Back then, we were buried under all the fear and the terror and the pain of the war. Yet despite all of that, we were still just children. Sometimes even I forget that. When you look back at those times from far away, all you see is darkness. But as you come closer, you can spot rays of light stubbornly penetrating through. Those rays of light were what kept us going. They were happiness, laughter, friendship, and love. And above all, they were things that made life worth living. We may have had the world literally on our shoulders, but we were never fully submerged into darkness.

"Well, how did it go?"

Ginny, breathless and flushed, had just joined Hermione at the dinner table.

"I made it, I'm the new Gryffindor seeker," Ginny replied with a small smile.

She seemed exhausted, cold, and hungry, but there was definitely one emotion lacking in her features. Hermione looked at her curiously. "I thought you'd be through the roof. You love Quidditch!"

"I do, of course I do! It's just..I don't know…I suppose I feel a bit guilty taking Harry's spot," Ginny said with a shrug, half-heartedly filling her plate with potatoes.

"Well would you rather the team forfeit every match? I know Harry wouldn't. Don't be silly," Hermione said sternly, "the team needs you."

"I know, I know. I just hope he doesn't resent me, is all," Ginny admitted.

Hermione scoffed. "Ginny, you know Harry is much more mature than that. And besides, since when have you cared so much about what he thinks, anyway?"

"Um, since the first day I met him, I believe," Ginny replied dryly.

"Oh come on, Ginny," Hermione said in disbelief. Then lowering her voice to a whisper, "I thought you were over him!"

"I am," Ginny whispered back, "but just because I don't fancy someone doesn't mean I don't care what they think."

"Oh, so you care what he thinks," Hermione inquired, pointing to a random Hufflepuff passing by.

"No, because I don't know him," Ginny retorted, apologizing to the boy, for he was looking oddly at the pair of them. "What are you trying to get at, anyway? Are you suggesting that I still like Harry?"

"Well I don't know…sorry, I was just curious," Hermione said.

"Well curiosity is going to murder your cat," Ginny stated plainly.

Hermione sighed. "It's: 'Curiosity killed the—

"Whatever! The point is…I don't like him, okay?" Ginny paused, looking down at her plate. "Not anymore." Her tone had a finality to it that Hermione had rarely ever heard, but knew was a signal to let the subject go.

They both sat there for a while after that, lost in their own thoughts and eating their dinner in silence. Hermione knew that there was more to the subject than what Ginny was letting on, but of course, she didn't dare mention anything more. There was just something about Ginny's entire demeanor, however, which was very odd. She seemed almost...ashamed.

After dinner, Hermione and Ginny headed up to the Room of Requirement for the last D.A. meeting before the holidays. Together with Ron and Neville, who they met up with along the way, the four of them made their way to the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy.

People began quickly filling into the room after them and at seven o'clock, everyone was situated on a cushion. Harry had been calling everyone's attention when Hermione suddenly heard Parvati and Lavendar giggling about something behind her. She was just about to turn around to tell them to be quiet when she saw the source of their laughter. Buried behind the box of cushions was a forgotten golden bauble, showing a picture of Harry's face and bearing the legend HAVE A VERY HARRY CHRISTMAS! Hermione had to fight back the urge to giggle herself. There could be only one culprit here. She smiled, imagining Dobby decorating the room with hundreds of similar baubles. Not for the first time Hermione deeply regretted being too busy with her prefect duties and schoolwork to knit elf hats. Those poor elves she hadn't set free yet…having to stay over during Christmas because there weren't enough hats!

She sighed to herself, pushing that thought out of her head for the moment and trying to focus on Harry who had just begun speaking. However she was once again disrupted by the sounds of giggling behind her.

"Hey Cho!" Hermione heard Lavendar whisper. "Fancy an early Christmas present?" Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione could see Lavendar pass the Harry-bauble over to Cho, who upon seeing it, starting blushing madly. "Of course, it's not as good as the real thing!" Lavendar winked.

Hermione rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue impatiently. "Why don't you quiet down so we could actually hear the real thing?" she stated bluntly.

Parvati and Lavendar, looking slightly embarassed at having been overheard, instantly quieted down. Cho, on the other hand, looked as if she was blushing even harder than before.

"…because it's the last meeting before the holidays and there's no point starting something new right before a three-week break—"

"We're not doing anything new?" said Zacharias Smith, in a disgruntled whisper loud enough to carry through the room. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come..."

"We're all really sorry Harry didn't tell you, then," said Fred loudly.

Several people sniggered, and Hermione had to smile appreciatively, herself. Smith was a git, after all.

After Harry was done speaking, they all split up into pairs as usual, with Neville being left partnerless…as usual. They began by working on the Impediment Jinx, Ron and Hermione freezing and unfreezing each other without keeping track of how many times the other had been successful. They had both come to a consensus after the first D.A. meeting to put their over competitive natures aside for the sake of their education. As Hermione affirmed, it was more important to learn proper technique than to see who could best blast the other to opposite ends of the room.

Althought secretly, she'd been keeping a very steady count in her head.

After about ten minutes, they moved on to Stunning. As there wasn't enough room for everyone to practice at once, half the group practiced the spell while the other half observed. Hermione couldn't believe how well everyone had been improving. Even Neville had successfully Stunned Padma Patil. Of course…he had been aiming at Dean, but it was a much closer miss than usual!

Harry had really proved himself a superb teacher. And as Hermione looked over at him, she felt herself swelling with pride. He was their leader, no matter how much he thought otherwise.

As they reached the end of the hour, Harry called a halt. "You're getting really good," he said, beaming around at them. "When we get back from the holidays we can start doing some of the big stuff—maybe even Patronuses."

There was a murmur of excitement. Hermione, herself, was immensely excited to start work on Patronuses. After the events of her third year by the lake, she swore she would learn to defend herself against Dementors. She didn't think she would ever be able to forget that feeling of a hundred Dementors closing in on her, suffocating her. And Harry yelling out and pleading for her to help him. To help him save both their lives.

But she was too weak. And just like always, Harry had to save the day. Harry had to be strong enough for the both of them.

But she swore she would never be weak again.

The room was nearly empty now. Hermione and Ron were helping Harry collect up the cushions and stack them neatly away. Looking around to see if she had missed any, Hermione spotted Cho in the middle of the room and the pair made very awkward eye contact. No longer feeling very comfortable, Hermione motioned for Ron to follow her out, assuming that Cho wanted some privacy for whatever it was she was about to do. She just sincerely hoped for Harry's sake that Cho would not burst into tears in front of him and a little for Cho's sake as well since she didn't foresee Harry being the overly comforting type.

Exiting the Room of Requirement, Hermione and Ron made their way back up to Gryffindor Tower. Once they were through the portrait hole, Ron immediately slung himself onto the nearest couch by the fire scaring away some second years who had their eyes on the couch as well.

"Ron!" Hermione said sternly, "for once in your life try not being so territorial."

"They're second years," Ron retorted, "they shouldn't even be up so late."

"It's 8:30, Ron," Hermione said exasperatedly.

He merely shrugged, laying back on the couch with his hands behind his head.

Hermione reached into her bag to retrieve the letter she received by owl this morning. Her and Viktor had been keeping touch since last year, periodically sending letters to each other. In truth, she always found it a slightly difficult task. There was only so much you could say to a person who you'd only known for a year and hadn't seen for six months. Yet Viktor always managed to write her very lengthly and detailed letters. In return, she felt obligated to do the same.

"Hermione, it's the bloody last day before the end of term," Ron spoke up suddenly, "what homework could you possibly be working on?"

"I'm not working on homework, Ronald, I'm writing a letter," she responded.

"To who?"

"To whom."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind," Hermione stated. "And I'm writing to Viktor, if you must know."

An unpleasant look fell over Ron's features, but before he could get a word out, Hermione quickly interrupted him.

"And I don't want to hear about how much you dislike him. Merlin knows we've all heard it enough."

"Well...good! Cause...he's dislikable!" Ron uttered with indignation.

"I shudder to imagine what he thinks of you, then," Hermione said airily.

He threw her a nasty look which she chose to ignore.

Moments later, Ron sighed, looking bored."Well, what's keeping Harry?" he inquired. "Everything was put away before we left."

Hermione merely shrugged, figuring it was best to let Harry share just what exactly had kept him when he returned. Whenever that was…

It had been at least fifteen minutes.

Ron was slowly dozing off and Hermione was just about to suggest he go upstairs to bed when the portrait hole opened to reveal Harry.

"What kept you?" Ron asked, sitting up, as Harry sank into the armchair next to Hermione's.

Harry did not answer.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Hermione asked, peering at him over the tip of her quill. He had a shocked expression plastered on his face.

Harry gave a halfhearted shrug.

"What's up?" said Ron, "What happened?"

Getting slightly impatient, Hermione jumped straight to the point. "Is it Cho?" she asked in a business-like way. "Did she corner you after the meeting?" Okay, maybe 'corner' is a bit harsh…but that is what she did! Hermione thought to herself.

Looking surprised, Harry nodded. Ron sniggered, breaking off when Hermione caught his eye.

"So—er—what did she want?" Ron asked in a mock casual voice.

"She—" Harry began, rather hoarsely; he cleared his throat and tried again. "She—er—"

"Did you kiss?" asked Hermione briskly, once again not finding the patience to endure his stuttering.

Ron sat up so fast that he sent an ink bottle flying all over the rug. Disregarding this completely he stared avidly at Harry.

"Well?" he demanded.

Harry looked from Ron to her. And then, he nodded.

And all of a sudden, Hermione felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know why or where it came from, but it was there. She felt it.

All of a sudden Ron's raucous peals of laughter caused her extreme irritation and digust.

All of a sudden the grin on Harry's face that she usually loved to see, was now making her feel an emptiness inside that she'd never felt before.

"Well?" Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. "How was it?"

Harry considered for a moment.

"Wet," he said truthfully.

Ron made a noise that might have indicated jubilation or disgust, it was hard to tell.

"Because she was crying," Harry continued heavily.

Hermione looked up from her letter.

"Oh," said Ron, his smile fading slightly. "Are you that bad at kissing?"

"Dunno," said Harry. "Maybe I am."

"Of course you're not," said Hermione absently.

"How do you know?" said Ron in a sharp voice.

"Because Cho spends half her time crying these days," said Hermione vaguely. She was hoping that Harry wouldn't have to witness it. Cedric's death was no easier on him than it was on Cho. So why couldn't Cho see that?

"You'd think a bit of kissing would cheer her up," said Ron, grinning.

"Ron," said Hermione in a dignified voice, "you are the most insensitive wart I have ever had the misfortune to meet."

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Ron indignantly. "What sort of person cries while someone's kissing them?"

"Yeah," said Harry, slightly desperately, "who does?"

She looked at Harry. He was hardly better than Ron at the moment, so she forced herself into Cho's shoes and began to explain the myriad of emotions Cho was feeling.

Hermione did genuinely feel some pity for her. Losing someone so close must have been truly heart breaking. But while letting out one's emotions was healthy, Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that Cho had picked exactly the wrong person to whom she should let her emotions out to.

Harry was kind, compassionate, and loving. Hermione knew that. But right now, she didn't think he could handle someone bringing him down any further. Life was not easy for him at the moment, and she didn't think it would be easy for him for a while.

Deciding she could no longer write any more in her letter, Hermione wished the boys goodnight and set off up the girl's staircase. However, she lay wide awake in her four poster some time after that, her mind rushing with immeasurable thoughts.

In the end, however, all her thoughts led back to one feeling. That illogical feeling of emptiness. And it just didn't make sense.

She knew what that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach was supposed to mean. She wasn't stupid. Yet, how could that be so? Could she really be...jealous?

A/N: Hi there! I would just like to thank those of you who have reviewed this story. I got an awesome review last chapter that was really very helpful so please keep them coming! I appreciate any feedback. Feel free to be as critical as you want because it only helps me in the end! Thanks a bunch. REVIEW!