"Dinner is ready dears," Mrs

"Dinner is ready dears," Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen door, "Oh, I'm sorry...did I interrupt something?" she looked at them with a certain knowing...a glow...in her eyes. Weird.

"Nothing...you weren't interrupting anything, Molly" Harry answered, a little too quickly.

"Oh...well then, wash up."

With that said, Mrs. Weasley left Harry and Hermione alone once again. Tension built up in the room as Hermione waited for Harry to finish what he was going to say. But that moment never came, he just sat, looking down at the worn carpet on the floor.

After a few minutes, Harry finally looked up and spoke, but not the words Hermione was hoping to hear, "We should better wash up then," Harry let go of his gentle grip on Hermione's hand, and both felt that they missed the contact. He quickly stood up and made his way upstairs to the washroom, when Hermione called out to him.

"Wait." Hermione stood up and followed Harry's footsteps until she was a mere foot away from him. Harry felt his back tense up, and turned around, and came to stare, once again, into those chocolate eyes.

Hermione quickly thought over what she was going to say, and came up with a statement that got straight to the point, "What were you going to say...about us?"

Harry, too, thought over quickly what his response should be...but his courage was gone. The courage he had built up in the past few weeks quickly vanished from inside of him.

"That I think...um..." Harry stuttered, looking at the floor once again, "Never mind, I'll tell you later." Harry turned his back on her and began his ascent on the stairs before Hermione could utter a sound. Hermione just stood there for a few moments before sitting back down on the sofa and pondering her thoughts.

What was he going to say?
That he is madly in love with you.
No...
Yes.
Why would he say a thing like that?
Because he loves you...DUH. Didn't you read the list that he wrote?
I don't know if it's his list...
Oh bullocks! You know that calligraphy a mile away...he wrote it and you know it.
But-
No buts! If Molly hadn't interrupted...you'd be snogging Harry by now.
I DON'T WANT TO SNOG HARRY!
Sure...
Her inner war with her self-conscience was interrupted by a faint sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Hermione quickly turned around, only to find that it was Ginny. Ginny sat down next to Hermione with a Cheshire-cat grin plastered on her face and started to interrogate...good old Ginny.

"So..."

"'So...' what?" Hermione questioned, looking into Ginny's electric blue eyes.

"What happened with Harry? Did you kiss? Did you snog? Did he confess his undying love for you? Did he-" Ginny started to question, only to be interrupted by Hermione's quiet voice. It was so quiet, that Ginny had to strain her ears so that she could make out what Hermione was trying to say.

"Absolutely nothing." was all that Hermione said, before she looked away from Ginny's gaze, and to the window that lay on the other side of the living room.

"You're lying." Ginny stated, bringing Hermione's gaze back to her once again. But when Ginny saw the look on Hermione's face, she knew that it was true...

"I wish I was." Hermione got up off of her comfortable seat on the sofa and ascended the stairs that Harry had only just climbed five minutes ago. But to Hermione, it felt like an eternity.

Ginny wanted to hear the full story, but decided to let Hermione be and cope with what just happened. She would get answers...after all...she was the Ginny Weasley.

Hermione spent the next few days waiting, and waiting, and waiting for Harry to speak with her once more. But to her dissappointment...he never did, not once. He would glance at her on occasion, a polite smile or two, but not word was uttered in her direction...not one.

No one knew what was going on, only Hermione and Harry knew. But that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Harry was always good at hiding his feelings when he wanted too. Hermione was also...but Ginny and Mrs. Weasley could tell that Hermione's once glistening white smile, was now false, with no meaning at all.

"GET OUT OF BED RON!" Ginny yelled on the late morning of September first. That's right, September first, the day the four teens would be returning to their home-away-from-home...Hogwarts.

"SPIDERS!" Ron yelled in response. Ginny only rolled her eyes, as did Harry. "There aren't any spiders Ron" Ginny replied coolly.

"B...but they want me to-" Ron started, before being interrupted by a smirking Harry.

"Tap-dance...we know Ron."

As soon as the last syllable left Harry's lips, Hermione appeared in the doorway. She was already dressed and showered, unlike the three that stood before her. Hermione was wearing the jeans she'd bought with Ginny at Diagon Ally, and a Gryffindor sweater.

Harry caught her glance for a moment, just a moment. But before Hermione, or anyone else could utter a word, he brushed past Hermione and made his way down the hallway to use the washroom.

"What's up with him?" Ron asked, now fully awake. His comment was directed at Hermione, but all she gave was a shrug. Ginny was the only one who answered with a truthful "I don't know."

Ron, too, shrugged and pushed his covers off of him. He also brushed past Hermione and followed Harry to the washroom, with intent on talking to him about a certain brown-haired witch.

Ginny took this as the perfect opportunity to crack Hermione into telling her what happened, and motioned for her to come and sit with her on Harry's bed. Hermione complied, and took Ginny's offer, waiting for the intetrogation to begin.

"What happened..." she started.

"Nothing, like I said before...we talked." Hermione answered, hoping to get Ginny off of her case. But, unfortunately for her...Ginny was as stubborn as Ron was thick, so Ginny spoke again.

"Talked about what?" Ginny said, raising an eyebrow, she realized that this wasn't the time to act cocky, and quickly lowered it.

"Just...stuff is all." Hermione said, looking at Harry's orange wool blanket and fiddling with it in-between her fingers.

"What kind of stuff?" Ginny interrogated once more, looking intently at how Hermione was fiddling with the covers of Harry's bed.

"Nothing." Hermione stated, stopping her finger's from touching the blanket.

"Bullocks...Herms, you know, as well as I do that that is a lie." Ginny said, trying to look in Hermione's eyes. But Hermione was successfully avoiding any eye contact from the fiery red-head.

"I-" Hermione started to retort, only to be interrupted by Ginny.

"Hermione...you have to tell me if you want my help." Ginny stated.

This statement made Hermione's gaze float up to Ginny's. She let out a sigh and a slight nod, "If it'll stop your nagging...then fine, I'll tell you."

Ginny clapped and bounced up and down slightly on the bed, making her and Hermione move up and down atop of the springs a little. Hermione only smiled at her friend's gesture and started to speak. As soon as she started to look Ginny straight in the eyes, Ginny stopped and looked at her...intent on hearing the whole thing.

"Right after you left to 'help your mum in the kitchen', Harry accompanied me on the couch and started to speak. He told me he wanted to talk...about us. I was nervous as to what he might say, but I nodded and said 'sure' anyways." Hermione started, recalling the scene in her head that only took place a few nights before.

"He placed both hands on mine, one on top, and one on the bottom and grasped them gently. He then started to stutter and I could barely understand what he was saying..." Hermione paused, recalling the mere seconds before Mrs. Weasley interrupted.

Ginny, however, didn't like the silence that followed Hermione's gaze to the floor and impatiently persuaded her to say more.

"AND?!"

Hermione knew Ginny didn't mean to say that so loud, so she shrugged it off and continued her story. "Your mum came in and told us that dinner was ready...Harry was silent for a few moments, and then got up to leave. I stopped him and asked him to tell me what he was about to say...he hesitated...started to say it, but then said 'I'll tell you later' and walked away. He hasn't spoken to me since..." Hermione started to tear up, unbeknownst to Ginny, because she was outraged.

"WHAT?!" Ginny screamed, fire present in her eyes, "My mum interrupted?"

"Yes..." Hermione replied, startled with Ginny's reaction.

"I am so sorry!" Ginny said, a regretful look now replacing the fire that was present in her eyes a few seconds previous.

"S'ok...I suppose..." Hermione trailed off.

"No it's not okay." Ginny stated, "If Harry was gonna say what I think he was gonna say...you'd be snogging in our broom shed right now."

"I'm not going to comment on that statement." Hermione replied. Ginny knew she was referring to her reference to her and Harry snogging...she smirked.

"The point is...you'd be in Harry's arms right now, you'd be happy, you'd be...loved." Ginny said, looking at Hermione for how she would respond.

It was rare when Ginny sounded so wise, so when she finished her statement, Hermione took it all in...not such a good idea. "Great...now your going to make me cry." Hermione said, starting to tear up in her eyes.

"No...don't cry" Ginny said, seeing the tears that were now clearly present in Hermione's eyes. Ginny started to put her arms around Hermione, when a certain raven-haired bespectacled boy came into the room.

When Harry closed the door to the washroom, he quickly brushed his teeth and took a five minute shower. When he finished putting a charm to dry his hair, there was a knock on the door.

"Harry...mate...you in there?" Ron's voice sounded from the other side of the door. Harry contemplated letting him in...he couldn't just tell Ron that he was mad about how he acted around Hermione...because he was sure that was why Ron was there. He wouldn't be there just to see what he was doing...it was a washroom.

"Yeah" Harry said, after a moment's hesitation.

"Are you decent?" Ron asked.

"Yeah" Harry repeated.

"Then can I come in...we need to talk." Harry didn't like the sound of Ron's statement. He somehow knew that this was going to be over Hermione.

"Yeah." Harry said a third time. He quickly unlocked the door with a silent Alohamora and Ron came in with a look of concern and...rage?

"Ron...what is this about?" Harry inquired.

"You should know." Ron said, hate leaking out of every word.

"No...I-I don't." Harry lied.

"Its about Herms..." Ron started. Looks like I was right Harry thought to himself.

"What about her?" Harry questioned.

"Do you like her?" Ron asked, getting straight to the point. Boy, are the Weasley's alike.

"She's one of my best mates..." Harry dumbly said. He and Ron both knew that that wasn't why Ron was intruding on Harry's time in the washroom. So, Ron corrected his statement.

"No, do you like her?" Ron emphasized the word 'like', so that Harry got the point.

"Ron, you know I don't...I would never do that to you." Harry lied once more. His guilt was building up in him so that he felt like he was going to explode.

"I know that...but I don't trust your word...I don't know why, but I just don't believe you." Ron stated. He had yet to tell Harry that he overheard Hermione and Ginny's conversation...and wasn't planning on it just yet.

"Ron-" Harry started, he couldn't think of what to say to make Ron believe him. After all...he was lying most of the conversation. It came as a shock to both boys when Harry spoke again, "I am you best mate. I have been your best mate since we were eleven...does that mean anything to you? I have never lied to you about these types of things. Who did I tell first when I had a crush on Cho?" Harry paused as to let Ron answer his statement. He complied.

"Me."

"Who did I tell first when I got my dad's old map?"

"Me."

"And who-"

"Okay, okay...I get it." Ron said. Luckily for Harry...Ron believed every lie that was leaking out of Harry's words. Harry was grateful for that, but he knew he had to tell Ron one day...just not today.

"I'm sorry mate, but I couldn't think of any other reason as to why you have been avoiding Herms." Ron was right...oh no.

"Its okay mate...just try to come up with different conclusions when me and 'Mione aren't on speaking terms, kay?" Harry asked...no...begged of him.

"Yeah...I'll just, leave you to your business." Ron said, looking at Harry with a towel wrapped around his waist. He left, thinking about how he still had to confront Hermione. One down...one to go.

Harry shook his head, and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He quickly dressed and made his way down the hall to finish packing. But when he came into his room...he found Hermione crying atop his bed. Completely forgetting why he was avoiding speaking to her, Harry rushed over to her side.

"'Mione, what's wrong?" He asked with concern.

"Y-you sho-should k-know" Hermione said coldly through sobs. Without a second thought, she wiggled out of Ginny's comforting embrace and stormed out of the room.

"What did I do?" Harry asked dumbly. He knew what he did, but he wanted to know why it was affecting her so much...Ginny was his only hope.

Unfortunately for him, she just shook her head and spoke a single sentence, "Like Hermione said...'you should know'...you are the cause of it all." She said this as cold as Hermione had. And she too walked out of the room, leaving Harry all by himself.

"You first Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley scooted Harry forward so that he had a clear view of platform 9 ¾. Harry ran through the cloumn and felt the familiar rush when he stepped onto the platform.

Ron followed Harry lead, and then Ginny followed Ron. But before Hermione could follow the other's retreating forms, Mrs. Weasley put a gentle hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, " Follow your heart."

Before Hermione could answer Mrs. Weasley's little 'advice', she was being pushed through the barrier. She, like the others was welcomed with the familiar red steam engine and realized that the others were only a few meters away. Hermione rushed her cart along the platform and caught up with them just before they handed their things over to the guard.

They were helped one-by-one onto the train and pulled their luggage along the narrow hallway. They found a compartment that was only occupied with Luna Lovegood. Since being in the DA, they had become quite good friends with Luna, so they quickly joined her. Hermione sat next to Ginny, while Harry sat next to Ron. Luna was sitting next to Ginny.

After a few minutes of quiet talk, Hermione realized that it was time to go to the Heads Compartment. "Harry we have to go." Hermione hesitated to say. She didn't want to deal with Harry right now...not after this morning's episode.

"Oh, okay." Harry said. Maybe I can finally talk to 'Mione. Harry thought to himself. They both bid farewell to their friends and set off down the hallway. Harry tried to engage Hermione in conversation...she didn't like that very much.

"Come on 'Mione...at least talk to me." Harry persuaded. She kept on looking forward, acting as if Harry didn't even exist. In her world...he was as dead.

"'Mione..." Harry said. He then stepped in front her, blocking her path. When she moved right, he followed. It continued like this for a few moments, until Hermione had had enough.

"Just get out of my way." Harry could barely hear her, but he did.

"She speaks!" He exclaimed, he didn't realize how cocky that sounded until Hermione spoke.

"Just shut up, and get out of my way." She said through clenched teeth.

Harry just looked around and settled on the empty compartment to the right of them. "We're here." He said, glancing at the door marked Prefects Compartment. She followed his gaze, and sure enough, he was right. She pushed past him and slid the door open to reveal an empty compartment. But before she could leave and escape Harry's questioning, Harry slid the door closed and stood in front of her.

His emerald eyes connected with her chocolate ones and he saw the sadness, the rejection. And he couldn't help but think I caused that. He quickly motioned to the seat that she was currently standing next to, and she hastely sat down.

"Just make it quick, the prefects should be here any minute." Hermione said, glaring at the floor.

"Hermione, I am so, so sorry for avoiding you these past few days...I-I don't know what came over me." Harry started, "I just wish that I could take it all back..."

"But you can't, can you?" Hermione coldly asked, her eyes dancing with fire. Harry just looked down at the wooden floorboards of the compartment, and remained silent.

"There might be one way..." Hermione said after a good five minutes of awkward silence.

"What?" Harry asked with hopeful eyes.

"You can tell me what you were going to say that night." Hermione said, finally daring to look into his eyes. He looked up to find her looking at him intently, he knew he had to say something...anything...but no words would come out.

Instead, he gathered up enough the most courage as he could muster and leaned foreword...closer...closer...closer...Hermione couldn't stand it, she leaned forward and connected her lips with his.

Harry was surprised with Hermione's actions, but he didn't hesitate to deepen the kiss. He started to get up, Hermione following his actions, and soon they were both standing up and kissing...Hermione was kissing Harry...Harry was kissing Hermione.

Harry gently pushed Hermione against the compartment wall and she moaned a little. That moan was all Harry needed to lick her bottom lip and ask for entrance into her sacred mouth. Before they knew it, their tongues were intertwining and exploring all new territory. Harry's hands found their way onto Hermione's waist and her hands followed their own route into his unruly locks.

Harry slowly traced kisses from her mouth onto her cheeks, then her chin, and the to the neap of her neck where he found the sensitive spot and gently kissed it. Hermione inclined her neck to the side to allow him better access and he obliged to her action. Hermione's lips missed Harry's lips on them, so she tugged his hair lightly and pulled him forward into another kiss.

But before Harry could deepen the kiss, the door of the compartment started to rattle, signaling that someone was coming in. Harry and Hermione both quickly pulled away and straightened up, so they didn't look like they were just snogging the hell out of each other.

But what they came to find was the last person they expected to see on the Hogwarts Express. When the door slid open, they immediately recognized the blond hair, and piercing silver eyes...