A/N: Okay, this is probably the fastest I've EVER updated a story, an it's all thanks to my last few reviewers who were so kind as to leave well-thought-out, encouraging reviews. It wasn't my intent to stay up really late writing this but meh, who am I to complain? I know it's shorter than usual and very fluffy, but I tried to put some substance in it. There will be a good bit more substance in the next chapter, because it will involve the new classes. I just thought some of you might like some more fluff on the top before shenanigans. That, and fluff is easier to write when tired.

Previously:

"Why are you scared, Harry?"

"Because I like you."

"Generally when you like someone you take care of them when they're hurt, you worry about them when you're apart, and you're happy when you're together."

She IS my best friend, Harry thought. But if we can be more… I think I'd like that a lot. When she wakes up I'll ask her if she wants to be my girlfriend.

*****

Unfortunately for Harry, Hermione didn't seem interested in waking up for quite a while. He certainly didn't mind holding her while she slept - it was quite nice, he thought. He was just getting a bit antsy running through different scenarios of how to ask her to be his girlfriend.

It shouldn't be so hard... he thought. She's already my friend. My best friend at that, and she's a girl. Why can't the terms just combine and make this be less nerve-wracking?

He knew she probably would say yes, but he was still a bit afraid. What if this made things awkward between them? Would she like doing stuff couples do... like going to Hogsmeade together, and holding hands, and... kissing? His heart sped up. He knew he'd like it. He hoped she would, too. Nothing for it but to ask. That is, after she woke up. It was getting late. The sun had set a few hours ago, but Harry didn't move. He knew Hermione needed sleep to heal, and that they would have a long day tomorrow.

Another thought pressed its way into Harry's already crowded mind. Ron. True, Ron had been rather rude to Hermione lately. Harry knew he should have stood up for her sooner. Ron was still his friend, though. His first friend. Harry wondered where he was at the moment. He'd probably be in St. Mungos' until Thursday at east. Evidently there hadn't been any serious problems or Madame Pomfrey would have surely told them. It would probably take a while to get Ron caught up on the time he missed while under the Imperious, and probably a little therapy to deal with the fact that his long-time pet had practically possessed him. Weird...

But the question still remained. What was he going to tell Ron? Harry knew Hermione and himself had gotten a lot closer the past few days. Ron might not take their new relationship well. Potential relationship, he reminded himself. And if Ron took it badly and was rude to Hermione or even to him, it would make it even harder for Harry to deal with it all. He knew he still wanted Ron as a friend. Who else could he play chess and talk quidditch with? He was still contemplating what to do about his wayward friend when his other best friend started to stir a bit.

Harry's heart sped up dramatically and he stiffened with nervousness. She was waking up! Now... how to ask her. Hermione evidently felt his tension because she woke up fully and shifted a bit.

"Harry?" she asked, her voice rough from sleep. "What's wrong?" For a brief moment, Harry wondered at her ability to sense his mood without even looking at him. When he didn't answer, she struggled into a sitting position and turned to see him.

"Can... can I ask you a question, Hermione?" Harry asked, stuttering slightly.

"Of course, Harry. Anything," she answered, wondering what could be wrong. Her eyes glanced about the room. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. When Harry didn't speak for a moment, she locked her eyes back on his face.

"What is it, Harry?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked in a rush, his face turning red with embarrassment but his eyes shining in worry and desperation. Harry was almost surprised at how fast Hermione's worried face changed to one of delight. Before he could blink or stammer out an apology, Hermione was hugging him tightly, her face pressed into his chest and practically squealing.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course I will, Harry. That's what you were so on-edge about? What did you think I was going to say?" He shrugged, a wide smile spreading over his face as her answer registered.

"I'm glad you said yes," he smiled and held her close.

"So what do we do now?" she asked in an almost-joking imitation of Harry from before her nap.

"Well... if you want... I mean, if you don't mind... could I maybe... er..." he was stuttering, turning even redder than before, when Hermione thought she figured out what he was trying to say.

"Harry..." He stopped trying to talk as she moved closer, and in mere seconds all thought of talking fled from his mind, because he found Hermione's lips pressed gently to his. In milliseconds his embarrassment changed to surprise, and then to happiness, and then to bliss. It wasn't a long kiss by any means, and Hermione sat back fairly fast, afraid she'd misjudged his hesitation. Harry's wide, goofy smile and the blissfully glazed look in his eyes reassured her that she had been right.

"I liked that..." he mumbled, blushing almost as bright as Hermione.

"Me too..." Hermione said, smiling shyly at Harry.

"Can we do that again, sometime?" He asked, still a little dazed.

"Yes, but not too often."

"Of course not. Only when you want to," Harry said, suddenly serious, afraid he had offended her.

"Don't worry Harry," she reassured him, remembering his uncertainty about relationships from when they had spoken before. "We'll be fine." He smiled at that, feeling calmer.

"Well, if it isn't too much, would you like to accompany me next Hogsmeade weekend on a... date?" He asked, uncertain about the term. She smiled brightly.

"Yes, I certainly will," she replied. "And yes, date is the right word for it." Hermione smiled even wider. It seemed the idea was really starting to sink in.

"Oh Harry, this is wonderful," she exclaimed, much to his confusion. "I can't help but think this must be a dream."

"Me too," he said, as it began to dawn on him that the girl sitting beside him was not just his best friend, but his girlfriend. The term felt weird in his mind. That sentiment was shared by Hermione.

"It's sort of strange, but I like it," she said optimistically.

"Me too," he repeated with a smile, realizing they were thinking the same thing.

Madame Pomfrey suddenly staggered into the room mumbling unintelligibly, her eyes mysteriously clouded again and her voice in that same odd, soft tone Harry remembered from when Hermione was asleep a few days before. He recalled what she'd said in an instant. "You two really have something special, you know. You have each other. Never let that go Harry. Never try to keep her from being there for you, from helping you, because she won't let you stop her or leave her behind. She needs you, just as much as you need her. Trying to keep her from harm by keeping her away from you will only end in tragedy." Harry wished he'd thought to ask Hermione what she thought had happened, because now it was happening again.

"Madame Pom..." Hermione began in concern, but stopped when the woman began to speak louder and more clearly.

"Happily ever after... happily ever after..." she murmured in a sing-song type of voice. "Work hard and live happily ever after, together you'll be faster, you'll beat the snake-eyed bastard, we'll all live happily ever after." Hermione looked bewilderedly at Harry for just a second, before the mediwitch shook her head and looked normal again all of a sudden.

"Hello dears," she began in her normal voice, but Hermione was too confused to let it slide as Harry had.

"What was that, Madame Pomfrey?" she asked, looking suspiciously at the healer.

"What was what, Hermione?" she replied, confused.

"That... rhyme you spoke. What happened?" Madame Pomfrey also appeared confused, before she suddenly seemed to understand.

"Oh. I suppose I've been doing it again," she said, almost embarrassed.

"Doing what? That?" Harry asked. "That's the second time you've done it in a few days. What's going on?"

"Honey, have you ever thought how much Professor Trelawney and I resemble each other? We're step-sisters, to my infinite embarrassment. Occasionally I spout off the occasional bit of nonsense too, though I don't base a teaching career off of it." She sniffed disdainfully.

"But... are your prophesies legitimate?" Hermione asked. "The real ones, I mean. Not the tea-leaf garbage Trelawney cooks up for us in that hallucinogenic tent of incense." The mediwitch sighed.

"Hermione, you of all people should realize that prophesies only come true if you believe in them and work to make them happen. I think that prophesies come to people to give guidance to others and to offer help in a time of need. If whatever I said was helpful, take it at that, no more. If it was dangerous, please disregard it. There have been many, many prophesies gone unfulfilled for the benefit of this world."

"What do you mean, whatever you said..." Harry asked, confused.

"I don't hear my own prophesies, dear. No true seer does. The only way Trelawney finds out what she said is to make the recipients repeat it to her. And I, for one, have absolutely no desire to find out what nonsense I said." Harry and Hermione just nodded, a little dumbfounded.

"Well... I'm glad I quit that class," Harry said, effectively livening the mood.

"I'm glad you did too, that stupid room full of..." Hermione trailed off muttering. Harry thought he heard 'crazy harpie' and 'high on something' before Hermione finally stopped her quiet rant and apologized.

"Anyway, now that I'm hopefully done with my little fit," the mediwitch grumbled, "I can examine you, Miss Granger, before you go to sleep to make sure you're healthy enough to go to class
tomorrow. I'll have Dobby gather some of your clothes. Harry, where will you be staying tonight?"

"I think I'll be fine in the dorm. I'll come before breakfast to get Hermione." The mediwitch nodded, then went into her office to gather some potions and allowed the two gryffindors to bid each other goodnight.

"Harry, are you sure you'll be okay?" Hermione asked, her face creased in worry.

"I'll be fine. And if I'm not..."

"I'll be the first one to know?" Hermione finished for him, tapping his medallion as he sat beside her on the bed.

"Absolutely right. I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Hermione," he said, and hugged her gently. She smiled lovingly at him and kissed him again. He was rendered speechless in bliss and sat there beaming for a while, his mind up in the stratosphere.

"Harry," she nudged him with a soft giggle. "Harry, you should go to bed." He snapped out of his happy stupor and nodded.

"I should," he said as he stood. "Thank you, Hermione. Thank you for saying yes." She stood shakily on her unwrapped knees and embraced him again, looking up into his smiling green eyes.

"Thank you for asking."

(A/N: Also, I've never been kissed so if the description is as completely off as I think it might be, I'm sorry.)