Hello, darlings. This chapter is on the short side because I really want to do justice to the next chapter, Umbridge's trial, but I also wanted to get a chapter out to you since the last one had a teaser. As always thanks for reading, liking, reviewing, and all the other love and support you have given my silly story. And thank you for all the concern for my health and sanity at work. We continue to be Corona free and my sanity was barely there to begin with. Enjoy.

Chapter 46

November meant the first quidditch match. The closer the Gryffindor/Slytherin face off drew, the more sure Hermione became that she was surrounded by insane people. Everyone seemed to have become quite quidditch mad, even Luna. She excitedly told Hermione that Professor McGonagall agreed to let her provide commentary.

The morning of the game, Hermione dressed warmly in her Gryffindor jumper and Theo's scarf. Tracy joined her as she left the Great Hall following breakfast. She signed, 'I thought you could use the company.'

Hermione nodded, and signed with a laugh, 'I hate this.' They began making their way down to the pitch.

'Hate what?' signed Pansy.

'Not sure who I want to win today.' Complicating matters, the game landed on Theo's birthday, his seventeenth birthday. Pansy shook her head and followed the sea of green to the Slytherin cheering section. Hermione's original plan was to ignore the entire game, but Luna's commentary proved hilarious. Often the flighty Ravenclaw allowed herself to be distracted by other observations, causing the Deputy Headmistress to remind her to focus. Eventually the match came down to Draco and Harry, neck and neck, chasing the snitch. Hermione hid her eyes behind the silver and green scarf. The crowd roared when the winning seeker snatched the golden orb.

Hermione slipped through the celebrating crowd to the Slytherin changing room. She smiled apologetically at her sibling as he exited. He shrugged and gave her a half smile. She leaned against a wooden support, waiting for her boyfriend. Theo emerged, his hair damp from his post game shower.

"Hey." he sounded a bit glum.

"Happy birthday." She stepped forward.

"Thanks, I guess."

"I know losing the game today of all days sucks."

"Kind of."

"I bet I can cheer you up." She grinned impishly.

"Oh, you think you can, do you?"

"I know I can. Come on, birthday boy. I have a picnic planned." She held out her hand to him.

"With those little sandwich things Winky makes?"

"Maybe," she responded in a teasing tone. She tugged him along towards Black Lake. A flick of her wand spread the picnic blanket across the green lawn. Dobby popped out with a wicker basket. "For Miss Herminnie."

"Thank you, Dobby." She handed the house elf bright pink knitted socks. The elf hugged them tightly to his chest before popping away.

Theo plopped down on the gray and blue plaid. Hermione joined him, pulling dishes out. "Oh, Winky's little turkey sandwiches AND Kreacher's cakes, nice."

"I'm going to assume you meant to end that with, thank you."

"I did. Thank you, sweet."

"You are most welcome." They ate quietly, watching the giant squid's tentacle splashing in the middle of the lake. Hermione packed up the remains once they finished.

"So, will we be celebrating my birthday in the same manner as we celebrated my unbirthday?" He ran his hand down her arm.

"You want me to take off my clothes, out here? In the middle of nowhere, where anyone could just walk up and see us? She that what you want?"

"When you put it that way, not really." He grinned sheepishly."

"I'm sure a little privacy can be arranged." He chuckled at her. She took a deep breath and pulled her robe over to her. "Did you want your present now?"

"Who doesn't want a birthday present?"

"I'm sure there have been people out there at some point." She pulled the velvet box out of her robe pocket, her grin slipping. She swallowed nervously and handed it to him. "Happy birthday, Theo."

He opened the box. Inside, a pair of cufflinks and matching tie tack shone against the black velvet bedding. The gold pomegranate contrasted with the crimson enamel. He glanced up at her questioningly. "That is the Granger family crest. Those belonged to my three times great-grandfather. Uncle Orville left them to me. I want you to have them." She looked at her hands resting in her lap. "I know it isn't something from the Malfoy or Black family."

Theo curled his finger sideways under her chin and raised her head to face his, his eyes soft and warm. "It means so much more because of that." He looked down at the box. "The Grangers are a part of your past. I know that your last memories with them are somewhat tainted, but they were your family. And you love them, all of them. I assume these belonged to your Uncle Orville." She nodded. "And that makes them even more special." An enormous smile split his face. "You really love me." Awe colored his voice with emotion.

"You doubted that?"

"No, but it's one thing to think it and another to see the proof in front of you. And you showed it by following a tradition that means something to me."

"That's why I did it."

"I know. I love you." He cupped her face in his hands.

"I love you, too." She closed the distance between their faces to brush her lips against his twice, before firmly pressing her lips to his. He eagerly returned her affection. They spent the time until dinner snogging in the autumn sunshine.

Exactly as Snape said it would, running vastly increased their spell casting stamina. Both Gryffindors found themselves lasting longer when dueling, and noticed an improvement in their classroom performances. Harry managed to cast a few spells wordlessly in Defense Against the Dark Arts. While secretly pleased, Snape scowled at him at the time, much to Hermione's amusement. She hadn't quite managed the feat, but Harry's approach to magic was more intuitive than hers. She knew she was getting close to being able to do so. During their private lessons, the dour professor taught them numerous new spells for both defense and offense. "Mao Zedong once said, 'the only real defense is active defense.' Many have modernized the saying to, 'the best defense is a good offense.'" He demonstrated an advanced combat hex designed to blind your opponent. "Sometimes striking first means the difference between life and death. These lessons are to prepare you for battle, not structured duels. You should be prepared to exploit any advantage you find."

By the end of November he admitted he found their performances to be adequate. Draco and Theo laughed when Hermione grumbled about it to them. "Please, from Snape that's quite positive. Forget all the lavish praise he showers on Slytherins in class, that's for show. He's expected to favor us, so he does. Outside of that he isn't much for positive reinforcement." Theo told them.

Draco agreed, "Just the fact that he felt the need to verbalize anything says volumes. We should probably start demanding lessons from you."

Hermione laughed, "We discussed hitting up Dad and Sirius for some lessons from them, and probably Remus."

"Learning from different people can help increase your own versatility as a fighter." Harry added. "But we're going to wait on that until summer."

The morning the students were leaving for Christmas break, a parliament of owls winged into the Great Hall during breakfast. Twenty-seven owls circled over the tables before depositing letters with the students and staff seated below. Housemates watched with interest as the letters were opened and read. By the time the last one had been read, speculation raged across the room. Ginny looked up from her letter to the curious stares of her fellow Gryffindors. A little further down the table, Hermione and Harry finished reading theirs, but remained silent. "They scheduled the Hogwarts portion of Umbridge's trial over Christmas break. They didn't want us missing school over it. It just says some ministry officials will come see us before we testify, and what days we're scheduled for." Ginny shrugged and returned to her breakfast. Outwardly, she looked unconcerned and disinterested. Inwardly, she revealed in the attention. While she despised the words etched on the back of her hand, and kept it glamoured, she enjoyed having the spotlight on her. A glance at Harry and Hermione showed them oblivious to all the interest the other students expressed. Maybe for once, she could be the one everyone looked to for the inside story. She left for the Express with a smile on her face and spring in her step.

The train buzzed with excited chatter about the upcoming trial. It was one thing to know Umbridge would be punished for her crimes against others, and another thing entirely to know she would be punished for her crimes against them. Privately, Ginny thought Essence Broadmoor only avoided Azkaban because of the blood quills. Being tortured by a teacher gained you all kinds of sympathy. She used her parents' ire to get herself ungrounded for the summer. She avoided the seventh year to prevent reminding the others of the entire fiasco. It had taken the summer to dull their ire about Umbridge's reign of terror. She joined the other Gryffindors in her year, patiently waiting for one of them to notice her and ask what she knew.

While Ginny sought out the attention, Hermione and Harry hid in their compartment with siblings and friends. Hermione indulged Luna as the other described her upcoming expedition to find a crumpled-horn snornack; she and her father intended to head to Sweden over the Christmas. When Luna asked her opinion, Hermione shrugged and smiled at her blonde friend, "I've never seen one, but who knows. Perhaps they are very shy." She elbowed Theo when he snorted with laughter. Neville, Harry, and Draco played Exploding Snap. Through unspoken agreement none of them discussed the upcoming dramatics. A few baleful stares and glares forced most gossips into retreat. Romilda Vane lasted the longest in the doorway. "Aren't you the least little bit excited to testify in front of the Wizengamot?"

"Been there." Harry started.

"Done that." finished Hermione. "The events of last year were rather upsetting, so you'll have to forgive us if we don't relish reliving them for complete strangers, or your enjoyment." Romilda opened her mouth to retort. "Nope, don't want to hear it. We want Umbridge taken down permanently, as much as the rest of you. And we will most certainly do our part. That is all you need to know. Good day."

"But,"

"I said good day." Hermione slammed the compartment door shut in front of the girl.

Neville flushed, "I didn't know you were still upset about it. I feel horrible." Luna nodded.

"I don't actually, I just figured 'I don't want to go on and on about this with practically strangers' would go over well." Hermione shrugged. "People who have never had their personal lives spread across the front page have no idea how invasive it can be. They think this will be glamorous and exciting. In reality, it will be long hours sitting on uncomfortable benches or chairs waiting to testify to bored, annoyed wizards."

"You forgot to mention that it could drag on for days." Draco reminded her.

"Sure," she deadpanned, "make it sound even more exciting why don't you."

"Ah, you forget, Father intends for me to accompany him. Start learning the ins and outs of politics."

Theo nodded, "My father said something similar as well. So, you and Harry won't be alone."

"Grandmother keeps hinting she intends for me to come observe as well." Neville frowned. "As thrilling as you're made that sound now."

Hermione chuckled, "Misery loves company, you know that."