1001 Hogwarts Nights: Heat

AN: This story was originally written during the hay days of the C.O.I. While most of the cookie jar writers on FA were pumping out near smut/NC-17 rated stories. I had yet to contribute. I wanted to write something from Hermione’s perspective since I love writing her character so much. I didn’t want to write a typical “sex-goddess” Hermione. I do however love writing her in humour- since JK gives her such a fantastic dry wit, and I think Ron shouldn’t always have the punch line. So I came up with this. It kind of pokes fun at nearly every Hermione ship and does include some innuendo which I absolutely love.

I can’t take complete credit for this story. I was very fond of the Dark Angel TV series- so this is my tribute to it.

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"Crookshanks! What are you doing out in the corridors?" cooed Hermione, walking up to her orange fur ball of a friend. Crookshanks gave a low 'meow' and trotted off, with Hermione in pursuit. She zig-zagged in between the students trying to catch up with him. Crookshanks definitely looked like he was on a mission.

"Hello Hermione...Her- Hermione?" said Harry watching her walk straight past him.

"Can't talk Harry," she said pointing towards Crookshanks.

"I'll help you then," he said turning around and following her, "how did he get into the hallways? Out of the common room no less?"

"I guess he got out as someone was coming in- he can be very fast," said Hermione side-stepping a few third years.

Crookshanks weaved in and out of the students legs until finally, he found his objective. Mrs Norris, the caretakers cat, had just popped around the corner. Both Harry and Hermione stopped dead in their tracks, as they watched the two cats rub against each other, purring loudly.

"What is your cat doing?" asked Harry.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione swooped down and scooped him up.

Harry was about to laugh when Mr Filch popped up around the corner, swooping up Mrs Norris in his own arms.

"You keep that bloody cat away from Mrs Norris! It's been after her all week."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know how it got out of the common room. This is the first time he's-"

"No excuses!," he snapped, "if that fur ball, hurt Mr Norris-"

"Actually, Mr Filch they seemed quite friendly," Harry interrupted.

Filch narrowed his eyes at Harry, and then looked at Hermione. "Keep it locked up in your room where he belongs," he growled then turned the corner to disappear.

Hermione hugged Crookshanks close and scratched the back of his ear. "It's okay Crooks," said Hermione, "he'll never hurt you," and gave her cat squeaky kisses on top of his head.

Harry cleared his throat, and Hermione stopped and looked at him.

"We better bring him back to the common room, we're due for transfiguration next."

When classes ended that day, Ron, Harry and Hermione were returning to their common room when our of the corner of Hermione's eye she saw a bottle brush tail whip around the corner.

"Oh no," she said taking off at a run.

"Hermione?" called Ron and Harry and chased after her.

"It's Crookshanks!" she called over her shoulder, "he's got out again!"

"So why are we chasing him?" said Ron sprinting along side Harry.

"Because! Filch will hurt him," said Harry as they caught up to Hermione.

"That's not such a bad thing you know!" shouted Ron trying to keep the pace.

Hermione kept her eyes focused on Crookshanks when he suddenly came to a stop- right in front of Mrs Norris. They curled their tails together and started to purr loudly.

"What is Mrs Norris doing?" asked Ron with his nose wrinkled.

"Crookshanks has found himself a girlfriend," said Harry resting his hands on his knees.

"Crookshanks come here!" Hermione hissed. " I don't understand, he's never acted like this before."

"Spring romances...they never last," said Ron.

Hermione was about to pick up Crookshanks when a pair of old looking boots appeared around the corner. "Mrs- Mrs Norris?" said Filch as his jaw hit the floor. "GET AWAY FROM MY CAT YOU OVER-STUFFED-"

It happened so fast.

Filch spun around and grabbed a wand out of a second year passer-by's bag, raised it above his head and a red jet of sparks flew out- it missed Crookshanks by inches, ricochet off of Mrs Norris and hit Hermione in the chest.

Hermione stumbled backwards and muttered a soft 'ouch.'

"ARGUS FILCH!"

Everyone jumped and turned around to see Professor McGonagall standing there. Filch looked at his hand and thrust the wand back at the second year who took off running.

"Miss Granger, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," said Hermione, picking up her cat.

"Her cat- her cat," said Filch pointing his shaking finger and Crookshanks.

"In all my years at Hogwarts, I thought YOU of all people-"

"Mrs Norris was being attacked!" shouted Filch.

Harry Ron and Hermione watched in horror as McGonagall's nostrils flared.

"You attacked a student! Over a Cat!...The three of you will return that cat to the common room, and go directly to supper. I assure you Mr Filch the Headmaster will be notified."

After dropping off Crookshanks in the common room, they proceeded to the great hall and found their usual seats.

"This is amazing!" said Ron pouring gravy all over his turkey, "Filch gets in trouble and we get away."

"What is this world coming too?" said Harry in a mock voice.

“How was Filch able to do magic? Isn’t he a squib?” asked Hermione, wrenching her tie loose.

“Must be those Kwik-spell lessons,” Harry replied “…Hermione you okay?

"I think so," she said fanning her face, "it's a little warm in here isn't it?"

"No- I'm fine, " said Ron taking a sip of his drink.

"I think I might be coming down with something, " said Hermione feeling her forehead.

"You better not," said Harry pouring more pumpkin juice in Hermione's goblet, "Hogsmeade is this weekend."

"If you're sick we're staying the hell away from you," said Ron, "we've got a Quidditch match against Ravenclaw in on Monday...we can't afford to be sick."

"It's probably just from the running," said Hermione, taking a deep sip from her goblet. She saw Harry narrow his eyes at her, "honeslty Harry - I'll be fine."

After a few hours of homework, they bid each other good night and went to bed. As soon as Hermione got up to her room she desperately shook off her robe. “So- hot!” she said peeling off her jumper and letting the cool air rush through her shirt, she stood there blowing a sweaty strand of hair from her face and looked on top of her bed. Crookshanks looked up at her with his yellow eyes, lazily swishing his tail up and down.

“You could have gotten your self into big trouble today,” she said crawling towards him and scratching the side of his face. He let out a ‘meow’ and closed his eyes. She sighed as she felt her eyes grow heavy with tiredness, laying on her side as she gently stroked Crookshanks back, and fell asleep.

Hermione rose up again, hearing a loud scream coming from down stairs. She bolted from her bed and rushed down the stairs. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw five death eaters in the room.

“STUPEFY!” Hermione shouted, one death eater ducked while the others were blasted against the wall.

The one that ducked, stood up straight again, but Hermione was faster. “Expelliarmus!” she shouted and his wand flew out of his hands. His masked face darted from window to window, looking for an escape. Hermione had to get Dumbledore, but there was no time, Harry was no where to be seen. Hermione knew if she ran for help the death eater would be gone by the time she came back.

“You!” she said and his mask whipped around to face her. She kept her wand straight at him. “Take off your robe.”

The death eater hesitated but took off his robe and threw it to the ground.

“Your shirt too.” Hermione commanded, she had to make sure he wasn’t going to leave. With one hand in the air, the death eater took off his shirt. Hermione’s left eye brow twitched as the glow from the near by lamp cascaded over his chiselled form.

“Nice,” said Hermione with a small smile, but her face turned straight. “Get over on the bed,” she commanded again. The death eater turned to his right where the bed was, he got over to the bed and Hermione marched over and pushed him down with her wand pointed at his chest. “ I hope your as good as you look, “ she said straddling his legs and crawling towards him, “ because I’m the type of girl that likes to be on top of things.”

She bent over and with her tongue, traced his Abdominal line up to his chest, casting her wand aside she grabbed the back of his head and tore off the mask.

“Harry?!” she said in shock looking at his smiling face. “What are you doing here?”

“Don’t ask me,” said Harry, “it’s your dream.”

Hermione snapped her eyes open with a sharp intake of breath, and sat up straight. Lavender and Parvarti looked at her.

“You all right?” asked Lavender, brushing her hair.

Hermione looked around furiously.

“Hermione you look a little flushed, are you feeling all right?” asked Pavarti

“ I- I think so,” said Hermione clutching her shirt, and pushing her sweaty bangs away from her forehead. She flung herself back on to the bed and Crookshanks crawled on her stomach and began to knead it with his paws, purring rather loudly.

The next morning she decided not to wait for Ron and Harry as she went to down to breakfast. There at the table she met Ginny eating a bowl of porridge and reading the Daily Prophet.

“Good Morning Hermione!” she said cheerfully.

“Morning Ginny,” she said taking a seat next to her, pulling her robe closely to her.

“Are you okay?”

“Cold shower,” said Hermione pouring herself some orange juice.

“Why didn’t you just-”

But Ginny didn’t have the chance to finish, the bench was shaking. Hermione was bouncing her leg up and down on the ball of her foot really fast. “Are you nervous about something?”

“That’s ridiculous, why would I be nervous?” said Hermione brushing away her sweaty bangs.

“Good morning Harry! Ron!” said Ginny as the two boys approached the table. Hermione nearly dropped her milk jug. And Harry just HAD to sit beside her. Hermione swallowed hard as she felt her heart beat faster.

Do NOT look at him whatever you do-

“Want some sausage?”

“WHAT?” Hermione snapped.

“That’s a no then,” said Ron lowering the plate down and handing it to Harry.

“Pardon my reach,” said Harry as he leaned towards her to grab a slice of toast.

Hermione eye’s fluttered shut as she felt his arm press against her and caught a whiff of his after shave. She bit her lip playfully. As he drew himself back she watched him slowly lick his lips out of the corner of her eye.

“Hermione you’re sweating,” he said suddenly.

Hermione snapped out of it. “What?” she said worriedly.

“It looks like you’ve been sweating- your bangs are a little wet,” said Harry, “are sure you’re not coming down with something?”

“Um,” she said looking around for her book bag, “ I-I’ve got classes,” she said getting up and banging her knee against the table in the process, slinging her bag over her shoulder she walked quickly out of the Great Hall.

Staring straight at the ground she didn't see what was in front of her.

"OUCH!"

"I'm so sorry...I...was," Hermione trailed off as Seamus's chisled jaw line smiled at her.

"Hello Hermione, my fault- been really clumsy lately, here let me help."

Funny. She never realized how sexy that Irish accent was. Then he did the unthinkable.

He bent over.

Hermione slowly ran her hand through her sweaty hair as she watched Seamus upright himself holding Hermione's books. The corner of her mouth twitched as she smiled a very wicked smile.

"Here," he said handing the books to her, "em...Hermione?"

A look spread over her face as if she just realized where she was.

"Thanks!" she said ripping the books out of his hand and walking away very fast.

Hermione was almost at a run when she walked into the library. She walked straight towards the back and hid herself among the book shelves. Dropping her bag, she slammed her back against the wall and grabbed her hair.

“What is happening to me?”

She sighed heavily and lowered her hands. Turning her head to look at the desks she saw a blond haired Slytherin, frowing at the book he was reading. She slowly picked her self up from the wall and looked at Draco Malfoy. She watched as he stretched out his arms and rubbed the back of his neck. There was something about those arms that flexed ever so lightly under his shirt. And that hair…

Malfoy stood up and walked over towards her to return his book when he stopped dead. “What are you looking at Granger?”

Hermione started to walk towards him with her chin tilted down, her eyes narrowed at him. She gave him a half smirk as she tossed her hair back. “Did I ever tell you how sexy you look with that hair slicked back?”

“What the hell are you doing Granger?!” said Malfoy watching her hand move across his chest. Hermione leaned forwards but suddenly she felt her collar go tight around her neck and was pulled backwards.

“You better keep that Mudblood away from me, Weasel,” said Draco taking a step back.

“Sod off Malfoy,” said Ginny keep a firm grip on Hermione’s robes as she tried to advance forward.

“Class Hermione!” shouted Ginny as she turned Hermione around, grabbed her bag and headed for the exit.

Hermione finally seemed to snap out of it as they exited the library.

“What the heck was that?” demanded Ginny.

“I-I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” said Hermione, “Every male I’ve bumped into I-I just…loose control.”

“Don’t tell Ron,” said Ginny as they turned the corner, “how long has this been happening?”

“This morning?"

Hermione felt something brush against her leg. Crookshanks was weaving in and out of her legs rubbing against her calves purring loudly.

“Out again?” said Hermione picking him up. Crookshanks swished his tail back and forth, “I’ve got to take him back to the common room, do you mind coming with me? In case I…go under?”

Ginny nodded. “No problem.”

Crookshanks didn’t seem to want to leave Hermione’s side. Every time they tried to exit the common room Crookshanks tried to go with her.

“Does he always do this?” asked Ginny grabbing on the back of his tail to pull him backwards.

“Only for Mrs Norris.”

“Mrs Norris?”

“It was rather cute actually,” said Hermione blocking the exit with her leg. “ It was like her smell was leading him to her or something.”

“Ha! Love vibes!”

Hermione stopped suddenly.

“Oh no,” Hermione groaned.

“What? Hermione what is it?” asked Ginny as she watched Hermione sink into a near by chair, with Crookshanks close behind.

“This is not good, this is definitely not good,” she said pushing her wet bangs up.

Ginny waved her hands frantically. “ What?”

“Mrs Norris…was in heat.”

“In what now?”

“Heat! That’s why Crookshanks went after her.”

“You mean it was mating season? That‘s positively adorable! Crookshanks wants to be a daddy!”

“It’s not adorable anymore Ginny! Yesterday Filch caught Crookshanks with Mrs Norris and he tried to jinx Crookshanks or something, but it didn’t work! It hit Mrs Norris and then bounced off to me- now I’m in Heat!!”

Ginny stood there with her mouth open and then started to laugh. “You have to be around Harry and Ron all day! Boy are you going to be sending mixed signals!”

“This isn’t funny Ginny,” a look of horror suddenly passed over Hermione face. “ I’m going to Hogsmeade with them this weekend. It’ll be a disaster,” she said holding her face in her hands.

Ginny slowed her laughter and sat on the arm rest. “ I wouldn’t worry about it Hermione, I mean this thing can’t last forever, can it? Filch is- or at least I thought he was- a squib, this whole thing could be gone by tomorrow.”

It took a few more attempts to finally keep Crookshanks inside the common room. Ginny and Hermione made their way down to their respective class rooms, although at one point Ginny had to dig her heels into the ground to stop Hermione from chasing after Roger Davies.

“So what are you going to do if you sit beside them?” asked Ginny.

“I don’t know, I guess I just won’t look at them. I’ll sit on my hands or something.”

“Good plan, well I have to go- transfiguration is that way, remember, just stay focused and you should be fine- you’re good at that.”

“See you Ginny,” said Hermione with a smile and carried on her way. She watched as the rest of the class file in to potions. Hermione stood outside, took a deep breath and walked in. Lifting her eyes briefly, she took her seat next to Harry and Ron.

“Where were you this morning?” whispered Harry.

“Just finishing something up,” she said sitting on her hands and pulling her ear away. Harry's breath was tickling her. She closed her eyes to try to push the naughty thoughts out of head.

Hermione focused on her note book in front of her. Not once did she dare raise her hand in case it might wonder onto Harry's tie and pull him onto the table... she blew on her sweaty forehead, her body temperature was on the rise again.

“Hermione are you nervous?” asked Harry

“No why?” she said staring at the table.

“Well, can you please stop bouncing your leg? The table is shaking.”

“Sorry.”

She watched out of the corner of her eyes as Harry started taking notes. She heard the scratching of chalk against the black board. Any second now Snape was going to turn around and take 10 points from Gryffindor because she wasn’t copying down notes. She had to risk it.

Steadying her breath she brought one hand out and took a quill from her bag. So far so good. She opened her book and began to scratch away. It seemed like hours had passed by. Hermione was feeling confident. She can beat this no problem.

“Hermione, do you have any extra ink? I’m completely dry,” said Harry.

Hermione clenched her fist. Avoiding his eyes she reached down into her bag and handed a spare bottle too him.

“Thanks,” he said taking the bottle and brushing his fingers against hers.

Uh Oh.

Her breathing had started to get heavy as she looked at him completely. He turned his face just in time before he saw Hermione making it look like she was about to nibble on his ear lobe.

Finally the bell rang and Hermione snapped her head forward. She heard Snape mumble something about an essay due next week as she rushed out of the classroom. Focus, Hermione she told herself.

This day was far from over.

“What is with her today?” said Ron walking out of potions.

“I don’t know, she looked pretty uptight about something. She was sweating like crazy,” said Harry watching Hermione in front of him.

“You don’t think she has that flu going around do you?”

“Hermione?” Harry called out. She stopped dead in front of them and then kept walking.

“Hermione, wait a second!” called Harry jogging up beside her. He watched Hermione’s face fall into a relaxed smile then go straight into a worried frown, “Hermione wait!” Harry grabbed onto her arm and spun her around. “ That’s it I’m taking you to Madam Pomfrey.”

“You can take me anywhere you want,” said Hermione with a lopsided grin.

“Sorry?”

“Er- no, I’m fine Harry,” she said wrenching her arm free, “really I am.”

“Are you sure? I have no problems taking you down.”

“Oh God I hope not,” Hermione shook her head. “I have to go to Arithmancy- I’ll see you.”

Hermione turned on her heel and ran, leaving Harry and Ron with a confused look on their face.

After Arithmancy, it was Ancient Runes, and after that- it was lunch. On the way down to the Hall she had nearly mauled Roger Davies again, if it had not been for Ginny grabbing on to Hermione ’s book bag at the last minute.

“We have got to put an end to this somehow,” said Ginny. “Do you have anymore classes today?”

“No I have the afternoon off,” said Hermione loosening her tie and un-doing the first button.

“Ah, see? We can get through this.”

And Hermione believed it. Up until Ron and Harry walked in in their Quidditch uniforms. The broad shoulders, piercing eyes…Hermione was leaving nail marks on the table as she clenched her fists tightly.

“I’ll take care of them. Don’t you dare move,” Ginny added as she got up, “Hello boys!” said Ginny taking Ron and Harry by the arms, “ Have you guys been on the pitch yet?”

“No why?” asked Ron eyeing his sister.

“Because…don’t you want to test out the flying conditions?”

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

“I suppose we could,” said Harry, “lunch will still be on by the time we get back.”

“I can show you that new keepers move I’ve been talking about!”

Ginny watched them exit and turned around to see Hermione’s seat empty. She heard cat- calls and whistles from the Ravenclaw table, where Hermione was sitting on Roger Davies‘ lap. Cho looked disgusted.

“Oh dear.”

Ginny ran over and grabbed Hermione’s robes and pulled her towards the entrance, leaving Roger quite flustered with his hair messed up.

“This is a lot worse than I expected. I mean you being in heat? It’s insane.”

“Hey Dean,” Hermione purred as Dean Thomas walked by giving Hermione an arched eyebrow.

Ginny snapped her forward again. “Don’t make me lock you in the closet!”

“I can’t help it!” said Hermione desperately, “I never asked to be in heat did I?”

"I have this feeling it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better- Whizzbies," said Ginny as the portrait hole opened.

"I- I just have to keep my mind occupied," said Hermione as she cast a grin to a sixth year.

"How about numbing it with a cold shower?" said Ginny pushing her up the stairs.

"Good idea," said Hermione, the expression on her face changing rapidly.

Ginny waited patiently in her room dangling a piece of string in front of Crookshanks, as he swiped in playfully with his paw.

"That actually felt better," said Hermione drying her hair off with a towel, " although I doubt it's doing much for my hair," she added casting the towel aside and pulling her robes closer.

"Well I still have a few minutes before my next class, " said Ginny checking her watch, "The common room is definitely empty by now, I'll meet you down stairs, you can help me with my Transfiguration essay."

"Fair enough" said Hermione running a brush through her hair. Casting it on her bed she made her way down the stairs, as soon as she reached the bottom step, the portrait door swung open and Harry crawled through.

Hermione's eyes narrowed and watched him hop down, with his Quidditch Robes flowing around him, his black hair freshly tussled from the wind. Hermione's breathing was becoming rapid as she watched a drip of sweat travel down the side of his jaw.

Harry heard a rapid foot steps and a flash of brown hair before he was slammed against the wall, he braced himself as Hermione gently bit his bottom lip and fruriously ran her hand up the side of his head grabbing his hair.

"Hermione! What are you- OOF!"

Hermione jumped on him wrapping her legs around his waist, grabbing onto the front of his Quidditch robes, she kissed him hard.

There was a mad rush of footsteps and Harry saw a flash of red hair out of the corner of his eye.

"HERMIONE GET OFF!" yelled Ginny pulling Hermione by the back of her robes. She stumbled backwards, as if snapping out of her trance. Ginny turned to her, "You! Cold Shower! Now!"

Hermione looked very worried, "Okay," she said, and with another sideways glance at Harry, Ginny turned her around and pushed her towards the stairs.

Harry stood there like he had been stunned. His Quidditch robe was hanging off his shoulder, his hair, if it was possible, was messed up even more, and his glasses were slightly askew.

"What...the hell....was that?"

Ginny listened closely to hear Hermione's door shut before answering.

"Harry um....Hermione...is having some issues," she said playing with her fingers.

"Issues with what?" said Harry pushing himself away from the wall and straitening out his robe.

"Well it's - it's complicated, and er...maybe Hermione should be the one telling you...if she's not to busy forcing you into broom closet anytime soon," she added cooly.

"She's been acting strange all day," said Harry, " I mean she's constantly sweating, always looks nervous, and then- and then what just er, happened now," said Harry looking at the floor, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

Ginny gave him the side eye, "You enjoyed it!"

"That's stupid," said Harry straightening out, " Why would I enjoy it?"

"Well. you weren't exactly pushing her away were you?"

"Well she completely caught me off guard, she jumped on me for Merlin’s sake!"

"You're right Harry," Ginny sighed, "we all know how hard it is to concentrate with someone's tongue down your throat."

"GINNY!"

"I'm just kidding!" said Ginny with her hands up in protest.

“What’s up?” said Ron entering the common room with a flourish, “You okay?” he asked noticing Harry’s flustered look.

“Oh, he’s fine,” said Ginny waving it away, “ he just found out what happens when a squib tries to cast a spell.”

“Oh…what?” said Ron suddenly looking confused.

“Never mind,” said Harry quickly.

“Well, if you two will excuse me, I have to run and get my bag before the bell rings,” said Ginny turning on her heels and running up the stairs.

“Who tried to cast a spell on you?” Ron asked as they continued up their own flight of stairs

“Er- no one.” said Harry feeling his tender lips.

Ginny peeked in Hermione’s room, where she watched Hermione‘s head bob up and down over the edge of her bed.

“I don’t know how many more of these cold showers I can take, Ginny” said Hermione halfway through a push-up.

Ginny stood there with her hip jutted out, “Why don’t you just go in the library and look up a counter curse or something…you’re good at that.”

Hermione pushed her self up. “Do you remember what happened the last time I went into the library by myself?”

“You’re right, Pansy will do her nut if she sees you snogging the daylights out of Draco.”

“Blegh” said Hermione with her tongue out, “no, I think all I need to do is keep my mind occupied,” she grunted, straining herself for one last push up.

“ So…what, you’re just going to drop and do push-ups every time you get the um… urge?”

“Don’t be silly,” said Hermione straightening herself up, “I have homework I can do.”

Ginny shrugged. “Well just the same I’ll check in the library for you,” she said swinging her bag over her shoulder. “By the way,” she added pausing at the door,

“You left Harry quite flustered downstairs, I don’t think he was capable of coherent thought for a few moments.” Ginny left grinning broadly, while Hermione bit her lip and blushed furiously.

Hermione wildly whipped her hands up and down in the air exhaling heavily. If I can just get through this day, she thought to herself. She scooped up a purring Crookshanks and sat on the edge of her bed. A sudden horror struck her. How was she going to explain this to Harry? To Ron for that matter? Oh, by the way Harry I'm in heat so if you find me on top of you, I apologize ahead of time. Hermione rolled her eyes. It was to late for apologies now after what had happened in the common room. But she knew that Harry knew better. She wasn't that type of girl. He would understand if she told him. This was Filch's doing after all.

With a new feeling of confidence she had difficulties putting Crookshanks down on her bed (his claws had caught on her jumper), and grabbed a few books, and headed down the stairs.

Ron and Harry were sitting on the couch with the brooomstick servicing kit open in front of them.

"Hey Hermione," said Ron, "Wanna help us polish our broomsticks?"

The corner of Hermione's mouth twitched. Harry and Ron stared at her as Hermione dropped her books and started doing push-ups in the middle of the common room.

AN: I’m positively beaming with amount of reviews I’m getting for this story. I’m glad you all enjoyed it. This is the final chapter however, but I will be back with hopefully more stories soon!

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Harry and Ron stopped applying the wax to their broom handles and gave each other the side-eye, and then glancing again at Hermione doing push-ups in the middle of the floor.

"Uh...Hermione?" said Ron with his mouth slightly open, "why are you doing push-ups?"

"Oh, you know," she said panting,"it's good exercise."

"So I hear," said Ron, his eyes moving up and down following Hermione's head.

Hermione grunted through her last push-up and stood up with a flourish grabbing her books. She avoided eye contact with both of them as she took a chair opposite. She looked extremely worried as she stared at her knees for a brief moment, then opened her books and parchment.

Ron and Harry continued to watch her as she began to write furiously. Exchanging funny looks with each other they continued with their polishing. It was a way of winding down for Harry and Ron. But for Hermione… watching them was pure torture.

Hermione's breathing became shallow as she bit her lip and watched Harry's forearm flex, while trying to remove a rather difficult piece of dirt form the handle. He licked that oh so soft upper lip in concentration and Hermione was slowly pushing her books aside ready to pounce.

"Hermione?"

"NO I WASN'T!" she blurted out as she fumbled with her falling book.

Ron blinked. "Okay...listen Ginny's birthday is coming up soon- any ideas?"

"Um..." she was trying very hard to concentrate, but she was too busy watching Harry take off his jumper. She started bouncing her leg very fast, "b-birthday?"

"Yeah, I was thinking about getting her something from Honeydukes...like a big chocolate thingy."

Harry accidentally dropped his polishing tin on the floor and bent over to pick it up.

Oh God.

Hermione let out a yell of frustration as she bolted from her chair and raced up the stairs to take her fourth cold shower of the day.

"So the chocolate's a bad idea then?" he asked Harry, who shrugged at him.

It was a good twenty minutes before Hermione emerged from the girls dormitories again only to find herself alone with Harry. She clenched her fists and turned around to head back up the stairs when Harry called after her.

"Hermione? can I talk to you?"

She bared he teeth, winced and turned to face him again.

"Er- the- the thing that happened earlier? When you...you know."

Think of something, just anything else, she thought to herself, butterflies...those are fun .

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

You. Me. Broomcloset. NOW.

"Um,” she said forcing herself to look at the ground. The butterflies were flying away. "Harry," she finally said, "this isn't going to be easy to understand...you see the thing is I'm-"

"THAT STUPID GREASY HAIRED BRAINLESS GIT!"

Both of then spun around to see Ron slamming the portrait hole shut behind him.

"Snape gave me a detention! There is no justice in this world!"

"What happened?" asked Harry, while Hermione gave a sigh of relief.

"Tell me if this makes sense to you- Malfoy trips me, but I get five points taken away. I try to claim innocence by telling Snape that he was mental and didn't know what he saw-" Harry and Hermione cringed "- then I get a detention."

"Yeah well that sounds about right," said Harry with a sigh.

"I'll have to give you guys my money to pick up a few things for me tomorrow," said Ron, sounding quite sad.

"What?" said Harry and Hermione.

"He didn't make the detention tomorrow?" said Hermione, sounding a little panicked.

Ron nodded. "But if I finish it early, I might still have time to join you guys."

Hermione felt behind her for a chair and sat down. Normally it would be no big deal for her if it was just Harry that came along. But the thought of being alone with him for an entire day made her heart beat faster again. How much longer was this 'Heat' going to last?

She went to bed slightly earlier than usual. Four cold showers and constant push-ups can tire out a girl pretty fast. The only thing that was keeping her awake was the thought of spending an entire day alone with Harry. She tossed and turned and wondered how exactly she would word the phrase “Harry...I'm in heat” without causing him to run for the shrieking shack. The last thing she remembered doing before finally drifting off to sleep was thinking of what it would be like to drop and do push-ups in the middle of Honeydukes.

Morning came soon enough, as Hermione began to stir. She let out a heavy sigh as she turned to open her eyes. Only to see Harry an inch away from her face.

She froze as Ginny pulled the picture of Harry away from her face.

"Feel anything?" Ginny asked.

Hermione put her hand over her heart. "Other than my heart in my throat- no."

"Hmmm," said Ginny looking at the picture of Harry, " spell must be wearing off then- this is the best picture of Harry I have."

The Harry in the picture blushed.

"What are you doing in here?" asked Hermione, sitting up in her bed.

"It's 9:30, Harry's waiting for you down stairs," said Ginny sitting on the edge of Hermione's bed, "Are you going to be able to handle going to Hogsmeade today?"

Hermione was breathing slightly heavier than usual. "Of course I can, once I tell Harry I'm sure he would be help me out."

Ginny's eyes went wide. "You haven't told him?"

"Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is?"

"I can imagine," said Ginny. "Look, Luna an I will be in Hogsmeade as well, so we'll be there to help you if things start going south...however I don't think you would mind if Harry went south-"

"Ginny!" said Hermione, her cheeks turning a brilliant shade of red, "that's disgusting!"

Ginny burst into a fit of giggles. "Come on, get dressed."

Harry sat on the arm of a couch and jingled the bag of coins Ron had given him. He heard footsteps coming towards him and looked up.

"She's almost ready," said Ginny, "did Ron tell you when he'll be finishing his detention?"

"No, it shouldn't be too hard though, he's cleaning out the hospital bedpans again- he's a pro at that."

Hermione had finally made her way downstairs, her hair loosely tied back, and her cloak pulled in tight around her.

"Another cold shower?" asked Ginny.

"Mind went south,” she muttered.

"Er, are you ready?" said Harry not really understanding them.

"More ready than I'll ever be," said Hermione feeling a sharp nudge in the ribs from Ginny.

The three of them walked down to the entrance hall where they saw Luna waiting for them.

"Hello," she said dreamily.

"Hello Luna," they chorused.

Joining up with the moving cue of people Filch checked off their names one by one. Harry looked around and caught sight of shiny black hair. Cho was just ahead of them hugging the arm of her boyfriend, but at the snap of Luna's gum he shook his head and looked somewhere else.

As they made there way out of the grounds Harry couldn't help but notice that Hermione was walking extremely close to him.

"Are you cold Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione's eyes went wide and she increased the gap between them. Ginny and Luna left to go to the three broomsticks, and Harry and Hermione continued on their own. Compared to the previous day, Hermione thought she was doing rather well, and to her delight, she did not need to do push-ups in Honeydukes.

Pushing the door open for Hermione, they walked into the three broomsticks, where they saw Hagrid at the bar. He raised his glass to them and they waved back. Taking a seat in the corner, Harry has brushed his hand against her leg while trying to remove his cloak. Her leg gave a nervous twitch. Focus, she thought to herself.

"Em- Ron should be here soon shouldn't he?" Hermione struggled.

"Yeah...wanna make out while we wait?"

Hermione turned her head towards Harry. "What?" she said dreamily.

"I-I said I wonder how Ron's making out with Snape...you know his detention?...bedpans?"

"OH...oh er, I-I guess he's doing alright," said Hermione, turning her head to the side and holding her forehead in her hand. At least she wasn't sweating anymore.

The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes watching various students leave. Hermione shifted to sit on her hands.

"Oh, before I forget," said Harry," about yesterday, before Ron cut us off-"

"Harry-"

"No, just let me finish...please? Why did you...you know."

Hermione's brain went into overdrive as she thought about jumping Harry the previous day. She glanced at the floor of the Three Broomsticks- it looked clean enough to do push-ups on...

"Harry," she started, bouncing her leg up and down again, " you remember when Filch tried to jinx Crookshanks?"

"Yeah, it hit Mrs Norris then bounced onto you...what's that got to do with it?"

"Harry, Mrs Norris was in heat."

Harry paused. "Okay…"

"Filch's spell hit Mrs Norris, then bounced onto me..." Hermione looked at Harry's vacant expression, "I'm in heat Harry!" she said in frustration, causing a few people to turn around in their chairs and look at her. "What?!" she snapped at them.

Harry was at a complete loss for words. "In…heat?"

"Yes," she sighed, "and what's worse I can't control it."

" So...so that was Filch's spell that made you do that yesterday?"

"Exactly, I would never act like that!"

Harry's shoulder's slowly started to sink. "Oh...okay...well then that's settled."

Hermione's watched Harry's crestfallen face turn towards the window.

"Harry I didn't mean hurt-"

"Don't be ridiculous," he said with a very fake smile, "it was just a spell after all, right? I'm going to get a butterbeer- did you want one?"

"Alright," she said quietly as Harry got up to leave. Hermione looked at the edge of the table. Maybe she shouldn’t have told him. She watched him order his drinks from Madam Rosmerta, and chat idly with Hagrid. It was a couple of seconds before she realized that her leg had stopped bouncing.

“Here you go,” said Harry handing over a tankard. But when there fingers touched, Hermione didn’t have the usual need to grab Harry and head for the nearest closet. Instead her stomach did a tiny flip. They finished their drinks and left, passing Ginny and Luna, outside.

“Anything?” Ginny asked in passing.

Hermione shook her head and smiled and Ginny gave her a brief thumbs up before turning to walk away. Luna was too busy standing very close to a shop window, staring at her reflection while checking out her new earrings. She didn't seem to notice the people on the other side of the window staring at her.

Just then Harry stopped dead in his tracks, and Hermione bumped into him, causing her stomach to do another tiny back flip. Hermione followed Harry’s gaze towards Cho and her boyfriend entering the same pink cozy tea shop Harry and Cho went to awhile back. Before they entered Cho looked back at Harry, giving him a ‘this is how it should have been done’ look. But fortunately, Hermione saw it too.

Hermione looked at Harry who was kicking a pebble with his shoe, looking rather put out. Looking back towards the tea shop again she reached down and held Harry’s hand.

Harry froze and looked at her.

"Come," she said marching them both towards the tea shop.

Harry dug in his heels, kicking up dust behind him, "Hermione we don't have to go in there, really it's okay!"

" No, it's not okay," said Hermione tugging a little harder, " she's been treating you like dirt since the beginning of the year."

"That's alright- I don't mind being treated like dirt, I'm quite use to it!"

Hermione threw open the door to the tea shop, and Harry followed in after her with his head down. Cho looked at Harry, then Hermione, then down at their joined hands. She whipped her head around to stare at a the wall beside her.

They found a table to sit at, but instead of sitting on the opposite side Hermione pulled her chair right next to Harry.

"Anything to drink dears?" said the plump waitress.

"I'll have tea, what about you Harry?''

"Er," Cho had never given him a choice what to have last time he was here, "I'll have tea as well."

Just then Cho had let out a high pitched false laugh, leaving her boyfriend looking rather confused.

"Oh please," said Hermione, " That laugh was so fake."

"Oh look," said Harry picking up a magazine from an empty table, "It's the Quibbler, " Harry started to laugh," Listen to this, Woman's bra snaps open- eleven people injured. "

Harry and Hermione's laughter caused to Cho to look at Hermione in disgust. They sat huddled together looking over various articles, and took turns filling out the crossword puzzle (Hermione filled out most of it). Harry thought that this time around was going much better. Sipping tea and reading about Celestial Warbeck's breast implants with your best friend really wasn't all that bad until-

"Er," said Harry shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"What's the problem?" asked Hermione, sipping her tea.

Harry nodded towards the other table where Cho sat. She was in a lip lock with her boyfriend, but what was really sad, Hermione noted, was that every couple of seconds Cho would open her eyes to look in their direction. It was as if she was saying "Beat that."

Hermione was more than ready to be up for the challenge.

"Harry," she said beckoning him forward with her finger as she leaned into him.

Harry had closed his eyes, but winced and slowly pulled back, "Hermione...maybe we shouldn't, you know because of the spell."

"Harry," she said with a pause, "this isn't Filch's spell anymore...this is me."

Before Harry had the chance to argue, Hermione leaned into him completely...and kissed him. Hermione's hand left the table and traveled up the side of his face, kissing him harder in turn, causing Harry to lean all the way back in his chair. He kept banging his fist on the table as Hermione's kisses smothered him completely- he needed air.

Hermione pushed herself back gasping for breath- she felt a little light headed, to be honest. Harry just sat there, his hair completely standing up on end, and his glasses halfway down his nose. Cho was furious as she grabbed her boyfriend, causing him to spill tea all down his robes as he was thrust from his chair.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, and started to laugh watching Cho drag her yelping boyfriend out the door- they stopped however, when they saw Ron standing in the doorway- staring at them with his mouth open and his eyes as wide as tea saucers. Slapping five Sickles on the table, they rushed to get up as Ron slowly turned around and walked outside.

"I don't want to know," he said as they finally caught up to him.

"It's not what you think Ron- Hermione was just helping me out!"

"Cho, was being so nasty to him all-"

"I said I didn't want to know," said Ron putting his fingers in his ears, " I am currently driving that image out of my mind, La, La, La, La, La, La."

"Ron I was in HEAT!" said Hermione, pulling Ron's arm down.

"La- In what?"

"Heat," Harry repeated, " I just got the tail end of it , that's all."

Ron chose not to respond to that comment, but listened instead to what Hermione told him about Filch's spell.

"Oh...is that why you were acting all wonky yesterday?" said Ron with his eyebrow arched.

Hermione nodded.

"Oh...well...I guess that's okay then," Ron nodded, twiching his shoulders in a certain direction," shall we go? I think Honeydukes is still open."

Ron casted one more suspicious glance at them and went ahead. As they continued to walk down the path Harry lowered his voice, " Thank you for the 'date'."

Hermione smiled at her shoes, " Anytime."

Harry considered the trees that were swaying to the breeze, "Good," he said, looking at the ground and trying to control his grin, "because I may take you up on that."

Hermione smiled at him and looked ahead, "Well good...because I just may accept."

As they entered Honeydukes their senses were engulfed with the smell of chocolate and various sweets. Ron immediatley headed for the back where all the chocolate was kept and grabbed a handful of small brown paper bags on the way.

As Ron stopped and hovered over a large barrel of pecan clusters, Harry and Hermione looked over the other various sweets.

"Look at these," he beckoned to Hermione, as he lifted up a small lid.

"What are they?"

"Gummy worms apparently," he said looking at the label, "...and they're moving," Harry wrinkled his nose.

"Can someone hand me a scoop?" Rons' voice echoed- due to the fact that half of his body was inside a barrel.

Harry handed Ron a red scoop from another bin, and wandered to the other bins, with Hermione on his arm.

"That should be good for a few days don't you think?" said Ron emerging from the barrel with two bags full," Harry?" he said looking around, until his eyes fell on his two best friends laughing together, huddled close over a small barrel of fizzing whizzbes. Did Hermione just rest her head on Harry's shoulder?

"Dragon's Dung!" He said pointing at them, "dragon's dung, dragons dung, dragons dung!"

"Ron, I have a feeling something's bothering you," said Harry with his eyebrow arched.

"Heat, my foot! You two have been dating behind my back!"

"Calm down!" Harry pleaded.

"We have not been dating," Hermione hissed.

"Then what's all this then?" said Ron waving his hand madly at them.

"Well...we kinda were on a date today- but not on purpose!" Harry added hastily.

"Oh, so you just happened to stroll into that gigantic pin cushion of a tea shop? You just happened to be holding hands? Did Hermione just happen to trip and FALL ON YOUR MOUTH?"

Hermione crossed her arms, "Don't be such a prat! You know very well that Harry and I would never lie to you! Does it disgust you so much if we were dating?"

"No! But it wouldn't have killed you to tell me."

Harry sighed," Look, Ron- Hermione and I have never once dated behind your back-"

"And I really was in heat! Ask Ginny."

Ron stared at her, "I'm your best friend Hermione! I'm supposed to know these things first!"

"Well it wouldn't kill you to ask her- you don't even know what to get her for her birthday!"

"I'm her brother Hermione, I'm not supposed to know everything about her!" Ron opened his mouth again but stopped to think about what he just said. He looked quite confused.

"Ron," Harry sighed, "I swear...on the Chudley Canons- that Hermione and I have never dated."

" - until today," she added

"-but that just happened."

"And we had every intention of telling you directly what happened," Hermione finished.

Ron shifted his eyes between them. "Honestly?"

"Yes," they said together.

"Are you dating now?"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other.

"Yes," said Harry. Hermione beamed at him.

"Well, just promise me you won't do any of what I saw in that tea shop in front of me," Harry and Hermione nodded," and...we're still a trio?"

"Very much so," said Hermione with a smile.

"Right...well if you'll excuse me, I have a very large chocolate thingy to buy."

Harry and Hermione grinned at him as he walked away.

"He'll be alright," said Hermione," once the initial shock wears off."

"So...what happened in the tea shop...am I going to see that again?"

With one hand folded behind her back, she smiled at him and beckoned Harry forward with her finger.