Disclaimer: Not mine, never been mine. I'm not making a single knut.

"I'm starving," Harry whined the next Friday as the three friends made the trek to dinner. He had been saying it every 15 minutes for almost the last hour.

"HARRY," Draco snapped, "we get it. You're famished and wasting away into nothing. However, we needed to train and study. Or have you given up hope of turning into an aardvark or panda or maybe a whale; I hear they eat a lot."

"Besides, dinner is about to start," Hermione cut in as her best friend sent a heated look at the blonde. The two men had been toeing around one another since their talk, both trying to find the ground the other was comfortable with. It had basically gone back to before Harry had the letters, which Hermione had confronted him about. As predicted, he had done it for reasons that seemed noble to him and when he had finally gotten some sleep (for almost 12hours straight) he had become irritated with himself as well. He had apologized to both friends.

It looked like Harry was about to retort something to Draco but stopped as they walked into the Great Hall. There was an extra table between the house tables and the staff table, and it lay parallel with the staff table instead of with the house ones. The three friends looked at one another confusedly, and Draco rolled his eyes and shrugged, and they parted ways to sit at their respective houses.

"Hey Harry!" Ginny said brightly, giving him her best glowing smile.

"Hey Gin," Harry replied, nodding at her before turning his attention to the front of the hall, where Dumbledore had just stood up.

"Good evening! I know you are all hungry, but before we eat I want to make an announcement. Many of you are probably wondering about the new table addition. I've decided that with all of the returning students, and all of the regular students, the house tables are quite full. Therefore, if you are a returning student who is redoing your 7th year that got interrupted, you will now sit at this table. If you are in 7th year and you're supposed to be in 7th year at this time, you will remain at your house table. Please move now. There will be no need to sit by house; just all sit together."

Hermione and Harry looked at each other and shrugged, then got up and moved. Draco had gravitated over to where his two friends were and they all sat down in the middle of the table facing the students with their backs to the staff, Draco in the middle of Hermione and Harry.

"There! That seems to clear up more room. This will be recognized as the 'senior' table. The 'seniors' will now have an extended curfew until midnight, since they are all now adults. However, you will still sleep where you normally do, and you're still a part of your respective houses so you still can earn and lose house points. Right, now let us eat!"

Food appeared on the table and Harry's eyes had taken on a twinkle to rival Dumbledore's as he stared at the spread before him.

Draco gave a dramatic sigh. "If you only looked at me that way," he said. Hermione laughed as Harry attempted to give Draco both a sarcastic and sympathetic look at the same time. The attempt was ruined by the bulging of his food stuffed cheeks, however.

"Wow, so this is how it feels to eat like a one of the professors. No wonder Severus was able to catch anything we did; you can see everything," Draco said as he observed the hall over his pumpkin juice.

"This is a nice idea. Those tables were getting awfully crowded. And now we can sit together, as well," Hermione said as she began to load her plate.

"True. It's odd being hated by most people in your house, especially when last time I was at school, most of them loved me," Draco conceded.

"Yeah, been there; it's no fun," Harry said darkly as he stabbed at his food. Draco just shoved him with his shoulder and ducked his head slightly, cheeks tinged pink when Harry gave him a cute smile and shoved him back.

They ate for about 15 minutes until Draco, studying a piece of chicken on his fork, said conversationally, "So is there a reason for Ginny to be shooting daggers at us, or is this normal Gryffindor dinner behavior?"

Both Hermione and Harry looked up in time to see Ginny turn her attention back to her food.

Draco sighed. "Honestly, you two have no subtlety at all."

"It's because of Harry," Hermione said and shrugged as she continued to eat.

"What about me?" Harry looked honestly confused.

"Obviously she's still crazy about you," Draco said, narrowing his eyes a bit towards the redhead.

"I thought that was over back in 4th year!"

"Well apparently not, Harry," Hermione told him. "In fact, the day I went with Charlie I had asked her that morning if she was still after you and she got very defensive."

"But she's…she's like my sister!" Harry sputtered.

"Yes, but she doesn't know that. She's always been captivated by you; I was hoping years ago that it would fade," Hermione said.

"We've gotten pretty close this year when I finally started talking to her again, but I don't think I ever led her on!"

"No one thinks you did, Harry. It's ok; she'll get over it," Hermione laughed.

"Well, at the very least I would've thought she'd have caught on about me in these last months," Harry said.

"Caught on to you how?" Draco asked amusedly.

"Well, you know…"

"Nope; I have no idea. Enlighten us," Draco said, visibly having fun.

"I just figured that she would've noticed that I was happier, and maybe would've led her to other things," Harry replied, nervously fidgeting with his fork. Hermione was torn between amusement and sympathy for her friend.

"What kind of thoughts could she possibly get to from you being happy?" Draco asked, raising one eyebrow.

"That, you know…I'm a…well, that I like…that I…," Harry's face turned red as he tried to say the words he wished to.

"That you fly for the opposite team?" Draco said, absolute glee evident on his face. "That you prefer pecs over breasts?" Draco was clearly enjoying watching Harry turn redder and redder. "That your broomstick would rather be in company with another? That you-"

"THAT I'M GAY!" Harry said quite loudly out of frustration. It was clearly louder than intended, because his eyes got wide as he froze…as did nearly everyone in the hall. Soon, there was no noise, and everyone seemed to be holding their breath waiting for what would come next.

Surprising everyone, including Hermione and Draco, Harry collected himself and appeared indifferent to his surroundings as he calmly went back to eating.

Draco collected himself almost as fast. "Oh ok, just wondering. I thought that was what you meant, but I wanted to be sure."

Harry seemed determined to ignore the twitters around him, and looked at Draco. "Hey love, pass me that flagon of pumpkin juice, would you?"

Hermione thought it must've taken a herculean effort for Draco not to show surprise by Harry, and passed the pitcher without word, just smiling.

"Thanks hun," Harry said as he took the pitcher, leaned over and then gave Draco a swift, but still somehow passionate, peck on the lips. It was the kind of kiss that was obviously familiar. Many occupants of the hall gave a gasp.

Draco broke into a huge grin as he blushed, and reached over to brush some stray hair out of Harry's eyes before going back to eating himself. Wanting to help show a united front, Hermione picked up her fork and started talking to the boys about their latest Defense class they had had.

One by one, people started going back to their dinners, albeit talking much louder and throwing furtive glances at the trio. Hermione didn't even dare to look to where Ginny sat, but could swear she felt the burning of her stare.

Draco seemed oblivious to everything around him as he ate happily. She knew he must be feeling elated; not only did Harry finally admit to himself (and others) that he was gay, but he had openly showed affection for Draco. She was so proud of Harry and so happy for her two friends.

Soon, the friends were done and they rose to join the other people that had started leaving the hall. More stares and whispers followed them as they stood up and Hermione wished that they weren't in the front of the hall.

Harry, however, took it all in stride. He laced his fingers in with Draco's and started to walk with his head high out of the hall. Draco had years of arrogance practice, so it was easy for him to also walk calmly and act indifferent. Hermione just walked on the other side of Harry like normal.

They had just exited the hall when they heard Harry's name being called from behind. They turned to see Dean Thomas walking towards them, with Seamus in tow.

"Hey, Harry, I just wanted to say that what you did was awesome. It was really brave," Dean said when he got to them.

"Yeah, that was really cool," Seamus agreed.

"Thanks. It wasn't how I pictured it happening, but it needed to happen at some point," Harry said.

"True. Well, I just wanted to say that we're behind you 100%," Dean said and, surprising everyone, stuck out his hand to Draco first.

"Thanks, man," Draco said with obvious relief.

Seamus clapped both men's hands and then the two friends departed for Gryffindor tower.

"They're totally gay!" Draco said, his eyes wide.

"What?" said Harry, laughing.

"I'm serious! Look how close they walk, and how accepting they were. And they basically only danced with one another at the masque," Draco said as they started walking again.

"Well, the best to them if they are then," Harry said as he shrugged.

When they walked into Draco and Hermione's quarters, Harry flopped down on the couch.

"Hey, you guys, I want to apologize," he said.

"What for?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"I shouldn't have done it like that; I put both of you in the spotlight. And those letters did freak me out, and I just don't want you two getting hurt," Harry said, head in his hands.

Unsurprisingly, it was Draco who was first over to the couch to comfort Harry. He put his hand on his back and rubbed it.

"Don't be stupid, Harry," he said. "It was going to come out eventually, and I don't mind that you practically outed me as well; that was bound to come out too."

"Oh shit, Draco! I didn't even think of that! I'm sorry…again!"

"Harry, seriously, I don't care. If I could've chosen how to come out in front of a large crowd of judging peers that have all hated me at some point, I definitely would've chosen it to be by your side," Draco said, dipping his head a bit to bump foreheads lightly with Harry.

Harry blushed at Draco's statement, but looked thrilled. He looked uneasily at Hermione.

"Hermione…I put you in the middle of something that isn't your problem and-"

"You can stop there, Harry. First, I don't care as well, although I don't think I can make the same declaration as our friend here." Draco smirked at her. "Second, it's not a problem; it's who you are, and I love who you are. And third, itis mine, partly, because we're part of each other's lives. So suck it up," she finished.

Harry just laughed. "Yes, ma'am. Ok, I think I'm going to call it an early night. I'm going to finish up those chapters that McGonagall gave us, and I still haven't finished the Potions essay."

"You could finish them here. I'm probably going to be up revising my essay, and going over the chapters as well," Hermione said.

Draco nodded vigorously. "Yeah, I need to finish revising an essay for Muggle Studies anyway."

"Thanks, but no. I know that I won't get as much work done if I stay here; I'll get too distracted," Harry laughed, and blushed slightly. With that being said, he gave Draco a hug and a quick kiss, and then hugged Hermione before donning his invisibility cloak so he wouldn't have to deal with people on his way back.

A few moments passed after he left, and then Draco said, "Well, that was eventful wasn't it?"

The two friends just laughed and started their homework.

XXX

God, I hope Potter knows what he's in for, thought Snape as he walked back to his chambers. The scene from dinner was permanently etched in his mind. Try as he might, he couldn't stop seeing Potter leaning over and kissingDraco. He knew they liked one another, but that didn't mean he wanted to see it.

It took some balls though, I'll give him that.

Striding into his private quarters, Snape warded his door and went to his liquor cabinet. He pulled out some very old, very nice scotch and went to sit in his favorite chair by the fire.

It was Friday night, which meant he could get piss drunk if he wanted to. And he wanted to. The last month or so had been hellish. First, with the masque, and then with the fiasco in his chambers with Hermione; after that it had snowballed. They had to let the Weasley teacher in on the problem, he couldn't stop thinking about Hermione, Draco went to the hospital wing, he couldn't stop thinking about Hermione, Potter went crazy, he still kept thinking about Hermione, and then Potter had hurt her.

That had made Severus' vision go red. When Potter had tried to touch her once more, Severus had acted without thought; he knew the boy meant no harm but he couldn't stop himself.

So they had finally got that settled with, only to come to find that Potter was now getting cryptic letters, he couldn't stop thinking about Hermione, and now Potter had openly come out in the middle of dinner whilst also dragging an non-reluctant Draco with him. Oh, and he also kept thinking wholly inappropriate thoughts of Hermione.

She's of age, his mind told him as he sipped his scotch.

She's a STUDENT, he argued back with himself.

She's a returning student. Even Dumbledore made it clear that he thinks of them less as students as a whole, and more of just 'continuing learners',"he shot back at himself.

Snape rolled his eyes at himself and settled more comfortably into his chair. It was a moot point to him anyway; she didn't reciprocate any feelings. She just thought she did.

Snape poured himself more scotch as he thought back to the day in his chambers. She didn't know who she was dealing with, he thought.

He kept refilling his glass as he replayed the scene in his rooms over and over.

She just thought she wanted it, he thought. Good thing I'm so strong…she was playing with fire and didn't even know it. He took a nice swig from the bottle.

Although, he thought, and grinned evilly albeit drunkenly, it would've been fun to see how far she was willing. She's probably used to boys; I would've opened her eyes. Yes,thatwould've been an experience.

At that thought, Snape knew he was piss drunk like he had hoped for but realized it didn't free him from his thoughts as much as he would've liked.

In fact, to his surprise and almost disgust, he was getting quite aroused by his own perverted thoughts.

Great. I'm only happy Dumbledore isn't here; he sees through me like glass. This would be odd to explain to him: 'Hey Albus, just sitting here thinking of ways I can get Ms. Granger into my bed. Youdidsay to play the part convincingly, didn't you? Snape chuckled at his own thoughts. But he knew what Albus would say of course. He knew he'd look straight through him with those piercing eyes and ask something like, "Ah, Severus…are you actually playing a part, though?"

Snape didn't have an answer to his own thoughts, and spent the rest of the evening ignoring his own mind.

XXX

Hermione's eyes flew open. She lay on her bed breathing quite hard for a few minutes trying to collect her thoughts. Her head turned to the side to look at the wall clock and groaned; it was 5 in the morning. Too early to be awake, but too late for her to attempt to get back to sleep now that she was up.

Not that it matters anyway, she thought. Afterthat dream, I wouldn't have been able to go back to sleep even if it was 2 in the morning.

She never was able to sleep after getting woken up by dreams; she had learned that well after the battle when her mind had been plagued with nightmares. But this hadn't been a nightmare; no, this had been something different altogether.

She sat up and decided to take a bath; the tossing and turning combined with the dream had left her restless and sweaty. She grabbed the necessities and walked to her bathroom connected to her room.

Even if the Head student's quarters had been completely ugly, her bathroom would've made up for it. It was like the prefect bathroom, except all to her.

Hermione undressed as the tub filled with warm bubbly water, and sighed as she sank down into it. Lazily, she stretched out and sat back against a slanted portion of the tub meant to be like a lounger.

In the solitude of the bathroom, however, she couldn't escape her traitorous thoughts which refused to stay in the present. She closed her eyes as she relaxed, attempting to remember as much of it as she could.

She was being chased; she knew she was by the fear she felt as she ran. In the back of her mind, she knew who she was running from but when she would turn to look behind her, the thing that was following was too blurry to see; it wouldn't show her a defined picture. But behind her assailant was a wall of darkness that was following, and she knew that whatever happened, she didnotwant to be caught in the dark. So she ran. And she ran.

In her mind, she knew that screaming would do no good. Something was telling her that whatever was happening was supposed to. In her head she saw flashes of the castle, of Gryffindor colors, of Harry seething as he rhetorically asked if they could trust anyone now. She saw people's faces in her head as she ran: Ginny, Harry, Lupin, first years, Charlie, Draco, students, Dumbledore, Snape. She knew she had to protect everyone from whatever was chasing her. Whatever it was, it was after her and she couldn't let it hurt her friends, or the innocent students at school. She was determined to give these first years a normal year; not one like her own had been.

Hermione heard a loud BOOM! and turned to look behind her. The black wall and indistinct figure had collided with another powerful stature and were now fighting for control.

Somehow, incredibly, the newest one seemed to win out and Hermione stopped running as she saw the indistinct figure slink away backwards, warning that it would be back. She felt safe and relieved of the newest presence but couldn't explain why.

The figure stalked over to her and she held her ground. Her whole body felt warm. As it neared, she threw caution to the wind and ran at him; she couldn't justify her need to be near this man, for she knew in her heart it was a man. Just as she reached him, he held out his arms and picked her up as he swung her around like she weighed almost nothing.

As he set her back down, he reached for her face with one large hand. It was calloused and strong, and lifted her chin without meeting reluctance. Her body was on fire now; a warm tingle had started in the pit of her stomach and seemed to be moving outward. Something about this man was turning her on incredibly. She became frustrated by the slow pace and eagerly went on her toes (for she realized he was much taller than her) and captured his mouth in a bruising kiss.

Instead of pulling away like she had feared he would, the man only clutched her to him tighter. There were hands everywhere; in hair and on clothes, clawing and attempting to tear away. As her rescuer picked her up to deepen the kiss, she wrapped her legs around his torso in a style that seemed almost familiar.

Tongues were dueling, dominating for control. As she broke away for air, he moved down to her neck and started biting. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt the need to laugh. Something was tearing at her memory: she had a vague impression of a vampire joke and then she lost control of thoughts as his mouth found a spot on her neck that made her cry out.

"Thank you," she panted, not sure why she was thanking him, but only knowing she felt like she had to, although she knew it would never be enough. "Thank you for being there."

The man pulled away from her neck and raised his head to look her in the eye.

"Always," he said, and she stared at him, determined to make him come into focus. There was something about him that made her never want to let go, and she was resolute on finding who it was.

As she stared into his eyes, she had the curious sensation of falling as if through a tunnel. She stared into dark; it was his eyes that seemed almost as black as night.

Hermione's eyes flew open once more, as she lay in the tub. The water was lukewarm, so she tapped the tub with her wand, and it immediately reheated itself.

When it was fully warm again, Hermione groaned and started to slide down farther into the tub. Yes, she knew who the dream was about now. There's no mistaking those eyes.

And with her mind drifting off to wonder about her Potions Master, Hermione closed her eyes and sank underwater, wasting as much time as she could escaping the truth she wouldn't admit.