The second week of term had passed in a blur of classes, homework and Quidditch practices. It appeared to the fifth year students as if their teachers were trying to cram three years worth of work on them in preparation for exams that seemed a lifetime away. At least to anyone not named Hermione Granger.

However, Hermione's most pressing concern was not the year end exams. At least, not right now. No, the thing that kept distracting Hermione from her studies was the presence of the newly named High Inquisitor.

At the moment, she was walking the halls of Hogwarts with her new friend, Neville Longbottom. Hermione could not help but smile as she thought back to the rather strange two weeks she had since coming back to school. It was thanks to Ginny's big mouth that she had learned of Neville's feelings for her, and at Harry's urging, and following his example, that Hermione was now exploring her own feelings about the shy, sometimes forgetful boy.

The very first thing she had learned about Neville was how truly smart he was. Helping him with homework, which was arguably one of her favorite activities, she had discovered that Neville was rather diligent in his studies. His problem lie in his confidence. After spending time with him, Hermione had learned that his family always compared him to his father, who was supposed to have been a very brilliant and powerful wizard.

After hearing some of the things that he had endured at the hands of his family, Hermione was unsurprised by Neville's low self esteem.

Another thing she had learned was, once he became comfortable, how interesting and funny Neville was. More importantly was how easy he was to get along with. Several times they had gotten into debates on different topics, and the thing that stood out in Hermione was the fact that those debates never escalated to arguments, or shouting matches as they would have with Ron. Neville never insulted her. He would listen to her, absorb her point of view, and then present a logical counterpoint. It was more than a little refreshing to be able to have a discussion without fear of it to dissolving into childish name calling.

But the one thing that stood out to Hermione the most was how special Neville always managed to make her feel. Whenever she entered a room, his face would light up like a child at Christmas. Whenever they were together, he would look at her as if she were the most beautiful thing in the world. It was silly, she knew, but she couldn't stoop herself from enjoying the attention.

"I don't get it." Neville said as the walked past the painting of Barnubus the Barmy in the seventh floor corridor. "Why do we all keep making plans to study together, and then leave as soon as Daphne and Harry get there? Are we avoiding them?"

Hermione smiled at Neville and shook her head. "They need time together alone."

"But I thought they weren't going out together?"

"They're not. At least not yet, but that's why we're giving them time alone. They need to figure things out on their own, and we've been helping them with that."

"By running away from them?"

"Neville, are you really complaining about spending time alone with me?" Hermione stopped and looked at Neville, loving the effect her question had on the boy.

"NO! Gods no. I've really enjoyed it. That's not what I was asking." Neville held up his hands in surrender. "I just thought it seemed rude that we kept saying we'll study together, and then we leave almost right away."

"Has Harry complained to you about it?" Hermione asked. Neville shook his head.

"No. In fact, he looks kind of stupid when he gets back to Gryffindor tower each night. Like he's lost in some funny dream, or something."

"You mean those goofy smiles he gets?" Hermione chuckled.

"Yeah."

"That's why we've been leaving them to study on their own. Besides, it's had the added benefit of allowing us to get to know each other better. And I for one am very glad we have." Hermione smiled, looping her arm through his, and leaning into him as they continued walking. It was impossible not to notice his cheeks turn pink, but she ignored it.

They walked in silence for a moment. Hermione's mind began to wander back to the strange events that had occurred during the week. The first was the naming of the New Defense teacher to the Position of High Inquisitor, and the class inspections that had followed.

Though she had not witnessed it herself, She had been told by Harry, Neville, and Ron, who was no trying to repair his broken friendships, about the inspection of Professor Trelawney's class.

"It was horrid. I mean, sure we all know she's a fraud, but even she didn't deserve that." Harry had said after recounting the tale for Hermione at lunch on Monday afternoon. Hermione witnessed two inspected classes, and was unimpressed by the squat teacher's behavior, especially in Professor McGonagall's class.

"You've got that look again." Neville said softly, and Hermione looked up at him.

"What?" She asked, clueless to what he was referring to.

"You look like you're concentrating on a really difficult spell or something." Neville smiled. It's really….um…endearing."

Hermione smiled, and playfully swatted his arm.

"I'm concerned about our lessons in Defense. No one can argue that we've had a very disjointed education in that class, but this year, it's almost as if we're not being taught at all."

"I'd agree with that. Neville frowned. "But we all know what's going on. It's like you said the other day, The ministry is afraid that Dumbledore is trying to build some kind of army or something."

"That's not what I said." Hermione frowned.

"Close enough, and I think you're right. Why else would Umbridge not allow us to learn spells, and keep making us read, and giving us those stupid lectures on negotiations and proper surrendering procedure." Neville looked as if he'd just smelled something horrible.

"We need a proper teacher." Hermione growled. "Not just because it's our OWL year, but also because of what's waiting for us out there." Hermione nodded towards a window as they passed.

"We need someone who won't sugar coat what it's like to really fight." Neville said off handedly. "Someone who's actually experienced it. Someone like Harry."

Hermione stopped so suddenly that Neville nearly fell over, as she was still holding onto his arm. She spun him to face her, a huge smile on her face, her eyes shining with pride.

"Neville Longbottom you are the most brilliant man I've ever met!" She said ecstatically. She grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him soundly on the lips before running off down the hall, leaving Neville staggering, with a very sill grin on his face. He slumped against the nearby wall to prevent himself from falling over. He gave a great sigh of wonder.

"HEY!" Hermione had stuck her head around a corner and was calling out to him. Neville turned to grin at her stupidly, which only made her smile that much bigger. "Are you coming or not?"

Daphne sat in the library with Harry, both of them looking over the same book as they finished the last of their homework for the week. She chanced a glance at him throe corner of her eye and saw him smile. It had become something of a game between them over the last hour. She would glance at him, trying not to get caught. Apparently, she wasn't very good at it.

"You've been doing that most of the night." He said. "What's with you?"

Daphne lay down her quill with a sigh. "It's been kind of a weird week." She said.

"How do you mean?"

"Just us. How things have been going. I've really enjoyed the time we've spent together. I guess I'm a little surprised at it all, especially after…"

"Astoria's proclamation?" Harry couldn't help but Grin. He had barely seen the younger Greengrass since she had apologized, though she had stopped by the Gryffindor table that morning, saying she had missed him.

"If that's what you want to call it." Daphne grinned, and turned back to the book before them. Harry did the same and they were quiet again for a few minutes. Daphne tried to concentrate on her work, but again found herself glancing at Harry again.

"What?" Harry asked, the smile back on his face.

"You're cute when you're frustrated. You know that?" She smiled.

"So you're staring at me to frustrate me?' He asked.

"I wasn't staring." Daphne clarified. "I was glancing. There is a huge difference."

"Right." Harry grinned. "Just like there's a difference between nudging and pushing."

"I said I was sorry for that!" Daphne now turned to face him, a look of righteous indignation on her face. She as about to continue her tirade when she saw him chuckling.

"You bugger!" She laughed, and poked his ribs, making him jump.

"Hey, haven't you tried to hurt me enough this week?" Harry asked.

"How long are you going o hold that over me? I did not mean to nudge you hard enough to knock you down the stairs. And you didn't even fall that far!"

"Well, If Neville hadn't been there for me to fall into, I might have fallen to my death. In fact, if you think about it, you nearly killed us both."

"You're impossible.' She smiled brightly, and Harry returned the look. "Maybe next time I will just push you. At least that way I won't have to listen to you whine all week about it."

"You'd miss me too much."

Daphne couldn't help but grin. Harry had been like this all week. So flirtatious and fun. She liked it. Hermione had commented that she liked how relaxed Harry had become, and thanked Daphne for her part in it.

All week, Harry had taken every opportunity to seek her out and spend time with her, even between classes for just a few minutes. They had shared quite a bit over the course of the week, and Daphne felt very good about how things were going, a feeling shared by Tracey and Hermione.

Daphne had also noticed she was getting more and more glares from the female population. Nearly everywhere she went, girls from third year through seventh looked ready to hex, curse, or even punch her.

"It's their own fault. They should have tried to get to know him. Maybe then he'd be escorting them to classes, and sitting with them at meals." She had reasoned to Tracey when they noticed Cho Chang staring at her from across the Great Hall.

"So do you want to do something tomorrow?" Harry asked, shaking Daphne from her thoughts.

"Why Harry Potter, are you asking me on a date?" Daphne smiled. She had to laugh when he turned red and shrugged. She nudged her shoulder into his and grinned.

"What did you have in mind?"

"I have Quidditch practice until lunch, but I thought we might get everyone together and just…I don't know. I know it's not a Hogsmeade weekend, but there's got to be something we can do. The weather's still nice, so we could be outside."

"I'm sure if we all put our heads together we could think of something fun to do. I think it's a great idea." Daphne smiled. She made a few more alterations to her essay and sighed. "There. I think I did well."

She looked over at Harry's work. He had really been trying to keep up with his work, and with her help, and no doubt, Hermione's, he'd done quite well.

"Looks like you're about wrapped up as well." She pointed out.

Harry nodded, finished his conclusion, and rolled up his parchment. Together they began putting all the books back they had been using, and headed out of the library.

"Will you walk me to the dungeons?" Daphne asked, knowing harry had probably intended to anyway.

"Absolutely."

"So how are you and Ron getting along? I've noticed him sitting with you at meals and in class again."

Harry shrugged, his countenance darkening.

"He apologized again earlier in the week. I think he was lonely. Dean and Seamus weren't hanging out with him, and his brothers kind of gave him a hard time. I just wish he'd talk to you or Tracey or Mille, and see what you guys are really like. Speaking of Millie, how are things with her?"

"Oh, that's right, I didn't tell you the latest. Pansy outright threatened her this morning. She told Millie that if she didn't stop hanging out with Tracey and I and allowing our sickness to infect her, than she was going to make her stop. Millie looked almost as if she wanted to punch her."

"I feel really bad for Millie. Not having any choice in who you're friends are…" Harry shook his head sadly.

"I think she's going to be okay. She and Mandy Brocklehurst have been becoming friends again. I get the impression there's more to it, but maybe I'm seeing magic where there is none. It's not my place to ask." Daphne said.

"What about his ferret-ness?" Harry asked, looking at Daphne with a look of worry. Daphne didn't miss it and gave Harry another playful nudge with her shoulder.

"I think it's sweet that you worry about me, Harry, but I can take care of myself. Besides, I got Tracey and now Millie. And gods protect him if Astoria gets mad. You wouldn't think it to look at her, but she's a little firecracker. Very protective of her family, just like my dad."

"Hear from them lately?"

"No, but I'm expecting a letter from dad soon. Did you write back to Krum?"

"Yeah. I sent it off yesterday. There was no way I wouldn't have written him back. Not with you, Tracey, Hermione, Neville and Ron all pestering me about it." Harry smiled.

"Well, we just want the best for you. If Krum really wants his coaches to see you, then you should let them. You are a really good player, why not get a shot at the big leagues?"

"That'll probably be the game I fall flat on my face or something."

"Then maybe they'll give you a job as the mascot." Daphne laughed, and Harry poked her ribs, causing her to scream with laughter.

They walked in silence for a few moments before coming to the dungeon corridors, and finally to the entrance to Slytherin house. They stopped and Daphne turned to him, and couldn't help the smile from forming as he looked at her.

"This has been a really good week, Harry. I want to thank you for giving this friendship a chance, even when I was more than ready to run and hide from you."

"That was not your fault. The blame lies solely with your sister."

"If she hadn't interrupted us…" Daphne began hesitantly. "I mean, would we have…"

"You mean would we have…" Harry now looked a bit embarrassed himself.

"You know what? Forget it. It's really pointless to look at the past and wonder about things you cant's change." Daphne said, waving her hand in front of her. Harry grabbed her hand, and held it in his, smiling.

"You're right. We really only need to worry about the immediate future."

Daphne's breath caught in her throat as she looked into Harry's smoldering green eyes. She thought her heart might burst out of her chest as he reached up and tucked a lock of her dark brown hair behind her ear. It felt as if time had stopped and only the two of them existed now. She could feel herself shaking as he took a step closer to her.

"This week has been amazing." he admitted. "Like something out of someone else's life."

"Really?" Daphne asked lamely, he voice cracking a bit, though Harry didn't seem to notice.

"Yeah." He smiled.

It was happening again. Daphne felt herself being drawn to him. He still held her hand in his, and he was looking at her so sweetly. She took a step closer to him, her other hand finding his arm, and slowly began to pull him closer to her. Slowly he began to bend towards her, and Daphne's breath hitched.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!"

Harry went rigid, and fell over, dragging Daphne with him. His eyes were wide with surprise, and Daphne had to scramble to get to her feet again Before she had a chance to get her wand, she was surrounded by Malfoy and his little gang of thugs.

"Malfoy, you slime bag!"

"You should be thanking me Greengrass. Another moment and he would have had his disgusting lips all over your face." Draco said arrogantly. "I know you must think I'm over reacting here, but I assure you that you'll soon see that I was right."

There came a sickening crunch and Daphne turned to see Nott had stomped on Harry's face, breaking his nose and his glasses.

"You bastard!" Daphne screamed, shoving Nott away from Harry's prone form.

"Come now, Greengrass. What would your father think if he knew that a respectable pure blood like you were mixing with such trash. I doubt very much that he'd be pleased you were besmirching your heritage." Malfoy drawled, a look of deepest satisfaction upon his pale face as he watched blood pouring from Harry's nose.

"Malfoy, you don't know the first thing about me, or my family, so I suggest you keep your comments to yourself, and stay out of my affairs from this point on."

Daphne's tone had turned cold, and Harry noticed Draco shiver involuntarily. Daphne showed now fear as she faced down the ferret. She as like stone. A striking image of cold fury, that Draco actually recognized as a threat, if his wide gray eyes were any indication.

"I think it would be a good idea for you and your idiot disciples to get into the Common room before I release him, or you'll have both of us to deal with, instead of just me."

"Like we're worried." Nott smirked. Crabbe and Goyle both started chuckling along with Nott.

"Greengrass, We're trying to help you here. We only want what's best for you, and if you keep insisting on allowing this filth to taint you, well, bad things are going to happen." Draco said soothingly as he stepped closer to Daphne, wrapping a thin arm around her shoulders. Daphne elbowed Draco in the stomach, and got her wand out of her pocket. She turned to face him, her wand aimed between Draco's cold gray eyes, the curse on her lips.

"What is going on here?"

Professor Snape had just rounded a corner and found them all in the hallway.

"They attacked Harry, sir." Daphne said quickly.

"Potter was about to attack Greengrass sir. We stopped him." Malfoy countered. Snape looked at them all for several moments before speaking.

"Very well done, Draco. Twenty points to Slytherin."

"SIR!" Daphne cried out angrily. Gone was the cold hard façade. Daphne was quickly losing her self control. "Harry was escorting back to the Common room. He was not attacking me.!"

"Enough!" Snape shouted. "Into the Common Room, all of you."

Draco and his minions all passed by Daphne, each wearing a triumphant smile on their faces. Daphne stood rooted to her spot, waiting for Snape to release Harry from the body bind, but Snape merely looked at her.

"Is there something I can help you with Miss Greengrass?" Snape sneered.

"Tell me they're wrong about you." She said bitterly, fighting the angry tears that were threatening to fall. "Tell me you're not a hate filled spiteful bastard."

Snape's lip curled and he approached the young girl in front of him. "What I am is a teacher in this school. As such, you will show me the proper respect when addressing me, and you will obey me when I tell you to do something. Now, get into your common room before I am forced to give you detentions."

Daphne gave Harry a look of utter sympathy before turning and retiring to her Common Room.

Once the entrance was sealed once again, Snape released Harry and allowed him to stand up.

"Report to the Hospital wing, and then straight to your common room, Potter." Snape said coldly.

"She was telling the truth." Harry said in a tone that was so cold it actually made Snap shiver, though he hid it well.

"I know full well that you could hear everything, Potter, Though I am sure your feeble mind might have difficulty in understanding. I will make myself plain. Do not push your luck this evening. I will not hesitate to give you detentions. I will o be more than happy to assign you to Professor Umbridge, as she is already so fond of your company."

Harry and Snape stared hard at each other for a long tense moment before Snape's lip curled, and a sinister smile formed on his cold twisted face. "The hospital wing, Potter. You're bleeding on Mr. Filch's floor." Without another word, Snape turned and strode back the way he came, his great black cloak billowing behind him like a long shadow.

Harry arrived back at the Gryffindor Common Room after getting his broke nose fixed, where a serious shouting match was happening. He kept to the shadows not wishing to draw attention to himself. What he saw stopped him cold. Three girls stood in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room, two of them facing off against the third.

"…Crying over this. She should be the one he walks to classes, Hermione." Lavender Brown shrieked furiously.

"You know how I feel about him, and you betrayed me. You're actually encouraging this!" Ginny said, tears in her eyes.

Harry found Neville and tapped his shoulder. Neville barely turned his head, keeping both eyes on Hermione.

"What is going on?" Harry whispered.

"We came back from seeing McGonagall, and these two just sort of started attacking Hermione for helping you and Daphne." Neville said bitterly. "I thought I was going to need to help, but she seems to be holding her own quite well."

"You've had three years to try and build something with him.' Hermione shouted at Ginny. "I told you before that you needed to relax around him, and try to show him the real you, but you couldn't stop blushing and squeaking like some hyper active fan girl. I told you how much he hates that."

Hermione then turned to Lavender and her eyes narrowed. "And as for you, Parvati is perfectly capable of talking to Harry if she really wants him. You're not her translator, nor or you her matchmaker. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen because Harry and whoever he chooses wants it to happen, so stop blaming me for your shortcomings!"

"Hermione, I…" Ginny began, but Hermione cut her off.

"Maybe you should try dating someone else. Maybe then you could settle down, and try to get to know the real Harry instead of the fantasy Harry you imagine him to be!"

Ginny looked as if she wanted to curse Hermione where she stood. She gave a cry of frustration and stomped off up the stairs. A door slammed a few moments later. Lavender looked murderous before sitting herself on the couch.

Hermione looked about the Common room, daring anyone else to comment, but they all turned away from her cold stare.

"Well done." Harry said coming out of the shadows, with Neville at his side. Harry was a bit surprised when Hermione allowed herself to be engulfed in Neville's arms. He heard Neville whisper something and saw Hermione nod slowly. Harry started to back away to allow them their privacy, but Hermione's voice stopped him.

"What happened to you? You're covered in blood."

Harry related all that had happened to him down in the dungeons. Hermione looked furious, as did Neville. Ron had joined them halfway through the tale and he had a look of displeasure, mixed with a look of grim satisfaction.

"She didn't set me up, Ron." Harry said after seeing his friend's look.

"I didn't say anything." Ron tried to defend himself.

"I don't think you had to." Neville said.

"Harry, we have something we need to ask you about." Hermione said, her voice tentative. "Please hear us out before you say anything."

"Alright." Harry said unable to hide his suspicious tone.

"Earlier tonight while we were walking around, we were discussing the problems with Defense class." Hermione began, looking to Neville for support. He gave a smile, urging her on.

"We thought it would be good if we could get someone to teach us properly. Someone who's actually fought for their life for real, and knows exactly what it's like to face….V-Voldemort."

Harry looked at Hermione, then to Neville, then to Ron, all of them looking hopeful, and then it hit him who Hermione had been talking about.

"You're not serious." Was all he could say. They all kept looking at him seriously for several moments before he said anything further.

"I'm no teacher. I don't know what I'm doing. I've only ever been really lucky that I haven't been killed. And most of the time you and Ron were helping me!"

"That's not really true, mate." Ron interjected. "I didn't help fight the Basilisk."

"I wasn't with you when you fought the Dementors." Hermione pointed out.

"You were all alone against the dragon, in the lake and the maze, plus facing down You-Know-Who." Neville countered.

"Yeah, okay, make it sound like I'm some great hero or something. I was scared out of my mind!" Harry said, looking hard at each of them.

"And that's why you should be the one to teach us." Hermione said. "No one else has ever told us what it's like to actually know you could be one choice away from death. To know that the next spell you cast could either save you, or get you killed. Harry, you've seen and done thing most wizards three times your age have never experienced."

"But, I…"

"You don't have to decide right this instant, Harry. Think it over." Neville said. He was looking around the Common Room, and Harry saw that more than few people appeared to be listening in.

"Fine." Harry said, feeling as if he'd been ensnared in some kind of bad prank or something. "I'll think about it."

He bade them all goodnight and headed up for bed, his mind dizzy with everything that had happened that night.