Trust Issues

Want honey

I want cream

I want sugar

I want a dream

Said baby, supernatural

Honey, you're supernatural

Oh yeah, that's what I said

You're supernatural, (oh yeah) superdupernatural

I want kisses

I want steam

I want you missus

I want to scream

Oh oh yeah baby

Supernatural

Oh yeah

Supernatural

(Supernatural-By Divine Right)

Harry pushed himself further against Hermione, pressing her into the comfy sofa cushions. Merlin, he loved their "studying". They did get some scholastic work done, he respected Hermione and her quest for knowledge so he studied by her side for as long as the two of them could hold out. Then they studied human sexuality. He was currently studying one of his favorite topics at the moment, her mouth and the reactions he could get from her from the different types of kisses he could deliver. She was running her hands through his hair, making it more unruly than ever before but he didn't care. Not that anyone would notice. He had just settled his hips comfortably between her lovely thighs when a clock sounded somewhere in the background.

"Mmm, Harry," she murmured against his lips. "We've got…to go. We're…going to be…late."

"I'm sure they'll understand," he replied, kissing her deeply before moving to her neck. He felt her shiver underneath him.

"But I promised I would help them study for transfiguration," she said softly, letting out a little gasp when he kissed the hollow of her throat.

Harry felt her instinctively press herself against him and he grinned to himself. He discovered that that was her weakness, he could get her to bend her resolve when he pressed his lips to that particular spot on her throat then pressed himself slightly against her when she lifted her hips to him.

In all fairness, he had to have something over her, any little thing she did sent him into a hormonal frenzy. He could swear that her skirts were just a little bit shorter than usual. And then, when she would talk to him and Ron in class, she would hop up onto the table between the two of them, scoot that perfect little bottom of hers back and let her legs dangle, once in awhile cross her legs. Man, he had to keep his eyes forward on not on her creamy thighs next to him or else he would be tempted to reach out, slide his hand underneath that skirt and find out if she was wearing a thong or a bikini today. She did this on purpose and he knew it. It was his own little game, he would guess what she was wearing then confirm it later on that night.

The last time they had sex was two nights ago when they had chocolate cake for dessert and Hermione spent the better part of the meal licking the blasted frosting off of her fingertips. They didn't even bother getting completely undressed when they crashed into her room and he had the lust induced hazy memory of shoving his pants to his knees, pressing Hermione up against a wall and shoving the strap of her thong to the side as he thrust himself into her. He might have been a tad rough with her that night but she didn't complain either time.

He was brought out of this lovely reverie by her hand brushing his away from its journey up her thigh.

"Harry," she giggled and Harry groaned, moving himself off of her. Hermione sat up and straightened her skirt but not before he got a glimpse of the plain white cotton underwear she was wearing.

God, those were hot too.

Hermione opened her book bag and stuffed some books and parchment inside of them. As they stood, Harry was eternally grateful that the Hogwarts robes were loose-fitting. He took Hermione's bag and slung it on his shoulder as they left the Head Girl and Boy suite.

"I hope we aren't too late," she said.

"I'm sure they already know what we were up to," he replied with a grin. "And by the frustration evident on my face, they'll see how far it didn't go," he sighed.

"Oh poor baby," Hermione cooed. "I guess we'll just have to pick up where we left off when we're done in the library."

Harry stepped in front of her, stopping her. "Promise?" he asked, pushing her into an alcove in the hallway.

"Well, that's if I'm not too tired," Hermione smirked as Harry moved in close for a kiss, pressing her against the wall behind her. He shrugged the book bag off of his shoulder and let his hand rest on her hip, squeezing it slightly as he kissed her. He broke the kiss and moved to her neck again, feeling Hermione squeeze his shoulders.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

The familiar drawl of Malfoy's voice killed any happy wonderful feelings that Harry had building and he sighed as Hermione moved herself away from him.

"No, of course not."

"Yeah as a matter of fact you are."

He and Hermione spoke at the same time. Harry could've sworn that Malfoy had the slightest smirk on his face.

"I need the notes for the DADA homework due tomorrow. I seem to have misplaced mine," Malfoy said and Harry scoffed softly.

"Yes, of course," Hermione said, reaching for her book bag and rummaging through it. "Oh they're not in here," she said after a moment. "I think they might be on my desk. I'll be back in a second." She darted to the portrait. Harry and Draco stood there in tense silence. Harry could see Malfoy's jaw tensing as if he wished to say something so badly but was holding back. Harry was sure his face had no trace of friendship on it.

The Ferret had been uncharacteristically quiet since the bombing in Hogsmeade. The Aurors tried to get more information out of him but he had offered up nothing useful and it frustrated Harry that the interrogation was not documented since they were trying to protect Draco's identity. Personally, Harry would sell the Ferret's secret to Voldemort for a Chocolate Frog if it would get him out of the castle. Harry had been tempted to ask him what he and Hermione had been up to but thought better of it. Showing his hand too early may blow the whole thing out of the water. It surprised Harry that Malfoy hadn't touted his heroic act to every available ear, it was his silence that made him very nervous. That and the way he looked at his girlfriend.

Harry remembered to the look on Malfoy's face one day when Hermione had kissed him quickly on the lips before heading off to her Runes class. Malfoy looked as if he would spit fire. The look was only there for a split second and no one else saw except for Harry and he only saw because he was expecting it. There was some part of Harry that wanted to flaunt it in his face, hold Hermione proudly in his arms because he was in love, they were in love everyone else be damned. But there was something unsettling about the whole thing, about the possibility that Malfoy, of all people, could be jealous of him because of Hermione.

They stood there, alone and awkward before she returned to them, holding pages of parchment in her hand.

"Here you go," she chirped.

"Thanks…Hermione," Draco said, glancing briefly at Harry who flared at his girlfriend's name on his lips.

"No problem," Hermione replied. Draco gave her a soft smile then tapped the parchment in his hands as he walked away. Harry's eyes were still on him. Why Hermione was still civil to him was beyond him. Although, Harry grudgingly noticed that she had grown a tad softer to the Slytherin since he yanked her out of the restaurant. Whatever. Harry had his suspicions that he had set the whole thing up.

"Come on," Hermione nudged him forward.

Reluctantly, Harry turned away, putting an arm around Hermione hoping it would tamp down the unease that had welled up inside of him. But when they turned the corner to the library, Neville, Ron, Luna and Ginny were all huddled together talking softly until Ginny looked up at them.

Harry dropped his arm from Hermione at the look on Ginny's tear-filled eyes. "What happened?" he asked, his stomach dropping.

"Neville's grandmother passed away," she said softly and Hermione gasped. His face must have betrayed his emotions because Ginny quickly shook her head. "No Harry. Not Death Eaters. She actually passed away of natural causes. It was just her time, I guess."
Hermione left his side to join the group. "Oh Neville, I'm so sorry," he heard her say.

Harry looked down at Ginny. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm feeling a little helpless right now," she confessed.

"I'm sure that just being there for him is the best thing he needs right now," Harry said.

Ginny sighed. "He's all alone now, Harry. He doesn't have anybody."

Harry shook his head. "That's not true. He has us."

The group sat in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room, sitting around Neville in his time of need.

"It's just so hard to believe that her death was normal," Neville said softly. "I mean with all the death and destruction around us, it's surreal to think that life goes on as it normally should." Ginny frowned and wrapped her hand in his. "I think I'm in shock," Neville continued, "I think I would take this normally if there was a Dark Mark floating above her house."

"Don't say that," Harry said in a low voice with just a hint of scorn in it.

"Sorry," Neville said.

"Are you going to be alright, mate?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, I will be," Neville replied. "They're letting me go home for the funeral." He looked down at Ginny. "McGonagall said I could bring a couple of people with me if I wanted and I was wondering…"

"Of course," Ginny answered him. Neville looked up at Harry.

"Harry, I was wondering if…well, if you would go as well."

Harry straightened up on the sofa where he was sitting. Neville's request had taken him by surprise. He and Neville were never really that close. His best friends were Ron and Hermione. But Neville was loyal to a fault, he stuck by his side in fifth year in the Department of Mysteries, in the DA even after it became defunct. But Harry was suddenly startled to remember just how entangled his and Neville's fates were. Voldemort could've easily chosen Neville to mark as his equal. Where would that have left Harry? Would his parents still be alive or would they suffer the same fate as Neville's?

"Yeah, I'll go," he answered softly and Neville grinned gratefully.

Harry stayed the night in Hermione's room and the love they made was slow and tender, reminding him of the last time he had spent the night intimately with her at Grimmauld Place. With a soft whimper and sigh, he felt her tighten around him and he held her close to him as he released himself inside of her, burying his face in the crook of her neck. After a moments rest, he removed himself from her soft warmth and lay on his side, bringing her close to him. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts of fate, Hermione and Neville that he didn't realize he had drifted off to sleep…without closing his mind.

He was flying through the air, the stars twinkled above him in the dark night as the landscape passed below him at a frightening speed. He looked up and saw a castle, dark except for a single light in the tallest tower. Where was this castle? He did not recognize it but as he flew through the narrow window he saw his nemesis pacing the room that had a handful of cloaked figures. One was kneeling on the floor, quivering with fear.

"I do not know what happened master! I swear no one but us knew about this!" the kneeling figure said.

"And yet, the plot in Hogsmeade still failed. You were in charge of carrying the operation out!" Voldemort hissed.

"I-I-," the man quivered.

"I-I-I-I'm sick of excuses!" Voldemort drew his wand and cast a Cruciatus curse. The man on the floor wailed and writhed in pain.

Another Death Eater slipped into the room. "My Lord," he said and Voldemort nodded.

"Have you discovered anything?" he asked the newcomers.

"Crabbe and Goyle told their children," came a familiar voice and he started when he saw Snape. Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "It's possible that they may have bragged about it to their friends and it may have fallen on enemy ears."

Another Death Eater stepped forward.

"There is more, My Lord," he said. "Potter was in the restaurant at the time. He escaped unharmed as well." Harry recognized the man as Antonin Dolohov and his anger flared even more.

"A chance to wipe out Potter and the opportunity was missed," Voldemort drawled. "What a pity. Wouldn't you agree Harry?" Voldemort looked right at him.

With a gasp, Harry sat up in bed. He was sweating and he wasn't aware that he was trembling until he brushed up against Hermione's cool and steady arm. His scar twitched painfully and he rubbed it, somehow knowing that Voldemort had killed the Death Eater that was on the floor before him.

He ran his hands through his hair and sighed softly. Hermione stirred slightly next to him. He looked over at her, taking in her figure underneath her covers, the bare shoulder that peeked out from underneath. He didn't wake her as he slowly got out of bed and pulled on his boxers. He hadn't meant to fall asleep like that without closing his mind but it did give him interesting insight. Voldemort's plan had truly been to injure students in that blast. Draco knew about it but for whatever reason had decided to intervene. Why?

The nagging question would keep him up for awhile, he knew that and he silently got dressed, slipped on his invisibility cloak and left to return to his dormitory. But his curious and questioning mind prompted him to call attention to the envelope Kingsley had left him on the investigation on the Leaky Cauldron. So in the seclusion and privacy of his bed, he opened the envelope and read its contents by wand light.

Draco leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his fingers twirling his ring around and around as he watched the scene below him. He crossed his feet as he saw the carriage stop at the castle doors, the thestrals looked skeletal and ghostly. Word had come to him that Witless' grandmother had finally kicked the bucket and since his parents were drooling idiots in St. Mungo's, he was now an orphan in this world. The usual group of Gryffindors and Lunatic were gathered at the front of the steps as Witless climbed into the carriage. Weaslette, Potter's left-over scrap, climbed in after him naturally. Draco's eyes landed on a cinnamon brown head and they narrowed slightly when he saw Potty lean down and kiss her. It was amazing what Potty could get away with in front of the school. But to his surprise, Potty left Granger's side and got into the carriage as well.

"Ready?"

Draco turned away from the scene below him to Blaise and Pansy who were waiting for him.

"Yeah," he said, glancing back one more time to see the carriage on it's way to the gates.

"Poor Nev," Hermione sighed as they sat down at their table in the Great Hall.

"Neville was right. He knew this day would come," Ron said. "At least she died of old age instead at the hands of some Death Eater. At least Neville was allowed that."

"Hmm," she sighed, her thoughts falling on Neville's company today. She leaned forward to whisper to Ron. "I think Harry is having nightmares again."

Ron looked around to see if anyone had heard. "What do you mean?" he asked as he leaned forward as well.

"The other night, I heard him mumbling in his sleep. He mentioned something about Snape, then Dolohov and then he said his own name."

Ron wrinkled his brow in thought. "I thought Harry was doing alright shutting his mind against…You-Know-Who."

Hermione chewed on her lip. "I guess he didn't do it that night."

"Merlin, Hermione. If you're going to shag him useless like that, at least have the decency to save the world and remind him to clear his mind." Hermione gave him a pointed look before concentrating on the berries in her muffin. "I think I should say something to Lupin about it."

Ron had his fork halfway to his mouth before he stopped and slowly set it down. "You're going behind Harry's back on this?"

"Not really. You know how stubborn Harry is when it comes to his connection with Voldemort. He wasn't keen on the idea of legilimency and he hates the fact that he has to practice occlumency. Harry confided in Dumbledore about these dreams."

"And us," Ron cut in.

"But he didn't this time. He just got up and left in the middle of the night."

"Can you blame him with the company you keep?" Ron muttered.

Hermione stared at him. "What did you say?" she asked.

Ron looked up at her, hesitating as if he wanted to choose his words carefully. "Well…your newfound chumminess with the ferret may give reason for Harry to hesitate when sharing certain…sensitive…topics with you." Hermione looked at him like he had slapped her, well it was a verbal slap anyway. She got up to leave but Ron grabbed her hand. "Don't go behind Harry's back on this Hermione. Talk to him first before you do anything, let him decide for himself."

Her unease and anxiousness followed her all day and she found herself unable to concentrate on her homework. Harry would be coming back tomorrow morning but that just meant he had another night to sleep through with Voldemort knocking at the door to his mind. Frustrated, she put her homework away and took out a potions book she had retrieved earlier from the restricted section. If she couldn't get her homework done, she could at least find a way to help Harry and his horcrux.