Hey guys! I am back with another chapter! Do review your thoughts on this chapter as I am a curious lass :P Enjoy!


"Harry, this is the last warning," Angelina said, sharply, "Make her understand or I'm going straight to the headmaster."

"Good luck with that, since he's hardly around," Harry mumbled in reply. It was later that same day, after dinner. Harry and Ron had arrived in the common room just a few moments before when Angelina, the captain of Gryffindor's Quidditch team, had marched up to them and got on Harry's case.

"I mean it, Harry. We're going to lose big time if this keeps up," she said, "You have to convince her."

"Do you really think a stubborn woman like Umbridge can be convinced?!" Harry snapped, unable to control himself, "She hates me and has made that fact clear."

"I don't care. You have to do something about it!" Angelina retorted. Harry just wanted to shut her up so he said, as calmly as he could, "Okay, fine. I'll try my best, like I've already been doing. I'll talk to Dumbledore or something."

"Yes, do that. And since you're his favourite student, he'll take action."

"I am not his fav-"

But Harry trailed off because Angelina had turned and walked away from him. Sighing, he sank down in an armchair beside Ron.

"I really want to use an Unforgivable curse right now…" he shared.

"Which one?" Ron asked humorously.

"The Imperius curse," Harry answered at once, "So I could make Umbridge do my bidding and lift these stupid detentions off me."

"What even are these detentions about? You've never spilled," Ron wondered. Harry hid his hand from Ron's view before replying, "It's not important."

But before Ron could reply, Harry's attention shifted elsewhere. Hermione had entered the common room, and instead of coming to sit with them like she normally would, she sat all by herself on one of the tables in the corner. Harry watched her as she opened a book and started to read it. But even though her face was now half-hidden by the volume, the sadness on it couldn't be missed…

"I could also use some cheering charms right about now," he absentmindedly said, "To cheer someone up."

Beside him, Ron sighed loudly, "Mate, you should apologize to her. Like I told you to."

Harry contemplated his words and thought about it.

Since his argument with Hermione, Harry had been feeling down. He felt extremely guilty for seeing her so miserable and isolated but at the same time was angry at her for questioning his loyalty. For the first time, Harry was stuck in the middle, with no idea what to do.

You should apologize to her! a part of his shouted, you've been acting like a git in the first place.

No! Another part argued, she should approach you first.

But by seeing the miserable look on Hermione's face, Harry couldn't bear to wait any longer and continue seeing her like this. Finally, he made up his mind.

Who am I kidding, he thought to himself, sighing, I've been acting like a real jerk. Choosing to side with a girl I barely know over one of my best friends!

"What are you thinking about?" Ron suddenly asked.

"Just deciding what I should do with Hermione."

"And?"

"Well, I've decided to put my ego aside," he told him, "and make amends with her. I can't force myself to see her so dejected anymore."

"Good lad!" Ron replied sarcastically. At that exact moment, Harry saw Hermione get up from her table and make her way out of the common room.

"Wait, I'm coming right back," he said to Ron, getting up and going after Hermione.

He didn't want to approach her yet, so he stealthily followed her from a distance. This act felt extremely strange to him because he was used to putting his stealth skills to the test regarding unapproachable matters and not stalking his best friend!

After a few moments, he understood where she was heading - to the Owlery.

He waited until she was well inside, then taking a deep breath, he followed her.


Hermione entered the Owlery with a heavy heart, the letter addressed to her parents clutched in her hand. Owls of all shapes and sizes hooted and cried all around her, flew whenever and wherever they wanted to and interacted with their neighbours. Hermione spotted Harry's beautiful snowy owl, Hedwig, and her heart sunk even lower. How can someone you really like make you this miserable? She wondered. Blinking the sudden tears that advanced in her eyes, she searched for a school owl to tie her letter with. As her eyes finally spotted one, she started to walk towards it, but a voice froze her in her tracks. It was Harry.

"Hermione, hi," he awkwardly said, approaching her, "Er, can we talk?" He sounded really nervous. Hermione felt even more nervous so she replied tartly, without facing him, "What do you want?"

"How can I talk to you when you won't even look at me?" he said.

"Harry, please stop it," she answered, her voice breaking, "I don't want to talk to you! After what you did!"

"I know. I can totally understand. But Hermione…" he said pleadingly, "Please hear me out. I know I've been an idiot but I just want you...back."

Hermione couldn't take it anymore. She burst into tears - the same tears she had been bottling up since morning. And now that Harry was finally trying to talk, she couldn't let her emotions force themselves in.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, horrified. She knew he never liked it when she cried.

"G-go away!" she sobbed, burying her face in her hands and turning away from him.

"No," he simply said, "I won't. Not until we talk through this properly."

"There is nothing to talk about!" she snapped brusquely, "So, please. Just leave me alone!" She didn't know where all this sudden anger was coming from, but she had absolutely no control over it.

But Harry wasn't backing down. "Please, Hermione," he pleaded again, "Don't act like this. We've always understood each other, haven't we? So things don't have to change now." He sighed, taking in the uncomfortable sight of her sobbing. "I know we can work things out, Hermione. Just give me a chance!" he finished. For a moment, there was dead silence. Hermione had stopped crying and the birds weren't screeching anymore. It seemed like they were watching the show the humans were creating with interest.

Finally, Hermione turned to face Harry and for the first time in two days which seemed like an eternity, they looked at each other eye to eye. Hermione took a deep breath, composed herself, and said, "Harry, look. I know you have the best interests right now but I just can't...brush aside the fact that you might value Cho more than me."

Harry was about to reply but he changed his mind and decided to let her talk

"So that made me think," Hermione continued, "Am I even important to you?"

"Of course you are!" he burst out before he could stop himself, "Look, I am sorry I said all those things to you. It was my anger getting the best of me. These days, I usually stay enraged and you know why that is. The Ministry believes that I am a liar and sent someone like Umbridge to teach the most important subject right now in these trying times. If that wasn't enough, Dumbledore is neglecting me for some reason. Not to mention the fact that I could be attacked at any time and at any day."

He paused to observe Hermione, to find out that she was listening intently. Relieved, he went on.

"And now to top it all off, I have to miss Quidditch practices because of these stupid detentions. And who would know all this better than you, Hermione? You've always understood me, even when Ron couldn't and that makes you supremely important to me. It was this bundled up anger that made me lash out on you, and it was extremely wrong of me."

The more Harry spoke, the more Hermione realized how stupid she was for becoming mad at him. Each word he was saying was reasonable. He had so much on his plate already and she had to come up and ruin a moment of fun for him.

I don't deserve him, she thought, I am such an idiot.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry was repeating, "Really, really, sorry. I never intended to do what I did. I just...snapped. You were right, of course! I shouldn't have been thinking about Cho when I've got Voldemort to worry about!" he finished with a grin, attempting to make her smile. But her lower lip started to tremble once again.

"Hermione?" he tentatively said. She had her eyes on the floor and not at him.

Before he could say something, she broke the ice.

"I - I'm sorry, too," she said softly, "I should have realized that you deserved a break from all these problems. I failed to understand you this time. It was so stupid of me."

"It wasn't. You were trying to keep me in my senses."

"No, Harry. I was being ridiculous," she argued, her voice quivering, "I should have been understanding, instead of labelling you as irresponsible. I'm so sorry! I...I don't know what came upon me."

"It's okay, Hermione. Don't worry about it," said Harry, then added, "I don't blame you for what you did."

Oh, if only she could tell him why she really snapped! The real reason was him liking Cho, and that bothered her to another level. She was starting to shamelessly hate that girl which was wrong of her, she knew.

"Thank you," Hermione answered, giving him a weak smile, "You always understand me too, Harry. It's not just me."

"Well, I've got to return your favour!" he smiled back, but then continued in a sombre tone, "Neville told us how it was because of your help what he did today. And it made me realize that I've never appreciated all the things you've done for me."

"I'm always happy to help," she told him, really smiling now, "Especially you."

"But still, this is so selfish of me!" he said, "Never appreciating you. Last year, you helped me learn spells and find ways to get through the Tournament, even though you got extremely tired. I'd been worrying so much about the competition that I was unable to see that I'd be nothing without you."

His last words were so heartwarming that she turned crimson.

"So, thanks, Hermione!" Harry beamed, "For always having my back."

"Oh Harry," said Hermione, a bit shyly, "It's nothing. I just want to see you safe and sound."

"And I want to see you happy," Harry replied, "More than anything right now."

Hermione's heart bloomed again and a cheerful smile came upon her face.

"That's more like it," he grinned at her. She grinned back. The owls were long bored by this emotional talk and they were now initiating their normal actions. Harry rubbed his neck and said awkwardly, "So, are we cool now?"

Hermione smiled at him, "We're more than cool!" then she added bashfully, "I missed you, Harry."

"I missed you more," Harry said, coming closer to her, "Please don't get ticked off at me again."

"I won't," she replied, looking up at him. Instead of replying, Harry pulled her close to him and wrapped her in an embrace.

Truth be told, whenever they hugged, it was always Hermione who made the first move. And now, Harry felt like it should be his turn to initiate intimacy with her.

For a moment, Hermione stood still in his arms, trying to see if this was really happening. Sure, they had shared these kinds of moments before, but at those times, she didn't feel for him what she felt now. Butterflies didn't erupt in her stomach at the mere sight of him before like they did now. Being in his arms this time felt...wonderful. She smiled to herself and hugged him right back, resting her head on the crook of his shoulder. It fit perfectly. Hermione wanted them to stay like this, for as long as they could, without interruptions.

As for Harry, it felt very nice to have her so close to him - safe and secure. He liked her warmth circulating him which was making him smile to himself. But he was the most joyous upon the fact that he and Hermione were friends again. Her arms around him, her face resting on him where he could feel her breath, and her chest heaving against him created an amazing sensation. And it was so amazing - that he went ahead and buried his face in her long brown hair which he always adored.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat as he did that. Her mind raced with excited thoughts...he never did that before! Does this feel nice for him? Could he actually...like me back?!

"Hermione," Harry suddenly said, "I don't ever want to see you hurt."

Hermione beamed against him, "Neither do I."

"Yes, so next time," he continued, lightly brushing her hair with his fingers, "Please don't go quiet when something is bothering you. Tell us instead."

"I know, I get it," she replied, "But I sometimes fear that you guys won't take me seriously."

"Of course not -"

"I know, I know," she interrupted him, "I'm sorry I jump to conclusions too quickly."

"It's all right," he said, then added with a sigh, "You're like a sister to me, Hermione. So I can't bear to see you troubled."

His words shattered Hermione's heart into bits and pieces. Looks like I'm wrong again, she thought sadly, he sees me as a sister…

Harry didn't realize the effect he had put on her just now, but she forced herself to smile and hug him back, so as to not spoil their moment. At least she was having an intimate moment with him.

Their embrace finally broke apart by a cluster of pure white feathers. Hedwig had barged in between them and was now resting on Harry's arm.

"What, didn't like what you saw?" Harry humorously asked the bird. In reply, she affectionately nipped at him.

Hermione giggled.

"Oh, amid all this, I forgot to ask," Harry said, "Why did you come to the Owlery?"

At that moment, she realized she had the letter to her parents still clenched in her hand.

"I was sending a letter to my parents," she explained, her eyes involuntarily now searching for the school owl she spotted before, "To update them about the term."

"Well, you can borrow Hedwig," said Harry, extending his Hedwig clad arm towards her. Hermione laughed, "Thank you. Here, Hedwig."

She tied her letter on the owl's ankle and caressed her soft feathers, "Have a safe journey. I hope Umbridge's security doesn't stop you."

"It won't," Harry assured her, "Your letter is perfectly safe."

"It is," she smiled at him then at the bird. Hedwig gave a loud, "Hoot!", flapped her enormous wings and flew into the night.

Harry silently observed Hermione as she watched his owl fly away. She turned to face him and he smiled.

"Ready to go back to the common room?" he asked, then added with a smirk, "Or do you want to spend the remaining night outside?"

"Oh, shut up," Hermione laughed, "You are not going to make me hear the end of it, are you?"

"Can't blame me there," Harry replied, grinning, "I'm still in awe."

She fixed him with a humorous look and exited the Owlery, to set off towards the Gryffindor tower with him.