A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying this so far. I noticed some people review with questions, please e-mail me with any questions you may have about the story, I don't want to clutter the story with author's note after author's note explaining my story so far. On to the next chapter, enjoy!
"But I'm a Prefect," Ron said.
They were sitting down at the Great Hall for breakfast.
"So, the Head Boy and Girl didn't get the room either, you don't hear them complaining," Ginny said as she forked her toast.
"But how did you get it, your a year younger than us."
"Ronald, whining is not very becoming. Besides, you are a shoe in for Captain of the Gryffindor team this year. I don't think McGonagal will pick Harry. Especially with his new responsibilities and all." Luna Lovegood sat down at the Gryffindor table and began to eat her breakfast.
"Why aren't you sitting with your own house," Ron asked.
"Wait a minute, what do you mean Harry's new responsibilities," Hermione said, ignoring Ron.
"You know, the substituting he'll be doing."
"What substituting?"
"Lupin's the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher again this year. It's just around the full moon," Harry said before Luna could get a word out.
"Harry! That's amazing! Well, of course, there's a lot you've got to do."
"It's not that big a deal."
"Not that big a deal? No student has been asked to help teach since.... Since Dumbledore. Harry, this is a huge deal! Why didn't you say anything before?"
"Because I knew you would freak and I didn't want to hear it for once, okay?" Harry got up and left the Great Hall.
The table was silent.
"I'm... not hungry anymore." Hermione threw her napkin on the table and got up.
"Hermione, don't take him so seriously, he's probably just really nervous," Neville said.
"Yeah, finish breakfast with us," Ginny said.
None of it helped, of course. Hermione just walked out of the Great Hall and began to walk outside. Fresh air would do her good, fresh air would stop the pit of her stomach from hurting so much.
"Hermione?"
"I really don't want to talk about Harry right now, Ron."
"Good, neither do I."
She gave him a puzzled look, wasn't that the reason he came out here?
"Why are you here, Ron?"
"Because I thought... er... maybe we could talk?"
"That is what we're doing."
"But it seems that we never talk without Harry," he said.
"That's because we'd kill each other."
"But-"
"'ello Ron, Hermione."
Ron put his head in his hands. Of course, a moment's peace would be too much to ask.
"Hey Hagrid. I see Grawp's been behaving himself," Hermione commented on Hagrid's lack of pulverized face.
"Yeah, doin' really good. Been teachin' him his ABCs. What are you two doing out here now, breakfast's nearly over."
"We just came from there. I wasn't hungry. I should get to the library..." Hermione said as she ran off.
"What was that all about?"
Ron shook his head.
* * *
Hermione slammed the book down on the table, then took the open book in front of Harry.
"Read it," she said to Harry before she went back out of the room through the tapestry.
Harry picked the book up and went after her. She was sitting in the common room which was filled with people at that time. He slammed the book down and took back his book.
"Harry, give that back!"
"No, I wasn't done reading it."
He went back behind the tapestry.
"Harry, I wanted to read that!"
"Wait your turn."
"With the rate you'll go I'll have it by Christmas," she said.
"Did you just call me stupid?"
"No, the fact that without MY help you wouldn't have passed your O.W.L.s makes you stupid."
"Yes, you annoying me every ten minutes with your constant nagging, thank God you were around or I'd stick my wand in my ink well!"
"Better to be someone who nags than a... a masochist!" she screamed.
"So all these years and that's what you think of me!"
"I could say the same thing!"
"Well I... I can't stand the sight of you!" he said as he stomped off.
Harry sat in the stands of the Quiditch pitch and watched as Hedwig flew around. Harry wasn't going to write anyone anytime soon and for a while he had felt guilty for not letting her get out. She would fly around a couple times, get an owl treat from Harry, nip at his fingers, then set out again.
A book made a loud thunk at Harry's feet. He didn't look up to see the person who dropped it there, he knew. She sat next to him, apparently not remembering they hated each other at this moment.
Harry didn't say anything as time went by.
"Why did you say that at breakfast," she asked.
"You always make a big deal out of that sort of thing, I didn't want it to seem like it was a big deal, because it isn't. Out of all the other students it's obvious why he picked me, but because it has to do with school you make it into this thing."
She nodded, "So you don't really care that I make 'big deal's out of things, just as long as they're well distributed. That 'walking with one foot in front of the other... genius!'"
Harry smiled in spite of himself.
"I get nervous when you do that. Something that was never anything turns into something and then I automatically think I'm going to fail. 'It's something of some importance, Hermione said so, so now I'm going to screw it up like I do everything.'"
"Really Harry, you don't screw up everything," Hermione paused. "From now on I'll try to control myself."
They shook hands at that and smiled goofily.
"Thank God that's over. You know, I was about two seconds away from telling Ron to stop being a jerk."
"What's he got to do with this," Harry asked.
"Nothing, it's just I'm used to him being the one I want to yell at."
A sudden flash made them both turn to see Colin Creevy in the stands.
"The students are arriving, McGonagal asked me to look for you, there's a meeting in the Great Hall!"
"Thanks Colin. You two go, I have to tell Hedwig to head over to the owlery," Harry said as he signaled Hedwig to come back.
"I would like to present to you, the students of Hogwarts, Headmistress Maxime."
Most of the students gave a ferverant applause, minus the Slitherin table.
"We thank you for your kindness 'Eadmaster Dumblidore. 'Opefully in zese trying times we can make ze best out of zings. Zat is why my students and I 'ave decided we shall zrow a ball in 'onor of 'Ogwarts."
This of course was well received by all, but it made Harry feel uneasy. He looked over to Ron, who's gaze was fixed on Hermione.
'I think he fancies her....' He heard Ginny's voice in his head.
"Thank you Madame, that is very kind of you. Now, let's all tuck in," Dumbledore said.
"All that work..." Hermione said under her breath as she looked at the huge piles of food in front of her.
"Don't worry about it Hermione. I bet loads of them saw how happy Dobby is and asked Dumbledore to pay them."
"You two mates now," Ron asked after he swallowed a large amount of chicken.
"Really Ron, we were never not friends. We just got angry over a... misinterpretation," Hermione said.
Ron rolled his eyes and went back to eating.
They were not required to stay for the sorting, which was good because there were spells they needed to try out, since their earlier argument took up most of the day. Harry asked if he and Neville could be alone for a while, saying the spells could wait a little while longer. Neville got nervous, and sat in his chair unsteadily.
"I have something to give to you, it's from Dumbledore."
Harry took out the letter and gave it to Neville who read it out loud.
"Mr. Longbottom,
As the leading member of The Order of the Phoenix I would like to invite you to join. We hope to see you at our next meeting. If you have any questions the member who delivered this to you would be happy to answer them.
Albus Dumbledore"
He looked up at Harry, then read the letter over and over again.
"What's The Order of the Phoenix?"
"People who are against Dark wizards to put it simply. It's been around since Voldemort was first in power. They were the ones that came to help us at the Ministry last year."
Neville nodded.
"Neville, your parents were members of the Order."
Neville looked up at Harry surprised.
"I'm sorry I'm the one who's telling you this. It would sound a lot better from someone else...."
"That's okay. I just never knew...."
"From what I've heard they were brilliant. My parents were in the Order, too.... I think they'd want me to be in.... I'm sure your parents will be proud, your gran too...."
"I can tell her," Neville asked.
"I dunno, I think so because Ron and Ginny aren't in, but they know about it. I think it's just a matter of keeping it a relative secret...."
Harry thought for a moment then decided this was as good a moment as any and continued.
"There's something else I want to tell you. It's about the prophecy that broke."
Neville winced at the memory, but did not stop him.
"Dumbledore heard it.... I mean he was the first one who heard it. The thing is... the prophecy could have meant either you or me. Dumbledore is sure it's not you now, but it could have been. Voldemort didn't hear the whole thing and... well, he went after one of us.... I just thought you might like to know.... I dunno I guess I'd want to know...."
"Thanks Harry," Neville said.
"So, you going to join the Order?"
"Course. I'm just surprised they picked me," Neville shrugged.
"Well, you didn't die last year and you practically forced me to let you go... so your not afraid to do the right thing.... And when you're not nervous or fainting your a good wizard...."
Ginny and Hermione walked through the tapestry giggling about something.
"Neville's going to be in the Order," Harry said.
"That's wonderful! Congratulations!" Hermione practically squealed.
"Okay, when I turn sixteen if I don't get an invitation I'm going to be really mad," Ginny said picking up the invitation.
"Your mum won't let you," Harry said.
"That's okay, I'll just move out of the Burrow and into Grimmauld Place."
"I'll be surprised if you make it to sixteen at this rate," Harry said.
They were interrupted by the tapestry opening.
"Ron! Your not supposed to be in here!" Ginny said.
He ignored her and sat down at the table.
"Ron! I mean it!"
"Oh alright, I just came in here to talk to Hermione anyway."
Ron went to the tapestry and held it open obviously waiting for her. Hermione walked towards him but said over her shoulder, "I want you to practice that spell, do it with them while I'm gone."
They walked out to the common room which was deserted, and sat down at the couch.
"You know what Madame Maxime said tonight about that ball and all."
Hermione sat there shocked he was bringing this up but still nodded.
"I -er- I know you said.... Would you like to go with me," he asked.
"I... I... we don't even know when that might happen, if it happens at all...."
"In case it does, would you go with me?"
"Like a... date?"
"If that's okay..." Ron said.
"Can I think about it?"
"What's there to think about? Either you want to go, or you don't."
"I... Okay..." she said.
"Brilliant." Ron smiled and went up to his room.
Hermione got up from the couch and made her way back to her room.
She passed Neville who seemed to be in a box, which meant the spell worked, and went to her room, not hearing the numerous questions they were all asking her.