And Hell Followed With Him

When this was previously posted at fictionalley there was a formatting error where two words were cut up and put together, This shouldn't be a problem now but please contact me if you see it here, thank you.

“Nooo!” Harry’s scream ripped the night apart and sent the formerly sleeping Hedwig hooting and screeching. He expected to feel a sharp burning on his forehead where his scar was; but all he felt was the dampness of the cold sweat he had broken into. As always the coldness filled him with relief. What he saw hadn't been a dark vision of Voldemort’s deeds; but his own fears haunting him alone.

The nightmares were different each night but Harry had noticed one constant; Hermione. It was rare for Ron not to be there and occasionally other people he cared for also made appearances, but Hermione always showed up.

Tonight’s dream had been one of the worst yet. He had been back in the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Lupin. The class had been the same as before, but this time Harry had been allowed to attack the boggart. When it came at him it had changed in to a Dementor and as it walked towards him the classroom faded.

He found himself on the edge of the lake at night with Hermione lying on the ground in front of him. Harry cleared his mind and concentrated on a happy thought and cast the Patronus Charm, but the Dementor didn’t stop. He tried again and again but no matter how often he used the Charm the Dementor kept walking forward until it stood directly above Hermione.

The Dementor stopped and pulled back its hood exposing its rotting eyeless face, its gaping, shapeless mouth. It bent down and Harry knew what it was going to do, but he couldn’t move. All he could do was stand there, frozen, and watch. He could hear Hermione’s scream come from all around him as the Dementor performed its kiss and sucked her soul from her body.

It was then that Harry woke up screaming.

It was a few hours before dawn until the boy was able to fall back to sleep again. A sleep which was, thankfully, dreamless.

If the Dursleys had cared about Harry, they would have noticed how much the nightmares and subsequent lack of sleep were affecting him; but they didn’t care. It had been like that all summer, and this morning was no different.

Uncle Vernon complained loudly while reading his newspaper,

“You and that bloody owl shouting and screeching all night, it’s a wonder I got any sleep!”

He grumbled angrily.

Dudley kept eating his bacon, he was off his diet but Harry suspected that he would be back on it by the time he returned to Smeltings.

Aunt Petunia simply ignored him while she cooked more bacon and eggs for Dudley.

It was the middle of July and Harry had been back at Privet Drive for three weeks. He hadn’t slept a whole night through since he’d left Hogwarts. The truth was Harry hadn’t slept right since the night Cedric had died and Madam Pomfrey had made him take a sleeping potion.

In fact Harry was getting so desperate for a good night's sleep he was considering making a sleeping potion for himself, but he wasn’t that good at potions, and he wasn’t sure whether or not he would be allowed to make one.

He had gotten away with using magic out of Hogwarts once before but he was sure that had been because Fudge hadn’t wanted any bad press for the Ministry. However, now that Harry had claimed Voldemort had returned, he was sure Fudge would take any excuse to discredit him and through him Dumbledore.

He decided to ask Ron since his Dad worked for the Ministry and he should be able to find out if making potions at his age was legal. The constant stream of letters being sent between Harry and his friends were the only things that was keeping him sane. Ron was sending three or four letters a week. These letters ranged from the small, like difficulty with homework or the twins' latest invention to the important, like the latest gossip from the Ministry.

Hermione was managing to send a letter each day, and he assumed that it was a combination of her need to stay informed of events and her protectiveness towards Harry. If he had been in this situation last year he was sure he would have found her behavior suffocating but now it gave him a life line that he wouldn’t have given up for all the gold in Gringotts.

Hermione’s letters seemed to covey her every action for that day (they were written at night and Harry usually read them after breakfast), along with subtle attempts to get Harry to talk about what was happening and making sure he was doing all right. Harry had told both of them that he wasn’t sleeping well but had decided to keep the nightmares to him self; they didn’t need to know he was seeing there deaths every night in his sleep.

These letters filled him with joy because they made him feel as if she was in the room with him, anxious to tell him the latest news, or an interesting passage in the book she was reading. Harry could always hear her voice when he read her letters, hurried and excited when she had news or low and caring when asking about him, he knew it wasn’t much but it made him feel as if is friends were with him and he wasn’t alone.

After eating an extremely small breakfast Harry went back to his room to write to Ron about the potion and to check if Hedwig was back with Hermione’s letter. She had first sent her letters using owls from the post office but when it became clear that she would write to him every day Harry had told her he would send Hedwig to come and pick them up. It had become so common that the owl would leave before dawn to get Hermione’s letters with out Harry even asking her.

When he got to his room he noticed Hedwig sitting on his desk, waiting for him. She gave him a sharp nip for making her wait as he untied the letter and then a quick hoot before hopping into her cage to sleep. Harry went to lie on his bed to read the letter.

Dear Harry

I’ve had a great day today; I finished reading “Everyday uses for Ancient Runes” its such a fascinating book. I finished the essay for History of Magic, hope your getting on better with it now and no I wont tell you which pages to look at, I mean you wont learn if I tell you what to write.

The weather has been really good today so I did some reading out side until it started to get dark. I’ve got some great news as well I asked Mum if it would be ok if you came down here to stay for a few weeks for you birthday and she said yes. I know you would probably rather stay at Ron’s and if you don’t want to come here that’s ok, I won’t mind. I asked Dumbledore last week and he wrote back that it would be ok to come here as long as we stay in the Muggle world. Let me know what you think tomorrow, I’m off to start reading “Advanced Arihtmancy” before I go to bed.

Love

Hermione

P.S. You had better be giving Hedwig lots of Owl treats for carrying all these letters and the Dursleys better be feeding you well.

Harry didn’t know what to think; he wanted to go but was still a little unsure. He didn’t think there’d be a problem convincing his uncle to let him go as the Dursleys were going on holiday soon and were packing him off to Mrs. Figgs' house, but on the other hand what if he went to Hermione’s and she found out about his nightmares? He wanted to keep them secret because he didn’t want to worry her.

Another problem was that if he went to Hermione’s then he wouldn’t want to go back to the Dursleys. His first thought had been to stay at the Leaky Cauldron, but if Dumbledore didn’t want him to go into the magical world yet then he couldn’t do that.

Harry had found a new respect for rules that were meant to protect him during his third year at Hogwarts after Professor Lupin had pointed out what his parents would think of his sneaking off to Hogsmeade. He decided to write to Ron first and then try to figure out how he would get uncle Vernon to agree to let him go.

He went over to his desk and, getting out his eagle feather quill and some parchment he started to write.

Ron, say hi to everyone for me. I’m writing because I need to know if I’m allowed to make potions or if that’s covered by the underage magic laws. Still not sleeping well so I want to make sleeping potion. Don’t forget to keep up the Qudditch practice Gryffindor still needs a Keeper.

Harry

The boy looked up to see that Hedwig was still sleeping, and he decided to let her rest for a few more hours before sending her to Ron and Hermione. Walking into the living room to find uncle Vernon reading the paper, he took a quick breath because he knew staying calm would be important,

“Uncle Vernon, you know how you’re all going on holiday on Monday?” said Harry began, to get his uncle's attention. His uncle looked up from the paper,

“Yes and you better not give Mrs. Figg any trouble or tell her anything about your school” he threatened, his face growing red.

Harry took a deep breath,

“The thing is, my friend Hermione has asked me to go and stay with her for a couple of weeks. That would mean that there’s no chance of me letting slip about my school...”

He could see Uncle Vernon getting angry but there was a hint of joy at being able to deny Harry something he wanted. Harry, however, still had his ace to play.

“And Sirius would be happy to know that I’m with friends while you're off on Holiday.”

He continued, trying to fight the smirk that was threatening to ruin his composure.

Uncle Vernon's face was now an interesting shade of purple, the scowl on his face deeply set,

“You can go, but we're not dropping you off and they better not set foot in this house!" he agreed. Obviously his fear of Sirius would keep him from denying Harry what he wanted.

As quickly as possible, Harry ran up the stairs so he could send a letter to Hermione, excited that he’d get to see his friend. There was a little fear that she might start worrying if he couldn’t hide his nightmares, but he pushed it aside.

Dear Hermione

I’ve just spoken to my Uncle and he says I can come but only if you pick me up but you don’t have to because I can catch the Knight bus easily enough. I managed to finish my essay, thanks for the help by the way. I’ll tell Hedwig to wait for your answer and could you give her some toast or treats because she won’t be pleased with me for keeping her up all day.

Harry

Harry rolled up both of the letters he had written, along with a note asking Ron to send Hedwig on to Hermione so she could get her letter. Attaching them to the owl's leg, he sent her off.

It was starting to get dark and Harry was beginning to think that he wasn’t going to get a reply today when Hedwig flew in the window and gave him a look that suggested she was going to bite him when he untied the letter.

Acting on this thought, he got out some owl treats before he attempted to retrieve it from her. After gulping down a handful of treats, Hedwig hopped out the window and took flight. Harry suspected he’d find a couple of dead mice in her cage when he woke up the next morning.

He sat down at his desk to read the letter.

Dear Harry

That’s great news, I can’t wait to see you. Don’t you even think about getting that bus Mum and me will come and pick you up tomorrow, some time in the afternoon.

You don’t need to send back an answer you can let Hedwig have a rest and she can hunt normally. I’m so happy that you wanted to come and stay.

Love

Hermione

Harry stayed awake until two in the morning because even with the thought of spending time with Hermione the fear of what he would see in his sleep kept him awake until exhaustion caught up with him and he feel asleep.

Three hours later the nightmares caught up with him and once again he woke up screaming.

When this was previously posted at fictionalley there was a formatting error where two words were cut up and put together, This shouldn't be a problem now but please contact me if you see it here, thank you.

Harry was trying to pack the things he would need for his stay at Hermione’s house. He thought that it would be easy; all needed was clothes, a few quills and his scrolls of unfinished homework.

He knew Hermione would have the books he needed to use because he had already finished his Divination work. Using his crystal ball to get an impression of the year ahead, he had written about doom, gloom and the possibility of a vicious death. Hermione was in all his other classes, and so it shouldn't be a problem.

It should have been easy, but it wasn’t. His nightmare from the night before kept breaking into his mind and it took a lot of effort to ignore it and stop himself from being plunged back into the depths of grief that he had drowned in the night before.

~~

It had started out in a familiar way; he was standing in a busy street. The street was always the same, filled with people. People walking, people talking, people laughing. He wanted to scream at them all to start running and not stop because he knew what happened next; Sirius would confront Pettigrew and people would die.

Harry noticed Wormtail scurrying through the crowd trying to look in all directions at once, and then the small man spotted someone and he stopped dead, his face filled with fear. Harry followed his gaze, expecting to see the familiar form of Sirius; his eyes mad with grief and rage. But he instead of Sirius, he saw Ron. It wasn’t the Ron he knew it was the man his friend would become. He didn't know how he knew that; but he did.

Before Ron could say a word Pettigrew started shouting,

“Hermione and Harry, Ron! How could you? They were your best friends you murdering traitor!” a blur of movement and both of them went for their wands; a massive explosion and as the dust settles the scene shifts.

Instead of the fire scarred street, he's now in the wreckage of a small house in the country, his home. This is where he always saw his parents; his father battered by rubble, with his mother still holding him in her lifeless arms. This time, though, the dream had changed.

Lying under the roof timbers was not his father but himself. Like just before when he had seen Ron, he saw himself as a man and not the teenager he was now. He forced himself to follow the sound of a baby’s crying knowing what he should find but dreading it. He had seen this picture too often after the Dementors had come to Hogwarts, dragging up old memories.

His dream self walked into what was left of the kitchen and saw the baby in her mother’s arms. Hermione's hair fanned out over the floor still not tamed by time or even now in death. Her eyes were so dull and lifeless that for a second he wished it was his mother and he hated himself for that. He looked down at the baby.

Even at only a year there was no mistaking who her parents were, Busy raven black hair framed a face who’s center point were brilliant green eyes that mirrored his own. The wind picked up as he looked at his daughter, its tone changing from a howl to a hiss that seemed to scrape over every bone in his body.

“Finished gawking yet?” asked Hermione, her voice cold and filled with hate in a way that Harry had never heard it before. This was a rage born not of fire but of ice. "This is your fault, you know. You had to play the hero and now I’m dead because of it.”

“I’m… I’m…I’m so sorry,” stammered Harry, tears burning down his face as he finally brought himself to look at the ghost.

“Well that’s alright then,” the ghost's disgust was almost tangible.

“Don’t you think I’d give anything to have you back?” was his anguished response. The ghost seemed unimpressed, giving a snort of disbelief, and faded away with a sneer still on her face.

~~~

Harry woke up, trapped in his memories of his nightmare when something small, round and feathery smashing into the side of his head forced him back to reality. The words "There is a way!" still echoed in his mind, but he managed to direct his attention elsewhere.

Pigwidgeon had come with Ron’s reply and had obviously thought that flying into Harry’s head was the best way to get his attention. Even with his attention, the tiny owl kept flying round his room, hooting happily and refusing to land so Harry could get his letter. He briefly entertained the idea of hitting Pig with a tennis racket, but since he didn’t own one he forgot about the idea.

Besides he didn’t want to hurt the owl because he knew that Ron truly liked the thing no matter how much he complained. Harry decided that the best way was to think of the owl as a feathery Snitch and, using his bed to get some height, just plucked him out of the air. After untying the letter he threw Pig back into the air where he hooted happily and started flying round in circles again. Harry abandoned his packing to read the letter:

Harry,

I talked to Dad and he say’s it’s ok. You can make potions as long as you don't use them on Muggles.

Guess what? Dad heard a rumor at work that some Aurors have gone rogue to try to find You-Know-Who. He reckons that Dumbledore got word to them because The Ministry is still saying it’s rubbish and that You-Know-Who can’t be back.

Also, Good news! Fred and George say that I’ve got a good chance of being the new Keeper. It would be great if we could play on the team together then we could really show Malfoy.

Say Hi to Hermione for me.

RON

He wanted to write back straight away, but realized he had to finish packing and he knew that the images from his dreams would slow him down. He wouldn’t admit it to any one, especially Hermione, but it was seeing her suffer that had affected him most. Seeing his own battered body held no shock. He had resigned him self to dying so long ago that the prospect held little fear for him.

He supposed that said something about his mental health but he didn’t dwell on it. He wanted to keep Herm… His friends safe; that’s all that mattered to him. After an hour and four mental run-through of his dream, complete now with the sounds of Hermione dying, he had finished packing. All he had to do now was wait for Hermione to arrive.

The sun had decided to make one of its rare appearances today so naturally she was stuck in a car. Hermione usually didn’t mind long journeys as it gave her a chance to do some reading but today she couldn’t keep her mind on her book. Her focus kept wandering as she continually worried about Harry. She knew something was wrong and he wasn’t telling her or Ron what it was, even though both had tried.

She had been surprised at how easily they had gotten into the habit of writing to each other every day. She had expected he would keep contact to a minimum, but they had talked so much she hoped he would open up. However, he refused to acknowledge that there was anything wrong at all, let alone talk about it. The letters from Harry had quickly became the highlight of her day but that didn’t mean any thing; they were just friends.

When the car finally pulled up outside Privet Drive, Hermione stayed in the car as her mum went to get Harry. She watched her mum ring the doorbell and then talk to someone only a moment before the door was slammed in her face.

A few minutes later the door opened again and Harry was standing there, grinning, with a couple of bags. Hermione’s heart leaped and a grin she was unaware of started to spread across her face. He put his bags into the boot before climbing in to the back of the car.

“I’m sorry for the Dursleys being rude it’s just that…” Harry apologized slowly, but before he could finish, Hermione interrupted.

“Don’t you dare apologize for them!” Hermione’s tone was unpleasantly close to the one that the dream Hermione had used. She wasn’t used to feeling such rage but when Harry had climbed into the car she had had a close look at him. With his black hair and bright eyes, Harry had always looked pale but now his skin was almost translucent and the dark rings around his eyes were the most telling.

Hermione knew what was wrong now; the nightmares were back. She and Ron had talked about it before and Ron had told her how he would have bouts of terrible nightmares, but they didn’t last very long. This latest set must have lasted quite a while and the toll they were taking on him was obvious. The fact that the Dursleys still didn’t care made her even more angry with them.

“Hermione dear you know I like you to express your opinion but is there any chance you could do it a little more quietly?” Mrs. Granger requested, a small smile on her lips.

Hermione, who hadn't realized she'd been shouting, looked a bit bashful,

“Yes mum,” she said meekly, then mock-glared at Harry, “and you can wipe that smirk off your face, Harry Potter.”

“Yes mum,” repeated Harry, mimicking her tone of voice. This caused Harry and Mrs. Granger both to laugh out loud. Hermione sat in her seat scowling until she too started to laugh.

“It’s a long trip back, so why don’t you try and get some sleep, Harry? You must have been up early to pack,” Mrs. Granger suggested. It seemed that she too had noticed how harried the boy looked. The tiny flash of fear that Hermione saw in Harry's eyes was enough for her to confirm that he was having nightmares.

“Thanks, but if I sleep now then I wont get any sleep tonight,” Harry replied, attempting to mask his fear. Mrs. Granger seemed to accept this response, and so they drove on. They made good time on the way home and got there just as it was getting dark.

The Grangers lived in a small village a few miles from the town were Mr. and Mrs. Granger had their dental practice. Even in the rapidly fading light Harry could still make out a large garden with well cut grass and flowerbeds round the sides that were crammed full of flowers in a riot of different colors.

Harry walked in and was amazed by the house. It was like Privet Drive had collided with the Burrow. The love that seemed to hang in the air at the Burrow was here, but the chaos that was another of its trademarks was missing.

“Come on Harry I’ll show you your room,” Hermione grabbed his free hand and started to drag him up the stairs to the spare room. The room they entered was small but looked very comfortable and some one had put up a poster of the Irish Qudditch team from the world cup.

“What do you think? I asked Ron to send the poster; I wanted to try and make the room nicer for you,” Hermione's voice shook a little with nervousness, she'd worked really hard on the surprise, and hoped it was worth it.

“It’s great. But you shouldn’t have gone to any trouble for me,” he replied, a huge grin splitting his face.

“What trouble? You're worth it. Come on I want to show you my room,” the girl grabbed his hand again and was pulling him away before she had even finished talking. As soon as he stepped into the room it was obvious whom it belonged to. Hermione’s personality was stamped on the room like a second coat of paint.

All her books were on the bookcases but each shelf was crammed with books put away in a haphazard fashion. On one shelf there was a collection of things from her time at Hogwarts, a small jam jar which had once held blue flames, her omnioculars, a few gray feathers from Buckbeck, a set of needles from their first Transfiguration class along with other small souvenirs.

“Hermione, Harry come on down, the pizza's here,” Mrs. Granger shouted from down stairs.

“Come on, let's eat,” Hermione commanded, heading towards the stairs. As they went down, Harry noticed she still hadn’t let go of his hand but he thought it would be rude to tell her that, and so he kept quiet.

His friend let go of his hand when they reached the kitchen and then seemed to leap across the room to get at one of the boxes sitting on the table. Standing in the kitchen was a man he hadn’t seen but assumed was Hermione’s dad.

“Hello, you must be Harry. Hermione hardly every stops talking about you,” Mr. Granger commented as he shook Harry’s hand. A strange look passed over the man's face, as if he were trying to figure something out.

“DAD!” yelled Hermione. By this point, she was turning a bright red and trying to hide her face behind her hair. The sounds of laughter filled the room and on into the night as the Granger family made him feel welcome.

Harry had only felt like this before when he spent time with the Weasleys, the other family that had made him welcome with no hint of disapproval or contempt. It was these times when Harry missed his parents the most; when he experienced what he had lost when Voldemort had killed them. He would give up anything to have them back, but, as he knew, death was a door that could never be closed once opened.

The moon shone through the window. It was after midnight and he still hadn’t fallen a sleep. Hedwig had found him before he went to bed and was now out hunting. The fear of the nightmares was tiny now compared to the fear of Hermione finding out about them; she seemed so happy and relaxed. He didn’t want her to worry or to get upset because that was a pain that he couldn’t handle. As he lay there thinking of Hermione, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

~~~

He was standing in the maze that had been grown for the Triwizard cup. The Sphinx stood in front of him and started to tell him her riddle, and he answered without even thinking about saying the words. He walked on expecting to see Cedric being attacked by the spider, but instead he saw Hermione running towards the cup. The spider then attacked and his vision rippled.

He was standing in front of the cup, his leg hurt, telling Hermione to take the cup. The words were leaving his mouth but he didn’t want to speak them. He kept wanting to tell her to run he wanted to grab the cup before her and keep her safe but before he could touch it, she did and disappeared.

It only took him minutes to get out of the maze after sending up red sparks but it felt like days. It was barely a half hour later when she returned dead with a note attached to her chest:

Dear Harry

I Have returned from the hell that you sent me to. Her death should have been yours, the blood is on your hands.

The note was signed with the Dark Mark.

~~~

He woke up shaking all over, and once more the voice hissed in his ears like wind

“Your life can sssave hersss.”

A noise made him look up. Standing in the doorway was Hermione, her face white with fear.

Note: I would like to thank everyone who has read my story and to those who have taken the time to review it, Scout, hbraveheartp, anonymous and choccy2604. I'll be posting a part every few days and then the new stuff once its finished and I get a beta sorted out. Hope you all continue to enjoy it.

“Harry what’s wrong?” asked Hermione as she rushed into the room, quickly followed by her parents.

“Just a bed dream, it’s nothing,” Hermione’s expression changed from worry to annoyance at the patently false answer.

“‘Nothing’ doesn’t wake up the whole house and probably half the village, now will you please stop lying and tell me the truth,” her voice was soft but with enough steel showing through to tell him that things could get nasty if he kept lying.

Seeing that Harry was ok Hermione’s parents went back to bed and left their daughter to handle her distressed friend.

He sighed and all the life seemed to drain from him; he was tired of hiding the truth but he knew he had to; how could he tell her he was like this because he kept dreaming about her death.

When he looked up and saw the worry and fear in Hermione’s eyes and knowing he was the cause of it was too much to bare. Even if he couldn’t get better and be happy then at the very least he could try to take away her fear.

“It was a nightmare, I was back doing the third task but instead of seeing Cedric you were in the maze with me. You touched the cup before I could stop you; I’m sure you can guess the rest.”

Even though it seemed impossible she thought that he looked even worse after talking to her than he had when the fear was fresh.

“ I take it this is why you want to make a sleeping potion?” asked Hermione in soft tone as she held Harry’s hand.

Harry simply nodded; he felt ashamed of having to use potions to solve his problems.

“It’s okay; I would have turned to magic long before now. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it,” said Hermione as if she had been reading his mind, “but you could have told me the truth, I could have helped you. You not talking about something only increases the fear that it has over you.”

Harry smiled a little at Hermione’s unconscious echoing of Dumbledore’s words.

“ I know I should have talked to you or Ron but they’re about things…” he trailed off searching for the right words to express him self. “ I guess I was just scared about how you’d both react, I know that’s not a good answer but it’s the best I have.”

Hermione understood, even after everything they’d been through and how close they’d become she knew there were things Harry was still reluctant to talk about.

“I’ll make a deal with you, We’ll make enough potion for the week but you need to tell me about your dreams. We’ll make the fear go away together, okay?” asked Hermione, her tone still soft and understanding.

Harry simply nodded his head not trusting himself to speak. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve such good friends, but he didn’t want to talk and risk Hermione hearing just how much what she said meant to him.

She was too cleaver and would surely figure out how he felt about her and knowing how caring she was it would hurt her a lot to have to turn him down. He didn’t want to feel that pain and he didn’t want to cause Hermione any either.

“Now will you tell me about last night? If its too personal then its okay,” she smiled but he could still sense her concern. He again resolved to at least take away her fear, he just prayed he didn’t add to it.

“It’s not pretty if you want me to stop just say,” Hermione just nodded. It took him a little while to get started, the images were unpleasant and the thought of adding to Hermione’s pain was making him feel sick. But he had to do this and once started he didn’t falter as he first described the scene on the street and then what he had seen at the house.

“And the voice you heard it was his voice?” asked Hermione after he’d finished.

“Yes but my scars not hurting so I don’t think it has anything to do with him,” Harry was sure Voldemort knew the reason for the nightmares.

He was punishing him self for causing Cedric’s death and what better way than to see his friends and the person he cared most for die. He didn’t know if what he felt for Hermione was love but it was beyond friendship and was definitely not brotherly.

“It’s guilt, you still blame your self. You know it wasn’t your fault. Because if it was your fault that would mean Crouch, Pettigrew and Voldemort were innocent and not even Malfoy is stupid enough to think that!” they’d been through all the arguments on the Express and then afterwards by letter, she’d thought he’d accepted it wasn’t his fault.

“I know that here,” he said lightly tapping his head. “ But not here,” tapping his chest.

“It’s okay Harry,” said Hermione as she pulled him in to a hug. “Now I think you should try to sleep,” she said as she pulled away but still holding on to his had.

“Your right, I’ll try not to wake you up,” Harry slurred his last few words as he snuggled into his pillow.

“Wake me anytime you need me,” said Hermione in a voice that was barely more than a whisper as she softly kissed his cheek and then padded pack to her own room. As sleep claimed him for it’s self all Harry could think about was how soft her lips had been and how he wished it could have meant more to her than simply comforting a friend.

~ ~ ~

The moon hung in the air casting it’s light throughout the room. He looked so different in sleep, she had always imaged he would move about a lot but he barely even snored. Hermione didn’t know if that was because the potion pulled him so deeply into sleep or if it was normal for him.

She sat on the desk, her dressing gown wrapped around her to keep out the cold watching Harry and letting her mind wander.

The first night he’d drunk the potion she had stayed to watch over him in case it didn’t work. She had rationalized it by telling her self he’d need a friend if the nightmares attacked. That’s what she told her-self the first night; it was now a week later and this would be the last night that he’d take the potion.

Every night she meant to go to bed but after a few hours of sleep she would wake up and have to go and check on him. It was like what Harry had said that night, she knew he was okay but until she saw it for her self her heart would refuse to believe it.

Hermione knew that it was her feelings for Harry that kept dragging her back here every night. It was that dammed tournament; it had forced her to confront just how much she liked Harry. It was the night after the first task; she saw her face in a mirror all blotchy with fading marks from her fingernails. That’s when she understood that her fear had come from a place in her heart that was deeper than friendship.

As the sun’s light leaked into the room Hermione knew she had to leave or answer some very awkward questions the first one being ‘What are you doing in Harry's room at five in the morning?’ Now it was time to get a few more hours sleep so no one would find out about her all night vigils. Her sleep would be short; but peaceful for knowing her friend was okay.

~ ~ ~

He lay on the ground simply looking at the stars; he’d forgotten how beautiful the night sky was. Years of astronomy lessons had changed the sky from a thing of awe to a thing to be studied and understood.

Hermione lay beside him, even though he’d only been here a week spending time in the garden watching the stars had quickly became a fixture of their days. Sometimes they talked other times they just sat in silence.

These were the best and worst times for Harry because he enjoyed spending the time with Hermione but she looked so beautiful the urge to kiss her was almost overwhelming. Even in first year he’d noticed how the moonlight made her glow, as if she’d been born to walk a different world from mere mortals like him.

Even after seeing it a hundred times before he would never get tired of seeing her like this.

“Are you ready for tonight?” asked Hermione in a soft tone; Harry could hear the bitten lip in her voice.

“Yeah I’m not losing my perfect record,” said Harry referring to the nightly game of darts against Mr. Granger.

“That’s not what I mean and you know it,”

“Do you believe in me?” asked Harry as he turned to look at her.

“Of course,” no hesitation marked her reply.

“Then I’m ready,” as he looked into her deep brown eyes the desire to kiss her came over him. He stood up breaking the moment. “Come on we better get inside or your mum will give us another lecture on about catching colds.” Then with out even thinking he reached out his hand to help her up, Hermione took his hand and neither let go until they were back in the house.

“There you are,” said Mrs. Granger smiling warmly at them both; she’d noticed that they stopped holding hands as they walked in to the living room but they stood close enough to each other that there hands were brushing against each other. “Hope your ready for the game, Chris has been going on about titanium shafts all day,” she asked Harry.

After his defeat the night before Mr. Granger had declared that he needed new darts because the ones at the house weren’t the right weight.

“Hermione have you actually told your dad what it is a seeker does?” asked Harry because after catching the snitch from a fifty foot dive with only one hand on the broom darts was easy. He still had trouble hitting the double to finish but most of his darts landed in the twenty, and two days before he’d gotten his first 180.

“It might have slipped my mind,” said Hermione with a sly grin.

“Okay people prepared to be amazed and stunned by the quality of play tonight,” said Mr. Granger as he walked in the room.

“We always are dear. Harry’s such a good player,” said Mrs. Granger with a huge smile for her husband.

“Thanks for that vote of confidence darling,” he said with a matching grin.

The game lasted longer than usual, Harry took the first leg with a seventy point lead but in the second leg he couldn’t get the double one while Mr. Granger got his double fifteen with his first dart; making it one all. Harry won the deciding leg with a narrow ten point lead.

“Harry are you any good at cards?” asked Mr. Granger

“I’m ok but I’ve only every played exploding snap,”

“Well I’ll teach you a new game, its called Poker,”

Hermione and Mrs. Granger got dragged into the game and when everyone went to bed a few hours later Harry looked at his winnings, six digestives three custard creams and a jammy dodger.

“Night Hedwig,” said Harry as he gave the owl a treat, she was staying in the living room because it’s window could be left open a little so she could come and go as she pleased. Now it was time to sleep he could do it he knew he could.

~ ~ ~

Once more she sat watching him. The moon filled the room with silver light. She hadn’t even tried to sleep tonight, just waited until everyone was asleep and then crept in to Harry's room.

He looked so small and fragile that her usual perch on the desk was just too far away from him, so she took a corner of the bed. Time passed it might have been hours or minutes but he begun to move and mutter.

She heard the word ’Voldemort’; the nightmares were back. Gently so as not to wake him she took his hand and started to whisper to him.

“It’s okay, I’m hear for you Harry. I believe in you. Your stronger than this I know you can beat this.” said Hermione her mouth barley an inch from his ear.

“No!” the word escaped Harry's mouth along with a grinding of teeth, his eyes were closed he was still asleep.

She didn’t knew what to do so she kept talking about how much she cared for him, about how happy she was that he was here, listing every thing about him that made her care and finally every happy memory she had of him. At some point harry had passed into a peaceful sleep, but she kept on talking because it seemed like the right thing to do.

~ ~ ~

The light from the golden cage filled the night and for the second time in his life he was fighting Voldemort. He concentrated on sending the beads back along the connection, he could win, he would win. They touched Voldemort’s wand and ghostly shapes begun to come out of it. But it wasn’t Cedric, the old man or his parents but Hermione, then Ron, Ginny, the twins, Mr. & Mrs. Granger, Dumbledore, Mr. & Mrs. Weasley and then finally his parents.

They turned to look at him and the phoenix song died and their chorus of hate began, he couldn’t hear the words but their meaning was clear.

They were dead because of him. Their pain and blood was on his hands the world would be better with out him in it.

Then a small voice spoke; it was almost drowned out by the yells of rage and hate but it filled the same place in his heart the phoenix had.

“It’s okay, I’m hear for you Harry. I believe in you. Your stronger than this I know you can beat this.” Hermione’s voice was soft and gentle but carried to his ears and drowned out the hate.

He looked up and saw Voldemort, a smile twisting his lipless face.

“No!” the word rang through the graveyard, the shades fell silent and all that could be heard was Hermione’s voice, still soft and encouraging him, then the scene shifted.

He was standing in… blackness, there was no other word for it. Voldemort was standing in front of him the slow clapping of his hands the only sound. Hermione’s voice was gone and he missed it like oxygen.

“Well done Harry. Not many people have the strength of will to overcome the hatred of those they love. I underestimated you before, the power within you along with that will; you could go far Harry. But I wonder was that strength yours, or hers,” Voldemort waved his arm and an image of Hermione appeared. “So Harry what’s her live worth to you?” then he was gone and all he could hear was Hermione’s voice and the blackness became stars and the ground she was there watching the sky so he lay down with her and for a short time, he was happy.

~ ~ ~

The next day as he was eating breakfast with Hermione, her parents were rushing about trying to get ready because they were all going shopping.

Harry looked around making sure that they were alone.

“Thank you for being there for me last night,” he said looking into her eyes.

“I’m always there for you Harry, always,” as she stood to leave she held out her hand across the table he took it as they walked out to the car hand in hand, neither of them would have stopped smiling even if the could have.

Note I would like to thank everyone who has read my story and to those who have taken the time to review it, choccy2604 and victor12803. I hope everyone who reads this enjoys it.

The sun burned the sky a hazy orange as it slowly set behind the distant hills. The trees blurred together as the Granger’s car drove along the road. It was his birthday and the Grangers had decided that they were all going out to celebrate at a restaurant in the small town where they had their dental practice.

When Mrs. Granger had first mentioned it a few days ago, Harry had argued with her saying it wasn’t worth that much trouble. Mrs. Granger simply told him to stop arguing, and they usually did this at least once during the summer holidays and his birthday was as good a day as any. Hermione had found the idea of someone arguing against a birthday treat highly amusing, and had sat at the kitchen table doing a very poor job of stifling her laughter while he had argued with her Mum.

As the trees rushed past he couldn’t stop his mind returning to what had happened that morning.

The Granger’s house. 10:26 am

He walked into the living room and saw a pile of presents on the table. He looked about the room as if he wasn’t sure where to start.

“Here Harry, this one’s from us,” said Mr. Granger as he handed over a brightly wrapped box. Inside were a box of sweets and a set of darts.

“Thank you, but there wasn’t any need for you to do this.”

“Don’t start that. Now open the rest before I do it for you,” said Mr. Granger

Harry started on the pile and quickly was ankle deep in wrapping paper. Hagrid had sent a cake and a copy of Griffins: Menace or Misunderstood? Ron had sent the newest copy of The Dangerous Dai Medal: Winners and Their Moves. This told you who had won the medal each year as well as a picture of the move.

The rest of the Weasley's had sent him cakes and sweets. From Sirius there was a voucher for Quality Quidditch Supplies. Finally there was only one gift left: Hermione’s. It was an odd shaped box long but not very tall; he was a little more careful with the paper. In side the box was a set of Quidditch robes. The robes were in Gryffindor colors with his name and position written on the back.

“If you don’t like it I can take it back. It wouldn’t be a problem,” Hermione spoke in a rush and bit her lip when she finished speaking.

“There brilliant Hermione. Thanks,” he said smiling as he pulled her into a hug.

They broke apart as a sharp tapping invaded the room as an owl tried to get through the window. Mrs. Granger opened the window and untied the letter from around the birds outstretched leg; it then flew straight out the window with out trying to get any food, which Harry thought was odd behavior for an owl. The letter was addressed to Harry, which shocked no one, not recognizing the handwriting he decided to read it straight away.

Dear Harry

A great many happy returns for the day. I’m sorry that I could not congratulate you in person, but my great works keep me busy. Also, the Muggle world disgusts me; I can’t keep myself from killing all of them that I see. Say hello to your little Mudblood for me.

Sweet dreams,

Lord Voldemort

“Harry, what’s wrong? Who’s it from?” asked Hermione noticing the way Harry had suddenly lost the small grin that had been on his face.

“It’s Voldemort.” Harry’s voice was barley above a whisper as he struggled to keep the fear and anger out of his voice.

“What has he done?” asked Hermione not understanding what he meant.

“No, it’s from Voldemort.”

“What’s it say?” asked Mrs. Granger. Harry simply handed her the letter unwilling to read it again. She quickly read the letter before showing it to her husband.

“We could just stay in tonight have a private dinner, just the four of us,” said Mrs. Granger.

Hermione looked up as she finished reading the letter. Her eyes were ablaze with anger at both the letter and at her mother’s suggestion. “But that’s not right. As soon as we’re too scared to do any thing then he wins. This is how it starts, we don’t say his name, then we stay in at night, then we’re too scared to go to Hogwarts, and then when we have to fight him everyone’s hiding at home poking their noses out of their curtains, scared of shadows. So he wins and he doesn’t even have to try.” Hermione’s voice had started as a low whisper but had steadily risen until she was shouting at everyone in the room

“I don’t want anyone to be hurt because of me Hermione. It’s just not worth it. I’ll leave tonight and catch the Knight bus back to the Dursley's.”

“No.” Hermione’s voice was low but was still filled with anger. “What you’re going to do tonight is put on a good shirt and then go out and have dinner with me, Mum, and Dad, and we’re going to have a good time.”

“And what if I’m putting you and your parents at risk?”

“Your not. Dumbledore would never have let you come here if he thought there was any danger,” said Hermione in hard voice which softened as she continued. “You didn’t bow to him before, and I won’t let you now.”

“She’s right Harry,” said Mr. Granger who then looked over at his wife who gave him a small nod. “We’re going out and you’re going to stay here for as long as you want. A man stands up and fights”

Their words sent his mind back to the graveyard when he had decided he would stand and die on his feet and not hiding behind a grave stone. “I once decided I would die on my feet, so I’m going to live like that as well.”

“Excellent. Now enough of this doom and gloom, let’s eat breakfast,” said Mr. Granger.

And now here he was, eleven hours later, nervous about embarrassing Hermione and her parents, in their favorite restaurant by doing something wrong. They parked the car and then walked to the nearby restaurant. Harry's nerves were increasing with each step.

He was quite relieved to walk in and find a small restaurant with only two dozen tables and a relaxed atmosphere.

“Chris, Sara it’s been too long,” said a jovial voice from across the room. It belonged to a tall man with graying hair and a smile that looked like it never left his face. He reminded Harry of a beardless Dumbledore. “And Hermione, aren’t you growing fast, I remember you when you still needed a high chair to eat.” Hermione grinned and stifled a laugh. “Who’s this young man?” he asked catching Mr. Grangers eye, “Has Hermione got herself a boyfriend?”

“No, Billy, this is Harry Potter, one of Hermione’s friends from school,” replied Mrs. Granger.

Harry half expected everyone to turn around and start pointing or to go looking for his scar. Then he remembered that here he wasn’t Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived; He was just Harry Potter, Hermione’s friend. He knew which one he preferred being.

“Come on I’ve got the perfect table for you.”

The table was perfect and so was the meal. It was the best food Harry had eaten outside of Hogwarts, and only the food at the Yule ball had been better. This was probably the best birthday he’d ever had.

They had just paid the bill and were leaving when Billy said, “Come back soon now, and Harry you take good care of her.” Mr. and Mrs. Granger laughed; Harry and Hermione blushed and averted their eyes.

~ ~ ~

The next night they lay on the grass watching the stars. It had been a week since they had talked that morning in the kitchen, and things between him and Hermione had changed. When they sat on the sofa to watch television they sat a little closer together; when they watched the stars he found it difficult to imagine a time when Hermione hadn’t rested her head on his chest. If he had been watching two other people acting like this, he would have assumed that they were going out, but he and Hermione were just friends, right?

He tried to set aside his confused thoughts about Hermione, but failed. He knew that he cared for her and found her attractive, but he wasn’t sure how she felt. If it had been anyone else he was fairly certain he would have asked them out by now, but it was Hermione and that changed things. He wished he had someone that he could get advice from. Thinking about that brought his mind back to his other problem.

He was still waiting for a reply from Dumbledore and Sirius. He had written to them yesterday after getting that letter and he’d hoped that they would have written back before now. He decided not to worry about it and just enjoy his last few days of calm. Mr. Weasley had phoned earlier in the day and in-between his questions about all things Muggle, the arrangements for him and Hermione to stay at the Burrow for the rest of the summer where made. He loved the whole Weasley family dearly, but he knew that nothing there would be calm or relaxing, but it would definitely be fun. Mrs. Granger had bravely volunteered to phone the Dursley's and it had been decided that they would get Harry’s school thing before meeting in Diagon Alley because they expected their Hogwarts letters any day now.

His mind wouldn’t let him forget about Hermione for long. He faced down the Dark Lord and stared death in the face, but the thought of asking out Hermione sent shivers of fear down his spine. But a little voice in the back of his mind, which sounded just like Sirius, kept telling him to ask her out before he lost his chance. He was so deep in argument with the Sirius voice that he nearly jumped when Hermione spoke.

“Did you enjoy your self last night?”

“Yeah it was great, I really enjoyed it. And Billy was pretty funny,” said Harry his smile showing in his voice.

“He is, but it gets annoying that everyone keeps thinking we’re going out when we’re just friends.” Hermione’s voice held an odd tone that caught Harry’s attention.

“Go on ask her now. She wants you to; she’s just as scared. Go on ask her now, come on ask her,” said the Sirius voice and Harry could practically see him jumping up and down.

Harry snorted; trying to ignore the voice because he knew Hermione wasn’t interested in him. “Thanks. I know I’m no Lockhart, but I didn’t think the idea of going out with me would upset you that much.”

“It’s not the thought of going out with you that’s annoying but the way people assume things, I mean it’s only two steps up from the type of gossip that Skeeter wrote. Doesn’t it upset you?” asked Hermione, wishing that just this once he wouldn’t hide his feelings. She wanted to know if Harry cared for her in the way she thought he did.

“No. What upsets me is that they’re wrong.”

“Harry…” The tone warned him she knew things would be said that couldn’t be forgotten and that he better be sure before he crossed that line.

Harry suddenly sat up so he could look her eye. The voice in his head had gone quite as if sensing his decision. He knew what he felt for Hermione. He didn’t know for sure how she felt, but he’d decided to life on his feet. “Hermione. I care for you so much It’s difficult to put into words. You and Ron are my best friends and I hope you always will be but lately I’ve been looking at you and wondering if we could be more than friends. If you just want to be friends I’ll understand.”

“Are you asking me out?” asked Hermione, a hint of a smile playing on her face.

“Hermione do you want to go out with me? Do you want to be my Girlfriend?”

Note: I would like to thank everyone who has read my story and to those who have taken the time to review it, Victor12806, Anonymous, hbraveheartp, MionelovesHarry, awaltzforanight, choccy2604, stranger02. In answer to ricks question the new stuff should appear in chapter 12, but I will tell that as well. Some people has said that this chapter is quite confusing as there are several shifts in location and time, hope this doesn't throw any one off,but I am thinking of changing things if necessary. I hope everyone who reads this enjoys it.

“Are you asking me out?” asked Hermione, a hint of a smile playing on her face.

“Hermione do you want to go out with me? Do you want to be my Girlfriend?”

Hermione’s smile melted from her face and slowly condensed into a hate filled sneer.

“Why would I ever want to go out with you? I’d only end up like your mother. Dead because the fun seeking Marauder needed to play the hero. It’s his fault she’s dead and it will be your fault when I die.”

Hermione’s hate filled speech had hit all of his fears and her words had wounded him as if they had been razors dragged across his heart.

Harry blinked.

And the world changed.

The Grangers garden became a featureless black void. Voldemort stood in front of them both. Harry couldn’t say when he had appeared, but his eyes burned into Harry’s as an obscene leer crossed his face. He slowly raised and pointed his wand, not at Harry, but at Hermione.

“Crucio!”

Hermione’s screams of pain shredded the air around him. Harry’s only defense was to start shouting as loud as he could.

“It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real!”

Harry knew he was trapped inside a nightmare. This one, like all the others over that summer, had started a real event from his life that was twisted until even his most cherished memories wounded him. He had to concentrate on waking up. This wasn’t real. He was in the Leaky Cauldron. Voldemort wasn’t here. He was alone in his room. He kept thinking about his room, where the cupboard was, how the bathroom door squeaked, the green and red carpet that made him feel unwell. While thinking about the details of the room the screaming had stopped and all that was left was darkness.

Harry slowly opened his eyes and saw his room in the pre dawn gloom. He was out. Wiping the sweat off of his forehead he expected his scar to burn as his hand touched it, but just like all of his nightmares since the third task, there was no pain. The lack of pain felt wrong, it wasn’t that he wanted the pain, but a bone deep instinct told him that Voldemort was involved and that meant his scar should hurt.

Three hours later and the bright light of the sun had replaced the gray gloom. Harry had spent the time trying to work out why he was so convinced that Voldemort was involved when he had been so adamant to Hermione that he had nothing to do with it. It had been weeks since his last nightmare and his life had improved since then, but he’d also gotten the letter from Voldemort and the letters that he’d gotten from Dumbledore and Sirius could have stirred the memories up again, but when it came down to it he convinced that Voldemort was involved because he refused to believe that it was him who was twisting his best memories.

~ ~ ~

Harry sat at a table waiting for Hermione to come down for breakfast. Her parents were already at the table eating, Harry had came down when he had seen that the sun had come up, any thoughts of sleeping had fled after the nightmare, so he had went for a early breakfast. Reading over his Hogwarts letter a grin spread over his face as he remembered the morning it had arrived.

Four days earlier

Harry was sitting eating his breakfast and relishing in the joy he felt. He had a huge smile plastered over his face; the thought of trying to stop smiling never even entered his mind. She’d said yes, not no or well I like you too but only as a friend or any one of a dozen other things she might have said. They had also shared their first kiss, it had been awkward at first, he’d felt so self-conscious then he’d only become aware of how soft her lips were and how much he didn’t want it to stop. The kiss was soft and gentle, but filled with so much passion and for the next few hours the rest of the world simply ceased to exist.

The pair of stupid grins were broken as a small flock of owls came flying into the kitchen; two of them were carrying what was obviously their Hogwarts letters. The other one was carrying a thick envelope with Harry's names on it. Harry ignored the Hogwarts letter assuming that Hermione would point out anything strange in them that he would need to know and immediately opened the other envelope. In side there was two letters one from Sirius and the other from Dumbledore. He decided to read Sirius’s letter first as he had been away working for Dumbledore so he hadn’t been able to speak to him much.

Dear Harry

I’m sorry I’ve not been able to write to you much over the summer, but we must move quickly so I’m not left with much free time. I hope that your enjoying yourself at Hermione’s and that your telling her what she needs to know. About the letter, I agree with Dumbledore and urge you strongly to follow his advice. I hope that you enjoyed your birthday and you’ll get your real present when you get to Hogwarts, as I could not entrust it to the post. And if anything like last summer happens tell Dumbledore straight away.

Sirius.

Harry was happy to have heard from Sirius but wished he’d have sent a longer letter, but if he felt he couldn’t trust the post then he wouldn’t give even a hint about his work. The line about telling Hermione what she needed to know puzzled him, did Sirius know how he felt about her or was he trying to make sure he wasn’t keeping secrets? Harry started to read the letter from Dumbledore hoping that he wouldn’t be as confused when he finished reading it as he had been at the end of Sirius’s letter, but recalling the conversations he’d had with the eccentric Headmaster over the years he wouldn’t have bet on it.

Dear Harry

I’m sure that getting that letter from Voldemort was unsettling but I urge you not to panic. Voldemort has always used fear as a weapon against his enemies you must fight him by refusing to succumb to that fear. I am sure that Miss. Granger and her parents are perfectly safe and in no danger. If you still have the letter I ask you to take it with you when you visit the Weasleys and to give it to Arthur Weasley. As you will soon be re-entering the wizarding world I feel compelled to give this warning, there are many who don’t believe that Voldemort is back and will use any excuse to justify that opinion. Since you are the most recognizable person to hold the view of the Dark Lord’s return people may try to provoke you into doing something rash so they can attack your character, please try and stay calm so any incidents like in your third year can be avoided.

Yours sincerely Prof. Dumbledore

Harry looked up from his letters filled with conflicting emotions which were quickly washed away as he saw Hermione. She was sitting across from him with a huge smile on her face, practically bouncing up and down her seat.

“What are you so happy about? Did they just add more subjects for you to take?” teased Harry.

“No they made me a prefect.” Harry ran around the table pulling her into a fierce hug.

“I’m so happy for you Hermione. You deserve it,” said Harry.

“Come on open your letter, maybe your one too.”

“They would never make me a prefect, I’ve been in too much trouble and besides do you think McGonagall would risk Gryffindor losing the Quidditch cup because I kept missing practice because of prefect duties?” joked Harry. Then he remembered the lengths that the stern Professor had went to in his first year so he could play on the team and reconsidered how much of a joke it was.

“She wouldn’t do that Harry. She doesn’t like the cup that much.”

“I don’t know I think I might have seen her kissing that cup a few times.” His reply earned him a slap to the head.

“Only when your not too busy kissing it and telling it how you’ll keep it safe from the nasty Slytherins,” said Hermione with a huge grin on her face.

“If it makes you feel better I’d rather be kissing you,” said Harry as he lent over and shared a kiss with Hermione. After a few minutes they broke apart for air. “It’s okay,” said Harry patting Hermione on the head. “I’ll keep you safe from the nasty Slytherins.”

“And who’s going to keep you safe from me, Potter?” asked Hermione with a stern look on her face, which was ruined completely by the small grin that kept tugging at the corners of her mouth. Harry returned the grin and started a whole new round of teasing and jokes.

The letters, which had seemed so important only minutes ago, sat forgotten until that night when Mrs. Granger had asked if they knew who else would be made prefects. It turned out Harry hadn’t been made a prefect, but he’d put his money on either Ron or Dean being made other Gryffindor prefect.

~ ~ ~

Harry looked up at the sky and saw nothing but dark clouds covering the stars he’d come to love so much over the summer. He missed seeing the stars, but even more he missed being able to hold Hermione in his arms as they gazed at the heavens. They had been back at the Burrow for a few hours and Harry knew he would have to tell Ron that he and Hermione were now going out with each other. They didn’t want him to find out any other way, so they had avoided doing anything that would advertise their new relationship, but in the tense atmosphere of Diagon Alley it hadn’t been easy for Harry to stick to the rules.

It seemed as if rumors about what had happened at the end of the tournament had spread through the wizarding world and it seemed split between two groups. One group believed Harry and Dumbledore when they said that Voldemort had returned and the other group who believed the Ministry and thought Harry was simply trying to get attention.

The trip to collect their school things before meeting the Weasleys had started out okay, with several shop owners who knew Harry from his stay at the Leaky Cauldron had shouted out greetings and seemed genuinely happy to see him. The further into the alley they got the more dark looks he was attracting and the air took on an atmosphere he’d only ever experienced when Gryffindors and Slytherins were forced together: dislike choking the air and people just waiting for violence to erupt. Harry was at his worse when he had been refused service and called a publicity seeking mad man by a shop owner who Harry had counted as a friend. Only Dumbledore’s warning and Hermione’s calming presence at his side kept his temper in check.

The pattern repeated, nobody else refused to sell him things, but dark looks and insults kept being thrown his way. They were standing outside of Gringotts waiting for the Weasleys when he noticed a young couple pointing at him and heard one of them say “See the scar, it is him.” Harry was ready to start a tirade against them about how they should be thankful for the warning and how stupid they were for ignoring Dumbledore but the woman who the man was talking to shouted out to him first. “Don’t let them get you down Harry were with you and we’ll fight him.” As if that first act of support had been a catalyst the next two hours saw just as many people calling out their encouragement as those who criticized him or Dumbledore.

“What’s up mate?” asked Ron as he sat down with a thud next to Harry.

“Nothing, I just wanted to look at the stars.”

“Look don’t let those prats in Diagon get to you, we know the truth and we have to tell people it because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Yeah I know. It’s not them,” replied Harry his tone indicating that something was bothering him but Ron could tell that he wasn’t lying, so it had to be something else.

“Then what’s wrong? Did you and Hermione have a fight or something?” asked Ron his concern for both his friends clear in his voice.

“No! what makes you say that?” asked Harry nearly shouting out his denial.

“Calm down mate, it’s just that you two have been acting odd today. You keep giving each other weird looks, I just want to know what’s going on.”

“We’re going out with each other. I asked her out the day after my birthday and she said yes.” Harry spoke so softly that his voice could hardly be heard. Ron wished that he could have miss heard, but he knew he had heard right.

“I thought she would be different. I thought she wouldn’t care that I’m just another Weasley. I didn’t think she would mind that I’m not as good as you; that I’m just the bloody sidekick! You’re the hero and I can’t be you.”

“No body thinks that Ron. They think your…”

“Yes they do!” Ron’s anger stopped Harry in his tracks. “All they see, all you two see is another Weasley. Nothing I do makes me stand out, I can’t do any thing that one of my brothers hasn’t already done.”

“Yeah your right,” said Harry his own anger now coloring his voice. ”Absolutely nothing you’ve done makes you stand out. Tell me how often has Charlie went after a mountain troll to save some one he doesn’t even like and I’ve lost count of amount of times that Bill’s walked into to the layer of a killer creature to save his sisters life. I bet it’s every day Percy stands in front of a mass murder and tells him if he wants to kill his friends he has to kill him too. The world sees you Ron and so do I and so does Hermione. It’s nothing to do with you not being as good as me. Your better than me Ron, I’m ”The Boy Who Lived” I have to do these things. You choose to walk in the dark places and that makes you better than me.”

As he finished talking Harry slowly slumped to the ground quickly followed by Ron. The argument had been short but had drained both boys energy until it looked like only the wall they were leaning against was keeping them up right.

“I’m sorry Harry, I shouldn’t have gotten angry. You just wanted me to know the truth. It’s just that I liked her so much,” said Ron in a voice that was barely above a whisper. He took a breath before talking again closer to his usual volume. “Okay now for the best friend bit. If you hurt her I’ll hex you so badly that you’ll look like Malfoy.”

Harry tried; he really did but the smile was on his face before he could help it and laughter was soon escaping from the two friends and echoing into the night.

Note: Thank you to those of you who reviewed hbraveheartp, Looney Warner Mouse., choccy2604. Thank you to everyone who read this and I thunk should start seeing a bit more plot and H/Hr fluff. Hope you all enjoy.

Harry swerved missing the Bludger then spun the broom so he was hanging from it upside down. He then went into a steep dive grabbing the Snitch before righting himself only feet from the ground.

“Potter’s got the Snitch; Gryffindor wins!” shouted out Lee Jordan’s voice. “What a victory for the new captain and here comes his teammates to make sure you suffer pain beyond imagining before you die.” Harry looked up as Lee’s voice changed into cold tones that were hauntingly familiar. Harry looked around he was still on his broom, but he was no longer circling the Quidditch pitch.

The town below him looked old with cobbled roads and stone buildings. The style was different from what he was used to seeing. Harry scanned the streets trying to find what he knew was there. It took him a few minutes to find it, but there at the mouth of a street he saw them. Voldemort was standing over a man who was on his knees begging for his life; two Death Eaters stood on either side of Voldemort while a third stood behind the begging man. Harry took a good look at the man finding something familiar about him. It was Karkaroff, but his hair was longer and ragged, and his once fine clothes were now ripped and dirty. Harry assumed he hadn’t stopped running since the night of Voldemort’s rebirth. When the Dark Mark had once again burned his arm.

“You have betrayed me and helped send those loyal to me to Azkaban. For this you are sentenced to death,” said Voldemort before tuning his back on Karkaroff and walking past the two Death Eaters. Without turning around, he spoke to the three Death Eaters who now stood around Karkaroff. “Have as much fun as you like, just make sure it’s dead before the sun rises.” He suddenly looked up as if he could sense Harry was there, a slight smile played across his face before he Apperated away.

“Harry, Harry wake up!” Harry came awake with Ron shouting at him and shaking him. Harry screamed out in pain as he curled up into the fetus position, and held is forehead that was burning after his vision of Voldemort. “Harry what’s wrong?” asked Ron the panic in his voice rising by the second.

“I’ll be okay, I just need a minute. I’m not used to this anymore,” said Harry in a voice thick with fatigue and on the verge of cracking.

“This wasn’t another nightmare was it?”

“No. It was a vision,” Harry said while shaking his head. “I saw Voldemort; he’d found Karkaroff and sentenced him to death. He left some Death Eaters to do it. He told them they could have some fun first,” explained Harry his voice slowly regaining strength as he uncurled from the ball he was in.

“Look Harry we’ve got to get down stairs Hermione’s looking for you and I think she’s starting to get worried,” As he spoke, he noticed that Harry had paled at the news that Hermione was looking for him. “You still haven’t told her yet have you?”

“I’ve not found the right time yet.”

“Harry you’ve been having nightmares since you got here. Merlin only knows how no one else has as found out with all the screaming, and now you’re seeing You-Know-Who.” Ron still refused to say Voldemort’s name. “If she finds out you’ve been keeping things from her, she’ll nail your arse to the wall and then she’s going to get nasty and that’s if you’re lucky.”

“And that would be lucky because?” asked Harry genuinely not seeing how it could be worse.

“If your unlucky she could play the ‘I can’t be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t trust me’ card,” explained Ron. Harry noticed the slightly odd tone in Ron’s voice that only entered it when he was talking about Harry and Hermione going out. The tense air of when Ron had first found out about their relationship had lessened over the weeks they had spent at the Burrow. Thing's were almost back to normal between the three of them, but Harry and Hermione still toned down their behavior when Ron was around out of respect for his feelings.

“You’re right I’ll tell her tonight.”

“You forgotten what day it is?” asked Ron with a smile.

“It’s Tuesday,” said Harry with the air of someone answering an easy question correctly but still knowing that he was wrong.

“September first, were going back to school and Hermione’s a prefect. That means she has to look after the first-years.” Ron’s answer wasn’t just laced with smugness, but made of it.

“Okay tomorrow night then.”

“Do you want me to be there?” asked Ron loosing all trace of happiness at the situation. “I could say that it was my idea not to tell her.”

“No. Thanks for the offer, but I’m a brave Gryffindor and I’ll face it like a man.”

“What change your name and move to Mexico?” Harry couldn’t help but laugh as he got ready to have a shower before breakfast.

Hours later, after a huge breakfast and a taxi ride that consisted of trying to keep both Hedwig and Pig calm, they had finally reached Kings Cross. Harry knew most people would find the huge press of humanity a nuisance, but for Harry it was always a bittersweet experience. Not only did it herald the happiness he felt at his return to Hogwarts, but it was also marked his return to the Dursleys. This year he felt very little of his normal happiness; Cedric’s death hung over his head. Would people blame him? Would they believe the truth when he told it?

“It’s okay Harry we’re all here for you,” whispered Hermione. She‘d noticed his reluctance and was now standing next to him holding his hand.

“I know it’s just… What if they blame me? I know it’s not my fault, but people keep saying I did everything I could. I’m just not sure about that anymore.” Harry’s words were so quiet that she almost didn’t hear him over the noise of the station. She looked into his eyes and saw so much pain that she couldn’t stop herself from pulling him into a tight hug. Unseen and unknown to both of them Ron had heard Harry’s words and had quietly moved his family along to the barrier between platforms nine and ten so that the two could be alone. He knew that they needed one last moment to be just Harry and Hermione; he also knew that this would be their last chance in a long time.

They broke apart a few minutes later to see the Weasley’s had gone and only Ron remained on the Muggle side of the barrier. Ron looked up at them and gave a quick nod and a grin before disappearing through the barrier.

“Come on we had better hurry; we can’t have a Prefect being late. What sort of message would that send to the first-years?” said Harry pushing his trolley towards the barrier. Hermione paled noticeably at his words and hurried after him.

“You’re right, if I’m late they might think that’s acceptable behavior. I need to set an example to the younger students,” said Hermione in her bossiest voice.

“Cough Baby dragon cough.” Hermione’s face seemed to light up at the memory of their shared adventure from first year. They walked through the barrier with matching grins and were assaulted by the noise that could only ever be generated by Hogwarts students.

“Good you’re all here, now be careful, and you two had better stay out of trouble,” said Mrs. Weasley looking right at the twins who were doing a very good job of looking innocent. It was so good it would have fooled anyone who hadn’t met them before. Mrs. Weasley then proceeded to hug all her children and Harry before pulling Hermione close and whispering in her ear. “Look after him; you need each other more than even you realize.” With one last look at her children, by blood and adoption, she turned and left the platform with her eyes filled with unshed tears.

“I’ve have to go to the Prefects carriage, so I’ll see you all later,” said Hermione breaking the slightly awkward silence that had descended upon the group.

“Yeah we’ll save you a seat, and I’ll take your stuff for you,” replied Harry; as the twins’ ‘awwed’ in the background.

“Thanks Harry.” Hermione then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before going toward the front of the train. The twins stood in the background and pretended to be sick.

“It’s so beautiful,” said George as he made a sniffing noises as if he was trying not to cry.

“Young love. Gets you right there,” said Fred putting his hand over his heart.

“Shut up and help me with the trunks,” replied Harry with a badly hidden grin.

“If one of you will take my trunk I’ll go and get us an compartment,” offered Ginny.

“Sure, but just let me change my name to ‘Baggage porters are us’ first,” said Ron as he picked up his sisters trunk as she ran ahead of them.

Twenty minutes and a lot of work later the five of them had settled into a compartment of their own. It was a couple of hours until Hermione was able to come and see them. But Harry had barely noticed the time passing as a steady stream of Gryffindors had been visiting. Thankfully none of them had brought up what had happened after the third task, but the subject had hung in the room like a Hippogriff that everyone pretended not to see.

When Hermione arrived she sat down right next to Harry and leaned into him, Ron noticed that this wasn’t deliberate and seemed entirely unforced. Seeing this confirmed what he had realized at the station, that his two friends really did need each other.

He was happy that his friends had found each other and hoped that they would stay together, but they were only fifteen and sixteen, and people changed. If things ended between them he hoped they could stay friends. Under his joy there was a small hard knot of jealously, but he knew that it was manufactured to try and hide something else. Fear. He was scared that he would be cut out of their lives or even worse they would try too hard at including him. He didn’t want to be pitied, but he didn’t want to lose his best friends either. He truly loved them both as much as his any member of his family; they also had something that no one else could have. A bond forged under their shared fights and the secrets that only they three knew.

“Hey Ron; time to get ready,” said Harry pulling Ron out of his musings. He noticed that they were nearing Hogwarts and that he’d missed the whole trip to his wondering thoughts.

“Yeah sure.”

“Are you okay? You’ve been quiet for the whole trip,” asked Harry concern etched onto his features.

“Yeah I’m okay; just been thinking about some stuff. Nothing important.”

Harry saw through the lie as soon as it was told. “I’m here for you when you want to talk; okay.”

“Yeah I know. Thanks mate,” said Ron not even bothering to try and persuade Harry there was nothing wrong. He could never lie to Harry or Hermione.

“Are you lot ready?” shouted Ginny through the closed door.

“Yeah!” shouted back George as he straightened out his robes.

Hermione and Ginny then came in and they spent the last few minutes checking that all their stuff was put away in their trunks. As they stepped on to the platform Harry couldn’t stop himself from grinning as Hagrid’s familiar voice rang out.

“Firs’-years over here!” Then turning around he spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione and his face was split by a huge grin. “All righ’ you three. Had a good summer?” asked Hagrid.

Harry almost didn’t respond because he thought that some one had stolen Hagrid’s voice. The man that was talking to him was a complete stranger. Then he understood; Hagrid had shaved his beard.

“What happened to your beard?” asked Ron before Harry had could open his mouth.

“Long story,” said Hagrid with a slight frown. “I’ll see ye’ later, Firs’-years this way!”

The shock of how he looked and the flow of the crowd stopped Harry from being able to speak to Hagrid. As usual the horse-less carriages were waiting to take the students to the school, and it wasn’t long until every one was in the great hall waiting for the first-years to arrive and the sorting to begin. Harry took the time before the first-years arrived to scan the high table. The usual teachers were there except for McGonagall and Hagrid; who hadn’t arrived yet. It only took him a second to find the face of what had to be the new DADA professor. She was in deep conversation with Professor Flitwick. She looked young, and had long dark red hair that was pulled into a ponytail with dark eyes.

“New Defense teacher?” asked Ron when he noticed were Harry was looking.

“Assume so. I was hoping Professor Lupin would come back,” said Harry.

“Not with Fudge on the warpath. He’d take any excuse to try and get rid of Dumbledore,” answered Ron.

“Let’s just hope she’s competent. I mean this is our O.W.L year,” said Hermione causing knowing smirks to be shared between Harry and Ron.

The sorting took it’s normal course as the bunch of terrified first-years were lead in by Professor McGonagall. She was carrying a stool along with the sorting hat; she placed both down and then stepped back as the hat began it’s song. As normal, the hat sang it’s song describing the house’s and their virtues, but Harry found it odd that it also sang about the founders, giving a very brief history of each one and highlighting a part of their lives were thy had fought against a great evil. Harry wondered weather Dumbledore had influenced the hat to put that in or whether the hat knew about what was happening in the world.

The sorting proceeded quickly with the new students being spread out between the houses almost equally except that Hufflepuff seemed to have gotten slightly more new students. As Professor McGonagall sat down at the high table Dumbledore stood to give his speech.

“Welcome all. Some speeches are very long this one isn’t.” He then sat straight down as the food began to appear. It was several hours later that the feast was beginning to wind down and Dumbledore stood up again. “Now that we’ve all eaten, I’ll take this chance to make a few announcements before you go to bed. First off the Forbidden Forest is strictly out of bounds to all pupils and only third-years and above can visit Hogsmeade. I’d also like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor MacLeod. I’m sure you will all make her welcome. Quidditch trials will take place this Friday, any one wishing to take part should speak with their head of house and now off to bed.”

Harry began to rise with the rest of the Gryffindors, but stayed behind to watch Hermione and Dean corral the first-years together before leading them towards Gryffindor tower. He waited a few minutes before heading to the tower with the hope that Hermione would have spotted that he was missing, and would wait outside the common room for him.

“You’re lucky I waited for you. I do have better things to do with my time,” said Hermione as he walked along the corridor.

“Yeah so many books, and so little time,” said Harry with a smile that he knew made him look stupid, but he didn’t mind.

“That’s right.” Hermione looked completely serious, but Harry could hear the smile in her voice.

“So you don’t need me anymore? Fair enough.”

“Now I didn’t say that, I still need someone to carry my books.” They both laughed before melting into each other’s arms and kissing. Harry had only intended for a short kiss but the passion that was evoked made him forget all about time.

“You shouldn’t be doing that in the corridor you know.” Harry and Hermione jumped apart both of the turning crimson at the sound of the voice. Which both of them identified as the Fat Lady’s.

“Come on we had better get going before we’re missed,” said Hermione after her heart was beating at the right speed and her face had returned to its normal colour.

“You’re right.”

“Chimaera,” she said to the Fat lady allowing them access to the common room.

“Night Hermione.”

“Goodnight Harry” Hermione’s voice was so tender that he almost broke down and told her everything about his nightmares, but he didn’t. Just one more night. He’d give her one last night of peace. One last night free from worry about him. It was the least he could do.

I would like to thank choccy2604 and Looney Warner Mouse for their reviews and for everyone who read this story. There will be other romances but they should't have a big impact on the story.

The noise made by hundreds of students talking, flooded the Great Hall and assaulted Harry’s senses as he picked at his breakfast. He struggled to keep his eyes open; he’d managed to sleep the whole night through for once, but when he had woken up, he’d felt even more tired than when he’d went to sleep. He’d had another nightmare, but it hadn’t woken him. He could remember seeing Voldemort in the now familiar blackness. They had just stood there for what had to have been the better part of five hours. They hadn’t spoken, just stared at each other. Another odd thing about the dream had happened just before he’d woken up. He noticed a figure standing at the Dark Lord’s side. The figure was little more than area of deeper blackness. There were no features to be seen only the vaguest hint of a human shape and what might have been the folds of a robe. It was difficult to judge height when he only had Voldemort’s unnatural form to compare it against, but he guessed they were about his own height maybe an inch or so taller. He tried to get a closer look, but Ron had woken him up and the details were already slipping from his mind.

“Harry are you going to eat that bacon or just keep it pinned to the plate?” asked Hermione, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He looked up and saw the concern in her eyes and the guilt that had been building in the last week came crushing down on him. He hated not telling her about the nightmares, but he hadn’t wanted to worry her, and then the longer he kept the secret the more afraid he became of her reaction.

“I’m just not hungry. Must have ate too much last night.” Harry’s tone was flat and hollow, even to his ears.

“Okay if you say so.” Hermione’s reply ripped his heart in two. He could tell from her tone that she didn’t believe him, but the look in her eyes clearly said ‘I trust you to tell me if any thing is wrong.’

Harry was about to reassure her when Professor McGonagall stood next to them handing out timetables. “Professor Dumbledore would like to see you three after your last class today. You know the way; the password is Dolly Mixture,” said the professor in her usual stern tones.

“Do you know why, Professor?” asked Hermione.

“You’ll find out when you get there, but don’t worry, no one’s in any trouble.” Her voice was much softer and Harry thought that he even saw the barest hint of a smile cross her face before she continued handing out the timetables.

“What’s the timetable like?” asked Ron who’d been quiet this long because, as usual, he’d been stuffing his face with food.

“Not bad. Could have been worse, but we have Divination first thing,” said Harry as he continued to study the parchment. “What’s yours like?” he asked looking at Hermione.

“Great. I’ve got double Arithmancy first thing.” She was almost bouncing in her seat as she studied her timetable. “I better get my book’s. I’ll see you both in Charms.” She gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek before running off to get her books.

~ ~ ~

It was about five minutes after Hermione had left the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were making there way to Gryffindor tower to get their books when Ron asked the question. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because you look like something Buckbeak dragged in, and you lied to Hermione. Again.”

“I had another nightmare. I was ‘talking’ to Voldemort again.”

During Harry’s stay at the Burrow, Ron had found out that Harry had different types of nightmares. There was the normal ones, where he saw bad things happening to the people he loved. Then there was the visions, like the one he’d had the night before they left the Burrow, and finally there was the talking dreams. The talking dreams consisted of both Harry and You-Know-Who being together in a black void, usually alone, but sometimes others were there. Harry was convinced that he was actually speaking with You-Know-Who, some how the link they shared allowed them to speak. Ron believed Harry; but the problem was Harry’s scar had only hurt when he’d had the vision about Karkaroff. It should have hurt when Who-Know-Who twisted Harry’s dreams and when they talked, but it didn’t.

“What did he say?” asked Ron with a tone that made it clear he didn’t want to know, but had to ask.

“Nothing. That’s what’s strange; he just stared at me. And there was someone with him.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know; I only noticed them near the end. There was a dark shape next to him that looked like someone in black robes.”

“So that’s why you lied to Hermione. You better tell her the truth because I don’t think she believed you.”

“She didn’t; I could see it in her eyes.” Harry’s tone was resigned as if he’d already decided that when he told Hermione the truth she wouldn’t have anything to do with him.

“That’s not good. You have to talk to her after we see Dumbledore because it’ll be better if you tell her than if she find out some other way. And despite how I acted when you first told me about you two you really do need each other. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you as happy as when you’re with her, and she seems more…” Ron trailed off searching for the right word.

“More what?”

“I don’t know. She’s still the same person but something’s changed. I’m not sure what.”

They both lapsed into silence as they entered the common room and got there books. Even on the long trek to the North Tower for Divination they stayed silent; lost in there own thoughts. Harry was thinking about what he would say to Hermione, and Ron was hoping that Hermione would understand Harry’s reasons because if they broke up he knew it would devastate both his friends.

~ ~ ~

The day raced by and it seemed like only minutes since he’d had lunch, but the ringing bell told him that double Transfiguration was finished and so was his day. He knew why the time had past so quickly; he was afraid of the talk he was going to have with Hermione.

“Do you think we should drop our things off in the tower or go straight to Dumbledore’s office?” asked Ron as they walked out of the class room.

“Best go straight there. We’ve been carrying them around all day a little longer isn’t going to kill you,” said Hermione.

Ten minutes later they were standing in front of a familiar gargoyle.

“Dolly Mixture,” said Harry to the statue that started to shuffle to its right as soon as Harry had spoke. The revolving stair case made the trip up to the Headmaster’s office quick and easy. When they got to the top they found the door was open, and Dumbledore sitting behind his desk.

“Come in, it’s good to see you all again.” As he spoke a huge smile spread across his face. “Please sit down.” The three of them sat down, but noticed that Dumbledore had lost his smile and was looking grim. That look surprised Ron and Hermione, but Harry had seen that look once before when Dumbledore had confronted the fake Moody. “I have asked you three here because I must ask a favor of you. War is coming and Voldemort’s,” Dumbledore’s eyes flicked over to Ron as he shuddered at the mention of the Dark Lords name, “favorite weapon has always been fear. We need people to realize that he is an enemy that can be beaten. I’ve asked all the staff to use Voldemort’s name if they ever have to talk about him to help remove some of the fear people have of him. And I’m asking you three to do the same. It is most important that you agree to this Mr. Weasley, you are wizard born and grow up in a world that refused to use Voldemort’s name. If you have the courage to do this others may take heart.”

Ron stared at the wall considering Dumbledore’s words. It had taken all his control not to shout at the headmaster to stop using that name. Did he have the courage to say it? Harry always had, and he was sure Hermione, who only said You-Know-Who to blend in, would easily be able to stop. “I’ll do my best Professor” Ron looked pale and a little shaken, but Harry and Hermione had both noticed the determination in his eyes.

“That is all I could ever ask for Mr. Weasley. Now I have something to ask of you Harry. You must stay out of trouble and try to stay calm. Until we get more evidence that Voldemort has returned, the only proof people have is our word, and the Ministry is using the Daily Prophet to discredit us both as much as possible. We can not afford to give them any new reasons. I know this is a lot to place on your shoulders, but lives depend on it. The more people that believe you; then the more prepared we will be when Voldemort strikes.”

“Don’t worry Professor; we’ll keep him in line,” said Hermione, with a grin that could only be called mischievous.

“I knew I could rely on you Miss Granger,” said Dumbledore and the sparkle was back in his eyes. “Now if I could have a few minutes alone with Harry.”

Hermione gave Harry’s hand a quick squeeze as she left.

“You’ve been very quiet Harry...”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that before. I never thought lives would depend on my not losing my temper. I didn’t think that words in the Prophet about me could kill someone.”

“The world can change or not with a word.” Dumbledore opened a drawer and pulled out a large envelope and a copy of the Daily Prophet. He put the envelope on the desk and handed Harry the newspaper. “Words have power Harry; this is why your parents were killed and why Voldemort wants you dead.”

Harry unfolded the paper and looked at the front page. It was dominated by a picture of his dad and a huge headline POTTER SPEAKS OUT. The entire article was about a speech his dad had given at the Ministry. “Our defenses are sound, our children are safe. Now is the time to take the fight to them. No more will we cower in fear, it’s [ You-Know-Who’s] turn to know the bitter taste of fear and defeat.” Even now fifteen years later Harry felt his heart swell with pride.

“We had been fighting for decades and it was common knowledge that Voldemort feared me. My words no longer had the power to give people hope. How could I tell people to fight, they were scared and how could I know that fear? So your father spoke out and he gave people hope. In order to make your father’s words out to be lies, Voldemort decided that if he killed you both and left your mother alive to spread her tale, then he would have broken our morale, but he didn’t expect anyone to stay and die when they could run and live.”

Now it made sense why Voldemort had hesitated to kill his mum; three dead bodies wasn’t as frightening as a first hand account of The Dark Lord’s power. “I understand now.” His voice was small and hollow.

“Here this is from Sirius. Take it’s warning seriously. Now I think it’s best if you go and talk to your friends,” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled as a small smile graced his lips as he added, “or perhaps just Miss Granger. If you want to talk my door is always open for you Harry.”

“Thank you.” Harry didn’t known what to do; he’d wanted to know why his parents had died, and now he did he wasn’t sure what to do, then Dumbledore’s voice broke through the haze but all he could hear was ”Miss Granger.” How could he have been so stupid? First he had to talk to Hermione and then he would talk to Ron. As he walked to the door his mouth seemed to open with out him telling it to. “Karkaroff’s dead. I saw it in a vision yesterday morning. Voldemort killed him.” Harry was out the door and down the stair case before Dumbledore could say a word. He walked along the corridors with out seeing anything; his feet taking him to Gryffindor Tower without him thinking about it.

The common room was filled with noise as the younger students played games and the older one’s talked about there homework, especially the fifth and seventh-years. Today was the first day of lessons but they had gotten a lot of homework because it was O.W.L year he could only imagine how much worse it was for the seventh-years taking their N.E.W.T’s.

“Harry; you okay?” asked Ron.

“Not really. Where’s Hermione?”

“In her dorm. You need to talk to her”

“Yeah.”

“Okay; I’ll ask Ginny to go and get her, and I’ll take your stuff up for you.”

“Thanks mate,” said Harry with the first trace of a smile on his face Ron had seen since he came into the common room.

“No problem. You’ll be at the lake?”

“Yeah.” Harry's smile grew as he realized just how well they all knew each other.

He didn’t have long to wait for Hermione to come down the stairs into the common room. Just seeing her calmed him down and made him feel better. The kiss they shared made him even happier. When they finally broke for air, Harry looked around, and saw nothing but a sea of heads that were definitely not looking at them. Nope, no one had been looking at Gryffindor’s new prefect and their best Quidditch player snogging in the middle of the common room.

“Do you want to go for a walk around the lake?” asked a very breathless Harry.

“Sure.” Hermione answered before she grabbed his hand and left the common room. As soon as the Fat Lady’s portrait had closed the entire common room exploded with noise and more quietly was the small clinks of coins exchanging hands.

~ ~ ~

The sun hung large and bright in the sky; a fiery beacon proclaiming there was only a few hours of light left. As they walked around the lake Harry tried to sort his thoughts into order. He finally knew why his parents had died, but that wasn’t the most important thing he needed to say. He’d lied to Hermione and made Ron do the same. In the grand scheme of life not telling Hermione the truth should rank low on his list of concerns, but it felt like the most important.

They were holding hands; Harry had never realized how much comfort that could give a person. Hermione didn’t know what saw going on, but here she was giving him strength and ready to help him no matter what. He didn’t deserve her. She had sacrificed for him, and in return he’d lied to her and put her in danger. He should try and end it; push her away and make her safe. But he was selfish; he didn’t have the strength to do it. The joy of being with Hermione was slowly fading and in its wake the pain of his parents death was coming back. Only Hermione’s presence was stopping him from breaking down in tears.

“I know why they were killed. That’s what Dumbledore wanted to talk to me about. My dad said that we should fight back and make him taste defeat. Dumbledore said that it gave people hope to keep fighting and not give up.”

“So You-… Voldemort killed them to make sure people would still fear him.”

Harry's nod was the only answer she got, and the only one she needed.

“I know what he did was important, but I always thought the reason would be bigger. A speech and a story in the paper seem too small. To kill because of that seems so stupid,” said Harry after a few minutes of silence. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What?” asked Hermione concerned by Harry's abrupt topic change, and the tone his voice had taken on.

“The nightmares are back. They started again that night we stayed at the Leaky Cauldron.” Harry spoke with out looking up at Hermione. He was scared about what he would see in her eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Hermione, her anger simmering just below the surface of her voice.

“I saw how much they hurt you the first time and they’re even worse. I didn’t want to worry you. You’ve always been there for me Hermione, always caring for me even when I didn’t care. I just could put that pain back into your eyes. I wasn’t strong enough to talk to you. As long as you didn’t know the truth then somehow it wasn’t real. I’m sorry Hermione; I should have talked to you as soon as they started, but you were so happy and carefree. I just couldn’t bring myself to destroy it.” Harry still hadn’t looked at Hermione.

“When we started going out we didn’t stop being friends; you can still talk to me. Didn’t we agree to make the fear go away together? Now tell me everything.”

Harry slowly lifted his head to look at Hermione; her face was a mixture of concern, hurt and anger. He began talking and with each word he felt the burden that had been sitting on his shoulders lift. He even talked a little about his parents, a subject he had avoided talking about for years. Just like the night when Hermione had first found out he was having more nightmares than usual; he felt better after talking with her. Harry cursed himself with the special set of insults he reserved exclusively for his own stupidity. He should have spoken with Hermione sooner, if he lost her as a friend because of this then it would be his own fault.

Harry had been talking for hours and night had descended without either of them noticing. Hermione had sat and listened as her best friend talk about the hell he had been going through alone each night. She was so angry with him for not telling her what was happing straight away, but at the same time she just wanted to hold him and tell him that everything would be ok. She understood his reasons, that he’d only wanted to stop her from worrying about him, but she felt betrayed. If he was keeping this from her what else could he be hiding?

“Harry, do you want to watch the stars with me?” asked Hermione knowing Harry would understand the true meaning of her words.

“I’d love to,” said Harry understanding that this was Hermione’s way of telling him he was forgiven. “Thank you,” he whispered softly as they held hands and lay back to look at the sky.

“Don’t do it again Harry; you hurt me and I can’t go through that again. I wouldn’t be able to forgive you a second time.”

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness this time, but I am thankful for it.” Twenty minutes later Harry felt enough tension had been drained out of the atmosphere and he wanted to hear Hermione laugh. “Can I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“Which part of the ‘Lets try and keep our relationship quiet’ plan includes you snogging me senseless in the middle of the common room. Not that I’m complaining, just curious.”

Hermione had to fight from laughing out loud at the way Harry described their kiss. “You looked like you could do with the cheering up and I don’t give a damn what anyone says.”

“Just seeing you made me feel better,” said Harry after he had got his laughter under control. For the next few hours they simply sat and looked at the sky until Hermione dragged Harry back to the common room to do their homework.

~ ~ ~

The chaos of the common room had died down in the time Harry and Hermione had been away. The younger students had went to bed while the older one’s were relaxing or trying to keep ahead of the punishing homework load they were sure to have. Ron had spent the first twenty minutes groveling to Hermione for not telling her about the nightmares. Harry could see that she had forgiven him in the first twenty seconds. Harry decided to read his letter from Sirius while Hermione did her Arithmancy homework and Ron played a game of chess with Dean. Harry opened the envelope to find a letter and a second sealed envelope inside.

Dear Harry

I hope you enjoyed your birthday but now it’s time for the real present I promised you. In the other envelope you will find the guide that James and I wrote on how to become an Animagi. The process is both difficult and dangerous. My feelings are to try and keep you away from all dangers but I know can’t do that. I offer you this chance so that you will have a surprise to use against your enemies. The dangers in becoming an Animagi are not trivial and there is no shame in choosing not to try. No matter what you decided you can’t tell any one your decision. Any one that knows could have it tortured out of them, but they can’t tell what they don’t know. I suspect Dumbledore knows what is in this package so you must use all the precautions you can to keep your decision secret. I ask you to keep both this letter and the guide secret from everyone except Hermione and Ron. I don’t have the heart to ask you to keep secrets from either of them and both of them could benefit from having a surprise up their sleeves.

Love Sirius

P.S. Dumbledore tells me your staying at Hermione’s over the summer. If your reading this then your back at Hogwarts and if you haven’t already then you should tell her how you feel. There will be enough regrets in the days to come don’t add to them unless you must.

Harry had to wait until everyone except Ron and Hermione had left the common room. He had a talk with Ron explaining to him what Dumbledore had told him. Then he showed him the letter, Ron read it and then past it on to Hermione with out saying a word. She quickly read it and then looked up at the two boys. The silence stretched on each lost in their own thoughts.

“Okay,” said Harry is voice sounding unnaturally loud in the quite room. “We have a choice; take the risk and become Animagi or do we destroy the guide because I don’t think we should leave it lying around if we’re not using it. So what are we going to do?”

Two hours later Harry slowly climbed the stairs to his dorm; He couldn’t believe that this was still only his first full day back at Hogwarts. After what Dumbledore had told him, his discussion with Hermione and then arguing with both Ron and Hermione about what they should do he was more tired than he’d ever been in his live. He wasn’t happy with the decision, but he knew it was the right one, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Note:, Id like to thank everyone who read my story and those that took time to review it. Choccy2604, Looney Warner Mouse., Minnimione and hbraveheartp. I hope you all enjoy this part as much.

“The lying bastards, someone should burn down their offices and put this… this rag out of business.” Harry and Ron looked at each other glad that Hermione’s outburst had been swallowed up by the noise in the Great Hall. While the level of hate surprised them both the source of it didn’t today’s edition of the Daily Prophet. “Look at what they’re saying; not only are they insulting you and Professor Dumbledore, but their saying Professors MacLeod and Lupin aren’t qualified!”

The fifth-years first DADA lesson had been the day before. By the end of the lesson Hermione had pronounced Professor MacLeod ‘competent’ her highest accolade for a teacher. During the lesson Harry had noticed a few things he’d missed at the feast. She walked with a slight limp and there was a cluster of pale lines on her face, as if a number of thin cuts had only recently healed. On her hand was a discoloration that Ron had said was caused by a potion that stopped burns from scaring.

“What does it say?” The only answer Harry received was having the newspaper shoved into his hand as Hermione scowled.

‘New Term, New Incompetence’ screamed the headline on the front page. Harry began to read the story even though he had a good idea what it would say. ‘I, like many of our readers, have happy memories of my time at Hogwarts and have a great respect for the Headmaster Professor Dumbledore. Yet I can no longer allow my sentimentality to cloud my judgment. Today I found out that Professor Dumbledore has hired Morrigan MacLeod, an ex-Auror, to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. While an ex-Auror would seem to be an ideal choice to teach DADA, but when you discover other facts about Miss MacLeod, you may well begin to question the wisdom of hiring her to teach our children. Miss MacLeod did not resign, but was sacked after refusing to obey orders and putting other Auror’s and innocent people at risk. Miss MacLeod was recently seen at St Mungo’s hospital with extensive injures that are consistent with dueling injuries. Rumors are linking her injuries to the attack on a hit-wizard squad on the same night that left three of their number dead. While no charges were made her refusal to tell investigator how she was hurt has left her a suspect in the ongoing investigation.

Morrigan MacLeod is only the latest in a series of unfit people to hold the DADA post at Hogwarts in the last Six years. With a possibly dangerous teacher, the increasingly erratic behavior of Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore’s obvious lack of concern; I feel compelled to ask are our children safe at Hogwarts? I leave the answer to you.’

“Hermione, you can’t let your self get angry at things like this; that’s exactly what the Ministry wants. If they can’t get me to lose it, you and Ron are the next best thing. You can just see the headline ‘Potter Deranges Fellow Students’.

“Harry’s right, Hermione. They’ll use whatever they can; I mean look at last year, just because a story wasn’t true didn’t stop them from printing it,” said Ron before going back to his plate of food.

“I know, it’s just not fair,” said Hermione visibly calming down.

“Look its Saturday, we’re going to see Hagrid today and I just want to relax. So could we leave putting the world and all its wrongs right until at least after tea, please?” asked Harry with a grin.

“Okay if I must. So what were you and Hagrid talking about yesterday?”

“Nothing important, he just wanted to know what my summer was like.” He’d actually been asking for Hagrid’s help in getting Hermione a present for her birthday. He hoped that she wouldn’t notice the half-truth.

“Ah, the brute was asking how the orphan’s summer was. Isn’t that sweet?” Malfoy’s voice cut through the din with ease. They’d managed to avoid Draco and his minions both on the Express and in their classes. Harry had been the most thankful because he wasn’t sure how he would react to any of Draco’s usual insults towards Hermione.

“Piss off, Malfoy!” growled Ron before either Harry or Hermione could react.

“I don’t think your Mummy would be happy at you using that sort of language; a problem Potter doesn’t have,” the last word was followed by Draco’s trademark sneer. Harry was up and reaching for his wand.

“Harry.” Hermione’s tone was low but there was no mistaking the warning in it; he let go of the wand and let it slip back into his pocket.

“I’d love to stay and chat, but I can only stand the stench of a Mudblood for so long.” Malfoy walked away with Crabbe and Goyle sniggering behind him. Harry was already pulling his wand out his pocket when Hermione’s hand clamped down onto his wrist and with a slight shake of her head told him not to do it. A small part of him wanted to push Hermione away and then hex Malfoy with the worst curses he knew, but the look in Hermione’s eyes stopped him.

“That arrogant stuck up bastard.” Fortunately Ron’s words only carried a little way across the table with the only acknowledgments of his words being smiles.

A few minutes passed before Harry spoke. “I need to go speak with Ginny for a minute; I’ll meet you both back at the common room.”

“Okay, but remember Quidditch in an hour,” said Ron as he left the Great Hall with Hermione. The trials were supposed to have been yesterday, but the Hufflepuff team had taken longer than expected so Gryffindor had been pushed back to Saturday.

“Ginny, can I have a quick word in private?”

“Sure, Harry. What can I do for you?” asked Ginny as they just outside the Great Hall.

“I need your help with Hermione’s birthday present. I need you to go into her dorm and get something for me.”

“What?” asked Ginny. Harry just smiled and then explained what the present would be and what he needed her to do.

“The common room in twenty minutes?” asked Harry

“Sure,” said Ginny with a huge smile.

“Have you told Ron about Michael yet?”

“No, and Hermione shouldn’t have told you, it was a secret.”

“I know she just wanted to reassure me that I wouldn’t be upsetting you. You’re a good friend and I wouldn’t want to lose you.”

“I know; I’m not angry with her. I just don’t want Ron sticking his nose in, but then again he took the news about you and Hermione so well, maybe I should tell him.” The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable and brought a grin to Harry’s face.

“Okay point taken. It’s your life so I won’t interfere.”

~ ~ ~

Twenty minutes later found Harry in the Common Room waiting for Ginny. Ron was in the corner with the twins getting some last minute tips for the tryouts and Hermione was reading a book with Crookshanks in her lap. Ginny finally came in and walked up to Harry.

“Okay here’s the cloak, when you get it wrap up and then take it to Hagrid. He’s going to Diagon Alley today and will drop it off for me.”

“She’s going to love it, Harry, but what if she comes up when I’m in her room?”

“Don’t worry about it.” With a last smile she was off up to the dorm. It was twenty minutes later and she still hadn't come down and Harry would have to be off to the Quidditch tryouts soon. Hermione put her book down and walked over to Harry and gave him a quick kiss.

“I’m just going to grab a jumper and then we can head down to the Quidditch pitch, okay?” No it was not okay Ginny still hadn’t come down yet and he was running out of time; he’d have to use his backup plan.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.” As Hermione walked off he got Neville’s attention and gave him a nod.

“Hermione, could you give me a hand with my Transfigurations. I still don’t get this part.” Neville’s voice rang out and stopped Hermione in her tracks. Neville had actually been working hard at his classes and understood the transfiguration extremely well, but had agreed to play up to his image in order to help Harry. It took another five minutes for Ginny to finally appear. Harry had begun to panic because he knew that Neville wouldn’t be able to delay for much longer. Ginny walked right past him with just a quick nod and then was out of the room with only a good luck to Ron.

“Is it done?” asked Ron as he wandered over to Harry. The grin Harry gave him was all the answer he needed.

“What you so happy about?” asked Hermione as she walked back into the room.

“I’m just thinking about something”

“Thinking about what?”

“How beautiful you look when you smile.” Even though she didn’t care much about her looks, it did feel good to be told she was beautiful.

“Come on you two break it up,” said Ron.

“Don’t worry, I think you’re beautiful when you smile too, Ron,” said Harry in a tone that oozed sincerity.

“Sod off, Potter.”

“Keep up that sort of tone and I won’t kiss you.”

“Oh, so Ron gets a kiss, but your girlfriend doesn’t?” asked Hermione with joy dancing in her eyes. Ron had wondered away muttering to himself, but was glad to see his two friends happy especially with the strain that had put on their relationship in the last few days.

“Hermione, put him down, you don’t know where he’s been. And, Harry, we had better hurry or Angelina will shout at us again.” Fred’s shouting interrupted Harry and Hermione’s kiss.

~ ~ ~

Hermione sat watching the game with Ron. Both Ron and a third-year had done well enough in the first round that they were now being tested in conditions closer to a full game. The Gryffindor team was trying to score against the third-year, but even Hermione could tell that the distraction of all four balls and a whole team was getting to him.

“There’s too much going on for him to cope with,” said Ron mirroring Hermione’s thoughts. “That’s the problem with Quidditch, it’s difficult to play a game with full teams so it’s hard to prepare.”

“You’re not worried about that?”

“Of course I am and that first round showed just how bad I am.”

“You didn’t do too badly and you better get ready his twenty minutes are almost up.”

“You’re right. Hey there’s Parvati; could you do me a favor, Hermione, and ask her to ask her sister if I could have a word with her after lunch. Thanks,” said Ron running off before he got an answer. Wondering what her friend was up to, she walked over and talked to Parvati who told her she’d ask her sister for Ron.

Hermione watched the rest of Ron’s tryout alone but she didn’t mind too much. It was a nice day and she could tell how much fun Harry was having flying. While Ron’s performance didn’t get any better it didn’t get any worse. He let in a handful of goals but the confusion of a larger game wasn’t getting to him. The tryout soon finished with Angelina telling them she’d make a decision by night.

“Parvati said she’d ask her sister.”

“Thanks, Hermione.” Seeing Harry's puzzled expression he explained what he’d asked Hermione to do.

“Why?” asked Harry.

“I’ve decided to do something none of my brothers have done.” Before they ask what he walked off towards the castle.

“Well that’s just weird. Any idea what he’s up to?” asked Hermione as they walked back to the castle at a slow pace, hand in hand.

“Not a clue.” Harry looked down at their hands and smiled. “So how long do you reckon it will be?”

“Wednesday.”

“Monday. Never underestimate the efficiency of the Hogwarts Information Network.”

“We’re only holding hands,” said Hermione with an innocent tone.

“And kissing when you need to go to a different class.”

“Not to good at keeping to the subtle thing are we,” said Hermione in a sad voice that contrasted sharply with the look in her eyes.

“Not really, but this is more fun,” said Harry as he leaned down to kiss Hermione.

~ ~ ~

The lunch was up to Hogwarts usual high standards, but he was looking forward to talking to Hagrid to eat much. He got a small lecture from Hermione about his eating habits as he’d had a light breakfast.

“Ron, you wanted to speak to me.” Padma stood waiting for Ron with a look that said that this had better be good. They walked a little way out of the Great Hall to get some privacy. “So what do you want?”

“I wanted to say sorry for the way I acted at the Yule Ball. The way I treated you was wrong and I’m glad you had a good time despite of me. Anyway I just wanted to say sorry.”

~ ~ ~

They were sitting in Hagrid’s hut having a cup of tea and all three of them had the exact same questions in mind. What happened with the Giants and what happened to your beard?

“So what happened with the Giants?” asked Hermione not being able to stop herself from asking anymore. That wasn’t the first question on Harry and Ron’s minds, but they still wanted to know the answer.

“Now firs’ thing firs’. Congratulations you two. You better be treatin’ her right Harry. So how did you spend the summer?” Hermione just stared at Hagrid and slowly crossed her arms. “Yeh want an answer don’ you?”

“Yes please.”

“The three of yeh always knew too much. It didn’t go too badly, Olympe and me found them quick enough; it’s easy if you know where to look. We tried to get them to support Dumbledore and it was working ‘cos they knew about him. Then some Death Eaters turned up and started chucking magic at Olympe and me. The chief decided that if they would do that to half-giants they might attack them too. So their chief hit one of the Death Eaters.”

“What happened to him?” asked Ron

“Well if I said splat I wouldn’t be telling the half of it.”

“Okay.”

“So will they help us?” asked Hermione with hope on her eyes.

“No, they still remember what the Aurors did to them, but they blame You-Know…”

“Voldemort,” said Harry speaking over Hagrid. “He’s just a man.”

“You’re right Harry. They blame Voldemort.” There was a slight hesitation as he said the name. It was if he expected to be shouted at for using the name; only a few months ago he would have been. “For them being’ driven out of Britain and other places. So they won’t help us, but they won’t help him either.”

“And your beard?” asked Ron.

“I picked up a few scrapes when the Death Eaters attacked. I’m no healer and neither is Olympe so we did quick fix. When I got back to Hogwarts I went to see Dumbledore, but he was in the Hospital Wing. I went to tell him I was back and before I could say two words Poppy had her wand out, my beard was on the floor and she was slapping some gunk onto my face. Only a few more days and then I can let it grow back.”

“I think you should leave it, you look very handsome.” Hagrid started to blush at Hermione’s words.

“You thin’ so?”

“Of course. Maybe you could ask Madame Maxine what she thinks.”

“Well I am going to see her at Christmas. I could leave it and see what she thinks. Now I’ll make us another cuppy and you can tell me about your summer. I heard Bill was nursing a sick Horntail?” They spent the rest of the

afternoon with Hagrid talking about their summer and reaffirming the ties of friendship. Night had already descended by the time they started back towards the castle.

As they were climbing into the common room they noticed that Angelina was at a table with Fred and George.

“What do you think there talking about?” asked Ron in a nervous voice. All three knew that it was most likely be who got the Keeper position, but nobody wanted to say it.

“Hey, Ron, come over here a minute,” said Angelina as she spotted Ron.

“Do you think he got it?” asked Hermione biting her lip.

“Yessss!” Ron’s shout shattered the calm of the Common Room.

“Maybe.” Ron’s joy was infectious and the rest of the night was given over to a small party. The party finally broke up at two in the morning as the die-hard’s finally gave in to Hermione’s threats and went to bed.

The next day was spent relaxing, no study, no Quidditch practice and best of all from Harry’s point of view, no Malfoy. Hermione did do some schoolwork, but it was light and Harry could tell from the subjects that she was probably enjoying herself. It was getting late as Harry and Ron were playing poker for Every Flavor Beans when Hermione put down her Arithmancy book and went to pick up one of her books from home.

“Harry, wait a sec, I need to speak to Hermione.” He seemed nervous and Harry couldn’t figure out why. “Hermione, have you got a minute?”

“Sure what do you want?”

“I want to say sorry for how I’ve acted in the past. Especially how I treated you when we first met.” Ron had just started to walk away when Hermione spoke.

“Okay, Ron, what’s going on? First you apologize to Padma now to me, why?”

“Like I said yesterday. I’ve decided to do something none of my brothers have done.”

“Which is?” asked Hermione with a hint of annoyance in her tone.

“I’m going to grow up. War’s coming and I can’t just muck about anymore. I blame Harry. Well I’m off to bed, see you tomorrow.” Hermione spent the next hour mulling over what Ron had said.

“You’re quiet,” said Harry as he sat down next to her.

“Just thinking.”

“What did Ron want?”

“He wanted to apologize.” Hermione explained about her short conversation with Ron.

“It’s nothing to do with me. I didn’t say anything to him.”

“I know and you should be going to bed too. You’re practically asleep.”

“You’re right. I’m off to bed. What about you?” he asked standing up.

“I’m going to stay up for a few hours. You know I don’t need much sleep.”

“Okay see you tomorrow.” Harry kissed Hermione on the head before making his way up the stairs.

He was just drifting of to sleep when the noise of someone bursting into the dorm woke him up and sent him grabbing for his wand.

“Harry, it’s me,” said Hermione running to his side before she whispering to him. “Its Sirius. He’s been hurt.”

Note: thank you to those who read the story and those who took the time to review, hbraveheartp, Devil of the Lake666 , Minnimione, the_scribbler, Looney Warner Mouse. Hope every one enjoys this part.

Harry flew out of his bed only pausing long enough to pull on jeans and a T-shirt before sprinting out of the dorm. He ran straight past McGonagall with out giving her a second look. He knew his way to the hospital wing by instinct his only thoughts were getting there as quickly as possible. The cold stone floor leeched the warmth from his bare feet, but his journey seemed easier than usual. It was as if the castle was clearing a path for him and since this was Hogwarts it could very well have been.

“Mr. Potter, you can’t go in just yet,” said Madam Pomfrey as soon as she laid eyes on him. Harry didn’t even think about slowing down as he smashed into the Hospital ward door.

“Sirius!” The fear in Harry’s eyes was unmistakable as he searched the room for his godfather.

“Harry, I’m okay, don’t worry.” Harry finally focused on him lying in a bed with a small group of people.

“What happened?” asked Harry.

“I’ll tell you Mr. Potter,” said Professor MacLeod, who was sitting on a bed next to a purple haired woman.

“I suggested we wait a second, Morrigan.” Lupin grinned as he spoke.

“Why?” asked the Defense Professor. Lupin just pointed at the door and started counting slowly with his fingers.

“You two can’t go in either!” shouted Madam Pomfrey as another two teens crashed through the door. “Headmaster, Sirius needs rest and he can’t get it with all of these people barging in.”

“Poppy, please their family,” said Dumbledore. Madam Pomfrey knew that look and knew it was futile to argue with it.

“Twenty minutes. No more!” Sirius’s smiles and laughter at the scene playing out before him removed the last of Harry's fears for his godfather’s health.

“Morrigan, You were going to tell Harry how I got a few scratches and won ten Galleons from you.”

“Professor Dumbledore was contacted a few days ago by someone who claimed they would spy on the Dark Lord for us. They said they would only meet with Sirius and me. That person was Karkaroff.”

“But he’s dead. I saw him die,” said Harry.

“We know,” said Dumbledore continuing the story. “Because of your warning I sent along some friends. Remus and Miss Tonks, along with a few others.” As Dumbledore said her name the purple haired woman gave the three teens a smile and a nod.

“The old gang?” asked Hermione with a raised eyebrow.

A brief smile crossed Dumbledore’s lips before he spoke. “A part of it Miss Granger, just a part of it.”

“Anyway,” said Sirius wanting to tell his story. “We got jumped by Death Eaters and I zigged when I should have zagged. It’s not too bad; a few days rest and I’ll be fine.”

“Voldemort’s plan was to kill both Sirius and Professor MacLeod and make it look as if they were responsible for several murders.” Dumbledore looked directly at Harry as he continued. “Thanks to your warning Harry, they’re both alive and their reputations have avoided any further damage.”

“As long as Poppy doesn’t kill me for doing something stupid. We should all be okay,” said Sirius

“So how did you win ten galleons?” asked Ron.

“Easy. I bet you and Hermione would barge in and ignore Poppy. Morrigan bet the two of you would stop when told to,” replied Sirius with a grin.

“I assumed Miss. Granger would listen to a teacher; seems you do know her better Sirius.”

“There’s more to Hermione than meets the eye. Isn’t that right Harry?” said Sirius with a huge grin. Harry began to turn red, Sirius had suspected about his feelings for Hermione and he assumed someone had told Sirius about their relationship.

“I think we’ve embarrassed them enough for to night. It’s time we all left before Poppy does get angry,” said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye.

The trudge back to Gryffindor tower didn’t take too long, but Harry was still barely able to keep his eyes open as they arrived at the Fat Lady’s portrait. He slowly dragged himself up the dorm stairs and into his bed. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow

~ ~ ~

The sound of clapping woke him up, but before he even opened his eyes he knew he was dreaming. He opened his eyes to find himself standing in the middle of the Great Hall. It was empty even the tables and chairs were gone. Voldemort stood before him a smile on his face. Behind him and to the right there was the other presence; it’s shape little more than the play of shadows.

“Congratulations Harry, your godfather is still alive. I wonder how? I have to tell you that I had high hopes about what his death would achieve. You see Harry, my spies tell me the man in charge of hunting down Sirius is loyal to Dumbledore and he makes sure everyone trying to find Sirius is loyal to Dumbledore too. That means he can go against the Ministry’s orders and attempt to hunt me down. I find that to be very irritating Harry.” As Voldemort stopped speaking a grating sound began to fill the Great Hall. Between the two of them a chessboard had appeared. The checks were silver and gold the pieces nearest Voldemort were green while the pieces near Harry were scarlet. The pieces were all people who Harry knew and were moving on their own. Voldemort’s pieces were all cloaked except for the king who was Voldemort and the Queen. Harry noticed the Queen’s face change to that of his Mother before it became blank and featureless. “I hate to lose Harry, but,” Voldemort’s eyes flicked to the right and for a split-second the shadowy shape next to him became solid before fading away, “the game is not over and there is still many more moves to make.”

The Great Hall began to slowly dissolve into the black void that normally contained Harry and Voldemort’s meetings. Harry stood and waited for Voldemort to appear, but instead of the Dark Lord it was Hermione who materialized out of the void.

“Do you love her I wonder? There she is, always by your side, always ready to help you and fight along side you. Do you every wonder what that will do to her?” Voldemort’s voice seemed to come from every direction, but he still hadn’t shown himself.

“If you hurt her I’ll kill you!” Harry screamed the words into the air his rage and hate had come to a peak in an instant.

“It’s not her death you should fear, but her life.” The voice faded as a cruel cold laugh filled the air. He blinked and the void changed.

He was standing in the open air. A slight breeze rustled the grass as the sun warmed his face. A brief glare caught his eye and he could see a woman walking towards him. She was tall and thin. Harry would have said she was a dancer by the way she walked, but an instinct told him that would be the wrong word. As she got closer he understood why dancer hadn’t fit. Her movements hadn’t become any less graceful, but the details he saw as she approached reminded him of a lioness hunting. She wore armor over her entire body, but his suspicions were confirmed when he caught a glimpse of her eyes. It was Hermione. The armor was silver with gold at the edges, but he couldn’t fail to see how much damage it had taken, with various nicks, scratches and dents covering it’s surface.

“Look Men; the enemy!” Hermione’s voice rang out a fierce joy filling her words. Harry now noticed hundreds of people as if Hermione’s words had conjured them into being. They all wore armor that was similar to Hermione’s, but less finely made. He turned around and saw her enemy. A horde at least twice the size of Hermione’s army they all wore plane black armor with a variety of weapons. Hermione tore her sword from its scabbard the steel shrieking. “Show them no mercy!” The hate and rage contorted her face as she and her men charged across the open ground.

Harry watched as she fought with a skill born from a hundred battles. People were bleeding and dying all around, but still they fought on. With a brutal ferocity Hermione parried an enemy sword and then thrust her sword through the man’s chest. A step, a savage swipe and another enemy lay dead his head severed from his neck. The clash of metal was defining, but Hermione noticed none of it. She didn’t notice the small cuts she got or the blood that was clinging to her. The battle dragged on for almost twenty minutes before Harry sensed a change. The black glad enemy was starting to run away. A man in front of Hermione threw his sword to the ground and started to beg.

“Please spare me. I give up.” Hermione raised her sword, poised to deliver the killing blow. For a split second Hermione changed no longer the armor clad warrior, but wearing the black robes of a Hogwarts student.

“No mercy,” hissed Hermione as the sword swung down, but mixed in with the words was another voice whispered from far away, “Avada Kedavra!” The sword hit and there was a green flash as the man died.

“You didn’t have to do that,”shock had turned Harry’s voice into a scratchy rasp.

“I’m only what you made me.” Hermione looked straight at him for the first time. He hadn’t realized that he’d spoken aloud. “I loved you and wanted to help you so I had to learn to fight. How many battles can a person fight before pieces of them start to die? This is not the life I should have lead.” The wind blow and the battlefield faded away. “This is who I should have been. Innocent, untouched by the darkness you brought into my life.” He stood in a office and before him sat Hermione she looked identical to the warrior by his side except her eyes held a glow like she was always smiling at the world. She held a baby in her arms and it seemed there was no where else in nature that child would rather be.

“Hello little one. What’s wrong with you today?”

“She has a rash, what if she’s got Dragon pox?” The anxiety and fear in the voice was palpable. There were two other people in the room Cho Chang and Cedric Diggory. They both wore identical expressions of worry on their faces that made it obvious that they were the parents of the baby.

Hermione checked the baby for a few minutes with some spells before looking up and smiling at Cho. “She hasn’t got Dragon pox, I think it’s a reaction to her blanket. Just make sure that you get up or you’ll miss breakfast.”

Harry's eyes snapped open as Ron’s voice tore him from his dream. “Took you’re time. Now hurry up. I’ll meet you in the Great Hall,” said Ron before leaving the dorm.

~ ~ ~

Harry told both Ron and Hermione about his nightmare, but he’d only described it in the loosest of terms. He knew they were lies created by his fears and Voldemort’s manipulations, but the implications about Hermione refused to leave his mind. Had Harry corrupted her and would her caring about him turn her into something she hated.

Hermione, who was well versed in the way Harry’s mind worked, had already raced ahead and come to the correct conclusion.

“Harry, I help you because it’s the right thing to do. All you did was show me what the right thing was.” He knew that Hermione was right, but a small voice still objected. Harry pushed the voice aside; in time he knew he could silence it.

“This is for you Mr. Potter.” Professor McGonagall’s voice tore him from his thoughts as she handed him a piece of parchment.

Harry, I’m sorry to do this by letter, but I don’t have a choice I’ve had to leave Hogwarts. I will be recovering at Moony’s house as the Ministry is breathing down Dumbledore’s neck and it’s too dangerous for me to stay here. I’m glad we got to talk for a little while and with a bit of luck we should be able to spend Christmas together.

Love, Snuffles

“What is it?” asked Hermione. Harry quickly told them the letter’s content. Ron leaned back and sat in silence while his right index finger danced in the air; Harry recognized the gesture, from playing chess with Ron, as his friend’s way of organizing his thoughts.

“It’s yo… its Voldemort’s doing. He knows that snuffles was hurt and would probably be brought here. So he either tipped off the Ministry or got one of the Death Eaters that work’s there to start looking at Hogwarts. If Snuffles is caught here Fudge can get rid of Dumbledore and discredit you by making it public knowledge that you believe he’s innocent. As a result people will stop believing you and won’t be prepared. So the person who should be Voldemort’s enemy will actually be helping him.” Ron went back to his sausages while waiting for a response from his friends.

“I think you’re right. It’s a propaganda war right now, so perception and image is everything,” said Hermione with worry in her voice. She had agreed to keep Harry in-line, but only now did she how important it would be within the big picture.

“I was hoping he could stay for a few more days, but you’re both right it’s too dangerous and I’ll get to see him at Christmas.” More of Harry’s strength seemed to return to him as he spoke.

~ ~ ~

The next few days passed in a pattern similar to previous years at Hogwarts. Classes and Quidditch practice taking up most of his time and homework stealing the rest of day. It was during breakfast on the Friday that the next shot in the image war, as Ron was calling it, was fired. Harry was certain that he could see Dumbledore’s hand behind the move. The post had just been delivered when a second large group of owls burst into the Hall. Harry couldn’t see any pattern to who were getting deliveries, but all of the envelopes looked the same. He noticed that all of the teachers had gotten one along with many students, including Hermione. Hermione opened the envelope and found it contained a letter and a folded sheet paper.

Dear Miss Granger

As a subscriber to The Daily Prophet you have been sent this free preview of a new publication called The Daily Owl. The owl’s staff is made up of witches and wizards who feel that The Daily Prophet is no longer impartial and that it has become little more than the propaganda arm of the Ministry of Magic.

It is our aim to report the news in an unbiased way and to give an alternate perspective than that of The Daily Prophet. If you are interested in subscribing to this publication please fill in the form attached to the bottom of this letter.

Yours sincerely Richard Veritas, Editor

Hermione unfolded the paper and began to read what looked like the main story of the front page.

‘Distinguished Auror smeared’ stated the bold headline. ‘Last week an article in The Daily Prophet continued its campaign against professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, by attacking one of his professors. The article failed to mention many facts while drawing conclusions from the thinnest of evidence before making many alarmist statements. The article failed to state that Miss MacLeod was an Auror with almost fifteen years experience and the winner of several awards, The Order of Merlin (First class), The Golden Wand for bravery and the Auror Service Cross. The article also neglected to state that the disobeyed order that lead to her dismissal was that she should not speak about her belief that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had been resurrected.

Even if you do not believe the evidence supplied by Harry Potter would it not be an Auror’s duty to investigate the claim just in case. This reporter find’s it hard to believe that trying to find the truth about the claim of The Dark Lord’s return would be “putting other Aurors and innocent people at risk” as The Daily Prophet and Ministry of Magic insist. The discrediting of Miss MacLeod in this fashion shows that the Ministry of Magic is more concerned with silencing any opposition and putting its head in the sand than finding out the truth.

Hermione passed the paper to Harry and then Ron and was happy to see smiles appear on both of their faces.

“So are you going to subscribe?” asked Harry when he noticed that Hermione hadn’t already filled the form.

“I’d have to ask my parents first. They pay for my Prophet subscription and I can’t afford it on my own.” Harry could tell that she wanted to get the Owl, but couldn’t assume her parents would agree.

“Why don’t you put my vault number down just now and then owl them with Hedwig that way you don’t have to miss any of the copies?”

“I couldn’t do that.” He could see desire to accept in her eyes, but it was at war with her sense of right.

“We’ll call it an early birthday present,” said Harry.

“Okay, but only if you’re sure. I’ll fill in the form and we can go to the owlery after classes and send Hedwig to my mum and dad.”

Harry only had to pay for few days, as the Grangers were more than happy to buy the subscription and to get the payment changed. Hermione was extremely happy to have a more accurate source of news, but continued to get the Prophet so she could see what they were saying about Harry.

~ ~ ~

The next week proved difficult for Harry and Ron because on top of homework and Quidditch practice they had also started planning Hermione’s birthday party. It was difficult because if Hermione got suspicious she’d be able to get the truth out of someone. Fortunately on the Saturday before her birthday they had talked Angelina into not having Quidditch practice so they were able to go and get food from the kitchen while Hermione was at the library and then hide it in their dorm. At around seven o’clock Harry enlisted the aid of a couple of first-years to help him get Hermione out of the common room and to keep her occupied. Ron reckoned that they would only have about half an hour to get everything ready, but with almost the whole of Gryffindor helping to rearrange the common room and set out food they should have enough time. They were hurriedly putting the last touches to a large banner when Neville came bursting through the portrait hole.

“She’s coming along the corridor with those two first-years in tow.”

“Are we done?” shouted Harry to Fred.

“We’re done!” shouted back both twins. Harry just smiled in response. The next time the portrait swung open the whole of Gryffindor shouted out as one.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE!”

“What?” Hermione was stunned both by the noise and that anyone would have went to the effort required to arrange a party for her.

“Do you like it? It was Ron’s idea, but every one helped.” Harry's grin was completely natural and for that she was already happy.

“It’s great thank you, all of you,” said Hermione to the room in general before grabbing Harry and kissing him. Their display was met with catcalls and whistles lead by Fred and George.

“Okay this is a party and we need music!” shouted out Ron. Fred obliged him and with a flick of his wand music filled the room.

It took sometime for Hermione to get through the presets she had been given. Most where small things, mere tokens from her housemates, but she still treasured all of them.

“This one is from Mum. I think it’s her way of saying sorry about last year,” said Ron as he handed Hermione a lumpy package that could only be one thing, a Weasley jumper. Hermione carefully removed the paper to find a sky blue woolly jumper.

“It’s beautiful, can I borrow Pig to tell her thank you?”

“Sure and it’s not fair. Harry was already getting better jumpers than me and now you are as well.” Ron’s huge smile reassured everyone that he didn’t mind.

“I love this song we should dance,” said Ginny giving her brothers a meaningful look.

“But I,” Started Fred before he noticed both Ginny and Harry's looks. “Oh look there’s Katie got to go.”

“Alicia, my darling would you like to dance?” shouted George across the room before walking away. Ginny quickly latched on to Neville and began to dance.

“I’ll be over there,” said Ron pointing at the food, but he never made it because he ended up talking with Lavender when he noticed she was on her own.

“Here you go. I hope you like it.” Harry handed Hermione a box covered with gold wrapping paper. Hermione could see the anxiety in Harry's eyes. He’d faced Voldemort three times, but he was afraid his girlfriend would like her birthday present. He was either a very complicated person or a fifteen-year-old boy.

Hermione opened the box to find a large book bound in red leather on the cover in large gold letters was Hogwarts: A History and below that in slightly smaller writing was the part that almost broke her heart With additional notes by Hermione Granger. Hogwarts: A History had been Hermione’s favorite book since first year, but she had noticed that some parts hadn’t been updated for a long time and that she disagreed with several sections. As the years had passed as a hobby she had started to write additions and place them with in the book turning it into a truly personal copy. She had re-written the section about the chamber of secrets and had written a chapter about the house elves as well as scattering a huge amount of notes through out the large tome. Harry had gotten all of Hermione’s notes printed and then inserted into the book in the correct places.

“Harry, it’s amazing. It’s best present I’ve ever gotten,” said Hermione as she pulled him into yet another bone crunching hug.

“I’m glad you like it.” Harry looked at the swarm of people in the room and saw that the dancing couples seemed to be lost in a world of their own. “Hermione, I know I’m not good and that I’ll probably embarrass you, but do you want … I mean would you like to dance?” Harry was so nervous he was stumbling over his words.

“I’d love to,” replied Hermione with a huge grin.

The party went on for hours and included a firework display courtesy of the twins experimental stock. It was almost four in the morning before the last people went to bed. Harry stayed up until the very end and only with great reluctance did he leave the common room. He decided to leave Ron sleeping on an armchair instead of waking him. Even though he could hardly keep his eyes open he couldn’t help smiling. Life was going well right now and he was enjoying doing normal things that most teenagers took for granted. He knew that the nightmares would return and that he would have to fight in the war, but for now he was just Harry and tomorrow was soon enough to be The Boy Who Lived.

~ ~ ~

It was the day after the party and Harry was standing in a place he never thought he would ever come back to, Myrtle’s bathroom. Except this time he wouldn’t be braking school rules, but wizarding law. Harry, Ron and Hermione were taking the first steps on the path to become Animagi.

Note: as always a thank you to all who read the story and especially those who took the time to review it, Looney warner Mouse., the_scribbler, hbraveheartp, Anonymous, frostykist.

The setting sun bathed the Hogwarts grounds in a golden light and made even the Forbidden Forest look inviting. Harry looked over at his broom, checking it one final time. It was the first game of the season tomorrow and he’d slipped away from the busy common room, making excuses about wanting to check his broom before the match. It was a flimsy excuse; everyone had seen through it, but they respected his privacy and did not say anything. The sound of someone climbing up the stone steps made him turn around, to see Hermione making her way towards him. The cold November wind had turned the tips of her ears and nose pink.

“Ron said you would be up here; I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.”

“Nah. I was going to come down soon anyway. Have you finished your homework?”

“Yeah, and I found a book that might be helpful. It was in the Restricted Section, but it is about mind control so it wasn’t unexpected. I thought Madam Pince would faint when she saw the slip was for unlimited access, signed by Dumbledore.” Hermione’s joy at having so much of the Headmaster’s trust was obvious. Hermione had gone to speak to Dumbledore because she had wanted to try and find answers to what was happening to Harry. She had poured through what felt like every book in the library, but had been unable to find any useful information. Dumbledore had also confided that he too had drawn a blank and had given Hermione all his research. He had given Hermione his extensive notes because she had would have more time to devote to its study than he would.

“I’m sorry I missed it. Does Angelina want to see me?”

“Yeah. The spies are back with there latest ‘intelligence report’,” said Hermione, referring to the twin’s spying on the Slytherin team.

“Okay.” As Harry moved across the tower to leave, Hermione grabbed him and pulled him toward her, smashing her lips into his. Harry felt all his troubles leave him as his world was consumed by a whirlwind of desire. He snaked his arms around her, while she slipped a hand under his shirt. He shivered as her cold hand began to roam across the skin of his back. As he pulled his lips away she caught and held his bottom lip between her teeth for just a second.

“I don’t know about you, but I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” said Hermione, with a shy grin.

“It was the only thing that kept me sane during Potions.”

“I'd wondered why you were grinning during the whole class. Slytherins can be really annoying when they want to be.”

“Yeah. It makes me wonder why Dumbledore keeps giving us classes together.”

“Are you sure it's Dumbledore?” asked Hermione, as they walked down the stairs hand in hand.

“Of course it is. Anyone else would have accepted the fact that when you put Gryffindors in the same room as Slytherins you’re going to end up with a pitched battle. I know he's a genius, but…”

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity,” said Hermione with a slight grin.

“And I'm sure he does cartwheels across it three times a day.” Neither of them could stop themselves from laughing at the thought of the venerable old wizard doing cartwheels.

“You know what I think?” asked Harry as they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

“What do you think?” asked Hermione after giving the Fat Lady the password.

“I think we should go back to the north tower, just to make sure we’ve got all the kissing out of our systems,” said Harry, taking a step towards Hermione.

“I think,” said Hermione as she closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around Harry. She leaned in until there was less than an inch between her lips and Harry's. “I think I’ve got a book to read,” she whispered before giving him a quick kiss and then running through the portrait hole.

“You are a cruel, nasty, evil woman Hermione Granger,” shouted Harry as he entered the common room.

“That’s true,” Hermione gave him a saucy smile, “But you love me anyway.”

“Damn right I do.”

“Do you two mind?” shouted Alicia from across the room. “I’m glad you’re getting on, but I can feel my teeth rotting just watching you two.”

“They are sickeningly sweet together aren’t they?” said Ron with a smirk. The rest of the Quidditch team agreed and soon everyone in the common room was noisily shouting about how high their dentist bills were.

“All right everyone shut up. We have tactic to discuss, Harry, get over here,” shouted Angelina after the majority of the noise had died down.

“On you go Harry, your captain wants you,” said Hermione.

“Sorry Angelina, but I’m a one woman man,” shouted Harry as he walked to the table.

“Prat,” said Angelina with a grin as he sat down. “Okay. Fred, what did you two find out?”

“They’re good. Not as good as us, but they won’t be a push over and the rumors are true. Malfoy does have a Firebolt; we got close enough to see the handle.”

“Any good news?” asked Katie.

“Sure, we’re certain they believe the rumor about Harry wanting to try a Wronski Feint.” Fred looked straight at Harry “So you should be able to get one free dive at the snitch.”

“Is Malfoy good enough to handle a Firebolt?” asked Angelina.

“Yes, but I’m better than he is,” replied Harry. The team smiled at Harry’s confidence, but Angelina thought he was being dangerously arrogant. She suspected he wasn’t being arrogant since he had managed to beat Malfoy to the snitch in second year even thought he had an inferior broom and a broken arm, but his dislike of Draco could be clouding his judgment.

The team spent the next hour putting the final touches to their tactics for the next day. Harry had been surprised at how much Ron contributed the session. Ron’s lack of confidence on the pitch wasn’t carried over to the realm of tactics, which he had mastered with ease. After the tactic session Harry spent the rest of the night doing some light homework, more to keep Hermione happy than any other reason

~ ~ ~

Harry sat eating his toast, soaking in the noise of the Great Hall. Most weekends you would be lucky to find even half as many students in the Hall this early, but no one wanted to miss the Quidditch match. He was at the end of the table along with the rest of the Quidditch team and Hermione. He could see how nervous Ron was and it reminded him of his very first game. Now, five years later, he felt like a seasoned professional. He knew his job and he could do it well. He looked at the rest of the team and saw what he expected to see, calm and confident faces.

“Don’t worry Ron, you’ll do fine,” said Harry.

“That’s easy for you to say Mr. Youngest Seeker in a Century. I can’t do this, I can’t play Quidditch in front of the whole school, they’ll all laugh at me.” Ron’s words were tumbling out in an uncontrolled stream and Harry thought he would have to slap his friend in order to calm him down.

“Ron, calm down and start breathing. Angelina would never have chosen you if she didn’t think you could do the job,” Hermione spoke in her usual cool and logical way and soon had Ron under control.

“Hermione’s right, Ron. I’ve got faith in you, so don’t worry.”

“Okay team lets go,” said Angelina.

“Good luck, Harry,” said Hermione as she kissed him.

~ ~ ~

Harry pulled on his Quidditch robes as the low growl coming from the stands steadily increased in volume as students began filing out to watch the game.

“Okay team,” said Angelina as she stood up and walked in front of the team, ready to giver her speech. “Let’s go and show those Slytherin scum how to play Quidditch!” Harry couldn’t help smiling at Angelina’s words.

He walked on to the pitch and the noise of the crowd washed over him like a wave driving all other thoughts from his mind. The day was cold, but there was almost no wind and the sky was crystal clear.

“Captains, shake hands,” directed Madam Hooch, Angelina and Montague briefly touched hands their faces sharing identical looks of disgust.

Harry's eyes sought out those of Draco Malfoy and pointed to the chest that contained the four balls. “Take a good look at the Snitch Malfoy, because it’s the only time you’re going to see it.” The insult was quickly followed by a slap to the back of Harry’s head by Angelina. “What was that for?”

“Don’t get cocky, the game’s not over till the Snitch is in your hand. Once you’ve caught it you can brag all you want,” growled Angelina.

At Madam Hooch’s command Harry kicked off and felt the rush he always got when flying. He did a lap of the stadium searching the stands for Hermione. He quickly found her familiar bushy hair bracketed by the vivid red of Ginny’s and the dark hair of Parvati. Lee Jordan’s commentary filled his ears as Madam Hooch released the balls.

“And they’re off. Bell grabs the Quaffle, ducks a Bludger and flies down the field. Quick pass to Spinnet, she swoops ‘round Goyle, passes to Johnson who rockets towards the goal. Montague and Worrington try to intercept and she drops the ball! PORSKY PLOY, BELL CATCHES THE QUAFFLE, THROWS IT AND SCORES!!! TEN- NIL. First blood to Gryffindor with a display of superior skill the Slytherin team can’t hope to match.”

“Jordan.” Professor McGonagall’s voice interrupted the commentary, but Harry could tell she wasn’t too upset.

“And Slytherin in possession, they come racing up the field. Sloppy passing and Bell intercepts the pass, takes a Bludger to the shoulder and Montague picks up the dropped Quaffle, passes to Worrington, but takes a Bludger to the back of the head. And Worrington just has the Keeper to beat, he throws it left and Weasley gets a hand to it, but Worrington catches the deflection and throws it to the middle hoop. Ten points to Slytherin. Bad luck Ron!”

“And Spinnet has the Quaffle.” Alica flied across the pitch looking for someone to pass the Quaffle to, but the Slytherin Chasers were doing an excellent job of marking her team mates. See spotted both a Bludger and Crabbe zooming towards her and prepared to swerve away from the Bludger she expected to be sent her way, but he went past the ball and came right at her. He waited until they were close before swinging his bat at her. She tried to dodge but the edge of the heavy bat hit her hand accompanied by the crack of bone.

“Penalty, that piece of shit just broke her hand!” Jordan’s voice was full of rage and every student present could guess at Professor McGonagall’s mood by the lack of censure.

The team huddled round as George performed a quick healing charm on Alica’s hand, but even with the quick fix Harry could tell she was still in pain.

“Are you well enough to go on?” asked Angelina.

“Just try and stop me.”

“Alica Spinnet to take the penalty after that disgusting attack.” Jordan’s voice once again filled the stadium but most of its rage was gone. “She takes the ball goes forward, left right and easily slides it past the Keeper. Twenty - Ten to Gryffindor.”

It was after a few minutes of scrappy play, that resulted in were no one scoring, that the twins got there revenge on Crabbe by sending both of the Bludgers into his stomach seconds after each other.

“Hope your boyfriend isn’t hurt too much,” said Harry, t. Taunting Malfoy. He was hovering a few feet below Harry. He saw Draco open his mouth, but never learned what the reply was because at that moment they both spotted a flash of gold and were racing across the pitch after the elusive prize. Both Harry and Draco were getting as much speed out of their brooms as they could and were quickly side by side. Draco jabbed his elbow into Harry, who retaliated by striking back. The elbows were being traded with increasing ferocity each one seeking an advantage in their battle for the Snitch. Draco changed tactics and sent his elbow into Harry’s face. Harry waited for Draco to turn around and when he saw a smirk flitter on to his face. Harry savagely head butted his opponent. Seconds later they both had to swerve to avoid other players and the Snitch was lost.

“And Gryffindor calls for a time out.” It had been twenty minutes sine Harry's battle for the Snitch and Slytherin was in the lead by ten points, but Harry wasn’t sure for how long the team could keep playing.

“How is everyone?” asked Angelina as Fred began working on her eye. She had been hit in the face with a Bludger and it was quickly swelling shut. The rest of the team was in a similar condition, Katie had a broken nose which had been fixed by George, but was still bleeding at intervals. Alica’s hand had been hit another two times and even with the twins help she barely had the strength needed to grip the Quaffle. Both Fred and George were covered in bruises and Harry suspected that George’s arm had been broken.

“Were going to win this game,” snarled Katie with a fierce pride that was undermined by the blood that had begun to run from her noise.

“Okay. We’ve got a penalty and they’re only in front by ten points. So let’s keep it together. Harry, do you’re best. And Ron, keep up the good work.” They all kicked back into the air feeling a little better and even more determined to win the game, but Harry feared that if the game didn’t end soon there wouldn’t be a team left despite the best efforts of the twins.

“And Johnson gets ready to take the shot in what has been the dirtiest game of Quidditch I have ever seen. She flies in straight, goes right, it’s a fake she punches the ball, the Keeper gets his fingertips to it, but it’s not enough Johnson scores! Ten points to Gryffindor and that ties the score at fifty points each.”

Harry was doing a loop-de-loop when he spotted a flash of gold at the center of the pitch. Instead of curving at the top of the loop flattened himself to his broom and dove straight down. He pulled out of the drive with just inches to spare and sped across the pitch. He felt wind on his face as a Bludger zoomed by his face before bouncing into the ground. Harry flew through the cloud of dirt and grass blinding him as he lunged for the Snitch. He felt the cool metal of the Snitch in his hand as he plowed into the ground.

~ ~ ~

“Harry!” squealed Hermione with delight as she threw herself at him and pulled him into a hug. “I was so worried about you. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but Madam Pomfrey isn’t happy with me.” Harry had spent the last hour after the match in the hospital wing with the rest of the Gryffindor team being poked and scolded by Madam Pomfrey for doing dangerous things. Harry was the last one to leave once Madam Pomfrey was certain he didn’t have a concussion.

“Good. NOW-DON’T-YOU-DO-THAT-TO-ME-AGAIN.” Hermione punctuated each word by hitting Harry.

“Hermione, stop it you’re going to do more damage than the ground did.”

“Do you have any idea how much I worry about you?”

“Yes,” Harry took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, “and I’m very grateful you do, but you shouldn’t.” Hermione wanted to stay angry with him for putting her through so much worry, but she found it was impossible while he was being so sweet.

“Well I’ll stop worrying about you when you stop doing stupid and dangerous things.”

“So about two weeks past never then,” replied Harry with a smile.

“Come on, we need to get back to the common room.” The couple started wandering through the halls of Hogwarts holding hands, content to be alone together for a few moments. “We need to talk to the twins and the next batch is ready, so you and Ron need to stay awake tonight.”

“What do we need?”

“I’ve got a list in my dorm, so you can just give that to them.” They walked the rest of the way to Gryffindor tower chatting about inconsequential things.

A celebratory atmosphere filled the common room, so even the students doing homework had a smile on their face. Hermione went to her dorm to get the list and Harry walked over to Ron who was sitting at a table on his own waiting for him.

“Hey Harry, are you okay?” asked Ron when he saw his friend.

“I’m fine.”

“I would have waited for you, but I though you and Hermione could do with the time alone,” said Ron looking slightly embarrassed.

“Its okay, don’t worry about it. You played good today. You should be proud.” Ron grinned at in response to his friends praise.

“Okay, here’s the list. It has to be here before Christmas,” said Hermione, suddenly appearing by Harry's side. Harry gave her a mock salute before going to talk to the twins.

“Are you okay?” asked Ron when Harry was out of earshot.

“Yeah. I didn’t think that it would be any different. I’ve always worried about him, but today was so much worse than before,” replied Hermione with out taking her eyes off Harry.

“Well things are different now.”

“I suppose,” said Hermione with a mischievous smile.

“I think that’s more than I want to know. Can I ask you something? But you have to keep it a secret.”

“Sure,” said Hermione puzzlement filling her voice.

What do you think of … do you think…what do you think Lavender would say if I asked her to go to Hogsmeade with me?” Ron’s embarrassment was clear for Hermione and probably the entire common room as well, to see.

Hermione had to work hard to keep the grin from showing on her face. Hermione prided herself on being grown up and mature, but at that moment a tiny little voice in her head, that sounded like the twins, was encouraging her to start singing ‘Ron and Lavender sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G’, but she couldn’t do that to her friend. It had taken a lot of courage to admit he liked Lavender, something neither she nor Harry had ever confessed to Ron about each other. “Why Lavender?” asked Hermione needing to time to think about her answer.

“Well she’s good looking. An okay laugh when she isn’t giggling or obsessing about Divination and she didn’t run and hide from the Blast-Ended Skrewts.”

“Why is that last one important?” asked Hermione not making the connection.

“She didn’t run and hide, she stayed to help. I admired that and it means there’s more to her than meets the eye,” said Ron surpassing Hermione with his answer. “So what do you think? What will she say?”

“I don’t know Ron. We’re not exactly close,” said Hermione wishing she could have told him better news.

“Thanks anyway.”

“Why don’t you just ask her if she wants to go next week?”

“I don’t know, that sounds dangerously complicated. Can’t you come up with a way of asking her without asking her?”

“I don’t think so. You’re just going to have to ask her,” said Hermione.

“Look, you don’t know what it’s like to be knocked back, it’s bloody embarrassing. It was bad enough in fourth-year with Fleur, but she went away and everyone just assumed it was because of the Veela thing.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. How about I ask her if she wants to go to Hogsmeade with all three of us? That way you can get to know her a bit better.”

“Won’t she be going with Parvati?”

“No, Parvati is meeting someone from Hufflepuff at Puddifoot’s.”

“Okay that sounds good,” said Ron.

“What does?” asked Harry who’d finished talking to the twins.

“Is it okay?” asked Hermione. Ron’s only answer was to nod his head.

“Ron fancies Lavender, so I’m going to ask her to come to Hogsmeade with us next week.” Hermione could see Harry struggling to keep a smile from his face. “Not a word from you Harry Potter.”

“Me? I wasn’t going to…” Harry stopped talking after a look from Hermione showed she wasn’t joking. “Okay, the stuff will be here by Wednesday. They’re sending off an order tonight.”

“Fair enough. I’m off for a shower,” said Ron hoping it would wake him up.

“So what do you want to do?” asked Harry.

“Homework and no arguing,” said Hermione when she noticed him opening his mouth.

“Okay, but after dinner we go for a walk around the lake and then watch the stars.”

“That sounds fair,” said Hermione with a grin that made Harry wish it were dinnertime already.

~ ~~

He sat with his back against a tree, Hermione in front of him with her head on his chest. His right hand was playing with her hair as his left drew patterns on the skin of her stomach. The night sky was ablaze with stars and Harry felt a peace he had struggled to find recently. Hermione let out a small laugh as Harry stroked a sensitive patch of skin.

“That tickles,” giggled Hermione.

“What? That?” Harry asked as he brushed the same piece of skin.

“Yes that.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know.”

“I’d have believed that three month ago, but not now.”

“Yeah, but I like making you laugh, you look even more beautiful than usual.”

“Thanks”

~ ~ ~

“Are we clear?” asked Harry, taking off his invisibility cloak as he walked into Myrtle’s bathroom. Ron, studying the Marauders map, nodded. The sound and smell of the potions filled the small room completely.

“Okay it’s a cup of the green, then the spell and then half a cup of the blue,” said Hermione, pointing to the cauldrons as she spoke.

“Will this hurt as much as before?” asked Ron remembering how his bones had ached for the whole of the next day after taking the last batch of potions.

“Yes, but according to the guide it should only last for a few hours.”

“You think?” asked Harry, filling a cup with the green potion.

“Well they used a dictation spell and it wrote down a lot of the bickering. So it’s a little hard to work out sometimes.”

“Bickering?” asked Ron confused.

“Well look at this,” said Hermione and then started to read out a section.

“Are you sure it will only hurt for a few hours, Sirius?”

“Of course I am, trust me.”

“Okay, I believed you until you said ’trust me’. That’s what you said about that potion to turn Snape’s hair green.”

“Well it did.”

“And turned our hands bright orange for a bloody week!”

“You asked about hair and not hands. You should have been more specific with your questions.”

“Well you get the idea,” said Hermione.

“How much longer are we going to have to do this for?” asked Harry after he had drank his green potion in one go.

“Now the spell. The potion and spell phase should be over by the end of January and then it’s just another couple of weeks to train ourselves.” They each performed the spell, a lengthy charm that shared a structure with transfiguration spells. She wished she could discuss it with Professor McGonagall, but knew how important secrecy was.

“Half a cup of blue?” asked Ron, confirming the dose. Hermione nodded as she measured out her own cup.

“Enjoy,” said Harry as all three of them downed their cups. Harry now understood why Animagus were so rare. The process involved a complex combination of spells and potions that had to be taken in the right amounts at certain times and with the correct spells.

“I’ve got to get to bed before this kicks in,” said Ron. Harry handed him the cloak; Harry would use the Marauders map to get back to Gryffindor tower while avoiding Flinch. Hermione, as a prefect, was allowed to be out of the common room at night.

“Do you know what went through my head when Ron told me he liked Lavender?”

“Aww?” guessed Harry.

“Ron and Lavender sitting in…”

“A tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Harry and Hermione finish the playground rhyme together with matching grins.

“How about ‘Harry and Hermione sitting in a toilet K-I-S-S-I-N-G’,” sang Harry.

“Sitting in a toilet” laughed Hermione, “Romance thy name is Harry,” said Hermione with a smirk. Harry just shrugged and kissed Hermione. It was quite sometime before Harry left the bathroom and followed Ron’s path back to Gryffindor tower.

Note: Thank you to everyone who has read this fic and an extras thank you to all the reviewers, Looney Warner Mouse. , Mike , Anonymous , Grumpy-Numero-Uno , Hogwarts Alum 53 , hbraveheartp , Pittielynn. Hope every one enjoys this part the final chapter of the reposted parts.

Harry was walking arm in arm through the streets of Hogsmeade with Hermione, and he wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. He wasn’t even trying to fight the grin that was plastered on his face. Even the bone deep chill from the wind was bearable because of the warmth from Hermione. She had her head snuggled into his shoulder, enjoying the chance to be close to him.

“I wish we could do this more often,” said Harry.

“It’s nice to be alone.”

“What about those two?” asked Harry nodding his head towards Ron and Lavender, who were walking a dozen paces in front of them.

“I don’t think they’d noticed if we stripped naked and tangoed up the street,” said Hermione with a smirk.

“Good idea, maybe we should try it out.” Before Hermione could reply, Harry slipped his arm around her waist and then grabbed her hand and flung it straight out in front of them. Harry began badly hum some music as he swept Hermione along the road.

“Harry, stop it.” Hermione's voice was obscured by her giggles, and by Harry's jacket.

“Okay.” Harry stopped and put both his arms around Hermione’s waist and spun her around in the air. He set her on the ground and quickly leaned in for a kiss. As soon as their lips met he was hit by a familiar wave of desire, he knew he would never get tired of kissing Hermione. Only the voice at the back of his mind telling him they were in public kept his hands to acceptable parts of her body as Hermione entangled her hands in his hair. Harry could still taste the strawberry jam that Hermione had put on her toast. The sweetness of her lips was forgotten for a moment when Hermione began to tickle the back of his neck.

“We need to stop,” said Hermione, when she finally mustered the self-control to pull her self away from Harry. “People are starting to stare,” she said by way of an explanation.

“I’d tell you two to get a room, but you probably would,” said Ron, still stifling his laughter from watching his friends dancing along the street.

“And you are a really bad dancer, Harry,” said Lavender with a giggle.

“Me? A bad dancer?” Harry's voice was fill with hurt, but his grin softened the words. He quickly grabbed Hermione and began and to waltz in circles around both Ron and Lavender.

Hermione couldn’t stop smiling. She was completely embarrassed and starting to get a little dizzy, but none of it mattered because Harry was so happy that she didn’t have the heart to ask him to stop.

The pair continued to waltz along the street until they finally stopped outside the Three Broomsticks.

“Thank you for the dance my lady,” said Harry, as he bowed down and kissed the back of Hermione’s hand.

“The pleasure was all mine.”

“Alright you two get in,” said Ron, with a huge grin, pushing them both through the door. Despite the pub being busy, they quickly found a table for the four of them. “Butterbeer?” Ron’s question was answered by a wave of bobbing heads.

“I’ll help you,” said Lavender walking to the bar with Ron. Hermione’s laughter cut through the air, causing them and sizeable number of others to look at their table. Harry was attempting to tickle Hermione while she half-heartedly tried to stop him. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen those two so happy.”

“Yeah, they’re good for each other.”

“You really are okay with them going out? I though that you…”

“Fancied Hermione," said Ron, finishing her sentence.

“After fourth year can you blame me?”

“Not really, but me and Hermione would never have worked. We would have spent too much time trying to change each other. Harry simply accepts her and I don’t think many woman would be happy with their boyfriend keeping secrets from them.”

“You three have secrets from each other?” Lavender’s shock made her half shout, causing a few people to turn her way before continuing with their own conversations.

“A few,” said Ron, but he refused to elaborate. Both he and Hermione knew there was more to what had happened with Voldemort than what he had told them, and he was definitely hiding things about his life with the Dursleys.

“He must have a nice family. To take him in after what happened,” said Lavender quickly, aware that the subject of secrets was best left alone for now.

Ron only stopped himself from laughing out loud by biting his tongue. He knew that Lavender, like most of the Wizarding world, was unaware of how the Dursleys treated Harry. He was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Madame Rosmerta; he ordered four Butterbeers and with Lavender’s help took the four tankards to the table.

“Here you go,” said Ron, slamming the tankards on the table with a thud.

“Thanks, but next time do you think you could keep the Butterbeer in the glass?” said Harry, wiping off the Butterbeer that had sloshed over the side.

“If that’s your attitude I’ll take it back.” Ron made a grab for the glass, but Harry quickly moved it out of his friend’s reach.

“Now let’s not be hasty.”

“Behave children or I’ll have to separate you,” said Hermione in a perfect imitation of Professor McGonagall.

“I think we were just insulted.” Ron’s voice was full of surprise

“I think we were,” agreed Harry, “and if we don’t behave?”

“Then you don’t get any snogs tonight,” said Ron before Hermione could open her mouth.

“Ron!” shouted Hermione as her face started to turn red.

“We’ll if I can’t kiss you tonight, I’m just going to have to do it now.”

“HAR…” the rest of Hermione’s sentence was cut off as Harry kissed her. The whole world melted away and only thing that mattered was that he got another taste of Hermione’s lips.

Ron leaned close to Lavender and stage whispered, “How much do you want to bet they break the three minute mark?”

Harry and Hermione broke apart soon after Ron’s voice had broken the atmosphere.

“Sorry about that,” said Hermione trying to hide her red face behind her hair.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nice to see people happy for a change,” replied Lavender.

“What do you mean?”

“Look around.” Lavender indicated the pub with a nod of her head.

Hermione looked around: the decorations, the softly playing Christmas carols, the people talking and drinking, on the surface it all looked normal. Then she noticed the small things: conversations held a little quieter than normal, the people outside walking faster, not taking the time to window shop.

“You see it now, don’t you?” asked Lavender seeing the comprehension dawn in Hermione’s eyes. Hermione simply nodded her head. The confused looks on Harry and Ron’s faces prompted her to explain. “Everyone’s scared. Half of them think You-know-who is back and the other half thinks Dumbledore is going to start a war with Fudge.”

“I didn’t expect that from you,” said Hermione.

“What? You didn’t expect someone as stupid as me to notice what’s right in front of me?” Bitterness laced her words, but there was no mistaking the challenge in her tone.

Hermione had the good grace to blush at Lavender’s words. “I never thought you were stupid, you’ve just always seemed more interested in fashion than the real world.”

“It’s hard to enjoy Teen Witch Weekly when your parents ask you if Harry really is nuts.”

“So what do you believe, am I nuts or is Voldemort back?” Harry couldn’t help but smirk when his use of Voldemort’s name caused the expected reaction in Lavender and the rest of the pub.

“You three know things. You know what happened to Professor Quirrell, and who let out that Basilisk. We all know there was more to what happened than we were told, but I’m sure that you three do. So if you say he’s back I believe it.”

“Vol-de-mort. He has a name, you should use it.”

“We’re all not as brave as you, Harry.” Lavender dropped her head showing just how much making the admission had cost the Gryffindor. Ron gently cupped her face and raised it so he could look into Lavender’s eyes.

“You are brave enough, it’s just that all your life you have been told you're not. He does seem less scary when you use his name and realize he’s just a man.”

“Really?” Lavender’s voice nearly cracked as her pride battled with her fear, the need to be comforted in the presence of the trio had pushed her to the edge of tears.

“Really, that’s why Harry says Voldemort. Saying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named makes Harry feel worse,” explained Ron gently, pretending not to notice the tears gathering in her eyes.

“It’s true.” Harry spoke just loud enough to be heard in the pub, Hermione simply nodded, as Lavender looked up at Harry.

It took a few hours for the levity to return to the group and they were on their way back to the castle before Lavender produced a genuine smile, even though Ron had been trying almost non-stop for the last two hours to make her laugh. The pain he had experienced in The Three Broomsticks had surprised him; the glistening of tears in Lavender’s eyes had cut at his heart in a way few other things had. Maybe that’s what moved him to speak when they got back to the common room and Lavender started to drift away from the trio, uncertainty written on her face as she discovered Parvati was still not back from Hogsmeade.

“Lavender! Um… would you like to play chess or something?” Ron was sure his face was turning red as she just looked at him. He had begun to curse his own stupidity, when she smiled.

“I’d love to, but I’m not as good as you.”

“That’s okay, no one can be worse than those two,” said Ron pointing at Harry and Hermione.

“That’s not nice,” said Harry before looking at Hermione. “We must retaliate.”

“How?”

“By embarrassing him.”

“How do you plan to manage that? He has no shame.”

“That’s okay, neither do I,” said Harry as he pulled Hermione into a scorching kiss. His entire world shrank down to the square inch that was Hermione’s lips. He felt a familiar passion curl around his stomach and spine as he sought to get closer to the woman he cared so much about. The growing heat between them abruptly broke apart as a cushion slammed into the side of Harry’s head.

“Do you two mind, I’ve just eaten.” Ginny’s voice floated through the room with a matching smirk on her face. Harry stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry at her.

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled at Harry. “Come on you, stop annoying Ginny and do some homework.” Harry sketched out a mock salute and trudged off to his dormitory.

Ron smiled as he listened to the altercation between his friends and sister. He carefully set up the chessmen before looking up to see a huge smile on Lavender’s face.

“What?” asked Ron confused by the smile being sent his way and the feelings it was generating.

“Everyone seems so happy, it’s a big change. That’s all.”

“Yeah,” Ron kept his reply short because he knew just how thin that happiness was in Harry’s case. The first game passed quickly, Ron was a little surprised by the challenge Lavender put up. It seemed he was as guilty as Hermione of making assumptions about their housemate. Many hours later and Ron was by the fireside, the chess set forgotten, talking with Lavender when a massive yawn split her face.

“I’m sorry, what time is it?” asked Lavender.

“About half eleven.”

“That late! I’ve got to go to bed. I promised Parvati that I would talk to her hours ago.” Lavender stood up and was walking away when she turned and walked back towards Ron. “I really enjoyed myself today. Thank you.” She hesitated for a second before bobbing down and giving him a kiss on the cheek, then running up the stars to the girl’s dormitories.

“If that smile gets any bigger it will need its own postcode,” said Harry from across the room. Hermione giggled at the muggle reference, but Ron just looked confused. “Doesn’t matter.”

Ron looked around the room noticing that it was empty except for the three of them. He walked over the table and saw the large pile of homework that had been done while he had spent time with Lavender. He hoped Hermione wouldn’t give him a lecture, but he had been studying a lot lately so the odds were good she wouldn’t.

“Are you two done studying?”

“I think so, everything’s starting to go blurry,” said Harry. Hermione just nodded her head, in answer to Ron’s question.

“Want to play a game of poker, got plenty of beans?” asked Ron while shaking his bag of every flavor beans.

“Sounds good. It feels like we don’t spend any time together recently,” said Hermione as Ron began to deal the cards.

“Yeah and it’s only a week till the Christmas holidays start. It will be the first time since second year that we’ve spent apart. Do your parents have any thing special planned?” Ron asked Hermione.

“No, I think they’re just happy to see me.”

“I’m sure they are. I know I’m looking forward to spending time with Sirius,” said Harry as he checked his cards.

“Well try and tell me where you are because mum’s got the entire family here this year and I might need to escape,” said Ron with a grin.

They played cards for the next hour until the yawns were more common than the bets. Harry couldn’t remember climbing the stars to the dorm, but he woke up in his bed so he assumed that he had managed it. The other possibility was that he owed Ron a big favor for dragging him up the stairs.

~ ~ ~

The sound of the battle assaulted Harry's ears as he rushed through Hogwart's corridors. Death eaters had been swarming allover the castle for the past hour. He had gotten a flash of the assault when it started. Voldmort standing in the forest surrounded by a sea of followers and monsters. He turned to the black robed figure that had been appearing in his dreams, the face still hidden by shadows.

“Take the castle kill them all.”

A great howl had went up form the host and the battle began. The black figure seemed to be every where Harry looked, smashing barricades in the great hall, killing students in the corridors and executing prisoners in the dungeons.

However fast he ran he couldn't get away form his perusers. Finally they caught him and dragged him to the black figure, the figure lifted their wand and then the pain began.

Harry woke in a cold sweat, his jaw sore from clenching his teeth together. He had refused to scream during the torture until the end. He hears a low loan come from the floor. He rolled over and looked down to see Ron.

“Was there any need to hit me mate?” asked Ron, who'd tried to stop Harry's screams and gotten punched by his half awake friend.”

“Sorry Ron, I'll try to fix it.”

“No I'll heal it, your rubbish at it Harry.” said Seamus as he waked over to them both. “And then maybe we can sleep.”

~ ~ ~

The great hall resounded with the noise of students eating and laughing. The last day of term before the Christmas holidays began. Harry flopped into his seat and slowly started to fill his plate with food, knowing Hermione would scold him if he didn’t eat.

“You look like crap, Harry,” said Lavender as she sat next to him.

“I think good morning or hello is traditional, but since you asked so nicely I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Lavender just nodded, she had been a Gryffindor long enough to know that ‘didn’t sleep well’ was code for 'woke up screaming in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep.' She also knew that Harry would probably die before admitting it publicly.

“I was just asking for a bit of help, not for you to write the whole thing.” Ron’s voice entered the great hall long before he did. “I’m not asking you to sell your first born.”

Harry assumed that Hermione was speaking to Ron and was keeping her voice down, a trait his other friend had never mastered.

“Are those two still at it?”

“Yeah, I’ve begun to think that they need to bicker at least once a week or they’ll explode.” Harry had just finished speaking when Ron and Hermione entered the hall. They had either called a truce or worked out a solution because they had stopped arguing.

“Hi, Ron, Hermione. I’ll see you both later,” said Lavender as Ron and Hermione approached the table. She quickly stood up and went farther along the table to where Parvati was sitting. Ron’s face didn’t lose its smile until he took a good look at Harry’s face.

“You look like shit. I take it you didn’t get back to sleep last night?” Asked Ron as he heaped his plate with food.

“I dozed a bit, how’s your…?” asked Harry waving his hand at Ron’s face.

“It’s fine, just itches a bit.”

“What’s wrong with your face, what happened?” asked Hermione quickly, panic filling her voice.

“Harry had a nightmare and I tried to wake him up, he responded with a right hook. Don’t worry, Seamus healed it up good.”

“What happened?” asked Hermione, gently holding Harry’s hand. Her voice was filled with a care and warmth that still made Ron a little jealous.

“Nothing unusual. Just me helpless as Death Eaters killed everyone I know before torturing and killing me. Nothing more imaginative, Voldemort must be busy with other things. There were a couple of odd things; it wasn’t Voldemort directing the Death Eaters, but a figure in black, the one that usually stands behind Voldemort. And my scar hurt.”

“How badly?”

“Not as bad at the graveyard, but bad enough.” Hermione squeezed his hand a little tighter, while she absorbed the information. Harry wasn’t in the mood for speaking and he could see the look in Hermione’s eyes that told him gears were turning.

The day past slowly, both he and Ron managed to avoid getting into any trouble in double Potions and he enjoyed his Care of Magical Creatures class with the still-beardless Hagrid. He ate lunch alone because Hermione was in the library and Ron spent the time talking to Lavender. Double Charms was difficult, but it let him focus on a different problem from the new twist in his nightmares. They walked to DADA in silence; Hermione still absorbed by the thoughts that had struck her at breakfast and Ron wondering if he should write to Lavender over Christmas.

The room was empty, but the class quickly settled into their seats and began talking as they waited for Professor MacLeod to arrive. Harry just laid his head down to rest for a few seconds, he could still hear the gears turning in Hermione’s head and knew only the arrival of their teacher would stir her from her thoughts. Professor MacLeod walked into the room and quickly strode to the front of the class.

“KNOW YOUR ENEMY!” Professor MacLeod’s voice hung in the air of the classroom. “This is your enemy,” she said holding up a bundle of parchments, “The O.W.L’s. Each of you will be given a copy to complete during the Christmas holidays.” She flicked her wand and the papers whizzed through the air, one landing in front of every student. “I know this is your last lesson of the term and I would prefer not to give you any work, but I’m afraid we can’t spare the time. Now, we were working on producing a shield, except you three,” pointing at Harry, Hermione and Ron,” who were trying to break through each other’s shields.”

The students spread out, as soft, fluffy balls appeared on the desks, the goal was to produce a strong enough shield to bounce the ball off. The hours of practice the trio had done when preparing Harry for the third task had allowed them to quickly master the skill. They spent the next hour trying to get past the shields in mini duels; Ron was surprised at just how different their styles were to each other. Harry was like a broadsword, using power to try and overwhelm his opponent, while Hermione was more like a rapier. Precision and control, the right spells in the right place at the right time. Ron noticed that while both Harry and Hermione hit the problem head on, he was always trying to go around it and attack from a different angle. Ron had just managed to hit Harry with a jelly legs curse, by heating up the ground Harry was standing on he had made enough of a distraction to slip his spell past.

“Okay enough,” said Professor MacLeod as the bell rang. “Harry could you stay for a minute?”

“Sure,” said Harry turning to his friends,” See you back at the common room?”

“No, I’ll be at the library for a few hours, there’s something I want to check on,” said Hermione as she kissed Harry and then turned red as she remembered Professor MacLeod was watching them.

“I’ll be in the common room mate,” said Ron still chuckling at Hermione’s exit.

“Okay. What did you need to talk about, Professor?”

“Follow me. There’s something in my office I need to show you.”

Harry followed the professor to her office and was surprised at how it was decorated. There was a large empty tank, which Harry assumed usually contained some sort of creature like Professor Lupin had done. The center of the room held a large desk covered in parchment and strangely there were pens scattered over its surface, but the object that took up most of his attention was a large sword on the wall.

“It’s a claymore, been in my family for hundreds of years,” said Professor MacLeod when she spotted what Harry was staring at. “My mother was the first one in our family to be magical and when my grandfather found out I was going to be an Auror he gave it to me saying that it should belong to a warrior.”

“Its odd, the only other real sword I’ve seen is Godric Gryffindor’s sword,” said Harry, half-talking to himself, “And it’s covered in jewels. You can almost convince yourself that it is art and not something that kills. But that’s so plain it seems to shout out that it kills, that’s what it does, that’s what it is and doesn’t pretend to be anything else.” Harry shook his head trying to shake his thoughts from their path, “I am sorry, Professor.”

“Its okay, Harry, I never thought of it that way. I wanted to give you this.” she handed over a folder. “That’s all the information the Ministry and the Order… I mean Dumbledore has on Voldemort. The headmaster wanted you to read it in case you see something in it that everyone else has missed.”

“I doubt it, but I’ll look it over.”

“Thanks, Harry.”

~ ~ ~

The train lurched and it was only Harry’s quick reflexes that stopped him crashing into Ginny. He sat down and checked his watch again.

“She’s only been gone twenty minutes, Harry,” said Ginny with a smirk.

“Don’t you have any thing better to do?” Ginny’s only answer was to turn her smirk into a full-fledged smile. “Look I know I’m being pathetic, but I’m not going to see her for two weeks and I want to spend as much time as possible with her.”

“Ooh, isn’t that sweet,” said Ron

Harry was getting ready to start calling Ron names when the door to their compartment rattled open. “Great I found you at last,” said Lavender as she walked in with Parvati. Both Harry and Ginny noticed that she seemed to be talking to Ron and that he’d started to smile when she walked in.

“Could I have a word with you, Harry?” asked Parvati. Harry was surprised that she would want to talk to him, but followed her out of the compartment with out a word. He heard Ginny’s voice float down the train as she hastily left the compartment, leaving Ron alone with Lavender, as his puzzlement about where Parvati was taking him increased.

“Parvati, where are we going?”

“In here,” she replied a few seconds later, stopping outside a compartment. Harry followed her in, but instead of sitting down she stayed by the door. “I’ll be outside.” The comment was directed at the only other occupant. Harry hadn’t noticed him when he entered, he was four or five inches taller than Harry with a big build and sandy hair. Harry’s eyes flicked to the front of the robe to see he belonged to Hufflepuff.

“Hi I’m Richard, please don’t be too upset with Parvati. I figured it would be easier to talk to you on the train because you couldn’t run away like you do when you see Cho.”

“What do you want?” asked Harry not even attempting to hide the suspicion.

“I was Cedric’s best friend. I wanted to say thank you for bringing back his body. It meant a lot to his parents and Cho to be able to say goodbye properly. It meant a lot to me as well.” Richard could sense the discomfort radiating from Harry, so plunged into the rest of his speech before the Gryffindor left. “I also need to ask a favor, that you stop avoiding Cho and talk to her.”

“I don’t avoid her and talk to her about what?”

“Harry I’ve seen you do it. As soon as you see her you go the other way or duck into a side passage. She needs to hear what happened from you. Only knowing the vague rumors is killing her.”

“I’ll try.” Harry's voice emerged as a tiny sound that was almost swallowed up by the noise of the train.

“Thank you.”

Harry barley heard the words as he slid the door closed and came face to face with Parvati.

“I’m sorry, Harry.”

“Its okay, it had to be done. I’ll see you after the holidays.”

~ ~ ~

The Express was pulling into Kings Cross and Harry's thoughts were still consumed by the conversation he had with Richard. It had never occurred to him that talking with Cho could help her. He was still half convinced that she hated him for what happened. He knew that his silence during the journey had concerned Hermione, but he had given both Hermione and Ron a brief description of what had happened and they were content to let him think by himself. It felt strange to be getting off the Express in winter and not the usual summer weather.

The crowd on platform 9 and 3/4 was large and noisy. Their large group finally got through the barrier and easily found the right group of parents. The Grangers were talking with Mrs. Weasley and Bill. It was only when he got closer that Harry noticed Professor Lupin and Tonks were also part of the group. Tonks had changed her hair to a dirty blonde that didn’t attract as much attention as the purple would have. Mrs. Weasley wasted no time in hugging each child, before whisking her own brood away to give Harry and Hermione a little privacy.

They stood looking at each other holding hands, both reluctant to speak and start the good-byes.

“I won’t say good bye,” said Harry. He leaned in and gave her a quick and simple kiss on the lips, acutely aware that her parents were standing only feet away. “I’ll see you soon.”

“If you won’t then I won’t.” Hermione smiled and pulled Harry into a fierce hug before walking off with her parents.

“Are you ready?” asked Lupin with laughter in his voice.

“Yeah, can I assume you didn’t bring Snuffles because of the crowd?”

“Exactly, you know what he’s like, can’t help showing off,” replied Lupin with a huge grin.

Note. This is the first posting of this chapter, the first new part I've written for this story in along time. Just a quick note on the plot, When I first started this story it was before Order of the Phoenix was released, When I picked this back up I decided to ignore the events and new information in the last three books, this is why there is no prophecy and no mention of Occlumency. The only part I did left from OoTP was grimmauld place, I think it is much better setting for this part than my original intention of having it at the burrow. Since I have now caught up with myself and need to write the parts there will be slow down in updates but hopefully it wont be too long. I hope veryone enjoys this part and a thank you to those who left a review Mike , Looney Warner Mouse. , Pittielynn, Grumpy-Numero-Uno

The hailstones beat an unending tattoo on the car roof, reducing the other cars to vaguely shaped blobs of colour. The journey through the streets of London had been turned into a slow crawl, by both weather and traffic. Harry was still getting used to seeing the city in winter, since he had only visited it during the summer.

“So, where are we going?” Harry asked.

“We’re going to Sirius’ house,” Remus answered.

“If Sirius has a house, won’t the Ministry be watching it?”

“They were, but arrangements have been made and it’s safe now,” Remus replied.

It was only a few minutes later that they stopped at a street that looked about as magical as a brick.

“You’ll need this,” Tonks said, handing him a piece of paper.

‘Sirius lives at Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.’ As he read, a house expanded from no-where to appear on the street.

“Can you see it now?” Tonks asked. Harry nodded and she took the paper from his hands. She twisted the paper up before pulling out a Muggle lighter and setting fire to the paper.

“When you go in, try to be quiet,” Remus said, who had retrieved Harry’s things from the car. Harry walked up to the house and opened the door. Inside, he saw a house that seemed to wear its age like a hated and badly-made cloak. He saw evidence of a recent and intensive clean-up operation, but it seemed that the battle was only being won very slowly. Remus whispered the directions to the kitchen and they arrived there without setting off whatever that didn’t like noise.

The only occupant of the room was Sirius, who looked much healthier than the last time Harry had seen him. Harry had barely registered Sirius’ presence before he was pulled in to a massive hug.

“It’s good to see you again, Harry!” Sirius exclaimed.

“We have a few things to do first, but we’ll be back in a few hours,” Remus said, unable to suppress the grin on his face.

“Okay. Come on, Harry, I’ll show you your room, and with a bit of luck I won’t introduce you to my mother.”

~ ~ ~

Harry had been at Sirius’ house for a week and had been having one of his best holidays ever. He had learned a lot about his parents and their friends. Harry and Sirius were painting the hall, after finally getting rid of Sirius’ mother, and talking about things.

“So, when did my parents start going out?” Harry asked to take his mind off the painting and so he could learn more about what they were like together.

“Sometime in October during their seventh year.”

“So why did it take them so long to get together? I’d always thought they had been together for a while, but it wasn’t until seventh year?” Harry asked; Sirius took his time to answer which was unusual for him.

“The truth is that while James thought your mum was one of the best looking women in our year, Lily thought that he was a complete bastard and wanted nothing to do with him. The problem was that she was right. James and I were arrogant, egotistical, very smart, and worst of all we knew it. We were worse than the Slytherins you have to put up with. We did things—cruel things—simply for our own amusement. I think she may have been the only one to truly see us for what we were.

“Something happened during sixth year, neither of them would talk about it. The rumor at the time was that there had been a huge argument, but all I know is that he began to change. During seventh year, they began going out and I think you know the rest. Whatever happened really shook him up; I heard a few years later that he had tried to apologize to Snape.”

“He must have loved that,” Harry said. Before Sirius could answer, the front door swung open and Tonks walked in with an armful of Chinese take-away.

“Time to eat,” Tonks said. She’d returned her hair to her favored purple color.

“Are you sure you bought enough?” Sirius asked, eyeing up the amount of food, a grin on his face.

“Yeah, Remus and Kingsley are going to be stopping by.” They had barely started eating when the two aforementioned wizards joined them.

“Harry, this is Kingsley, the Auror in charge of tracking me down. Kingsley, this is Harry,” Sirius said, by way of introduction. They talked for a few minutes about Ministry happenings, but the conversation quickly turn to more joyful things and Harry lost his chance to find any more information about what Voldemort was up to.

~ ~ ~

Harry was feeling guilty. He was enjoying his first real chance to get to know his godfather, but the days passed and while Grimmauld Place slowly became a place where joy flourished, Harry had became increasingly listless and quiet as his separation from his friends continued. Even Christmas Day had brought little excitement to Harry, he found himself looking forward to returning to Hogwarts and his friends. He was in the living room doing some of his homework, but his mind was steadily drifting towards the party tonight. Sirius had told him they would be having a New Year’s Eve party and Harry assumed that the same crowd from Christmas would be there. Mostly people involved in the fight against Voldemort, the old crowd, but during his stay Harry had heard the name ’The Order’ being used.

Harry looked down at the parchment and saw that, between his wondering thoughts and guilt, his Charms essay was only four lines longer than it had been two hours ago. The knock from the door rolled through the house shaking all thoughts of Charms from his mind.

“Could you get that for me, Harry?” Sirius’s shout from the kitchen reached Harry through the walls robbed of the smile that it contained.

Harry trudged to the door and hauled it open, expecting to see Remus or Tonks with some of the party things.

“Hello, Harry,” Mr. Granger said, a huge smile on his face. Hermione and Mrs. Granger were standing behind him.

“What are you doing here?” Harry asked his confusion plain on his face and in his voice. He moved back a little to let the family into the house.

“Well, that’s charming. No wonder you swept Hermione off her feet with lines like that,” Mr. Granger said, his smile not faltering a bit.

“Sorry to be rude, I’m just a little surprised. Somebody didn’t tell me you were coming,” Harry replied, raising his voice and sending a dark look towards the kitchen.

“It’s no problem, Harry,” Mrs. Granger said, smiling sweetly at the young man. Noticing that Harry had only taken his eyes off Hermione to glare at the kitchen, she spoke again. “Chris, we should go to the kitchen and introduce ourselves to Sirius and maybe get a cup of tea.”

“But I wanted to see if Harry had his darts and…” Mr. Granger’s words were cut short as his wife swiftly elbowed him in the ribs.

“Christopher!” she hissed.

“Yes! Sirius and some tea, long journey, very thirsty.” The two adults made their exit quickly, leaving Harry and Hermione alone in the relative privacy of the empty hallway.

“Sorry about my dad, he’s just a…” Harry cut her off before she could finish.

“Don’t worry about it; just be glad Sirius’ mum is gone.” Seeing the confusion on Hermione’s face, Harry quickly explained about the picture of Sirius’ mother.

“If she was stuck to the wall how did you move her? They’re not called Permanent Sticking Charms for nothing, Harry.”

“Guess. You’re the genius, how would you do it?” Harry asked, a smug grin affixed on his face. He watched, his smile growing as she worked on the problem, her eyes losing a little of their focus. “I’ll give you a hint. She was only stuck to the wall, not the hallway.” It took a few more seconds, but then Hermione’s eyes light up and Harry was convinced that he’d heard the penny drop.

“You didn’t. You ripped the wall apart.”

“Only some of it. We just knocked out the part she was on and then carried it to the shed.” Harry was almost bouncing as Hermione mock glared at him. Then her expression changed as a sly grin swept across her face and she moved a little closer to Harry.

“You know we haven’t seen each other in awhile,” Hermione said, as she took a tiny step towards Harry. “And now we are in the same room.” Another tiny step. “You spend the time talking to my dad.” Tiny step. “And annoying me.” Another tiny step and she slid her arms around Harry’s waist. “Keep this up, and I’ll think you don’t like me anymore.”

Harry stood entranced as Hermione inched her way towards him, with mischief dancing in her eyes. “And we can’t have that.” Harry closed the distance and when their lips meet it was like a bomb going off in his mind. He felt soaked in passion, his body burning with desire as he strove to get as close as possible to Hermione. The kiss held no softness, only raw need as he was pushed into the wall by Hermione, his heart beating too fast, his lungs burning with lack of air, but the only thing he wanted was to taste her lips and feel her body.

“Granger, put him down; you’ll get finger marks all over him,” Sirius shouted, killing the mood. Harry didn’t know how much time had passed, only that Hermione looked about as bad as him, taking deep breaths as they slowly untangled themselves.

“Don’t worry Sirius, I’ll clean him up when I’m done,” Hermione said, with a wicked grin.

“You’ll do nothing of the sort, young lady.”

If Hermione’s face wasn’t so flushed, it would have turned red instantly as her father’s words sailed into the hallway.

“Tell me I didn’t just say that in front of my parents,” Hermione pleaded as she hid her face in Harry's shoulder.

“Well, it was more to the side really.” Harry glanced up to see Sirius at the kitchen doorway, doubled up and struggling to breathe as he laughed.

“Come on you two, have a cup of tea then we’ll sort out your rooms and then have something to eat before the party starts,” Sirius said when he finally regained his composure.

~ ~ ~

Harry could feel the floor shaking from the music below, the soft thumps giving the party a heartbeat of its own. Harry sat on the bed, his back against the wall, Hermione at his side.

“What do you want to talk about?” Ron asked as he dropped heavily onto the other end of the bed. “You know there’s a party going on downstairs, with food and people having fun.”

Hermione shifted slightly and sat up straighter. “I think I know what’s going on with Harry.”

“Can you stop it?” Ron asked before Harry could even think to ask the question.

“No, but if I’m right, it will stop on its own eventually. About three hundred years ago, a wizard was doing research on communicating with the mind. He found a way, but it didn’t work very well, it only had a range of few miles, except when both parties were asleep. He also found that if the two people already shared a connection, like twins, then the distance increased dramatically. You said that the last time you spoke to Voldemort your scar hurt,” said Hermione pointing at Harry. “I think that was him talking to you directly. It seems that the mind doesn’t like to be invaded, and you will naturally build up a defense to the spells. So I think that Voldemort hijacked the connection between you and Wormtail to talk to you. He owed you a life debt that is a powerful bond and you both gave body parts to the potion, but now you’re defended against Wormtail, he has to talk to you directly.”

“So, I just have to wait and it will stop? Do you have any idea how long it lasts?”

“From what I found out, it depends on the person. You already have a lot of practice with shielding your mind from the Imperius curse and since the ‘dream talk’ spells have a lot in common with it, my guess is about six months or so.”

“Six months isn’t too bad,” Ron said, trying to keep Harry's spirits up.

“I suppose. At least I know it will end at some point,” Harry replied unconvincingly. “No point dwelling on this now, let’s go back to the party.”

~ ~ ~

Sirius watched the subdued group make its way down the stairs. He sipped his drink and wished he could do more to ease Harry’s burden. It was hard enough knowing you would be in the front lines of a war, but it was probable that Harry wouldn’t just be in the front lines, he would be the front line. He watched as the twins attacked the group, almost mystically drawn to the serious expressions, only leaving them alone ten minutes later, all three in hysterics. He drifted over to a quiet corner and watched as Hermione persuaded Harry to dance. He watched as she achieved in seconds what he had failed to do since the beginning of the holiday—turn Harry into a normal teenager, even if only for a few minutes.

“They look so happy together. Harry actually looks like a fifteen-year-old.”

Sirius looked over to see Chris standing next to him.

“Yeah, it’s good to see. He’s been through so much and he keeps blaming himself for everything, trying to fix it,” Sirius said, another smile blossoming on his face as Tonks talked Remus into dancing with her.

“You can see it in his eyes. I used to be a doctor in the Army and we would be patching these kids up and you could always tell the ones who’d just watched their mate die. Harry has that same look.” Both men stood in silence and watched as the room exploded with sound as the twins took to dancing. “Sirius, can you give me the truth? Just how much danger will she be in?”

“What do you mean?” Sirius asked, his agitation clearly showing.

“The world is about to be plunged into a war that I will never know about, and Harry will be at the center of it. I’m scared for my daughter; will she be more of a target now?”

“I don’t know, but I can promise you this, if Hermione’s hurt then Harry and Ron are both dead along with half dozen other people.”

“I know the boys mean well, but ...”

“Meet me in the back garden in twenty minutes and I’ll explain everything that’s happened over the last few years.”

“Okay.” Chris watched Sirius wander about the room talking to people.

~ ~ ~

“I wonder where dad’s going?” Hermione asked, as she watched her dad leave the room.

“Probably just getting some air. Now not to sound selfish, but we were talking about me,” Ron said.

“Well, I suppose it depends on what you think her reaction will be? I assume you’re just going ask her about Christmas and New Year?”

“Yeah and maybe about Valentines’ Day,” Ron said the last part quickly trying to sneak it past Hermione.

“You-Will-Not-Ask-Lavender-To-Dinner-In-A-Letter. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Hermione.”

“So, what’s the decision?” Harry asked as he handed out drinks.

“You were right mate,” Ron said, turning to look at Harry. “She thought it was a bad idea too. Hey, maybe Tonks will agree with me. Be back soon.”

“I don’t think he’ll give up until he’s asked everyone here their opinion.” Harry couldn’t help smiling at his friend’s antics.

“There’s an upside to his obsession with Lavender.”

Hermione grinned and blushed a little, leaving him in no doubt about where the conversation was heading.

“And what upside could there possibly be?” Harry put his hands on her hips and unknowingly began to sway with the music, never breaking eye contact with her.

“It means we can grab a few minutes to ourselves.” Hermione licked her lips, enjoying the feelings that Harry’s gaze stirred up inside of her.

“But what could we do to pass the time?”

They stumbled through the hallway door, never once breaking eye contact. They bumped into the wall and their lips met. The kiss was slow and languid, soft and gentle, but he could feel himself becoming lost in her touch. The feelings inside of him transcending mere lust, a moan escaped her lips as his hand slid across her stomach. He shivered as the cold hit his chest as her nails lightly scrapped across his back.

They were cruelly ripped from their private paradise, as the living room door loudly crashed open. The twins stood in the doorway. Their words dying, unspoken.

“This better be, fucking important,” Harry growled as he slowly untangled himself from Hermione's shirt. Hermione was doing her best to disappear into the shadows.

“We got the last of the stuff you wanted and just be glad it us and not say, our mum,” Fred said, quickly recovering his aplomb.

“It will just be for a second, Sirius,” Dumbledore said as he strode into the hallway with the party guests following in his wake. His eyes twinkled as he threw a wink at Harry and Hermione. “I couldn’t help noticing how bare this hallway is without your mother here, Sirius. So I’ve, as a belated Christmas gift, shall brighten it a little.” Dumbledore smiled and whipped his wand through the air and a portrait settled on the wall as if it’d sat there for centuries.

The picture showed a man in medieval armor; the man reminded Harry of Ron. The hair and face were different, but there was something about his expression and build that echoed that of his best friend.

“Who is it?” Hermione asked, her embarrassment gone in the face of new knowledge.

“This is the very last portrait of Godric Gryffindor. He was killed two weeks after it was completed.”

“Looks better than that hag don’t you think so, Harry?” Sirius asked.

“Definitely.”

“Come on, let’s get on with the party,” said Sirius as people moved back into the living room. Hermione smiled at Harry, wanting to stay with him, but knowing that their absence would be spotted.

“So where did you disappear to?” Harry asked as he and Sirius stood in the hall admiring the new painting. Harry had noticed Sirius following Mr. Granger out of the house.

“Nowhere important,” Sirius said innocently.

“Did Mr. Granger want anything I could help with?”

“Me and Chris didn’t talk about anything much.”

Harry gave up asking because he knew that tone of voice; it meant: ‘I’m lying, and I know you know it, but I’m still not going to talk about it’.

Harry walked off leaving Sirius alone; the guilt at lying to his godson briefly exposed on his face.

~ ~ ~

Harry took a final walk around the house that had briefly become his home. He had enjoyed his time with Sirius, but he could not disguise his joy to be going back to Hogwarts. He would get to see her again and he couldn’t wait. He never realised how much he would miss Hermione, it wasn't just not being able to see her, or kiss her, or feel the softness of her hair. It was more than all of those things. He felt an indefinable part of himself missing. Saying it was part of his soul sounded so melodramatic, but it was the best description he could think of.

“Come have a sit down mate, you were looking very lost just now.” Sirius voice shook Harry from his thoughts. He sat at the table and picked up the mug of tea.

“Thanks. Sorry, I've not been very good company in the past few days.”

“It's okay, Harry. I understand how you feel. I didn't spend my entire life in jail and on the run.”

Harry noticed that Sirius was pushing a ring around on the table with a finger as he spoke.

“I know what it's like to be a young man in love. I know how badly you must miss her, so I'm not taking it personally that you want to be back at Hogwarts.”

“Who was she?” asked Harry flicking his eyes to the ring, a single gem was set into the band with a flame dancing in its heart.

“Helen. When I was sent to Azkaban, I would dream of being able to speak with her or see her. In the end, I would have given my life just to be in same room as her. Just having her close would have been worth any price.”

“After you got out, did you ever try to see her?”

“I don't think finding a convicted murderer on her doorstep would have been a good impression to make. I had Remus ask some questions; turned out she’s married now. Guess it’s just as well, I would have driven her away and made us both miserable.”

Harry could hear the pain in his godfather's voice and how he had to tell himself that lie to keep his mind intact.

“You should go to bed, Harry, busy day tomorrow.”

~ ~ ~

The pain was the first thing he felt, a stinging at the back of his mind. Then light flooded his vision and voices in the middle of an argument joined the light. The figures slowly came into focus as the words began to make sense.

“My Lord, I don't mean to question your judgment...”

“But you’re about to, Lucius.” Voldemort's voice was instantly recognizable by Harry.

“Yes, my Lord. The other groups you had me contact are undecided about what to do. They fear Dumbledore and feel your lack of action toward Potter is a weakness.”

“They are right to be cautious of him; his mind twists and turns, and he never comes at you from the direction you expect. As for Potter, I have plans for him.”

“Yes, but you appear to fear him. We’re starting to move our people and we’ll infiltrate...” Lucius voice tailed off as Voldemort raised a single pale finger.

“Speak no more of that, Lucius. Our words are no longer are own. If Potter has to die, I will do it in my own way. Until then, if I were to kill him now, he would become a martyr and a hundred more would rise where he falls. Now summon my guard, I have a trip to make.”

Lucius bowed and walked from the room as half a dozen armoured forms encircled Voldemort's throne. They didn't move quite right and Harry suspected that they were not human. A low chanting came from Voldemort and then he stood up and everything around Harry went black.

Harry ignored the pain as he waited for Voldemort to talk to him. The scene had become far too familiar over the last few months.

“Evening, Harry. I find myself becoming rather sensitive to your little visits. It seems we have a lot in common, Harry."

“I'm nothing like you." Disgust dripped off Harry's voice.

"Really! you truly think that? We both have a certain ruthlessness and passion to our causes. Both of us are willing to break the law to do what we feel is right."

“That isn't me!”

“Then let’s ask Quirrell how ruthless you can be or how your desire to win at Quidditch made you use a broom you knew nothing about. Visiting the Restricted Section to solve a mystery, and I don't think the Ministry would like to hear about your use of a Time-Turner. You think all I've done this last year is give you bad dreams? We are closer than brothers Harry. I know it all.”

Harry stood silently trying not to think of all his actions in the light Voldemort had onto cast them.

“We could do great things together, Harry.”

“Never!” Harry began to laugh as he spoke. “I could never consort with you. You killed my parents and just minutes ago, you were planning my death. Why would I want to help you kill and torture innocent people for fun?”

“You think I enjoy what I have done? I did what was necessary for the greater good. You know nothing of my cause, nothing of my purpose, but then I should expect nothing more from Dumbledore's brainwashed puppet. He would never have told you the truth.”

“He wouldn’t lie to me about something this important,” exclaimed Harry, anger creeping into his voice.

“You have no idea why I do what I do. I fight to protect our people. The Muggles grow and spread like vermin. They would kill us all if they got the chance. They can barely stand each other. What they do to use us and our magic—people who can recreate reality at their whims.”

“We can hide; we don’t have to drench the world in blood like what you’re doing.”

“We can't hide forever, Harry. Did you know the Obliviators have a special team set up to modify aerial and satellite photos of Wizarding sites like Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley? We have to take control and put them under our power; it’s the only way for us to survive.”

“I would never help you. It doesn't matter what you tell yourself, you just like to kill.”

“Very well Hary, I see we can't agree on this yet. But you do care for Hermione.”

“Don't you dare hurt her!”

“Death and pain are least of what I can do to her, Harry; I thought you would know that by now. Would you do anything to protect her?”

“Yes.”

“Would you kill for her?”

“Yes!”

“Would you die for her?”

“YES!” Harry snarled his answer into the void, his urge to attack this phantom before him barely kept in check.

“Then what I ask should be easy. Just be quiet.” A smirk passed across Voldemort's face before he spoke again. “In a few days, a story will be published in the Prophet and if you stay quiet, Hermione will be safe. We can discuss your employment in our cause again later.”

Harry was alone in the void until it slowly became Hogwarts. Harry could guess what would happen now; more violence to chip away at his sanity.

The Great Hall formed around him, the familiarity making the events all the worse to witness. The sounds of battle and screams filled the air and once again it was the black-robed form that stood at Voldemort's side directing the carnage.

Harry watched as the inevitable happened. The teachers were overwhelmed and the students herded into the Great Hall over the bodies of their friends and teachers.

A masked Death Eater walks to the robed figure, dragging Dean Thomas behind him, and bows deeply. “What should we do with them, should we kill them?”

“Please spare the young ones; they are no threat to y—”

The figure backhanded Dean to the floor, blood spilling from his mouth. A hand with a wand emerges from the mass of shadow, “Crucio,” the world is spoken gently almost a whisper. Dean screams until there is no breath left for him to make a sound.

Fear and crying spreads through the hall like wildfire. The shadow that holds the attention of the room ripples, and its hood is pulled down, a face revealed.

Hermione.

A starburst of scar tissue covers her left cheek and her eyes are cold and dead. A grin plays along her lips.

She looks down at Dean on the floor, “Don't speak to me as if we are equals.” A feral grin spreads across her face as she continues to torture him. Finally, she looks up at the masked Death Eater.

“Kill them all and then scour the castle, kill everyone you find, and get me Potter! I want him alive. I get to kill him!”

The scene freezes, a snarl of hate on Hermione’s face. Voldemort stands next to her now, his bloody red eyes boring into Harry.

“Remember what I said Harry, and know that I can do worse than death.”

Here's the next part in my story, I hope everyone enjoys it. A thank you to everyone who read the last chapter and to all those who took the time to review it. Looney Warner Mouse. , Grumpy-Numero-Uno , Mike , Ladyedwardcullen , Anonymous , hbraveheartp , Pittielynn , cnorthfield2000, MionelovesHarry.

Harry snapped awake, Sirius shaking his shoulder. His throat was raw from screaming.

The last image of Hermione’s hate-filled face burnt into his mind.

"Harry, what's wrong?"

"It was Voldemort, I've got to go." Harry began searching the room for clothes.

"Harry, where do you need to go? What's going on?"

"Voldemort. He threatened Hermione. I need to know she's safe now."

"Harry, you can’t just run off like this …"

"I don't care about myself. Everyone thinks I need to be guarded and kept safe, but she is the only one that matters!"

"Harry, please, listen to me. I’d know if there was any trouble. The Order has had a guard on her since Hermione and her family left Kings Cross last summer."

"They have?"

"First thing Dumbledore did after arranging for your protection."

"I need to know she's okay." Harry slumped to the floor, his earlier manic energy gone. "I can’t lose her Sirius. I just can’t..." Harry trailed off, his mind refusing to finish its thought.

Sirius pulled Harry in to a hug. "It’s okay, Harry. It’ll be okay." He did his best to reassure Harry. But how do you convince someone it’s all going to be alright, when death has followed them since almost the day they were born? "Harry, we will keep her safe. I promise."

"That's not a promise you can keep. The only way Hermione will be safe is when Voldemort is dead. So I'm going to kill him, I'm not going back to Hogwarts, Sirius. I'm going to hunt him down and kill him. I don't care who or what gets in my way, I want him dead!"

"And you think going off on your own is going to keep her safe. She knows you better than any one. Knows how you think. She would track you down and never let you out of her sight.

"Don't let your hate blind you, Harry; it could cost you everything. I don't want you to make the same mistake I did. I was so focused on killing Peter that I almost got you, and Hermione, killed. I should have gone to Dumbledore. "

The anger that had gripped Harry faded away, leaving behind the terror that was coursing through him since he had woken up. "You’re right. But maybe I shouldn't go back, not so I can hunt Voldemort down, but make everyone else less of a target. If Hermione can't get to me maybe ... It won’t matter, it’s my feelings for her that are putting her at risk."

"I'm sorry, Harry, I wish I could make it better, I wish I could keep my promise." Sirius hadn't felt so down since he had left Azkaban. "Come on, get washed and dressed properly. Remus and Tonks will be here to take you to the station in a couple of hours. Then, you can see for yourself that Hermione is okay. I think you two need to talk as well."

Harry's look said it all. King’s Cross couldn't come soon enough.

Harry paced outside the entrance of the train station, fear and anxiety washing off of him in waves so strong that people were slowing down to stare before entering the building. But Harry noticed none of it.

He knew that he was making Lupin and Tonks worried, but he had to make sure Hermione was safe as quickly as possible. As the minutes dragged by, the cold biting more fiercely, his mind kept running itself around in circles. What if she had already been hurt? What if they had gotten here earlier? used another entrance to the station and she was waiting on Platform 9¾ for him? Harry shook the more repellent images from his mind, determined not to think about how deeply she could be hurt simply from knowing him. The fog and light rain was making his vigil almost pointless, but he wouldn't lose a moment more with Hermione. Finally, a familiar blue car appeared from the gloom, lifting a weight from his shoulders.

Hermione got out of the car, a smile lighting up her face as she spotted Harry. “Hi, Harry, how have—” Harry pulled her into a close hug, unwilling to believe she was safe until he felt her in his arms. Worry spread through the watching adults and Hermione. It was clear Harry wasn't just missing his girlfriend, he was holding on for his very life. Harry's arms had begun to shake as the fear and relief overwhelmed him. “Harry, what's wrong?” Hermione asked as the pressure eased.

“Not now. When we get on the train.”

“Okay. If that's the way you want it, Harry.” Hermione frowned as she spoke unhappy at Harry's tone , but not wanting to start a fight when he was clearly upset.

They all made there way through the station, Harry refusing to let go of Hermione’s hand.

Hermione had started worrying with the way Harry had hugged her, but the near panic she had seen in his eyes when she pulled away had worried her a lot more. She wanted to know what was happening and she wanted to know now, but Harry needed to take his own time telling her what had upset him so much in the few days since she had last seen him. They finally made it to the Platform, while it was just as crowded as at summer there seemed to be less chaos and noise.

Hermione quickly spotted Ron, pacing along the platform, obviously waiting for her and Harry. She waved to him and he quickly came over to them, the smile fading from his face as he noticed the look on Harry's face.

“What's wrong, mate?”

Harry simply shook his head and tightened his grip on Hermione’s hand; he didn't trust his self to speak yet. Ron took the hint, not wanting to start anything on the platform.

“Come on, I sent the twins ahead to get us seats.”

“Thanks, Ron.” A smile touched Hermione’s mouth. “Did Lavender write back to you?”

“Yeah she did.” Ron's large smile from earlier reappeared on his face, making him look slightly dopey. Harry briefly wondered if he looked that way when thinking of Hermione.

“You should say goodbye to your parents,” Harry said to Hermione, having finally pulled himself together. He let go of her hand and smiled at her. She left to hug her parents and have a quick talk with them. Harry stood and waited for her, unable to tear his eyes away, partly because he wanted to know she was safe, but mostly because he enjoyed looking at her.

“I hope you’re not going to hide anything this time around?” Ron's voice was quiet and didn’t carry far.

“I'll tell everyone once were on-board.”

“Good.” Ron let out a small sigh of relief he hadn't known he was holding.

“So you and Lavender, did you write to her?” Harry asked as a way to distract his friend as he pulled his mind together.

Ron smiled as he answered, “Yeah, I asked how her Christmas was and how homework was going.”

“Did you ...”

“I didn't ask about Hogsmeade, Hermione would have strung me up. I'll ask her about it on the train. Assuming I don't chicken out.”

“Try not to worry. It will be okay. Asking is the easy part; it's waiting for the answer that killed me with Hermione.” A small grin slid across Harry's face. He knew it wasn't nice to tease his friend but he couldn't help himself.

“Thanks, Harry, that was really helpful.” There was no hiding the sarcasm in Ron's voice.

“Come on let’s go,” Hermione said as she retuned from saying goodbye and boarded the train, Harry and Ron following her.

The banter came to an end as Hermione pulled open a carriage door. Ginny and the twins were already in it waiting on them.

“Ron, Lavender came looking for you. Said she would be two carriages down from the prefects’ car.” Ginny spoke when they walked in, a smirk playing across her face.

"Great, I’ll go speak to her soon."

Harry sat down heavily. As he looked around the compartment, he briefly thought of asking Ginny and twins to leave, but they would know soon enough. "I owe you an explanation."

"You want us to go?"

"No, it’s okay. I spoke to Voldemort last night and had a nightmare." He waited for the spikes of fear to pass the twins' and Ginny's faces, Ron gritted his teeth but kept his composure. Harry quickly outlined what had happened the night before. Hermione held his hand tight as he finished.

"You know I would never betray you, Harry."

"Yes, you would. By the time they’d finished with you."

"Is that how little you think of me?" Hermione’s anger blazed in her eyes. Only seeing the unshed tears and pain in Harry's eyes made her stop.

"I know how powerful the Cruciatus Curse is, Hermione. With enough time, they could break anyone. He said he could do worse things to you than kill you and I believe it."

"Oh, Harry. No wonder you are in such a state."

"What’re you going to do?" Ginny asked, avoiding the real question, “Are you going to put Hermione at more risk?”

"I don't know, but I need to speak to Cho, she deserves to know what happened before it’s in the paper. Truth is, she deserved to know months ago."

"I'm going to go find Lavender, and I'll ask Cho to meet you after the Feast if I see her or get Padma to pass along the message," Ron said, sensing that his two friends needed some time alone.

"Yeah, I'll look at the other end of the train. I need to speak to Alicia." Ginny nearly ran out of the compartment.

The twins got up to follow their siblings out. "We got some deliveries to make, but we’ll back you up no matter what."

Harry looked at Hermione now they were finally alone. "I don't know what to do, Hermione, I'm terrified of losing you, of letting people down. Voldemort wins no matter what I do. What do I do Hermione?" Harry pleaded. He was hopelessly lost and didn't know where to turn to.

“I don't know, Harry, but I do know that we will face it together just like always. Now get some rest, you’re exhausted and won't be thinking clearly.”

“Okay, Hermione. You’re always looking out for me.” He lay down on the seat and placed his head in her lap as if it was the most natural act in the world and quickly fell asleep.

~ ~ ~

Ron walked through the train to the carriage Ginny had told him about. He was getting increasingly nervous with each step he took. Images ran through his mind of Lavender mocking him, of it just being some type of game, and then worst of all, her complete rejection of him. He shook his head to clear his mind of the images and tried to calm down. If Harry could do it, then so could he. All too quickly, he reached the right compartment; the giggling leaking through the door gave it away. He knocked on the door, not wanting to just barge in.

"Come in"

Ron slid open the door and took half a step in, and the five witches turned to look at him. He could feel heat rising as his face turned red. "Hi, Lavender, could we talk outside?"

Lavender smiled at him and his fears began to melt away. "Sure."

They stood in the hallway, just staring at each other for a few seconds. "I hope you don't mind me writing to you."

"If I did, I wouldn't have written back to you."

"Would like to go to Hogsmeade next weekend? Just the two of us?"

"I'd like that; I hope we can spend some time together at evenings before then."

"That would be great; I really enjoyed it before Christmas."

"I’d better get back to them before they die of curiosity." She turned to go back into the compartment, but stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. "Would you like to sit with me at the feast?"

"Yeah, I'd like that a lot."

She spun around and kissed him on the cheek before hurrying back to her friends. Ron felt a huge grin spread across his face as he made his way back to Harry and Hermione. He was sure he must have looked like a fool, but he didn't mind. In his embarrassment and joy, he had forgotten to ask about Cho, but at least it gave him a reason to see Lavender when the train reached Hogsmeade, he thought to himself, smiling as he walked along. Ron quickened his pace wanting to tell Harry and Hermione the good news, hoping it might help lift the dark mood that had settled on them both.

Ron stopped in his tracks; he could see Harry and Hermione through the compartment window. Harry lay curled up on a seat with his head in Hermione lap. She was holding a book with one hand and gently stroking Harry's hair with the other. Ron couldn't force himself to disturb their peace, it felt like sacrilege to open that door. He felt jealous again, but this time it wasn't because he wanted to be like Harry. He wanted what Harry and Hermione shared. He wondered if he could have that with Lavender or any woman. Ron was going to back away—he had seen dean in the last carriage, he could speak with him and leave Harry and Hermione in peace—but Hermione chose that moment to look up and waved him in. He was shaking as he walked in, still feeling that he was desecrating something precious.

"How did it go?"

"She said yes." Ron couldn't fight the grin that spread across his face again, despite his discomfort.

"Where are you going to take her? Everywhere’s likely to be busy on Valentine’s Day."

"I hadn't thought of that, but I'll think of something. I'll speak with Fred and George. See if they’ve got any ideas."

"Hey, I ..." Ginny stopped with her hand still on the door, her words dying on her lips as she took in Harry and Hermione’s positions. Ginny quickly looked around, her discomfort obvious to Ron.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, picking up on her friend’s unease.

"Ah, yeah it’s fine. I'm sure we wouldn't mind leaving if you wanted some time alone."

"Why would you need to do that? Harry's asleep and likely to stay that way. I've not had much chance to speak with you two over the holiday. It would be good to catch up."

Ginny stared a bit more; Hermione had been genuinely confused about her question. Hermione seemed completely at ease with people seeing such an intimate moment.

"Sure, sounds good, we’ve got loads of time before Hogsmeade," Ginny replied.

~ ~ ~

Harry stumbled from the train, \not fully awake yet, but feeling better from getting some uninterrupted sleep. His hair, as always, was all over the place. He was getting a few funny looks—half his face was covered in a red pattern from leaning on Hermione’s skirt. He knew rumours would be flying all over the castle, but he didn't care.

His thoughts had been clearer since waking up. He knew it would be pointless to run, Voldemort would hunt him and if he did magic the ministry would be after him as well. He was still at a loss to what to do. If he showed weakness he was sure Voldemort, like any rabid animal, would attack. But he didn't want to put Hermione in any more danger. Sirius was right. He needed to talk with Hermione. The carriage ride to the castle lasted too long for Harry's taste. He just wanted the day to end so he could talk with Hermione alone, but he had to talk with Cho. Hermione held his hand as they entered the Great Hall, and he wanted to just run and hide with her, but he couldn't.

"It’s going to be okay, Harry." Hermione gave him a smile.

He tried to enjoy the Feast, if only to put Hermione at ease. He could never lie to her, so he soon gave up trying looking happy. He ate some food, again for Hermione’s sake rather than hunger. Fear coiled in his belly. He didn't know if it was because of how Cho would react or if it was his incessant fear for Hermione’s safety.

He let the noise of the hall wash over him, trying to calm his mind by letting it drift away from his problems, but it never lasted. He felt lost as the Feast began to close, his talk with Cho was drawing near and he, the brave Gryffindor, wanted to run away. Hermione squeezed his hand, sensing his mood, and giving him strength.

Harry didn't notice the Feast ending, only Hermione tugging on his hand as everyone was leaving brought him back from his thoughts.

"Hermione, where are we going?"

"To meet Cho. You didn't notice people coming and going at all did you."

Harry shook his head. "No, sorry I was …"

"It’s okay, Harry, you've had a lot on your mind. It’s not as if you were day-dreaming about naked women. At least, you better not have been."

"I only think of you naked, Hermione."

"Harry," Hermione screeched, turning bright-red.

Harry smiled for real the first time that day. He couldn't have stopped himself if Voldemort had a wand to his skull.

Hermione was ready to be angry with Harry for that remark, but the sight of his small smile stopped her. A little embarrassment was worth him being happy, even if it was only a moment.

Harry's smile vanished as they reached Professor Flitwick's class room, the door slightly open. He knew this was the place. He wanted to run. He didn't want to have to see the pain the Cho's eyes as he told her about Cedric's death.

"Would you stay with me?" It was asked as a question, but Harry's eyes turned it in to a plea.

"Of course I will."

"Thank you." He gripped her hand tight as he went in to the room. Cho and Richard where already there. Harry quickly took the seat opposite Cho.

"Is it okay if Richard stays, Harry?"

"Of course it is. I owe both of you the truth. I should have told you long before now. I need to warn you both. The Prophet is going to do a story soon. I'm sorry that it’s come to this, but I thought you should hear the truth before Voldemort's lies."

Cho and Richard both gasped in shock at the use of the Dark Lord’s name, "It’s true. You do use his name."

"He doesn't seem so bad when I do. I can tell you what happened that night, but it's your choice what to believe."

"To understand that night, you need to know what happened the night my parents where killed."

Hermione was shocked Harry rarely spoke about what happened to his parents.

"I only survived because my mum sacrificed herself for me. Her sacrifice left a protection in my blood. Now, in order for Voldemort to get his body back, he needed three things. The bones of his father, flesh of a servant, and blood of an enemy."

"He wanted yours so you wouldn't be protected any more," Cho said, grasping what Harry was saying.

"Yes, that's why he had Crouch Jr impersonate Moody and have him turn the Cup into a Portkey. He was trying to help me during the tournament so I’d be the one to touch it."

"We reached the centre together. We were attacked by a giant spider. I hurt my leg. He could have gotten the Cup, but said I should because I had helped him. We argued about it until finally we decided to take it together, make it Hogwarts’ victory. I'm sorry Cho, it’s my fault. If I hadn't told him to take the cup, he wouldn't have been taken to the graveyard and Voldemort wouldn't have killed him."

"No, it’s not. You didn't kill him. You were both just trying to do what was right."

Harry didn't want to look at Cho. She was so sad. She didn't cry. Harry suspected she had shed all her tears. Harry forced himself to watch, it was his penance for getting Cedric killed.

A heavy silence entered the room. Nobody had any words in light of what they had heard until Cho finally spoke up. "Would it be okay if I spoke to Harry alone for a minute?"

The question was asked of the room in general, but Harry sensed it was mostly Hermione’s permission she wanted.

Hermione squeezed his hand and looked at him. He gave her a quick nod and smile.

"I'll see you in the common room."

"Okay."

Hermione gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and a half-smile before walking from the room with Richard.

"You care for her a lot don't you?"

"Yeah, I do, she makes me happy."

"I noticed you only seem to truly smile when she's with you. There’s something I needed to know. Did he suffer?"

"No, it was quick." Even if it wasn't true, it was a lie he would happily tell her and himself.

"Thank you for seeing me. I know it can’t have been easy for you. Would you mind if I told Cedric's parents what you've told me?"

Guilt washed over Harry. He hadn't even thought about what Cedric's parents were going through.

"Of course not, I should have thought of that. I should send a letter tonight to warn them about the article."

"I was going to write to them tonight, I could do that for you."

"That would be good of you, thank you." Harry felt relieved that he had avoided that task. They sat together in silence for a few minutes, before Cho got up.

"Thank you, Harry, I needed to hear what happened from you." She left the classroom without looking back.

Harry left a few moments later, catching a glance of Cho and Richard walking along together. He was glad they had each other to rely on. He was missing Hermione’s presence, but he needed to be alone, to organize his thoughts. He needed to speak with Hermione tonight and he knew exactly how she would react. The journey to the tower seemed to take twice as long as it should have. Either his mind or the castle was playing tricks on him. He finally reached the portrait hole, and climbing in he was surprised at how normal it felt; it made him feel at ease. He quickly found Hermione and Ron, they were sitting in a corner table doing some last minute homework that was due the next day , with Lavender, Parvati and Dean.

"I had Ron get your Charms work. I figured that's what you would what."

Harry almost laughed. In the past day, he had been asked to help his parents’ murderer kill more people, seen the woman he cared for most scream for his death, and relived the worst moment of his life. And Hermione wanted him to do school work. So he did. He did it for her and the chance to feel like a normal kid for a few hours.

The fire was burning low, and only half a dozen of the older students were still awake. Ron was on a sofa playing Poker with Lavender. Harry hadn't done much work, he had spent most of the time holding Hermione’s hand enjoying being close to her.

"I've decided what to do." Harry spoke softly, afraid of his voice carrying too far. "I care too much about you. I won’t put you in any more danger than you’re already in. I won’t do anything once the story gets published."

"Harry, you need to do the right thing. You can’t let his lies stand."

"I know it means letting him win. I know it means people will be in danger because they don't believe he's returned, but I don't care about anyone else. You’re the only one that matters."

"Harry, that ..."

Harry stopped her with a kiss. He was desperate to feel a connection. The warmth of her body was the only thing in his world. He pulled her close his hand lightly scraped her back.

"I'm sorry I'm not the man you think I am."

Hermione watched him walk away, tears clearly showing in Harry's eyes as he disappeared up the stairs. "I won't allow him let him break you, even if you’re going to allow him."