16

When I Want your Opinion

When Hermione awoke late the next day it was to find that Harry was not there next to her as he had promised. She thought maybe he might just have gone to the bathroom, so she waited a few minutes for him to return, but he never did. Her mind began to spin wild scenarios, all of which involved Harry being taken away from her in the middle of the night. She knew she was being stupid, but she began to panic. He had promised to be there when she woke up. What could have possibly happened to him to make him break his promise?

She scrambled out of bed, snatching her wand, which had been resting on her bedside table. She didn't even bother with her dressing gown as she practically sprinted for the stairs to locate her... whatever he was.

"We really need to talk about that." She thought idly.

Upon reaching the bottom step, Hermione heard voices that were as familiar to her as her own reflection. Even at such soft volumes, Hermione knew her parents voices, and she began to relax. Her parents were home and safe. They must have gotten home sometime after she'd fallen asleep.

Then she began to realize what might have made Harry break his promise to her. She then began to become truly concerned for Harry. God only knew what her father may have done to him when he found Harry sitting in her bed while she was sleeping.

"Oh, this might be bad." Hermione said to herself, creeping the rest of the way to the kitchen.

Everything seemed to be ok however. Dan and Emma Granger were sitting at the table, each sipping tea, while Harry was leaning against a counter with his own mug. Her parents were quite interested in whatever Harry was saying at the moment. Harry noticed her almost at once, and her parents turned when Harry became distracted in his tale to find their daughter standing in her pajamas in the door way.

"Oh, Hermione." Her mother said with relief as she got out of her seat to embrace her daughter. Hermione hugged her mother back just as fiercely. It was only at that moment she realized how close she'd come to never seeing them again. Through everything that had happened the previous night, Hermione had barely thought of the two people that mattered most to her.

"How are you feeling?" Emma asked as she pulled away. Hermione knew that Harry must have filled them in on everything that had happened.

"Strangely enough, I think I'm ok. Still really shaky though. I was scared when I woke up and saw that Harry…"

"That would be my fault." Dan said cutting across Hermione. He had also gotten to his feet and now took his daughter in his arms. "Your mother and I decided to stay at a hotel last night, and got back around eight this morning. We assumed the two of you would behave yourselves, and when I saw Harry in your bed, well… "

"Your father got over protective." Emma sighed. "Fortunately, Harry wasn't asleep and stopped your father from murdering him."

"What'd you do?" Hermione asked, turning sharply to stare at Harry who was simply watching the family. He stood up a bit as if he were going to give an after action report. Thankfully Hermione's mother cut him off.

"No one got hurt." Emma stated, looking crossly at her husband. "Harry motioned for us to be quiet and then led us down here where he told us all about the attack, and how you didn't want to be alone and how he had promised to be by your side all night. Oh Hermione, are you certain you're alright?"

"Yeah mum." Hermione nodded. "I think I'm just sort of numb about it all right now."

"Don't bottle it up." Dan said retaking his seat. He watched as his daughter went to Harry and wrapped her arms around his middle. Harry slipped his arm protectively around Hermione's shoulders and pulled her close and handed her his tea, which she took with a tired smile. Dan grimaced a bit at the sight. It wasn't that his daughter had finally begun dating. He'd been fearing that since the day she was born. No, Harry was a good young man, and Dan would've been hard pressed to find anyone more worthy of Hermione's affection.

No, what made him hurt in his heart was that his job as a father was coming to an end. He was supposed to be the one to protect Hermione, to make sure she had what she needed and comfort her when things were not so great. That job was not his anymore, and Dan wasn't ready to give it up quite yet, even though he knew it wasn't up to him. Seeing how content and happy Hermione was in Harry's embrace reminded him of when he and Emma began dating so long ago. He knew it was a good thing, yet it was so bittersweet to him.

Emma, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile. She had wished for so long to see Hermione happy. She had always been an awkward child, preferring books and learning to playing games, or even being around other kids. Then there were the bouts of what they now knew to be accidental magic. It was a relief to discover that their daughter was special, and not like every parent believes their children to be, but actually special.

It was Emma's firm belief that when Hermione went off to Hogwarts, her letters would be full of stories about all the friends she was making, and how happy she was. It broke her heart when she got the first letter and it was filled with more pain than any child should have to endure. Yet, Hermione refused to give up. She was determined to finish her seven years of magical education, and she was determined by the end of her third year to prove to herself just how strong she could be. That had lasted until the end of her fourth year.

Hermione had been very tight lipped but Emma knew there had been a boy. She remembered Hermione's letter begging for money for a ball gown. Emma had been beside herself to learn Hermione had a date, and apparently it was with a sort of celebrity. The letters after Christmas made the ones from her first and second years downright cheery. And still, Hermione refused to be beaten by it all. That was when Emma began corresponding with Minerva McGonagall. Through the Deputy Headmistress, Emma learned just how bad things had been for Hermione.

Now however, it appeared her daughter's perseverance was being rewarded. It was so adorable the way Harry and Hermione were together. The way they were teaching each other about love as they went along. Watching them now, just standing together made Emma's heart swell with joy. Hermione had said the day after Christmas that she believed Harry was sent to her because she had proven to be worthy for enduring all she had. Perhaps she was right, because Harry clearly was made for Hermione.

"You were saying Harry?" Dan prodded, wanting to hear the rest of what had gone on the previous night.

"Sirius told me that he's certain that the attack was part of a larger message. The Death Eaters attacked people known to be favoring the bill I told you of earlier. If it goes through when it's called for a vote this week, it could go a long way to decimate his forces. Something I'm told he can't really afford any longer." Harry finished.

"Well then there's the silver lining." Emma said, taking her seat once again. "Perhaps these attacks will show the rest of them that these people need to be dealt with properly."

"Absolutely." Dan concurred. "On the other hand, this defeat may only serve to fan the flame. This terrorist may use this failure to inspire his forces to be even more aggressive."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked. Hermione also looked curious. However Harry looked as if he understood where Dan was going here.

"The way Harry talks about him, and everything, it seems as if he's almost exactly like a few other well known dictators. I expect that you might be seeing a rise in murders in the coming weeks. You said his greatest weapon is the fear he spreads, so what better way than to attack innocents in their homes. Show that no one is safe from him. No one can remain untouched."

"It's what I would do were I in his place." Harry agreed.

"Your people have shown the rest of your world that he can be defeated. That his forces aren't unbeatable. He can't have that, so he'll retaliate by killing as many innocent people as he can to solidify his reputation of power." Dan said gloomily. He then turned to Hermione with a resolved expression. "I don't want you to be one of those people, Hermione. I want you learn how to fight properly."

"What?" Hermione stood up, pulling away from Harry. "I don't think..."

"I would feel better too." Emma nodded after thinking it over. ""If I understand Harry correctly, you're looked down upon because you're… what was it Harry?"

"Muggleborn.' Harry said simply.

"Right. And these people think they're superior because of their purity." Emma continued.

"History repeats itself." Dan scowled.

"Indeed." Emma nodded looking sour. "I think it would be a good idea if you started training with Harry. Who better to teach you than someone who's spent his whole life preparing to fight a war?"

Hermione took in a deep breath as if preparing to argue. They couldn't be serious, could they? She wasn't a soldier. She wanted nothing to do with this war.

And then everything from the previous night flashed in her mind's eye. Hannah. Lavender. Those boys who'd been struck down. She didn't want to be killed, or worse. She had only barely managed to do anything, and it had very nearly cost her life. She knew it would be really stupid to remain unprepared any longer. Until now, the war had been nothing but stories in the paper, or rumors whispered among her peers at school. Last night, the war had become real. It was now a tangible threat. She had been among the lucky ones, and next time, she might be alone without anyone to help her. Harry might not show up in the nick of time next time.

"We'll start tomorrow." Harry said, looking at her.

"How? We don't really have the space for dueling." Hermione started but Harry shook his head.

"You're knowledge of spells is really impressive, but dueling isn't about how much you know. It's about outlasting your opponent. The same is true for battle. We need to work on your endurance, and reflexes. You need to be able to fight without thinking. It needs to be muscle memory." Harry said staring into her eyes and making her shiver slightly. "We start at four thirty tomorrow morning.

Emma and Dan both snickered at their daughter's look of disgust and fear.

The rest of the week was not ideal for any sort of holiday so far as Hermione was concerned. It had started with Harry barging into her room at four thirty the next morning and shouting at her to get out of bed. She had gotten tangled in her blankets and fallen face first onto the floor. It had been really, really embarrassing.

He had not gone easy on her either, despite the fact that she was a novice. It was worse than torture in Hermione's opinion. She had never believed herself to be out of shape. She had always been on the thinner side, and while not athletic, she wasn't a couch potato by any stretch.

Yet she was winded after only twenty minutes into their run. Harry didn't have her sprinting either. On top of the running, Harry made her stop every so often to do reps of push ups, sit ups, squats, and a number of other exercises. Even more worrisome was the fact that Harry promised when they returned to Hogwarts, he wasn't go to be taking things easy any more.

On the other hand, thing had changed between them, romantically speaking. While Hermione hated Harry from roughly four thirty in the morning until they finished their routine around eight, the rest of the day she was head over heels for him. Especially seeing has Harry was now officially her boyfriend!

Hermione had decided on New Year's Day that she wanted to have that discussion with Harry, especially given how things had been between them during their time away from Hogwarts. She didn't want to go back to school not knowing what was happening between them. Besides, if she knew what they were, she could enjoy their physical intimacy a bit more, because she'd know there was a reason for it.

So it was after lunch on New Year's day that Hermione's mother suggested the teens get out of the house for a bit. As they had no homework to be done as they had finished it before the holiday even began, they had nothing to occupy them. Harry suggested a movie, and Hermione had rolled her eyes, but took him to the cinema.

After the movie, Hermione led them to a nearby park where the two teens walked hand in hand. Hermione figured it was the perfect time to broach the subject of their relationship. They were alone and it was rather a romantic scene with the snow covered park and all.

"Could I ask you something important?" Hermione asked as they walked a paved path that had been mostly cleared of snow.

"Yes." Harry replied.

"Um… are we dating?" She asked. Harry stopped short, and Hermione stopped as well. She turned to look at him, afraid of what she might see on his face, and was surprised when he looked confused. She then wanted to kick herself. He was likely not clear on the parameters of dating, much less the classification of their relationship.

"We've been on four dates if my count is correct." Harry remarked evenly.

"That isn't exactly what I meant." Hermione sighed. "What I mean is, are we together?"

"Yes." Harry said, holding up their joined hands as if to show her that she wasn't hallucinating. Hermione thought Harry likely thought she was confused or that her mind was addled because of what happened the previous evening. She knew then that she was going to have to spell it all out for him, and do her very best not to get to embarrassed.

"Are we a couple? Boyfriend and girlfriend." She said. Harry didn't say anything right away.

"What does that entail?" he said after a few minutes. Hermione gave a little smile remembering how Lavender had once mentioned training Harry to be the perfect boyfriend.

"Well, for starters it means that we are committed to one another. I don't date anyone else but you, and you don't date anyone else but me. We spend time together, you know, like we have been this past week. We talk and explore our feelings for each other together."

"How do we explore our feelings?" Harry queried. This brought Hermione up short. She stared at him trying to figure out how to explain that to him.

"Uh, to be honest, I'm not really sure." She said at last. "I suppose we talk about how we feel for each other."

"I'm not sure I can do that.' Harry said evenly.

"What? Why not?" Hermione asked feeling suddenly anxious.

"Because I can't readily define what it is I feel for you. I'm confused a lot of the time. Before we met, things were clear to me. I was trained to fight. That's it. That's all there was. Now... I sometimes find my mind wandering off and thinking about you."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at that. It was hands down the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her... which seemed a little pathetic, but she really didn't care.

"I have the same problem, you know." Hermione admitted. "When I got to sleep at night, you're the last thing on my mind, and the first thing I think of when I wake up. I'm having trouble finishing homework because my mind keeps interrupting me with thoughts of you.

"I enjoy being around you, and I definitely like it when we kiss. I feel protective of you, and I was angry and a hundred other things when you went to Slughorn's party with McClaggen." Harry rambled.

"Which I'm still really sorry about. I made a huge mistake that night, and if given the chance to do it over, I would choose not to go to the party so I could spend time with you." Hermione remarked. Harry nodded again.

"What else is involved in being a couple?" Harry asked.

"Well, more kissing for sure, and as we become closer, and our feelings for each other become stronger, we could become more intimate physically." Hermione explained.

"What do you mean by that?" Harry looked up curiously. Even though she'd been expecting this, Hermione still felt herself beginning to blush.

"Oh boy." She sighed. "Um… It's difficult to talk about, though I suppose it shouldn't be. I mean if we're going to do those things, we should be able to talk about them with each other. I mean, if we can't communicate to each other what we want, or how we feel, then we're going to have loads of problems, and we'll end up hating each other, and I don't want that at all."

Harry just stared at her with those impossible beautiful green eyes. He was obviously confused by her little outburst, but had no response so he remained silent while Hermione collected herself.

"I know you've heard the boys talk about some of the things they get up to with girls." Hermione started. Harry just continued to look at her.

Hermione found a bench and wiped off the seat before sitting down. It was quiet and no one was around. Hermione was actually thankful for the solitude as Harry sat next to her, watching her the entire time. She was also really glad she decided to talk to him far away from her house. She could just imagine her mother listening from another room, and laughing at how Hermione was having to explain all this.

"I know that you've… that your body has reacted to me when we've kissed. I've felt your… excitement. Well… if we were to become a couple, and our feelings grow stronger for one another, we would begin to express our affection more physically. I mean, right now we hold hands and hug and kiss, but given time, and our feelings we could maybe begin exploring each other."

Harry still stared at her, clearly not comprehending her. Though he had colored a bit when she'd mentioned his physical state when they'd kissed. That was something, Hermione thought.

"We could touch each other." Hermione tried.

"We do that now." Harry replied indicating their joined hands again.

"Yes we do, but I mean when our feelings become stronger for each other, we'll express them in a more physical manner. We'll become much more intimate than we are now." Hermione stated.

"You keep using that word, but I'm not sure what you mean." Harry shook his head slightly.

"We could have sex." Hermione said bluntly. She then went rigid not believing she had said it. She didn't think of herself as a prude, at least not until that moment. She could feel her face burning, and was sure the heat was melting the snow around them.

"Sex? Is that the same thing as humping? Like what Ron and Seamus are always bragging about doing? Or how Moody keeps telling Remus to do with Tonks? Harry asked with a cock of his head.

"Well yes sort of I mean… wait Ron's bragged about having sex?" Hermione looked up a little startled.

"Yeah. Ron, Seamus, Dean. If I were to believe Cormac, I would think he goes to sleep on a bed made of women." Harry shrugged, though he was obviously confused.

"Who does Ron say he's had sex with?" Hermione asked.

"He's never mentioned anyone in particular. I just assumed he was talking about Lavender. They are a couple aren't they?" Harry asked, cocking his head. "What exactly is involved with this sex stuff. Seamus makes it sound pretty exhausting. And Moody goes on and on about some sort of acrobatics... at least I think that's what he means..."

"I wouldn't believe everything Seamus tells you. He has a tendency to exaggerate." Hermione said with a shake of her head. "And I'm not sure I even want to know what goes on in Moody's head. But um... well sex is something people do to show affection. It's... oh Harry it's really complicated, and I don't know if I can begin to explain it. I've never... I mean..."

"You've never had sex?" Harry asked. Hermione grimaced but nodded.

"To be honest, you are the first boy I've ever actually kissed." She sighed, looking up at him. She couldn't believe how embarrassed she was right now. Yet when she looked into Harry's eyes, she saw nothing but the same affection and caring she saw when they kissed. It made her heart skip and she wanted very much to have him gather her in his arms and kiss her until she couldn't see straight.

"I suppose I'm learning all about this stuff along with you." Hermione chuckled nervously. Harry smiled at that and took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb over the back and making her feel calmer.

"I want to continue learning with you, Hermione." Harry said softly. Hermione began to smile.

"So... should we make it official?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"What do we have to do?" Harry asked, looking slightly apprehensive.

"You just have to kiss me." Hermione smiled. Harry smiled back and leaned in to capture her lips in a very soft kiss. And that was how Hermione got her first boyfriend.

Five days later, a very tired Hermione followed Harry through the barrier from Muggle London onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters on the day they were to return to school. She had been awoken at four thirty and made to run and all the other exercises she had been put through since New Year's. Harry ignored her protests and her complaints just as he had been doing all week. However, He did promise her a shoulder rub on the train. She was very glad that her mother had mentioned it the night before. She decided her mother deserved a very large box of Honeydukes chocolate.

Hermione's parents had dropped them off and King's Cross Station in London and had hugged her tightly and begged her to work hard and stay safe as well as to have fun. Hermione's mother gave her a knowing wink and told Hermione just how happy she was for her daughter. Dan shook Harry's hand and asked him to continue watching out for his daughter. Dan and Emma then asked Harry if he might come and visit during the summer. Harry smiled and nodded, saying it would be an honor. After that, the two teens wound their way through the crowded train station and back into their world.

Harry led her through the crowds and onto the train and into the same compartment they had first met in. He stowed their trunks, and they sat down to wait the start of the journey.

Ten minutes before the train was scheduled to leave, Neville Longbottom found them. Neville looked horrible. He looked as if he had hardly been sleeping, and Harry sat forward to look his friend over.

"Neville, you look just awful." Hermione said worriedly.

"I imagine so." Neville sighed. "I haven't been sleeping to well. H-how was the rest of your holiday?"

"What happened Neville?" Harry asked firmly. Neville looked as if he wanted to brush it off but Harry's stare prevented him from that. Instead he looked at Hermione then back to Harry. All at once, his shoulders slumped, and Hermione was shocked when Neville began to cry.

"Hannah won't talk to me." Neville stammered. "I wrote her, I floo called her. Nothing. So... I just went to see her, and Susan told me that Hannah didn't want to talk to me. I think... I think she blames me for what happened to her."

"Oh Neville." Hermione said as she sat up and took her friend's hands in hers. "Oh, Neville I'm so sorry. I don't think she blames you, but what happened... that would be really traumatic for anyone. Seeing you might just remind her of it, and she is likely having a lot of trouble dealing with her feelings."

"I understand." Neville said, wiping angrily at his eyes. Just like any other boy he clearly hated appearing so weak. "I do. But... I don't know. Maybe I'm being selfish or... I just want to talk to her. I want to help if I can. I just..."

"Want your girlfriend back." Harry stated, shocking both Hermione and Neville with his insight, especially given his lack of understanding about love and dating. "She's important to you, and you feel like you failed her, despite the fact that you did nothing wrong.

"I let her down." Neville sighed wearily. "I couldn't protect her and she was nearly... She could have been killed."

"Neville... Everyone has a moment where they end up second guessing them self."

Hermione said. "I do it after every exam. Did I get that question right, Should I have put more into that answer..."

Neville looked at her skeptically but Hermione pressed on.

"You keep looking back to that night and wonder about what spells you should have used, or if you should have sensed the Death Eaters sooner, or any number of things." She said.

"You can't change what's already passed." Harry said looking at Neville hard. "You can only take the lesson you learned and apply it to the future. I think it's time we stepped up your training Neville. And, it'll be good for Hermione to have someone to spar against other than me. Sorry Angel, but if you are constantly beaten by me, you'll get discouraged, and then you won't learn anything."

"That makes sense, really." Hermione smiled softly as she looked at her boyfriend. Oh how she loved calling him that.

"Wait... Angel?" Neville looked between his two friends. "Since when do you call Hermione Angel?"

"Since she taught me about pet names you call your girlfriend. There are a lot of really weird ones, but she likes Angel the best." Harry said in his normal monotone.

"WHOA! Girlfriend? Are you two... Are you guys a couple now?" Neville asked looking hopeful.

Hermione smiled brightly as she nodded, and Neville gave a whoop of delight and then congratulated them.

"Finally." He laughed. "You two have been driving me crazy. I knew things were moving along at my party, but I never had the chance to ask you if you were together or not."

"It happened the next day." Hermione admitted. "We had a long... somewhat uncomfortable discussion."

"Oh I bet you did." Neville chuckled knowingly. "Well, I'm happy for you both."

"Thank you." Harry nodded. Hermione just smiled.

At eleven o'clock, the whistle blew and the scarlet steam engine lurched into motion. The three teens settled in for the day long journey that would return them to their school that evening.

For the first hour of the trip, Neville and Hermione questioned Harry about what he was planning on teaching them. Harry expressed his concern that Hermione had a long way to go as far as her physical conditioning, but that he planned on teaching them about dueling techniques as well as hand to hand combat.

Soon after, a very tired Neville curled up on his bench and went to sleep. Hermione then reminded Harry he had promised her a shoulder rub. Harry smiled, and made Hermione sit on the floor between his legs, and proceeded to work on her shoulders, kneading out her muscles in an excruciatingly delicious way. He knew exactly where every kink and knot was hidden and took his time and gently worked it all out much to Hermione's deep appreciation. Hermione wondered if Harry would be this intuitive as a lover as he was a physical therapist.

Three hours later, the door to their compartment was slid open, and a very annoyed looking Lavender Brown popped in.

"Hey, do you lot mind if I hide out here for a bit?" Lavender asked. Hermione, who was now back on the bench, sitting very comfortably between Harry's legs as he rested against the compartment wall, waved her inside.

"Thanks." She said shutting the door. She sat next to Neville who was sound asleep still.

"Is he alright?" She asked when she saw Neville's face.

"Hannah won't talk to him." Hermione said sadly. "He's pretty broken up about it."

"Oh, poor Neville. But honestly, I'm not surprised." Lavender said sympathetically. She watched him for a full minute before she turned to her other friends.

"He just wants to be there for her, and she's keeping away from him. I think she's just having a hard time dealing with what happened." Hermione sighed.

"She isn't the only one." Lavender sighed. "We weren't the only ones attacked. Ernie Macmillan's parents were killed. He was home babysitting his sister while they went to a party in Bedford."

"Oh my god." Hermione gasped in horror.

"That's not all. Ron said there was a pretty long list of people who died. Padma told me that Mandy Brocklehurst and her whole family were killed. Morag McDougal's brothers were all killed, and Romilda Vane's family. I also heard that Tracey Davis, you know that dark red haired girl who hangs out with Greengrass... Her mother was killed. She was visiting an Aunt that night or she would have been killed too."

"That's so horrible." Hermione sighed, wiping at her eyes as she felt the sting of tears.

"But they approved the bill for the Aurors. They're going to be able to use lethal force, and the Wizengamot approved more money for them as well. Susan told me. Her Aunt was really happy about that." Lavender finished. "Plus, I heard that there is another bill for building a new prison that's supposed to make Azkaban look like an amusement park."

"Good." Harry said evenly. He ran his hands up and down Hermione's arms as she had begun to shiver. She turned to look at him as best as she could given he was directly behind her.

"Wow you two look really cozy together. I think I'm jealous." Lavender smiled.

"I'm still getting used to the idea that I have a boyfriend now." Hermione said, expecting an explosion of squealing from her blonde friend.

"I'm just happy you listened to me and took the dive." Lavender smiled.

"Wait... Why aren't you..." Hermione began but Lavender waved her off.

"I knew you two were an item at Neville's party, even if you hadn't made things official. All you had to do was pay attention. The way you two were looking at each other. The way he wanted you to get to safety, and then how he held you and kissed you when it was all done. Not to mention how goofy you were smiling when he was dancing with you before the party went to hell." Lavender grinned.

"He's calling her angel now." Neville grunted. He was starting to sit up now, rubbing his eyes and yawning."

"Oh, that's sweet."

"And a lot better than pooky." Hermione said with a wrinkle of her nose.

"Was that one an option?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head violently, making Lavender and Neville chuckle.

"Pooky?" Lavender giggled, looking at the new couple.

"My parents call each other all these really cutesy names, you know?' Hermione began to explain. Lavender and Neville nodded their understanding and Hermione took a breath and continued.

"So Harry asked me about it and I had to explain all about terms of endearment and that it was a show of affection for someone you care about. He then asked me what names there were..."

"I had no idea there were so many ways to identify someone in an affectionate manner. Some of them are just... wrong." Harry said, looking a little disturbed.

"Anyway, he tried a few out on me and they just sounded so bad when he said them. I then told him the one I always wanted to be referred as and that's it."

"Wait... you told him what to call you?" Neville asked incredulously. Hermione nodded and Lavender and Neville both began laughing. Neville kept shaking his head at Harry who stared back in bewilderment. Lavender however, reached out to high five Hermione.

"What are you doing here Lav, I would think you'd want to be with you boyfriend after not seeing him all holiday, or am I just assuming?' Neville asked, after he calmed down.

"No, I didn't get to see him. His family went to Romania for the holidays. We were fighting a bit before Christmas, but I thought that after a few weeks apart we might be back to normal. Well... Ron went way the other way. He's gotten all clingy and over protective. It's like... I don't know. I'm sure he'll calm down when we get back, but it's just annoying. I wanted to go talk to Parvati and he followed me like some sort of body guard. We had to kick him out of the cabin so we could talk, but he just stayed outside the door. It was really dumb. I'm sure he's searching for me right..."

Just then the door slid open. Lavender gave a groan of frustration as she had expected her boyfriend to be there ready to chastise her for giving him the slip. However, that wasn't who it was at all.

"Could we… could we have a word Granger?" Pansy Parkinson asked, standing very timidly at the door with, of all people, Theodore Nott at her side. Pansy looked far more rested than she had the last time any of the four Gryffindors had seen her, yet she still looked nervous. She was fidgeting her hands quite a lot, and her eyes were darting this way and that, expecting some kind of attack no doubt.

"Um sure." Hermione said, sitting up from Harry. Both Slytherins stepped into the cabin and allowed the door to close behind them. Pansy flinched when the door snapped shut, while Theodore grimaced slightly.

"We came to apologize to you." Theodore began after a moments tense silence.

"We finally understand just how you felt after all those pranks, and everything else we did to you, and we're really truly sorry for it all and we really hope we can just let it all go." Pansy said nervously.

Hermione looked at Lavender who was gob smacked at the sight of not one, but two Slytherins begging Hermione for forgiveness. She then glanced at Harry who was watching them carefully.

"Do you think they're being sincere?" She asked her boyfriend who nodded.

"Parkinson's far too terrified to lie to us right now. I think she's being sincere. Nott is as well. I think he's had enough of his own medicine as well. Perhaps they've finally learned their lessons."

"We have." Pansy spoke up looking almost desperate. "But I think ours will be the last apologies you'll get. Draco's too proud to admit he was wrong."

"I think he's going to come after you Potter. He knows you've been behind it all, and tradition won't let him stand as much humiliation as he has and not retaliate in some way." Nott added.

"I've been waiting for him to nut up." Harry nodded.

"Ok then." Hermione said, looking to the Slytherins. You leave me alone from now on, and there won't be any more pranks aimed at you."

"Remember that your actions have consequences." Harry added as Nott and Pansy turned to go.

"That was so weird." Lavender said, completely stunned by what she had just witnessed. "I never in a million years would have imagined any Slytherin would apologize for anything."

"I think they just didn't want to start the year singing opera or anything like that at breakfast." Neville laughed.

"That's a good idea." Harry said, nodding to Neville who began to laugh a bit harder.

"Can you at least pick a good opera?" Hermione groaned as she fell back against Harry and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'll let you pick it out." He whispered, and she smiled when he pressed his lips to her cheek.

The first week back was a pretty somber one. The attacks on New Year's had really impacted the students, who had until then had all been o f the mind that the war was some far away thing. Something that they needn't really worry about. But almost everyone had known someone, or been directly affected by the attacks.

The Ravenclaws were the most downtrodden of all the houses. One of the boys killed at Neville's party had been a Ravenclaw Seventh year. Morag McDougal had lost all of her brothers, and Mandy Brocklehurst, a shy yet well liked girl, had lost her life.

All the houses had been affected to some degree. Someone had been killed, or at the very least lost relatives. During the first week back, all anyone seemed to want to talk about was the war and the fact that the Ministry seemed to be stepping up to handle it at last.

For Hermione however, the first week back was, as she put it, "a crime against humanity". Every morning she was awoken at four fifteen. By four thirty she was running around the Quidditch pitch behind Harry and Neville, who were far more used to such exertions.

She knew Harry was going to be difficult, despite the fact they were dating now, but she never expected Neville to be as unforgiving. He should have been more sympathetic to her as he had once been in her position for the love of Merlin! Yet Neville, kind hearted, cheery, reliable Neville kept telling her to pick up the pace, and "Push it Granger!"

Oh how she loathed him.

On top of the exercise, Harry had started training them in dueling practices. He made them duel right after their exercise while they were warmed up and stretched out. He didn't focus on their spell work, but rather their movements.

"Try not to stand still, or you're and easier target." He would say. "You want to keep moving, keep your enemy guessing."

He also promised them that he would show them some basic hand to hand combat as soon as he found a suitable place for it. He claimed he would ask Professor Dumbledore about it as soon as he could. Hermione was not really looking forward to being thrown about or hit at all.

Still, she had to admit, she was beginning to feel more energy. She felt a bit more alert as well. She couldn't help but wonder what she would look like in three months after all this training. She thought it would be nice to have more muscle tone, though she didn't want to lose her femininity. She wasn't the curviest of girls, but she felt she had a nice figure.

She was talking to Lavender about her workouts as they entered the Defense Classroom Friday afternoon.

"Do you think Harry would let me join you guys?" the blonde asked as they took seats at the front of the class. "I think I'd like a flatter stomach, and it would be really good to learn how to duel better."

Hermione shrugged though she said that she didn't think Harry would mind one more person.

"Plus it's be nice to have someone to keep me company. I can't keep up with those two." Hermione sighed.

"Maybe if you'd stop being so lazy." Neville laughed as he sat behind the girls.

"Oh shut up." Hermione scowled.

"Honestly Hermione, you're making better progress than I was. You should be proud of yourself." Neville said cheerfully.

"I will when I can out run you." Hermione glared.

"It might happen." Harry said as he joined them, sitting next to Neville.

"What'd McGonagall want?" Hermione asked her boyfriend. Harry gave her one of his half smiles.

"She had a question about my essay is all." Harry explained the reason he'd been asked to remain behind after Transfiguration.

"Harry would it be ok if I joined you guys in the mornings?" Lavender asked hopefully. Harry gave her a nod and the blonde smiled and patted his hand in thanks as Snape called the class to attention.

"Before the break we were learning about the expulso hex and its uses in dueling… Now can anyone tell me…"

Harry had raised his hand, and Snape's lip curled slightly as he looked at the boy. Hermione cringed a bit as she knew the look on Snape's face. It was the same one he got when he used to be about to humiliate Neville in potions classes.

"You have something to add Potter?" Snape asked curtly.

"Yes sir," Harry said, unaware of Snape's agitation.

"Just that an Expulso hex is really only good if you're out numbered and not surrounded. It's actually pretty limited in its usefulness in a combat situation as it's very hard to aim properly. At best sir, that sort of hex is really only good for a distraction technique rather than defending yourself." Harry concluded. Hermione cringed slightly as she saw the vein at Snape's temple begin to pulse.

"Is that so?" Snape said, his voice dripping with contempt. "And you, of course, have much more experience than anyone else..."

"I never said I did, sir, I was just..."

"Potter, when I wish your opinion, I will inform you of what it should be." Snape glowered. Harry's expression remained neutral. "Since you've arrived at this school, you have taken every opportunity to try and make a fool of me and your fellow classmates, and I have had just about enough of it. You seem to labor under the delusion that you know better than the teachers of this school. A delusion, which other teachers have allowed to fester. You also seemed to believe that you can teach these people to defend themselves against the forces of darkness better than someone who has faced evil and lived."

Hermione noted a slight narrowing of Harry's eyes at this statement.

"I think perhaps it's time we saw just how much you truly do know Potter. Perhaps your fans need to see just how over inflated your reputation actually is. Get up, Potter. Get to your feet this instant."

"Sir, I..." Hermione started but Snape's cold black eyes silenced her.

"You would do well Miss Granger to hold your tongue." He glared before turning back to Harry who'd gotten out of his seat, shrugged off his robes and taken out his own wand. The class began to murmur in anticipation, and Hermione heard someone wonder if Harry was about to be killed. Hermione was actually more worried about Professor Snape, as images of what Harry had done to Death Eaters at Neville's party came to mind.

Snape put up wards that would protect the on looking students from any stray spells. He was eyeing Harry coldly as the young man shook out his arms and rolled his neck. "Your father was just as arrogant as you Potter, and he never managed to beat me in a duel. I expect you know the rules of a duel? That mangy mutt of a godfather must have taught you something useful."

"We duel until one of us surrenders or can no longer fight." Harry said flatly as he gave a soft bow to his teacher. "I expect you wish to conduct a competition type duel, sir?"

Snape barely nodded before he struck first with a nonverbal stunner. Harry sidestepped it and unleashed a flurry of multi-colored spells that Snap was unprepared for. The sallow skinned man managed to shield himself or dodge everything, but the look on his face spoke volumes. He had underestimated Harry. However, he was not about to be shown up in his own class.

The problem was, the boy was impossibly fast, and kept the defense teacher... on the defensive. Snape realized that he was going to have to outsmart the boy, which he believed would be an easy task.

Conjuring a thick fog, and silencing his shoes, Snape finally managed to distract the boy enough to make him pause in his casting. What he didn't expect was the boy's use of the elements. Harry blasted the fog with hot air and sent a stinging hex which connected with Snape's left shoulder.

That was when things began to intensify.

Snape was outraged that this child had managed to land a single hex on him. All at once, he began to see red, and his blood boiled in his veins. No longer was he casting marginally harmless spells. Snape unleashed a hurricane of spells which Harry dodged in truly spectacular ways including a full back flip at one point. He used shield spells and well as creating rocks out of thin air to absorb some of the more serious looking spells.

One by one Students began rising to their feet in astonishment as the spells traded became slowly more dangerous in nature. Each time the level was raised, it was Snape who instigated it.

Hermione began to become very afraid for Harry. She was certain that this was not going to end well for Harry. Either he was going to beat Snape, and wind up expelled from Hogwarts for seriously hurting a teacher or Snape was going to kill Harry.

The air began to stink of ozone as Snape continued his onslaught. Yet, Harry was smiling. Really smiling! Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. Harry was actually enjoying himself. She knew that he was taking this seriously, but he was having fun with it.

Hermione looked at Snape and saw that he looked murderous. In fact, she swore that the more Harry smiled, the angrier Snape was becoming. Hermione also noticed that Snape's spells were becoming a bit more questionable in nature. She realized this when Harry conjured a large boulder and Snape's acid yellow spell impacted it, and blew it to dust.

The students all gasped and some even covered their faces, forgetting the protective wards which disintegrated the shrapnel before it could hurt anyone. It was then that the students who had been watching this felt a change in the air. It was as if a torrential rain storm had just stopped suddenly.

Snape was becoming fed up with this farce. It was supposed to be over by now, with him triumphant and Potter humiliated. Yet the boy refused to go down. After nearly twenty minutes, Potter barely had a scratch on him, and the ones he did have were because of flying detritus rather than anything Snape had managed to do.

What was worse still, the boy was mocking him with that arrogant smirk on his face. It made Snape want to hurt him. He wanted Potter to suffer as he had all those years. He wanted to make Potter pay for stealing the girl of his dreams and turning her against him. He was going to show Potter just what it meant to cross him at last. James Potter was going to suffer for every single humiliation Snape had ever suffered.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!" Snape cried out. The spell narrowly missed Harry, who had stumbled a bit over some loose gravel from some of the destroyed boulders.

Harry's eyes narrowed and his smile melted away. This was no longer fun. Harry knew that spell, and he knew exactly what it was meant to do. All at once his years of training took over, and Harry's wand snapped up. Three spells were fired. The first impacted Snape's shield which he was barely able to get up in time. The shield cracked with the force of the spell, and the second spell shattered it completely, and the third struck Snape right in the chest, flinging him across the room to crash shoulder first into the hard stone walls.

Snape fell in a heap onto the floor, but refused to give in. He scramble to his feet, favoring his left arm now, blood dripping from a large cut over his left eye. He was livid now, yet never managed to fire another spell as Harry had already cast another five at the Slytherin Head of House.

Snape was struck in the abdomen with a bludgeoning hex, causing him to double over, and allowing the next spell to strike him on the right shoulder, spinning him around. The third hit his wand, shattering it into splinters. Snape howled as splinters of would buried themselves into his hand, and fell to his knees. The last two spells smacked into the wall behind him, digging two very deep gouges into the stone.

Harry advanced on Snape who was cradling his ruined hand. Harry's eyes never left Snape's as he approached. "Do you yield, Severus Snape?" He asked.

Snape gasped, biting down a second howl of agony. He stared up at the boy who had possibly just killed him, should he choose to remain defiant. Snape knew that if he allowed his pride to speak for him, death would take him in moments. He looked up at his foe, expecting to see that gloating smile James Potter had used so often when he'd gotten the best of his school rival so many years ago, but it wasn't there. There was only indifference. A soldier who had defeated his enemy. There was no emotion at all on the boy's face, save perhaps the barest hint of anger in those impossibly green eyes. Eyes that had once stared into his very soul so very long ago. Eyes that had once been so kind, and then had become so hard. So distant. Lily Evans' eyes.

"Do you yield?" Harry asked again.

Blackness was invading Snape's vision, and his breathing became far more labored. He didn't want to admit that he'd been bested. Especially not by James Potter's spawn. But he didn't want to die either. Then he heard voices, and the sound of someone

approaching. Harry's wand lowered, and those gods be damned bright blue eyes came into his field of vision. Albus Dumbledore had arrived, and began to chant. Snape relaxed slightly as the darkness became more powerful, and swept him up in its cold loving embrace.

Severus Snape became aware of the sounds of someone moving about. There was a clinking of glass, and he knew that someone was moving jars and vials about on a shelf nearby. Then light began to invade the darkness. His head felt heavy, and his chest and left side felt tingly. His arms felt incredibly heavy, and his lungs felt as if a troll was sitting on them.

He coughed twice, and slowly he managed to open his eyes, and cursed to himself as the sun was shining quite brightly on his face. Then it was blocked by a figure.

Severus Snape had to blink a few dozen more times before his vision cleared enough to identify the person who was kind enough to blot out the sunlight for him. He felt a great weight drop into his stomach as he recognized Harry Potter.

"Come to gloat, boy?" Snape scowled, and winced as a jolt of pain ran up his left side. His shoulder must have been shattered. Snape was a bit surprised that his skull hadn't cracked open when he'd hit the wall.

"No." Harry said simply. "I regret my actions the other day, though they would have been unnecessary had you not provoked them. I know that you are not unintelligent and were made aware of my history. Dumbledore did tell you and the other professors what it was I have been doing in my years in isolation. I also know that you have heard of what happened on New Year's Eve at Longbottom Manor and my part in that."

Snape could only stare in shock at the boy's words.

"I am also aware of your history, and your association with Lord Voldemort."

Snape sat up quite suddenly at this revelation, though he regretted it at once as pain shot through his body. His head swam and darkness threatened to overtake him once again, but he managed to push it back as he stared in shock at the teen aged boy before him.

"H-how do you know…" He stammered.

"I was made aware that you had once been close to my mother by my godfather. I know that you hated my father, and that that hatred grew every year as your rivalry intensified. I know that you had a falling out with my mother in your fifth year, because you had begun associating with less than upstanding characters." Harry explained, staring hard at the Defense teacher, who winced every so often as he squirmed in his bed.

"When I was thirteen, I was finally told why and how my parents met their end. Though Professor Dumbledore was light on details, he did tell me that you were the one who had heard the prophecy."

Snape paled now as Harry stood at his full height, and glared down at the man before him.

"I also know that it was you who warned Dumbledore of the danger to them. It's for that reason I didn't just kill you." Harry said as he stared at the man. Snape expected to see some sort of superior look on the boy's face, but all he saw was indifference. No malice, no pity, nothing. The boy was a blank wall.

"You don't know anything." Snape replied, but Harry shook his head.

"You're right." Harry admitted. "I have no idea what was going through your head all those years ago. I don't know what led to you choosing to follow a madman. I have no idea what he could have possibly offered you that you could kill innocent people in his name. Do not insult me by denying it. I know what you have to do to earn the mark."

Snape turned away now, his shame boiling up in his wounded chest.

"You were given a second chance and you squandered it."

At Harry's accusation, Snape turned back to Harry prepared to argue, but Harry didn't give him the chance.

"It was your responsibility to prepare young minds, but your pettiness, and you false sense of superiority, and your belief that the world owed you led you to belittling anyone not of your house, or those you thought beneath you." Harry said evenly, still staring at the wounded man lying before him, now refusing to look at him.

"Now you have a third and final chance to rectify your mistakes." Harry said, causing Snape to slowly turn to stare at the boy who so closely resembled the one person who'd made his life barely worth living during his own school days.

"What you choose to do with this chance is your choice to make. However, I warn you that if you choose to challenge me again, be it in class, or elsewhere, I promise you this Severus Snape, I will not hold back as I did the other day. I will not show mercy. I will not play games. I will kill you. And I will make it as excruciatingly painful as I can possibly make it. Because though many others might have been able to look past your past misdeeds, I will forever hold you singularly responsible for what befell my mother and my father on Halloween night, fifteen years ago."

With that, Harry turned, and slowly walked out of the hospital wing, calling to Madam Pomfrey that he was awake. Snape settled into his bed heavily as the tension that had built inside of him began to melt away when he heard the door close. He had never in all his life felt as fearful as he had just then. Snape had no doubt in his mind that the boy would make good on his promise either.

That was not the son on James Potter that had spoken to him. James Potter's son would have been gloating and mocking him for such a failure. For even daring to challenge him. That's what James Potter's son would have done.

Nor did Snape believe he had just spoken to the child of Lily Evans. The boy had been cold. Emotionless. Even in his threat, there had been no hatred or malice. Nothing but a simple promise that things would be worse for Snape should he allow his pride to get the better of him again.

"I told you Severus." Albus Dumbledore said as he approached the bed of his Defense teacher. "I told you at the beginning of the year. I told you when I announced that he would be coming to Hogwarts. I have told you and told you and told you every time we have spoken and you prattled on and on about Harry Potter's supposed arrogance and lack of respect. So I must ask why you chose to provoke him in your class?"

"Did you hear him?" Snape asked, his anger rising now that the headmaster was there. "Did you hear that brat threaten me?"

"I heard everything." Dumbledore nodded. "Though he spoke softly I managed to hear everything that was said."

"And what do you mean to do about it? He threatened me. He very nearly killed me in front of my students!"

"In a duel you instigated, and only after you tried to use a very dark spell upon him."

Dumbledore's normally kind nature turned sour. "I can not understand it, Severus. I wish for you to explain to me just what you were thinking using such a spell in a classroom and on a student, no less. You are lucky to still be breathing. If Mister Thomas hadn't gotten so afraid and come to find me, I daresay you might not be sitting here now, and Harry would have been well within his right to have ended your life."

"He's as arrogant as…"

"No he is not!" Albus snapped, making Snape cringe. Albus Dumbledore hardly ever raised his voice, but when he did, it never failed to make anyone feel like a small petulant child.

"I have tried time and time again to get you to let go of your hatred of James Potter. I have begged and pleaded with you to treat your all of your students as equals and teach them to the best of your abilities. Yet every year I am disappointed to learn how you discourage and humiliate the young minds in your charge. I now realize that it was me who failed those students. For fifteen years, i have failed the children whom you taught."

"What are you talking about?" Snape asked, looking very confused.

"Your dismissal." Dumbledore grimaced. Snape rose up again, gaping like a fish as he stared at the man whom he'd looked up to, and had sworn loyalty to fifteen years ago.

"What?" Snape gasped.

"Why do you think I finally allowed you the post which you have so long coveted?" Dumbledore asked, folding his hands and sitting down on the bed next to Snape, heaving a sigh when he settled down. "You are aware as I am that the post is cursed. We've not had a teacher remain for more than a year for some time now."

"Wait a minute… You allowed me to have the post because you were sick of me?" Snape sat up suddenly, regretting it at once as every nerve in his chest screamed out.

"I did." Albus admitted. Snape bristled at the Headmaster's admission.

"Why?"

"I think it should be more than obvious. You refuse to teach. You insult and torment every student not in Slytherin. Your favoritism of your own house is only outshined by your reprehensible teaching methods. If I hadn't felt the responsibility for your safety all these years, I would have sacked you ten years ago. I have defended you to the other teachers, and to the school governors, always hoping I would be able to get through to you. Every year I am forced to sit down with you and all but beg you to treat each and every student in a fair and unbiased manner. To give them your wealth of knowledge, and every year, you have spat in my face with your behavior." Dumbledore said sadly.

Snape could only stare in abject horror at what the Headmaster had said. Dumbledore rose to his feet now, and stared at his defense teacher.

"I gave you the post of Defense teacher because I knew that somehow, the curse would set you up so that you would not return. Though it was my hope that you would leave unharmed. You came very close to death, Severus. Were it not for several very frightened students… Gryffindor students, you surely would have. At the end of the year, I am terminating your employment here at Hogwarts. Should you choose to no longer be a part of the Order, I will hold no grudge toward you. But keep in mind Lord Voldemort will likely not accept resignation from his service, and we would likely become enemies once again. I have no doubt that Mister Potter would make it his personal mission to fulfill his promise to you in that case."

Dumbledore turned to head out of the hospital wing when Snape stopped him.

"Did you even bother to punish the boy?" Snape glowered. "He attacked a teacher for Merlin's sake."

"Still blinded by your pride." Dumbledore sighed wearily. "I reviewed his memories of the incident, as I did the memories of every student in your class at the time. It was you who instigated the duel, and it was you who started using more powerful spells first. Your sectumsempra spell only barley missed him Severus. Were I in Harry's position, I likely would have killed you myself. The difference is that I would have felt guilty over what happened."

Dumbledore turned his back on Snape and left the man to ponder his fate.