AN: Hey guys, another chapter it is! It's a bit shorter than usual but yeah… This time I tried focusing on really bringing Harry/Hermione closer together and I think I successfully did so. Hopefully you like it!

OOOOOOOOO

The following weeks Hogwarts settled in the usual rhythm of classes and activities, as it had done previous years. One topic however remained much discussed among the students. Well two actually, Harry's so-called lies and Umbridge.

The Daily Prophet almost daily kept publishing articles, feeding truths that undermined Harry and Dumbledore to its readers who it seemed greedily believed them. Harry very much kept to himself together with Hermione, only engaging in sporadic contact with people like Neville and the Weasley twins.

Even though after his first encounters with Umbridge a clear shift could be seen in the attitude of his fellow Gryffindors towards him, they were still far from friendly. He and Hermione had spent more and more time in the Room of Requirement, Harry to get in touch with his new magical abilities and Hermione to read and do research.

Harry found himself increasingly enjoying the company of the young witch. On more than just one occasion he had caught himself just looking at her, watching how she read her books or worked on assignments. Whenever she would catch his eyes on her, she usually just gave him a smile, telling him to focus on his work.

It was this Friday where Hermione had done exactly that, after seeing Harry watch her how she read one of her Herbology books. With slightly red cheeks Harry went back to his work, only to realize it was time to go for their next class: Potions with Professor Snape.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Well well well, if it isn't out famous Potter," Harry and Hermione heard a male voice sneer behind them. They had just turned the corridor on their way to class when they stopped. Turning around a rather smug looking Malfoy, accompanied by Blaise Zabini appeared.

"I've been telling everyone for years that you are nutters," the blonde Slytherin continued. "Come to think of it, we have been seeing rather little of you recently Scarhead. Are you and little mudblood over there running off together?"

Harry felt his anger spike rapidly, with every word the Slytherin boy said. Hermione softly tugged on his robe in an attempt to just keep moving, however she very well knew Harry was not letting this go.

"How about it's none of your business Malfoy," Harry said through clenched teeth. "What have you and Zabini been upto, begging your daddies to finally let you join the Death eaters now that your so-called Lord is back?"

Within an instant Malfoy and Zabini drew their wands. "Expelliarmus!" both Slytherin boys shouted simultaneously, giving Harry no time to react. He watched his own wand fly towards them.

"Why so tense Potter? Is little mudblood there not putting out for you, is that why you are so tense?" Malfoy sneered, earning a loud laugh from Zabini and dirty looks from Harry and Hermione.

Harry could see tears form in the eyes of his best friend, angering him even more. But he felt something different, something new. Clenching his fist he could almost literally feel the magic flow through his body.

"It is time we learn scar and mud over here a lesson," Malfoy said confidently. He and Zabini raised their wands and took a few steps towards the Gryffindors, threatening smiles on their faces.

What happened next however, they had definitely not anticipated. "No you won't!" Harry shouted. Feeling his magic in his veins he focused hard on releasing it. The result however, he could not have imagined.

A large blast magic shot from him, blasting everything in its way except for himself and Hermione. Plant pots standing on the side were shattered, statues fell over and flames of torches went out. When the dust settled all Harry could look at where the two heaps of robes laying on the other side of the corridor.

"Harry…" Hermione said softly, grabbing his hand with an unreadable expression on her face which expressed shock, admiration and confusion all at once.

Harry slowly walked to where the two Slytherin boys lay, letting out a deep breath when he saw both boys were breathing and just unconscious. Quickly he fished his own wand from between the rubble and trotted back to Hermione. He himself was still in shock too, not realizing what he had just done.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked Hermione softly, checking her over as if to look for any damage. Before he could continue however he saw her eyes widen. Confused he turned around, only to be greeted with the presence of the person he was least happy to see.

"What in Merlin's sweet name has happened here!" Umbridge shouted at them. "Potter! Granger! Explain yourself this instant!"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. How were they going to explain this situation to their professor. Well, not just any professor but her.

"I will write the Minister about this, you mark my words!" Umbridge ranted on. "And you will serve detention with me an entire week, both of you!"

"Professor Umbridge, if you would be so kind to leave the punishment part to me," A deep voice suddenly said. Coming around the corner, Professor Snape stepped forward, glancing quickly over Malfoy and Zabini.

"If you would be so kind to bring Malfoy and Zabini to the Hospital Wing," he added, still speeking to Umbridge. The toad-like witch however, was having none of it so far.

"Severus, I caught them so I will be the one doing the punishing!" She boasted arrogantly.

Harry and Hermione meanwhile crossed their fingers, hoping it would not be Umbridge who they had to serve detention with. Harry could still feel the scar on the back of his hand tingle.

"I am the Head of House of those attacked Dolores," Snape said calmly as if it was just a casual conversation. "Last time I checked that puts me in authority over this situation."

No one present missed the way Snape had said the last sentence in a way that left no doubt that he would put his foot down for this one.

Umbridge shot him a dark look. "For now yes, but things will change," she muttered as she turned around and levitated Malfoy and Zabini, floating them in front of her on the way to Hospital Wing.

Waiting a few moments to be sure she was gone, Professor Snape finally turned to Harry and Hermione.

"It was my fault professor, Hermione didn't do anything," Harry started before Snape could say a word. "We were just walking to your class and Malfoy and Zabini taunted us and well… called her names I don't want to repeat."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "And that let to them ending up unconscious against the wall on the other side of the corridor?"

Harry quickly shook his head. "They… They disarmed me professor and were ready to attack when it just… happened."

Snape was silent for a moment and took another look around at the destruction in the corridor, before turning to the two students again.

"Are you telling me you did all this without a wand mister Potter?" Snape asked. No accusation could be heard in his voice, just slight disbelief. Harry nodded and Hermione quickly did the same behind him, indicating to the Potion master that indeed that was the case.

"Well Potter…Harry," Snape continued slowly. "That means that indeed the power of your magic abilities reaches far beyond the capacities of an ordinary wizard. If I may suggest, when you're in the Room of Requirement, try and research non-verbal magic in order to control your magic better."

Harry simply nodded and for the first time since he had set foot in Hogwarts, he gave the professor a small smile. Hermione however, had noticed one particular detail.

"How do you know that we're in the Room of Requirement sir?" she asked carefully not to have an accusing tone in her voice. Nonetheless her voice showed she wanted a good explanation.

"Very sharp miss Granger," Snape smiled. "Well you may understand that with the amount of time you two have been spending away from your Housemates and other students, some people including professors, were concerned and curious were you went. Since no one could find you, my only idea was that you were in the Room of Requirement, a room I myself have used many times in the past."

After this explanation, both Harry and Hermione relaxed. Despite being weary at first, they started trusting their Potion Professor more and more.

"Now, you have exactly six minutes left until the start of my class. I will see you there," Snape said and without further conversation, he turned and left the two Gryffindors.

Harry turned to Hermione and took her hand in his. "Are you okay 'Mione?" he said softly. "I'm sorry for almost getting us into trouble with Umbridge. I just… what Malfoy and Zabini said about you… it made me angry."

Hermione could feel her cheeks heat up. She couldnt help herself but stepped closer to Harry and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Harry, that is very sweet. Just be careful, people like Malfoy will just try and provoke you more the more lies they hear about you."

Harry nodded, his head blushing furiously where Hermione had kissed him. He could definitely feel a weird something going on inside of him and he couldn't explain what it was. All he knew was that he felt happy. Happy to be close to Hermione and happy she had kissed his cheek.

"It seems you were right though," Harry said as he and Hermione made their way towards the Dungeons. "Snape definitely seems to have turned a page, giving more advice and not even punishing us for Malfoy and Zabini."

Hermione nodded. "Exactly. I think we can be very happy. With him and Professor McGonagall more on our side, it will be a bit easier to find our way of doing things, outside Dumbledore's reach."

For the first time ever, both Gryffindors walked into the potion classroom with a smile on their face. Professor Snape was already waiting, along with most other students and had his trademark angry look again. "Well, well, now that Potter and Granger have finally managed to join us… we can start."

Harry sighed. Of course, this was in public so Snape had to keep up appearances.

OOOOOOOOOO

Exhausted Harry let himself fall on the sofa in the Gryffindor Common Room. He and Hermione had been practicing his non-verbal control of magic and it had worn him out extremely.

Smiling sympathetically, Hermione sat down next to him and handed him a pumpkin pie that she got from her bag. The young witch curled up beside him, tucking her legs underneath her and her head on Harry's shoulder. Contently, she began to read in one of her new books she had found in the Room of Requirement.

Harry closed his eyes for a few seconds and smiled. Hermione curled up next to him, the fire of the Common Room warming them and eating his pumpkin pie… there was little that was wrong at this moment.

When he opened his eyes however, he saw a nervously looking Ron stand in front of him. Hermione had seemingly chosen to ignore the redhead boy, not looking up from her book and also not moving her head from Harry's shoulder. Harry figured he was going to be the one to speak with Ron.

"Err… hi there guys," Ron awkwardly managed to get out. The cold look from Harry's face and the ignoring that Hermione was doing seemed to make him extremely uncomfortable.

"What do you want Ron?" Harry said simply, his voice strained with tiredness. So much that any tone of anger was not even hearable.

Ron shuffled uncomfortably on his feet for a few seconds before speaking again.

"I…I owe you two an apology," he said with face that matched the color of his hair and so softly Harry thought he had missed it for a second.

This got Hermione's attention as well, who finally put her book down and looked at Ron expectantly. Harry matched this expression, waiting for the young Weasley to go on.

With a sigh, Ron pulled a chair closer and sat down, not looking at either of his two housemates. "I am sorry how I treated you two, especially you Harry," he continued in a soft voice. "I had a… talk with Fred and George and had some contact via letters with my dad and… well… I just realize I messed up."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, both not really knowing what to say. They silently agreed that even though the apology was a surprising step in the right way, Ron had to show more than that.

Sensing this too, the redhead boy continued. "I am sorry I got jealous Harry, I… I wasn't thinking. And I am sorry I was so cold to you too Hermione. I don't know what got into me, I just was… well.. I was a bloody git."

By now the redhead boy was just rambling and Harry finally took pity on him.

"Err… well thank you Ron," he started slowly. "I can't say this doesn't come as a surpise, but it is appreciated nonetheless. Of course you do realize that what you did has hurt us very much, so an apology won't mean that everything will just go back to how it was."

Ron nodded quickly and looked down at his shoes on the floor. "I know Harry, I will try and make up for what I did. To both of you."

"I agree with Harry on this, there is much more to be done than just apologize. But still, thank you Ronald, at least this can be seen as a… first step," Hermione said, her head resting back on Harry's shoulder and her book back in her hands.

Ron sighed relieved that for now at least, some of the tension between the trio had been cleared. With a quick smile, that was answered by one coming from Harry, he went back to the other side of the room.

What Harry didn't miss, was that a few tables over, Fred, George and Neville had been watching. They too seemed to be relieved that Ron's apology had gone somewhat smoothly and for the first time Harry felt truly comfortable again in the Gryffindor Common Room.

Following the example of the young witch resting on his shoulder, he too grabbed one of the books he was reading for research into Defense Against the Dark Arts spells and started reading.