Whoo! Okay, in all honestly, I had NO desire to write for a few weeks then just a couple nights ago it just hit me and I wrote pretty much all of this as well as half of next chapter. So I'm on a roll hopefully.

Many thanks to my beta, Badbugz, and, of course, to everyone who has stuck with me through this story.

Chapter twenty nine- Ordinary Night (for lack of better title)

They walked in uncomfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The only connection that anyone would suspect they had was based on their joined hands. They were seemingly unconcerned about being discovered, though it was long past curfew.

Hermione looked out at the twilight sky. "So…." She trailed off, glancing at Darian.

"Yeah…" Darian answered nervously, blushing and Hermione laughed as she stopped in front of him. She took her hand out of his and smiled.

"I guess I have some kind of bodyguard now," she said slowly.

Darian shrugged. She looked away and turned around to look out the window. The sky had darkened and the grounds of Hogwarts were desolate and silent. Finally, she sighed and turned back to him.

"You've got to tell me how this thing works," she said, a look in her eye that she often got at the prospect of reading a new book.

"Don't think I know any more about this then you do," Darian countered, before frowning. "It will probably get annoying and dangerous. I…er….understand if you don't want to be around me as much anymore…."

"Don't you dare say that!" she snapped, grabbing his shoulders. "Darian Snape, how dare you think of me like that? Do you honestly think I'd abandon you?"

Darian blushed again. "No, but you have to admit that it will be dangerous."

"You've got to stop thinking of yourself as an animal with no emotion, Darian," Hermione said, sliding down the wall to sit. He repeated the process and sat beside her.

"But I am an animal, Hermione," he said honestly, glancing at her from under his fringe. "I'm a werewolf, a creature that would kill his own best friend if he were to cross my path, remember?"

Hermione winced guiltily.

"Werewolves are not just wolves. They are also human. No matter what you think, your humanity can easily override the wolf if you just have faith in yourself," she said, shaking her curly hair.

Darian turned his gaze from her to look down at his lap. "I'm not one to really believe in my own strength, I suppose."

"It's not your fault," Hermione said softly before smiling. "And besides, that's what you have me for, right?"

Darian couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. "Yeah, right."

He reached up, catching a curl between his fingers and she blushed.

"Are you looking forward to going to Snape's house for Christmas?" Hermione asked, smoothing her skirt out.

"You've asked me that a hundred times," Darian answered, smiling at her.

She shrugged. "Sorry, I just want to make sure that you're going to be happy."

Darian looked out the opposite window at the pinpricked sky. Words couldn't describe how relieved he was that this mate business hadn't affected their friendship…..well, not yet anyway…. He almost felt like he was waiting for something to screw up the sensation of peace that he had so recently discovered.

"You are going home with your parents for the holidays too, aren't you?" Darian asked her.

"Yeah," Hermione sighed, studying a nearby portrait. "I wish you could meet them," she said, and blushed slightly. "Not like….I mean…" she struggled for the right words. "You've just never really met my parents before. You or Ron. We always end up meeting at the Weasleys' if we ever plan to do anything. I just thought it would be nice for us to go to my house for once."

Darian nodded. "You wanted Ron and me to come for Christmas?" he asked.

"Well, yeah," she admitted. "But now that the war is in full-swing, it's better to be with your family, both of you." She looked pointedly at him and smiled. "Your first real Christmas, huh?"

"Not really. You and Ron have always been my family, Hermione," Darian said. He hesitated, looking at her shyly before reaching over and taking her hand in his again.

"It will be different. Maybe a bit more awkward but, hopefully, we'll get over it," he continued.

"You will," Hermione said, squeezing his hand. "And I've told you this a hundred times, just because things are a little rocky right now doesn't mean it won't get any better. These things take time."

"I know."

Hermione tilted her head, looking at him closely. "Did something happen?" she asked in concern. "You didn't exactly look happy when you came out."

Darian shrugged. "The usual," he said, examining her fingers. "A little fight; I overreacted, of course."

Hermione laughed. "If you think that if I say'it will take some time,' you and your father will stop fighting altogether, then you have another thing coming. I still get into fights with my parents at least twice a week."

"But you live here," Darian pointed out.

"Well, we do send letters to each other don't we?"

"I guess….how can you get in a fight sending letters?" he asked skeptically, not having anyone to really send letters to during the school year. "I never got in a fight with Sir..er…Padfoot when we wrote to each other."

"Yeah, but he wasn't your father," Hermione said obviously.

Darian scowled and folded his arms. "He was my godfather!"

"But he didn't raise you," Hermione countered.

"Neither did Snape."

"Well, you and Snape haven't gotten to know each other that well," Hermione said. "Plus, Snape is a very temperamental person as you well know."

"I never really knew Padfoot either," Darian pointed out. "But we didn't really fight that much."

"Padfoot is more playful than normal fathers, Darian," Hermione said seriously. "He's more like a brother or an uncle."

"Not in our fourth year he wasn't," Darian muttered.

"Are you determined to think that your fights with Snape are so abnormal, or do you just like fighting with me?" Hermione asked in annoyance.

"I just don't see how you can get in a fight through a letter!" Darian said loudly.

"That's not the point of this conversation!" Hermione said heatedly.

"Then what is the point?"

"The point is that getting in little fights with your father is completely normal," Hermione said, looking confused. "….wasn't it?"

"But how can you get in a fight with your parents twice a week through a letter?" Darian asked incredulously.

"Just forget about the letter!" Hermione snapped.

"What are you two griping about now?" a familiar voice muttered and they jumped.

"Ron," Darian said in relief, wondering why he hadn't sensed his approach.

"You have to be more focused, Darian," Ron said, smirking. "I could've been a Death Eater for all you know. Remember: Constant Vigilance."

"Oh, shut up," Darian grumbled as Hermione giggled.

Ron flopped down on the other side of Hermione. "Sooo," he began, looking uncertainly between them. "You weren't back yet; I went looking and heard you two bickering. How are things?" he asked, not needing to emphasize what these "things" were.

"None of your business," Hermione answered before Darian could say anything. "You need to concentrate more on Luna, Ron."

Ron's ears turned red. "What?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with us, Ronald Weasley," Hermione said, folding her arms and glaring at him. "It's obvious that you're just smitten for her, isn't Darian?" she asked sweetly, smirking at him.

"Er…." Darian looked at her. "Yeah….yeah, obvious! Very obvious, mm-hmm," he said nodding vigorously.

"Why are we even talking about this?" Ron said in exasperation, though his neck was also red now. "This whole conversation started about you two, not me!"

"Well, maybe it should be about you, Ron," Hermione said.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked stupidly and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"We need to find you a girl, mate," Darian said, clapping him on the shoulder and looking concerned. "All this time by yourself can't be healthy."

"Is it my fault that you two have abandoned me?" Ron snapped.

Darian shifted, feeling a trickle of guilt at his friend's words.

"Besides," Ron went on. "I haven't been alone. Usually I hang out with Luna---hey!" he yelled, realizing he had fallen into a trap. "That's not funny!" he grouched as Darian sniggered.

"Okay," Hermione said in a loud voice, interrupting them. "Now that Ron has a girlfriend who is not part of the usual trio, we need to make sure she's good enough for our dear Ron."

"Is this some kind of miniature sorority or something?" Darian asked blankly.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed.

"Relax, I was just joking," she said, waving her hands in front of herself defensively.

Ron folded his arms and glared at her.

"Hey, you better calm down," Hermione said, smirking. "Or Darian will tear you apart if he thinks you're threatening me."

Ron paled.

"Hermione!" Darian said in a long-suffering tone. "Please don't talk about that!"

"Yes," Ron piped up after deeming it safe. "Rule number one: 'We will not make fun of Darian and his 'time of the month.'"

Darian blushed dark red and Hermione busted out laughing.

"You are dead," he hissed, shoving Ron on the shoulder and onto the floor.

"Oy! Watch the robe," Ron said as he righted himself, brushing the dust off his robe. "Even you have to admit it, mate, that your 'time of the month' and Hermione's 'time of the month' are rather similar."

"Shut up!"

"Don't bring me into this!"

Ron smirked. "You both deserve it," he said smugly. "Besides, both of you are really sensitive during that time of the mon---oof!" A robe was nearly stuffed into his mouth by Hermione. He choked, yanking an alarmingly large amount of cloth out of his mouth.

"You really do have a big mouth," Darian mused.

Ron coughed, pulling a face. "Ugh! Your robe tastes horrible, Hermione! Wait…" he trailed off, looking to the robe that proudly bore the Ravenclaw insignia to Hermione. "What were you doing with Darian's robes?" he asked, looking at them suspiciously.

"For your information, Ronald, I was cold," Hermione said stiffly.

"Hermione," Darian groaned. "Why did you have to put my robe in his mouth! Now I'll have to wash it again…"

"Oh poor you," Ron said sarcastically. "At least you don't have the taste of expired soap in your mouth."

"That's not all that was on it, mate," Darian said with a smile.

Ron made a face again. "Please…..I don't need to know."

"Boys…." Hermione muttered, closing her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

&&&&&&&&&

"What'd you get me up for?" Hermione hissed furiously.

Ron yanked his robes on and buttoned them up, thanking Merlin that they hid his too-small pajamas. They were both standing in the abandoned Common Room at two in the morning the night before they left for Christmas break.

"We're going to get Darian," Ron whispered, looking nervously behind him to make sure no one had followed them down.

Hermione had had the sense to put on a robe over her nightgown before coming down.

"Why?" she said grouchily, fussing with her hair. "He isn't in any kind of trouble, is he?"

"No," Ron said, leaning closer to her. She instinctively leaned forward too. "We're going to Hogsmeade!"

"Are you nuts?" Hermione snapped, her quiet voice laced with fury. "You know students aren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade since the Death Eater attack and it its two in the morning!"

"And you know the shops stay open all night since the war's started," Ron countered. "And this is the last night before holiday. We all are going to our families and we won't even get to see each other. Don't you want to do one last thing before we have to leave?"

"No!" Hermione said, her voice shaking. "It's not like we're graduating, Ron! We're coming back for spring semester and next year!"

"But what if there is no Hogwarts next year, 'Mione?" Ron asked quietly. "With the war going on--"

"Many places are unsafe," Hermione finished coldly. "We can't risk this. If we got caught we'd be expelled for sure! Not to mention it's the stupidest plan you've ever come up with!"

"For one thing," Ron said, leaning closer. "Darian's father is a teacher and Dumbledore loves us. They'd never expel us. For another--" he gave Hermione a look when she opened her mouth "--you never know what's going to happen next. For all we know, one of us could be dead by next year."

"Don't talk like that," Hermione warned, her eyes flashing. "Don't you dare--"

"Then you see where I'm coming from!" Ron said loudly. "Live in the moment, 'Mione. Live when you can!"

"Darian won't want to do this!" Hermione insisted, though it was a weak protest. "It is extremely dangerous for him. Voldemort knows who he really is."

"It was Darian's idea in the first place," Ron said after flinching.

"What?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "So let's go already!"

"Ron--" Hermione began. "I can't….I can't put him in danger like this; I can't put us in danger!"

"Hermione, we're only teenagers once," Ron said desperately. "We gotta have fun when we can, 'Mione. Come on! It'll be like old times!"

"Old times are gone, Ron," Hermione said, her voice shaking with sorrow. "It will never be like old times. We may relive the adventures but we will always have the worries that make these times much different from the 'old times.'"

"Well Darian and I are going," Ron said firmly. "With or without you…….though it'd be safer with you."

Hermione let out a frustrated half-shriek-sounding-huff and glared daggers at him. "Ronald Weasley, I swear that you are the most infuriating, most irresponsible, pri--"

"Yeah, yeah," Ron said impatiently. "Darian and I are irresponsible and infuriating and we've been destined to get you expelled since day one, heard it before."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I'm not blaming Darian."

"Oh yes," Ron said loudly. "Don't blame your boyfriend when it was his idea in the first place! I'm just the sidekick, remember?"

Hermione blushed. "You know its not like that…."

"You have to be some kind of idiot to still say that, 'Mione," Ron muttered, shaking his head. "Well, if you insist on staying…" He walked over to the portrait and carefully opened it, pausing to throw her one last look.

Hermione met his eyes challengingly and after a silent battle, she gritted her teeth and pushed off from the doorway, walking out of the common room in the direction of the Ravenclaw dorms.

&&&&&&&&&&

"Got the map?" Ron whispered, glancing around the Ravenclaw common room.

Darian winced, holding up a finger to his mouth in a sign for quiet and wordlessly held up the ancient-looking parchment that was folded neatly. Under his other arm, his Invisibility Cloak was scrunched into a large silver ball.

Hermione bit her lip nervously, glancing behind her to the dark hallway that led to the dorms. She shifted, uncertain of what they were about to embark on.

'I really need to find some friends who are girls,' she thought dully as Ron tripped over his own feet and Darian grabbing his robes to prevent him from falling, only for the robes to tear.

"Oy!" Ron hissed, managing to catch his balance. He stretched his head so he could see his back, but only managed to walk himself in a complete circle, giving Hermione the image of a dog trying to chase its tail.

Darian winced again, closing his eyes briefly and shaking his head at the redhead with pleading eyes.

"Just put up a silencing charm or something if you're that worried!" Ron snapped.

Darian snarled lightly and froze, his eyes widening. "Go, go!" he mouthed, making a frantic gesture with his hand.

Hermione groaned and grabbed Ron's arm, hauling him out of the Common Room. Darian came out shortly after.

"Let's go!" he hissed. "Quickly!"

They ran out of the library, shoes slapping against the stone floor and echoing across the corridors. Darian looked like he was going to pass out as he held his hands to his ears, his emerald eyes watering.

They finally came to a stop before the statue of the one-eyed witch.

"Jeez, mate," Ron panted, putting his hands on his knees. "What was up with that?"

Darian took a moment to catch his breath, glancing over to make sure Hermione was alright. He tried to shake the ringing from his ears. Sounds were much louder at night when everything was quiet.

"There's a….a charm on the Common Room," he whispered, taking a deep breath. "It lets the prefects know if someone's down there based on sound."

"Only sound?" Hermione asked. "Wouldn't it be easier to just cast a charm that sensed someone's presence?"

Darian shook his head. "Not allowed I don't think," he said, finally straightening.

"Dissendium!" he intoned and the passageway opened.

"Are you sure about this?" Hermione asked cautiously. "This really isn't something we should be doing, Darian…."

"Come on, Hermione!" Ron groused. "Live a little!"

Hermione glared at him.

"I won't let anything happen, 'Mione," Darian said honestly.

She shook her head. "You can't promise that, Darian."

"But I can come close," Darian said. "I can sense, smell, and hear whoever is around, 'Mione. I swear, I won't let anything happen to you," he told her, gazing into her brown eyes.

"Oh, well thanks a lot!" Ron muttered, rolling his eyes and turning away as the two shared a private moment. "Can we go now? Or can I at least turn around?" he snapped, staring at the cobwebs above them.

When no one answered, he sighed and tapped a foot impatiently.

"Ron?" Hermione asked after a couple moments had passed.

Ron turned around and, thankfully, found them detached from one another.

"Are you coming or not?" Darian asked, already stepping into the passage.

Ron muttered something rather rude under his breath but followed his two best friends into the passage to Hogsmeade.

A/N- Okay, tell me what you think.