Tempesta Scura

"Have you ever heard of the game 'truth or dare'? Do you want to play?"

Hermione's ears perked. She'd heard of the game. She had actually played it numerous times when she was nine and ten. Though that had been over six years ago, she still remembered her and her girl friends, huddled on the floor in their sleeping bags and nervously either answering the most revealing questions or performing the most embarrassing dares. Did Hermione want to play? No way.

She returned her attention to her homework and pretended not to have heard. Nothing good could come of that game.

"No, I've never heard of it, what is it?" Lavender asked innocently.

"Yeah, me neither," Parvati chimed in."What is it?"

Annabelle, a muggle-born witch, rubbed her hands excitedly together. "It is SO much fun, can we please play? PLEASE?" She begged, forming her glossed lips into a pout and staring at her friends with big blue puppy eyes.

"Well, tell us what it is," Lavender said, examining her nails. She turned to Parvati, holding her other hand out. "Do you like this color?"

Parvati shrugged, then turned back to Annabelle. "Come on, tell us what it is."

Annabelle sighed and said. "Alright, fine. It's a muggle game. You get a group of people and one person goes first. That person picks someone else and asks them 'truth or dare'. If she picks truth, the other person can ask her ANY question and she has to answer truthfully. If she picks dare, then the other girl can make her do anything."

"Anything?" Parvati's eyes widened. "I don't know Anna..."

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun. Please?"

Lavender turned to Hermione. "You were muggle-born, Hermione, have you played it before?"

Hermione sighed and looked up. "Yes," she admitted. "But I don't want to play."

"Why not?" Annabelle whined. "We'll be nice. Come on, it'll be fun."

Hermione laughed sardonically. "Last time I played, it was NOT fun. No thank you."

"Why wasn't it fun?" Parvati asked, genuinely interested.

Hermione just shrugged. "Think about it Parvati. Do you have any secrets? You better not pick truth, then. You'll have to answer the question truthfully, no matter what. And is there anything you don't want to do? What if someone dares you to do it?"

Annabelle hurriedly replied. "But, come on, Hermione, that's the fun of the game...the danger of it." She turned to Parvati. "After you do your truth or dare, you get to pick someone else and do it to them. It will be fun, I promise."

"I don't know..." Parvati was biting her lip.

"How about this," Annabelle said with a sigh."We can start off tame. We won't go too crazy. How about we can pass if we don't want to do it."

"Well that sounds all right," Parvati said a smile brightening her face. "I have to admit, I am really bored. What about you, Lavender?"

Lavender yawned. "Sure, I'm bored, too...but only if Hermione plays." She grinned.

The three girls turned their attention to Hermione. "What do you say?" Annabelle asked.

Hermione squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, I just...don't like the game. Plus, I have SO much homework."

"Come on, it's a Friday night, be wild for once. You can even pass if you don't want to answer or do the dare."

Hermione considered it for a minute, then realized that if she didn't consent, she'd never get her homework done anyway. Her roommates would be bugging her all night. "Fine," she said.

"Yay!" Annabelle clapped."Okay, okay. Let's all sit on our beds. Go on Hermione." Annabelle's blue eyes were bright with excitement.

"Why?" Hermione asked, but moved to her bed, sitting carefully on her perfectly made bed.

"Because..." Annabelle responded. "Look, we're in a sort of circle."

Hermione just shook her head and picked the brush off the bedside table and began brushing her long brown hair. Over the years, she had let it grow so that now it nearly fell to her waist, ending in soft curls. Much to her relief, the bushiness seemed to have faded over time, so now it was a smooth creamy chocolate color.

"I'll go first, since I know how to play," Annabelle said matter-of-factly. "I'll pick..." She glanced at her three roommates. "I'll pick Lavender."

Lavender straightened her back and took her eyes off her nails.

"Truth or dare?"

"Umm..." Lavender thought to herself. "I'll pick truth."

"Okay," Annabelle said. "My question is... What guy at Hogwarts have you gone the farthest with?"

Lavender looked away from Annabelle. "I don't know..."

"Oh, come on!" Annabelle said.

Parvati was listening with rapt attention and even Hermione couldn't conceal a small smile. The fun part of this game was seeing the other players squirming. She sobered at the thought that it would be her in a few minutes.

Lavender sighed. "Fine, it was Seamus," she said.

"Ooh," Annabelle said. "How far?"

Lavender glared. "You said only one question."

"Fine, fine," Annabelle said raising her hands in defense. "I'll leave that for next time. Your turn Lavender."

And so the game continued. The four found themselves loosening up with the game. Even Hermione started to have fun, now that she had the protection of being able to say "pass" it was a less worrisome game. In her six years at Hogwarts, she had been better friends with the guys than the girls. It was fun just to let loose and act like a girl. She even found herself giggling, which, after seeing Lavender and Parvati doing it so much, she had sworn that she would try not to do it. But she had to admit, it was rather fun.

"Alright," Annabelle said, still recovering from a laugh attack. "I think that it's about time we demolished the 'pass' policy."

Parvati thought for a moment. "I've only said pass once, I guess its ok."

Lavender agreed as well and finally Hermione consented.

"Whose turn was it?" Hermione asked.

"Mine," said Annabelle. "And, Hermione, I pick you: truth or dare."

Hermione sighed, thinking. "Can I hear the truth before I decide."

"Fine..." Annabelle said and thought for a moment before asking the question. She had a prime dare she wanted to try on Hermione so she had to pick a question that she knew Hermione would never answer. "Alright, Hermione, two nights ago, when Harry came in here and pulled you out, saying that he needed to talk to you and that it was important, what did he tell you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I can't tell you that, Annabelle. I already told you that Harry made me promise not to tell anyone."

Annabelle just shrugged. "That's my question, either you break your promise or you pick the dare."

Hermione thought back to the night two nights ago. What Harry had told her was important. It had to be kept secret. It had to do with Voldemort's return and the Hogwarts students weren't informed of just how powerful he was. In the past two years, he had been slowly rising to power, but so subtly that many believed he was still dead. Hermione didn't think it would be a good idea to scare her roommates.

"Come on, Hermione, you haven't picked dare, once!" Parvati said.

"Fine," Hermione said. "I'll pick dare."

"Okay." Annabelle's eyes glittered and Hermione wondered for a moment if she had made the right choice."Parvati, can you go down to the common room and check if Harry's there?"

Parvati hurried out of the room and while she was gone, Annabelle was silent, a ponderous expression on her face. Hermione figured she was perfecting her dare.

"He's there," Parvati said, out of breath from running.

"Good," Annabelle said. "Alright, Hermione. This is my dare. Right now you have to go down to the common room and you will have five minutes to make Harry kiss you without telling him about the game. You two will have to kiss for at least thirty seconds. And if you can't do it, then you can't do ANY of your homework this weekend."

Parvati and Lavender giggled excitedly.

Hermione's heart sunk. Harry? Kiss her? Harry and her were just friends. Much as she longed for them to be more, it came down to the fact that their relationship was purely platonic. How was she supposed to make him kiss her? She'd tried dozens of times before. She figured she'd tried everything short of blatantly asking him. And for thirty seconds? That was quite a while. "Annabelle..." she whined."How am I supposed to...?"

Annabelle sighed. "Come on, you like Harry, everyone knows that. Be creative, get him to kiss you. Plus, you'll have a cover. For all he knows, it could just be part of a dare, not that you really are in love with him, or whatever you are."

Hermione was turning an idea over in her head. She knew that with this group of girls, there was really no way out of the dare. But what should she do? "What if he finds out about the game by himself, is that okay then?"

Annabelle shrugged. "I guess so."

"And what if the kiss is, like, twenty-nine seconds?"

"Then..." Annabelle said, smiling. "No homework this weekend."

Lavender paused from her giggling. "Come on, let's go downstairs."

As they went downstairs, Hermione felt a shadow of unease settling over her. She really didn't want to be doing this. As they tromped towards the common room, she felt much like a prisoner being led by merciless guards to her death. Annabelle stood in front of her and Lavender and Parvati on either side.

Hermione felt her heart speed up when they reached the common room and she saw Harry sitting on one of the comfortable chairs by the fire, immersed in a game of wizard chess with Ron. Other Gryffindors were littered around the common room, talking, laughing and playing games.

"Oh, looks like he's busy!" Hermione said and spun on her heels.

But before she could walk away, Annabelle grabbed the back of her robes. "Nice try."

Hermione turned back around.

"The clock is right over there," Annabelle said, pointing to an antique-looking clock that hung on the wall. "Your five minutes will start the second you begin talking to him."

Hermione glared at her roommates. "You three are so mean."

They just smiled sweetly in response.

Hermione walked towards where Ron and Harry were sitting. "Harry, can I talk to you?" she asked nervously.

Harry looked up just as Ron said, "Checkmate."

Harry sighed. "Well, what's that, the seventh game I've lost tonight?" He grinned at Hermione. "Please save me."

Ron shook his head. "Go talk to her," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'll be searching for a worthy opponent."

Harry stood up and Hermione pulled him off to a section of the common room where no one could hear them. Past Harry, she could see her giggling friends.

"Harry." She coughed, wringing her hands together. "Umm...can I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure," he said. "Anything." His words were so genuine and he looked so kind as his emerald green eyes stared into hers that Hermione nearly fainted. Harry had grown in the past few years, he was much taller than her, though still lean and his black hair and alluring smile proved why half the girls at Hogwarts were head over heels for him.

Suddenly, Harry noticed the giggling. He glanced behind him, then leaned closer to Hermione. "Why are they giggling?" he asked with an amused look in his eyes. "And why are they staring at us?" He grinned. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were playing truth or dare."

"Huh?" Hermione asked, surprised. "I mean, how do you know about that game?"

"I lived with the Dursley's, remember? I remember one time I was at school and some of the girls started playing the game. They would dare one of them to do something and then stand by and giggle just like....they are." A sudden look of realization passed over his face. "You ARE playing aren't you."

Hermione sighed with relief. She was still confused how Harry had figured it out, but it spared her from having to create a reason for him to kiss her. She had been toying with the idea of saying 'Look! I have some food in my teeth, could you maybe suck it out?' But she wasn't quite sure how Harry would respond.

"What did they dare you to do?" Harry asked. "I'm starting to get the idea that I'm supposed to be a part of it."

"Yes..." Hermione admitted."you are..." She wasn't quite sure how to approach this. "They dared me to kiss you."

Harry smiled. "How very interesting." He looked at her expectantly. "Well, you aren't kissing me."

"I...I know..." Hermione said, stumbling over her words. She told herself to relax. "The thing is, the dare is that I am actually supposed to make you kiss me and we have..." She glanced at the clock. "Less than two minutes left!"

"Oh, I see. So I have to kiss you. How interesting." He looked like he was enjoying this a bit too much. "What will you have to do if I don't kiss you?"

"That's the worst part!" Hermione responded. "I can't do any homework this weekend. I'll get in so much trouble!"

Harry nodded. "You know, it would be good for you to not do your homework once in a while."

Hermione rolled her eyes and glared at him. With a blatancy she didn't know she had in her, she asked. "So, are you going to kiss me or what?"

Harry laughed. "I don't know," he said truthfully. "It'll be kind of weird kissing my best friend."

"Just do it," Hermione said, glancing at the clock, less then a minute left. "Oh, and we have to kiss for thirty seconds."

"That's a long time..." Harry said.

"Please?" Hermione said. "I wish I hadn't played this game with them. They are pure evil incarnate."

"Don't you want to kiss me?" Harry laughed. "Fine, fine, Hermione, don't worry."

Harry put one hand behind her neck. Though, he wouldn't admit it to her, he was a shade nervous as well. He had kissed girls before. Ever since fifth year, a lot of girls had liked him, but Hermione was his best friend and when it came to girls he wasn't as confident as he seemed.

He leaned over and kissed her, seeing her eyes close just before his. What happened wasn't what he had expected at all. He had thought it would be something along the lines of kissing his sister, but it was anything but that. Forgetting it was just a stupid dare, he lost himself in the kiss.

Hermione had forgotten it was just a dare as well. She had her arms wrapped around his neck and beneath her closed eyelids, it seemed as if she was flying through space. She could feel his chest against hers and their hearts were beating rapidly together. She lost all track of time and lost herself in the dream that she was really kissing Harry Potter and he was really in love with her.

Finally, after how long, Hermione didn't know, she realized that it was just a dare and thirty seconds had most likely passed and she didn't want Harry to suffocate, so she broke away. Both of them were breathing a little harder.

Hermione tore her eyes away from Harry and looked towards the common room. Everyone was staring at them and Annabelle, Lavender and Parvati's mouths were all open wide, dazed looks on their faces.

Hermione laughed nervously. "Sorry, Harry, I must have gotten...carried away."

Harry coughed. "Yeah, me too..." he said, his face was starting to turn a little red.

They stared at each other for a moment, looks of disbelief etched in their eyes. "Well, I'd better get back to my roommates." She said, motioning towards them. "But thanks. I can do my homework now."

Harry shook himself out of his stupor and laughed. "I honestly don't know why doing your homework was so important to you. But I'm glad I could help...I guess..."

Hermione smiled and turned to her friends and walked away. Harry stared after her before walking back to a wide-eyed Ron.

*

"Oh my god!" Annabelle said. "That was classic! What did you do, Hermione?"

The girls were back in their room, sitting on their beds and talking about the previous dare.

Hermione just shrugged. "You three were giggling so much he figured it out by himself."

"Well that's pretty boring," Annabelle said. "But that kiss! I have to admit, I thought you would be not doing your homework this weekend. I didn't think you had the guts."

Hermione sighed. "I'm just glad it's over. So it was longer than thirty seconds?"

The three stared at her.

"You're kidding right?" Lavender asked. "You two were fully making out for over five minutes."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "No way!"

"So, you and Harry a new couple? Huh?" Parvati asked.

"No!" Hermione said. "No way. It was just a stupid dare, nothing more.."

"Didn't look like that," Annabelle said lightly.

Hermione just shook her head. She grabbed her towel. "I'm taking a shower and then I'm going to sleep, I'm sure you'll forgive me for not wanting to play anymore." She turned on her heels and flounced out the door, not even glancing behind

*

Ron stared at Harry as he walked back to his seat. Harry tried not to notice, but Ron's mouth was hanging open in disbelief.

"Er...how's the game going?" Harry asked.

Ron didn't answer, he just kept looking at Harry. Dean, who was sitting on the floor next to Ron punched him in the side. "Ron," he said.

Ron jerked himself out of his daze. "Uh...oh, sorry. Harry? What...what? Why didn't you tell me anything, I mean, you and...Hermione?"

Harry could feel color starting to flush his cheeks. "Oh, they were playing truth or dare. It was just a dare."

"Truth or dare?" Ron asked, looking at Harry a little oddly.

"Oh." Harry had forgotten they didn't know what truth or dare was. "It's a game where the people in a group go around asking each other 'truth or dare' and if the person picks truth, then the person has to answer any question honestly and if they pick dare, they have to do anything."

Ron nodded. "Okay...And Hermione's dare was to kiss you?"

"Well, yeah, pretty much," Harry said with a yawn. "I'm tired. What time is it?"

"Who wouldn't be tired after that?" Dean asked with a laugh.

"Oh stop it." Harry groaned. "It was only, like, thirty seconds."

Dean and Ron exchanged a glance, but they didn't say anything. "Okay..." Ron said.

"I think I'm going to go to sleep." Harry said, although he was mainly saying that as an excuse to get out of the common room. People were beginning to stare a little oddly at him.

"It's only 9:30!" Dean said. "And it's Friday night!"

"Well..." Harry searched for an excuse. "We're...going to Hogsmeade tomorrow and...er...I don't want to be too tired. Plus, I've had a...busy week."

Ron nodded. "O-kay. Well, then 'night Harry."

"'Night Ron, Seamus."

Seamus gave a little wave as Harry stood and then took his chair and focused his attention on the chessboard.

Harry had nearly reached the stairs when he heard the sound of the portrait slamming open. He turned around. People were supposed to be careful with the portrait or the Fat Lady got very upset. Even now he could hear her mumbling angrily from across the room.

In the doorway stood Professor McGonagall Her usually tight bun was messed and frayed. She had a panicky look on her face. The common room had turned completely silent, all eyes on her. She didn't seem to notice though, her eyes were focused on Harry.

"Harry Potter," she said, her voice slightly shaky. "We need to talk to you...alone."

*

Harry followed Professor McGonagall through the dark corridors. He searched his mind for a reason that she would need to talk to him. Had he disobeyed any school rules recently? Not that he could remember. Well...he and Ron had sneaked out one night with the Invisibility Cloak to see Hagrid, but they had recently been trying to avoid breaking the rules considering the fact that Voldemort was out there somewhere, probably looking for a way to destroy Harry.

Voldemort! Was that it? Was that why Professor McGonagall needed to talk to him? But, he knew that Dumbledore and the other adults had been trying to avoid telling him what was going on with Voldemort, they wanted him not to worry and they were determined to keep the school as normal as possible despite the circumstances. A few nights ago he had overheard McGonagall and Snape talking about the war. Professor McGonagall had said something about Harry, but he hadn't quite understood. He figured she was just telling Snape to keep their conversation under wraps so that Harry wouldn't worry. When he had talked to Hermione, she had said that he should let them fret about it and just try and act normally.

Harry didn't know if he could ever act normally, not after what had happened fourth year, after witnessing Cedric's death. He sometimes still had dreams about that day. He would wake up drenched in cold sweat, with guilt lying heavily upon his shoulders. Harry was the person Voldemort was after, not Cedric. It was all Harry's fault; all his fault.

"Lemon Pudding"

Harry pulled himself away from his thoughts and realized that he was standing in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office. The stone gargoyle swung aside and the two of them made their way up the spiral staircase to where Dumbledore's office lay.

Professor McGonagall opened the large oak door and entered, with Harry following behind. The room looked the way it always had. Fawkes was sitting comfortably beside the desk and the portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses lined the circular wall. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, looking older than Harry had ever seen him. For the first time, Harry saw worry in his eyes. Professor Snape was there as well, along with Alastor Moody, the real Moody.

Harry hadn't seen Moody since his fourth year and he wondered briefly why he was there.

"Please sit down, Harry," Dumbledore said. There was a solitary across from Dumbledore. Snape and Moody stood menacingly on either side. Professor McGonagall stayed behind him.

Harry felt his heart begin to speed up as he sat down. What was going on? What was so important? "What's...what's happened? Is it Sirius? Is he all right?" He knew that the other teachers knew about Sirius, they were using Sirius to spy on Voldemort, using an unregistered animagus to their advantage.

"He's fine, Harry," Dumbledore said gently. He glanced at Moody, a hard look in his eyes. "Harry, Alastor here has something he needs to talk to you about. And...I regret that we must ask this of you, but..." He glanced at Moody once more. He looked slightly angry. "It seems we have no other choice."

Harry scrunched his eyebrows together. This didn't sound good.

Moody stepped forward. "Son," he said with a slight growl, "I know you are well aware of the war that is currently going on." Harry nodded slowly. "Well, because of the lack of Aurors, I am back on duty again and...although Voldemort hasn't made many open attacks, we know he has a plan. He has been planning this event ever since you blasted him back to hell when you were a baby. The fact that he's barely made a move in the past two years has made us all the more tense."

Harry nodded again, wondering what this had to do with him.

"Get to the point, Moody," Snape said softly.

Moody just ignored him. "We are well aware of the things you have done in your life. You have defeated Voldemort three times in your life, four if you count the diary incident. You've done many other things as well. Dumbledore has told me...defeated a troll, a basilisk and I am well aware that you are Parselmouth. The point is, you've done more than a lot of the Aurors I know."

Harry looked blankly at him. What was he saying...?

"We need all the help that we can to win this and..." Moody growled. "We know we'd be pulling you out of school for the last year or two, depends how long this war lasts, but we want your help."

"You...you want me to be an Auror?" Harry asked confusedly. "But I'm only sixteen!"

"Age doesn't matter," Moody said roughly. "Talent is what matters. Of course, we'd have to train you on the things you would have learned in your last few years here, but we can tell you have the necessary skills."

"But I haven't done anything that extraordinary..." Harry said, worry washing over him. Being an Auror would be incredibly dangerous. "How do you know I could do it?"

"Well..." Moody hesitated. "We have a sort of test you would have to pass. Our plan is to finish training you and then test you. From what we've seen, we think you're fit to recruit, but of course we need to make sure. We're not going to start putting you up against something you aren't ready for."

"And if I fail..."

"Then you come back here and everything will be the way it is now. No embarrassment...we don't even want to tell anyone we're recruiting you. We want you to be a little surprise for Voldemort."

Suddenly, Harry realized what this would mean; no more Hogwarts. He probably wouldn't see Hermione or Ron or Hagrid very often. But he also probably wouldn't need to stay with the Dursleys. On the other hand, it would be very dangerous. He'd be voluntarily risking his life against Voldemort.

A sudden anger flashed into his mind. Voldemort had killed Cedric, he'd tried to kill Ginny and he was the reason that Harry didn't know his parents. Voldemort was the reason that the first eleven years of his life were pure hell with the Dursleys.

"We wouldn't tell anyone?" Harry asked. "But where will everyone think I went?"

"We would tell everyone that you went back to stay with your muggle family because it isn't safe for you in the wizarding world." Dumbledore hesitated. "But think about this carefully, Harry. You would be putting a lot at risk."

"Albus," Moody growled. "We talked about this. You know he's our only chance."

"I know," Dumbledore said, the merry twinkling completely gone from his eyes. "But we can't play our cards too soon. And Harry still has school to finish."

Harry wasn't sure what to do. He suddenly felt incredibly tired. He had been tired from the start, but receiving this information had added a heavy weight onto his shoulders. He felt pressure to do what Moody asked him. He was apparently their only chance. But what if it meant his death? Or never seeing Ron again? Or Hermione...

"Can I have some time to think about this?"

The teachers all exchanged short glances."Well..." Moody said. "We are in a rush. We can give you tonight to think about it, but tomorrow we have to leave. If you do decide to train, we need to get started immediately. If you decide not to, we need to plan on another strategy."

Harry nodded numbly. They had a strategy already. They had a plan to defeat Voldemort, and he was a part of it. They were relying on him...

"I'm going to go and sleep and think about it," Harry said blandly. "If that's quite alright."

"Yes of course," Dumbledore said with a sigh.

Harry stood slowly and walked to the door. "I'll tell you tomorrow before the Hogsmeade trip. I can say goodbye to my friends if I leave, can't I?"

"Of course, Harry," Dumbledore said. "But...you won't be able to tell them where you are really going."

Harry nodded and opened the door, confused thoughts rushing through his head. What in the world was he going to do?

*

Hermione opened her eyes. She could hear the soft breathing sounds of her roommates. She pulled the curtains aside from her bed. The room was dark, but moonlight fell across the floor. She stood quietly. For some reason, she couldn't sleep. She just kept thinking about Harry. She kept picturing his face as he leaned to kiss her. The sweetness in his eyes and the way he had kissed her. It certainly hadn't felt like he had only platonic feelings for her.

She walked across the room, her bare feet tapping lightly on the floor. She felt like just going to the common room and sitting by the fire to think. Perhaps she would make some tea and just relax down there and sort out her thoughts.

She walked down the stairs quietly. The candles made ghostly shadows on the wall and there was a layer of silence over the place. It was calming. As she walked in the common room, she saw that there was already someone there. She glanced at the clock. It was 2:30.

She wondered briefly who it was, but she would recognize that mass of dark hair anywhere, it was Harry.

As she walked towards him, she saw that he was staring stonily into the fire. His glasses sat beside him on the table and he looked deep in thought. He green eyes were pierced with worry.

"Harry?" she asked softly.

Surprised, he turned to her. She couldn't help noticing the dark tendrils hanging around his eyes, still wet from a shower. He had grown to be so handsome, not only in his looks, but the way he carried himself, in the maturity and the pain that hung behind his incredibly green eyes. He looked so much older without the glasses on. He didn't look like the little boy she had met on the train so many years ago. He was a man now; a young man, but still a man.

"Hi, Hermione," he said, his expression softened. "What are you doing up at a time like this?"

She sat down the chair that lay across from his and settled herself into the chair. "I couldn't sleep. What about you?"

He looked back at the fire with a sigh. "I couldn't sleep either. I have a lot to think about."

"Like what?" Hermione asked gently.

Harry didn't answer. He just shook his head. "Oh, I don't know, just everything." He was quiet for a minute. "I'm going to have to leave Hogwarts."

Hermione straightened. "What? Why?"

Harry hesitated for a moment. He hated to lie to Hermione, but what if him telling her put her in danger? He trusted her not to tell anyone, but he felt that with Voldemort on the loose, it was best to follow instructions. "They don't think it's safe for me here."

"Because of You-Know-Who?"

Harry nodded. "I don't want to leave Hogwarts, but maybe it would be best. If I stayed here..." He struggled for a way to say what he wanted without revealing the truth. "A lot of people could be in danger. Voldemort wouldn't be able to find me if I was at...the Dursleys."

Hermione just nodded. She pained at the thought of not having him near her, to see and smile at and talk to every day, but if it put him in danger... "Well, I guess it's best to be safe," Hermione said.

Harry nodded. "I'd miss everyone here so much, though. Ron, Ginny, Hagrid...you."

Hermione smiled. "Well, at least you wouldn't have to see Malfoy."

Harry smiled appreciatively, but he knew that if he did end up becoming an Auror, he would probably at least be seeing Lucius every now and then. It just sounded so strange. Harry, being an Auror? He couldn't picture himself in that position. He was only sixteen.

"I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight," Harry said. "It'll probably be my last night here."

Hermione nodded, surprised. "So soon?"

Harry shrugged. "The sooner the better, they say."

Suddenly she noticed how cold it was. Christmas was edging nearer and even the fire couldn't banish the cold air. She shivered.

"Are you cold?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked down at herself, she suddenly remembered she was still wearing her nightgown. It was awfully thin.

Harry smiled. "Why don't you come here?" he said. "Unless you want to go to sleep."

"No," Hermione said. "I don't think I'm going to get much sleep either. And," she hesitated, "if it's going to be your last night here, I might not see you for a while. I'd rather keep you company."

Harry moved over a little on the chair and Hermione squeezed in next to him. He was wearing blue flannel pajamas and he was very warm. He smelled freshly of mint. Not even noticing what she was doing, she snuggled herself up beside him.

"There's a blanket on the back of the chair." Harry noticed. He pulled it off, and lay it over the two of them. Too tired to be embarrassed, Hermione settled herself underneath his arm, lying her head on his chest. He didn't seem to care. He put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer.

Hermione was drifting off. She was so comfortable in his arms and he was whispering something in her ear, something she couldn't quite hear, but she appreciated the warmth of his breath."Goodnight." She said quietly and fell into the world of dreams.

*

She opened her eyes very slowly. She didn't want to get up. She was so incredibly comfortable, she wanted to stay the way she was forever. She blinked and the scene registered around her. She suddenly realized where she was. She had fallen asleep in the common room last night...with Harry.

She nearly screamed when she saw all the faces around her. There was a group of people sitting on the floor in front of the chair, just staring at her. She looked at Harry beside her. He was still asleep and was breathing softly. She suddenly realized how they looked. Both his arms had found their way around her body and her head had been lying upon his chest. Through the course of this night, his pajamas had become unbuttoned at the top, the part that was showing above the blanket and she could feel the steady of beating of his heart from beneath his warm chest.

She sat up, somewhat embarrassed and the observers were holding back silent laughter. Among them were Parvati, Lavender, Annabelle, Ron, Dean, Seamus and practically everyone else in their dorm. She nudged Harry's foot with her own, realizing that his lay on top of hers, his leg entwined with hers.

Harry awoke with a start, gasping when he saw all the people staring at them. Seeing they were both awake, their dormmates burst out laughing.

Hermione glanced at Harry. He was turning a little red as he pulled his body away from Hermione's, so they were in a more suitable position. But, he had a little smile on his face as he glanced at her. "I guess we fell asleep," he said lamely.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Annabelle said with a smile. "You two are together, aren't you?"

"No!" Hermione said, glancing at Harry. "We just..."

"Fell asleep talking," Harry finished.

"Talking, eh?" Seamus asked. "You mean talking as in...making out?"

"Oh my gosh," Hermione said quietly, looking at the floor. "I'm sorry, Harry."

He laughed. "It's okay." He rolled his eyes at the crowd. "Don't you all have better things to do then spy on us?"

"No!" Parvati piped up. Everyone laughed, but they began to walk away. They still had to get ready for the Hogsmeade trip after all.

"I'll be talking to both of you about this later." Ron said with a raised eyebrow, but he had an amused look on his face.

When they were all gone, Hermione pulled the blanket off herself and stood. She felt cold again without the heat of Harry's body against hers. She suddenly remembered what they had been talking about last night. "Oh, so...you're leaving today."

He stood with her and stretched thoughtfully. He sighed. "I guess that would be the best choice," he said resolutely.

"Did you tell Ron?"

Harry shook his head. "I better get changed and...pack. After that, I'll say goodbye and I guess... I'll leave."

"But what about your education?" Hermione asked, suddenly realizing what his leaving meant. "Will you ever be able to learn everything? And what about your friends? We're going to miss you so much! Will we be able to write to you?"

Harry hesitated. He honestly had no idea. "I don't know." He sighed. "Why don't we change? And then I'll say goodbye to you and Ron. I'll try to stay in touch."

Hermione nodded and turned to run up to her room to change. Harry glanced back at the fire. He didn't want to leave...but what if he WAS their only chance? He couldn't put the whole world in danger just because he was a little nervous. Resigned, he walked up to his room to change and to take perhaps what would be his last look at what had been his home for the past six years.

*

"You're...you're leaving?" Ron asked, surprised. Harry nodded. He was in the Transfiguration classroom with Ron, Hermione and Professor McGonagall She had insisted on being there when he said his goodbyes. He assumed it was to make sure that she didn't tell them anything they shouldn't know. She was currently sitting at her desk working, trying her best to look like she wasn't listening to them.

Harry nodded. "I would say goodbye to everyone...Seamus, Dean and everyone else, but I don't really have time. They think I should leave right away."

"You're really in danger?" Ron asked. Harry nodded. "Well, I guess it's best then...but we'll miss you," Ron said. He wasn't usually so serious, but Harry could see that he looked worried. "Will we be able to write to you or see you again? Maybe visit at Christmas?"

Harry glanced at McGonagall. "I...I don't think so. I think that they want to make sure that Voldemort-" Ron winced "-doesn't know where I am."

Ron nodded. "Well, then...you're leaving now?" Ron asked. He looked upset. "But that's so...so soon!"

"I know."

Professor McGonagall looked up."Harry, you should be getting along," she said, her voice wavering at the touching goodbyes.

"Well then, goodbye Ron," Harry said, with a slight smile. "Stay safe."

Ron smiled a little."No one's after me. You're the one that needs to be careful. I'll try and write to you." He said lowering his voice so McGonagall wouldn't hear. "You know...to keep you up on the happenings of Hogwarts."

Harry smiled appreciatively. "Okay...but be careful." He turned to Hermione. He said, "Goodbye, Hermione." Well, that's what he would have said if she hadn't run forward and hugged him tightly enough to cut off his air supply.

"Be careful, okay?" Hermione said, tears glittering in her eyes. "And, I'm sad you're leaving, but Dumbledore knows best."

Harry nodded. "Goodbye." He looked down at her and felt a tremendous urge to kiss her, the way he had before, for the dare. But, he couldn't do that. What would she think? She'd think he was a jerk, trying to do something like that at a time like this. He'd never wanted to kiss her before, but the smoothness of her skin and her eyes, those gorgeous eyes, were calling to him. He just wanted to say goodbye. What if he never saw her. Shouldn't he get to kiss her just once?

Before he could make a decision, she stood on her toes so that her eyes were level with his and kissed him on the mouth. It was quick, but it was sweet. He didn't know if she was just giving him a friendly goodbye kiss, or a more romantic one, but he appreciated it nonetheless. After she pulled away, he stared at her for a moment. "Goodbye," he said softly.

She averted her eyes. "Goodbye, I'll miss you."

"Alright, come along now," Professor McGonagall said, trying to sound strict, but she couldn't cover up a soft sniffle.

Harry picked up his bags and gave them a quick goodbye wave. He followed McGonagall out into the hallway and through the castle. He knew he was getting interested looks from people passing him in the hallways. Why did Harry Potter have his bags? Was he leaving?

He ignored them and kept on walking. They eventually exited the castle and the pair made their way to a spot on the grass where Dumbledore and Moody were solemnly standing.

"We have two minutes," McGonagall said, as they neared the spot. For a moment, Harry wondered what she meant, then he realized it. Of course! How were they supposed to get to where they were going but by Portkey?

When they reached Moody, they saw he was holding a rather large but very plain looking gray stone.

"Good luck, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Be careful and obey everything that they tell you to do. An Auror is not a good position to disobey rules or orders." Harry nodded.

"Grab on, boy," Moody said and Harry touched the stone. In only a few seconds he felt the familiar pulling sensation from behind his naval and he was jerked into a whole new world.

*

"He doesn't know does he?"

"No, we can't tell him," Dumbledore said.

"But how can he do it? How can he defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named when he doesn't even know what he's facing, what will happen to him? When he doesn't know the suffering he will have to go through?" McGonagall asked worriedly

"He's the Tempesta Scura. He can do it."

"But what if he can't? What if he's not ready?"

"Then," Dumbledore sighed, "All is lost."