Siren's Call

Chapter 10

Two Days Later, ROR.

Hermione laid on the bed in a copy of their home, a home they had only dreamed about before being presented it by her father. She was currently cocooned in the arms of her mates. 'Mates," she tested the word in her mind and smiled. She did not want to leave them, but she knew that they soon needed to return to reality. So, the five of them spend their last night together till the holiday lying in bed, telling stories, eating snacks and making love, and sleeping cuddled together for the last time.

In the morning after calling on a house elf for fresh clothing, Hermione walked her mates to the Headmasters office. After a tender goodbye, she watched as her mates flooed away.

"Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said, causing her to turn and look at him. "I have a few things I would like to discuss with you when you have the time. Now it is time for breakfast. Your friends have been missing you."

Hermione looked at him, and smiled, the twinkle in his eye was bright and cheerful. She agreed, and the two of them walked to breakfast talking about which was better; strawberry tarts or bread pudding. As they entered the great hall, she was engulfed in hugs by her closest friends. Ginny and Lavender bugged them for details. Hermione just blushed and dished a bunch of food onto her plate. The two of them let her be for now, but they would get the details from her later.

That first day back to reality Hermione had a hard time getting back into the swing of things. With her mates leaving her at Hogwarts, to make a name for themselves, she was feeling a bit alone. Though they promised to write as often as they could, she still felt a bit bereft without them there. Even though they spent the past few days in the arms of her mates, she still missed them. "Should have stayed in bed", she thought to herself. She would often catch herself daydreaming about them when she was supposed to be paying attention in class.

Professor McGonigal noticed that Hermione was having a hard time, and suggested that she stop trying for her second form. Perhaps going through the process a second time would help her succeed. It was then suggested that she would give lessons to new and old students who wanted the chance to learn, 6th year and up. she would help them succeed. out of everyone only, Harry, Ron, and Neville wanted to try, Ginny made her interest known but was refused for not being old enough. however, they would later find that Hermione was giving her roommates lessons when they asked; ginny included.

As time passed Harry became more and more paranoid about Malfoy. Of course, the special lessons that he had with Dumbledore didn't help.

Harry continued to become better in potions thanks to the Half-Blood Prince. Hermione tended to stomp out of potions leaving Harry and Ron behind. Her anger usually carried over into D.A.D.A. Snape had not failed to notice the tension between them. He wondered at the cause but never deemed it important enough to investigate. Perhaps it had something to do with Potions, "Maybe it's time to talk to Slughorn, and see what goes on in his class." Hermione was an adept student, she just recited the text in a sort of word vomit. Slughorn shared her essays with him, she had gotten better at using her own words. he noticed a change and wondered if someone had finally told her to use her own words.

Hermione could be seen scribbling away at something nearly all the time. She received an owl every day in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. If she wasn't scribbling she was reading something. It was driving half of Gryffindor batty. Harry suddenly wondered what would happen if there was ever a parchment and ink shortage. Then he wondered what would happen if he stole her quill.

"What are you laughing about?" Ginny asked sitting down next to him at the Gryffindor table.

"What would happen if Hermione suddenly lost her quill?" Harry said.

She laughed quietly, "I'm not so sure she would find it funny."

"Probably not," Harry said with a sigh.

"Have you made any luck on your second form?" Neville asked when the small group was alone in the common room.

"No," Hermione said, "I've been spending time after class with Hagrid, mostly just feeding the Thestrals and helping with the Hippogriffs."

"Sounds like a good idea," Ginny said, "are any of the boys meeting you at Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"The twins can't make it," Hermione said with a smile, "They're working on something for your father for Christmas. And Viktor has Practice even though it's offseason. His coach is really persistent."

"You don't seem to be disappointed," Neville said.

"Cedric is going to meet me after breakfast," Hermione said with a smile, "Remus and Tonks are having a meeting with Dumbledore, and he gave permission for me to accompany them to Diagon Ally to visit the twins."

"You're so lucky," Ginny sighed into her drink "I really miss them."

"It'll be Christmas soon and we get to go home for the holiday," Hermione said happily. "Plus, your boyfriend is sitting right there next to you, I believe it is you who are the lucky one."

Neville blushed and looked down at his hands. Ginny mock glared at Hermione and stuck her tongue out at her.

"Harry are you and Cho going to Hogsmeade together?" Hermione asked knowingly. When he didn't answer, she said, "You haven't asked her yet?"

"I'm not quite sure how to," Harry said.

"Harry Potter!" Ginny said in a growl, "You march straight to her table at breakfast tomorrow morning and ask her to go with you. I know you've been having homework sessions in the library."

He was too shocked at her outburst to say anything and just nodded in agreement. She then turned to Hermione and started questioning what she was going to wear to Hogsmeade, to meet Cedric. Of course, nothing she said mattered as Ginny had already decided that she would pick out what she was going to be wearing. Neville and Harry tried not to laugh, as Hermione tried to tell her it wouldn't be necessary.

Harry did exactly as Hermione told him to. He went to the great hall early and waited for Cho to arrive. Once she was sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, he stood up and walked over to her. "Good morning Cho," he said nervously, "I was wondering if it was too late to ask you to Hogsmeade with me today."

"No, it's not too late, I mean yes I'll go with you Harry," Cho fumbled through her words, being near him made her nervous.

He beamed her a smile, and she nearly swooned with delight. Her housemates sighed dramatically, and the boys all laughed at their faces. After dinner, he walked her to the owlery, where she send some letters, and he also sent some letters. He walked her to the Ravenclaw Common room. He kissed her on the cheek, told her good night, and they were to meet in the great hall for breakfast at 8 am. Harry could have died happy right then and there.

A/N: