Another quick chapter for you guys!

Hope you like it, 'cause I'm loving the response so far.

Do review, please!

Just as Hermione was brushing her hair, there was a knock on her door. Knowing that it must be Harry, wanting to walk with her for dinner, she called out, "Come in"

And he entered.

Hermione smiled at him in greeting, and he returned it.

He seated himself on the couch and began to browse through a magazine, as she walked around the room, rummaging in her luggage for earrings.

As she passed behind him on the couch, she could smell shampoo and cologne. He'd just showered. His hair looked soft, silky and was still slightly damp from the shower. And that patch of hair that always stood up. She had a sudden urge to smooth it down.

She found her earrings. Putting them on, she moved on to picking shoes.

She was contemplating the line-up next to the doorway, when suddenly she felt Harry rise and stand next to her.

"That's a lot of luggage, Hermione. Undetectable extension charm not doing it for you anymore?"

Hermione laughed. "No, I didn't want anybody stumbling across it, that's all."

She picked a comfortable pair of flats, and pulled them on. Straightening her hair, she looked over at Harry to find him watching her.

"What? Is this dress too informal for dinner?"

At her question, he let his eyes deliberately rove over her pale green top with the material bunched just below her breasts, the rest flowing to her hips. He noticed she stiffened under his gaze. He let his eyes slowly move up to her face, which was slightly red.

"You look mighty fine to me," he said.

Hermione quickly left the room, not knowing how to answer that.

As they walked down the corridors, Hermione had to fall in step with Harry, as she didn't know the way back. And he was moving too slowly for her liking. He kept asking questions, about her, about her job, if she liked it.

Suddenly, he lay a hand on her wrist, gesturing for her to be silent. They were outside a door, and they could hear voices.

"The Board's hired a detective," they heard a man say.

Then one more said, "Do you think he'll figure it out?"

"He seems sharp enough, but I don't think he'll be trouble. Anyway, he can't prove the haunting wrong, can he? No one can."

"What about that girl who's visiting the Lady? He seems to know her."

There was a chuckle. "I'm sure he wishes he did. Probably got the hots for her. Did you get a look at her?"

Hermione clenched her fists, but didn't dare look at Harry's reaction. He didn't have just the hots for her. He loved her.

Then she reminded herself that that had been two years ago. This Harry seemed cool, aloof, and certainly not in love with her.

Suddenly, there were footsteps coming towards the door. Realising they were going to be caught, Harry frantically looked around, and pulled her into a linen closet, just as the men walked out.

The men were apparently walking back the way Harry and Hermione had just come. They passed by the closet, and Hermione held her breath.

Suddenly, one of the men stopped, right outside the closet. "Say, what's this?"

Hermione flinched, drawing backwards, which put her flush again Harry's front.

There was a rustling sound outside the door, and the other man said, "Do you think it the niece's?"

The first one replied, "Must be. Do you think they left for dinner already?"

"I think so."

"Well, let's go then."

Hermione was finding it hard to concentrate on what they were saying, and was instead focussed entirely on how Harry's silent breaths were tickling her neck, and how toned and hard his muscled chest seemed behind her.

There was silence outside the door, and after a minute, both of them relaxed.

She stepped out of the door, looking carefully up and down the corridor. As Harry stepped out, she asked, "What do you think they were talking about, asking if it was mine?"

Harry shook his head. "No idea, but they seem to be involved in this haunting somehow."

There was a silence, and they looked at each other.

Harry's eyes skimmed her face, his expression unrecognisable.

Suddenly, he reached out and touched her bare ear.

Bare. Why is it bare? thought Hermione. Her fingers reached swiftly to feel for her left earring, and she realised it was missing.

Harry said, "That must be what they found outside the closet."

"Oh," said Hermione. She couldn't say anymore, because Harry's fingers, which had been touching her ear, now brushed back her hair. When she didn't say anything, but had frozen in place, his touch had moved across her cheek, stroking it slightly with the back of his fore-finger.

She tore her gaze off the floor, and forced herself to look at him. She was stunned to see that his cool, laid-back expression was gone. And in it's place was the look of the Harry she loved. He was looking at her with sad, caring eyes, and for a moment she was thrown back into the past, when he looked at her the same way, back in the tent.

And just like back then, his face was suddenly inching closer to hers. Her heart started beating quickly, but her brain seemed to be thinking sluggishly.

What do I do? She screamed at herself. But she knew, as she watched his eyes turn hopeful, that this time, she ought to do the right thing, and kiss him, like she should have three years ago in that tent.

Their eyes fluttered close at the first touch of their lips, and Hermione forgot everything- the past, the misunderstandings, the fights and the tears- as she lost herself in those soft lips she'd dreamed about since sixth-year.

They kissed for what seemed like a long time, though neither of them dared to make it an open-mouthed kiss. This kiss was special. Their first kiss.

The kiss that Harry had wanted for three years, that Hermione had denied him even though she knew she was attracted to him.

Slowly, Hermione pulled back. She wondered, light-headedly, how long Harry would kiss her if she just stood there.

Her eyes flew open slowly, and she looked into Harry's eyes.

His green orbs were bright, and seemed to have a warmth she hadn't seen in them in a long time.

There was another silence, and this time neither wanted to break it, afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Then, Harry said, "So...dinner."

Hermione started. "Yes, of course. Dinner."

And they started off down the corridor. And when next Hermione caught Harry's gaze, she saw his eyes were drawn and cool once more, though he smiled back when she gave him a tentative smile.

Oooh! Gave you a taste of what's to come.

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