest; Hermione had to muffle her giggles on Harry's shoulder.

'You're making Ron look mature, you know?' Harry said as they entered Hogsmeade, behind Ron and Luna as a matter of fact who took a left into Honeydukes so Harry and Hermione continued through the street.

'We could go there,' Hermione suggested, pointing towards Madam Puddifoot's small teashop; Harry shot this down immediately, he had had an in particular bad experience in there with Cho Chang and dared not to go back in there – ever.

'The Three Broomsticks?' Hermione said; this was a cozy pub in the centre of Hogsmeade and very popular, you could not go in there without knowing anyone.

'Too crowded,' Harry said back.

'Owl Post Office?' Hermione said, pointing towards the small shop on the corner.

'I have no messages to send,' Harry said, 'nor anyone to send one too.'

'Hogs Head?' Hermione said as a last resort as the came to the end of the Hogmeade main street.

'To creepy,' Harry replied.

Hermione sighed heavily.

'Well then where?' she asked hotly, Harry felt taken aback.

'Don't worry I have an idea,' Harry said, pulling his wand out of his pocket, 'I had a feeling we'd find nothing to do, so I set this up- Accio Firebolt!'

People around him looked at him completely bewildered; he stood there, his wand aloft and absolutely no outcome what so ever had come from his spell.

'Harry we don't need your-' Hermione began.

'Ssh! Here it comes,' Harry said, and very distinctively a broom suddenly came zooming, at top speed, towards them, making a few people duck out of the way and bark at Harry as the broom stopped beside Harry, waiting to be used, wanting to be used. Harry grabbed it.

'I don't like flying, Harry, you know that,' Hermione hissed, but Harry wasn't listening, he had already mounted the broom, 'I'm not getting on – Harry, people will see up my skirt!'

She hissed this most peculiarly in a whisper as some passer-bye were admiring the fine broom.

'Come on Hermione, your making people stare,' Harry said, he lowered his voice a tone, 'I thought you wanted a something new in the relationship?'

Hermione looked at him hotly.

'This?' Hermione said, 'I didn't ask for this.'

'Just get on!' Harry said furiously.

Hermione hesitated, then, very reluctantly, mounted behind Harry and held on for dear life as they took off, her skirt flapping dangerously but she didn't dare move an arm to fix it. She just crossed her legs and hoped for the best.

'Harry I want to get down- AAHH!' she began to whimper as Harry, smiling happily, obliged by pulled into a dive, heading towards a group of fourth year Ravenclaw's, 'up Harry! UP!'

Harry was already going up, the group of Ravenclaw's shook their fists furiously after them, but Harry was smiling broadly as he headed for the largest mountain in sight. Hermione gasped as they grew higher and higher into the air, every meter the air got colder and thinner.

'What's the altitude on this thing?' Hermione said, but Harry didn't answer, he didn't know, but was daring to find out.

But the broom began to shudder underneath them making Hermione grind her fingernails into Harry's skin, Harry thought he'd better come into a landing and did so on probably the third largest mountain surrounding Hogwarts and Hogsmeade- but that's what he had wanted.

It was here, Hermione clambered off, muttering, 'I don't like flying, I don't like flying, Harry, I'm going to kill you-!'

'Here we are,' Harry said happily, climbing of the broom also.

'What?' Hermione said, 'here? Where's here? The mountain you mean?'

'Our first spot,' Harry breathed in the thin air.

'First spot?' Hermione repeated.

'Yeah, our spot,' Harry said, smiling at her.

'Harry I'm not sure what you're on but-'

'This is what you wanted isn't it Hermione?' Harry asked, Hermione put her hands on her hips.

'What?' she said, 'a boyfriend smoking pot without me knowing?'

Harry raised an eyebrow.

'I mean this is what you wanted for our relationship,' Harry said.

'Oh yeah sure,' she said sarcastically, 'it's always been my dream to fly on a broom, in the freezing cold, while I'm wearing a skirt-'

'Why are you wearing a skirt anyway-?'

'The writer needed me in a skirt for later use,' she barked eerily, 'but that's not the point!'

'Listen you said you wanted more from our relationship,' Harry said, 'so here were we are!'

'What?' she said suddenly realizing something, 'Harry do you mean-?'

'This is perfect,' Harry said, 'no one around, nice cool breeze going through-'

'Cool?' Hermione repeated, 'Harry's its freezing!'

'You're the one wearing the skirt,' Harry said, 'but no matter- it's a good thing.'

Harry headed over to a large rock and began surveying it, as if looking for something.

'Harry could we please just-'

'Here it is,' Harry said happily, grabbing a loose stick on the rock and pulling it, 'just watch this- it's really cool.'

Hermione wasn't quite sure what cool meant to Harry but suddenly, after he had pulled the stick, the rock began to move along in a groove beside it, revealing a large hole and a strip of black beyond. Hermione stared at it longingly, still slightly bewildered at what on earth Harry was going to do next.

'My dear,' Harry said, grasping one hand on his Firebolt and letting out another to Hermione.

She of course, instinctively took it, and was pulled into what appeared to be a cave, complete darkness and even more so when the rock behind them slid back into place.

'Could you perhaps give us some light?' Harry said to Hermione, 'my hands are err- full.'

Hermione nodded and pulled out her wand, muttering 'Lumos,' and shining a path of the cave, that wasn't so much of a cave but rather a gravel pathway with cement walls. Harry led her along the pathway for what seemed ten minutes, whistling a happy tune until they came to a halt at a fork in the path.

'Which way now?' Hermione asked, looking sideways to Harry.

'Guess,' Harry said.

'I- I don't know, which way?' Hermione said.

'Guess,' Harry repeated.

'I don't know, I just want to know what now-?'

'Guess-'

'Enough!' Hermione hissed, her voice bounced off the walls.

'OK, OK,' Harry muttered, chuckling slightly, 'were going this way,' Harry said, pointing left.

'Where does the other cave go?' Hermione asked, looking back over their shoulder once they began walking again.

'Comes up into Hogwarts,' Harry said as the tunnel began to twirl towards the right.

'And this one,' Hermione asked.

'You just wait and find out,' Harry said, smiling broadly and looking sideways.

They walked for at least another half an hour, Hermione was beginning to get restless, Harry just whistled happily to the tune of 'Baby Elephant Walk,' until finally, at long last, he stopped, pointed in front of them and slowly, the end of the tunnel came into view, an extremely old oak door stood, cob webs and dust along the frame and an engraving of a Snitch, a Quidditch snitch of course.

But it also embedded- it was faint but looked like a Badger, a Hufflepuff Badger, and Hermione gasped and admired the door longingly.

'I think I've heard about this,' Hermione whispered, removing some cobwebs to getter a clearer look, 'in Hogwarts; A History, of course. Something about a Quidditch Secret-Keeper room but no- Harry you can't have access to this it's for Hufflepuff's seeker-'

'No one knows about this, Hermione,' Harry said, 'I know for a fact Filch doesn't know about it, Fred and George never came across it and as for the secret passageway back that other way- it ends up in the Owlery, Hermione, which tells me that at least any one could have used it.'

'Then how did you-?'

'Hedwig,' Harry said simply, 'believe it or not but she showed me it-'

'Harry,' Hermione said, raising an eyebrow, 'how could an owl show you-'

'Don't ask me how, just believe it,' Harry said and he fiddled with the door knob which was in particularly rusty, 'now- let your mouth drop.'

'Why?' Hermione asked.

But Harry didn't answer; he simply opened the door and moved in, Hermione followed and, as Harry had expected, her jaw dropped.