Harry Potter and the Ancient Secret of War

Chapter Thirteen

Mysteries and Knowledge

The news of Fudge's being sacked brought much cheer amongst the Hogwarts students. Everyone now knew of the lies that he had supplied the whole wizarding world with during the last one year, and it appeared that the public opinion considered the ex-Minister as the real villain in the whole affair. Needless to say, the Hogwarts students reflected this as well.

A whole generation of wizards had grown up under the fear of Lord Voldemort's shadow. His name always lingered at the edge of every dark tale that could, as a dark shadow, something that could not be touched, removed or cleansed. They couldn't ever speak his name out aloud and to them. His notoriety and ill-fame was so great that they could never look up to him as anything but the ultimate bad guy. Now that the knowledge that Voldemort was active again had become commonplace, panic was indeed widespread. The sacking of Fudge was only a mild testimonial to the name. Other indications included regular hoaxes regarding Death Eater attacks and kidnappings, fictitious sightings of the Dark forces and paranoia galore in the mind of wizards and witches all across England.

Yet Hogwarts was still untouched by the insecure atmosphere, at least on the surface, The French minister's assassination had driven the notion of grave danger finally into everyone's minds, but with the passage of time, that terror was gradually fading, and giving way to apprehension - something that you found lying beneath the surface, only if you scratched the top deep enough.

It was mid-October and autumn was fast giving way to winter. Still, even if it was the fag end of the season, it brought some cheer to the student community since the weather was sunny and bright during the transition period (a rarity in itself) - perfect conditions for spending time outdoors. You could see a host of students lazing around the lake, or gathered near Hagrid's cabin or simply walking the grounds during those times. Everyone was trying to squeeze in as much time in warmth and sunshine as they possibly could and for the time being, all thoughts of the imminent war in the outside world were conveniently put on the backburner.

The DA, i.e. the Dark Arts group as they now called themselves, assembled that weekend for the first time in the ongoing year. There were many new members who had shown an interest in joining. In all, there were around forty students who had shown up in the Room of Requirement.

Earlier, Harry had asked Bickerstaff more clearly about the role he would like to play with the group. At this, Bickerstaff replied, saying, "Since it's a club, it is the students who will have to do everything. You must choose what you want to work on. I will just be on the sidelines, advising you and assisting you in matters where you might need my help. Still, I would prefer if you gave me a short report as to what you might have done during a particular session. Only a few words spoken between the two of us regarding this would suffice."

Harry, Ron and Hermione were the first to arrive in the Room of Requirement. This was necessary since no one, except Harry, knew what exactly were they supposed to do and so, he had to summon the faculties of the room to conjure up the required arrangement. As they entered the room, Harry remembered the last time he had been here, and the strange cross-roads at which he had found himself then.

When the door appeared and the three of them entered, they found themselves in something which looked remarkably like a conference room. About forty cosy-looking chairs were arranged randomly around an empty central space, in more or less, a circular manner.

"What are we going to do in here?" Ron asked, eyeing the arrangements. "It looks like the setting for a meeting, not for a Dark Arts group."

"Well," Harry explained. "I thought we could just meet up and introduce the new members for today." He had suddenly realized that most of the students who would come would expect to see some action, and that was a thing he had not planned for, at least not for today.

Slowly, the members (and for the time being, the non-members) began trickling in and soon all the chairs were filled. Not a single chair was empty and no other student came in afterwards. It was as if the room knew the exact number of students who would turn up.

When everyone settled themselves, they all looked expectantly at Harry, who spoke up, "Well, hello everyone. It's nice to see all of you here. First of all, I think I need to explain to all of you, the reason for this arrangement here. As it is, Ron here was most surprised on seeing what the room had conjured up, and I daresay a few of you share the same reaction. Well, I just thought that before we begin, we should get acquainted with each other, once again, even if we already are friends. I am Harry Potter, sixth-year."

As Harry said this, he heard a comment from Zacharias Smith, "As if we don't know that well enough."

Ron was about to say something, but Harry replied coolly, "I don't believe that everyone in this room was in the DA last year, so I think we'd better continue with the introductions."

Soon, everyone gave their instructions, one by one and Harry discovered the exact number of people in the group. There were students ranging from third year to seventh year. The most surprising new member though was Blaise Zabini, a sixth-year Slytherin whom Harry had never paid any special notice to. But unknown quantity or not, the presence of a Slytherin in an anti-Dark arts group was certainly very surprising. Quite a few eyebrows were raised at him, but taking Harry's lead, everyone kept quiet. After all it was a club - anyone was free to join.

Another interesting presence, although not unexpected, was Cho Chang, much to Harry's chagrin. Fortunately, her friend, Marietta Edgecombe - the one who had spilled the DA's secret to Umbridge last year - had not accompanied her. Cho was looking on resolutely around her, though as she made her introductions, Harry could see her gaze directed almost a bit too long on himself.

After everyone had made clear who they were and which year they belonged to, Harry spoke up once again, "Well, now that we all know who everybody is, I think the first job on hand is to explain what we are going to do. The DA began as a means to upstage Dolores Umbridge's authority at Hogwarts but now that we are all cured of Umbridgitis (there were a few laughs and catcalls at this) the DA has become much more. It is now a way of learning to fight the Dark Forces - especially the ones that belong to Lord Voldemort and his band of Death Eaters.

"We learned a lot during last year, regarding defending ourselves. Most of you know this I believe, but I do not think many of you know how this knowledge saved the lives of six of us towards the end of last year.

"At the end of last year, there was a battle in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic. Six of the DA - Ron, Luna, Ginny, Neville, Hermione and I were trapped there by a dozen Death Eaters. Yet we survived, in part due to our knowledge, courage and trust for each other; and for the remaining part due to luck and the valour of others who came to our rescue.

"I cannot promise you that every one of you will be as lucky. But we could at least try to arm ourselves as well as we can. That's why decided to resume the DA activities this year as well. To give ourselves some extra time to hone our defences. We are going to practise hexes, curses, jinxes, counter-jinxes and all such spells and at the same time, we are going to practice duelling as well. I think all of you will agree with me when I say that this year, we have got a very competent teacher. I have talked to Professor Bickerstaff and he is more than willing to help us out. I am sure that we will work hard this year and arm ourselves to defend ourselves and our loved ones."

"That's all I have to say for the moment." With that, Harry sat back down on his chair. Silence lay on the group, everyone clearly thinking of what Harry had said.

Finally, Justin Finch-Fletchey said, "So when do we begin?"

"There is no point in keeping the meetings secret, or in keeping the timings different for different meetings." Hermione opined.

"Indeed, yes." Harry said. "So what do you say about every Saturday afternoon. So, it won't affect our classes or any other commitments."

"And what about us, who have joined anew?" a fourth-year Ravenclaw by the name Dorace Unsworth asked.

"We will be working in groups this time, till everyone come up to the same level," Harry replied. "Then we can do all the things at a time.

There was a general murmur of assent at this.

"So, I guess that's it for the moment." Harry finally said. "Since we've spent today's session talking and such, we could have a session here tomorrow afternoon. With luck, we might enlist Bickerstaff's support and start on duelling. What do you reckon?"

Everyone agreed to this and began filing out of the room. Finally, Harry exited the room and closed the door behind him, after which it vanished without a trace. Harry was about to catch up with Ron and Hermione when he heard a voice all to him from behind.

"Harry, can I talk to you for a moment?" came the voice of Cho Chang, the pretty Ravenclaw whom Harry had briefly and disastrously dated last year.

"Sure, why not?" Harry said, standing beside Ron and Hermione and turning around to look at Cho.

Cho, however, did not look comfortable. She eyed Ron and Hermione with distrust and finally said, "I was thinking of talking alone."

"I'm afraid we cannot do that." Harry said adamantly. "Whatever you have to say, you must say it in front of my friends as well."

"No Harry," Hermione spoke to him gently, placing a light touch of her arms on his shoulder. "You go on. We'll wait for you in the common room." Then seeing that he hadn't moved, she said once again, "Go on."

Harry finally moved and accompanied Cho to the end of the corridor where an unused classroom was located. They entered and stood near the centre of the class, looking at each other.

"So Harry, how have you been?" Cho asked.

"All right...I suppose." Harry replied formally.

There was a long, pregnant pause after this. The air seemed to be suspended with unresolved questions and the search for answers.

Finally, Harry said, "Look Cho, I know it will not feel very nice to hear this, but I simply cannot keep up this façade. So you'd better tell me what you want to talk to me about and get this over with."

Cho sighed and said, "Harry, I was just thinking, thinking about you and me...I was just wondering if there is any chance of us...I mean you and me getting together again?"

Harry was rather stumped at this question. Hell, he had known for some time now that Cho had dated Michael Corner at the end of last year. Then why did she want him to patch things up with her? Still, he knew the answer he wanted to give, even though it might bring disappointment to her. The only issue was how to say that to her. Finally, Harry opted for the pragmatic approach.

"I am sorry, Cho." Harry said, shaking his head slightly. "But you and I ...we are history. I don't think we can ever be together, and there is clearly no way, we can bring the impossible to see the light of the day."

A glint of clear sadness passed through Cho's eyes. Her face fell and her shoulders drooped. However, she managed to get hold of herself after a moment's lapse and sighed. She told Harry, "It's all right, I understand." With that, she moved to go to her own common room.

But Harry said quietly, "I am sorry, Cho, but you need to understand. I am not like Cedric, you know." After a pause, he resumed even as Cho turned around, tears welling up in her eyes, "What you are looking for is a shadow of Cedric, Cho. I'm afraid I cannot give you that. I only saw him die and I never was one of the important people in his life. Cedric's death might have been, in part my fault, but it wasn't of my making."

Harry could see the impact that these words had on Cho. She began shaking uncontrollably and sank down onto the floor against one of the desks. It was a heart-rending sight for Harry, who could never bear to see anyone's sadness, even though his own childhood was filled with horrors, some of them forgotten by himself. In truth, it was this compassion that separated him from the rest and made him what he was - the only beacon of hope for the wizarding world.

Ordinarily, Harry might have said 'Don't cry' and tried to comfort Cho, but he did not do that this time. Cho had been crying all over the place last year but that was her mourning for what might have been, instead of what was. It was tonight that Cho really mourned. It was tonight that Cho cried for Cedric - for who he was, and not for who he might have been.

It went on for a long time - Harry didn't know for how long. They stayed in that deserted classroom, Harry standing near the teacher's desk and Cho on the floor. Finally, the sobbing subsided and Cho got up, her face, a mess from all the crying. Harry offered her his handkerchief and she accepted gratefully.

"You know," Cho said as she tried to calm herself down. "The evening before the Third Task, Cedric seemed so happy. And it was then that he told me for the first time, that he loved me. And..." Her voice started breaking again as she said, "...And that was the only time he said that to me."

Harry nodded and said, "I know Cedric's death hit you hard, but it is time to move on. I don't think he would have wanted you to linger on his memories for long. I'm sure that you will find someone else in your life who will love you as much and who you will grow to love."

Cho nodded. "Thank you, Harry." The sincerity in her voice was unmistakeable. "I am sure that Hermione is very glad she has you since you love her so much." She added, with a slight smile.

"I hope so." Harry said, without thinking and then a moment later, he caught up with what he had said. "Wait a minute, how do you know about Hermione and me."

"Believe me, Harry." Cho said, now looking far more composed than she had been. "I notice things. Don't worry. Just because one of my friends couldn't hold a secret in her stomach doesn't meant that I can't do so as well. Your secret will be safe with me."

Harry smiled gratefully at her. "Well, I'll better get going then." He said to Cho. "Ron and Hermione must be waiting for me."

Cho nodded. "Bye Harry. I guess I'll be seeing you around school."

"Sure." Harry nodded and exited the classroom, leaving Cho behind in his wake, her soul relieved from a burden she had been carrying for one year now.

* * * * *

When Harry made his way back to the common room after his unexpected encounter with Cho, he found Ron and Hermione waiting there. Both of them were trying to get some work done, but it was apparent from the way Hermione was looking edgy that all was not perfect.

It had been a long day for Harry, not so much in terms of physical exhaustion, but more so, in terms of mental fatigue. He had increasingly felt a growing pricking in his scar the whole day, and even though he had tried to use his still limited Occlumency skills to alleviate that feeling, he had no success whatsoever. Harry was now approaching the onset of the night with trepidation and a sense of foreboding. The fatigue that had set in was intensified by his encounter with Cho. He had half a mind to go to Dumbledore's office and inform him about the pricking in his scar, but he decided against it for two reasons. One, it was only an irritating prick, nothing overly painful. And secondly, something gave him the hard-to-explain feeling that the feel of his scar had nothing to do with Voldemort.

He entered the common room and flung himself on the couch next to Hermione. Already, it was nine at night. Harry had missed dinner but he couldn't care less about it at present.

"Tired?" Hermione asked him as he closed his eyes.

Harry nodded. "You bet. You won't believe what happened with Cho."

Ron noticed his two friends' reactions at this. Hermione had stiffened visibly on hearing Harry say what he had. Ron had this sneaking feeling that Hermione was, somewhere down the line, suspecting Harry of, well, the mildest way of saying this would be that Hermione suspected Harry of cheating on her. Ron couldn't wait to hear more about this and put things right between them.

"What happened?" Ron asked, and bent forward as if to catch Harry's words better.

"Well, we went into an abandoned classroom." Harry said. "There she told me that she wanted to get together with me again."

"What!" Ron exclaimed so loudly that the rest of the already full common room turned around to try and figure out what was the cause of Ron's explosion. Hermione, Harry noticed, had gone rigid.

Ron shot everyone apologetic looks for the disturbance and as they returned back to their own work, he directed his ire towards Harry. "What! And what did you say to her?"

Harry sensed the implied meaning of Ron's question and answered honestly, "Just the truth. I told her that there is no chance of it happening. She seemed to have guessed though that Hermione and I are together."

Hermione relaxed visibly at this and a smile came to her lips. Even as it did, a few tears escaped down her cheeks.

"Oh Harry, I am sorry." Hermione sobbed into Harry's shirt. "I thought you had gotten together with Cho. I thought you were-"

"Shagging." Ron supplied the word and Hermione's sobs intensified. But he firmly shut his mouth when Harry gave him a wrathful glare.

"Honestly, Hermione!" Harry said. "You didn't think I could do that. I love you. I'd never leave you for any one. That's the truth." Ron made a vomiting gesture on hearing of this over-flowing fluffiness, and promptly earned himself another glare from Harry.

"I didn't want to believe it, but I thought that you liked Cho last year and went out with her. And she is much better looking and..."

Harry knew that she was starting to babble and it would be exceedingly difficult for him to stop her and put his own point across if she was allowed to continue. So, he interrupted her and said, "Hermione, I think you are very beautiful. I don't think that any one can be like you. I told you I love you and that means that I always want to be right here with you."

"Really?" Hermione asked, calmly being restored to her troubled senses. She had overheard Lavender and Parvati talking about Harry and Cho making up with each other and that they were now absent from dinner and locked together alone in an empty classroom on the seventh floor. That had made her lose her appetite. She had been pondering its truthfulness ever since they had come back from dinner and was trying to make up her mind regarding how to pose the question to Harry even as he appeared in the common room.

Now that Hermione looked back at it, she was quite embarrassed with herself. She had been very silly; there was no denying that fact. Harry would never cheat on her. He loved her and she knew it.

"I am sorry, Harry." Hermione said. "I shouldn't have suspected you like that."

"Alright. Apology accepted." Harry replied. "But next time you want to confirm or even waylay any suspicion of me, just talk to me, okay?"

Hermione nodded. Harry kissed her then and there and she kissed him back.

Harry sank back into the back of the couch and unsuccessfully tried to stifle a huge yawn, "Oh God, am I tired?"

Hermione kissed him lightly on the lips and said, "Go on then and try to get some sleep. And before that, remember to do the relaxation exercises, alright?"

"Yes, mum." Harry grinned at her and after saying good-night to Ron, who looked ready to really vomit; he gave Hermione a good-night kiss. It transcended into a semi-passionate kiss that was disturbed only when a very green-looking Ron started looking here and there and whistling.

"What?" Harry asked, breaking off from the kiss.

"Next time you do that mate, please warn me. You know, it's not very pleasant watching your friends engaged in a most passionate lip-lock" Ron replied.

"Very eloquent, Ron." Hermione giggled. "And before you ask what 'eloquent' means, it means 'using expressive language'."

"I know what 'eloquence' means-" Ron began, and Harry could see that another bickering match was in the works.

He intervened by saying, "Well, before you plunge into a full-fledged battle of words, I will make my way to bed. Tell me who the winner was in the morning."

Hermione looked apologetically at Harry, but seeing his bemused expression, changed her own into a smile. "Alright Harry. Go on. We'll tell you about my victory later on."

"Your victory?" Ron exclaimed. "In your dreams."

"Indeed?" Hermione retorted. "So you expect yourself to outdo me, something you've never done. Since when have you started living in fantasies, Ron?"

"Alright, alright." Ron gave up, which Harry thought was very mature of him. "You win."

Hermione looked triumphant. Harry gave her another good-night kiss, the last one of that night and proceeded to walk upstairs.

When Harry was gone, Ron and Hermione turned back to their work. But soon they realised that something was wrong. They looked up to see that the whole common room had fallen eerily silent and everyone was staring at them, especially at Hermione.

Hermione seemed a little queasy under the attention. Realising this, Ron looked to the nearest group, all consisting of third-years. "What?" he asked them, bringing forth a hint of menace into his voice. Immediately, they quailed and returned to their work. Others followed suit and so the common room was filled with chatter again.

"What's the matter with them? They are all psychos." Ron asked Hermione as the atmosphere in the room became normal.

"Ron, honestly, don't you have anything grey in there?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes and prodding Ron on the forehead.

"Ow!" Ron howled in pain. "What did you do that for?"

"Haven't you realised it Ron?" Hermione said. "They saw Harry and I kiss each other. That means that-"

"-that they all know you are together." Ron finished off and then suddenly started out laughing at the top of his lungs. He shouted, "Harry and Hermione sitting on a tree; K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

The whole common room heard this din and started laughing out aloud. Hermione looked positively murderous. She hissed at Ron, "Ron, if only there weren't so many witnesses here, I would have strangled you before you could say 'kissing'."

Ron however, did not take her seriously and stuck his tongue out at her.

"Urghhh!" Hermione exclaimed. "You and your childishness. I don't think I can take it anymore. I am going to bed now."

With that, she lifted her bags and books and walked off towards the girl's dormitories. Ron grinned after her. He was clearly the victor tonight.

* * * * *

Half an hour later, Hermione was sitting on her bed cross-legged, Indian style, her books spread before her, her mind intent on studying. She heard her dormitory door open from beyond her bed-curtains, but ignored the sound. But soon, she found that she could no longer ignore the noise since her bed-curtains were flung open and she found herself face-to-face with about ten Gryffindor girls, from seventh-year to fourth-year, and led by her dorm-mates, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

"Hermione," Parvati said. "You have been naughty, haven't you? Why didn't you tell us of your relationship with Harry before?"

"There isn't anything to tell. I mean, Harry and I, we are together now, that's all." Hermione replied.

"That's all. That's all?" Lavender Brown screamed, nearly causing Hermione's ear drums to split. "Hermione, you've just taken the Boy-Who-Lived out of the 'Available' list of boys and you say that's all." All the other girls in the room murmured sounds conveying the general assent.

"Okay, so that's it?" Hermione retorted irritably. "But why then are you making me undergo this interrogation?"

"Because, Hermione, my dear," came Ginny's voice from across the room as she entered the dorm and made her way to Hermione's bedside, "We are talking about the Boy-Who-Lived here, Hermione. And he is the boy whose life is always under scrutiny and nothing is ever hidden, that's why. Besides he doesn't look too bad either, does he? Anyway, we want to know how he is."

"How he is?" Hermione repeatedly faintly. "Has everyone gone mad here? I mean, I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Hermione," said a seventh-year whose name Hermione knew to be Fiona Wells, "You would only if you stopped hanging out so much with Ron and Harry and more with us girls."

"Okay, enough words." Lavender said. "Now tell me, how is Harry in the sack?"

"What?" Hermione asked, shocked by the forthrightness of the question.

"Now, Hermione, don't tell me you don't know what I mean." Lavender said.

"Of course I know-" Hermione started saying.

"Then tell us about it." Parvati interrupted.

"There is nothing to tell then." Hermione replied. "Harry and I have never had sex."

"What?" All the girls around the bed except for Ginny shrieked in surprise at this.

"Yes. We have never gone beyond kissing." Hermione revealed.

"So, is he a good kisser?" a sixth-year girl asked.

Hermione blushed a little bit and said, "Yeah, I would definitely say so."

"But Hermione, you have much to learn at the moment, especially if you want Harry to remain faithful to you." Lavender said, nodding her head in an irritating, all-knowing fashion.

"Harry is not like that-" Hermione began but it was now Parvati who interrupted her this time around.

She said, "He might not be 'like that' now, but he will in a few days. After all, he is a male."

"I don't believe you." Hermione said.

"Indeed you don't. That's why you have never had a boyfriend before now, have you? If only you had come to us for advice, we would have done something for you." Lavender said.

That touched a sore nerve in Hermione. Truth be told, she was a little naïve about her own relationships, even though she was a good judge of others' relations. She was very insecure about her relationship with Harry, even though she genuinely believed in him and his love for her. It was like she feared that something or someone would emerge out of the blue and take him away from her. You couldn't really blame her though, since Harry was, in all reality, her first boyfriend and only the second person with whom she had ever gone out.

"Are you telling the truth?" Hermione asked, starting to get lulled by Parvati's words.

"Hundred percent. From my own experience and from that of many others before me." Parvati replied. All the other girls nodded their heads vigorously at this. Ginny, meanwhile, looked nonplussed.

"Then what should I do?" Hermione said hopefully.

"Well, that's why we are here now, aren't we?" Lavender said. "First thing, we need to give you a makeover - something so stunning that you will knock the wind out of Harry - something like you did during the Yule Ball."

"But that will take hours..." Hermione objected.

"Not if we help you," Ginny said. "So I suggest, Miss Granger, that you pack up your bags now and go to sleep immediately since you will have to get up early in the morning tomorrow for your makeover."

Hermione did as she was told. She went to bed that night, wondering if what she had been old was true. She went to bed that night, wondering even in her sub-conscious mind if Harry would get bored being with her and leave he someday. But she found that she could not sleep no matter what.

All of a sudden, she remembered her birthday last month and that was what sent her into the land of dreams that night.

* * * * *

Hermione woke up suddenly in the middle of the night. She did not know why or how. She opened her bed-curtains and chanced a glance at the clock that was merrily ticking away on the side-table. It was five in the morning.

She felt thirsty and walked across the room to have a drink of water. As she did so, she felt the sudden urge to see Harry at once. She did not know why. But the fact of the matter was that there was this inexplicable desire inside her to see him immediately. She had gone ahead with her dorm-mates' plan of the makeover simply on the spur of the moment. Inside of her, she knew, especially with how forthright Harry had been with her about his encounter with Cho, that she needn't have any fears regarding her relationship with Harry. But this urge didn't come from her insecurities; it came from an unknown fear of something that was going to happen.

As she took in gulps of water and looked out of the dorm window, it showed the lake looking like a dark mirror of the starry sky overhead. Suddenly, there was a bright blue light that lighted the night sky and dazzled Hermione's senses.

It was a wild light, directed like an arrow, unstopping in its speed, unwavering in its flight. It was like the herald of woe, a crow that cawed of the impending storm, a storm that was upon them. She dropped her glass on the heavily carpeted floor and it fell with a dull thud and rolled away, hitting one of the beds with a low 'clink'. But Hermione heard none of this. She was already flying down the staircase to her dorms, through the common room and back up the conjugated stairs to the boys' dormitories.

Hermione flung the door open noiselessly; and rushed over to Harry's bedside. She drew aside the curtains of his four-poster bed and looked down to where he slept. What she saw made her feel dizzy with happiness and brought warm relief to her heart. She sat down on the edge of Harry's bed as he slept peacefully, his eyes closed, hiding his captivating emerald green orbs from view.

Hermione was sure that the blue streak was something to do with the ongoing conflict in the wizarding world. Even more disturbing, she felt herself believe that this was all, somehow, related to Harry. It was almost as if she had been given a way to discover what was going on and she intended to do precisely that.

For now, she felt the long hours of awakening catching up to her and she decided it was time to take a nap. She contemplated going back to her own dorm but decided it would be too cumbersome. So, she decided to take up her quarters with Harry for the night. She snuggled into bed with Harry and with a wave of his wand; she closed the hangings around them, and locked them shut; so that no one could discover her presence there.

Harry, meanwhile, was oblivious to all this as he felt strange dreams overpower his sub-conscious mind. These were a couple of visions that he was now used to having almost every night, at least ever since he had begun to succeed, to a limited extent, at his attempts of relaxing his mind. Sometimes, he saw a quaint, little town, possibly even a small village. There was a house in there - warm, cosy, large and comfortable. Harry never did see any more of this vision. The second vision consisted of fair glades filled with flower-laden trees. A wonderful scent lingered in the air and the soft music of unseen voices enchanted the ears. Harry had no idea what these visions conveyed. At the moment, as an unknown dread crept into his heart, he saw again, the former vision.

Then suddenly, as Hermione's presence by his made itself felt, the vision faded away and he lingered in a state of slumber, dreams and visions nowhere near his mind, even to his awakening.

* * * * *

When Hermione woke up the next morning and opened her eyes, she found her eyes dazzled by bright daylight. It took her a minute to register where she was. She looked around and saw Harry awake and standing in front of a mirror, tying to comb his hair, which was sticking up in every imaginable direction.

Harry saw Hermione wake up and smiled at her. Even as he did so, the mirror spoke out, "You'd better smooth that hair of yours, dear. Or it looks like a bird's nest."

Hermione stifled a giggle as Harry rolled his eyes. He came up and sat down by Hermione who was now sitting upright against the headboard still, cosily comforted by the sheets. She really was looking very pretty, in her nightclothes and bunched up among the sheets, her hair still as bushy as ever, but a certain freshness surrounding her about like an aura.

He went near her and kissed her softly, "So, you are awake?"

Hermione was pleasantly surprised by the gesture. She said, "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, what's the time?"

"Speaking of time," Harry replied, "It's already ten and we have both missed breakfast. The other guys were up and about long ago. I was too scared to get up since they might have discovered you. So I waited till everyone went down to breakfast."

"Why? Were you embarrassed by the thought of being caught in bed with me?" Hermione teased him.

However, Harry took this jest quite seriously. He began explaining, "No, Hermione. I could never think like that, I swear. It's only that I thought you'd still want to keep out relationship a secret, and..." But seeing the laughter and mirth in her eyes, he realised the truth.

Harry looked sheepishly at her and sat down on the bed next to her. Hermione, however, looked more serious now. She said, "There's no point in hiding this anymore, Harry."

"Huh? You are joking, aren't you?" Harry asked her for confirmation.

"Actually, no." she replied. "Evidently, you didn't realise that we did our goodnight kisses before the whole common room yesterday."

"That abrupt, huh?" Harry asked, smiling slightly. Hermione nodded.

"So what do we do now?" she asked.

"Nothing." Harry replied. "Behave like we feel, I guess. I can't tell you how much I've wanted to kiss you right in the Great Hall in front of all the people out there." Hermione giggled at this.

"I didn't know you were such an exhibitionist, Harry," she said.

"Well then, shall we go down to the kitchens and have something to eat? I'm positively starving!" Harry exclaimed.

"Sure. Let's meet in the common room in half an hour." Hermione said.

Harry groaned, "That's too long."

"Well, seeing that you have tidied up and dressed yourself up, while I'm still in my nightclothes, that's the minimum amount of time I'm going to take. I still have to shower and dress, you know." Hermione told him frankly.

"Are you sure you don't want me to join you?" Harry whispered seductively in her ear.

Hermione felt a shiver run down her spine at this. She never knew that a simple statement in that sexy voice could drive her lust to the point of craziness.

She restrained herself from jumping right then and there on Harry and snogging him senseless and merely said, "Some other time, Mr Potter." With that, she got up and made to leave. Harry felt all his blood drain south.

So, it was precisely fifty minutes later that Hermione met Harry down in the common room. Already, it was eleven and both of them were feeling ravenous. Harry felt it was really good for them that the elves were always so eager to be worked, since that meant they could get a good brunch in.

As Hermione came down, she did not see anyone else in the common room except for Harry. It was a very fine day indeed outside, in all likelihood one of the last ones of the year, and everyone was eager to catch the mild warmth of the sun, while it lasted. Harry though, seemed to be dozing off near the fireplace with his glasses dangling from one ear.

Hermione looked down at her boyfriend's napping figure with amusement. She gently poked him on the shoulders and he woke up with a start.

"Wake up, sleepyhead." She said as he yawned widely and rubbed his eyes (He still hadn't noticed the precarious position in which his glasses were perched.

He regained his sense of symmetry and direction and asked, "What took you so long? I've been waiting here for an hour now."

"I can see that." Hermione remarked. "You seemed to be making a good job of it."

"Well, I need my sleep now, don't I?" Harry defended himself.

"Of course." Hermione said. "But I presumed that's what you did last night."

"Well, it never hurts to have some extra rest, does it?" Harry said. Hermione could have sworn that he had averted his eyes from hers as he said this. But she decided not to push the matter further. She knew that Harry trusted her enough to tell her about what was bothering him, once he figured it out himself.

"So," Harry began, "Any special reason why you surprised me today?"

"Huh?" Hermione questioned, not understanding Harry's question, well, in truth understanding it, but pretending not to.

"I mean I went to sleep yesterday night all alone and today when I woke up, I find you with me. That was a pleasant surprise now." Harry explained to her.

"I just couldn't sleep well." She said, trying to process some quick thoughts inside her mind. She did not want to reveal the truth to Harry, for she did not know half of it herself.

"Why?" Harry raised her eyebrows.

"Well, if you must know, after you went upstairs yesterday and I realised that everyone now knew about us, I went up to my dorm..." And with that, Hermione narrated her encounter with the host of girls and the promised makeover and suspected 'infidelity'. She managed to explain the part of wanting to escape the fate that awaited her in the morning, with a bunch of giggling and swooning girls trying to tame her locks and getting her to look better, while part of her - the insecure part - wanted to hold on to Harry and make sure that he didn't go anywhere.

By the time she had finished explaining things, Hermione looked completely flummoxed. Harry considered this carefully. It was completely unlike Hermione to mince her words or beat around the bush at any time. He had this sneaky feeling that there was something more to all this than met the eye. His curiosity started to overflow as he considered asking her about his suspicions, but the rational part of his mind reasoned against it, saying that he must learn to respect her wishes. If she didn't want to tell him something, it was her decision and hers alone. If she needed his help or opinion, she would certainly tell him when the right time came.

It took both Harry and Hermione some time to register the fact that it was nearly time for lunch and neither of them had had a single morsel of food to eat in the last eighteen hours or so.

So, they finally exited the Gryffindor tower for the first time that day and made their way down to the Great Hall. On the way, they passed a few students, all of whom shot either curious or envious looks at the both of them. They were now walking with their hands laced together, glad finally that they were free of care and worry about their loving gestures in front of others.

They entered the Great Hall only to find it about four-fifths full. As they neared the Hall, they could hear the chatter of voices drifting across the open doors, but no sooner did they enter than the voices cease to exist. Everyone turned to look at them both. Their entwined hands did not escape notice either.

Harry and Hermione ignored this and took their seats opposite Ron and Ginny on the Gryffindor table. Both were smirking knowingly and when they sat down, Ron asked a seemingly innocent question, "So, Harry? Where have you two been?"

"Buzz off." Harry said, more to dissipate the number of ears that were now directed from all parts of the Hall towards them. He knew that Ron had asked this question to give him an opportunity to divert the stares and whispers that he and Hermione were now attracting.

Before lunch was over though, Parvati and Lavender made their way to beside Hermione and hissed at her, "Hermione, you missed our plans for today."

"Sorry, Parvati," Hermione replied. "But I don't think I need a makeover."

"Why?" Lavender asked, quickly getting into her gossip mode. Glancing at Harry, she asked Hermione, "Did you see something that disappointed you?"

"Oh! For god's sake! Get your heads off the gutter!" Hermione said. "Harry and I have talked of everything, I know what he feels about me, and I don't need any help from either of you."

"Alright." Parvati said, as they began walking off from the Hall. "But if you need any semi-professional help, you know where to come."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and went back to her food. The Great Hall slowly began emptying. Evidently, Harry and Hermione were one of the last people to have appeared for lunch.

Still, one thing was clear. They were, indeed, the last persons to exit the Great Hall, especially considering the interruptions that they had to bear. Many students came over and congratulated them. Harry felt as if it was more like he and Hermione had gotten engaged, or maybe even married (Wait a minute! Where did that come from? Though on second thoughts, Harry did think that it wasn't such a bad idea after all). He blushed furiously every time anyone made a good-natured, yet sleazy remark about the state of their relationship. Hermione though, was carrying out her part with élan. At the moment, Harry really admired her composure.

Meanwhile, unnoticed to either of them, there were quite a host of expressions on the faces of their teachers. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as madly as ever, while Professor McGonagall had her lips synced together in an almost imperceptible smile. She seemed a bit beady-eyed as well. Snape was his usual expressionless self turning up in nothing but the same, dour expression that he always wore. If there was anything he felt regarding all this or remembered, seeing all this, he didn't show it. No wonder he was a fine Occlumens!

Harry and Hermione were finally allowed to finish their respective meals and they were now starting back on their way to Gryffindor tower. Ron had already left; not before declaring though that he was leaving them alone but they should behave themselves. The entire population of Gryffindor in vicinity shared a good laugh at this, no doubt to the embarrassment of once again, Harry and Hermione.

They left the Great Hall. Students swarmed about them, some returning to their houses, some outside and some, with the fifth-years and the seventh-years finding special mention in that group, to the library. Just as Harry was about to take the first step up the main stairs, he found his way blocked by none other than Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Get out of the way, Malfoy!" Harry said quietly.

Malfoy, however, did not seem to hear it. He said, his voice at its taunting best, "So Potter, it is true then! You finally got yourself a girlfriend!"

"Get out of the way, Malfoy!" Harry repeated, his voice a lot colder than previously. Hermione could almost feel his irritation now.

"So Granger, a bit rich for you, isn't he? After all, I guess a half-blood is better than a mudblood like you any day." Malfoy continued taunting.

Harry began losing his temper now. He didn't really mind it when Malfoy taunted him, but he didn't want him to utter even a single foul word against Hermione.

"Tell me Potter." Malfoy continued. "Do you plan to produce filthy little brats here or after school? I would suggest about doing it right now. It would at least get rid of her for a few months. In fact, I would have done it myself long ago but I could never really bring myself to touch a filthy, ragged mudblood like her."

Harry had known that he was nearing his breaking point, but the last remark did it for Hermione. She had tears in her eyes now, and he could not bear to see those. Despite of all this, she told Harry, "Let's go Harry. Please. Ignore him."

But Harry did not budge. He thrust his hand out at Malfoy. He didn't even bother with his wand. His hand movement sent an invisible beam through to Malfoy and he bent back over, almost as if he were under the Cruciatus Curse, writhing on the floor in pain. Seeing their leader fall, Crabbe and Goyle tried to muscularly hit Harry, but another simple movement of his hand and they were frozen in their places.

Meanwhile, Malfoy was suddenly transforming into, well, a ferret once again. At least some of him was. His head still was in its original form, but his body had changed into that of a very large ferret. How Harry had performed such a complex transfiguration wandless even when he could not perform such a spell with his wand, no one was able to tell. Harry lifted his hand once again and Malfoy's ferret-like feet left the air, defying all the laws of gravity and he was dangled upside down in the air.

"Harry Potter!" came the indignant voice of Professor McGonagall. She tried to restore Malfoy back to his original form but she found that she could not break Harry's spell. She said angrily again, "Potter! Release Mr. Malfoy at once!"

She had to repeat her words once again but to no effect. Finally, Hermione, who was standing there shocked at what was happening, regained her senses and told Harry, "Please Harry. Do as Professor McGonagall said. Please."

These words calmed Harry down a little. He let go. His body, which was all tensed up till now, relaxed. But the fire still burned and smouldered in his eyes. And then a moment later, it sparked up one last time and was extinguished, leaving him there as Harry Potter - the same old Harry Potter.

* * * * *

Professor McGonagall came over to Harry and said, "Mr Potter! That was...that...I just...Come with me to my office this instant. I need to look up the proper punishment for this."

Malfoy was lying in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, his form changed back to a more human one. His hair shrouded his grey eyes as sweat gleaned on his blow. Even as Harry followed McGonagall and passed him, he hissed bitterly, "I'll get back at you, Potter. I'll make you pay - you and that whorish Mudblood of yours."

* * * * *