Disclaimer: I don't own this.

A/N: I'm back again-- just a little reminder, since this is supposed to intertwine with the original works, there will be some overlapping. But, bear with me for a little bit, I promise that the story will pick up the pace soon :) Please read and review. Love it or hate it, I want to know!


Secrets

2 Months Previously

The post owls arrived, swooping down through rain-flecked windows, scattering everyone with droplets of water. Most people were receiving more post than usual; anxious parents were keen to hear from their children and to reassure them, in turn, that all was well at home. Hermione squinted her eyes upwards in search of her daily copy of the Prophet only to see that Hedwig was among all the brown and gray owls. She landed in front of Harry carrying a large, square package. A moment later, an identical package landed in front of Ron, crushing beneath it his minuscule and exhausted owl, Pigwidgeon.

"Ha!" said Harry, as he unwrapped his new copy of Advanced Potion-Making.

"Oh, good," said Hermione, delighted. "Now you can give that graffitied copy back." She was becoming thoroughly exhausted of Harry making himself the best in Potions with someone else's notes. She really didn't think it was quite fair to the rest of the students, like her, that earned all of their credit through hard work and studying.

"Are you mad?" said Harry. "I'm keeping it! Look, I've thought it out —"

Hermione watched as he pulled the old copy of Advanced Potion-Making out of his bag and tapped the cover with his wand, muttering, "Dijjindo!" The cover fell off. He did the same thing with the brand-new book; Hermione looked scandalized. He then swapped the covers, tapped each, and said, "Reparo!"

There sat the old copy, disguised as a new book, and there sat the fresh copy from Flourish and Blotts, looking thoroughly secondhand.

"I'll give Slughorn back the new one; he can't complain; it cost nine Galleons."

Hermione pressed her lips together, willing herself not to use several four letter words in response. She was just turning to Harry to begin a row when she was distracted by a third owl landing in front of her carrying that day's copy of the Daily Prophet.

Ah! Just what I've been waiting for.

She unfolded it hastily and scanned the front page.

"Anyone we know dead?" asked Ron in his usual bothersome tone.

Hermione tried the hide the fact that she was annoyed by Ron's tactlessness.

"No, but there have been more Dementor attacks," she said through clenched teeth. "And an arrest."

"Excellent; who?" said Harry.

Hermione sighed.

Sometimes Harry can be such a brainless git. Why does he automatically assume that when I say someone was arrested, that it was someone we'd want to be arrested? If the Ministry wasn't doing their job before, why would they suddenly be doing it now?

"Stan Shunpike."

"What?" said Harry, startled.

"Stanley Shunpike," she read, "Conductor on the popular Wizarding conveyance the Knight Bus, has been arrested on suspicion of Death Eater activity. Mr. Shunpike, 21, was taken into custody late last night after a raid on his Clapham home. . ."

"Stan Shunpike, a Death Eater?" said Harry. "No way!"

"He might have been put under the Imperius Curse," said Ron reasonably. "You never can tell."

"It doesn't look like it," said Hermione, who was still reading greedily. "It says here he was arrested after he was overheard talking about the Death Eaters' secret plans in a pub." Hermione was troubled at this. "If he was under the Imperius Curse, he'd hardly stand around gossiping about their plans, would he?"

"It sounds like he was trying to make out he knew more than he did," said Ron. "Isn't he the one who claimed he was going to become Minister of Magic when he was trying to chat up those Veela?"

"Yeah, that's him," said Harry. "I dunno what they're playing at, taking Stan seriously."

"They probably want to look as though they're doing something," said Hermione, thinking of all the frightened Hogwarts parents. "People are terrified — you know the Patil twins' parents want them to go home?"

"What?!" said Ron, goggling at Hermione. "But Hogwarts is safer than their homes, bound to be! We've got Aurors, and all those extra protective spells, and we've got Dumbledore."

I don't think we've got him all the time," said Hermione very quietly, glancing toward the staff table over the top of the Prophet. The thought had been weighing on her mind heavily for some time. She had only seen Dumbledore a handful of times since they'd returned to school. If Dumbledore wasn't at Hogwarts, where was he?

"Haven't you noticed?" she said, shaking out of her reverie. "His seat's been empty for a week."

Harry and Ron looked up at the staff table while Hermione checked that they weren't being overheard.

"I think he's left the school to do something with the Order," said Hermione in a low voice. "I mean . . . it's all looking serious, isn't it?"

Hermione remembered when Hannah Abbott had been taken out of Herbology to be told her mother had been found dead.

The poor girl. I can't even imagine what that feels like.

They had not seen Hannah since. She looked up and realized that Harry and Ron were both lost in thought. She wondered if they were remembering the same events.

They continued their breakfast in a sullen stupor until a Gryffindor first year trudged shyly over to them.

She nervously waved a hello to Ron before piping up an awkward, "Good luck!" The student stepped back with a grin, waved a quick goodbye, and then scurried off to her giggling friends.

Ugh… I'd almost forgotten. Quidditch tryouts are today. If Ron doesn't make the team I'll have to kill myself. He's already been wimpering about not being invited to the Slug Club. I don't think he'll be tolerable if he doesn't become Gryffindor's new Keeper.

Ron waved to the giggling first years with a grin on his face before turning to Harry with a smug look.

What a pervert.

A few minutes later Harry and Ron said goodbye and left the Gryffindor table to head to the Quidditch Pitch for tryouts. Hermione watched as they passed Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil on the way. Recalling how the Patil twins might be sent home, she was unsurprised to see that the two best friends were whispering together, looking anxious. What did surprise her however, was when Ron passed Parvati and Lavender they looked around and gave him a wide smile. Ron blinked at them, smiled, and began strutting alongside Harry towards the front gate.

"I hope he wins Gryffindor Keeper," Hermione overheard Parvati say. "I don't think I could stand it if Cormac McLaggen had another thing to brag about."

Lavender nodded appreciatively before waving goodbye to Parvati.

"I'm going to the pitch to watch the tryouts. See you!"

This reminded Hermione that she had better hurry along as well. Harry and Ron wouldn't forgive her for missing this—and she wouldn't forgive herself if she missed Ron doing something silly.

She giggled to herself, deviously.

She finished her piece of warm, buttered toast before resigning to march down to the pitch. She'd already convinced herself that it was her duty to herself, and to her fellow Gryffindors, but mostly to herself, to make sure that Ron became the next Gryffindor seeker.

She departed into the cool, misty drizzle and found a place in the stands without wishing Ron good luck. She noticed that Lavender Brown was sitting alone and looking upset. Hermione slowly walked over to her and sat down.

"Is there something wrong, Lavender?"

Lavender looked up as if from a dream. Her eyes were red and her cheeks flushed as if she had been fighting back tears.

"Yes, but I don't really know that I want to talk about it. It's very personal and I'm afraid of what people will think," she replied.

What kind of secret could Lavender possibly have?

"Well," Hermione said, smiling encouragingly, "If you tell me your secret, I'll tell you one of mine."

Lavender sighed. As much as she liked hearing other people's secrets, it was very difficult to tell them about herself—especially this particular one.

"All right," she said, defeated. "I was in a relationship with… someone… who decided that they didn't want to be with me anymore. And I'm really confused and upset."

"Oh…I'm sorry," Hermione said, consolingly. She wasn't really sure how to handle these types of situations. She began to twist her hair around her finger absently. "I wasn't aware that you were dating anyone… can I ask who?"

There was a long pause in which Hermione noticed that Lavender looked as if she were fighting with herself about how much information she should give. Apparently deciding that Hermione was trustworthy, Lavender simply said, "Parvati."

Hermione sat there for a moment before realizing that her mouth was slightly hanging open. She gulped slightly and said, "Oh…I see." She then became very interested in a piece of string that hung loosely from the hem of her robes.

"Yeah…Parvati told me that her and my relationship was just a phase for her." She said the word with disgust and then looked away chewing her fingernails. "She says that she doesn't really like girls. We're still friends, but I'm so confused. It wasn't a phase for me. I really liked her. I guess I understand her feelings, but I can't turn off how I feel."

She turned around to see that Hermione was listening and then looked away again, embarrassed. She sighed heavily after a moment and looked back towards Hermione. Hermione became aware that she was fidgeting and began to hold her hands tightly together on her lap.

"I guess I'm just sad that I haven't found someone real to love. I've wanted forever to be in love. I mean, I guess sometimes I can be tactless and silly, but I do have feelings. I wish I knew someone who could see that."

Lavender looked away again, chewing her fingernails as she thought.

Hermione was taken aback by this courageous display of honesty. Prior to this, Hermione never really thought much of Lavender, other than thinking her pretty dumb to be quite honest. It was a few moments before Hermione realized that she was watching Lavender, studying her as if she were a new and interesting book in the Library. She began to notice things about Lavender that she had never noticed before like the paleness of her skin that contrasted with the light dusting of freckles on her cheek. She noticed the way the sun glittered with it hit Lavender's curly locks and how they seemed to surround her face like a golden halo. Lavender sensed that she was being watched and turned to lock her gaze on Hermione.

Hermione gasped for a moment at having been discovered, but didn't look away. She noticed the depth of Lavender's blue eyes and the pain that was behind them. She felt as if she were drowning in an ocean for a moment. Hermione caught her breath and looked away. She was momentarily in awe of Lavender's raw vulnerability. She looked back to see trembling pink lips and newly formed tears.

Hermione reached out a wavering hand to brush away the tears from Lavender's cheeks. Lavender blushed and looked down shyly, but didn't pull away.

What is she thinking? I feel strange doing this… and with Lavender of all people. I've never even had this type of experience with Harry or Ron.

Hermione was resolved to follow her feelings at that moment, even if they were strange to her.

"Look at me," Hermione whispered.

Lavender slowly turned her face, soaking in the soft touch of Hermione's hand on her skin. She was surprised to see the intensity that was building behind Hermione's brown eyes like fire.

"You will find love with someone who will appreciate you for the person inside. You'll get over Parvati soon enough, because the infatuation with her can't compare to real love."

"How can you know?" Lavender asked, skeptically. "Or how will I know, rather?"

"Well, I think it would have been easy for you to perceive your feelings for Parvati as being much more than they were. You're confused and inexperienced when it comes to love, and it seems to me that your relationship with Parvati is one of the deepest connections you have. It doesn't seem farfetched that you'd read more into it. But, real love isn't that way. Real love isn't a phase. It endures. I haven't found it yet either, but I know that it's out there."

Hermione sighed and looked out towards the stadium.

I just know it. I know that I'll find it one day and you will too.

"You're right, Hermione," Lavender said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Thank you for listening to me, and giving me such good advice. I'd appreciate it though if you didn't mention… what I told you to anyone else. I'm not really sure that I'm ready for everyone to know that I'm a…a…lesbian?"

Lavender looked startled at having admitted such a thing.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Hermione said with a warm smile. "And if you ever want to talk, I'm always around. I'm glad to see this side of you. It makes me want to see more."

Hermione and Lavender were smiling at one another when a shout from Harry at all the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff girls that had snuck on the pitch shook them out of their reverie.

"If there's anyone else here who's not from Gryffindor," they heard him shout, "leave now, please!"

There was a pause and then a couple of Ravenclaws went sprinting off the pitch, snorting with laughter.

Hermione and Lavender giggled in the stands.

"Oh yeah! That reminds me," Hermione said with a chuckle. "I was supposed to tell you a secret about me too."

"Yeah?" Lavender asked, with interest. "What is it?"

Hermione stifled another chuckle before replying.

"The real reason I came down to Quidditch tryouts."

"Oh? I assumed it was to cheer for Ron. What is the real reason?"

"Well… it is partially to root for Ron. And it is partially to see to it that any person who looks as if they'll beat him gets Confunded."

"What?!" Lavender asked, shocked. "Why?"

"Well… if you know Ron, then you know how annoying he can be when it comes to proving himself. I don't think I could stand his perpetual whining and complaining if he weren't to make it onto the team, especially in light of him not being invited to the Slug Club. He can be so bitter, and I just simply can't put myself through that. So, I'm taking matters into my own wand."

Hermione sniggered with the glee of someone who is breaking the rules and Lavender looked thoroughly impressed.

"Wow, Hermione! I've never seen this side of you."

They both giggled and chatted the rest of the way through Quidditch practice and neither of them even noticed that their hands slowly became intertwined as they watched. It was only when Parvati came to find Lavender after tryouts did they finally say goodbye.

Lavender was obviously annoyed by Parvati's ill-timed interference, but she took it in stride.

"Can we talk again later, Hermione?" she asked, apprehensively.

"Absolutely. Why don't you come to my dormitory room tonight and we can chat some more?"

Lavender smiled and waved before letting herself be dragged towards the castle in the arm of Parvati.

Hermione took the opportunity to run down to the pitch to congratulate Ron on his "well earned" victory.

"You did brilliantly, Ron!" " Hermione said, running toward Harry and Ron from the stands. Harry saw Lavender walking off the pitch, arm in arm with Parvati, a rather grumpy expression on her face. Ron looked extremely pleased with himself and even taller than usual as he grinned at the team and at Hermione.

After fixing the time of their first full practice for the following Thursday, Harry, Ron, and Hermione bade goodbye to the rest of the team and headed off toward Hagrid's. They all knew that they had a lot of explaining to do for not taking Care of Magical Creatures this year.