Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's Note: I know most of you will threaten me again here, I may get another chapter out here in another month or so. I finish this one quite awhile ago, just forgot to upload it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I wish I did.

Chapter 6

Harry had just closed his eyes when all of a sudden, he sat bolt upright cursing himself for seven different kinds of fool. It had occurred to him, that in their haste to get outside, neither he nor Mr. Granger had locked or even shut the front door!

"Moody would have my head for a mistake like that!" he grumbled to himself.

Closing his eyes again, he willed himself back to Hermione's house, and when he opened his eyes, he was standing in the parlor looking at the open door. Cursing again, he pushed it shut and leaned his head against it. Now that he was thinking defensively, it hit him, for the first time in nearly four years, that with Voldemort trying to come back, all those he cared about would become targets once again. And, since it was inevitable that someone would spill the beans about him and Hermione, she and her parents would be at the top of the list.

Harry growled at the thought, and set about making sure that nothing would ever happen to the Grangers. He marched to Mr. Granger's study and retrieved a whole armload of weapons, both firearms and blades, arranging one of each type in every room of the house. He couldn't explain how he cast the spells that would make the weapons defend the Granger house with deadly skill, he just knew what he wanted them to do, and his will made it happen. He smiled when he thought about the surprise that awaited any that crossed the Grangers' threshold with dark purposes in mind. They wouldn't even have time to realize what had killed them.

With the offensive measures in place, he went about setting up wards to prevent anyone from Apparating in. He couldn't do anything about the street outside, but he could see to it that every square inch of the Grangers' property was protected, and that's just what he did. He left the house by the back door, and skirting the pool, headed for the property line, putting up a number of wards, and early alarm spells that would alert the inside guardians to possible danger. He would have liked to have made the house unplottable, but that was not possible; it wasn't that he couldn't do it; it's just that if he did, no one else would be able to come to the Grangers' aid if the guardians and wards failed.

When Harry was satisfied that he had done everything in his more than considerable power to insure the Grangers' safety, he turned his feet towards the house and his thoughts to his last two years at Hogwarts. He wasn't exactly sure just why he was in the mood to reminisce, but for some strange reason, he was feeling very nostalgic, and rather than fight the feeling, he embraced it. He had learned the hard way that when his subconscious had something to say, he'd damn sure better listen, and this seemed like one of those times.

"I've never steered you wrong yet," said Hermione's voice in his head, and he shook his head.

"Nope, you sure haven't." Harry entered the Grangers' home and made his way to the living room. He plopped down on the sofa and closed his eyes, thinking back…back

**Five years earlier, the beginning of the Trio's sixth year at Hogwarts**

*A body crumpled to the floor, and he rushed forward, his wand gripped tightly in a white knuckled fist. The person's body shifted slightly, the long, black hair turning brown, the large male form shrinking and becoming female. He dropped to his knees beside the body, his breathing ragged.

"NO! YOU CAN'T BE DEAD! I WON'T LET YOU DIE!" He laid his hands on the girl, a bright green glow emanating from his emerald eyes. She stirred and looked up at him…

"Harry?"

He felt tears well up in his eyes, and he gathered her to him.

"I'm so glad you're safe."

"Me too."

"I don't know what I would do without you."

"Harry?" the girl's voice was husky. "I…"

"What?" He stared into her deep brown eyes, noticing for the first time that they were like bottomless pits, just waiting for some lucky soul to fall in.

"I-I…"

"Harry.!" Another voice, but this one was deeper, less husky.

He shook his head, he had to be hearing things, girls' voices didn't sound like that, especially not hers.

"I-I-I…" she stuttered, straining to get the words out.

"HARRY!" No mistake this time, definitely masculine, but her smoldering eyes still bored into him and he felt a jolt both physical and emotional as she flashed a small smile.

"Tell me," he pleaded.

"HARRY!" He ignored the irritating male voice and focused on the girl.

"Please," he begged, "I have to hear it first!"

The girl's eyes brightened with unshed tears, "I-I-lo…"

"HARRY!" Ron Weasley's voice echoed through Harry's room at 12 Grimmauld Place, his words cutting through the dream and waking the occupant of the room.

"Huh?" 15-year-old Harry Potter sat up in bed, knuckling sleep from his eyes and reaching for his glasses. The memories of his nightmare left him, all but obliterated by Ron's wake up call, the only concrete image in his head, one of deep brown eyes.

"It's nine o'clock, Harry, breakfast is ready, and if you want some, you'd better get downstairs on the double. Plus, the Hogwarts' letters have arrived with our O.W.L results; we're all waiting to open them together, so hurry up!" The tall redhead wasted no time, and bounded from the room.

"I hate when he does that." Harry mumbled, throwing off the covers and rising to his feet. He was a thin young man, his frame beginning to show the muscle definition gained from years of hard work at his Aunt and Uncle's house; his normally short, messy black hair had grown out and now hung in his emerald eyes, and curled down almost to his broad but bony shoulders, a style he had adopted in homage to his departed godfather, Sirius Black. Clad only in a pair of sweat pants, he headed for the shower, bumping into someone as he left his room.

"Oof!" He grabbed the person to keep both of them balanced; he didn't want to start the day by falling down the stairs.

"I'm sorry, Harry!"

Harry looked down into the same smoldering eyes he had been dreaming about.

"Er…uh…sorry, Hermione, I should have been watching where I was going." He noticed that she had grabbed his upper arms to keep her balance, and that the two of them were standing very close.

"Well, if you would get that mop out of your eyes, it might facilitate matters." She snorted, stepping back a pace.

Harry pushed his hair back, grinning. "But, I like it this way!"

Hermione shrugged, "It's your funeral." Her eyes widened suddenly as she realized what she said. "Oh, Harry! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that!"

It had been a major blow to Harry, that without a body, they were unable to have a funeral for Sirius, so he was denied even that little bit of closure. Also, the Ministry of Magic still had not exonerated him of the crimes that had landed him in Azkaban, so they were unable to announce his death, as that would as good as admit that they had been harboring a known fugitive, and that would have landed several members of the Order, as well as Harry himself, Hermione, and Ron in serious, no pun intended, trouble.

Harry shook his head, stepped around her and headed for the bathroom, trying to reconcile the image he had in his head earlier with the real thing, and failing miserably.

"Harry!" she said, catching up to him.

He stopped walking, eyeing the door to the bathroom just ten feet away, then turned to face her.

"What?"

"I'm here if you need someone to talk to, day or night, feel free to call on me," Hermione's voice was soft, and she put her hand on his arm.

"Thanks, Hermione, but I'm fine. I just wish people would stop bugging me about this."

Hermione looked hurt, "Is that what you think I'm doing?"

Harry ran his hand through his hair, "I don't know, I don't know anything anymore."

"Harry…"

Harry raised a hand, "No. Don't start, not right now, and not here. I'll talk to you about it later, in private, I promise, but right now, I just want my shower, then I want to look at my letter from school."

Hermione shot him a defiant look, "Alright, Harry. This will keep…for now." She turned away and went downstairs.

Harry sighed and went in for his morning shower. While he waited for the water to warm up, he brushed his teeth.

"You know I'm not going to let this go, right?" Hermione's voice echoed in his head.

"Yeah, I know," he said, stripping off his pants and briefs and getting in the shower. "Just please leave me alone for now though."

"Fine, this will keep…for now," the voice parroted the real Hermione's words and he winced.

"How did you ever get in my head?" he asked, leaning his head against the wall.

"Do you really need ME to answer that? Or do you perhaps have your own ideas as to how I got here?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Now shut up." Harry grabbed the shampoo and went to work on his unruly hair.

When Harry finished with his shower, he realized that with everything on his mind, he had forgotten to bring a change of clothes in, and the pants he had slept in were right at that moment keeping his wet feet from touching the floor.

He looked up at the ceiling, "Why me?" He grabbed a towel off the shelf and wrapped it around his waist, tucking the end securely into the top, and threw open the door, intending to get to his room without anything else happening to him. He wasn't that lucky.

He had almost made it back to his room, when his glasses slipped down his wet nose and onto the floor, before he could stop himself, his descending foot sent them sliding across the polished hardwood and through the railings of the landing. He listened and could just make out the sound of them shattering on the floor below.

"Memo to self, have carpet put on the landings, no, never mind, scratch that, have bathroom put in my room," Harry grumbled. He couldn't see a thing, just vague shapes, and a huge blur; he stretched out his hands to feel his way back to his room. Of course, he wouldn't be any better off there, because without his glasses, he wouldn't even be able to find his clothes. He thought for a moment, then gave up; it was time to ask for help, and he knew of only one person that would not laugh at his predicament, so much as he hated to do it….

"HERMIONE!" he yelled, hoping she would hear him quickly.

He waited a few seconds then shouted again; this time he got an answer.

"What's up, Harry?" Ginny Weasley asked from somewhere down below.

"Nothin', can you get Hermione for me?"

"No need, I'm here." Hermione said. "What is it, Harry?"

"Uh…Could you come up here a moment?"

"Sure, I'll be right there." He heard her footsteps speed up and then the clomp as she hit the stairs.

"Harry!" He could hear the blush in her voice. "What are you doing out in the open like that?"

Harry pointed at his eyes, "My glasses slipped off and fell down there," he waved a hand in the general direction of the railing. "I can't see anything, and rather than tempt fate even more than I usually do, I decided to do what you're always telling me to do, which is ask for help. So, will you help me?"

"Of course I will, but I have to ask why you in your present condition would ask me and not Ron?"

Harry frowned, "Ron would laugh at me."

"Okay, Harry, the first thing we need to do is get you into your room, give me your hand."

Harry stuck out his hand, and immediately felt small, slender fingers wrap around his own. There was a slight tug, and he took a cautious step forward. The blurry view was disorienting, and he closed his eyes.

"Don't run me into any walls," he said, grinning.

"Harry," Hermione warned.

"Okay, you drive," Harry shut up and let Hermione lead, and just a few seconds later, he was safely in his room with the door shut.

"Alright, Harry, you stay here, and I'll go fix your glasses, just be thankful we can perform magic inside the house without it being detected, otherwise I'd have to bring in one of the adults."

"Thanks," he said, sinking down onto his unmade bed.

"You're welcome." The door shut and her footsteps faded.

In no time at all, the door was opened again and she came back in the room.

"Boy, Harry, you really did a number on them this time! They must have been in at least a dozen pieces!"

Harry still had his eyes closed when he felt something cool touch his face by his eyes. He felt the comfortable weight of his glasses on the bridge of his nose and he opened his eyes to find himself staring into a pair of dark brown pools that contained a strange flicker, but she blinked and it was gone.

"There you are, Harry, good as new." Hermione said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. Harry caught her hands before she could let go and held them tightly.

"Thank you, Hermione, for everything."

"No problem, Harry," Hermione's cheeks turned pink but she didn't drop her gaze. "I'm here for you, Harry."

"Yeah, I know." He released her hands, but didn't back away, and neither did she.

"Know, what?" Ron asked, walking in and giving them both a strange look. He took in their closeness and Harry's state of undress. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Not much, just O.W.L.s, Hermione was telling me the same thing you did earlier, about the two of you waiting for me." For some reason, Harry didn't want to share what had happened with Ron.

"Right, and I told him that I was getting tired of waiting," Hermione said, taking her cue from him.

"Oh, I was just wondering, because I heard you call for her," said Ron, his eyes narrowed.

"I wanted to ask her if she was going to continue with the D.A. as well as S.P.E.W." said Harry.

"It couldn't wait until you were dressed?"

Harry shook his head, "No, it couldn't. I needed to know about the D.A. thing so I can owl Dumbledore and McGonagall as soon as possible, so I can set up time in my schedule this year to teach it. I figure that with Hermione's help, I can work on the plans, while she looks up the stuff in the library."

"What about me?"

"I figured you would be too busy trying to land the Quidditch captain's position."

Ron's eyes lit up, "Say, that's right! Angelina won't be there this year, so the captainship will be open again."

"Yep, now if you two will excuse me, I'd like to get dressed." He ushered his two best friends out the door and closed it in their faces.

"You lied to Ron."

"I know, and don't start," Harry admonished the voice in his head and set about getting ready for the day. Not really in the mood for bright, cheery colors, he chose a thin, long sleeved, black shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. He got dressed quickly, hoping that when the other occupants of the house saw him dressed in such somber colors, that they would be reminded that even if he did not act melancholy every second of the day, he was still mourning, and would appreciate some consideration.

Harry entered the kitchen to find everyone sitting around the table discussing various things. He spotted three thick letters lying on the table next to Hermione, but instead of going and picking his up, he instead went to the stove and grabbed a few slices of bacon, slapping them between two pieces of bread, and slowly taking a bite. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione watched him, while their guardians, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody continued their conversation.

"Harry, c'mon! I'm dying to see how I did on the tests!" Hermione said.

Swallowing what he had in his mouth, Harry paused a moment, "Aw, Hermione, who do you think you're fooling? You know you aced it."

Hermione blushed, "Maybe, but I won't know for sure until you finish that blasted sandwich, and for the love of Merlin, take bigger bites!"

Harry chuckled and did as she asked, making the sandwich disappear after three more bites. He made a show of sucking each fingertip in case there were any crumbs and Hermione sighed loudly in obvious exasperation.

"Harry!"

Harry took a deep breath and slowly released it, "Okay, I guess I'm ready to see how bad I did."

"Harry, don't say that," said Hermione grabbing his letter and tossing it to him. She already had hers and was about to peel it open when he cleared his throat.

"On three, Hermione," said Harry, looking at her and Ron. They nodded. "One."

"Two!" said Hermione.

"Three," Ron said, though nowhere near as eager as Hermione.

The three teens tore open their letters simultaneously, and flipped to the page with the O.W.L. results.

Hermione shrieked and fell into her chair, Harry's eyes bugged and Ron groaned. The Trio looked at one another, then at the parchment in each other's hands.

"Well? What did you get?" Hermione asked.

Ron clenched his in his fist and stuffed his hand in his pocket, muttering, "Mum is going to kill me," as he stomped out of the room. Ginny hopped up and quickly followed.

"How'd you do, Harry?" asked Lupin, looking up at Ron and Ginny's departure.

Harry still couldn't believe his eyes, and Hermione gave him a worried look.

"I'm sure it's not that bad, Harry," she said. "Here, let me see."

Hermione snatched the parchment from his hand and skimmed it, her eyes growing wide, before she shrieked again and smothered him in a huge hug. "Ten O.W.L.s, Harry that's wonderful!"

Harry was still in shock, "Er…I think they sent me your results instead."

"No, they're yours. I got thirteen," she said, blushing.

"Thirteen? Hermione, that's great!" Lupin dropped his teacup, while Tonks came around the table and hugged her. Moody stood up and clapped both Hermione and a still dazed Harry on the back.

"Well done, you two." His magic eye revolved in its socket to stare in the direction Ron had gone. "I think you should go check on Weasley."

Harry finally managed to get his wits about him and looked at Hermione. "Yeah, we better."

They left the kitchen and went to find Ron and Ginny. They found them in one of the sitting rooms, Ron with his head in his hands, and Ginny patting his shoulder.

"What's the damage, mate?" asked Harry, squatting down in front of him while Hermione took the seat on his other side.

"I got seven," Ron mumbled.

"That's not so bad," said Harry. "It's more than Fred and George got."

"That's what I've been telling him, but he won't listen," Ginny piped up. "He just keeps repeating that Mum is going to kill him."

"Seven O.W.L.s is not bad, Ron, if you did your very best, then you have nothing to be ashamed of." Hermione said.

"How many did you get, twelve, like Bill?" asked Ginny. "Because Bill has gotten more O.W.L.s than anybody in the family, and seven is only five less than twelve, and that isn't bad at all."

Hermione blushed crimson, "I'd rather not say."

"What's wrong, Hermione?" said Ginny, "You not get as many as Bill?"

"Yeah, Hermione, you embarrassed because you didn't do as well as my big brother?"

Harry started to say something, but a glance from Hermione stopped him.

"Something like that, Ron, something like that," she said.

"What about you, Harry?" asked Ron. "How many did you get?"

Harry didn't want to hurt Ron's feelings, so he just waved a hand,

"About the same as you," he said. "Those tests were tougher than I thought."

"Yeah, that's what nearly everybody says after they get their results," said Ron, perking up.

"Maybe we should read the rest of our letters now," said Hermione, carefully folding her results and putting them in the hip pocket of her jeans. She raised her letter and Harry and Ron did the same.

Mr. Potter,

You know the routine by now, so I shall dispense with everything that is inconsequential. Your O.W.L. results are included in this letter, and I would like to congratulate you on a job well done. I expect to see you putting one hundred percent of your effort into your studies this year, only by doing this, will you achieve your goal of becoming an Auror.

Your life time Quidditch ban is still in effect, and due to massive amounts of legislation passed by Minister Fudge during Ms. Umbridge's reign here, it is proving more difficult to lift than we had thought possible. Rest assured though. If there is any way for you to be placed back on the team, I shall find it.

Harry frowned, but wasn't really upset. Quidditch belonged to his past, a time when Sirius was still alive and he wasn't aware of the prophecy, when winning the Quidditch Cup was one of his primary goals at school. Now, he found that he wasn't anxious to risk his Firebolt, his first present from his godfather, in a frivolous game. He knew that with his ban still in effect, he would have an ironclad reason why he wasn't playing, and the thought comforted him. He wasn't letting his teammates down, because it wasn't his fault that he wasn't allowed to play. He continued reading.

The Headmaster and I have decided that due to your performance and fulfillment of your obligations last year, as well as the events that transpired, you have shown that you could have handled being Prefect, so as of this moment, that mistake has been rectified, your Prefect badge is enclosed, remember, you are a role model, and I expect you to conduct yourself as such.

It is the fervent wish of both the Headmaster and myself, that you continue your D.A. class, and though you may loathe the idea, you should think about admitting Slytherin students as well as the other three houses. Your Prefect status should give you some modicum of control over them as opposed to brute force as is your normal method of dealing with them. Since you no longer have Quidditch to worry about, you may schedule your D.A. classes around the practice times of each team. I fully expect a lesson plan for the entire year, on my desk the day after you return to school. I suggest you entice Ms. Granger into taking care of that for you. For your efforts, the both of you shall receive standard teaching wages, and admittance to staff meetings. The information you learn at such meetings, is of course strictly confidential, and is not to be spoken of where others might overhear. Because of this, your rooms shall have a silencing charm placed upon them, so that the two of you may converse without fear of anyone eavesdropping. In addition, as teachers, the two of you are no longer bound by the Restriction of Underage Magic, and on top of your other studies, you shall receive Apparation training.

I look forward to this year, for I sense that things are about to get better.

Your book list is included, as is the sheet you need to fill out for this year's classes you wish to take.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

(Deputy Headmistress)

"Well, that certainly wasn't a normal school letter." Harry thought. "Whoa, Hermione and me, teachers, on top of being Prefects, and no more restrictions on our magic? Wow!"

Harry carefully turned up the envelope that he still clutched in his other hand, secretly palming the shiny, red and gold badge before anyone noticed. He slipped it in his pocket, along with the envelope, and flipped to his book list. His eyes ran down the page, noticing that it was the standard fare, just for the appropriate year. He looked up to see Hermione flash him a smile as she openly turned up her envelope and caught the Prefect badge inside. Ginny looked up as she did so and frowned.

"Ron, where's your badge this year?"

Ron's head was back in his hands. "I lost it."

"What do you mean, you lost it? You were supposed to turn it in to Professor McGonagall before leaving the school!" Hermione said, glaring at him.

"I didn't lose it; they took it away from me!" Ron bellowed, and stormed out of the room, Ginny again hot on his heels.

"Ron, wait up, it's not the end of the world!"

Harry felt bad for his friend, but given Ron's performance last year, he hadn't been the model Prefect like Hermione had.

"You got it, didn't you." It wasn't a question, and Harry blushed.

"Yeah, but I never would have taken it from him," he said, grimacing, "not in a million years."

"Don't blame yourself, Harry, Professor Dumbledore obviously feels that you're more capable of handling the responsibility, or he wouldn't have given it to you."

"I know, but it meant so much to Ron."

"Harry, you and I both know that Ron only liked being a Prefect because of the power it gave him over the other students."

"Yeah, I know that too, and speaking of power over other students, McGonagall and Dumbledore want me to continue teaching the D.A. and they want me to include any Slytherins that might be interested." Harry snorted, "Can you believe that?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes, I can. With everything that has happened, inter-house relations are abysmal, and this might just help bridge that gap."

"Another thing, McGonagall wants…here, just read this," he handed her the letter and took the chair Ron had vacated.

Harry watched Hermione's eyes track slowly across the page as she read the letter. When she finished she handed it back to him and beamed.

"That's wonderful! Harry, we're going to be teachers, real, paid teachers! Oh, I can't believe it; I just can't believe it! I have to tell Mum and Dad! Can I borrow Hedwig?" she said all this in a rush, and Harry smiled.

"Hermione, you should know by now that you can borrow her anytime you like."

Hermione blushed, "Well, it's just polite to ask, you know."

"Yeah, I know, now get out of here and go tell them the great news," he said. "I'm gonna go talk to Lupin, Moody, and Tonks and tell them to keep quiet about our results."

"Good idea, Harry," Hermione started to take off, but stopped and flung her arms around his neck. "Congratulations on the Prefecture, and I'm sorry you can't play Quidditch."

Harry hugged her back, and then stepped away. "Thanks, and I wasn't going to play this year anyway."

Hermione's eyes bugged out, her eyebrows shot up, and her jaw dropped. Harry could see she was more surprised by his statement than she had been by her 13 O.W.L.s or McGonagall's letter.

"You weren't?" she asked.

Harry shook his head, "No, I have more important things to do than worry about that, besides, I'm not going to risk anything happening to my Firebolt, Siri-Sirius gave it to me, and no silly game is worth it possibly getting damaged."

"Harry…" Hermione shook her head, "I can't tell you how proud I am of you."

Harry shrugged, "Hey, we all have to grow up sometime, right?" he said, his voice choked.

"I-I-I don't-don't know what to say, Harry," Hermione was near tears herself, "that is a very mature attitude to take."

Harry shook himself out of his funk and squeezed her hand, "Sorry to bring you down, you should go owl your parents now, while I go talk to the grownups." He rose to his feet and without a backward glance left the sitting room.

Harry entered the kitchen to find Lupin reading the Daily Prophet, and Moody and Tonks deep in conversation.

"-need to set up some kind of training for the kids, something to make them stronger as well as hone their reflexes- Tonks was saying, but broke off when Harry came in.

"So, Potter, how is Weasley doing?" asked Moody.

"Not good, he only got 7 O.W.L.s, and Dumbledore took away his Prefect badge."

"Ooh, poor Ron, he must be devastated," said Tonks.

"Yeah, he's pretty upset about it, and I'd like to ask the three of you for a couple of favors."

"What kind of favors, Harry?" said Lupin, looking up from the Daily Prophet.

"Well, me and Hermione would like for you guys to keep our results to yourselves. I told Ron that I made around the same as him, and Hermione managed an even more vague answer. We don't want him to feel bad, so can we keep this all quiet?" he said.

"Sure thing, Harry, we won't tell a soul," Tonks grinned.

Moody gave him a knowing look, "That's only one favor, Potter. What was the other one?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, I was thinking that I need something to take Ron's mind off his results and losing his badge, so I figured I'd invite Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom to come and stay for a couple of days, and the six of us could go to the cinema, my treat."

"Harry, you know it's dangerous to go out," Lupin admonished.

"I know, but I need something to take his mind off stuff, and I also wanted to keep it from being obvious as to what I was doing. I figured if Luna and Neville showed up, then it would look more like going was their idea or something like that."

"It's a nice thought, Harry, and I have no problem going and getting them," said Tonks.

"I agree, excellent idea, Harry, I'll contact Neville's grandmother and Luna's father immediately."

"Thank you, Professor."

Lupin sighed, "Harry, you don't have to call me, Professor anymore, Moony or Remus will be fine."

Harry grinned, "Sorry, Moon-er-Remus." He wanted to call his parents' old friend by his nickname, but it just didn't feel right, almost as if it were disrespectful.

"I don't much like the idea of the six of you out in public, but if you promise to be vigilant, I won't object," said Moody.

Harry smiled, "Professor, after what I've been through this past year, I can promise you that CONSTANT VIGILANCE is constantly on my mind, and I fully expect you to be keeping an 'eye' on us anyway."

Mad Eye Moody smiled, and the effect was frightening, "You're learning, Potter, you're learning. Tonks, let's go see what we can do about those exercises we were discussing. " He clumped out of the room, followed by Tonks.

"Was that all, Harry?" asked Lupin.

"Yeah, thanks."

Harry left the kitchen, and began wandering the halls, something he had taken to doing when he first arrived at the house at the beginning of summer. He had decided that this place he would be calling home, needed to be explored, but hadn't had the gumption to actually investigate anything, contenting himself with simply walking the halls; it was a way to pace without staying in the same place. He wasn't sure when Luna and Neville would arrive, or even if they would, and he figured someone would come find him when they did, so he didn't feel bad about exploring the old house. He avoided the cleaned rooms, knowing that a family as dark as the Blacks had been would not have the interesting stuff in plain site. He closed his eyes as he walked, reaching out with his senses, using his magic like a metal detector, and stopping immediately when he realized what he was doing.

Could magic be used in such a fashion? He didn't know, but it sure seemed to be working, and since it wasn't too taxing on his abilities, he continued. It struck him as he walked, that he had yet to see an armory. All the old manors and mansions in the movies had armories, but Grimmauld Place did not…or if it did, he had not found it yet. With an actual goal in mind, he set off once more, seeking concentrations of metal.

Harry's magic led him throughout the house, into sitting rooms and bathrooms, storage rooms and basements, until finally, he ended up looking at a small doorway set into the wall under the stairs. He shuddered at the memories it brought back of his own cupboard, but this doorway was large, painted to look like the wall, and so artfully done, one wouldn't even see it for what it was, even when right up close. He could detect no magic energy surrounding the entrance, so he reached out and felt for a release. But as his fingers came into contact with the wood, a bright blue spark shot out, connecting his fingertips and the doorway and it slowly opened…

Harry's eyes widened, it was huge! The room was laid out like a suburban street, with bushes, and hedges lining the roadside. There were the shadows of what he took to be houses on both sides, and as he stepped over the threshold, the door shut behind him. He had taken two steps in, his head swiveling to take everything in, when suddenly someone shouted.

"STUPEFY!"

A bright beam of red light shot from somewhere on Harry's right, but he didn't waste time looking for it, he threw himself forward into a dive, landed on his shoulder and rolled behind a bush, his wand out.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" another voice cried, and Harry had to roll again. Correctly figuring that his hiding spot had been well spotted before the ambush, he drew his legs up to his chest and launched his body sideways. He rolled to his feet and ran as fast as he could for a large hedgerow where one set of the beams seemed to be coming from. Beams hit the ground near him, but he didn't slow down, ducking and weaving, zigging and zagging, he sped up. At full speed, he leaped over the hedgerow, turning in midair he landed with his wand aimed at the person hidden behind it.

"Hi, Tonks!"

"Wotcher, Harry, looks like you got me," Tonks lowered her wand. "Nice dodging back there, where'd you learn stuff like that?"

Harry was about to respond, but a cold voice spoke up from behind him. "Is this what you call CONSTANT VIGILANCE?"

"Sorry, Professor, I figured that since Tonks gave up the exercise or whatever you call this is, was over."

"Boy, nothing is ever over until all your enemies are down. What you should have done, was stunned her as soon as your feet touched down, then using her hiding place started shooting at me until you ascertained where I was," Moody growled.

Harry looked around, "What is this place, Professor?"

Moody waved his wand, and they were suddenly standing in a large cavernous room with suits of armor lining the walls, padded suits in cabinets, and row upon row of weapons racks.

"Welcome to the Black Family Armory, boy."

"But I thought that armories were just rooms with weapons," said Harry, "I had no idea that they could be training facilities as well!"

"Normally they're not," said Tonks. "Wizards never train their bodies, relying on magic to enhance their speed and agility, but through tests, we've learned that those Aurors that were Muggleborn and had access to physical training did much better than regular Aurors that had none. Case in point, the way you dove and rolled to avoid the beams, a normal wizard would have just used a shield charm."

"I understand," said Harry.

"Good, because you're going to help us test your friends," said Moody. "If Granger, the two Weasleys, Longbottom, and Lovegood had been physically fit, then they would have done better at the Ministry."

Harry felt his face get red. The reason they had been at the Ministry was his fault, and even though they had not been that fit, both Hermione and Neville had done a good job, and Luna had been the only one to come out completely unscathed.

"So," continued Moody, "you, me, and Tonks are going to whip them into shape…the hard way."

Harry frowned, "Er...Professor…Shouldn't I train with them?"

"You will be, Potter, but not at first," growled Moody. "I've watched you, and I've listened to every account of the fight at the Ministry, and it all points to you surviving numerous attacks because you used cover, and you used your agility to avoid incoming curses and hexes. I've been in the business a long time, I know how Wizards fight, and you don't fight like a Wizard. If we're gonna win this war, then we can't fight like the enemy expects us to, we have to change our styles. You've already done this, and once we've taught you all we know, you'll be able to help us teach your friends, and when you start that D.A. thing again, you'll have some new stuff to show them."

Harry sighed, "What did you have in mind for me?"

Moody turned to Tonks, "What's the word?"

"Boot camp," said Tonks, no trace of humor on her face at all. "First thing in the morning, I'll come and get you, and we'll do several rounds of running and jumping, diving and rolling. I'll be firing, you'll of course, be the one doing all the hard work. After three hours of that, the rest of the day is yours, but the sooner you get in shape, the sooner you can get your friends involved."

"Why exactly do I have to go first though?"

"You've got the instincts, Potter, and we'll need someone to demonstrate the activities, and even though you're pretty strong, you are by far the most malnourished of all, this will give you a chance to put on some much needed muscle and weight," said Moody.

"Oh," said Harry, beginning to feel like he had been drafted.

"I know this seems like a lot, Harry, but believe me, once you start doing all the work, you'll be thankful we allowed you the chance to get into shape. Besides," Tonks grinned, "you wouldn't want to look weak in front of your friends, now would you?"

"No, no I wouldn't."

"Alright, it's settled then, I'll see you first thing in the morning."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "What time is, 'first thing in the morning?'"

Tonks smiled broadly, "Let's just say, you might not want to stay up too late."

"Great," Harry muttered, turning around and leaving the room. "Why did I ever have to go in there?"

"They would have gotten you even if you hadn't," said Lupin, setting in a chair and reading a book. He set it down and looked up at Harry. "I take it they've set every thing up?"

"Yeah, and whether I like it or not, looks like I just got volunteered to get up very early and get shot at."

Lupin smiled, "Just console yourself with the fact that your friends will be undergoing the same thing, only you'll be one of those firing at them."

Harry grinned, "I know."

"By the way, Miss Lovegood and Mister Longbottom are in the kitchen with Hermione."

"Still no sign of Ron?"

"No," Lupin shook his head. "Hermione said she heard voices in his room, so he and Ginny must be there. She said that they ignored her when she knocked, so she came back downstairs."

"Okay, thanks."

***

Harry entered the kitchen to find Neville eating a bowl of cereal, and Hermione and Luna discussing Crumple Horned Snorkacks. He snorted to himself at Hermione trying desperately to keep her irritation from her voice as she tried for the nth time to tell Luna that there was no such thing. Luna, as was her way, just shrugged it off.

"You can't prove they don't exist, Hermione," said Luna, crossing her arms across her chest.

"And you can't prove that they do!" Hermione slammed her hand down on the table and shot to her feet. "I don't want to argue with you, Luna, but there is no record of those creatures anywhere!"

Luna looked down at her Quibbler, "Perhaps you haven't looked in the right places."

Hermione threw her hands up, "I give up! You want to believe that there are Crumple Horned Snorkacks running around, fine, have at it!"

Harry took that opportunity to slip in unnoticed, and placed a restraining hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"Easy, Hermione," he whispered, and she flashed him a small smile. "Luna, Neville, glad you could make it!" he said.

"Thanks for the invitation," said Luna. "Do you know if Ronald will be coming down any time soon?"

Harry shook his head, "No, Luna, I don't. You're more than welcome to go try and get him though."

Luna stood up, "Thanks, I think I'll just go do that," she said, and left the room.

Neville finished drinking the milk in his bowl, "Thanks for inviting me, Harry."

"No problem, Neville," Harry shrugged.

"So, why am I here?"

"Funny you should ask," Harry's mind raced. He couldn't very well tell Neville about Ron's bad results, so he wracked his brain for something that Neville could help with, without it being an obvious fabrication. His eyes alit on something outside the kitchen window, and he grinned, "I was outback yesterday, and I noticed an old greenhouse behind the shed, I think I saw some of that Mimbletonia plant inside, and figured that since you're so good in Herbology, you might like to fix it up or something."

Neville's eyes lit up, "Really? Wow! Gee, thanks, Harry! D'you mind if I go take a look at it?"

Harry waved a hand, "Nah, I have no use for it, so consider it yours."

Neville started to say something else, but Harry waved him off. "Go on, have fun."

"Thanks, Harry!" Neville was out the door like a shot.

"That was very nice of you, Harry," Hermione smiled.

Harry turned to face her, "I have to talk to you."

Hermione's smile vanished at his tone, "What is it, Harry?"

Harry started to pace, "Moody and Tonks want the six of us to start training. They're starting with me in the morning, and when I've gotten it down, I'm to invite the rest of you. It's obstacles, running, diving, stuff like that."

"Why are you telling me this, now? If they wish to teach you first, before the rest of us, shouldn't you wait until you've learned it before telling me?"

Harry shook his head, "No, I'm not keeping anything from you. You above everyone else have been the most loyal to me, and I will not betray that loyalty by hiding things from you."

"Oh, Harry," Hermione's eyes filled with tears and she flung herself into his arms.

Harry hugged her back, "It means a lot to me that you are the only person that has never lied to me or let me down in any way, and I know I've hid things from you in the past, and I've lied to you to avoid you getting on my case about something, but that's not going to happen anymore. I lost Sirius because I didn't listen to you, and…" Harry wasn't sure if he couldn't finish because Hermione's arms around his neck tightened, cutting off his air, or because his throat had tightened with emotions he knew he couldn't voice yet.

"Well, isn't this a lovely sight?" Ron's voice intruded on their moment, and they broke apart, looking to where he stood glaring, a frowning Ginny and a smiling Luna, flanking him. "What's got you two so cozy all of a sudden?"

Harry thought quickly, he couldn't tell Ron what he had told Hermione, because like it or not, Ron had let him down in the past. He found himself going with the first thing to enter his head. "Professor McGonagall wants to continue the D.A. and she's going to pay Hermione to teach it," he said, sliding into a lie quicker and smoother than he would have ever thought possible.

Ron frowned, "Oh really? I thought you were the teacher of the D.A. and Hermione was just another one of the students."

Harry shook his head, "No, no, I'm just the practical instructor, Hermione is the teacher. She's the one that has to find all the new spells and such."

"So once again, it's you two leading and the rest of us following," Ron snorted.

"Well, they are the best in the school," said Neville, coming in from outside, his hands and clothes dirty. "It's really no wonder, Ron, they're awesome as individuals, but when they work together, no one stands a chance against them. You should have seen them fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries, they were spectacular!" he finally noticed the two girls with Ron and his cheeks reddened. "Uh…hi, Ginny," he said.

"Hi, Neville," said Ginny. "Where have you been?"

"Harry told me about the greenhouse out back, so I've been out there looking around."

"Looks more like you were rolling around," grumbled Ron, still frowning at Harry and Hermione. Neville looked hurt at his words, and both Ginny and Hermione gasped.

"Ron!" Harry snapped.

"Ronald, that was not nice," said Luna, her smile slipping.

Ron spun on his heel and left the room, Luna went after him.

"I'm sorry, Neville," said Ginny. "He didn't do very well on his O.W.L.s and Professor Dumbledore took away his Prefect badge, he's not taking it very well, sorry." She hurried after Ron and Luna.

"How many did he get?" Neville asked, going to the sink and washing his hands.

"Seven," Harry muttered.

"D'you think it might cheer him up to find out that I only got six?"

"I hate to say it, because you shouldn't be used to make someone else feel better about themselves, but it might," said Hermione, a frown on her face.

"Hermione's right, Neville, you shouldn't be made to feel bad just to make Ron feel better."

Neville shrugged, "It's okay, I'm used to it."

"No, it's not okay," said Harry. "He's been a prat all morning because of those stupid results."

"Harry," said Hermione. "You know he just needs time to deal with it."

"Yeah well, time is something we don't have. I start my training tomorrow, and I can guarantee that when I finish for the day, I'm not going to be in any mood to put up with his whining."

"What training?" Neville asked.

"With Tonks and Moody," said Harry. "They intend on whipping us all into shape."

"Really? Cool!"

"But not at first. First they want to work with Harry, so you'll have plenty of time to get the greenhouse into shape."

Neville's eyes grew bright, "I'm going to start right now!" He rushed back outside and Harry was left alone with Hermione again.

"I need to ask you to do something for me."

"Anything."

"Start getting yourself in shape, sit ups, push ups, crunches, running, whatever you can think of. Tonks called it boot camp, and from her description, it's gonna be a nightmare. They're giving me the extra time to get in shape because I don't have as much muscle mass as I should, due to my treatment at the Dursleys' all these years. I'm giving you and only you this warning, so keep it quiet."

"Thank you, Harry. I'll do as much as I can to get ready. I won't let you down."

"You never have," he said, and quickly, before he could change his mind, he stepped in and planted a kiss on her cheek, "you never have," he breathed into her ear, then stepping around her, almost afraid to see her reaction, he hurried from the kitchen.

***

Harry wandered aimlessly, his mind turning over the recent events. He wondered what was going on. First, he had a really weird dream that had something to do with Hermione, and it wasn't like the one last year where Cho had turned into her. Then, when he saw her, he had found himself comparing the two Hermiones, the one in his dream and the real one. Something was shifting, he could sense something growing between them, and he could feel it every time he met her eyes, every time he found himself watching her do the most mundane tasks. If asked at the beginning of last year, he would have chalked it up to plain old fashioned hormones, he was a red-blooded male, and Hermione was far from unattractive, a fact he had had slammed into his head at the Yule Ball in 4^th year.

He blew it off though, still too hung up on that crybaby, Cho. But his reaction to Hermione, as well as Cho's and Ron's had thrown everything out of kilter. Cho felt he was two-timing her with Hermione, and then Ron started acting like he wasn't happy that Hermione spent so much of her time with Harry. Harry of course couldn't figure what they were upset about, he knew that he and Hermione were just friends, but when he played back various scenes from 5^th year, he had to admit that there was something there, hidden deep in his subconscious, something that had made him count a Hermione covered in cat hair as one of his worst memories, something that had made him stand barehanded in front of a giant, ready to do whatever it took to keep her safe, and that same thing had caused him to freeze in the middle of a fight, something that he had never done before. When it played back in his head, he was amazed that he had lived through it.

Whatever it was, he was conscious of it now, and he finally realized that it was what made him watch her, made him want to keep her safe, made him admit to her and her alone, that he wasn't going to be an Auror, made him warn her about the training, and above all else, made him tell her how much her loyalty meant to him. He had found himself wanting to say more, but his emotions were in turmoil. It's not easy for one to realize that they are in love with their best friend.

Harry stopped dead in his tracks. The revelation of what he felt shocked him, and almost before it had settled, an incredibly joyous feeling shot through him, followed by one of liquid ice. But he knew nothing of love, so how would he know if and when he had fallen into it? He shook his head; he had to get rid of such thoughts immediately! If Voldemort ever found out, Hermione would be in even more danger than she was already. He knew from experience that Hermione would not allow him to make such a decision for her, and he resolved not to tell her. He also decided that he would not conceal his attraction, nor his affection, but he would dampen it, put it on low heat and bring it to a boil slowly, that way he could keep a rein on his feelings, letting them out slowly. If he did it right, he figured he would be able to show her he cared without actually coming out and saying he was in love with her. That should at least take care of this coming year, and with his life the way it was, all he could do was take it one year at a time and hope for the best. Of course, now he understood why Dumbledore had done the things he had done. It wasn't easy to love someone and keep them safe at the same time.

Harry was unaware of when he had started walking again, but he immediately knew where he had ended up. He pushed open the door to Buckbeak's room, bowing to the big male hippogriff inside. When the creature returned the bow, he made his way over to it and settled down, stroking the animal's neck while he contemplated his problem.

"Problems, you mean."

"Yeah, problems."

"You know she would be furious if she finds out what you're doing."

"I know, but I can't take a chance on something happening to her. I can't lose her."

"What about her, Harry? Are you going to stand in the way of her happiness?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you're showing her that you care, then she's going to think you care, then, knowing her, she is going to wonder why you won't ask her out or anything."

"I'm going to ask her out. I'm going to be her best friend, and I'm going to be the best best friend I can. I'm going to help her with her elf hats, I'm going to set up late studying with her, you name it and I'm going to do it."

"Are you going to tell her how you feel?"

"No, not for a while, not until I know that I can keep her safe."

"Are you going to be her boyfriend?"

"Not exactly, but I will be as much of one as I can."

"Are you going to kiss her, hold her, stroke her hair, take away her worries?"

"I don't really know. I want to, God knows, I want to."

"Then you have to tell her."

"I will! Just not yet."

Buckbeak gave Harry a look that seemed to question his sanity for talking to himself, but he ignored it, focusing instead upon his internal discussion with Hermione's voice.

"Fine, then we do this right, no half arsed attempts."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"The first thing you must do is control Ron. He drives her nuts with all his arguing and bad manners and such. If you truly love her, you must run interference; prevent Ron from pushing her buttons, while at the same time making it seem perfectly natural."

"Got it, I was gonna be doin' that anyway."

"Good. Next thing is Hogsmeade visits, you have to think of ways to get her to go with you without asking for a romantic date, but turning it into one all the same."

"That may be a little tough, but I'll figure it out."

"Next, you must, and I cannot stress this enough, you must show her that she is appreciated, both her intelligence and her beauty."

"If you don't mind my asking this, how in the Hell did I get so bloody smart when it comes to women?"

"Easy, you listened to Hermione."

"But-but we've never had this conversation before!"

"You didn't have to. You just picked up on what she truly meant when she berated Ron for his insensitivity in 4^th year, as well as all the times after. You've got a good memory, Harry, you just fail to utilize it. I guess it helps that it's Hermione though, so even though you do not realize you're memorizing what she says, you are. Or as Professor McGonagall said, 'at least you listen to Hermione Granger', right?"

Harry smiled to himself, "Yeah, I guess so."

"You have to tell her about the prophecy too."

Harry sat up straight in surprise. "Where did that come from?"

"You have to; otherwise you'll be betraying her loyalty."

"That is not fair! I-

"I'm your conscience; I don't have to be fair."

"That's bullsh-

"Harry! Who are you talking to?" asked Ginny, from outside.

"Nobody!" Harry growled, irritated at the interruption. "I'm just-never mind, just, please leave me alone."

"Harry, I can listen if you need to talk, Hermione's not the only one with a pair of ears, you know."

The doorknob started to turn, and Harry jumped up and flicked the lock. Ginny finished turning the knob, and pushed against the door; Harry heard her grunt when it didn't move.

"I asked you to leave me alone."

"Really, Harry, you can talk to the rest of us too! I know what it's like to lose someone, my grandfather died when I was 7, and I know what it's like to breakup with someone, remember I broke up with Michael? You can talk to me."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Why wouldn't you? I can help! I've helped you before!"

"That's okay, Ginny, the last time I talked to you about something important, you gave me the wrong information."

The door thumped as a foot came into contact with it. "Harry Potter! You know good and well that my information was not wrong!"

"Actually, you were as wrong as wrong could be. I was being possessed, but in a different way than you had been. And, just because you were taken over by a memory, don't try to think that gives you insight into what I've gone through by being taken over by the man, no, monster, himself! So just leave me alone, Ginny, if I want to talk to someone, it will be Hermione or Luna, they at least understand me."

"Well I never!" Ginny was furious, he could tell it in her voice, and strangely enough, that thought didn't bother him at all. "I'm not going to stand here arguing with a door! I don't care if I do get a warning from the Ministry about underage magic! Alohamora!"

"Colloportus!" Harry said, and the door that had been coming open, slammed shut with considerable force. "There, maybe that will get the message across! I don't want you to bother me, so go away!"

"Alohamora! Alohamora!" Ginny screamed, then banged on the door, kicking and pounding with feet and fists.

"You'll never get in, Ginny," said Harry. "You're nowhere near my equal; I don't care how powerful your Bat Bogey Hex is."

"You just wait, Harry Potter!"

"Ginny, I've been under constant threat of death for nigh on six years. Your pitiful threats are laughable, now please go away."

Ginny screamed, and Harry heard running footsteps, and then Ron's voice, followed closely by Hermione and Luna.

"What's going on?" Ron roared.

Ginny was crying now, and she sobbed out the story, Harry remaining silent while he listened closely from inside the room.

"Is this true, Harry? Did you say those things to Ginny?" Ron shouted.

Harry sighed and opened the door, "Look, Ron, I told her I didn't want to be bothered, she kept on, even trying to open the door after I locked it. I admit that I said some things I probably shouldn't have said, and for that I apologize, but I asked her to leave me alone and respect my wish for privacy, and she wouldn't do it."

"I just wanted to talk to you about the things that bother you," Ginny wailed, and Harry winced, noticing for the first time that Ginny didn't cry like Hermione, she cried like Cho.

"Listen closely, all of you. When I say, leave me alone, I mean it! If I want to talk, I will, but not a moment sooner. And when I do choose to talk, I'll let you know if it's you that I wish to talk to."

"She was just trying to help, Harry, you had no call to treat her so badly!"

"Ron, I already apologized, and yet, she has yet to apologize for intruding and refusing to leave me alone, but I guess I'm the only one in the wrong here, right?"

"Ron, take Ginny downstairs," said Luna.

"But…"

"Do it, Ron!" ordered Hermione.

"C'mon, Ronald, I'll go with you."

"Yeah, leave Hermione to deal with Harry," Ginny sneered over her shoulder as Ron and Luna led her away.

Hermione watched them go, then turned to Harry, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips. "Harry, what has gotten into you?"

"Like I said, she wouldn't leave me alone."

"That is no reason for you to jump down her throat like that, Harry, I'm surprised at you."

"Hermione, please, I was in the middle of some really deep thinking, about something that my life literally hinges on, and she disturbed me." He held up a hand to stop her from speaking. "Now I know that's no excuse, but when I tell you what I was thinking about, you'll understand."

Hermione placed her hands on her shapely hips, something Harry found himself paying a bit too much attention to at the moment. "Well, I'm waiting."

Harry motioned her inside the room and closed the door after her. After she had bowed to Buckbeak, she sat down next to him and ruffled his feathers, while Harry started to pace.

"This in not going to be easy for me, because what I'm about to tell you is known by only myself and Dumbledore. It's the prophecy, the one Voldemort was after, Dumbledore had the original in his office and he played it for me. Bear with me," Harry cleared his throat, and taking a deep breath, recited the prophecy word for word.

Hermione's eyes had grown wide and by the time he had finished speaking, her hand was over her mouth and she had a horrified expression on her face.

"Oh, Harry…No wonder you were upset! I'd have been furious if I was thinking about something like this and someone interrupted!"

Harry shrugged, "See, told you you'd understand, and the worst part is, I can't tell them why I got so upset."

"Right, and don't worry about Ginny and Ron, I'll smooth things over." Hermione stood up and put her hand on his arm. "Harry, please remember that we're all your friends here. Any one of them would be willing to listen to you when you need to talk."

"I know, I know," Harry ran his hand through his hair. "It just that-don't tell any of them this, but-I don't trust them as much as I trust you. I used to be able to tell Ron anything, but after last year, he's more apt to tell me what I want to hear, just to avoid an argument with me. Ginny's counsel is suspect, Neville, even though he means well doesn't have the experience that we have, and Luna…well, let's just say that when it comes to dealing with deaths, Luna was a big help, but about Voldemort, she's clueless. She's sincere, I'll give her that, and so is Neville, but they're ultimately clueless. That leaves you."

Hermione looked like she was about to start crying again, and he held up a hand.

"I know this is all a big shock to you, I went from not sharing anything to practically baring my soul at the drop of a hat, and much as I want to, I can't really explain why. I mean, I know why, but I can't explain it just yet."

"I respect your privacy, Harry, and if you can't explain it, then I won't push you. However, you've put a lot of faith in me, and it's a little disconcerting to know that you trust me more than you do Ron."

"Hermione…"

"What is it?"

"I-nothing, I thought I might have found a way to explain, but the thought didn't hang around long enough to solidify."

"Okay, Harry." Hermione moved towards the door, and he made no move to stop her. "I guess I should go deal with the fallout from Mt. Harry."

"I guess so." Harry turned back to Buckbeak and settled himself again as Hermione closed the door behind her, leaving him alone with the hippogriff and his thoughts once again. Unwilling to dwell on matters further, Harry took out his wand to keep it from poking him, leaned his head against Buckbeak and contemplated training with Tonks and Moody.

***

When Harry went downstairs a couple of hours later, he hoped he'd be able to avoid both Ron and Ginny, hurrying through the house to the kitchen, where he grabbed some pumpkin juice, and slapped together a sandwich. He heard voices outside and looked out the window to see Neville, Hermione, Luna, Ron and Ginny attempting to move a large boulder that was embedded in the yard. Puzzled, he joined them and asked what was going on.

Neville raised a sleeve to his sweaty brow, "Well, Harry, since you told me I could have the greenhouse, I figured these big rocks would be great for growing some plants that Hermione told me about that only live on rocks, and can only survive by slowly digesting the rock they live on. I reckoned you wouldn't mind if I moved these huge stones out of your yard and used them for the plants."

Harry stood there finishing his lunch, eyeing the big rocks and his five sweaty friends. He assessed the situation, noting that they were going about the endeavor all wrong.

"Looks like quite a job, can I help?"

Neville grinned, "Sure!"

Harry stepped up to one of the rocks and pushed his hand against it. It was around five feet high, rough and misshapen, there was no way for it to roll, and they had been trying to push and drag it, all five heaving and grunting. He looked at the hopeful Neville.

"Neville, if you don't mind my saying so, there is an easier way to do this."

"Really? How?"

Harry looked from Neville to a grinning Hermione. "I'm surprised you haven't told them."

"Told us what?"

"Nothing," Hermione said quickly, shooting a pointed glance at Harry. "He just figures that since I'm a Muggleborn that I should know the mechanics to make hard labor easier."

Ron narrowed his eyes, "Is that it, Harry?"

Harry didn't like the look Ron was giving him, but went along with Hermione's lie. "Yeah, but I forget sometimes that I'm the only one here that had to do actual work. Ron, run to the shed and grab those long wooden poles. We'll work in teams of two; a guy and girl to each pole."

"Wait a minute! Why are you the one giving orders?"

Harry gritted his teeth and fought to keep his temper in check.

"Because, Ron, I'm the one that knows what I'm doing. Now would you please go fetch those poles?"

Ron glowered, but left to do as Harry had asked.

Harry looked at the others to see if anyone else wanted to question his leadership, but no one did.

"Hermione, you're with me, Neville, you take Ginny, Luna, you can pair up with Ron. One team will be on one side, one on the other, and the third will be in the middle. The two side teams will slide their poles at angles, so that the tips will be pointing towards one another. The middle team will slide their pole under the rock to keep it from settling back down when the two side teams raise it. Got that?"

Everyone nodded that they understood, and in no time, Ron had returned with the poles. He handed one to Neville, and Luna, then moved next to Hermione and held out a pole.

"Ready, partner?"

Hermione blushed, "Uhm…I'm not your partner, Ron, Luna is."

Ron went as red as his hair, "What?" He seemed to spot the way everyone was standing; Neville and Ginny on one side, Luna expectantly on the other, and Harry and Hermione in the middle with him, and he glowered again.

"Should have known," he muttered, shoving the pole he was holding, roughly into Harry's hands, and taking his place next to Luna.

"On three," said Harry, standing behind Hermione and getting ready to push his bar under the rock.

"One! Two! Three! Lift!"

The rock grudgingly released its hold on the ground, tearing quite a bit of the surrounding lawn up when it finally toppled over. The six teens adjusted their positioning and repeated the process, over and over again until they had reached the entrance to the greenhouse, nearly sixty yards from their starting point.

"Tell me again, why we're doing this," grumbled Ron.

"Because we have nothing better to do, and it's either this, or sitting in the kitchen and discussing our homework for this summer," said Harry, his mood just as irritable, but trying to fight it.

"Harry," said Hermione, "I was thinking about it, and once we get these rocks moved for Neville, d'you think we can see if Lupin might be willing to do a little magic and install a pool in the open area?"

"Great idea!" said Harry.

"Pool?" asked Ron, his confusion echoed on the faces of Neville, Ginny, and Luna.

"Swimming pool, Ron," Hermione said, wearily.

"Oh, OH!" said Ron, catching on quickly.

"Well, the sooner we get these rocks moved, the sooner we can ask him," said Luna, and the teens turned back to their task with more vigor than they had started out with.

The late afternoon rolled around, and it was close to three o'clock when Harry and company started on their last rock. The heat index had climbed from a warm ninety-five to around one hundred degrees as the day had worn on, and both Harry and Neville had shed their sweat soaked shirts, modesty giving way to comfort. Ron had refused to remove his, on the grounds that he had enough freckles, and Weasleys didn't tan, they just burned, a sentiment that Ginny readily agreed with. Hermione on the other hand, had rolled up her sleeves, and tied her button up shirt in a knot above her midriff, a style Luna had quickly copied.

"Okay, guys, on three." Harry counted down again, and the six exhausted teenagers heaved and grunted, forcing the last boulder to release its hold on the earth. When it toppled over, Ron gave a half-hearted cheer, but shut up when he saw the glares directed at him.

"What?"

"Finish first, then you can cheer," said Hermione, wiping her sweaty hands on her pants.

"I agree with Hermione," said Neville, stretching his back.

Harry cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders, "C'mon, guys, argue later."

Twenty minutes later, with a final concerted effort, they rolled the last rock into the greenhouse. Harry turned to Ron with a grin.

"Now you can cheer!"

Ron frowned, "I would, but I don't have the energy."

"Aw, it wasn't that bad," Harry smiled.

Ron just glowered and everybody laughed. For a moment, it was like there had never been any tension at all.

"What are you kids up to out here?" asked Lupin, coming from the house. "Looks like you all got a little warm, heh?" He looked at the sweaty teenagers, glancing pointedly at the shirtless Harry and Neville and grinning at what Hermione and Luna had done to their shirts.

"Uh, yeah," said Harry, "Remus, I-we were wondering if maybe, you could put in a pool."

Lupin looked at the suddenly smiling teens, "I think that's an excellent idea," He smiled, and took out his wand. "Although I have never done this before, it can't be too difficult." He walked away from the group, pointing his wand at the ground the entire time, what looked like a fine mist spraying from the end. "Let me know when the length is satisfactory," he said, continuing to walk.

"That should be good, right, Hermione?" asked Harry, when Lupin was close to fifty feet away.

"Looks good to me," she said, and Lupin made a right-angled turn, marking out the width, stopping when Harry shouted again, and then after another right-angled turn, came back to the teens, making another right-angled turn to end up where he had started. When the lines were connected, the mist began to glow, solidifying into a bright yellow line that marked out the perimeter of the pool.

"Excavaté!" Lupin shouted, and all the dirt inside the rectangle shot into the air in one block, leaving a hole approximately one foot deep, fifty feet long, and twenty feet wide. "How deep would you like it?"

"At least seven feet on one end and five at the other," said Hermione, and Harry nodded.

Lupin waved his wand again and more dirt shot out of the hole to join the pile in the air, when the specified depth was reached, he transfigured the block into a large concrete tub, and dropped it into the space the dirt had occupied a moment before. He transfigured a section of ground around the pool into a patio and then created a walkway from the back door. He turned to the grinning teens. "Will that be all?"

"Uh…Professor?" said Hermione.

"Yes?"

"You forgot the water."

Lupin turned back to the pool and blushed. "So I did, terribly sorry." He pointed his wand and a huge fountain of water shot out, quickly filling the pool with cold, crystal clear water.

"I've charmed the water to keep it clean, so you needn't worry about that, and since I don't believe any of you had the foresight to bring swimming wear, I'll take care of that for you as well." Lupin pointed his wand at each of them in turn. Harry found himself in a pair of black trunks, and thanked Lupin silently for not putting him in a maroon Speedo like the scarlet faced Ron. Neville too was in trunks, but his were green. Ginny got a yellow one-piece, with extra material to insure she was covered, while Luna ended up with a much skimpier silver two-piece. Hermione's was a dark blue, one-piece with a large diamond cutout in the front and back that nearly made it a two-piece.

"Professor!" Ron wailed, trying desperately to cover himself with his hands.

Lupin laughed, "Sorry, Ron. The spell took whatever swim wear you were thinking of at that moment." He raised an eyebrow, "I guess you shouldn't have been thinking of the Speedo."

Harry was even more thankful that he had been picturing trunks, when it suddenly dawned on him that the girls hadn't chimed in yet. He looked at Luna, and she was smirking, Ginny was making sure her knots were tight, and Hermione was biting her lip, a small frown on her face.

"Can you please change mine to trunks like Harry and Neville?" pleaded Ron.

"I think you look good, Ronald," said Luna, her eyes raking the redhead from head to toe. "About what I imagined you'd look like in something like that."

Ron's eyes went wide and he turned to the still grinning Lupin.

"Please, Professor!"

"Sorry, Ron, I've over taxed myself at this point, the pool and the patio and then the clothes, I think I need to go lie down," he headed back into the house without another word, but Harry heard him break into loud guffaws when the door shut behind him.

A huge splash let Harry know that someone had jumped in and he turned in time to see Ron coming up, and Luna, Ginny, and Neville getting in.

"This water is cold!" said Neville, sliding in up to his waist.

"That's why I jumped in," grinned Ron, shaking his wet hair out of his eyes. He started to say more, but Ginny jumped at him, trying to push his head below the water, an activity that Neville and Luna joined.

Harry looked at Hermione; she was still frowning. When she noticed him looking at her, she blushed and dove into the pool headfirst. Harry looked at his friends in the cold water and wondered why he was still standing in the hot sun and not in there with them. Without another thought, he leaped into the air and did a cannonball into the pool.

***

The six teenagers spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, the cold water just what they needed after getting all hot and sweaty. After three hours in the water, Harry decided he had had enough. He climbed out, pulling at his trunks to keep the material from outlining body parts while his back was to his friends, an action that was not lost on Ron apparently.

"Oy, Harry, what's wrong, mate?"

"Nothing," said Harry, making sure the wet material was no longer clinging to him. "I'm just turning into a prune." He held up his hands, showing the wrinkled skin of his fingers.

"That makes two of us," Hermione said, climbing out too. "I think I've had enough fun for one day." She grabbed her wet hair and twisted the thick mass, wringing the water from it and flinging it over her shoulder.

"Aw, don't be a spoilsport! C'mon back in, guys," said Ron.

"I think they have the right idea, Ron," said Ginny, making her way to the side.

"I'll stay with you, Ronald," said Luna, sliding over closer and resting her arms on the side next to Ron.

"Thanks, Luna," Ron shot Harry and Hermione a sharp look, but they ignored him, Ginny trailing behind. They found towels hanging on a rack near the door, and Harry figured Lupin had sneaked them out while they had been busy playing and splashing around, and held one open for Hermione to wrap herself in, taking another for himself.

"Hold up, Ginny!" said Neville, climbing out of the pool and hurrying over. He took a towel from the rack and emulating Harry, opened it for Ginny to wrap around herself. He smirked at the gaping Ron.

"What? Girls like this kind of stuff, right?" An uncertain look crossed his face and he looked at Hermione and Ginny for confirmation.

"Absolutely, Neville," said Hermione, and she smiled at Harry. "You get more flies with honey than you do vinegar."

Harry grinned, opened the door and without waiting for Neville and Ginny, they went inside.

"I'm going to go change," said Hermione, as they passed through the kitchen.

"Yeah, me too, meet me in the study when you finish, I want to go over that D.A. plan McGonagall wants."

"Just let those suits dry and they'll change back to the way they were," Lupin called from the lounge, as they made their way upstairs.

"Thanks, Professor!" Harry shouted back.

Hermione went into her room and Harry was about to enter his when a voice stopped him.

"Harry!"

Harry spun around, his hand reaching for his wand, before remembering that it was safely in Buckbeak's room.

"Geeze, Tonks! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Tonks, her hair standing approximately two feet straight up from her head, and a bright, shiny, silver, grinned, "Sorry, Harry. I just got word from Kingsley, I'm needed on assignment, so I can't be your trainer."

"Sorry to hear that, I guess it'll just be me and Moody then."

"Sorry again, mate, but Moody's needed too," she grimaced. "I hate to tell you this, but Kingsley will be your instructor."

Harry frowned, "What's so bad about Kingsley?"

"Take it from me, Harry; you do not want him for your trainer. But, since we can't do anything about that now, I'm going to help you all I can, before he gets here."

"How?"

"Well, Harry, remember I told you about Aurors using a spell to increase speed and strength? Well, it only lasts an hour or so, and drains a Wizard's energy at a very fast rate, so some friends, and me developed an alternative version a few years ago. It won't make you stronger immediately, but if you keep pushing yourself passed your limits, your growth in strength and speed, agility, and endurance will increase by a factor of one."

"Say that again, and this time in English."

"Okay, if you can run half a mile without stopping right now, then after the spell, you'll still only be able to do the half mile, but if you push yourself one step passed that half mile limit, then you'll be able to do the rest of the mile without stopping. Did that make sense?"

"Sort of," Harry mused, "So if I'm able to do ten chin-ups right now, and after the spell, I push myself to eleven chin-ups, then I'll be able to do another ten without stopping?"

"Close enough. The good thing is, the results are permanent, but the spell itself wears off after a month or so. We never were able to pin point exactly how or when it goes away, it's kind of dependant on the Witch or Wizard it's cast on."

"Cool! I didn't know you could just create spells!"

Tonks face grew stern, "Well, you can, but you're not supposed to. The Ministry frowns heavily on that sort of thing and all new spells are or should be registered, complete with hand movements, effects and side effects. Harry, this is more than slightly illegal in more ways than just one, Aurors aren't supposed to use anything but their natural abilities to help themselves through training, but since you are a special case in every sense of the word, I don't think it will hurt." She smiled, "Besides, anything that makes you stronger than You-Know-Who is a good thing, right?"

"Yeah," said Harry, his thoughts automatically jumping to the prophecy. If using the spell would help him in the long run, then he was more than willing to suffer the consequences.

"Ready? This will only take a second. You won't feel any different until you actually exert yourself."

"Great, where were you when we were straining our asses off moving those big honking rocks?" he asked, slightly irritated.

Tonks raised a chrome eyebrow, "What rocks?"

"Out back," Harry gestured with his thumb, "me and the gang moved them into the greenhouse so Neville can grow some plants on them."

"Oh, good idea," Tonks raised her wand. "Now hold still, Harry, I don't have much time." She tapped him on the head, and Harry felt warmth spread throughout his body. It was an interesting sensation to say the least, and it left every muscle in his body tingling. "Now, once you start training, you'll see a marked change, not so much in mass, that comes later, after lots of training and eating right," she smiled and gave him an appraising glance, reminding him he was only wearing wet swimming trunks. "Not that you're that bad, but your strength and muscle definition will definitely take a turn for the better. You won't be Ahhnuld," she morphed her face and did a perfect Schwarzenegger impersonation, "so lose that thought right now."

Harry, who had indeed been picturing himself looking like the Terminator, blushed furiously.

"Okay, so I won't be huge, but eventually, I will be buff, right?"

Tonks returned to normal, or as normal as she ever got, and nodded, her face turning slightly red.

"You're almost there now, mate, you just have to work at it a little more. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm outta here!"

"Tonks, wait!"

"What?"

"How bad will it be with Shacklebolt?"

"Terrible. He has no mercy or compassion, when he trains you, you either give it one hundred percent or he makes your life a living hell."

"Oh," said Harry, in a small voice.

"Look, Harry, I understand what you're feeling, because I felt the same thing. The best thing you can do is go to your room or back outside, and exercise, get a jump on the training by building your strength now, before he starts in on you."

"Thanks, Tonks, I really appreciate everything."

"No problem, Harry, now I really have to go!" Tonks disappeared with the customary POP of Apparation.

It dawned on Harry a moment later, that Tonks had not only complimented him, she had been checking him out! He looked down at his chest and abdomen. Now that she mentioned it, he could see some definition in his pectorals, but it was his abdomen that really shocked him. He was so used to being considered skinny; that he had failed to notice that at some point his stomach had toned up, developing the ridges that led to the washboard look. Amazed that he had missed such a major transformation in himself, he immediately went to talk to Hermione.

Harry walked into Hermione's room without knocking or thinking, so muddled were his thoughts.

"HARRY!" she shrieked, and he realized that she wasn't dressed, wearing only a lacey pink bra and matching tanga. She snatched up her towel and held it in front of her, "Get out of here!"

Harry stood there staring, before his dazed brain caught what she was saying. When he did, he blushed nine shades of red and fled the room, rushing back to his room and hoping he wouldn't run into anybody.

He quickly pulled on some fresh clothing, sat on his bed, and tried to vanquish the image he had just seen from his head, but to no avail. His retinas were imprinted, and when he closed his eyes, he found himself analyzing body parts that he shouldn't be thinking about at all. His blush increased, until he felt like his face was on fire.

A knock at his door shook him from his reverie.

"Harry? Can I come in?"

Harry's embarrassment climbed a notch, here he was the one that did the seeing and she was the one that sounded apologetic. He got up and opened the door for her. She walked in, wearing a baggy t-shirt and loose fitting, jean shorts.

"I'm sorry, I should have knocked," Harry muttered, not looking at her.

"It was an accident, Harry; I'm not mad," she blushed, "just a little embarrassed."

"You shouldn't be," the words slipped out, before Harry even knew they were there. He almost amputated the tip of his tongue, trying to shut his mouth, but it was too late.

"What?" Hermione's eyes were wide.

With the cat out of the bag, Harry figured he might as well be honest.

"Hermione, you've nothing to be embarrassed about. You look great, and although I never would have pictured you in something like that-

"What would you have pictured me in?" her voice had gotten slightly husky, and Harry gulped. He sensed that things were about to spiral out of control, he had to change the subject. The only question, was how?

"Make her mad."

"I dunno, something like Aunt Petunia wears-

"WHAT? HARRY POTTER! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD SAY SUCH A THING!" Hermione's face had dropped into her McGonagall look, lips pressed together, brows furrowed, and shooting a glare that would likely have killed a lesser man. But Harry, was made of stouter stuff.

"Now, now, Hermione, you didn't let me finish!" He held up his hands to show he meant no harm. "I was about to say that something like Aunt Petunia wears is all I know regarding women's undergarments."

"Oh," Hermione looked sheepish. "Sorry."

"Geeze, don't be so quick to bite my head off." He chuckled, happy that his diversion had worked.

"You mean you've never seen anything other than…What does she wear?"

"Oh, you know those big, pantaloon type things that reach from the knee to the arm pits."

"Oh my," Hermione covered a giggle.

"Tell me about it," Harry feigned horror. "I'd hate to be doing the laundry and come across something like what you had on." Harry realized his mistake almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Hermione's brown eyes darkened, and he tried to pull both his big feet from his mouth. "Wait! I didn't mean it like that! I meant, that if I stumbled across something that sexy, it would make me wonder what my aunt was doing with it, and that would lead to more questions, and then visual images that I'd rather not, but already do, thanks to you, have stuck in my head."

"You think it's sexy?"

Harry's mind went on full red alert. He consciously told his mouth not to say a word while he tried his best to extricate himself from such a volatile situation.

"Uhm…er…that is to say, uhm…" The hole he was digging himself into was getting ever deeper. "The underwear itself is sexy, and while it looks good on you, I do not want to think about my aunt dressed like that. Which brings to mind another question, why are you wearing something like that? Isn't that bit a little too girly for you?"

Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, "Contrary to popular belief, I am a girl, and just like every other girl in the world, I like to feel sexy, I like to dress up and do my hair and put on makeup, all that. I don't get many occasions to do so, but for a worthwhile cause, I like doing it."

"I know you're a girl, Hermione, and a damned pretty one at that."

"Thank you, Harry, but sometimes I wonder."

"You shouldn't."

"What, wonder?"

"No," Harry shook his head, "have to wonder."

"That's nice of you to say, Harry, but given my record or complete lack thereof, I can't help it."

"Hermione…"

She raised her hand, "No, it's alright, I'm used to it, or at least I should be. Neither you nor Ron would have asked me to the Yule Ball except as a last resort, and I know that's because we've been friends for so long, that neither of you saw me as anything but 'one of the guys,' and that's not completely your fault, because I tried not to act very girly when around you, and since I was around you so much…" she let the thought trail off, letting Harry draw his own conclusions.

"I was a fool. I was so hung up on Cho, and then I never entertained the idea of asking you, because it never crossed my mind that you might like to go with me." Harry ran his hand through his hair, causing it to stand up even more than usual. "I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

Hermione smiled, "Of course I can, because believe it or not, I had a great time with Viktor," her smiled vanished to be replaced with a grimace, "until Ron started acting like an ass."

"I don't want to talk about Ron right now, there's something that I've been doing and I only realized it right after I got back to the Dursley's."

Hermione's expression immediately softened, "What is it, Harry?"

"Taking those I care about for granted."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "How did you come to this realization?"

"This may sound corny, but it came about because of a song."

"A song?"

He nodded, "Yeah, a day or so after I got back, I had had enough being cooped up in the house and just like last summer, I wandered around the neighborhood. I usually found myself in the park and this was no exception. I took a seat on a swing and just sat there mulling over the things that happened, and a car pulled into the parking lot to pick up some kids. There was this song playing on the radio, and I only caught part of it, but what I did catch, hit me like a ton of bricks, I sat there and cried, I cried more than I thought possible," his voice grew thick, "It really struck a chord within me, and it's why I've been opening up to you so much," he felt his face get hot, "and if you don't mind, I'd like to share it with you."

Hermione just nodded.

"I used my wand to record what little I heard, let me go get it," said Harry.

"I'll be right here."

Harry smiled, then rushed off to Buckbeak's room to retrieve his wand. When he came back, Hermione had taken a seat on his bed and was flipping through his photo album. She was staring at a photo of himself grinning at something she had said, a small smile playing about her lips as she remembered that moment.

"Okay, I'm back."

She put the book away and turned to face him, "I'm all ears."

"And hair, but that's beside the point," Harry grinned.

Hermione stuck her tongue out at him. "Smart aleck," she said. "Get on with it."

Harry waved his wand, mumbling the spell quietly and a man's deep voice filled the room. The tune was slow and the words heartfelt, tugging at Harry's heart again, and he felt himself tear up. He sat down on the bed beside Hermione while the singer spoke to them.

"I've lost loved ones in my life,

who never knew how much I loved them.

Now, I live with the regret that my true feelings for them,

never were revealed.

So I made a promise to myself

to say each day how much she means to me.

And avoid that circumstance

where there's no second chance, to tell her how I feel.

Cause if tomorrow never comes,

will she know how much I loved her?

Did I try in every way, to show her every day,

That she's my only one?

And if my time on Earth were through,

And she must face this world without me,

is the love I gave her in the past,

gonna be enough to last,

if tomorrow never comes?

So tell that someone that you love,

just what you're thinking of,

If tomorrow never comes."

The singer's voice faded, and Harry was overwhelmed by the grief that he had fought so hard to contain for so long. He buried his face in his hands and cried like someone that had suffered far more loss than any one person deserved. He felt two arms surround him and he was pulled into a shoulder, a soft voice making soothing sounds over his sobs.

"Shh, Harry, it's alright."

"I-I never told h-him h-how mu-much I-I cared," Harry said, his voice catching and breaking. Hermione just held him tighter, pulling his head down to rest on her breast. He wanted to be embarrassed, sobbing like a child, but his feelings of loss and potential loss out weighed shame, and he just held her tight, his face buried in her chest.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione's voice was choked up too, and she laid her head on top of his, crying as well.

After a while, Harry's sobs died down, and the tears stopped flowing. He pulled back and looked at Hermione. He reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

"That song made me realize that I have been taking my friends, you especially, for granted. I've never once told you how much I appreciate your help, and how much you mean to me." Harry felt his throat closing up again, so he hurriedly said what was on his mind. "I lo-love you-all of you so much, and I want to make sure you all know that just in case, 'tomorrow never comes,' you know?"

"I understand, Harry." Hermione said, regaining her composure. "I've been thinking a lot about the future too, and there is no guarantee that we'll live to graduate. That's a lot for kids our age to deal with, and I think that you and I are the only ones to fully realize this; I know Ron doesn't."

"Yeah, he does seem to be focused on less important matters, doesn't he," Harry agreed, wiping his eyes. "Sometimes I think that if it weren't for Quidditch, he'd have no reason to live."

Hermione laughed, "I know. He's a great guy, but not that deep."

Harry cleaned his glasses, "He has his moments."

"But they're few and far between," she muttered.

"That's not nice, Hermione," Harry admonished.

Hermione made a face, "As much as he torments and ridicules me for my study habits and library time, he deserves it."

"Be that as it may, he is our friend."

"Then why does he treat me like he does? I swear, Harry, when we argue, he pulls no punches, he acts like I'm his worst enemy or something."

"I know," said Harry. "You see the way he looked at me today? If looks could kill, I'd be a smoking spot outside on the lawn right now."

"I don't get it, Harry, why was he acting that way?"

Harry blushed; this part was going to be tricky. "I don't think he likes you and me hanging out as much as we do."

Hermione looked highly affronted at this news. "Well, that's just tough! He'll have to get over it!"

"I think he's worried that you and I are trying to push him away, what with D.A. and Grawp and all."

"Harry, we can't help that."

"I know that, but if we look at it from his perspective, it might look like we're leaving him behind or something."

Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide and brows raised, "When did you start analyzing him so much?"

Harry shrugged, "I've been analyzing everybody lately, it's highly annoying."

"I bet," Hermione laughed, "you've never liked introspection, and here you've been doing a ton of it."

"I know, it's why I've been so open with you, why I've tried not to lose my temper with Ron, why I gave Neville the greenhouse, why I made sure to invite Luna today, and why I blew up at Ginny. I'm getting mightily sick of the whole bit," Harry said, disgusted.

"All this sharing must be just killing you," Hermione smirked.

"You have no idea."

"Want to discuss the D.A. stuff?"

"Yeah, this introspection is depressing me." Harry snapped his fingers as he suddenly remembered something, "Oh, damn, I still haven't replied to McGonagall!"

Hermione smiled, "Already taken care of, Harry."

"Wha-you?"

"Of course, there was no need to trouble you with it, when you obviously needed time to yourself, so I wrote her and informed her that we were ecstatic about teaching again and honored that we would be treated as actual teachers, with wages and everything. I also took the liberty of filling out your class schedule request form."

"You what?" Harry got a sinking feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. "Hermione, please tell me that you didn't put me in Potions."

"Sorry," she squeaked.

Harry contemplated getting angry, but decided it was no use. She hadn't meant any harm. He blew out his breath in a violent sigh.

"It's alright. I suppose I can live through another two years of Potions."

"Take heart, Harry, with our teacher status Professor Snape may not be as harsh towards us."

Harry looked at her like she had grown a second head, "Yeah right, I'll bet you he's even worse, in fact, I'm so sure that he will be, that I'll make you a deal. If he's not as harsh or harsher towards us on the first day of Potions, or even the first time he sees us, I will wholeheartedly embrace S.P.E.W. and do whatever you want in relation to that."

Hermione's eyes went wide, "That's quite a bet!"

"I'm confident."

"Well, in that case, if you win, I'll…Oh, I don't know what I'll do for payment!"

Harry grinned, "How about if I win, you agree to be my date for anything and everything requiring one, that way we both won't have to worry about a repeat of 4^th year, and you have to play at least one prank per week on the person of my choice."

"Harry!" Hermione's face went red.

"What? I figure that's equal to me devoting myself to S.P.E.W.."

Hermione blushed, "I-I guess that's acceptable, but you do know this kinda kills me having any chance at a boyfriend, right?

"I know, and sorry, but it also keeps me from having a girlfriend too, so you're not alone."

"Harry, this is going to provide more fodder for the rumor mill."

"I know, but as long as we're not actually snogging, then they really can't say much."

"I suppose, and it is only a minor inconvenience for me because it's not like guys are beating down my door for dates."

"And it'll be fun!" Harry chuckled, pretending not to notice how her voice had gotten just a trifle bitter. "No one will ever suspect you of pulling a prank, it'll be great!"

"That's only if you win." She corrected.

"Yeah, yeah, so are we on?"

"Yeah, we're on," Hermione stuck out her hand and they shook on it. "And nobody is to know about this."

"I wouldn't dream of sharing this with anybody." He leaned closer, his eyes boring into hers.

"Harry." Hermione's voice was husky, and Harry had the distinct impression that his plan for this year was going to go up in smoke if he kissed her.

"What?" he asked. He was breathless with anticipation.

"Wake up!"

Harry awoke to Hermione's voice calling to him as if from a great distance. He blinked his eyes sleepily and struggled to make out her face through vision that was again blurry.

"Here you are."

He felt something slide along his face and suddenly she came into focus. She was smiling, Harry smiled back, but then found himself gazing past her and then he began to scream at the top of his lungs.

TBC.

Ain't that a hell of a cliffhanger?