"So what's this goal you have in mind?" Hermione asked, as they rounded the far side of the Black Lake.

In response, Harry tugged her into some tall rushes, quickly whispering a barrage of privacy spells.

"What-?" Hermione's eyes seemed to glow (which was a feat, because they were trunk-brown) with eagerness.

"Privacy charms," Harry Potter said, "Yes, I'll teach you them. But a few of them are complex, so we'll save them for another day."

Hermione had only half heard him, letting her eyelids droop as her fingers extended outwards, "These are... they're layered. How did you ever think of that?"

"Practice, practice, and of course, a lot of reading," Harry said, the pride evident in his voice.

Hermione's eyes blinked open, and her enthusiasm seemed to pin Harry against his own spells, as she looked at him with hunger in her eyes. "So, what's so secret that you can't even chance someone overhearing?"

"Did you know that our teachers can read our minds?" Harry asked quietly, somberly.

Hermione let out a giggle/guffaw, "I know the Twins say that about our Potions Professor! But - you can't really- they lie, a lot, you know?" Hermione's last sentence came out half stammered and half stuttered.

"I happen to have a bit better evidence than they do," Harry said.

"Did someone try to read your mind?" Hermione asked.

"No, at least i don't think so." Harry said firmly, "But, I was a little... paranoid, that first day."

"Your detention?" Hermione said, and Harry was glad of her acute memory.

"Not, exactly." Harry said, "More what I was doing that got me detention."

"What was that?" Hermione said.

"Thinking too loudly." Harry responded, looking chagrined. "Apparently that is quite distracting for said Potions Professor."

"I can see it, " Hermione said, "What strange and esoteric thoughts were you inflicting on him?"

"Pink elephants and biglipped alligators." Harry responded, and Hermione clapped her hands.

"Dumbo! How wonderful!"

"Professor Snape certainly didn't so." Harry said, looking somewhat grim and slightly sad.

"I want to study the art of hiding your mind," Harry continued. "But if there are books for it around, they're in the Restricted Section."

"So?" Hermione asked.

"So, I don't think I can exactly wangle a pass out of anyone. Nobody knows that I can easily surpass most of the first year material." Harry said, catching Hermione looking at him in wonder. He responded crabbily, "Don't look at me like that. You're just as far along, or nearly."

"But I haven't been on the second year texts at all yet!" Hermione said, a bit flustered.

"Half of the books you check out in the library are second to third year material." Harry responded back.

"Harry Potter, have you been stalking me?" Hermione said, her hands on her hips, her left toes tapping.

Crap.

[a/n: Yes, I know, this was the crummiest reveal ever, as Harry had already had these thoughts months ago. In fairness, Hermione is entertaining, and she didn't kow about any of it.

Leave a review?]