A/N Hey yall! I'm back, with some explaining to do. I'm so sorry the last chapter was as short as the first. It wasn't supposed to be that short; it looked a lot longer on Microsoft Word. If any one has any recommendations to make my chapters longer, please go to Review and tell me. To my reviewers. . .

The Iviest: For the first couple of chapters, Ginny is a minor character. But don't worry; she plays a key role in later chapters.

MIDNIGHT-PIXIE: Thanks! I agree, Ron should be hurt.

Makomam: Hmmm. There is a reason the first couple of chapters were short. But you made a good point, the first two chapters could have been 1. I see that. Now. I listened to your advice about the short chapters, and the next couple are a lot longer. I combined two of my original chapters for this one, and added a lot. So thanks for that advice. About it being. . .blah. Personally, I don't think it is (and I'm not just saying this because it's my story). The first chapter is a little dry, but I really don't think the second one is. I'm not a stickler for couples to make out right away, so that's why there wasn't much romance, but there will be more. The first two chapters may not have had a lot of work put in them, but that is mainly because it was originally a journal for school. The rest I did at home, so it took longer and much more thought, But thanks for the review.

Disclaimer: I OWN EVERYTHING! Coughactuallyjusttheplotcoughcough

Chapter 3 Return to Hogwarts

Harry looked at Hermione. His face was bursting with various emotions; joy, fear, love, and sadness. Hermione was sure her face reflected the same emotions. Glancing down, Harry reluctantly took his hand out of Hermione's. Then, he buried his face in his palms, and began to weep. Hermione began to gently stroke his jet-black hair. Tears trickling down her face and meeting Harry's head.

"What happened?" Harry cried out in anguish. "What did I do, what did you do to deserve this?"

"Harry, we didn't do anything, except let our feelings out. I don't know about you, but I'm glad I did."

"I am glad, Hermione," Harry replied, smiling at her through his tears. He calmly reached up and tucked a piece of her mousse brown hair behind her delicate ear.

Hermione returned his smile, and ran her hand through his unruly black hair. Harry then shyly brushed a sliding tear off of her slightly freckled cheek. He brought his brought both of his masculine hands up to meet her tearstained face. Pulling her close to him, he leaned in, and kissed her with a kiss full of longing. Hermione began to deepen the already passionate kiss. She felt his tongue bumping her lips, begging for entry. As she slightly opened her mouth, she moved her hands down his back, giving Harry chill bumps. A moan left her lips as she felt his tongue sliding into her mouth, just as the train door opened.

"Potter and Granger. I should have known," a drawling voice filled with disgust articulated.

Harry quickly broke away from Hermione, and blushed angrily as he saw who positioned in the oak doorway.

"Malfoy."

"What's this Potter, making out with this filthy mudblood because Chang broke up with you?"

"Don't you call her that!" Harry roared, his face contorted with rage. He raised his wand and pointed it at Draco's smirking face. "You're the filthy one Malfoy!" Why I adda. . . "

" Compoxirimah!" Suddenly, a flash of neon pink light filled the car. Harry looked down at Malfoy who was presently twitching and writhing on the midnight blue carpeted floor. He then looked up into a mass of vivid red hair.

"Ginny!" Harry yelled in surprise. She had cursed Malfoy.

"I came to find you Harry. Ron is in my compartment. Muttering random words like 'dejection. . . how could they?. . . kissing. . .betrayal. . . backstabbing git' Do they mean anything to you?" Ginny finished, ignoring the sprawled Slytherin at her sneakered feet.

Harry looked guiltily at Hermione. His arm was around her slender waist; her hand was gently stroking his back.

"Well, Ginny, I, we, well. . . "Harry muttered. A crimson blush creeping up his tanned neck.

"Oh, I see," Ginny said. Her face was hostile and her words dripping with sarcasm and disappointment. "You should go talk to him." She spat out in monotone. Ginny then abruptly turned on her heels and stormed out of the room. Just then, the Hogwarts Express screeched to a stop, knocking the two standing passengers off their feet.

"Great." Harry cooed while pushing himself off the dusty floor. He reached over and assisted Hermione up as well, her mousse hair in disarray. The two quickly gathered their items, and pulled out their uniforms. Harry pulled his gray Gryffindor sweater over top of his white American Eagle tee, and his Abercrombie stonewashed jeans. He buttoned his black wizards robe and stuck his wand in his pocket. Hermione slipped into her pleated black skirt, and pulled her Aeropostale hip huggers out underneath. Her Gryfffindor sweater was put on over a sea foam green beaded tank. She put her narrow feet into her black Doc Martins, casting the green Old Navy flip flops aside, After adding her Hogwarts black robes to her ensemble. She thrust her Mahogany wand into her robes pocket, and brushed her skirt down. She reached up and straightened Harry's maroon and gold tie, and tried to flatten his messy hair, unsuccessfully.

Just as Hermione begin to head towards the door, Harry grasped her shoulders and turned her towards him. He stared into her cinnamon eyes and began to speak.

"Hermione, whatever happens out there. With Ron, Ginny or Malfoy, I want you to know I love you."

Harry gently and briefly touched his lips to hers, and pulled away. He slipped his hand into hers, smiled at his girlfriend, took a deep breath, and opened the door. They walked outside into the crisp autumn air, their clasped hands hidden beneath their robes.

The Great Hall was filling up with students. They were all talking and catching up. Shouts of,"How was your summer?", "I love your hair!", "Wow! What a broomstick!" could be heard echoing off the stone walls. Harry saw the shining black hair of Chow, and was almost surprised about the absence of a stomach flutter; until he remembered Hermione next to him. He squeezed her hand, as if to check and see if she was really there. She was.

Harry started to walk towards the Gryffindor Table. Hermione flashed a straight toothed smile, and matched her footsteps with his. The couple continued straight passed Ron, who was accompanied by Neville, Seamus, Dean and Ginny. Ron glared at them as they passed, but neglected to speak or acknowledge their presence.

Just as the duo took a seat at the chattering table, Dumbledore tinkled his wine goblet. A hush fell over the entire hall, as all eyes turned to their ageing Headmaster.

"Do to certain . . . events, last year's Prefects are being renamed," Dumbledore began. A rise of muttered protest could be heard across the hall. Then Dumbledore cleared his throat, and continued in a strong voice, "The new 6th year Prefects are as followed. Hufflepuff: Justin Finch-Fletchly and Hannah Abbot. Ravenclaw: Padma Patil and Terry Boot. Slytherin: Draco Malfoy and Millicent Bulstrode. Gryffindor: Harry Potter and Hermione Granger."

"Wonderful," Harry said to Hermione in an undertone. "Another reason for Ron to hate me!" Ron looked towards the two. If looks could kill, Harry would have died at the age of 16.

"Additionally," the Headmaster continued. "The subject of Divination has been temporarily discontinued. Due to the absence of a teacher." Lavender and Parvati uttered cries of distress, in distraught morning of their dismissed teacher, Professor Trelawney.

"Students enrolled in Divination will please see their Head of House for a subject change." Dumbledore finished, the always-present twinkle remaining in his vivid blue eyes. Dumbledore took a deep breathe, and continued to speak in an unwavering voice.

"I'm sure you are all wondering who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will be. You will all be delighted to know that Dolores Umbridge has suffered no permanent physical damages, due to her brief encounter with angry centaurs. "However, emotional scars are, how should I put this, arguable. Finally, your new DADA teacher is. . . . Me."

At this last remark, waves of conversation made its way through the dining area.

"Tuck in!" Dumbledore said, managing to be heard over the racket.

A/N- I know, weird place to stop. But I had to, or this chapter would have been WAY to long. I love this chapter though; it's one of my favorites. Anyhoo, thanks to all who reviewed! I love reviews.

Sorry about the long wait for this "installment" I know I promised it almost a week and a half ago. However, I was grounded and couldn't use my computer until yesterday, so I'm REALLY sorry. No promises on when the next chapter will be up. I have FCAT for the rest of the week, and then some other stuff. So, I'll talk to yall then! Enjoy! REVIEW!

KrazieChikadee

Disclaimer: I own nothing, blah blah blah.