Thank you for all the reviews, you really surprised me. I was away from the Internet for two and a half days, I was truly not expecting to see all the reviews that had accumulated in my absence. I will also thank you for your patience. Things are coming out well in the story. Though, I am slightly scared of what you'll do to me at the ending. But never you fear, I have a sequel planned. I can't say too much. To give away the plot would be disastrous. I will also thank you for your questions. Some of you are way off and others are hitting very close to the answer.

I just had to say something.

Disclaimer: (holds up a very big card that has the two big letters: W B printed on it) These wonderful people own Harry Potter, they collect all money in the movie franchise. (Holds up another large card with three letters on it this time: JKR) She owns the publishing rights.

Chapter 12: Two on a Couch.

By: Tojot

The return to Hogwarts had gone uneventful. Even looking back a couple of weeks later, Harry couldn't believe all that had happened. The kidnap story stayed the same as the explanation to his sudden reappearance. No one except the conspirators, Harry, Hermione and now Ron knew where Harry had been during his month's disappearance. He was filled in on the true reason where Harry had been and why he was there. When told, Ron got surly and short-tempered to Harry's surprise and muttered something about trust. Gryphon thought it best that the news that Hermione was under the protection as well stay between those who knew of it already. One piece of Harry's memory was missing, though. What had happened when the Protection Charm was cast and why wasn't anyone telling him why Hermione was under it as well? Was it because she was the one who cast the charm? Harry was finding it more and more difficult to speak to Hermione about the events that happened on Halloween night. She always seemed to find something important to do every free moment or avoid him. Even after Quidditch had resumed and they were having practice together. He was never able to get her alone to talk to her about it. Even when he tried to bring up the subject, she would always find a way to steer them off it again. It surprised Harry how resourceful Hermione could be in the situation of avoiding a subject. Harry decided it was best to drop the subject until Hermione was ready to tell him her side of the story.

Another thing was Hermione never really strayed far from the library if she could help it, even though it was in her nature to always be there. Harry commonly found her nose in books that had nothing to do with her classes. Harry knew she was trying to find out what Professor Gryphon was. He knew because he glanced at the titles of the books that she said was "a bit of light reading." Such titles read Exotic Creatures Who Perform Magic by William Wilderbred and Great Magical Felines of Earth and Beyond by Ming Meow

On the train ride back to Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione told Professor Dumbledore that they had seen Draco Malfoy and Vincent Crabbe and that they were Deatheaters. Dumbledore told them that he would look into it.

Voiceless magic was becoming more and more of a requirement in all classes. As Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Gryphon were teaching them new spells they had all spells silently or risk having poor grades. New spells were the most difficult to execute silently. Though it was really weird that everyone seemed to be picking new spells up easier in Gryphon's classes than in any other class. It was Hermione who was, as always, the quickest of the year to pick up the silent magic.

The Animagus training resumed with Professor McGonagall. Hermione still hadn't achieved the full-fledged lioness yet, but she was getting close. Oddly enough Harry wasn't far behind. McGonagall asked how it was possible to improve this much for not training with her. Hermione blushed and admitted that she researched it on her own. Harry's answer consisted of the fact that he had lived inside a cat for a month and now knew what it felt like, but neither Harry nor Hermione told McGonagall that. Harry knew that Ron was starting to get suspicious of the fact that both Harry and Hermione would sometimes come down to breakfast looking extremely exhausted. Even though he never voiced it, Harry had known Ron long enough to recognize that look of question that Ron wore.

The first Quidditch match of the year was fast approaching. To no one's surprise, it was Slytherin verses Gryffindor. None of the other houses knew that Hermione was one of the new Chasers. Her flying had greatly improved but it didn't change the fact that she wouldn't prefer the broom to any other method of travel. The Nimbus NZO that Harry had chosen for her seemed to suit her. It was more a practical broom than a racing broom. The night before the match all three of them were sitting in front of the fire doing their homework after Hermione had finished with her Prefect duties. Ginny had joined them too. Hermione was unable to do hers normally because she was jumpy and unfocused.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Harry asked her quietly.

Hermione answered in a nervous nod.

"I don't see that there is anything to worry about, Hermione, you're great with a quaffle." Ron said rubbing at a newly formed lump on his head. "The Slytherins are in for it. Hermione's quaffles go really fast." But the conversation soon died down seeing Hermione didn't seem to be listening in to the words of encouragement.

From seeing Hermione's performance on the pitch, Harry knew she had this knack for aiming directly at the Keeper. The force she used on the Quaffle seemed as though she had a vendetta against the Keeper. Hermione was a very confidant young woman… on the ground. But that confidence would ebb away when you got her on a broom in the air. But Harry was finding a way to trick her in a way to show that confidence in the air too, to seduce her in small increments. He had found out that she liked throwing the quaffle and she took great satisfaction that her aim was right on. He used that to his advantage and distracted her from her fear. But when she was on the ground her fear of heights would return, as it had done now.

Hermione stared at the flames burning in the grate. She looked slightly pale even in the soft glow from the Gryffindor fire. She remained unfocused on her studies and ink and quill remained untouched for more than ten minutes. Ron and Ginny decided to go to bed not long after the conversation died.

"You coming?" Ron asked Harry as he reached the door to the Boys' Dormitories.

"Not yet. I believe I need to do something first. Then I'll be up to join you." Harry told him.

"Okay. Hermione it may be best if you went to bed too. You'll need your strength for tomorrow." Ron replied before he disappeared up the stair. Hermione didn't answer. Because her back was turned to him, Ron didn't see Hermione's complexion pale, but Harry did notice it. They were alone again.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Harry asked gently.

"Oh I'm fine." Hermione stated sarcastically. "Fine other than the fact that I am scared out of my wits and that Ron is an insensitive berk."

"Hermione!" Harry stated in a scandalized tone at the words she said about Ron.

"Sorry." She apologized. "I Just don't think I am ready for tomorrow's game."

"Hermione, I think you are more than ready." Harry said.

"Oh no. Not you too." Hermione complained, close to tears. That is when Harry realized what was the problem. First-Time Pre-Game Jitters. The fear that she was going to completely mess up out on the pitch and make herself look foolish.

"I see." Harry said, "Is there anything I can do to help you overcome this anxiety? Or at least to help you relax."

"No Harry, you have helped me more than you know. To ask more of you would put you in an awkward position with me." Hermione replied nervously with her enigmatic words.

"But Hermione, you're a nervous wreck. And it would be a fair exchange for how you've helped me these past few months. So what can I do to help you get over this worry." Harry repeated as he sat down next to her on the couch. "Might I remind you, if it is embarrassing there is no one here to see what goes on. It will remain between us. It's not like we haven't been in more embarrassing situations before."

"You're sure?" Hermione said with emphasis.

Harry just nodded. For some weird reason he wasn't afraid of what Hermione may do to him to calm herself down. Without saying what she was going to do, she pulled his head down onto her lap, his head facing the ceiling and started running her hands through his messy black hair. The expression on her face seemed to relax as she did so. Harry didn't seem to mind it either as her slender fingers softly caressed his scalp.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself now." Harry teased.

"You know what? I think I am." Hermione teased back. " I have always had this odd desire to play with your hair." She finished with a giggle. "Or just run my hands through it."

"I may consider letting you do it more often." Harry said. "Because it feels heavenly. I could easily fall asleep to this."

"My dad does whenever my mum does it." Hermione mentioned with a smile.

"Hermione. What's it like to have parents who love you?" Harry asked. His inquisitive gaze he directed at her seemed to bring a painful expression to her face.

"I have never really thought of it." Hermione sighed as she smoothed his hair back from his face. "I get annoyed sometimes when they are worried about me. But come to think of it, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world, knowing that you have parents who love you and wish the best for you. I am sorry Harry, knowing you don't have parents."

"It's nothing to worry about, Hermione." Harry reassured her. "I know my parents loved me, or they wouldn't have sacrificed their lives to keep me safe that night fifteen years ago."

"Lily was a courageous woman." Hermione commented as she thought back to the time when they had seen it all happen.

"That's the reason why she was put in Gryffindor." Harry said.

"Harry, do you remember what we saw in your house, fifteen years ago?" Hermione inquired.

"How could I not. Everything is so vivid. Mum's death, ME bursting into flame, Voldemort losing his body. Those are things one is not very likely to forget, Hermione." Harry pointed out to her.

"That night was so very confusing." Hermione sighed sadly. "I am not sure how you stopped Voldemort that night even when we both witnessed it. What was the purpose of the flame? If you could call it that."

"Hermione what do you mean?" Harry said staring at her.

"The flames that you burst into didn't feel…somehow…normal." Hermione explained as she continued to run her hand through his hair. Doing so seemed to have a calming effect for the both of them. "They ended up putting themselves out, starting with you."

"I'm listening." Harry pushed.

"I noticed as we were inside the house that areas remained untouched by the fire. The areas that were touched were the areas that were nearest to the nursery. Your home was a pretty big home and it was almost consumed in flames."

"Hermione you've confused me" Harry pointed out. "Please explain it more simply, so I can understand it."

"Okay, I'll try. But it will be difficult." Hermione said. "All magical creatures, including witches and wizards, emit a magical aura in the shape of a sphere. Many theorists have called these Spheres of Power. But not all these spheres are the same size."

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"The more powerful the magic, the bigger the sphere." Hermioine answered simply. "It is also said that one's sphere grows as one matures. Do you understand?"

"I think so. Is it possible to draw a diagram?" Harry asked as he sat up from Hermione's lap.

"Let's see." She said as she pulled a roll of parchment from her school bag. She quickly dipped her quill in her ink and started drawing. She drew a stickman. "Now, this stickman represents normal wizard."

"Okay." Harry said skeptically. She then drew a circle around the stickman. It circle wasn't very big, it was just big enough to just barely fit the stickman inside.

"Now this circle around the stickman shows the magical aura that this stickman wizard is emitting.

"That's not very big."

"That's just the normal wizard." Hermione pointed out. She then drew another stickman. This one had a beard. "Now, think of this as Dumbledore."

Harry sniggered at the bearded stickman. "Okay. So how big would his 'aura' be?"

"One moment, that is what I am trying to figure out." Hermione said while writing out a couple of difficult equations on the parchment. She then drew the circle.

"Whoa, that's huge!" Harry exclaimed. The circle didn't fit fully on the parchment. "But in truth it really doesn't surprise me."

"But the irony is, that is how big of an aura you were emitting fifteen years ago as well." Hermione admitted.

"WHAT!" Harry shouted.

"Keep your voice down. Other's are trying to sleep." Hermione whispered.

"Oh sorry." Harry apologized. "Okay, you said that the sphere gets bigger as you get older."

"Yes. I did say that."

"How big would mine be now?" Harry inquired.

"It would be twice the size of that one." Hermione said as she pointed to the 'normal wizard' diagram.

"It shrank?" Harry said bewildered.

"I am not sure what happened, Harry. But that is all I know. Maybe it's hiding."

"You just sounded like Luna for a moment there." Harry laughed. "So tell me, why would my magic be hiding."

" I think that maybe you aren't using your own magic. Take into account that you can speak Parseltongue."

"If you say so," Harry said reluctantly, "But I think we may need to talk about this to Dumbledore himself."

"Well, back to what I said before." Hermione said, "The flames only burnt so much. It went as far as your orb could take it."

"I see." Harry said and Hermione motioned for him to lay his head back down again. He rolled his eyes and did so with the result of her burying her hands in his hair once again. "I guess I am at your mercy tonight."

"Only until I am able to relax." Hermione chuckled.

"That makes for the both of us." Harry smiled sleepily at her. Within the hour, Harry had fallen asleep on Hermione's lap. Hermione watched him sleep. Hermione knew that Harry's dreams weren't as haunted as they were during the summer.

"Mum, you were right." Hermione muttered to herself. "They do look like innocent children when they sleep." She leaned down and placed a light kiss on his forehead as she felt her eyelids droop. She glanced at her watch to find out that it was ten minutes after one AM. She knew she couldn't stay awake any longer, but she did not want to disturb Harry from his peaceful slumber. She decided to rest her head on the arm of the couch and fell asleep as well.

She was in the Library, alone and surrounded by towering piles of books. She was looking for something. With a groan of frustration she slammed the book closed. She heard a small giggle and looked up. A small girl was sitting across from her, watching her. Hermione had a slight feeling of DeJa Vu when looking at this girl. She had bright green eyes and raven black hair.

"Who are you?" Hermione asked.

The small girl just smiled asked a question of her own. "Are you looking for something to help him with?"

Hermione nodded then looked at her in questioning.

"I can't say much." The girl said with a sad smile. "Too little time. The answers you seek will come very soon in time, just be patient. They will be in one of these…" The girl motioned at the books around them, the girl then stood and reached towards Hermione. "…Or in here." She said as she placed her palm on Hermione's chest briefly. "Once they do arrive learn all you can, because danger lurks everywhere, even with in safe walls for they will not protect you from the dark lord. They will be a battleground.

"What?" Hermione said.

"I must go, my time is up." The girl said. "Heed my words, Hermione."

Hermione woke with a start as lightning flashed, illuminating the dark room. After her heart had calmed down a bit, she realized that Harry was still asleep on her lap. One of his arms circled her waist. On Harry's chest a large ginger cat had perched himself as if to claim territory. Crookshanks looked at her with a daring look.

"Why is it that you get along with Harry, and refuse to get along with Ron?" She asked the cat. Crookshanks just curled back up on Harry's chest and continued his interrupted sleep. "I guess he is easier to get along with." Hermione answered her own question in contentment, rested her head back down on the armrest and fell back to sleep.

Author's Note:

I don't know what to say. Hopefully, I can write enough to put up the next chapter soon. My writer's block is gone now and I am back to writing, but I will have delays because of work.

In the meantime, I ask you to review and ask questions. I just love it when people ask really good questions. I will also try my hardest to get the next chapter up.Thank you.

Tojot