21 October 1994

Hermione adjusted quickly to having a regular schedule although the professors were piling on the coursework, stating that OWLs were just around the corner. She missed her room in the abandoned corridor, she snuck away one night just to see if it was still there. Her bed and desk were gone, it was back to being just an abandoned classroom. She thought maybe Winky could set something up, she still had nightmares of her capture and it would be nice not to worry about waking her dorm mates. Hermione hoped it wasn't on the map, Fred and George never discovered Percy there, after all. It was nice to get away from the constant supervision of her brothers. While Fred and George came to terms easily with her sister having a boyfriend, after a threatening conversation with Harry, Ron didn't seem to be dealing nearly as well.

Ron refused to leave Harry alone, especially if he felt his sister might come along. While Hermione and Harry shyly held hands in the halls and were able to sneak a few chaste kisses, Ron was always there to interrupt with offers of quidditch and chess. Eloise liked to stick close as well, pretending as though nothing ever happened. She would asked pointed and embarrassing questions in front of her brother, offer fashion tips, and shove books under Hermione's nose. Luna and Neville were no help, Luna developed a newfound love of herbology that required Neville's immediate and constant tutelage. Hermione really wanted to be alone or alone with Harry, they haven't had any time to themselves since their date. Although, he was slowly getting used showing affection, no longer waiting until Hermione took his hand. Hermione smiled triumphantly everytime her boyfriend wrapped his arms around her or pulled her to his side.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Harry whispered as he grabbed her hand and pulled her chair closer, hooking his foot on the leg of her chair. Hermione smiled shyly up at him, tapping her quill on her book. They were in the library with their friends, trying to finish up their transfiguration essay before they were to report to the lawns. Ron was eagerly talking about Beauxbaton's girls, ignoring his work

"Thinking how it would be amazing to be alone...with you." Hermione grinned impishly as she hooked her foot on his chair so their legs were touching. Harry blushed, looking at her from the corner of his eye.

"How would we manage that?" Harry whispered mischievously. Looking up he saw Ron was watching them closely and rolled his eyes. He couldn't understand Ron's constant mood swings when it came to his sister. It only got worse since the end of last year, with Scabbers then Hermione getting kidnapped.

"I know a place." Hermione said slyly, grabbing his hand, she laced their fingers together under the table. "I've actually been thinking of asking Winky to set something up, she's so bored. She doesn't want to go the burrow, mum would let her do anything."

"I know how you feel. Dobby is the same, I think I need to buy him his own trunk for socks and mittens." Harry grinned, a soft expression on his face as he talked of his over excitable house elf. "He's brilliant but absolutely barmy."

"Winky was organising my wardrobe by color last night, after she steamed my uniforms to get rid of some supposed wrinkles." Hermione snickered.

"That's not so bad." Harry shook his head smiling.

"No, she rearranged everything by color, like my wardrobe is a rainbow...she mixed in my socks and things." Hermione giggled, blushing furiously. Lavender and Hope got a look at her clothes and thought she lost her mind.

"Dobby like doilies." Harry whispered softly, making Hermione burst into laughter. Madam Pince came around the shelf instantly, a scowl on her face.

"Out!" Madam Pince whispered harshly, it was amazing how the willowy woman could seem like she was shouting angrily in such a soft voice. The teenagers quickly packed their books, groaning as they made their way to the tower.

"Winky pranked Hope's makeup." Hermione smirked as they group filed out of the library. Ron grumbled something behind her but she ignored him and grabbed Harry's hand.

"Why?" Harry's asked incredulously. Luna and Neville breezed past him, deep in a conversation about a plant he never heard of. Neville was blushing furiously and Luna only beamed up at him as if he made her day.

"She's an obnoxious bint who deserved it." Eloise said angrily from behind them. Luna opened her mouth to say something but Neville was quick to poke her in the side, silencing her.

"She messed with some of Winky's shelves." Hermione said quickly as she saw her brother glaring at Eloise and opening his mouth. Sure he was about to make a scathing comment she felt the need to stop him, tired of the constant fighting. "Winky likes potions, so when she's not color coding my knickers, she's brewing some random potion. Hope thought it was a good idea to rummage about, seeing what an elf could do. She misplaced a potion, in my hair."

"What did it do?" Ron demanded hotly, still glaring at the spotty girl beside him.

"It burned like hell but thanks to the charm mum put on my hair there was no damage." Hermione shrugged nonchalantly. Ron stiffened but kept his mouth shut.

"What charm?" Eloise asked curiously, she loved learning new charms and couldn't believe Hermione would deprive her of a beauty charm.

"It's a charm my grandmother developed, to protect her hair. Cordelia Prewitt was known for her beauty and skill in charms." Hermione smiled, thinking of the bushy mess her hair would have been without her mothers help.

"Can you show me?" Eloise asked eagerly, squeezing herself between Harry and Hermione. Harry grunted in annoyance as he fell in step with Ron behind them, Hermione rolled her eyes at the tall girl.

"Sorry, can't. Mum taught me, I can only teach my daughters or nieces." Hermione smiled apologetically, Eloise narrowed her eyes skeptically and they fell into a tense silence.

"Barmy birds." Ron grumbled, slowing his step. Harry looked at him with a half smile. "Listen, Harry...lets talk."

"Sure, Ron." Harry nodded to Hermione as they fell farther behind the group. Harry fidgeted as he saw the obvious frustration on on Ron's face. "What did you want to talk about."

"You and Hermione." Ron said bluntly, tips of his ears turning red.

"You're mad that I asked her to be my girlfriend?" Harry asked slowly.

"A little. Look, you're my best mate but she's my twin. I don't want...to have to choose." Ron grumbled uncomfortably. "Cause I would have to choose her. Even if she drives me mad, she's my twin and if you hurt her..."

"I don't plan on it...I've already gotten the threatening talk from Fred and George." Harry fidgeted as Ron refused to look at him.

"I'm not threatening you, I'm just telling you. If things end badly with you and 'Mione...we won't be friends anymore." Ron snapped harshly.

"So, what? You want me to marry her or to break up with Hermione because you don't like it?" Harry asked impatiently, annoyed with his friend.

"No, 'Mione would have my bollocks. My brothers had a talk with me over the summer, saying I should let it be and that it wasn't my business unless you hurt her. They don't understand that you're my best mate dating my little sister." Ron pinched the bridge of his nose. "I would hex you if you hurt her but..."

"So, what do you want, Ron?" Harry snapped, glaring at his friend. "Hermione talked to me about betrothals and all that. She doesn't want one and neither do I! We've only been together for a month and you won't let us alone for more than 2 minutes!"

"What? You're already..." Ron stared at his friend open mouth in disbelief for a moment before he shut his mouth so hard his teeth clicked. "Let's just go to the courtyard, meet everyone there."

"No, what is the problem, Ron? I know she's your sister but you're acting totally nutters over this." Harry grabbed Ron's arm as he was about to turn away. The redhead took a few cleansing breaths with his eyes closed before looking at his best mate.

"Fine! She's my twin. Mine! I don't like this but as long as you don't hurt her, I'll learn to live with it. 'Mione will test Egyptian spells on me if I tried to make you choose" Ron grumbled, confident that Harry would choose him, his best mate. He couldn't hurt his sister like that.

"Yeah...okay...so we're okay?" Harry asked awkwardly.

"Yeah, mate." Ron took a deep breath before adopting an easy smile on his face. "Let's just go, yeah?"

-0-

"So, are you excited to meet all the foreigners?" Eloise asked after they left the Gryffindor common room. Neville quickly left them to find Luna, promising to meet them in the court yard.

"Definitely, I know that witches and wizards in Egypt and Romania are very different. So, I'm excited to find out what kinds of magic they learn in school. Dad says they teach dark magic in Durmstrang, though." Hermione frowned thoughtfully.

"How do they class dark magic?" Eloise asked curiously watching Hermione from the corner of her eye. Her friend had been acting off since they came back to school. At first she thought it was because of what happened to her but now she worried Hermione had not really forgiven her.

"Well, dad says it's any kind of magic that could hurt people but mum says dark magic is a kind of magic that damages the soul and the core." Hermione chewed her lip, looking around for her brother and Harry.

"Magic can hurt the soul?" Eloise persisted, trying to reclaim the red heads full attention.

"Oh, yeah. Mum didn't really give examples or anything but she says there are spells and rituals that can..." Hermione smiled apologetically and shrugged. "I'm sure you can ask a professor or Uncle Albus if you're curious...although, some witches and wizards are paranoid about people who ask too many questions about the dark arts."

"Why would they not want people to ask questions?" Eloise asked incredulously.

"Err...well, I mean, there's limited dark texts in the library. Mum says those books aren't even dark. The really bad stuff was removed because it would turn a person dark. So, some might worry that if you're looking into dark magic you'll turn into the next dark lord or lady." Hermione grinned impishly. Someone poked her in the side making her jump and squeak, drawing the attention of other students around them.

"Making plans?" Harry asked mischievously,smirking down at the blushing red head.

"That would be Eli!" Hermione snickered, Harry reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her to his side.

"I was just curious." Eloise grumbled, clenching her jaw as she was pushed to the side by milling students.

"Come on, I think we need to go out to Black Lake to see the schools come in." Ron exclaimed loudly, pulling Eloise along with the group as they made it out into the courtyard.

"We have to wait here for Nev and Luna." Hermione grunted as her brother gave her a shove. Harry reached out and put an arm around her waist to keep her on her feet as Ron laughed. Hermione froze and looked between Harry and her brother with a confused look.

"He says he'll stop giving us a hard time." Harry whispered in her ear. Hermione just raised a brow, obviously not believing him. "Just tell me, are all of your brothers going to threaten me?"

"Scared, Potter?" Hermione smiled wickedly, from the corner of her eye she saw Eloise was hopping up and down waving to Neville and Luna.

"Of the curse breaker or the dragon tamer? Nah, they're just big ginger teddies. It's Percy I fear." Harry said sarcastically with a smirk. Neville and Luna joined them but Neville was giving her an indepth explanation to Phyllida Spore's theory of cross pollination. Luna was smiling serenely at the boy, her arm wrapped around his.

"Oi! It should be me you fear, Harry! I know where you sleep." Ron grinned as he pushed him towards the lake.