Hermione slowly took in the scene that was unfolding in front of her. ' Harry is Head Boy' that was a thought she'd never thought would enter her mind. But, she figured it was better than Ron…that would just be weird.

Harry was just as shocked, if not more, than Hermione. He slowly picked up the badge and took it in; it was indeed a Head Boy badge. Ginny was the first one to speak.

"Umm…congrats Harry," she said, giving him a small smile.

"Thanks Gin," Harry started, "but I don't get it."

"Get what dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Why would I get the Head Boy position if I was never a prefect?" As if answering his question, a note fell from the envelope that was in his hand. He picked it up and read it thoroughly:

'Harry,

I bet you are inquiring why you are being handed the position of Head Boy. It is because I have my full confidence that you will not abuse the power that this position holds. If you are receiving this letter with your badge, that means that I'm not there to tell you myself, as for that, I'm truly sorry. Although, I do have the fullest confidence in you to finally defeat Tom and avenge the death of those who have perished at the tip of his wand. I, also, have been keeping something from you. I found a riddle while we were on our travels together and I, myself, couldn't figure it out. I hope it will help you with your journey to find the last Horcrux.

'A treasure hidden lost and gone,

Forever destroyed by point of wand.

Doing evil and never done,

Only safe in the hands of the one.'

Your friend,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry put down the letter and walked silently to his room. When he left, Hermione picked up the letter, read it, and set it down silently. She followed Harry up to his room and quietly knocked.

She didn't get an answer, but she let herself in anyways. She came to find Harry slouching on the side of his bed, head buried in his hands, shaking slightly. She walked over to him and sat by his side, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Harry felt at ease when he was in Hermione's embrace, he felt that everything was going to be okay.

They stayed like that until Hermione spoke up, breaking the comfortable silence that was between them.

"It's going to be okay Harry, we'll get through this."

Harry only nodded head still down. Hermione took in the sight before her, the boy she first met on the train had grown up, matured, yet at the mention of the former headmaster he fled to a closed off space.

"I…I hope so, 'Mione, I really hope so," Harry shakily said, finally daring to look her in the eye.

Hermione gave him a warm smile, "Are you going to join me on the train or will I have to give a speech all by myself?"

Harry smiled also, "You're most likely going to say most of the speech anyways."

Hermione playfully punched him and replied with a smirk, "You have too much self-esteem for your own good."

'If I had too much self-esteem, we'd be snogging by now,' Harry thought, instead of saying that, he gave his own smirk and answered, "And that's why you love me."

Hermione blushed, but hid it by giggling lightly, 'I do love you…If only I could pick up the courage to tell you.'

"We should get downstairs. Molly said that we'd go shopping this afternoon in Diagon Ally," Hermione said, getting off of the bed.

"Uhh, yeah," Harry said following Hermione's lead and getting off of the bed.

They walked side-by-side all the way down the stairs into the kitchen, where they were met with three very confused redheads.

"What was that about?" Ron asked.

"Nothing," Hermione answered for Harry.

Ron didn't believe Hermione's words, but he would talk to both of them later.

"Well, get your coats on, we're going to Diagon Ally," Mrs.Weasley said.

Everyone else had flooed after lunch. Harry was currently brushing the dust off his clothes when Hermione fell out of the fireplace and landed right on top of him.

Harry felt a slight tug in the front of his pants when Hermione landed on him. He quickly helped Hermione up and pulled his sweater down.

"Sorry Harry," Hermione said, brushing off the dust.

"S' okay," Harry said.

Hermione and Harry walked side-by-side into the bookstore and immediately spotted Ginny with a humongous pile of books enchanted to follow her by Mrs.Weasley.

"Where have you two been?" Ginny smiled suggestively at Hermione.

"We had a bit of a mishap getting out of the fireplace," Hermione answered.

"What kind of mishap?" Ginny asked, being her usual nosy self.

"I fell out of the fireplace and landed right on Harry…sorry" she apologized.

"I already said that it was okay 'Mione" Harry said, giving her a warm smile.

That smile gave Hermione butterflies, but she tried not to show it. Ginny noticed.

"Harry, do you mind if I steal Herms for a sec?" Ginny asked innocently.

"Sure," Harry said, "I need to find my schoolbooks anyway. See you later 'Mione" Harry disappeared behind the nearest bookshelf.

"Bye." Hermione said, staring at Harry's retreating form.

"You have it bad." Ginny stated, giving Hermione a smirk.

"Huh?" Hermione broke her off her gaze of Harry and turned to Ginny.

"I rest my case." Ginny said, still smirking.

"What case?" Hermione asked.

"You, my dear" Ginny said.

"Me?"

"Yes you."

"Why am I a case again?" Hermione asked, confused.

"I never told you" Ginny said.

"Then tell me." Hermione urged.

"My answer is currently looking at Defense Against the Dark Arts books" Ginny motioned to Harry.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, "That is why I am a case…because of Harry?"

"Yes, good girl…you get a cookie," Ginny said.

Hermione gave Ginny a glare, in which Ginny returned with a statement, "You have been giving him longing gases and are fazed when he speaks. Either he is as thick as Ron…or he is too preoccupied thinking of you to notice,"

Hermione thought about that for a second before replying, "Uhh…" was all she could think of saying. Ginny did have a point…that's new.

Harry was walking through the bookshelves; he really did need to get his schoolbooks. But a certain voice drifted his attention elsewhere.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice sounded from the other side of the bookcase, "That is why I am a case…because of Harry?" Harry was now interested in this conversation.

"Yes, good girl…you get a cookie" Ginny's voice said.

A cookie? Harry thought.

"You have been giving him longing gazes and are fazed when he speaks" She does? "Either Harry is as thick as Ron…or he is to preoccupied thinking of you to notice."

Harry listened for Hermione's answer.

"Uhh…"

'Uhh…' that's all she can say? Harry thought, unless…OH MERLIN!

"Ginny, this isn't necessary," Hermione stated.

"Yes it is." Ginny said.

After their 'private' conversation, Ginny dragged Hermione to Madame Malikin's and insisted that she'd buy something. They reached the 'Muggle Clothing' section that had just been added.

"Now, lets get shopping!" Ginny said, starting to search through the racks.

Hermione reluctantly followed and started looking through the racks as well.

Ginny started to pile up clothes by the nearest dressing room and ushered Hermione in.

"I'll hand you clothes and you try them on, okay?" Ginny explained, as though she was talking to a newborn child…but in Hermione's defense…she really was new to the shopping thing.

"I still don't know if this is a good idea." Hermione said.

"Trust me."

Hermione reluctantly agreed. Ginny left the dressing room and started to pile the clothes under the door in front of her. She dug through the pile of clothes and found a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

When Hermione stepped out, Ginny slightly shook her head. "You are a hard egg to crack aren't you?" she asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Hermione gave Ginny an inquisitive look.

"I mean…you NEVER show off your body. This is a start though…" Ginny said, looking Hermione over once more. The t-shirt she was wearing was tight enough to show off her curves, but not too tight as to make her look like a slut. The blue jeans she was wearing fit her perfectly…but were a little plain.

Hermione gave Ginny a glare.

"I think Harry will drop dead when he sees you though," Ginny said, "But you need to get a few skirts to show off your legs."

"NO, that is the one thing I will not do…wear a skirt." Hermione exclaimed, taking the signature Hermione pose (hands on her hips and giving off a glare that could kill).

"You wear the Hogwarts skirt," Ginny pointed out.

"Because it is uniform." Hermione defended.

Ginny realized that she couldn't win an argument with a witch like Hermione, so she dropped the subject. "So just pick out some cute jeans and t-shirts so that we can go."

"Okay, simple enough." Hermione turned back into the dressing room and put on her regular clothes.

She found it quite hard to find a simple jean and t-shirt combination; almost all of the clothes Ginny had picked out for her were skirts that were a tad too short, and tiny halter-tops.

After five grueling minutes of looking through the pile of clothes, Hermione picked out three pairs of jeans, one black and two blue, and five t-shirts, all plain white, blue, and green.

Hermione left the changing room and met Ginny so that they could leave. "About time." Ginny said.

"It's not my fault that you picked out clothes that would make me look like a slut…no offence." Hermione retorted, adding the apology after she realized that Ginny was wearing one of those short skirts.

Ginny brushed the comment off and led Hermione to the front of the shop to pay for her 'new' wardrobe. After they did that, they walked back to Flourish and Blotts to meet the others and finish shopping…for school stuff.

Throughout the whole trip, Harry had been acting strange…and Hermione was curious as to why.

"Harry, are you okay mate…you've been acting weird." Ron commented. As soon as the words left his mouth, the conversations that were currently going on in between the Weasley's and Hermione halted. Everyone's ears were wide open as to hear Harry's response.

"Nothing, just tired is all." Harry answered, glancing around the glaring eyes. Maybe I should just tell 'Mione…but not here he thought.

With that thought in mind, Harry walked over to Hermione and whispered into her ear, "I'll tell you later."

Hermione felt her stomach fill with butterflies and her cheeks blush when she heard Harry's baritone in her ear. She nodded nonetheless, hoping that no one noticed. They did…except Ron…

Ginny smiled knowingly at Hermione's reaction to Harry. They are so met for each other, she thought; I just hope Ron will deal with it well.

As soon as they all got back to the Burrow, Harry decided to take a shower to collect his thoughts.

As the warm water poured down upon him, he started to have an inner battle of thoughts about if he should tell Hermione or not.

Maybe I should tell her about how I know was the thought that started the argument.

Maybe…or you could just break Ron's heart His rhetorical side stated.

Who really cares? Hermione likes ME…I think.

But Ron likes Hermione too.

Harry let out a deep sigh, but I love her.

You love her?

Yes…I love Hermione

The rhetorical side fell silent.

I have to tell her.

Harry turned the hot water off and wrapped a towel around his waist. He wiped the steam off of the mirror above the sink and sighed. Just as he was about to take the towel off to dry his hair…

A feminine gasp was heard right behind him. As he turned around, he came face-to-face with the very girl that has been in his thoughts almost all summer…Hermione.

"OH HARRY! I am so sorry…I didn't think anyone was in here." Hermione caught herself staring at Harry's Quidditch toned body, covered in a mere towel…

BAD THOUGHTS! Stop thinking of him like this.

"Its okay 'Mione." Harry said, blushing.

"I'll just go…yeah…go." Hermione said, as if convincing herself. She closed the door behind her and ran off down the hall.

Harry smiled to himself and took off his towel to dry off his hair. All the while thinking of Hermione…what a surprise.

"Oh. My. God." Hermione gasped as she closed the door to Ginny's room. She had just sprinted from the bathroom door all the way down the hall to Ginny's room…she needed to get in shape.

"What…what is it?" Ginny set down yet another Witch Weekly magazine and gazed at Hermione, giving her full attention to her.

"I…saw…Harry…towel…" Hermione panted.

"Huh?" Ginny asked, Great…now I'm talking like Hermione.

"I-I saw Harry in nothing but a towel, completely bare chested…muscle chested…with abs and-"

"HERMS!" Ginny interrupted Hermione's near rant, "You're rambling."

"Sorry…it's just…" Hermione tried to explain, but couldn't think of the words, her thoughts were elsewhere.

"I stand by my case." Ginny said through a smirk worthy of a Malfoy.

"WHAT CASE?!" Hermione screamed.

Ginny lifted her two index fingers and pushed them together, twisting them so that it looked like the two fingers were snogging.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione said, motioning towards the two fingers that Ginny was controlling.

"You are so clueless." Ginny said, shaking her head in disappointment.

"How am I clueless…" Hermione inquired.

"Because whenever I talk about Harry or relationships in general, you pretend you don't know what I'm talking about." Ginny explained.

"But I don't get what you're talking about."

"First of all this" Ginny again lifted her two index fingers and pushed them together, twisting them, "Means that you two are snogging."

Hermione gave her a glare, "H-"

Ginny cut her off, "And second of all the 'case' is you and Harry."

Hermione quickly responded so that she couldn't be interrupted, "First of all," Hermione said in a mock-Ginny tone, "I don't want to snog Harry."

Ginny rolled her eyes and tried to cut in, "Y-"

"Second of all, there is no case…and if there was, it would be a minor one."

"So you think there is a case." Ginny stated with yet another smirk.

"I never said…hang on…are you reading between the lines again?"

"No, I'm just pointing out the obvious." Ginny said.

"Once again, you're impossible." Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"I do try."

Harry walked downstairs to find Hermione and Ginny talking in hushed tones on the sofa. As soon as they noticed his presence, they stopped abruptly.

"I need to go in the kitchen to help Mum." Ginny stated while smiling at Hermione and leaving the room.

Harry and Hermione were alone in the living room when Harry went to accompany Hermione on the sofa.

"Hermione…can I talk to you?" Harry asked while putting Hermione's hand in between his own.

"Umm…sure." Hermione said, stuttering. I hope this is about what I think it is.

"It's about us." Harry said in a quiet voice that Hermione could scarcely hear.

"What about us?" Hermione asked.

Gathering up all of the Gryffindor courage he had in him, he said the thing that he'd wanted to get out for the longest time, "Hermione…I think…I lo-"

Harry started saying until someone with ginger-red hair burst into the room and interrupted their 'private' conversation.