Immutable Feelings by memoryspell48

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 10/05/2007
Last Updated: 06/08/2009
Status: In Progress

The trio return for their last term at Hogwarts shortly after Voldemort's death. Voldemort
is gone, but that doesn't mean the semester while be uneventful. The exprience of bringing down
Voldemort has changed them, bringing all of them closer together, especially Harry and Hermione.
Will the final months prove to be peaceful, or is trouble something Harry can't avoid? *Finally
a NEW chapter up!*




1. Returning to Hogwarts
------------------------



**Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the canon storyline are not mine, if they were I would be rich
and not writing fan fics ;)**

**A/N: This is my first fan fic so I would really appreciate thoughtful reviews and
constructive criticism. Thanks!**

**Chapter 1** **- Returning to Hogwarts**

Christmas break had ended for the Hogwarts students and the train back to school was crowded
with students. It had been more than a Christmas break though. The school had been closed down ever
since Dumbledore's death. Some of them were excited to be heading back and seeing old friends;
others dreaded going back to doing schoolwork. And for some, it was bittersweet because it was
nearing the end of their time at Hogwarts. This last group included Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Hermione searched the cars of the Hogwarts Express, looking for her two best friends, Ron and
Harry. Usually they managed to find each other before boarding the train at the station, but she
had not seen them at all. After a last look through the crowd she'd had to give and board the
train alone or risk missing it.

She sighed in exasperation, after checking several cars with no success and having an unpleasant
run in with some bothersome young Slytherins. Hermione frowned slightly to herself, hoping that
something wasn't wrong, or that Ron and Harry hadn't gotten themselves left behind somehow,
like the year Dobby had prevented them from getting on the train.

As she turned around to go check the next car, Hermione finally found one of her friends, as she
happened to knock into Ron who standing nearby chatting with a group of Gryffindor girls.

“Ouch, are you blind? Look where you're going!” he grumbled, his hand flying to his
shoulder. Ron turned around and smiled awkwardly when he noticed it was Hermione that he was
directing his complaints at.

For a while he continued to rub his shoulder where she had bumped into him.

“Um, sorry Ron,” she apologized promptly, not wanting his whining to escalate. Ron could be such
a baby she reflected. She decided not to be aggravated with him at the moment though, after it had
been a while since she'd seen him and Harry. It felt like longer than a month.

“It took me forever to find you Ron, and I still haven't found Harry. Where are you guys
sitting?”

“Just down there,” Ron replied distractedly, gesturing to a compartment a just behind him to the
left. He hastily turned around and went back to clumsily flirty with Lavender who was among the
group of girls he had been chatting with.

Hermione laughed softly, Ron was certainly no charmer when it came to girls.

“Thanks see you in a bit,” she told him, hurrying off to find Harry, sure that he probably
hadn't even heard her, or really cared.

She had worried about Harry a lot over break this time. At least for once he hadn't stayed
at school or had to go to stay with the Dursleys for Christmas. However, it hadn't been that
long since his final battle with Voldemort. Sometimes she could barely believe that he had
survived. She had never doubted her friend's skill as a wizard, but Voldemort was powerful and
didn't fight fairly. Hermione shook her head as if it would rid her of these somber thoughts.
Hermione tried not to think about how strange and awful it would have been without him.

Hermione slid open the door to the train compartment that Ron had pointed out and a reflexive
smile spread across her face upon seeing Harry.

He was sitting in the car near a window, gazing out at the snow-covered landscape, looking a
little wearier that the last time she had seen him, but wonderful and familiar all the same.

“Harry!” she cried warmly, her face lighting up.

Harry turned away from the window, he had not heard her come in, and her voice had alerted him
to her presence making him jump slightly. When his green eyes met hers he beamed back at her. As he
stood to greet her, Hermione ran over and hugged him tightly nearly knocking him off his feet and
back into his seat. He stiffened at first in surprise but quickly his body relaxed, and he returned
her hug. Hermione closed her eyes; happy to be hugging her best friend who many had felt would not
be able to defeat Voldemort without losing his own life. She was sure that even Harry had not
expected to live to adulthood. Hermione noted to herself that Harry had grown even taller over the
last month and now her head only came up to his shoulder. It also occurred to her that he was now
the perfect height for her. She was glad Harry couldn't see her face at the moment.

She didn't observe the Ron had come back while she was busy hugging Harry.

“Merlin's beard Hermione! Must you do that? It hasn't been that long since you saw him.
Let the poor guy breath,” Ron commented in annoyance, plunking down on the seat across from Harry.
Ron quickly ripped open a chocolate frog package and bit the chocolate amphibian in half.

Hermione and Harry moved apart. Hermione turned around so that she could see Ron and flashed him
an irritated look, her dark eyes flashing. Harry sat back down, deciding to ignore Ron's
comment.

“Aww, are you jealous? You can have a hug too, little Ronald,” Hermione said in teasing
voice.

Ron scowled and blushed slightly. He had his hands in his pocket and shifted around
uncomfortably before responding to her teasing question.

“Um, thanks I'm good. I had quite enough hugs from my mum at the station,” he replied, not
looking at her as he spoke, his face still red.

Hermione laughed heartily at Ron's expense and took a seat next to Harry who was flipping
through a magazine about Quidditch. She dug through the bag she had brought on the train, full of
several heavy volumes, for one of her books. For a few minutes they were all serenely silent, the
only noise was the rumble of the train and the soft whisper of the pages of Hermione's book as
she turned them. She felt very at peace sitting with her friends on the familiar train ride to
Hogwarts.

Hermione sighed and looked up, and noticed that Ron was watching her. She frowned at him
quizzically.

Ron returned her gaze.

“You do know they're not giving tests on what we studied over break as soon as we get back,
Hermione,” Ron remarked obnoxiously.

Hermione who had gone back to her reading looked up from her reading long enough to roll her
eyes in exasperation at him.

“Thanks for the *useful* tip Ronald. Seriously, how many times must I tell you before you
get through your thick skull that some people, including me, actually read for fun? And considering
you rarely open your books to study even when there is a test I think you're hardly one to be
giving advice,” she snapped giving him a hard look.

Ron looked at her like a disobedient puppy that had just been caught destroyed a piece of
furniture.

“Yeah, well…” Ron feebly began to argue, his resolve rapidly wilting under Hermione's severe
glare.

Harry chuckled softly, shaking his head at the all too familiar banter between his two friends.
At one time it had begun to annoy him, but now he felt grateful to be around to hear it.

The candy trolley rolled past the door, and Harry grinned. He jumped up to go get some
sweets.

“Either of you want anything?” he asked, turning around at the doorway. Ron shook his head, a
sullen look still on his face. He still had chocolate around his mouth from the candy he'd
already consumed.

“Thanks, no Harry,” Hermione answered, smiling amiably at him.

“Okay, well, just don't kill each other while I'm gone,” he added, then took off.

Ron, very clearly not over their minor argument from before, stared out the window and ever so
often let out a heavy sigh, clearing trying to draw Hermione's attention to his sulking. At
first she ignored him, but Ron clearly wasn't going to give up. Hermione closed her book
loudly, marking her place with a writing quill from her bag, and, and then looked over at Ron.

An impish look spread across her features, her dark eyes gleaming with merriment; he frowned at
her but looked slightly confused as to what she could be thinking.

“So, I noticed you were charming the ladies out there earlier,” she commented offhandedly to
him.

Ron's faced turned the same shade as his hair. He clearly hadn't expected that to be
what she was going to talk about just then. After to pausing for a few minutes he finally
responded.

“Yeah, well I am sorry if I made you jealous Hermione. But things didn't work with us
Hermione. We broke up a long time ago, I guess I didn't think it would bother you so much if I
decided to move on now,” he told her in a tone she found condescending, reaching over and awkwardly
patting her knee.

Hermione opened her mouth but nothing came out for a moment. If she had been a cartoon character
steam would have been coming out of her ears and nose/

“Didn't work with us…? You arrogant git! That's hardly the truth of it, I broke up with
you. We were clearly meant to be friends only. I was hardly envious of you and those girls. I
merely broached the topic because I was trying to see which girl you thought would be foolish to
have a go at a relationship with,” Hermione stated in an affronted tone. She crossed her arms,
ignoring the book sitting on her lap which fell to the floor of the train with a loud thump.

Harry came back just as Hermione's book feel. He took his seat quickly, his arms filled with
candy of all sorts.

Harry looked back and forth between his friends and got the feeling that he better put an end to
this argument, what ever it was about, or his friends would be giving each other the cold shoulder
for the most of the term.

“Come on guys, we just got back please don't get into a huge fight before we even get to
Hogwarts,” Harry interceded, clearly entertained but not wanting the spat to get any worse. He had
to admit that he loved listening to Hermione rag on Ron, and he wouldn't have minded finding
out what their spat was about.

“She started it,” Ron sniffed petulantly, his face scrunched into a pout.

“Honestly Ronald!” Hermione snapped, in no mood for his childish behavior.

“Stop being such a git Ron,” Harry added, his green eyes giving Ron a desperate look.

Ron scowled at him. “Honestly Harry, how do you know I don't have a right to be angry?
It's totally unfair for you to take her side!”

“Ron, I really don't care. I just want you to stop picking a fight with her!”

“Fine Harry,” Ron said in a gruff tone.

Hermione sighed loudly and glared at Ron now that his back was to her. She rolled her eyes
before picking up her book from off the floor and trying to turn to her reading again. It was no
use though; she was still simmering from the fight with Ron, and decided to read her book later
that night. She turned her attention to Harry. Since there greeting she had hardly talked to him
yet.

“Harry, I forgot to ask. Was your Christmas all right?” she inquired caringly.

Hermione watched him anxiously wanting to read his response. She didn't notice the dark look
that appeared on Ron's face.

Harry looked up and met her eyes.

“Yeah, it was all right I guess. Lupin is still occupied with hunting down what's left of
Voldemort's supporters and cleaning up the problems caused before Voldemort died, so I
didn't see all that much of him. We had a nice Christmas feast though at least,” Harry
replied.

His green eyes were bright with emotion, and he gave her a warm smile, his gratitude for her
concern for him was imparted to her unspoken through the expression of gratefulness on his
face.

“I am so glad Harry! I bet it was at least good to be away from those atrocious Dursleys.” She
felt herself getting angry just thinking about the horrible people with whom Harry had had to live
for so many years. There were several other choice words she had in mind to describe the Dursleys,
far less civil terms. Hesitantly she placed a consoling hand on his arm. Harry awarded her
compassionate touch with an appreciative smile.

“Yeah, it was pretty nice to be able to eat turkey and not have to sit and watch Dudley gnawing
the legs the whole bloody meal,” Harry told them, trying to lighten the mood, obviously
uncomfortable with talking about the subjects any further.

Hermione and Ron laughed, lightening the somber atmosphere that talking about the Dursleys
always brought about.

“Still, it's going to be nice to be back at Hogwart's,” Harry added his voice trailing
off in a somewhat melancholy tone; turn his gaze out the train window again.

The Hogwart's station was nearly in sight.

Impulsively Hermione hugged Harry tightly. She was starting to feel such a tangle of emotions,
ones that were threatening to overwhelm her.

Ron made a face and a noise of annoyance when she embraced Harry, but Hermione didn't really
care this time. Harry was returning her hug and the feeling of his arms around her at that moment
was very comforting.

Harry's words about Hogwarts had struck a chord deep inside her. She completely understood
how Harry's feelings about Hogwarts. As much as she loved her family and her own home, being at
Hogwarts was like a second home, one she loved infinitely as much. Here she had met Harry and Ron,
wonderfully friends like she had never know before.

Hesitantly she put her head on Harry's shoulder, partially burying her face. Tears had begun
to slide down her cheeks, and she really didn't want Ron to see. To her relief and pleasure,
Harry didn't seem to mind. He squeezed her hand gently, a gesture which surprised her
slightly.

She heard Ron groan as he watched them.

Hermione blinked back more tears. She looked up and gave Ron a hurt look. Sometimes his lack of
compassion and understanding hurt her. He grimaced at her. His eyes were dark and the expression in
them was indecipherable. Hermione broke his gaze. She slid away from Harry, and gave him a small
sad smile.

She turned to look past Harry out the window, staring out it as he had been earlier. A
snow-covered Hogwarts was now in view.

Hermione was still internally and emotionally wrestling with the fact that she still
couldn't bring herself to come to grips with the fact that their time at Hogwart's was
coming to a close. Even scarier to her, was that she was uncertain about what things the future
would bring for the three of them and how their friendship would change after graduation.

-->



2. Curious Revelations
----------------------



**Disclaimer: The canon Harry Potter plot is not mine, nor are the characters**

**A/N: I don't have a ton of this story written yet, but I was excited by getting so many
reviews that I wanted to post another chapter as soon as possible, as it was already
written.**

**Chapter 2 - Curious Revelations**

Hermione, Ron, and Harry trudged up the long flight of stone stairs to their Gryffindor
dormitories. They separated in the fire lit common room, agreeing to go up to their rooms to unpack
a little and then meet for dinner in the Great Hall.

Hermione went up the familiar winding staircase that led to the girls' dormitories. Several
girls were already practically finished moving all their things back in, their possessions in
various states of organization. Clearly some of the girls had upstairs and unpacked earlier than
she and the others had. Hermione noticed that Lavender's things were in various states of
unpacking, but she wasn't around. Lavender was no doubt off flirting with her latest love
interest. With a huge sigh Hermione gratefully set down her heavy luggage, that she now wished she
had thought to put a shrinking spell on, onto her bed and the floor. Crookshanks purred when she
let him out of his cage; he always hated having to be confined as she carried him into the castle
and up to the rooms. Hermione laughed softly, knowing would be put out with her for a most of the
night for having put him in the cage in the first place. He promptly jumped up onto her bed and
curled up in a ball on her pillows. She laughed and shook her head, turning her attention to
unpacking her bags; she hummed to herself as she folded some shirts.

The sound of someone coming in the room startled her slightly.

Ginny had just come running in. The red head's cheeks were flushed slightly with the
exertion of running up the stairs.

“Hey, Ginny!” Hermione said, pleasantly greeting the younger girl.

Hermione smiled warmly, but for some reason felt more like frowning at Ginny. She was good
friends with Ron's sister, yet things were a little awkward between them now. For some reason
ever since Ginny had been with Harry for a while during their sixth year, Hermione's feelings
about Ginny had changed slightly. Hermione adamantly denied to herself that it was anything akin to
jealously making her feel this way. Besides, Harry and Ginny hadn't gotten back together.
Hermione sighed at turned back to folding her clothes. Maybe it was just weird to have such a close
friend date another very close friend.

Ginny, had not seemed to perceive the alteration in Hermione's attitude.

She plopped down on Hermione's bed, clearly in the mood to chat and gossip.

“So, Hermione how was your Christmas?” Ginny asked sociably.

“Fine, I guess,” Hermione answered, feeling a little ill at ease. Ginny started distractedly
petting Crookshanks which caused him purr loudly.

“Well, mine was brilliant!” Ginny gushed, her tone hinting that she wanted Hermione to ask her
what it was that made so wonderful.

Deciding that no more unpacking was going to get done with Ginny around, Hermione sat on the
bed, and turned her attention to their conversation. Hermione sighed softly and told herself not to
let whatever stupid emotions were bothering her get to her. After all, Ginny was one of the only
true friends other than Ron and Harry that she'd even had.

“Why? Did you get a really good present or something?” Hermione asked dully, unable to think of
a better question.

Ginny beamed, her eyes twinkling, but shook her head. Hermione frowned slightly, now actually
slightly curious about what was making Ginny so pleased.

“I fell in love!” Ginny cried in a saccharine tone, sounding very much like the heroine of a
sappy muggle romance novel.

“What are you talking about? I didn't even know you were dating someone right now,” Hermione
demanded.

A serious expression replaced Ginny's glowing one.

“Yes well, we don't exactly think everyone is going to be pleased with the fact that
we're together. Hermione, I wanted to tell you first because I thought you'd back me up
when I tell Ron.”

Hermione frowned but felt suddenly relieved, whoever Ginny was supposedly in love with
wasn't Harry. When Ginny had been dating him Ron had given them his grudging consent to their
relationship.

“I can't promise anything yet, but seriously who are you talking about? It would help to
know that,” Hermione urged, gently pressing Ginny for more information.

Ginny's cheeks colored, making her freckles stand out.

“Well you see Draco and I are together.”

Hermione gave a sharp gasp of surprise and her eyes opened so wide at Ginny's revelation
that she felt like they threatened to pop out of their sockets. Hermione stared wordlessly at Ginny
for a few moments, not remembering the last time she had been more stunned by something. The
thought actually made her feel slightly ill.

“Hermione?” Ginny inquired, looking at Hermione in concern. For a moment she was afraid that
Hermione was going to pass out or something.

Hermione took a deep breathe, and smiled weakly, wanting to know more. Her curiosity had now
overcome the element of complete shock, and to be honest, disgust.

“Well, Ginny, I feel that a fair question would be…why Malfoy?!?!?”

Ginny cracked a small smile.

“This is going to sound irrational to you I suppose, but he really is a good chap. He isn't
the same person that we all used to hate. Malfoy has come to see how wrong his father's beliefs
were after what has been going on in the past couple of years, and he has changed so much, I
swear!”

Hermione gave Ginny a disbelieving look, clearly not believing in the change until she had some
proof.

“You sound convinced, but I'm certainly not. Pardon the cliché but in this case I won't
believe it until I see it. After all, love could be clouding your mind. I certainly don't see
any difference in Malfoy. Are you sure he's suddenly changed? I mean, he still seemed like scum
last time I saw him. Wait a minute; did he give you some potion or something?” Hermione eye's
widened in horror. Students were defiantly not supposed to uses potions on each other, although
Malfoy often felt that he was above the rules.

Hermione stared at Ginny closely, her brown eyes scrutinizing Ginny carefully to see if there
were any discernable signs of a spell or strange potion affecting her.

Ginny looked exasperated for a moment, but then bit her lip as if holding back a giggle finding
humor in Hermione's worrying.

“I figured you would react like this to our relationship. I know it might not seem to people who
don't know him, like I do that Draco has changed.” Ginny paused for a moment, her cheeks
flushing and her eyes sparkling at the thought of her boyfriend.

Hermione grimaced, slightly disgusted, but tried not to let Ginny notice and fighting her urge
to say exactly what she thought of Ginny's new romance.

“Anyway,” Ginny continued, “Malfoy feels like it would be strange to act completely different in
public right away. He thinks people will be more inclined to believe that he's actually changed
if his behavior changes gradually,” Ginny argued.

She looked at Hermione, watching her with an anxious face.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at this explanation, but decided that it was best to try to support
her friend.

“Okay, now that I know about you and Malfoy, I suppose you want me to help you break this,
um…*exciting* news to Ron.” Hermione looked less than thrilled.

Ginny's expression brightened considerably. She moved closer to Hermione on the bed and
threw her arms around the older girl.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she squealed.

Hermione smiled tolerantly.

“I'll help, but if Ron tries to kill you or Malfoy, I can't be responsible,” Hermione
warned her in teasing tone.

Ginny was beaming again.

“It will be so great, once I don't have to hide that we're together anymore from people
Hermione! It's so great to be in love, and it's so hard to hide it,” Ginny gushed to her,
lying on her back with a dreamy expression on her face.

Hermione sighed and looked down at her hands for a moment. She didn't exactly love the idea
of Ginny dating Malfoy, but she had discovered since their conversation began that she had been
more and more happy about the fact that it wasn't Harry Ginny was in love with or getting back
together with. She frowned and shook her head, as if trying to physically rid herself of the
thought.

“Well Ginny. Ron and Harry are expecting me to meet them downstairs soon. I guess we should get
this over with huh?” Hermione told her decisively.

Ginny sat up and nodded solemnly.

The two girls went down the stairs to the common room together, both battling their own
emotions.

*************

Hermione and Ginny sat next to each other at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall across from
Ron and Harry. Hermione had noticed Ginny and Malfoy exchanged worried looks when the group of them
had entered the Great Hall. Ginny must have let him know that she was going to tell Ron today, so
that Draco would have a chance to take cover if Ron got too angry. Hermione looked across the table
at Ron, who was oblivious to the fact that anything was going on. She glanced over at Harry too,
wondering for a moment how he was going to react to this news. After all, not only did Harry hate
Draco, he had also once dated Ginny. Perhaps she watched Harry for a little too long because she
suddenly realized he was staring back at her, his green eyes sparkling inquisitively. Hermione felt
her face flush and she looked down at her plate swiftly.

The Great Hall was not even half-full yet, Ron had insisted on getting their early, as he did
not want to risk missing his fair share of food. Groups of people were still wandering in. Word
seemed to have gotten around that Harry was completely free and not going to get back together with
Ginny because several girls who passed the table flirted shamelessly with him. Hermione stabbed a
piece of meat with particular vigor as a dark haired Hufflepuff girl she didn't recognize
winked shamelessly at Harry. He had ignored most of the girls, but this one he smiled politely at.
Hermione tried to ignore the fact that she suddenly felt the urge to put a disfiguring hex on the
girl.

Hermione sighed and turned her attention to thinking about helping Ginny with Ron.

After moving around the food on her plate for a few minutes, she took a deep breath and looked
over at Ginny. Hermione smiled sympathetically when she saw how pale and nervous Ginny looked.
Ginny's plate of food hadn't been touched.

Ginny returned Hermione's smile weakly, but nodded decisively. She was ready to get this
over with.

Hermione cleared her throat loudly.

“Ron, Ginny has something she wants to tell you,” Hermione told Ron trying to sound casual about
the whole thing.

Ron stopped eating and looked, mumbling through a mouth full of food, “What did you do this time
Ginny?” He gave her a wary look.

Ginny stuck out her tongue at him in annoyance at her brother's tendency to always find her
at fault some how. Hermione elbowed her friend gently. It wasn't the best idea to get Ron
agitated before telling him something that was truly going to outrage him.

Harry discontinued his meal too for the moment, fascinated what was going on between Ron and his
sister. He looked back and forth from Hermione to Ginny clearly sensing that the two of them were
in on whatever was going on for a reason.

“Well, Ron, my *very* favorite brother,” she began, giving him a fawning smile, “I um…I
uh…I have a new boyfriend. And I thought you would want to know.”

Ron looked at Ginny like she'd just sprouted a pair of wings and an extra eye. “Since when
do you tell me about the blokes you're dating? When I happen to ask you, you always threaten to
hex me and tell me that it's absolutely none of my business. What are you playing at
Ginny?”

He narrowed his eyes and gazed at her warily.

Ginny gave Hermione an imploring look. Hermione grimaced, knowing why Ginny had enlisted her
help. Ron wasn't always the easiest person to talk about certain things, especially when he was
angry or upset.

“What Ginny is trying to say Ronald, is that she wants you to know that she's with someone
new so you aren't shocked if you happen to see them together,” Hermione told him firmly.

“Well who is it then? Not Harry *again* I hope? I don't think I could take it.”

Hermione felt her heart stop even though she knew it wasn't Harry that Ginny was dating. The
thought of it still upset her, as ridiculous as that was.

Ginny and Harry frowned in unison in response to Ron's blunt, rather rude question. They had
gotten back together for a short time but they'd discovered that there really wasn't much
there.

“Of course we're not dating again,” Harry snapped promptly, his green eyes darkening. Harry
and Hermione looked at each other at that exact moment. Hermione felt a bizarre sensation course
through her body as their eyes met. The room felt suddenly warm. Ginny jabbed Hermione in the ribs,
startlingly her. Hermione gave a small sigh of annoyance, but managed to smile apologetically at
Ginny.

“Go on, tell him,” Hermione whispered to her forcefully.

Ron was staring glumly at the pair of them, sensing that ever they were about to tell him was
not some exciting news.

“Well, Ron. I am with Draco Malfoy now,” Ginny told him hastily, spitting out the words so that
she wouldn't loose her nerve halfway through.

Harry gave her a look like she had lost her mind, his green eyes wide. Ron looked like he was
going to be exceedingly ill, his face turning a dark shade of red as did his ears, blending with
his hair. Ron was eerily silent for a few moments, just staring at his sister in incredulity and
dismay. His eyes were so wide that Hermione thought they might fall out of his face.

“Ron?” Ginny queried fretfully, she was more discomforted by Ron's silence than she would
have been by one of his immediate outbursts. Harry gave his friend a steadying pat on the back
looking pretty taken aback himself.

Still saying nothing, Ron gave Ginny a dark look, opening his mouth helpless as though to
speak.

“I am going to strangle the foul git and punched the simpering smirk off his ruddy face!” Ron
finally managed to get out, speaking in a harsh tone, his nostrils flaring. “Nah, just hex him,”
Harry chimed in fiercely. Ron had gotten up half way in his seat as though he was about to dash off
to go kill Malfoy.

Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother's typical response and glared at Harry for siding with
Ron though she had not expected him to do otherwise. However, she seemed relieved by her
brother's eventual outburst, it was better than the uncharacteristic silence. He could have
acted much worse considering the violent outburst she had been expecting out of him.

“Ron, just give him a chance. He really has changed,” Ginny entreated.

“Into a bloody ferret I hope. Moody had the right idea,” Ron replied sourly.

Harry chuckled as he remembered Malfoy as ferret crawling down one of his slimy friends pants
fourth year.

Ginny shot Harry a nasty look. Hermione suppressed a giggle and exchanged an amused look with
Harry.

“Ron, I was taken aback when she told me too, but you should at least trust your sister's
judgment. I don't fully believe that he's changed either, but please support your sister,”
Hermione interceded.

Ron looked at both girls crossly.

“Oh, come on Hermione. If you're the brightest witch of your age like everyone says, you
should see what a foul idea it for Ginny to get involved with that rotten prat.”

“Fine let that foul boy break your heart Ginny. I am warning you, if he does something bizarre,
like giving you some of Voldemort's old junk, that his dad loves to collect, as your Christmas
present don't come crying to me. Oh, and please never let me catch you two snogging, my stomach
couldn't take it,” Ron finally concluded, his face looking green for a moment at the thought.
Harry had remained fairly silent but looked less than pleased.

Ginny beamed about that fact that her brother had given the nearest thing to his consent for her
to date Malfoy. She planted a wet kiss on her brother's cheek, causing him to protest and
complain loudly, and then immediately ran over to the Slytherin table. Hermione saw Malfoy smile as
he saw Ginny coming over and the pair of them rapidly began chatting, both their faces lighting
up.

“Hey wait!” Ron protested, but quickly gave up seeing it was no use.

Hermione turned back to her dinner, and saw that Ron was still scowling. She shook her head,
knowing it was too soon for him to be happy for Ginny.

“Why did you and Ginny have to bloody go and break up?” Ron grumbled to Harry after watching his
sister run off to talk with her new boyfriend, wiping her kiss of his cheek.

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat and stared evasively at his plate of mostly uneaten
food. Hermione's gaze flew to his face of their own accord, intensely curious about his
reaction to Ron's uncomfortable question. She didn't know if Harry still felt anything for
Ginny or not. She noticed how handsome her looked even he was upset.

“Sometimes things don't work out Ron,” Harry answered tersely.

Ron frowned and continued to sulk. He shoved a fork full of food into his mouth, chewing
loudly.

Harry's green eyes flicked up from his plate and caught Hermione's, who was still
watching him. Instead of looking away Hermione held his gaze, trying to read his emotions. This
time Harry reddened slightly and broke their stare.

Ron looked up at them both unaware to the fact that anything was going on. He gone back to
eating his dinner with gusto shortly after Ginny had taken off. Hermione smirked.

Nothing seemed to ever affect Ron's appetite, she marveled at the fact that no matter how
upset he was about something, it rarely kept him from eating twice as much as anyone else.

Some things would never change.

-->



3. Old Grudges
--------------



**Disclaimer: Canon Harry Potter stories are not mine…I only wish**

**A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, I appreciate them so much! Please keep reviewing
;) I have a few more chapters of this story written, so I will try to update regularly. Well,
I'm done rambling. Enjoy the chapter**

**Chapter 3 - Old Grudges**

Harry and Ron headed back up to the dormitories alone; Hermione had run off to the library and
to do some other unknown errands.

“Can you believe my little sister's with that foul prat Harry?” Ron bemoaned. He hadn't
stopped talking about the subject of Ginny's new boyfriend since his sister had given him the
news at dinner.

“It'll be okay mate, it won't take long for him to do something really rotten to make
her realize he hasn't changed a bit,” Harry said encouragingly, unconsciously frowning as a
result of thinking about Malfoy.

“Too bad Aragog's dead. He might have fancied having Malfoy for lunch,” Ron remarked in
amusement, picturing Malfoy's face seeing the giant spider. A malicious grin crept on his
face.

“There are plenty of horrible creatures out in the magical world that could do just the job.
Buckbeak tried, too bad he only nicked him,” Harry replied, joining in the amusing topic of ways to
maim or kill Malfoy.

Ron chuckled.

“I still hate this,” Ron grumbled miserably, a sour expression on his face.

“They'll split up soon enough. People our age don't tend to stay together for long,”
Harry told him understandingly.

“Yeah, like me and Hermione,” Ron muttered, the air of gloom around their conversation
increasing. Harry gave Ron a mystified look, surprised by the sudden turn in the conversation. Ron
and Hermione had broken up not long after Voldemort's death, but Harry had never really felt
completely comfortable asking either of his friends about such a sore topic, at least not while it
was their break-up was fairly recent.

He glanced at Ron for a moment, and then asked tentatively, “So, why did you guys break up?” His
green eyes flashed inquisitively.

A pained expression appeared on Ron's face.

“Hermione broke up with me actually. One day, not long after Voldemort died, we got into a
really big argument, not so unusual for us I suppose, and she just said `I'm done! We're
done!' gave no other explanation and stormed off.”

Harry gave him a puzzled frown; he'd kind of assumed that that they had mutually agreed to
break things off.

“Well, the argument had to be about something that upset her, girls are bloody confusing. For
Hermione to act like that seems strange. There is always some carefully thought out reasoning
behind most things she does,” Harry told him reflectively.

Ron shook his head. “I still don't know. Hermione was super stressed around that time; you
know how she gets when she's like that. Actually, I must admit she was bloody terrifying on
that day she broke up with me,” Ron frowned and paused before adding, “We're still friends and
all, obviously, but she won't even talk about it with me, even now.”

“Sorry, Ron,” Harry said, feeling guilty for not feeling worse about his two best friends
breaking up.

“Eh, forget it. I guess we had to give it go, and get it out of our systems,” Ron replied,
shrugging.

They walked back the rest of the way in relative silence. Harry was left to wonder what exactly
Hermione's reasons were for breaking up with Ron, and why she still wouldn't tell him. He
didn't want to press Ron further though. Both of them had a lot on their minds, and besides
that classes were beginning again the next day.

*********

Harry, Ron, and Hermione filed into the classroom along with their Gryffindor and Slytherin
classmates. The familiar stench of the dungeon, where the class was held, and old potions filled
their nostrils, as they took a seat towards the center of the room. Ron glared at Malfoy who was
sitting in front.

“Who do you think will take Snape's place?” whispered Neville nervously who was sitting
nearby. He was visibly twitching.

Ron and Harry exchanged amused looks, knowing Neville's fear of Snape.

“It could still be Snape. After all, Professor McGonagall, never officially announced that a new
staff member, nor did she mention that Professor Snape was leaving,” Hermione replied
matter-of-factly.

Harry made a hissing sort of noise in anger. “Hermione, there's not way that they'd even
let that murdering coward teach here again. I don't care if the Order and the Ministry of Magic
never found him guilty of being in league with Voldemort.”

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, clearly annoyed about being contradicted. Before she could
utter a word though, the door flew open and Snape marched into the classroom looking as sullen and
surly as ever.

“You can all dispense with the greeting and the fawning pleasure about my return as your Potions
master. If annoy says a word about the dark lord, they can be sure to loose numerous house point,”
Snape proclaimed as he made his way to the front of the room.

Hermione smiled triumphantly for a moment about being right, but the pleasure was short-lived.
Her face fell when she looked over at Harry. His face was devoid of color, making his emerald eyes,
which were narrowed in anger, stand out.

Snape also noticed Harry's reaction.

“Thank for being so pleased to see me Potter, it's a rare honor to have someone look at you
as though they were a sick animal.” As usual, Snape uttered Harry's names as though he were
spitting out poison. Harry stood abruptly, knocking his stool to the floor causing a deafening
crash.

The class jumped at the noise.

“You'd have to be mental to be happy to see Snape,” Ron muttered with a chuckle, softly
enough so that Snape couldn't hear him but Harry and Hermione could.

Hermione elbowed him, not wanting him to feed Harry's anger in any way.

“Harry, sit down,” Hermione whispered sharply, tugging on his robes.

“50 points each from Gryffindor for disrupting my class, Miss Granger…Potter.”

Hermione frowned. “Professor, that's hardly fair,” she protested, her expression
defiant.

“Hermione, you should know by now that our slimy excuse for a professor is **never** fair,”
Harry told her, looking brazenly at Snape as he spoke.

If it was possible, Snape's expression became even sourer. “Just because you're the new
savior of the Wizarding world Potter, doesn't give you're the permission to blatantly
disrespect your *superiors*,” Snape snapped, his dark eyes locked with Harry's in a look
of mutual revulsion.

“I can talk to someone who belongs in Azkaban however I like,” Harry replied boldly, his anger
completely overshadowing his better judgment.

Hermione gasped. Ron looked a bit green, kind of like he did when he saw a spider. Only Harry
would dare to mention such a forbidden topic with Snape.

“Harry, that's enough!” Hermione said desperately.

Snape turned his gaze to her for moment, his dark eyes unfathomable.

“You'd do best to list to your insufferable girlfriend, who seems to be as nearly as
arrogant as you at times, if that's possible. You've already bought yourself weeks of
detention,” Snape admonished Harry coldly.

Hermione felt the hear rise into her face when Snape referred to her as Harry's girlfriend.
Ron looked at her quizzically, appearing slightly hurt as thought there was something she and Harry
had failed to tell him.

Harry stared Snape down with quiet disgust. Slowly he sat back down. Snape smirked.

“Now that the Boy-Who-Saved-the-World-and-Lived has finished interrupting us as usual, perhaps
we can actually continue with class.

Hermione elbowed Harry to keep him from being baited by Snape's comment.

Harry's anger did not lessen as class progressed, and Ron and Hermione had to run to catch
up with him after class ended. Harry left the room so fast that he seemed to have Apparated out of
the room.

“Harry! Wait up mate!” Ron shouted breathlessly. Hermione followed closely behind, weighed down
by the extra books she had with her.

Harry slowed down slightly, muttering angrily to himself. Hermione and Ron exchanged nervous
glances.

“Harry, I know you hate Snape, and for good reason, but your just hurting yourself by talking to
him like that,” Hermione told him wisely.

“I DON'T BLOODY CARE!!! THAT FOUL GIT KILLED DUMBLEDORE, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE!” Harry
shouted his expression a combination of agony and rage.

Hermione wilted slightly under his intense outburst. “I know Harry, but showing Snape how much
he hurts you just gives him pleasure,” she said softly. Hesitantly she put her hands on his
shoulder. The muscles in his body were tense and coiled up in rage. He relaxed slightly as result
of her gentle touch.

“She's right you know,” Ron added, looking worriedly back and forth between Harry and
Hermione.

Harry sighed, his anger seemingly spent for the moment.

“Besides,” Hermione added, her courage building from Harry's momentary silence, “you need to
do well in Potions, so that you can get a good grade on your N.E.W.T.s and become an Auror.”

“Yeah, but I am going to fail Potions,” Harry said glumly.

“No, no, you won't,” Hermione insisted.

“You're mental Hermione. Snape will fail Harry just because he hates him,” Ron chimed in,
unhelpfully.

Hermione rolled her eyes, annoyed that once again something so painfully obvious was escaping
her friends.

“Seriously, you two, Professor Snape can't fail Harry if he makes all his potions perfectly.
McGonagall knows how he feels about Harry, and she would not let him get away with that.”

“But, Hermione, Harry always ruins half his potions,” Ron said. “Sorry Harry,” he added, looking
apologetically over at his friend.

“It's only because Snape's bloody hovering over me the whole time in class,” Harry
exclaimed defensively, his green eyes flashing.

“Don't worry Harry, you'll pass Potions,” Hermione said, sounding almost prophetic, as
though she had the Sight. She reached over and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

Ron and Harry gave each other puzzled looks, but didn't protest. Hermione was almost always
right.

-->



4. The Most Oblivious Witch of Her Age
--------------------------------------



**Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine…if the canon stories were I would already know how the
last book ends.**

**A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's a bit long,
but that's a good thing right? I just wanted to warn you that I am a bit behind on this story,
so if it's more than a couple of days before I have another chapter up that why. Happy reading
;)**

**Chapter 4 -** **The Most Oblivious Witch of Her Age**

So far seventh year had been more difficult and stressful than any of them had expected. Even
Hermione felt that sometimes it seemed like a bit much, though she hardly minded the extra work.
All the teachers were working them harder than ever, trying to get them read for their N.E.W.T.s
and graduation. Hermione grew increasingly stressed out. Without fail she could almost always be
found in the library or studying in the Gryffindor common during any moment of spare time she had
through the day, even on weekend. She was determined to score as high as possible on her tests and
wanted to give herself no reason to feel that anything she didn't know on the N.E.W.T.s would
not be from lack of studying.

Ron and Harry didn't seem nearly as concerned with their studies, as always, putting
everything off until last minute. Hermione often reminded them, especially Harry, that if they
wanted their job of choice after leaving Hogwarts that they had better not play away the year.
Harry half listened sometimes, but Ron always rolled his eyes at her and carried on as usual, using
the excuse that he needed to play Quidditch or would resort to other diversions to get out of
studying. Hermione was especially annoyed about Harry's indifference though, especially with
Snape back as the potions Professor. She still was unsure of why they had brought him back as a
teacher.

Harry and Ron came in the one particularly rainy afternoon, after having attempted to practice
some Quidditch, even though they had mounds of homework yet to be touched, but were unable to get a
decent game in due to the awful weather. As usual Hermione was curled up in one her favorites place
to study in front of the fireplace in the common room. Harry and Ron were both soaking wet,
dripping water all over the floor of the as the entered. Hermione looked up from her pile of books
and rolls of parchment as they walked in, their shoes making distracting squelching noises.

“The fat lady is in a foul mood today. She didn't have to tell us we looked like wet
vermin,” Ron was complaining to Harry, rather loudly.

“Honestly you two, you should have listened to me and stayed inside to study. I remind you
everyday how close N.E.W.T.s get are but you never pay me any mind,” Hermione chided them, her face
scrunched into a frown. Crookshanks who was curled up next to her seemed to purr in agreement as
she absentmindedly stroked him.

“Hermione, term just started, you act like they're next week. At least we were trying to
have some fun. All you've done is waste your last term with your nose stuck in those ruddy
books. You're going to transfigure into one by accident one day,” Ron said indignantly.

Hermione's dark eyes flashed in exasperation. “You'll be so sorry come the end of the
term, you'll come to me begging me to help you study and write all the essays that you put
off,” she retorted knowingly. Her hair seemed to bristle in annoyance.

Ron stuck his tongue out at her when she looked away for a moment and then made a sour face.

“She's probably right Ron,” Harry told him, looking slightly remorseful for not having taken
Hermione's advice either thus far, but not wanting to admit that he had been almost as bad as
Ron in dodging his work.

Hermione flashed Harry a suspicious glance, surprised by his comment. He tended to side with Ron
on things like homework.

Ron looked slightly hurt that this time Harry wasn't taking his side, but shrugged
nonchalantly and took off upstairs without another word to shower and change.

Harry took off one wet layer of clothing in front of the warm fireplace but didn't head up
with Ron. Instead he sat in front of the fire and stared into in broodingly. Hermione forgetting
her books watched him, noticing how the firelight flickered light across his features, giving his
green eyes an ethereal appearance. It made her stomach flip. Why had she never noticed how handsome
her best friend was? *Because that's what he is, just your best friend, nothing more, and
that's how it should be,* she told herself. Hermione sighed softly. Harry looked away from
the fire, his daze interrupted by the noise. Hermione quickly glanced back down at her book,
pretending to be deep in her studies, although it didn't take much pretending.

“Hermione,” Harry said after a moment, his tone hesitant.

Hermione looked up, her heart hammering at the sound of Harry's voice. “Hmmm?” she answered
distractedly.

His green eyes were focused on her, their emerald depths inscrutable to her at the moment.

“Do you think you could help me study for potions later? It's my worst subject, and I really
need to get high marks in potions. I need to give Snape absolutely no reason to fail me.”

He looked sheepish for a moment. “I know you have been warning me and Ron all along not to put
things off, but I guess I still haven't learned to listen to you. You know you're
annoyingly right about most everything.” He grinned ruefully at her.

Hermione smiled warmly at her best friend, not feeling much like scolding Harry at the moment,
as he had expected her to do, and as she would have done a few minutes earlier. “Of course I can go
over some things with you Harry. I told I would help you, so that Snape would have to be fair.
You're really not that awful at Potions. I think having a teacher for the past six years who
didn't motivate you and whom you loathed didn't really make you want to apply yourself, and
his return certainly hasn't improved matters,” she told him, biting the tip of her writing
quill thoughtfully.

“Snape…that rotten blighter, I still can't believe that McGonagall is letting him stay on as
the Potions professor,” Harry grumbled, hissing their former Potions teacher's name.

Hermione gave him a weak, but sympathetic smile. She understood the depth for Harry's
abhorrence of Snape. She had yet to figure why Snape was back either, he had never been proved
guilty of anything in the end, even Dumbledore's murder, but it still didn't seem logical
to her that he was back.

“So any way, I'll meet you down here tonight after dinner?” she asked quickly, trying to
distract him. She didn't want Harry to start brooding about Snape.

“Um, yeah that sounds fine. I obviously can't have Quidditch practice tonight with the
team,” he replied looking out the rain splattered window pane. His expression darkened.

It took a huge amount of effort for Hermione not to roll her eyes at him. She didn't
understand what about the game he and Ron loved so much never would. Harry jumped to his feet, now
going to get changed as Ron had.

“See you at dinner!” he said cheerfully as he raced up the stairs to the boys' room.
Hermione leaned forward resting her chin on her hands as she looked into the leaping flames. *You
really have to get your emotions under control Granger. He is your friend. You already saw how
things worked out last time you got involved with a best friend.* Hermione told herself. She
groaned loudly and leaned back in her seat, startling Crookshanks. Why couldn't her friends
look more like Crabbe and Goyle? It would make things like this so much easier.

******************************************************************************************

Hermione raced upstairs after dinner to grab some extra books she had on Potions that she
thought might help her and Harry while they were studying. After looking in several places, she let
out a sigh of frustration when she couldn't find the last book that she wanted. Lavender and
Ginny were in the room, watching her curiously.

“What's the rush Hermione? The library isn't going to close for a quite a few hours,”
Ginny assured her in a tone Hermione found to be somewhat cloying.

Hermione smiled in triumph when she finally found the hefty leather-bound volume that had been
eluding her; she picked it up and smiled. It had been right there the whole time, under a small
pile of clothing. Hermione looked up and frowned at Lavender who had let out a barely suppressed
giggle.

“What's so funny Lavender?” Hermione demanded getting to her feet, still holding the weighty
book.

“You're as flighty and excited as if you were about to go out on a date, but you're
clearly only going off to study. I just think that it's kind of amusing that books excite you
more than boys. But then again, I think boys are more excited by books than they are by you,”
Lavender replied maliciously.

Hermione's eyes locked with Lavender's. Hermione's brown eyes flashed with anger and
her cheeks reddened in mortification. Hermione had half a mind to chuck the book she had in her
arms at Lavender and then put a disfiguring hex on her. Her free hand clenched into a fist. She was
breathless with anger.

“Lavender!” Ginny gasped, her eyes widening in horror. “How can you say something like that to
her? I'd take it back if I were you!” Ginny's freckles stood out prominently on her face,
which was now pale with rage. Hermione saw Ginny's hand got to where her wand was tucked in her
robes.

“What? I am just telling the truth,” Lavender sniffed, looking down nonchalantly at her nails
and then uninterestedly twirling a lock of her hair. When Lavender noticed that Ginny's hand
was on her wand she looked a little frightened.

Ginny sneered at her.

Hermione, encouraged by Ginny's support, finally calmed herself down enough to be able speak
though her hand was now clutched tightly around her wand.

“The *truth* Lavender is that you are a shallow and petty girl with less intelligence than
a slug. Although, it is rather cruel to insult slugs like that. If you actually cared about
something other than having a boy to snog with at any hour of the day, I might take you a bit more
seriously, you foul girl,” Hermione hissed, feeling the heat of anger rising into her face. The
room seemed static with magic energy given off by Hermione's fury.

Lavender looked entirely aghast. “Well, there's no need to get that nasty. I think I am
going to get out of here, and leave Hermione and her books alone together. After all they're
all she'll ever have,” she spluttered.

Hermione laughed grimly. Lavender sauntered out of the room, her cheeks stained red with anger.
She looked over her shoulder one last time though, probably fearing that one of the two girls would
try to hex her while her back was turned.

As soon as Lavender left the room Hermione had to blink back tears, and wiped the few that
escaped off furiously with the sleeve of her robes. Ginny jumped up from the bed ran over and threw
her arms around Hermione, in a comforting gesture.

“Ignore everything that foul girl says Hermione. She is still bitter about you and Ron. The
idiot thinks you stole Ron from her, and is jealous in general of how close you are to Ron and
Harry,” Ginny told her kindly. “Besides, she's a complete slut, and I wish that I had put a
Bat-Bogey Hex on her,” Ginny added with a wicked grin.

Hermione managed a weak smile and soft laugh. “Thanks Ginny.”

Ginny shook her head. “No thanks needed Hermione. We're friends aren't we? As corny as
this may sound, friends back each other up. You really helped me deal with Ron and the Malfoy thing
at the beginning of term. I was just watching out for a friend.”

Hermione smiled at Ginny, feeling suddenly very guilty for the ill feelings she had harbored for
the younger girl for a time after Ginny and Harry had dated.

Hermione sighed.

“Well, I'll see you later Ginny. I have to go, or Harry will think I forgot him.”

“Harry? So that's why you were *so* eager to run off and study,” Ginny commented giving
Hermione a discerning glance that Hermione hardly liked. Ginny's eyes sparkled inquisitively,
as she lay on the bed her face propped in her hands, watching Hermione intently.

Hermione was annoyed as she felt her face flush red.

“Oh, Ginny, it's not like that. You're just trying to create a drama and romance out of
nothing. Besides Harry only looks at me like one of the guys, in fact sometimes I am not even sure
that he remembers I'm a girl. There's no chance of us being anything more than friends,”
Hermione replied, trying to convince herself and Ginny of what she was saying.

Ginny smiled perceptively. “Don't worry Hermione; I'll help you when you have to tell
Ron that you and Harry are together.”

“Ginny, do be serious,” Hermione exclaimed in irritation. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny and
took off downstairs to the common room before Ginny could comment further on what was going on with
her and Harry.

She was glad that Ginny had been there. It had given her a chance to calm down and cool off, and
it had prevented her from hexing Lavender. Harry would have sensed something was up if she had some
down immediately after her confrontation with Lavender. Taking a deep breath she attempted to
smooth down her out of control curls before taking the last few stairs down.

Harry was sitting on one of the couches in front of the fireplace pouring over his Potions book,
his face scrunched into a look of intense concentration. He looked up at the sound of
Hermione's footsteps on the bottom of the stairs.

“Hermione there you are!” he greeted her, looking relieved to see her. Perhaps he'd thought
that she had changed her mind, or been too annoyed with him for putting things off to help him.

“Sorry that I left you alone with your Potions for so long. I hade trouble finding one of my
books,” Hermione said apologetically, taking a seat next to Harry. Her arm brushed against
Harry's and her nerves sent a tingling sensation coursing through her body. She attempted to
ignore body's response and focus only on studying with Harry, the activity that came the most
easily to her.

They went over the easiest mistakes to make when preparing ingredients for some of the more
complex potions, and the reasons behind why the ingredients for certain potions were meant to be
added in the exact order with no modifications.

Harry looked up from his copy of *Advanced Potion-Making* by Libatius Borage that they had
used 6th year, this time he wasn't using the Half-Blood Prince's copy.

“Hermione,” Harry began lowering his voice and looking around for a moment to see if anyone was
listening, “I would never say this in front of Ron, but I really am starting to worry about the
N.E.W.T.s, and I am kind of wishing I had done some studying before now…especially potions.” Harry
shifted in his seat uncomfortably. He had a look on his face similar to the one he'd had when
he drank Polyjuice potion.

Hermione frowned for a moment, biting her lip to keep herself from saying what she wanted to
upon first hearing that Harry seemed to have done no studying.

“I am sorely tempted to say I told you that you'd be sorry. You seem to always get lucky
though Harry. When you need to pull something off you always manage to,” Hermione told him.

“And,” she added, “Remember what Slughorn told you last year. Your mum had a gift for potions,
maybe you have a hidden potential for them yet.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Harry grumbled, looking down at the page describing a particularly long and
complex potion.

“Well, stewing about it won't help you get higher marks, so all you can do is use the time
you have left well,” Hermione stated decisively. Harry frowned but nodded in reluctant
agreement.

Hermione impatiently flipped through a potions book to look for an intricate but important
potion that would surely be on the test. She made a soft ah ha noise, upon finding the Draught of
Peace spell. It would likely be on the N.E.W.T.s in some form.

Harry leaned over, curious to see what she was looking at that had made her so excited. Hermione
was somewhat hunched over her book and Harry casually rested his chin on her shoulder as he studied
the same page. Far from annoyed by the unexpected, but welcome physical contact, she took her time
looking over the description of the potion. She could feel Harry's warm breath on her cheek. It
made her feel dizzy in a good way.

“Hermione, why did you and Ron break up?” Harry asked suddenly and rather bluntly. Hermione
frowned slightly, completely taken aback by Harry's question. It had been one of the last
things she had expected him to ask at the moment.

Before she could even begin to answer him, the portrait at the entrance went flying open,
several people coming in the room laughing and talking. Harry and Hermione jumped at the noise. Ron
was among the crowd that came into the common room.

He looked sullenly at Harry and Hermione.

“What are you two doing?”

“We're studying Ronald. I am not sure if you remember what that is,” Hermione snapped.

“I'm not dense. I know you're studying, I just don't see why you had to rook poor
Harry into doing it,” Ronald muttered sullenly.

Hermione rolled her eyes and slammed one of the books on her lap shut with a huff.

Harry gave his friend a sympathetic look.

“It's fine Ron. I saw her studying down here and asked if she would quickly answer a
question I had about Potions. Hermione did get a little long-winded in explaining my question, but
it's no reason to argue with her,” Harry explained quickly.

Hermione looked over at him, not completely sure why, but something about his explanation to Ron
hurt her. It seemed almost as if he didn't want to admit that he'd wanted to study with
her.

“Ah, that's okay Harry. As long as she didn't force you to study,” Ron replied,
shuddering as though that would have been a true horror.

Harry chuckled at his exaggerated response.

“Mind if I borrow Harry Hermione? I have some questions about the next Quidditch match,” Ron
said, turning his attention back to her.

“That's just fine. You can have him the rest of the night if you want,” Hermione replied,
her tone a little harsher than she'd meant it to be.

“What's the matter Hermione?” Harry asked looking puzzled.

“Um, well I have to go anyway,” she told Ron and Harry, ignoring Harry's question. Hermione
grabbed the books nearest to her, taking off without another word climbing the stairs towards the
girls' dormitories.

“Hermione, where are you going?” she heard Harry yell. She just kept walking up the stairs,
wondering herself where and why she had the urge to take off. Maybe Lavender's words had gotten
to her more than she wanted to acknowledge.

-->



5. A Late Night Conversation
----------------------------



**Disclaimer:** **Harry Potter is not mine…if the canon stories were I would already know
how the last book ends and if Harry dies or not.**

**A/N: Okay, I really hope that everyone enjoys this chapter. It is my favorite chapter of the
story that I have written so far. I am really happy with how it turned out, and I hope you guys
agree. Hopefully I'll get more readers now that Harry and Hermione are closer to getting
together. And, not to be annoying, but please review. I really enjoy getting meaningful
feedback.**

**Chapter 5 - A Late Night Conversation**

Hermione sat cross-legged on the couch in front of the still blazing fire in the Gryffindor
common room that was completely deserted. Books surrounded her, as did spare bits of parchment. All
other Gryffindors were in bed, but she had decided to stay up and get some extra studying in, the
N.E.W.T.s got closer everyday. Crookshanks was sound asleep in a nearby chair enjoying the warmth
of the fire. Absentmindedly she fiddled with the end of her quill while reading through her notes
from the other day's Transfiguration class. Hermione stopped for a moment, rubbing her tired
eyes, refusing to let herself to succumb to sleep just yet. Determinedly she tried to keep herself
awake and get focused again on her reading.

At last absorbed in her reading once more, she did not notice that someone was coming down the
stairs until they reached the bottom of the staircase. She jumped at the noise of feet falling on
the stone staircase, sending some of her books and notes flying across the couch and the floor,
waking up a very cranky and annoyed Crookshanks. Quickly she got up, and began crawling around on
the ground to gather her things. Looking up from gathering up her fallen study materials to see who
it was that was up, she nearly dropped her things again when her tired brown eyes met Harry's
red-rimmed green ones.

“Harry,” she said quietly. She felt suddenly foolish realizing she must look awfully silly
sitting on the floor clutching books and staring at him. Also, things were still slightly weird
between them, after the episode the other day.

Hermione jumped to her feet and returned to her seat on the couch, quickly setting about
reorganizing her notes.

“Oh, hey Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't think anyone would be up. I don't want to
interrupt you're studying,” he said uncomfortably, looking down at his feet. He turned around
as if to head back up to the boys dorm.

“Don't be silly Harry! I was about to wrap things up soon anyway. Don't go back up yet,”
she said quickly, she hoped that she didn't sound too eager for him to stay with her. She
gestured for him to come over and sit with her.

Harry wandered over slowly and sat down next to her on the couch, sinking into its old and
comfortable cushions. Hermione turned her focus to Harry. Surreptitiously she studied his face,
anxiously trying to discern what was bothering him. He gave her ample time as he stared distantly
into the leaping flames. The expression on his face was sad and far away, it made her feel the urge
to comfort him.

Tentatively Hermione moved closer to him and gently placed her small, slender-fingered hand on
top of his. His hand was surprisingly warm; the contact felt electric. Hermione hoped he didn't
notice her reaction to the touch. Looking away from the fire he smiled at her warmly. She noted
happily that his face was slightly flushed. However, he immediately noted sadness in his eyes
hidden behind the façade of the smile. It was always there, how could it not with his dark past,
but it seemed worse tonight.

“Harry what are you doing up this late?” She gazed at him thoughtfully, waiting for his face to
betray him and let her know what he was thinking.

“Oh, just couldn't sleep is all. I had too much sugar or something I guess,” he replied
unconvincingly.

“I'm serious Harry, are you okay? You're not have nightmares again are you?” she asked
her voice filled with concern.

Harry looked down at his feet, refusing to meet her eyes. “No,” he whispered in reply.

“Then what is it? You know you can trust me with anything,” she told him gently. “Please Harry;
I know something is on your mind. You can't lie to me. You should know by now that I can see
right through you.” She grabbed his shoulders, turning him to face her.

He sighed heavily, as always hard to pry feelings out of. “It's fine Hermione. I just
couldn't sleep is all, like I told you before,” Harry told her evasively.

“You've been thinking about Dumbledore and Sirius, and your parents aren't you? Even
though Voldemort's gone it still hurts doesn't it?” Hermione inquired suddenly, her face
raw with sorrow.

“Revenge only feels good at the moment,” she added sagely. A muscle in Harry's check
twitched and he sighed heavily.

Harry looked up his green eyes looking incredibly vulnerable at that moment. “Wow, I guess I
should have paid better attention during those Occlumency lessons with Snape,” Harry said uneasily,
hating the feeling of having his emotions so exposed. Hermione laughed. If only Harry knew just how
easily she was usually able to read him.

“Yeah well, you were kind of rubbish at it and you clearly haven't improved,” Hermione
commented jokingly. Harry cracked a small smile.

Hermione weakly returned his smile, concern for Harry preoccupying her mind. She has not been
expecting that she would so quickly hit the problem that was on Harry's mind. Not really
knowing what more to say to Harry at the moment wrapped her arms around him tightly in a tender
hug. Harry stiffened slightly, but then pulled her closer. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment,
enjoying the feeling of being in his arms.

“Harry, I know that you will always miss the people you loved that Voldemort took away, but
don't forget how many people are still around who care a lot about you. And you're still
around. Your parents sacrifice wasn't for nothing. And, I know you're sick of hearing this,
but you did save us all.”

Harry held her closer. She could feel his warm breath on her neck.

“Hermione,” he said almost inaudibly, “thank you for always standing by me. I don't think I
ever thanked you properly but I hope you know I would have never made it without you.”

Hermione looked up, blinking her chocolate eyes in surprise at Harry's words. It was
unexpected coming from him. His green eyes seemed to be glowing in the dim light of the room. She
felt suddenly very warm, as though she'd taken on a sudden fever. She'd always known that
he was grateful for her help along the way to defeat Voldemort. However, it seemed to her that all
she did was supply information nothing else really.

“Harry, I…” she paused a moment, her tongue had almost betraying her. She closed her eyes and
cleared her emotion clouded head before continuing.

“Harry, I really care about you. You're strong, I'm sure you could've defeated him
without me. But, just so you know, I'll always be here for you. And you don't need to thank
me. You haven't exactly been a slouch for a friend either you know, well most of the time
anyway.” She looked at him pointedly.

Harry was glad that she couldn't see his face at the moment, uncomfortable with the emotions
he was feeling. He could feel that his face was glowing. Eventually he pulled away, not sure how
long he could get away with hugging her like that.

Hermione felt inexplicably sad when the embrace ended, hoping somehow that the moment would last
longer as though frozen in time. Too bad messing with time using magic was so dangerous, or she
would have been tempted to freeze them in the moment.

“Hermione, I'm sorry about the other day,” he blurted out. His face felt even warmer
now.

She looked at him in surprise. Harry was usually kind of thick when it came to girls. He had
never known, without her explanations, why he made Cho cry.

“I didn't mean to get so upset Harry. You just hurt me. It made me feeling like you were
embarrassed about voluntarily studying with me and spending time with me,” she admitted.

Harry looked taken aback. “I'm so sorry Hermione. I don't know. Ron's just been
weird lately about us, and I didn't want to set him off. I feel awful for making you feel
unwanted,” Harry told her regretfully.

“Just don't do it again,” she told, smiling forgivingly. Their eyes met, his green and her
brown, and she felt a strange sort of sensation coarse through her body. She quickly looked away,
but still felt dazed.

“So what are you studying?” Harry asked awkwardly.

Hermione blinked and stared at him stupidly for a few moments before bringing herself back to
reality.

“Oh, Transfiguration I guess.”

Harry smiled, holding back a laugh.

“Are you alright Hermione?” She looked at him, dying to tell him what she was feeling, but
afraid to put herself out there. Closing her eyes a moment, she opened her mouth as if to say it,
but held her tongue at the last moment. She'd tell him eventually.

“Oh, yeah just tired I guess,” she replied, trying to sound composed but failing miserably.

Harry's eyes were still on her, and the way Harry was looking at her was making her
dizzy.

“You should get to bed then. Do stay up on my account. Trust me Hermione you'll be getting
the best grades on the N.E.W.T.s even if you don't kill yourself studying,” he assured her
kindly.

“That's nice of you to say Harry, but trust me I do need to study. I guess it wouldn't
hurt to sleep a little. I can't learn anything if I am sleeping on top of my books.” She smiled
warmly and began gathering up her books.

Harry helped her, crawling around on the floor next to her to grab papers and books she had
missed when they'd fallen earlier. With his help it was going quickly. Harry and Hermione both
reached for the last book, and Harry ended up grabbing her hand instead of the book. Hermione
looked up and blushed when Harry didn't let go immediately.

Instead he leaned over and kissed her on her on the check. She felt herself sigh softly as his
lips touched her skin. Hermione froze. Her heart began pounding in her chest like a wild bird.
Harry was looking at her anxiously. She felt a slow smile creep onto her face.

“Thank you,” she whispered, hoping she wasn't imaging things, and feeling foolish for not
having anything better to say.

Harry smiled in relief.

“What was that for?” she asked playfully, hoping to make him give away what he was feeling.
Harry blushed.

“It was just for you being such a good friend,” he replied. Hermione grinned, and boldly leaned
over kissing Harry on the check, in such a way that she ended up kissing the corner of his mouth as
well. He looked up at her, surprised, but he seemed pleased.

“Well, I hope you can get some sleep. Goodnight Harry,” she said lightly, jumping to her feet.
She winked mischievously at him.

“Goodnight Hermione,” he croaked. He was still sitting on the floor, his green eyes glowing.

She nodded and smiled at him. Clutching her books and papers to her chest, hoping he
couldn't hear how loudly her heart was beating. Slowly she headed up the stairs to the girls
dormitory. She felt dizzy, lightheaded, and supremely happy.

-->



6. How Long Has This Been Going On?
-----------------------------------



**Disclaimer: Canon Harry Potter is not mine. I only wish.**

**A/N: Thank you to my reviewers. You don't know how much I appreciate you kind comments
about the story. I put a lot of time into writing and the feedback is really important to me, so
thank you!**

**Well, I think you guys will like this chapter, as I think it includes something you've
all been waiting for. Hope you like it ;)**

**Chapter 6** **-** **How Long Has This Been Going On?**

Hermione nervously fussed with her hair as she gave her appearance one last glance in the
mirror. She'd managed to get her bushy hair under a little more control than usual. Nervously
she smiled to herself, pleased with the result of her efforts. Sighing she sat down on her bed a
moment, absentmindedly stroking a purring Crookshanks who hadn't appreciated her earlier start
this morning. Nervously she looked down at the floor, trying to calm herself down. She was about to
go meet Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table for breakfast like she did almost every morning. Last
night, however, had definitely changed things, and had left her excited but anxious about seeing
Harry this morning. What if he pretended like nothing happened? What if it had been only a friendly
little kiss?

Her reflection looked back at her with wide brown eyes. Sighing, she tried to clear the thought
from her head. *No, there had been something last night between them for sure.* *There was
more than friendship in that moment.* Lavenders words crept back into her mind, taunting her
anew. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, as if physically trying to rid herself of
the memory of what that insipid girl had said.

Gathering her courage, she headed down the flight of steps from the girls dormitory and exited
through the portrait hole. Taking a steadying breath she headed down several winding hallways to
the Great Hall. As she opened the heavy doors she noticed that it was already fairly full and abuzz
with chatter, although some people still seemed half asleep. She walked over to the Gryffindor
table and spotted Ginny waving at her, gesturing to a place next to her on the bench. Hermione
noted that the spot also happened to be across from Harry. Hermione tried to act casual, rather
than like the bundle of nerves she truly was.

She slid in next to Ginny on the bench, smoothing her skirt. After greeting her younger friend,
she looked over at Harry, her heart pounding. He had been deeply involved in a conversation with
Ron on Quidditch, but he turned to look at Hermione the moment he heard her voice greeting Ginny.
Harry dropped the forkful of food in his hand. It fell to his plate with a loud clattering noise.
He, however, didn't seem to notice as he grinned at her. Their eyes met like two magnets.
Hermione felt her face flush and noticed that Harry's did also. She silently cursed her cheeks
for giving her away, but didn't seem to mind that Harry's did also.

Ron watched them, looking slightly confused. Ginny smiled in amusement. Other nearby Gryffindors
watched the scene playing out as well, though they didn't seem that surprised.

“Good morning Harry,” Hermione managed, all too aware of all the people taking interest in their
interaction.

Harry smiled nervously. “Hi, how are you? Not worrying about N.E.W.T.s yet at this time in the
morning are you?” he asked thoughtfully.

Hermione grinned and shook her head. “No, I did enough of that last night. Thanks again,” she
replied looking at him meaningfully, hoping he would know what she was referring to.

He must have, as looked down awkwardly, but wore an embarrassed, yet pleased, sort of grin on
his face.

“Anytime,” he said quietly, a look in his gorgeous green eyes as he spoke took her breath away.
The uneasy knot that her stomach had been twisted in since she gotten up this morning began to
unwind. She had to resist clutching her hand to her heart, which was pounding so fast she swore it
was bound to burst.

The two seemed to have forgotten for the moment that everyone nearby was still listening in and
watching them with curiosity.

“Did you to shag each other or something last night?” Seamus commented crudely through a
mouthful of food, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Dean and Neville held back laughter, though not
very well.

Hermione, who had just taken a rather large sip of pumpkin juice, began to cough violently as
she choked on the mouthful of liquid. Harry turned red and then paled in anger. Ron looked
positively ill at thought of his two best friends shagging each other. Ginny winked mischievously
at Hermione.

“Seamus, don't be such a foul git. I can't believe you would think that of Hermione,”
snapped Harry protectively, his eyes flashing. Hermione had been irritated by the comment, but was
pleased with Harry's reaction. She didn't need protecting, but it was a good feeling to
have him watching out for her regardless.

“Sorry, mate. I was just being honest because that's the way you we're looking at each
other. I didn't mean to insult to your girlfriends honor or anything,” Seamus replied, looking
slightly annoyed. He stabbed a sausage and stuffed it into his mouth. Harry still looked annoyed
though.

Impulsively Hermione reached her hand across the table and gave Harry's a soothing squeeze,
hoping to stop him from furthering the argument with Seamus. Harry visibly relaxed at her touch. He
smiled at her warmly; making her heart beat a little faster. She'd been worried that he would
be uncomfortable but such an obvious display of affection in front of their friends. She smiled to
herself looking down at her plate. She couldn't help but notice that Harry hadn't
immediately corrected Seamus when he'd called her Harry's girlfriend.

They didn't see but Seamus gestured to the pair of them and then rolled his eyes comically
at the rest of the table, causing the others try to hold back laughter once again. Ron though,
still didn't look that amused by what was going on. He didn't look jealous really, more
like hurt that he didn't know his two best friends were together. Seamus whispered something to
Dean and other nearby Gryffindors that caused a new roar of laughter.

“Don't you all have better things to do then be insufferably nosey?” Hermione protested, her
hair seeming to bristle with annoyance.

“Clearly not,” Ron said sourly with a mouth full of food. Hermione smiled uncomfortably at him.
He looked extremely annoyed by what was going on this morning, and she knew that he felt left out
of the loop. What was there to tell him though? She wasn't even sure where she and Harry were
at. There hadn't been time to discuss last night's events with him. The Great Hall was not
exactly the ideal location for a nice private chat. She started down at her plate of untouched
food. Her stomach felt queasy again all of the sudden. In fact, at the moment she felt like she was
about to throw-up slugs.

Ginny patted Hermione's shoulder sympathetically; she knew that it wasn't fun to be on
her brother's bad side.

“He'll understand; he will,” she whispered to Hermione. Hermione gave her a grateful look,
hoping that Ginny was right about this. *Would he* *understand?* She sighed and looked
over at Harry who looked as uncomfortable as she did. He smiled at her, his emerald eyes twinkling.
Her stomach did a little flip, but this time it was a good feeling. Suddenly the epiphany hit her
like a kick to the chest from a Hippogriff. When she'd broken up with Ron, she refused to given
him a reason, or to even talk about ever again. It was because she had loved Harry, even then and
somewhere deep inside she'd always known. Emotions were threatening to overtake her. She had to
get out of here.

Hastily, she gathered up her things. She looked down feeling slightly guilty for leaving a full
plate behind of food that the kitchen elves had worked so hard to make. Well, she'd have to
worry about that later. The last thing she needed was to make a spectacle of herself in the Great
Hall.

“I am going to go do a little studying before classes start,” she announced, attempt to appear
unruffled, as she got up from her seat.

Harry looked at her quizzically. She smiled at him, but took off to leave the Great Hall, making
her escape as fast as possible, not wanting to look around at the rest of the table. She could feel
more than one set of eyes were watching her as she walked away. A sigh of relief escaped as the
doors closed heavily behind her.

As she headed down one of the empty hallways of the castle, she heard footsteps pounding on the
stone floor behind her. She hesitantly stopped and turned around to see who it was. The footsteps
got closer and stopped. She was hoping very much that it wasn't an angry and hurt Ron
following. To her relief, it wasn't. She turned only for her eyes to meet a pair of worried
green eyes.

“Harry!” she exclaimed.

“Hermione, are you okay?” he asked, genuinely concerned about her.

She smiled at him, gently placing a hand on his arm.

“Yeah, I'm fine Harry. I just had to get out of there, away from everybody.”

Harry frowned slightly. “I'm sorry about that lot. That's what happens when you go to
school with people for so long. I guess they figure everyone's business is theirs,” Harry
remarked, his tone laced with annoyance.

Hermione moved a little closer to Harry, looking up into eyes. “It's fine Harry. Thanks for
defending me by the way. You're really sweet.”

Harry smiled abashedly. “Ah, it's nothing. It just makes me mad when people say anything
about you because you're wonderful.”

Hermione beamed.

“Harry, I have to get this out. Last night, it was, well wonderful talking to you and, um...
But, what did it mean to you? I mean do you think of me as a friend or…um I don't know. I was
well, wondering what you were feeling about *us*,” Hermione babbled. She felt like a
completely idiot prattling away like that, but she hoped that she had at least gotten the point
across to him.

Harry took a step closer to her without answering her question. She peered up at him anxiously.
There was a look that she couldn't identify in his eyes, but something about it thrilled her.
He was so close to her now that she could feel his warm breath on her face. Their eyes met for a
moment and he gently pulled her into his arms. Hermione shuddered with delight. She had hugged
Harry before, but it never felt like this.

Suddenly his warm lips were pressing insistently on hers. Heat swept through her body like a
sudden fever. Hermione clung to him, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. She hadn't
kissed that many guys before now, but no kiss had ever felt like this.

He pulled away for a moment as if to measure her reaction to the kiss. She started at him dizzy,
breathless, and wanting more. He seemed to see nothing to deter him in her expression and kissed
her again even more deeply this time. She wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers
through his messy, dark hair. His hands were on her waist and then back. His touch was amazing.

Gently they pulled apart, and she felt exquisite agony as his warm lips left hers. His kiss had
been a better answer to her question than she could possibly imagine.

“I suppose you fancy me then?” she whispered with a little grin, her dark eyes sparkling.

“I wanted to tell you last night. Actually I've known for a long time that I felt more than
friendship for you, well since before you started dating Ron. It killed me to see you together, but
I thought you were both happy and didn't want to get in the way. But then you guys broke up,
and I wasn't sure where we stood, but it seemed like you felt something for me when we came
back,” he explained.

“Oh, Harry we've both been so think. I think I've felt something for you since, well
about 5th year, but I just thought you'd never fancy someone like me. Sometimes I wasn't
sure that remembered I was a girl,” she admitted.

Harry looked shocked.

“Hermione, how come you don't know how amazing you are?”

Hermione smiled shyly, but his words touched her.

“I can't believe we are finally together,” he remarked in a disbelieving voice. Hermione
reached up and ran her fingers gently across the side of his face.

“We're really together?” she asked coyly, her heart leaping in her chest.

“Of course we are. I'm not risking so other bloke asking you out. I thought you were the
brightest witch of your age Hermione. Do I have to tell you again how I feel,” he joked, smiling
his charmingly lop-sided smile.

“Maybe you should tell me on more time how you feel,” she told him softly. Harry smiled and
kissed her again.

-->



7. Unbreakable Bonds
--------------------



**Disclaimer****:** **I am obviously not JK Rowling, therefore canon Harry Potter
isn't mine. This story is though!**

**A/N: Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Keep reviewing and reading ;)** **I really, really
love getting reviews! Seriously even if you just write a one line review, it will make my day. The
more reviews, the more likely is to give the story a try.**

**I may do a bit of a bit of a rewrite with this and other chapters, so I just wanted to warn
you all in advance! Thanks**

**Chapter 7 -** **Unbreakable Bonds**

Hermione and Harry casually walked into Potions class together. Hermione looked around
anxiously, hoping that her face wasn't getting red. Of course she was overjoyed to finally be
with Harry, but they had both agreed not to flaunt their relationship to the public, as Ron
didn't know yet. She had attempted to track down Ron earlier but with no luck. It made her edgy
thinking about how Ron would react to her new relationship with Harry. Ron had seemed to sense that
something was going on between her and Harry since the beginning of term, even whiles his friends
had been too thick to notice it themselves.

She glanced over at Harry and smiled. He beamed at her as he pulled out his Potions book and her
heart fluttered. Hermione set about getting her own things out for class, still smiling to herself.
No matter how Ron or anyone else reacted, nothing could tarnish the knowledge that Harry felt the
same way she did about him.

The class buzzed with the usual chatter, but no one said anything to Harry and Hermione about
being together. It seemed no one had seen them snogging in the hallway. All conversation died at
the sound of the door's creaking hinge. Everyone knew it was Professor Snape, he was always
punctual. He walked into the room without a word, his pale face more sullen than usual, not that he
ever showed any remote enthusiasm for teaching them.

Harry groaned, far from excited about starting another class taught by one of the people he
loathed most in the entire world. Hermione looked around the room, as Snape made his way to the
front of the room. Ron was nowhere to be seen. She chewed her lip nervously. For Ron's sake he
better get to class soon. He certainly couldn't use the first year `I got lost' excuse, not
that Snape cared when they were first years anyway.

“Where's Ron?” she whispered to Harry. Snape cleared his throat, and she looked up to see
his cold eyes locked on her. She moved away from Harry and returned his gaze with equal frigidity.
Snape's eyes narrowed.

“Miss Granger, I am sure we would all appreciate if you and Potter save your lovers activities
for times when you're not in the classroom,” Snape admonished her contemptuously. “Oh, and 20
points from Gryffindor,” he added, as he made his way back to the front of the class.

Snape's lesson was interrupted once again though, as a frazzled looking Ron came bolted into
the classroom, taking a seat at a table behind Harry and Hermione. Neither of them managed to catch
his attention as he passed them. Ron plopped down in his seat breathing heavily. Snape sighed
loudly, and dropped a book to his desk with a thud. The whole class was now looking with interest
back and forth from Snape to Ron.

“Mr. Weasley. Why are you late to my class?” Snape demanded. Most everyone in the room felt
sorry for Ron at the moment, they all knew that no excuse would placate Snape.

“I um, forgot my book in my room,” Ron muttered. His face had gone so pale that his freckles
stood out as though someone had gone and colored them all.

“Yes, likely story. Detention this Saturday, Weasley, oh and I think your friends Granger and
Potter should join you. They started the trouble even before you get here,” Snape told him, the
closest thing to a smile Snape ever managed crossing his features.

Harry and Hermione groaned. Hermione swiftly elbowed Harry, silently reminding him not to even
think about starting any arguments with Snape. Harry frowned and rubbed his side. Hermione grinned
and turned her attention to class.

“Today,” Snape announced, his expression stony, “we will be making Amortentia, or love
potion—“

“But Professor,” Hermione interrupted loudly, “Professor Slughorn already went over it with us
last year.”

Harry rolled his eyes, “Now who is the one starting trouble?” he whispered.

Snape gazed at Hermione in irritation. “That interruption will cause our class know-it-all 15
house points, as I was saying we will be making Amortentia.” Hermione's face darkened in
anger.

Harry could see that Hermione was fighting the urge to remind Snape how hazardous love potion
could be if recklessly used. Ron suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. Hermione turned around and
looked at him as if he'd finally lost it.

“What's so amusing Mr. Weasley?” Snape snapped, coming over to stand directly in front of
Ron. “Perhaps you should share with the class.” Ron gulped, the smile fleeing his face. He did want
to explain that the thought of Snape making and then using love potion on an unsuspecting woman,
had been a hilarious mental image.

“My quill tickled my noise?” Ron croaked, less than convincingly. Harry looked on edge as though
he would challenge Snape if he dared hassle Ron further. Harry had been spoiling for a fight with
Snape ever since the beginning of class.

Snape gazed at Ron grimly for a few moments, but abruptly turned away, surprisingly seeming
satisfied by the answer. Ron looked as if he couldn't quite believe his luck. He had expected
at least another detention or two.

“Hopefully I will be able to finish class without anymore interruptions from Potter and his cast
of annoying friends. I believe Amortentia will appear in some way on the N.E.W.T.s so I demand that
you know this potion well,” Snape told them. Hermione began scribbling furiously on the parchment
in front of her, apparently finding nothing to argue with in Snape's justification.

“This potion is fairly complex to make. Most of you, no doubt will fail, but I expect you all to
attempt this potion.” Snape flicked his wand, and the directions and ingredients for the potions
appeared on the board at the front of the room. The class groaned as they noted the complexity of
the potion. Harry grimace and hoped that Hermione was right in saying that he may have inherited
some of his mother's talent for Potions.

Hermione busily began to prepare her ingredients and carefully read through the steps of the
potion before putting anything in her cauldron. She paused for a moment to look over at Harry's
progress. He seemed to have his ingredients prepared already and it appeared that he done so
correctly. Ron moaned and she noticed that he seemed to be struggling quite a bit. Only Neville
seemed to be having a more difficult time of it.

Shaking her head, she turned back to her own potion, which already seemed to be suffering from
the few seconds of inattention. The classroom was silent, other than the bubbling of potions and
the sound of stirring; everyone was completely wrapped up in trying to master the difficult
potion.

Snape imperiously strode around the class, as people began to add the ingredients to their
potion, peering into cauldrons as he went along. He stopped suddenly, astonishment registering
briefly on his characteristically unemotional face as he stared at Harry's potion.

Snape leered. “Well, Potter. It appears as though someone's made this potion before.
Perhaps, to ensnare your previous girlfriends I suspect?” Snape commented maliciously, not about to
lower himself to praising Harry's work. Hermione saw Harry's face flush crimson with anger
and mortification. She peeked over into his cauldron and felt just a shocked as Snape. Harry's
Amortentia potion was already showing signs of developing its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen.
Looking at her own again she noted that it was only a dull, milky white.

Harry still looked furious, but rather than starting an argument with Snape he continued to
carefully tend to his potion. Hermione was shocked. Perhaps for once Harry had decided that some
the advice she'd given him was actually good to listen to.

Snape continued to walk around the, predictably praising Malfoy's potion, which didn't
look nearly as good as Harry's. Hermione frowned. Even if he was Ginny's boyfriend, she
still found the Slytherin completely insufferable.

Impatiently she brushed a frizzy strand of hair from her eyes, concentrating on her own potion,
something she hadn't been doing very well this class.

After what seemed like only a few moments, rather than another half an hour, Snape announced
that he needed to collect their potions now. She glanced into her cauldron at her adequate, but now
where near perfect potion. It had a slight sheen to it, but it was sure not enough of one to get
her full points.

Harry was pouring his into a glass container, as he did so she saw the characteristic spirals
wafting out of his cauldron*. Snape* *better give him high marks for that,* she thought
with a sigh. At least Harry had done well today, even though it rankled her slightly that she
hadn't done well. Snape walked over, as he must have noticed the spirals from afar.

“Well, miracle that it is, Potter seems to have most accurately prepared the potion,” Snape
announced. “Now, I think he should try it out.”

“What!” Harry and Hermione shouted together.

“Professor, it would be completely against the school rules to have a student drink Amortentia,”
Hermione protested, looking incredibly agitated. Harry looked rather panicked as well. The quill he
had been holding snapped in half in his fist.

Snape waved them away nonchalantly. “Foolish girl, I merely meant that he should smell the
potion. Surely he knows the dangers of it anyway, as he's clearly used it before on someone
anyway,” Snape told her disdainfully.

Harry looked as though he'd rather fight Voldemort again than be humiliated by Snape in
Potions class.

“We're waiting Potter,” Snape demanded.

“Just do it Potter!” Malfoy shouted. He and his group of friends seemed not to have lost their
fondness for seeing Harry upset.

Harry gulped, leaning forward and using his hand to waft the scent of the potion.

“Well, um, I smell paper, ink, and vanilla I think,” Harry stammered, looking more mortified as
he went along. Hermione smiled sympathetically, but couldn't help but note with pleasure that
all the think he named related to her.

“Sounds like he's in love with a librarian,” hooted an obnoxious boy from Slytherin.
Suddenly Hermione felt a dozen sets of eyes looking over towards her direction.

“Or Granger,” Seamus piped in. Harry and Hermione exchanged a nervous glance, not daring to turn
around and look at Ron at the moment. Snape looked completely smug.

“Potter must have gotten some brain damaged when he fought the Dark Lord,” Malfoy said with a
sneer.

Harry jumped up from his seat. Hermione grabbed his hand, which she saw going for his wand.

“Do us all a favor and shut-up Malfoy,” Harry yelled, his green eyes flashing dangerously.

“Ooooo, I'm scared,” Malfoy said with a laugh.

Hermione grabbed Harry, and turned him away from Malfoy. “Ignore that foul little weasel.
It's really not worth Harry.”

Snape surprisingly didn't attempt to break them up; he seemed to be enjoying watching Malfoy
taunt Harry. Hermione couldn't understand why they'd let him come back. Not only were his
loyalties unclear, but he was an unfair teacher, who often mocked his students. It wasn't only
Snape that bothered her though. Something about Malfoy was bugging her. He hadn't seemed to
have changed at all.

“Thank you for demonstrating Amortentia for us Potter. The rest of you can go after leaving your
potion at my desk. For next class I want two rolls of parchment on the misuses of love potion.”
Snape marched back the front of the class, examining the vials of potion that people were turning
in. Some students frantically tried to improve theirs before turning it in.

There was a loud grown from behind her. She turned to look, as did Harry. Ron and Neville were
both pouring out some of their potions. They exchanged horrified glances. Ron's was a strange
bluish color and appeared to be letting off little sparks. Snape probably wouldn't even accept
it. Harry gave Ron a look of sympathy. To Hermione's relief, Ron didn't look angry with
Harry, as he shrugged and turned glumly back to his potion. They walked with Ron to the front of
the classroom, going up with him to turn in their potions. Ron looked like he was going to be ill,
as he watched Snape examine the contents of the container he'd handed in.

“Weasley, what is this?” Snape demanded.

“Love potion?” Ron answered quietly.

“Did you add all the ingredients?” Ron looked up at the board. He looked relieved after he
finished reading through the list.

“Yes, sir, I did,” he said confidently. Snape looked at him and sighed as he put the container
on his desk. Harry gave Ron a thumbs-up.

“Fine, Weasley. You and your friends can go.” The three friends quickly dashed out of the
classroom.

“He took it!” Ron told them, looking completely thrilled.

“He would have never taken that if it was mine. You got really lucky mate,” Harry said, with a
hint of envy. Ron shrugged and smiled.

“You're pretty lucky yourself mate. I wouldn't complain too much,” he said, glancing
significantly at his two friends and managing a smile. Hermione felt a wave of relief.

“How'd you know we were together?” Harry asked, puzzled.

Ron rolled his eyes. “As Hermione would say, it's was so obvious. After the little scene in
the Great Hall this morning, I figured you two finally stopped being dense about each other,” Ron
explained.

Harry and Hermione smiled and the trio headed to lunch before their next class. Harry reached
down and grabbed Hermione's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She smiled content with the
knowledge that their new relationship wouldn't break them apart from Ron. Of course there was
always the rest of the school to deal with.

-->



8. Indiscreet
-------------



**Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me; therefore I am not attempting to infringe on
an copyrights, contracts, etc. or to make any money. I'm just having fun.**

**A/N: Hmm, for once I don't have much to saw. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Hopefully
there aren't too many errors, but I did post this as soon as I finished, after giving it one
last glance for glaring errors, so forgive an that are left. I'll probably go back and edit a
little later. Enjoy! Review! Be merry! (Okay, I lied, I did have a lot to say).**

**Chapter 8** **- Indiscreet**

Harry and Hermione walked down the hall towards Transfiguration. Ron had forgotten a few things
for another class later than day, and had told them to go on ahead and save a seat for him. Harry
glanced over at Hermione as they walked along the castle hallway and smiled, admiring the way the
light streaming in through the castle windows made her hair look more gold than brown. There were
few times in his life when he'd felt so happy and content. Despite all he'd lost, the girl
he really cared for finally knew it and returned his feelings. She blushed slightly under his gave;
unaware of how beautiful she looked to him at the moment.

Impulsively he pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. Her mouth was warm and hot
against his. After a few moments he felt hers curve into a surprised smile beneath his kiss. He
pulled away, and grinned. She gazed at him for a moment, slightly puzzled. Harry was hardly one for
initiating a hug, and rarely a kiss, not that she minded, but physical intimacy had made him
slightly uncomfortable in the past. This was probably a good sign though, she thought with a little
smile to herself. She hugged Harry tightly and returned his kiss, pushing him up against the wall
as she did so. Both of them were so completely wrapped up in each other that it took them a few
moments to hear someone clearly her throat, trying to get their attention.

“Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, I fear that you will be late for class if you continue with that,”
Professor McGonagall admonished them, she was frowning, but they both saw her eyes twinkle for a
moment in amusement.

The pair turned radish red. Hermione made an attempt to smooth her rumpled uniform. Looking up,
she noticed that Professor McGonagall hadn't been the only witness to their hallway snog.
Several other Gryffindors stood watching the little scene going on, many of them smirking in
amusement. Apparently they already knew he was with Hermione, or it had been more obvious to
everyone else in the school than to each other that they fancied each other. Lavender was a member
of the crowd, but she hardly looked amused. Hermione grinned, noting that the foul girl looked like
she'd ingested a bucket of slugs.

“Well, we best find a seat,” Hermione whispered to Harry, tugging at his sleeve. As she did so,
her lips brushed against his ear, causing him to loose focus on what she was saying.

“Hmm, what?” he answered distractedly, causing her to sigh and roll her eyes. She slid her bag
more securely on her shoulder and took off towards the Transfiguration classroom, hoping Harry
could figure out the rest from there. He did and quickly walked after her. The room was already
pretty crowded when they got there. Even Ron had managed to arrive before them; he waved to two
seats next to him when they spotted him.

“I heard you two were nearly shagging right there in the hallway,” Ron whispered wide-eyed to
Harry and Hermione. The pair exchanged embarrassed looks.

“I see gossip gets around this school as quickly as ever, and the truth manages to get as
convoluted as ever,” Hermione complained as she pulled her book and a quill from her bag, trying to
ignore the curious glances of others who had clearly heard the rumor.

“Sorry, Hermione,” Harry whispered. “As you know from past experience, if I am involved the
rumor spreads twice as fast and gets even farther from the truth than an ordinary rumor.”

Hermione managed a smile, remembering Rita Skeeter's attack on her their fourth year during
the Triwizard Tournament, claiming she had broken his heart, after ditching him for Viktor Krum.
She looked over at Harry. They had been linked by people for so many years, she wondered at the
fact that it had take them this long to get together. Her thoughts were interrupted by Professor
McGonagall beginning class. She smiled at him and Hermione for a moment, and he swore he saw her
give a small little wink. At least one of his teachers was happy about his new relationship, unlike
Snape who was using it to mock him.

Harry opened his book. “Unfortunately, today I have a lecture prepared for you all, as there is
a problem I need to address within the school,” McGonagall announced, flicking her wand at the
board. Scrawling handwriting appeared, forming the outline of her lesson.

They all groaned as they discovered they would not be learning a new transfiguration spell, but
rather had to listen to a lecture of the misuse of certain transfigurations. Apparently several
students had been using them on each other recently. Harry thought that he'd seen a fourth year
with a mushroom for a nose, as well as several other odd things. He looked over at Hermione who was
of course listening with rapt attention, her quill scribbling furiously. He tried to pay attention,
but after the first few minutes, the only thing that kept him awake was Hermione's sharp little
elbow jabbing him in the ribs every so often.

Finally class was over. Ron and Harry were both quick to shove their book and notes into their
bags, despite Hermione's look of disapproval.

“Potter, can I see you a moment?” Professor McGonagall asked, looking up over the top of her
glasses, as she sat at the desk. His two friends looked at him questioningly. Harry shrugged, not
sure of what he could have done to cause trouble that day.

“We'll wait for you outside Harry,” Hermione told him, giving him an encouraging smile and
gently squeezing his hand.

“It'll be fine. It's like she'd Snape or anything,” Harry assured them, trying to
bolster himself as well.

“Maybe she'd going to tell you that she and Snape are getting married,” Ron whispered.
“Snape had an awful lot of that love potion sitting around in his room after all.” Hermione rolled
her eyes and Harry held back a laugh as he turned to meet with Professor McGonagall.

“Is everything all right, Professor?” he asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other
as he stood in front of her desk.

“Oh, Potter. Sorry, I got caught up in these papers for moment. Don't worry, aren't in
any sort of trouble, for once,” she looked up at him with a grim smile.

“I just wanted to let you know that although Dumbledore is no longer with us and Voldemort are
gone, it doesn't you won't still have the occasional problem, though I know you have a
friend and a girlfriend who are there for you. I just wanted to say, please don't hesitate to
come to me should you need anything,” she told him.

Harry smiled, surprised but touched by her words. “Um, thanks, Professor,” he replied awkwardly.
She smiled.

“Well, that's all Potter. Don't want to keep your friends waiting for too long.”

Harry smiled and headed out into the hallway, where Ron and Hermione were waiting for him,
looking rather anxious.

“Don't worry I haven't gotten into any trouble that you two didn't know about. She
just wanted to talk to me for a moment,” he told them.

Hermione looked at him quizzically, but didn't press him for more information, appreciating
the fact that he tended to be a private person. He would tell them when he felt like it. The trio
headed back to the Gryffindor common room to get a little bit of work done before their next class.
All the teachers had given a load of homework that day, and if they didn't want to be up all
night it would be best to start it all soon. They took a longer way back, though a usually deserted
hallway.

They all paused though before rounding the corner, at the sound of lowered voices. The three all
exchange a glance, as they recognized one of the voices as Draco Malfoy's. Hermione frowned at
Ron who was breathing rather loudly for her liking. They pressed against the wall, wishing for some
Extendable Ears.

“Malfoy, when did you last hear your father? We heard from a trustworthy source, that he is
mounting an attack on the wizarding world along with former Death Eaters,” one of the voices
demanded. Hermione gasped involuntarily, and grabbed Harry's hand. The thought of him being
once again in danger made her stomach flip and twist into knots. He reassuringly squeezed her small
hand that fit perfectly in his. He was all too well aware of what was probably going through her
mind at the moment. Ron didn't looked upset by the new as well, his freckled face had blanched
several colors lighter than its normal shade. Harry patted his best friend on the back and motioned
for him to stay quiet.

“I told you all a thousand times you, my father rarely talks to me anymore. Not after how I
messed things up during the Dark Lord's final days. The last thing he'd do is reveal some
big plan to me before anyone else,” Draco explained irately.

“You know more than you're telling us,” protested another voice. Hermione thought the boy
sounded a lot like Crabbe. Harry met her eyes, clearly thinking the same thing.

“Come on Draco. We're all on the same side here! At least tell us what you know. My dad
thinks I'm too thick to be trusted with anything information, so I never know what's going
on.” Hermione smiled to herself, that one had to be Goyle or Crabbe, if the other one
wasn't.

Draco and his friends were silent for moment. After waiting a minute, Draco continued. This time
his voice was much softer. The three eavesdroppers had to strain to hear.

“Listen, my father may not tell me much, but you are right that he is planning something. He
can't stand that filthy Mudbloods like Granger are still at the school, and that that annoying
Potter still lives. Something is going to happen this year. I just don't know where and when my
father is going to carry it out,” Draco confided to his dimwitted friends. The two chuckled.

Hermione felt like she was going to be sick at the sound of their laughter. Despite the fact
that Ron was there, Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head, trying to
comfort her. One his hands clenched into an angry fist. He was so tempted to blow their cover and
hex Malfoy within an inch of his life. He was used to Malfoy's comments, but he would never
excuse anything said against Hermione.

“We better get going. Someone might come walking through here,” Draco whispered to his
companions. The three breathed a sigh of relief, as they heard the groups footsteps take off in the
other direction. Ron carefully poked his head around the corner in an attempt to catch a glance at
who had been involved in the conversation.

“Looked like Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy, and two other Slytherins I didn't recognize. They looked
like right foul gits though,” Ron reported to Harry and Hermione.

“No surprise there really,” Harry said angrily.

“You don't look so good. You alright, Hermione?” Ron asked, as he took a closer look at her.
Her face was buried in Harry's robes at the moment, but her face looked rather pale.
Harry's soothingly ran his fingers through her hair.

“She just looks the way we all feel at the moment, Ron,” Harry answered for her. Hermione slowly
pulled away, taking a deep breath to collect herself. She had felt like she was going to loose it
for a moment there, but she'd managed not to cry.

“Why can't that foul man just give up?” she exclaimed suddenly, leaning against the wall for
support.

Harry looked out the window, deep in thought. This year was supposed to the first one he could
enjoy without having to worry about Voldemort, the dream year he had envisioned was quickly
slipping through his fingers. Ron put a hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to the moment.

“It might just all be big talk, Harry,” Ron said encouragingly, attempting to stay positive,
despite what they'd just heard. Harry smiled weakly, but was gratefully for his best mate's
support.

“Maybe, Ron's right, Harry,” Hermione added, though she still felt sick to her stomach. When
Voldemort was around, Harry's life had always been in danger, and now it seemed it was again.
The thought was terrifying.

“Thanks guys. I know that however this turns out, I can count on you both, as foolish as that
sounds,” Harry replied. He turned away from the window, grinning weakly at them.

Voldemort may have taken a lot away from him, but he hadn't managed to rob him of two of the
greatest people he had ever known.

-->



9. Keeping Friends Close
------------------------



**Disclaimer: Canon Harry Potter is not mine, nor do I pretend** **it to be.**

**A/N: I feel really bad****ly for not updating sooner, but for some reason this chapter
gave me fits.** **I knew what I wanted to happen in the chapter but I couldn't get it right
the first few tries. So, anyway I hope that you all enjoy this. Once again, I apologize for typos
as I wanted to po****st this as soon as I finished and I'll go back and fix them later.**
**Bad habit yes, but oh well.** **Oh, and I wanted to thank everyone who reviews all the time,
your feedback m****eans a lot to me. Happy reading! 33 days until Deathly Hallows ;)**

**Chapter 9** **-** **Keeping** **Friends Close**

Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat in the library attempting to get some of their mountain of homework
done. Hermione, of course, was well ahead of Harry and Ron, despite the fact that her mind had been
racing all day. The three were still unsettled about what they had heard in the exchange between
Malfoy and his friends the other day. The worst thing though had been facing Ginny now that it
seemed clear that her boyfriend was still scum. None of them had had the heart to tell her anything
yet, making any interaction with her more than slightly uncomfortable. It had been worst for
Hermione, as she really couldn't avoid Ginny, as Ginny lived in the same dorm as her. The boys
could go hide it theirs.

Hermione chewed on the end of her quill, deep in thought, though not about a homework problem.
Harry noticed as he looked up from the essay he was writing and frowned. He knew that expression
all too well, the Hermione planning face. If there had been a pair of knitting needles around,
he'd of sworn she was thinking of something involving S.P.E.W. Feeling his stare, Hermione
looked at him for a moment; clearly about to share whatever was on her mind with him.

“We have to tell Ginny what we overheard in the hall yesterday,” Hermione whispered to Harry who
was sitting next to her at the table, shielding her face from any onlookers with a rather large
book. Ron looked up from his own work, blinking sleepily. A few seconds ago he had been nearly
fallen asleep in his chair while reading over some notes Hermione had let him borrow from History
of Magic. Professor Binns never failed to make him feel like taking a long nap, no matter how many
hours of sleep he'd gotten the night before. He was curious as to what was going on behind
Hermione's book, hoping that his friends hadn't decided to have a good snog in the
library.

“Not really. I don't know if that's really a good idea. After all, we're not sure if
any of that was serious or if it was just all talk,” Harry replied, pretending to suddenly be very
focused on an essay for Snape that was nowhere near completion. “Besides, we really never share
stuff like this with Ginny, and I don't know if we should start. Not that I don't trust
her, but we usually keep things between the three of us,” he added, after pausing a moment. He
looked over at Ron for support. Ron, having heard all of what Harry had said, nodded in
agreement.

“But, she has to know about this, Harry. Malfoy could hurt or get her involved in his plans
without her knowing it. We have to think of some way to tell her, without revealing too much of
what we know. I agree that it would be best to keep her out of it, but because she's involved
with Malfoy with really have no choice. After all, we can't very well let her stay together
with a boy who still thinks it's a good idea to murder you, and me for that matter. She thinks
she's in love with him after all,” Hermione protested indignantly, putting her book down on the
table rather loudly. The three pretended not to notice the librarian glaring over at them.

“I don't see why we have to tell her, like Harry said. After all, if Malfoy is really such a
complete git, it will be pretty clear to her fairly soon. Hopefully she's smart enough not to
go along if he asks if she wants to go out for a romantic date, that involves a Death Eaters
meeting,” Ron insisted, homework forgotten.

“Yeah, I still don't believe how she'd think that he's changed. He's just as
foul as he's always been,” Harry said, his expression darkening.

“You don't think he's got the Imperius Curse on her or something, do you?” Ron asked in
quiet horror, his eye widening.

“No, Ronald. You can't be serious. Malfoy may be a foul human being, but he's not that
stupid. He couldn't get away that in the school without being caught. Besides, not to sound
horribly sappy, but if you love someone your more likely to overlook a person's faults.
I've never really watched them together, maybe he does act differently around her,” Hermione
told him seriously.

“Ugh, it's best that you never have watched them together,” Ron said, a look of pure disgust
on his face.

“I agree, that's a foul mental image you've caused,” Harry complained.

“Yes, well as much as you two can't stand them together, Ginny likes him a lot. I know the
pair of you will love it when she breaks up, but she'll be hurt. I doubt she'll take it
well when I tell her. In fact, it would be nice to have some support on this,” she admonished,
waving around the quill in her hand as she spoke.

“I don't know, Hermione. I mean this is kind of a girl matter really. You know how bad Harry
is with the ladies' - they always end up in tears, well except for you.” Harry frowned, clearly
about to protest, but Ron continued, “Don't get mad Harry; I'm not much better either.
Clearly we are not the ones with the skill to break this to Ginny,” Ron told her, looking rather
uneasy about the whole thing. “Besides, since it's my sister, she'd think I was just trying
to tell her what to do or some rubbish like that, and you know how she gets when she thinks I am
try to boss her around.”

Harry nodded in silent agreement, avoiding Hermione's eyes.

“Oh, honestly!” Hermione exclaimed indignantly.

She rolled her eyes at the pair of them, picking up her book again and pulling it closer to her
face to hide her exasperated expression from Harry and Ron. It was as she expected, they expected
her to break the news to Ginny about how rotten her boyfriend Malfoy truly was…alone. They were
clearly trying to worm out of it in every possible way, though they probably thought they were
being subtle. Not that she had expected their behavior to be any different. Harry may have defeated
Voldemort with the bravery of a hero, but it seemed to have done little to improve his courage when
it came to dealing with girls.

She scribbled angrily, nearing the end of an Ancient Runes essay that she'd been researching
and working on for the past few days, glancing up every few moments to verify a fact in her book.
Homework was often an ideal way to vent emotions. She'd been stumped for ideas as how to finish
off the essay, but now she only had a few more lines left. Getting the feeling that someone was
staring at her, she wearily tore her eyes away from the parchment. A pair of guilty-looking green
eyes met hers as she glanced up.

“Hermione, could I maybe see your notes from Potions? I can't read my own writing in this
bit here of my notes,” Harry whispered as he pointed to a section of his notes that didn't even
look like real words, but a child's scribbling. He gave her a crooked smile, knowing full well
that he and Ron had managed to thoroughly annoy her earlier and was bracing her temper. His eyes
sparkled impishly, given him the appearance of a puppy that had just eaten your slippers but then
comes over looking for forgiveness.

She frowned for a moment and rolled her eyes, but shoved the requested notes at him with a sigh.
The expression of surprise on his face that accompanied the surprisingly swift acquiescence of his
request, made her mouth twist into a grin. It was hard to be annoyed with Harry for very long.
Harry winked at her and fell to looking at the notes. Though not by much, Harry at least seemed a
little more concerned with his studies, she noted, going back to her own work. Ron leaned over to
sneak a peak at the note's Harry had managed to get having dozed off completely that particular
day.

The three were so focused on their work that they didn't notice a certain red head
approaching.

“Hi, guys!” Ginny greeted them cheerfully. She was holding an armload of books, clearly meaning
to settle down and study with them.

“Hey, Ginny,” Hermione replied, forcing a quick smile. Ron and Harry, however, only managed to
look extremely uncomfortable, especially when Ron dropped a book on the group, causing a loud thump
that caused several students to look around and glare.

Ginny looked confused a little confused by their behavior but didn't say anything.

“Hermione,” she whispered. “I was wondering if you had a moment to help me with this essay for
Transfiguration. I don't know why it's giving me so much trouble, but you're the best
person to help.”

“Oh yeah, of course I can help, Ginny. Could I meet you upstairs in the Gryffindor common room
in about five minutes? I can't really talk much in here. I just want to quick finish up this
essay for History of Magic.” Ginny smiled thankfully.

“Yeah, I'll see you in a few,” she said, and took off to grab another book or two. Harry and
Ron looked very relieved to see her going.

“Wow, way to get rid of her Hermione! I thought she was going to sit down with us to chat and
study. I don't think I could have taken how bloody awkward that would have been!” Ron told her,
clearly relieved.

“You're being so stupid about this Ronald. And no offense, but you are as well Harry. Just
because she might have to break up with Malfoy doesn't mean she is going to fall into pieces or
crumpled into a heap crying when I tell her. Honestly, you two really don't know anything about
girls' feelings sometimes,” Hermione snapped in annoyance. She quickly finished over her essay,
giving it one last look over as she refused to use a spell to correct her mistakes. Quickly she
rolled in up into a neat scroll, placing it in her back along with the rest of her things.

“Well, I'll see you two later. I hope Malfoy doesn't get you in the meantime,” she
announced as she got up from her seat. Ron was sulking about being scolded and Harry looked rather
guilty, but said nothing.

***

Hermione slowly walked down the hallway towards Gryffindor's dorm not all that eager to face
Ginny herself. She knew Ginny would be fine, but what she didn't know was if the younger girl
would believe everything she had to tell her. This was a sticky situation no matter what way she
looked at it.

Hermione smiled weakly as she stepped in through the portrait hole. Ginny was sitting alone in
the common room flipping through a book when she got there. Since it was the weekend, most people
were elsewhere studying or visiting with friends from other houses. Ginny smiled when she spotted
her.

“Hey, Hermione! I really appreciate you helping me. I know you probably are overwhelmed with
work yourself but things have been getting really hard this year. Anyway, I just have to do well on
this essay or McGonagall will kill me.”

“Oh, you don't have to thank me. It's really no trouble,” Hermione insisted. She took a
seat across from Ginny her favorite chair. “Listen, there's something I have to talk to you
about before we go over the essay,” she continued. Ginny nodded, looking curious as to what
Hermione was about to say.

“What's going on? Is everything okay?” Hermione sighed and shook her head.

“No, not really, and what I am about to say might sound unbelievable, but I swear I wouldn't
lie to you.”

“I know that, Hermione. Please tell what's going on. You're worrying me.”

“Well, a few days ago, Ron, Harry, and I were walking back from class and we heard people
whispering. We stopped, curious as to what they were talking about. Turns out it was Malfoy and his
old group of friends. From what they were saying it sounds like Draco's father, along with the
rest of the Death Eater's are up to something, and no good ever comes of that. It seems he is
the same as always, Ginny. I know that you two are together and that you care about him, but for
your own safety I had to warn you,” told her, speaking as quickly as possible so that she
wouldn't lose her train of thought as she spoke.

Hermione nervously wrung her hands, waiting for Ginny's reaction. Talking the whole thing
about it made her feel strangely unsettled. Ron and Harry hadn't been acting that concerned,
but she was still very upset about the new possibility of yet another threat to Harry's
life.

“Ginny?” she queried. Ron's sister looked strangely calm, although her face was devoid of
color.

“Are you sure? Really sure? I am just having such a hard time believing this,” she finally
squeaked. Hermione nodded sadly. She rose from her own seat and sat next to Ginny.

“I know this hard to deal with, but it will be okay. There's better guys out there, and I
know you wanted to see the change in him, but really some people just can't change or don't
want to,” Hermione said, trying to be comforting.

“It just doesn't make any sense. This is crazy really, like a nightmare. I love him and am
sure he feels the same way about me. Why would he do this?” Ginny whispered, more to herself than
Hermione.

“I-I think I need to go lie down for a little bit and process,” she added, getting up abruptly
from the couch.

“That's fine; just don't do anything foolish, like go after him or something.
Please.”

Ginny relatively calm reaction was more disquieting that extreme anger or sobbing would have
been. Hermione sadly watched her younger friend walk up the stairs and leaned forward, burying her
face in her slender hands. This year was supposed to calm, happy. Why did things have to get
complicated? She looked up at the sound of someone entering the room. She lifted her head and
blinked in surprise to see that it was Harry.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted. Harry smiled uncomfortably.

“I feel bad that Ron and I dumped this on you alone and that was wrong. I am probably too late
to help now, as from the look on your face it seems you've told her,” he admitted. Hermione ran
up and hugged him in answer.

“Harry, I am so worried,” she whispered, a few tears escaping her brown eyes.

She closed her eyes, feeling his warm breath on her neck.

“It will be fine. I promise. Nothing can be worse than Voldemort right? And we got through that
together. Please don't worry. I just hate that you have to deal with all this because of who I
am,” he told her sadly.

“Oh, Harry. I don't care. I just don't want anything to happen to you. I love you, you
know,” she cried, biting her lip in surprise for letting the last bit escape. To her surprise Harry
didn't seem upset by this revelation, as he kissed her heartily in response.

“I love you too, Hermione,” he whispered, kissing her again on the top of the head.

-->



10. A Creeping Darkness
-----------------------



**Disclaimer: Harry Potter's not mine, I only wish. Just writing for fun, not to claim the
world of Harry Potter as my own.**

**A/N: I really feel bad for not updating any sooner than this. I had really awful writer's
block and it took a while for the idea of what to do with this chapter to come to me. Hopefully,
the next one comes more easily. Well, anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Thanks as always to
those of you who review. I really appreciate it, makes the work of writing totally worth it!!!!**
**22 days until DH! (Let's hope it has the H/Hr we all want ;) )**

**Chapter 10** **-** **A Creeping Darkness**

Hermione turned over in bed restlessly. She was still ecstatic from the knowledge that Harry
loved her. She'd always loved him in some way, though not on the level she had come to in the
past few years. Now that she was certain about how she felt she was glad that she had finally
managed to tell him. The words had flown, unbidden from her lips, but it had turned out for the
best. Times seemed dark again, not unlike like when Voldemort had been alive, and she was glad that
Harry knew how she felt about him. Though none of the other students knew about what was going, a
dark mood seemed to have settled over the school the past week. The bright spot in it all was her
relationship with Harry.

She yawned and sat up, deciding she better get ready for the day. Besides she wanted to get an
early start so that she could check on Ginny. The reaction her younger friend had had last night to
the startling news about her boyfriend still bothered Hermione. Ginny was a strong young woman,
often to the point that gave her a certain reckless quality. Hermione had expected a reaction far
stronger than the eerily calm, quiet one Ginny had had to the news about her scum of a boyfriend.
Hermione quickly slipped on her school robs and took off to the room in the girls dormitories where
the younger girls slept.

As she entered the room she spotted Ginny, awake and sitting up in bed, staring blankly down at
a book on her lap. She appeared to be studying, but after watching her for a few minutes, Hermione
noted that she never turned the page. One of the other girls, a blonde from Ginny's year that
Hermione didn't really know, came up to her looking extremely worried.

“Listen, I know your friends with her. Something is going on with Ginny, I know it. I am not
even sure she slept last night. She came up looking like she wanted to kill but went to bed without
a word. I don't know what's going on, but I think you need to talk to her,” the girl
whispered, her eyes wide in concern. Hermione nodded grimly and murmured thank you. The other girls
seemed relieved to have an excuse to go and followed the girl Hermione had talked to out of the
room.

Hermione walked over and sat down on the edge Ginny's bed, which sank slightly beneath her
weight. “Ginny, what's going on? I know you really cared about Malfoy, but I know you, you
aren't someone to get like this over a guy. And besides, he really isn't worth it. You have
a right to be angry, he has betrayed you it seems, but you're stronger than this, and better
than only wanting revenge.”

Ginny looked up, the glazed appearance finally melting away. A single tear slid down her
freckled check, leaving a red trail. She determinedly bit her lower lip which had begun to quiver
slightly.

“You, don't understand, Hermione. This isn't all about Malfoy! There's not doubt
that I'm furious and extremely hurt about how Draco seems to have deceived me this year, but I
am more upset about what this means for all of us. I thought we were finally safe. You and Harry
are my friends, and of course I am worried about my brother, as he is always involved in everything
with you two. I just don't want to have to deal with the thought of losing more people,” Ginny
whispered, her voice strained by the tears she was holding back.

Hermione looked away for a moment, not wanting to meet Ginny's eyes or to deal with the
emotions reflected in Ginny's face as they mirrored much of what she had been feeling the other
night. She loved Harry and Ron also, though is his case, like a brother. None of the events of the
past few days had been welcome to her. The momentary peace at school that she had been enjoying was
slipping through her fingers like water.

“No, Ginny, I do understand. I mean, I love Harry! It may sound horribly sappy and not something
you want to hear right now, but I love him more than I can really describe. Just knowing that his
life is in danger again, well I can hardly think about it without getting upset,” she explained,
feeling tears welling in her own eyes.

“Than don't worry about me. I just need to some time to deal with this and process it. I
promise I am not going to doing something stupid like going after Draco or anything foolish like
that,” Ginny assured her.

“Are you going to break up with him though?” Hermione couldn't help but ask. Ginny frowned
slightly, pain written on her face.

“I really don't know. This is just all so complicated. It's going to be hard to act
normally around him considering what I know, which isn't even all that much yet. And I am
worried that it will seem suspicious to him if there is something going. I guess I am going to
attempt to stay with him, until we know more,” Ginny replied, her expression sad but thoughtful.
Hermione nodded, she hadn't really thought of how odd it might seem to Malfoy if Ginny broke up
with him out of nowhere.

“I guess you're right. I'm just worried about your safety, Ginny. I still feel that no
matter what else we learn or don't learn about all this, that Malfoy isn't a very good
human being. He just gives me the creeps. But I guess that comes from him wishing I was dead,”
Hermione told her with a wry smile. Ginny's mouth twisted into the whisper of a smile.

“It's fine Hermione. I better get going or be late for breakfast and classes. Just let me
know if you fine anything out,” Ginny said, closing the book still lying open on her lap. Hermione
stood up and nodded, grabbing the book bag she'd brought with her.

“I'll se you later then!” she called out to Ginny as she left the room. She was still
worried about her younger friend, but was now focused on finding out more about what was going on.
When she walked into the common room she was surprised to see Harry was there alone waiting for
her. Usually he went down with Ron. He looked up as she came down the stairs, his expression of
anxiety lessening when he saw her.

“Harry is everything all right?” she asked in concern, walking towards him.

“Oh, yeah, didn't mean to worry you. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright and
have a moment with you alone before we went down to breakfast where everyone can hear your
business,” he told her quickly. Despite what he said, his words were belied by the worry which was
clearly visible in his face.

“Is Ginny any better this morning?” he asked.

“Yeah, she'll be fine, Harry. You and Ron should know that she can take care of herself by
now. And she doesn't seem to be planning on blowing up Malfoy anytime soon, not that I'd
try to stop her if she did. But, she really is taking this all pretty well considering.”

“Well, that's somewhat of a relief.” Harry glanced around the room for a moment to make sure
they were still alone and pulled her aside into the corner. She looked down and noticed that he was
holding the *Daily Prophet* clutched tightly in his hand.

“Any news?” she queried, gesturing to the paper. Harry nodded. “That's part of why I wanted
to talk to you alone first. There have been some strange accidents happening to a few witches and
wizards lately. No, deaths, but some injuries, and all the witches and wizards that were involved
were known to oppose Voldemort during the War. It seems Voldemort's followers aren't quiet
as stealthy as he is. Some of these things sound a lot like their work. I think there is definitely
something behind what Malfoy's friends were asking him about the other day,” Harry told her,
opening the paper to show her the article, which surprisingly enough hadn't mad the first page.
Hermione frowned

“This is becoming a dangerous situation. We have to find out some way to spy on Malfoy and his
friends, so that we can get to the heart of what is really going on, and we don't have time to
mess around with something like Polyjuice Potion,” she whispered. He nodded in agreement.

“We got lucky last time when we overheard them. I guess for now the best thing we can do is keep
an eye on them without them noticing it, and we can always use the Invisibility Cloak, that has
come in handy a lot during our time here,” she told him, a smile forming as she said the last part.
Harry grinned also.

“Yeah, we're all getting a bit too tall for it to be of much use anymore though. We
can't all fit under it at once,” Harry said thoughtfully. Hermione nodded.

“We'll think of something. Just keep your eyes open. We got lucky last time, but if we keep
an eye on Malfoy and some of his stupid friends, we might be able to find out more. He or one of
those idiot mates of his are bound to do something that will give them away. And watch out for
yourself, Harry. Malfoy might have something planned already, and there's no doubt in my mind
that his father wants you dead,” Hermione admonished him worriedly, her brown eyes dark with
concern.

“Like I've been telling you, I really will be fine. I mean Professor Trelawney has been
predicting my death for years, yet I'm still here,” he joked. She didn't laugh though, and
looked a little faint.

“That woman is never right about anything, if she says you'll live to one hundred, than
I'll be worried,” she muttered. Harry patted her on the shoulder, awkwardly trying to comfort
her.

She gently put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Harry felt a wave of intense anger
wash over him. It made him incredibly furious that even though Voldemort was dead and truly gone
this time; the evil wizard was still managing to cause pain in peoples' lives through his
followers.

“I'm going to kill Malfoy and all those fouls gits he calls friends. I want them to suffer
the way my parents did, and Sirius, and -” Harry hissed, stopping as Hermione looked up him and he
realized that he was upsetting her. He remembered a time when he ranted regardless of his
friend's feelings and felt a pang of guilty.

“Please don't, Harry. It really isn't worth it. Revenge only make you feel good for so
long, you know? They want you to be angry, to act like them, but please don't sink down to
their level,” she pleaded, squeezing his hand.

“Sorry, Hermione, I just get so angry when all this affects you. I wouldn't blame you if you
gave up on out relationship.” Her eyes widened and flashed angrily.

“Harry Potter! Don't ever say something like that again, I love you, and you're an idiot
if you think you're going to get rid of me that easily!” she began to protest hotly. She was
interrupted though when Harry leaned down and insistently pressed him lips against hers. Hermione
returned the kiss warmly, the anger of the moment forgotten.

She pulled away a moment and whispered, “You better not go thinking that this always going to
get you out of things when I'm angry with you.” Harry grinned mischievously.

“Don't worry, I know I just got lucky this time,” he replied and kissed her again.

Hermione walked down the hall, paging through her notes, deep in thought about the essay that
had been assigned in Ancient Ruins. Her other classmates had filled out far more quickly, they
didn't seem to enjoy the lectures nearly as much as she always did. Harry and Ron had never
been convinced that it was a worthwhile class, so they were off in Divination and she had the empty
hallways to herself.

Suddenly something caused her attention to shift as she saw a flash of movement out of the
corner of her eye. It was someone running past the window outside. Her mind now off Ancient Ruins,
she shoved her notes in her bag and began to walk more quickly. She swore that she'd seen
Slytherin robes on whoever had just pasted her. Her heart began to beat a little faster. Running to
the window she saw the figure disappear around the corner. Hopefully the idiots were going to be
stupid enough to talk about their plans in the middle of Hogwarts again, though it would make
finding out more information a lot easier. At least this time Malfoy and his mates seemed to
planning on meeting somewhere outside. Slowly she made for the nearest way towards the Hogwarts
grounds. She had to bit her lip to stop herself from screaming when someone grabbed her shoulder
from behind. To her surprise and relief it was Harry standing behind her, looking like he was
trying to hold back laughter.

“Really, Harry. You have the worst timing,” she whispered irritably, putting a hand to hear
wildly beating. Harry smiled apologetically.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Is there a reason why we are we whispering? Did you
loose your voice or something?” he asked quietly. Hermione rolled her eyes.

“No,” she replied her voice still in a whisper. “I just thought I saw someone run by the window.
I only managed a little glimpse, but I swear they were wearing Slytherin robes. It could be one of
Draco's friends.” She paused a moment, “Besides, what are you doing here?” She glanced at him
inquiringly.

Harry colored slightly. “Well, I guess I just wanted to come see you. I know that you were
supposed to be out of class buy now, and figured I'd walk with you,” he mumbled. Hermione's
expression lightened slightly. She felt bad for being irritable with Harry, but they couldn't
afford to loose a chance of finding out more about what was going on by hearing it from the
source.

“Come on, Harry!” she said urgently, tugging the sleeve of his rob and motioning for him to
follow her. She walked quickly around the grounds, trying to obvious about the fact that she was
clearly out looking for someone. Harry struggled to keep up with her fast walk and sudden stops
when she thought she spotted something. She came to a sudden halt, and he just avoided knocking her
over. He gasped for breathe for a moment, but the noticed the look on her face.

“Down there,” she whispered, pointing over near a grassy area fairly fair away from the main
castle. Harry's eyes moved to where she was pointing. Sure enough it was Malfoy and his
friends, although there seemed to be more than they had seen last time.

“We have to get over there,” she whispered desperately. Harry rummaged through his bag and
pulled out his Invisibility cloak.

“I know it may not be the best answer, but I carried around like you suggested,” he told her
with a shrug. Hermione nodded and the expression on her face to him that she was already thinking
of how to go about this all.

“We'll get as close as we can to them without it, as it will be hard to walk together very
quickly with it on. Once we get close enough we can crouch down and listen in. Hopefully they will
be talking more loudly since they're outside. Still not a very good location to be talking
about such secretive things, but I don't mind that they aren't being bright. I just hope
that we haven't missed too much of the conversation,” Hermione said quickly.

Surreptitiously, she and Harry crept along the wall of the buildings, using a Silencing Charm to
mask the noise of their footsteps. Once they got close enough, Harry threw the Invisibility Cloak
over her and himself. Hermione had had been right, Malfoy was there with a group of Slytherins that
included Crabbe and Goyle, along with other Slytherins. Harry and Hermione walked slowly together,
making sure the cloak stayed in place. She grabbed his arm to stop him from going forward anymore,
as they could now hear the group.

“I swear the Mudblood knows,” Malfoy was telling the group. Hermione bit her lip to suppress a
gasp and looked up wide-eyed at Harry. He reassuringly squeezed her hand, but tried to stay focused
on the conversation and ignore his own anger and worry.

“Doubt it. No one could have heard us the other day,” Goyle protested hotly. Malfoy rolled his
eyes, letting out a sigh of impatience.

“We were in the middle of the bloody hallway idiot. Anyone that came along could have heard
something,” Malfoy retorted. “However, I think maybe I am just being paranoid this time. If she
knew she would have run off and told her foul boyfriend Potter and he would be after me. He has to
protect everyone you know, I swear, those two deserve each other.” Several of the others snickered
in response to Malfoy's comment.

Harry felt Hermione, who was pressed closely to his side, relax slightly.

“What about you and the Weasley girl? Shouldn't you break up with her? What do you even see
in her? Her family leaves a lot to be desired,” a blond boy who appeared to be a few years below
Draco demanded.

“That's none of any of your business. All I'll say is this, she may be useful in the
future,” Draco hissed through clenched teeth.

“Enough about that. Something is going on. My father told me, and we all saw the papers. Your
father is mounting an attack in retaliation for the Dark Lord's death isn't he?” demanded a
tall, pale boy with greasy black hair and beady, washed-out grey eyes.

“My father told me not to give away too much, but I am now allowed to tell you that yes,
something is going on. We all have to be prepared to help if called upon. My father might try to
involve the school in his attack. No Mudblood or enemy of Voldemort is safe in the wizarding world
will be safe,” Draco whispered with fiendish delight. The group was silent for a moment, processing
the weight of the news.

After a few more minutes of chatter, the group slowly drifted off back towards the school, done
with their secret meeting, leaving behind a stunned Harry and Hermione, still hidden and silent
beneath the Invisibility Cloak.

Next to Harry, Hermione shuddered. Silent tears were running down her face. The threat was real,
as she had feared. Harry held her tightly, using every ounce of self-control he possessed to keep
himself from throwing off the cloak and blowing up Malfoy and all his friends, who were
disappearing in the distance. The last year at Hogwarts, was clearly going to not be one of peace
anymore.

-->



11. Not Alone
-------------



**Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. I wish I was JKR and the
writer of canon Harry Potter, but I am not.**

**A/N: I felt horrible for taking so long to update last time, that I am going to post this
chapter sooner than I initially intended. It's not terribly look, but I hope it's enjoyable
nonetheless. I hate to be annoying, but please review****, even if it's just a sentence or
two****. Maybe it was because the mix-up with the story being updated last time, but I got fewer
reviews than ever on the last chapter. Please let me know what you think! Thanks.** **19 days
until we find out if H/Hr will happen in Deathly Hollows!!! ;)**

**Chapter 11** **-** **Not Alone**

“Miss Granger! Miss Granger, are you quite with us today or has your mind decided to be
elsewhere today?” Professor McGonagall asked impatiently, noticing that one of her best students
seem to be paying no attention at all to the lesson.

Hermione, who was completely zoned out at the moment, was staring down vacantly at the empty
piece of parchment in front of her. She was typically attentive to a fault in class but. However,
at the moment her quill, with which usually was nearly warn out by the end of a class from so much
use, was sitting next to her idly on the table. Harry frowned in concern and gently elbowed her to
get her attention, as she continued to be unresponsive to Professor McGonagall's scolding.
Hermione jumped, almost knocking over the chair she was sitting in and looked up at Professor
McGonagall. Her cheeks immediately stained pink, as she was suddenly aware that McGonagall and most
of the class were staring at her with interest. She knew she'd get the mickey torn out of her
later by some of her classmates. At times annoyed by her perfectionist behavior many of them were
finding the events of today's class amusing.

Hermione felt just horrible for not paying attention and even worse for being caught and called
out on it. And she knew she would be sorry for the hole in her notes when she went to study, but at
the moment her mind was so full of other things that for once she was finding it nearly impossible
to focus on academic things. As much, as she hated to admit it, there were things more important
that books and learning.

“I'm so sorry Professor. I just am a bit out of it today. I apologize. This won't happen
again, I swear,” she said quickly, hastily grabbing her quill, her hand now poised over her notes,
trying to demonstrate her sincerity. McGonagall walked over, a little closer to where Hermione sat
and eyed the young woman questioningly.

“Are you certain that nothing is bothering you Miss Granger. You may go see Madame Pomfrey if
you wish,” Professor McGonagall said kindly in a softer voice, so that the whole class couldn't
overhear their conversation.

“No, no. I am fine, but thank you,” Hermione insisted adamantly, carefully avoiding her
teacher's eyes. McGonagall looked far from persuaded that was the truth of the matter by walked
up to the board to continue her lesson anyway. Hermione began jotting down notes at her usual pace,
but Harry noted that she didn't have the same expression that he was accustomed to seeing on
her face. Hermione loved to learn and it showed as she listened and took notes during a lecture.
Today, however, she looked more like she was letting her pen write words that she wasn't really
hearing.

Ron was staring over at Hermione, looking rather puzzled by her behavior. He caught Harry's
eyes who looking very concerned also. Harry shrugged back at his friend, wondering himself what was
bothering his girlfriend. She'd known about the ex-Death Eater's plot for several days now,
but until today, her mood hadn't changed so drastically.

Later in the class they attempted a spell that would change a mouse into a quill, not very
useful, but just more practice for bigger transformations. Hermione, mastered things like that
before everyone else, but at the moment was struggling. She was attempting the spell, but even
Harry could tell that she her wand movement was wrong and she was pronouncing the spell
incorrectly. He decided not to correct her as she would have. The last thing she needed was
criticism. After watching her struggle a few more moments though, he decided to give her a little
help. Reaching over her put his hand over hers and did the correct wrist flip that the spell
required. She smiled gratefully and soon managed to turn her mouse into a rather nice looking
feather quill.

“Very nice, Miss Granger,” Professor McGonagall said in praise. Hermione beamed.

Class ended and everyone filled out. Most everyone had been able to learn the new spell, except
for Neville, who had somehow turned him mouse into an teacup rather than a quill.

Harry gently grabbed onto Hermione's arm once they got out in the hallway, not wanting to
let her get away without finding out what was on her mind.

“Harry, what are you doing? We'll be late to out next class if we don't hurry,” she
protested crossly. Ron had gone on ahead, deciding to let Harry discuss, whatever the problem was
alone with his girlfriend.

“Please, just let me know what is going on with you Hermione. You never lose your focus like
that in class, Ron would, and I would, but not you. What's bothering you? Is something wrong?
Did you find out something more that you're not telling me about?” he inquired, frowning in
concern. Hermione looked away, not wanting to look into his beautiful green eyes. Something was
bothering her, but she didn't want to share all the details at the moment or she was sure that
she would start crying right there in the hallway.

“Harry, I promise we can talk about this later. Just not now,” she whispered, uneasily shifting
her weight from one foot to the other as she spoke.

“I'll hold you to that you know,” Harry informed her, his expression serious. Hermione
nodded, and they took off quickly for their next class. Hermione sat down next to Neville, as Harry
slide in to the seat next to a curious Ron.

“What's bothering her mate?” Ron whispered anxiously. “Is it you know women problems or
something?” Ron's voice grew very quiet as he said the last bit.

Harry flushed beet red, looking incredibly uncomfortable, his eyes widening as though he
couldn't believe Ron had just asked something like that.

“Bloody hell, Ron! Please don't ever say anything like that again,” Harry protested, still
appearing very uneasy.

“Well, what is bothering her then?” Ron pushed. Harry glanced over at Hermione who was pulling
out her book for History of Magic.

“I don't know really. She said she'd tell me later,” Harry told him quietly, as class
had stared. Hermione glared over at the too of them, clearly annoyed with them for talking while
Professor Bines was teaching.

“While, let me know,” Ron said, risking a few more words, before setting about pretending that
he was taking notes. Harry did the same, deciding annoying Hermione wouldn't make it any easier
to get any information out of her.

***

Harry didn't see Hermione again until dinner. He noticed as she took a seat across from him
that she looked incredibly tired. There were bluish circles forming below her brown eyes which at
the moment looked sad and empty.

Harry passed Hermione a roll from the basket, noting her plate was empty, hoping that she'd
eat at least a little something. She smiled weakly and put it on her plate, though it remained
untouched.

“Hermione, you promised to tell me what was bothering you, and don't say nothing because I
am not that stupid,” Harry said.

Ron looked up from his, well-stocked and half empty, plate in interest. He looked back at forth
from Harry and Hermione as they spoke.

Hermione picked at her roll and then tore it in half.

“Oh, it's nothing to be worried about. I am worrying about N.E.W.T.s of course and obviously
about what's going on. And I'm frustrated; I mean really, what are we going to do about all
of this? I feel lost as to what to do about all this,” she told him, sounding defeated. She glanced
over at Ginny who was looked the same as she felt. Ron sister too sat with a plate of food that she
wasn't about to eat. Ron frowned sadly as he saw his sad sister.

“Hermione, since when do you give up? You didn't when we were looking to see what Voldemort
was up to before he returned, and you didn't when we had to find the Horcruxes and destroy
them. You were so brave during that time. You have to be brave again. Don't worry, it is just a
matter of time before we think of a plan,” Harry said encouragingly, though he knew Hermione's
worries were valid.

“Okay, Harry,” Hermione whispered, not sounding too convinced. She pushed her plate away after
taking a bit of bread and a sip of her pumpkin juice.

“Come on Hermione! We defeat that prat Voldemort. Lucius and his mates should be easier than
fooling Crabbe and Goyle into eating a poisoned cupcake,” Ron said brightly. Hermione didn't
look convinced.

“I'll see you later Harry, Ron, I need to do some research in the library. I am a bit behind
on things,” she told them, getting up and grabbing her book bag off the bench.

“Fine,” Harry said, slightly annoyed that she wasn't telling him the whole story about what
was bothering her. Ron reached over and took her leftover roll, munching contentedly. Harry sighed,
not feeling hungry himself anymore at the moment.

***

*“No!” she screamed as she saw Harry fall after being hit by a spell from the wand of Draco
Malfoy, who stood watching with a sick glee as his enemy fell, never to rise again.*

*“You monster!” she hissed before going over to Harry.*

*Harry lay motionless on the ground after the green flash of the Avada Kadvra faded away in
the moonless night. Hermione screamed, running towards him, though her legs felt suddenly far too
heavy, as though there were weights strapped to her ankles.*

*She knelt on the ground and gently put Harry's head in her lap. His green eyes were open
but empty, glazed over in death.* *She felt numb and empty. Tears spilled freely from her
eyes, falling with soft plops to the ground.*

*“Please, wake up, please wake up!” she pleaded futilely.*

*Then Malfoy began to approach her.*

Hermione awoke at that point the pain of the nightmare waking her. Her sheets were damp with her
cold sweat and twisted all around her. Desperately, she pulled herself free from them, as though it
would help free her from the horror of her vividly chilling dream. Now she truly understood some of
what it must have been like for Harry to have those horrible nightmares he had been plagued by.
Since overhearing Malfoy and his friends the other day, her mind had been weaving horrible dreams
that seemed all too real. A wave of horror washed over her. What if the dreams meant something? It
happened sometimes. It was not completely logically, but it happened. She'd had dreams like
this for several nights now and the emotions that they played on had begun to leave an
impacted.

She got up and swung her legs over the side of the bed and slid her feet into her slippers to
avoid walking barefoot on the cold floor. She had to see Harry, had to prove to herself that he was
fine, as foolish as she felt. Quickly she padded down the stairs to common room. Taking a deep
breath she began to climb the stairs to the boy's dormitory, thankful that the founder's of
the school had decided that girls were the trustworthy ones. Carefully, she pushed open the
partially closed door to the room Harry shared with several other boys, including Ron. She hoped
with all of her might that neither Ron, nor any of the other boys were awake. Her heart hammered
against her chest like a trapped animal in a cage. She put her hand to her chest, as though to
muffle the sound which was loud in her ears.

Slowly she made her way over to Harry's bed, trying not to fall over the various items of
clothing and other things the boys had left strewn across the floor. She paused for a moment
looking around at the five beds in the room. Luckily all the boys appeared to be sleeping soundly.
Ron was snoring quite loudly in the bed next to Harry's. The curtains around the Harry's
poster bed were only partially closed. From what she could she, he seemed to be asleep like the
rest of his dorm mates. She moved closer to his bed, still trying to move quietly. Tenderly, she
brushed strands of his dark hair from his eyes as she looked down at his peaceful face. She smiled,
never having realized before how long and thick Harry's eyelashes were. Nervously, she shook
him slightly to see if he'd wake. She'd woken him from a nightmare once; she was glad that
this time that wasn't the case. He gentle shake seemed to be enough, as his eyes flew open,
blinking up at her in surprise. His emerald eyes seemed to almost glow in the moonlight that
slanted across his face.

“Hermione,” Harry breathed. Wordlessly she climbed into bed next to him without invitation, but
he didn't say a word in protest. He moved over close to her and she slide into his inviting
arms.

“Are you okay?” he whispered into her hair, gently running his fingers through her bushy
curls.

“I'm just being silly really, it was only a nightmare. But, I needed to see you. To make
sure that you were okay,” she replied softly, a sob catching in her throat, a tear slide down her
cheek.

“Oh, Hermione,” he murmured. He took her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. Her lips
formed a smile beneath his. Hermione sighed contentedly, and rested her head on his shoulder. They
lay quietly together, and it didn't take look for her to drift off to sleep in his arms. Harry
smiled down at her sleeping face and pulled the curtain around his bed tightly shut around them,
soon drifting off to sleep himself, the person he loved most in the world held safely in his
arms.

-->



12. No Turning Back
-------------------



**Disclaimer: Canon Harry Potter does not belong to me, I only wish. This plotline of this
story that isn't canon, is mine**

**A/N: Since I definitely won't be done with this story before DH comes out, I wanted to
let you all know that I will be continuing the storyline as planned, even if the story has to be
AU. If Harry dies or the ships in canon end up being Ron/Hermione, Harry/anyone other than Hermione
(especially Harry/Ginny *winces*), I will continue as if none of this happened. Harry/Hermione
forever! That's what fan fiction is for after all, playing with the story to make it the way we
wish it was? Just wanted to make sure that was clear. My guess is that other authors on the board
will do the same, after all fan fiction is all about molding the characters and the plot in
directions you wanted it to take but it's didn't. Okay, now I'm rambling and you all
are probably really wishing that I'd just be quiet so that you could get on with reading the
new chapter, so enjoy! It's a bit longer than some of the others, which I felt you all deserved
since I took so long to update, and since I reached 100 reviews. Yea! Keep reading and
reviewing.**

**Chapter 12 -** **No Turning Back**

Hermione shifted underneath the covers, letting out a soft noise of annoyance, burying her face
in the pillow to block the sunlight that was shining through the windowpanes, as she slowly drifted
awake. As she turned over, her stomach flipped as she realized that she wasn't in her own bed.
She quickly remembered that she had come to see Harry last night after her nightmare, and wondered
what time it was. It probably would be best not to get caught in bed with Harry, despite the fact
that nothing had happened. She noted that Harry was breathing slowly and evenly, still asleep.

Slowly she rolled onto her side and opened her eyes. Anxiously she peered around, soon noticing
that it was far too late to make a stealthy get away. She and Harry had an audience. Ron, Dean,
Seamus, and Neville were all gathered around Harry's bed, exchanging looks and whispering
amongst themselves. Ron looked absolutely disturbed, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. Neville
appeared to be slightly confused about what was going on and the other two boys were sharing amused
glances, almost as though they had expected to wake-up to find her in Harry's bed at some point
during term.

Hermione felt her face burning in mortification as she pulled the blankets up over her head for
a moment to hide; not really wanting to meet the questioning faces of the boys crowded around her
boyfriend's bed. She elbowed Harry in the back hard to wake him up. He made a sort of angry
snort in protest, but was silenced when he saw his friends staring at the two of them.

“I thought I bloody closed the curtains,” he mumbled in irritation to himself, still sounding
quite groggy.

“I don't think that the founders should have trusted the girls any more than they did us
boys. It seems to me girls take advantage of it. Then again whoever though it would be Hermione
Granger to push the rules this far,” Dean commented with an amused smirk, holding back a laugh.

Seamus and Neville sniggered loudly, making no effort to hide their amusement about the whole
thing. Ron was looking rather ill by this point, clearly disturbed by the fact that he thought his
two best friends had just shagged in the boys dorm.

“It's really not what you think, you filthy minded gits!” Harry demanded, getting up out of
bed and putting on his glasses which sat on the table near his bed. “I mean look!”

He pulled the covers off Hermione to show that she was still fully clothed in her pajama top and
bottoms. Hermione's face turned a shade pinker if that was even possible. She climbed out of
Harry's bed and searched around the floor for her slippers, starting to feel less embarrassed
and rather angry at the boys were assuming the worst of her and Harry.

“Potter, don't tell us the two of you innocently shared a bed last night. You're a
teenage boy for the love of Merlin! We all figured you and Granger had shagged plenty of times
already, just didn't think you too were bold enough to do it right in the dorms. Imagine if
McGonagall saw this,” Seamus told him with a laugh. Harry's expression darkened, clearly he was
not amused.

“I tell you we didn't do anything last night, and even if we did, it's none of you
lot's business anyway. You all better not go spreading this nonsense around either. Hermione
and I could risk getting in major trouble,” Harry snapped, rumpling his out of control hair in
frustration. “Besides, you have no business to talk, Seamus. All you do is talk about how many
women you've scored with.”

“Are you sure nothing happened between you two?” Ron asked weakly, his cast still rather
greenish, looking much as he had before his first Quidditch match fifth year.

“Ronald, honestly, you should believe your best friends! Like Harry said, absolutely nothing
happened. You all just have incredibly vulgar minds and are out to cause trouble where there is
none,” Hermione snapped, her face suffused with anger.

Ron wilted slightly under Hermione's wrath. “Oh, I believe you Hermione, I swear!” Ron
replied hastily. Hermione didn't quite look convinced. She crossed her arms and shot a scathing
glance at the rest of the boys, as though she was daring them to challenge her word. They all
sifted around uncomfortably, keeping the eyes averted.

“Harry, I'm really sorry, but I have to get back to the girls dorm. I'm sure I'll
have to deal with that lot as well,” Hermione announced, turning to look at her boyfriend.

“Sure, Hermione, I'll see you later,” he mumbled.

She took off quickly for the door, her footsteps loud on the stone stars that let down to the
Gryffindor Common Room.

“So, what's it like, Harry?” Neville asked shyly, looking curious but uncomfortable.

Harry groaned. “What are we, girls all of the sudden? I told you all that nothing happened, now
can we please just drop it. And if anything did happen I would never sit around and tell you four
all about it. There really are more important things to be worrying about.” He angrily snatched his
robes up from where they were lying on the floor.

Ron nodded in agreement to Harry's sentiments, looking closer to his normal color.
“Harry's right. You all are meddling where you shouldn't, and if you don't believe
Harry, at least give him some bloody peace!”

Dean and Seamus looked slightly put out, and deciding there was no more fun to be had at
Harry's expense for the moment, headed down to breakfast shortly after. Ron looked over at
Harry appraisingly a moment, then glanced down at the bed, shrugged and mumbled something about how
they should probably hurry down to breakfast. Harry sighed in frustration and pulled on his
robes.

“Thanks, Ron,” he said, looking up at his best friend, wondering if Ron really had believed him
and Hermione. Ron rearranged his features into a weak smile and waited for Harry before taking down
to breakfast.

Hermione meanwhile, was dealing with her own set of questions and curious glances. She happened
to pass Lavender on her way up the stairs to the girl's dorms; she was greeted with a cold
glare. Gossip traveled far too quickly at Hogwarts it seemed.

Ginny was sitting on Hermione's bed waiting for her when she got back to the room. There
were several other girls that shared the dorm with Hermione hanging around that clearly must have
alerted Ginny to the fact that she hadn't been there this morning. Ron's sister seemed to
be in a much brighter mood than the last time her and Hermione had talked. The other girls in the
room seemed to waiting around to discreetly listen in. Ginny noticed and gave them a look that made
them leave quickly.

Ginny smiled at her older friend, clearly holding back a laugh, and wasted no time in grilling
her friend.

“Why didn't you tell me!?!” she demanded in a loud whisper as Hermione sat down on the bed
next to her.

“Tell you what?” Hermione asked wearily, though she was sure that she knew the answer to the
question.

“You know what Granger! You and Harry, you know, shagged last night didn't you? I figured
you would have told me that you were planning on taking that step with Harry, but I suppose if it
just happened in the moment, you really couldn't,” Ginny babbled excitedly. Hermione rolled her
eyes and held back an angry remark.

“No, no, Ginny, I swear we didn't. Why does everyone assume that's what happened? I mean
I could have fallen asleep in the library for goodness sake!”

Ginny frowned slightly, looking completely unconvinced.

Her bushy haired friend threw up her hands in frustration. “I mean really, everyone around here
has their minds completely in the gutter!” she exclaimed exasperatedly. “If only Umbridge knew how
standards have slipped.”

Ginny frowned for a moment at the thought of their horrible former teacher and then laughed.

“Oh fine, Hermione. It seems you're telling the truth, but we'll be having this talk
again at some point I think,” Ginny told her with a smug assurance, as she gathered up some of her
books from the floor stuffing them hurriedly in her bag.

“If that's what you choose to tell yourself,” Hermione sniffed, as she began bustling about
the room to get dressed and ready. She was already so far behind her usual schedule that she would
probably have to miss breakfast, not that she would mind the stares of people as she sat down next
to Harry. Hoisting her bag onto her shoulder she sighed wearily; it threatened to be a very long
day.

Harry and Hermione didn't have chance to talk about their interesting morning, until after
Herbology in the afternoon. The boys from Harry's dorm at least seemed to have had the sense
not to spread the rumor around the school, as the two of them had gotten very few glances or
whispers from other students so far.

“I'm really sorry about this mess, Harry,” Hermione told him, as the walked across the
courtyard to the library to get some homework done before their next class. “I shouldn't have
come to see you last night like that.” She nervously placed with a strange of her hair.

Harry frowned. “Hermione, don't you dare apologize. I could care less about what those gits
had to say. Really, I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have warned you that they'd
be childish idiots if you were still with me when they woke up. I hate that people are saying
something about you that isn't true.”

Hermione flushed slightly.

“Still, I hate involving you in rumors, Harry. You've been talked about enough over the
years at this place,” she said sadly. A muscle in his check flinched, but he shook his head.

“Really, it doesn't matter anymore. I'd much rather be involved in a rumor like this,
than one in which people are calling me a murder or a nutter, so just don't worry about it
anymore,” he said firmly, his jaw set in determination. She smiled and took his hand, squeezing it
affectionately.

“Harry, I'm sorry if I ever didn't understand enough in the past. People have made fun
of me before, but I've never had to deal with things the way you have,” she said sadly. Harry
smiled, and looked slightly uncomfortable.

“Yeah, well that's the past eh.” His eyes widened a moment, as a thought hit him.

“Just realized that I left my bloody Potions book behind, Hermione. I'll be right back. Go
ahead to the library without me, I'll meet you there,” he told her. She nodded and watched
Harry run across the school grounds. She sighed, wishing that she didn't have Draco's
father and his scummy Death Eater lot to deal with. The year would have been so wonderful without
it.

She was lost in thoughts about Harry, when someone stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
She blinked and looked up to see Malfoy. His usual cold sneer was in place, yet he looked oddly
amused.

“How's it going?” he said with an eerie grin.

“I'm fine thanks, much better than your father who belongs in Azkaban,” she responded,
smiling sweetly. The smile disappeared from his face, but he chose to ignore her comment for the
moment.

“So, Granger, I hear that you and Potter are quite the cute couple. Good think Potter's
blind, must need new glasses,” he scoffed. “You two deserve each I suppose, although I still
don't see why he'd go for a filthy Mudblood like yourself.”

Hermione fixed an icy glare on him. “Why does it matter to you? It's not like I stole Harry
from you or something,” she retorted. Malfoy frowned.

“What did I tell you about talking back to me you filthy little know-it-all!” he spat, his eyes
stony in anger. “Don't think I don't know that you and Potter are following. What with his
desire to save everyone, and yours to know everything, I figured you'd suspect something was up
soon enough.”

He stepped forward, suddenly drawing his wand. She took a step back as he pointed it at her
chest like a dagger, and bit her lip to keep a small cry of fright from escaping her lips. Malfoy
was likely bluffing for the most part, and she couldn't risk giving herself away, by acting
guilty of knowing more than even he might guess.

“You're not frightening me, Draco. I know that you wouldn't dare use any harmful magic
against me in the school. You wouldn't risk disappointing your father any further than you
already have. I really don't know what you're talking about. Harry and I know nothing. You
seem awfully paranoid to me, it seems as though you're up to something and just gave yourself
away,” Hermione said, keeping her expression blank and trying to sound confident, even though her
heart was beating wildly in her chest like a wild Hippogriff. Surreptitiously she slid her hand
into the pocket of her robes, and wrapped her fingers around her wand tightly.

“Oh, I wouldn't would I?” he replied scornfully, taking no notice of the fact that her wand
was now out. “I'd be a little nicer to me if I were you, Granger. You don't want to be
upsetting your enemies in times like this, and you wouldn't want a terrible accident or
something of the sort to happen to Potter, now would you? You and Potter clearly know
something.”

Hermione attempted to keep her face devoid of any emotion that would give her away.

“Times like what? I really have no clue what you're talking about, you miserable boy. If I
were you, I wouldn't be spilling information all over the place. You never did learn when to
keep your mouth shut,” she spat, her pulse throbbing in her head. She couldn't remember the
last time she'd been so angry. He jabbed his wand harder against her chest. She raised her own,
her dark eyes stony.

“I know you're lying through your teeth you little Mudblood. You can't fool me! After
all, why would Ginny suddenly act so coldly towards me lately, huh? I am sure you told her
something that you heard, and I will find out what!” he told her hotly.

A scornful smile spread across her lips. “So, that's it. You're girlfriend doesn't
want you anymore, and you needed to find someone or something to blame it on. No offense, but your
winning personality isn't enough to hold onto a girl, unless it happens to be some mindless
scum like Pansy,” she said, her voice nearly a hiss.

Malfoy let out a mirthless laugh, but looked slightly less cocky. His grey eyes narrowed.

“You've been warned; you and Potter are being watched. Enjoy your sickening romance and
happiness while you can,” Malfoy told her cryptically, lowering his wand and stepping away from
her. He sneered back at her and then took off into the school.

Hermione kept her own wand high and pointed at him, until Draco was completely out of sight. She
put a hand to her forehead, wiping away the cold sweat that had formed. She stood there in the
courtyard for a few moments, extremely shaken by her encounter with Malfoy, her mind racing.
*Harry, she had to find Harry!*

She turned around and raced towards the Gryffindors dormitories, hoping to catch Harry before he
reached the library, taking the path she expected he'd use. Extremely distraught, she bumped
into Harry, literally.

He let out a noise of pain as she contacted him solidly.

“Hermione, what's the rush? We still have plenty of time before our next class?” he
exclaimed, while putting a hand to his chest, still in pain from having the wind knocked out of
him.

Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him into the nearest broom closet. Harry smiled for a moment
and leaned down to kiss her. Gently she pushed him away.

“No, Harry, that's not why I brought you in here! Something's happened, and it's not
good,” she explained, her eyes wide. Harry looked down at her worriedly.

Before Harry could speak she quickly told him about her encounter with Malfoy.

“He didn't hurt you, right?” Harry demanded, looking her over.

“No, no, Harry. I'm fine, I swear. I am just really worried about what he's going to do
next. He knows that we've had our eye on him and his mates, so it will be even harder to find
out information. Also, he scares me. He seems extremely eager to avenge his father and to prove
himself. I am afraid that you'll be attacked, Harry,” she said, her voice growing strained with
emotion.

Harry sighed, looking very concerned about all that he had just heard. He looked down into her
eyes sadly.

“Hermione, if you feel like you'd be safer, not being involved with me, I understand.
It's why I broke up with Ginny. And it's even worse this time because I love you, and
selfishly, letting you go is the last thing I want to do,” he said quietly.

She inhaled sharply, her mouth set in a hard line as she returned his gaze. “Don't you ever
mention anything like that again, I swear Harry! I love you too, so much. Besides, no offense, but
your logic is rubbish because even without you, being Muggle born makes me a target no matter
what,” she told him assuredly, and then hugging him tightly.

“I suppose you're right, Hermione,” he said tenderly.

She smiled. “I always am,” she replied with a laugh. He grinned and kissed her. Despite the
trouble and darkness that was ahead of him, the future seemed less grim with Hermione by his
side.

-->



13. Light in Darkness
---------------------



**A/N: I apologize for taking so** **very** **long with** **writing and posting**
**a new chapter. For** **the last** **week** **or so** **I have been pretty busy
with** **reading** **the new book, and then recovering from the new book ;)** **Ah, thank
goodness for the world of fan fiction though!! H/Hr lives on!!!** **But at last I have a new
chapter finished.** **This chapter is a bit fluffy, but after DH I thought the world could use
some H/Hr love. Hope you enjoy it! Please review, it makes me ever so happy.** **(And I
apologize for errors, but I could not resist posting this after only a quick read thru, I will go
back and edit).**

**Chapter 13** **-** **Light in the Darkness**

It had been several days since the run in with Malfoy. Hermione had had to beg Harry not to go
after Malfoy in retaliation. Yes, she wouldn't have minded seeing Harry curse the heck out of
the little rat, but it just made her and Harry looking guilty of knowing more than they were
supposed to. Their Slytherin enemy's suspicions were high enough without having Harry add to
them. Harry and Hermione had only told Ron about what happened. Hermione had wisely suggested not
telling Ginny about the confrontation with Malfoy, at least yet.

The three friends feared that Ginny might not be having been able to resist taking action which
would most likely blow their cover. If Malfoy thought her cold attitude towards him of late was
suspicious, having Ginny curse him would make things even worse. Ron meanwhile, had managed to slip
of the Twins' Nosebleed Nougats into Malfoy's food and the pale Slytherin had quite the
mishap at breakfast that morning. Draco's features had appeared even more colorless than usual.
Harry, however, was uncomfortably reminded of the time he had use Sectusempra on Malfoy, but
laughed along with the rest of the Gryffindors as Malfoy ran out, flanked by his two apish friends
Crabbe and Goyle. He had to admit that Malfoy certainly had it coming, and hoped Madame Pomfrey had
enough blood replenishing potion on hand.

Later that evening, Hermione sat next to Harry on a couch in the common room reading through a
book for Ancient Runes, but was getting very little reading done. It seemed to her that no matter
how hard she concentrated her mind was too busy dwelling on other things for her to focus on
schoolwork. This was unusual for her. School work had been a comfort at times, now it seemed
strangely pointless.

Ron sat off to the side in a large chair, also studying. At the moment, however, he was angrily
trying to get Crookshanks to leave him alone. Hermione's bushy ginger cat had found it amusing
to bat his paw at Ron's face and had left a scratch or two on the red head's freckled
checks. Desperately, Ron batted the cats paw away. Harry chuckled a little more loudly than he had
intended to and was rewarded with a sour look from Ron. Hermione didn't look up at all, her
face set in a firm mask of concentration. Her boyfriends smile twisted into a worried frown. He was
betting that things that Draco had said the other day were still weighing heavily on her mind.

“Bloody cat!” Ron exclaimed rather loudly. He managed to startle a group of whispering second
year girls huddled at a table in the corner. Hermione finally glanced up, but her expression
remained solemn though Harry thought he saw the corner of her mouth twitch as though she had been
tempted to smile.

“Crookshanks get over here!” she reprimanded her feline friend sternly. He meowed in annoyance,
but hopped off the chair and slunk over towards her.

“I swear that cat's possessed,” Ron complained, looking relieved to be rid of his feline
bully.

“Oh, you're being a baby. I think you could have taken him,” Hermione responded
irritably.

“Did you see my face though?” he asked crossly, pointing to the small scratch Crookshanks had
given him. Harry rolled his eyes at the same time as Hermione.

“She's right you know, you are a baby,” Harry informed him, smoothing out the roll of
parchment his was writing his essay on.

Ron frowned and turned back to his work, mumbling unintelligibly, although Harry was certain he
hear several some choice words for Crookshanks. He looked over at his girlfriend, who appeared to
be deep in thought once again, though she seemed to be staring at the pages of her book rather than
actually reading it. His stomach twisted slightly in guilt. Was she still concerned about what had
happened with Malfoy, or was she upset by the fact that he had tried to break up with her?

“Hermione, could you help me with this essay for moment?” he said trying to get her attention
focused on something other than the thoughts running through her head.

She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice in her ear. Collecting herself, she attempted to
smile, her mouth refused to obey though. Slowly she held out her hand, “Of course, Harry. Let me
see what you have so far.”

She blinked in surprise to see that the whole thing was nearly done. Ron and Harry usually came
to her for help expecting her to write nearly the whole essay for them, especially Ron. Harry
leaned closer to her as she read through his essay.

“Are you getting enough sleep? Not still having bad dreams are you?” he whispered, his lips
lightly brushing against her ear as he spoke. Hermione reached down and gently squeezed his
hand.

Ron looked up, made a slightly grossed out face, and returned to his homework, hoping that his
two best friends weren't feeling like having a nice snog.

“No, I just have a lot on my mind. N.E.W.T.s are getting closer, and I taking a really full
class load. I'll be fine. I promise,” she replied in a hushed voice. Harry frowned slightly,
unsatisfied with her answer, but nodded.

“Your essay looks fine by the way, but I'd try to write so sort of conclusion to tie things
up,” she said in a normal voice. She handed him back the roll of parchment.

“Thanks,” he said, turning his attention to scribbling down a short conclusion, deciding to wait
until they were alone to press her further. The three friends worked for about an hour in silence
before Ron stretched and yawned rather loudly. The common room had emptied out; the lone person
left was Neville, who sitting in the corner hunched over what seemed to be a Potions book. Harry
made a mental not to ask Hermione to help out Neville at some point before N.E.W.T.s.

“You come up Harry?” Ron asked sleepily, as he stood up and gathered his stuff up. Harry shook
his head.

“Yeah, but go on ahead without me,” Harry replied, glancing over at Hermione. Ron shrugged and
headed up, stopping for moment to chat with Neville, who informed him that he was heading up also
having given up on Potions for the night.

Finally it was just Harry and Hermione.

Harry reached over and gentled pulled the book in Hermione's lap away which effectively got
him to look up him.

“Harry, you really can go up to bed. I told you, I am just getting stressed out over getting all
this work and studying done,” she told him when she saw the expression on his face as he looked at
her.

She hastily snatched her book back. Harry leaned in and heartily kissed her lips as she did. He
hadn't really noticed until that moment just how pretty she looked when she was annoyed, and he
couldn't resist the urge to kiss her at that moment. He had expected her to push him away in
annoyance, but to his surprise she eagerly returned the kiss. After a few minutes the two
breathlessly pulled apart.

Hermione smiled at Harry, her cheeks stained slightly pink. Harry grinned back, looking a little
confused but happy.

“Thanks, Hermione,” he said unabashedly.

“No, I should be thanking you Harry. I am really glad we're together you know. Now matter
what happens we always help each other through the worst. You always know what to do to make things
seem better,” she replied, her eyes darkening with emotion.

Harry's face flushed slightly. “I can see now why you've really always been the one,
Hermione.” He tenderly kissed her on the forehead. Hermione felt her eyes fill with tears as she
leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Now, you'd better be getting to bed,” he admonished her, gathering up some of her books
which were scattered all around her.

“Yeah, I suppose,” she said reluctantly, a yawn escaping as she spoke.

“Tomorrows the weekend you know. You'll have plenty of time to work yourself like crazy and
have no fun,” Harry told her in a joking tone. She rolled her eyes and pretended to look annoyed.
Harry smiled at her again in a way that made her blush.

“What?” she asked nervously as she grabbed a book from the floor.

“Hermione, I was just realizing that we've never even had a proper date, and it's a
Hogsmeade weekend. Do you think you'd be able to take a little break from studying?” he asked,
looking adorably nervous as he spoke. Hermione tried not to giggle as she watched him shift
nervously on the couch next to her. Putting him out of his misery she threw her arms around his
neck, squeezing him tightly.

“Is that a yes?” he asked with a laugh.

“Of course!” she said, sounding a lot like she did when answering a question in class that she
felt everyone should have known.

“Love you,” he whispered, getting up from the couch and planting a kiss on her cheek.

“I'll see you tomorrow in the common room before breakfast.” Hermione nodded, smiling in a
rather Luna-like dreamy manner at Harry as he walked up the stairs to the boys' dorms. She
squealed softly to herself in excitement and then ran upstairs to her own room to get some sleep
herself. She had been feeling emotionally exhausted by everything that had been going on lately,
but for once she felt that she going to get a good night's sleep. Besides the sooner she fell
asleep the sooner the wonderful weekend would come.

***

Hermione awoke the next morning ready for the day to begin. Lavender looked on rather sourly as
Hermione bustled cheerfully around getting ready and left rather early for breakfast, whispering
heatedly to Pavarti as they headed down to breakfast together. Hermione chose to ignore, relishing
a little in their jealousy.

Since they weren't required to wear their robes to Hogsmeade, but it made getting ready a
little harder than usual. After consulting Ginny, she decided on a jeans and a pretty red jumper.
It was still cold, as spring had not yet arrived, so she grabbed her scarf and coat. Her hair was
being a little less uncontrollable than usual today and for that she was thankful. She managed to
tie part of it up and smooth most of the frizz.

She quickly headed down to the common room, where Ron and Harry were already there waiting for
her. The scene that greeted her was rather amusing. She said nothing, as their conversation was too
amusing to interrupt just yet.

Ron seemed to be consulting Harry on his appearance.

“You know, you really should've worn something with some green in it mate, would've done
wonders you know, brought out your eyes and all that rubbish,” Ron informed, as scrutinized his
best friends appearance. Harry frowned and futilely attempted to flatten bits of his unruly black
hair. Hermione quite approved of the dark gray shirt he was wearing.

“What do you know about dating girls Ron? All you and Lavender ever did was snog,” Harry told
him, his nerves making him rather irritable.

“I dated one or two other girls after her you know,” Ron retorted, his ears turning a bit pink.
Harry looked suddenly uncomfortable, remembering that Ron and Hermione had been together for a
time. He hated the thought that she hadn't always been with him.

“Well, besides lacking a bloody shirt that brings out my stunning green eyes down I look a mess
or not?” Harry asked quickly bringing some levity back to the conversation.

“You don't look too awful, I guess,” Ron said with a shrug. Hermione cleared her throat,
catching the attention of both of them. Harry looked up at her and smiled brightly, his mouth
hanging open a little. She felt herself blush a little.

“You two ladies ready for breakfast,” she said, a giggle escaping as she spoke. Ron and Harry
both looked slightly mortified that they had been overheard.

“You just don't understand blokes Hermione,” Ron told her defensively. She rolled her
eyes.

“And you understand females so well Ronald,” she replied coolly. She intertwined her fingers in
Harry's as they stepped out of the portrait hole.

The Great Hall was bustling as everyone was eager to head out to Hogsmeade. It seemed that quiet
a few students were running low on the Weasley twins' wares and candy from Honeydukes.

Harry and Hermione were both rather nervous and so didn't eat much, and Ron willing ate
enough to make up for the both of them.

“It will be great to get away from school for a while,” he said through a mouthful of eggs, “I
feel like all I've done is study and write essays for ever single professor in the school.”

Harry smiled as he watched an expression of displeasure creep across Hermione's features. No
matter how much it stressed her out, it wasn't capable to convince her that schoolwork
wasn't enjoyable. She bit her lip, clearly holding back on whatever retort to Ron's comment
had popped into her head. Saying nothing though wasn't possible.

“That work is important you know. The professors assign for a good reason. After all, you
don't want to get all Trolls on your N.E.W.T.s do you?” she said matter-of-factly, a toned down
version of what she had been tempted to say.

Ron just shrugged and shoved some more food into his mouth. Finally the three finished eating
and headed over to wait with the rest of the crowd that was gathering to head out to Hogsmeade.
After about ten minutes, they all set off for town.

Harry and Hermione split away from Ron, promising to rejoin him latter at his brother's
shop. They watched him walked off with Neville and Luna. The couple was left nervously standing
together.

“So, um, where you like to go? I know Madame Puddlefoot's is kind of popular, though I
can't see why,” Harry said, while nervously fiddling with the fringe on his scarf. Hermione
laughed, remembering his car wreck of date with Cho. She smiled remembering that Cho had been
angered because Harry had talked about her too much.

“No, actually I was thinking the Three Broomsticks would be good,” she replied.

“Really?” he said, looking rather relieved. “It's not very romantic, and a bit noisy. Are
you sure?” He looked at her, cheeks red from the cold and wondered why he had ever bothered to deal
with girls like Cho in the first place.

Hermione grabbed his gloved hand in her own and began to head towards place. “I'm sure
Harry.” He grinned and squeezed her hand.

They walked in and were pleasantly surprised to see that the place was a little less crowded
than usual. Pushing through the room they managed to find a cozy booth way in the back for two.
Harry rushed off to buy them butterbeers and returned with them and a pretty white lily. Hermione
gasped appreciatively.

“Harry, where did you get this?” she asked, as she sniffed the perfect flower.

“Oh, I was carrying it in my coat. I had to do a bit of a repairing charm on it, but it
doesn't look too bad considering,” he told her, as he slid back in the booth. She kissed him
warmly on the cheek and cuddled up against him.

“'Who said this place isn't romantic?” she laughed.

It turned it was. They spent several hours talking and laughing without really noticing anyone
else in the place. Reluctantly they decided it was time to go meet Ron as they had promised before
they had to head back to school.

As they neared the Weasley Twins' shop, Harry pulled her into an alley and kissed her
warmly. Hermione snuck her arms inside his open coat, sliding her arms around his waist. There
kiss, however, was interrupted far too soon.

“Oi! Get a room you too!” they heard the familiar voice of their redheaded best friend yell.
Apparently he had been rather late arriving himself. They cozy couple begrudgingly pulled
apart.

“Great timing as always Weasley,” Harry said grumpily as he and Hermione joined Ron who was
still accompanied by Neville and Luna.

“Hi, guys!” Hermione said warmly to their two friends and former DA members. Luna blinked
dreamily and Neville smiled awkwardly, the same as ever.

“I really need some Nosebleed Nougats,” Ron announced dramatically. “I don't think I can
make it all the way through another one of Snape's classes.”

“You know that will never work with Professor Snape,” Hermione snapped matter-of-factly,
brushing an errant frizzy curl behind her ear.

Harry smiled at his arguing best friends, a warm feeling filling him. Despite the bad things
that had been going on lately, some things about this year had been brilliant. Being with Hermione
and old friends was like something out of a wonderful dream.

-->



14. Note to the Readers
-----------------------



**Author's Note!**

I just wanted to post this to let my readers know that I have not abandoned this story. I really
want to continue this story. Of all the things I have written and posted this is the one that I am
most satisfied with. I felt that it wouldn't do it just to write a rushed chapter here and
there just for the sake of having something to post. I have really been considering where I want
the plotline to go, and I intend to have 10+ chapters if possible to add to this story before I
wrap it up. I hope to have a new chapter for you all within the week. Thanks for all your reviews
and for reading the story so far, I hope you all stay along for the rest. Thanks!

~Memoryspell48

-->



15. Slytherin Secrets
---------------------



**Author's Note: Here's a late Christmas present for you all! A new chapter at last! It
was has been far too long since I updated this story, and I apologize. I had a bit of a
writer's block, and then I just didn't have time to write and least write anything that I
felt would good enough to post. I hope you all enjoy the new chapter, and I plan on having the next
chapter up far sooner.**

**Read, review, and enjoy!**

**Disclaimer: Canon Harry Potter and all canon characters belong to JKR! I am certainly not
JKR, so the Harry Potter series is not mine, I only wish.**

**Chapter 14 - Slytherin Secrets**

People were slowly trickling into the badly lit Potions room for their class. Meanwhile, Harry,
Ron, and Hermione were rushing down the hallway together to the dungeons were the classroom was,
running behind because Ron had woken up late and then insisted on having one more helping of eggs
and bacon at breakfast before the food was cleared away.

“If we're late, I will tell Professor Snape that it's because of your gluttonous eating
habits!” Hermione said in irritation, her checks flushed from exertion and her eyes flashing.

Ron pretended to ignore her though he immediately looked very cross. Harry offered to take some
of Hermione's books, which he was sure were slowing her down. She always seemed to being toting
around twice as many as he or Ron was.

“Do you have to have the school library's entire collection of books with you at all times?”
asked Ron scornfully as he watched Hermione hand several books to her boyfriend.

“As a matter of fact, this isn't even close to how many books I own, or how many books are
housed in the school's library. Clearly you have forgotten how to count. Besides, unlike you
Ronald, I find that is useful to actually bring the books the book to class that professors ask us
to.”

Ron opened his mouth as if to say something in reply, but thought the better of it and simply
sulked for a few minutes.

The three friends entered the room, quite out of breath, but looked around in surprise to see
that the annoyingly punctual Professor Snape was nowhere to be seen. They exchanged joyful glances,
hardly believing their luck.

Harry took a seat next to Hermione across the aisle from where Ron plopped his things down. The
two boys exchanged confused glances.

“Oi, Seamus, where's our git of a Potions master??” Ron asked as he plopped down in the seat
next to him.

“Don't know,” Seamus said with a shrug, “Then again, I really don't care if he never
shows up. Where's Neville? Maybe Snape cornered him in the hallway and is yelling at him for
something even before class.”

“I'm right behind you actually,” Neville piped up, sounding rather indignant but looking a
little concerned about the prospect that he would probably get yelled at by Snape at some point
that day anyway.

“Well, maybe he decided to finally take a bath, and he's having trouble figuring out how a
faucet works,” Ron joked causing a ripple of laughter among the students in hearing distance from
him.

Hermione set about getting out her books and some parchment, but looked up in curiosity when she
noted that Harry's laugh wasn't among the group of people chuckling at Ron's joke. His
mind clearly seemed to be elsewhere. Lightly she placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Harry, is something the matter? You look a bit funny. Not worried about Snape are you?” she
asked in a concern, her mouth twisting into a smile as she asked the last bit.

“Hey, did you notice that Malfoy's not here either?” he whispered urgently, ignoring her
questions and joke.

Hermione glanced around the room. Draco was nowhere to be seen, though his thugs of best friends
were in their usually seats. She frowned slightly knowing where Harry's mind had run off to
with this piece of information.

“I know we have a reason to be suspicious of Malfoy, but I'm sure he's just running a
bit late or something,” she told him quickly.

“Hermione, he's never late to Snape's class. He wouldn't dare jeopardize his status
as professor's pet,” he argued. Harry abruptly grabbed his bag and got up. He slid the shoulder
strap firmly onto his shoulder, quickly making his way towards the exit of the classroom before she
could object.

“Watch my books, Ron!” she told her friend forcefully before racing out of the room after
Harry.

No one had been paying attention to Harry and Hermione's conversation. Several people
exchanged amused glances, making their own guess as to why the couple ran off together.

“Getting to be like rabbits those two, off to have a quick snog while the Professor's away,
I supposed,” commented Pansy maliciously, making a little noise of disgust and then directing her
taunting gaze at Ron who frowned darkly.

“Hermione wouldn't miss class for something like that,” was the best retort he could manage
as his ears turned red in anger.

“Harry must be good,” Seamus commented. Ron turned and looked for a moment as though he was
going to punch Seamus in the jaw.

“So, you've snogged Harry too then?” grumbled Ron, his expression dark. Seamus looked
amusingly horrified, giving Ron a bit of satisfaction while he wondered where his friends truly had
gone off to. Wherever they'd gone, he hoped they stopped Snape from coming to class today.

“Harry, where are you even going?” Hermione called after Harry.

She ran after, and desperately grabbed onto his arm, trying to halt his rapid stride. Harry
tried to shake off her grip.

“Hermione, let me go!” he demanded in irritation. She frowned and just held on more firmly.

“No, Harry. You can not just go rushing off in who knows what kind of trouble. Remember the mess
you got yourself into when you obsessively followed Malfoy around 6th yea. You can't
get caught,” she warned him, her dark eyes pleading.

She felt a flood of relief as she felt him relax and stop resisting her hold on him.

“You're right, I guess. I still think we should find out where he is, and more importantly
were Snape is,” he told her.

“Maybe I'm right? When are you going to learn that I'm always right, Harry?” she teased
him. He shook his head.

“Fine, you're always right. But what are we going to do?”

Hermione sighed, realizing that Harry might be right to be suspicious about Snape and
Malfoy.

“I guess it wouldn't hurt to look for them, but we're going to be careful. We're not
going to rush into any danger. I've had my fill for a lifetime, thank you,” she replied.

Harry rolled his eyes, but didn't offer any resistance to her plan. He opened his bag and
pulled out his father's invisibility cloak, used often during his years at Hogwarts. Throwing
it around himself and Hermione they slowly walked down the corridor together. Hermione whispered a
silencing spell to mask the noise of their loud shoes pounding against the stone floor.

She suddenly paused and gripped Harry's arm tightly and put a hand over her own mouth to
suppress her exclamation of surprise. She'd heard was seemed to Snape and Draco Malfoy's
voices echoing slightly in the stone hallway. The sound of them talking seemed to be coming from
the closet-like room were Snape stored all his Potions ingredients.

Carefully she and Harry crept closer to the room. “Listen!” she whispered to Harry.

“I told you to give up this foolish plan,” Snape was saying in harsh whisper.

“Professor, need to finish up what my father wants me to do or I'll never prove myself in
his eyes,” Draco replied, sounding desperate and very determined. “Besides, don't tell me you
wouldn't like to see Potter dead, despite your loyalties.”

Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance of surprise and confusion. Wasn't Snape loyal to the
Death Eaters?

Snape laughed mirthlessly.

“What do you know of my loyalties? I don't know what lies your father has been feeding you,
but you'd be wise not bring up this subject to me again if you're trying to enlist my
help,” Snape snarled.

“I see now that it was pointless to come to you for help sir. It doesn't matter though. I
can handle this all on my own,” Malfoy sniffed indignantly, clearly not appreciating that way Snape
was talking to him.

Snape muttered an oath under his breath.

“Getting moving, Draco, Potions was supposed to begin 15 minutes ago. You've held me up with
this foolhardy plan of yours long enough,” Snape announced coldly.

Harry and Hermione had to quickly press up against a walls as an angry Draco nearly collided
with them on his way out.

Hermione's eyes widened.

“Harry! We have to hurry; Snape will be on his way to Potions an moment. How will we explain not
being there to him?”

“Don't worry,” Harry replied calmly. He grabbed her arm and ran down the hall with her,
nearly catching up with Malfoy. Snape unfortunately was hot on there heels.

The couple though made it to the door of classroom well ahead of him, but Hermione gasped.
“He'll notice we're out of breath, Harry!”

Harry grinned mischievously. “Then we'll just have to provide a reason for being out of
breath than won't we?”

Hermione looked at him quizzically as she tried to catch her breath. Harry whipped the cloak off
of them and shoved it in his bag. Then without warning he grabbed her in his arms and planted a
firm kiss on her mouth. She smiled beneath his kiss, understanding his plan. For a moment she
thought to protest, but really didn't want to and kissed him back quite enthusiastically.

Not a moment later Snape came around the corner. Seeing two of his least favorite students
involved in some rather passionate kissing.

Halting his stride, he stopped right by them, clearing his throat loudly.

They pretended not to notice. Snape sighed in annoyance and rolled his eyes. When the two
continued to ignore to him, Snape proceeded to grab Harry by the back of his robe and pull him away
from Hermione.

She stifled a laugh when she saw the look on Snape's face, while Harry did his best to look
convincingly indignant about being caught.

“I see you two decided that having an inappropriate public display of affection in the hallway
was far more important than my Potions class,” Snape began.

“But you were late, and I personally was getting a little tired of waiting around for you,”
Harry interrupted.

“Potter, you'll be losing enough House Points as it stands. I would suggest keeping your
smart mouth closed if I were you. I know that you don't care at all about Potions, but Miss
Granger, I expected better from you. I always thought you had some skill in Potions, and that
school work came first for you. It's seems I may have been mistaken. You always act like such a
know-it-all that I would expect you to know better than to date Potter and forget about classes,”
Snape lectured them solemnly.

Hermione turned red, more from anger than embarrassment. She knew she had a talent for Potions,
and that she cared very much about the class, despite Professor Snape's harsh comments.

“You're wrong sir. Perhaps you're the insufferable know-it-all,” she said in anger,
wishing very much that she hadn't said anything as soon as the words left her mouth. Talking
back to a teacher was highly uncharacteristic for Hermione Granger.

She turned crimson, and glanced over at Harry. He was grinning quite cheekily at her and then at
Snape.

He was feeling pretty proud of his girlfriend for standing up to Snape.

Snape looked rather surprised himself.

“Well, you two have further delayed the start of class long enough. I want to see both of you
after class though,” Snape snapped at them, and then gestured for them to follow him into the
classroom.

Harry and Hermione took their seats again, trying to ignore their classmates' inquisitive
stares.

“Where'd you two go off to?” Ron asked them as they opened their books, but a glare from
Snape in his direction silenced him and kept Harry and Hermione from having to answer his
question.

“Where were you Professor?” Seamus asked boldly as Professor Snape took his place at the front
of the room. Snape shifted his cold gaze to him.

“It's really none of your business, but I think that you would all be interested to know
that I was further delayed by two of your classmates who felt that my absence would be a good
excuse to steal off for a romantic moment,” Snape replied, sneering at Harry and Hermione.

The couple flushed red in unison.

Lavender turned and smirked at Ron, looking pleased with herself for having guessed correctly,
or so she thought, about Harry and Hermione's absence.

“Looks like I won my bet,” she whispered loudly.

Ron avoided her look, and looked rather like he was going to be ill as the rest of the room
burst into laughter.

“Now that we have had out laughter for the day it's time to actual have a productive class,”
Snape announced interrupting the laughter. “Turn to page 382 in your books.”

Harry felt like Snape was going to go on lecturing forever, though at least today he didn't
have to make a potion for Snape to criticize. Hermione tried to focus her thoughts on the lecture,
but she really wanted to talk to Harry about the conversation they'd overheard and wanted to
get talking to Snape after class over with.

Finally the class ended, and everyone filed out leaving Harry and Hermione behind. They slowly
approached his desk. He looked up at them impassively.

“I hope you both enjoyed today's class. As for your punishment I decided to take 50 points
each away from Gryffindor, and I would like for both of you to write me a nice long essay on the
effects of a love potion gone bad,” he told them, his expression about as happy as really ever
got.

They said nothing and glumly left the room.

“That wasn't as bad as it could have been,” Hermione said brightly.

“Speak for yourself Hermione, you love writing essays,” Harry grumbled.

“Hey, guys!” Ron greeted them; he'd waited for them outside the classroom. “Way to take off
and snog.”

Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes.

“There's more to it, Ron!” Hermione told him in irritated tone.

“Yeah, we went to go see exactly what was holding up our favorite professor,” Harry
explained.

“The kissing was a cover-up because he almost caught up with us on the way back, and we were out
of breath after running to get here before him,” Hermione added.

“Oh,” Ron said looking quite relieved. “So, did you guys find anything out?”

“Yes and no. We're not really sure how to interpret what we overheard. Malfoy, as we always
suspected does have some horrible plan, and it involves doing something to get revenge on Harry,
which figured too, but it seems he wanted to get Professor Snape involved, but strangely it seems
like he's not interested in helping the little weasel,” Hermione told him.

“Yeah, it seems like that git Snape would go along with any that involves causing Harry harm,”
Ron said.

“So, we don't really know much more than we did before. And Snape became more confusing than
ever,” Harry said.

“Well, let's all think about and keep our eyes open. There's really nothing more we can
do at the moment,” Hermione sighed.

“I'm glad you two didn't disappear just to snog in the hall, I thought I wasn't
going to be able to eat any lunch because I was a bit grossed out, but my appetite is back,” Ron
commented happily.

Harry and Hermione laughed.

-->



16. Author's Note/Soon to be Ch 16
----------------------------------

A Note to My Readers: *Immutable Feelings*

Hi,

No, this is not bad news, but rather goodness for anyone who was following this story. I know
that it had been a ridiculously long time before I updated this story, but I have absolutely no
intention of abandoning it. My long absence was due to a combination of factors (life, writer’s
block, etc.) but I’m back!

I feel that the best of my stories (or at least it’s my personal favorite, and full intend to
complete it. Therefore I making a promise that I will have a new chapter up for you guys at last
and at some point this week!

Cheers!

~Memoryspell48



17. Breaking Points
-------------------

**A/N: So, here it is! A new chapter at last, it only took me a couple of years… But I really
don’t plan on letting such a long time go by again before updating. This chapter doesn’t offer much
plot progression but I wrote to get back into the story and the characters, so I hope it’s
enjoyable nonetheless. And I must warn you guys of a few things. First of all I wrote this before
DH came out, so I really didn’t know the final verdict on Snape or many things for that matter! But
even after he killed Dumbledore in HBP, I still thought that there was some reason for Dumbledore’s
trust in him, and as we found out there was, but I didn’t know any of this when I mapped out the
story, so I’m still deciding how to mix in canon with my story. Don’t worry there won’t be any
camping trips involved, hehe ;)**

**And forgive me for any typos (I read this over many, many times but that doesn’t guarantee I
caught everything!). I have no beta (and have found a search for one fruitless), so please don’t
tell me over and over in the reviews that I need one if there are errors! Thanks all!**

**Well, here we go!**

**Disclaimer: Canon plot and all characters property of J.K. Rowling, I make no claim to any of
them. All hers!**

**Chapter 15 – Breaking Points**

Hermione, Harry, and Ron sat at a table in the Gryffindor common room taking advantage of one of
their free periods before their next class to catch up on the massive loads of work they were being
assigned in addition to having to worry about N.E.W.T.s Hermione was fairly undaunted by the
prospect of so much work, but her two best friends were not quite so pleased their extra studying
and effort that was being required of them, particularly Ron whose mind was far more occupied with
Quidditch.

At the moment said redhead was more engrossed in the candy he was snacking quite noisily on,
some of his left over treats from their last trip to Honeydukes. He moaned and cursed loudly as a
couple of his Fizzing Whizbees fell to the floor, scaring an especially small First Year who had
been hurrying past them at that moment. Hermione shot a look of exasperation over at him.

“Oy, what’s your problem today, Hermione?” he protested as he looked up and noticed her cross
expression.

“My problem, hmmm well, perhaps it would be the fact that you’re chewing more loudly that a pack
of mountain trolls having supper while some of us are trying to study things other than how much
candy we can consume without becoming severely ill,” she snapped at him, coming off a bit more
nastily than she had intended. She was quite worried about what Draco was up to and about Harry as
well, he didn’t seem to be handling the situation well lately and his mood was being to grate on
her already frazzled nerves. She was certain that Snape not seeming to be involved had thrown him
for a bit of a loop. The result was that she was very short-tempered.

Ron looked sufficiently cowed by her words and hastily grabbed a textbook out of his bag and
attempted to look engrossed in it. He made a show of dramatically scribbling on a piece of
parchment, as if furiously at work on an essay, though none too convincingly considering the fact
that the book he was meant to be get information from was upside down and on a page with more
pictures than text. When Hermione finally looked away and went back to her own studies, he dropped
his quill and leaned across the table, trying to get his best mate’s attention.

“Harry!” he called in a loud whisper but he didn’t respond to Ron. Frowning Ron grabbed a piece
of his candy and threw and Harry who it hit squarely in the forehead just a couple inches from his
infamous lightening scar. Harry finally looked up and glared at his friend who smiled
sheepishly.

“I think Hermione got her monthly gift or something if you know what I mean, Harry. I just
thought I should warn you, watch out mate! She’s acting fairly mental today even for her that
is.”

Hermione slammed the book she had been looking through to find research for a History of Magic
paper shut. Being particularly old it let out a cloud of dust along with a loud thump. Ron jumped
and nearly fell out of his chair in addition to choking on some of the dust.

“Ronald, I heard that. Believe it or not, you weren’t being quite as stealthy as you thought you
were. I think that you should have just perhaps passed a note to Harry instead of your failed
attempt at whispering and your candy assault on him.”

Ron glared and Hermione out of the corner of his eyes but pretended not to hear her and kicked
Harry’s shin under the table, trying to get back his full attention.

Harry looked up from his Potions book and grimaced at Ron and rubbed his now bruised shin. He
was still trying to make the essay Snape had set as a punishment just a little bit longer and the
last thing he wanted to deal with was a bickering match between Ron and Hermione and he didn’t
especially wanted to think about some particularly intimate details about his girlfriend this very
minute. He was barely able to focus on school work as it was these days.

“Sod off Ron,” Harry mumbled in irritation.

“Bloody hell, you’re both in a mood aren’t you? In fact I think Snape’s company would be even
more pleasant than being around the two of you.”

“Why don’t you go down to the dungeons and bond with him then?” Hermione retorted, her brown
eyes flashing. She looked over at Ron’s progress on the homework he was supposedly working on and
frowned in disapproval. “How is that I have two essays for Professor Snape finished and you haven’t
even started one of yours, hmm?”

She looked over at Harry and Ron’s lack of motivation immediately slipped her mind. Her
expression went from one of frustration to concern. Harry wasn’t working on anything resembling
school work either now, but she knew that far bigger problems were weighing down on his mind than
Ron’s and distracting him.

“Harry, are you okay?” she whispered, gently laying her hand on his arm.

“Yeah, fine, completely fine. I’m just trying to get this essay done for Snape,” he replied a
little brusquely, jerking his arm away from her touch.

Hermione pulled her hand back hastily, looking quite hurt.

“Sorry, I asked,” she snapped, her wounded feelings turning into annoyance. She went back to the
essay she had been working on but wrote so hard that her quill was destroying the piece of
parchment.

Harry felt immediately remorseful when he looked up and saw how much he had upset her. None of
his problems were Hermione’s fault after all; he just had the tendency, even now, to want to push
away those close to him when things weren’t going well in his life. He was just so frustrated with
everything lately.

“I’m sorry, Hermione. I’m just overtired or something I guess,” he said apologetically, though
he knew it sounded.

Her expression softened slightly, but her feelings were still slightly bruised. This hadn’t been
the first time that Harry had acted like this in the last several days, not just towards her but to
everyone. She knew that he wanted to get everything sorted out with the Malfoy issue but couldn’t
understand what was with him lately. It wasn’t as if it was a new development.

“It’s fine, Harry, really,” she replied, not meeting his eyes as she knew her own would betray
the fact that it was not alright.

He didn’t seem to notice this and went back to his essay. Hermione sighed and stared out the
window for a moment and frowned. Even with Voldemort gone, it didn’t change the fact that Harry was
still Harry and right now his was displaying signs of vintage Harry angst and his short temper.
Maybe Ron had stood for and Ginny had put up with it, but Hermione Granger wouldn’t, especially now
that she was Harry’s girlfriend.

“Well, I think I’m going to go to the library for a while and get some more serious studying
done. I need a couple more books for my Ancient Runes essay anyway. I only have 20 or so sources
I’ve used. I think I could find more,” she told Harry and Ron, getting up from her chair and
stretching out her stiff back before bending down and picking up her book bag. She tossed several
heavy looking tomes in it before taking of out of the portrait hole without another word to either
of the boys.

Quite a few other students were in the room, and after Hermione’s disappearance several of the
girls began some very lively whispering to each other. Harry tried to ignore them.

Ron frowned, looking quite puzzled about her sudden disappearance.

“See I told you something was off with her today, completely mental,” he told Harry shaking his
head in bewilderment. For Ron women were a never ending mystery.

“No, no I’ve upset her, I should really go talk to her,” Harry said, staring down at one of the
books open in front of him, the text blurring into a mass of nonsense before his eyes, refusing to
focus on the task.

“I don’t think that’s a good plan; remember those canaries she set on me when she was jealous of
me and Lavender? She’s probably moved onto bigger birds now, I’d just let her settle down or
something. She can have a right nasty temper,” he advised, taking a large bite of a licorice wand
and then proceeding to wave it around for emphasis as he spoke.

“Thanks for the warning mate, but I really do need to sort things out with her. And uh, I hope
she saved the canaries just for you and doesn’t use them on anyone else. Besides I don’t think I
should really be following your advice when it comes to Hermione. You two didn’t stay together for
all that long.”

Ron frowned and stared down at his Potions book.

Harry jumped to his feet and grabbed his bag, throwing the books nearest to him in and taking
off, hoping to be able to catch up with Hermione.

Despite the fact that he had taken off after barely two minutes after she had left, Harry wasn’t
able to catch up with her until half way to the library. Knowing Hermione she probably knew some
secret shortcut that she’d read about in *Hogwarts a History* which she’d read to death.

Rather than looking pleased that he had followed her she looked more annoyed with him than when
he’d left, and almost sad too.

“Come on, Hermione. Talk to me, what’s wrong? I may be love dense, but I clearly said or did
something to upset you, I know it!” he said gently grabbing her by the shoulders and making her
look at him when she turned to keep walking instead of stopping to listen to him.

“Harry, really, can we talk about this later? I told you I’m busy,” she told him evasively,
refusing to meet his gaze.

“No, we can’t. Come on Hermione!”

She finally met his eyes, after chewing on her lip for a couple moments while she mulled over
things she finally replied, “No, I really was serious when I said that have some work to get done.
I’ll talk to you after classes are over, after dinner. I promise.”

“Fine, that’s fine,” he replied with a sigh, starting to feel as irritated with her as he sensed
she was with him.

*Girls…*

Harry didn’t see Hermione again until dinner, at least not directly because she avoided him in
the rest of their classes, even going so far as sitting next to Neville in Potions. This choice
backfired on her quite badly though when Neville’s failed potion began making a stink so bad that
it nearly caused everyone sitting nearby to pass out before Hermione recovered and
*Scourgified* his cauldron.

Harry did not have such a successful class either, as he messed up any easy potion that they had
learned back in their third year and were making to review for N.E.W.T.s. because his mind was so
occupied with Hermione and his other worries. Professor Snape had looked inordinately pleased; in
fact he’d managed a rather satisfied smirk, as he looked over into Harry’s cauldron, having been
rather unsatisfied with Harry’s significantly improved working in Potions so far this semester.

Hermione arrived at dinner somewhat late that night, with a rather downtrodden look on her face,
and she took a seat across from Ron instead of Harry. Further down Lavender and another girl
giggled and began whispering across the table, but loud enough for Hermione to know it was about
her and Harry.

She pushed the food around on her plate, not really caring much to eat now. Clearly word about
her little disagreement with Harry had gotten around the school. She’d seen how all the single
girls had suddenly begun to get bolder around Harry than they’d been since word was first out that
Hermione and Harry were dating. Apparently the gossip had morphed the real story into them having a
bitter breakup rather than a small row.

“So, do you think you’re going to get back with Harry now? I always thought you guys were just
the cutest couple,” Lavender boldly asked Ginny who was sitting just a seat over from Hermione.
Lavender feigned embarrassment when she saw Hermione look up, even though she had been
intentionally aloud for her to hear.

“Oh, sod off, Lavender,” Ginny replied, glaring at Lavender and her giggling friends. She was
not in the mood to be toyed with anymore than Hermione was.

“Oh, we’re just having a little funny. Harry’s quite the catch you no. Can’t believe you ever
let him go. Although you had him longer than Granger,” Lavender replied, as she twirled her hair an
insipid smile plastered on her face.

That was it! Hermione stood up suddenly, her wand drawn and Lavender’s face went white. Before
she could doing anything rash and very un-Hermione like though, she felt someone’s strong arms
holding her against them and forcing her wand arm down. She looked up to see that it was Harry, who
looked as furious as she felt. Ron was looking on, too surprised by the whole scene to continue
eating for the moment.

“Lavender shut-up. You’re nothing more than a pathetic tramp. It’s not her fault that you’ve
scared all the boys you’ve dated away,” Harry said, glaring over at her. “You deserve whatever hex
Hermione had planned, the only reason I stopped her was so that she wouldn’t get punished.”

Hermione, who he was holding closely against his chest, felt him inhale and exhale deeply before
looking down at her.

“Can we talk *now*?” he whispered, his expression.

“Yes!” she replied heartily and followed him out of the Great Hall, dozens of pairs of eyes
staring curiously at them as they exited.

Hermione made sure to shot a couple of them the evil eye. She breathed a huge sigh of relief
once they were free of everyone’s prying eyes and morbid curiosity. If it one thing Hogwarts
students loved it was gossip. And it had gotten out of control this year it seemed.

She followed Harry to one of the least traversed hallways and took a seat on one of the benches
near an old tapestry. He sat next to her and caught her of guard by gently taking her face in his
hands and kissing her soundly. After a few moments he let her go, leaving her breathless.

“Wow, I think we should have an encore in the Great Hall,” she said, laughing weakly. Harry
smiled her favorite lopsided grin.

“Hermione, I’m really sorry. I know I’ve been an absolute git, and there’s no excuse for
it.”

She gentled squeezed his hand. “No, there definitely is no excuse for it! I know this situation
with Malfoy is just the sort of rubbish you didn’t want marring your last Voldemort free year at
Hogwarts, but we’ll get through it. It’ll work out, you’ll see. And it will have a far better
chance if you don’t have a self-pitying attitude.”

“Yeah, you’re right, Hermione. Who knows, maybe Snape will save the day, he can toss one of my
rubbish potions on Malfoy and the former Death Eaters and just take care of the whole thing,” Harry
joked grimly.

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled. “Crazier things have happened at Hogwarts.”

She and Harry burst into laughter and Harry kissed her again.



