Super huge thanks to BlindJedi for noticing my silly mistakes in earlier chapters! They'll be fixed ASAP.

Chapter 8: A Different Kind of Courage

Ron and Hermione excused themselves from the table after everyone had finished eating, they now had to handle the first years.

"Come on, kiddies!" Ron said.

"Ron, you're impossible!" was all Hermione could say. Ginny's voice could also be heard from elsewhere in the Hall.

"First years, this way to the Gryfindor dormitories!" Harry had forgotten that she had been made a prefect. Harry rose from the table with Seamus and Neville; Dean had already raced to Ginny's side.

"Disgusting," Seamus said looking at Dean and Ginny, "honestly." Neville also looked as if he disapproved of the couple, reminding Harry of how Neville had asked Ginny to the Yule Ball back in their fourth year. Harry smiled; apparently he wasn't the only one with a crush. Harry thought of Hermione, not only did he have to talk to her tonight about his dream, but also had to admit his feelings. Harry's smile faded, suddenly nervous. You're a Gryfindor! Besides, it's just Hermione…don't wimp out. Harry, Neville, and Seamus made their way to the Common Room, Hermione and Ron were already there when they arrived. Seamus and Neville went to watch Ginny and Dean play a game of Wizard's Chess, and Harry went to his usual seat by the fire next to Ron and Hermione.

"Man, for the first time ever, I'm actually looking forward to classes! Professor Edwards looks so cool…I hope Seamus is right and he is some kind of monster, like Lupin," Ron said. Hermione could only roll her eyes. They sat by the fire talking about what they expected the year to be like, but they never mentioned the war. It suddenly felt as if the war was far away and it would never reach them. Well, it felt like that to everybody except Harry. Harry sat in silence for most of the conversation, only speaking to say things like "yeah" or "I agree" whenever he felt he should. He could only think about his dream. Something's going to happen this year, something big. People are going to die…students even. Harry looked up at Ron and Hermione, chatting happily about the new Quidditch season. Were they going to be killed at the hands of Voldemort before the year ended? Harry felt more determined than ever to tell Hermione how he felt, this could be his only chance. As if reading his mind, Ron said:

"I'm heading off to bed…see you all tomorrow!"

"Goodnight, Ron," Hermione and Harry said in unison. This was it, the moment Harry had been waiting for what seemed like a lifetime.

"Err…Hermione…" Harry started, "Listen, uh, did you happen to hear me saying your name while I was sleeping?" this was not what Harry wanted to start with. Chicken, he thought. Hermione looked at Harry, surprised.

"Yeah, I did," she said, "Did you want to talk about it?" she asked, concerned.

"It was a dream I was having, like I said on the train. Voldemort has here, Hogwarts was gone…everyone was gone, except you and me. I saw you; you ran to fight Voldemort. I couldn't stop you, there was nothing I could do…you died," he finished. "I'm sorry if it scares you," he added.

"Do you think that this was some kind of prediction?"

"I don't know…maybe. But I couldn't see how it could be; is Voldemort really that powerful?"

"I don't know, Harry, I really don't know," she said, but it looked as if she really wanted to say "Of course, you idiot!" but she didn't.

"Oh," Harry said, now looking at the floor, "Hermione…"

"Yeah?"

"I um…" here goes nothing, he thought, "I um… I really…" Harry's cheeks were reddening, "Look, I think you and me…us…we could, y'know, do something," 'Do something?' Harry, you are one stupid person… "I mean, not 'do something', but maybe…" Hermione seemed to understand what Harry was trying to say; she smiled, but chose to say nothing; she wanted to hear it.

"Hermione, what I'm trying to say is…Ikindalikeyou," he finished. Harry stared at the floor, his face burning, and fully aware that Hermione was looking at him. He felt her hand touch his shoulder.

"I kind of like you, too," she said. Harry smiled.

"Oh, good…that's good. That's excellent," he said. Hermione gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"Goodnight," she said before turning and heading towards her dormitory. Harry stood dumbfounded, smiling.

Harry woke up the next morning, still smiling from the events from the previous night.

"What are you so happy about?" Ron asked.

"Hermione," was all Harry had to say.

"What about Hemio…wait, you don't mean…you do!" Ron said, "I knew it!"

Ron and Harry made their way to the Common Room, Hermione was already there waiting for them.

"Good morning," she said.

"Good morning," Ron and Harry said together.

As they started to walk down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Ron made an obvious attempt to stay in between Harry and Hermione as they walked.

"I don't want to see it," he said jokingly. While they were eating the schedules were passed out.

"Yes! We have Defense Against the Dark Arts first…oh man, it's with the Slytherins," Ron said. Harry looked down at his own schedule. He had Defense Against the Dark Arts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. Charms he had on the same days in the afternoon, and Legilimency would be in the evenings. He had Transfiguration every Tuesday and Thursday morning while Potions would be in the afternoons.

"We should be going, we don't want to be late," Hermione said, and before Ron could stop her, she intertwined her fingers with Harry's as they walked. Harry looked over to the Ravenclaw table; Cho Chang was looking positively furious as they passed. Draco Malfoy's voice could be heard, "Potty and the Mudblood, I don't believe it!" Harry ignored him.

Professor Edwards was already in the classroom when they arrived. The trio took seats near the front, anxious to get started. As the rest of the students began to arrive, all noticeably also taking seats near the front, Professor Edwards wrote his name on the board. Seamus, Dean, and Neville sat at the table in front of the trio, and much to their displeasure, Malfoy and his cronies sat at the table behind them.

"Ooh, look at Potter and his Mudblood for a girlfriend…if you can call her that, she looks more like that great oaf Hagrid with all that hair!" he teased.

"Shut it, Malfoy," Harry managed to say through his anger, "Or I swear I'll…" the bell rang, and the class began.

"Good morning class, my name as you know is Professor Edwards, and I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts for you this year. Before starting, I should inform you that, though I am harmless, I am a vampire," he said.

Seamus turned around in his seat, smiling at Hermione.