This is a short one, just because I don't have time to write nice long quality chapters anymore. ENJOY!

Chapter 28: Stating the Obvious

"This is not good," Ron said the next morning in the Common Room.

"Oh really? I thought everything was splendid," Hermione moaned sarcastically, rubbing her temples.

"Hey, no need to be rude!" Ron yelled. Hermione heaved a heavy sigh. "Look, this is hard on everyone," he said apologetically. "We're all stressed about the war and now we know that most of the Slytherin House has an organization against us!"

"I'm so sorry for everything, Ron," Hermione whispered. Ron looked at her for a moment before coming back to his senses.

"Don't talk like that," he said.

"Like what?"

"Like we're going to die," he answered. "We're going to be fine, you'll see."

"You don't know that!" she cried, suddenly bursting into tears. Harry wrapped his arms around her in tight embrace, trying to pour his confidence into her while Ron soothed her with his words.

"Look how far we've come, 'Moine" he said. "Everything we've done; how can you even think that we can't do this?" Harry stroked Hermione's hair as she contemplated Ron's words.

"This…is…a…war," she said, her voice trembling. "We can't survive a war." Harry could feel tears soaking his shirt.

"We can and we will," Ron said.

"He's right," Harry whispered in her ear. Hermione was clutching Harry's shirt in her hands while she hid her face in the crook of his neck.

"I don't want to die!" she wailed. Ron looked up at Harry, and Harry nodded. Ron got up quietly and left the room to give Harry and Hermione some privacy.

"You're not going to die," Harry said.

"You don't know that," Hermione said. Harry knew that she was right; he didn't know whether or not she was going to live past the war, and that thought scared him.

"C'mon, let's go upstairs," Harry said, glancing around the Common Room. Though there was no one there at the moment, Harry didn't want to take the risk of having someone walking in on them. Hermione nodded, but didn't move. Harry gathered her in his arms and carried her up the stairs.

His dormitory was empty, which wasn't a surprise considering it was a beautiful Sunday morning. He spread Hermione out on his bed and lay down beside her. Hermione instantly snuggled up next to him, resting her head on his chest and draping her arms across his shoulders. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I really do love you," he said softly.

"I love you too," she said.

Harry knew that she meant it, and lying like this, they spent the entire morning together talking about the future and what it could bring. It was many hours later when Ron burst threw the door.

"There you are! I've been looking for ages," he said. Then realizing that he could be interrupting, his expression softened and he mumbled about doing homework and left. Hermione giggled.

"I think he thought that we were…y'know…" she said mischievously. Harry laughed.

"I bet he did," he said, looking down at her with a grin on his face. Their eyes locked; they were thinking the same thing.

Harry's fingers traced her face ever so delicately while she closed her eyes, melting into his touch. Slowly, Harry moved his face closer to hers, and their lips met in a soft kiss. Soon, their kisses became passionate and they moved beyond simple pleasures. It was lucky that Ron didn't come into the room again.

"We better get something to eat," Harry said a few hours later. He was starving after skipping breakfast. Hermione groaned.

"Do we have to?" she asked. Harry laughed.

"Fine, we can stay here and let me starve," he joked. Hermione playfully hit his shoulder.

"Alright already! Let's go," she said.

When Harry and Hermione emerged from the dormitory and came into the Common Room, Lavender spotted them and burst into a fit of giggles. Apparently, their absence didn't go unnoticed. Before anyone else got a chance to stare, Harry led Hermione through the portrait hole and into the corridor. They found Ron sitting in the Great Hall enjoying his lunch when they arrived. When he saw them, he chuckled softly.

"Hey, what were you guys up to?" he asked, grinning broadly.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Hermione said, grabbing a plate and loading it with food. Harry chose not to reply as he, like Hermione, starting eating as if it were his first meal ever.

"My, you two worked up a mighty appetite," Ron said nonchalantly.

"Drop it," Harry said. Ron put up his hands in front of him defensively.

"I didn't say anything!" he said. Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes.

"When you're all finished with your meals, I'd like a word in my office," came the voice of Dumbledore from behind them. They all whipped around in their seats and nodded their understanding. With nothing left to say, Dumbledore turned and walked away. Hermione turned to Harry with fear in her eyes.

"What do you think he wants to talk about?" she asked. Harry shrugged.

"Better go up there and see, I suppose," he answered, rising from his seat. Ron and Hermione followed close behind as they walked silently up to the Headmaster's office. "He didn't happen to mention the password to get in, did he?" Harry asked when they reached the stone gargoyles protecting the entrance. They shook their heads. Thinking of nothing better to do, Harry started rambling off names of candies he knew, wizarding and muggle treats alike. Finally, when he muttered "Ton-Tongue Toffee" the gargoyles leap aside and let them enter.

"Come in," Dumbledore answered from behind the door when Harry knocked. Slowly, he opened the door and poked his head inside.

"You wanted to see us?"

"Indeed, please, all of you sit down," Dumbledore said, indicating three chairs that stood before his desk. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats quietly and waited for Dumbledore to speak. "You're not in any trouble, if that's what you're wondering," he said. "Well, at least for nothing that you, yourselves, have done. However, we do have a number of topics to discuss. For one, I am well aware that the DA is still operating inside of Hogwarts," Harry was sincerely hoping that Dumbledore did not intend to put an end to his club. "I am also well aware of the fact that no matter what I say or do, this organization will continue to exist due to your determination to keep it running," Harry could hear Ron and Hermione sigh in relief. "But I have one large request," Dumbledore said with a stern voice, clearly implying that this was not so much as a request, as an order. "When the time comes for Voldemort to attack, you will not remain behind at the school. There is a clear exit plan, should the need ever arise to evacuate Hogwarts. All students will leave by a special Floo network that cannot be intercepted. I implore all of you to use this network when Voldemort chooses to strike. There will be plenty of help for Hogwarts, so your assistance will not be necessary."

Harry didn't know whether to be angry or thrilled. He had worked so hard to prepare for the attack from Voldemort, and now that was all for nothing. But then again, this way he was in no danger. Harry didn't want to die; so running with the rest of his classmates could be for the best. But why run? It was his destiny to face the Dark Lord; his fate to be involved in the battle that would change the way of the world. No, Harry decided, he wouldn't run. If he ran when Voldemort struck Hogwarts, Voldemort would eventually find him anyway. Dumbledore could see the look of concentration on Harry's face; he could also read what Harry was thinking.

"Mr. Potter, please don't stay behind," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps the thought of what you would leave behind if you died could convince you to go?" he said. Harry's eyes wandered from Ron to Hermione; their eyes locked with his. It was strange, the look they were giving him was not telling him to run, they were showing him that they planned to stay as well. A small grin tugged at Harry's lips, but he quickly changed back to looking neutral. Dumbledore seemed to have completely missed the silent communication between the three students before him. "Very well, Harry, you may go," he said as if Harry had agreed to flee the school at the first sign of Voldemort.

As I said, it was a short chapter…don't worry, I swear that the next one will be pretty cool…at least I hope so.