I'm Here When You Need Me- Chapter 6

Disclaimer: As difficult as it might seem, I don't own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does, but I can see why you might assume that...(not really...J. K. R. is soooo much better than me...)

A/N: If you could, please, please, PLEASE review. I would really like to hear what everyone thinks. Anyway, here it is!

Later, the group slowly made their way to the castle, ready for dinner. Harry walked with his arm protectively around Sarah's waist. She had her arm around his, feeling completely safe there with him. They got up to the stone steps, and the group broke up into three smaller groups. The twins and Lee went to the Gryffindor table, spotting other friends of theirs. Ginny went in search of Dean Thomas, with whom she was having an on-again-off-again relationship. Harry, Sarah, Ron, and Hermione walked to the table also, going to an empty section. Harry and Sarah purposely sat with their backs to the other House tables, so they could avoid Malfoy's cold stare. Ron and Hermione sat across from them.

"Oh, I'm starving," Ron said with longing plastered on his face.

"Just remember to not over-do it, like at the Start-of-Term feast. I don't want to have to guide you to a toilet," Hermione said with a slight grin. Ron looked at her with an expression somewhere between guilt and playfulness.

"Hey, guys. Did you see the notice on the board? It said that there is a feast tomorrow, and that we have to wear our robes," Sarah said with excitement in her voice. No one else seemed as happy as her.

"Why so happy?" Harry asked.

"Do you remember what Dumbledore said at the beginning of term?"

"Oo no erie well eee ne-her bay anhee ahention," said Ron through a mouth full of food.

"Ron, that's disgusting. Anyway, the feast tomorrow means the other schools are coming for the Tournament! Besides that, it's Halloween!" Sarah exclaimed.

"How could we forget?" Harry said, slapping himself on the forehead.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Sarah said with a grin.

"I am so excited!" Hermione said.

"Mee, toe. I wan o mee Vikor Rum!" Ron said again, through food.

Sarah gave him a scathing look, and he swallowed hard, causing himself to cough violently. Hermione started to thump him on the back, all the while rolling her eyes. Sarah and Harry were stifling laughter.

"Are you okay?" Harry said grinning.

"I'm fine, I guess," Ron gasped. His ears were starting to get red.

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked concerned.

"Yes. Thanks Hermione," Ron said, running a hand nervously through his hair. His face was very red now, not all of it from choking.

Harry and Sarah glanced at each other, thinking the same thing. Ron and Hermione both liked one another. She didn't know how exactly, but Sarah was going to fix them up.

After dinner, the four of them walked to the common room to finish their schoolwork, so they wouldn't have to do it on Halloween. Sitting at a table in the corner of the room, they began their Potions essay, the last of their work. Sarah and Hermione were helping Ron and Harry respectively. Sarah felt that if she had helped Harry, they never would have finished, and with good reason. She had helped him with his Astronomy, and he wouldn't pay attention to what she was saying; he would keep staring at her, his head propped up on his hand, a slight smile on his lips. Finally she gave up, and switched with Hermione. With Harry now focused, he and Hermione finished much faster than Sarah and Ron. Harry stood, stretching.

"Good night, Sarah," he whispered in her ear.

Harry then kissed her on the top of her head, and ruffled her hair.

"Night, Harry. Sweet dreams," she said with a wink.

Harry hugged her then walked to the staircase. Hermione smiled.

"You two are so adorable together," she said, putting her books back into her bag. She got up, and said "Good night," to both Sarah and Ron, who was still working on his essay. She then yawned and went up to the girls' dormitories, Ron's eyes following her the whole time.

"That's cute, Ron," Sarah said, smiling at him.

"What's cute?" he asked, finishing the essay.

"You like Hermione."

"You're mental!" Ron exclaimed.

"You're in denial!"

"Whatever."

"I know you like her. When ever she walks into the room, you can't help staring at her. Whenever she touches you, your ears get red. You always run your hands through your hair when you're nervous. You do it all the time when she's around."

Ron looked down at his parchment, not really seeing it. It seemed like he was debating what to say next.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked weakly.

"Yeah, kind of," Sarah said, patting him on the arm.

"It's just that I like her so much, I don't want to mess up our friendship if she doesn't feel the same way," Ron said, now looking up at Sarah.

"I'm sure that if you were to ask her out, she would say yes," Sarah said, goading him into asking Hermione, while still keeping her promise of not saying anything, too.

"Really? Do you think so?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah," Sarah said.

Ron looked excited. "I'm going to ask her out tomorrow."

"Good. If you don't, I'll have her ask you," Sarah said seriously.

All Ron could think to do was hug Sarah. He then said "Thank you," and packed up his things. He practically flew up the stairs. Sarah laughed. Feeling like her job was done, she went over to sit on the couch. Watching the fire, she relived the day in her mind. It was, for the most part, perfect. She spent the whole day with good friends, and most importantly, Harry. As soon as she thought of him, she heard a noise over by the boy's staircase. She quickly turned to see Harry leaning up against the wall, gazing at Sarah. She smiled.

"I was just thinking about you," she said, motioning him to sit with her.

"I was thinking about you, too. That's why I came down here; to see if you were still up."

Harry sat close to her, wrapping his arm around her waist, taking her hand in his. She set her head on his shoulders, sighing deeply.

"I had an amazing time today, Harry."

"I did too. I never wanted it to stop."

"It doesn't have to," she said, looking up at him.

She leaned up and softly kissed him. When they broke apart, Harry looked down and smiled at her. He kissed her again, but deeper and more passionate. She took her free hand, and placed it gently on his cheek. Harry pulled her closer to himself, and was moving his hands up and down her back. Sarah put her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his hair. After a few minutes of this, they both fell asleep in each other's arms.