Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Happy? Short, sweet, and to the point.

Chapter 10: A chapter in 2 parts: Out of There (at last) and new Sparks

Umbridge was frustrated. Why the heck had the crack suddenly sealed itself? That was just obnoxious. She proceeded to bang some more.

Finally, Filch, who was equally frustrated with the banging noises of "Peeves", took a hatchet to the wall, a desperate measure to get to that damn poltergeist.

But instead of a grinning ghost, Filch was surprised to find himself face-to-face with a tired-looking teacher, who was also covered in God knows what and wearing a livid expression.

Harry, Ron, and Draco were standing behind and saw Umbridge climb out of the wall, in her nasty dressing gown. They quickly walked away, snickering. Once they had reached two floors above the whole scene, they burst out laughing and didn't stop for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, Umbridge grabbed Filch's hatchet and chased him as fast as possible, for blocking her only path back into the castle. Professor McGonagall watched the scene with amusement. It was quite funny. Umbridge was waddling along, as fast as she could, holding the hatchet with an angry look in her eyes. What curlers she had left were flying out of her hair. Filch was hobbling away and wheezing, looking quite frightened. Mrs. Norris followed both of them.

Professor McGonagall took a picture and ran off smiling (a rarity).

Harry checked his watch. "Time for the DA."

The boys ran off to the Room of Requirement.

Hermione was inside with Ginny and Luna. Ginny rose from her cushion and came over to Harry. "Did you see Umbridge and Filch?"

"I saw Umbridge climb out of the wall, but that was it. That was funny."

"I mean after."

"…"

"You didn't see?"

"See what?"

So Ginny told them about the chase. They all laughed hysterically (again). Very soon after, the door opened, admitting several snickering, snorting, laughing, giggling, howling, you name it, students.

Harry reviewed the Reductor curse with them. Parvati's was always very good. Neville blasted a hole through one of the shelves. Colin Creevey blasted a hole through the book, Jinxes for the Jinxed (Hermione screamed). Luna blasted a hole through Draco's hat. Draco was not pleased.

Ron was doing quite well. "Hey—Harry, I just—aw, you missed it."

"Huh?"

"Look!"

The shelf containing several Defense books was a smoldering ruin. Hermione fainted. Ron realized what his amazing Reductor had done, and his happy energy seemed to fade away. "Well, it was a good curse."

Harry smiled. "It was. Don't worry; she come 'round soon enough."

Ginny saw her friend on the floor and thought I need Harry's whistle as hard as she could. A silver whistle appeared at her feet. Ginny stooped to pick it up. Pushing her way through the small group of people clustered around Hermione, she knelt down next to her. Taking a deep breath, she blew the whistle directly in Hermione's left ear.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!"

"Hello. Guess you're up."

"No. Kidding. But really, Ginny, couldn't you have woken me up in a more civil manner, as in, without a whistle?"

"Sorry, Hermy."

"Oh shut up."

"Hey! I like that name for you! Isn't that what Grawp calls you?"

"No. Freaking. Way."

"Ha! That's it! Hermy! I'm calling you Hermy from now on. Feel better, Hermy!" And with a whoop of laughter, Ginny danced away. Hermione rubbed her head and glared after her.

The DA meeting ended. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to leave the room. Harry knew of Ron's secret liking of Hermione (it was kind of obvious, with the angry looks he'd been giving Draco earlier on). And Hermione's teasing glances were not exactly all that discreet (though she definitely intended them to be).

Harry left quickly, leaving the two in the room. Alone. Together. Together, they were alone in the Room of Requirement. Harry was gone. Hermione cleared her throat. Ron kicked the floor. Both spoke at once.

"Let's g—"

"D'you w—"

"Sorry, you go, Ron."

"No, you go on," answered Ron, looking very eager.

Hermione looked at him and said, "Well, let's go; it's getting late."

Ron's energy (again) dropped out of him like a stone into water. "Oh, okay. Yeah. It's um, late, so we'll yeah. Go. Like you said, we'll just…go."

Hermione glanced at him strangely. "You okay?"

"Sure, fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, but made no answer. As she reached for the doorknob, Ron called out (rather loudly), "Hermione, wanna go to the next Hogsmeade trip with me? Please?"

Hermione started. She was flustered, flattered, shy, et cetera. "Oh!" She blushed. "Oh! Erm, no, I no-um, don't can't no, no, erm, not, don't go, with—yes. I'd love to go with you, Ron." She turned crimson and ran back to Gryffindor common room.

Ron grinned to himself. I've still got it! He jumped up and down a couple times, to let out a little excitement,

As he walked out of the Room, Umbridge rushed past him, with a hatchet and a very angry look on her face. Ron raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He skipped back to the common room to tell Harry.